martini time!

Wow, three times in a month. I guess I needed my gal time. Especially after Maddie's birthday party this past Saturday (lots of little kids. 'nuf said)

with jess Dec. 13

with mary Jan. 2

with nikki & danna jan. 10

sigh

Got a call from Patti, the secretary at Children's Oncology clinic. Here is our schedule for Kaycey's next Oncology appointment.

February 3:
9am Audiogram (hearing test)
10am Pulmonary Function tests
11:15am Echocardiogram

February 4
8am injection for bone scan (radioactive compound (Technetium-99 injected)
8:30am drink contrast/inject contrast for CT's
9:30 CT's
10:30 Bone scan
lab work
1:30pm Oncology clinic check in (weight, height, temp, BP)
2pm Dr. appointment

Could there be any more tests?? For crying out loud...I mean, I will feel relief after it's done, and it sounds like they are hoping to give us results immediately at the appointment. Usually I have to call multiple times and find out results a week or two later. But I don't think we've ever had so much crammed into a day (other than the initial process of diagnosing, of course). Usually the tests are divided over a few weeks, if I remember correctly. She hasn't had this many done for a long time. But it's the three year mark from completed treatment, so that means complete work up.

I dread having to walk into that place again. I really hate it there. My stomach flips the second I walk into the skywalk. And to have to spend a whole day there--ugh. We'll even have to eat lunch there. And we'll be lucky to get out of there by 3!! Well, the positive side is we hope everything will continue to be fine and she will still be NED (no evidence of disease.)

unfair justice?

In January of 2008, one of Mike's very good friends from college, Joel Marino, was murdered in broad daylight in his home. Read article here:
http://www.thedailypage.com/daily/article.php?article=21756

The case made National news on Fox's Greta Van Susteren show, due to supposed problems in how the Madison police handled the case. As of May there were no arrests, but thousands of leads. Finally, seemingly out of nowhere in June, an arrest was made of a man in Minnesota.
http://www.todaystmj4.com/news/local/21813314.html

Well, this coward committed suicide. I find this incredibly unfair.
http://www.todaystmj4.com/news/local/37414424.html

Today my little baby...

turns four!! Happy 4th birthday to Maddie. I can't believe she's four. Time really flies, and this time of year is always a little bittersweet as it will be 4 years (in just over two weeks) that Kaycey got sick. Maddie was only two and a half weeks old. I am happy that I can remember the day I went to the hospital to have Maddie (a scheduled c-section at 1:30pm, Jan. 7, 2005). But I honestly don't remember much of Maddie's life for about her first 6 months after she was born. So many other people took care of her, while I spent countless nights at the hospital with Kaycey.

Back to Maddie's birthday, which should be a happy day! Here are a few pictures.

A crown for the princess

Posing for a picture...all 3. Amazing!

Happy to have the "new" vanity!

Showing off the puppy tattoo on her cheek

We had my Dad and Maria over this past Sunday, and she got some birthday presents then. Today, we'll give Maddie her presents from us (one I gave her already--a Little Tykes makeup vanity that was Kaycey's and in storage for the past couple years, Cal picked out a necklace for her, a princess notebook, and a little polly pocket princess thing). Saturday we are having Mike's family over for a party. Then Sunday my Mom, sister, cousin (?), and grandparents will come over. People say why don't we just have one big gathering, but I'd rather have the multiple gatherings. Somehow it's just easier. Which reminds me, I was going to ask my blog readers for input on games and arts n craft ideas for 8 kids ages 3-9. With the nieces and nephews coming over on Saturday, I'd like to have it more structured so that all the kids aren't running around the house like mad. Any suggestions??

2009, already??

The kids had such a long Christmas break, yet it flew right by. Back to school already today, and though it was tough getting them moving early this morning after so many late nights the past couple weeks, they were awfully excited about getting on the bus this morning.

It was a quiet day here. While I should've spent it putting Christmas stuff away, after lunch, Maddie and I went to a friend's house (they live less than a mile away). It's friend time for Maddie (Lauren is also 3). And friend time for me (Lauren's mom is the one gal I have befriended out here since the kids started at the new school). The more friend time I have, the happier I am : ) I always have such a hard time taking down the Christmas stuff anyways. It's so much work for having it up for such a short time. I swear I'd leave it up till February if Mike let me.

I'm excited to say the house feels a little more like a home...I FINALLY put some stuff up on the walls (just the kitchen, but I figure we spend much time there, and the fact I have no idea what to do with the other walls in the house!)