Cystic Fibrosis test was NEGATIVE!!

Great news...the CF test results were negative! Madison was a real trooper for the test. After having sweat inducers on her arms for 5 minutes, they placed sweat collector bands on her forearms, wrapped them in gauze, bundled her in warm clothes and cocooned her in a blanket in a warm room for 30 minutes. She fought it at first, but them calmed down and let Willie hold her. (Too bad he wasn't taking the sweat test - he was sweating just a much as Madison!) At this point, it seems like Madison just has bad luck getting sick. I keep hoping that she will grow out of this stage and/or the warmer weather will help...guess we'll have to wait and see.

Madison is still finishing up the antibiotic from the pneumonia. Her coughing at night was horrible last weekend, but seems to be getting better each day.

My Mom and Emily are coming to visit this weekend. Willie's Dad and Andrea are coming next weekend. The lake is open again at no wake. The fishing guys are going to go out and clean up debris tomorrow morning with the hope that the no wake will be lifted for fishing Sunday morning. Apparently it's not much fun to fish when you have to drive so slow from spot to spot!!

Sweat test scheduled for tomorrow morning

We're taking Madison to Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital in St. Louis tomorrow at 8am for the "sweat test" to rule out Cystic Fibrosis. I'm nervous and ready to get it over with. The test will take an hour and I'm supposed to dress her warm and bring a blanket. We have to get her to sweat, and I'm sure she's not going to be happy about it. We should have the results soon after the test is over.

Madison is walking & Holiday Shores is flooded!

Madison started walking the week of her 1st birthday. I thought we had trouble containing her before!

She is doing better with the pneumonia but still has some coughing at night. Dr wants her to take a Cystic Fibrosis test this week to rule that out. Chances of her actually having it are very slim, but we're still a little worried and looking forward to getting the test over with. We have to go to Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital to have the sweat chloride test done.

We have had 6.5 inches of rain today and it is STILL raining now. The Marina near our house is flooded, several boats on docks are floating in the middle of the lake, it is a real mess. Our sump pump is keeping us dry, but others are not as fortunate.

Madison update

Madison seems to be doing better with the antibiotic. She did have some coughing during the night, but went to bed early (7pm) and was still sleeping when I left for work (6:30am). We have a follow up appointment with her Pediatrician this afternoon, so we're hoping for a thumbs up for the long holiday weekend.

On a positive note, I won the Biggest Loser weight-loss contest at work. I lost 18 lbs and am back down to pre-pregnancy weight. It only took me 1 year to get there! I'm looking forward to spending my winnings ($130) on some new summer clothes!

I hope to post new pictures of Madison walking this weekend, we've just been too busy in the evenings. My Dad and Jane are coming to visit tomorrow - I'm sure Madison will show off all of her new tricks & birthday toys.

Emergency Room Visit

We had a late night in the ER last night. Before Willie and I went to bed, we heard Madison making groaning noises in her sleep. She was breathing very rapidly and had a 103.9 fever. We tried a breathing treatment & Tylenol, but the breathing was still very rapid...so we took her to the hospital. Chest x-rays determined she has a small patch of pneumonia in the same place as earlier in March. I think we caught it early and hopefully the antibiotic will start working immediately. We have a follow up appointment with her pediatrician tomorrow afternoon.

She was typical Madison in the ER last night - smiling & talking to the nurses & Dr's who gave her stickers & balloons. You would never have known she was sick!

Madison's 1 Year Appointment

Madison is 20lb 4oz and 28 1/2 inches long. Her ears look really good, no infections or drainage. We also have not done her daily breathing treatments since we got home from Florida and she's doing fine without them. She's done with formula & drinking milk from a sippy cup. (We sometimes have a bottle with milk before bed, but she's even doing better about not needing that.) She is sleeping through the night most nights - which is such a blessing for Willie and I. We were starting to get worried that she would never sleep all night!

Madison is 1 Year today & the kitchen floor is done!

My Mom came down to watch Madison today (the sitter needed the day off). Madison opened more presents from us & went to bed early. The kitchen floor is done & ready for another birthday party this weekend!

Happy Mother's Day!

Willie and Madison got me these beautiful flowers for Mother's Day. Spent the morning with both of them & now Willie is working on the kitchen floor while Madison naps - today was a good day!

Here is an update on the kitchen floor (excuse the fridge in the middle of the room & the overflowing trash can!)

Madison got new sunglasses from Uncle Frank, Aunt Julie & Cousin Brooks - SHE LOVES THEM! She wore them to weigh-in today and didn't take them off the entire time!

Madison's 1st Birthday Party

We celebrated Madison's birthday & Mothers Day in Quincy yesterday. Madison got A LOT of fun toys and is playing with all of them today. She
is walking more today also!

The Great-Grandparents.

Our kitchen project in the works...pulled up the thin carpet (who puts carpet in a kitchen!), layed the backer board and the tile is finally going down.

My sweet baby, who rarely takes a nap during the day, finally bit the dust...during dinner Sunday night.

1 Year pictures - copyright Sears Portrait

Friday

Cardinal's Fan

"If You Think I'm Cute, You Should See My Aunt!"

Madison had some ear issues earlier this week, but is doing much better now. Her ENT Dr said she had some "crusties" around the tube in her left ear. On Sunday I noticed it was draining fluid. We got some antibiotic ear drops and they seem to have worked. I have had a head cold this week and actually got dizzy and passed out Wednesday night. Visited my Dr yesterday and got some medicine to clear my sinuses. Doing much better today, but still going to ride with Willie to work this morning instead of driving myself.

Madison is getting her 1 Year pictures taken tomorrow, hopefully I'll be able to post them soon.