One, Two, Three; Done!

The appointments are over this week! WOO HOO!!!! I'll breif you on the week. :)

Monday was a follow up appointment with her e.n.t. Her ear tubes are still in good...no problems! We don't have to go back for a year. Great news...although if I got to pick which doctors we saw more often her e.n.t. would be one of them. He is gentle, kind, and affirming of us. But none the less it's nice to think we will be seeing less of doctors.

Tuesday was the MRI. We had to be there early, so we were all up around 4 a.m. YUCK! It went very smoothly, and Abigail did great. The only major set back from the day was that since her MRI was early in the morning; we were done before McDonald's served french fries. Our 22 month old does not understand that concept, nor were breakfast french fries quite cutting it. :)

We also decided that since it was so early we would go to the world's largest children's museum afterwards. Indianapolis has an awesome children's museum that we get a huge discount to...so the three of us were able to go for two dollars. Abigail loved the "noo noos"(trains) and that she got to sit on one. There were lots of other fun things too. We then came home and everybody took a big nap.

Playing in the water table

Sitting on the "noo noo"

Another "noo noo". :)

Today was Abigail's allergist appointment. Although overall I would have to say it went just fine, it was a long and stressful day. I definately didn't enjoy the 15 pokes my kiddo got, but they all came back negative (although we have to wait two weeks on a follow up test for peanuts because of a previous reaction). I think I was irritated that she had to be poked so many times for what turned out to be nothing, and that it took almost three hours for the total appointment.

Abigail is sleeping now though, and it's all over. Praise the Lord. I thought I would leave you with some more personal thoughts on all the chaos of the week.

While lying in bed last night I couldn't help but think of how thankful I am. I am thankful that I even get the oppurtunity to be a mama. I am thankful for a daughter who takes everything in stride. I am extrememly thankful that we live within an hour of a wonderful children's hospital. I am thankful for a husband who can easily rearrange a work schedule to go with us to the MRI. I was also thankful for coming home to him hanging clothes on the line and finishing dinner tonight.

Obviously we could still get not great news about the MRI, or it could come back fine. For now though; we are going to move forward with life as normal. We will update you when we know more.

Sighing in relief,

The thief

There is a thief that lurks near me. He is always right next to my ear. He likes to remind me of all of the bad things , all of the scary, and all of the sad. He likes to make me worry. I do my best to ignore, and tell him to be quiet, but he wants my joy. He likes to see me miserable.

So on Monday as I left our doctors office I felt overwhelmed. It wasn't fear so much as just the feeling of needing to let out a sigh from deep in my soul. I was struggling the whole way home not to cry, and not to let all of the "could be's" start taking over my thought process. As I was driving and wrestling through my thoughts I hear that still small voice ask me a question, "Are you going to let this steal your joy?"
I was a little taken back. The last few weeks for us have been full of rejoicing over great news from an MRI, watching a close friend choose to join a rehabilitation program for people struggling from addictions, and poor life choices, and then watching her give her life to Christ. The week following that we spent on the beach enjoying each other. It has just been some of the best few weeks we have had in a long time. So as I sat and pondered the question I made a decision. This will NOT steal my joy.
The decision isn't as easy as it sounds. I can't tell you the number of times during the last few days I have heard that question again and again. As my thoughts start to wonder, as Riley calls to remind me of the appointment, and as I look at my calender and realize Abigail has two other doctors appointments next week, I start to feel like I'm sinking. It's all too much. And then I hear it again, "Are you going to let this steal your joy?" I look down and there is a smiling toddler asking me to "dan dan" with her, read to her, and snuggle her. So I once again make the declaration, no matter what today looks like, no matter what the outcome of her MRI next week, I will not let anything steal my joy!

Murrells Inlet, South Carolina

We went on VACATION! It was great. Perfect timing amidst lots of good news and wonderful things happening around us, and then a week of relaxing, playing at the ocean, swimming in the pool, hanging out with grandma and grandpa, seeing lots of wildlife, and a million other things. Jason and I came back feeling pretty relaxed...and Abigail loved it. I thought I would share a few of the pictures with you...we didn't take very many because we would forget to get the camera out. We were just enjoying spending time together! However, Abigail loved the crabs, alligators, water, sand (of which she ingested a ridiculous amount), pool, starfish, fish, kites, helicopters, birds, boats, and mountains that we drove through. Her vocabulary grew exponentially with all of the new things that she saw.

Papa and Abigail in the water

Abigail holding sand....one of her favorite things.

Abigail was digging in the sand with papa.

Mama and Abigail at the ocean.

Abigail miniature golfing. She looks so stinking cute! And like her papa she got frustrated and threw her club at one point. :) I had to walk away after I told her we don't throw things because it was funny.

I'll end with a small medical blurb. She got bit by something during a nap on vacation and ended up with some sort of infection, so she is on a round of antibiotic...nothing too major there.

However Monday we had a weight check because she has been up and down all winter. So her weight was down about half a pound. Also over the last month or so she had some intermittent vomiting that wasn't linked to anything else (like maybe two times a week with no links in what she ate, time of day, etc.). So I asked the doctor to measure her head (higher risk for hydrocephalus) and it had grown 2cm in three months. To help you understand how much that is, most children's heads her age grow and average of 1.3cm every six months. SO, we are awaiting a call back from the neurologist today and looking at the possibility of a brain MRI in the near future. Too bad they couldn't get them all in at once. I'll update you in the next few days after we know more.

Returning to reality,

Results

I won't write much because I'm in the middle of a dance marathon with a toddler.

However this video is the perfect picture of how we are feeling today! We are dancing and singing because despite the fact that it seemed almost certain they would find something; the MRI came back clear! So en joy the video of Abigail's awesome skills of dancing and singing...and then feel free to join in rejoicing with us!

Praising the Lord,

MRI

What an MRI day looks like.

Abigail got some "blue's clue's" stickers from the nurse who weighed and measured her! Good start for her.

Lots of these moments before. She was hungry, tired, being seen by lots of strangers, and stuck in a little room.

Although you can't see it well, Abigail was sharing both of her thumbies with me while giving me a kiss.

And she enjoyed snuggling papa and watching some television while we waited.

A doctor came in to go over some things and gave her a bird before she left! It's been a big hit with her.

Before we were taken down to MRI we found this cool car she got to ride in. She sat and went "beep beep" the whole way.

Two hours later...a groggy disoriented little bug.

Somewhat happy (although disoriented) to find out her baby had a sticker (even if it was because baby wasn't actually with her during the MRI and they needed to label it as hers).

My favorite picture from the day. She had a hard time when she woke up because she only sucks her right thumb, and that was where they had put the I.V. However she did make a few attempts at it before she got frustrated and gave up. So sweet and snuggly. If you look real close you will see the tear on her cheek.

That was the day in pictures. So in words...

We left here around 7:45 and Abigail had already asked to eat. Not the best sign. By the time we got to Riley at 9:00 she was getting crabby, and insistent about food. However once we got inside and she noticed the water was back, she was pretty content standing and looking at it, as well as the large stuffed animals. That is until she walked over while we were checking in and some little girl was eating cereal. Seriously there is a sign before you walk in that says no food or drink because some of the kids can't eat before hand...and here was this little girl stuffing her face with fruit loops. It took every bit of restraint I had not to say something to her mom...especially as Abigail wailed and asked for food.

After that we sat in the day surgery area and waited, and waited, and waited. She did okay...still crabby, but nothing that I didn't expect from a 21 month old who was awaken early, and hadn't had anything to eat.

We finally got escorted to the MRI waiting area where Abigail seemed to forget about food because of all of the cool toys and books. I have no idea how long we waited, but I do know by the time we had seen the MRI tech, anesthesiologist, and anesthesiology nurse, it was an hour later than the MRI was supposed to start.

I had done my best to prepare Jason for what would happen when they put her under. None the less as she sobbed while they held the mask over her mouth I looked over to see tears on my husband's face....which caused me to stop holding mine in as well. So we prayed as she was being put under, kissed her goodbye, and left the area. We decided it was okay for us to go eat lunch so we could give her our full attention when she woke up.

We then came back and sat in the waiting room. Jason read a magazine, I sat and watched people. There was a mom and dad who came in with their teenage son. I noticed the mom tearing up. They came and called the boy. They were from another country, and I'm guessing culturally emotion is frowned upon. The mom sat and cried so the dad moved to another part of the room away from her. So she sat by herself trying to fight tears to keep from looking ridiculous. I remembered clearly sitting by myself while people watched me trying not to cry. So I did what I wished someone had done for me. I talked to her. I asked about her son, why he was there, and talked about how hard it is as a parent to have to leave them in the hands of someone else. I think she was thankful.

When they called us back after Abigail was done I saw her son walking out. I was glad he was done as well so she wouldn't just be sitting out there by herself again. Abigail was fussy, but once again it was to be expected. However it happened exactly the same as the first time. She had to stay for about 30 minutes so they could monitor her, and as soon as we got her dressed and she knew we were done...she had bounced back to her mostly normal self. And after we got food in her belly....you would have had no idea that she had been under anesthesia today.

Once again, we won't have results for a few days, and I won't post results until we are ready to share. So it could be quick, and could be a little longer. Thanks for staying with me through a long post.

Happy to have this over with for now,

Thankful Sunday

Some of my fellow bloggers have days where they do specific things...like wordless Wednesday and thankful Sunday. I won't follow suit because I would feel like I have to post on that day; I don't like pressure.
However today I have much to be thankful for. So I thought I would do a list of things I'm thankful for today.

1. God spoke loud and clear today that his bringing us Abigail was not chance, and as He promised He is doing great things through her life to bring others to Himself. Truly beautiful beyond what I can write here!

2. Good friends from college coming to visit, laugh, reminisce, and dote on the sweet little girl who brings joy to our lives.

3. A husband who is my best friend, an AMAZING papa, and wonderful man. I can't describe how much I love seeing him sitting on the couch eating popcorn with Abigail and watching Elmo's potty video.

4. A little girl who's smile can melt my heart, who's laugh fills my soul, and who brings more joy into our lives than I could even begin to try to put into words.

5. A fun day before a hard one tomorrow. A day where life felt fun, and although all that will change will be the unknown being made known, it was nice to not think about NF, tumors, MRI's or the future (much) today.

Yes, Abigail's MRI is tomorrow. But today we will choose to be thankful and live for today. We will not have results tomorrow, and depending on what we find out, I may not post right away. Jason and I will both be going tomorrow which should make it a little easier. However you can pray that Abigail does well not eating, being put under, having the dye injected, and coming out of the anaesthesia without a belly ache, or being to disoriented to walk. She has done well before(although she hasn't had one since she has been walking), and are believing that she will tomorrow as well. Thanks for being a wonderful supportive community that I can share both my thankful list, and my need for prayers in the same post. :)

Mostly just thankful,

Something official

Well....it's official. Our beautiful 21 month old daughter wears undie bundies. (I hate the word panties, so this is what we call them at our house). About a week and a half ago something inside that sweet little head of hers clicked, and we are going all the time. We still won't claim perfection, but she is only in diapers at bedtime and nap time. And that my friends is a wonderful thing! And the equation that worked for her...every time she potties, we get to wash hands, get a sticker, put a magnet up on her potty chart, and "dan, dan" (dance) to a little song we made up about pottying! It was a little embarrassing when we had to do it at the store the other day, but I'll dance the day away with pride for my awesome little girl. Here are a few shots of her sporting some undie bundies!

Abigail has her undies on her head...we like to be silly.

Sporting some old navy undies I got for extremely cheap when our store closed.

Our going out undies. The have an outer cover that doesn't leak...just in case. :)

Doing the potty dance,