All I Want for Christmas...

I don't need a thing for Christmas. I have everything I could ever want. As for my girls, well, let's just say Santa got an earful.

Maddie's 5th Birthday Party

>

Halloween 2011

Costumes were decided upon in August. There was no debate, no waffling, no second guessing. They were going to be princesses no matter what Mommy said.


And here's the other side of the princess persona. The shirts read, "If you think I'm scary, you should see my sister." My sister gave them these t-shirts. Hmmm. Do you think I should read anything into that?

First Day of Pre-K 2011

Obviously, since we moved, the girls are in a new school this year. And they are officially in Pre-K, one year before kindergarten. I cannot believe it. There was no apprehension this morning. We attended several workshops at our new school over the summer, so the girls are already familiar with the building. We went to open house on Friday and met their teachers, so there was no anxiety about that either...just excitement over being in a new room and meeting some new friends.

New Leg!

Six weeks in a cast. One more week waiting. Finally, a new leg with a Cinderella tattoo. Oh, it's good to be walking again!

Out of Surgery and Feelin' Fine...So Far

First things first. Maddie is out of surgery and doing fine.

We arrived at Shriners Hospital in Minneapolis at 8:00 a.m. After three rousing rounds of the memory game, our first ever viewing of "Mulan II," and some sticker fun, it was finally time for Maddie to get ready to go to the OR. It was nearly noon, and despite the fact that she hadn't had anything to eat or drink since last night, Maddie didn't complain once...even when her parents and sister had a hearty breakfast right in front of her.

Surgery lasted nearly three hours. Excruciating. But all went well.

She is currently sporting a bright pink cast and watching "Pooh's Heffalump Movie while we wait for her specially ordered dinner: Mac and cheese and watermelon. She is in no pain because of an epidural which will be wearing off in an hour or so. At that time, she'll start oral pain meds. We are hoping for a comfortable, uneventful night, and if all goes well, Maddie will go home tomorrow.

Miss Isabel has been a real trouper all day, too.

We are happy surgery is over. Now begins the six to eight week road to recovery. More details later when I get off this ipad and onto a real computer.

I Wish I Would Have Invented Pillow Pets

Today, Maddie, Ibby, and I did every physical thing we could think of, literally hopped, skipped, and jumped as much as we could, knowing that Maddie will not be able to partake in these activities for the next six to eight weeks. The bonus is Mom burned some precious calories (damn nervous eating) and the girls should be exhausted tonight prompting a good night's sleep for all.

Tonight we are having a special dinner...Maddie's choice...tortellini alfredo with chicken, salads, and garlic toast. And we will present Maddie with the extra large ladybug pillow pet to sleep with tonight and take to the hospital tomorrow. If you don't have kids, you may not know what these are. We have six of them. Yes, six. My girls are infatuated with them, and as the title of this post states, I really wish I would have created this toy because I would be a gazillionaire, I'm sure.

I'm nervous. Really, really nervous. I'm quite confident that all will go well. It's just that if I could spare Maddie of this experience, I would. In a heartbeat. But it's these things that make us strong, right? And build character? And Maddie has more character than almost anyone I know. So. I think I may have to drink a beer tonight to make me tired. I'm not sure sleep will come easily. But tomorrow at this time, we will already be on the road to recovery. More then...