All Systems Go

Today, Maddie, Ibby, and I spent four and a half hours at Shriners Hospital in Minneapolis in preparation for Maddie's surgery next Thursday, July 14.

We always knew Maddie would need a second surgery on her leg. The fibula (the only significant bone she has in the lower portion of that leg since the tibia is just a little sliver) is slanted, and to give Maddie the best shot at walking "normally" for the long term, that bone needs to be centralized or straightened. Right now, it bulges out the side of her knee, and as she grows, the bone grows too, so it is beginning to protrude more and more. Fitting her with a prosthesis is going to be much easier once this protrusion no longer exists. And her gait should normalize a bit too once she's no longer swinging that leg out when she walks and runs. Anyhow, our surgeon believes now is the best time to proceed, so off we go!

I can hardly believe that Maddie was only two and had only been home a few months when she had her first surgery. What a different experience this time around. When asked, she can tell you what she's going to the hospital for, and she can give a pretty good explanation of the procedure that's going to be performed. I remember, with horror, when they tried to take blood during her pre-op physical for that first surgery, and how she screamed and struggled. Today, not even a wince or a tear...of course, I attribute that totally to the wonderful lab tech who got her on the first poke!

After surgery, Maddie will be without her prosthesis for six to eight weeks as her leg heals. Not fun, but we know that Maddie will handle it with the grace and humor with which she handles everything. She is truly a remarkable child. Back in December when she broke her leg, I told her she was a trouper. "Do you know what 'trouper' means?" I asked. She replied, "It means I'm a very brave girl." And indeed, she is.

And let me not leave Isabel out of this post. A more caring, empathetic sister you could not find. She held Maddie's hand during the blood draw today. And after it was all over, she exclaimed excitedly, "Good job, Maddie! Give me five!"

I left Shriners nearly in tears today because I have two of the most amazing children. They were patient and positive and so well behaved as we went from one part of the hospital to another, seeing one doctor or another. No whining, no complaning. I am so blessed and so proud to be their mom.

So I will post updates here as we proceed through our next surgical adventure. I know I don't have to ask for you to keep us, especially Maddie, in your thoughts and prayers next Thursday and in the coming weeks. We are so lucky to have so many friends and family members who hold us close in their hearts. Your loving support means the world to us.

More of Marco

Our vacation is quickly coming to an end. We head home on Saturday. We've had a marvelous time in Marco. Can't wait until next year. Here are a few sunset beach shots.

Marco Island June 2011

Dance Recital Dress Rehearsal

Okay, yeah, so it's been forever since I've posted, but I couldn't resist putting up a few shots from today's dress rehearsal for the big recital scheduled for tomorrow. The girls did so great and more importantly had so much fun. We couldn't be more proud of our two tiny dancers.

A Visit with Santa

I cannot believe a year has passed since last holiday season. And what a year it's been. If you recall, Maddie got her prosthesis last year just before Thanksgiving, and she was just learning how to manuever on two legs. Now, she's four inches taller and already on her second "special" leg. She can walk across a balance beam at gymnastics with very little assistance. She can tap dance, and she worked very, very hard to learn position one in ballet...no easy task when you have one artificial leg. Besides dance and gymnasatics, Maddie loves to sing. She knows lots of song by heart from "Amazing Grace" to the Black Eyed Peas. Her favorite birthday present, which has been getting lots and lots of use, is a kids' MP3 player with an attached microphone. We were able to load it up with all of her favorite songs, and she can often be heard singing her little heart out, mike in hand. Maddie's English continues to flourish. At her recent parent/teacher conference, her teacher told us that Maddie speaks far better than many of her classmates, all of whom have spoken English all of their lives. We are also pleased that Maddie has developed into a very caring, emphathetic child. Just last night, I was talking to my mom on the phone who has been suffering from a nasty cold. Maddie came into the room and asked, "How is Grandma's cold? Is she feeling better?" And she is so polite. We hardly ever have to remind her to say please, thank you, you're welcome, or excuse me. She loves school. She loves Sunday school. She continues to love dresses and dressing up. She is a happy, smart, funny, talented, amazing kid. We are so lucky to have her as a part of our family. I cannot imagine life without her.

Miss Ibby is the most affectionate human being I have ever known. I cannot count how many hugs and kisses I receive throughout the day or how many times I hear, "I love you, Mom." "You're my best friend, Mom." And talk about happy! It is very rare to see her without a smile on her face. She loves puzzles and coloring and painting. Her teacher says she excels in the visual/spatial/mathematical areas. A budding architect, perhaps? She's such a little peanut...we like to use the term "petite"...that she looks younger than she is. It's so funny to hear big vocabulary words like "ridiculous" or "frustrated" in her adorable little voice. Isabel is a cuddler, and if she's not hugging a family member, she can be seen clutching one of her many stuffed animals, all of which must go to bed with her. There is hardly enough room in bed for the girl! Isabel is a sensitive soul...a little scared by the intense moments in films (she and I had to leave "Tangled" for a few moments near the end when things got a little hairy...no pun intended), heartbroken if she's ever scolded, and so in tune with the feelings and moods of others. She loves her sister and her friends. She delights in school and Sunday school. Independent, smart, funny and athletic are all good words to describe her. She loves to run, ride bike, hold hands, sing, dance, "read" books to herself and others, and tell stories. She is full of love and laughter, curiousity and kindness. We are so proud of the person she has become...so sweet, so caring, so polite, so loving. She brings great "joie" to our lives. (Her middle name is certainly fitting.) She makes us better people, better parents, and our lives are immeasurably better because she is our daughter. She is a wondrous, wonderful girl.

As many of you know, I love the holiday season, always have. These days, the holidays are brighter and merrier than I could have ever imagined. I am blessed. I am blessed. Happy Holidays!

Halloween 2010

Dance School

Isabel and Maddie started taking dance lessons in early September. No surprise. They LOVE it. After each Thursday evening class, they will ask if they can go again tomorrow. An entire week seems like an interminable wait to two excited three year olds. It is amazing to me how intently they listen to their teachers Miss Tara and Miss Eileen and how quickly they caught on to some of the moves even though this is their first formal experience with dance. Oh, we do a lot of dancing around here...especially on Mondays when "Dancing with the Stars" is on. The girls dance right along with the celebrities, wearing tutus and tiaras, sometimes partnering up, often trying to imitate the moves on the screen, and frequently commenting on the stars' wardrobes. Sometimes Daddy is called in for dips. Anyhow, back to dance school. In an effort to get the girls used to performing in front of an audience, there will be several mini recitals during the year, leading up to the BIG recital in June, 2011. On Thursday, they performed for the first time in front of parents and a few grandparents. They wore their Halloween costumes and showed us a few tap and ballet numbers. It was by far one of the cutest things I have ever seen. We didn't get a lot of great photos...they were constantly on the move...but here are a few highlights of the evening.

The Dance Company

Striking a Pose

A Few Ballet Moves

Around and Around

Little Red Riding Hood and Tinkerbell

The Cowgirl and the Princess

It's Fun to See Myself in the Mirror

And Even More Fun to Slam those Tap Shoes into the Floor

Just Checking to See if Mom and Dad are Watching