*Visitors

Mom gets at least four or five visitors a day. They might be the same four or five people that visit her each day, but hey... she can't say she is lonely!!! Besides... when at least three of them are this cute.... what more could you ask for? Plus I don't think they allow dogs in care centers. No one else would take Callie in either. Mom is so lucky I have her sister!

*First tracks

It is snowing this morning!!! I love it! It's one of those days that I LOVED being on the ski patrol. Fresh powder! There is nothing quite like being the first one down the mountain with no other tracks near by. Everything is white and FLUFFY!!!

Today was a different kind of first tracks! They were made by my daughter out enjoying the snow. Well at least until she fell in it! However as long as she was running on the driveway or sidewalks... she was having the time of her life! The dogs were enjoying themselves too! So, it was noiser than my first tracks in the past had been, but I would change it for the world! Just so grateful to have been there to experience it!

*Change of Plans!!!!!!!!!!

Started this morning with a jult! Brice said "it's 7:oo". I was out of bed across the room and into the shower in I think what was 3 seconds flat! I slept through my alarm and was suppose to be ready to leave by 7:30. I showered as quickly as I could. When I got out of the shower and opened the bathroom door Brice said to me "I think your mom just fell!" I threw my rob on as he headed out the bedroom door. I grabbed Madi as I passed by her room (she was crying) and downstairs we went. As I got to the bottom of the upstairs in the kitchen and rounded the corner I saw my mom laying on the floor holding her leg in the air. I knew as soon as I saw it... her ankle was broken.


I shoved the dogs outside, grabbed a pillow to put it between her legs and grabbed a bag full of ice. Brice came running back in the door and said the neighbor down the street would be here in just a minute to help him put mom in the car. We got mom loaded in the car and then I ran upstairs to throw some clothes on. I got Madi dressed, loaded some stuff into the diaper bag and was out the door myself. When I got the hospital Brice was giving information to the receptionist. I finished giving her the info she needed and then went back into the ER to see mom. Due to the H1N1 virus no children under 14 are allowed as visitors, so Brice sat in the waiting room as I went in to see her. The nurses were just taking an x-ray when I walked into the room.


Once the x-ray was over I went into be with mom. She was in shock a little I think and in a lot of pain. Her ankle was displaced over to the outside of her leg. We had taken mom to Lakeview Hospital 1. because that is where her insurance goes, and 2. I know the Orthopedist who take call there. I immediately wanted to know which doctor was on call. The ER doctor came in to look at mom and realign her ankle. He told me that Dr. Hickman was the Dr. on call. Could we really be this lucky?!

After the Dr. put mom's ankle back into place he took me to see the x-ray. It was UGLY! She had broke two of the tips that I could see. We weren't sure about the posterior tip of the tibia, Josh would tell me later she had. After seeing the x-ray and checking on mom again I took Madison up to Alicia's house. Brice had to get to work, but sat with mom until Alicia arrived and I returned. Mario came by as well and he and Brice gave mom a blessing. Josh had admitted mom to the hospital so they moved her up to the orthopaedic floor.

That is where I have spent my day! I had so many things to do, two days before Christmas and all. I was suppose to go into work, Madi had an appt. for her second H1N1 injection, and all the finishing touches for Christmas day and Brice's family Christmas party tomorrow night.

Josh came up to the hospital around 1pm to check the x-ray and look in on mom. He said that he would be back as close to 5 as possible to do the surgery. Around 4:30 they came to get her to take her to the OR. Josh came in to visit with us before they took mom into the OR. He said that it was ugly and was going to take him well over an hour.

Alicia and I ran to WalMart while mom was in surgery. We returned 45 mins later and I'm glad we returned when we did. Josh came walking into her room not much after. He said that he was really pleased with how things came together. He said it couldn't have gone better. Now mom will have to be non weight bearing for the next six to eight weeks! Guess I will have a new house guest! I'm glad we have the room for her. I wouldn't want her to have to go to a care center. Here she is with those that love her, and she can still have some space of her own.

After talking with Josh I went up to Alicia's to get Madison. All parties involved in that scenario had had it!!! What can I say... she is just so attached to me! That and she hasn't really spent any time with Alicia's family. Anyway.. Madi and I met Brice for some dinner and then went to the hospital to say goodnight to mom. She hadn't been back in her room for to long and Aunt Suzanne and Uncle Tom were there with Alicia. After a short visit we left and came to get Madison to bed! So much to do! Mom will come home tomorrow! Let the adventure begin!

*Family Photo's 2009

Make a Smilebox slideshow

My awesome friend Pam took these pictures. I met Pam when I worked at a photography studio in town. Pam FINALLY wised up this year and opened her OWN studio. She is amazing. I don't think we look this good normally, but she sure made us look good! Thanks Pam!

*All in a days work!

This morning Madison in her curious/adventurous state of life pulled Brice's bed side table over on her. It's just a tiny little table with a shelf where Brice keeps a few papers, phone charger and alarm clock. I thought I had caught it before it hit her, but she sure was crying. I thought it had just scared her and was loving her and comforting her. Well a while later when I looked at her sweet little face I saw two red spots. One on her forehead and the other on her nose. I guess the shelf got her after all!!! Poor baby!

Later in my day....

Sadie has incredible fur, as most Golden's do. Her paws and between her toes get so hairy! It is a problem especially when we go for walks because the fur becomes so dirty and I am to lazy to wipe her paws before coming in the house! Plus it's hard with a baby! Anyway... I finally got the razor out because I couldn't stand looking at them any longer! I have been threatened her that iI was going to shave them for so long. As I started to shave her paw I thought "WOW!! This looks really short!" I just thought that it must blend better once we shave her. Anyway... so I go to put the razor away and found that I had the wrong blade on!!! WHOOPS! Brice said... "Well it wouldn't be Sadie if at least once a year she didn't look like the red-headed step-child!" Thanks honey.. that makes it all better!

She really does look like the red-headed step-child though! Poor dog! This evening we went to the vet. Sadie had a laser treatment on her knee. Hopefully this will help her. She has been limping around for some time now. I thought that she maybe had fractured her knee around the plates so we had an x ray. All looks good there so they think that she must have torn her meniscus. The vet decided instead of opening her knee to do exploratory surgery they are trying laser first. The nice thing is there is a vet there that is wanting to learn to perform lasers so her first couple of treatments are on the house! Thank goodness. This dog is worth more than I am! (And costs more too!) Anyway.. I think it helped. She wasn't limping as much tonight. We go back on Saturday for another treatment. She will be sad though.... when mom comes tomorrow to tend I told her she can't bring Callie! They will both be sad!


On a good note... As I was doing some work at the computer this afternoon Madi came up to my chair and she put her head against my leg. I bent down and kissed her forehead. As I moved away she stood on her toes as if asking for more kisses. I loved it!! Sadie does this all the time. I call the spot between Sadie's eyes the kissing spot. I will smooch her several times and then move away. She will lift her head and put it right up against my lips again. Now my daughter is doing this! Not that I am comparing my daughter to my dog mind you. I just think it's great that they both know that means love from mom! It made my heart smile!

*Having a snack

Sadie is a scrounge for food! If ever you are eating.. she is right there to get some. You would think that we starve the dog! Needless to say Sadie is all to excited that Madison is at the age of feeding herself. She always checks the highchair for leftovers, and is right there if anything should fall on the floor while eating.

Well as Madi is eating her snacks she will hold it out for Sadie to smell, but then as soon as Sadie get "that look" in her eye Madi gets a little worried and pulls it back. I would consider this teasing if Madi knew any better. Maybe she does! :) This picture is of Madi eating her goldfishes and Sadie looking on hoping to get to share in the wealth! Gotta love it!

*1 Year Old -Pictures-

Today I decided to take Madi's one year pictures! This child knows what I am doing when I pull out my camera and she won't look at me! She is such a little stinker, but she is SO CUTE!!! I can't believe she is a year old. Maybe I will have to just take pictures on major mile stones now, 18 months, 24 months instead of every month. We will see!!!! All I know is that I love being her mom! I know I say that all the time, but it is really true. She is so much fun. What a blessing to be a mother. Anyway... here are a few more of my favorite pictures from the day! I actually got quite a few good ones for her not holding still or looking at me.

*The Pumpkin Patch

The fun with starting you own little family is that you get to make your own traditions. I have always wanted to go to the pumpkin patch and pick out a pumpkin right out of the field. Madi is a little young for picking a pumpkin, but I was to excited to wait another year so we went this year. I asked Brice if he wanted to go along, or if Madi and I should go one afternoon without him. Of course he wanted to go! I love this about my husband, he ALWAYS wants to be with us! When we first got married this was hard for me. I was so used to being alone, and am quite the independant soul anyway. However now I LOVE IT! I love that he always wants to spend all of his spare time with us. Anyway.... that is a discussion for another day! Back to the pumpkin patch...

It had been a really bad day for me, busy with work, Madi was ornery... blah, blah, blah. I wasn't in the mood to go, but it was what I had planned for Family Home Evening... so we went. Of course Madi didn't take an afternoon nap (because I really needed her to and that would have been convienent) so as soon as we got going in the car she was out like a light. It only took us a few minutes to get there and so I almost didn't want to wake her. I'm glad we did though because once we got out it was fun. Madi at first was just kind of looking at me like "what are we doing?" However once she had woken up a little bit she started to enjoy the experience a little more. It was a fun evening and I can't wait until next year when Madi is another year older and gets a little more into it.

Of course I had my camera... so here are some picutres.

My sweet Princess and her HOT daddy!

Madi amoungst the Pumpkins

Going for a ride in the wagon

Madi and her little pumpkin (she was excited to hold it)

Me and my little sweetie

"Mom... are you coming?"

Thanks babe for going with us, for indulging me and for and being such a great daddy to our little princess. I love you!

*Madison 1st Birthday Party!!!

I can't believe that my little Madison is ONE!!! Where did that year go? It has been such a fun year watching her grow. I look back to the pictures of us in the hospital.. how much she has changed in the last twelve months!

Madison's birthday was on Saturday, but we celebrated on Sunday with a family party. We had lots of great family come to celebrate the day with us!

My Grandma's, Aunt Missy and Katelyn

Aunts, Uncles and lots of Cousins

We had a great lunch and then came the fun part of the party... it was better than Christmas.

Madi cleaned up!!

The Birthday Lout

Then it was time for cake and ice cream. I decided to get Madison her own little cake. It was so cute. It was a little 4 inch square cake that was just perfect. Madison touched some of the frosting and then licked her fingers. She was hooked!!! She just kept licking the frosting off her hands and going back for more. I took a fork and cut some cake for her. She liked the cake, but it was back to the frosting. Brice said that he wanted to do cupcakes for everyone else. It would be easier and less mess. Dick's Market had what they call cupcake cakes. It is a bunch of cupcakes frosted together to look like one great big cake! It was perfect and quite a hit with everyone! (Besides the fact that they decorated it wrong! It was still beautiful though!)

The Birthday Girl eating her cake...

It was such a great party! We are so grateful for everyone that came and helped us celebrate! Madison... you have added so much to our lives. Thank you for all your smiles, hugs, loves, pats, laughs and all else you have brought into our home. We so look forward to all the many more years to come. We hope you had a happy birthday Princess. We love you!

*Happy Birthday my Sweet Baby!

Here she is.... my TODDLER!!!

She did it.... Madison has officially turned one! At 3:19 this morning. I still remember that day like it just happened yesterday. I remember the first time I heard her cry, I remember seeing her sweet tiny face. I remember when Brice brought her into the room for me to hold her!

This past year watching her grow has been so amazing! It has given me a whole new view of life and the plan of our Father in Heaven has for each of us. It has given me a clearer perspective on what this life is about.... Motherhood is truely a blessing.

Madison has changed so much over the last month. This past month she has learned to walk, say "Dada" and "Mama". As she is "talking" to me she will hold her little hands up as to say "what do you think?" or "I don't know!" She is so curious about everything these days. She points to things she wants to see. She definately has her own opinion and isn't afaird to voice her displeasure. She has mastered going up AND down the stairs. She now thinks she should just be able to "walk" down the stairs and not have to turn around to crawl down them. She is always on the go. I am constantly trying to keep her entertained and keep her attention focused.

Madison not only walks... she climbs. She is my little mountain climber! A couple of days ago I was working at my computer and she was being so quite. I was worried and then I came upstairs and she was just sitting on this little bench, just having a little conversation with herself. She is so amazing!!! I swear she changes daily! I love going and getting her out of bed. She puts her head on my shoulder and just hugs me. She will hold my arm so tight with her little hand. It is the sweetest thing. She claps her hands when she is excited! She laughs... will just start laughing at herself! She now likes to push the stroller instead of riding in it! She has to push the grocery cart instead of riding in it! At times it can be difficult, yet it is so fun to watch her grow. I can't imagine my life without her!

Madison... Happy Birthday sweetheart! I love you so much. Thank you for letting me be your mommy. I am so grateful for your sweet spirit in our home. You make everyday better! I love spending my days with you. I love snuggling with you while you drink your bottles in the morning. I love how you like to lean forward in your high chair and put our noses and forheads together. I love how you pat my arm, or rub my arm as you lay on my shoulder. I love how excited you get over things you see and want to know what they are. I am so excited to continue to watch you grow and develop!

I put this in here because I made this particular flower to match her "party dress". I think it turned out pretty darn cute!