Family Pictures

Griffin Grand Kids

Happy Easter

I never got around to posting about Easter. At very least I want to post the pictures. So here goes...

Top - Austin, Luke, and Madison
Bottom - Keira, Cameron, and Kailey

My Beautiful nieces Keira and Kailey

Austin and Madison

My handsome nephews Cameron and Luke

Fancy girls - Kailey, Madison, and Keira

Me and my 2 awesome kids.

(one of)My beautiful sister(s) Angie and her adorable boys Luke and Cameron

Nothing says Easter like playing in the sandbox in beautiful dresses and cute Easter clothes.

Blowing bubbles, notice the nail polish matches her dress, we got lucky with that one.

Madison decided on a couple games to play with her cousins - this is "the egg and spoon race".

and this is after Austin won the race. She was a little disappointed.

She wasn't too happy with the Easter Egg Hunt either, one of her cousins beat her to one of the eggs.

Kailey

Keira - I wish I had taken a picture of the egg Keira painted, it was a beautiful purple/black swirl.

Madison coloring eggs.

My awesome son Austin; who thinks he is getting too old for the games and egg hunts, but stills plays along to for me. (he won the egg and spoon race - and gave his prize to his little cousin Kailey)

Madison - My baby is turning into such a beautiful little girl. I can't believe how fast she is growing up. Pictures like this make me want to hold on to her even tighter.

Pierced

Madison has been asking to get her ears pierced for about a year. After this last MRI we decided that it was time, and today was the day. She did great. She was a little hesitant at first; she said that she still wanted to get them done but that she was nervous. One of the girls that did the piercing explained to Madison that it would be really quick and that it would not hurt. Madison asked if she could sit in my lap. Once that was ok'd she was ready to go.

lining up the dots

my brave little one, I had to ask her to hold my hands, I think I was more nervous then she was

1, 2, 3,...

go.

She has earrings.

One Word Wednesday

Heroes

CURED

Today Madison had an appointment with Dr M (neurosurgeon). Madison's scans are clear, we guessed this already. There was a lot of other discussions about Dr M's move to Banner Desert, that he wanted his focus to be on the patient and not big business. Some where in this conversation Dr M said that he feels Madison is CURED. That we will continue cautiously, watch for signs, and continue 6 month scans for now... but he feels that the tumor is gone FOR GOOD. Dr M talked about lifting some of the limitaions that have been placed on Madison. For now, no tackle football, wrestling, gymnastics, or trampolines. Other then that we need to start letting her be a 5 year old girl. She needs to go to school, and play without limitations. I can't imagine a better day then today. We are incredibly blessed. So, I'm going to go enjoy time with my little angel's on earth.

Snake and Lizards

The bribe reward for Madison doing a great job during her MRI this week was a trip to Az Reptile. Last week, J stopped by there creepy crawly shop and asked if he could bring Madison in to hold a snake. They said to go ahead and bring her in. So......

Snake handling she did. And she loved it. (Madison has fallen in love with Bindi the Jungle Girl and all the reptiles Bindi gets to hold. She asked if she can have a snake in her room to scare her cousins play with.) I hear the guys at AZ Reptile were amazing, I didn't get to go. (dang that work thing). But J let me know that they were amazing. The were very patient with my princess. They let her hold several snakes, and lizards, and 2 of the cutest turtles that I hear grow quite large, like eat my midsize dog big (not that i think they would eat my dog but they get that big).

These are a few a the picture J took for me since I could not be there with them (sniff sniff). As you can see, they had a great time, she was in heaven and didn't want to leave. A big thank you to Az Reptile for giving my daughter her Bindi the Jungle Girl moment.

*** a little side note - the guys at AZ Reptile (blue shirt and tattoos in several pictures) didn't know that the visit to there shop was our again bribe reward for Madison going good in her MRI, they did not know that she had brain cancer, they didn't do this for any other reason then they are amazing people. Again thank you AZ Reptile for making Madison (and J's) day. There is a special place for people like you guys. ***

ups and downs

Last night Madison asked me if I remember my pictures (MRI) when I was a little girl like her. I told her I didn't have pictures like she does. So she asked about Austin's. I told her he didn't have them either. She doesn't understand why she has to have pictures.I really don't know how to explain it to her. I don't know how to explain why she has cancer when I don't understand it myself.

Madison did really well with the mask today

She was scared

She asked for a few more minutes before they put the mask over her face, several times (once for a quick kiss from me, that brought tears to several eyes)

She didn't want to lay and be held down, didn't want to sit a lap, she wanted to stand. Stand?

So I stood right beside her, as she stood and took little breaths thru the mask, waiting for her to collapse - hoping to catch her before she fell

No tears this time - at least none from Madison

The sedation was different - they gave her gas and a sleeping medication to help ease her awake

I asked to have her IV taken out before she woke up. one less thing for her to freak out about. she has had several MRI's with sedation and has always been ok

It took much longer for her to wake up this time, and when she did, she was sick

Pale and nauseous

We were release with a large bucket for the drive home (luckily it went unused)

When we got home Madison and I lay in my bed and slept the day away

Thankfully she woke up this afternoon feeling much better

J reviewed the scans and says they are clear. The official read is next week

I'm glad today is over, it sucks that Madison has to go through these

Today all the kids had dentist appointments. Madison was pretty brave this time. She stated her conditions as we were walking back to the chair. No boy doctor (her dentist is a "boy"), she wanted orange toothpaste, sun glasses before they turned the light on in her eyes, and she did not want them to tip the chair too far back. Once the dental hygienist agreed to her terms, then she would climb into the chair. She did great. I was concerned about her first permanent tooth taking it's time coming in, it’s been 5 months and it’s only about half way in. We were warned when she underwent her 30 radiation treatments as a 2 year old, that the radiation could cause her permanent teeth not to develop (seriously? what else does my princess have to go thru?). Dr M explained that it is normal for big girl teeth to take their time growing in, he also showed me the x-rays that her big girl teeth had developed and he thinks she will have another loose baby tooth soon, that another big girl tooth wants to come in. Madison favorite part is the water and the suction straw, she giggled each time she put her lips around the straw. Austin did great. I didn’t go back with him because well, he’s 12 and doesn’t need mom holding his hand. He got a clean check up. This kid did not get my teeth; he has only had one cavity ever. Zac had 4 cavities, all in-between his teeth. I think we need to focus on flossing with him.

Madison's MRI has finally been approved and is scheduled for Tuesday March 30. In just 12 days. Madison says that she will be a brave girl this time; she just doesn't want to be held down. So, I made a deal that I would help them do "the mask" (sedation) with her sitting up. Let just hope the doctors will agree to my deal or I am in trouble.

Time to get my princess ready for bed, i just have to break her away from Nick Jr. Wish me luck

xoxo
me

park day

 

Today we took Madison and Austin to the park
We had a Subway picnic
Rode scooters
Played at the playground
Climbed the grass hill
and took lots of pictures

I think the kids had fun.

Scheduling

Well, I have Madison's PCH Neuro-Oncology appointment scheduled for April 6. I am still working on getting approval for the MRI, but that usually is the week before the PCH appointment, so late March or early April. I expect everything is good. Madison is doing great, no "signs" anything is wrong. I will stay positive. Prayers, Positive thoughts, (however you choose to put it) are always welcome.

xoxo
me

Photo Heavy

So, there is no way to catch up on the last 3 months...
I will say everything was great!
Madison turned 5 - and we are loving it.
Austin turned 12 - he is, always has been such a sweet kid. I keep hearing just wait... I hope he stays just the way he is. sweet. imaginative. energetic. loving....
The holidays were great,
I got a new lens from J
here are a few recent shots:

J and I took Madison on a picnic last week

J and Madison Feeding the ducks

Madison and her daddy

(he is so cute)


Madison and J


Madison (and J's boot's)


Madison


Big, BIG bite


I am learning not to cut the subject of the photo's head off

Practice Practice Practice

J took a few pictures of me and Madison


Madison loves the swings, almost as much as the tire swing

which was occupied by much bigger kids, who don't share well.

I took a few more pictures of Madison. The boys hate to have there picture taken. I think that may change with Austin. He was helping me update my background to my blog and he asked me to count how many pictures of his were on my blog. Not very many. I told him that he never lets me take his picture. He said that he would let me take a few more, "but not a lot". too cute. I hope he does.

16 days

just 16 days

It is not fair how fast the years go by

this was a good year, a really good year; so maybe that’s why it’s a little harder to let it go

maybe it because 5 is just too old, not a baby.

maybe it’s because 4 is awesome…

you are hilarious; you keep me and daddy laughing everyday with the crazy things you say.

you are loving; hugs, kisses, cuddles, squeezing in the middle, “family sandwich” (daddy promises to remind you of this at your sweet sixteen party), “I love you mommy” “I love you daddy”… all the time

you are sensitive, mommy and daddy have to watch how we word things and our tone with you, if we say something the wrong way, or just a little too harsh, it breaks your little heart.

you are thoughtful and kind, always willing to share anything you have, even if it’s the last one.

you are stubborn, so very stubborn. I hope you keep this. It has it good side and bad side, but it’s you, and we love it.

you are confident, you know you are a beautiful and talented little girl, another trait I hope you keep.

you have a love–fight relationship with your brothers, but mostly you love them and they love you too.

you love playing legos and paper dolls with mommy and daddy – you have so many rules, we have to do just as you do or just as you say. daddy is the blue doll, mommy is purple and you are pink - always. The dolls are triplets so they all have to dress the same, and you dictate what they wear. with legos, we have to build houses or beds for the paper dolls and again we have to follow your lead. It is so much fun playing with you.

you love to scrapbook with mommy, right now everything we make has to have a butterfly.

you don’t play with babies as much as you use to. right now it’s doesn’t seem you have a favorite thing to play, you are all over the place, one minute it’s legos, then paper dolls, then littlest pet shop, then painting, then computer or tv time… you don’t sit still or stay with one thing very long.

you still suck your thumb, not as often as before, mostly when you are tired or nervous, I haven’t really tried to break you of this habit, i’m hoping before kindergarten.

you still sleep with your bink, absolutely have to have it. I think you have only gone 2 nights in your almost 5 years with out it and they were both this year, and they were very hard nights.

you love fruit and veggies, healthy foods more then junk.

we went on your Make a Wish trip back in April and you are still talking about it, you had a blast (we all did). I was a great family trip. It was so fun watching you experience everything there

you can write most of your letters and some of you numbers, you can sound out/read short 3 letter words. mommy and daddy think you are just the smartest little girl

i know with each year we have something special to look forward to, I know that with 5 you will become more independent, that you have kindergarten to experience, that we will have more fun family trips, and maybe ballet lessons…

but I think I am going to hold on as tight I can to the next 16 days of 4.

i love you baby girl,

love, mom

fall

I love fall

I love Halloween

I love cooler weather

I love the "beautiful light" (this was mentions in a blog I love to read) the reflections, the light

I love sweaters and jeans and boots

I love trips to the pumpkin patch and to the zoo

Happy Fall