exhale... a little

CT came back clean, not cancer. We got the results the same day Madison did the chest CT, I'm bad at updating. Madison is still coughing, but she is sick too. Her fever was 102 on Monday so she had to stay home from school. She was really upset and promised that she would cover her mouth when she coughed so she didn't get the other kids sick. I explained that this is a different kind of sick and that temps over 100 = days home with mom. We watched Barbie Fashion Fairytale 5 times, no joke. It was so nice to spend the day lounging on the couch with her. 

So back to the cough, we were told that something in her room could be causing her to cough. I had her take the 50 stuffed animals that she sleeps with out of her bed. She is down to 2 that she just can't live without. I washed her sheets (2nd time this week, this time with baby detergent). I vacuumed her mattress and under her bed. I dusted all the wood part of her bed. And... she is still coughing. Dr M (ped) said that if she is still coughing this week to bring her back and she will refer Madison to a pulmonologist. I will see how she is doing Friday.  

holding my breath



 Madison had an appointment with her pediatrician today. She has been coughing every night for over a month now, but just at night. Dr M checked her breath sounds, did several breathing tests, gave her a breathing treatment, did another test, and everything came back normal. Madison does not have drainage, bronchial asthma, or anything else that Dr M tested for. So a chest CT was ordered, "just as a precaution". Madison did great getting through all the tests and the CT, and now we wait. And I worry. Mostly because I have read that one of the first place brain cancer spreads is to the lungs. I know that is what Dr M is testing for, I told her that I read too much online and ask if she is checking for spreading. (we don't say cancer, because Madison still does not know that she had cancer) Dr M said it was just a precaution, but yes that is what the test is for. I love that she is so cautious with my daughter, but really it's just a cough, just at night.... why does everything have to be a scare?

SNOW

Today it snowed, really snowed, here in the desert. It was so beautiful. I don't have proof (no pictures). But me the kids, my sister, her husband, and their twin girls stood in the parking lot of Peter Piper Pizza with several other families and watched the snow blow around each other. I loved watching the kids reactions. Lots of giggles.

The picture I do have for today is of these cool glasses my sister made for the girls. She bought the little ones scrapbook supplies at Target and while they scrapped she made each girls these super cute glasses for them.

slacker

I have been a slacker. Things have been tough (no job = no money = lots of stress) and I have been in a slump. I want to try to at least catch up some pictures over the next few days. here's one that makes me smile.......

Austin's 13th Birthday party:
roasted marshmallows, and made smores
great time with the family,
hopefully he will want this to be a tradition

Queen of the Week, and an early Birthday present

Madison's birthday is this week so she is Queen of the Week at school. She got to wear a crown and gets to have a birthday party in class on Friday. She is super excited. I think she plans on wearing the crown everyday this week. This week is also Red Ribbon week at school. Today was Jersey day - Team up against Drugs. I didn't have a jersey for Madison and she was pretty upset. Well, tomorrow is Slipper Day - wear your slippers so you don't slip into drugs. I had a cue pair of pink slippers that i had bought for a birthday present, so Madison got an early birthday present.

our little queen

I think she really likes them, or maybe she likes that she gets to wear slippers to school tomorrow with the rest of the kids :)

Basketball with the cousins

Madison prefered just shooting baskets - not    playing basketball or HORSE with the boys

Austin lining up for a shot - they were playing HORSE, he kicked butt.

Luke taking a shot - he's pretty good

the hoop was a little high for little man but he made his fair share of shots too





Breakfast - Sonic Tater Tots and Orange Juice

Austin

He finally let me take a few pictures :)

burrrr

52 degrees this morning, burrr! Finally jacket weather (in the mornings at least). Madison's   friend got her the cute black boots, now Madison   and Parker have matching shoes

Ahhhh

this is what i picked up from school today, i      was informed she is a scary cat (she dressed   herself up in the classroom costume castle)

Toothless

After weeks of trying to get Madison let us pull   her tooth, she knocked it out herself, face     planting into her pillow

Playdate

Madison had an early moring (7am - yuck)      playdate with some friends from school

She still needs to be pushed on the swings - I   don't mind, I'm holding on to everything that    keeps her my baby

Halloween Cookies (part two)

Keira

Cameron

Luke




Madison

Kailey



yummy - my sister's alicia and angie made the really cute cookies



and some of the kids creations

Halloween Cookies (part one)

Austin and Madison making Halloween sugar cookies (with a few M&M's)

Luke and a couple of his cookies



And, Cameron decorating a few



Power House

Madison's Kindergarten class won the trophy for shool spirit, every kid in her class wore a red shirt. 



Madison at her school Power House assembly, the kindergarteners did great, they sang about a year   of learning while they build friendships.