We lost our first Tooth!

Emma lost her first tooth 2/3/13. She was very, very excited. The tooth fairy did appear and gave her $5 for her first tooth.

Hemangioma and Hernia Repair : All in One surgery

Mady was born with 3 hemangiomas (vascular birthmarks). Actually, we watched them start forming in the NICU. One on her eye (which gradually went away), one on her shoulder that has ulcerated over the years, and one on her thigh. None are painful, but do have a risk of ulcerating again. We've had many discussions over the last few years with her dermatologist and plastic surgeons and decided this was the year to remove them. In the meantime, Mady was diagnosed with a inguinal hernia which needed to be fixed. In addition to these, she also had extra skin on her belly button from an umbilical hernia she had when she was a baby. We were lucky enough to have two doctors very willing to take her at the same time to do all of this.

Some of you may find these photos unappealing, but I wanted to post these for us to remember, but also for those that are going through similar surgeries. I had a really hard time finding before and after photos on the internet. The doctor did show Mady and I a before and after shot in the office so we had an idea of what to expect. She will definitely need at least one more surgery to decrease the size even more and hopefully get down to just a line scar. The birthmarks were cut out from the middle and purse string sutured, which is why it looks very pulled together and raised in the initial photos. The surgery took about 3.5 hours and we were at the hospital for about 8 hours. Mady had a hard time waking up and was very pale, so they put her back on fluids for a few hours. While fixing the hernia, the doctor took a peek at the other side to make sure she didn't have one on that side as well. All was OK!

Initially she did not want to have these removed. I think she saw them as part of who she is, which is adorable coming from a 5 year old. In the end, she was a perfect patient. She was so brave and only got scared right before surgery. She has listened to us about all her post surgery "rules" and seems happy with her results :)

She had to wear an arm sling for the first week to limit movement and to keep other kiddos at school from getting near it. The risk of these opening back up during the first weeks is very high.

And of course "sissy" was with us the whole day at the hospital

and could not wait to see Mady when she woke up.

Shoulder before surgery

4 days after surgery (first look after removing bandages)

11 days 

almost 3 weeks

Leg before surgery

4 days after



11 days



almost 3 weeks

Belly button before surgery

4 days after...

11 days after..

Glasses for Madpie

Mady got glasses in December. She is near sighted and will need glasses from here on out! She's so good about it and loves the attention she gets from her purple glasses. She does forget from time to time to wear them and we let it go, as long as she's not in school.

Always on our toes

This is a late post but poor Emma hurt her ankle 3 weeks ago. It swelled up bad. The pediatrician told us it was probably sprained but she kept reinjuring it and eventually landed at urgent care and found out she has a fractured ankle on her growth plate. She has a super cute purple cast and is doing pretty well with it. So well in fact, that we're on week 3 of 4 and she may have to get it redone tomorrow from wearing through it! Sponge baths are the low point for sure. She misses playing with her sister in the tub.

Mady might be lactose intolerant and we're currently on day 4 of a lactose free two weeks to see how she does. She gets tons of gas, bloating and chronic diarrea which no 4.5 year old should have to deal with!

On my end of things, I had an ultrasound last week due to pelvic and back pain and bleeding. Technician said things did NOT look good. That my endo looks like it's adhering everything together in there. I'm suppossed to hear from my doctor today. I'm assuming that means a trip back to the endometriosis surgeon. We'll see!!

That's a super quick update. Hope to post a picture of Emma's super cute cast if I can remember!

My preschoolers

The girls are now doing so much by themselves. They now put toothpaste on their tooth brushes and brush their teeth themselves twice a day. They pick out their outfits and get themselves dressed. They also get into the snack drawer when they shouldn't :)

I think we'll be signing up for Basketball soon, as dance class only lasted a few months before they no longer wanted to go. I think it was because they didn't love the teacher, but I'm really not sure. They are still loving gymnastics and I'm amazed at what they can do.

I'm also still feeling guilty about not blogging as much as I'd like. Emma found one of her half-filled out baby books this weekend and I was so upset, but then I realized early on I did keep a pretty good diary of their lives on this blog. At some point I'll need to print this out for them!

Our weeks now consist of Mon/Tues with Grandma and Pap-Pap, Tuesday nights at the library for story time. Wed/Thursday is preschool, Wed night I have tap. Fridays I am, thankfully, still home with them, and Friday afternoons we have Gymnastics. The weekends are full of errands and fun. This weekend we're taking them to the Natural History Museum.

They had their first sleepover this weekend with their friend Caity, and went well!

See you in the stars

I wish I had the chance to hold your hand, to see you smile, to see you with your sisters. Instead, all I got was a glance at your heartbeat before you were taken away. I will always wonder who you would have been and why you couldn't be. I will forever see you in the stars at night... My angel.