We are so proud to annouce that Amy and Paul welcomed their sweet baby in to the world on Wednesday night.  As some of you may or may not know, they were not finding out what they were having.  I was so happy to hear that it was a beautiful baby girl, who they named Aubrey Renee.  I would have been happy with either one, but I am partial with little girls.  =) 

Since Amy had to have a c-section, and Aubrey wasn't born until after 7:00 on Saturday night, we only got to get a few pictures of her.  Thursday afternoon we were able to Skype with them at the hospital in Dallas and Madison got to meet her new little cousin.  I recorded the meeting and it is PRECIOUS!!!!  It will be posted below. 

We are leaving in the morning at 10:00 to go to Birmingham for Madison's 6 month check up.  I can honestly say that this is the first time that I have not been anxious and sick over these appointments.  I was earlier in the week but I knew I could not keep stressing about this.  I have laid all my worries and anxieties at the Lord's feet.  This situation is out of my control and in his.  Please keep our sweet Madison in your prayers this week.  I do promise that I will update every night and give the updates of that day's appointments.  Our last appointment is Thursday morning at 10:00 and we will be coming home after that.

Thank you for caring for Madison and wanting to share this journey with us.
Love to you all!

Yes, I know.  It has been a long time since I last posted.  We have been pretty busy and not much exciting things going on so I felt like I haven't had too much to say.  We are leaving next Sunday to go to Birmingham for Madison's 6 month check ups.  The plan is to come home on Thursday after her last appointment that morning.  However, if any of the doctors want to run any type of tests on her we will have Thursday afternoon and Friday to do that.  I really don't think they will though but I have left that open just in case.  I will post every day next week so everyone can get the updates from the appointments.

We had a busy but wonderful Easter weekend.  We went to Dothan for the annual Ethridge reunion.  We left at 8:30 Saturday morning and got home around 5:00 that afternoon.  Madison was worn out to say the least.  Sunday we got up early to go to the 8:00 service at church which meant we were running around like crazy trying to get there on time.  We did get there on time but I didn't get a single picture of Madison in her Easter dress.  I was so bummed out.  Madison was so sleepy when we got home I didn't want to make her take any pictures.  I am going to recreate it today and take pictures.

I have several pictures and a video that I am going to post.  The video is of my grandmother (Madison's great-grandmother) rocking her Saturday after the reunion and singing Jesus Loves Me to her.  You will probably have to turn your volume up because when I recorded it, I was in the kitchen and it didn't pick up the sound that good.

I will try to post more this week.  My list of things to get done this week is growing every day.  We have to take so much stuff when we go and I am already starting to pack.  We are anxiously awaiting the arrival of my little niece or nephew.  Amy's due date was last Sunday and she is going to the doctor this morning.  Please keep Amy and Paul and baby Cristina in your prayers. 

I hope you enjoy the pictures and the video.  Love to you all!  =)

Madison shopping in style!

Madison patiently waiting for Daddy to get home. 

Cousins Scarlett and her daughter Brooklyn and Madison and I.

 4 generations

Cousin Ronald showing Madison an Easter egg. 

Madison sleeping good after a long day fellowship.

Big Mama rocking and singing to Madison.

I have been wanting to post this video since Tuesday but I am just now getting around to it.  Madison has been going full throttle and I am so thankful for it.  She has been sleeping in until about 10:30 every morning.  When she is up, she does not slow down.  I get the biggest laugh because we have the same conversation about 300 times a day!  Maybe a little exaggerated but it is a lot.  She will tell me hey and then go down the list of all the names she knows and I have to tell her where every one is at and then we repeat it. 

We call my grandmother Big Mama.  We have been working with Madison to say it for awhile now and she has finally got it.  She says, "Me Mama."  When she says it, it sounds like she is saying "mean mama."  We will just stick to what we hope it is and that is her way of saying Big Mama.  =)

Now to the video.  A few years ago, Paul's mom Jackie gave Madison this leap frog dog named Scout.  She played with this dog for about a month straight and then moved on.  She has days where she still plays with it non stop.  Well, Scout has been the top pick for her toy this week.  Monday, Madison would be playing with Scout and then Scout would disappear.  Madison can say Scout (that's the name of Amy and Paul's dog too) so she would tell me that is what she wanted.  Madison will always show me where she dropped a toy at for me to pick up.  Well this time Madison went into the bathroom which isn't unusual but she stopped at the bath tub and I realized Scout was in there.  I asked her why Scout was in the tub and she would say, "Bubbles?"  Apparently, Madison thought Scout needed a bubble bath. 

I couldn't catch her on video putting Scout in the tub.  I did video tape her putting Scout in the tub after I asked if he needed a bath.  Still a cute video.  I hope you enjoy!  =)

I can't believe it has been almost a week since I last posted.  I got a phone call Saturday morning from my friend Kellie Moore.  Kellie and her husband, Brad, live in Nashville and they had a daughter named Rylee, who was also born with the same disease as Madison.  Rylee passed away in 2009 at the age of 8.  Kellie and I have become such a great friends and talk on a weekly basis.  She called to tell me that a little boy with I-Cell Disease, Ethan from Minnesota, passed away that morning.  He was only 3 months younger than Madison.

My heart was breaking.  Shane had gone into work on Saturday and Madison was still asleep.  To say I cried my eyes out is an understatement.  After sobbing for a good 20 to 30 minutes, and Madison still being asleep, I knew the only way I was going to get peace out of this situation was to go to God in prayer.  It is amazing was a great quiet time can do for you. 

If I did not have my faith, I would live every day that we have with Madison in complete fear.  Don't get me wrong, there are days where I let that fear slip in.  I have to remind myself that this is the Lord's will for Madison and he would not want me to have fear but rather complete faith.  We have to live each day we have with Madison to the fullest and give her the best life possible.  That would not be able to happen if I let fear run my life. 

We sang a song Sunday night at church that really moved me.  It has always been one of favorites.  The words just spoke so loudly to me.   

I need Thee every hour, most gracious Lord;
No tender voice like Thine can peace afford.


I need Thee every hour, stay Thou nearby;
Temptations lose their pow’r when Thou art nigh.


I need Thee every hour, in joy or pain;
Come quickly and abide, or life is vain.


I need Thee every hour; teach me Thy will;
And Thy rich promises in me fulfill.


I need Thee every hour, most Holy One;
Oh, make me Thine indeed, Thou blessed Son.

Refrain:
I need Thee, oh, I need Thee;
Every hour I need Thee;
Oh, bless me now, my Savior,
I come to Thee.

I lean on God every day to help me be the best mom that I can be to Madison, both physically and spiritually.  I am fully aware of the outcome of the disease that Madison has.  When you really think about it, we are all "terminal."  We might not pass away from a disease that is terminal but we will all pass away some day.  God knows the begining and the end for each and every one us.  I am so glad that Jesus lives in my heart and that he is there for me every hour that I call on him.  

I don't want people to feel sorry for us when they hear about Madison.  I know who holds tomorrow and for that I put all my faith in the Lord.  

Thank you for keeping up with our precious Madison.  Please continue to pray not only for Madison but all the other children who are battling this disease.  Also, please keep Ethan's family in your prayers, Scott and Tara Finne, and his little sister Emma.

Hug your loved ones a little tighter today and tell them you love them a little more often. 

~Romans 8: 38-39
          "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."