tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-836185288606709492024-02-06T22:09:44.931-06:00The Life of Riley"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
~ 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18April Rileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06906213148681628244noreply@blogger.comBlogger129125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83618528860670949.post-57275181513091236262016-03-23T09:42:00.003-05:002016-04-24T22:16:22.997-05:00A Precious Girl's Best FriendI have never been much of a dog person. We always had pets growing up. Mom and Dad had a white German Shepherd, Casper, that they got before Amy and I were born. On top of Casper, we had 3 cats, multiple gold fish, a dog we inherited, chickens, and too many rabbits to count. Needless to say, I was perfectly content with never getting another pet for the rest of my life. Until Madison asked for a dog.<br />
<br />
She was about 4 years old and started asking me for a puppy dog. I have no idea what brought all this about, though Shane would argue that I put the idea in her head but honest to goodness, I did not. Shane was adamant that we were not getting a dog, so I started researching breeds and breeders.<br />
<br />
I decided on the toy poodle breed. I wanted a dog that would not shed dog hair all over the house and one that would always be smaller than Madison. I never wanted her to feel scared of a dog in her own home.<br />
<br />
I called several different breeders and explained the disabilities Madison had. None of them seemed to really care/understand, until I called a breeder in Augusta, Georgia. She immediately wanted to see pictures and a video of Madison so that she could fully understand what we needed. I knew then we had found the right person. I had my mind set on an apricot toy poodle. She called when the liter was born and said that the liter had 3 puppies. Two apricot, one black, and that the black puppy she thought would be perfect for Madison. He was the runt of the liter so he would always be small and not get over 4 pounds.<br />
<br />
Shane finally agreed with one stipulation, that the dog was absolutely not allowed to sleep in the bed with us.<br />
<br />
The weeks leading up to us bringing Bo home were very exciting. Every day, multiple times a day, Madison would ask about this "puppy dog" and wonder where he was. I am pretty sure she thought we were lying to her because this dog that we had been talking about was not around.<br />
<br />
We first named Bo, Bentley, but Madison would only call him "puppy dog." Bentley was too hard for her to say, so we named him Bo. The two of them bonded instantly. Bo learned very quickly to duck under the walker. Madison only ran over him one time and he learned then how fast he needed to run when she would spin that walker around. He was always by her side. Bo never tried to nibble at Madison's fingers or toes and has never chewed up any of her toys. Only two pappies (pacifiers). <br />
<br />
I miss hearing Madison saying "Bo! Kennel!" whenever we were leaving to go somewhere. The last year of Madison's life, I truly realized how smart dogs are and what they can sense. The day Madison's oxygen tubing got tied up in her walker wheel and was pulled from her concentrator, I knew that something was wrong first because of how Bo was acting. It was only a few seconds later that Madison became distressed because she wasn't getting any oxygen. <br />
<br />
I truly believe the day we left to go by ambulance to Birmingham, Madison knew that she wouldn't see Bo again. We were loading up and Madison kept saying, "Able! Bo! Hug!" I knew we needed to get on the road but I rushed Madison back inside and Bo came running to her. I picked him up and she gave him the biggest hug and said "Bye Bo! Love you!" and kissed his cold nose.<br />
<br />
Some good friends of ours came and got Bo while we were in Birmingham and we asked them to bring him home before we got back. I knew that it would be difficult to see Bo and not have Madison with us. As soon as we walked in, he was frantically looking for her. I pulled the shirt out that she wearing when she passed away in and gave it to him to smell. He carried it to our bedroom and just layed on top of it for awhile.<br />
<br />
That night, when we were getting ready to go to bed, all of our normal sounds were gone. The humming of the oxygen concentrator, the we had listened to every night for almost 4 years, was gone. Bo was in his kennel, whining, which he never did. Shane went and got him and put him in the bed with us. Shane and I were both crying with it being our first night at home without Madison. From that day on, Bo never spent another night in his kennel. He sleeps with us every night and every night, he sleeps right where Madison slept each night. <br />
<br />
I always knew there was a strong bond between Bo and Madison but I now have a much greater appreciation for it. It was about a week after Madison passed away, I pulled out my ipad and watched some old videos of her. I was in the kitchen and as soon as Bo heard her voice, I could hear him running down the hallway. He ran through the kitchen, into the den, down the other hallway. I knew then that he was looking for Madison. It broke my heart when he realized that her sweet voice was coming from the ipad in my hands. <br />
<br />
Today is Bo's fourth birthday and I am so happy to have him as a part of our family. He has mourned Madison right along with us. He very rarely leaves my side and I have become "that" person that takes their dog with them everywhere. He comes to work with me everyday and it always perched on his own chair right beside my desk. Everybody thinks that their dog is the best dog but Bo truly is the BEST dog. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Bo's first day with us. He was very scared of Madison's walker so he stayed camped under the dinning room table for the first week. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlo3Te72TuFEGIFXERQpydtq6dm7sESFOBwDmdlmiLBvVZbbJf8TChpON7dlEXLxCSyJs5cGnvZGm-zBcP3xMj8bFaLMinRq1mGKSfn53UIijDTrZUxSnkjW792fRM7B07DQITR2VzkIg/s1600/IMG_0124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlo3Te72TuFEGIFXERQpydtq6dm7sESFOBwDmdlmiLBvVZbbJf8TChpON7dlEXLxCSyJs5cGnvZGm-zBcP3xMj8bFaLMinRq1mGKSfn53UIijDTrZUxSnkjW792fRM7B07DQITR2VzkIg/s320/IMG_0124.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Bo and Madison getting to know each other. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/5w7qYugzRa0/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5w7qYugzRa0?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Bo and Madison's morning ritual. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqBTf1DnsSlsrP180ZMQpENkPAqVMeR6aS6xgg-F__Zi7XBti_iVzEQPy_23HfvDrquOcn-2Zk7ohF_X9X0SOxDVt8hYuIuVX0LCKHppp4n39xVM1Kz-YBrR7nzeS74M8Enf-gDPSE9_w/s1600/IMG_0195.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqBTf1DnsSlsrP180ZMQpENkPAqVMeR6aS6xgg-F__Zi7XBti_iVzEQPy_23HfvDrquOcn-2Zk7ohF_X9X0SOxDVt8hYuIuVX0LCKHppp4n39xVM1Kz-YBrR7nzeS74M8Enf-gDPSE9_w/s320/IMG_0195.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Bo supervising Madison and Aubrey in the pool.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiohFUnTw9ZiBFIBSrAC3R22POZSoQfud3ajoJWsPtPFn5RSS5mEzmQE8ATrNMcWYKMr_87QX3TvFNHDFCUTKL80BPsVQZZpnJ6bkvjalWBIfjMyBq1fCGv3e4W0Nn0ngsmOquy6mjS6YE/s1600/Bo4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiohFUnTw9ZiBFIBSrAC3R22POZSoQfud3ajoJWsPtPFn5RSS5mEzmQE8ATrNMcWYKMr_87QX3TvFNHDFCUTKL80BPsVQZZpnJ6bkvjalWBIfjMyBq1fCGv3e4W0Nn0ngsmOquy6mjS6YE/s320/Bo4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The one thing Bo did chew. Madison's pappies. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQPAa2WUWHbNYbyJgtHot0xe_itH8_0Q_1lr2YjsD5MYhepP7wCLz19WE0B_V42rBUDuDBK1x0v4Dhyphenhyphen6zBJlgnA7EI7_a4agN8iZGWsQXe2R_cc42HNz1u5w0U-YIxfzcCvmnG8-oEYg0/s1600/IMG_0452.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQPAa2WUWHbNYbyJgtHot0xe_itH8_0Q_1lr2YjsD5MYhepP7wCLz19WE0B_V42rBUDuDBK1x0v4Dhyphenhyphen6zBJlgnA7EI7_a4agN8iZGWsQXe2R_cc42HNz1u5w0U-YIxfzcCvmnG8-oEYg0/s320/IMG_0452.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Bo posing in the back yard.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqwgvDZgzVWt53wWiirslq1jeXQYIq_LXvcT6eHEKXnmAtQsYd0l4j7sRw-Iu_aBmvCL374DqWYabSBPW7gX6AGYNOja5G7vaDyy8OJo2TdEizUVCe5wmu6p4O1gx5ailcBasME4fLY_M/s1600/IMG_0361.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqwgvDZgzVWt53wWiirslq1jeXQYIq_LXvcT6eHEKXnmAtQsYd0l4j7sRw-Iu_aBmvCL374DqWYabSBPW7gX6AGYNOja5G7vaDyy8OJo2TdEizUVCe5wmu6p4O1gx5ailcBasME4fLY_M/s320/IMG_0361.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
<br /></div>
<div align="center">
<br />
<br />
Bo and Madison just hanging out before bed time.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAgILVOPeXQspfa20CFT1MedkhNUSxtcr6LjcJEDmvaxzBJ4KMjOF_fwWhCU-fOVA7JzfMXuS36b8CKnjrf8xVUr-IauYLfwmlcS21aRxCiQVg9hQiejpdSK9Sccra6z6vWeA_JEExuS4/s1600/Bo3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAgILVOPeXQspfa20CFT1MedkhNUSxtcr6LjcJEDmvaxzBJ4KMjOF_fwWhCU-fOVA7JzfMXuS36b8CKnjrf8xVUr-IauYLfwmlcS21aRxCiQVg9hQiejpdSK9Sccra6z6vWeA_JEExuS4/s320/Bo3.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Bo always thought he needed to ride with Madison in her car seat and she always agreed.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiOwlgqSV4SgSynbPkEfsPF7uKwPYrrOYqQcOwKNA1idegHxt85cCa1NxFjSaP8SmH2hSyrINEkfmU59-q9GnGEDYCxz3tGT8dGRV197r7_j8_b26j1HuTp0LFkwRXD4lSnsGjvI_45Mk/s1600/IMG_0492.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiOwlgqSV4SgSynbPkEfsPF7uKwPYrrOYqQcOwKNA1idegHxt85cCa1NxFjSaP8SmH2hSyrINEkfmU59-q9GnGEDYCxz3tGT8dGRV197r7_j8_b26j1HuTp0LFkwRXD4lSnsGjvI_45Mk/s320/IMG_0492.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<br />
Bo giving Madison kisses during her breathing treatment. He made her breathing treatments every 3 hours so much better. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTPtHyjiyRE1UZjJgo4FgSBcJ8AV6xvF3AKkBJgLw3Ljc85vWKBUOzggi8_dR32y-Somd7w3ZT1rH_vWBIok7uUYoJf0SWE7vuYT33Z4-xcpl-1acq0pOuLWl0qpUd2tBkXzrPQ6ImevY/s1600/IMG_0513.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTPtHyjiyRE1UZjJgo4FgSBcJ8AV6xvF3AKkBJgLw3Ljc85vWKBUOzggi8_dR32y-Somd7w3ZT1rH_vWBIok7uUYoJf0SWE7vuYT33Z4-xcpl-1acq0pOuLWl0qpUd2tBkXzrPQ6ImevY/s320/IMG_0513.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Sleeping right beside Madison as she feel asleep during her breathing treatment.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY_78muArEdChamgjJ1svUC2La70IrfnVpRza2PFfXpp0qEWD4-nbumb7ChOg29mHxYDYXp2pAGeK5REDRLwC-yOqrYrUcf1LI9uOgq8v2Mmt-ukYgJJWkyyLXtKGtAdlTsqJ1ITkOFnU/s1600/Bo5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY_78muArEdChamgjJ1svUC2La70IrfnVpRza2PFfXpp0qEWD4-nbumb7ChOg29mHxYDYXp2pAGeK5REDRLwC-yOqrYrUcf1LI9uOgq8v2Mmt-ukYgJJWkyyLXtKGtAdlTsqJ1ITkOFnU/s320/Bo5.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div align="center">
This picture was taken right after Madison's tubing got disconnected. As soon as she was </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
getting oxygen again, Madison ran over to her machine and gave it a big hug and a kiss, with Bo right behind her. </div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicmf0TRzT13ztdoJThDX81hFt4dcJEe0AKdRN6JnYQU8LSAVdTEKd62dJbckkPec7PuHgDzIMX-XP-XeX6rGlXvjM4ytF2Z6jpnuvv72owd3FgZt9yzqIpP_VjL9BtPUXLcVoLiySM-nM/s1600/IMG_0633.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicmf0TRzT13ztdoJThDX81hFt4dcJEe0AKdRN6JnYQU8LSAVdTEKd62dJbckkPec7PuHgDzIMX-XP-XeX6rGlXvjM4ytF2Z6jpnuvv72owd3FgZt9yzqIpP_VjL9BtPUXLcVoLiySM-nM/s320/IMG_0633.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Bo getting settled into our bed. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguWQYmQ2BR1d0H-ObrPbtOoPafLjGj73YABP-GFAKqoZPiTYS7YAPm6DHRg0HZKU7So6xipVE-s8czi_LJLR2JKUL16mSBt_iF7BNkKn1ON64EVAhDjCDDcI1PHTKVDIqfVHM6euNGcxQ/s1600/Bo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguWQYmQ2BR1d0H-ObrPbtOoPafLjGj73YABP-GFAKqoZPiTYS7YAPm6DHRg0HZKU7So6xipVE-s8czi_LJLR2JKUL16mSBt_iF7BNkKn1ON64EVAhDjCDDcI1PHTKVDIqfVHM6euNGcxQ/s320/Bo+1.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Bo working hard at work. Notice he is laying on one of Madison's blankets too. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO24xRsNVrvhpHgYXuWYoviYQBoNdfy3FmA_8Lxwr4PyLTsRrVJaTaS_EDLTnfjIrU18F44Gki0WU-Vt2b0GOjyOOJa_6tm4q_FvTDw67jDseFGE_FR9Fi0VUJOQ3VFcjgxMAwU8d2AVI/s1600/Bo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO24xRsNVrvhpHgYXuWYoviYQBoNdfy3FmA_8Lxwr4PyLTsRrVJaTaS_EDLTnfjIrU18F44Gki0WU-Vt2b0GOjyOOJa_6tm4q_FvTDw67jDseFGE_FR9Fi0VUJOQ3VFcjgxMAwU8d2AVI/s320/Bo+2.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />April Rileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06906213148681628244noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83618528860670949.post-38742334959214482752015-06-03T06:30:00.000-05:002015-06-03T06:54:19.997-05:00Take me to the King!<span style="line-height: normal;">Shane and I are celebrating 9 years of marriage today, June 3. I first met Shane when I was in the 10th grade, when our family went to a friend's hunting lease in Georgia. As soon as I met him, I was smitten. There is just something about a man in camo! When we were leaving, I told my Dad then that I was going to marry that Shane Riley boy! Of course, Dad said no because Shane was 8 years older than me. Lucky for me, there is 8 years between Mom and Dad so he really couldn't say too much! </span><br />
<span style="line-height: normal;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: normal;">Every time our family vehicles needed any type of repairs, I would quickly volunteer to take them to Corner Tire Store! I may or may not have thrown a few nails and screws in the driveway too! Just kidding. </span><br />
<span style="line-height: normal;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: normal;">Shane finally came to his senses after I graduated high school (which I guess being 8 years older than me is a good thing because otherwise that would be gross and illegal)! He asked me out on a date and the rest is history. </span><br />
<span style="line-height: normal;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: normal;">I would like to sit here and type that the past 9 years have been full of marital bliss. That it has been the perfect life. That it has been everything we dreamed it would be, but the truth is that it has been 9 years of extreme heartache. </span><br />
<span style="line-height: normal;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: normal;">Going into our marriage we felt prepared for the trials any marriage may face. However, receiving a terminal diagnosis on your daughter, is not something any parent can be prepared for. We were not prepared for the diagnosis Madison received and the short life that she was expected to live, but because of our shared faith in Jesus Christ, we knew where to place our heartache. </span><br />
<br />
When we got married, our dreams were worldly dreams. Our dreams were what everyone else dreams: a house full of kids; an SUV filled with car seats and toys; a hectic schedule; weekends full of birthday parties and ball games; etc. Our dreams have now changed into Heavenly dreams. Longing to be with our Savior in Heaven, where this void that we now have, and always will, every waking hour, will be no more. No more tears, no more pain. <br />
<br />
<span style="line-height: normal;">A lot of people don't understand it, and some may think that we are not dealing with our grief, but we are both more than ready to go to Heaven. I am ready for the faith that I have to become my sight. We hold on to the promises God has made to believers and know that God is stronger than our fears and stronger than death. Because of these promises, Shane and I are able to get up everyday, with a smile on our face, because we can confidently say that the grave is not the end. These wounds that we have so deep in our hearts will not defeat us.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="line-height: normal;">One of my favorite singers, Amy Gann Henderson, (everyone is referred to by their Facebook name) sang this song at church a few Sundays ago. The truth of these words have been heavy on my heart. </span><br />
<span style="line-height: normal;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: normal;">Truth is I'm weak</span><br />
<span style="line-height: normal;">No strength to fight</span><br />
<span style="line-height: normal;">No tears to cry</span><br />
<span style="line-height: normal;">Even if I tried</span><br />
<span style="line-height: normal;">But still my soul</span><br />
<span style="line-height: normal;">Refuses to die</span><br />
<span style="line-height: normal;">One touch will change my life</span><br />
Take me to the King<br />
<span style="line-height: normal;">I don't have much to bring</span><br />
<span style="line-height: normal;">My heart's torn in pieces</span><br />
<span style="line-height: normal;">It's my offering</span><br />
<span style="line-height: normal;">Lay me at the throne</span><br />
<span style="line-height: normal;">Leave me there alone</span><br />
<span style="line-height: normal;">To gaze upon Your glory</span><br />
<span style="line-height: normal;">And sing to You this song</span><br />
<span style="line-height: normal;">Please take me to the King</span><br />
The glory's not for us<br />
It's all for You<br />
<span style="line-height: normal;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: normal;">~Take me to the King</span><br />
<span style="line-height: normal;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: normal;">I LOVE these lyrics! This is exactly how we feel. TAKE ME TO THE KING! Yes, I am ready to go to Heaven; I am ready to go because that is where Jesus is, and having Madison and Dad there....well, that is just an added bonus! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="line-height: normal;">Even though these 9 years have consisted of broken dreams and more heartache than we ever thought possible, we refuse to say that we have suffered great loss. Yes, Madison is no longer here with us but she is not lost by any means. We know exactly where she is and we know that she is alive and well.</span><br />
<br />
We trusted, and continue to trust, in God's perfect plan and not our own. We believe that God is stronger than our brokenness. I praise Jesus for this journey that He is continuing to lead us through, and know that His dreams for us are much greater than we could ever have for ourselves. <br />
<br />
Just take me to the King.<br />
<br />
<span style="line-height: normal;">"But our citizenship is in Heaven."</span><br />
<span style="line-height: normal;">~Philippians 3:20</span><br />
<span style="line-height: normal;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: normal;">"And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death nor sorrow nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."</span><br />
<span style="line-height: normal;">~Revelation 21:4</span><br />
<br />
<span style="line-height: normal;">"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind...for by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgement, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned."</span><br />
<span style="line-height: normal;">~ Romans 12:2-3</span>
<span style="line-height: normal;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: normal;"><span id="goog_49965535"></span><span id="goog_49965536"></span><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: normal;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixqD7z9qwyFH1OoqFSxILuM1kOh-5OQefSdbupolokev39k-plfdpyVTANjUaiiCi5go-2MivlUc_PZi6TK27A5fcz3gOQe1L_2lVKEV3vx9DrFMvBGw6qFtkqbg6fSsh5-gtign0Dkz4/s1600/Wedding+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixqD7z9qwyFH1OoqFSxILuM1kOh-5OQefSdbupolokev39k-plfdpyVTANjUaiiCi5go-2MivlUc_PZi6TK27A5fcz3gOQe1L_2lVKEV3vx9DrFMvBGw6qFtkqbg6fSsh5-gtign0Dkz4/s400/Wedding+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">June 3, 2006<br />
Oh Happy Day!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />April Rileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06906213148681628244noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83618528860670949.post-44610714280104783602014-10-16T08:25:00.000-05:002014-10-16T08:25:09.257-05:00The Dreaded Day We Celebrate"My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience."<br />
~James 1:2-3<br />
<br />
"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory of which shall be revealed in us."<br />
~Romans 8:18<br />
<br />
Madison's one year anniversary of she being in Heaven is quickly approaching. October 22. It is a day that I have dreaded since the day she passed away. I truly believed that Jesus would have already come back by now or that he would have called me home, and that I would be with Madison again. The reality of her not being here with us is hitting me hard this week. It has almost been 365 days since I held her in my arms, kissed her good morning, heard her sweet voice, warmed up her bottle, rocked her to sleep, worshipped with her, washed and folded her clothes, gave her a bath, fixed her hair, changed her diaper, told her I love her, prayed with her, fed her, took a nap with her, buckled her into her car seat, cleaned her bottles, picked up her toys, heard the sound of her walker going through the house, tucked her into bed, snuggled with her, held her hand. I could go on and on. I feel like the heartache that I am feeling now is so much worse than it was the day she went to Heaven. <br />
<br />
Why am I dreading this day so much? Madison surely isn't dreading this day and she surely isn't sad about being in Heaven. I know that if she had a choice to come back to us on Earth she would not want to. I would not want to either. She is free from the bondage and the limitations of I-Cell disease. <br />
<br />
Looking back on this year, it feels like it has dragged on. Before, time was flying by. Every day we got to spend with Madison we cherished. We lived every day do the fullest because we knew our time was going to be limited. I have finally learned to stay off social media sites for holidays: Thanksgiving, Christmas, Mother's Day, Father's Day, even the first day of school. It feels like your heart is being ripped out to see families celebrating with their children, knowing that we will never get to take another picture of Madison. I took a ton of pictures while she was here and still feel like I do not have enough.<br />
<br />
There has been so much change in our life over the past year and it has been change that we didn't ask for. There is an emptiness in our hearts and in our home. It is with us every where we go. Yeah, we still smile and have a good time but that ache and longing is still there and always will be. Shane and I continue to trust God through this heartache and he has showered us with so much grace and mercy. He has given us so much peace. <br />
<br />
I have not gotten to the point yet where I don't relive our final days and hours with her. There are some that have haunted me and some that give me tremendous peace. <br />
<br />
I don't think a Sunday morning has passed that at 7:30 I don't think about Madison. I remember so clearly the sound of her pulse ox machine going off and watching the numbers quickly drop...90, 85, 80, 70, 60, 50. I remember the look in her eyes when she couldn't breathe and me scrambling to get her breathing again. And when she finally did, I remember sitting on the floor with her in my arms, hugging each other, and crying together. I remember Terry and Ta running in and I handing her to Terry while I had the biggest meltdown I had ever had. I started pacing the floors, crying, not knowing what to do. I vividly remember the look on her face. She just stayed in Terry's arms and let me have my moment and she looked at me like, "What are we going to do next, Abel?"<br />
<br />
As we rode in the ambulance to Birmingham, Madison slept on my chest most of the way. I never thought that would be the last time she slept in my arms. I also have not been able to get the image out of my head of them having to bag her when she couldn't breathe. The look in her eyes as I laid beside her telling her it was going to be okay. I felt completely helpless. I think a part of me knew that there wasn't much more we could do, but I did not want to believe it. A mother is supposed to be able to fix everything and this, I could not. <br />
<br />
When these images come into my head, I quickly have to turn my thoughts to her final moments. <br />
I will sometimes just start singing one of Madison's favorite songs, <em>Victory is Mine. </em>"I told Satan. Get thee behind because VICTORY TODAY IS MINE!" Satan wants us to be sad and hopeless. How can we be sad knowing that Madison is ALIVE and rejoicing in Heaven? It brings tears to my eyes and I have no words to even try to describe the moments when she told us "I see Jesus." Then for her to tell Shane and I that she would see us later. She was not afraid and she definitely wasn't sad to be leaving us. She knew that this was not goodbye. She even I said, "I'll see you later!" <br />
<br />
Allie just told me recently that after Madison said she saw Jesus the second time, she took her shoes off because she knew she was standing on holy ground.<br />
<br />
Two weeks after Madison arrived home, I felt like I needed to clean out her closet and put all her toys away. Every person grieves differently and for me, this is what I needed to do, and something I wanted to do by myself. I took all her little dresses off the hanger and neatly folded them and put them into a big storage container. As I was was folding them, I was flooded with memories of the day she wore each dress. Her other clothes did not get folded as neatly. I couldn't handle the idea of it being the last time I would be folding and putting away her clothes for good. I just took the drawers and dumped them in to the containers. When I got to her toys, for every stuffed animal I put up, Bo pulled out two. I did let him keep one of her stuffed animals.<br />
<br />
Allie came over when I finished and we moved all the boxes to the storage room. They still sit there. About 4 months ago I was having a pretty rough day, just missing Madison so much. <em> </em>I went to the storage room, opened up the box that had her clothes in it and grabbed a shirt just so I could smell her again but the smell was gone. I can't fully describe the feeling, but it wasn't good. It just made me realize that time is moving on. I have all this stuff to remind me of her, but none of that can take the place of the memories that I will hold forever.<br />
<br />
I often think about Madison's life and the legacy that she has left behind. I love getting stopped by people asking me if I am Madison's mom. I can't even tell you how much my heart swells when I answer yes. I love hearing stories of how she has touched so many people. People I don't even know. <br />
<br />
With life going on, it has become a huge fear of mine that people will forget Madison. People are sometimes afraid to bring her name up because they never know how we will take it. Truth be known, I never know how we will take it. Sometimes we will laugh, and other times we may cry. We never know how each story will affect us, but we still love to hear them. <br />
<br />
It feels like it has been another lifetime ago that I was a mom. My worries and anxieties that I have are now completely different. Even though I know there is no cold or virus that can harm her anymore, I still hear every cough and sneeze. I run away from a runny nose, and sanitize the house after company leaves and I still use hand sanitizer and Lysol spray ALL THE TIME! <br />
<br />
It was put on our hearts a few months ago to start teaching Sunday School. I mentioned it to Ta for her to see what was available. Selfishly, I prayed for anything but first grade. We didn't want first grade because this is the class Madison would have been in. These were the group of kids that Madison should grow up with, go on youth trips with, graduate with, etc. Well, God has great sense of humor and we got first grade.<br />
<br />
I can't tell you the joy that this Sunday School class has been to me and Shane in just the few short weeks we have taught it. Some of Madison's favorites, Reed and Mason are in this class. We love to hear them talk about and remember Madison. It is our prayer that as these children continue to grow up, that they will look at her entire life and see God's faithfulness and love that He has given us. I pray that they see that Shane and I are grieving Madison, but that we are grieving her with hope. That they see and understand the peace that we have been given. Peace that truly does surpass all understanding. That they will come to understand that when you are a believer in Jesus Christ, any fear of death that you may have is gone. <br />
<br />
I have not been to her grave yet and don't know when I will. I drive by there almost every day. I don't have the desire to go by there. She is not there. It is just her shell. Shane and I have not even ordered her headstone. We are not ready to yet but we will know when we are. The grave is not the end. This life that we are living is not where God intends for us to be. I can promise you, Madison is more alive and well today, than any day she was here on Earth.<br />
<br />
Sometimes I feel that people may think I am crazy or even suicidal with how much I long to be in Heaven. I'm not either of those things, but I can't wait to go. I know that one day I will be reunited with my Savior and with Madison and I can't wait to have her in my arms again. And until He returns or calls me Home, I'll proclaim His goodness, love, and faithfulness and praise Him in both joy and suffering. <br />
<br />
I am not going to be sad on October 22. I am going to celebrate this day because this is the day that we had prayed for. For so long, we have prayed for Madison's complete healing and our prayer was answered! We are going to celebrate this day just like we do her birthday. November 16th is the day God entrusted us with her and October 22 is the day we had to give her back.<br />
<br />
I can't even begin to tell you how proud I am to have been her "Abel" for almost six years. There is no greater role that I have enjoyed the most than this. It has been a journey that didn't go quite as I planned but one that I am so thankful I got to do and continue to do. I pray for strength to share her story at every opportunity that I get. <br />
<br />
I can't help but think of that day when the glory of Heaven is in my view. I picture her turning around saying. "Hey, Abel!" As if I have never left her side. To see that great cloud of witnesses who have gone before, welcoming me home. Where none of this sadness and heartache that we have right now will matter any more. What a glorious day that will be!<br />
<br />
"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways," says the Lord.<br />
~Isaiah 55:8<br />
<br />
"But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance."<br />
~Romans 8:25<br />
<br />
"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."<br />
~John 16:33<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7mc4s3OG3xbVcs1Yo3m8QEQglHWChMkPjeVWw461Yo6wuNtPcezAVw0D_5OtzSjbS_LEWKlxjfTkWtnAmVUmDURca85Mc-pGMRROAK4-LuKzS9L-Aixrovt3UAXH1SMHjN-k8GS_jIr0/s1600/Madison+Blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7mc4s3OG3xbVcs1Yo3m8QEQglHWChMkPjeVWw461Yo6wuNtPcezAVw0D_5OtzSjbS_LEWKlxjfTkWtnAmVUmDURca85Mc-pGMRROAK4-LuKzS9L-Aixrovt3UAXH1SMHjN-k8GS_jIr0/s1600/Madison+Blog.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv536B-5m-JAvsm7CTVaDW3vssWxVufCjymR7YSFuacMARVHsPVxpsDXSxwuWGrKnfRNGJThyphenhyphenbk6ruSroYDY-hlcbuLnUJnyHNJXi1h3apHRyhfhmJ1Oms-cSEzdZxMHoDv4wi12WzdmE/s1600/Madison+Blog+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv536B-5m-JAvsm7CTVaDW3vssWxVufCjymR7YSFuacMARVHsPVxpsDXSxwuWGrKnfRNGJThyphenhyphenbk6ruSroYDY-hlcbuLnUJnyHNJXi1h3apHRyhfhmJ1Oms-cSEzdZxMHoDv4wi12WzdmE/s1600/Madison+Blog+4.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis8TCqHwrnZKhyjudtJuBjcOWv4oQyg18aAVKaiVMarLwap6CVNypiQo3EBDOk9nHptIgsUVe-lElr_cyW4gbBdcSM9my1UxZUMLdhrrJ2ayirlJj9k80ANGmB5c0ws7_x8ByaLYhI4L8/s1600/Madison+Blog+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis8TCqHwrnZKhyjudtJuBjcOWv4oQyg18aAVKaiVMarLwap6CVNypiQo3EBDOk9nHptIgsUVe-lElr_cyW4gbBdcSM9my1UxZUMLdhrrJ2ayirlJj9k80ANGmB5c0ws7_x8ByaLYhI4L8/s1600/Madison+Blog+3.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjML5KCnQKTE98Qe4UEmcWtecfhym0yWaIJw0bQt4Bu7jMR9Eo3-9P-4C1DhoDdmd7RTuQBZ62lPiGFcMWWrUiY5AN-1Q087voVvL0N-JTF0tD6vEAfN4QQ4dAsDOiN_1aXyNQdZz9Mt_I/s1600/Madison+blog+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjML5KCnQKTE98Qe4UEmcWtecfhym0yWaIJw0bQt4Bu7jMR9Eo3-9P-4C1DhoDdmd7RTuQBZ62lPiGFcMWWrUiY5AN-1Q087voVvL0N-JTF0tD6vEAfN4QQ4dAsDOiN_1aXyNQdZz9Mt_I/s1600/Madison+blog+2.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
April Rileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06906213148681628244noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83618528860670949.post-68097463901853475032014-06-13T17:14:00.000-05:002014-06-13T18:10:02.391-05:00Not My Picture Perfect LifeAfter we received Madison's diagnosis in 2009, I started looking at life completely different. I learned very quickly what really mattered in life. Things that didn't bother me before, and things I never would have thought twice about after hearing, were now driving me crazy. <br />
<br />
For example, seeing new born baby pictures on Facebook with the caption "Blessed to have a healthy baby!" Am I not blessed because my daughter wasn't healthy? Or hearing, "My child has been sick for two weeks, I am SO tired and ready for this cold to go away." Really? Try dealing with a disease that you see every day of your child's life knowing that one day, this disease is going to take her life. And, "Our kids drive us crazy. We just need to get away. We need a break from our kids." I would give anything to spend one more minute with my child and you want to complain and get away from yours?<br />
<br />
Then you see the picture perfect families on FaceBook, which I truly believe some are photo shopped. I'll run in to people who I usually only see on Facebook and they look nothing like the pictures they post! Sad. I just want to grab these people and tell them, it's okay to not look perfect all the time. Anyways, back on track . I see people who want to give the impression that they have exactly what they always dreamed of.<br />
<br />
We always dreamed of having two or three kids, they would be "x" amount of years apart, we would have a dog, our weekends would be spent watching our kids at sporting events, going to birthday parties, etc. It was my picture perfect dream. <br />
<br />
Why couldn't Shane and I have what we always dreamed and planned of having? Why are we not able to see our Madison celebrating more birthdays, graduating kindergarten, playing sports, getting her driver's license, graduating high school, getting married, having children, etc. <br />
<br />
When I think I about what we are missing out on, I quickly think about what all we have gained. This is not a tragedy that our Madison left this life early and that our life is not going the way we had planned. I feel like if you are a believer in Jesus Christ, tragedy shouldn't even be in your vocabulary. We REJOICE in knowing that Madison is in Heaven, made whole, and healed from the disease that she was born with. Knowing that our child is going to spend ETERNITY in Heaven worshipping her Savior....THAT is what my dream is. <br />
<br />
God had other plans for us and thank goodness he did. I have never learned to trust in Jesus more than I do now. Now, my picture perfect dream is to live a God honoring life, trying to further his kingdom to the best of my ability. I truly live every day for eternity. This life seems so short when you think about where you will be for eternity. These petty things that bother me now, won't matter in Heaven. <br />
<br />
I want to close this ranting post with a challenge for you. We knew from an early age that our time with Madison was limited, so we had the opportunity that not every one gets. We knew that every day we had with her, was going to be lived to the fullest. None of us are guaranteed tomorrow. What if you lost a child suddenly? Would you have regrets? But most importantly, would you have the promise of spending eternity with them? <br />
<br />
Our life may not be going the way that I planned, but thank goodness I have the promise of knowing that our family will be together for eternity and that should be every person's desire and dream. My prayer is that every parent will raise their child to know Jesus so they too can have this promise. <br />
<br />April Rileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06906213148681628244noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83618528860670949.post-90087305620019842942014-04-10T20:58:00.000-05:002014-04-10T21:59:02.931-05:00Sunday's A-Coming!Shortly after Madison passed away, I was asked by my good friend, Tammy Kirkland, if I would be interested in co-facilitiating a Women's bible study with her on Sunday nights. When she told me the name of the bible study, Stronger by Angela Thomas, I immediately knew this was something I needed to do.<br />
<br />
Little did I know, how much I truly needed this bible study. Every night I would read my study and call my sister, Amy, and good friend, Allison MacLean and tell them with such excitement what all I had just read. I pretty much read them the study every night too. I felt like this study was written just for me and at the same time that I could have co written it. God knows exactly what we need, exactly when we need it, and he will ALWAYS provide it. I needed this bible study more than I realized. Even though the study ended a couple of weeks ago, I still find myself going back and rereading it. <br />
<br />
Ever since my Dad passed away in 2011, Easter has become my favorite holiday to celebrate. Now that Madison has joined him, I literally can not wait until Easter this year. This is the holiday that we celebrate every thing we believe in and have put our faith in to. That the grave in not the end. That Madison and Dad have been healed, have a new body, a new home, that I have been redeemed, and that one day, hopefully soon, I will be joining them in the magnificent place called Heaven. They are not dead, but alive! Oh hallelujah! I just want to shout it from the roof tops! THEY ARE ALIVE!<br />
<br />
The last chapter of this study is titled My Easter Sunday God. There is a quote in this chapter that really got me excited. Here it is:<br />
<br />
<em>It's Friday. Jesus is arrested in the garden where He was praying. But Sunday's coming.</em><br />
<em>It's Friday. The disciples are hiding and Peter's denying that he knows the Lord. But Sunday's coming. </em><br />
<em>It's Friday. Jesus is standing before the high priest of Israel, silent as a lamb before the slaughter. But Sunday's coming.</em><br />
<em>It's Friday. Jesus is beaten, mocked, and spit upon. But Sunday's coming...</em><br />
<em>And on that horrible day 2,000 years ago, Jesus the Christ, the Lord of glory, the only begotten Son of God, the only perfect man died on the cross of Calvary. Satan thought that he had won the victory...but that was Friday. </em><br />
<em></em><br />
<em>It's Sunday, and the crucified and resurrected Christ has defeated death, hell, sin, and the grave. It's Sunday. And now everything has changed. It's the age of grace, God's grace poured out on all who would look to that crucified lamb of Calvary. Grace freely given to all who would believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross of Calvary, was buried, and rose again. All because it's Sunday.</em><br />
<em>~E.V. Hill</em><br />
<br />
I don't know about you but I get overwhelmed with emotion when I read these two passages. That Jesus loves me SO much that he died this horrible death for me. That I am forgiven of all my sins. And best of all, he rose from that grave and defeated death. That death will be no more! That I will live for eternity in the presence of my Savior forever with Madison and Dad. I am so unworthy of this love that is given to me. <br />
<br />
I truly can't wait to celebrate Easter but more importantly, I look forward to the day that I am called home or that Jesus returns. Whichever happens first. I can't wait until Shane and I are in Heaven and everything I love the most are together again. I can't wait to see my sweet Savior's face and be with Madison and Dad, and all the loved ones who have gone before, again, for eternity. <br />
<br />
Sunday's a-coming!!!!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOj09RF9895-ACnOvSGKOG7Gpd5R-G2ZrHlwKytYixuZO3MCixBf5z3_hg3IiJPqbHMoNLHLhjod_TTZuP_cPgDx7vwNv1bi-K0fPgcfVzpT9e6CpcVJLQrcRrEwCauW8t-D2rEwLrAqc/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOj09RF9895-ACnOvSGKOG7Gpd5R-G2ZrHlwKytYixuZO3MCixBf5z3_hg3IiJPqbHMoNLHLhjod_TTZuP_cPgDx7vwNv1bi-K0fPgcfVzpT9e6CpcVJLQrcRrEwCauW8t-D2rEwLrAqc/s1600/004.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOj09RF9895-ACnOvSGKOG7Gpd5R-G2ZrHlwKytYixuZO3MCixBf5z3_hg3IiJPqbHMoNLHLhjod_TTZuP_cPgDx7vwNv1bi-K0fPgcfVzpT9e6CpcVJLQrcRrEwCauW8t-D2rEwLrAqc/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
<div style="text-align: left;" unselectable="on">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGirVpzkiuwBCWt5H_KNjwmuf2CoErCL7GXG9hFOr4y7cJyEBwl5JvAlF_TFotjMc9dMRzP2aMcuQwFqaFBQAm9NU6usxswxeNYYDgQdvOQbBtaH67sVA0BbTFxs7QnpO1JcHbk1aG1Tw/s1600/Madison-+November+2007+228.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGirVpzkiuwBCWt5H_KNjwmuf2CoErCL7GXG9hFOr4y7cJyEBwl5JvAlF_TFotjMc9dMRzP2aMcuQwFqaFBQAm9NU6usxswxeNYYDgQdvOQbBtaH67sVA0BbTFxs7QnpO1JcHbk1aG1Tw/s1600/Madison-+November+2007+228.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXe6ACGl-pfsxc4CLQ52Uz-HI1P2Hds4XEku1TjmwO3nEFbzZIq2J5k4V4-Kw2A35WvpXQlXGfaqsKXFIC7K5EzIS_VoRs_CU2GDLhwswjipLC_Ym3KdJuCPPdXWXT9NQHCy2ep3vJ7Do/s1600/Madison+AugSeptOct09+055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXe6ACGl-pfsxc4CLQ52Uz-HI1P2Hds4XEku1TjmwO3nEFbzZIq2J5k4V4-Kw2A35WvpXQlXGfaqsKXFIC7K5EzIS_VoRs_CU2GDLhwswjipLC_Ym3KdJuCPPdXWXT9NQHCy2ep3vJ7Do/s1600/Madison+AugSeptOct09+055.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2utQgNQ-1crh85X5mhbKQHeQfdY3Dc08gvkLKjOL-nag53f-Oxikxp3XBkcn4CwJF54Hnua0rSkcOMWL2E92DW3iZwwSaLZA0HDLc9DZDBTseZB0WyEUdMoy5XxR_ADTmzrO-KYfbe-g/s1600/Madison+AugSeptOct09+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2utQgNQ-1crh85X5mhbKQHeQfdY3Dc08gvkLKjOL-nag53f-Oxikxp3XBkcn4CwJF54Hnua0rSkcOMWL2E92DW3iZwwSaLZA0HDLc9DZDBTseZB0WyEUdMoy5XxR_ADTmzrO-KYfbe-g/s1600/Madison+AugSeptOct09+005.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPOiFhLO3EYOnEjqDOwSDBhUXU1heUiSbuU-P1pe1kVdgZFt9PLbqQPloSuWO4jKRVNE_YQmtbVMQv7GU-COd1buRuzUtGOuG1oKZ7sCUjMDxDVZmoDQAoH7pz6bxc4zAzTJ3kgSO5rs4/s1600/Madison's+2nd+birthday+145.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPOiFhLO3EYOnEjqDOwSDBhUXU1heUiSbuU-P1pe1kVdgZFt9PLbqQPloSuWO4jKRVNE_YQmtbVMQv7GU-COd1buRuzUtGOuG1oKZ7sCUjMDxDVZmoDQAoH7pz6bxc4zAzTJ3kgSO5rs4/s1600/Madison's+2nd+birthday+145.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSSnDvNUf4C30bK2YmagqjHNFbvODWPHZB7ZLvbzffWJiEf6lA-1WtLKy_BEimwy6Sx9dAb8gLtKmh4MEDglkQs3jLbb7LlDw36qUWixDjnlKl0BBItlgbaQyGE0MaYQo9JJbkKXR7pBs/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSSnDvNUf4C30bK2YmagqjHNFbvODWPHZB7ZLvbzffWJiEf6lA-1WtLKy_BEimwy6Sx9dAb8gLtKmh4MEDglkQs3jLbb7LlDw36qUWixDjnlKl0BBItlgbaQyGE0MaYQo9JJbkKXR7pBs/s1600/005.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-xFtoBCNgdDLgjtXj0TDMPRqazpBsZAnYREKHmJQtmJMYATnBrZQWjPBibQSw3M1mFTYSHLJLIRXaUNJo4k805W7rb_CMBeFq22kbk2QmTkf4EulCs9mh04hfDvf82yws3TrOMXeVjWo/s1600/Madison's+New+Desk+151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-xFtoBCNgdDLgjtXj0TDMPRqazpBsZAnYREKHmJQtmJMYATnBrZQWjPBibQSw3M1mFTYSHLJLIRXaUNJo4k805W7rb_CMBeFq22kbk2QmTkf4EulCs9mh04hfDvf82yws3TrOMXeVjWo/s1600/Madison's+New+Desk+151.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinKXaMX6DpIrM1KIhbJrLfdas34qs_elxwrYWm0gYY8nEfuMsdPspsdFlVHhhNyCVaMnpBADtFeDMVZDUjT4Tv_pQlvhS5ICrQ5VfP2QaIOyhyphenhyphen-yOLZ4KLBm1am6JFe0mMh4kvolwVdaQ/s1600/Madison+Swimming+015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinKXaMX6DpIrM1KIhbJrLfdas34qs_elxwrYWm0gYY8nEfuMsdPspsdFlVHhhNyCVaMnpBADtFeDMVZDUjT4Tv_pQlvhS5ICrQ5VfP2QaIOyhyphenhyphen-yOLZ4KLBm1am6JFe0mMh4kvolwVdaQ/s1600/Madison+Swimming+015.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnM_yj5wBSEqdmBq4OiMwi-L2IltC50NdSzen4QkmjOZvz1BJfOBcnBUFqGtOrtboWkZnFVbgU40dSEpZjlUexCaDXVgY5uJXueXSwvOriHPYXJJ3jpKDRKl7tgHvi6hCbL0r7ab-PL1o/s1600/DSCF1727.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnM_yj5wBSEqdmBq4OiMwi-L2IltC50NdSzen4QkmjOZvz1BJfOBcnBUFqGtOrtboWkZnFVbgU40dSEpZjlUexCaDXVgY5uJXueXSwvOriHPYXJJ3jpKDRKl7tgHvi6hCbL0r7ab-PL1o/s1600/DSCF1727.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOj09RF9895-ACnOvSGKOG7Gpd5R-G2ZrHlwKytYixuZO3MCixBf5z3_hg3IiJPqbHMoNLHLhjod_TTZuP_cPgDx7vwNv1bi-K0fPgcfVzpT9e6CpcVJLQrcRrEwCauW8t-D2rEwLrAqc/s1600/004.JPG" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOj09RF9895-ACnOvSGKOG7Gpd5R-G2ZrHlwKytYixuZO3MCixBf5z3_hg3IiJPqbHMoNLHLhjod_TTZuP_cPgDx7vwNv1bi-K0fPgcfVzpT9e6CpcVJLQrcRrEwCauW8t-D2rEwLrAqc/s1600/004.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F-UjLNvzfvn74%2FU0bpBwSS8cI%2FAAAAAAAAAZ4%2FdO0GS8Vw67Y%2Fs1600%2F004.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOj09RF9895-ACnOvSGKOG7Gpd5R-G2ZrHlwKytYixuZO3MCixBf5z3_hg3IiJPqbHMoNLHLhjod_TTZuP_cPgDx7vwNv1bi-K0fPgcfVzpT9e6CpcVJLQrcRrEwCauW8t-D2rEwLrAqc/s1600/004.JPG" -->April Rileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06906213148681628244noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83618528860670949.post-78843696001229138342014-03-21T12:30:00.000-05:002017-03-21T16:15:50.448-05:00Living for Eternity<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM6cfPiJv8iiE9ePb_8RZbYDGiAH3a_6wLU5RAguGdlTWls_QI0lTkbzIScHKuWbnz5yRbkGSJKlxb0VCuC0hRS6drcN0_XcqNw5de2-Iy6jy0zQ5QSEHr8_sZoRAs5K1zUpOcZxG8hds/s1600/madison+on+the+beach.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM6cfPiJv8iiE9ePb_8RZbYDGiAH3a_6wLU5RAguGdlTWls_QI0lTkbzIScHKuWbnz5yRbkGSJKlxb0VCuC0hRS6drcN0_XcqNw5de2-Iy6jy0zQ5QSEHr8_sZoRAs5K1zUpOcZxG8hds/s400/madison+on+the+beach.bmp" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Since Madison arrived to her eternal home, I have had several instances where people just couldn't believe how well Shane and I are doing. I try to take this opportunity to share the word of Jesus with them and tell them the story of that day when Madison passed away, and how merciful Jesus was to us. Sometimes people are completely unphased by it and I just want to shake them and tell them, "Did you hear what I said?! She said she saw Jesus!... four times!" Then I walk away wondering how someone could hear Madison's story and not become a believer. <br />
Today is the 21st, five months since Madison arrived. Even though her death certificate says the 22nd, I will always say the 21st is when she met Jesus. <br />
When Madison was given the Ativan to help make her comfortable, the doctors explained to us that she would go into this deep sleep. Shortly after she had told us that she sees Jesus, and told Shane and I that she would see us later, she fell into this deep sleep. She was hooked up to a pulse ox monitor that was telling us what her oxygen level and heart rate were at. <br />
The doctors turned off the machine in the room before hand, so that we could focus on Madison, knowing that the end was drawing near, and not her numbers. <br />
The doctors however, could see the numbers at the nurse's station in the hallway. We were all gathered around Madison and one of her doctors came and asked us if we would like him to lead us in a word of prayer. I knew then that her numbers were low and that we were close. <br />
This was at about 11:45 on Monday night. <br />
Shane and I asked our dear friend, Terry Kirkland, AKA Terwy by Madison, to lead us in word of prayer. We, along with all of Madison's doctors and nurses, laid hands on Madison as Terry prayed. As soon as Terry finished praying, and said Amen, we all truly believe Madison left and was in the arms of Jesus even though her heart was still beating. The warmth of her skin was now cool and her color immediately changed. Her hands, that had always been so contracted and curled up, I could now fully hold and straightened out, without any signs of pain or discomfort. We knew then she was gone.<br />
Her heart didn't stop beating until 30 minutes later but we knew she was already in Heaven. <br />
Shane and I get asked quite frequently how we are doing and I feel like both of us always respond with how much peace we have. How can we NOT have peace? We were standing on holy ground that night in Children's Hospital, knowing we were in the presence of Lord, as we helped usher Madison home. We have no doubt that Madison arrived to Heaven and was instantly healed. We can confidently say that the grave is not the final destination and that death does not have the final say. <br />
I have contemplated on sharing this picture but feel like I should. It reflects how much peace we truly have. <br />
This picture is the last picture that I had taken with Madison. It was taken about a hour after she passed away. I had just finished bathing her, and Shane and I were about to carry her body downstairs to the morgue. I remember not wanting to let go of her. Her airways had gotten so restricted over the last year, that she was no longer able to lay her head on my shoulder, as she couldn't breath when she tilted her head. It had been 8 months since I was able to hold her like this. It felt so normal. I remember my friend Allie taking this picture but when I saw this picture for the first time, I couldn't believe I had a smile.<br />
When I look at this picture I see a very tired Able, who is physically and emotionally drained, but spiritually, she is the strongest she has ever been. <br />
<br />
<em>"And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Jesus Christ."</em><br />
<em>~Philippians 4:7</em><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIBiiQ5pWIATpz-hZVc3mybZbxw5Xp_r0WBImOA0Q3Qg6prbaJrJw_bFeRtmvYhLkSTUOyRtTXzKV6zW5M2yUP79PrbxSF4f6mKkwDWQEgCcNbdsUIltUc24j2I91BT5MGliffef2dnCQ/s1600/DSCN2793.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIBiiQ5pWIATpz-hZVc3mybZbxw5Xp_r0WBImOA0Q3Qg6prbaJrJw_bFeRtmvYhLkSTUOyRtTXzKV6zW5M2yUP79PrbxSF4f6mKkwDWQEgCcNbdsUIltUc24j2I91BT5MGliffef2dnCQ/s200/DSCN2793.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
<em></em> <br />
<br />
<em><br /></em><br />
<em>"Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come."</em><br />
<em>~Proverbs 31:25</em><br />
<em></em> <br />
<em>"Death is swallowed up in victory, O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."</em><br />
<em>1 Corinthians 15:54-57</em><br />
<em></em> <br />
<em>"Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?"</em><br />
<em>~John 11:25-26</em><br />
<em></em> <br />
<em>"He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."</em><br />
<em>~Revelation 21:4</em><br />
<em></em> <br />
Even though we have an overwhelming peace, we still miss Madison like crazy. I rejoice in knowing that Madison is no longer suffering. I long for the day when we are all reunited for eternity!<br />
Oh, Jesus! Come quickly!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM6cfPiJv8iiE9ePb_8RZbYDGiAH3a_6wLU5RAguGdlTWls_QI0lTkbzIScHKuWbnz5yRbkGSJKlxb0VCuC0hRS6drcN0_XcqNw5de2-Iy6jy0zQ5QSEHr8_sZoRAs5K1zUpOcZxG8hds/s1600/madison+on+the+beach.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
<br />April Rileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06906213148681628244noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83618528860670949.post-42140178979691046672014-01-20T20:55:00.000-06:002014-01-20T22:14:05.985-06:0090 Days Closer to HeavenToday marks 90 days that Madison has been in her eternal home. Right now it feels like 90 years instead of days. <br />
I can't believe how much our lives have changed. I think the hardest part has been adjusting to this new "normal". My days with Madison were so structured. She would wake up at around 8:30, drink a bottle, we would play until around 11:00, get our showers and get dressed, eat lunch, take a nap, drink another bottle, play some more, eat dinner, drink another bottle, and go to bed. Everyday. That was our routine. <br />
Missing our structure is just a small part. I miss hearing her call for "Dane" aka Daddy. I miss seeing the two of them together laughing and being silly. I miss watching her praising our Savior. I miss her calling me Abel. I miss her being bossy. I miss her singing. I miss EVERYTHING about her and I ALWAYS will. <br />
For the most part, I feel like we are doing good. With what we experienced in the hospital room, God has truly given us the peace that surpasses all understanding. We have that peace in KNOWING that Madison is with Jesus and that she is fully restored and for that, we are able to smile. <br />
How can you not be happy when you know your loved one is in Heaven?<br />
I remember when we found out that I was pregnant, I instantly began to pray for my child to come to Jesus. I have always felt that a parent's biggest responsibility is leading their child to Christ. <br />
It has been my prayer from the very beginning of this journey that the Lord be glorified through it all. I pray that through Madison's story, people will come to know Jesus. <br />
I shared Madison's homecoming story on this blog and over 10,000 people have read her story. <strong><em>10,000</em></strong> people! I have received numerous emails and Facebook messages of people who have been touched by her story. <br />
I have also received numerous messages of people wanting copies of her funeral service. Her funeral service was not a sad occasion but a celebration of a precious life. I truly did not want it to end.<br />
After receiving the copy of her service on DVD I watched it 4 times in one day. Some may not understand this and that is okay, hopefully one day you will, but watching her funeral service brings me a tremendous amount of joy. It is a joy of anticipation, longing for the day that I will be able to stand beside her, worshipping our one true God! <strong><em>Oh what a day that will be!!!!!</em></strong><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/YclErHygYe0?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />April Rileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06906213148681628244noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83618528860670949.post-34330735596774172852013-11-01T16:58:00.000-05:002013-11-01T22:33:01.144-05:00Madison's HomecomingI cannot even begin to express my gratitude towards each and every one of you for the prayers, phone calls, texts, messages, and posts since our sweet, precious Madison entered her eternal home. Shane and I are heartbroken but rejoice in knowing that Madison has been completely restored. We were able to witness some of Madison's healing before she took her last breath. The story of what took place last week is nothing short of a miracle, but doesn't surprise me with the love that Madison has for Jesus.<br />
But before I get to that, I want to speak for a minute on the power of prayer. When we received Madison's diagnosis when she was a year old, there have been several specific things that I have prayed for every day since then--decisions that I didn't want to have to make and how Madison would pass away. I prayed for him to take the decision away from us about whether or not we would have to trach Madison. I prayed that we would not have to watch her struggle and for her passing to be peaceful. I also prayed that when that time would come, that it not be when I was alone with Madison; that Shane would be able to be there with us. The Lord answered every single one of these prayers that I (and so many of you) had prayed. <br />
You may remember back in April, Madison got really sick and was hospitalized for two and a half weeks. From the very beginning, this cold/virus was different than any other sickness before. We even thought we were going to lose her then. On April 19th, I pleaded with the Lord to give me six more months with her. That is exactly what he gave us.<br />
After we got home from that hospital visit, Madison remained healthy for two months, but in August things started to change. For the last fourteen weeks, everything that had worked in the past was no longer working. We thought it was a cold that she could not shake, but looking back now we realize that it was the progression of her disease. She was just not getting better and we could all tell she was growing very tired. She was requiring oxygen 24/7 and was up to 5 liters just to maintain her o2 levels.<br />
Saturday night, October 19, she was very restless. She tossed and turned all night and could not seem to get comfortable. Around 7:15 that Sunday morning, Madison's pulse ox machine alarm sounded and I could tell she could not breathe. Her o2 level was 74 and her heart rate was 204. I quickly picked her up and switched her tubing from her oxygen machine to the tank that can go up to a higher flow. Once she got on the tank with 8 liters flowing, she was slowly able to catch her breath. We decided to take her to our pediatrician, who was on call. Another miracle that took place this week. After meeting with her and contacting our pulmonary doctor in Birmingham, we all made the decision it was time to take her up there. We rode by ambulance and arrived in Birmingham at about 9:15 Sunday night.<br />
While we were in the ER waiting to get transferred to a room, Madison had another episode just like she did with me on Sunday morning. At this point, Madison was on 10 liters of oxygen and they had to bag her to get her airways to open up. After this episode, our pulmonary doctor came in and met with us and we knew then that decisions had to be made and we had to put a plan in place. I called Shane and he and our good friends, Tammy and Terry Kirkland, made the trip with him to Birmingham.<br />
We knew that Madison's disease had progressed a lot the last six months. Her airways were already very narrow but had gotten worse. Any little stress for Madison would cause her airways to clamp down. At this point, our plan was to make her comfortable.<br />
Monday morning Madison was begging to get in her walker. With us being in PICU, Madison had a lot of monitors hooked up to her so she really wasn't able to walk around but was able to stand up. She was starting to get really irritated and getting worked up because she was not able to go like she wanted. Shortly after we pulled her out of her walker, her airways clamped down again. We were all in the room with her (Shane, my mom, Tammy, Terry and I) and immediately there were about 10 other people desperately working to get her breathing again. Within an hour, Madison had been bagged three times. The third time, every time they tried to remove the bag, she would instantly get into distress again. The doctors then advised us that this was the time we needed to make her comfortable. We started her on morphine nebulizer treatments. She received 4 nebulizer treatments with 10cc of morphine in each one. The doctors had told us what to expect and said that Madison would go into a deep sleep and pass away while sleeping. During the third treatment we could see her getting very sleepy and starting to drift into this sleep the doctors spoke of. Shane and I were both in the bed with her, whispering in her ear that it was okay to go. We told her how much we loved her and how proud we were of how hard she has fought. It was when we started the fourth treatment that one of my closest friends, Allison MacLean, walked in. As soon as she saw us telling Madison our goodbyes, she instantly ran to the bedside and started relaying a message to Madison from my sister, Amy.<br />
As soon as Madison saw Allie, another miracle took place. It was almost as if the morphine was replaced with laughing gas. Madison became so hyper! She immediately wanted to get up, get her in walker, drink a baba (bottle), eat some Mickey Mouse (yogurt), and watch "eacha" (preacher).<br />
We were all amazed at what we had just witnessed. As the day went on, the happier she got. She was constantly doing roll call to make sure we were all still there with her. I think we heard, "Abel, Dane, Mimi, Ta, Terwey, Allie!" at least 100 times that day. We had the best afternoon with her and it was like our Madison from a year ago. There was no struggle or shortness of breath in every word she said.<br />
Since she hadn't really napped or slept good in almost two days, that afternoon, she was ready to take a nap. We got the room quiet, and she and I both took about a two hour nap in the hospital bed together. When we laid down, I was truly starting to think that we had just made yet another turnaround. But when she woke up, everything had changed. Her breathing was very labored and she just didn't look comfortable. Shane and I both knew that there was nothing else in our control that we could do.<br />
Her two pulmonary doctors were paged and came right to us. We talked and the decision was made to start making her comfortable. At this point, she was getting morphine through the nebulizer every 30 minutes. We decided to also give her Ativan, which would help with her anxiety.<br />
We were all gathered around her bed and the treatments started. The Ativan made her extremely comfortable and we were all at peace. Madison was still talking to us some and asked Shane and I for a lot of "ugs" (Madison's word for hug). As she was growing more and more tired, we were all telling her how much we love her and that it was okay to go. She would open her eyes and look at Shane and I both and say "I wuv you."<br />
A few minutes later, Madison opened her eyes and pulled the nebulizer mask off her face and looked at me and said "Abel, I see Jesus!" She said this with such excitement and I looked at everyone and asked them if I just heard what I thought I heard. A couple minutes later she said the same thing again. She ended up telling us this four times. After the fourth time, she looked at Shane and me and told us both individually, "I see you later!" This was the last thing she said.<br />
The amazing thing about it is, Madison never once spoke the words "I see you later." I truly believe that what we witnessed was her healing already starting to take place.<br />
Within 45 minutes, Madison took her last breath.<br />
It was important to me the I give Madison her last bath before they came and got her body. I felt like this was the last motherly thing I could do for her. It was such a special time and something I will forever treasure. Her body looked like it was finally at rest. Shane held her while I dried her hair and of course, we put a pink bow in it.<br />
Since Madison passed away during the night, they let Shane and I carry her to the morgue. We actually didn't go into the morgue but the attendants met us at the door. This was literally the hardest part of it all. This was the last time we would hold this earthly body we had loved and cared for for so long.<br />
We were fortunate enough to get some pretty funny and sweet videos of Madison just hours before she passed away. Madison was worshipping Jesus up until the very end. <br />
<br />
As I look back, I still can't believe she is really gone. It was fast but it wasn't, if that even makes sense. We had nearly five years to prepare for this day. It still doesn't make it any easier, but with what we experienced, we are overwhelmed with peace in knowing that she is now fully restored and that we will see her later! I am honored that God chose Shane and I to be the parents of His precious child. There is not one thing I would change.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/cQowsLEFxDk?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/Bq6GulPezL4?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM1HgOSHA63HNM8twtjQW83Fb6Tzr2sjD9SCeu916twVnmdDfgCOULN7u1IpIwLAgPWEAAMb6_wBI8uU6YuwGlXgZ4uEVS9TJBjHQQ4H5HxKpfmfhysQlL0DPfGMq4cpZdZBwv1Wawz1c/s1600/Madisonshane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM1HgOSHA63HNM8twtjQW83Fb6Tzr2sjD9SCeu916twVnmdDfgCOULN7u1IpIwLAgPWEAAMb6_wBI8uU6YuwGlXgZ4uEVS9TJBjHQQ4H5HxKpfmfhysQlL0DPfGMq4cpZdZBwv1Wawz1c/s1600/Madisonshane.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://i1.ytimg.com/vi/-2_LailvRGs/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/-2_LailvRGs?version=3&f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/-2_LailvRGs?version=3&f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/JWSvVfFWh1M?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://i1.ytimg.com/vi/Niw2_G7Dk4U/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Niw2_G7Dk4U?version=3&f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Niw2_G7Dk4U?version=3&f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>
April Rileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06906213148681628244noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83618528860670949.post-16307395665370941062012-11-22T19:18:00.001-06:002012-11-22T19:18:27.096-06:00I just wanted to do a very quick update since I am so far behind on updating. We have had a very busy summer and I haven't had much time to really post. We are about to be keeping Madison in for the winter so I will have a lot of time to post about our summer and share some great stories, videos and pictures.<br />
<br />
In May we submitted all the forms for the Madison's Make A Wish trip. We are leaving this coming up week going to Disney. I think Shane and I are more excited than Madison. The entire family is going to get to go! Amy, Paul, Aubrey, Grandma Jackie and mom! All eight of us are staying in a two bedroom suite! YIKES! It's a good thing we all get along. <br />
<br />
I promise that as soon as we get back from our trip, I will do lots of blog posting. Please be patient with me. I am sorry that I haven't posted like I used to but I am so very thankful for being so busy. That just means that Madison is happy and HEALTHY and able to be on the go. <br />
<br />
Thank you all for loving our precious Madison and taking this journey along with us. <br />
<br />
<br />
April Rileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06906213148681628244noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83618528860670949.post-76362202409823973322012-05-10T20:35:00.003-05:002012-05-10T20:35:55.915-05:00Day 3 BirminghamWe had our last appointment this afternoon. It was with pulmonary and was not until 12:45. We took advantage of the late appointment and slept in until 9:00 this morning. We all slept 12 hours last night and it felt wonderful!<br />
<br />
The pulmonary doctor went over the sleep study and just did a check up. He was pleased with how well she did with the sleep study and the results were good too. Normally, Madison sleeps with 1 liter of oxygen. During the sleep study they turned her oxygen off completely just to see how she would tolerate. When Madison's oxygen levels dropped below 88, they turned her to 1/4 of a liter. She did not drop any on that amount however she never got in to a deep sleep. The doctor agreed that we should keep her on one liter so she will rest better.
<br />
<br />
Madison has also started a wheeze but there is no consistency to it at all. One day she will wheeze while in her walker, the next it will be in her car seat. It is never always in the same thing and it is not everyday. He wants us to do breathing treatments for a month twice a day and if we see a difference then that will become permanent. Overall, it was a good appointment.
<br />
<br />
It is 6:50 and all three of us are already in bed. Mom and I are both on our iPads and Madison is out. We will be getting up early in the morning to go and get the newest member of the family: Madison's new puppy which is a teacup poodle.<br />
<br />
We are ready to get home. We have missed Shane like crazy. I hate that he can't come on these long trips with us, but I love that I have a Mama that can come with us and we enjoy all the time we get to spend together. She is such a huge help on these trips. This was our first visit without Dad and it has been so different. He was always our comedian and kept us in stitches the entire time.<br />
<br />
There is no way I can thank you all enough for lifting our family up in prayer this past week. We will do this all again in another 6 months. I will post again after we get the new puppy. We still haven't decided on name yet. Our picks are Charlie, Bo or Bentley. I am sure though that Madison will end up calling this dog just "puppy!"April Rileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06906213148681628244noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83618528860670949.post-60768151516654591652012-05-09T19:02:00.001-05:002012-05-09T19:02:35.824-05:00Day 2 BirminghamToday was the day we had to do a lot of walking downtown. We woke up to rain that was expected to last through lunch time. Out of all the times we have come up here, we have never had to deal with rain.
Our first appointment was at 9:00 with the genetic doctor. Due to the rain, Mom dropped Madison and me off at the front of the genetics building and then waited for us to finish. This way we didn't have to park in the parking garage and walk 3 blocks.<br />
<br />
The genetic appointment went very well. The doctor was very pleased with how healthy Madison has been able to stay and her growing vocabulary.
After that we went to cardiology. This appointment always makes me nervous. The past 4 visits, we have been monitoring a minor leak in the mitral valve. Today, that leak looked better! However, the cardiologist did notice that the aortic valve is not opening properly. It is still opening well enough for the blood flow to and from the heart is not being affected. He said that it is still considered VERY mild but still something we need to watch. He also said that this is probably a sign of the disease progressing. Right after that statement he added that we might not ever see another change in the way the valve is functioning. We are praying that we won't see a change for the worse.<br />
<br />
Our last appointment this afternoon was with the ENT. Madison had tubes put in December 2009. One of the tubes had already fallen out, but the tube in the right ear was still in there. Over the past 6 months, Madison has had a lot of drainage coming from the right ear. After he examined the ear he said that the tube needed to come out because it was infected and that was the cause of all the drainage. He tried to pull the tube out and Madison was screaming so hard, I asked them to stop. The doctor then asked if she was going to be put under anesthesia anytime soon and if so, he would pull it out then. When I told him we had no plans of such he decided to try one more time. He finally got it and it only took about a minute for him to pull it out. Madison was screaming so badly, but once it was out she stopped. The tube looked DISGUSTING!!! Hopefully now that the tube is out she won't have so much drainage and ear infections. We will have to wait and see.
Tomorrow is our last appointment and that is with pulmonary. We will also get the results of the sleep study then.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />April Rileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06906213148681628244noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83618528860670949.post-36504742361724900402012-05-08T20:48:00.000-05:002012-05-08T20:48:13.467-05:00Day 1 BirminghamIt is only Tuesday and it seems like this week has lasted forever. We left yesterday morning to come up to Birmingham. I had pretty much packed everything Sunday night but just needed to pack the stuff we needed for Monday morning. I couldn't sleep at all Sunday night. My mind was racing thinking of things I needed to remember. Finally at 3:30 Monday morning, I woke Shane up and told him I was getting up. As soon as I snuck out of the bed, Shane moved over and snuggled with Madison. She has to be touching you while she sleeps. I turned on the baby monitor shortly there after only to hear Madison crying for Able (a.k.a me), and Shane saying, "Hold on, I'll go get Able." Well, as soon as I got in the room Madison yanked her oxygen off and started laughing. I guess it's safe to say that if I'm up, she's up!<br />
<br />
I was actually thankful we were both up early. She had plenty of time to play in her walker and I wasn't rushed getting the last minute things packed. We left the house at 8:30 and pulled in to the hotel at 4:30. We had to get everything unloaded, eat dinner, and then check in at the hospital by 7:00.<br />
<br />
I was very stressed about how the sleep study was going to go. We have attempted 3 in the past with only 1 going well. Our pulmonary doctor wants to do one once a year! God has a way of putting things into perspective. All the stress that I had been having and losing sleep over seemed minor when we got to the third floor of the hospital. As soon as we stepped off the elevator we saw the Critical Care waiting room. The room was packed and quiet and the look on those parents' faces said it all. My heart broke for all that were in there. Suddenly my stress for this sleep study seemed minor.<br />
<br />
I am thankful that the sleep study went well. Madison was such a trooper. She cried the entire time they were hooking everything up. We were able to sleep beside each other and we held hands all night. We will get the results of the study on Thursday when we meet with the pulmonary doctor.
Today we met with the orthopedic and it was a good appointment. We were supposed to meet with a nutritionist at 2:00 but we we exhausted and my brain was fried. I canceled that appointment and we came to the hotel to nap. It was the best nap!
Tomorrow we meet with the genetic doctor at 9:00. If she thinks we really need to see the nutritionist we will before we leave. At 10:30 we see the cardiologist and then at 3:15 we see the ENT. I will post updates tomorrow from those appointments.
Thank you for all the phone calls and texts to check on us, but most of all thank you for all the prayers that you have said for our precious Madison.
We love you all.
<br />
<br />
Last night before they got Madison all hooked up, we were able to FaceTime with Paul, Amy, and Aubrey. We all enjoyed the laughs! <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/T4OKdEeyfrY?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />April Rileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06906213148681628244noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83618528860670949.post-17273735366577760972012-04-27T20:46:00.001-05:002012-04-27T20:46:09.830-05:00Finally!!!I have had very good intentions of posting before now but time has been something I have not been managing well the past few months. Madison went through a very clingy stage right before Dad passed away. Luckily, that has now passed BUT...Madison will NOT stay asleep if she is by herself. I used to update the blog during her nap times but now I find myself taking naps with her everyday which isn't so bad. =) <br />
<br />
I am really sorry to the many of you that follow this blog on a regular basis. I am really going to try and get better at this again.
I couldn't think of a better day to update the blog than today. It is very hard to believe that TODAY is Aubrey's first birthday. We hate so bad that we can't be in Dallas to celebrate the big day with her, but we are going to have a party for her when they come this summer.<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
<br /></div>
<div align="center">
Aubrey Renee Cristina</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjChIui8Ev2mS77jPguIMCxzt8X5MmE6XZNrHU-NxCR95WnqmJs5bO775V93cXmx1B67azZRajQBNd0adr1o4Zv285vfDwTWG6e-e6lvtJv57SOThjqj1e384QoRDuA_L0FohDOAQFVvJs/s1600/Aubrey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjChIui8Ev2mS77jPguIMCxzt8X5MmE6XZNrHU-NxCR95WnqmJs5bO775V93cXmx1B67azZRajQBNd0adr1o4Zv285vfDwTWG6e-e6lvtJv57SOThjqj1e384QoRDuA_L0FohDOAQFVvJs/s320/Aubrey.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
The week after Aubrey was born, Mom and Dad went with us to Birmingham. It was also the week after the Tuscaloosa tornadoes. I look back on that trip, and all the other trips that Dad went with us, and cherish all those sweet memories that were made.<br />
<br />
The next week Mom and Dad flew out to Dallas for Dad to meet Aubrey for the first time. This was when Dad started retaining fluid.
There are days where all that has happened over this last year seem so long ago and other days where it seems like it was just yesterday.<br />
<br />
Well the Riley family does have some big news to share. We have decided to get Madison a puppy! About 4 months ago Madison started asking about a dog on a regular basis. She only carried books that had dogs in them. I told Shane I thought Madison was trying to tell us that she wanted a dog. Of course, Shane said no way! Of course, Madison and I changed his mind! <br />
<br />
After doing a lot of research and being some what picky on what type of dog to get, we decided on a tiny toy poodle. It was very important to me that Madison always be bigger than the dog. Since she is in her walker 95% of the day, I did not want her to feel intimidated by a big dog. I also did not want a dog that sheds.
I found a breeder in Augusta, GA and called and talked to her. After we talked I told Shane I wanted the dog to come from one of her liters. I didn't care how long we had to wait. Well, the puppy was born in March and we get to pick it up in two weeks. The puppy will not get above 4 pounds and is black. We (Madison and I) are so excited. Madison asks about this dog ALL the time!
<br />
<br />
We leave on Monday, May 7th to go to Birmingham for Madison's six month check up. This visit will last an entire week. She will be admitted to the Children's Hospital Monday night for a sleep study. Tuesday we see orthopedic and the nutritionist. Wednesday we see genetics, cardiology, and ENT. Thursday we see pulmonary. It is going to be a very busy week. We are going to stay Thursday night and then get up Friday morning and drive to Augusta to get the puppy.
<br />
<br />
While we are in Birmingham, I will post everyday...I know that's hard to believe!
I wanted to post a few pictures and videos. If you are my friend on face book then you have already seen these. Thanks for following with all the latest on Madison. Please keep her in your prayers as the Birmingham trip approaches.<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
Madison giving Mommy the "serious" look.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqVMHMf-yPrwq7lpZj2lMPzhYPF8tlbJSVnqaenNIFxfEtHY0iWiyXSz_Rs-pjR11sr9nEShNtdfA6RMoSFF3gYKmIVkBc4eflkGWzfTq8TZlNGodyHa56OEhlENy5ygg0qmWIPKHIl6c/s1600/Madison" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqVMHMf-yPrwq7lpZj2lMPzhYPF8tlbJSVnqaenNIFxfEtHY0iWiyXSz_Rs-pjR11sr9nEShNtdfA6RMoSFF3gYKmIVkBc4eflkGWzfTq8TZlNGodyHa56OEhlENy5ygg0qmWIPKHIl6c/s320/Madison" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I can't remember if I have posted this on the blog yet or not. I recorded this in January and she still does this every day! She has us wrapped!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/5Xbyi3uAFkM?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Madison laughing at me. This is something she gets to do everyday! =)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/VJHERBHaO0Q?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
Madison playing in Daddy's truck.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://i.ytimg.com/vi/x-_2a9i7tNk/0.jpg"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/x-_2a9i7tNk?version=3&f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" />
<param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" />
<embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/x-_2a9i7tNk?version=3&f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Madison was trying to tell us something last week and we could not figure out what she was trying to tell us. This conversation that I got on video lasted almost 2 hours!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ruj6FL32lBg?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div align="center">
</div>April Rileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06906213148681628244noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83618528860670949.post-12954379280738749112012-01-09T08:46:00.000-06:002012-01-09T08:58:59.409-06:00Celebrating our Dad<div class="widget Blog" id="Blog1">
<div class="blog-posts hfeed">
<div class="date-outer">
<div class="date-posts">
<div class="post-outer">
<div class="post hentry">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/" name="7897376138248743520"></a><br />
<h3 class="post-title entry-title">
</h3>
<div class="post-title entry-title">
<br /></div>
<div class="post-title entry-title">
As many of you know, my Dad passed away December 22. Amy and I have been talking that we needed to update both of our blogs, but agreed, that the first post should be a tribute to our Dad. Amy updated her blog last night. She put our feelings into words so beautifully that I decided to just share with you what she posted on her blog. At the end of her post, I have added some videos of Dad. We will cherish all the sweet memories we have of him everyday. I was blessed to call him Dad for 28 years. He truly was the greatest Dad we could ask for. </div>
<div class="post-title entry-title">
<br /></div>
<div class="post-title entry-title">
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Celebrating My Dad ~ </strong></span><span style="font-size: small;">Amy Cristina</span></div>
<div class="post-header">
<div class="post-header-line-1">
</div>
</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7897376138248743520">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I know that my posts are usually all things Aubrey and after a six week hiatus, it will still be a little while before she makes her debut again. This post is all about my sweet, precious, amazing father, Capt. Richard Holley, who passed away on Thursday, December 22, 2011 at the age of 64. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The last nearly ten years of Dad's life have been filled with one medical obstacle after another: intestinal blockage, triple bypass surgery, complications with diabetes-including the amputation of toes, and ultimately, his diagnosis of advanced liver cancer on May 28, 2011. Despite all these setbacks, my Dad never once wavered in his faith in the Lord and prayed without ceasing until the very end. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
There's so much about him I miss--his bright smile, beautiful blue eyes, loving hugs, rambling voicemails, encouraging words, contagious laugh, crazy stories--just to name a few. But when those waves of sadness hit me, I give into them for a moment and then am reminded that I've only said goodbye to him for just a little while because of our shared faith in Christ, we'll one day be reunited forever in our eternal home. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I'm not going to lie, I think my Dad was pretty awesome--as a son, brother, husband, uncle, father, grandfather, friend, boat captain, magician, Sunday School teacher, comedian, and story teller--and any other hat he wore. He was the eternal optimist and had this uncanny ability to make friends with nearly everyone he met. He was never ashamed to tell you about the things he was passionate about, namely, Jesus Christ and conservative politics. He loved the Lord, his family, and his country. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I'm thankful that Paul, Aubrey and I already had a trip planned home for December 10-17 and I got to spend some precious time with him before his death. In the early morning of Friday, December 16, only hours after our family had gathered together in Mom & Dad's living room to celebrate Christmas, my mom called to tell me that Dad had stumbled and due to his increasing fluid retention, he could no longer bend his legs, making moving and walking a difficult task. Paul and I left Aubrey at Shane and April's and raced to Mom & Dad's. When we arrived, we were greeted by a dear family friend and an ambulance. He was admitted to the hospital and on Saturday we learned that Dad's kidneys were slowly shutting down and that there was some fluid building in his lungs. We made the decision as family to bring Dad home on hospice, but due to his swelling and some bleeding from a few places on his arms, that did not happen until Monday night and Dad came home to a full house--April, Madison, Aubrey and me were all there with Mom to welcome him home. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The two full days we had Dad home are still very much a blur, but our home was filled with love and laughter as friends and family came by to offer their love and support and spend time with him. While I will always believe Dad knew it was the end, being the strong and courageous (and sometimes very hardheaded) leader of our family, he continued to fight and encourage us until the very end. I'm so very thankful that Dad was still mentally 100% Dad even when his body was completely broken. He always knew when someone walked in the door, could call them by name, and was constantly checking on Madison and Aubrey, and as usual, kept us laughing and smiling and trusting in the Lord. He lead our family in prayer on Monday and Tuesday night, still praying for everyone else before he pleaded with the Lord for healing of himself. On Wednesday night, he was too weak to speak, but he held our hands as we prayed our nightly prayers over him. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
For as long as April and I can remember, we've been told the story from Dad of how my Granny's final words to her father when he died were that she'd love if it he could just let her know he'd made it to Heaven okay and then how on the night before his funeral, she had a very vivid dream in which she heard very specific words that were repeated verbatim later that day by the pastor, a dream which she shared with no one until after his service was over. When Granny passed away in 2003, Dad was by her bedside, holding her hand in the family Bible as he read Scripture to her. We knew Granny's heart so while we didn't need any outward confirmation of her eternal fate, I know Dad was praying that the Lord would visibly present Himself as He welcomed Granny Home. While that didn't happen for Dad, it most definitely happened for us and I know that the den at 1104 Carolina Ave was truly holy ground as we witnessed the beginning of Dad's eternal life with his Savior He loved and served so faithfully. These words, taken from the beautiful and touching eulogy Paul gave at Dad's funeral, describe Dad's homecoming...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i>In the last night at home before he died, we held what turned into a worship service in the den, and each of his family around him bathed him in prayer--prayer that asked for healing and God's will. Who but a family of believers can ask the Lord to take their beloved husband and father if it be his will? How does a family get that faith--it has to be taught by a spiritual leader. It was taught by Richard. Richard passed away at 6:54 a.m. surrounded by his loved ones. We believe he waited long enough for Madison to awake that morning so that he could hear her words--Hey Baba--one more time. Just moments after she joined him at his side, Richard opened his eyes, looked upward, lifted his arms off the bed, and spoke the same words four time, each more clearly than the last: Hurry...</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i>Then his breathing slowed to a stop, his heartbeat ceased, and he was gone.</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i>We were fortunate to witness Richard peacefully leaving his earthly body, which was broken by disease, and joining his Savior in Heaven to receive the complete healing for which he prayed. How could anyone ask for a better ending to their life and testimony?</i> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We spent Christmas morning looking at old home movies--the Holleys attempt at assemblying an above ground pool, birthday parties and Spring Break trips aboard the A.R. Holley, old magic shows performed by my Dad in area elementary school cafeterias, fishing trips with his high school classmates, and Dad's appearance on a local fishing show in the early 80s. It wasn't exactly how I imagined spending Aubrey's first Christmas, but it was perfect. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
On Monday, December 26, we held Dad's visitation as the First Presbyterian Church of Lynn Haven, the church where he and Mom have faithfully served for over 30 years. We were humbled by the number of people who came, standing in the cold rain, as they waited to pay their respects to their friend and my father. His funeral service was on Tuesday, December 27, and we wanted it to be a celebration of his life and faithful service to the Lord. We wanted the Gospel Dad cherished and knew so well to be shared and we prayed for the Holy Spirit to do mighty things in the hearts of all in attendance. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I'll end this post with a few pictures that I could readily find of Dad through the years and with the closing words of his prayer that he prayed in his hospital room, with family and hospital staff gathered round, that once again gives witness to his faith in Christ Jesus:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i>Heavenly Father, above all, I want your will to be done. And if it is in your will for me not to beat this cancer, so be it. It just seems appropriate for me to stand beside you when we welcome Madison into Heaven's gates. </i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The early years...that's Dad sporting the sideburns in the white shirt on the far right, at the wheel on one of the Davis Queen Fleet party boats, and rocking me in the nursery while he was probably singing a song that he'd tweaked the words to to make them include "Amy Holley" somewhere in the lyrics!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxHem2Q2VqVcHWMWavJSq-OkXFmTtFohmMPCrWSkxqJpMs9672TCgUBrmVOQ9Hm70stHMuUqUL_Ral8ZjJ-1Qe7Lh82GVyRpj8JKr612EgIRJTPtqfRaTsNCQBjY97Vl2QTA6yP4RseMTe/s1600/403075_10101646576120071_2044831_84262565_1489052070_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" closure_uid_u8ybbw="3" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxHem2Q2VqVcHWMWavJSq-OkXFmTtFohmMPCrWSkxqJpMs9672TCgUBrmVOQ9Hm70stHMuUqUL_Ral8ZjJ-1Qe7Lh82GVyRpj8JKr612EgIRJTPtqfRaTsNCQBjY97Vl2QTA6yP4RseMTe/s320/403075_10101646576120071_2044831_84262565_1489052070_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGu0aQdrvLRszcSLU_hRO60Rl-ipTpypjBk3o_yabFPbkYjMcjhBSrcj3f_aOsSWYk0fgADyg2YfWxge5U9S3LXRj5E2-c8GbWUt4sTlyyAo6W3klYTCwNTh3ccNl483toHejUL1zLNyHk/s1600/309946_265851313444166_100000578976165_983807_6963041_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" closure_uid_u8ybbw="4" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGu0aQdrvLRszcSLU_hRO60Rl-ipTpypjBk3o_yabFPbkYjMcjhBSrcj3f_aOsSWYk0fgADyg2YfWxge5U9S3LXRj5E2-c8GbWUt4sTlyyAo6W3klYTCwNTh3ccNl483toHejUL1zLNyHk/s320/309946_265851313444166_100000578976165_983807_6963041_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzFok911mkjxvxiDM1stYTdQU0d2OBiWUXOzaVJ2rBnVxH0OyMSSLU_-ClS86jl8hZmd30yU7xGWCuqWUyCAkxxWDcog5IZqthNqtFqkkJl4s4RmDa834gzQYEx5TiexWfaSkGkARMXZm0/s1600/63809_154036577958974_100000578976165_364444_5994170_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" closure_uid_u8ybbw="5" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzFok911mkjxvxiDM1stYTdQU0d2OBiWUXOzaVJ2rBnVxH0OyMSSLU_-ClS86jl8hZmd30yU7xGWCuqWUyCAkxxWDcog5IZqthNqtFqkkJl4s4RmDa834gzQYEx5TiexWfaSkGkARMXZm0/s320/63809_154036577958974_100000578976165_364444_5994170_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Mid 2000s...Dad and me dancing at Mark and Rachel Jones' wedding (2003), with April and Dad before her wedding, and Mom and Dad walking down the aisle after April and Shane's wedding (2006). </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ7-djAptReJ4ApxG0INrw5EoP4rnLq-RQAbM92hUWD0rB8OD7rssxEEiffUrRec0Oe72tjSvLwaL4ahTorDC3yJ0_UenxRfj7Uoti12zzvOZw8fLzfcJgEVkMCebpiRH4MxNcC4t4qNsN/s1600/dadamy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" closure_uid_u8ybbw="6" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ7-djAptReJ4ApxG0INrw5EoP4rnLq-RQAbM92hUWD0rB8OD7rssxEEiffUrRec0Oe72tjSvLwaL4ahTorDC3yJ0_UenxRfj7Uoti12zzvOZw8fLzfcJgEVkMCebpiRH4MxNcC4t4qNsN/s320/dadamy.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1qHVFT9L-szBNLGUfaLDmsK8GF7g0yTJ6l_rSEghm0Q1SBGaqFUUil9e8vvypv9ov3yF24DMig9HHbAdt4hCnD-plQrVODqJySNQdHw1Zo8xQl4TYb50pVl1_ISs1gcLSrO8ybDBEu1Y8/s1600/30876_1465340922005_1487978239_31223512_4213180_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" closure_uid_u8ybbw="7" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1qHVFT9L-szBNLGUfaLDmsK8GF7g0yTJ6l_rSEghm0Q1SBGaqFUUil9e8vvypv9ov3yF24DMig9HHbAdt4hCnD-plQrVODqJySNQdHw1Zo8xQl4TYb50pVl1_ISs1gcLSrO8ybDBEu1Y8/s320/30876_1465340922005_1487978239_31223512_4213180_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd8zXesFxqXROPuX7bvV9vW8_Gfb3KJ2NNxYOns-umuHuZJ1qsa0RZqCE3qOWo3snR2oFi2_-w9WYX2w41OO4XWpMnDc_X-X4V5kJLJ8Eez2JDZHKM8lnENWBlXjLWiesqNMET8f15gybN/s1600/30876_1465341202012_1487978239_31223518_2319242_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" closure_uid_u8ybbw="8" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd8zXesFxqXROPuX7bvV9vW8_Gfb3KJ2NNxYOns-umuHuZJ1qsa0RZqCE3qOWo3snR2oFi2_-w9WYX2w41OO4XWpMnDc_X-X4V5kJLJ8Eez2JDZHKM8lnENWBlXjLWiesqNMET8f15gybN/s320/30876_1465341202012_1487978239_31223518_2319242_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
2007-2011...Dad really wanted to be Paw Paw, but once Madison started talking, his name was Baba and he loved hearing her say it and relished every minute he got to spend with this sweet girl. These pictures include the first time he held her in the NICU, an Easter morning tradition of family pictures in front of the church's red doors, and lots of hugs, laughter, and playtime together. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSfWBRSfl9p7dMAQU0aKvouI2xKsmIQ7i4jhjvFNtmWZro0WaYrT1mg2GAvW72OF_z_CqB_K-F6leStjCmQWt645SZUhpuDLeVgx57ko0ibHrXDnAofTH-oAGyHw52cKG47BhlH9aGnh1y/s1600/17035_1071098515732_1774226354_135580_4121687_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" closure_uid_u8ybbw="9" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSfWBRSfl9p7dMAQU0aKvouI2xKsmIQ7i4jhjvFNtmWZro0WaYrT1mg2GAvW72OF_z_CqB_K-F6leStjCmQWt645SZUhpuDLeVgx57ko0ibHrXDnAofTH-oAGyHw52cKG47BhlH9aGnh1y/s320/17035_1071098515732_1774226354_135580_4121687_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDo3uDRcsJx_88TSkZbvlRHGbdo_naBLH9cQLN9A85RWZYpsCD7I82VkeSOp91wlDAnfAcmbEysFnotH82Q4E5dm3ZskteshgKJIUc61qg8fvUc08WZSbiLfq9p_Zgc6-Ty2z620Qx6bcY/s1600/17035_1071095995669_1774226354_135573_7147622_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" closure_uid_u8ybbw="10" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDo3uDRcsJx_88TSkZbvlRHGbdo_naBLH9cQLN9A85RWZYpsCD7I82VkeSOp91wlDAnfAcmbEysFnotH82Q4E5dm3ZskteshgKJIUc61qg8fvUc08WZSbiLfq9p_Zgc6-Ty2z620Qx6bcY/s320/17035_1071095995669_1774226354_135573_7147622_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhRVucSyPM1bnqAoVR1LLpNrm-ZOmFr2wx3_pPqK6PoqgttjmZK_D-hxN4yQMOPcVCfyiCvNcE5vRvqnLuASQS9M5TWubdaKLCXmAwGmVZj3lzd0YxQImrSK2Trugb_WEoRACEQ1vY_vgB/s1600/17035_1071095275651_1774226354_135555_28465_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" closure_uid_u8ybbw="11" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhRVucSyPM1bnqAoVR1LLpNrm-ZOmFr2wx3_pPqK6PoqgttjmZK_D-hxN4yQMOPcVCfyiCvNcE5vRvqnLuASQS9M5TWubdaKLCXmAwGmVZj3lzd0YxQImrSK2Trugb_WEoRACEQ1vY_vgB/s320/17035_1071095275651_1774226354_135555_28465_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgreLQbaX6-neNbaM7pgQ3Cfg9y2aDc98XmzbcfK7EaaqW_3m5xVhmFmR-lOCUbzys_NBBGCOq6ghg9jNDtsoh2342qhbBPtVdYKgcathky-AhBuWIVL1jkqwzyvNbA14p8oeL5TaZkj2Vr/s1600/17035_1071100035770_1774226354_135607_2777274_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" closure_uid_u8ybbw="12" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgreLQbaX6-neNbaM7pgQ3Cfg9y2aDc98XmzbcfK7EaaqW_3m5xVhmFmR-lOCUbzys_NBBGCOq6ghg9jNDtsoh2342qhbBPtVdYKgcathky-AhBuWIVL1jkqwzyvNbA14p8oeL5TaZkj2Vr/s320/17035_1071100035770_1774226354_135607_2777274_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip9i4vK5bwlCmDsjiD1M2bXnAH2mv0UCro2pUIZWWnfeGLKNtkIt1SY1X0KPL6TqzudMGJ9XQfU1oP7IlYn0StmPlp7yBC6rAfOTqx0YFttdKcOKADzZFN0jbn0uiK0vHVeBKnC0efkA8u/s1600/388694_2893117575529_1487978239_32981078_714047154_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" closure_uid_u8ybbw="13" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip9i4vK5bwlCmDsjiD1M2bXnAH2mv0UCro2pUIZWWnfeGLKNtkIt1SY1X0KPL6TqzudMGJ9XQfU1oP7IlYn0StmPlp7yBC6rAfOTqx0YFttdKcOKADzZFN0jbn0uiK0vHVeBKnC0efkA8u/s1600/388694_2893117575529_1487978239_32981078_714047154_n.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxLC2z5sOcFQlxVQHA_7kzykcdp1tVgiZCjQZai0mGsBgcWFPMvsEEHLr0OkeXoY6xfWm24mu1g20vY5w9Bs5pHc0FLF4l2t7PTs6FIQNw5M-BF1qwSIL5hGjWmTiIAFv-BmPL9XCmmPsl/s1600/207962_1909234099057_1487978239_32157478_6084281_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" closure_uid_u8ybbw="14" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxLC2z5sOcFQlxVQHA_7kzykcdp1tVgiZCjQZai0mGsBgcWFPMvsEEHLr0OkeXoY6xfWm24mu1g20vY5w9Bs5pHc0FLF4l2t7PTs6FIQNw5M-BF1qwSIL5hGjWmTiIAFv-BmPL9XCmmPsl/s320/207962_1909234099057_1487978239_32157478_6084281_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhObFT6Za_b6Xsp60lFi9y69D8Wr8JRg6V_2xY2A9eafkpm_SG9lUothpbmwAPpxzZ6YdBm-H3O1i7kNuAlTQL3j54KN8Eq7-KapZhlaxQQE60xAm9sY7iy_OvibIUmZlHe37AICTWFwyJo/s1600/IMG_3835.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" closure_uid_u8ybbw="15" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhObFT6Za_b6Xsp60lFi9y69D8Wr8JRg6V_2xY2A9eafkpm_SG9lUothpbmwAPpxzZ6YdBm-H3O1i7kNuAlTQL3j54KN8Eq7-KapZhlaxQQE60xAm9sY7iy_OvibIUmZlHe37AICTWFwyJo/s320/IMG_3835.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Will, Ben, and Ella weren't his grandchildren by blood, but he loved them as if they were. Here's Ben and Ella with Dad, Christmas 2008.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWVy80-b95QfdOsnJlk9EKl3KsOJNj7P1YwiyC0D5GAXqgd7sJjP7Cafd9h7IQ6fs1BH-L7kuFelGxXMjbVuJEKSK5ejBWmF3hc6aSbz66UGN3LcnH0L-RsS67jJuxMRBr_vv0DTETv6uX/s1600/19446_100968593265773_100000578976165_23439_4052999_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" closure_uid_u8ybbw="16" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWVy80-b95QfdOsnJlk9EKl3KsOJNj7P1YwiyC0D5GAXqgd7sJjP7Cafd9h7IQ6fs1BH-L7kuFelGxXMjbVuJEKSK5ejBWmF3hc6aSbz66UGN3LcnH0L-RsS67jJuxMRBr_vv0DTETv6uX/s320/19446_100968593265773_100000578976165_23439_4052999_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
And I couldn't leave out his granddog, Scout. She loved Dad for a number of reasons, perhaps some of the biggest being that she always got to ride shotgun in the truck, he gave her AMPLE amounts of table food, and that she could sit with him in the recliner, but only when Mimi wasn't around! ; )<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaRfVtRuQcmfTj1vsQMmL_PJRgX8cZLOwAdOY9F4DVm1L8X9Dm-1u0vV0yZGNrhTa7Rozc3NilKE93Isd7HFFwlfKnvy9GL5ZKNIQSCsbB362WRC_7zoLph_EBZYynMjwBjQLUP0OYyTgT/s1600/P1010154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" closure_uid_u8ybbw="17" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaRfVtRuQcmfTj1vsQMmL_PJRgX8cZLOwAdOY9F4DVm1L8X9Dm-1u0vV0yZGNrhTa7Rozc3NilKE93Isd7HFFwlfKnvy9GL5ZKNIQSCsbB362WRC_7zoLph_EBZYynMjwBjQLUP0OYyTgT/s320/P1010154.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
These next few pictures are probably the most precious to me. When Aubrey was two weeks old, Mom and Dad flew out to Dallas to spend a week with us. It was towards the end of this trip that Dad started not feeling well and was just two weeks before his diagnosis. In classic Dad style, he changed the words around to a song so he could add Aubrey's name (or something close, in this case, Aubrina) to it. I'm sure that's what he was doing in the first picture below. The original song is from the 60s and is called "Corinna Corinna." Around here its called Aubrey's Song and we sing the chorus all the time, I mean, ALL THE TIME. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW7_9Rqoo4IcnJKoNSVWJKHofaEWOkWDY3C469Y_U7Mn1ljy6hoeN354n4qSY-wziGTyIdx-NZ8Wv29h8B9OGKK8DvCkcvl-1ee6cZP5Fz05kGVPpGRHMU0kbxN6djFAHRyax8rGQaXn6g/s1600/IMG_1739.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" closure_uid_u8ybbw="18" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW7_9Rqoo4IcnJKoNSVWJKHofaEWOkWDY3C469Y_U7Mn1ljy6hoeN354n4qSY-wziGTyIdx-NZ8Wv29h8B9OGKK8DvCkcvl-1ee6cZP5Fz05kGVPpGRHMU0kbxN6djFAHRyax8rGQaXn6g/s320/IMG_1739.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMczSiznaA_qK-tEjsYSAJKvQTIcoRmmvEU-WEyrvHWk_03WNMQhLMx2HTvd49GOwS1KZFAM_O4oIgMCMb5I-6Pe9tlKOOdbyOWoVcRX7Uc1upquzox8ce2gRiWRKFmsL2f1EmGE5L4XEU/s1600/IMG_1864.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" closure_uid_u8ybbw="19" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMczSiznaA_qK-tEjsYSAJKvQTIcoRmmvEU-WEyrvHWk_03WNMQhLMx2HTvd49GOwS1KZFAM_O4oIgMCMb5I-6Pe9tlKOOdbyOWoVcRX7Uc1upquzox8ce2gRiWRKFmsL2f1EmGE5L4XEU/s320/IMG_1864.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieF5UxzSEOdrtkl7DXpu8gD9aalxBqskSDwuaqeCbNdGuo9_hrg4gSGMqPFUpWwDw40jvRr2wsgxzbgps6zzEBndzfW9nQ8ik4F6al6sBhe8_9r0Mkg0D4dhr3Da4K6RlIgLaaRNHPt0pc/s1600/P5170108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" closure_uid_u8ybbw="20" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieF5UxzSEOdrtkl7DXpu8gD9aalxBqskSDwuaqeCbNdGuo9_hrg4gSGMqPFUpWwDw40jvRr2wsgxzbgps6zzEBndzfW9nQ8ik4F6al6sBhe8_9r0Mkg0D4dhr3Da4K6RlIgLaaRNHPt0pc/s320/P5170108.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
These pictures are from June, just after Dad started chemotherapy. I know I posted the family pictures once before, but thought they were worth including again. The one with Paul, Dad, and Shane still cracks me up. I can't remember what the conversation was but love how they're hamming it up for the camera. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpXtSWXNVWlidI2AD_fqRvBSBdzksho5cmQhP-Dy6m4BNyrw1IG-rWerPcLy8CANqqlwsJ2HaqQ-AiW9vXiRFsBb4rMYK-9GOSd9mLammiFJL1T7dJHS9Bh5zKq1i1F2KgFB4v-S00dh2z/s1600/IMG_2200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" closure_uid_u8ybbw="21" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpXtSWXNVWlidI2AD_fqRvBSBdzksho5cmQhP-Dy6m4BNyrw1IG-rWerPcLy8CANqqlwsJ2HaqQ-AiW9vXiRFsBb4rMYK-9GOSd9mLammiFJL1T7dJHS9Bh5zKq1i1F2KgFB4v-S00dh2z/s320/IMG_2200.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF9zc_znkqqXtl76bL4GjVmiQdyriHwsG78IF8hDXh_PqY1FYt_sUzMWfRwSb9JhWnIcyq6XEv-QuMuwJjg6mtSAuxwYrp533YWFlql0DVtk0To0Sj9zlgt6XzzRHmePhIOGkPGopDcbgP/s1600/IMG_2215.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" closure_uid_u8ybbw="22" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF9zc_znkqqXtl76bL4GjVmiQdyriHwsG78IF8hDXh_PqY1FYt_sUzMWfRwSb9JhWnIcyq6XEv-QuMuwJjg6mtSAuxwYrp533YWFlql0DVtk0To0Sj9zlgt6XzzRHmePhIOGkPGopDcbgP/s320/IMG_2215.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUbSTJav4Ptulnu3iTFX9ZhnVjX_xAzFx9eowlTTn1eof-COWBmGJV1nN4oz0tDDrxDlwBXwwV0VEVnld4a9CBKjum2lKc4kLb1lr2bEbU1Bg09SCY9kTapg9FoDYZewdZp8nttIXiRU53/s1600/Holley+Family-3660.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" closure_uid_u8ybbw="23" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUbSTJav4Ptulnu3iTFX9ZhnVjX_xAzFx9eowlTTn1eof-COWBmGJV1nN4oz0tDDrxDlwBXwwV0VEVnld4a9CBKjum2lKc4kLb1lr2bEbU1Bg09SCY9kTapg9FoDYZewdZp8nttIXiRU53/s320/Holley+Family-3660.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjti8sXvYKlVllIzRBeNJaRLcJaHBy2kKygpyG9iF9hEKjvrtW2rYPEqyzXqbiSek3VAqGkydRZIJ7JT0eaI6tpt9B5fFIwqUFa1S6VyL0Hi2QWUHPaZedFvKWzawU3GZOH8E35Anwihqgl/s1600/Holley+Family-3679.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" closure_uid_u8ybbw="24" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjti8sXvYKlVllIzRBeNJaRLcJaHBy2kKygpyG9iF9hEKjvrtW2rYPEqyzXqbiSek3VAqGkydRZIJ7JT0eaI6tpt9B5fFIwqUFa1S6VyL0Hi2QWUHPaZedFvKWzawU3GZOH8E35Anwihqgl/s320/Holley+Family-3679.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxEYRjkGuRqwJQV9A5rHXlGK791W81XTQ6CsIU5yTAqDsH1U4ThTYKtkRrJE7MBTIDy_bmr9kTuguZwQ_VB_w7BgnyfKRfrnrUDc15qbsPOuaaEe2xtGE7ALY70IEwhyphenhyphenkdYZaJH5d9wsbF/s1600/Holley+Family-3685.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" closure_uid_u8ybbw="25" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxEYRjkGuRqwJQV9A5rHXlGK791W81XTQ6CsIU5yTAqDsH1U4ThTYKtkRrJE7MBTIDy_bmr9kTuguZwQ_VB_w7BgnyfKRfrnrUDc15qbsPOuaaEe2xtGE7ALY70IEwhyphenhyphenkdYZaJH5d9wsbF/s320/Holley+Family-3685.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidIoO-RmTfGBnxPjvGp-K83jX_kyhJYU0EFKIYMdN_GKd3lQpzOJgs7Qlp3Sx3jBDtmad0MZzThdVWIseZTFBNnk9qdlxAQsEPvaDYNb91KFoPfyytZaMvAVkXBiPpAyNJg9VSZjWHkEsZ/s1600/Holley+Family-3691.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" closure_uid_u8ybbw="26" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidIoO-RmTfGBnxPjvGp-K83jX_kyhJYU0EFKIYMdN_GKd3lQpzOJgs7Qlp3Sx3jBDtmad0MZzThdVWIseZTFBNnk9qdlxAQsEPvaDYNb91KFoPfyytZaMvAVkXBiPpAyNJg9VSZjWHkEsZ/s320/Holley+Family-3691.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I made another trip home in October and here's a few pictures I took from that visit.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8hcgJdsH2HJc0KtUhIsbnns_Nqbny77AeyJbVKkKGBONJ48Ebv56iiNrxwCATnb_S51FgMhmJX7J3yMtj7ha66d2yJ5gwBVqT0TmsBfzUTSxvrNaeLYmSZgbLJ0yEuO8X3Xy5YtSp-GYC/s1600/IMG_3772.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" closure_uid_u8ybbw="27" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8hcgJdsH2HJc0KtUhIsbnns_Nqbny77AeyJbVKkKGBONJ48Ebv56iiNrxwCATnb_S51FgMhmJX7J3yMtj7ha66d2yJ5gwBVqT0TmsBfzUTSxvrNaeLYmSZgbLJ0yEuO8X3Xy5YtSp-GYC/s320/IMG_3772.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl1c3JRdtOpORt3U0-4ap0kgWqY-H0a4z2SqF6EMmuWSpgRjrJI_CAntW0QevRiqXNodl1viX9sEJ-GvCn0zCGXnGQlcpbQu1YvY_7WR__kRVPXBlFU9fksLcp75rSY4REwRrf5At6yzKD/s1600/IMG_4023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" closure_uid_u8ybbw="28" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl1c3JRdtOpORt3U0-4ap0kgWqY-H0a4z2SqF6EMmuWSpgRjrJI_CAntW0QevRiqXNodl1viX9sEJ-GvCn0zCGXnGQlcpbQu1YvY_7WR__kRVPXBlFU9fksLcp75rSY4REwRrf5At6yzKD/s320/IMG_4023.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv1eZTkZ7i1F2krBFsx5h_f8Jc-8iANxAbYQAvWgTwnHXfDqlbPgJCo-l2uZtMCaut_ZudARKWUVlUG7Uys5M2wQb7nKL3ZZ6GG1j7bsYQpnyWllKcC0-3MXMoMoiZnhrib8fdmi7TiEVK/s1600/PA210044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" closure_uid_u8ybbw="29" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv1eZTkZ7i1F2krBFsx5h_f8Jc-8iANxAbYQAvWgTwnHXfDqlbPgJCo-l2uZtMCaut_ZudARKWUVlUG7Uys5M2wQb7nKL3ZZ6GG1j7bsYQpnyWllKcC0-3MXMoMoiZnhrib8fdmi7TiEVK/s320/PA210044.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
And these are the last pictures I took of Dad, taken exactly one week before his death, as our family celebrated Christmas together. The last picture is of me opening my most favorite gift for Aubrey, a recordable book of The Very First Christmas read to her by Dad.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigFbx7oGnoMg24E2mQQkOVxtM7zwBD2pYDwrpKbCiNNAHdrC7Vv5eDEZof93XVN_M8wRU2jAgvtlDcP2MtZy508zTj9eYpc_2q0Fgc3P8Rm7Z0Ue9iL0z1vbxOifjvAJtYtwuXVnksS91f/s1600/IMG_5254.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" closure_uid_u8ybbw="30" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigFbx7oGnoMg24E2mQQkOVxtM7zwBD2pYDwrpKbCiNNAHdrC7Vv5eDEZof93XVN_M8wRU2jAgvtlDcP2MtZy508zTj9eYpc_2q0Fgc3P8Rm7Z0Ue9iL0z1vbxOifjvAJtYtwuXVnksS91f/s320/IMG_5254.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgbRjVR80O0yZE6eZ7kK2K0GpkDuUQ7enA_lTUqo7LHhGV-fRxbf_0UVlYcchiJY7DRpdJTit8-AM8si81HpYRe7aK_d9VWMgmwscfzhTLh1UYGNx4_DWOQd1X5wY8qkW0q1sBpTH7soWr/s1600/IMG_5311.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" closure_uid_u8ybbw="31" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgbRjVR80O0yZE6eZ7kK2K0GpkDuUQ7enA_lTUqo7LHhGV-fRxbf_0UVlYcchiJY7DRpdJTit8-AM8si81HpYRe7aK_d9VWMgmwscfzhTLh1UYGNx4_DWOQd1X5wY8qkW0q1sBpTH7soWr/s320/IMG_5311.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPeqwvu5eOHkwVegFPOSBoX05LZIIeQ1VV-1CiUNAdBButsaRe4NKs4PAXrFMoLG7kaqFCNgd_1e4ewK00w93Zs8xp73laOJpawWoprKe-gAnKjUB-3dyAziz7V9xA34tp9gKQQ1lnQ-LC/s1600/IMG_5320.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" closure_uid_u8ybbw="32" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPeqwvu5eOHkwVegFPOSBoX05LZIIeQ1VV-1CiUNAdBButsaRe4NKs4PAXrFMoLG7kaqFCNgd_1e4ewK00w93Zs8xp73laOJpawWoprKe-gAnKjUB-3dyAziz7V9xA34tp9gKQQ1lnQ-LC/s320/IMG_5320.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I know that blog posts should not typically be this long, but when it comes to my sweet Daddy, I've got a lot to share. But what can I say, my gift of gab is something I'm so thankful to have inherited from him! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Dad seeing Aubrey for the first time.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/VSBMBuHdZ2s?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Aubrey's first visit to Mimi and Baba's house.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/mLskBOHB-1k?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Madison dancing to Baba's piano playing. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://i.ytimg.com/vi/bbuZs7CK_go/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/bbuZs7CK_go?version=3&f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" />
<param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" />
<embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/bbuZs7CK_go?version=3&f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div>
<br />
Dad singing to Aubrey.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/1MdmxwROpYE?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
This is our last video chat that we did with Dad. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://i.ytimg.com/vi/fV_mT_tchNM/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/fV_mT_tchNM?version=3&f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" />
<param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" />
<embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/fV_mT_tchNM?version=3&f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="clear: both;">
</div>
</div>
<div class="post-footer">
<div class="post-footer-line post-footer-line-1">
<span class="post-author vcard">Posted by <span class="fn"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/11922805128985008419" rel="author" title="author profile">Amy </a></span></span><span class="post-timestamp">at <a class="timestamp-link" href="http://amycristina.blogspot.com/2012/01/celebrating-my-dad.html" rel="bookmark" title="permanent link"><abbr class="published" title="2012-01-07T11:45:00-06:00">11:45 AM</abbr></a> </span><span class="post-comment-link"></span><span class="post-icons"><span class="item-action"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/email-post.g?blogID=1775481920021296415&postID=7897376138248743520" title="Email Post"><img alt="" class="icon-action" height="13" src="http://img1.blogblog.com/img/icon18_email.gif" width="18" /> </a></span><span class="item-control blog-admin pid-693088046"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=1775481920021296415&postID=7897376138248743520&from=pencil" title="Edit Post"><img alt="" class="icon-action" height="18" src="http://img2.blogblog.com/img/icon18_edit_allbkg.gif" width="18" /> </a></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>April Rileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06906213148681628244noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83618528860670949.post-59224571062621962492011-12-23T14:51:00.001-06:002011-12-23T14:51:55.831-06:002011-12-23<object name="Slideshow" id="Slideshow" width="425" height="425" align="middle" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab" classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000"><param name="movie" value="http://www.shutterfly.com/flashapps/flashslideshow/Slideshow.swf" /><param name="flashvars" value="configurl=http%3A%2F%2Fws.shutterfly.com%2Fshare%2Fexternal_slideshow_config%3Fsid%3D2IcNG7Vq4ZOlA" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><embed id="Slideshow" width="425" height="425" name="Slideshow" align="middle" quality="high" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" flashvars="configurl=http%3A%2F%2Fws.shutterfly.com%2Fshare%2Fexternal_slideshow_config%3Fsid%3D2IcNG7Vq4ZOlA" pluginspage="http://www.adobe.com/go/getflashplayer" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" bgcolor="#869ca7" src="http://www.shutterfly.com/flashapps/flashslideshow/Slideshow.swf"></embed></object><p style="width:425px;margin-top:0;text-align:center;"><a href="http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=2IcNG7Vq4ZOlA&eid=115">Click here to view these pictures larger</a><img width="1" height="1" border="0" style="padding: 0; background: #ffffff; border: none; box-shadow: none;" src="https://os.shutterfly.com/b/ss/sflyshareprod/1/H.15/111?pageName=sharekey&c1=pictures&c2=blogger" /></p>April Rileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06906213148681628244noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83618528860670949.post-61208332196186946692011-12-05T14:49:00.001-06:002011-12-05T16:31:32.974-06:00<span style="font-family: inherit;">A lot has happened since my last post. We had one trip to the Emergency Room, Madison turned four and we celebrated Thanksgiving! </span><br />
<br />
Yes, that is correct. We did have to make a trip to the Emergency Room. About a week after we got home from Birmingham, Madison took an afternoon nap as usual. Shortly after she woke up I noticed dried blood in her left ear. I cleaned it up and couldn't figure out why she was having this. She was showing no signs of having an ear infection. No fever, not pulling at her ears. We decided to keep an eye on it and if it got worse, we would go to the doctor. My only issue was that it was the weekend.<br />
<br />
The next morning when she woke up, it was a lot worse. I called the on-call nurse and she advised us that we should go to the ER. I cringed when I heard this. We try so hard to keep Madison healthy and now we were having to take her to the ER! We called quite a few people on the way there to let them know what was going on and to have them start praying for Madison and our ER visit. Our prayers were answered because that was the fastest ER trip we have ever had. We were only there for 30 minutes-- from the time I signed in to the time we walked out!! We couldn't believe it. <br />
<br />
Madison had an ear infection that caused her ear drum to rupture, causing all the bleeding. They said that once the ear drum ruptures it relieves the pain. We are still shocked at how high her pain tolerance is. It is scary and amazing all at the same time. <br />
<br />
This is a picture of her ear on Saturday. It was taken from my cell phone so that is why it is blurry. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiymU0vIbKmlCEsSOq-TER9V1UMJmkrtRs6KoGyn1-c3h5TWGLaY5cyXT_0iwk5hBsmsuX17lT2qbKALVj18mws7jw1oDl_3AyCS8BcznL_5f7pPmRqOARzIRqRUqoYl0TwcDQo-mMsVQc/s1600/Blog+ear+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiymU0vIbKmlCEsSOq-TER9V1UMJmkrtRs6KoGyn1-c3h5TWGLaY5cyXT_0iwk5hBsmsuX17lT2qbKALVj18mws7jw1oDl_3AyCS8BcznL_5f7pPmRqOARzIRqRUqoYl0TwcDQo-mMsVQc/s320/Blog+ear+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
This is her ear on Sunday. </div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX0yQmLrzan60ICuhYHb1-o4Yz4REFe3OffiMCr5Y6UBLtRvscWE4apaEgwa9E9s6YXiVyxqbJdy38qghEXSOMOehQIjszONJHoGDAyWlDEpf9NIY1MVyClrbJn8mIQwNlLDxxrlPJtIU/s1600/blog+ear+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX0yQmLrzan60ICuhYHb1-o4Yz4REFe3OffiMCr5Y6UBLtRvscWE4apaEgwa9E9s6YXiVyxqbJdy38qghEXSOMOehQIjszONJHoGDAyWlDEpf9NIY1MVyClrbJn8mIQwNlLDxxrlPJtIU/s320/blog+ear+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I just took her back to the pediatrician this week for her four year well check. Madison weighed 20 lbs 12 oz! Her ear drum still has a hole in it but is looking better. <br />
<br />
Madison celebrated her 4th birthday on November 16. It is still hard to believe that she is 4 years old. Mom and Dad had planned on coming up to the house to celebrate with her that night but because Dad didn't feel well, we loaded up and went to their house. Madison loved all of her presents. This video is the sweetest video of Dad telling Madison a story. Since Madison was a baby, Dad always tells Madison these kind of stories and she absolutely loves them. The video is kind of long. Mom was unloading the dishwasher. It didn't seem loud at the time but once I watched it back it was. Sorry about that. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/0so5AfB1qWE?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
The next video is of Madison doing one of her favorite things. She loves to play soccer and we try to play at least once a day. She has gotten pretty good at kicking the ball in her walker. I laugh at this video every time I watch it. She had just started asking for a bottle which she calls a "baba". When she drinks her "baba" she has to have her pappy (pacifier) and her poons (spoons) right there beside. If you forget any of the above you can forget about her drinking a baba!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/2wTWR8A8ncU?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I'll close with this last picture of Madison. She just got a haircut on Saturday but her hair was out of control! Literally!! We could not keep it out of her eyes. I was cooking dinner one night and she was in her chair in the kitchen playing. She was getting mad because her hair was in her face but I couldn't leave what I was cooking to go get a bow. I took my ponytail holder out of my hair and pulled Madison's back. Madison got very mad with how I styled her hair and didn't mind showing me! I got this look until I took it down!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwfiF_zCFBlCeOYgatNYxysJUTWukIHdGxi-8e_kfoBuJsAaaEArXZYdk-WGgs_Wmz28CMGk8RAV3j3aSkRUatNv2fb3RkdZ3PyG569fNOLd28JaMfrim5vmWQiJhgroA2SjGIaUM2j8Y/s1600/blog+ear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwfiF_zCFBlCeOYgatNYxysJUTWukIHdGxi-8e_kfoBuJsAaaEArXZYdk-WGgs_Wmz28CMGk8RAV3j3aSkRUatNv2fb3RkdZ3PyG569fNOLd28JaMfrim5vmWQiJhgroA2SjGIaUM2j8Y/s320/blog+ear.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left">
</div>April Rileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06906213148681628244noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83618528860670949.post-72372994508195101332011-11-11T11:46:00.002-06:002011-11-14T14:31:46.324-06:00Things have been really busy since my last post. We got to spend 10 days with Amy and Aubrey and had such a great time. We have also made two trips to Birmingham. One was for Dad and the second one was for Madison and Dad. <br />
<br />
I will post pictures from Amy and Aubrey's visit very soon. Since I haven't updated in SO LONG, I wanted to give a quick update on Madison and post a few videos. <br />
Madison had her six month check up last week in Birmingham. She saw her genetic, cardiologist, and pulmonary doctors. I am very happy to report that all three of these appointments went great. <br />
<br />
Her cardiologist has been monitoring some thickness in the aortic valve for two years now and has seen no changes. He was confident enough to say that he felt comfortable moving Madison to 12 month check ups instead of 6 month. I however, was not that confident. My reasoning behind it was because all the other I-Cell children see their cardiologist every 6 months and there is a reason for that. Even though Madison's heart is looking great, if something does get worse I want to catch it early. Luckily, the doctor said he would do whatever makes us happy so we are staying with every 6 months. <br />
<br />
Madison's pulmonary appointment went well also. Our pulmonary doctor has been wanting to do a sleep study on Madison for about a year now and Shane and I haven't agreed to it. She has already had 3 of them. With the first one, to our surprise, Madison did great. The second one, not so much. At the third one, as we arrived at the hospital and got checked in, I decided not to put her through it, so really she has only had 2. <br />
<br />
At the first sleep study it was determined that Madison needed oxygen at night. She initially started out at half a liter of oxygen but she is now at one liter. We have the pulse ox machine that alerts us if Madison's oxygen levels or her heart rate drop at all. She doesn't sleep with the pulse ox every night unless she is sick. The pulmonary doctor is concerned about Madison having high CO2 levels. She isn't showing any symptoms of having them but he does want to monitor her levels every year which can only be done by a sleep study. We have agreed to do a sleep study in the spring but it is still early. I am going to do a lot of research and ask the other parents of I-Cell children and then decide if we need to put Madison through it. <br />
<br />
All of Madison's appointments were on last Wednesday. Dad had his appointments on Tuesday. He had a CT scan and blood work done that morning and then we met with the oncologist that afternoon. We learned that the tumor that extends from his liver into the lungs and heart has shrunk a little. The bad news is that there are new lesions on the liver. He was able to get another chemo treatment and will go back in 3 weeks for another treatment and then another CT scan 3 weeks after that. We are hoping and praying that we receive good news at that appointment. <br />
<br />
I'm sorry that the blog has been put on the back burner here lately. Our plate has been full. With Madison and me being in for the winter now, I should be able to post more regularly. Thank you for checking in on Madison and keeping her and our entire family in your thoughts and prayers. <br />
<br />
I have taken several videos but wanted to get these two on the blog. Since we aren't able to get Madison out, we have been watching our church services online. To say that Madison LOVES the music is an understatement. She dances like crazy when we are watching the music portion of the service. This video was just too cute not to share. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/4a6DIbKQVNM?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The next one is of Madison watching her friends, Reed and Mason, say the Pledge of Allegiance and sing a song at church. She likes to watch this video ALL THE TIME! She was so proud of them for the great job that they did. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/axfJ48QRsUE?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>April Rileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06906213148681628244noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83618528860670949.post-22156557697922021222011-09-27T15:28:00.001-05:002011-09-28T06:32:24.932-05:00Life is going by way too fast. I can't believe it is almost October! Madison and I only have a few more weeks until we are in for the winter. I am finding it so hard to believe that Madison is going to be 4 on November 16! Four!!! When did this happen?<br />
<br />
There is a lot of mixed emotions every time her birthday comes around. A parent should never have to think about how many more birthdays they are going to get to share with their child but that is a thought that crosses mine every year. I just put my faith in the Lord and pray that we have many to share together. <br />
<br />
There are a lot of reasons why I haven't posted lately. The main reason is time. Madison loves to snuggle. She sleeps so much better when you are right there beside her holding her hand. With Madison sleeping with us every night she will not go to sleep until we go to sleep and when we wake up, she is up. Don't even think about laying her down in the bed and not staying there with her! She isn't going to have it. <br />
<br />
For the past few months, I normally wake up when Shane leaves to go to work and just stay in the bed with Madison because she will cry if I leave her and she needs the sleep. It is the same thing when she goes down for her nap. I will lay down with her and sometimes I will nap with her but a lot of times I spend that time in prayer over Madison. There are things that need to be done around the house but those "things" with always be there. I am not going to have this time with Madison forever and I want to cherish every second of it. <br />
<br />
Last Monday, Madison woke up with a high fever and I wasn't feeling great either. I took her to the doctor and she had an inner ear infection and is cutting her canine teeth. With Madison's gums being so thick, it is hard and painful for her teeth to come through. She is doing better with them now since they have broken through the gums. <br />
<br />
I went to the doctor on Tuesday because my throat was getting worse. I had tonsillitis! I had forgotten how painful that is. Madison and I were both on antibiotics and spent most of the week laid up in the bed watching episodes of <em>Good Luck Charlie</em> back to back to back! <br />
<br />
I have a lot to post since I haven't posted in awhile but I didn't want to make the blog too long today. A lot has been going on in the last six weeks since I posted. We are excited that Amy and Aubrey have a trip planned and are coming down for 10 days! I can't tell you how excited we are. October 11 can't get here fast enough. I will try to post some more tomorrow but I couldn't not blog without including some videos of Madison. I will add some pictures as well this week. Love to you all!<br />
<br />
Madison has a new magic trick she would like to show everyone. She does this trick at every meal. My favorite part is the "Ta Da!"<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/0965Do5QxAw?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
The next two are of Madison doing one of her favorite things. Running up and down the drive way. I posted two because one of them was too funny not to. I feel like we live in the country but we really don't. However, we do hear a lot of gun shots. Not because it is a dangerous neighborhood but there are people that shoot skeet near us and ducks or something. Who knows! This time a year, hearing a gun shot is not out of the ordinary. Every time Madison hears one she goes, "Boom Boom!" I just happened to be video taping her when one went off. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/q14oibFnReM?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/dLIshJUANN8?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>April Rileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06906213148681628244noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83618528860670949.post-8734720628439091252011-08-18T17:38:00.000-05:002011-08-18T17:38:54.311-05:00I am a part of a Bunko group and every third Thursday of the month we get together and play. I am looking forward to the great fellowship and lots of laughter tonight. With that being said I hope Shane has just as much fun tonight with just him and Madison. Normally, Madison will take a two hour nap each day but she did not get one in today. She didn't wake up until 10:30 but I felt like she would at least take a 30 minute nap. I recorded Madison talking away as she was laying down. Not only did she talk like this the entire hour I made her rest. She has talked like this all day!! I don't know where she gets it from! (sarcasm) =) I just wish I knew what all she was saying because she has got a lot to say these days! 7<br />
<br />
Sorry the post is short tonight but I am running behind as usual!!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/GK54AfDTH1M?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>April Rileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06906213148681628244noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83618528860670949.post-18667373859105595802011-08-17T19:55:00.001-05:002011-08-17T20:12:35.506-05:00Well I guess it's true that there is a first time for every thing. Madison is such a good child and very rarely do I have to get on to her but there are times where she does get in trouble. I know...hard to believe. She is still continuing to feed herself and is doing really good with it. <br />
<br />
However, today at lunch was not so good. She had fed herself some of the fruits and vegetables but was playing with the spoon more than eating. I took the spoon away and started feeding her myself. When it got time for her to eat her yogurt she was already mad because I wouldn't let her feed herself because she was playing with the spoon. I had corrected her several time but she kept doing it so I wasn't going to let her try again. <br />
<br />
I had a spoonful of yogurt getting ready to go into her mouth and Madison got really mad and swatted my hand away causing the yogurt to go every where and I dropped the spoon. Of course she got in trouble for this and I was telling her that we don't do that and that she wasn't getting any more yogurt. As I am cleaning up the table I am telling her why we don't do that and I look over at Madison and my heart just broke! She was sitting in her high chair with her head bowed down and her bottom lip poking out. She knew she was in trouble. I kept thinking she was going to cry but she never did. I had to stay focused on the issue and over look it but I came close to giving in. <br />
<br />
When you all see the video that I am going to post tonight you are going to be mad that I got on to her for that at lunch. I did not teach Madison good tonight at dinner but her laugh was just to hilarious. We were eating dinner and as I am putting a piece of food in my mouth and I completely missed my mouth. Madison was watching me and broke out laughing. I did it again on purpose just to get another laugh out of her and it was such a hardy laugh that I ran and got the video camera. Well of course she wouldn't do it with the video camera rolling. So this is where I am teaching her bad. I started throwing little pieces of bread up and catching them in my mouth. Well the video alone will show you how funny Madison thought this was.<br />
<br />
Needless to say Madison got over the incident at lunch pretty fast and did great at dinner. She didn't play with her spoon at least! Progress!!! I can not begin to tell you the fun that she and I have everyday. Our days are filled with fun and laughter but when Madison laughs like this, it just makes all of our troubles and worries go away. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/kZlfUEwGTPY?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>April Rileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06906213148681628244noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83618528860670949.post-18811415457379376902011-08-16T20:41:00.002-05:002011-08-16T21:32:18.804-05:00I realized yesterday after posting the video how much people have missed me not posting on a regular basis. All the sweet comments and texts letting me know made me feel very humbled to know that so many people are going down this journey with us. After seeing the response of people that love to follow what's going on with Madison I am going to make it a priority to get back to blogging regularly. <br />
<br />
I took some videos tonight of Madison that were too cute not to share. Madison LOVES this show that comes on Disney called <em>Good Luck Charlie</em>. When this show comes on Madison goes crazy!!! She can't get enough of it. Not going to lie...Shane and I like it too! I took a video of Madison dancing when she hears the theme song. She would literally watch this show all day if we let her. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/JrG9NeoMnBA?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
Many of you know how much Madison likes to dance. The girl has got some rhythm!...she gets that from her Aunt Amy! Well...another Disney story. When we are watching Disney through out the day they will play music videos of some of the Disney stars. Madison dances to all of them. I just happened to have the video camera handy when one of them was coming on and happened to get Madison breaking it down! <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/z9NzWKgxfcY?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<br />
<br />
April Rileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06906213148681628244noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83618528860670949.post-49161782885368651142011-08-15T20:35:00.000-05:002011-08-15T20:35:32.470-05:00Well things haven't been too crazy for us. I haven't updated the blog in awhile because I just haven't had too much to post. We had something exciting happen at the Riley house tonight and I couldn't wait to get the videos uploaded to post to the blog. Madison will be 4 on November 16. That is so hard to believe. Tonight at dinner, Madison fed herself all BY HERSELF!!! I am still shocked. She has tried to do this in the past but gives up quickly because she can never keep the food on the spoon. Tonight was a totally different story. She was able to keep the food on the spoon and able to dip the spoon in to the food without much help. Shane and I are some very proud parents tonight. Madison looked at me like I was crazy when I started crying but they were tears of joy! The videos are posted below. <br />
<br />
Thanks for being patient with me while I haven't updated like I used to. Madison and I only have about 8 more weeks until we are in for the winter. I know then I will probably post daily again because we will have a lot of time on our hands.<br />
<br />
Madison has been talking up a storm! I wish I could understand what all she is trying to tell me but I haven't been able to figure it out yet. Whatever she is saying is pretty funny to her because she can't stop laughing after she says it. <br />
<br />
I guess you could say we have had a pretty big week around here. Madison also has started hugging your neck. I have waited so long to have her wrap her arms around my neck. She can't go completely around your neck but if you hold her up high, enough she will come pretty close. We are so proud of her. She is doing more every day. My heart it very swelling tonight with pride! Love to you all!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dypKggvgrr6B3_sfW2bLyU4E_XTXJNZRDSJym4CS8SgJ20F6iJ3pqJPnPZSH2q23hnq6PRRWIi7M2gnYW10Yw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzQ1oZ5C4weewyTOnuBC9jTJl4300BJYxdIQCYJ_xfDJ89oAdq7PITZwSXVwbUC0HS-r6WKF-2ECcbUqq2KHA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>April Rileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06906213148681628244noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83618528860670949.post-90558207831685529172011-07-13T09:19:00.002-05:002011-07-13T10:37:12.330-05:00Once again, things are CRAZY in the Riley house! Madison is battling yet another cold/ear infection/possible allergies. We were at the doctor on Thursday, Friday, and Monday. <br />
<br />
Wednesday night Madison started getting congested and first thing Thursday morning I called the pediatrician. After she examined her, she said that Madison had an ear infection that we are treating with oral antibiotics and ear drops. The ear is looking much better but Madison still has a lot of congestion and a horrible cough. <br />
<br />
Friday we started doing breathing treatments every 4 hours and Madison started a nose spray to help with the congestion. Friday and all weekend she was running a fever. I called our Pulmonary doctor on Saturday and talked with him about what all we needed to do. We just stuck with the initial plan and tried to give it time to work. Monday she was getting worse so back to the doctor we go. We called Birmingham on Monday while at the pediatrician's office. Our pulmonary doctor didn't get the message until after 5:00. <br />
<br />
Madison took a long nap on Monday afternoon and didn't wake up until 6:15. Once she was up she was coughing NON STOP. Finally, the pulmonary doctor called and he was able to hear Madison have one of her coughing spells. Since Madison had coughed so much she threw up. This is the second time she has ever done this and it scares us to death! We could tell though that once she got all the mucus out of her she was feeling a little bit better. The pulmonary doctor wanted us to start her on a high dose of steroids last night and another this morning. Then the dosage will slowly start going down over the next five days. Luckily, we always have extra for times like this. She is already starting to feel some what better. <br />
<br />
It is very unusual for Madison to have a relapse this close together. If she has another one, we are going to go meet with an allergy doctor to see if that is what we are dealing with. <br />
<br />
Other than that, things have been going good. We are taking full advantage of this warmer weather and having lots of play dates and getting out as much as possible. I can't believe we only have 3 months until Madison is in all winter! <br />
<br />
Since we have kept Madison is all winter I have gotten spoiled by her staying so healthy. Before these past two colds, she hasn't been sick since last September. I had forgotten how bad they really are on her. <br />
<br />
Dad started his chemo tablet two weeks ago. He has already lost close to 15 pounds in fluids. From what the doctors have told us that is a good sign that the chemo is working. Mom and Dad just went up to Birmingham today and he got a good report. They will go back in four weeks to have another PET scan and we just pray that the tumor has shrunk. <br />
<br />
I couldn't end the blog without a few videos of Madison. I have taken so many that I want to post so I will HAVE to start updating more regularly. I hope you enjoy them. <br />
<br />
Okay...so most of you that know me real well, know that I am borderline OCD when it comes to our house. I HAVE to clean the house at least once a week from top to bottom. It also has to be clean before we go to bed each night. I think I have gotten a little bit better since Madison was born but I am sure Shane would disagree with that. I do believe that some of my OCD has been passed on to Madison. She can't stand for drawers, cabinets, or doors to be open. She feels that it is her duty to close them. When I am cooking I always leave them open for her. I think she feels like she is helping me out. After I cleaned the kitchen the other day I opened up several things in the kitchen and grabbed the video camera. It is just too cute watching her close them. She was sick when I recorded this so that is why you can hear her breathing.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/drxVwph1SfE?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
This one is of Madison dancing in the car. She was starting to get fancy with the notepad! We have about 5 notepads around the house and one is with us at ALL times. For those of you wondering, I was not driving when I recorded this. We were stopped at a stop sign.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/YkR9ge8wZk8?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
This is what Madison does ALL day long. I just wish I could understand what all she is saying. Sometime I can make it out but most of the time I just have no clue.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/xpoMAjP334I?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div>April Rileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06906213148681628244noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83618528860670949.post-26627282677988459352011-06-22T09:27:00.000-05:002011-06-22T09:27:26.074-05:00These past few weeks have been CRAZY for us!! Amy, Paul, and Aubrey flew in on Tuesday, May 31. Paul had to fly back to Texas the very next day but came back on Monday, June 13. They all left Monday morning to fly back home. We are so happy that they came and that they were able to spend a lot of time with Mom and Dad. <br />
<br />
The visit itself was pretty stressful. My days are so messed up so I will try to get this all straight. When Mom and Dad came home from the hospital stay in Birmingham we had to wait almost two weeks before we were able to get him in with an oncologist. The appointment was made for Tuesday, June 14. We didn't really get any answers after that visit but we knew dad would need to have a needle biopsy done on the spot on the liver as well as a PET scan to check for "hot spots" of cancer. <br />
<br />
The PET scan was done on Friday at UAB and Mom and Dad came home on Friday night and then drove back on Sunday afternoon. Dad had to be admitted to the hospital and had the needle biopsy on Monday. They were able to get three samples off the mass to have tested. Since the results are going to take a few days, they came home yesterday afternoon and will go back next Tuesday to meet with the oncologist to get the results and discuss options. <br />
<br />
Just a few days of Amy and Aubrey coming, Aubrey developed a horrible cough. We took her to Madison's pediatrician and she ended up having the croup. Since they were staying with us, we are all very nervous. As soon as Aubrey started to get better, Madison started showing similar signs. I took her to the pediatrician on Monday. Just a little cold for Madison ends up turning in to something horrible. Madison was at the pediatrician's office every day last week except for Tuesday. <br />
<br />
The poor child could not stop coughing and had a ton of mucus. Her breathing was getting labored. She was having to get three xophenex treatments through the nebulizer 20 minutes apart to even make a difference with her cough. She received a rocephin shot on Thursday and had a chest x-ray done as well. The chest x-ray showed negative for pneumonia. We called B'ham and talked to her pulmonary doctor to see what he thought. We increased her steroids and extended them for another 5 days and put her on an antibiotics. She also got 2 more rocephin shots. One on Friday and on Saturday. She is finally starting to feel better. Yesterday was the first day she let out the laugh that I had come to miss so much. I knew then we were on the road to recovery. <br />
<br />
It has been a rough few weeks for us but I am so thankful for all the prayers that have been lifted up for our family during this time. We have surely felt the presence of the Lord. This was the first time when Madison was sick that I was not a nervous wreck and sick to my stomach. I know that the good Lord is watching over us and he has everything in control. <br />
<br />
I am sorry that I have not updated the blog in several weeks. I will try to get more regular now that we are able to get back in a routine. As soon as we know something on dad I will post that as well. <br />
<br />
While Amy was visiting she was doing her quiet time and came across this verse that was very fitting to our situation with dad. <br />
~Psalm 112:7<br />
<em>"He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord."</em><br />
<br />
For those of you who personally know my dad, you know how much of a Godly man he is. His faith has been so strong during this time. You also know how emotional our family is and what weepers we are! As Mom and Dad were getting ready to leave on Sunday we were all crying. (surprising I know) Dad immediately told us that we are not putting all our trust in to the Lord and we are letting fear overcome us. He is right. We as a family have laid all our fears at the Lord's feet and take such peace in knowing that.<br />
<br />
I couldn't end this blog without a video of Madison. Amy taught her to do this and we got it on video. It is really short but oh so sweet!!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dy2DzJGdAFCJ4InDfNvyv2Y7m-sDTOIFMoqyVNJrx6Sa600CaCiP_9-wBV5CfGxECK_-EoyB5WDinWEKR3GBQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>April Rileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06906213148681628244noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83618528860670949.post-35549795911097835322011-05-26T07:37:00.000-05:002011-05-26T07:37:11.539-05:00We have had a busy past few days. My dad was admitted to the hospital on Monday and was put in to ICU on Tuesday. Mom and Dad were in Dallas last week and came home on Tuesday. On Monday, he started feeling bad and by Tuesday, he was worse. First thing Wednesday morning he went to the doctor as he was retaining fluids and we didn't know why. By Wednesday, he had retained 21 pounds in fluid since the end of March.<br />
<br />
They put dad on a diuretic to help him lose some of the fluid but it didn't help. By Sunday, he had only lost 3 pounds. He went to his doctor on Monday and they told him they needed to run some test but because they would need preauthorization from the insurance company, it would be faster for him to go through the emergency room. <br />
<br />
The emergency room did a CT scan to see if dad had an intestinal blockage which came back negative, but did show a spot on his liver. The spot is about two and half inches long which they say is pretty big. They need to do a needle biopsy on it but because dad is on plavix for his heart, they have to take dad off of it for five days before they can do it. <br />
<br />
Dad just had an echocardiogram done while we were in Birmingham. That test didn't show anything abnormal. Dr. Evans, dad's GI doctor, ordered another one to be done on Tuesday. That echocardiogram showed a blood clot in the right side of dad's heart, which is the reason he is in ICU. They now have him hooked up to a heparin drip to try to help dissolve the clot. At first we were told that the clot could be a tumor but now they are leaning back towards a clot. We just won't know for sure until the heparin has time to work and they are able to do another echocardiogram. <br />
<br />
The plan is for dad to stay in ICU over the weekend. The are going to do the needle biopsy on Friday and because of the long weekend, we will more than likely not get the results until Tuesday. Depending on what the biopsy shows will depend on what is next. <br />
<br />
We appreciate all your phone calls, emails and texts to check on dad, but most of all we appreciate all your prayers. We as a family have laid all of our worries at the feet of God for we know that it is in his control. Dad is being showered in prayers and we have definitely felt them. We are so thankful for Dr. Evans and how he felt the need to order another echocardiogram because there was really no need for him to do so since he had just had one 3 weeks ago. If he had not done that, the blood clot would not have been detected. <br />
<br />
Mom is doing good. She is tired from being up at the hospital all day. We are sending all the results as we get them to UAB to see if that is where we need to transfer to if surgery needs to be done. It has been hard on Amy to be in Dallas and away from home. Amy might come if dad has to have surgery. As badly as I want to see the three of them I hope that is not the circumstance for the trip home.<br />
<br />
Madison has been a trooper these past few days. I have had to leave her with friends which I think has been harder on me than it has on her. She and I have stayed up until about 11:00 these past few nights getting caught up on our snuggles. Last night she said "I love you" for the very first time to me. She has repeated it when I asked her to but she did it without me even telling her to. Talk about tears of joy!!!! I have waited three and half years to hear her say that and it just melted my heart. <br />
<br />
~ 1 Peter 5:6-7<br />
"Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time. Casting all your care upon him for he careth for you."<br />
<br />
I recorded this video last night as I was getting Madison ready for bed and putting her PJs on. It was 10:15 at this point and Madison still had the giggles. For some reason, she thinks it is HILARIOUS when you bump into something and say "ouch." I hope this video puts a smile on your face!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzAFE00k4Z9Kqz0Qx-cLfr2V8V1_MMTWQvSCGnNwSEFHNAqyZk5gW94VT84c43jxsOKkM0CBQgNybnrd46l1w' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>April Rileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06906213148681628244noreply@blogger.com2