Well 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. 

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. 

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. 

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.

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. 

I 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. 

I took some videos tonight of Madison that were too cute not to share.  Madison LOVES this show that comes on Disney called Good Luck Charlie.  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. 

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! 

Well 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. 

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.

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. 

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!

Once 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. 

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. 

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. 

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.   

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. 

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! 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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.

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.

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.



These 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.

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

While Amy was visiting she was doing her quiet time and came across this verse that was very fitting to our situation with dad. 
~Psalm 112:7
"He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord."

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.

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!!

We 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.

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. 

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. 

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. 

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.

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. 

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.

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. 

~ 1 Peter 5:6-7
"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."

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!

Yes I know, it has been a long time since I posted, again!  I can't get over how long it has taken us to recover from this trip.  Madison slept longer for a good week.  Almost 15 hours each night and about a four and half hour night each day.  This week she is sleeping about 12 hours each night and about a two hour nap in the afternoons.  That is her normal routine.  I feel bad for my mom and dad.  Mom was in Dallas for Aubrey's birth and flew in the day before we left.  We got home on Thursday and mom and dad both flew back on Tuesday to help out with the new baby and they are flying back home tonight.  I know that they are drained but also know that they are enjoying every minute that they get to spend with their grandchildren.

We haven't had much exciting going on around the Riley house.  We had a wonderful Mother's day.  We got up and went to church that morning.  We have been visiting Hiland Park Baptist church for a few months now but we have been listening to the sermons at home most of the winter.  Shane and I both felt in our hearts that this was the place we needed to be.  We had been talking about joining but we just hadn't done it yet.  After the sermon on Mother's Day we both knew it was time and went up during the invitation and joined the church.  It couldn't have been a better Mother's Day.  Of course, I didn't have my camera on me for Mother's Day so I called the church and asked them if they could send me the picture that was taken after the service for new members.  This is the only picture I have from Mother's day but one that I will cherish.  Of course, Shane isn't smiling.  We all know how much he LOVES to have his picture taken!!  Notice the sarcasmm.

Madison is going through this stage right now where she loves to wear sunglasses.  I try to always put them on her when we go outside because her little eyes are so sensitive.  She will NOT wear her sunglasses.  She has to wear one of mine.  I am surprised but she will keep them on.  Well since I don't buy expensive sunglasses and just get mine at Target, her and I share sunglasses.  She cracks me up because when we are in the car, I will give her a pair of mine and put another one of my own and we are constantly trading.  I took these pictures of Madison just being silly putting two pair of sunglasses on at a time.  She was really cracking herself up.  I will try to get some new video of her this week and post on the blog as well.