Christmas in California (Part 1)

For Christmas this year we flew to California to spend a couple weeks with Daniel's parents in Redding. His brother, Mark, and his wife, Danielle, and their two kids, Ellie and Ryan came too.

We went to a fun park a few times. This is pictures from the day after we got there.

We went and walked on the Sundial bridge that crosses the Sacramento river.

This is underneath the bridge.

So cute with his hands in his pockets. He was running away from the camera.

On Friday night while Daniel's dad went to pick up his brother and family from the airport, we went the ward Christmas party for dinner and to see Santa. (Santa was Daniel's friend.) This was the first time the kids saw Santa this year and I was shocked they sat on his lap because last year they cried.

Bensen is afraid of everyone and hid behind my legs when we got near Santa.

One day while the babies (and most of the adults, minus me and Daniel's mom who was making dinner) SLEPT, Staucie and Parker and their cousin Ellie made the Gingerbread house. It reminded me of the two years we made them with our friends in Utah, the Binghams.

Playing outside.

Then we went to see Santa at the mall and use the See's Candy gift certificates. There was no line for Santa, but the line at See's Candy took forever!

A couple days later, they ate some of the candy. Bensen was awake for this activity.

"We love candy."

Addie.

And Bensen.

While the finsihing touches of Christmas Eve dinner were being put together the kids played outside with Daniel.

And played with the train with Aunt Danielle.

Mark was the turkey carver.

It looked like a turkey on the plate.

Christmas Eve dinner.

Santa (Daniel's dad) came to visit that night too and brought everyone pajamas.

Christmas Morning!!!

Watching Grandpa's 3-D tv.

Danielle, Ryan, Mark, Ellie.

The kiddies.

Us.

Dad and Mom/Grandpa and Grandma.

Thank you so much for having us and our mess for Christmas! It was so much fun! We love you.

Merry Christmas (and little Addie update)

Have a very Merry Christmas!

Addie Update: After some drama this morning, Addie had her post-op check up and is looking great. She will see her opthalmologist again in a couple of months. The redness in her eyes looked so much better when she woke up this morning too. She must be able to see better because she is crawling all over the front room and trying to get the kids' toys now and they are yelling, "Addie is trying to get my toys!" Ha ha. Yeah for Addie :)

Addie's Eye Surgery

Addie had her eye surgery on Tuesday, December 7th on both eyes to correct the disorder she was born with, esotropia. It caused her to be cross-eyed. Without the surgery she would eventually lose vision in one of her eyes, so Daniel and I decided to have it done.

Daniel took work off that day to stay home with the older 3 kids. Addie and I had to leave the house at 5:00am to drive downtown to Texas Children's Hospital. We had to be their by 6:00am. Addie had to go in fasting and her surgery was not until 7:30am. I was wondering how in the world we would make it. She would be screaming.

We had Daniel's sister, Brittany, her husband, Matt, and our nephew, Noah come over Monday evening so Daniel and Uncle Matt could give Addie a priesthood blessing. Some friends of ours, Aaron and Kristen and their 2 kids happen to stop by at the same time with a frozen meal for us the next day and cookies. So, Aaron also stood in on the blessing. In the blessing, among other things, Daniel blessed Addie that she would not cry.

I was so nervous about so many things. I think the scariest part of it all was the anesthesia. I didn't want Addie to cry, and I was afraid the doctor would mess up or something.

In the morning, I woke up, got ready, and then put Addie in her car seat and we left. I got a little lost because of construction right in front on the entrance/road I was supposed to turn on, and the crazy roads and transit system, etc. But we made it. We checked in, got called back for paper work, finally got called back to have Addie's vitals checked, and then we were given the yellow hospital gown to change her into. Then we waited in a smaller waiting room. Doctors, surgeons, nurses, anesthesiologists started coming in to speak to parents. They came to talk to Addie and I, and then Dr. Yen, Addie's opthalmologist, came, and then the nurse. Addie and I walked with the nurse to the hall where I handed her Addie (with her blankie) and she went one way to the OR and I went the other way to the waiting room.

That whole time... Addie did NOT cry.

After about an hour, Dr. Yen came out and said that everything went great and that they would come get me after they took Addie to recovery. For the surgery, Dr. Yen cut open both of Addie's eyeballs in the inner corners along the bottom of the white part and weakened the inner eye muscles to help her eyes turn out.

When I went back to recovery Addie was laying in the little crib with the gas mask on and when the nurse was all ready she turned off the gas and a minute later Addie was waking up. The nurse put her in my arms while Addie fussed and I gave her a bottle of Pedialyte that she chugged never opening her eyes. When it was gone she started fussing again and I gave her another bottle of Pedialyte, she finished it, fussed a bit and then went to sleep. After a little while, we were able to go home. She screamed when her IV was removed, but then was fine after I stood up. When we got home I fed her a bottle and after a little while, she took a good nap. She has been taking Tylenol for the pain.

Addie has been recovering very well. We have to put drops in her eyes 3 times a day, which she hates. We can't let water get in her eyes and then she will have her post-op check up next week.

This is soon after we got home.

Then she started acting loopy and it was really funny.
Her eyes are really red in the corners and will be that way for a couple weeks, but at least she doesn't have bloody tears anymore.

We can already tell a difference in her eyes. They seem to be working the right way already.

After her nap, I think the drugs had worn off and she was not so happy the rest of the day/night.

She was very snuggly though and I enjoyed snuggling with her.

She kept laying on the Boppi pillow. She was cute.

I really felt the spirit that day. I know that Heavenly Father was with my little Addie. I know that it was such a minor surgery, but I am grateful that Heavenly Father blessed and comforted Addie and us. We are so grateful for our families that prayed and fasted for Addie. We are grateful for friends that took care of us - Kristen and Aaron for dinner and for Tami getting us lunch that day. I am grateful for the Gospel and for the little miracles that happen everyday.

On the way home from the hospital I called Daniel and cried. I cried because I was so relieved that everything went so well. That Addie didn't cry, that our prayers were answered, and that our sweet baby's eyes look great, and that she is okay from the anesthesia.

This is Addie today. Dec. 9th.

Her inner eyes are still very red, and they will be for awhile, but she is doing great. She looks different to me now. I don't know if it is because she is no longer cross-eyed or because her eyes are so red, or both.

Love you, Addie.