I Almost Punched Him

A couple of weeks ago my Sister In Law, Ellie, got hit by a car in the parking lot of Fresh Market.

After my experience there on Monday, I think we both will be avoiding that parking lot.

My Grandma came down from Logan to visit for a couple of days this last weekend. She stayed with my parents but spent Monday and Tuesday with the girls and I.

(To be honest I think I wore her out to the point she wont be visiting for a while, but we'll see.)

I dragged her all over the place getting ready for the girls party. We went to the bank, to Walmart, Smiths, and Fresh Market. (Yes I needed all those different stores). On our last stop at Fresh Market I was there to get Maddie's medicine and my birth control. After the usual coversation with the pharmasist (we are on a first name basis because I'm the only lady that get's this medication and so he always remembers me.) about my girls and his holiday; we wander over for a donut (Love them) and proceed to the parking lot. I load Maddie in and then Grandma gets in while I load Katie.

As I'm closing her door I hear these footsteps behind me coming at me at a run. Right as I turn around, a mexican (excuse me for not asking his name...) guy is right there.

Now in my head this happens in slow motion... I pull back to give him my best right hook because who in their right mind runs full speed at someone in a parking lot unless they just stole something or were planning to steal something? No one, except this Mexican. Anyway, he's not carrying anything so I didn't think he had stolen anything and no one was chasing him so I figured he was planning to steal my purse (or me) and so I scream (loud), with all intent I almost punch when he stops (maybe a foot from my face) and ducks into the car next to me, who then takes off like a batt out of Heck.

What?

I really almost punched a stranger for running to his car?

Yep... It's a sign of the times.

Our Last 6 Months

I am aware that my blog has become severely neglected, and while I am sure that everyone has given up on waiting for me to post and I am at this point writing to no one, I don't care. Here is an overview of our lives in the last 5 months.

We went to Logan to visit Kyle and Andrea. (Love them). Made a stop at the Logan Temple and the duck pond where the girls had no idea why they should be excited about ducks, but I made a fool of myself anyway.

We went on a trip to Disney World with Allie and Aaron. Let me tell you, airports DO NOT accomodate people with kids. I was holding both babies while Josh was trying to take apart (yes dis-assemble) the stroller and get the car seats up, take out the laptop, empty the baby food jars and his pockets, explain the need for water (hello... two babies... enough said), only for me to get stopped by security because I was holding two babies, not just one (has no one heard of multiple children before?). It was a nightmare. We had fun at all the parks except for the pack of wipes to clean off my pants, purse, stroller, and both babies at Majic Kingdom day, and the huge amount of vomit all over me during Animal Kingdom Day, and the fact that we spent the night before coming home at Arnold Palmer Med. Center for Children with Madisyn because of her MCADD, and had to buy a ticket at the last minute on another airline because our flight was booked (oh the joy of flying Non-Rev) we had a great time.

'insert laugh'

We went hunting in October. The babies were there they were just napping during this photo. No one in our group got anything but we still had a fun time.



Babies learned that they need to share and don't like to.

We were bugs for halloween, just like the rest of the teen population in Salt Lake. Here I thought I was being original. Not hardly.

They learned to smile for the camara.

How to crawl and walk.

And that they love the lights at Temple Square.
We've had a great year so far and are looking forward to their first birthday next week.

Me vs. Poop

This morning started off just like any morning. Babies wake up, we change butts, we have breakfast, and we play.

During "play time" I started to smell something a little rank. I checked Kate ... nothin. Then I looked at Madisyn. Her innocent little face gave nothing away but the discoloration of her adorable pink jammies and the slight browm goop coming out the neck hole (yes... her neck) totally gave her away.

I knew before I even got her in her bedroom that this would be an official sacrificing of the onesie by way of cutting. I knew there was no way I was getting that off without spreading the crap. So as I cut off the onesie and proceed to wrap it up Madisyn smacks her belly (still covered in Poop) and then right to her face she goes... I know... yuck!

I proceed with the wet wipe bath and 1/2 a container later I decide I might as well just go for a regular bath. I sit Maddie down (I've done this tons of times and never had a ... well a... situation) and strip Katie. I walk to the bathroom which is right across the hall and run the water. Katie is in there with me all excited and Maddie is no where to be found. I walk out the bathroom and around the corner.

I wasn't looking at my feet, who looks at their feet when the walk? Anyway, I steped right into a small hill of poo. Yup, the whole foot.

And who do I have to thank for it...

Miss Madisyn Paige!

I give up!

Literally!

Done!

Poo - 1 Me - 0

P.S. Mom, I need to borrow the sham- 'poo'- er!

6 Month Pics

My Babies are 6 months old now. I can't believe how fast time is flying by, they are growing so fast. It's fun to watch them progress and discover new things everyday.

Camping at the Spruces

We went camping up at the Spruces on June 5 with some of Josh's Family. It was the girls first camping trip. They seemed to have fun. They loved the fire and Kate was mezmerized by the sky. She kept grabbing for my marshmallow, I felt bad that I couldn't share with her.

Madisyn, Mommy, and Jonathan.

Daddy and His Girls


Madisyn thought that Connor was the the funniest thing ever.


Our Family.

We had so much fun even though we were only able to stay for one night, we can't wait to go again.

Our First Real Food

In Josh's family it seems to be an unspoken tradition for every Gubler kid to have Rubarb, this is our girls first experience. Hilarious.

Family Reunion

Josh's Family Reunion was the weekend of June 11th. We had a lot of fun just having dinner and talking with his family. His grandma was able to come and this is the first time she's seem our girls.

4 Generations

My Whole World

Katie, Josh, and Maddie


The "Great" Grandkids.

Blessings

While at work today I've had some down time and have done some blog surfing. My friend Ali has a friend who's baby just passed away from a rare genetic defect called SMARD. I was reading about it, it's an auto recessive gene passed from parent to child. Much the way Madisyn's MCADD is passed. In reading her blog I started feeling overly emotional. I feel so guilty for feeling down on myself because my daughter has a genetic condition which will affect nothing more than her diet once she gets older. Although she can die from her condition, she wont as long as we manage it. This woman's child and every child with the SMARD condition will die. They die a painful death from respiratory failure. I can't imagine looking at my child everyday wondering if today will be the day she dies, what a strong person it must take to deal with that fate. I admire them. My child is perfect even with her condition. Josh and I were talking yesterday as we were driving to Home Depot. On the side of the road in a front yard there was a Mother and Father and a little boy, maybe three, and he had a walker. They were trying to get him to walk from his Dad to his Mom. They looked so happy and proud of him. These last few experiences (the little boy, the blog, and the experience at PCMC) has made me realize how much of life I take for granted. I worry about things like laundry and dinner, not death or paralasis. This woman's blog posts are sad and angry but full of hope and the knowledge that her child is hers forever. I am more grateful now than I have ever been to have the gospel in my life and know that Josh and I will have our babies forever. There is no greater gift in the world.

Model In the Making

Kaitlyn has been noticing herself in the mirror a lot more lately. Once in a while I catch her doing this...

She's working on her "kissy" face.

My Life is a Seinfeld Episode

Those of you who are Sienfeld Fans should remember the episode where Elaine is trying to get her medical records because it has some info in it that she doesn't want. She keeps going to different docs and they all read it and mention something about it or look at her strange...well I was Elaine while Madisyn was in the ER.
We got to the ER at Primary Childrens and the nurse that checked us in was a complete jerk. I told her about Maddie's condition and that she wasn't holding anything down because she'd been throwing up. The nurse just wrote down that she was puking but nothing about her condition. She told us to have a seat and they would call us in a minute. (*I carry an emergency letter with me at all times but was told that if I went to IMC or PCMC that they would already have it and I wouldn't need it, so I didn't provide it.) We were sitting there for 20 minutes. I am watching my daughter turn more gray and lethargic. I grab my emergency letter and take it to the counter, to a different nurse, and ask her to please take this to the doctor because she needs to be seen. The nurse read the letter and said she was sorry and they would get us back ASAP. She takes the letter in the back and I go back and sit down.
The door opens and out come the crappy nurse. She kept saying things like "You have been bumped to the front of the line, in front of everyone else waiting", we were the only people in the waiting room. I looked around and she said "There are other people ahead of you they're just waiting in another part of the hospital". (This is where my sarcasm steps in), I looked at her and said "What, they're hanging out in the cafeteria?". I'm sure she didn't appreciate my response but I didn't appreciate her treating us as if we weren't important. I was arguing with her for a few minutes because she was acting extremely rude considering she's working in the ER of Primary Childrens. Anyway, I told her that I wanted a different nurse, preferably one that was so indifferent. She left and we got called back about 2 minutes later, by her, and taken to our room. She said that our nurse would be in shortly, I was releaved, and then in walks the Social Worker. Yup - She sent me a social worker. With the way he was talking to me I was sure she must have told him I was some crazzed lunatic mother that needed calming down. Of course I was fine by that point and he only stayed about a minute. For the rest of our time in the ER every person that came in said that they were sorry about our earlier confusion and that they were appreciative of our patience when they weren't sure what to do for her. It was an experience that I wont soon forget, and if there happens to be a next time I will definitly give them my letter no matter what. They asked me to fill out a survey about my experience before they released Maddie, I was glad to that for them.

Madisyn's Visit to Primary Childrens

I had the worst Mother's Day this year. I am so grateful that I have the opportunity to be a mother to my children. They are the best things that ever happened to me. I never knew that I could love someone so unconditionally and completely. They bring me such joy and happiness. I am very blessed. They are the hardest job that I have ever done but they are the most rewarding.

Well.... I woke up at 4 on Mother's Day and fed Madisyn. Nothing was out of the ordinary, she ate, she burped, we went back to sleep. I woke up again at 8 for another feeding and once again she ate and burped. She stayed awake and played with Kate while Josh made me breakfast. I hear a little gaging and look on the floor to see Madisyn covered in puke. She did the same thing an hour later after I fed her a little. We then gave them a shower (that was interesting) and were getting ready for church. Once again she ate a little and puked all over. We decided against going to church since she was throwing up and all I would need is her to puke in Sacrament. She threw up again, rather violently, and fell right to sleep. That's a concern for me because that tells me that she's running out of energy, and you know thats a problem with her having MCAD Deficiency. I start to get concerned and I can see the concern in Josh's face as well. I decide that I would call the doctor since it's 1:00 and she hasn't kept anything down for far to long. I call the Metabolic Specialist which is of course an on call doctor. She takes my info and says to pack for the hospital and she'll call me back in 20 minutes. I pack like a mad man while crying. Josh is on the virge of tears, my Mom is crying, I can't even think straight; I'm a complete mess. She calls me back in 10 minutes and tells me to get to the hospital ASAP. I'm directed to go to Emergency and Primary Childrens and that they are waiting for us. (see follow up post entitled "My Life is a Seinfeld Episode" to hear about my Nurse experience). So after 6 hours in the ER with her throwing up two more times and receiving a catheter, IV, and having her blood drawn, she's admitted and we spend the night praying for her to start eating.

She was so tired the entire stay but the nurses in our unit did their best to play with her and they were crazy about her smiles and her toes.

Daddy feeding Madisyn on Monday morning before they would release us.

Maddie and Mommy. Look at her adorable little hospital gown, I didn't know that they made them that small.

They put her IV in and wrapped this hard cast with pink so that she wouldn't pull it out. This is what she looked like for most of the time we were there.

I was extremely grateful for the nurses and doctors who took care of my baby and helped her before anything bad happened. She went through a lot but she was a trooper, only doing a minimal amount of crying and smiling at everyone who came in to check her once we got to Monday morning. She was released Monday at 3:00 and we are taking her back for a followup appointment tomorrow. I guess you could say that it was the best and worst Mother's Day ever. The best part is that my baby is okay, I got to bring her home, and she and Kate are my whole life, along with Daddy, we love Daddy.

The Official Face of MCAD

We got confirmation today on the type of MCAD that Madisyn has. It's the Classic form which means that she has two mutations of the same gene. I was devestated even though I knew she had it. You can't tell that she has the condition just by looking at her, in fact, no one will ever be able to tell as long as we keep managing the condition. I thank Heavenly Father every day for living in the time that I do where we have the medical knowledge to help my baby. We found out she had the condition from the Newborn Screening the state does. I also found out that Newborn Screening is not something that every state does. The state of Utah only started testing for the 29 different genetic conditions two years ago, before that they didn't. I read a bunch of inspiring stories of people who fought for these tests in the United States and over seas. The March of Dimes is actually key in helping legislation get passed in other states so that this test is required. It saves so many lives when you get a diagnosis early and can manage these conditions. Much of the reasoning for these tests is because of parents who lost their children to conditions that could have been managed with something as little as a change in diet but weren't given the opportunity because these tests were not available. There are many states that still do not offer these tests, places like Arizona do not think it necessary. No child should suffer and die for something that can be managed. I urge you all to support the March of Dimes in their fight to get every newborn child screened for these conditions. It saved my daughters life, maybe it will save yours as well.

Pee On Her Face

Josh and I went to lunch with Aaron and Allison at KFC the other day. When Aaron was done eating he offered to take Kate from me so that I could eat, he's such a nice uncle. Anyway, when I was done and took her back he noticed his arm was a little damp. Sometimes the girls sweat a little so I said that she might have sweat on his arm. I gave him a napkin and he wiped it up and then went over to Allison and rubbed it on her face. I then noticed that his pants were wet. Yeah, she had a little accident on Aaron and he in turn put it all over Allison's face. I've never felt so bad or laughed so hard. It was a classic moment that will go down in my memory right up there with the "a...a...double B?" We love it.

Family Night

Once a month my family gets together for Family Home Evening. We usually have a lesson, last night it was provided by Andrea and Kyle, and then we do some sort of activity. Well, this month Kyle chose Croquet (I have no idea if that is spelled right). Anyway, Kyle beat us along with Aaron and Dan as a close second. Who knew that game could be so much fun?

Our Little Family
Andrea and Kyle (Ouch!)
My happy little Kaitlyn, she makes me smile.

Madisyn was on Daddy's team.

It was a little sunny outside, we did what we could.

Never A Dull Moment

So today was one of my two working days this week. Most of you know that I work at Granite Credit Union; but are you aware that my branch is in a Walmart? Well, most of the day is somewhat fun because we can always find something to laugh about (usually resembling the "people of walmart" website. Check it out, it's funny). Anyway, today I did not have to make my own fun, people at walmart did it for me. My day went as follows:

1- We were discussing funny names of members and someone walked in right as Felisha was saying Jen Nettles. (say it fast...lol) I think we just about gave the poor lady a heart attack. Needless to say there wont be a high Member Service Score from her this month.

2- While walking the isles (we are suppose to be out recruiting members; but usually we just use it as time to shop and goof off; but don't tell the boss, she's grumpy) I ran into a lady who was super nice. She was over 6 feet tall and her boobs were right at eye level with me. Now, I'm so not a girl who goes around staring at other peoples boobs, and I know what it feels like for people to stare at mine; but I couldn't help it, they were gigantic. I'm talking huge. I could probably use one cup and cover my entire head, I totally thought "hum, I wonder if she uses 2 hats instead of a bra?" I know, rude right; but it just sort of popped into my mind and I couldn't help it. Poor girl, I was wondering if she knew that she could probably get her insurance to pay for a reduction, however I didn't think it appropriate to suggest so early in our relationship; maybe on the next store walking.

3- While out to lunch with Amy (we went to Cafe Rio ... yummy) we were walking to the car when I see a lady with her two daughters all decked out in Hello Kitty Garb. The pants looked like Pajamas but they were too short to be pants yet too long to be capri's. I wasn't sure what would possibly motivate this Mom to wear that junk. I think she's taking the "Dress Younger Like Your Daughter" to the extreme, or maybe she just likes Hello Kitty, I don't know, but I will give her the benefit of the doubt and assume she doesn't own a mirror.

4- I think that it should be a requirement to show a valid Drivers Licence in order to operate the motorized shopping carts in Walmart. A lady pulled into our branch. Now, we have a very narrow branch, not a lot of space for turning around (by not a lot, I really mean NONE). I help her fill out an application for a loan and find out she has no income. What? Why in the world would we give you a loan when you have no way to pay it back? Sorry, tangent for a later post. Anyway, when we were finished she floored the motorized cart while flying in reverse and rams right into the table that hold all our deposit/withdrawl slips and sends it flying into the checkstand across the isle. She just puts it in drive and turns to go while muttering "These things are dangerous". Of course, I'm thinking it's not the machine it's the operator; but I hold my tongue. It's already been a hilarious/judgemental day for me.

So Walmart has just reconfirmed my theory that some people should have to get a permit to reproduce.

Easter

We had a super fun Easter this year. I am totally aware that my girls don't care that they get Easter baskets or decorate Easter Eggs but I think it's important for them to know that they never missed out. (Plus I have adorable scrapbook paper for Easter). Madisyn would not smile at the camara. She's just barely getting to the point where everything is not so serious that she needs to scowl at it, but just barely.

Kate on the other hand is always willing to smile. Anyone who talks to her can usually get a smile out of her. In fact, lately when we've talked to her she stares at our mouth so that she can try and immitate it after you, it's the funniest thing.

Josh decorating Easter Eggs, Madi is so not amused.

It's 9:30 at night here and Kate would obviously rather be sleeping.

Sometimes I wonder if Madi just thinks that we are all ridiculous.

A Date With Dr. Longo

On Monday Madisyn had her first real appointment for a checkup on her MCADD. We had to go up to Primary Childrens Medical Center to meet with Doctor Longo, whom I found out is from Italy not Germany as I had originally guessed. Things went pretty well. We met with 7 different doctors ranging from specialists to dietitians and geneticists. They all bombarded us with information but because I've studied up on this condition I believe I retained most of it. They measured her and weighed her (23 1/4" long and 11 lb 9 oz), she's in the 30th percentile for her age, so things are going well. I had to keep a chart for the previous three days of everything she ate, that was fairly easy since all she eats is formula; but I can see that it is going to get much harder as she grows.

They wanted to do DNA testing to see which of the two types of MCADD she has. They figure that it is the 'Classic' form which also happens to be the most severe. They treat both forms the same they just will see Madisyn more often if this diagnosis is confirmed. They asked me if she'd ever had her blood drawn before. I said "Well she's had her heel poked for blood", that is so NOT what they meant. They actually have to hold her arm down and poke her with a needle then suck out her blood with a syringe. The phlebotomist was great, he was saying sweet things about how beautiful she was, he asked Josh if he had a gun to fight off the boys when she grows up. All those things were made to keep our minds off the fact that they were about to hurt our baby; but it was still nice of him to say. He really took his time trying to find the largest vein in either arm, he said it was about the size of angel hair spaghetti. They took out three large viles of blood, I honestly wondered if she had any left. She fell asleep almost immediately, we kept checking her to make sure she was still breathing. I drove home with my hand on her chest.

Needless to say, we don't have to go back until October unless she has an "episode". They increased the amount of supplement she's taking and told us that as she grows we can increase it ourselves. WHAT? I am not comfortable increasing her dosage without a doctor telling me it's fine, so we will just let her pediatrition do it. They will have to take a blood sample everytime she goes in (I can just see how that is going to go when she's 2). I've already decided that Josh gets to be the one to hold her down, it was painful enough just listening to her cry, I can't imagine when she can talk. However, being at that hospital with children who have far worse conditions than Madisyn made me so grateful for the blessings I have. So what if she has to take a supplement, so what if she has to have a special diet (at least we will all be thin, once we start following her diet, it's not hard just different), at least she's not fighting something horrid like cancer. To me she is absolutly perfect just the way that she is.

Three Month Photos

We had their blessing pictures taken at JC Penny. They did a good job but I really hate how expensive it was (and I even had a coupon). Neither one of them cried but they didn't enjoy the flash very much.

Look at Madi's face, I think she's done.

My girls

Madisyn

Katie

We had this picture taken at my Mom's ward. They actually got a pretty good picture considering that they had just woke up. They did get a lot of goofy ones though.

Two Month Photos

I had some pictures taken of the girls about 8 weeks ago. Due to some family problems the photographer didn't get the photos back to me until about two weeks ago. Needless to say I had already had their three month pictures taken so these wont see the wall in my family room but they are still super cute.

Kate and Madi not enjoying their tutu's very much.

Kate

Madi in her Valentines outfit. (Josh thinks she looks more like an Easter Egg so it became her Easter dress as well)

He's As Big As They Are!

Last Night we went to the International Sportsman's Expo with my family. We had fun but the best part was holding the baby bear. He was so cute and very wiggly!

The Baby Blessing

So I am completely aware that I have been neglecting my blog. I swear everytime I try to do anything (including but not limited to bathroom breaks and blogging) someone is in need of my attention. Trust me there is nothing more I would rather do than be with my kids but sometimes the rest of those people in my life would like to know what we've been up to... so the babies were blessed on March 7th. Josh did a wonderful job on their blessings. He was so nervous, he didn't want to say the same things to both but he also didn't want one to be better than the others. It was a real challenge for him. Needless to say they were similar yet different and both were beautiful. He got a little emotional which is only known by those who know him best (or those that we told). Josh's Mom and I made the dresses. Okay, his Mom made the dresses, I just cut them out after copying them from ones I saw at White Elegance. We had a luncheon at our house afterward consisting of way to many leftover baked potatoes. It was a beautiful day.

Josh and Madi

Josh and Kate

Our Family

Madi

Kate