September 8, 2017

Today was a busy day. Madison slept well and did not have anymore further complications with her throat. We woke up and headed to Madison's apartment to get her moved in. When we got to the apartment there was a bit of a line. I wish that we could have moved in yesterday but it just didn't work out. Once we made it through the line it was time to get Madison's stuff inside. We didn't want her to start bleeding again so she was not allowed to do anything but thankfully the apartment complex had these wagons that we could borrow to help.

It was a quick process of getting it all in but we didn't jump right into unpacking so Madison could get on campus for some of the events.

Before the events started we got some lunch and Madison got her id card.

After lunch Madison met with her Iconnect group to get to them at the start of get connected (freshman orientation). They met on the courts and Madison was apprehensive to go but went and tried. She was in a lot of pain so Kevin ran to get her some pain meds and took them into her. It was a little overwhelming to see all those freshman together trying to figure this college thing out.

Kevin said you could see that she was trying but also miserable because she was in pain. I am proud of her for trying and working through the pain.
After the get to know you event it was time to meet in the I-center with the parents for a welcome from President Eyring and his wife. They had a great message for us all before the students moved on to meet people in their majors. The parents stuck around for a question and answer session.

During the parent session President Eyring spoke about his father and how he kept a family journal and how he started one for his family and how it had been a blessing during trying times in his life. He was not sure why he felt inspired to share this message but I know why. I have been neglectful of keeping our family journal and after today I am recommitting myself. This has been therapeutic for me and the girls have loved looking back and reading about our memories. From today on I am going to write about each one of our days and I am going to catch up as best I can on what I have neglected. President Eyrings talk is just another testament to me that Madison is at the right place and that she is going to be ok.
After the parent meeting there was a break in the get connected schedule. We had heard that the Walmart in Rexburg would be crazy so we decided to head back to Idaho Falls and shop there and also get some dinner. We wanted to get Madison back to the rest of get connected but she was exhausted and felt a lot worse so we took our time with shopping and then went back to her apartment to move everything in. It was nice to get her room pulled together.

After we were done we headed back to the hotel with Madison. She wanted one more night with us before we leave tomorrow.
Allison and Ashley have been having fun back at home with Miss Dawn. Allison is feeling a little better so she decided to go with them to the Scentsy fireworks. When the girls got home we got a fun report on their night. They saw a handwriting analysed and it was fun to see how she got some things right about them. She said Allison was very stubborn, smart and a musician. Ashley was objective, and someone that takes charge. I am glad that they had so much fun and were in good hands while we were away.

Girls saying goodbye to Madison

Today was a crazy day and we did not get to leave when we wanted to leave. Madison could have moved into her apartment today but we just couldn't make it happen. The crazy started at 1:30 this morning. I had been in bed for about a half an hour when Madison came in and she was spitting up blood. Kevin was still awake so he worked with her to see if they could get the bleeding to stop. An hour later she was still bleeding so he took her to the ER and they did not get back until 5:00 AM. They went to bed and I got Ashley off to school before getting Allison an appointment because her pain was not any better. We saw Dr. Smith and he ordered more blood work, a chest x-ray and a CT. We were gone till about 1 in the afternoon. While we were gone Kevin took Madison into the ENT because they did not want her leave till they saw her. They cauterized her throat and said that she was good to go but needed to head to the ER if she started bleeding again. Never had I had two kids with hospital bracelets before. Life always seems to get crazy when life is busy around here.

Kevin had everything in the care when we got home, I just needed to get our bags packed. Before hitting the road we needed to head to the eye doctor to get some contacts for Madison. When we were acouple miles from our house Madison started crying because she didn't get to say goodbye to Ashley. She would be home from school by the time we got the contacts and got back to the house so we decided to do that so she could say goodbye. It was hard not to cry along with Madison I don't know how I am going to leave her in Rexburg.

I am glad they got to say goodbye. This is going to be a big adjustment for everyone.
We made it to our hotel late so we went straight to bed because tomorrow is going to be crazy.

Packing

Madison spent her day packing today. It is weird watching my daughter pack up to move out of the house. Where has the time gone, it feels like it was just yesterday that she was born. I know she is ready for what college has in store for her but I am not sure I am ready for her leave. By Saturday we will be four member family at home. I love our five member family and am not ready for anyone to move out.

Besides the packing today I spent time at the doctor with Allison. She has been having some abdominal pain and they thought it might be a appendicitis. The test all came back normal so we didn't get any answers. I hope she can rest tonight and wakes up feeling better.

Family Pictures

This year for my birthday I wanted one thing and that is family pictures by Carrie Elton who did Madisons senior pictures. It has been crazy trying to find a time to do it around Madison's surgery. We had it scheduled for tonight at 7 but the smoke is so bad in the area we had to quickly move it up to 5. We got there and everything worked out. Before I went to bed she posted a sneak peak. I can not wait to see more. These are going to be great and I am glad that we got this done before Madison headed to school. Who knows what the next few years will have in store for our family.

It was kind of a relief that the pictures got moved up because we have alot of tomatoes and cucumbers from the garden that I needed to can before we left but wasn't sure that I would have time. Kevin and I worked together and we got it done tonight. It is amazing how much we are getting out of our garden.

Errand day

Allison and I got our outfits ready for family pictures on Saturday but Kevin did not like what we picked out so we went shopping today. I know that I am going to be happy when the pictures are done but it sure is a pain picking outfits for them. Thankfully we were able to find something for Kevin. We are done and ready for tomorrow night.

Cross Country

Ashley is the first kid that I have been able to convince to run cross country. It has not been easy but she is sticking with it. Today was her first meet. She has been working really hard and her goal was not to be the last person and I am so proud of her because she pushed herself and she did not finish last. Running does not come easy to her. Her asthma seems to be getting worse as she gets older and her flat feet hurt while she runs.

It hasn't been all work. She at least does it with friends.

I am so proud of this little girl.

Madison's Tonsils

Madison got her tonsils out today. She got a bad case step a couple of years ago and she seems to have been sick every since. This spring we talked to Dr. Ally and she suggests we see an ENT. The ENT suggested to get her tonsils out before she goes to college. He said that sometimes when people get sick like that the tonsils hold on to the illness and they catch everything. The introduction of college would introduce a whole new bunch of germs so it would be good to get them out before she goes and hopefully won't get as sick as she has been. Originally we were going to do it at the beginning of the summer but then she got her job so we pushed it back so she could earn as much money as she could before going to college. I am kind of nervous on how her recovery is going to go because they say that the recovery is harder the older you are.

We are home recovering and everything went well. So far she is tolerating the hydrocodone. I hope it keeps up so she can stay as comfortable as she can. I am praying for a smooth next couple of weeks before she leaves for college.