Dear Madilyn...

You are in surgery at this very moment. Dr. Reisner started working on your back about 30 mins ago. Daddy and I are trying to sit patiently as we wait to get an update on how things are going.

This morning you were sad when we left the house. Berkley was so glad she got to hug you before we left. I wish I could have stopped those tears for you. But, all I could do was tell you things will be ok. Those tears didn't last long once you were snuggled up in your fleece blanket and rested your head on your pillow. We had to wake you up when we arrived at Children's.

Once again, you were a champion this morning. We had some last minute changes to our plan. Dr. Reisner decided he wanted a "cath" in your MACE. Well.... since Dr. Kirsch told us not to worry about it we removed it last night. I had to put a different type of "cath" in for the nurses. It wasn't easy but I finally got it. So, all of that excitement delayed us an hour.

I hope that you are in a happy place in her mind. We talked about all the happiest things we could before they gave you the medicine that makes you loopy! Your bunny and Cinderella blanket that Aunt Carol and Susie made for you are with you. They will keep you safe my sweet Madilyn.

Now the hard part begins....waiting, waiting, waiting. We are so fortunate that Dr. Reisner was able to clear his schedule so he could take all the time he needs to remove the lipoma. He is going to be as aggressive as he can to get it out of there. He wants to keep you safe though so he will do as much as he can. He hopes you will feel your foot again! That would be the miracle we are hoping for.

I love you Madilyn! You are my sweet little princess. I pray that our Heavenly Father will send his angels to comfort you this day. All I can do now is wait until we are reunited sometime today. After all these years you would think I was better at waiting. I am not. I am trying so hard to be as brave and courageous as you are. I will see you soon....

All my love,
Mommy

Nine Days

Pure Happiness!

The house is quiet this morning. I did not make it to work again last night. So, my sleep schedule has been completely thrown off. I tried to stay in bed most of the night but kept waking up. Finally at 6:40 am I finally got out of the bed....

My mind has been here and there. I have been checking road conditions to see if I could actually make it in to work this afternoon. It is not looking good. The Atlanta area is not equipped to handle the ice and snow we received beginning Sunday night and the temperature is not going to give them much help in melting it.

In 9 days....I look at the picture of my Madilyn playing in the snow and gasp at the thought of her having spinal surgery #4 in 9 days. She doesn't have her air cast on either...why? She is so tired of it and has been wearing it for almost three months. Yesterday....she put on some thrown together snow clothes with boots and went outside and played and played and played......

Last night she was exhausted.

Madilyn is supposed to be at Children's on Thursday for Pre-Op. The anxiety is kicking in. The second thoughts fill my mind. My need for cookies has taken over..... We will see if the weather works with us or not. Until then, we will play!

The Perfect Dinner Rolls

Simply Delicious!

1 1/4 cups warm water
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon sugar
2 1/4 teaspoons instant yeast
3 cups all-purpose flour (I use half bread flour and half freshly ground white wheat)
1/2 cup instant potato flakes
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 egg, lightly beaten

Whisk water, oil, sugar, and yeast together in a small bowl or liquid measuring cup until the yeast dissolves. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook or by hand, mix flour, potato flakes, and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt until well combined. Add water mixture in a steady stream with the mixer on low (or stir in by hand) until the dough comes together, about one minute. Knead the dough until it is smooth and comes away from the sides of the bowl, about 6 minutes (add additional flour if absolutely necessary to make a soft dough that doesn’t stick to the sides of the bowl while kneading). Knead the dough briefly until it forms a smooth ball.

Transfer dough to a lightly greased bowl and turn to coat. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise until doubled, about an hour and a half. (For a quicker rising method, before you start making the dough, preheat the oven to 200 degrees. When the oven has reached 200 degrees, turn the oven off. Place the covered bowl in the oven and let rise until doubled, about 45 minutes.)

Punch down the dough and divide it into 12 equal pieces (divide into quarters and cut each quarter into thirds). Form each piece of dough into a ball by lightly cupping the dough in the palm of your hand and rolling it on an unfloured or ungreased surface in a circular motion until it forms a smooth ball.

Transfer to a parchment-lined or lightly greased rimmed baking sheet. Cover lightly with greased plastic wrap and let rise until doubled (about an hour). (Again, you can return to the warm oven and let rise for 20 minutes for a quicker method.) If you are making them the night before, do not let them go through this rise, instead transfer to the refrigerator. Take the rolls out 2 hours before baking to allow them to come to room temperature and rise.

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Brush rolls with lightly beaten egg and bake until golden brown, about 15 minutes. Serve.

*Makes 12 rolls –
if doubling the recipe (which I do all the time), I never increase the yeast....but if you do only increase the yeast to 1 tablespoon or else the dough will taste to yeast-y*

I also do not use an egg wash on top of my rolls....I prefer to brush them lightly with real butter when they come out of the oven...It is just my personal preference.

I also roll my dough out and cut it into strips and then twist the dough and tie it like a knot...I am sure there is a technical term for this but I am just a simple Mom...I hope you enjoy!

Goodbye Christmas

Well....I have never left my Christmas Tree or decorations up till the 8th of January before. I have just been too tired and too consumed with other things to put it all away. Somehow, today, we finally got the job done. There is a bit of sadness in the air......but, the beautiful memories that we made will stay with me forever.

Our Christmas Eve table......before we enjoy our feast from Olive Garden...

The making of the Christmas Cookies for Santa........

The finished product!

look what arrived at our house......thanks Uncle Mark!

Stocking on Christmas Morning.....

Santa was too good to us....

Christmas breakfast.....homemade waffles with Strawberries and fresh
whipped cream!

I must confess....I think I was holding on to the holidays as long as I could hoping that time would just slow down. The only thing that was missing this year from our Christmas was our FAMILY! They were greatly missed. It was the first time we have ever been without them for Christmas....

P.S. for some reason Vince seemed to escape the pictures this year....except for this....

Vince was in bad shape the entire Christmas Vacation. He is doing much better now and never wants tot experience GOUT again! His foot was three times the size of his other foot.