**Warning** This Blog Contains MANY Pictures!

Mother's Day Weekend

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Grandma read Addy the very same Curious little kitten book that she read to all of her babies!

Grandpa spent as much time as he could with Addy!

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We took Addy to Build-A-Bear for her 18 month Birthday!

She made a princess bear. She got to choose the animal, the outfit and everything - such a big girl!

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We opened presents on Mother's Day and Grandma very much liked hers!

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Here are some more Mother's Day pictures!

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We had a photo op outside Grandma's house!

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Mother's Day Dinner at Houlihan's with Granny!

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Our overnight stay in Schaumburg to go swimming!

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Our trip to Atlanta to visit Uncle Matt, Aunt Andrea and cousins Alex & Katie!

We had so much fun! The kids loved Addy and she loved them too!

Tickle Tickle Addy's feet!

Alex bought this book for Addy and read it to her!

Alex and Katie both enjoyed pushing Addy in her stroller!

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We visited the Georgia Aquarium!
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Katie pushing up Addy's glasses, again! ~*~ Alex caught sleeping upside down!

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Fun times at the outlet mall!

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Lego madness!

Pipe cleaner fun!

I LOVE origami!

Magnetic Doll Fun!

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Trip to Mall of America in Minneapolis!

Home again!

"Breaking" News

This just in... Addy got her first tooth!

Addison Mackenzie Gile

Such a precious little girl!

Addy & Mama love to swim.

Swimming swimming!

Mama & Addy's Foot Photos!

Mommy & Addy at Uncommon Ground

Uncle Matthew before the Race to Wrigley!

Mommy & Addy before the Race to Wrigley!

Uncle Matthew & Addy

Uncle Kevin & Addy

Grandpa Wally & Addy playing on the floor

Mama & Addy smiling!

Blog Update 1 of 2 (Scroll Down)

The Next Picasso

Hi there! It's me Addy, I know my Mommy hasn't written in a while so she's asked me and Mama to give everyone an update.

I've been doing very well the past couple of months since my shunt surgery. I've been getting taller but I lost one pound after being in the hospital and haven't been able to gain it back yet. My mom's were concerned since my reflux has been really acting up lately so they took me to a GI specialist yesterday.

Dr. Bass was really nice. He sat and talked with us for quite a while and asked our opinions. He said I am undernourished. My moms felt pretty badly about that but I am just happy they trusted their judgement and brought me to see him!

Now I am going to have a continuous feed running all evening for about 10-12 hours and three smaller feeds during the day. I started it last night and only threw up one time this morning but I really think it was because of allergies! He also started me on an over the counter medicine called Miralax so that I don't have to work so hard to poop! (I know, I know... TMI!)

Hmmm.... what else has been going on in my life? Well, I've been couped up indoors all Winter so I definitely had cabin fever and am so excited it is finally Spring! I've spent time outside with my Auntie and also have taken some walks with my Mama. I've also tagged along on a couple of my mom's date nights to Borders where my Mama read me bunches of books while my Mommy read her magazines.

Oh yeah, how could I forget! My Mommy turned 30 on March 27th! She really had a rough time with it, she tells me it is because 40 is next. I gave her a gift anyway.... Auntie Shelly helped me come up with the idea! I painted Mommy a picture!

Yes, I painted my first picture for my Mommy's present. Auntie took lots of pictures of me and framed them as a keepsake. My Mommy said it was the best present she's ever received! I am so proud of myself!

My Mama & Auntie surprised her with 30 guitar lawn ornaments!

My family and friends walked in the Chicago and Janesville March for Babies walks in April. Thank you to everyone for their support, we've raised $12,119 so far! Donations can be accepted until the end of this month if you are still interested.

Here are some pictures from the walks...

Chicago:

Janesville:

Well, I am getting tired and crabby so my Mama is going to finish up the rest of the update in another post.

Love you all!

The Addy Mac Pack - 2009 Raffle

The Addy Mac Pack - 2009 Raffle

Buy a ticket today to win The Addy Mac Prize Pack-age

*All proceeds from the raffle will be donated in full to the March of Dimes*

Tickets:

1 for $ 10

6 for $ 50

15 for $100

The Addy Mac Prize Pack-age is valued at OVER $1,000!

The lucky winner will receive the following items and more!!

Diamond Pendant

Teeth Whitening

Multiple Massages

Nambe Candle Sticks

Tattoo & Piercing

Baby Girl Gift Basket

Bicycle Tune Ups

Fashion Jewelry

Oil Change

Variety of Restaurant Gift Certificates

& multiple other prizes!

Our family team, The Addy Mac Pack, has joined thousands of compassionate teams across the country that support March for Babies. We are walking in memory of Riley Parker and to support the continued health of Addison Mackenzie, as well as all other babies.

The March of Dimes champions the needs of moms and babies in our community and across the nation. The money we raise for March for Babies will support lifesaving research, services, education and advocacy that help babies get a healthy start. Please help us exceed our 2008 fundraising efforts to help these little ones have a fighting chance.

Don’t delay… buy your tickets today!

Thank you to our 2009 local sponsors for their generous donations of prizes and gift certificates…

Helzberg Diamonds – Crystal Lake

Alkali Tattoo – Janesville

RidgePoint Dental – Lake in the Hills

Clix – Crystal Lake

Books in the City – Chicago

Barnes & Noble – Crystal Lake

First Institute School of Massage

Red Robin

Massage Envy – Schaumburg

Village Cyclesport – Barrington

Bone Fish Grill – Algonquin

Crystal Lake Ski & Bike

Jackie Kohl, Student Massage Therapist

Little Villa – Mt. Prospect

Richard Walker’s – Crystal Lake

Jiffy Lube

Famous Dave’s Conscious Cup Coffee Roasters – Crystal Lake

Any Nails – Mt. Prospect

Benedict’s La Strata – Crystal Lake

Peep’s – Arlington Heights

Designs that Shine

Doodles by Dee Dee

Can you spot what's missing???

For those of you who don't know, Addison came home after her shunt revision surgery the very next day - WITHOUT OXYGEN! She only needs to use her oxygen at night when she's sleeping. She's been doing fantastic without it! Addy has been doing pretty well post operative. She did have another stay in the hospital last week due to a fever however she was released after one night. Her Neurosurgeon didn't want to take any chances after just having surgery. We still have no idea what the fever was from however signs seem to be pointing to her teeth. She has FINALLY cut a tooth - just a very small part of it. I can't wait until it's poking out so you can see it when she smiles! Addy did go to the doctor today because she has a cough/runny nose however he said she's doing fine with it - her lungs sound clear and she isn't requiring any oxygen so we're just supposed to keep an eye on her and let it run it's course! In other exciting Addy news - she laughed for the first time last week! Full on laughter - it was great. Shelly was tickling her and she started giggling. Then today, I got her to laugh! It's the coolest thing to hear. Addy has an MRV this week to check on how her shunt is doing since the surgery. We're assuming well since she's back to her old self again!

I wanted to take another opportunity to remind everyone that we're walking in this year's March for Babies which benefits March of Dimes. Without March of Dimes and the research it has done - Addison would not be with us today. Please consider donating to March of Dimes via Addison's page at www.marchforbabies.org/addisongile3. The money raised will help other babies, like Addison, get their chance. Believe me, I know times are tough - even if you can donate $1, it helps.

Love to all...

Guess who's back???

That's right! This is a picture of Miss Addy about 2 hours post op. Addy went in for shunt revision surgery around 3:30 today. The surgery went pretty quickly. The Neurosurgeon let us know that the portion of her shunt that goes into the ventricles of her brain was completely clogged and that this IS how Addy reacts when she is having a shunt malfunction. He let us know that they were just finishing getting her back into her room and that the nurse would let us know when we could see her. He was very pleased with how surgery went.

The nurse came and got us shortly after and we walked into Addy's room where our little squirt greeted us with the biggest grin. I instantly started crying that our girl was back! She was smiley and talking. You could tell she felt SO much better.

Big, BIG thank you to all of you for sending positive vibes to Addy today. It obviously paid off.

Below is a picture of Addy's incision. They obviously had to shave her gorgeous hair (which they saved for "Addy's first haircut") but it's right above her original incision which most of you know is completely covered by her hair! :o)

Surgery Number Nine

Addison was admitted into the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) Wednesday. About 2:30 p.m. Addy woke up from her nap very irritable and lethargic. We called the Neurosurgeon on call at Children's Memorial who told us to bring Addy in immediately. Luckily, Dr. Bowman - Addison's usual Neurosurgeon was working. After a ton of blood work and a CT scan, it was determined that Addy would have emergency surgery to determine if she was having a shunt malfunction. Unfortunately, her labs came back that her Potassium was a bit low so surgery has been rescheduled until this morning so the doctors are able to get her Potassium back to where they like it. Please keep baby girl in your thoughts. We all know she's a trooper but can always use the extra love! I'll keep everyone posted.