I've kind of taken a break from blogging and I need to catch up. So here is my "quick" attempt at updating for the last five months. I'll post pictures soon.
October--Grant surprised us by coming about 12 hours early! We had planned to induce labor on Thursday morning, October 4th, after Steve’s test (which also happened to be my birthday), but Grant wanted things his own way. I began having contractions on the 3rd around 4:30 pm. I didn’t think anything of it—I was probably more in denial because I still had A LOT to do before he came—but the contractions became stronger and only about 5-6 minutes apart. I had a friend (Tana Nelson) who was over and helping me finish some bows and she made me lie down on my bed. Steve came back home around 7 p.m. and we decided to go to the hospital. I checked in at 7:45 and the next three hours were a whirlwind. I was immediately admitted and put in the labor/delivery room. Apparently I was progressing faster than I thought. I was hooked up to an IV and the anesthesiologist was called in. He took his dear sweet time getting to me and the epidural barely kicked in when I began pushing. I was grateful for the relief, though. Grant Steven Later was born at 10:12 p.m. I was still kind of in shock. I couldn't believe that I had just had a baby. My second baby! It all happened so quickly, but it was incredible. Steve was such a great support, even though I did get a bit annoyed...but come on, no epidural! What do you expect?! The whole birth process is so incredible and we are so happy that Grant is here and healthy.
--Steve’s mom came to help with the new baby and stayed for 12 days. She was such a great help and even took Grant overnight a few times so I could get some much needed sleep.
--With the help of Steve’s mom and a few friends I was able to make about 400 bows and sell them at the Red Barn Festival just 9 days after Grant was born. My goal was to sell enough bows to buy a new TV, as ours had died about 4 weeks before. I am very happy to report that the bows were a success and we bought a new TV…a flat screen that will hopefully last us for a very long time.
--My mom came to visit for a week to help out with the new baby. We went to Columbia to Sam's Club and also checked out our old house there. My mom was very happy to see that it was well kept. My first memories of my life were in that house...in the basement during tornado warnings, sleeping in the same room with Nate & Josh, getting dressed for church in the laundry room...good times. We also went to the farmer's market and Mom did a lot of projects around the house, which Sarah loved helping with. We had a great time and we’re so grateful she came to visit and help.
--We found out we’re heading to Detroit area for Steve’s 3rd and 4th years of med school! It was Steve’s first choice, so we’re really happy.
--The two kids and I headed back to Utah with my mom for a two week visit. What she didn’t know was that the rest of the Madsen kids were also heading back for a visit. It was my mom and dad’s 60th birthday (six days apart from each other) and we all surprised them for the weekend. On Saturday morning, October 27th, we sent in Sarah and Beth to their bedroom and then the rest of us followed singing “Happy Birthday.” Mom and Dad were in shock! They couldn’t believe that we were all there. We’d never been able to pull off a surprise before and this definitely was a good one. We had been planning it for months and Annie arranged for Mom’s substitute at the temple as well as another doctor to cover Dad’s call for the weekend, neither of which is a small feat. We all had a gourmet breakfast by Josh, went to the temple for a session together, had dinner at Chipotle, and hung out that night. The only thing missing was Steve…other than that, it was perfect. Mom kept saying how it was the best birthday she’d ever had and that for every birthday in the future she would be hoping that we’d all be there surprising her again. I don’t know if we’ll be able to pull it off again, but it sure was a fun weekend.
--Sarah was able to spend Halloween with her cousin Beth. Sarah was a cowgirl and Beth was Raggedy Ann. They thought Halloween was the best idea and, as always, had a great time together. They went trick-or-treating and Sarah would say, "Tricky treat!" Grant didn't dress up this year, but he's super excited about next!
November--I traveled back to Missouri by myself with two little ones, which ended up going really well. Grant slept most of the time and Sarah read books and played with her dolls. By the time we got to the car for our three hour ride to Kirksville, Sarah & Grant were so tired they slept most of the way. I was so relieved. And the three hour drive gave me a chance to think and let my mind go. It was something I hadn’t done in a very long time. I actually enjoyed the drive a lot more than planned. We got home just in time for Steve to begin finals….always a fun time!
--I had to have my gall bladder out on Nov. 16. Jane came to help with the kids for four days. It was so great to have her here. I was pretty drugged up for here visit, but it was fun to have the company and the help. I don’t think I could’ve survived without Jane. She was so good to play with Sarah and hold Grant at the drop of a hat. My surgery went well, but the recovery took longer than I thought it would. But now the gall bladder is gone, so no worries!
--Steve finished finals and was able to get in a few good days of deer hunting. He had a great time with some of the locals, but unfortunately, he didn’t get any deer. (which is ok by me!)
--We celebrated Sarah's second birthday on the 20th. Because I wasn't up to throwing a big party yet, we just celebrated with our own little family. Steve took Sarah and bought a pizza and then they went to Wal-Mart so she could pick out a present from Steve (Bard style). Then we all had a pizza picnic on the floor while we watched Jungle Book (Sarah's gift frm her daddy). Now every time we have pizza Sarah thinks it's time for a picnic and a show--Jungle Book, of course. Then after our picnic Steve and Sarah decorated a princess cake, which Sarah thought was the coolest thing ever. It was such a fun and relaxing day!
--Thanksgiving was fun…we got together with about eight other med student families and did a potluck dinner. This was especially nice for us because with my surgery, the last thing I wanted to do was make a huge Thanksgiving dinner with all the fixins. It was a really relaxing day and we had a great time.
December--Steve started his sixth quarter of school.
--I worked on lots of projects for Christmas gifts and Sarah really wanted to help. Anytime I wasn't sitting at the sewing machine, she was! "My sewing," she would say (she gets her personal pronouns mixed up a lot...always calls herself 'my' instead of 'I').
--We made the trek back to Utah for the holidays. We had a great time seeing family, eating great food, skiing, etc. Sarah loved being adored by grandparents, aunts, and uncles. Grant was a good sport with and started sleeping through the night (however, he didn’t continue that when we came back to Missouri).
--Christmas has become one of my favorite holidays with Sarah. She was SO excited about everything…everything but Santa, that is. She loves the idea of him and even likes looking at him from a distance. But any time she is within five feet of him she basically loses it. As long as we keep a safe distance we’re fine. Christmas was a great day spent with family and lots of good food—the perfect combination. 
--Wise Man story: Sarah, my mom and I were downtown in SLC and I wanted to see the lights at Temple Square. So my mom dropped Sarah and me off and did a few loops around the block. Sarah loved the lights and when I told her about the nativity she was really excited to see Baby Jesus. At the nativity I told Sarah all about the birth of Jesus…the donkey ride to Bethlehem, the no room at the inn, the night in the stable, the shepherds, and the wise men. She was pretty cold so we moved on quickly after that. We walked through the whole square and saw all the lights and the whole time Sarah asked to go back and see the Wise Men. It was really cold so I told her that it was time to go. Once we were back in the car and on the freeway headed home, Sarah started singing “…the wise man built his house upon the rock…” She thought we were meeting that wise man! I’ve never put those two wise men together. Sarah amazes me all the time!
--Steve and I celebrated our fourth anniversary! To celebrate my dad gave us his tickets to the Jazz game. We also went to sushi for lunch the next day. It was so fun to just have some time with the two of us. 
January
--Came back home….business as usual. Here are a couple pictures of an ice storm. It is so beautiful, but very dangerous. Something we don't get in Utah.
February
--Liesel Enke (one of my very best friends) got married and we (Sarah, Grant, & I) went back to Utah for the wedding. It is not easy traveling with those two, but we made it. They were such good sports and did the best they possibly could. The wedding was so fabulous. Liesel was so happy...she literally was glowing. I love going to weddings. Steve always makes fun of how much I love them. I always tell him that I want to get married again...not to someone else, I just want to have that day again. I am so happy for Liesel and Adam. They are so happy and I hope they have a wonderful life together. 
--Sarah went “skiing” for her first time. Well, Amy just held her in her arms as she skied down the bunny hill twice. If you ask Sarah what she thought of skiing, she says, “Bwight.” Pretty great, eh? Nate, Amy, & Beth were also in Utah the same time and we had a great time with them....eating out, singing & dancing (while eating out), skiing, working on projects with Amy, shopping, etc. It is so fun to be with them! 
--I tried selling some bows….nothing huge yet, but a start.
--Grant got sick with what I was hoping would be the 24 hour flu. It ended up lasting for six days! I’m just so happy to not be covered in a disgusting mess anymore. He's pretty happy about it, too!
--I told Sarah it was time to go somewhere--it doesn't really matter where--and about 3 minutes later I found her like this....shoes on the wrong feet and her coat on backwards. Hey, at least she was covered!
(This picture of Sarah and my dad is from last summer. Sarah was about 20 months old. I know it doesn't fit in with the rest of the post, but I came across it and think it's too cute not to include!)
Sarah is in the stage where she does this crazy face for the camera when I say "smile"...still pretty cute though. 
