Happy Boy

Caden

Happy 2nd Birthday, Caden!

Caden,

Our rough, tough and lovable little boy, you "keep us on our toes" with your many "adventures". You are growing so fast.
You began your 2nd year of life with your very first sickness. Daniel had pneumonia and passed it on to you. What a way to start a new year!
Your 2nd year has been full of many new adventures. Your BIG big brothers (Everhett and Jarod) were here to help you celebrate the beginning of your 2nd year. We moved to a our new (and hopefully forever) house soon after your turned one. You enjoyed "helping" while we packed and loaded boxes and furniture onto the moving truck and once we got to the new house, you "helped" unpack. You started sharing a room with Daniel when we moved (and you still do). I think you and Daniel would miss each other if we were to seperate you now. You began walking around 14 months old and have been running ever since. We transitioned (moved) you to a toddler bed when you were 15 months old because you were climbing out of the crib. You actually started climbing before you were walking and would (and still will) climbing anything. NO FEAR! You love to explore. We bought child safety locks for the bottom kitchen cabinets and joked that we were "Caden proofing" because you loved to climb through the cabinets. You became a big brother in October (when Isaac arrived). You are a GREAT big brother, very loving (lots of hugs and kisses for Isaac) and you always make sure Isaac has a toy to play with. We think (and hope) that you and Isaac are going to be BIG buddies. We hope (and pray) that you, Daniel and Isaac are always close and the best of friends. You started going to preschool in April. We struggled with this decision but knew in the end it was the best for you, you needed the socialization with kids your age. You cried your first day. (Mommy cried too.) Your teacher (Ms. Lynn) is GREAT, you love her and you love "school" and Mommy feels good about "sending" you to school now.
There is so much we want to remember. You love "Monkey" and sleep with him every night and pick him up through out the day to love on him. You are a "mommy boy" and every morning you have to have some one-on-one "snuggle time" with Mommy. (Mommy has to have this time too.) You are a climber and will turn any item into a stool to assist you with climbing. You have a unique bedtime routine.....when we say it's night-night time you grab "Monkey" and your "collection" that includes some little guys and a car and run the opposite direction of your room. When we finally convinence you to go into your room (meaning we carry you to your room) you get into bed and tell us bye as we cover you up, give you kisses and close your door. Once the door is closed you get out of bed and play for several minutes before getting back into bed and going to sleep. You have developed some "favorites". Your favorite foods are fruits, especially bananas, you will choose a fruit over a cookie for a snack. Your favorite movies are Toy Story and Tinkerball, if we need you to "be still" for several minutes we will put one of those movies in. You are a "Drama King" and are very dramatic in your crying when you fall down, a lot of times you will pretend to fall down and get hurt. You are rough and tough and will hit (usually Daniel or Gus) with a toy but you are also lovable because right after you hit them, you hug and kiss them.
You are right on track with your development, your only delay is speech. You really show no signs of being born 7 weeks early. You weigh right at 27 pounds and are wearing 18-24 month clothes and size 6/7 shoes. You are just a few pounds behind Daniel in weight and just a few inches shorter.
We can't imagine life without you, we would not want to imagine life without you. You bring so much joy, life, laughs and adventure to our family. We love you, KK.

Party Planning - Gathering Ideas

-We've been thinking about Daniel and Caden's upcoming birthdays the past couple of days. Daniel turns 4 on June 21 and Caden turns 2 on July 18. We have celebrated birthdays at home with family in the past. We decided that this would be a good year to have actual birthday parties. Our first thought was to have a BIG party for Daniel and Caden together. (We would not have to worry about jealousy issues then. We would also not have to worry about planning 2 parties during the summer when everyone has travel plans at different times.) We quickly decided that a "transportation themed" party would be the best since they both love cars, trucks, etc. I searched the net yesterday for cake ideas and I found these cute and simple cupcakes at Wilton, actually it's plain ole cupcakes with cute wraps and sticks to decorate the plain ole cupcake. I can do these! I also found a cute idea for edible stoplights here. We can purchase a fruit tray/cheese tray/veggie tray - food is taken care of - simple and low on cost. I LOVE these invitations but I do not love the price (41.99 for 25 cards). I am going to ask my friend and wonderful photographer Megan McGee if she can create birthday invitations. (I would rather pay her then some random person online.) I am so excited, I think the party will be simple to put together and not overly expensive which means there will be little stress and we can really enjoy our boys turning 2 and 4.

Where's Caden?

Pneumonia, A Cold and Excema

-Daniel woke up from his nap yesterday with a fever of 102. He was pale and it was obvious that he felt horrible. He has had a runny nose and coughing off and on since Saturday. We have been treating him at home since his symptoms have been the "Daniel's asthma is flaring up" symptoms. Once I discovered he had fever I decided that it was time to go to the doctor. The last time he had a runny nose, cough and fever he ended up spending a few days at Vanderbilt Children's with pneumonia and I did not want that to happen. I also decided since we were making the 45 minute drive to the doctor I would take Caden too since he had also had a runny nose and coughing. Our regular pediatrician (Dr. Amis) was not in but we were able to get an appointment with one of her partners (Dr. Davidson). Dr. Davidson checked both boys over real good. The diagnosis - Daniel has pneumonia and is on an antibotic for 10 days, 2 inhalers, oral steriods for 3 days, a reflux medication and a sinus/allergy medication. Caden has a cold and an infection, he is on an oral antibotic and an antibotic cream for 10 days. Caden has eczema on his face and he scratches at it and rubs on it and we have tried EVERYTHING to clear it up. Dr. Davidson said that it looks to be more then just eczema (he used a name) and said that it was very infected. Daniel will go back to the doctor on Monday for a recheck and to discuss what more we can do for his asthma and allergies because there is a concern for the number of times that he has had to have an oral steroid over the past year, he will possibly be seeing an allergy specialist for intense allergy testing and possibly be returning to the lung specialist. Caden will go back to the doctor after finishing up the antibotic and will possibly be tested for allergies and will possibly see a dermatologist. We pray something can be done to improve Daniel's asthma and that something can be done to improve Caden's eczema and we ask that you pray with us.

Caden Loves Monkey

-My cousin gave Caden a monkey (the one in the picture) when he was born. (Thank you, Elizabeth) Caden has loved this monkey since day one. He sleeps with it every night, takes a nap with it, carries it around the house (usually in his mouth), carries it with us when we go out-he LOVES his monkey. The monkey looks pitiful, he is not as fluffy as he use to be, his nose and ears are worn (from Caden sucking on them), there are strings hanging (his feet and hands) and he smells really bad. (The monkey gets bathed at least every 2 weeks but the monkey still smells.) No matter how stinky and pitiful this monkey gets, Caden still loves him unconditionally.

Halloween 2009

-We all enjoyed Halloween this year, we (Daddy and Mommy) enjoyed watching the boys trick-or-treating and the boys (Daniel and Caden) enjoyed dressing up and getting candy. We chose to take the boys to the Pumpkin Festival at Moss Wright park in Goodlettsville. There were several activities to enjoy - bounce houses, games, a hayride, watching a dance team perform (one of Daniel's favorites), a bonfire for roasting marshmallows and making smores and of course Trick or treating (area businesses and churches set up tents along the walking trail).
-Daniel enjoyed saying "trick or treat" at every tent, getting candy and then putting the candy in his bucket. He didn't want to carry his bucket (too much work?) so Daddy and Mommy carried the bucket and Daniel put the candy into the bucket. Daniel was very good at saying thank you to the people as they gave him the candy. (We got frustrated, annoyed with a group of older kids that were behind us and being very impatient and pushy. I(Mommy) actually made a comment in hopes they would hear (they had also "cut" inline). The saddest part was that the parents were with these rude kids and didn't do anything to try to stop them.
-Caden was very happy with the first sucker he got. He proudly held on to the sucker all night.
-The boys were both asleep when we got home. We carried them into the house, took their costumes off and got them dressed and into bed without really waking them up.
-What a fun night, lots of memories were made - Isaac's first Halloween, Daniel and Caden's first trick or treating (where they semi-understood what was going on), Caden's first sucker (he ate it in the van on the way home).

Caden's 1st Birthday Celebration

-We celebrated Caden's 1st birthday at home with a yummy supper of spaghetti, salad, garlic toast and cupcakes. We had planned to have a big party for Daniel and Caden but with all the craziness that have been going on (Daniel's hospitalization, getting ready to move and Caden and Mommy being sick) we have had no time for party planning. Daniel was discharged from the hospital today and is feeling LOTS better. Mommy is feeling better. Caden is still feeling yucky which has made for a (un)happy birthday. We enjoyed our time together as a family (sick and tired) and we especially enjoyed having Everhett and Jarod with us to help celebrate.

yummy spaghetti

yummy cupcakes

Caden @ 6 months (4.5 months adjusted)

15 pounds, 2 ounces - 25 inches long

-4 Month Milestones (according to iVillage.com)

-May sleep about six hours at night before waking (total sleep typically 14 to 17 hours) (check - goes to bed around 8 p.m., wakes up around 5 a.m., naps from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. - 5 p.m.)
-Rolls over (usually stomach to back is first) (check)

-Sits with support (check)

-Lifts head up 90 degrees (check)

-Can follow a moving object for a 180-degree arc (check)
-Babbles and amuses self with new noises (check - and gets very loud)

-Responds to all colors and shades (check)

-Explores objects with his/her mouth (check - everything goes in the mouth)
-Recognizes a bottle (check - LOVES his bottle)
-Communicates pain, fear, loneliness and discomfort through crying (check - seems to have a fear of the dark)

-Responds to a rattle or bell (check)

-6 Month Milestones (according to iVillage.com)
-Keeps head level when pulled to sitting position (check)
-Makes some vowel-consonant sounds (check)
-Sits by self with minimal support (check but not for long)
-Opens mouth for spoon (check)
-Reaches for and grabs objects (check)
-Rolls over and back (check)
-Drinks from a cup with help (we haven't started using a cup yet)
-Can hold bottle (check)
-Copies some facial expressions (check)

-Makes two-syllable sounds (check - he's a talker)

Caden Sheppard Lloyd Arrives (6 weeks early)

-Caden Sheppard Lloyd arrived today (6 weeks early) weighing in at 5 lbs, 6 oz and measuring 17 and 1/3 in long.
-Jenny was admitted to the hospital for 24 hour observation on Thursday due to her blood pressure and protein level being elevated at her OB appointment. Jenny woke up around this morning with a headache. She was given Tylenol which seem to slightly ease the pain from the headache. She woke up again around 6 a.m. feeling horrible, she was seeing floating shadows as well. Dr. Beyer (OB) came into her room and after hearing how she was feeling sent her to Labor and Delivery and ordered a urine test to check for protein. Her protein levels were elevated to dangerous levels. She was started on Magnesium to control her blood pressure and prevent seizures. The doctors decided that it would be best to do a c-section right away as Jenny's condition was not improving even with the Magnesium. She was prepped and taken back to the OR where Caden made his appearance without Daddy as the decision was made in such a "rush" for Jenny and Caden's safety. Daddy did not have time to arrive at the hospital before Caden's arrival, he did arrive soon after and was the first to see him in the nursery followed by Nanny and big brothers Everhett and Jarod and big cousin Mary.
-Caden is currently in the NICU and doing very well. He will be evaluated for the next several days as the doctors determine if he is "mature" enough to go home.
-Jenny will continue to be on the Magnesium for 24 hours and is required to stay in bed while on the Magnesium.
-Please pray for Jenny's quick recovery and pray that Caden has a very short, uneventful NICU stay.