The Lilley's

"Baby Babette" (as Caden says)

2010-07-22T18:24:00.000-07:00

Caden LOVES Justin Beiber's song "Baby." He wants to listen to it on repeat every time we're in the car, and actually cries when he doesn't get his way. In other words, I have a love/hate relationship with this song. He so cute and it makes him so happy, but I get the song stuck in my head all day!

Caden's 2.5 Years Old!

2010-05-26T18:43:00.000-07:00

Stats: 2.5 years old, weighing in at 30.8 pounds, 31 inches tall, 65% percentile

Favorite Past-Times: Going to Mamama's house, Chick-fil-a, gymnastics, playing guitar and ball, jumping (on and off of everything), going to the grocery store (b/c he gets to eat the whole time and get a "red drink"), swinging, laying in "Daddy's big bed", going to church, going down the "big slide"

Favorite Foods: pizza, chicken nuggets and ketchup, pancakes, chips, apples, fruit snacks, "red drink" (ICEE), gummi bears

Favorite Sayings: "Mommy, go in the kitchen!" (when he wants to play alone with Daddy). "Daddy, go in the bed" (when he wants to be alone with me) "Look what Mommy has...a fruit snack!" "Come on, I show you."(while grabbing my hand and pulling me, "I be right back. In just a minute. Otay?" "Ready...1,2,3, Go!" "I wanna go home." (meaning Mamama's house), "I wanna cook with eggs."

Favorite Shows: He has moved on from Sesame Street, a long standing favorite, and is now hooked on Imagination Movers and the occasional Chuggington. He likes to stand on the coffee table with his guitar during the show.

Favorite Toys: guitar, baseball bat and ball, cars, bike

Misc: - Caden likes to be dressed with shoes on first thing in the morning. That way he's ready to go. - He likes to take his "shirk" off for naps. -Nathan just taught him how to properly catch a baseball with a glove. - He doesn't like to wash his hands, but loves to wash his feet. - He calls his bathing suit a "baby soup"

2010-02-23T12:36:00.000-08:00

I walked into the living room to see Caden on top of the coffee table playing his drum set to a Barney movie!

My Rockstar!

Makayla, Carson, Keaton, Nolan, Caden, and Jonathan

Madison and Jackson

Hope, Avonlea, and Star

The kids took a train ride with Mamama at the mall.

Caden wanted Hailey to have a turn with the guitar. He likes to assign us instruments to play in his "band."

Christmas

2010-02-22T12:09:00.000-08:00

Christmas was wonderful again this year. We of course had an amazing time with family. This year Auntie invited Santa over to Mimi's house to visit the kids and bring gifts. Everyone had a lot of fun! Then the kids put on a play about the Christmas story. My favorite part was when Caden "stole" Jesus from the manager scene and ran off. Caden's highlight this year was his new guitar. He hasn't stopped playing it since. He will sit for 30 minutes strumming away and singing songs. Music remains one of his passions. We are so thankful for Christmas and what it means to us as Christians.

ABCs

2010-01-18T15:27:00.000-08:00

Jesus Loves Me

2010-01-17T19:08:00.000-08:00

My 2 Year Old!

2009-11-27T11:42:00.001-08:00

Caden had an Elmo party at Tumbling Stars. He had a great time playing with friends and family. He especially loved hearing everyone sing "Happy Birthday" to him.

Caden's new favorite thing is a sucker! He says, "I want sucka!" in a demanding voice throughout the day.

Caden is very affectionate. He is always hugging and kissing his friends whether or not they really want him to. Then he says, "That's sweet!"

Jaime, Carson, Keaton, Nikki, Laney, Levi, Janna, and Nolan.

Braedon as the Tin Man, Caden the football player, and Eden as Tinkerbell. We had a great time together at the Fall Festival!

My mom, Star, Madison, and I got to see Mary Poppins! The show was excellent and we had some nice girl time together. We even met Mary Poppins after the show!

"I want the alphabet." Caden loves his letters! He named each letter as I placed them on the wall.

Madison, Jackson, Hope, and Avonlea at the pumpkin patch.

23 Months

2009-10-29T14:03:00.000-07:00

Helping Daddy build a pergola.

Caden helped me bake cupcakes for the fist time.

Nathan's family birthday picnic at the park.

At 22 months Caden started saying the ABC's all the way through including every letter. Since then, the alphabet has become a passion. He sings them over and over and over again. He also progressed from counting to 10 at 22 months, to counting to 15 at 23 months. I bought him bathtub letters and numbers, and he was able to identify 19 letters at random without any prompting and all the numbers 1-9! I had no idea that his letter recognition was that good! It's just so amazing to me to watch as he learns new things.

His other interest right now is listening to music. He loves to hear his CDs! As soon as we get in the car he says, "I want a song!" He's very demanding! The cutest thing is that sometimes after a song ends, he'll say "That's a great song!" Right now his favorite songs to sing are ABC's, Baa Baa Black Sheep, Jesus Loves Me, Elmo You Can Drive My Car, Elmo's World, If You're Happy and You Know It, and Twinkle Twinkle

22 Months

2009-10-29T13:39:00.000-07:00

My boys!
Two peas in a pod.
Of course all of the kids have to help blow out the candles!

Caden has 2 favorite books. "Duck: Book of Opposites" and "Who Says Woof?" He is reading the book to Hailey. His favorite page is the about the cow.

Caden loves Hailey so much. As soon as he gets out of bed he asks, "Where'd Hailey go?" Then he runs to find her and gives her hugs and kisses.

Caden is in love with footballs, basketballs, soccer balls, bouncy balls...and he likes to say the list, too. He takes them to bed, talks about them as soon as he wakes up, and even insists on eating with them even if they don't fit on his tray.

Wimberley

2009-08-29T06:45:00.001-07:00

We went to Wimberley with Nathan's side of the family for the weekend. Everyone was able to go, and it turned out to be the perfect vacation spot. The house was on the river. The river was great because it was shallow for swimming and had a natural ledge for the little ones to play on. The guys went fishing, the girls enjoyed sitting in the hottub, and the kids had an amazing time. It was nice to spend time outside with the family!

Canyon Lake Vacation

2009-08-28T13:15:00.000-07:00

Schlitterbahn

The Gristmill in Gruene

Madison, Jackson, and Hope

Caden loved the kid's pool b/c it was only 2 ft. deep. He was able to swim around on his own.

Braedon, Nathan, Kristin

In June we stayed in Canyon Lake, TX. My parents and all the Smith's came down for a few days. Later in the week Kristin and Braedon came to visit. We had fun swimming, going to Gruene and Schlitterban, tubing, and playing putt putt and skee ball (Caden loved the balls). We were so grateful to have time to spend together as a family.

21 Month Pictures

2009-08-28T12:14:00.000-07:00

Hope and Caden

Caden's making car noises as he works hard to drive Daddy's car.
Madison, Mamama, and Caden playing in the backyard.

Caden had so much fun at gymnastics this summer. He was fearlessly jumping off of everything, no matter how high up.

Caden is texting while wearing a"hat" that he found in the guest room.

Caden LOVES to play ball. It's his obsession. He insisted on holding these two during his therapy.

Papa Joe and Caden at Kemah.

The playground at the zoo.

My mom and I took Caden to Chuck e Cheese. All he wanted to do was play basketball. Look at that form!

Hailey and Caden are best friends. He chases her, gives her hugs and kisses, feeds her, sits on her, pulls her ears, and anything else he can think of to drive her crazy. She won't admit it, but she loves him, too!

Mamama and Caden playing in the sandbox at Lupe Tortilla.

"I Want a Hug"

2009-08-14T19:13:00.000-07:00

Tonight when Caden was on his changing table, he stretched his arms out to me and said, "I want a hug." So I gave him a big hug, and then he kissed me. Then he said, "I love you Mama." And I responded, "I love you Caden." Then he said, "I love you, too." I love my sweet baby boy so much!

Hello, Goodbye

2009-08-04T07:54:00.001-07:00

Yesterday we went to the grocery store. As soon as Caden got out of the car, he said "hi" to someone in the parking lot. Caden always enjoys talking to people when we're out, so I decided to conduct a little exxperiment. I counted how many different people Caden greeted while we were at the grocery store. Drum roll please......37!! It is so sweet how he cheerfully says hello to complete strangers with such confidence. It's usually well received and so Caden often proceeds with further chatter. Once we got to the check out line, he began telling everyone from there on out "goodbye." And of course he said "thank you" to the checker. I just smile thinking about this because it encompasses Caden's friendly, happy, and loving personality.

20 Month Pictures

2009-08-03T09:50:00.001-07:00

Caden is saying "cheese" for the camera with cousins Abby, Eden,& Braedon at Mimi's birthday party.

Riding on the train at Carson's 4th birthday party with Kaitlyn, Nikki, and Levi.

If you look in the pool, you will see Caden's ball collection. He gathered up the balls into the baby pool, "dove" in, threw them all out of the pool, and started the process again. This entertained him all day long.

My football stud!

This embarassing picture is from the "Moocademy Awards" night at Chic-fil-a for Cow Appreciation Day. We were roped into dressing up as cow celebraties. I'm sure it's obvious (ha ha) but Nathan is Corben Bleu and I am Hannah Montana.

19 Month Pictures

2009-07-07T15:06:00.001-07:00

This is Caden playing in the water sprinkler. His obsession right now is to play with a ball. All day long I hear "Mommy ball. Mommy ball...." When we leave the house, he started picking a ball to bring with him, and then he says, "Bye ball" to the others we leave behind.

Look at that bed head! Like every kid he likes to try on shoes. These are Nathan's work boots. This is the last month for Wubanub (Wawu). He chewed the tip off of the pacifier so we took the opportunity to say goodbye. He still sleeps with the frog.

This is a picture from Caden's first professional haircut. He's probably had at least 15 haircuts before this, but Nathan's always done it. As you can see from the picture above, he really needed it!

Caden LOVES the water. He is so brave. He doesn't mind one bit when his head goes under the water, and he likes to climb and do the slides by himself. He is so much fun to watch.

Chic-fil-a sponsored a fundraiser for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation during Moocho Fun Friday. We had a great turnout. Thank you to all of our friends and family who participated.

My Waterbug

2009-06-30T07:32:00.000-07:00

18 Month Pictures

2009-05-26T18:47:00.000-07:00

Playing a serious game of baseball.

Thank you Great Strides walkers!

Amy, Nikki, Melody, and Jaime at Amy's wedding celebration.

Now that's a mischevious face!

Pointing at the airplane in the sky.

My mom with the grandkids on Mother's Day.

Caden is such an outgoing and energetic little boy. He is very social and thoroughly enjoys playing with others.

Favorites: -This past month Caden has been enjoying playing on our bed. He likes to wrestle and be thrown down on the pillows. -Playing with balls continues to be his favorite past time. He can put them in containers and buckets (or pitchers he pulls out of the cabinet), and he makes up games where he either throws it into something such as the wheelburrow or over something like a chair. -Bananas are no longer the obsession. He is now in love with fruit snacks. They must be served in a small cup and he always comes back for a second bag. - Caden loves to play tee-ball. He has a good aim and he likes to chase after the ball so he can place it back on top.

New words/phrases: I see ball. I play ball outside. I need milk. I need snack. I take bath. It's stuck. There you go Mama. Let's go. It's hot. I go outside. Brush teeth. Buckle. Nose. Shirt.
There's so many I can hardly keep track anymore!

Happy Half Birthday!

2009-04-23T13:31:00.000-07:00

Caden with cousins Eden and Braedon.

Friends, Keaton and Levi.

Papa Joe, Hope, and Caden in the swing.

Caden, cousin Jackson, and friends Carson and Keaton.

That's right! Caden is now 18 months old!

Favorite Quotes:
"Poo-poo. Eeeewwww!"
"Daddy. Where are you? Mommy. Where are you? Mamama. Where are you? Joe. Where are you?"
"I get you!" (when playing chase)
"I do it!"
"Thank you Mama."
"Night night Daddy."

Favorite memories:
-Singing the ABCs (over and over and over)
-Making funny faces (his favorite is the classic fingers in mouth and pull cheeks out)
-Banana OBSESSION! He is eating about 5 bananas a day right now, and would eat more if we could keep enough in the house.
-Nathan fell asleep on the couch and Caden went over and kissed his cheek, patted his back, and told him "night night." It was so sweet.

Caden Just Turned 17 Months!

2009-03-21T14:35:00.000-07:00

Caden's first pony ride. He sat very still and wasn't scared.

At the rodeo carnival with Madison and Jackson. Mamama came with us, too!

Caden is playing on the swingset he got for Christmas.

Caden crawled into the bathtub in his clothes and started playing!

Avonlea and all the kids.

If I had to describe Caden in just a few words, I would say he is affectionate, inquisitive, friendly, and energetic. His "hobbies" right now are exploring, playing outside, playing ball, and reading books. This past month Caden experienced many firsts. He went to the rodeo to see the Jonas Brothers, visited a farm, enjoyed a pony ride, and rode a carousel. He has many new words such as book, baby, Hope, bottle, nose, hot, milk, box (for sandbox), truck, and car. He's also combining words like "No Hailey," "Where are you?" and "Bye Mom." Just yesterday he said "love you" to me for the first time when I was telling him good-bye. It was so sweet!

16 Months Old

2009-02-25T18:18:00.000-08:00

Caden's 15th month of life was a lot of fun! Caden is happy and energetic. He continues to grow and learn everyday! The biggest events that occurred were his baby dedication and the arrival of his new baby cousin, Avonlea Jane. Caden also dropped his second nap and he is now officially a once-a-day napper. He continually amazes me with new words and skills. I am really enjoying this stage of development.

To see pictures of my beautiful new niece, Avonlea, go to www.stephenandstar.blogspot.com

Praise Report

2009-02-15T09:29:00.000-08:00

Last week Caden went to his quarterly appointment with the pulmonologist. The doctor was very pleased with Caden's weight gain and development. He told us that Caden was the healthiest patient in his age group! Isn't that amazing! It's such an affirmation from God that He is in control and that He brings hope! I am so thankful for every healthy day that Caden is given.

Caden was also dedicated at church last weekend. It was a very nice service with many friends and family members present. What a blessing it is to have such a strong support system for Caden! It is my prayer that he will come to know Christ as his Lord and Savior, and that as parents we will help to guide him by living our lives in way that is pleasing to God.

Here are some pictures from the baby dedication.

15 Months Old!

2009-01-30T18:09:00.000-08:00

Playing in the sandbox and eating some sand, too.

Playing in his firetruck from Mimi and Papa.

Caden's first trip to the Children's Musuem.

I'm a litle behind on my blogging this month. Caden turned 15 months old a couple of weeks ago. Caden had a ton of fun during his 14th month. He got to celebrate Christmas and New Year's and spend a lot of time with family and friends. Here is the Caden update from the past month.

Stats: 23lb. 12 oz.(48%), 30.5in. (36%), 8 teeth

New words: 1,2,3 Blastoff!, outs (outside),shoes, socks, Bubba(for Jackson), rocking, look, peek-a-boo, bath, ball, what's this, what's that, get (for get you, get you, get you)

Favorites: playing outside, tickling Daddy, singing the song "Rocking to and Fro" ("Rara, Rara..."), going to Mamama and Papa Joe's house, hugging and kissing Hailey, teasing Hailey with cookies, playing with his cousins and friends, bath time, Sesame Street, talking on the phone, books, dancing, throwing a ball

My favorite memory: We were grocery shopping and Caden was facing me in the cart. He reached out and pulled me closer to give me a hug. The hug was followed by a kiss. Now this would not have been out of the norm, expect I got another hug, kiss, hug, kiss and this went on and on. I ended up walking down the aisles hunched over in an embrace so we could snuggle. He is such a loving little boy.

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-28T20:11:00.000-08:00

It's strange to think that at this time last year Caden was in the hospital. It was so much fun to have him home with us to celebrate this year. I enjoyed watching his excitement as he ran around and played with everyone. I hope you all had a wonderful day as well. Merry Christmas!

14 months

2008-12-22T13:12:00.000-08:00

The last month has gone by so quickly with the holidays. Caden continues to amaze me everyday. Here is my list of Caden's new discoveries.

1. He noticed his first "bobo." When you ask him about it, he points to the spot on his hand and says "bobo." I know this is the first of many bobo's he will want to show off.
2. He can point to his eye, nose, and mouth. Even more fun for him is to point (grab, squeeze) at the features of the person holding him. He started saying "eye."
3. He still loves to dance. Right now he is really into "Frosty the Snowman." Auntie sent him a musical Christmas card. He walks around the house with it and dances to the song.
4. He loves people. Everywhere we go he makes it his mission to make as many friends as possible. He will do whatever it takes to get someone's attention. At the mall he played peek-a-boo with anyone that would look his way. When we go out to eat, he says "hi" to the people at the table next to us. Last week he got the lady behind us in line to play ball with him. She was running into the aisle to catch the bouncing ball. I could go on and on. I love this friendly quality about him.
5. He LOVES going outside. I know most little kids do, but this was the first month that he actually seemed to care. I know that we will spend a lot of time outside from here on out.

Snow!

2008-12-10T19:40:00.000-08:00

It snowed today! Well, it was a little snow mixed with sleet, but it still counts! We took Caden out to see the snow. He was happy outside until he actually touched it. You can see how much he liked it by the picture!

Barney Dance

2008-11-25T21:19:00.000-08:00

13 Months

2008-11-25T20:33:00.000-08:00

It's time for my monthly update! I don't think I can possibly share all of the many changes and accomplishments Caden has made over the last month, but I will share some favorites.

1. Caden has gone from taking a few steps to full on walking. He still walks like a cowboy with his legs apart. It's so cute!
2. Words. Lots and lots of words! Caden talks nonstop. This past month he started saying some new words such as cook (cookie), thank you, chip, no, Mamama, shoe, shirt, and Jack (ja).
3. Cookies! Cookies have become a staple around our house. Caden likes to stick one in his mouth and then hold another one in his hand. Then he teases Hailey by putting the cookie in her face and then running off. He manages to play chase with her for a while before she steals it. Then he comes back to me to ask for another one. The cutest part is that he laughs when he teases her.
4. Caden is in love with a doll. He takes such good care of it. When he sees it he says "Oh" lovingly. He rocks it, pats it, gives it a pacifier, and feeds it. Then he'll put the doll down and play with cars and blocks. But after a few minutes he goes back to tend to the baby. It makes my heart melt to see him be so sweet to the baby.
5. Barney and Sesame Street are Caden's favorite television shows. He finally became interested in the TV. This is helpful during his chest PT because it entertains him while he sits there. He loves the Barney theme song (to the tune of Yankee Doodle). No matter what room he's in or what he is doing, he stops to come watch and dance along.
6. Caden had his yearly tests done a few weeks ago. He had a lung function test, chest x-ray, abdominal ultrasound, and a bunch of blood work completed. Everything came back clear! This is very exciting news! We are thankful for a wonderful report.

Happy Halloween

2008-11-08T09:29:00.000-08:00

Last year on Halloween Caden was having surgery. So I am calling this Caden's first Halloween! He was an adorable Houston fireman, just like his daddy. We had a lot of fun going to the church carnival with Star, Stephen, Madison, Jackson, Hope, Mamama, and Papa Joe. The next day Caden got to dress up again and go to the Trick or Treat Trail with the Slafka's and the Thompson's. It was a great weekend!

Caden is 1!

2008-10-19T15:15:00.000-07:00

Today is Caden's first birthday! I can't believe our little boy is already one! I feel like we have so much to celebrate this year. It is strange to think that this has been the most difficult year of our lives, but yet it has been the most joyful as well. We are so thankful for Caden and how the Lord has blessed him in so many ways.

Yesterday we celebrated Caden's birthday with a monkey party at our house. He had so much fun playing with friends and family and getting lots of attention. And of course he loved eating cake!

Playing with Cars

2008-10-01T13:13:00.000-07:00

Every day there is something new. A couple of days ago Caden started saying "Hi." Yesterday I taught him how to blow kisses. And last Saturday he started playing cars like a big boy. We went to see Star's new house that morning. Caden had fun playing with Jackson while we were there. When we got home, Caden started pushing a car around the living room (the correct way) and repeatedly said "Vroom! Vroom!" Up until this point, Caden's only interest in cars was to chew, shake, or throw them. I watched him for about 10 minutes as he maneuvered his way around the living room. It almost brought me to tears as I realized that my baby boy is becoming a toddler. Thank you Jackson for teaching Caden how to play cars!

Hurricane Ike

2008-09-17T14:56:00.000-07:00

I have so much to say about the past few days. I could write about our roof damage, being without power, or staying up all night during the storm. These are all topics that many people are talking about right now. But truthfully none of these things stand out to me as the most memorable moments of Hurricane Ike. When I think back on this experience, I will remember my grandmother.

My grandmother's nursing home had to evacuate and she was transported to my parent's house. For many people this would not be a major issue, but Grandmama has not been doing well and is on hospice care. She is confined to her bed, has dimentia, and is completely dependent on others for her care. At first the thought of caring for her seemed overwhelming, but it turned out to be a blessing. It gave us an opportunity to spend more time with her as she nears the end of her life. We had many sweet moments, sad moments, and silly moments with her over the past few days.

The thing is, the sad moments were sweet at the same time. Grandmama had the opportunity to say her goodbyes to us, and we were able to do the same. It was touching to me to hear her communicate with my mom. She was calling her "sweetie pie" and had many loving things to tell her. She even reached out to hug my mom several times, and she hasn't been able to lift her arms. It's the perfect example of a mother's love for her child. It doesn't matter what age you are, or what condition your health is in, your love for your child will never diminish.

Another thing that I will remember is how much joy Caden brought to her every time he came into her room. She seemed to light up each time she saw him. She kept making up cute little names for him and would try to be silly and play. One time she asked us to sit by her in the bed so she could interact with Caden. That was special to me because I haven't been able to be that close to her since she entered the nursing home.

The most memorable thing to me is how she expressed her love for Jesus Christ. Even in her state, she praises His name. She has been praying and singing songs to Him. My mom asked her if she sees Jesus. Grandmama said, "Oh yes!" Then she asked her if she was going to heaven. She replied, "Oh yes! Beautiful!" Then she raised her arms in the air and said "Hallelujah!" and started to sing "Oh How I Love Jesus." What a wonderful example she has set for me. I pray that I too will have the kind of relationship with Christ that she has. The kind of relationship that not even dimentia can alter. The kind of relationship that will shine brightly for others to see until the very end.

Please pray for my family and grandmother as she continues to stay at my parent's house.

10 months

2008-08-26T20:05:00.000-07:00

My little boy has made it to the double digits already! It seems like a lot has changed over the last month. I am really enjoying this age. It seems like he makes a new discovery every day. Here is my famous list of things I love about Caden at 10 months.

1. He learned a third new word. Early in his 9th month he learned to say, "Uh oh!" This is extremely cute because he leaves a big pause between the Uh and the Oh.
2. He learned a fourth new word. A couple of weeks later he added "dog" to his vocabulary. It actually sounds more like "dag." He was playing in the living room and Hailey (our dog) walked over towards Caden. Caden reached out towards her and said "dog." Then he started chasing after her while repeating "dog" over and over again.
3. He still calls me Nana (pronounced like Mama with an N). I've learned to accept this as my name (for now anyway).
4. His first tooth finally came through at the beginning of August (it's the bottom right). You can see 3 others that are about to pop out.
5. He still talks non-stop.
6. He LOVES to eat. If he sees anyone eating, he gets very vocal about wanting something too. Right now he is most interested in table foods. He loves tortillas, bread, ice cream, cake, and bananas.
7. He's cruising. He can walk around the coffee table or from object to object with ease.
8. He is standing up unassisted.
9. His favorite game is chase. He crawls by me and squeals and then crawls as fast as he can. He'll pause to look back and make sure I'm chasing him and then squeal again and take off. The cutest thing is when he does this to Hailey.
10. He loves to sing and dance.
11. He has a big belly! I am so thankful that he is putting on weight. At our last visit Dr. Moore was really pleased with his progress. He is in about the 25% in weight and in height. The doctor finally said that Caden was all caught up! I have been waiting a long time to hear that!

Relaxing in Palm Beach

2008-08-13T20:24:00.000-07:00

We just got back from Palm Beach! A vacation that had the potential to be crazy with a 9 month old turned out to be quite relaxing and enjoyable for all of us. Our days basically went like this: pool, beach, nap, pool, beach, nap, dinner, bedtime. Well, it was a lot more pool than beach. We already knew that Caden loves swimming at the pool, but it turns out he doesn't really like the sandy beach. His favorite things about the trip were spending hours in the pool and making lots of friends. I had no idea that a 9 month old could have so much fun on a vacation. It was a great first family vacation!

Oh, I almost forgot to mention that Caden's first tooth FINALLY came through during the trip!

*If you look closely at the second picture, you can see Caden waving at Nathan in the pool. In the third picture, you can see Caden's tan line on his arms.

I Love Swimming Pools

2008-07-19T21:02:00.000-07:00

Caden is enjoying swimming this summer. Whether it's his baby pool or a big pool, he has a great time splashing in the water. He'll play in his baby pool for about an hour playing with toys and crawling around in circles. And in a big pool he likes to be on his tummy so he can splash and kick as if he is swimming. He doesn't even mind getting his face wet. He is definitely a water baby.

A Few of My Favorite Things

2008-07-11T19:31:00.000-07:00

These 2 pictures represent 2 of Caden's favorite things to do right now: eat and stand.

What can I say? This boy loves to eat! He is aggressive and noisy with each bite. We actually feel bad feeding him in public sometimes because he draws a lot of attention with his squealing and lion roars. After much practice, he finally figured out how to feed himself fruit puffs a few days ago. This is a major accomplishment and help. Now he doesn't have to "ask" me for another one every 2 seconds.

A couple of weeks ago Caden gained the ability to pull himself up to stand. Now that's all he wants to do. It's fun to watch him because it's like he is rediscovering everything from a new point of view. Whenever he has the chance, he will pull up on whatever he can find to test it out. The problem is that many of the things he chooses are not sturdy enough to support him. At least he finally figured out how to sit back down instead of just crashing.

8 months

2008-06-20T16:21:00.000-07:00

Caden turned 8 months yesterday. It seems like he has changed so much over just the last couple of weeks. He is definetly in a new phase. We've enjoyed watching him discover new things and become even more aware of his surroundings.

1. He started crawling on Memorial Day. Now he has perfected it and is all over the house.
2. He started pulling up. He has perfected pulling up to his knees. Now he has started pulling up to stand, but is unstable once he gets to his feet.
3. And I'm sad to report, he has discovered a new "word" and it's not Mama! He has learned how to make the "n" sound and babbles away. It sounds like he is saying "Nate Nate" which is what our nieces and nephews called Nathan when they were little. So of course Nathan is gloating about his second "word" if you want to call it that. :)
4. He also has much more of an opinion about things lately. He wants a specific object or person badly and will fuss or whine to communicate it.
5.And it's official, he is a Mama's boy! I don't know if it's his age or the fact that I'm not working now, but he is definetly attached. He crawls over to me and tries to "paw" up my leg. And often he will fuss until I am holding him. Once he's in my arms he instantly transforms from fussy to happy as can be.

Patty Cake

2008-06-20T15:51:00.000-07:00

Patty cake, patty cake, baker's man.
Bake me a cake as fast as you can.
Roll 'em up, roll 'em up,
Throw 'em in the pan!

Bike Buggy

2008-06-14T09:50:00.000-07:00

The Bike Buggy: This is one of those purchases where you stop and think, "Will I actually ever use this?" It turns out the bike buggy has been a favorite around our house. We use it almost every evening. Caden loves to ride in it! He loves being outside and he finds riding to be relaxing. So relaxing that he almost always falls asleep.

Summertime

2008-06-08T16:01:00.000-07:00

Wow! I can't believe the summer is finally here! School didn't actually let out until last Thursday the 5th. This is the first year we've gone all the way to June since I've been teaching! Speaking of teaching, I'm officially no longer a teacher. Well I guess you can't ever stop being a teacher, but I won't be returning next year so that I can stay home and be a mommy! I'm so excited about it, but I have to admit that I'm a little sad, too. I really enjoy teaching and will miss it. I'm looking forward to the summertime. When I think of the summer, I think of spending lots of time with friends and family, grilling, swimming, going on vacation, going to the movies, reading, shopping, and sleeping late. I'm sure this summer will be different with a baby, but I'm looking forward to the changes and new adventures Caden will bring.

Great Strides

2008-05-17T11:16:00.001-07:00

Last weekend was the Great Strides walk for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. We were happy to have a good team of about 25 people join us at the walk. Our team raised about $2,500! This far exceeds my original goal of $500. Over $700,000 were raised for this one walk alone! That makes Houston the number one walk site in the nation.

Thank you to everyone who walked and donated towards the organization. Your love and support means so much to our family. It is encouraging to know how many people God has placed in our lives to join us on this journey.

Happy Mother's Day

2008-05-10T14:56:00.000-07:00

This will officially be my first Mother's Day! Last year at this time I was a mother-to-be, and that's something to celebrate too. But as exciting and joyful as it was to be expecting (and it certainly was), it in no way compares to the joy Caden brings to me now that he is here with me. Now I truly understand what it means to be a mother. And I know that my understanding will grow and mature as Caden does.

Sometimes I find myself just staring at him in awe, and asking myself how it is possible to love him so much! So on this Mother's Day I have compiled another list of things I love about Caden (at 6 months).

1. His little lion roar.
2. They way his giggle box gets turned on and everything becomes funny.
3. The way he rocks back and forth on his knees.
4. The way he sleeps on his tummy with his bottom in the air.
5. How he splashes the water with his feet and hands during bath time.
6. The way he talks non-stop as if he is carrying on a conversation.
7. The way he makes little sounds the whole time he is eating baby food (especially when he eats peas or bananas).
8. How he continously closes the top to his toy laptop as if he is annoyed that you keep opening it.
9. The way he travels to his toys by rolling and scooting.
10. How he falls asleep when I take him for a ride in the bike buggy.
11. He loves to go shopping. He has a great time being pushed around the store.
12. He's a little flirt. He knows how to put on the charm when he's getting attention from an admirer.
13. He puts a smile on my face and a song in my heart.

Happy Half Birthday!

2008-04-26T08:23:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it! Caden is six months old! We had a good report from the doctor. He is 15 lb. 12 oz.and 25.75 in. long. This puts him in the 25% on the growth chart in both catagories. This is good because at his last visit he was 20%. He's still making good progress! The doctor also said he is above average in development. This makes me happy because 12 weeks in the NICU has not caused in developmental set backs. Nathan said that Caden did 5 of his "tricks" all in a row for the doctor right at the same time he had started asking Nathan questions about Caden's development. He said, "Daddy," clapped his hands, waved, sat up by himself, and grabbed a paper and pulled it towards himself as if he was showing off for the doctor.

It's amazing how quickly he changes and learns. Just within the last couple of weeks I can tell a difference in the way he plays with his toys and "travels." For example, he has some little stuffed fishes that he likes to scoot around a gather up. And he is getting on all fours now and rocking back and forth. He'll be crawling in no time!

The first picture is of the first time Caden sat up by himself while playing with a toy about a week ago. This is his favorite toy for the past month. The second picture is of him sleeping with his bottom in the air in his robot pj's. He loves to sleep on his tummy even though I try to keep him on his back.

The First Word

2008-04-09T17:41:00.000-07:00

It's official. I've lost. Nathan and I have been "training" Caden to say Mama and Dada in hopes that our name would be said before the other. Last Monday Nathan called me after I got off of work to make the big announcement that Caden had said "Dada" a few times. Of course I said I didn't believe him. But then when I got home, Caden started babbling away. He had definetly discovered the "d" sound and was on a roll. Then sure enough, "Dada." The two syllables together and separate from any other sounds. He repeated it several other times. Nathan ran victory laps around the house gloating while Hailey chased him. It was quite a show. Of course I was pouting in defeat.

Then Nathan says,"Oh, by the way. Caden rolled over from back to tummy today." I couldn't believe I missed another first! Caden's been rolling over from tummy to back for quite some time. He had been so close to rolling over the opposite way for about a week. He finally made it!

It was a big day at our house!

Easter Bluebonnets

2008-03-29T18:57:00.000-07:00

Every Easter for the last few years my family has gone to take pictures in the bluebonnets on Melody Lane. The kids get dressed up in their Easter clothes for the occassion. It was even more special for me this year because I had a little one of my own to take to the bluebonnets! Caden did a great job smiling. And sweet little Hope is always trying to give him a hug. Check out the picture where her arm is around him. They are already buds!

Milestones

2008-03-18T14:35:00.000-07:00

Wow! It's been a while since I updated the blog. It seems like so much has happened over the last few weeks!

1. Caden finally doubled his birth weight last week! He's 14 pounds!

2. On March 8, Caden starting clapping! Now he won't stop! He claps all day long! I'll lay him down for a nap, and when I go to check on him he's just clapping away!

3. My favorite first happened yesterday. Caden started giving kisses! He grabbed my face and slobbered all over me. He did this several different times. This morning he gave me another kiss!

4. For the last few weeks he has been able to push up when he's on his tummy. He's getting so much stronger.

5. Toys! He is really starting to love toys. He has always enjoyed playing with toys, but now he is taking a more active role. He's learned how to push the buttons and move the parts. He likes anything that talks or sings.

6. We participated in our first CF Foundation fundraiser. Nathan joined the Memorial Hermann Wellness Center's team for a field day where teams competed against each other in games such as tug-o-war. It was a beautiful day! I've included a picture of Caden at the event. Man his hair looks red in the picture! He has some red tones to his hair, but he's not a true red head.

7. Speaking of hair, Caden has already had 3 haircuts within the first 4 months of his life! Tomorrow he'll be 5 months old and he's due for another haircut! His hair has also changed colors several times. It was dark brown, then it lightened up a lot. Then it started looking red, and now it's a light brown.

The Weekend Is Over :(

2008-02-24T17:24:00.000-08:00

The past couple of weeks have been a bit crazy. I went back to work. It's difficult to be away from Caden, but we're making it work. The good news is Caden is still just as happy as can be! It doesn't matter if he's with me, Nathan, or Mamama, he seems to always have a good day. He is truly a good baby. If he's not sleeping or eating, he's either playing or content to just relax. He's not really fussy unless he's falling asleep or asking to eat. I'm thankful for his sweet nature.

Last week we had a special treat. Didi, Nathan's mom, was able to come to our house and keep Caden for the day. They had a great time together.

Star, Stephen, and the kids are officially back in Houston. Madison is enjoying her new school. She was so cute when I talked to her on the phone. She was excited about her first day, but had one major concern. She was in a panic because she did not know cursive like the other students. I was the hero when I offered to share my handwriting book with her.

Star, Jackson, and Hope came down to see my grandmother when my mom was keeping Caden. When they walked in Hope, who's 11 months old, squealed in excitement when she saw Caden. She was in Star's arms and was desperately reaching forward to hug him. They let Hope give him a hug. She put her head on his chest and grinned. All the while Caden had a huge smile on his face. I can't wait for them to get to play together. They're already buds.

Next week Caden goes to the doctor. I can't wait to see how much he weighs! It's been 3 weeks since we last checked. His double chin is getting bigger, and he has some lines on his thighs where rolls will soon appear. I have a good feeling we'll be pleased!

A Day of Fun

2008-02-10T15:48:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was a big day! Caden went to his very first birthday party at Gymboree. It was Clara's 2 year birthday. The picture is of Caden, Carson, and Laney. Carson, Jaime's little boy, is Caden's buddy. Carson has been playing in Caden's room since the summer. He likes Caden's "big cars." Laney, Nikki's little girl, is the "older woman" that Caden has his eye on. She sure is pretty!

After the party we went to see Nathan at the firestation for the very first time. Caden enjoyed "driving" the fire engine. I know Caden will enjoy visiting his Daddy at work as he grows up!

A Great Week

2008-02-04T18:45:00.000-08:00

This past week has been a lot of fun with Caden. He has been changing so much. He laughs longer and harder when he's tickled or when he thinks we're "funny." It just makes my heart melt. He also started rolling over from tummy to back! He's such a big boy. We can tell that he is even more attached to us and more aware of us and his surroundings. It's fun to watch him grow.

We went to get his picture made for the first time. He was a superstar model. We have the cutest pose where he is flirting with the camera. I'll try to scan it in so I can post it.

We've also gone to the doctor a couple of times this past week. All reports have been good. Today he was weighed and he is now a whoppin' 11 pounds 3 ounces!! He gained a pound in 5 days. This makes me so happy because our big goal right now is to catch him up to his ideal weight.

One last thing, this is an exciting time for my family because Star (my sister), Stephen, Madison, Jackson, and Hope are moving back to Houston on Valentine's Day!!!! Stephen is going to be the music minister at First Baptist Houston! Everything has fallen into place perfectly. It is definetly a blessing from God! I can't wait for Caden to get to play with his cousins more often!

I've included a picture of Grandmama (Caden's Greatmama) holding Caden for the very first time. Unfortunatley she is unable to leave her house so she has not been able to see him while he was in the hospital. It was so much fun bringing him over for the first time. There's also a picture of his Aunt Star and cousin Madison.

A New Game

2008-01-22T19:30:00.000-08:00

Last week after changing Caden's diaper, he started to play a new "push" game. He liked the way the smooth mat allowed him to slide back quickly after pushing. He pushed over and over again for about 30 minutes. He was so cute just talking, laughing, and smiling.

More Things I Love About Caden

2008-01-17T13:44:00.000-08:00

1. The way he runs his fingers through his hair when he gets sleepy.
2. The way his cry sometimes sounds like a laugh.
3. How happy he gets when you change his dirty diaper.
4. The way he flirts and smiles when you're trying to get him to sleep.
5. How he throws a fit if you stop to burp him while he's eating. Don't mess with a hungry baby.
6. When he wakes up from a nap, he smiles.
7. He's not scared of Hailey (the dog). He lets her lick his toes.
8. He talks and talks and talks.
9. The way he concentrates when he's trying to grab a toy.
10.The way his head bobbles a little bit when he holds it up. It looks like he is nodding "yes."

Packin' On The Pounds

2008-01-17T13:35:00.000-08:00

Today we went to the pediatrician for a check-up. We were so excited because Caden gained a pound in one week! He is now 9lb. 6oz. Because of his surgeries, he is underweight. The doctor's goal is for him to gain between 1/2 a pound to a pound each week. We pray that he will continue to gain weight at this rate!

How Sweet It Is

2008-01-16T08:54:00.000-08:00

I can't even begin to express how wonderful it is to be home. Last Thursday, we were scheduled to pick up Caden at 4. The nurse called around noon to let us know that he was ready to go and we could come get him early! My principal so kindly helped me work out a way to leave school a little early so that we could go pick him up. When I got there, Nathan, Mamama, and Papa Joe had already packed up everything. They were just waiting on me! The nurses were gathered around him telling him good-bye. They even took him around the unit so he could see everyone one last time. When we got home the front of the yard was decorated with welcome home signs. It was such a wonderful experience.

Things are going great here at home. He has startd settling into a little routine. He even started sleeping longer at night (thank goodness). One night he even made it 8 hours! He is definitely a happy little boy (and we are happy parents, too)!

Coming Home...Really...I Hope!

2008-01-07T18:31:00.000-08:00

We have officially been given a discharge date! It's scheduled for this Thursday afternoon! I've been daydreaming about this day for so long! I just want to take him home and snuggle on the couch!

For the last few days he has been allowed to eat 4oz. He has been so happy and content since his tummy is now full. He has also been gaining weight. Right now he is 8lb. 7oz. Tomorrow the surgeon is coming to take out his central line. They didn't do it last week like originally planned.

I have 4 weeks of FMLA left so I will be able to stay home with him. Nathan is going to take some time too so he'll be home for a couple of weeks. It's going to be so much fun to home together as a family.

Since we have been in the NICU, I have gotten to know many other families. I have seen what they are going through. Everyone has different needs and situations. It has been placed on my heart to pray for the other babies and families. Not everyone is fortunate to have such an amazing support group like us. Thank you for being there for us. We will let you know how things go!

Almost Home!

2008-01-02T19:13:00.000-08:00

Today has been such an encouraging day!

1. Caden is getting a record 85ml (almost 3 oz.) at each feeding! Today he actually didn't cry when he was done with his bottle. His little tummy is starting to feel full!

2. Tomorrow the surgeon is scheduled to take out his central line. This is a big step because we were told they wouldn't take it out until he was about to go home.

3. Here's the best news of all. The doctor told me that he will probably get to go home this weekend! I nearly cried I was so excited. Of course, this is not set in stone. Things can change. At least we know it will be very soon!

I will let you know as soon as we get a discharge date!!! Thank you for all of your continued prayers.

Merry Christmas!

2007-12-26T21:00:00.000-08:00

We hope that everyone had a wonderful Christmas! We enjoyed spending time with family over the last few days. Christmas was a day of driving around town to visit my boys. I had great visits with Caden. He was happy and playful. He talked a lot and gave me lots of smiles! We also got a good report. He's been gaining weight everyday (he's 8 lb. 7 oz. right now) and the surgeon said his incisions look good. I also had a good time at the fire station. Both sides of the family came to see Nathan. After eating a huge meal the kids got to spray the hoses, climb in the fire engine, and try on fire gear. They had a blast. All in all, it was a nice day!

3 More Days Till Christmas

2007-12-22T20:55:00.000-08:00

It's been over a week since the surgery. Caden has started eating and making poopy diapers! Everything is working properly! They will slowly increase the amount of milk he gets at each feeding until he finally reaches a full feeding. Overall the doctors are pleased with his progress.

We are looking forward to Christmas. It is so great to be off of work. And of course we love to spend time with family. My sister and her family are coming to Houston so that's exciting. I have to admit I'm a little sad about the thought of Christmas this year. Caden will be at the hospital and Nathan is working. The good news is I am going to be visiting both of them.

We wish everyone a Merry Christmas!

Another Successful Surgery!

2007-12-12T16:33:00.001-08:00

It's kind of strange to be excited about a surgery, but in a way I am. This is the surgery that is needed for him to recover and come home! Dr. Bloss, the surgeon, had a good report. He said that Caden had more intestines left than he realized. He said that all the important parts were still there and that he should have everything he needs to digest properly. He gave us high fives for "poopy diapers." Thank you for all the prayers, sweet emails, phone calls, and visits!

* This is a picture of Caden after the surgery. You can see the incision and a bandage covering where the stoma was. Dr. Bloss left his signature on Caden's bandage.

A Big Day

2007-12-10T18:57:00.000-08:00

Today I went back to work in order to save some of my FMLA for when Caden comes home. I'm used to getting ready and going to see him first thing in the morning. I have to admit it was hard this morning. However, when I got to school I was greeted by so many smiling faces. It made it a lot easier to get through the day.

After school I rushed to the hospital to see my Sweetpea. My mom was there holding him while he was sleeping. I'm so glad that I have such a wonderful family that spends time with him when I'm away. Then, I got Caden ready for his visit from Santa! I talked to Santa about how Caden couldn't get to the mall for his first Christmas Santa picture, so he said he would stop by the hospital. I think Caden won Santa over. I think he'll get exactly what he asked for.

Today we found out that Caden's surgery to reconnect his intestines is going to be this Wednesday. Please be praying for a successful surgery and a quick recovery.

Today's Blessings: Thoughtful coworkers, sweet students, dinner from a friend, hospital visitors, and Santa.

All Clear

2007-12-05T22:25:00.000-08:00

Caden had a Barium enema today to check his lower GI for any blockages. We are excited to report that they did not find any problems! This means that they shouldn't need to remove anything else from his bowels during the next surgery. Thank you Lord for answering my prayer with a yes!!

Cade wore this outfit today on his field trip to the 2nd floor for the procedure. He attracted a lot of attention. The nurse said he enjoyed looking around in the hallways.

Half Way There

2007-12-02T14:50:00.000-08:00

We've been at the NICU for 6 weeks, and it looks like we have about 6 more to go! We were informed that he will probably have his second surgery (to reconnect his intestines) in about 2 weeks. This week they will do tests to make sure that the lower part of his intestines, which are currently not being used, are clear from blockages and scar tissue. Please be praying for a good report. Then, he will most likely have the surgery the following week. After the surgery, they will start the feeding process again to make sure everything is functioning properly. Then he will get to home! There is no way to know how quickly the feeding process will go after the surgery. We are hopeful that he will be home at the beginning of January! Thank you for your prayers!

*In the pictures it was time to eat. He was waiting on me to get the bottle, but instead I grabbed the camera because he looked so sweet. Of course he got upset and startd to cry. I just love that pouty lip!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2007-11-25T20:45:00.000-08:00

We missed having our little guy with us on Thanksgiving, but we had fun hanging out at the hospital together! Besides his mommy and daddy, Cade had all 4 grandparents and his aunts visit for a Thanksgiving snuggle. Gobble gobble.

1 Month Birthday

2007-11-20T19:50:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was Caden's 1 month birthday! It is hard to imagine that it has been an entire month since his arrival. We celebrated with snuggles, milk, and the birthday song. His favorite present was a big boy bed (an open crib). An open crib means we are able to bring things from home such as his mobile, toys, bouncer, and swing for him to enjoy. He especially loves napping in his bouncer (see picture). It has been an exciting first month. We have enjoyed getting to know our precious baby boy!

A Good Report

2007-11-13T21:12:00.000-08:00

"To look within is to be discouraged. To look above at Him is to be encouraged."

This is definetly something I am finding to be true throughout this experience. As soon as I try to figure things out myself and plan out how I think things should go, I get stressed and discouraged. But if I just give it to Him, my mind is at peace and I am encouraged.

Today was an enouraging day. After days of weight loss and "pooping too much" (For the record I am referring to Caden and not myself. However, I would welcome the weight loss.) Cade has started to turn the corner. This morning I got a good report that he had gained a little weight and that his output had gone down significantly. This is most likely attributed to the doctor making a few adjustments on his feeding schedule, adding a fortifier to the milk to add calories, and taking medicine to reduce stomach acid. We have high hopes that he will continue to show progress! Maybe if we're really lucky he'll make it home just in time for Thanksgiving. Okay, the doctor didn't say that, but it's wishful thinking.

*This is a picture of my snugglebug with a full tummy. After enjoying a delicious meal, he fell right asleep and snuggled up against my chest for a nap.

Snuggle Time

2007-11-10T16:55:00.000-08:00

The highlight of the week has been lots of visitors! Caden has enjoyed all of the good snuggling from Mimi, Papa, Auntie, Didi, Pops, Aunt Star, Uncle Stephen, Jaime, Nikki, Misty, Amy, Rachel, Adrienne, Mamama, Papa Joe, and of course Mommy and Daddy. And that's just over the last few days! Other than good snuggles and yummy milk, nothing exciting has really happened. That's good and bad I guess. Good because we haven't had any drama. Bad because we haven't had a lot of progress and he's losing a little weight. The doctors say that he puts out almost as much as he takes in. Therefore, they aren't ready to move forward with his feedings. They've kept everything the same this week to observe him. Hopefully he'll progress over the next week. Either way, we are so thankful that he is feeling well and is peaceful! He is a happy baby boy!

It's Feeding Time!

2007-11-01T16:46:00.000-07:00

They starting feeding Cade today!! This is exciting news. We are now on the road to going home. Today he is only getting 10ccs every 3 hours (this is hardly anything), but they will keep increasing it daily until he reaches full feedings. He did his usual "sleep feed." But overall it was a great day and we really had some great guy time! He knows when his daddy has a hold of him, and it makes me proud!

Happy Halloween

2007-10-31T18:15:00.000-07:00

So Halloween hasn't gone exactly the way I envisioned. We didn't get to dress him up or visit the pumpkin patch for pictures, but we have a lot to be thankful for. Caden's surgery for a central line was "easy" according to the surgeon. Everything went smoothly. Nathan was working today so I was thankful to have my mom, Jaime, Nikki, Janna, and Angie (and of course their adorable kids) to keep me company throughout the day.

Check out Caden's first Halloween picture. The highlight of his day was a 2 hour snuggle with Mommy before his surgery. The bear is wearing part of his Halloween costume. He was a pilot with a leather bomber jacket and aviator sunglasses. We will dress him up for pictures after he comes home.

Halloween Update

2007-10-31T08:37:00.000-07:00

At 11:00 a.m. this morning Caden will go into surgery to put in a central port. This should help him not have to get poked so much with IV needles! He's been doing well these past few days. Please pray for a smooth procedure and easy recovery. Thank you!

Things I Already Love About Caden...

2007-10-30T15:27:00.000-07:00

1. The way he looks into my eyes when I talk to him.
2. The way he fights to keep his eyes open when he's falling asleep.
3. The way he grasps onto my finger and holds it tightly.
4. The little grunts he makes when he moves around.
5. How he likes to keep his hands up on his face.
6. How quickly he's calmed by a familiar voice or snuggle.
7. The way he plays with his tongue.
8. His new obsession with his pacifier.
9. He's a trooper. I'm scared of IVs, and he's already had many.
10. His silky hair.
11. His soft skin.
12. His long, big toe.
13. He's ours.
14. He's a good and perfect gift from God.

The Weekend Report

2007-10-28T19:16:00.001-07:00

My mom (Marcy) went to visit Caden this afternoon and left encouraged. . he has two of his tubes out--ones that were in his nose and taped across his face. . so he looks more comfortable--that's the good news. The "opportunity to pray news" is that he is fighting infection. He's on antiboitics, cultures have been sent off, and they seem to have it under control.

He's enjoing being held by his parents and family after 2 whole days last week of not being able to be held.

My mom also said that it's so sweet to see how Caden responds to Melody's voice--that he really seems to calm down and his heart rate go down.

Thank you to all the many, many people praying. Please keep interceding for our little one. We know that God IS in control. We're praying for the infection to be healed, for the feedings to go well (they'll start that when they get the OK from the surgeon), and for wisdom for Melody and Nathan as they make decisions about his care.

This is a prayer that my (Star) friend Michelle wrote and prayed for Caden. You can pray it, too! :)

Father, we are praying for Caden Joseph Lilley in need of Your healing touch. We ask You to look upon him with mercy and compassion. You have taught me that sometimes we don't have what's needed because I haven't asked, and so we gather together and ask for healing. Father completely empty the Doctor's, nurses, and any person making medical decisions for Caden and fill them up with Your Wisdom and Your Wisdom alone regarding all needs that need to be administered to little Caden. Father, we praise Your name for the gifts you have given those on this earth to perform surgeries to help our bodies but most of all we Praise Your Name because You are The Lord Who Heals, The Lord Our Peace; God Almighty, I AM. Thank you for making Caden perfect and choosing wonderful parents who love You Lord and place their hope and trust in You. May Your Spirit strengthen Melody and Nathan right now. Father, comfort them with the assurance of Your love. Help them trust You, and remind them that You are the One who makes a way when things seem difficult; nothing is too hard for You! NOTHING. Help them not give up, to keep watching for Your answers and Your healing. Give them faith. Help them not to lose their confidence in You and Your faithfulness, to know they will see how Good You are. Thank you that you hear them in their distress; May they sense Your presence right now. In Jesus' name, amen.

The Good, the bad, and everything in between!

2007-10-28T12:51:00.000-07:00

The good: 1. Dr. Bloss performed Caden's surgery. It turns out that he is one of the leading pediatric surgeons in Houston. 2. Cade's intubation tube was removed on Thursday. He is now breathing room air, which is great. 3. The fluid they've been extracting from his stomach is more clear instead of brown. That means it is improving. 4. After three procedures, they successfully entered a PIC line. Now they can use this instead of poking him for an IV over and over again.

- Thank you Lord for answered prayers!

The not so good: 1. It looks like the PIC line might be inflammed. If they determine it is, it will need to be removed. We really need the PIC line to avoid a possible surgery for a central line. 2. His incisions are probably infected. They took a culture to see what is going on. They started him on a new line of antibiotics to take care of it. 3. On Thursday his IV infiltrated into his foot. It made his foot swollen and blue. Now it has a big bruise on it.

Prayer requests: 1. Please pray for a successful PIC line. 2. Please pray that his infection will go away quickly. 3. Most importantly, please pray that he will be comfortable and able to sleep soundly with all that is going on in his body.

Thank you for all of your support! -Melody and Nathan

Thanks be to God for a successful surgery

2007-10-24T19:01:00.000-07:00

Thank you to all of you who have been praying for Caden today. The surgery went well, and the surgeon said that Caden did "very well". They removed the blockage by removing a small portion of his small intestine. He has a temporary colostamy. He'll remain sedated for the next couple of days and then they'll begin the process of feeding him and decreasing the IV. When he can take a full feeding, he'll be ready to go home. Caden looks good and is peacefully recovering.

Melody wants a verse to put on Caden's crib, and the verse that we prayed today was

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10)

If you have a verse that you've been praying for Caden, Nathan, and Melody you can share it with them by clicking on the COMMENT button and posting your verse or prayer there. Thanks so much for your support!

Star (Melody's sister)

Surgery today

2007-10-24T07:19:00.000-07:00

I just got a call this morning that Caden’s stomach is becoming distended (this is not good). The concern is that it will cause his bowel to rupture if it continues. He will be having surgery this afternoon. Details to follow. Please say a prayer for him today.

Melody

Caden is Here!!!

2007-10-23T13:13:00.000-07:00

We are excited to report that Caden Joseph Lilley is finally here! He came at 12:02 am on Friday, October 19. I went to the doctor on Thursday for a check-up and my doctor accidently broke my water! We were sent straight to the hospital to be induced. He weighed 7 lb. and was 19.5 inches long. He has lips like his daddy and a nose like his mommy. And who could miss his full head of beautiful brown hair!

He is doing well except for a little potty problem. The poor guy hasn’t “pooed.” He is currently in the NICU and will be staying for a while. They are running tests to see what is causing the blockage. Right now they are giving him medicated enemas in hopes that it will cause the plug to pass to avoid surgery. We will send updates as we learn more. Please be praying for a poo poo in the near future!

-Nathan, Melody, and Caden