And...a video of Caden cracking up...

This is Caden cracking up at his Busy Ball Popper from his Uncle Todd, Aunt Carly, and cousins Brody and Wade...you would have thought that this was the funniest thing he has ever seen in his short life!!

Christmas pics plus a few bonus pics!

Caden's first Christmas has come and gone so quickly...I can't believe that he is already 8 months old.

We had a great time at Christmas. Scott's parents, Grammy and Pops, rented a house at Grayton beach that had six bedrooms plus a loft so that we could all fit under one roof. That was a very nice Christmas present from them! Grammy, Pops, Mi-mi and Grandmother (Caden's great grandmothers), Uncle Todd, Aunt Carly, cousins Brody and Wade, and Carly's mom and brother all stayed in the house.

Here are some pictures of the view...

The stockings were hung on the staircase with care...in hopes that St. Nick would soon be there (Caden has two stockings, too, his other one is at the bottom, mommy didn't have time to get it embroidered...)

First things first...we had to make sure we got the Baby Einstein all set up...

Caden trying to eat Aunt Carly's birthday streamers...her birthday is Christmas Eve...she was the big 3-0.

All of the presents for all of the babies!!! My how things change!!

Caden playing with some of his Christmas presents

Present from Daddy...white on white nikes...a little too big, but as fast as he is growing, he will be in them in no time!

Watching Baby Einstein on Christmas day...we got one new one Baby McDonald and he loves it!

Mommy, Caden, Aunt Carly, and cousins Brody and Wade (4 months)...their size a little deceiving when next to the giant baby, Caden...

Just a cute pic in his Santa hat Christmas morning!

And here is Caden with his favorite Christmas present...no not the jumperoo that we have had since birth (although he loves that too)...it's the giant $5.99 balloon that mommy just happened to pick up at Publix on Christmas eve...I swear...
Now....drumroll please...the bonus pics of Caden's first tooth (look very closely) and the first time drinking out of a big boy sippy cup!

******BREAKING NEWS******

We interrupt our regularly scheduled Holiday blog update to tell everyone that Caden's first tooth finally broke through this morning!!! He woke up an hour early (at 6:30AM) screaming so that must have been what it was! We thought he was never going to get any teeth, so we are very excited and now, just waiting on the other bottom one right next to it to break through...

I'm uploading Christmas stuff, so that blog won't be too far off I promise, but I just had to tell everyone about this!

Have a safe and fun New Year's Eve!

Santa Clause is coming to town

We have been so busy lately that Caden has had a few babysitters, has had to sleep in his carseat a few evenings at some friends houses, and has been carried around town christmas shopping, but we were able to squeeze in a visit the Santa Clause. Caden was so funny, he kept looking at Santa then looking at Scott and me like "why did you guys leave me on this weird guy's lap...what's going on??" Santa even managed to get a smile out of him in the professional picture...but here is a picture that we took...

And here we are waiting in line...we didn't wait that long, because we went on a Wednesday night...

Busy life of Caden

I know, I know, I've been slacking on the blog, but we have had a busy 2 weeks...I was sick and out of work for a week, then we had to catch up Christmas shopping, decorating, work, etc.

Caden is doing soooo much better. He still has a little bit of a lingering dry cough, but other than that, we are almost back to normal. He's even back to his old schedule almost and is sleeping through the night almost every night!! Woohoo.

Nana (my mom) and Grammy (Scott's mom) helped us out so much over the past two weeks. We don't know what we would have done without them...Since Grammy was in the last blog entry in the hospital pics, here is a pic of Nana with Caden before they were going on a walk...

He is such a big boy that Nana was having a hard time lifting him out of the tub, so he got a bath in the sink (notice he is doing his signature Caden face - sucking in the bottom lip...I don't know where he got that from)

He has gotten into grabbing every thing and is really playing with all of his toys now, not just grabbing them...he beats them against everything...here is a pic of him reading his elmo book in his high chair...he loves sitting and playing in his high chair...

And now just some cute pics...

Day 8 - Finally Home!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry we skipped Day 7, but I am felt terrible last night and was just trying to get some sleep since my mom was at the hospital with me at night....

We were just discharged this morning...a whole week in the hospital...Caden was one sick little boy. We were allowed to go home this morning because he remained off of oxygen all night!! The only thing we have to do at home is some breathing treatments as needed for wheezing.

Per our pediatrician, Dr. Martin, there is a chance of relapse and he has had to readmit some babies after they go home, so here is hoping for the best. Also he said that Caden is now more prone to wheezing with illnesses and developing asthma, but then again he has seen babies with no problems at all after RSV, so it is a really unpredictable virus.

Thank you to all of you that have kept thinking and praying for us. And thank you to all of our wonderful nurses and nurse techs at Tallahassee Memorial (we had a bunch over the 8 day period). They all loved Caden and bragged about how beautiful his eyes were and how good he took his medications by mouth. They also loved his crazy bed hair, too.

I know Caden is glad to be at home in his own bed (mommy is too) and will be thrilled to get a bath in his bathtub...

Here are some pics from the hospital...

Day 1-thank goodness Caden likes his baby einstein videos - we watched them a lot in the hospital...and even laughs at his favorite parts now...

Close up of his oxygen tubes and his poor little arm with the IV and splint on it...:(
Picture of his hospital "cage"
Friends from NC, Mindy, Tate, and Braxton sent Caden some balloons and he was amazed by them...I don't know if he had ever seen balloons before!
Hard to give a baby a bath in the hospital, so his hair got even crazier...
Tired little tiger resting on Grammy's shoulder...
Caden loved the little bottles in the hospital, he could hold them himself and drink while watching his baby einstein...
Day 8...Still watching baby einstein...

This is the life, sitting up, holding my own bottle and watching baby einstein...

Day 6 - still here

We are still here...Caden was off of oxygen for a good part of the day, so we were hopeful that he could stay off of it and possibly be released tomorrow...but, just about 30 minutes ago they came in and had to turn it back on because his levels were dropping...So here is hoping for Monday.

He was very playful today and still in a good mood. He is taking his steroids and antibiotics by mouth like a champ! And he was actually good during his breathing treatment and flirting with the respiratory therapist.

I, however, am continuing to get sicker...so Nana (my mom) is on her way to help out so that Grammy can have a break. Grammy is then going to come back on Friday when Nana leaves to continue to help us out while daddy goes out of town. Thank goodness for grandmas!

Day 5 of our hospital stay

Caden is in a much better mood today. They removed his IV this morning because it was infiltrated (which means that the fluid was no longer going in his vein but being absorbed by other tissue...so his arm was really swollen). He is drinking formula pretty well, so they kept it out. He is still taking steroids and antibiotics. They have greatly reduced his oxygen to .1 liters (we were at 2 1/2 liters at one point) and his oxygen levels are remaining pretty good.

We pray that we might be released tomorrow, but I am not getting my hopes up and am realistically thinking that Sunday will be the day.

He was so happy today kicking and laughing at his baby einstein videos and crazy daddy. I took a few short videos that I will have to upload when we get home.

My cold has gotten worse so thank goodness for daddy and grammy that come to save mommy in the mornings so she can go home and rest!

Day 4 - Happy Thanksgiving

Not too much to report here except that we are still here and the only progress we have made is that they were able to reduce Caden's oxygen today and may reduce it even further tonight while he sleeps. We can't be released until he is completely off of it and his oxygen levels are acceptable...And the doctor on call said that Saturday would be the earliest he would let us go...AAAHHHH! Oh well, it's for the best care...

Our friend, Holly, brought us a Thanksgiving feast to the hospital today! It was so good...and the Whitakers made us Thanksgiving stuff that we can freeze and eat when we get home, because heaven knows that we will be exhausted once this is all over with...

Caden and I said his prayers before he went to sleep tonight and we said all that we were thankful for. We are thankful for our friends and family, (especially for Grammy who is now relieving mommy every morning so she can go home and get some rest), how fortunate we are to have the things we do, and for Caden only having RSV and not some life threatening illness.

Until tomorrow...

Day 3 of Confinement

Just a brief update that Caden is really no better or no worse...he does not have a temperature, but is still on oxygen, steroids, and breathing treatments. The doctor is going to take him off of the steroids tomorrow, because he said that although it is helping him breathe, it is probably slowing down the process of him getting over this virus.

We had a rough night last night as his oxygen levels were down, so they kept coming in to wake us both up! Thankfully though, Daddy and Grammy came this morning and I went home to take a nap!

We also located a rocking chair that has been an absolute godsend along with the baby einstein videos.

That's all for now and special thanks to our friends that have sent flowers, bears, and balloons, they help decorate our room since we are confined (we are still on contact isolation). And another special thanks to Cindy who brought my TCBY today and came by to visit since she will not be around any young children.

Will give another update tomorrow, but pray for us that we have a better night!

Day 2 update

I type this as Caden finally fell asleep and we are in complete darkness...I just wanted to give everyone an update. He has not made any significant improvement, but has not gotten any worse. He is still on steroids, antibiotics, and constant oxygen. They have stopped the breathing treatments because we didn't see any drastic improvement in his breathing after those. He has not had a fever today thankfully, but has been especially cranky...we think the steroids might be getting him all hyped up!

Scott and his mom, Debbie have been here with us. They are going to come in the morning and I am going to go home and get some rest, because of course I am sick as well, so Caden and I are miserable together.

I will try to post an update tomorrow...Thanks to everyone for keeping us in their thoughts and prayers!

Hospital Day 2

We are still in the hospital...We are on contact isolation, which means anyone that comes to visit us needs to wear a mask, gloves, and a gown. RSV is highly contagious. For adults, it is just like a common cold, but for children under 2, it is pretty bad since there is swelling in their bronchials and their bronchials are really small (that is how our pediatrician, Dr. Martin, explained it to us). So anyone that will not be around kids under 2 can come visit us and just wear a gown and they should be fine, but we recommend anyone who will be around kids under 2 to not come.

Caden and I had a pretty good night last night. He didn't go to sleep until 10, which he usually goes to bed around 8:30, but he slept until 6 AM. That's pretty good for a sick little guy. Mommy wouldn't let any of the techs mess with him and wake him up to take his temp and blood pressure.

We asked Dr. Martin about how long he thought we would be here and he said to keep our fingers crossed for Friday! So, we might be spending thanksgiving at Tallahassee Memorial...so anyone who wants to drop off their thanksgiving leftovers for us, we would appreciate it :)

I can't get pictures uploaded from the hospital, but here is a mental picture...he is in a little hospital gown with tigers all over it that says "tired little tiger", he has oxygen taped to his cheeks and in his nose, has an IV port in one of his arms that has a little splint on it so he can't bend it...poor baby...

Very sick Caden

Well, we are in the hospital - in the pediatric unit. Caden and I went to the doctor's office this morning because he was sooo lethargic yesterday and he has had a runny nose and cough since Thursday. The doctor gave him two breathing treatments (that was a lot of fun to give a seven month old) - it was like putting him in a headlock for 10 minutes. The breathing treatments did not have the effect that the doctor wanted them to on his oxygen level, so he advised admitting him. Once we got there, they did chest x-rays, took blood, and put an IV in. He has been poked and proded, but has been a trooper. We have finally determined that he has RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) - which affects children under 2. On top of that, he has bronchialitis (another virus that constricts his lungs). He is on 2 different antibiotics, oxygen, and a steriod...We will keep you updated. Right now he is in his hospital crib, which looks more like a prison, watching his baby einstein video. So, we may be spending Thanksgiving in the hospital...keep us in your prayers...

Squash, Squash, and more Squash

Drumroll please...we are now eating real food - well just squash baby food...Caden loves it and eats it right until the last bite - and then cries after he realizes that it is the last bite. Here he is sitting in his high chair for the first time like a big boy...

Oooh, there goes Ruger and Riley walking by...

But we're still happy in our high chair...he sat there and watched me chop squash (for us, not him - I am not making his baby food - I don't have time for that) for about 15 minutes!

Now, the actual event...eating the squash!

Baby it's cold outside!

Tallahasse has had record lows the last two days!! Caden has had to bundle up to go to daycare in his new winter coat...he looks so happy doesn't he???

It's so cold in the morning, that we have to snuggle up with daddy under the covers...

But the cold weather also means football! And Caden likes to sit in his bumbo (sometimes) and watch football (I think it's just all of the colors, but daddy just likes to think that it's the football game)...Here he is watching a game...

He watches very intently...

Video!

We are high tech in this family...Here is a video of Caden laughing in his jumperoo...

And Caden getting excited that he sees Riley...

Professional Pictures Sneak Peek

We went and had Caden's six month pictures done this morning and Linda has already posted a sneak peek on her blog! Check it out...

http://longsphotographyblog.com/

She caught so many smiles on camera...I can't wait to see them all!

Updates (well just cute pictures)

When I was out of town for work last week, Daddy and Caden had some bonding time and here are some pictures that resulted...

Ruger helped with Caden's bath

Daddy had fun with Caden's hair -and he has A LOT of it

Daddy did a good job while Mommy was out of down and they both survived. (I do have to share this though...the daycare provider said that he came to daycare one day in just a onesie...LOL)

Nana sent Caden a Halloween card that sung "One Eyed One Horned Flying Purple People Eater" - He loved it! And then he tried to eat it...

On the weekends now, we have family time in Mommy and Daddy's bed...Riley joined us the other morning...
I love this one because it looks like Riley and Caden are watching TV together...

And here is just a cute picture of how I found him when he woke up from his nap one day...

And we are STILL working on the sitting up thing - we're getting better, but we are not quite there yet...

Caden has been stuffy and has had a cough this week, so he is on antibiotics, but as soon as we are done with those this weekend, we will be starting real food! So stay tuned for some pictures of our first real food adventure!

Also, the Harrell family just made a big purchase - a video camera! So, once we figure out how to load our videos, we'll get some on the blog!

Other than that, Scott and I are loving every day with Caden, he is growing so fast and keeps us entertained.

Big Boy Caden!

I am out of town in Charlotte for work, so Scott took Caden to the pediatrician this morning for his 6 month check up and he weighs 21 lbs and is 28.5 inches long - that is in the 94th and 95th percentiles! He is going to be a big boy.

Trick or Treat

Last night we went over to visit the Koegel family and show them Caden's costume and then we ended up going trick or treating with Kim and the girls...Caden was so excited that he fell asleep half way around the block. Here's some cute pictures of Taylor and Alex with Caden! Taylor and Alex looked so cute as Ariel the Little Mermaid (they had red wigs, but those apparently came off before we even got there :)) Taylor was so excited to hold him...
I love this one of him looking at Taylor...He was being so good while she was holding him!

To learn more about our friend Taylor and the Koegel family, you can go onto her caringbridge site - she is a very special little girl! http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/taylorkoegel

And here is one for Aunt Kathy and the cute little pilot outfit she and Cousin Jeremy (who really is a pilot) sent to Caden...he is already big enough for it...

And it has been soooo cold here lately that Caden has had to dress very warmly, so he got to wear his frog jacket from Grammie the other day just in time for Halloween!