Boring Heart

On January 21, I had an echocardiogram. Don't worry, I wasn't having symptoms of something wrong. I just really felt I should have one since I have two children with congenital heart defects (CHD). No one really knows why that is the case since we are not aware of anyone else in either my family or Greg's family with a CHD.

At any rate, for my own peace of mind, I talked to my primary care doctor and was more than willing to order an echo for me. He said he really didn't think it would show a problem, but he thought it was a good idea to check things out. And, I want Greg to have one as well just in case he has something going on. Since we have the same primary care doctor, I don't think that will be a problem, just a matter of scheduling all the necessary appointments.

I've been waiting to hear the results of the echo, and finally, on January 31, I received a message telling me that the echo was negative, meaning there was nothing unusual to report and my heart looked great! I have to say, I am greatly relieved to have a nice, boring heart. I can't tell you how much I appreciate boring! There are very few things in my life that I can use that term for. I am glad my heart is one of them. :)

Physical Therapy

Shortly after we brought Caden home from the hospital in Stanford, he started getting PT at Bright Start Therapies. I think he was only 4 months old! His therapist was Julia and she is amazing! She is an incredible person and a wonderful therapist. Caden is so incredibly lucky to have had her up until this last week. Due to a series of events, she is changing jobs and going in a slightly different direction. We are really excited for her and happy for her new opportunity. However, we are quite devastated for our loss! We will never be able to replace Julia!

Caden works on many things in PT to improve his gross motor skills. He started out at once/week and then went to twice/week for quite some time. Now that he is walking, they will likely drop him back down to once/week. It is amazing to look at how far he has come since he started. When he first started with PT he couldn't even roll over. He was just a lump on the floor. But with Julia's help, he began making progress from rolling over, to sitting up, to kneeling, to standing, and eventually to walking. These are things that happen so “easily” with a typically-developing baby/toddler. But for Caden things weren't nearly so easy. He had to work really hard to reach every milestone and Julia was the one making that happen.

It was amazing to watch how fast Caden responded to Julia's cues. She would work with him on something one day and before our next session, he had been practicing it all on his own. He continually amazed her with how fast he learned and picked things up. But as you all know, we think Caden is pretty incredible!

We aren't entirely sure where Caden will be receiving PT at this point. Bright Start hasn't hired a new therapist yet so we will likely have to switch to another clinic. But I've been putting it off. Probably because I was in denial that Julia was actually leaving! But now I am faced with that reality and need to get Caden switched over so we don't lose too much time. In the meantime, I appreciate your prayers that we get a therapist who works well with Caden and is able to progress him along quickly. (Don't miss the video at the bottom of the post to see what Caden worked on in therapy.)

Caden with Julia, PT extraordinaire :)

Taking a ride on the bolster swing, which Caden loves!

Playing happily in the ball pit which used to send him into panic mode

Picking up the ball to throw it into the basketball hoop

Working on rolling

Doing "push-ups" on the ball

Core strengthening using "Wheels on the Bus"

Ready, set, jump!

Kicking the ball

Our last day with our amazing therapist, Julia :( We miss you already!

Warm Water Therapy

Here is a brief video showing the end of a session of Caden's warm water therapy. This was the first time he completed a full 50-minute session in the water with the therapist WITHOUT me in the water with them. I sat on the edge for a long time expecting I would need to get in. But I didn't. I wouldn't say that he loved the session, but he tolerated it quite well. Because I kept thinking I was going to have to get in, I didn't get my camera out until the very end. That is why I don't have much to show. I hope he continues to do well in the water and improves every week. If he cooperates, they can do a lot of good things with him in the water.

Occupational Therapy

We are very blessed to have a wonderful OT to work with Caden. Monica works at Bright Start Therapies and Caden has been with her since November 2009. When he started he had significant sensory issues and fine motor delays.

Over the last year, she worked with him on many things. Therapy often includes swinging, zipping across the zipline and dropping into a bean bag, riding the roller coaster FAST across the room, scooting around on his tummy on a scooter-board, playing in the ball pit, and playing in the bin of beans. He seems to love speed and going very fast! In addition, he spends a lot of time doing table work such as drawing with crayons, finding small toys hidden in therapy putty, stringing beads, playing with shaving cream and many more things.

Occupational therapy is a fun time for Caden and is probably his favorite of all his therapies. It is less physically demanding than PT and provides more variety than speech therapy. He has come a long way in the past year and we are so happy for the help he is getting. He is closing the gap on the areas where he is delayed.

Swinging in circles - he LOVES this!

In the "cuddle" swing. He's not so sure about this one but did better this time than in the past.

Having beans poured over his head

Searching for toys in the therapy putty

Monica, Caden's OT

Speech Therapy

Caden receives speech therapy twice/week at Bright Start Therapies. I am not exactly sure how many words he has for sure. But between words and signs, probably 2-3 dozen, I'm guessing. I realize that for most kids his age, this is a little on the low side. But considering that he had a paralyzed vocal cord and spent a lot of time with a ventilator tube down his throat, and that he doesn't really eat by mouth (until recently), I would say that's pretty good.

What most people don't realize is that babies mouthing toys, putting everything in their mouths, eating, etc. is all preparing them to talk. When these things do not happen in the typical timeframe, it can cause a delay in their speech and language. But, don't get me wrong, just because Caden can't say a lot of words, does not mean he doesn't understand them. He understands everything that is going on and has strong opinions about what he wants to happen. Definitely age-appropriate attitude for a two-year-old!

In the video clip, Caden's therapist is singing “Happy Birthday” to him (it was his first session after his birthday) and is pausing to let him insert the word “you” where it belongs. It's awfully adorable to hear him sweetly say “ooo”. :)

Practicing "blowing out" the candles with therapist, Karen

Indoor PT at Easter Seals

Caden has Warm Water Therapy at Easter Seals on Monday afternoons. However, if the weather is too cold or rainy (the pool is outside), he has therapy indoors. Even though the water itself is very warm, it can be very cold getting in and out.

Now that Caden is walking, the PT is working with him on jumping and other strengthening things with his legs. It kind of looks like a fun day at gymnastics for most kids. But for Caden, he works very hard to do these things. I love how he just dives into the foam pit off the large wedge. So cute!





In the spider jumper

Diving into the foam pit

Again and again and again...

Stepping over the ladder rungs

The Next Pro Golfer???

Greg's parents got a little golf set for Kyler and gave it to him this weekend. Greg's dad loves to golf and has taken Kyler golfing with him when he's been at their house. So, to encourage the golfing tradition, they got him his own clubs. Greg's dad took him out in our backyard the day of Caden's birthday and had a little lesson.

I wouldn't say that Kyler is destined to be a professional golfer. However, I am very impressed with his perseverance and willingness to keep trying. Way to go buddy!

Birthday Celebrations

Here is a video I put together of our celebration of Caden's birthday. I want people to see what a sweetheart Caden is. He has such a sweet temperament and fun personality with a great sense of humor. You can't capture that in photos. Please enjoy the video. :)

Two!

Yesterday was Caden's 2nd birthday! I can't believe how far we have come in two years. I am really going to have to get used to having a child with a birthday so close after Christmas. This year, I really had a hard time planning what we were going to do and was pretty late in getting anything ready. But it all came together really nicely.

Caden has an obsession for balls, any size, color, you name it and I decided that would be the theme for his party. I found some plates/napkins that were red/orange with circles. Then I baked several size round cakes which had domes on top to look like balls. I made a couple chocolate cakes and a couple white cakes. Then I used gum drops to decorate them to look like little balls on top. I had a centerpiece on the table comprised of various balls of different varieties.

I was able to borrow an inflatable school bus which is a ball pit for kids to play in. Once Caden decided it was “safe” he had a blast playing in it. Another friend of mine who is a teacher for children with autism, loaned us a large bag made of special stretchy material filled with balls. She said the kids she works with absolutely love to get inside and move around, pushing against the fabric so she thought Caden might like it as well. I got Caden to sit in it for a minute, but he was a little intimidated by it. Kyler on the other hand thought it was fantastic! In fact, he and his cousins, Brandon & Amelia, spent a lot of time with all three of them in the bag at the same time! It was very funny!

We just had a small party at home with family only. My parents were here, Greg's parents, Greg's sister, brother-in-law and their two kids, and us for a total of 12. Even with that few people, Caden was feeling a little overwhelmed. He wanted me to hold him a good majority of the time. But once we did the cake and opened presents, he started warming up a little.

Overall it was a great day! It is such a miracle to have my precious little man here with us and to celebrate his 2nd birthday. He is truly a special kid. He has such a quiet demeanor and sweet sense of humor. He really gets it when he's being funny. He initiates games with us in his own quiet way and waits for us to realize what he's doing. Kyler is also very funny, but in a much more obvious, loud way. It is amazing the difference between them. Caden is so sweet, sensitive, persevering and courageous: a true testament to a powerful God. We are blessed!

The final product of ball-theme cakes

The ball cakes with the ball centerpiece - okay, I'm not that creative, but I thought it was cute! ;)

And that is why I only borrowed a ball pit and didn't purchase one... the balls end up everywhere BUT the ball pit!

Greg and me with our amazing 2-year-old miracle!

Reaching for the gum drops on his cake and checking to see if he's going to get in trouble... :)

Posing sweetly

Caden with Kyler behind him and cousins Amelia & Brandon on either side

Playing peek-a-boo and having fun with the tissue paper. Who needs presents???

Peeking around the balloons he was playing with

Kyler and Caden playing together in the bus ball pit - so much fun! :)

Home PT???

Last night before bed, Caden was playing with a small exercise ball and after a few minutes I looked over and there he was rolling around on top of it. I had to laugh because it looked like he was trying to do physical therapy on his own. Keep in mind he has PT twice/week and every session he does some work on the ball, it's just usually a big ball.

It was just funny because this last week with feeding therapy, Caden didn't have any of his regular therapies. When he was rolling around on the ball, it made it seem like he missed his PT sessions. I don't know if he did or not, but it will be interesting to see how he does next week once we are back into the normal routine.