Vacation!

It was so nice to get away for a quick weekend. We spent time hiking northern MI,
biking,

swimming, playing at the beach,
and just relaxing...
and cuddling with Grandpa!

Let's see what has been happening...

For the last four months I have been long term subbing for a K-1 Mildly cognitive impaired classroom. I view each long term job as a learning experience. I am glad that I am done so I can spend more time with my family. Jaron's schedule has taken some time to adjust to.

My Mom, Shaunda and I went on a girls get away cruise at the beginning of Feb. It was great to hear people like Candace Cameron, Karen Kingsbury, Shannon Etheridge and so many more... plus great music like Big Daddy Weave, Phil Joel, Carried Away, Shane and Shane, and more!

It'll take me some time to update pictures and fill in the last few months. Thanks for checking back in!

Reading...

Kaden is really taken with books. This is no surprise due to his parents love of books. Each time we read a book to him we then have to hide it (usually in the couch) so we don't read it ten times in a row and he will get down, go get another and another. He does get wiggly and we are trying to focus on getting through a book before we start another.


Then in August we were able to attend a friends wedding on Grand Island in New York and Kaden was able to visit Niagra Falls for the first time.

been busy!

Wow... although we haven't been busy every day, it sure feels like we have been doing a lot! My parents left for Alaska the day after Kade's birthday and are on their way home today!
Jaron was working for friends from our church when he sliced his finger open...And we just returned from crossing the border 4 times for Maria's wedding on Grand Island in NY. We stopped at Niagra Falls with Kade. I am so very excited about Maria being only 5 hours away instead of 12!!! I have more pictures and will post more in a bit!

Lately...

Kaden had plenty of family over for his birthday... finally one, yet hard to believe. My parents are having a good time in Alaska, and my mom went through her seaplane rating in Anchorage. What a great location! We have been busy with a lot of "little of this, little of that". We have been fill in house parents at Kindred and Jaron has been working with Kyle from our church. I finally finished two more masters classes! I've had another interview... just waiting. Jaron starts at the corrections academy on Sept. 8th. Well, that's the quick side of things. Pictures to come. Right now we are relaxing in Sutton's Bay. (Not actually IN the bay...)

Nebraska, Father's Day and Grandma's Birthday!

We traveled to Nebraska to visit Jaron's brother after school was out for the summer! This was indeed a long drive for Kaden to sit in his car seat, especially after he has learned the freedom of walking! He doesn't let go yet, but he is mobile. Derek enjoys the library where he lives... so did Kaden.

On the last night of our stay, the tornado sirens went off at about 10:30pm and so we had to scoop Kaden up and scoot to the neighbors. Kaden enjoyed his little late night party.

I entertained Kade in the back seat and he loved the camera the most. He would smile and ham it up, then cry when I put it down.

On Father's day, which was Grandma's birthday, the airport my parent are at has a big fly-in, so I went up and Kade stayed with Grandpa and Grandma while I went to church. Kade had lots of fun!

latest and greatest!

Kaden just loves to put his paci in backwards and chew on it that way. Just thought that I had to include him actually doing this!

Well, I have good excuses... but I really do need to update! Well as of Jan 1 we put Kaden on formula (nutramigen) to see if allergies were causing his excema and then we waited... well it didn't do much from the looks of it. After two weeks he was still spotty around his eyes... and that was with verdeso (a steroid foam). We went down to U of M in Ann Arbor and saw a pediatric dermatologist there. Their thought was again... yes it is excema, but what is causing it. One line of thinking she had was a possible zinc deficiancy. But that it looked infected and we should put him back on keflex and several ointments and see. We started treatments Thursday morning and by Satuday, he already looked cleared up... without the zinc yet.

So we have been doing everything now and he really does look so much better! I know that we can't keep him on this treatment forever... but I finally get to cuddle with him without worry of catching his skin. He is also taking some allergy medication to relieve the itching so that makes me feel better that he doesn't feel itchy all the time.

While we were up North for a short family get-a-way(pictures to come), a dear college friend called and as we were sharing stories she shared that both of her children are severe allergic and so it was helpful to know that we can get to the bottom of this. One day at a time.

Working with children with autism and ECDD (developmental delay) and other needs, I am so blessed to come home and know whatever God is teaching us through this, that God is teaching us.

Happy New Year!

I hope that this post finds everyone warm and happy on a very snowy day and the beginning of the new year. Today Kaden is 5 months and yesterday we made progress in knowing what is going on with his skin. Last Wednesday Kade had blood taken to test for allergies... Monday I stopped at the pediatrician's office and the Dr. told me he is allergic to milk, peanuts, wheat, egg whites, and dog dander... So Kade is now on formula and not liking it to well. Our dog is supposed to be hypo-allergenic. I feel that it is at least a step in the right direction to getting him better! I would like to get him off of the steroid stuff that we are using! I was able to spend the evening with friends that I grew up with and get together still when we are all in the area.

We had a nice and quiet Christmas. We spent the weekend before Christmas with Jaron's family and his brother Derek was home from Nebraska. On Christmas, we spent the afternoon into evening at my brother Joel's house and played Wii into the morning. Sydney was trying to copy Kade.

We had a nice trip out east. Kade traveled very well. We were able to see several friends that I worked with at Mount Calvary, then traveled to Delaware to see another friend. It was nice to visit and enjoyed just seeing the sights of where we were married and first lived.

Maria and Kade

Jaron liked Maria's dog Sammy...

Kade liked Sammy too!

Well, Kade just finished his first all-formula feeding! I am praying that we will see results soon.