I'm Free!!

Finally free! Cayden got his splint removed, and a new x-ray of his leg showed a healing bone! He won't be 100% for a while, but there is enough new bone growth to be free of the splint/cast! Since the appointment on Wednesday, he's been cruising around, doing his version of an army crawl, showing no real sign of discomfort. He will not put much weight on the leg as of yet, but I'll chalk that up to muscle atrophy and the sense of caution he must be feeling! We'll work on it!

Needless to say, he's good as new! Hopefully there will be no more posts of injury or trauma! :-)

Heart Warming...

Well, it's happened once again. We arrived home from our Florida vacation last night, and my husband and my baby managed to warm my heart more than I thought possible.

When Cyle picked us up at the airport, it was late and Cayden was tired, not really knowing how to react to seeing Daddy again after 10 days. But Cyle's eyes lit up the moment we walked out of that door.

When we got home, and Cyle took Cayden out of his carseat was when it really happened. Cayden smiled that big crooked smile of his, his blue eyes lighting up the room. And Cyle...with a grin from ear to ear, told his son how much he had missed him, and how he's grown and changed so much in a matter of days! The way those two looked at each other - I can't even explain what it does to me! In my eyes, they both grow more and more everyday. Cayden is growing into a "big boy," while Cyle continues to grow as a loving, gentle, and proud Daddy.

Heart-warming...

I'm in Love.

A Typical Day's Activities!

They play, play, play!

And when they're all worn out...

Cayden goes down for a nap...

And so does Mommy!  

I know...life's rough. 

It works out just Perfectly!

More Florida Fun!

Hi from Florida!! We're having a great time here, and Cayden is definitely enjoying his first Vacation! 

Here's a picture of one of his new tricks - Daddy likes to call it a "Monkey Squirt!" He puts his lips together and blows/spits/makes funny noises!

 Lounging in the pool, with plenty of toys!

Bouncing and splashing with MaMa in his "big bath tub!"

Cayden woke up bright and early on his very first Easter - and we proceeded to find lots and lots of candy, toys and colorful eggs all around the house! He even joined the girls outside for an Easter egg hunt in the backyard!

Of course he picked up an eggs and put it straight in the mouth!

As we all know, my son is quite the tank! Here's a funny shot of me showing off the results of carrying this "load" around! Who needs a gym?!

The whole gang :-)

My little sunshine is growing before my eyes. His two little "shark teeth" are coming in so quickly! He's pulling himself all over the house (I'm sure he'd be crawling this week if it weren't for his bum leg!)! He's talking up a storm! And he's finally learned how to say "Da-Da!" (much to big daddy's delight!!). He amazes me everyday, and I can't help but to love him and love him and LOVE HIM!!  :-)

Florida!!

We made it to Florida...and its SO nice!!  Cayden handled his first airplane ride like a CHAMP! No crying, no sleeping, just people-watching and playing! (And all with a broken leg and an ear infection!!) He's amazing!

So here are a few pictures of his very first swimming experience in the pool - and we're so excited the waterproof cast cover WORKS!!

He loves the "big bath tub!"

Hanging out in the shade for a bit!

Having so much fun in the sun!

Thanks Meme and Papa for letting us come!!

Watch for more!  We'll be updating throughout the vacation!!

It's Been a Not So Good Week! :-(

Sorry, I know I've left you hanging for a week...But I sure have been busy! Worked 3 nights in a row (which takes a lot out of me on a normal basis) and on top of that, have been back and forth to Beachwood and Strongsville more times in one week than I could have imagined! Dr. Ballock, we love you, but honestly...I'd be fine not seeing you for awhile!

Here's the run-down on our sad and eventful week:

• Monday: Cyle took off work. Had an appointment to get a cast for Cayden. Arrived in Beachwood at 11am to get that done. Cayden cried and cried and cried. Sad day.
• Tuesday: Cayden cried some more. Still uncomfortable (with good reason). Tylenol with Codeine every 8 hours, with doses of Motrin in between to decrease swelling. More crying, not much sleep. Sad day!
• Wednesday: Things seem to be improving slightly! Cayden is less upset, less irritable, and actually moving his leg for the first time since his accident! He even rolled over on his own today, cast and all! Happy day!
• Thursday: Sad day. Went to Meme's house to sleep for a bit after work...Cayden pulled a fast move at some point and began to wiggle his leg right out of the cast! What a PUNK! All of his moving and grooving (now that he was actually feeling a little better!) and his toes began to disappear into the cast! So right away I was on the phone with Dr. Ballock's secretary, then his good nurse Sam called me right back. I had a half hour to rush him to Strongsville to get a new cast put on (it was 4:00pm and the cast tech was leaving at 4:30!). We made it. Dr. Ballock was downtown that day and couldn't be there, but instructed the tech on just what to do. So it was replaced...Cayden cried...a lot. Bad day.
• Friday: Home to Meme's after my 3rd night in a row...to find that my Little Houdini had done it YET AGAIN! This kid is giving me a run for my money!! His toes had once again been pulled into the casted abyss! Once again I was one the phone with the secretary (who now knows us by name), she told me "hold on, dear" then immediately Dr. Ballock was on the phone! He said he could fit us in between surgeries at his Beachwood office this afternoon (but he didn't know what he was gonna do to make this work!). He told me that Cayden was the most trouble he's had with patients getting out of their casts in his whole history of working! My little angel! So we went, cast was removed. Cayden's ankle was absolutely bruised and swollen from rubbing against the inside of the cast. He cried. And Cried. Terrible Pain! Thank god Meme was there with me this time because honestly, this is draining me emotionally! (Thanks again, Meme!). This time, he was put into a splint - where the under side is plaster, the top is just padding and ace wrapped to prevent further injury to the ankle. My poor buddy! :-( Sad, sad day.
• Saturday: Dr. Ballock gave me his home and cell phone numbers yesterday, to call if we had more trouble this weekend. I did not want to have to call him! I really didn't! But I had to...he started to do it again. So I spoke with the doctor, who said it would be okay, but if he pulled it much more than he already had, to re-wrap it myself. I've seen these splints put on children at work about a million times...so I knew what I was doing. But I didn't want to have to do it. Inevitably, just before bedtime I had to re-wrap it (with Daddy's help of course!). It was an okay day.
• Sunday: No movement from where it was last night when I wrapped it!! Yay! We spent the day outside - Cayden and I took a walk to the pond and watched Daddy fish for a few hours. It was so nice. Dr. Ballock actually called me today, "Just to check up!" So nice...to be thinking of poor little us on his weekend. He's been good to us!

The plan: Figure out something that works for this poor kid for longer than a day!! We're going in to see Dr. Ballock again Monday to try one last thing! We've gotta get this right before we leave for Florida on Wednesday! He said he'd hate to have to go in and stabilize the fracture with pins just because he won't leave a stinkin' cast on! And boy do I agree! 2 splints and 2 casts in 1 week is not a very good track record! Keep your fingers crossed that this last attempt works!! And pray for sanity and lots of patience for Cyle and I!!

3 Hopes, and a Few for the Future

Monday morning, 8am, I was on the phone with Dr. Ballock's secretary setting up the earliest appointment available to get my baby's leg taken care of. He had an opening at 11:20, in Beachwood. I took it. And as I was confirming that appointment, Daddy was on MapQuest getting directions to the office.
Cayden had a decent night. I was surprised to find that he wasn't up all night screaming in pain as we thought he might be. Instead, it was me that couldn't sleep. I checked on him at least every hour after putting him down to sleep, each time he'd awake and simply look up at me, not crying but just whimpering for a moment, then close his eyes and fall back asleep. After a few hours of this, Daddy and I decided we'd try to get some sleep while he slept - we had another big day in the morning. Cyle was able to sleep, off and on, for the remainder of the night. I, however, lasted only minutes. Every time I tried to close my eyes, the image of my baby's leg twisting like it did flooded my eyes and my head. It made my heart hurt. So I spent most of the night on the couch, and checking on my sweet boy...
Morning came, Cayden got a dose of his medication to ease the pain before heading to Dr. Ballock's office. I sat in the back of the car next to him on the way; he held onto my finger the entire way, looking up at me with his "Mama, what's going on?" sad eyes.
Cyle and I had 3 hopes for today...

• We hope that no surgery is needed to repair this fracture...no pins, no needles, no added pain.
• We hope that this injury does not set back all of the progress he's made with his feet.
• We hope (well, Mama hopes) he will be able to get a waterproof cast so he can still enjoy the water in Florida next week!

We arrived and met with Dr. Ballock, Cayden cried when the splint was removed. Dr. Ballock looked over the x-rays, then placed a cast on his leg, from toes to diaper (just like the good 'ol days!...not quite.) The good news? The two most important of our 3 hopes were answered.

No surgery: the thought is that this will even be healed up in a matter of 3 weeks!

Cayden's feet are doing so well that the healing time for this injury should not set back his progress at all!

Unfortunately, no waterproof cast. Because of the length of the cast, Dr. Ballock didn't think it would be the best idea - long leg casts don't drain and dry well once wet. But if that's the worst news of the day?!...we'll take it! There will be so much more fun to be had in Florida, he won't miss a thing!

So that's that. Cayden is in another cast, for another 3 weeks. Since then, he's had his good moments and his bad. The poor boy has been through so much. I swear, this kid had better be the strongest, toughest boy around when he grows up! Just think of all he's been through already! Cyle keeps reminding me that "Of course he'll be strong! Just like his Daddy!" :-) We'll get through this...the 3 of us (and all of the love and support that surrounds us!), just like we've gotten through all of the hard times in the past. One day at a time. I do, however, have a few hopes for the future...

I hope my baby is done with all the pain. I hope this only makes him stronger. I hope he never remembers all of the rough times he's been through, but cherishes all of the good. I hope he knows how much we love him. I hope this never happens again. I hope the healing time goes quickly. I hope he always continues to smile.

I hope for no more pain.