Cade

Cade right before they took him back for his MRI. He didn't really know what was going on.

You can tell he was a little nervous but he did so good.

Most of you know Cade has been having some tests run. He fell three weeks ago (Mothers Day Weekend) and we ended up in the ER with a concussion. We had a CT scan done and the ER doctor said there was no bleed and he just had a mild concussion. This past week I had gone to Birmingham, AL to stay with Aaron's mom in the hospital while she was monitored for her seizures. I stayed with her 4 nights and then went to Mobile, AL to spend some time with my friend from elementary school. Cade had ridden with me to Birmingham and my mom met me there and took him to her house. The plan was for Cade to stay with my parents for 2 weeks. So I was in Mobile enjoying some time alone with my friend. It was Tuesday and we were at the outlet mall in Foley, AL. Aaron called me and said we had gotten a certified letter in the mail from the Pediatricians office saying they had been trying to get in touch with us regarding Cade's CT scan and our telephone numbers were not correct. (they had the right numbers but were using the Mississippi area code). They said it was very important we contacted them. So Aaron told me this after he had called and left a message for the doctor to call him regarding the results. I was a nervous but didn't think too much about it, thinking that it just had to be officially discussed with us by the Pediatrician. Aaron called me back within 10 minutes. The doctor said that Cade's CT scan showed a vascular space and could be a cyst and they needed to do a MRI to determine what it was. I sat at the outlet mall on the phone with Aaron crying and making plans for me getting from Mobile to Mississippi to Kentucky. I called my mom and we decided we would leave that day and she would meet me in Birmingham and ride to Kentucky with me. I left Mobile at 4:30 in the afternoon and my mom, Cade and I got to my house at 3:30 the next morning. I didn't know when we would be able to get in to do the MRI and didn't want to be out of town when we got the call. The doctors office called the next day and had us scheduled for his MRI on Thursday at 2:30. They had to sedate Cade so he couldn't eat for 8 hours before and couldn't drink 2 hours before the scan. For a 4 year old who likes to eat, I was concerned about him not getting to eat for so long. He really did very well and didn't complain much at all about being hungry. I was also concerned about the iv they would be putting in his arm. I think God really calmed him and he didn't cry or get upset the whole time we were there except when they took the tape off his arm from the iv.

We left the hospital with one sleepy little boy who was sleepily talking about going to Chuck-E-Cheese. I had told Cade he could eat anywhere he wanted after the test since he couldn't eat all morning. I didn't realize he would be so sleepy and groggy from the medicine but he sure didn't forget I said he could go. So we headed to Chuck-E-Cheese. On the way the Doctor called with Cade's test results. She explained that Cade's brain was low on his neck and he also had a bubble in his spinal cord. I pretty much got off the phone having no idea what she was talking about except we were being referred to a neurosurgeon and he needed another MRI of his whole spine. My friend Christina told me her friends dad was a neurosurgeon and if I had any questions to let her know. She called her friend and the neurosurgeon called me to help explain what the Radiologist told me earlier. Cade has something called Arnold-Chiari Malformaion which is the brain being low on his neck and also has a syringohydromyelia which is the bubble on the spinal cord. It really helped having a doctor explain things and let me ask all the questions I had.

So we are going tomorrow at 12 for Cade to be sedated again and have the MRI on his full spine. This MRI will take 45 minutes. I am not sure how long it will take to get the results. I do know the MRI results will be sent to the neurosurgeon. Depending on how severe things are will determine how quick we get in with the neurosurgeon.

We are so thankful for all the prayers and words of encouragement from all of our friends. We also feel like Cade having the concussion 3 weeks ago was a blessing. Most of the time this is not usually found until people are in their 20's and the side effects are numbness in arms and legs. Right now Cade does has the headaches which cause him to get sick but they aren't everyday headaches. Lots of things we are thankful for!

Scary Night

We spent last night in the er at Kosair Children's Hospital. Cade and Isaac went with their friends to Puzzles Fun Dome. Aaron and I didn't go and were getting to enjoy a night out eating sushi, just the two of us. When we got done eating, my friend who had taken the boys called me and said Cade had fallen. He was going to get in one of the blow up bouncy things and when he jumped on the edge someone else bounced him back out. He only fell about 2 or 3 feet but the extra bounce and landing on a hard concrete floor didn't help. He didn't get down and play anymore and wouldn't eat and all he wanted to do was sleep. By the time Aaron and I had gotten to him, he had thrown up twice and was half asleep. I think this is the scarest I have been for one of my children since I had Isaac early at 23 weeks. Aaron and I went to the hospital where he threw up 3 more times and kept trying to fall asleep. After his CT scan, he was allowed to finally fall asleep. The doctor came in and said he had a mild concussion but was concerned about him getting dehydrated. They gave him some medicine to calm his stomach and then gave him something to drink to see if he could keep it down. So at about 12:30 after Cade had kept some fluids down, they let us go home.

Cade slept right in between Aaron and I and I woke up every couple of hours to check on him and make sure he was still breathing. He woke up this morning saying he was very thirsty. He has been laying around and fell back asleep but overall seems to be doing a lot better. He still says he has a headache but nothing a little tylenol hasn't seem to help. As a matter of fact, he was a little upset he couldn't go to church this morning!

We are so thankful that our little boy is ok. We will go back either today or tomorrow and have his Peditrician check him out just to make sure he is responding normally. Thanks to all of our friends and family who prayed for us!

Battle of the Bounce Champions!!!!

Our friend Josh asked Aaron to do a relay with him and 2 other guys called Battle of the Bounce. It is to raise money for Christian Care Community. It is also part of the Kentucky Derby Celebrations. There were 4 different legs. Aaron did the rock climbing wall, Joe was in the inflatable ball, Josh did the blow up obstacle course and Lawrence road on the blow up pony. Our boys won the relay! They came in first place out of 30 teams and set a course record. They also beat the fire and police department who are the usual winners!

We have lived in Louisville for almost 2 years now. (August will be 2) So this is our second year to be here for the Derby Celebrations but our first year to actually participate in the fun festivities. All of us wives and the kiddos got to go down and watch our boys! They also will get to be in the Pegasus Parade tomorrow representing the Champions of the Battle of the Bounce.

Aaron and Cade posing with the inflatable trophy!

The guys being announced as the winners and going out to accept their trophy!

Cade loves saying cheese and taking pictures

Aaron getting ready for his event, The Rock Climbing Wall.

The Team. Aaron, Joe, Josh and Lawrence

Aaron's First Mini Marathon

Aaron decided about 6 six weeks ago or so that he wanted to start running. So he started running with some of our friends from church. Then he decided he was going to run a 10K they had signed up for. That is a 6 mile run. He ran that and did awesome! He found out he really enjoys running. After that run he signed up for the Papa Johns 10 miler and also the Kentucky Derby Mini Marathon. If you read the post before this one you know that Aaron hurt his knee and it was painful for him to walk much less run. He ran the 10 miler in pain for the whole run. He went to the doctor and was told to ice his knee and be sure to stretch it. So he was very anxious about the 13.1 miles he was going to run in the marathon. Today he ran the marathon and finished! He had to walk a little bit when his knee would start to bother him. Overall he said the pain wasn't too bad. One of our friends had given him some scripture to read for each mile he ran. He said that really helped get him through and was the biggest encouragement. Thanks Lela for being so thoughtful and encouraging to all the runners!

The running crew! Susan, Joe, Aaron and Jodi

Aaron with his iced knee after the race.

Aaron and Joe in their bright orange so we could find them in the 12,000 people running the marathon.

Aaron is the orange dot sprinting to the finish line!

This is me and Caisey. We were the cheerleaders at all the races. It was so much fun being able to be a part of this and cheer them on.

Aaron is also almost finished with this semester of school. He has next week of exams and then he will be done. He has been meeting with the Youth Advisors about what classes he has left to take and when he will be able to graduate. We thougth he would be done in December but because of the way the classes fall he won't be able to finish until May of 2010. He will still be taking a summer class this summer so that his semester loads won't be to much.

Isaac and Cade have been enjoying the long days. We are all ready for summer and things to slow down. The boys have been able to wear shorts the past couple of days and they have loved it.

Anxious

I got a good report from the orthopedic yesterday. He said that I possibly have a torn tendion, don't even think that I am going to begin to try to spell it. I can't even say which one it is. He said there is nothing that can be done about and he even said that he did the same thing running one time. He said that I can run the half-marathon, but I am anxious about it. I am excited but nervous. I want to go run little to see if my knee is going to let me. The doc told me to ice it everyday and stretch it everyday. We will see what Saturday bring. It is suppose to be a beautiful day and I pray that my knee will allow me to finish the 13.1 miles. Please pray that my knee will be able to handle it.

What is a Blog

This is Aaron. Sarah told me that she had made us a blog. Many of our friends have one and it is a easy way to keep people informed of what is going on our lives. Pretty cool. So as I sit here trying to figure this thing out I thought I would write something. I have a feeling that Sarah will do most of the writing but I wanted to give it a shot too.
Right now I am thinking of all the papers and projects and presentations that I have due in the next two weeks. I just have one question to myself; why do I procrastinate so much!!!
I am also thinking about going to the orthopedic in the morning to get my knee looked at again. I continue to have hope and pray that the doctor will tell me that it is ok for me to run the half marathon Saturday. For those of you that may not know, a half marathon is 13.1 miles. Not just a quick jog around the block. But I have always liked to run and thanks to some great friends, Joe and Susan Dotson, and also the insiration from Lela McFarland, I have, over the past few months really got into running and I am really enjoying it. All except for the knee part, but hopefully soon that will be better.
Things are crazy busy right now and God continues to amaze me at how He is blessing our family. He never ceases to amaze me.
I am going to go now and get started on some school work or I may just go to bed; who knows yet!!!

Isaac's Class trip to the zoo