Yes my babies will be 19 months in 4 days, and yes I am doing a horrible job of chronicling the lives of my youngest babies. But it doesn’t mean I love them any less! So in an effort to catch you up on all things K related, it’s an entire post just for them!
Kaden James!
This little boy is such a fun little stinker! He is a mischievous, rotten, sweet little boy. It may seem odd to be rotten and sweet but that’s kaden! He is his father! I feel like I have a peek into what Jeff was like as a baby! Not just in looks but personality as well. He is easy going, laid back but IN TO EVERYTHING. He can destroy a room, take bites out of candles and climb up an entire flight of stairs before I even turn around. But that same stinker is the first one to crawl up in my lap and give me a big hug for no reason. He will be playing across the room (probably doing something he wasn’t supposed to do) and he will come running at me with his mouth open wide and plant a big kiss wherever he might land, for no reason….and then go on about his business!
Kaden LOVES his big brother! He follows Brady around and wants nothing more than to play with and do whatever Brady is doing…which isn’t always a good thing! If Brady leaves Kaden seriously stands at the window and cries. It sweet to see these two blossom in to best friends!
Developmentally Kaden is doing well. He is walking, running, climbing…keeping us busy! Delays have presented themselves more in verbal/communication areas for Kaden. He isn’t a big talker. He prefers to point and grunt for what he wants! He receives developmental therapy once a week. They work on using words, signs and communicating for the things he wants. Jerica is wonderful and basically just plays with Kaden! It tricks him into working! I will say that in the last week I have seen major improvements in his communications. I am on the verge of really beginning to worry but it seems as if he is starting to understand things we ask him to do…and is beginning to use a few more signs to indicate what he wants.
His favorite trick right now is to show you his belly button! He knows I think it’s stinkin cute and he will do something he know’s he’s not supposed to do and will turn around and flash his belly button to try to divert my attention….I told you he’s a stinker!
just look at that ornery face!
His 18 month stats are:
Height: 31 1/2 inches – 25%
Weight: 26.4 lbs - 50%
Yea for being on the charts…so what if it’s higher in weight than height! We love that little belly! And big yea for a (despite a few runny noses and ear infections) healthy 18 month old miracle!
Karsyn Jane!
Sweet Sweet Karsyn! This little girl has so much spunk! She is a feisty little thing and is beginning to learn/perfect the art of drama. The girl can SCREAM and turn on the tears at the drop of a hat. She has her daddy…as well as most of her therapists and anyone else that comes in contact with her…completely and perfectly wrapped around her finger.
Karsyn is a talker. She jabbers non stop and will try to repeat almost any word you say. She may be tiny, but she can give her brothers an earful…and they tend to listen! She loves to give kisses….big open mouth ones…..and blow kisses to anyone who’s interested – and even some people who aren’t interested!
Developmentally Karsyn is still very delayed. BUT with that said she is doing amazing! She has been rolling all over the place to get where she wants to be. She has recently began to army crawl!!! It’s pretty cute and amazing to watch this little girl (that I’m sure you all remember was never supposed to do anything) adapt to her world and continue to amaze and prove wrong all her doubters! Karsyn still has a LOT of left side weakness. She uses her right hand for most everything. She will use her left hand/arm, but not for purposeful movements. Her vision is continuing to improve and although there are visible and noticeable vision “issues” she can clearly see and we likely won’t know the severity of these until she can tell us what she does and does not see. Karsyn get’s therapy 3 times a week. Visual therapy with Ms Jamie whom we LOVE and whom Miss Karsyn has completely wrapped around her finger! And then Occupational and Physical therapy with Ms. Rhonda and Ms. Courtney whom we love as well! They are really working with Karsyn on her movements, strengthening and stretching her muscles, and helping her to remember to use her left side!
In August we took Karsyn to see a new specialist. Dr Weshler is part of the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation center at TCH. She asked a lot of questions, did some exercises with Karsyn, looked at her muscle tone and etc. We are very excited to have someone that is basically overlooking her therapy needs and can make decisions and offer suggestions on other avenues we can pursue to get Karsyn the most help we possibly can. She was also able to diagnose/say the words I’ve always known but no one ever said to me……Cerebral Palsy. A friend mentioned a couple of months ago that I hadn’t talked lately about “how Karsyn was doing” and that was mostly because we’d never really been given a diagnosis. We were by no means ignoring it, we just didn’t have anything concrete to report.
By definition Cerebral Palsy is: A condition marked by impaired muscle coordination (spastic paralysis) and/or other disabilities, typically caused by damage to the brain before or at birth. I had researched this over a year ago and instantly knew…obviously…Karsyn has this. What I didn’t know or didn’t realize is just how varied this diagnosis is. Karsyn is considered to have (according to Dr. Weshler) Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy. This means it seems to be confined to one area (side) of her body…her left side. At this time, Karsyn’s seems to be more pronounced in her upper extremities as well. Which is good! Jeff and I both loved Dr. Weshler and in talking with her and explaining what Karsyn does do at this point she very flippantly said “Oh she will be a walker” At this point - you guessed it…I cried! As I was going over the list of the motor milestones she had reached my stomach was pitting because I knew there should be more and that our list was short….but given Karsyn’s situation and all that she’s endured she is doing AMAZINGLY well! This Baby girl just continues to amaze us. Obviously we love her no matter what and I could care less if she ever moves a muscle….but as a parent you also want the most for your child and to see how much this baby girl fights and perseveres is such a testament to what an amazing God we serve!
In the near future (not sure when) we will be doing an MRI on Karsyn. Dr. Weshler will be able to pinpoint exactly what area’s of the brain are most affected and can determine ways we might be able to help Karsyn before limitations present themselves. I am so very grateful to Dr. Weshler as this is EXACTLY what I’ve been wanting. I just want to help Karsyn in any way we can…and the more we know, the more we can help. Jeff and I feel so very blessed by the doctors and therapists God has given us. We know beyond a shadow of a doubt that they all have our babies best interest at heart and that is such a rarity.
But who couldn’t love this sweet girl!
Karsyn’s 18 month stats are:
Height – 30 1/2 inches – 15 %
Weight – 19.6 lbs – no on the chart yet
long and lean!! Dr. Isenhower is pleased with how she is growing….she’s just a tiny thing and probably always will be!
This turned into a long post…but one that was long over due! If you’re still reading I congratulate you!
I’ll leave you with a few pictures from Jacob’s birthday party! The babies had a blast swinging!
Sweet Kaden had a great time playing!
Karsyn would just cackle as she swung!
double trouble!
