Flying Colours

Sorry for the delay in posting.Kaden got on really well at his hospital check up in Edinburgh.First of all we went to see the lady who made Kadens brace.She checked him over with it on and said he really has grown so hopefuly he will get another 6 months out of it but if we have any concerns with it getting small/tight to let them know as braces normally last from 1 year - 18 months.However by the next time for a checkup which is June he'll have had that brace 15 months.I said to her about his brace digging into his bottom and legs when he was sitting and often marked him with doing so...so the lady took som off the bottom @ the front and back and that seemed to make a difference.
Then Kaden went for an x-ray with his brace on to see what the curve in his spine is with the brace on as last check up it was 25 and this time it was 21!We are so pleased as the brace is doing what it should and preventing his curve from getting worse :) Kaden was a real star from start to finish as he got the x-ray on his own and stood and did exactly what he was told.
Then we went to see the surgeon who asked if we had any concerns which we replied no.He said he was pleased so far with Kadens progress as the curve is now 21 and he said the longer we can keep it straight with the brace the better,as Kaden will still need an operation but hopefuly not until he' in adolesance.
All in all we are so pround and thankful to have our wee star Kaden x

I have posted a photo of Kaden yesterday with his sisters boots on (he's so funny)as we have really bad snow here in Scotland already!.Kadens had a bad cold and cough this week and got an anti-biotic for it so yesterday was really the 1st day he was feeling better since being bedded up most of last week.

Hospital for a checkup

Kaden has the hospital tomorrow in Edinburgh for his 6 month check up since having his back brace fitted.Last time his curve was 38 without the brace and 25 with the brace so hopefuly tomorrow it'll be the same or better.We have a early morning ahead as the hospital is a 2.5 - 3 hour drive from here.Fingers crossed all will be well :)

Bad Blogger

Cant believe i havent blogged about my big boy turning 3 years old!His birthday was on the 25th July and he didnt have a party as such he just had his brother and sisters here and we had some ice-cream cake .Can hardly believe where the last 3 years have gone ~ but anyway we're glad we are where we are now!Here's some pictures of my big birthday boy 'Kaden' x

Countdown To Kadens 3rd Birthday :)

Two weeks today and my baby boy Kaden will be 3 years old ~ i can hardly believe this time 3 years ago we were on edge waiting for his arrival.I'm so glad things have turned out the way they have and Kaden's thriving.This week we have the hospital to see the respiritory doctor and also Kadens surgeon who has done all Kadens ops up until now.
Hopefuly we'll get a good report on both fronts as Kaden doesnt have any issues at all at the moment apart from the eating side of things and his brace hurdle,but all in all Kadens just a happy normal almost 3 year old who does all the things in life to be expected for a 3 year old.

Home from Holidays

Kadens had a great few weeks in Florida,we went there on the 7th-21st May.The weather was great and we went to Disney and just chilled out.On our way there when we arrived at Gatwick i realised i had forgot to pack his overnight pump machine for his feeds - i was devestated as this was the MOST important item.Before we had left the dietition had mentioned not taking it and seeing how he went without it,but Kaden hardly eats anything and i couldnt see how he'd survive for 2 weeks without it?Never mind we had no choice.We just gave him 2 or 3 bolus feeds of milk a day and also some of water.He did eat some things like the odd slice of cheese and crisps and biscuits.Overall i dont really know if he lost alot of weight as he's so thin anyway - but now we're home he's back on his night feeds for now.
Here's a photo of Kaden & Jaxon last night after their bath.

Back Specailist

Kadens consultant yesterday was really pleased with the progress so far with his brace.His curve in his spine was 38 and now its down to 25 within the last 8 weeks.he said its just buying time for the future and preventing the curve from getting worse as he reckons he'll need an operation around the age of 10years old,but he said also things could change and the curve might still worsen which means an operation to have rods inserted and and operation every 6 months to tighten them as he grows:-(but hopefuly this wont be the case - as for now we are sooooooooo pleased with our little star:)xx

Happy 1st Birthday Jaxon!

Happy 1st Birthday Jaxon - can hardly believe my baby boy turned one today!
Love Hugs & Kisses Mummy Daddy,Brooke Regan & Kaden xx

Brace

Kaden had his back brace fitted on the 2nd March - so far so good.He's not so keen to get it on 1st thing in the morning but i suppose in time it'll just be something he's used to and it'll be like putting his shoes on?Anyway the day he got it fitted he had to try it on to make sure it fitted properly.The length wasn't too bad but she wanted to trim a bit more off the bottom and round the hole for his gastrostomy.Then once she had done that she had to fit elastic to one side to make it fit.After alot of hanging around he got his final fitting and the lady was happy with how it fits.
Now Kaden has wears it all day and night until around 4p.m then we take it off for around 4 hours then put it back on.Generally he's happy enough to keep it on all the time.To look at Kaden you wouldn't know he's wearing it.
We have a hospital check up in Edinburgh on the 28th April to see how thing are doing - he'll get an x-ray and meet the consultant again to see if he's happy with the progress.
Then next week its Jaxons 1st Birthday on the 8th April - we can hardly believe where the last year has gone!
Then on the 7th May we're off to Florida for 2 weeks for a holiday - Cant wait!!Here's some pics of the boys yesterday wearing turquoise for CDH Awareness Day which is held every year 31st March.In one of the photo's i took of Kaden he had appeared wearing his sisters purple hairband which he's taken a shine to!!

Busy Weekend

Kaden's big sister Regan was 12 years old on Saturday.She had a little party with some of her friends round.They went out in the limo for an hour and came home and ate pizza and some snacks and then she had a sleepover.
She was so excited we had to scrape her off the roof..Lol.Anyway they behaved pretty well and didn't make too much noise.
Cant believe she's 12 already - where does time go!!And cant belive my baby Jaxon will be 1 in April!
Kaden has the hospital in Edinburgh on Tuesday 2nd March for a fitting of his brace so that'll be the next thing.On the whole Kaden's doing really apart from the eating front.I'm sure it will come one day.

Edinburgh Hospital

Kaden had an appointment at Edinburgh hospital on Wednesday to get a cast made for a brace for his back.First challenge was finding the hospital as we are around a 2.5 hour drive away.Someone had called on Monday to say there was a cancellation slot if we would like to take it so i thought the sooner the better...Although Mike was busy at his work so my mother-in-law and i went down.Which meant me driving armed with a sat nav i didnt know how to use!LolEventually after asking a few people we got to the hospital around 1/2 hour early.We went in to the reception and the woman sent us off in the right direction.Our appointment was 2.30p.m and about 2.50p.m my mother-in-law said i think you better ask if your waiting in the right area.So i asked a lady who told me we were in the wrong area we should have been along the corridor.
We went through to the right area and around 5 minutes later they were ready for Kaden.The lady explained to Kaden what she was going to do and he had to lie on a special table and after he'd get a lollypop.He seemed fine with this so we went through to another room where the special table was.Once in the room i had to remove all his clothes and lift him on the table.The table looked like a scaffold with 2 thin strips of material running along itThe nurse the put a tight fitting body stocking on Kaden.Kaden was having none of it he was histerical.One nusre held his legs and i had to hold his arms above his head and the put a strap under his chin and pulled it tight and hooked it to the top of the bed.(If was awful to watch but had to be done as it save him having to get another anesthetic done and another stay in hospital.)The nurse marked in pen where his gastrostomy is and his hip are and then she started wrapping him in warm bandages.Once the cast had hardened she took a knife and cut it off right up the middle.Then Kaden was free to go...Thank goodness.It felt like i was tortureing him but its really for his own good.Once off the table Kaden calmed down as he was sweating with crying.But him and me couldn't wait to get out of the room.
The nurse said she'll send an appointment to get the brace fitted..Yet again at a different hospital in Edinburgh.Then the appointment after that will be longer as Kaden will need an X-Ray done to see if its doing what it should be.And he'll also need to see the specialist.
I'm glad its all over for now...and we'll have a few weeks maybe before the next hurdle.

Snow,Snow Go Away

Here in Scotland at the moment the weather has been miserable and cold with plenty of Snow.Kaden and Jaxon have both got the cold just now and in fact i kept Kaden off nursery today as his nusery tends to be a bit chilly.So i thought i'd keep him and the girls off school to save us all hiking out in the cold.Kaden was awake most of last night coughing...but so far tonight he's sleeping like a log.Here's hoping he'll sleep all night and won't waken up with a coughing fit.
I'm posting some pictures of my new toy(lol)for Jaxon - his new highchair which came today.I'm soooooooo sad..lol.He seems to like it anyway and so does Kaden as he too had a little shot in it and watched some t.v.
Kaden also helped do a little cooking today with his cooks outfit he got for Xmas...he LOVES a mess!!
Hope everyone had a fab New Year!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year from the Browns...xx

' Xmas Party '

Kaden had his nursery Xmas Party today which he seemed to enjoy.He was excited about seeing santa there.He got up and dressed in a shot and even wanted hair gel on!Once at nursery he went in no problem and was keen to stay.When we went to pick him up the teacher said he wasnt too keen on Santa and kept his distance from him with a few tears.But apart from that he joined in the games and dancing and had a great time.When we picked him up he was excited and came running over and then disapeared again amongst all the children who were dancing.
On leaving he got a party bag with a jigsaw puzzle in it which he couldnt wait to open.
I can hardly believe how quick the weeks are flying in and Xmas is just round the corner.
Here's some pictures of Kaden today before his nursery...but trying to get him to stand still and look at the camera is NOT an easy task.lol

Othopedic Appointment

Kaden had his othopedic appointment in Edinburgh on Wednesday last week.We travelled down at 6.30a.m as his appointment was at 10a.m and the hospital is around a 2 and 3/4 hour journey from Aberdeen.Once there they took kadens height and weight and sent him for an X-Ray of his back and neck.Kaden sat quite well considering being only 2.Once the X-Rays were taking we had to wait for a bit to see the specialist.Around an hour later we were taken through to meet the specialist.He asked some questions regarding Kadens past history and asked if we could get him undressed down to his nappy so he could get a proper look at Kadens back.When looking at his back he explained Kaden does have a curve in his spine not at the top or bottom but in the middle.He said his best course of action for the moment was to get Kaden fitted with brace which he will have to wear for 20 hours a day and to keep a close eye on him for the near future to see if the brace will do what we hope it will and help staighten his spine.He said if this does not work he will need an operation where they will insert lods to his back which will need tightened every 6 months as he grows.Or on the other hand if it does work and he does need an operation it can be done in adolecance which wouldnt be such an ordeal we feel for Kaden as he's been through so much in his short life already.
Kaden has an appointment in January to go to Edinburgh to get the brace cast made but if he doesnt sit still they will need to get him back to get an anesthetic to get it fitted exactly to his body shape.Here's hoping he'll sit still and there will be no need to go to theatre.
I think in the near futrure we'll be seeing alot of Edinburghs sick kids hospital.
Although Kaden has a curve in his spine it doesnt stop him from doing anything that other children does - he LOVES his nursery and chasing the girls!!
I've posted some pictures of Kaden and Jaxon Today.And also one of Brookes Party as she was 14 on Monday...ohhhhhhh it makes me feel old!Lol

Feeling Better..

I'm glad to say Kaden and Jaxon are now on the mend.Kaden is certainly feeling more like himself and running around everywhere as usual and repeating everyhthing you say.He's been sleeping alot better too which helps.Last week i kept him off nursery just to make sure he was clear of his illness and properly over it.We'll see how he goes this week and if he's feeling okay on Tuesday i'll maybe put him back to nursery and just make sure he's wrapped up.Jaxon too is looking better and seems to be feeling better as he's not so choked up anymore and he too is sleeping a 'bit' better.Jaxon isn't the best sleeper without a cold as he wakes up a few time s wanting a drink.
I had just fed Jaxon the other day and went through to the kitchen with the dirty plate and i heard him cough and when i went through he'd been sick allover himself and was still smiling!That boy is such a smiler!!
Here's a pic i took of Jaxon after his little episode.

Hospital

I took Kaden back to the doctor on Thursday as his condition hadn't improved and he was breathing faster.When the doctor had a look at him she agreed he was working harder breathing and his pulse rate was up.She said with all his symtoms she was sending him up to the hospital.Once at the hospital we were called through almost immediatly.We were put in isolation until the could veify what was wrong with Kaden as he was showing symtoms of Swine flu.They weighed Kaden and put him on Oxygen and put a drip in his hand.They also took some mouth swabs and a gastostomy swab too.
Poor Kaden was really miserable and this is the 1st time since leaving the hospital as a baby he's needed Oxygen.His Oxygen levels were never above 95 and this is what they say they were aiming for 95 or above.With Kaden only having one good lung we werent so sure what his levels normally were but they were giong by a child with no issues.
For 2 days Kaden was kept in isolation and once the swabs came back and bloods to say he was clear of swine flu he was moved up to the medical ward.At the medical ward he was still kept on the Oxygen until he could cope without it.They had tried a few time before to wean him off completely but his levels kept coming down to 93,92 91,90 un a few time 89,88.
On Saturday night the nurse said she'd take him off the Oxygen for a while and see how he coped.I said to her i didn't think Kadens was the same a normal boys with 2 lungs as he was doing the work with just on good one...she agreed but said if it went lower than 93 they would put him back on.The level kept creeping down then back up roughly between 93-90.They kept him off and he coped well.
At the doctors rounds on Sunday they asked if we were keen to take Kaden home,which we said yes and they said although he still had a cough they'd let him home as this would clear up hopefuly shortly.So Kaden got home on Sunday on anti-biotic and seems to be improving...although we came home to another sick boy who also has a cough and cold!
The brown household has been a very sleepless one since Sunday..lol.I'm sure they will feel better soon.

Doctor

I took Kaden to see the doctor last night as he hadn't improved all day.My healthvisitor had called to see if i'd had Kadens button checked as it was awful red on Thursday when she came round to do Jaxons 6 month check.I told her i hadn't and that he was ill and she said call the doctor to get him checked over incase the g-tube site was the cause of an infection.So i called to doctor and he called me back and said he'd see him in 20 minutes so i put a coat on him and bundled him in the car and headed for the doctors.The doctor checked him over and said he had a bit of a temp and he was showing signs of H1 N1 which he said is rife at the moment but he said he'll give him a course of anti-biotics 1st too see if this helps him and if within the next 24 hours there is now sign of improvement we have to take Kaden back again.
Kaden was up most of last night crying and gagging again so i switched his pump off early.Every time he cryed he woke the baby..so i had two screaming boys!
Hopefuly there will be an impovement in him today.

'Poor Kaden'

Kaden has been really unwell for the last few days with a high temperature and runny nose and a cough.He's been gagging alot with clear stuff coming up and because he cant be sick after having his fundo its awful to watch him rench and gag.He's lying on the sofa as i type this...but last night i was up near all night with him,he kept shouting'mum'.Around 5a.m i decided to switch off his pump as he was renching so much.But hopefuly as the day goes on he'll feel better.If not i'm going to get a doctors appointment to get him checked over to be on the safe side.

Hospital Appointment

Kaden was at the hospital last week for a neo-natal checkup.The doctor hadn't seen Kaden since November last year and at that time had mentioned putting Kaden to a special school for children with learning difficulties as he wasnt walking or doing quite what he should have for his age.I was quite annoyed to say the least as i felt Kaden was slow and it was just a case of catching up when ready.Then during the year after still not seeing Kaden again the same doctor from the hospital sent a letter to my dostor referring him again to the same school which i declined yet again.Since then Kaden is walking talking and doing all the thing he should and SHOULDNT be doing lol.
When the doctor from the neo-natal saw Kaden and saw his capabilities she was quite impressed and said hes now following the chart/range of what a child of 27 months should be.She also mentioned the 'School for special children' again and said she was quite happy with Kadens progress and form here on in Kaden is a 'Normal' child as far as learning goes.I think a mother knows her own child and i wanted to prove her wrong!
On return from hospital we had a letter waiting for us for Kaden to travel to Edinbugh to see the specialist for his scholosis in December.So thats our next hurdle,we're just anxouis to see the outcome of what the spcialist has to say.
On another note Kaden and Jaxon are growing so fast at the moment.Jaxon is now in a big boy cot.However hes been a nightmare through the night waking about 2-3 times.I'm like a walking Zombie Lol!
Heres a few pictures of late.

' 6 Months'

Wow how time flies!I cant believe my baby Jaxon is 6 months old today.It doesn't seem long ago we took Kaden home from hospital let alone Jaxon.
Kadens doing great just now.He's loving his nursery which he goes to on a Tuesday and Thursday morning.He sits with the other kids for snack and tries everything that is put in front of him..he might not eat alot but even if he takes a spoon or two or even a taste its a start.He's also been painting and drawing which he enjoys so much hes always got a pen in his hand at home and has scribbled allover his bedroom wall and my sofa!I suppose its part of growing up and we'll just keep our 'old' sofa until the boys are older and past the drawing on everything stage!Kaden love Jaxon and would pick him up given half the chance.I grabbed the camera today as i was getting them changed for a bath as kaden had his arm round Jaxon trying to kiss him...but as usual by the time i got the camera he'd moved but i took some other pics anyway.
Here's some random pics of recently.