The Finished Decoupaged Plates

Our Wedding Napkins decoupaged onto a plate....

Mollie came tonight to pick up her plate that we had worked on a couple of weeks ago. I almost forgot that I hadn't took any pictures of the finished Decoupage project.

They turned out beautifully....Mine looks perfect in our China Cabinet beside our Crystal Wedding Cake Topper and Unity Candle....

Lunch Date

Jaden and I surprised James today with lunch at his work. We were hoping that the rain would of held off so we could of had ourselves a little picnic with our Subway at the picnic tables there, but it continued so we had it in the car.
Jaden eating his food...


Jaden loved playing with our Sandwich bag, it kept him entertained while we were eating...

had to get a picture of our napkin...

little crammed in the back seat with the three of us, but it worked just fine...

Daddy getting some lovins before he had to go back in to work...

don't I look cute wearing my Daddy's work hat

Jaden saying Bye Bye to Daddy...

So glad that we got to spend just a short time together today for lunch.

Working Out At The Gym

Jaden did so GREAT at the gym yesterday. He actually was standing up with the therapist and doing the work all by himself. My heart was rejoicing because he hasn't never really wanted to stand up like this before. I'm so thankful I brought my camera along because I was debating if I should or if I shouldn't because last weeks therapy didn't go this good. His therapist was so amazed how in just only one week the difference in his overall strength.

We have had some special seating ordered for Jaden that's made and fitted just for him but it hasn't came in yet, so the Gym is letting us borrow some of there special chairs until his comes in. These special chairs helps him to sit up better than sitting in a bouncy and also will help to develop sitting all by himself. He has a bumbo chair and it works good but he also needs a couple more chairs to sit in until he can do it by himself.
sitting in his new little chair...

playing with the toy in front of him... you can see how this chair supports his chest to where he can play with whatever is in front of him and he don't have to worry about trying to sit and hold himself up at the same time.


His therapist Jamie working on his abs....

reaching out with his left hand, something that he struggles with....way to go Jaden

look at those little legs, he's bearing weight PRAISE THE LORD

Hoping that next weeks visit goes just like this one and that he will continue to get stronger and stronger. Thanks Shelby and Hanya for driving us to the Gym. This was Shelby's first time getting to go with us and Jaden loved it, she really helped him just by being there. I told her she was gonna have to start coming with us more often, but schools about to start.

Working Out

Yesterday after church we came home and Jaden was ready for his exercises. Since his surgery he hasn't really liked tummy time because the back of his neck is still real weak, but we know he has to do it. He works out twice a day every day and since he will only tolerate 10 to 15 minutes of tummy time, we do this 4 or 5 times throughout the day. We got him Johnny Jump Up at Christmas and he hated it, we're sure it was because he was so sick with his VP Shunt not working properly. So we decided to bring it back out again to see what he thought about Mr. Johnny Jump Up now since he is starting to feel better and starting to bear weight on his little legs. He didn't now what to think about it at first but then he started to like it. We're sure after he gets stronger he will start to like it more.

tummy time...
holding his head up so good, he just started being able to lifting it up again...

look at me, look at me...

aah, let me rest for just a minute...

Mr. Johnny Jump Up...

trying to figure out what in the world is this thing...


Hoping that he will do good today at the Gym. Last week was his first visit back since surgery and now that it's summer time they changed our time from 1pm to 3pm and there was a lot more kids there, he didn't like it too much. Today's visit our therapist recommended that we go in a private room away from all the other kids and hopefully he will like it better.

Look I Drank It All

Jaden drank his whole feed from his Sippy Cup for the very first time last night.

Just within the last couple of weeks I have been noticing him sucking better and better on his sippy and he was drinking more and more each time I would offer it to him. Before his last brain surgery he would suck a couple of times and that would be it, but now after surgery I can really tell that the cyst must be starting to drain. Jaden's Neurologist shared with us that the size cyst that was sitting on his brain stem could keep him from swallowing and we are beginning to think that it must have been why he couldn't suck properly because he couldn't swallow good.

Jaden's Speech Therapist just started this Friday coming back again since surgery and she was so amazed at how well he was eating and sipping his cup. We talked about putting a whole feed of PediaSure in his cup just to see how he would do. I knew he was really drinking and sucking his juice so good out of it, so last night that's what I did. I always offer some food and juice to him while we are feeding him through his g-tube just so he is aware and associates food with him knowing his tummy is getting full without him actually working for it on his own. I spoon fed him some PediaSure first just so he could get use to the taste, I didn't want him to take his first sip and be expecting juice because that's what I normally have been giving him in is cup and then I poured it into his sippy cup and he took right off sucking away until it was all gone.
James and I was so amazed to sit and watch our baby suck that cup dry, he has never done this before. We was so excited that he did it all by himself and that we didn't have to get his feed bag out, mix up the formula, pour it in, prime the tubing, pull for air out of his g-tube, hook him up, set the dial, and wait for 30 minutes till it all runs in. We just poured milk into a cup, fed it to him and after about 10 minutes it was all gone, that's it, just like a normal baby. Wow! We tried it again at his last feed of the night before we hook him up to his pump just to see if he could do it all over again and he did.

We are praising the Lord because He knows our hearts and how we have felt ever since Jaden has been born of how we have had to feed him. We absolutely hate hooking Jaden up to a feed bag and having to feed him though his little g-tube but that's the only way he could survive because before this surgery he could have never sipped his whole feed from a cup and we are so excited that he wants to suck and wants to drink all on his own. We definitely are headed in the right direction and we are praying so hard that it will continue to get better and better. James and I talked about how easy it was today at church to feed Jaden. We had his sippy cup right there in the pew with his PediaSure in it and he just sipped and sipped and sipped and that's it. How easy is that.......We have always had to sit in the back or go to the Nursery and find a place to hang his feed bag and you know the story if you have ever watched how we have been feeding him. We know God's in control and we are trusting in Him and believing that He said He will give you the desires of your hearts. Our desires is that some day soon Jaden will no longer have to be fed through his g-tube and that he will soon catch up.

He gives food to every living creature. His love continues forever. Psalm 136:5

Lord, we thank you for this food, for rest, Home, and all things good; for wind, rain, and sun above,

but most of all we thank you for Your unending love.

A Musical Night

Last night James took me to see the Louisville Orchestra perform at Freeman Lake Park. This was the 20th Annual Pops in the Park, and this was our second time attending. We went 2 years ago before Jaden was born an absolutely loved it. Couldn't think of a better way to spend just only $16.00 and receive lasting memories forever...

The theme of the evening was "An Arabian Night" that included Middle Eastern inspired music as well as some contemporary arrangements from Disney's Aladdin.

The Orchestra's performance started at sundown, we found the perfect spot to sit and watch right next to the water. We brought us a picnic and no it wasn't Taco Bell, we ordered Chinese from the Green Bamboo. It was a beautiful evening and it ended with a spectacular fireworks show over the lake.

Can you believe I forgot my camera? This is the only picture that I could find, just a copy of the ticket stub. Oh well, the camera couldn't have captured the beautiful sound of the music anyways.

It was a perfect night! Looking forward to next years event.

Pen Pal

I went to the mailbox yesterday and found a large envelope inside with Jaden's name on it. Jaden and I opened the envelope together and found inside a picture that Blake painted for Jaden, but not just any kind of picture, it was a picture of the state of Texas where Blake lives. He also painted bluebonnet's on the picture because that's the State flower. I let Jaden see his picture and he wanted to scratch all the paint off with his little fingers, he told me that he really loved it and that he can't wait to meet Blake, his Pen Pal.

Jaden scratching the paint....
We are so blessed to have such great Christian Family and Friends that earnestly pray for us and for Jaden. We are so amazed by all the love and support that everyone has shown to us. To get a picture like this in the mail just absolutely makes your day, especially when it says I say prayers for you...and to know that he really does because he has a great Mommy and Daddy that teaches him the importance of prayer, even at such an early age.


look real close and you can see the bluebonnet's...

Thank you Blake for painting such a special picture for Jaden and above all thank you for praying for Jaden. We love you bunches and can't wait to see you again.

Teething Continues...

Forget the teething biscuits, "Give Me Some Beef Jerky"!!!

Mmmm.....

New Duck Tub

Mr. Ducky Tub

Jaden took a bath in his new Duck Tub last night.
He outgrew his other little tub and this one works perfect for him because he can't sit up all by his self yet. Mollie had suggested this one to us , she said that Kinsey and her nephew Gabe had one and they loved taking their baths in it... She said Kinsey still likes to get in hers and she just turned three.

He likes to eat the washcloth...

Jaden really enjoyed his bath time last night. Thanks Mollie for getting it for Jaden, he loves it...

BATH TIME, BATH TIME, IT'S TIME TO TAKE A BATH.

FIRST WE FILL THE TUB

WHEN IT'S TIME TO TAKE A BATH.

THEN WE THROW OUR DUCKY IN

WHEN IT'S TIME TO TAKE A BATH.

LET'S SCRUB AND DUB YOUR FACE.

LET'S SCRUB AND DUB YOUR BELLY.

LET'S SCRUB AND DUB YOUR BACK.

LET'S SCRUB AND DUB YOUR FEET

BECAUSE IT'S TIME TO TAKE A BATH.

NOW WE'RE ALL CLEAN AND LOOKING LIKE A PRUNE.

MOMMY SAYS IT'S TIME TO GO TO BED VERY SOON.

SHHHH!

BED TIME, BED TIME, IT'S TIME TO GO TO BED.

GOODNIGHT!