Mr. Kaden is now at 5lbz 4ozs. His red bloodcells keep dropping and today had to have a transfusion, this was the thrid one. So very tired it has been a long day. Will post a couple more pictures of the little one tomorrow.

Smiles everyone and have a blessed night~

The picture is a year old.... time for some new ones~

I tried my hand at creating my own page~ It was fun and I may do some more. It does not cover the full page, to do that I would have had to purchase more room for the hosting page, and that is not going to happen. I think it looks okay like this~

Well hope all has a great day~ Off to see my grandson, will update when we return.

~Smiles~

Our Little Man~

Our little one is now at 5lbs 1ozs. He is getting fed two and one, meaning he gets two bottles, then fed by the tub. He is doing good and hopefully soon will be on all bottle feedings. His eyes were checked on Tuesday and he passed with flying colors and will not need another eye exam til a year old.
The pictures are a bit blurred. Sorry about that but in the NICU we are not allowed to use the flash and at times this is what happens.
Enjoy the pictures~ I am off to make some digi scrap pages and just relax~

The blessings of friends~

There are many poems, sayings, and what-nots about the blessings of friends~

I am really at a loss for words as there is no poem or saying that could describe the blessings that God has given me through my friends~ Like the flower that is closed when it buds and blooms into beauty that sets some in awe, when God shines down upon the earth~ I closed myself off from ever getting close to anyone long ago. I prayed many days, nights and years that God would send a true friend into my life. One that understands and accepts the person I am. A few years ago I entered into the world of the internet and found a group of women that liked and did the things I did, crafting. Creating beautiful works with thier hands and sharing them with one another. Through this group a few ladies stood fast in my life and today I call myself blessed. Near and far God has answered that prayer.
I am a person that lives with simple means and accept what I have has blessing each day. I am a woman that yes has cried God Why? Fallin apart many times on my kitchen floor with only God holding me. As a single mom, I have taught my daughters to go forward in life to reach for their dreams and to be kind on that traveled road to success.
Recently in my life my youngest daughter has had a baby.... though young she is a great mom~
When I found out she was pregnant yes I cried, I felt the world had crashed down around me and on me. I screamed to God why? You know He reached down to show me why! He showed me that I was not going to walk through this alone or with just Him, Because of the wonderful ladies that have reached out before, reached out again. "Friends" they did not condem or look for fault, they simply reached out and supported, listened, prayed with me.
Today~ my grandson is well on his way to comming home soon. He is at 4lbs. 14.5ozs. and is getting stronger each day. I know that I could have survived and done all this, but oh what a blessing of friendships when I had women to go to.

I live in a small two bedroom one bath house. I call it a little shack, but it has been standing here from the times the rail ran through this little town, so really how could it be a shack. It has stood through many hurricanes and storms. It is not what some would call a place they would want to live in, but I call it a blessing. It holds many memories and as I look around I can still see the whole family crowded in as my grandpa handed out presents at Christmas. I can even hear the laughter. It is a place of surienity and strength. Since 2003 my bathtub cracked and well being who I am and not being able to change it out myself or have the money to hire someone I patched it. That worked for a couple years then no amount of patching would do, in 2005 I decided the best way to make it work and did it, yes it worked fine. I went to Wal-Mart, bought a tarp and yes liquid nails........ and glued the tarp in...... WOW! it worked, it held water and it drained without flooding my bathroom. Today again I am blessed! The friends God sent me over 7 years ago are coming in!!! Not only are they changing out the tub, they are redoing the whole bathroom! What a blessing and Thank You Lord! She asked me what I wanted my bathroom to look like, and I asked her to please put her stamp on it. I had my reason for asking that~ One she has great taste! and two I will see and feel Gods blessings of the friends he has given me.

I have one request to all who read this....... Please pray for my friends, that God blesses them abundantly in all areas of their lives.

Little Mom~

Victoria although just 15 is a very responsible little mom. The nurses and staff at the NICU are so proud of this young mom. Victoria has expressed milk from day one of delivering her son. Knowing that it is the best she can give him. She has also went back to school and at this moment carrying a 3.8 GPA.

Some say that she is just a child and I agree she is just a child herself. A child that I am so proud of. Some say wait til baby comes home and she is up all night. I say she is up all night tending to his best intrests already. The NICU staff as praised her for the commitment that she has made to her son, saying that Victoria is more mature than half the grown women the see going to see their babies.

When Victoria walks in to see her son the nurses walk away and give her full control. Victoria, feeds, changes, and coos her son and they already have a bond like a mother and child should have. He coos at her and watches her the entire time she is tending him.

Victoria knows that it won't be easy to be a teenager and a mom, but up for the blessed challenge this new depended life she has brought into the world. I myself am prepared to be what she and Kaden need... support. Victoria is such a special young lady and young mom. She has went as far as finding the perfect sitter that has preemie experience. The blessing is the lady lives right across the street. The best part is as a mom and now grandma I came home from work one evening and suggested the same lady to Victoria for sitting and she informed me that she had already talked to her and set it up.

Mr. Kaden is now 4lbs 8ozs and will be coming home soon. On th 23rd of this month we went to CPR classes and I watched in awe at my 15 yr. old as she listened, watch, and implemented what she learned to the CPR nurse.

As I sat and watched each couple go up and work the little mannequin the CPR nurse going over each action three to four times til the new parents were able to preform the act. When Victoria stepped up I was so proud as the CPR nurse only went through it once with her.

Thank you Granny Pat... For you prayers, support and belief in my daughter.

Kaden Louis~

Kaden is up to 3lbs. 3.5ozs. He is 15 and 1/2 inches. He is on a very small nasal cannula, with the oxygen levels at a very low limit. They are working to a point that they will remove him completely.
I took this picture while Victoria was kangarooing, on January 31st. They are still feeding through a tube for now and hope to soon introduce the bottle.
Well it is time to get on the road to go for a visit. Have a great day all~

Jude Michael Trahan

Jude was born at 25 weeks preterm, 15 weeks early. When Kaden was born at 27 weeks preterm I did not have the slightest clue of what could or would happen in this new world of NICU.....
A lady that I work with told me about Jude and that his mom started a blog. When I got home from work that evening I went to my computer and went straight to this blog. I sat for hours reading from Clare's first post to her last, about the triumphant little man new to her family.
I emailed Clare right away letting her know that Jude was in my prayers, not expecting a reply with all that this young mother was walking...She did reply and only with uplifting word of encouragement.

Clare's blog is a must read..... http://judemichaeltrahan.blogspot.com/

Praise God for such a grace that He is the strength that carries us~