Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes . . .

It's been a long time since I posted here. I even missed posting pics from Kaden's birthday in June so you know we've been going through something.  

Well, my friends, it's been a crazy year . . . 

Last September, shortly after I posted about Kaden's first day of kindergarten, our little angel had a very major surgery to have steel rods implanted and partially fused to his spine.  The surgeon who does this particular kind of procedure is in St. Louis so we essentially relocated for almost a month so he could be close to the hospital during his first few weeks of recovery. The surgery was successful and his curve was reduced from nearly 60 degrees to less than 20 degrees, which is amazing and we are thankful.  I don't particularly want to say more about it because the whole thing (his scoliosis) is scary and difficult and ongoing (further surgeries will be necessary, we just have to wait and watch over time). Suffice it to say that Kaden proved once again how incredibly strong and downright amazing he is - my boy is AWESOME and I will always be grateful for that little sparkle that refuses to be suppressed no matter what the universe throws at him.

Once Kaden fully recovered, which took a full three months, I began slowly dipping my toes back into the work pond. As I might have mentioned, I'm finishing up a masters degree in library and information science. I took on a field project for the Spring semester that had me working two days a week and then I got a full-time position at the Library of Congress. It was an ideal job and I loved it but (as usual) the universe had other plans for this family . . . 

Due to an unexpected career opportunity for my husband, we moved this summer and it was a big one: halfway cross-country to a relatively new boomtown in the rural south. And, as unlikely as it might seem, we're actually really liking it so far.  A whole new chapter begins . . . 

Anyway, that's the super-abridged version of our past year. Now that I'm a stay-at-home mom starting at ground zero with my career (ugh, again!) I anticipate having a bit more time to post to the blog.  

In the meantime, here are a few pics of my favorite people from the past few months.

Kaden's really gotten used to sharing iPad time with his sister and she'll usually sit and watch whatever he wants so long as he lets her be close. LOVE.

Kaden was never able to tolerate swing seats for more than a second before his spine surgery and we would have never even tried a see-saw. Check him out now!

 Kaden still loves the beach. It's growing on Sydney.

Kaden's birthday pics coming soon!