A Tuesday Trip to the ER

Well...

I thought I was the only accident-prone member of the Cox Family, but Caden proved otherwise this morning. ACTUALLY, if truth be told it was MY fault that it happened so maybe it really is me that is the klutz, but unfortunately it was Caden who took the hurt this time! UG! I would have rather had it happen to me one-hundred times over that to my lil man! Lord, bless him, please!

What started as innocent fun at the neighborhood playground with our friends Gina and Ava, ended with a crying little boy who refused to put any pressure on his leg. He wouldn't walk, he wimpered when he wiggled his foot, he cried big tears! I could tell that something was pretty wrong when he refused to get back down and play after he stopped crying, so we packed it up and I called the doctor on the way home... YES I BROKE THE NO PHONE ZONE TODAY! I used speakerphone and I ended up being on hold the entire way home so thankfully we averted any disasters!

I couldn't get anyone at the doctor's office to answer the nurses line so I called Doctor KK who affirmed my decision to go ahead and take Caden to the ER. It was right about lunch time so I grabbed the bag of Teddy Grahams out of the pantry and his sippy cup and off we went. I called Justin as I was loading up Caden and off he came to meet us without me even having to ask. He just said I'm coming and that was that! Thank you, Justin!!

In between the incident and the arrival to the ER I TOO cried some BIG tears! I felt awful! He was sitting on my lap going down the slide, a slide which I am too big for I might add. I was chatting away and not paying enough attention obviously when Caden put his foot on the side of the slide. With my momentum we kept going and his leg got bent behind him. I pulled it forward as soon as I realized what was happening, only seconds! And the tears came... and came... and came...

So disheveled, red-faced and smelling like the park, Caden and I traipsed into the ER and filled out our paperwork, meanwhile a flood of people came in... we had gotten there just in time! Had I waited even 5 minutes I am sure our wait would have been MUCH longer!

After maybe 15 minutes, back we went to get the Cade-man checked out. They took his vitals and all was good. Then they took us to our room and we waited for the doctor. The Dr. was awesome and so nice... and because we are never without a good story, it just so happens that the doctor lives in one of Justin's company's homes. Coincidentally, before Justin took over purchasing they used a particular electrician that didn't do such a good job, Justin has since gotten rid of the company, but the doctor wanted to be sure and let Justin know the issues he had. So after talking "house" for a few minutes, we finally got back to Caden! :) He was super nice about it and said how much he really did love his Jimmy Jacobs Home and so I took it upon myself to go ahead and throw Justin under the bus and told the doctor that something will be done to fix his issues.  Haha! :) And now back to Caden...

The doctor thought everything from the outside looked normal, so he ordered some x-rays, got us some bottled water and we waited. Meanwhile, Caden hadn't had lunch we he proceeded to put down some serious Teddy Grahams!

Luckily, my handy, dandy catch-all of a diaper bag had a few trinkets for Caden to play with. 

I decided that we better make the best of this trip and take a few pics. All I had was my phone so they aren't quite quality!

Daddy was doin' a little bidness while we waited.

We were visited by what seemed like every nurse in the ER, one of them was one of the people from our child-birthing class so it was good to see a familiar face! We didn't have to wait too much longer for the x-rays and BOY was it a chore!

It was such a chore that I laid on the top half of Caden's body and the technician laid on the bottom half and Justin got to push the button!! Haha! Poor little guy, he was in some serious pain when the tech was twisting and turning his leg to get the right angle! It was so sad!

The x-rays came back normal. Nothing that the doctor could see that signaled a red flag, but he heard the screams coming from our room during the x-rays and thought it would be best to put him in a splint to be safe! So we met yet another friend in the ER...Mario the cast-man... I am sure he has a technical title, but I don't know what it is. He was great with Caden and that process wasn't near as bad as I thought it would be. He was fast!

So my little man has a cast from his toes to his knee. It is plaster in the back to set his leg and foot in place and then two ace bandages around that. He'll bathe with a trash bag secured with special tape around his leg and have to see a Orthopaedist in a few days for a follow-up. We're praying for complete healing and that no further cast/splint or anything else will be required! We're praying and believing that Caden will be better real soon!

For now Caden is going to be watching a lot of Praise Baby and trying to stay still, which might be impossible. Mommy is going to have to pull out all of her creative cards to ensure that the Cade-man has plenty to occupy his time while he sits. Today he isn't going to be able to walk, but maybe tomorrow he'll learn how to maneuver around with that heavy cast on his leg.

He is napping now and seems to be comfortable. He only fusses when he turns over, for obvious reasons. I'm glad he is able to rest because I know after the day he has had he needs it! We all do! :)

Here are a few pics of my brave lil man and his cast!

It is so super sad, isn't it?! He is such a trooper who is still smiling and giving his Mommy all sorts of love, even thought she is to blame! If there is one thing we've learned in the last few weeks it is that accidents happen! And I must say I'll take this type of accident over so many other types out there! I know we are blessed beyond measure!

We'll keep y'all posted on the latest in our world! In the meantime we'd love for you to join us in prayer as we ask God to heal up Caden's leg and give him the strength to be back running around this house again very soon! I'm going to miss the pitter, patter of little feet! 

Happy Tuesday!

To Waco We'll A Go

To Waco We'll A Go, To Waco We'll A Go!!

We had a fabulously fun weekend in Waco celebrating a few VERY special birthdays on the Cox-side of the Family. Nana and Paps once again, hosted the Cox Circus for two-nights and YES once again, I am pretty sure their house/yard will never be the same! Thanks Nana and Paps for letting our crew come and plant for a few days!

While we were celebrating birthdays (Happy Birthday Paps and Great Poppa!) we made some time from one of our favorite pastimes... Baylor Basketball! It was the Cade-man's second game now... and BOTH we won! I think he might be a good luck charm?! Good thing we'll be heading back north in a few weeks to watch our Bears take on the Longhorns again! Go Baylor Go! 

The game was great... Caden was awesome... a bundle full of energy and GREAT birth control for his aunt and uncle, but still a happy little boy who was SO excited to be at the game!

Before the game we had to fuel up... the big kids ate pizza and Caden mashed on some brown rice and chicken fed to him by his Great Poppa! When Great Poppa is in town, he and Caden always have some serious talkin' to do... this trip it was over lunch!

After we were FULL-up on fuel, we headed to the Ferrell Center for the action! Caden was being passed off between the few, the proud, the Cox marines throughout the game! He was having LOTS of fun after a quick snack break with his Aunt Cori! After snack time was over it was BACK to the ramps... up and down and out the door, and back in the door and up and down! Catch me if you can!!

Here is a line-up of the entire crew... Justin was on the other side of me so he missed out on the family pic at the game!

After the game, Paps and Caden made sure to play a little victory ballad for the rest of us. "I Dropped My Dolly In the Dirt" was their song of choice... and boy did they play it their very, very bestest! Caden loves the piano... a very fun treat when we go visit Nana and Paps!

Sunday was a VERY special day because we got to meet our newest little friend... FALLIN KATE!! She isn't so new anymore... she's already a TWO MONTH OLD! AND boy was she the cutest little thing you've EVER seen! I was in love! She looks like her Momma... tall and skinny with the prettiest eyes and cutest little nose! We had such a great time hanging out with Em and Bryce and getting to find out how parenthood was treating them! Looks like they are old pros already!!

Caden was PASSED it by this point... MOMMY, why are you holding that baby?! I'm tired and ready to nap and go back to the Rock!!

Okay, okay... let's go!

And so we did! 

We are so loving our Monday at home and had a very special trip to meet ANOTHER special friend today... and in fact our TRUE NEWEST friend. Little 4-week old Cooper Lea! I got to snuggle with him for almost 45 minutes... he fell asleep in my arms... SO sweet! And of course I got to see little long-haired, all grown up Madyson!! It is amazing how quick you forget that newborn stage... it is fun to have little ones to love on until the Cox Family of three gets ready to expand... :)

Hope everyone had a wonderful Valentine's Day! Happy Monday!!

In the Last Five Days...

...The boys and I went for a family hair cut! 

Each of us had an appointment to get our hairs did, and for each of us it was a necessity... we were all victim of a little too much party in the back! 

But all of God's good and great gifts require a little patience don't they? Fine with the Cox boys... they've always got some business to tend to. And Mommy is always up for a photo-op... we were quite fine waitin' our turn!

Justin, Caden... I'm ready for ya! 

The boys decided that chivalry is SUPER overrated... so the DUDES went first on Saturday!

Cade-man was up first! Snip, snip... buzz, buzz...

This was Justin's first time to experience a Caden haircut... and Caden wasn't too thrilled by the time we were finished... no matter how many tricks Mommy had up her sleeve!

Poor little teary, snotty, passy-fied boy! :)

...We traveled to San Antonio!

Remember that business Jusitn was tending to earlier? Well, that business took him to San Antonio this week, so Caden and I decided that we'd hop a ride and spend some time with KK and Albi. Not that we need an excuse to go visit, of course! :)

San Antonio was good to us... we had lots of fun, ate lots of good food (as always), saw all of our favorite Evans' (minus Aunt Emily) and even got to go to the BIGGEST and BEST rodeo in the nation! Not bad, eh?

BUT, of course, we wouldn't be the Coxes and I wouldn't be Katie without a little D-R-A-M-A! It's only right... and fair that all the fun gets evened up with a few not so fun things!

If you know me well at all you know that at times I can be a little clumsy... like the time when I fell running around the Baylor Football field my freshman year. Or that time that I slipped on the stairs coming out of Chapel. Or like the other time when I dumped over a lounge chair at the pool and landed in the bushes.

Or like the time when I broke a plate on Super Bowl Sunday 2010! Yep... crash and burn! That poor plate didn't even see it coming! 

Or like the time when I tried to mute the TV because I swore I heard Caden crying through the monitor and while trying to step off the treadmill to focus on my muting and the monitor I missed and ended up crashing onto the MOVING belt and then was thrust against the wall, forced to roll off of the MOVING treadmill sideways to escape it's wrath... 

Yah like that time...

That I fell of the treadmill...

Sobbed...

And ended up with a picture that looked like this...

And let me just say that the picture does not do the UGLINESS justice... not even close.

OUCH! Is. all. I. have. to. say! Oh my!! It was scary... like how in the world will I ever get off of this thing, scary! And poor, sweet KK... she thought the worst when she heard me bound down the stairs in SOBS! She was convinced that I had received a call... a bad call... like someone ahd an accident and was injured and hurt or worse...

And in fact someone HAD had an accident and WAS injured and worse, but it was just me and it was just a run-in with the treadmill and while the treadmill definitely got in some good shots, I think I still won?! I'm walking... I eventually stopped sobbing... and my treadmill burn has succumbed to the power of Dermaplast! And these things are certainly worthy of a victorious celebration!

...And we went to the San Antonio Rodeo!

With my bum-knee in tow, Caden, KK and I decided to brave the cold weather and visit the San Antonio Rodeo on Tuesday. The weather was actually quite lovely with more sunshine than we had seen in WEEKS so a little nip in the air surely wasn't going to spoil our fun! 

I must say that I have been to a few rodeos in my day, but the grounds of the San Antonio Rodeo are by FAR the nicest, cleanest, coolest grounds EVER! We had such a fun time. I was in awe of the culture of the rodeo. I so enjoyed seeing all of the kids and their families who set up camp outside the pins of their animals, waiting for their turns to show their stuff in the rings. 

I loved hearing a grandma tell her sweet grand daughter who couldn't have been older than 8 how well she showed her hog! "You showed that Hog! You showed him!" AND those were her words... I could never make up something so great! 

And can I just say that there is something about a man in wranglers with poop on his boots... honestly, there is! I've always been one who prefers a guy who drives a pick-em-up truck, but if he steps out in boots and wranglers... DONE! In fact, the night I first realized I liked Justin he was wearing his boots and wranglers and we were two-steppin' at Southern Junction! Whoo-whee!

But I've digressed...

Back to the rodeo...

We didn't actually get to go to the rodeo because that is WAY past Caden's bedtime. But we went and participated in all of the daytime fun like...

The petting zoo...

I was kind of freaked out (okay really freaked out) by this llama! She/he was a very intense creature of the wild... 

And Caden got to ride on the plastic horse!!

And see the HUGE horses... bigger than a Clydesdale! We even found one named Hank, just like Caden's horse!

We visited Elsie the cow... 

She started peeing as soon as Caden started petting her... and if you have never heard a cow pee... well it is LOUD!!

And we did a bunch of other fun things that are not pictured...

Ate a yummy snack, took a fun picture at the AT&T booth, watched the Swine Races (SO FUN), visited all of the booths, bought some lip enhancer lip gloss (courtesy of KK the sucker!) and RAN WILD!! Caden was TIRED and so were KK and I after it was all said and done!

What a day at the rodeo we had!!

Our trip to San Antonio ended with a pretty low-key day and a rainy trip back to the Rock! We are so glad to be back in our home, but not because we didn't LOVE every minute we spent in San Antonio. We just like home. 

A huge thanks are in order to KK and Albi though!! Thank you for rearranging your routine to host the Cox Circus! We appreciate the meals, the tender lovin' care and of course the fun! You two are still full-time parents... gotta love it!! We love you!!! 

Friday we hit the road again for Waco to celebrate Paps' birthday! .

Stay tuned!

Is it a sign?!

Alright so my child has made me a liar yet AGAIN! Ha! He's really good at that lately. Like remember last week how I said that he did well in the church nursery, well this week they couldn't put him down for the ENTIRE 2.5 hours... oh bless those poor nursery workers hearts!

And in other "Mommy's a Liar" news...

Yesterday, Caden and I had a play date with two of our very favorite friends. Poor Caden was the only boy which he should be getting used to by now seeing as most of his Austin-area friends are girls! Anyway, the play date was fabulous and we had a lot of fun. All was good. 

Until... later in the afternoon I called KK for a quick chat and I let her in on some of my ugly mommy insecurities and told her how I felt super lame because the girls were using their sign language to communicate with their mommies and Caden doesn't know any signs. I was telling her how I wasn't so sure I really wanted to teach him sign language and was more concerned with just plain 'ol language right now and so I hadn't really focused on it, but maybe I should? What did she think? Am I a horrible mother? Have I screwed him up? Will he get beat up in the church nursery for not knowing sign language?! Alas!

I know, I know... y'all are all saying, count to 10 and get a life, Katie! I know!! I know... 

So back to the story. For about a week or so several months ago... okay maybe not several but 3 or so months ago I spent time everyday while Caden ate his snack trying to teach him the sign for "more." It seemed like the obvious first sign to me so I thought hmmmm every one else is doing this whole sign language thing so we'll give it a go.

After a week of it I stopped doing it, not because I consciously decided to, but I just did. So then, yesterday during snack time I decided to do the sign just once for laughs to see what he did. He didn't really react so we went on and ate our snack. No biggie... I really couldn't let my silly insecurities talk me out of my previous decision to focus on language instead of signs so we moved on.

Until today...

When we met Daddy for lunch and all the sudden Caden started bringing his fingers together and then his hands together like he was signing "more." Justin looked at me and said, "Is he signing 'more' ?" 

I confidently said, "No, I don't think so... he's just playing with his hands or something."

But Justin asked Caden, "Are you saying more?" 

And Caden did the sign again. Justin continued to give him more food each time he did that!

I still said, "Nah... we haven't worked on it but once in 3 months, I doubt he's doing it."

AND THEN...

I am sure you are see where this is going.

During snack time today I stopped for a second to blow my nose (not sure you needed that detail, but whatever!) and he ran out of crackers on his tray and he started signing "more."

"More?!"

Was he saying more? So I did the sign and he did it back. And then when his tray was empty again, he did it again. And it went on like this during the entire snack.

And at dinner he did it again! SO CRAZY! I don't know why in the world he decided to start using it or if someone in the church nursery did it or if just seeing the girls do it yesterday inspired him, but it blew me away!!

Those baby brains are always on-call when there is a Mommy to be made a liar aren't they?!

I captured a little video of it just so I had proof... because that liar thing works the other way too. Just as soon as I say that he signs "more" he won't do it ever again! Ha! :) 

It's at the very beginning so don't miss it! 

A sign of things to come?!! Happy Thursday everyone!!

TWO New Posts!!

My 13 Month Old Heartthrob

Twas the Day Baylor Beat UT

My 13 Month Old Heartthrob!!

February 1st, 2010! Oh my! It's Caden's 13th Month Birthday! 

And we all know that February is all about HEARTS! Valentine's Day HEARTS and Heart Disease HEARTS! But this first post of February is going to be all about MY HEART!

My Caden! My lil 13 Month Old Heartthrob!

In honor of HEART month I am going to do his birthday post a little differently. I am going to list a few things I HEART about Caden and a few things that I don't so much HEART about Caden. Hehe! It is always good to keep things real, isn't it?!

THINGS I HEART ABOUT MY LIL MAN:

• His laugh, oh my that giggle melts me!
  
• His short little legs and LONG body. 
  
• His way of communicating. Although I'm anxious for him to say his first word, I love watching his little mind and body work so hard at communicating his thoughts.
  
• His energy... the boy has some serious energy. He plays hard!
  
• His adventurous spirit. He's been so brave about trying new things... even new people!
  
• His LOVE of music! He wants to listen to Praise Baby ALL DAY long. He will sit and watch for a little bit, but mostly he likes to have it on in the background while he plays.
  
• His HUGS! He gives the sweetest Mommy hugs and I cherish each one. Today he wrapped his arms SUPER tight around my neck when I was putting him down for his nap... so sweet! And to be clear he will hug almost anything and anybody, but I can't help but think that my hugs are just that much better than the ones he gives to everyone else! :) It's a mother's prerogative!
  
• His walk that is now turning into more of a jog. It's hilarious!
  
• His love of ALL things including a BALL! 
  
• His sweet little voice that chatters throughout the house.
• His sweet, tender, sensitive soul. He is my kindred spirit!

THINGS I DON'T SO MUCH HEART ABOUT MY LIL MAN:

• His temper. His face turns red, he grits his teeth, balls up his fists and shrieks. He's even done this a few times in public and it didn't go too well for him. He got in BIG trouble!
  
• His love of throwing food on the floor. Even when he knows that if he is finished he is supposed to give it back to Mommy. He'll rest it in my hand like he's going to give me his food and then he'll throw it backwards really fast like I didn't notice. Lil punk!
  
• His adventurous spirit... I know I said I HEART it but it also has been cause for a few bloody lips, noses and other injuries as of late! 
  
• His drool! I know this is nothing he can control, but we are back to wearing bibs again because we were going through 3-4 outfits a day! Ick, ick, ick!
• His teeth! Again, nothing he can control, but COME ON they are slow!! He still has only 4!

Of course even the things I don't so much HEART about Caden are things that I know are just part of plain 'ol parenthood and the discipline that comes with it. He's definitely been giving me a run for my money in the discipline department lately. I feel so ridiculous sometimes, like I have no clue what I'm doing and just walk around saying NO, NO, NOOOO all the time. But then I see times when it works, when he FINALLY gets something we've been working on! I love the light bulbs moments... but of course even those are followed by another OOPS moment and the cycle repeats itself! This parenting stuff isn't easy! I knew it wouldn't be... people tried to tell me, and we did it anyway! :) Haha!

I do LOVE being a parent though... even when it's hard and sad! I L-O-V-E it! And I especially love being Caden's parent! It helps that I have a great partner in crime. Justin has definitely been the voice of reason when I fall down on the discipline... he is the one that steps right in and reinforces it! I need that!! 

But enough about that! Let's get to the good stuff... the 13 Month Old Photo Shoot!

I don't know if any of you boy moms out there have found a cute Valentine's Day shirt or outfit for your lil men, but we haven't had much luck so what's a girl to do? MAKE IT YOURSELF!

Luckily I happened to have some red fabric that KK brought this weekend that was BEGGING to be used. I traced a heart using a box of chocolates KK also brought us, cut it out and hand stitched it on a white onesie! I was a little nervous about my stitching abilities so I used red thread, but now I wished I had used white b/c my stitches ended up being pretty even... who knew?!  And of course I think he looks adorable in it, so I think it was a good move to go for the homemade Valentine! :)

Drum roll please...

Ladies and gentlemen let me introduce you to my HEART...

My lil man...

The 13 Month Old Heartthrob from Round Rock, TX...

CADEN FORD COX!!

I'm melting!!
You knew I couldn't get him to sit still for too long...

I HEART those chubby legs... I really do! He is almost cellulite free and it is breaking my heart!!
Mr. Moose HAD to get in on the love!!

We tried to move locations, but Caden was SO over it!

I'm outta here Mom...

Going...
Going...
GONE!!!!
After I caught up with my little speedster we came back downstairs and played with some Valentine's Day window stickers that KK gave Caden this weekend... 

I figured it might give me a few more photo-ops while we were playing...

Poor little boy was so ready to be outside today, but it was WAY too cold and wet... so inside had to do! Good thing we had lots of fun things to HEART!

I sure do HEART each minute I get to spend with my lil Heartthrob!!

Happy 13 Month Birthday Cade-man!!

Twas the Day Baylor Beat UT

Twas the day Baylor beat UT when all through the Capital city

The Horns were feeling confident and their fans were getting pretty

Burnt orange was the color they wore and their tickets stubs they kept

Having no idea that come the next day they will have wept and wept

The Bears were all traveling from here and from there

Green and gold were the only things in their closets to wear

Some stopped off the highway to grab a pre-game lunch

But still others ate the best Mexican food in Austin, in fact a whole bunch

The Coxes were at Matt's and KK and Albi were sure to be in tow

We knew we'd need the famous BOB to energize us for the big show

Caden held court as he screamed and threw his food

All the while Justin kept saying, NO! come on dude

Today is a BIG day the Bears are going to win

But the way you're acting is making my head start to spin

Now contain your excitement until we get to the arena

Then you can let your shrieks and shrills out just like a hyena

So back to the chips and the margs we all quickly went

As Albi gave the restaurant guests a fine little present

Typically olives and limes are only used as a garnish

But for Albi, it's his reputation that he'll use them to tarnish

Alas we've digressed from the topic we so crave

There's sweet little KK giving us a Sic 'em Bear wave

She's quite color-coordinated in her green and her gold

She was even ready with a scarf for the extreme, bitter cold

And since we're taking a tour de table at the Famous Matt's El Rancho

I'll show you an unflattering picture of me and my lil man, oh no!

I've never been one to know just how to pose

But at least I don't have a booger or anything coming out of my nose

After a yummy lunch we felt like we could sustain

A tough basketball game and the Longhorns' imminent disdain

For we were very confident at our chances for a big victory

And chatted about it as we crossed the bridge made of hickory

Caden was pumped and walked most of the way

Not letting any Longhorns ruin this sunny day

We got to our seats long before the game ever began

So we got a few pictures with KK's handy IPhone cam

The trio of Coxes then Daddy and his lil man

Who do you think will be the biggest Baylor Bear fan

Stand up, sit down, clap, cheer and shout

Tweety Carter was on the floor sincerely workin' it out

At the end of regulation we were still very unsure

If a victory is what we'd take home clean and pure

We started to breath a little easier as the seconds rolled off the clock

Hip hip hurray a Baylor Bear win on the door did knock

As we were exiting the game we heard something that in us struck a chord

UT fans in disbelief! To which we said, take a look at the scoreboard!

Baylor Bears win and in another team's gym

And poor old Barnes couldn't even crack a grin

BUT Drew and his boys were sure to relish in their success

And the Bear fans out there would have expected no less

We are so proud of our team they're pretty dang good jocks

So good that we are naming our next child Laceepke Tweetmers Cox. 

SIC 'EM BEARS!!