This holiday season brought many exciting things to our family. For one, I was offered a new job, and I have accepted it. The new job will bring me more than double the paid time off per year as well as better retirement benefits and a very large selection of health insurance providers. I will basically be moving across the hall from where I am currently working today. The difference is that I will be removing the contractor title from my name plate to become a civilian employee of the federal government on a different project in the same organization where I have worked for over three years. I am currently working a notice with my current employer and will begin a new chapter in my career in just a couple of weeks. The official offer for this position came just a few days before Christmas. Oh, but that was nowhere near the biggest news stirring in our house during the holidays this year.
Caden busted out walking on New Years Day like I had not seen before. He stood up and just started trucking across the back yard at one point. Oh yeah, for those of you who are not located in the Charleston area, we were outside in short sleeves playing in the back yard on New Years Day. Caden and Riley love the swing set that Nana got them as a Birthday/Christmas gift and were having a blast that day. Caden continued to stand up and walk without prompting throughout the day. He has got so good at standing and walking that he does not even need to push off with his hands most of the time. His physical therapist was surprised to hear that Caden was able to walk so well in the grass with so little training for walking on uneven surfaces.
Caden continues to develop in other ways. He is climbing onto the foot stool in the living room without any assistance. He still needs a little guidance on the correct direction to turn when getting down. He is regularly asking for candy. He loves his suckers as you can see in the picture. He just lightly touches the sucker to his tongue, but really enjoys that. We were sitting in Chick-fil-a a few days ago when Caden asked Sherry for some of her ice cream. He basically points, grunts, and signs please. Sherry asked him if he really wanted some and he nodded yes. An elderly gentleman at the next table helped encourage Caden. Caden made one of the most awful faces I have ever seen, but he asked for more by signing more please. He made the same face, but did take the bit of ice cream willingly. Once this ended, I told the elderly gentleman how big of a deal this was. I told him that Caden was 26 months old had never taken a single meal by mouth. He was amazed. I guess I am amazed at this fact too, but the day is surely coming. Keep praying for Caden’s GI track to be fully functional. He has continued to wretch on a daily basis and still requires suctioning from time to time. The comforting thing about Caden’s development is that he is getting to where he can ask for suctioning or better yet he can tell us when he does not need it so that we do not suction him needlessly. That is such a relief to have him tell me that he does not need suctioning.
The Christmas season did not come without some extra and unwelcomed excitement. Riley got a nasty stomach bug between Christmas and New Years. Riley was very sick for about 36 hours. Then Sherry and I got it. We spent the last 36 hours of 2006 playing leapfrog between the bathroom and the bed. We are all well now. Yeah!!!
Well, I have beat around the bush long enough. I have saved the best for last. As you might imagine, Caden absolutely adores his brother. Caden wants to do everything that Riley does and be just like his brother. Riley eats it up and his love for Caden is enough to melt your heart. Riley has been carrying a very special title in our family for over two years now. Just like many other things that Riley has learned to share, he will now have to share this special title. By the way, did you notice the big plus sign just to the right of Caden in the picture? Well if you have not seen it yet then I will give a little hint as to what it means. The big plus means that just like Riley, Caden is going to be a “big brother”. That’s right, I am going to be a Daddy again!!! The Christmas Plus found in the picture represents the result of a positive pregnancy test. We found out just before Christmas that God has blessed us with another child. Riley is very quick to tell you that he is praying for a baby sister. We continue to remind him that we will be happy with a baby brother or sister. Either way, he is convinced that he is having a baby sister. There is no official word on the gender as Sherry has not even been to the doctor yet. The estimated due date is August 24th.
We hope that all of you will join us in thanking God for this welcome addition to our family. Your prayers for Sherry’s comfort and the baby’s continued healthy development are greatly appreciated. Sherry has been tired and a little nauseas at times, but otherwise doing great. I have tried to let her have a few extra early bedtimes while I take on the night time duties with Caden. I do enjoy those times with Caden late at night even though Sherry and I both grumble about having to do it from time to time. 
Caden does make for a great prayer partner in the late night while he is getting a little extra water for hydration purposes.
As if that is not enough, I do have one other thing I want to share with you today that is also very exciting. Yes, I am full of exciting news today. Our good friends Gary and Anne Marie Ezzo will be offering a one night teaching event at Seacoast Summerville on Friday January 19th titled “How to Raise a Responsible Child”. This is an awesome opportunity to hear a fun and practical lesson presented live by the Ezzos. You can get more information about this event including directions and how to RSVP by visiting GFICharleston.org.
I have posted over on my personal blog a consolidated document of the entire year’s Bible reading plan that I have been working on reproducing for almost a year now. I know several of you have been waiting on me to complete this document. I hope it blesses you as much as it has us.
God Bless You and Yours!!!