| Welcome Cayden Ray Watkins |
| Cayden was born on February 12th, 2007 by c-section at 9:22 am. She weighed in at 5 pounds and 18 inches, and was 3 weeks 5 days early.. Her apgar scores were 8 9. As I am writing this Cayden is now 6 weeks old today and we do not know yet if she is healthy or affected by Sandhoff disease like her older brother Conner who is now in Heaven. I wanted to start this site for her to keep everyone updated and to track her progress of things incase the worst is to happen. We pray to God everyday for Cayden to be healthy but know its in Gods hands. Pregnancy: In June of 2006 I was shocked by the news of a baby on the way. Both Rodey and I had decided not to have any more children because of the chances of us having another baby with Sandhoff disease. But God had other options for us in store. The first few months I was nothing but ill, both because of just being pregnant and then the thought of having to lose another child. I made myself stay as calm as I could and kept my chin up, with many private tears shed - I had to stay positive. Caydens pregnancy was normal nothing odd to note. My weight gain was normal and her fetal weight was always on track. Her movement was normal and the whole pregnancy was much the same as her older healthy sister Cailee's. I had no odd cravings just food of any kind worked for me! I had normal pregnancy nausea and it lasted much of the entire pregancy. We decided not to have prenatal testing done because here in Florida they would not offer it until 23-25 weeks along and with the waiting time to get the results back of up to 6 weeks, it was for us not an option to abort her. As months moved along, the stress really got more and more difficult to deal with at times. But soon we found out the news that made Cailee happier then anything else - we found out a baby GIRL was on the way!She wanted nothing more then to have a baby sister, she told us that she already had a brother and he lived in Heaven, she wanted only a baby sister. Time was coming to schedule Caydens c section and we hadnt even for sure come up with a name! I did alot of looking at baby sites and listening to everyones suggestions, but then went out on my own to look for a name that would be fitting no matter what the outcome of her life would be. Cayden I found, and had the meaning of Spirit of battle! perfect we all thought, Ray her middle name is after my grandfather who passed away in 2000. He was like a father to me. He was my everything and I was devastated when he suddenly dropped dead of a heart attack without any warning. It had been years since I had seen him and there was no chance to say goodbye. I found that naming Cayden after him would give me the strength I needed to move forward with things and face fear in its face.I have done this all before and know whats coming if Cayden is sick, how will I do it all again? The pregnancy quickly was coming to an end and the date was ready. The morning of February 12th I went in for the planned c section and we were ready to meet our new baby daughter. We had planned on the testing for Sandhoff to be done at the time of her birth and blood was taken from her umbilical cord and sent off to Ny. The blood though was clotted by the time it got to the lab because somehow someone forgot to shake the tubes correctly! The next day the staff at the hospital planned on re doing the testing but because of a huge snow storm in the north fed ex could not guarantee the blood to arrive within 24 hours. Waiting again...... I made an appointment to see the pediatrician when we got home, only to be waiting again.... He wanted to wait until Cayden reaches 3 months before testing. Reasoning I am not sure of but here we are today is March 26th, the night before Cailees 6th birthday and still we are unsure of Cayden future. 6 weeks: Cayden has colic. She screams a good part of everyday. Her cry is ear peircing and can be heard miles away it seems lol. She is strong. She can hold her head on her own and can push up when placed on her stomach. She eats her hands when hungry and sucks her thumb now and then. Her sight is getting better, she is starting to see us I think. At her 4 week check up she was already up to 6.7 and 19 1/2 inches. Her hair is mostly blond and she looks very bald!! She is a sweet girl, with a major temper. She has no problems eating, but spits up alot. We love her so much. 6week check up included a change of formula due to colic to Alimentum - dr says she has Gerd and he also gave Cayden some Zantac. weight 7 pounds 2 ounces. She can roll over from tummy to back and scoots herself when placed on stomach. Here are pictures taken up to now. More updates and pictures will come soon !! |
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| Cayden comes home |
| 1st bath |
| 2 weeks old |
| one month old |
| 5 weeks old |
| 2 Months Cayden weighed in at 7 pounds 14 ounces for her 2 month exam. She is now 22 inches long. Her whole checkup went wonderful. The dr which was a different dr then usual was amazed at how strong she was. He said he has never seen a baby so strong and so alert. I stumbled with these remarks when following his praise of her, he said but she could be so strong because of an increase of tone possibly from having the disease. I explained to him that generally the children have a loss of muscle tone and are weaker babies not stronger ones. Now I can not speak for every baby but atleast the ones that I have seen have been looser not tighter at the beginning of things. The tone generally sets in later, but who knows anymore. He said he really felt like he will be completely shocked if Cayden does infact have Sandhoff disease. I hear this over and over and pray that everyone is right and not blinded by the love we all share for her. Cayden can now lift way up on her belly and loves to stand all the time. She half way crawls up you when your holding her and she can just about sit now with support. You may think I am insane but really she can! Her hands are looser and she is starting to bat at toys. She rolled over for the first time today from back to front (4-24) and she quickly rolled back to her back. She lauhed for the first time about a week ago when we were tickling her and she loves to kick and play with the water with her hands in the bath. She has a slight cold right now, and is her usual screaming self !! 3 more weeks till her eye exam and I am getting more and more nervous. I want to also welcome Jayden Chance Mulligan into the world, he is the son of Joe and Melissa Mulligan whom have lost two beautiful boys to Sandhoff disease. Jayden was born on 4-23 at 10:44 pm and weighed 6 -2lbs. Congrats Mulligan family. |
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| 6 weeks old |
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| 3 months On May 14th ?Cayden went to the eye dr for them to look for cherry red spots which are a tell tale sign of Sandhoff Disease. We are happy to report that there were none found!!! We went to the genetic dr the very next day were they gave her a complete physical exam and said that there were no signs or red flags at all that would lead them to believe Cayden has Sandhoff. They told us that they cant say 100% but they felt she was a normal healthy baby that was meeting all her milestones and they feel she is Sandhoff free. They will have the for sure results in within 2 weeks. Her current progress is, rolling both directions - when she rolls to her tummy she now scoots to reach for toys. She squels at her sister, she plays and reaches for toys, then places them in her mouth. She is starting to eat baby food, and tries to hold her own bottle. She can sit with assistance. She pulls herself up to the standing position when you hold her hands. Overall Cayden is doing awesome and we are a little more relaxed about her health. I cant tell you though, how much better I will feel to hear the phone call with the for sure news of everything. We have prepared ourselves for it to go either way, just incase she is affected. Everyone feels that she is healthy - but until I hear the dr say it I still cant catch that sigh of relief/ To update on Caydens test results. We received the call on Monday morning from the genetics office. They initially told us that her test came back inconclusive, and wanted a retest. We just did not feel comfortable in getting her blood drawn yet again. With the help of an angels mommy Desiree Hopf she took the time and effort to get Caydens results looked at by another profesional. Ms Blitzers opinion is that she feels confident that Cayden is a carrier of Sandhoff and NOT affected by this disease. I want everyone to know what a relief this is to us, every day since she has been born I have looked at my child and wondered if she was going to live or die. If there was better and more accurate testing out their and lets also ad more profesional people to acquire and read results this may have not gone on so long. At any rate right now I will not complain and just be thankful that tonight I can sleep pretty much knowing that baby Cayden is going to live a full life and be Sandhoff free. Still I wont believe anything 100% until I see her crawl across the floor or take her first step. For the nightmare of what we lived with Conner and the fear that we have lived with everyday for the last year, still lies inside us - and nothing is more terrible then losing your child. |
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| 4 months Well little Cayden is now 4 months old and she is getting crankier by the day it seems! I almost can bet she is getting teeth because she is biting on anything and everything she can. She is trying so hard to crawl but cant keep her bottom portion up with her top half so for now she is army crawling! She is really starting to laugh alot and squeals with delight when she is happy. She can sit really well with support and loves to play with her toys. She reaches out for them now while lying on her tummy and then ofcourse sticks everything in her mouth. She is getting so spoiled rotten, she does not like anyone except mom and dad, and now and then she enjoys her sister! If someone she doesnt know talks to her, the lip comes out followed by the highest pitched SCREAM. She can barely be put down without her screaming as well - yes screaming is one of her favorite things to do... She is getting alot of more fun though, with her giggling and smiling she is our little doll baby (our very LOUD doll baby ) here are some current pics |
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| Age 5 months Yesterday Cayden turned 5 months old and what alot of things she has learned in the last month. She is officially CRAWLING!! She can sit up on her own and she is pulling up on things. She is babbling and making alot of new sounds. She is getting over her fear of strangers somewhat but still that lip appears now and then! Cailee holds her hands and lets Cayden walk around the house, she really enjoys that. She is eating baby foods morning and night and really hates any fruits right now. She still has no teeth, but I am just hoping for some hair to grow in someday soon!! She is one very bald baby girl!! Here is a slide show of her being 5 months old. Enjoy... |
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| Happy half year birthday to our Cayden girl! She is thriving, pulling up on everything. Standing alone for a second or two. Crawling into and out of every room, and truley getting into everything. She still has NO teeth, and barely any hair. She just had her first ear infection - and it went away very quickly. She screams now if she cant have her way and is the most persistant little booger you can imagine!! Here are some pics of her on her 6 month Bday!! |
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| I cant believe our baby girl is already 7 months!! Wow how time flies. She is doing so much - she is standing on her own while letting go of the couch - waving, biting!, and crawling very fast. She gets into the bathtub all day long because she thinks its always bathtime! Cayden is extremely attached to Mommy. She will not let anyone at all now hold her but mom. She screams her head off if anyone attempts to hold her. This is making life a bit interesting, cause she is with me 24/7. Not too much babbling, no teeth and um not really any hair either. She is a happy baby and her eyes are just about brown now. Here are some pics of her being 7 months old. |
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| Baby Cayden is on the move in more then one way, !! she is 9 months old now and beginning to walk . Last month was full of changes, she started waiving, saying mama and baba, got 2 front top teeth in, and has finally grown some hair. She is becomming more and more fun, and loves to play with Cailee. Its always amazing when your baby takes their first steps - but for us this time is just so special. There is nothing more that I would rather watch then our little miracle baby wobbling across the floor. Here are some pictures and some short video clips of her beginning to walk. |
| Sorry for the lack of updates lately. Cayden is now 11 months and a full ball of energy. She goes none stop morning to night and is into anything and everything that she can get her hands on. We had a fun visit at the beginning of January with Jayden Mulligan, angel Joey and Claytons little brother, the babies had a great time together but Cayden was a little more then Jayden was ready for!! We took Jayden to the beach for the first time, and he had some yummy bites of sand while he was there. We are getting ready to plan Caydens first birthday next month, and I still wonder where the time goes so quickly. Below are a few recent pictures, along with a picture of Cayden and Jayden together. |
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