Say a Little Prayer....

I am going to make this quick, but I just got an email from my sister-in-law Carrie (my brother's wife) who is expecting their first baby in late September. She received a call from her doctor today regarding the "quad test" that they routinely give pregnant women to test for possible birth defects, down syndrome, a a few other genetic problems. It is NOT a diagnosis, but it tells whether further screening and tests need to be done. Her test came back positive. They have to go to the hospital this Friday for genetic counseling and a detailed ultrasound to measure the baby and look for other problems, if there are any. The Quad test could simply be a false positive, but regardless, the next few days will be filled with anxiety for us. Please say a little prayer for them and the baby that all will be well. She and Tim have a wonderful outlook and have put it in God's hands, but I know they are worried about what is happening. I will close this with the bible verse Carrie used in the email she sent out because it says it best: Isaiah 44:2: "I am your Creator. You were in my care even before you were born."

March of Dimes March for Babies 2008, Virginia Beach Oceanfront, Team Baby William!

Today, Kenden and I participated in the March of Dimes March for Babies at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront~a 5 mile walk. Kenden raised $350 to go to the March of Dimes, an organization that helps children born prematurely or with birth defects. We walked as a part of Team Baby William, in honor of our friend, William Manning Yancey who was born at 26 weeks gestation (Lisa was only 6 months pregnant!!) at 1 pound, 14 ounces. Baby William was not expected to make it, but that little fella pulled through and is here today, shocking his parents and doctors with how far he's come. He had a stage 4 brain bleed when he was born and made it through that. He still has many hurdles ahead of him, but he's a blessing and gift to all those he comes in contact with....A very special thank you to the following people/families who sponsored Kenden, helping us to raise $350:
Pam and Ted Breeden (Grammie and Papa)
Tim and Carrie Breeden
The Frohardt Family
The Currin Family
The Lajaunie Family
Patti and Tom Allen
Quinn Kliebenstein

We had a great time walking with our friends, the Jennings! And we managed to NOT get rained on!

Kenden with his buddy, Blake!


Kenden and Mama, sporting their Team Baby William T-shirts!

Go Team Baby William! There were over 100 people who walked for Team Baby William and we all wore these blue shirts with Baby William's cute mug on the front!

Kitty's Baby Shower! Welcome Baby Declan! Can't Wait to Meet You!

Sunday, Kenden and I drove to Hopewell so that I could attend the baby shower of my very good friend, Kitty (Allen) Leake! Kitty and I go WAY back...we swam on the same swim team together, lifeguarded together, she played soccer for my dad's teams, not to mention, we were just good friends. Her mom worked with my parents up until late last year, and she's been like another mom to me. The Allens are wonderful friends. Kitty even cohosted my baby shower that was here in Va. Beach with my sister in law, Carrie. Kenden got to spend the afternoon with Nanny (Jeff's mom) while my mom, Carrie and I went to the shower. Kitty's doctor says that even though her due date is a month away, she really could go any time now! So exciting. We are all very eager to meet baby Declan! We had a great time at the shower, getting to catch up with old friends...best wishes Kitty and Deneb! We are very excited for you and I know you all will be wonderful parents!

The Diaper Cake

The Mommy-To-Be Opening her presents!



After the shower, we headed back to Grammie and Papa's house so we could celebrate Papa's birthday with a cake and help him open presents!

Baby Sophia's 1st Birthday Party!

Yummy! Pizza for all...except Kenden who won't touch the stuff...

Kenden and Luke, our other neighbor across the street...they look like 2 little old men....

The birthday girl, Sophie!

Now, this is more like it! CUPCAKES!! Kenden loves the icing....

Our neighbors' daughter, Sophia, had her birthday party on Saturday evening at their home, right across the street. We had so much fun over there. The kids had a ball, running all over the place outside, playing with all the outside toys! Hard to believe another year has passed....

Kenden, Gabe, and Sophie!

After washing Mommy's car, next on the agenda was playing with Gabe and his little sister Sophie, who live across the street. It was Sophie's first birthday, so she was outside with her new pink car! She can hang with Kenden and Gabe now, who each have their own little plastic rides! Kenden immediately honed in on Sophie's car and tried to steal it away from her, but I had to tell him to play with his own because it was her birthday and she just got it as a present! Kenden and Gabe get along so well and love to play together and we are so sad that they will be moving to Massachusetts this summer. I know I will miss our wonderful neighbors Jon and Rebbecca, and Kenden will really miss his great buddy Gabe....we'll enjoy the time we have together now for sure. Check out the pics of Kenden and Gabe parked side by side in the cars...they were just chatting away and trading toys. So cute...

Kenden and Gabe


"So, are we hangin' at your place or mine tonight?"


The Birthday Girl, Sophia! Happy First Birthday Baby Sophie!

Helpin' Dada wash Mommy's Car!

Kenden wouldn't be a Turner if he didn't enjoy being outside and washing cars! When he saw that Dada had the hose, soap and buckets out, he grabbed his own washing mitt and got right to work. He really wanted to wash the rearview mirrors, but couldn't reach them. He was entertained with this until he noticed his buddy Gabe outside across the street, then we headed over there for some fun!

Happy 3rd Birthday Griffin!!

Pony Rides at Griffin's Party!

Kenden and Griffin Feeding the Goats...Kenden also went into the pen with the goats and proceeded to pick up GOAT POOP with his BARE HANDS!! Needless to say, I almost peed my pants when he did that because I wasn't in there with him!! YUCK!



Griffin's super cool Beehive Birthday Cake!

Today, Jeff and I took Kenden to Griffin's birthday party at Hunt Club Farm (where we go to get our pumpkins at Halloween, and Christmas trees, too). Griffin is the daughter of Teresa (Dingas) Williams...she and Jeff grew up together and are only 2 months apart in age. Jeff and Teresa's moms are best friends, so they grew up together and, in fact, Jeff's sister, Vickie, wanted to trade Jeff for Teresa when he was born, because she wanted a sister! I doubt Vickie feels the same way now, but it is still a funny story! So, it is super neat that Kenden and Griffin are only about 7 months apart in age, and it would have been a little less if Griffin hadn't come a little early.

So, we had a BLAST today at the farm, with the pony rides, petting zoo, jungle gyms, AND the super cool Virginia Beach Fire Truck that came to visit! I think that that was even my favorite part! That is a massive piece of machinery, that is for sure! Kenden loved sitting in the driver's seat...when the fire fighter asked who wanted to sit up there, he ran forward and was the first one to get to sit inside! He was tickled pink!

Griffin looked adorable in her little birthday dress and she had the coolest beehive cake! We had a nice time and it was a great way to spend a nice, warm Saturday afternoon! Happy Birthday Griffin! Hope we get to play together some more this summer!

Here to Save the Day! Fireman Kenden!


Looking at his Reflection in the Tire Rim! Goofy Faces!

HUGE Firetruck!

Party's Over...Kenden was sooooo tired!!

Eye Appointment Update!

Good news! NOTHING at all is wrong with Kenden's eyes! His vision is just as it should be (slightly far sighted is normal for kids his age) and no crossing or "laziness" of either eye! Dr. Lall-Trail said that Kenden has a wide nasal bridge between his nose and eyes and also an extra flap of skin in the inner corner of each eye (that he will grow into), and because that extra fold is there, it can give the appearance of one or both eyes crossing because you see less white of the eye! Needless to say, Jeff and I are relieved (as are all the grandparents!) that nothing is wrong, considering what would have had to be done if there was something. And of course, there is some crazy technical term for what those extra folds are called (pseudo somthing or another), but that doesn't matter! I took pics of Kenden and pics of me as a baby and the doctor was shocked at the similarity...I knew nothing was wrong! Mother's instinct! ha!

What Boy Doesn't Love a Fort!?

Kenden has really gotten into "forts" or being in places that are closed in so he feels like he's hidden. I remember my brother Tim and I building numerous forts out of our parents' sofa cushions, blankets, and umbrellas on many early Saturday mornings while watching cartoons! It is so fun to feel like you are hidden in a secret place! Yesterday while I went to get my nails done, Jeff helped Kenden build a fort out of the boxes he gets for work and Kenden's boppin' bag! As you can see (barely) in the first pic is Kenden's legs and sippy cup, then, he's peeping out in the second pic!

Is that Kenden in there?

THERE he is!

Kenden's Eye Appointment Tomorrow

Kenden has an eye appointment tomorrow with Dr. Lall-Trail. I had a friend who is also an eye doc tell me that it looked like one of his eyes wanted to keep tracking inward, almost like he had a "lazy eye" or some type of strabismus, where one or both eyes will almost seem to cross when the child is looking a certain direction. In fact, Anna Nicole Smith's daughter, Dannilynn, was diagnosed with severe strabismus in one of her eyes. We are hoping it is nothing or that it is self correcting as he has gotten older, but if not, there are a few things they can do to correct it. 1) Patching his eye, 2) glasses, or 3) surgery. As you can see, we are hoping it is self correcting because if we have to do any of the other options, Kenden will not be a happy camper. BUT, on the other hand, it is better to correct it now so the weak eye doesn't get weaker and more dependent on the strong eye, if there is a problem at all.

Please say a little prayer for him tomorrow that the visit will go well and his little eyes will be fine! I will be sure to update the blog tomorrow with what the doctor decides to do!

Happy 55th Birthday PAPA!

Happy 55 years young Birthday Papa! Kenden can't wait to come see you this week so you can "fro him on da bed" a few hundred times! Hope you had a great one! We love you! Happy Birthday dear Papa, Happy Birthday to you!!