The Cadena Kids 

Everyone go out for dinner on October 5th!

All proceeds are going to the victims of Katrina

Click here to see what restaurants are participating

Happy Birthday Baby

Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday dear Alyssa, my sweet and gorgeous and insanely smart sis-ter, Happy birthday to you.

Ava's rendition.....

Bappy bir-bay tooooo ewe
Bappy bir-bay tooo ewe
twinkle twinkle little tar
shunshine, ewe are my shunshine............
then onto baby babble that is no longer comprehendable (is that a word???)

Sorry we couldn't be there Aly. I'm sure you had a lovely tea party with all your friends and I bet Tyler would have LOVED to have been there surrounded by all those gorgeous girls. I miss you baby.

Love
Big sister,
Rhobin

Finding true happiness is finding your true self

Faith is being willing to trust God -
turning your hopes and problems over to Him and trusting in His wisdom -
and knowing that somehow everything will turn out for the best. No
matter how difficult or dark things become, there is always a light.

The Lord will either calm your storm . . . or allow it to rage while
He calms you.

Love
Rhobin

Govel is back

Govel moved very far away for a while (this is Ty's imaginary friend) but now he is back. He's moved from Pluto back to our house. According to Tyler Govel's birthday is today and he is turning 5 today. Now, I don't remember having imaginary friends when I was little (they say SMART kids have imaginary friends) but do you know how hard it is to play duck duck goose with an imaginary 5 year old?

Ava actually dressed herself (note the 2 different shoes on her feet AND that they are on the wrong feet) and I'd say she did a pretty good job. She grabbed Ty's bookbag and put that on too and walked to the door said bye-bye, blew a kiss and said, "School". She got mad though when she couldn't open the door.



We have decided, officially that we are no longer having any more children. I want another for my own selfish reasons and that wouldn't be fair to anyone. We can give more to Ty and Ava and it's really nice to have come to a final decision. It's nice to know that I can move on now. We will be getting rid of all the baby stuff that isn't needed anymore this weekend. I can't wait although I have to say I got teary going through Ty's clothes. I kept a box of things for them to have when they get older and surprisingly kept it down to a bare minimum. It's sad that I will never feel a baby move inside me again and never hold my OWN newborn again but I would say those are some really selfish reasons to have another baby. Oh well, I guess Ty will have to pass the "Fairton" name onto his own children. As for the names I had picked out, Jack and Juliette, well maybe we'll grow old and get 2 ugly poodles and names them Jack and Juliette.

Love
Rhobin

A day at the shelter

Please forgive me for being so lazy but I am copying and posting my latest entry. I have a group of women I am extremely close with (all of us were Due in December 2003) and have known for some time now. We share anything from the mundane day to day ongoings in our lives to the biggest drama filled stories you can imagine. So I am cross posting, from there to here.


"Went to the shelter today and good news! The airlines and buses are offering free oneway tickets now! Turns out the boyfriend's Aunt passed away (they were waiting to see what was going on with her before they could make any decisions to go anywhere). All of his family left to go to the funeral from what I gather but my family was still there. I have to say it's getting harder and harder to go but at the same time when I'm not there I want to be there and once I am there I don't want to leave. I am so attached to my Dwight. I so badly want to bring him home and rescue him. Today was especially hard. All the kids (all 4) are all recognizing me now and hug me and want to be carried (the 2 younger ones) all the time. I stayed tonight for about 3 hours. At one point I was walking holding hands with the youngest one (becky who is 1 month younger than Ava) and another little girl who is a few months older than our babies (referring to all the babies on my message board that were born around the same time Ava was). I told the other little girl she had to stay upstairs while I was looking for Becky's mom downstairs. I didnt know where this little girls mom was so I didnt want to take her out of that area (all of upstairs is pretty much a play area and believe it or not everyone just lets their kids run everywhere upstairs while they are downstairs...no supervision whatsoever by the parents). Anyhow the little girl started getting upset because she wanted to come downstairs with me. A redcross worker saw her and asked her where her mommy was and she looked up at me, one finger hanging out of her mouth and pointed with other to me and said, "Mommy". My heart broke. She was waiting for me when I came back up and just kept wanting me to carry her.

Fight after fight broke out tonight, I think peole are getting stressed and depressed. One elderly lady said, "I am sitting here and waiting and waiting but I don't know what I am waiting for". Their whole future changed by just one storm. I feel especially bad for the elderly who dont have any family. The people who are young will evenually get jobs but who knows what will happen with the sick and elderly.

Today I couldnt hold back tears when I was in there. A gospel group came in today along with a few preachers and for anyone that doesnt know how a black church does it, you need to go to one! I cried as they sang Amazing Grace and This little light of mine. My kids (Dwight and Helen) got up there on that microphone and sang thier little hearts out. They waved to me from up there and I felt so proud, like they were mine. Through all this hardship here are all these people in a shelter praising God. Hot tears went streaming down my face. Volunteers and evacuees together sat hand in hand to worship and sing. Every problem I have been having was so trivial at that point.

I played with the kids football, jumprope (even double dutch!) Uno and did some puzzles. I wiped Becky's nose (the youngest one) since she has a bit of a cold and more that anything just hugged them. Everytime I sat down on the floor about 4 or 5 kids I had never even met would pile up on me and hug me. It felt so good, but it hurt all the same.

Finally at 9pm I figured I should go. I gave Dwight my address and phone number and told him he better write me in the event that they leave before I can say bye. He said he would write me tonight. I asked him if he had any stamps and he said no so I told him I would bring him some this weekend. Then I told him I had to go and he said, "right now?". I told him yes and he looked down and I could see the disappointment. I told him I would be back and hugged him. He asked if he could come home with me. Ugh, my breaking heart! I told him no, he had school and so he asked if he could come stay the weekend with me. I told him if his mom said it was okay then he could come stay the night one weekend but she had to agree. He said ok and we hugged again. I told the other kids goodbye and got about half way to the door and turned around and saw little Jeremiah following. He is the second youngest (just turned 4). I asked him where he was going and he said, "I'm goin home with you!". I said, "You can't sweetie. Go back with your brother now." He wouldnt go so I had to take him back over to Dwight and tell Dwight to hold him so I could leave. I had to plug my ears as I walked away because I could hear him crying, "LET ME GO!!!! I WANNA GO!!!". I had to tell myself, "don't look back, keep walking". I miss those kids already and I have only been home for about an hour and a half. It's almost like I have this bond with Dwight like he is my own. I want to hold him and protect him. They are all such good kids.

As I stood there today watching them praise God and dance I realized this is a memory I will forever have with me and I thank God for that."


Now a message to whoever is thinking I am not so bright for giving Dwight my address. Keep it to yourself. I don't want to hear it. Until you go in there and are touched by such a special individual, dont say anything. I am a mother, an adult and a strong believer in God. I make sound and justifiable decisions and this is one of them. Yes, they have now had all their shots and have been checked out through the medical team. This is a child I am opening my home to for a weekend, nothing more, no adults, just a child. Many people are taking whole families into thier homes, if I didn't have children I would be doing the same. Seriously, I DON'T want to hear it, from ANYONE. Thank you for respecting my decision.

Love
Rhobin

Sept 13, 1 year ago today

A story of a sweet little girl named Allie brought me to tears. I read day after day of her batte with AML and on September 13, 2004 she lost her fight. She was only 9 months old, born one day after Ava. Please pray for strength for her family today and always.

Allie's mom, Jenny, still posts regularly, and I still read of all they have accomplished since Allie's passing. They are an amazing family, as is their little girl.

Now to end on a happier note....
The other day Mike had to take Ty to school since I was getting my wisdom teeth pulled. His teacher told Mikey of another funny Ty story. She said he was sitting at a table at lunch surrounded by girls (of course, he is his father's son!) and he looked around and said, "Hey, why are all you girls sitting around me? Oh, it's because you love me right?". I think I will start calling him "Lover Boy".

Crummy day

First off my wisdom teeth are KILLING me and I can no longer chew on one side. My mouth is swollen and giving me headaches. Not fun! And the soonest the oral surgeon can get me in is next Thursday. The pain seems to be at worst at night. I started taking hydorcodone to cope with the pain and it at least stops the throbbing. Throughout the day I am taking ibuprofen since the hydrocodone makes me so tired. I am looking forward to getting these things out.

Secondly, I lost my wedding ring last night. I am so incredibly upset. We looked everywhere and I will just die if I don't find it. To make matters worse my engagement ring was fused together with my wedding band and a third ring Mike got me birthday to complete the set. Faith in the fact that it will turn up is keeping me from a breakdown. Hopefully it turns up when we move if not before then. I don't want a new ring, I want the one that I already had, the one that Mike put on Tyler's onezie (snapped on the front) when he proposed. The one he slid on my finger on our wedding day. Please God, help me find it.

Katrina

I went to go surprise my mom in South Padre last Wedsday for her birthday and stayed until Saturday. The entire time I was there all I could think about were those people in New Orleans. I just wanted to get back home and find out what I could do to help. I started volunteering at one of the many shelters here in San Antonio and came across one family in particular. Along with another volunteer we tracked down some of their family and got them in touch. They have 4 children, Dwight who is 9 (and my absolute favorite), Helen who is almost 8, Jeremiah who is 4 and a baby named Becky who is 1. I can't get them off my mind. When I am at home I just want to be there. My sweet boy Dwight and his little brother Jeremiah and I were sitting reading books (with Jeremiah in my lap and Dwight next to me) when I turned and saw tears streaming down Dwight's face. I asked him what was wrong and he told me he missed his daddy. I asked where he was and he told me he was dead, he died 2 years earlier when Dwight was only 7 years old. We cried together and I just held him. I want to save him from the life I am sure he is destined to have. One of instability (all of his siblings come from different daddy's except 2 and she's with a new guy now), an unsure future and without trying to sound prejudice, gang violence and most likely being subjected to drugs. You look around the shelter and that's what you see, people that have lived through these hardships. I want to give him so much more. He's sweet and respectful saying yes ma'am and no ma'am all the time. He holds my hand when I walk around and he gives me hugs when I get there. It's emotionally draining and I am exhausted but I just wish I could do more. I know I can't save the world but I'll try my hardest to make an impact. Sensitive material coming so read no further if you wish not to. The mother shared stories of horror from what they saw in the convention center while waiting 5 days to be rescued. She told me stories of babies and the eldery having thier throats cut and of little boys being raped. It's so sad what they have been through. I feel bad coming home to my cozy little bed and having a wonderful meal to eat. I'll wake in the middle of the night and go to the bathroom that ONLY Mike and I share AND I won't have to wait in line for it. I won't have to worry if the guy beside me will snoop through my bags and steal anything I do have left over after losing my home and most of my belongings. Then we will wake in the morning and Mike will go to his secure job and he'll drive ONE of the TWO vehicles we have. We should all be thankful for what we have. Eureka (the mother) told me of how she used to have no fear and now after being through this she is so scared. She realized that in one moment you can be gone. These people are living day to day not knowing what tomorrow brings and I all can do is go day after day to help them figure their future out. Pray for them, the only thing that seperated us from being them was location.



Love
Rhobin

Well, at least he's not the bully

Today the pre-k classes had an orientation for the parents so once the kids went to lunch we met with the teacher. As soon as she saw me she told me how funny Tyler is. She then asked me if he is particular about things. I said "very, why?". I mean the kid gets upset when I park my car a different way that usual in the driveway. Anyway, she proceeds to tell me of this kid in the class that always has a snotty nose and it's pretty disgusting. So one day Tyler went up to her and said,"Plllleeeease don't sit me next to him, he needs to clean his nose!!". She and I cracked up laughing.

Next thing I know his teacher is telling me, "You will never believe what Tyler just did!". Oh no is all I can think, what now??? She proceeded to tell me how she went into the boys bathroom and caught Tyler and a kindergarten boy (Ty is only in pre-k) getting paper towels from the dispenser and wetting them down and throwing them at eachother. She said as soon as she walked in he dropped the one in his hand and covered his mouth. He knew he was in trouble. So he got a bad mark in his folder for that day. I think we have a class clown on our hands, then again, we've been saying that since he was a baby.

Love
Rhobin

Time outs proven to be a success, for now anyway

Please forgive me for those of you who come for a short but sweet update of my babies lives. I have come to use this site as a journal of sorts to reflect back on, therefor I have started recording every moment worth cherishing more for myself and these kids of mine. Don't get me wrong, I love sharing this with you all but know some entries won't be as amusing as others. There got that off my chest;-)

I have been using time out for Ava for a few months now and she is doing so good! Granted it hasn't totally stopped the hair pulling and pinching that she does to Tyler but it is starting to work as a deterent. Everytime I ask her if she wants to go to time out she immediately says, "I sorry" to Tyler or whom ever she has most recently hurt. If she actually goes in time out then she knows as soon as she gets out to go give that person a hug and say sorry. She's learning, I just wish the hurtful behavior would cease. I KNOW she's only 20 months but she knows she is hurting by pinching etc. I guess it's her way of communicating that she is frustrated. Hopefully the time outs will be a total deterent eventually and she won't continue once she completely understands the concept.Tyler is constantly being picked on by her. I know it sounds funny because he is the older one but he knows he is not supposed to do it back so I hear lots of whining throughout the day. And it's not fair to him that just because she is a baby that she can act this way. I hope she catches on quick that if the behavior stops then so does the time outs. I mentioned to her pediatrician that she has this shreak that is just ear piercing and she loves to do this in the car and asked how I can get it to stop. According to her I should pull over the car and take her out and put her in time out. Yeah right, like I am going to stop the car, get out then go around and pull her out of her car seat and set her in time out on a highway??? Sometimes I wonder where doctors get their advice from.

As for Tyler's first day riding the bus, well, I arrive at his stop and greet him as he is getting off only to find him competely hysterical. He was so upset he could hardly talk. All I could get out of him was, "I just miss-ed you". Yes that's miss-ed (as in Ed the name, following the miss part). I finally find out that he thought he got on the wrong bus. How terrifying for such a little guy. He was still up for riding the bus today and this time he got off with a big smile saying, "I didn't cry today Mommy!". WHEW!

Ava has now started calling us Mommy and Daddy. No more Mamma and Dadda. A sad day in history.

Now to end on a funny but kinda disgusting note. Today Tyler had gas while he was playing at home. I asked him if he needed to go to the bathroom and he said no. I said do you toot like that at school? He said, "No, when I am at school my poop tells me to keep it inside, keep it inside". Good thing his poop has manners.