On November 27, 2023 after having a high fever for four days Kane was diagnosed with B Cell ALL Leukemia. Immediately when he woke up on the fourth day with a fever over 102, we knew something had to be wrong and took him to the Emergency Room. When we were finally taken to a room, doctors began to ask questions to try to figure out the root of the problem. After being poked 11 times by 4 different nurses they were finally able to draw blood and run multiple tests. We were admitted into the hospital that evening and by the next day we had the results of the blood cultures and we heard a diagnosis we could have never anticipated.
Hearing that your child has cancer is truly something you can never prepare your Mama heart for. Seeing your child in pain and unable to function as normal is just as hard.
Within 24 hours of his diagnosis, he was given a blood transfusion, started his chemo treatments, and had a lumbar puncture in his spine, along with a bone marrow biopsy. After countless test, procedures, PICC line placement and removal, and having a Port implanted in his chest, we were able to continue treatment from home; with regular visits to the outpatient clinic.
In May, we were blessed with the news of remission. This means his oncology team hasn’t found any cancer in his body during his last few tests but will continue to treat him.
We have reached day 421 since he was diagnosed and he still takes an oral chemo daily as well as regular doctors visits, and a lumbar puncture every 3 months to confirm that he remains cancer free. The fact that our four year old can swallow a pill every day is still mind blowing to me.
Kane has been an absolute light since the moment he was born. He has brought us more joy and purpose than I ever could have imagined. I know he will one day do great things and this is only a small obstacle that we will overcome.
Kane will continue to be treated until April of 2026 but continues to be true to his namesake, a Little Warrior.
Each item I have found to be important as we continue on this crazy journey of parenthood. I am a first time Mom so I in no way think I have it all figured out. Instead, I have found a few things along my path that have made it just a little easier.
*The first few items are specific to breast feeding Moms. If that isn’t you, feel free to scroll down a few. : )
#1 Milk Snob Nursing Cover
Not only is this cover super cute and stylish but it is multifunctional! I love knowing that it covers every inch of me and that I don’t have to worry about anyone getting an eyeful. It wraps around me like a poncho and the neck is loose enough that I can look in to check on him while he is eating. We also use it to cover the car seat when little man is asleep. Especially, during these unpredictable times of COVID. It’s nice knowing he is safe inside and won’t get sneezed on.
It’s super compact so it goes everywhere with us, and is machine washable! Total must have! Get your milk snob here >>> https://amzn.to/3jkeY0v
#2 The Haakaa
This is one of those items that I wish I had thought of first! Super simple and easy to use, but absolutely genius.
I tried a few different ones before stumbling upon this brand on Amazon and I can definitely say this one worked the best, by far. It’s designed to catch your let down from the opposite breast while you’re breast feeding. It creates a nice suction and if you feel engorged you can easily knead your chest while this catches every drop. It makes the process of making extra bottles super simple. You will be pleasantly surprised by how much extra milk comes without even trying.
*If you’re clumsy like me make sure to be extra careful when suctioning it on. It’s best if you put it into your nursing bra so baby doesn’t knock it off. Also, it’s made from a very flimsy plastic and can fall over very easily. Whoever said “don’t cry over spilt milk” clearly never spilt breast milk. It’s absolutely devastating to see your hard work spill all over the floor.
#3 Boobie Brands
Not only are these helpful for milk production, but they are also super tasty! I’ve tried ever flavor bar and I can honestly say they are all good. But, my all time favorite is the Cocoa Crunch Granola. I could easily eat an entire bag in one sitting, it’s that good! Each of the products include flaxseed and are kosher, vegan, and dairy free!
*Use Code: CAITLIN20 for a discount!
#4 Stroller Caddy
I swore I wouldn’t need one and lasted about a month before getting one, but having a stroller caddy is definitely helpful. Especially, if you plan to take your sweet baby on lots of walks. Let’s face it, as comfortable as leggings are, they rarely have pockets! We need somewhere to put our water bottle and house keys.
The Itzy Ritzy stroller caddy’s are perfect! Not only are they a great size, but they are super stylish and go great with any stiller. They have room for two cups inside (perfect for coffee teens like me who always need coffee and try to stay hydrated with water) as well as a zipper in the front for your phone and your keys. There is even enough room to stick my wallet inside when I don’t want to carry a purse.
*Warning: Everything this brand touches is adorable and you will magically find yourself needing more and adding to your list. Get your adorable stroller caddy here >>> https://amzn.to/2IJVIwH
#5 Eye Cream
I really wish it weren’t true ladies, but we just aren’t aging like we are 17 anymore. To top it off we aren’t getting sleep like it either. Eye Cream is sure to become your best friend and help take away those puffy dark circles under your eyes!
My personal favorite is Younique Eye Cream. they even have a cute little applicator that makes applying it feel like a vacation. Hey, I will take them whenever I can get them. Add this to your daily skincare routine and I promise your friend are going to start asking you when your little one started sleeping so well.
This thing is absolutely amazing! If you can remember when your baby eats or poops I am impressed! This Mama exhaustion is real and this app makes my life so much more convenient. I’m able to start a timer when Kane falls asleep so I can time his naps, log his diapers, and even how many ounces he eats during each feeding. Your life is about to get so much easier with this app!
#7 The Owlet Baby Monitor
This next product is going to make your sleep amazing, if you’re getting sleep. If you still aren’t getting any sleep it is going to help you change that. The Owlet is my all time favorite gift that we have received. It monitors Kane’s heart rate and oxygen level. It even monitors the temperature in the room. Which is so necessary with our sweaty little man. My all time favorite part is that we can stream it on our phone from anywhere! It has its own app! Daddy can check on little man when he is at work and see him all snuggled up and cozy in his crib! So worth spending a little extra money to get that extra peace of mind. You NEED this one!
Some may think we are crazy, but we just finished our third road trip with our sweet little 3 month old. We may have been blessed with a calm little one but I would still love to share a few of the things we have found work and don’t work for making the trips just a little easier.
#1: The DockATot:
Kane asleep in his Dockatot
First things first, sleep! Good sleep is hard to come by these days, so I take it very seriously when making sure we have all the things to make our night successful. At home Kane sleeps in a bassinet and of course we can’t bring that with us, so we bring the next best thing… the DockATot! If you don’t don’t already have one of these you NEED one. They are like magic! Most importantly they are perfect for travel. Kane sleeps safely in bed with us, in his cozy little bed. We don’t co-sleep normally, so this has created a learning curve for us. But this is the perfect solution to keeping him safe while we sleep since the hotel only has one bed.
*Pro tip: I saved the plastic case it came in and use it as a carrying case to take it on the go. It’s perfect to make sure that the DockATot doesn’t get dirty during our travels.
#2: Pump On The Go:
Kane feeling big drinking his bottle in his carseat.
This next one may sound like a lot of extra work, but it’s so worth it to make sure you don’t add crazy amounts of time onto your travel. Bring your pump and a power inverter! While our little man is asleep in the backseat, I pump and have a bottle ready for him for when he wakes up. This means we have to stop less and I won’t become uncomfortable from not feeding him for long periods of time. Plus we don’t have to take him out of his seat. We can feed him with a bottle while he is safely seated in his car seat when the car is in motion. He feels super big and gets practice with holding the bottle all on his own.
Our favorite bottles are the Comotomo. They are the perfect size for his little hands to practice holding it on his own. Plus, the nipple is wider and flatter than most generic bottles and was easier for him to latch onto than the Avent or Medela bottles.
#3: Keep Your Bottles Fresh:
The Medela Bottle Cooler is an absolute game changer! It is compact and fits inside the diaper bag while still holding 4 bottles and the perfect little ice pack. I make sure my ice pack is frozen before we leave and add bottles to the cooler as I pump. Then the bottles are ready to go when little man is ready to eat.
#4: Packing Cubes:
The next one on my list is going to make all of you OCD super organized Mom’s squeal with joy! I discovered packing cubes when I was traveling on my own and teaching in different countries and they are absolutely amazing! You can organize your clothes by day, or type, and have a spot for your dirty clothes too. Feel free to organize things in whatever way makes your heart happy. I promise that once you try organizing everyone’s things in packing cubes, you will never want to go back to throwing things in a bag. They even make different sizes to give you options on what you put into each cube.
#5: Capture the Moment:
Get a tripod and use a self timer! We are big fans of documenting our memories and haven’t quite mastered the art of the selfie, so we use a tripod and a self timer instead. This has changed our pictures tremendously! Nick used to set our phone up on a tree and we would wait patiently for the timer to go off only to watch the phone fall over and miss the shot. With a tripod we are able to set things up and have them ready to take the picture for when that perfect moment comes. We all know how quick our babes can move and how quickly their moods can change, so make sure you are ready to get those great shots before they become a grouchy Gus.
We want to get pictures of Our whole family with each state sign and since there are no random strangers standing on the side of the road the tripod is a must!
#6: Feeding on the Go:
We have two Boppy’s at home, one for upstairs and one for downstairs so of course it is an absolute must for us to bring one with us when we travel. If we have extra time to pull over for a feeding and we aren’t giving little man a bottle then I whip out the Boppy.
Now that Kane is starting to get bigger the Boppy has even more uses! We use it to support his chest when he is doing his tummy time during play time and we can use it for him to relax in and support his neck. It’s always great to have that extra piece of mind that he has extra support.
*BONUS: The Boppy can double as a pillow for Mom for those long road trip naps!
Our Great Adventure 