Another note from Annie

We have not been able to post over the past couple of days. Braden is having more issues lately than we would like. Steve was able to post some of the major details and I am personally overloaded with information. I have been through all the emotions that my brain can think of and now I somehow feel numb. I know I must accept the fact that my son is in NICU facing really bad days. But my heart aches for my son like any mother's would. My arms ache to hold him and I ache to kiss his sweet face. My ears ache to hear him cry.

I try to stay strong for Braden, for my husband and for myself. But that is much harder than it sounds. Crying, not sleeping and not eating has become the norm in our lives. We cry so much that we actually get headaches and I could almost swear we have no tears left. I know that his doctors and nurses will take excellent care of Braden. Right now it feels as though the medical staff at Baylor are his parents 24/7 and we pray and pray for them as much as we can. I know that prayerful people like you will give his spirit the motivation to keep on fighting. And we pray for you, too!

Having a child in NICU can really humble a person and make you feel like nothing else really matters. My heart is at Baylor NICU like many other mothers who have babies there. There truly are no words that can describe what it feels like and how much it hurts. Before Braden was born, I was very spoiled and many would have labeled me as high maitenance. But suddenly, all of those perspectives have changed. I used to be the first one in line for the new Carlos Santana sandals or the new line of Nine West purses at Foley's. But now, I could honestly care less about any of those things. All my energy is on Braden and Steve. We pray that Braden will have no serious medical issues when he finally comes home. But even if he does, who cares? We want our son in whatever way God will give him to us.

That drive to Baylor will be burned in our brains forever. We will never be able to drive through downtown Dallas without remembering all of this. Going to Baylor is not a burden. It's almost like getting a treat at the end of the work day. Seeing Braden gives us strength to do what we need to do. And it also helps us to prepare for that joyful day when he gets to come home.

Right now I am working full days. But depending on Braden, sometimes I work half days. I have just enough time to get home, try to eat and shower, then jump in the car by 7:00 p.m. We can see Braden at 8:00 p.m. and we stay until 10:00 or so. Seeing the downtown streets every day is almost theraputic. And it is educational! I can tell you every detail of those streets. I should have a job giving tours of the downtown area! Want to know where to park your car for the JFK Museum or how to find the Farmer's Market? Just ask me! Clara can give you the exact times of every Dart Train or Bus that go downtown because she takes those every day. As we are adapting to our new routine, we keep seeing the same people on the street, on the bus, walking to their cars doing their daily routine. And it's getting easier.

Steve and I have been through a lot in our first year of marriage. We have had our ups and downs like most couples. Our 1 year anniversary is April 10 and I can honestly say that I love Steve more with each passing day. It's sometimes hard to imagine that I could love him even more, but the next day, I do! Steve's strength and loving emotions through all of this has been inspirational. I am so proud to see him be such a caring and devoted daddy. It does get hard because our stress levels are at an all-time high. But he and I love each other and our son and we're sticking together! Steve's family doesn't live here. His father and step-mother, Bob and Amy a.k.a. Grandbob and Gramy, live in Memphis, Tennessee. His mother lives in Sherman. The distance does make it tough but my family is here. And there's a ton of us and hopefully that makes him feel a little better.

Thanks for stopping by here to check on Braden and thank you for all your words of encouragement. Special thanks for all of your prayers!

3/31/2005

We wanted to give everyone the latest update on Braden's condition. Yesterday morning, his lungs had almost completely collapsed. They had to put him on a special ventilator which basically breathes completely for him. He was also given a medicine to help with the situation. This medicine appears to be causing his blood pressure to slip. X-rays done early yesterday morning vs. later in the day showed a mild improvement at best, no change at worst. This morning hasn't shown us any real improvement, but also no downgrade. The nurses are monitoring him around the clock and are confident his condition will improve. Most preemies face these same challenges, Braden had just got our hopes up so high when he was going along so smoothly. These situations are not uncommon and should be fully treatable with this ventilator and medication. He is having to stay sedated most of the time, due to when awake, his natural reaction is to try to breath on his own, which works against us with this new ventilator. We'll try to update ASAP hopefully with good news. For anyone looking for updates, please just check back to this BLOG. Right now everything is so stressful and difficult that it makes it almost impossible to take phone calls. Thanks for your concern and we'll keep you posted.
Steve & Annie

Bumpy Afternoon

We have more news about Braden's day. Of the 4 chambers of his heart, the upper left chamber is beating too fast. He has 2 small heart murmurs which are acting like 1 large murmur. The murmur is allowing too many fluids into his lungs.

His left lung is not fully inflating which means his right lung is doing most of the work. This could over-work his right lung. The doctors believe he has a chronic lung disease and that is causing the problems with his left lung. The doctors are treating him with medication for it.

Braden's kidneys are not mature enough yet to fully release sodium and potassium. He is getting liquid nutrients to supplement the loss.

Now for some good news...

His blood pressure is stable. It's a little low, but not critical. Braden is back on formula today! We can only pray that gaining some weight will help with the other problems he is having. Also, Braden will only be on that 1 antibiotic for 2 more days, which means that infection is clearing up faster than we thought. And the best news of the day comes from the results of his brain scan and thyroid scan. They are both negative!! That means both are perfectly healthy!

Annie took this photo of Braden today. Doesn't it look like he's praying?

Bumpy Morning

Braden is having a bumpy morning. His blood pressure has dipped rather low again and it's also starting to clot. His nurses are having trouble doing his gases because his blood clots before they can get done. His gases are a thorough assessment of his bodily functions, nutrient levels, etc. We are hoping that it is easily treatable. Annie is taking a half day at work and will be at Baylor this afternoon.

The good news is that Braden's infection is slowly starting to heal. He is down to 1 antibiotic and hopefully he will be placed on formula again today. Braden now weighs 2 pounds 5 ounces. He has actually gained weight since being off formula! What a great sign. Frankly, I think it might be a genetic thing...we all seem to gain weight no matter how hard we try to take it off! :)

Braden turned 1 month old yesterday and he received many wonderful gifts from so many people. Newborns in Need sent him a matching set of handmade hats, clothing and blankets. We've attached a photo to share those gifts with you. Thank you for thinking of him!

A Note from Annie

Today my son is 1 month old! This morning when Steve left for work, I just laid in bed and thought of February. As I started to think of all that happened in February up until his birth, I almost couldn't believe that I was blessed to be Braden's mom! Not only that, but I had a son with the one man that God made just for me. I was overwhelmed with just how blessed we are.

Braden has brought so much to me already that I cannot wait to see what he will bring into my life once he is home. This past month of ups and downs has made my heart so strong. No matter what happens, my unconditional love for him will grow and grow every day. Braden is my life and my heart. I love knowing that God chose Steve and me to receive this wonderful gift. We will have the honor and pleasure of raising him.

So on his 1 month birthday, as any mom would, I sang Happy Birthday to a picture that I have of him. Tonight at the hospital, when I can actually see him, I will sing again in person. I would like to send many thanks to you for all the wonderful thoughts and prayers you have given Braden. Please know that we are praying for you, also!

Braden has an aunt, uncle and cousin that are doing missionary work in Thailand right now. They have a very touching blog. If you have time, visit the Blakes at their blog.

This is Braden's incubator on Easter Sunday.


The nurse is preparing Braden for physical therapy.


After physical therapy, Braden was tired.


He's getting all bundled up and ready to snooze.


What an angel! This picture makes us feel even closer to God.


Braden's nurse, Leigh, says goodbye to us.

HAPPY 1 MONTH OLD BIRTHDAY BRADEN !!!!

Happy 1 Month Old

Birthday

to our son,

Braden Bunger

6:17am 3-28-05

HAPPY BIRTHDAY !!

Happy Easter

Braden had a good Easter Sunday. He got a really cute plush duck from his cousins, Jackson and Jonathan. It's rather large and lays flat on its tummy...just perfect for the top of Braden's incubator. We took some great pictures of it and we'll post them on Monday.

Braden really looks so much better. As Steve mentioned, he is not on formula right now and he has not lost weight. That's a great sign. Also, today the nurses were able to add a new IV for Braden to receive Lipid. They had a little trouble finding where to place the IV. His little veins can only handle so much! But luckily, they found a spot on his right arm and the line is working wonderfully so far.

Braden has started physical therapy. He gets a little workout once a day - every 3 days. His exercises are working those little thighs, calves, feet, arms and hands. On his 2 days off, he just chills out and gets ready for that third day of exercising!

Thanks for coming by to check on him! Many blessings to you and your loved ones on this wonderful Easter Sunday.

Latest Update Saturday 3-26-05

We just got back from the hospital. For those of you that didn't know, they did a lumbar puncture (spinal tap) on Braden to check if his infection had spread to his spine. This is a painful test, but we got the results today and no meningitis, no spinal infection. He also was cleared of any infection in his intestines, turns out he has something called a anal fissure. It is basically little tears in the anus which was causing his bleeding. I am sure this isn't fun, but fully treatable, and much better than the alternatives. To correct this, they are going to keep him off of his formula until Tuesday and they will give him a stool softener. We were worried he might lose weight being on his IV again, but he has actually kept his weight and gained a few grams last night. He is still about 2lbs 2.5 oz. He was resting well today, his oxygen level was just a bit high. His lungs seem to be having the most difficulty at the present. His X-rays have showed signs of one doing most of the work, while the other underinflating. They are just still very immature and will grow stronger in time with help from medication and breathing treatments. We are very confident that Braden is doing well, just with a few minor setbacks. He has the best doctors and nurses we could ask for. All in all we had a positive day, more good news than bad, so we'll take that.
Steve & Annie

A Busy Week

Braden has had a busy week. A roller coaster is the best way to describe what's been happening. The good news is that his infection is slowly starting to clear up. Also, he is still at 2 pounds 2 ounces. The best part is that even though his little body is fighting, he still looks great! If all goes well, he might be back on formula next week.

Yesterday, I was visiting him and a nurse asked me to wait around the corner because they needed to do a routine x-ray on his chest. When the other nurse came into the nursery with the x-ray machine, she had not seen me. She looked in at Braden and said, "Oh, wow! He is so cute!" I peeked around the corner and said, "Thank you!" She looked surprised to see me then asked if I was the mother. I said that I was his aunt. She said, "Well, he is certainly a cute little guy!" I proudly responded, "Yes, I know."

Braden will be 1 month old on Monday. Of course, we're already talking about a fun way to celebrate this big day! We are so proud of Braden for being such a fighter. We are very thankful to his loving medical staff at Baylor. We are especially thankful for prayerful people like you who keep Braden in your thoughts and prayers.

Roller Coaster

It definitely feels like we have been on a rollercoaster lately. Braden is doing great one day, then not so much so the next. Currently, the doctors believe Braden has a blood infection, which is being treated with antibiotics. Then today they tell us he had some blood in his stool last night. So now they are concerned he might have an infection in his intestines. I spoke with his doctor today and he informed us they were temporarily taking Braden off of his formula. They are doing so to give his intestines a rest and let them heal up. He will be on an IV during the next 24-48 hours. We did speak to his nurse tonight and she let us know Braden had 3 bowel movements today, and no blood. That is a good sign, hopefully the blood was just a fluke deal, maybe just a small tear. Braden is resting well and his blood gases are being slowed down to only 3 times a week. He used to get 2 a day. Just a few setbacks, but luckily we feel they are minor, infections can usually be kept in control and treated with medication. Although we feel like we have been on a rollercoaster of emotions, Braden's ride has been relatively mild, as far as these situations go. We are thankful for that and just hope things keep getting better.

Thanks again for everyone stopping by to check up on our son. We wish we could thank everyone personally and give you all a big hug. For now, typing our gratitude is about all we can do. We would sure like to hear from everyone who reads this blog, feel free to click on the comments link and let us know who's checking it out and where you are from. It would mean a lot to us and a lot to Braden one day. Will close for now, hope you all have a good Easter weekend and get to spend time with family. Steve & Annie

Looking Good

Braden now weighs 2 pounds 3 ounces! He's really starting to gain weight and he looks so much better these days. They have added Lipid to his formula and that is basically a fatty nutrient that helps him to gain weight. He gets fed through a tube in his mouth. He is responding very well to the formula. His bowel movements are much more regular and his stomach and intestines are obviously working properly.

Braden is still on antibiotics. They are hoping that his infection and the mild bacteria in his blood will be cleared up soon. He also has some small sores on his legs, back and tummy. That is likely caused by the infection. Again, we're waiting to see how Braden will react to the antibiotic. But I have a very good feeling that our little fighter is going to pull right through this!

When I got to the hospital last night, MoMo and PoPo were already in the nursery with Braden. They got to see the nurse change Braden's pamper. They are using a slightly larger pamper for him now. We were really excited about that! When Braden is getting a pamper change, he stretches his arms way up and his legs way out! It's very cute! I was so happy that MoMo and PoPo finally had a chance to see him do that.

While MoMo and PoPo were in the nursery, I was in the waiting room with Connie. We must have waited 30 minutes before PoPo finally came out! They sure do hog up their time in there...not that I blame them. When I finally got in there, Braden was having tummy time. We giggled because the nurse had brushed his hair and he looked as if he were ready to go to Sunday Mass! I did manage to video tape Braden last night. As soon as I can digitize and upload the video, I'll post it so you can see Braden...fancy hairdo and all!

Expressions

Last night, Annie and I went to the hospital. As Steve reported, Braden does have an infection that is being treated by antibiotics. They also detected a mild bacteria in his blood. Fortunately, the antibiotics that he is on will clear that up. Again, we wait to see how our little fighter will battle this one.

When we got to Braden's incubator last night, he was resting comfortably. I immediately noticed that the IV with that blue cast was removed from his left arm. I go so excited! As you know, I am overly-loud (which is definitely my worst quirk) and I praised Braden for doing such a great job. I was loud enough to wake him up and he was mad! He actually looked like he wanted to cry. His face scrunched up and I was just waiting to hear that loud wail come from him. But with all those tubes and cords, he cannot cry.

Seeing those expressions on his face did hurt. It's sad to see him want to cry; knowing that there is nothing we can do to comfort him. Since we can't touch him, we just press our hands against the glass and pray that somehow our thoughts will comfort him. But it was also somewhat of a blessing to see those expressions. He has basically been expressionless since birth, so in an odd way it was good to see that face.

Full term newborns who are minutes old can already make those facial expressions and let out those big, loud cries. It took Braden a few weeks to get to the stage of making facial expressions and I guess that's why we cherish them. And we are eager to hear him cry. I know that cherishing the sound of a baby crying seems unlikely, but in our case it will sound like the voice of an angel.

Thanks again to all who are praying for Braden. Just so you know, we are praying for you, too! We never forget those who love Braden and keep him in their thoughts and prayers.

The Good & Bad

I like to get bad news out of the way so I'll start with that. Braden's oxygen levels are still a little high, flucuating as high as 40%. The nurses think this is mainly due to the possible infection he may have and the stress he has been under the last few days. We are still waiting for test results on the lung infection, but are told it is a very common issue and fully treatable with medication. He also had some blisters develop which are also probable infections. That is being treated with anitbiotics and already clearing up. Now thats out of the way, the better stuff. Braden was up in his weight gain again last night, to 2lbs 3ozs, up another ounce. They are starting to add calories to his formula to help fatten him up. His blood gasses taken this morning were perfect and his blood pressure is still great. They have also removed all the IV's from his body, except one still in his foot, which is supplying nutrients. He doesn't have that blue cast looking thing on his arm in some of the pictures anymore. So all in all mostly good news. Now to just get the lung issue taken care of and we will be in good shape to fight the next battle. Annie says she takes credit for Braden's wonderful eating skills, he seems to have no problems at all in that regard. Thanks for stoping by - be sure and check out the new pictures added yesterday (thanks Clara) .
Steve & Annie

3 Weeks Old - 2 lbs 2 oz

Braden is 3 weeks old today. He has been such a blessing to all of us. He has truly swept us all off our feet. Braden is such a precious baby and we thank you all for loving him and praying for him. We were so happy that Braden hit 2 pounds that we had a 2 pound party. MoMo and Annie brought 2 pounds of shrimp each, Connie brought 2 pounds of veggies, etc. PoPo wanted 2 pounds of dessert, but had to settle for 2 pounds of chips. :o)

Braden did give us a big scare on Sunday, but I'm happy to report that he's doing much better now. He's much more stable and not as restless. We know that he will hit these bumps along the way, and we pray that he will continue to fight right over those bumps.

On Saturday, Steve finally got to hold his son for the first time! They snapped some wonderful pictures and we are so happy to share them with you!

Tummy time before Kangaroo Care with Daddy!


Steve and Braden are preparing for Kangaroo Care.


Steve made sure all the cords were adjusted.


Steve then made sure Braden was comfy.


Braden snuggled up to his daddy.


Guess who weighs 2 pounds??!!


All eyes on daddy after Kangaroo Care!


Look at these feet! They are 4 cm from toe to heel


Kangaroo Care with daddy made him sleepy!

Back to work

Just a quick note to let those who didn't know, Annie went back to work today. She has been out for the last 6 weeks so hopefully that will work out o.k. As far as Braden's condition, we spoke to the nurses this morning and they said he rested well all night long. His weight is 2lb 2oz - up 11oz from birth. Hopefully it was just the breathing tube being too small that was causing yesterday's issues. If that is it, he has a larger tube inserted now and we can live with that. We are still waiting to get more test results back, but all is good at the present - his oxygen level has been about 25-30% and his other numbers are good. He just keeps growing right in front of our eyes. Hopefully we will have more good news later in the day. Steve & Annie

Not so good

Well, after having some good days, Braden is not doing so well today. Turns out he had outgrown the small tubing in his throat and was not breathing well. They replaced it to a larger size, which had to be painful. He was in quite a bit of discomfort so they had to sedate him and actually strap him down since he was so restless. We are hoping the tubes help his breathing. He has required anywhere from 30-90% oxygen today. The doctor took x-rays and determined his left lung is slightly collapsed and he may have a possible infection. They have been giving him breathing treatments all day, so now all we do is wait...again. It's been a stressful day for us, but even more so for Braden. I just personally felt if we are going to write about the good, we should also write about the bad. We will call the nurses tonight and get a check up. When Annie left today after 3pm, he had finally began to rest. Hopefully it will work itself out and we will have better news tomorrow...So thats that. Steve & Annie

The Greatest Day

First off I want to report that I got to hold my son on Friday for TWO AND A HALF HOURS. I'll get to that soon. Concerning Braden's condition, starting on I believe Wednesday is when his blood pressure starting getting a little low. The nurses had to put him back on his medicine (Dopamine). They also discovered some fluid in his lungs through a series of x-rays. This is what had been impeeding his progress of getting stronger and breathing on his own. Instead of lowering his oxygen rate, they have had to raise it, as of late. The doctors decided on a series of breathing treatments, similar to someone with severe asthma. After the procedure on Wednesday, his heart rate skyrocketed to over 200 beats a minute and his blood pressure was even lower. This is a common reaction after receiving this type of treatment, but had us worried all the same. So at that point we just waited. The following day on Thursday, we hadn't seen much improvement. We got to visit personally with Braden's doctor. He now wanted to give Braden a steroid treatment over the next two days. This would help with the liquid in his lungs and hopefully help them to mature more quickly. When we went back to see him on Friday, the results were amazing!

Braden's blood pressure had been so consistently good, they were able to completely stop the Dopamine. They removed the, painful to look at, IV from his head. Although the nurses tell us it causes him no pain, and is the best place to put an IV for a preemie, it still hurts to look at. Braden's heart rate had come down to the 150's and best of all, his oxygen rate had went from him requiring 50%, down to about 10% as of this writing. We really need for his lungs to improve. That is critical right now for his long term health. He is doing so well in all facets. We spoke with his Nutritionist and she told us Braden was right where they wanted him to be in weight gain. He is actually not that far behind what his weight would be still in the womb. Most babies are struggling at 25-26 gestation weeks to just regain their birth weight. Braden is so close to the 2 lb mark, which would be up 9 ozs from birth. To put it all in perspective, as of this writing, Braden was requiring much less oxygen, blood pressure excellent (no medication), eating VERY well, and digesting his food good, as Annie can attest to. She had the luxury of changing a couple of those diapers. I really feel for her in the years to come, having to change ALL those diapers on her own.

Now for more good news, Braden was doing so well on Friday, I finally got to hold him after 2 weeks, 4 days, 6 hours, and 15 minutes of him being on the outside. Basically, it was the same deal as in Annie's post earlier. You hold him, bare skin to skin against your chest and he just goes into hibernation mode. All of his vital signs seem to even out or drop. He just lays there almost lifeless except for his little heart beating. For the first time I could actually hear his breaths. They sounded raspy and a little scratchy, but he did well. On days when preemies are held, they tend to just sleep soundly the rest of the day, which is what Braden did, as we found out when we called last night. Speaking of calls, I received one at 4:30 this morning (Saturday). It took a few rings to sink in, then the horror set in. I was scared to answer, I have never felt that much of an emotional rollercoaster in a matter of seconds - when I found out it was just my work calling me in - I went from terrified, to confused, to mad, then to elated. Sure I'll come in and work, that is the least of my worries. Turns out some of my co-workers were sick so I am filling in today. Seemed like a form of cruel and unusual punishment receiving a call at that time, but I am actually happy to get the chance to make up some work for the weeks that I had to miss earlier.

So it has been an up and down week, as we were told from the beginning, was going to happen. This definately won't be the last one. We would love to write about only the good news & progress, but unfortunately thats not always going to be the way it is. But, for now, Braden has responded to the steroid, all vitals are good, and we are happy. Annie will be visiting Braden in my place today so I'll be anxious to get a report soon. Thanks for taking the time to listen to me ramble & more pictures coming soon.

~Steve Bunger~

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Well it's St. Patrick's Day and Braden was totally prepared. He is getting better but it is a slow process. We need Braden's blood pressure to get back up to normal. We need his heart rate to get back down to normal. And we need his oxygen/vent levels to lower to a normal level. Right now we're waiting on a lot of doctors to give us some test results.

I'm sorry this isn't much of an update, but hopefully we'll have some more solid news on Friday.

Another Update

Low blood pressure is a common problem for preemies. It can be caused by an infection or possibly a problem with the heart. When Braden was born, there was a valve by his heart that did not seal properly. However, he was given medication for this and the valve is now fully sealed. So that valve is not the cause of this problem. Braden does have a very mild heart murmur. But it is so faint that the doctors do not believe that is the cause either. The doctors decided to run further tests on his heart. A heart specialist is scheduled to meet with Braden today. Braden was also tested for infections and the doctors found none.

With all of this comes more blood transfusions for Braden. Again, I will get on my tiny soap-box and ask you to donate blood if you can. There is a link on the right side of this page titled "Give Life" which will help you locate a donor center near you. Please, please become a blood donor if you are able to donate. It truly saves lives!

Braden will also have to receive breathing treatments over the next 2 days. Those little lungs cannot get overworked so they must do what they can to keep him strong. He has lost some weight - he's now 1 pound 13 ounces. But that fluctuation could be a result of his bowel movements.

We will keep you posted. Thanks for stopping by and thanks for all the prayers!

Bumpy Day

Braden is having a bumpy day today. His blood pressure dipped far too low and he had to be placed on medication to regulate it. They had to place another IV in him, but his arms and feet already have things connected to them. So they have placed an IV on his head. I'll admit that it's hard to see him with that in his head, but it is for the best. The doctors will performs a series of tests on Braden's heart to determine why his blood pressure has dipped. We are praying that his little heart is just fine and is not the main cause of this problem. Braden is our little fighter and we know that God will help him get through this bumpy day. We ask that you keep praying for our sweet boy.

We do have some good news. Braden's bowels and intestines are continuing to respond to the formula. As long as he can feed through the tube in his mouth and have bowel movements with no medication, he'll continue to gain weight. Braden slept really well last night and does not seem to be in any discomfort whatsoever.

Thanks for stopping by to check on him. I'll post updates asap.

Pictures, Pictures, Pictures

Connie and Annie went to visit Braden this morning and they called me with great news. Braden now weighs 1 pound 15 ounces! Just one more ounce and he'll be 2 whole pounds. Also, Braden pooped again - on his own with no medication. That lets us know that his bowels and intestines are responding to the formula! Yippee! As promised, we have pictures of Braden's first day out for you. Enjoy!

Annie changed Braden's pamper for the first time.


This is Annie and Braden preparing for Kangaroo Care.


Here, Annie and Braden are making sure the cords and blankets are adjusted.


Once everything was cozy, Braden snuggled up to his mommy.


The wonderful Newborns In Need organization knitted these booties and hat for Braden.


Braden's incubator is well decorated...complete with Dexter Coakley's autograph!


MoMo made a blanket for Braden. Our family calls them "woobies." Braden's woobie covers the top portion of his incubator.


Braden's cousin, Jonathan, mailed him a sweet letter. Jonathan and his brother Jackson cannot wait for Braden to come home!


This is Braden's first Dallas Mavericks basketball jersey. It is far too large for Braden now, but we have a feeling he'll fill it out quickly!

2 Weeks Old Today!

I can hardly believe that Braden is 2 weeks old today. He has really grown and each day is a blessing with him.

On Sunday, Annie was able to change his pamper and take his temperature. As you read in Steve posting, Annie also got to hold Braden on Sunday afternoon. She was desperate to touch him and hold him. The longing to touch and bond was painfully overwhelming for her. But after 13 days, she finally got to hold him for the first time. She held him for an hour and he was so still and peaceful. Braden is definitely a mover and shaker, so it was surprising to see him so still. I know that it was tremendously moving for Annie. And now we are just hoping that Steve will get the opportunity soon.

My mom, known as MoMo to her grandkids, was able to touch his little arm. If you know MoMo, you know that she is a pincher. She can't help but give a gentle squeeze to her grandkids. And she finally got that urge satisfied. We thought she was going to explode from excitement!

In early February, Annie and Steve found out they would be having a son. Belinda Hawkins, a coworker of Annie's, told her that there is no bond quite like a mother and son. How true! God blessed Annie and Steve with this warm, sweet boy. He's fresh from heaven and you just can't help but smile when you see him.

As far as medical updates go, we have more good news. Braden is getting formula through a tube in his mouth every 4 hours. He seems to be responding well to the formula. He is weighing in at 1 pound 13 ounces! Right now his oxygen levels are at about 35%. That's a bit higher than we'd like. We are praying that his little lungs will continue to gain strength so that he can breathe more on his own.

Braden's great-grandfather sent him a rosary and it now sits in his incubator. Steve got a great photo of Braden with his eyes open just a bit and the cross of the rosary on his chest. We thought we'd share this photo with you.

Again, we send thanks for all the prayers. Braden is just one example of the power or prayer. We ask that you continue to pray for Braden and we thank you for stopping by here to check on him.

Kangaroo Care - Braden's Day Out !!!

Well, first off I am a little jealous. While at work yesterday, I find out my wife, Annie, got to hold Braden for the first time. This is a treatment with preemies called Kangaroo Care. I will post some info I tracked down from the Internet: Kangaroo care is the practice of holding your diapered baby on your bare chest (if you’re the father) or between your breasts (if you’re the mother), letting the baby listen to your heart beat, with a blanket draped over your baby’s back. This skin-to-skin contact benefits both you and your baby. Kangaroo care is safe and beneficial, even if your baby is connected to machines. Whatever your situation, this is a precious way to be close to your baby. Well, I can report that Braden loved it...he laid there so still and his heart rate lowered and his breathing was smoother. I know it helps, both baby and mother. I can't wait until it is my turn!!

Braden is doing well...His little incubator is decorated in St. Patricks Day theme at present and he has his Dexter Coakley - Dallas Cowboy autograph hanging up as well. Braden just got his first Dallas Mavericks jersey. I'm sure he will grow into before we know it. We have some new pictures we are trying to get posted of Braden in his newly stitched cap and booties - so be sure to keep checking back. Nothing but positives to report - Braden had another good night. Just growing before our eyes...he is quickly approaching the 2 pound mark. For those of you who know us well, we will probably have a party to celebrate - we'll let you know - everyone will be invited as usual. Will close for now and get back to work. Thanks for taking time to visit and check up.

Braden May Be The Next Dallas Cowboy

Hello to all! Annie and I wanted to write personally to give everyone an update. Today was a good day for our son, Braden. He has gained weight, he is at 1lb 12oz, up 5ozs from birth. The nurses are allowing a little more contact. Annie was allowed to change his diaper, take his temperature, and touch him ever so slightly. They are retrying Braden on formula. Based on preemie history it is common for them to not respond to real formula for the first or even 2nd, third, or fourth try. It takes a while for their bodies to adjust, so we are hoping his body accepts it on the 2nd try, if not, we will go for 3. All Braden's vitals and gases were right where they needed to be today, his oxygen level is still slightly off, but not unrealistic for his age. Braden will be 2 weeks old on Monday, but only 26 weeks gestation, I usually get confused when I think of the two. To put it in perspective, Braden's cousin in Memphis is due in I believe July. Braden was due in June. Braden will be apprx. 5 months old in July, but he and his cousin should only be a month apart in age. In July they may be similar in size, although Braden will be 5 months his/her senior. It gets tough to swallow at times, but we know it will work out fine.

Now for some more news! Braden was fortunate enough to be blessed by a member of the Dallas Cowboys: Dexter Coakley. He actually just signed with the St. Louis Rams after a long stint with Dallas, but that's another story. The facts are that Annie and I were eating at the hospital cafeteria when I saw a man that looked familiar. I told Annie I thought he played for the Cowboys. She walked by him and his family and Dexter's daughter dropped her drink. Annie bent down to pick it up and when she did, saw his hospital admittance bracelet. Sure enough, it was him. We rode on the elevator with Dexter and his daughter to the 7th floor, which is the maternity floor. We struck up a conversation with him and found out his wife had just delivered their 2nd child. As usual, Annie dominated the conversation, so I didn't get to tell him I knew who he was. We saw which room he went to though. We decided to write him a note, explaining that we didn't want to bother him, but if he would be so kind as to maybe give our son his autograph. We also explained Braden's condition. I was nervous, but slipped the note under his door. To our surprise, he not only responded, he gave a signed photo made out to Braden, gave us some parking passes to the hospital, and visited with Annie. His wife, although still recooperating from giving birth, told Annie that they would be praying for Braden. She and Annie hung out, visited a while, and cried together. She told Annie to not give up on having more children. Seems they hit it off pretty well. They were so considerate even though it was their special time. We have Dexter's autographed picture hanging up on Braden's incubator. This is something we will never forget and will pass on to Braden. Just to clarify, Dexter Coakley is a undersized Linebacker in the NFL. He has played about 8 years with the Dallas Cowboys. He played collegiately at Appalacian State in North Carolina. My dad and I had the privilege of visiting App State when I lived in Charlotte - a beautiful campus. Dexter just signed with the St. Louis Rams. They will be getting a fine player, but an even greater MAN. Thanks again to the Coakley family.

The next order of emphasis is on an organization I want to recognize: NIN - Newborns in Need. I had no idea organizations like this even existed, until a manager from another department where I work approached me. Patricia came up to me and let me know a little about the Dallas Area Chapter that she volunteered for. She explained to me that they provided clothes for premature babies, since clothes that size don't really exist. Even when these babies are big enough to fit into so called "preemie" clothes, they are extremely expensive. She asked me for several of Braden's measurements. I provided her with that information and the next day she had stitched him a BEAUTIFUL blue cap and some booties/socks to wear. I can report that as of Saturday 3/12 Braden was wearing them proudly (pics coming soon!). He is a show off by the way.

How you can help Newborns is need? You can use your sewing, quilting, knitting, tatting, and crocheting talents to make much needed baby clothing and blankets. Some patterns are available from them. You can also donate sewing notions or fabric appropriate for babies to be used for their benefit. Their group sews baby clothing, quilts, and blankets. They can be reached at NEWBORNS IN NEED- TEXAS, DALLAS AREA CHAPTER - P.O. BOX 59717 - Dallas, Texas 75229-0717 PHONE 972-620-7939 or e-mail dallastx@newbornsinneed.org ---- Please keep them in mind - they have already kept us in mind and we are grateful.

I guess we should close with that. Annie meets with her doctor this Thursday. Hopefully everything will go well and she will be allowed to go back to work the following Monday. Everything else is going well. We again want to thank everyone for their concern. We are doing as well as can be expected and appreciate the well wishes. Will close for now, hope everyone is doing fine and please keep reading for future updates - We thank you - Annie, Steve, & Braden Bunger.

Late Entry

Please forgive my late blog entry. I was sky diving in Austin and I just got back into town.

Braden had a bumpy day. The doctor noticed that Braden was having a bad reaction to the formula. So they stopped feeding him on Thursday night and put him back on IV fluids through his right foot. They did an x-ray today and his stomach and intestines looked great. The doctors will try to feed him formula again sometime on Saturday. Because of this bad reaction to the formula, they had to replenish his blood and he received donated blood. The blood is sent through his body by an IV in his left foot. His left arm also has an IV in order to draw blood when needed. Also, they raised his oxygen and vent levels.

Enough of the bad news. Here's the good stuff! Braden is no longer under the "heat lamp." They removed the small mask and he now has a cute blanket on top of his incubator. We can now see his precious face. Also, he is weighing in at a whopping 1 pound 11 ounces. Oh! We have poop! He had his first bowel movement on Friday afternoon all by himself! No drugs were needed!

We had a bumpy day, but the beauty of it was that he came out feeling great! When we went to the hospital late tonight, Connie, MoMo and I finally got to see those eyes of his. He opened them briefly just to say goodnight. And I must say, that boy looks exactly like Steve.

Right now the exterior of his incubator is fully decorated for St. Patrick's Day. We hope to get a photo soon to share with everyone. We thank you again for all your prayers and we humbly ask you to continue praying for our little guy.

The Three FAQs

Thank you for stopping by to check on Braden. I've been getting a lot of e-mails with the same 3 questions. So I decided to post them here.

1. When will Braden be going home?
Braden will have to pass a series of medical exams before being released. He will have to be on formula and have bowel movements. He will have to be completely off the ventilator. His blood pressure, internal organs, skin, body movement, etc. will be evaluated and if everything is good, he will be released. There is not a set weight that he must be in order to be released. Although gaining weight will definitely help. But truly, it simply depends on his development. A good estimate is late May - early June.

2. When is Annie's baby shower?
Annie and Steve have decided to have a big party once Braden is released. That will be his welcome home party and Annie's baby shower all wrapped into one. Annie and Steve have not registered for baby gifts yet, but they should be doing that soon. The shower/party will be suitable for the whole family and it will definitely be a huge celebration!

3. What can I do to help?
Pray! That is really what we need most. We love that everyone has been so loving and compassionate during this experience. We appreciate all the prayers and positive thoughts. And we kindly ask for more! :o)

My dear friend, Susan Kedroski, sent me a quote and I wanted to pass it along. Susan, thanks for sharing it; that quote is extremely inspirational.

"This little soul really wants to be here, so it’s meant to be."-Susan Sarandon

Pictures!

Hello! We wanted to share a photo of Braden's little home. This incubator keeps him comfy and warm all day long. We sit next to this incubator and gaze at him for hours. He's truly beautiful and we are all amazed by him. We just can't wait for everyone to see him!

We asked the nurse if we could take a clean pamper as a sort of keepsake. She happily agreed. I gave the pamper to my brother, Leroy, and he actually cried. Leroy has not been able to see Braden in person. Seeing the size of that tiny pamper made it much more real to him. I will try to get a picture of his pamper for you and post it soon.

The picture below will give you an idea of his size. His nurse was adjusting some of his cords and tubes and Steve managed to get a quick picture. Since the nurse's hands are small, you can really get an idea of what Braden looks like. Isn't he beautiful!?

GREAT News!

Today has been a good day for Braden! We have all kinds of good news!

First of all, Braden is now weighing in at 1 pound 8 1/2 ounces. His doctors said that for 25 weeks of gestational development, that is the perfect weight.

Braden opened his eyes today! Luckily, Annie and Uncle JJ were there to see him. Annie said that Braden looked over at her and looked around the room. They made eye contact for about a minute, but then he fell back asleep.

Also, Braden was fed for the first time today! He is getting a preemie formula through the same tube in his belly button. Since he was able to eat today, they turned him over and let him sleep on his tummy and he loved it!

The BEST news is that our sweet boy had a neurological exam today and it came out perfect! There is no blood in his brain and his brain is operating with all normal fluids and activity. That means that he will not have any mental side effects from his premature birth. The likelihood of him being mentally challenged or having any disease or illness stemming from brain defects is down to nothing!!

What a blessed, blessed day! Thanks so much for your prayers. Braden is proof of the power of prayer. Keep those prayers coming!!

The Doctor Scoop

Hello! Thanks for stopping by to check on Braden today. He's doing ok. I had a chance to speak to Braden's doctor yesterday. My inner-nerd came right out. I got a lot of scoop, which I can now share with you.

Braden has 2 tubes coming out of his belly button. One tube sends liquid nutrients in, much like an umbilical cord. One tube sends waste out. Right now the waste has a light tint to it, which indicates that his bowels are not yet ready for formula. If they were to feed him now, he could get a bowel infection that would require surgery to repair. So we just have to wait until those tubes are both clear...then the weight gainer formula can fatten him up. We pray that he will be on formula soon.

Sometimes preemies can develop a mild acid in their bloodstream. They give preemies donated blood to help reduce the acid and get them back to normal levels. So far Braden has had to receive donated blood twice. So while I'm on the topic, let me get on my little soap-box. If you are able to donate blood, please do so. Regardless of where you live, you can find clinics and even traveling donor centers. Braden is just one example of how you can save a life by donating blood. For more info, please visit Give Life.

Ok, I'm off the soap-box...

The doctor also said that Braden is living in that incubator as a simulated womb. Technically speaking, he is 8 days old. But in the doctor's medical perspective, Braden is at 25 weeks of gestational development. The fact that Braden has made it to 25 weeks of development with no major medical problems is a miracle! We can only thank God for that.

This is a picture of Steve's hand above Braden. You can see how small he is, but also how well developed he is.

1 Week Old Today

A message from Annie:

I am home now and feeling better. I never knew what a love like this would feel like. Of course, I love Steve to death. But having a child has made me feel a different kind of love. It is a love that makes me feel like anything is possible. My friend, Kim Mankin, says it best, "You can mess with me, but mess with my kid and we will have problems." I now know what she means. Everything that I have ever felt went out the door and my life is wrapped up in that little boy. I cannot wait to show him off everyday! Being a mom makes you an unselfish person and makes you see that you have a larger purpose in life, and mine is my son.

I do miss the everyday contact with my friends. But the tremendous support they have given me has actually made me feel closer to them. I feel like I have not missed out on a thing. I am going to be home for a while. I have a doctor's appointment on March 17 and I hope to be back at work soon after that. I want to save as much time as possible so that when Braden is able to come home, I can enjoy every second! Thanks to all of you for everything. Steve and I are going to come out of this experience better people with a greater purpose. We will have a better understanding of unconditional love, compassion and support of family and friends. All of which we can teach our son.

I called Braden this morning and his nurse said he had a great night. They took him off the high blood pressure medicine which is great news! Also, his oxygen level is down to 20% which means that he's doing more of his breathing with his own little lungs. He is 1 week old today and the fact that he's doing well makes us all feel so blessed.

If you would like to contact Steve and me, please call our cell phone at 972.523.2968.

God Bless,
Annie Bunger

He's Doing Great!

Praise God, our little guy is doing great! His skin is starting to look much better. It is not as translucent as it was a few days ago. And, I could almost swear, that he's grown! He just looks so great and we believe that it is a direct result of all the prayers! We hope and pray that this progess continues.

Braden had a good Sunday. He was sleeping quite peacefully and was all curled up. He's the cutest little thing! Braden is the only boy in his neighborhood of the NICU. He's surrounded by baby girls and female nurses! But he's behaving. :o)

Today we took some time to pray for the other babies in the NICU. It hurts to see other babies and families all going through the same thing. But we pray for each other and try to comfort each other as much as possible. Thanks to all of your for your love and prayers. We need 'em; keep 'em coming!

A Good Saturday for Braden

Braden had a good Saturday. His oxygen level is down to 24% which means 76% of his breathing is from his own little lungs. His gases are stable and his color looks great today! Unfortunately, he has lost 1 ounce. So he's back to 1 pound 7 ounces. But hopefully he will get on that formula soon and will start gaining some weight.

Annie and Steve are still at mom and dad's house in Denton. Annie is feeling better. She is starting to eat regular foods and she is a little more mobile. She still has a little trouble with some things, but she's really trying. When Steve is not busy with his new job as a dad, he's busy with his new job at Cingular...so he has been driving all over the Metroplex! We are all so proud of Annie and Steve for showing such strength during all this.

I have received many wonderful e-mails from people all over the country - and some are from people I don't even know! So thank you to all those who have forwarded Braden's blog to other prayer groups. And thank you to all those who love Braden and are praying for him. Our little guy needs all the love and prayers he can get!

Thanks To ALL for Your Support

My wife Annie and I wanted to thank everyone who has called, e-mailed, sent cards + gifts, and responded to this Blog. It has really meant so much to us, more than typing these words can express. It is all so surreal, you never think something like an emergency c-section and a premature baby could happen to you until it does. We are still in a slight state of shock, but slowly working our way out of it - mostly due to support of family and friends. Some are friends we didn't even know we had. We have received responses from people through prayer chains from all over the country. Many have had similar experiences and wanted to wish encouragement and support. Some family members have called in which we haven't spoken to in a while and it really has meant a lot to us.

Now to move on....We visited Braden today at the NICU at Baylor Medical in Dallas. This is his 4 1/2th day with us and already we have seen signs of improvement. Not having any experience with this, we have noticed his skin color getting much better. In his first 24-48 hours, his skin looked so transparent. Now it seems fuller and stronger looking. He has been breathing well, only requiring about 20% oxygen level of help. His vitals have been consistently good. He is long (12 1/4"), but a little lean, however he has gained 1 ounce weighing in at 1lb 8oz. They are planning on putting him on a feeding tube very soon and we hope to see continued growth. He was very squirmish today, almost like restlessness. He was very active and stretched a lot sometimes popping a limb out of his nest made of blankets. Unfortunately, they don't like to see him using that much energy so they decided to sedate him a little bit. The nurses that have been attending to Braden have been absolutely wonderful. Kim & Wendy have seen the most duty with him. They are so informative and have no problems with us asking questions - they actually encourage it. They get so attatched - treating these preemies almost as if they were their own. Poor Wendy almost came to tears while speaking to Annie & I the other day - she actually had to excuse herself. It is refreshing to know that they actually care that much.

We also want to thank Clara, my sister-in-law for taking time out of her personal schedule to keep up with this BLOG. Annie and I would like to do it, but for now will gladly turn the majority of the responsibilities over to her. We are lucky to have family that are that considerate. I better wrap up for now, again thanks to all and we will keep you posted as often as we can. For those asking what they can do or what we need, right now just thoughts and prayers will work fine - we will announce Braden's "official" baby shower date soon so please check back!! We plan on making it one heck of a PARTY!!!!

Your friends - Annie & Steve Bunger

Another Good Night

Praise God, Braden had another good night. He was a little fiesty last night and kept moving around. He was kicking and tugging on cords. That little guy loves to move around! He is sounding more and more like Annie.

Every day the physicians check Braden's oxygen levels, organ functions, blood pressure, body movements, etc. They call those test results his "gases." Right now Braden's gases are at 29. But we'd like for them to be at 35 and above. So we will continue to pray that those numbers will rise. Soon Braden will be on a formula diet with Lipid as a weight gainer. We are praying that after he goes on the formula mixture, he will start to put on the pounds!

Annie is doing great! She and Steve spent the night in Denton with mom and dad. She is still in pain, but that is to be expected. Regardless of the pain, she plans on spending the day in Dallas with Braden.

I would like to again thank all of you for your kind words and prayers. There is such strength in prayer. I learned that lesson when my nephew, Jackson, was in the hospital. And now that we have another miracle baby in the hospital, I can only pray that God will protect our little guy and continue to heal him.

Annie is Going Home!

The last few days have been a roller coaster! I have to start with a big thank you! We cannot even begin to tell you how much we appreciate the calls, cards, gifts, flowers, visits, and especially your prayers. Annie is going home today. If you would like to reach her, please call her cell phone at 972.523.2968.

Braden is doing great! We have not received an update regarding his blood vessel. But we'll let you know as soon as we hear something. Braden is definitely a mover and a shaker. Everytime I see him, he's wiggling his feet and toes. Sometimes his arms will move all around and those tiny fingers wiggle every now and then.

Since that bright light is over his incubator, his eyes are shielded at all times. So we haven't seen his little face. But we do know that he has Annie's nose. And he definitely has Steve's body shape, especially those long legs and arms. Those feet of his are just like Steve's!

I wanted to include a photo that will perhaps give you a frame of reference. This is Braden with his toy duck. That little duck is only 3 inches long and 2 inches tall. You can also see his pamper. That pamper is about 2 inches tall.

Tiny but Mighty

Braden had another good night. He's being a bit fiesty and pulls on those cords and tubes. Doesn't that sound just like Annie? He moves a lot and likes to wiggle his toes.

So far, Braden has been visited by his parents, MoMo, PoPo, GrandBob, Uncle JJ, Aunt Connie, and Aunt Clara. GrandBob, Steve's dad, drove all the way from Memphis on Braden's birthday just to see him. We were all so glad he came!

Lucky Connie got to change Braden's pamper! I don't know how she did it or who she sweet talked to get that opportunity. But she did it!

Braden is having one small situtation. There is a blood vessel near the heart that remains open while a baby is in the womb. That vessel allows blood to flow through the lungs. After being born, it seals on its own. Braden's did not seal and that is common with preemies. If the vessel does not seal, it can send too much blood through the lungs and cause respiratory problems. He is on medication for this and that treatment is almost always successful. If, for some reason, he is in the small percentage that does not respond to the medicine, it can be sealed with surgery. But we are praying that the medicine will be all that he needs.

I finally got a good picture of that hair! I know that pictures of him can be deceiving - but keep in mind that when he's all curled up like this, he's about 8 inches long from head to toe.

First Picture!

Braden is doing great so far! He's got a lot of people praying for him and we all know the unmistakable power of prayer.

Right now, only Annie, Steve, and 6 others can go in to see Braden. I wish he were in an area where others could see him from a window. But with him being under a watchful eye 24 hours a day, that's just not possible right now.

Luckily, I am one of the 6 that gets the honor of seeing that precious child. I could stand there for hours and watch him. He's just that amazing! His health is good so far. Babies are given an Apgar test to determine the baby's heart rate, breathing, activity/muscle tone, grimace response and appearance. A score of 10 on the Apgar test is the best. Braden scored a high 7 - almost an 8! Preemies usually score much lower, so I think we have a miracle baby on our hands!

I've attached my first picture with Braden. He was 1 day old. We laughed when this photo was taken because you can actually tell that I had only 40 minutes of sleep over that entire 48 hour period. We were all a little ragged...too bad mine was caught on film.