A Birthday Note from Annie

Hello! Thank you for stopping by here to check on my son, Braden. Today, he is 2 months old and weighs 3 pounds 10 ounces! As a mom of a preemie, I can tell you that this journey has not always been easy, but the reward of seeing Braden's precious face is worth it!

Steve and I were given some really great news recently. Ever since Braden was taken off the ventilator, he has really started to show some progress. He is stabilizing his own body temperature and he's starting to gain some weight. Because of this the doctors have decided to move him out of the incubator! He is now in a bed that goes sideways and it's not as bulky or scary as that incubator. This is a big step for Braden! Also, his feedings are going well. He's getting 29 CCs of formula every 3 hours and he is also receiving vitamins. If all goes well, he may be in a crib in the NICU very soon. With all this progress came some fun news...Braden can now wear shirts! We took some photos of him in his first shirt and we couldn't wait to share with you; they are posted below.

Unfortunately, we do have some unpleasant news to share with you. We got the results back from Braden's head scan and it shows that the blod clot has grown. The blood is located only in the right ventricle of his brain. His doctors have sent the results to a surgeon and the surgeon will evaluate them to see if brain surgery is necessary. We are hoping that since the blood is only in one ventricle, that Braden will not have to endure surgery. Right now, the decision is up to the surgeon and we should know more by Friday or Saturday. Of course, we'll post any news to the blog as soon as we know anything. Please keep Braden in your prayers!

Braden really enjoys his pacifier!


Here are Braden and his daddy hanging out in front of the new big-boy bed!


Braden's first shirt is of Bob The Builder!


Hey Grandbob, we hope you like Braden's Bob The Builder shirt!

Crying, Sneezing, and the Hiccups

Braden is doing great! He weighs 3 pounds 7.5 ounces and is about 15 inches long. He is really getting big! He does have a head scan today and we are praying that the blood clot in his brain has gotten smaller. We pray every day for this and we are happy that the blood clot is not growning. However, we would love for it so shrink!

Since the ventilator has been removed (yippee!) he only has a small feeding tube in his mouth. So we finally got to hear him cry! Over the weekend, he cried while Annie and Steve were there and he grunted for his MoMo. When I went to see him on Sunday, he was crying and very fidgety. We couldn't figure out why he was crying, he just kept on and on. Finally he sneezed about 4 times in a row. They were quick, rapid-fire sneezes! Once he got those out, he stopped crying and went right to sleep! It was so amazing to hear him cry and sneeze. I know that seems silly to be excited over such things. But over the last 2 months, he's been silent and we were so eager to hear those baby sounds!

Last night while I was visiting, his nurse, Leslie, gave him his dinner. Braden usually wakes up when he's being fed through his tube and those big, brown button eyes of his were looking right at me. So I began reading "Eeyore Has a Birthday Party" to him while he ate. Those big eyes started to get droopy. He was just about to fall asleep when he got the hiccups! And they were not the silent ones...they were those loud, audible hiccups. It was so cute! I giggled because they sounded so funny and I just wanted to hug him. The hiccups eventually went away and he drifted off to sleep. I decided to stay until the hiccups went away. I didn't want to miss even one of them. I stayed so late that I almost missed my bus! (I take the Dart Bus to the Dart Rail Station downtown. And if I miss that bus, I'm in trouble!) I was sad to have those cute hiccups go away, but I was glad that he was sleeping peacefully.

Thanks for checking on Braden today and thanks again for your prayers.

Another Good Day

Braden is having another good day. We feel so blessed to have some good news coming from his doctors and nurses. We thank you for keeping him in your prayers - they are working! We know that the NICU is a roller coaster - we will have our ups and downs. Thankfully, we are at an up right now and we just want to enjoy it! These ups make the downs tolerable.

I am amazed by Braden's growth over the last 2 months. Annie was only 24 weeks pregnant when she delivered - which means that Braden is now at 32 weeks of gestational development. I would have loved for Annie to stay pregnant longer. But I must say that watching Braden grown right in front of us has been a remarkable experience. I know it's tough for him and the stess is unimaginable. But what we've learned and the way our faith has grown is unmeasurable. I just can't wait to get him home!

The other day, someone asked me if this whole experience has scared me from having kids. A few weeks ago, my answer would have been a resounding YES! But honestly, I have to say that it doesn't scare me at all anymore. I saw what my sister, Connie, and her husband, Chris, went through when their oldest son, Jackson, was born. Jackson had meconium aspiration and was immediately placed on an ECMO machine in Lubbock, TX. We were told he had a very small chance of surviving and if he did survive, he would have severe disabilities. But Jackson is now a sweet, intelligent, athletic 8-year-old who can steal your heart with one smile. I have seen Annie and Steve go through the same patters as Connie and Chris did. The four of them have shown courage and strength - even when they felt they could not make it even one more day. They have taken a tough medical situation and tackled it with faith and love.

Also, I can see just how much of my mother's powerful faith is in Annie and Connie. My mom is just the kind of mom that Connie and Annie are now - and that is a blessing. Her loving, faithful, maternal influence is flowing through them and that must feel incredible. If I ever do get married, I will be more than happy to have children...which is not what I would have said a few weeks ago. My mom is only one person, but her influence is far more powerful than people think.

Thank you for all the nice comments and e-mails that have been posted here. It's so nice to hear your words of encouragement. I can't wait until Braden is old enough to read all of this and learn about the wondeful people who checked in on him and prayed for him. I'm sure he'll be eager to pray for all of you as well. Have a blessed day and thanks for stopping by!

A Busy Weekend

Braden had a busy weekend! Thankfully, he got a lot of positive news! As Steve wrote in the previous post, his ventilator was removed and Braden is breathing on his own. He does wear a C-PAP and that does give him a little oxygen to assist his breathing. Also, he is now on real preemie formula. We hope he'll respond well to this new food and end up packing on some ounces.

Braden was able to be held by both his mommy and daddy this weekend. When Annie held him, he was very loving and sweet. When Steve held Braden, he was snuggling up to Steve but became rather fidgety. Then, Braden suddenly reached up and grabbed Steve's bottom lip and pulled it down. Annie snapped a photo of it and it is posted below. It was so funny! I can't wait til I get to hold him!

Braden had some female visitors this weekend. Two of my girlfriends and one of Annie's friends stopped by Baylor to meet Braden. He was wide awake and gave them all googly-eyes. Braden definitely sweeped them off their feet. That baby is quite charming.

Today is Braden's 56th day in the NICU. On Thurday, April 28, Braden will be 2 months old! We still don't know when Braden will come home. There are a series of tests he will have to pass before he is allowed to come home. For example, he must be able to eat without a feeding tube, he must be able to breathe entirely on his own, he must be able to maintain a normal heart rate and body temperature, etc. So there are several factors that influence the homecoming date. But we are patient and we know the doctors will let us bring him home when the time is right for Braden.

Annie took several photos this weekend and we wanted to share some of them with you. As Steve mentioned, they gave Braden a pen and allowed him to "draw" on a piece of paper. They scanned it and if you'd like to view it click here. Thanks for stopping by to check on Braden and thank you for your prayers!

Here is Braden grabbing Steve's bottom lip.


Steve, Annie and Braden posing for a family photo.


Braden is holding Steve's wedding ring in his tiny hand.


This bear's name is Fighter and was a gift from Stephanie Hill.


Braden recognizes Annie's voice. Here he is looking for her as she was talking to a nurse.


After all those visitors, he was ready for a nap. He is holding that new pacifier and snoozing the day away.

Big Boy Braden !!

Well, we have lots of good news to report. Yesterday on 4-23-05, Braden was doing so well, he was able to be taken off his ventilator. For those of you who have kept up with his story, you will remember he was taken off a couple of weeks ago, only to be returned the next day. This time it looks permanent. He has been breathing great on his own, only having the CPAP in his nose for extra support when needed.

Braden's condition has been so good, I (Steve - I just realized I am typing and you don't know who "I" am) got to hold him again for my second time. I held him on my chest for a little over an hour and he just ate it up. Braden has had all of his IVs removed, so he had very little restricting him. It was another great experience for us both. Braden weighed in at 3lbs 5 ozs as of last night. He is holding his weight well. They continue to up his feeds and he responds great. Braden is literally growing in front of our eyes. If you miss even two days in a row from visiting, you will notice lots of changes. He is so alert now, today he moved his neck from one side to the other on his own. He also will fixate his eyes on you more and we caught him following Annie with his eyes when she got up and moved from in front of him. These are all great signs and we are very excited. Also, I wanted to add that Braden already has his first piece of art work. Since he likes to grip things so much - wires and fingers mostly - we decided to put a pen in his hand. We held up a notepad and he scribbled away. Not bad, bet not many people have heard of a baby that should still be in his mother's stomach, not quite 32 weeks gestation, already drawing pictures. We might have the next Picasso on our hands.

Thanks again to everyone who is following Braden's journey. We received a nice card from Patti Gill from Coppell, TX whom we have never even met. She wrote that she had been following Braden's progress and sent us a gift card to a local restaurant. These stories are very inspiring for us and we are grateful. Thanks for stopping by and we hope to have some new pictures posted on Monday. Steve & Annie

A Letter to Braden from MoMo

Dear Braden,
We have had the joy of watching you develop right before our eyes these last couple of months. It is amazing to me to see the difference in you every time. I love every inch of you. I can't wait to hold you and spoil you! Last night, PoPo and I spent some time with you. PoPo read to you and you listened! I started to sing and you fell asleep. (I think you were tuning me out! I did sound horrible!)

Braden, you have brought us all so much joy and through you we have learned so much about how wonderful life can be, even in the darkest of moments. We have learned that little things are as important as the big ones. I never thought I could be so grateful and excited over 1 day! When your mother was still carrying you, she tried to keep you in her tummy "just one more hour." And I would pray and pray for just one more hour of her pregnancy. After you were born, we not only prayed for hours, but also days. "Every hour counts, every day counts" we were told over and over again. You, sweet angel, are worth every second!

We celebrate and give thanks every time you gain an ounce or when the numbers that need to be high are high and the low numbers low. We are delighted every time we are told that they are adding even 1 cc of formula to your tummy. Not to mention the happiness that we feel knowing that we are surrounded by friends, co-workers and family that truly care. My precious angel, someday you will see how much faith they have and how much they love you. I pray that you grow up to be a strong man full of life, love and a willingness to serve others.

Braden, we are here, we all are here for you. We pray constantly for you. I love you, my angel.

MoMo

Lots of News from Annie

Hello and thanks for stopping by here to check on my son, Braden. He's having a great morning. His nurse, Erica, gave him a bath and he loved every minute of it. Of course, I would be loving life if someone gave me a bath and washed my hair! Braden is at a whopping 3 pounds 8 ounces! Braden's weight does fluctuate because of fluids, bowel movements, and other factors. So his actual weight may be off my an ounce or so. But the fact remains that he is gaining weight and that is fantastic news! Right now he is receiving 20 CCs of formula every 3 hours and he is digesting it all very well. I have changed plenty of dirty diapers to prove it! He did have a head scan on Wednesday and we have not received the results yet. As soon as we hear something, we'll post it here.

In other news, Steve's sister and her husband are expecting their second child. Right now they are in Thailand doing missionary work, so their baby will be born there in November. Congratulations to Stephanie and John and to big brother Josiah! We'll be praying for a healthy baby!

Unfortunately, we got some bad news from my relatives. My cousin, Ray, passed away with liver cancer. He was 32 years old and will be buried in Donna, TX. As much as we would love to pay our respects to my cousin, we simply cannot leave Braden. Our thoughts and prayers are with my father's family as they grieve this unimaginable loss.

I just want to say thank you to our families for giving us such tremendous support. We are blessed to have such a caring, tight-knit family. We feel surrounded by love and we couldn't ask for anything more. But God has truly smiled upon us and has blessed us with great friends, also. It's such a great feeling to know that our friends are sticking beside us and love Braden the way his family does. I had the great opportunity to meet a lady named Lisa Lee. Her son, Palmer, was born 5 years ago weighing less than Braden did at birth. We have been so grateful for her support because she has been through this whole thing before. She has been with me to visit Braden and seeing Palmer has given us such hope. We no longer panic or worry about Braden, we just have the strong hope of bringing him home. She and Palmer have taught us that things will go bad in the NICU and not every day will be a good day. But it's not the end of the world. These babies have such a strong drive to survive! They have also taught us that even though there are tubes, cords, machines and IVs connected to Braden, we don't have to focus on them. We just need to focus on that sweet child and how blessed we are to have him. Palmer has given Braden a copy of his very favorite book "Time for Bed." That story was read to Palmer when he was in the NICU and it is still read to him now. It's so sweet to see this little boy who is almost 5 be so loving towards Braden. Palmer has been where Braden is now and that alone gives us such hope!

My older sister, Connie, has 2 sons. Jackson is 8 and Jonathan is 6. They talk about Braden and they intuitively ask about him. The power of children and what they know and understand is amazing to me. Jackson and Jonathan cannot wait for Braden to come to their house. Jackson says he is going to teach Braden how to play Pac-Man on his Game Cube and Jonathan would like to teach Braden karate! As I think about the number of children that are praying for Braden, I realize that their hearts are so pure and so full of love. They have such hope and optimism. If they can do it, then so can we! When I hear news from the nurses that isn't so great, I know I can handle it now.

Sometimes I catch myself crying and I stop and wonder why. I have a loving, supportive husband and a sweet baby that will be 2 months old on April 28. I have a wonderful family that spoils us with love and the best friends anyone could ask for. Then suddenly I realized that I'm crying tears of joy. Those tears came because it feels so good to know that so many people care - even those who do not know us. I finally felt that everything is going to be ok and the tears just started coming. Knowing why we cry is something that each person has to figure out on their own, I'm just so grateful to have finally figured it out. Steve tells me that everything will be ok with Braden and he can't wait to take his son to baseball games. He is anxious for the days when he can play basketball with Braden and teach him how to ride a skateboard. I know my family is whole, even though our baby is at Baylor. And I doubt anyone could love Steve and Braden more than me.

Being an NICU Mom is tough work but it's also very rewarding. My sister, Connie, went through it with her son, Jackson. She and her husband went through such pain and I am now realizing what agony they must have felt. Jackson was not premature, but we honestly thought we'd lose him shortly after he was born. He's the first miracle baby in our family. This experience has taught us a lot and we hope to continue learning. Thanks again for stopping by. Knowing that you read this blog and pray for Braden means the world to us. We pray for you, too! Everytime we see our son's sweet face we are reminded of how many people helped to get him to that point.

Love,
Annie
a.k.a. Braden's Mom

A Message from Braden!

Hello! Thank you for stopping by to check on me and thanks for keeping me in your thoughts and prayers. I'm having a good day so far and I now weigh 3 pounds 5 ounces. My life is a roller coaster of health, but I'm really trying. Lately, I have enjoyed my visitors and all the new stories they are reading to me.

I wanted to ask you to help me and my preemie friends. In March of 2003, The March of Dimes began a campaign to help preemie babies, just like me. Families and friends of preemie babies all over the country are participating in the March of Dimes Walk America fundraiser. The walk-a-thon is in Dallas on April 30, 2005. My Aunt Clara put a link to the Walk America site over on the right side of this webpage. You should take a look at it!

Since I'm in the hospital, my parents are unable to form a team and commit to a pledge for Walk America. But we have found another way you can help us! If you live in the DFW area and have a Kroger grocery store nearby, please stop by and make a $1.00 donation to the March of Dimes. Your one dollar will go a long way! I will really appreciate it and so will all the other preemie babies. Please help my friends and me if you can!

Thanks again for all your prayers. I can't wait to meet all of you.

Love,
Braden Bunger

The Pictures!

We have to start today's blog with some great news. Braden now weighs 3 pounds 2 ounces!! What a miracle baby he is! We are all so proud of him. At the 3 Pound Party, we ended up with so much food. But with the number of people in our family, that is never a problem. My mom, better known as MoMo, works at an elementary school in Denton, TX. Some of her friends and coworkers at the school bought Braden a book that happens to weigh 3 pounds! They each wrote a little note to Braden on the opening pages of the Winnie-The-Pooh Collection. It was such a nice gesture and Braden loves hearing those stories!

Lately, I've been getting e-mails requesting ways to get in touch with Annie and Steve. They like to keep their cell phone and home phone open at all times in case the hospital calls. If you'd like to reach Annie and Steve, I would suggest leaving a comment at this website. Just click the "comments" link below and you have the option of logging in anonymously or setting up an account. Also, you can reach Annie and Steve by e-mail at: annie.bunger@gmail.com . If you'd like to use snail-mail, their mailing address is:
800 Lakeside Circle #1233
Lewisville, TX 75057

And now for those long awaited photos! These were taken on April 16 and 17 while Annie and Braden were having Kangaroo Care time. Enjoy!

Annie and Braden held hands when she first got to the hospital.


Braden woke up for some Kangaroo Care time with mommy.


Leigh, Braden's nurse, gently hands him to Annie.


Braden and mommy having some snuggly time.


After Kangaroo Care, Nurse Marsha checked him out.


Braden got to sit up for a bit! This is the first photo of him in an upright position.


PoPo talks to Braden and gets everyone in the nursery laughing!


Of course, Braden is a Ranger's fan. We can't wait for him to fill out this onesie!

7 Weeks Old Today

Braden has hit the 7 week mark. It's almost hard to believe it's been that long. But looking at Braden now, you can definitely tell that he has grown. I know I promised some new photos of him today, but I just didn't have the time to post them. But I promise to post them on Tuesday. They are the BEST photos, you're going to love them!

Today Annie told me that her friend, Jan Hill, went to Memphis, Tennessee recently. While she was there, she took the time to write Braden Wayne Bunger 02/28/2005 (Braden's birthday) on the wall of Graceland. When Annie told me the story I said, "Yup, that sounds just like something Jan would do!" She's a sweetheart!

Braden is eating more and more formula every day. He does a bit of a yo-yo with his feedings. One day he'll be at 22 CCs of formula and the next he's entire off formula. Right now he is getting 18 CCs of formula every 4 hours. He does have a minor infection but it does not appear to be bothering him as much as the first one. He seems to have a better handle of this one. Also, he will be getting another brain scan on Wednesday to check on the blood clot in his brain. The last scan showed no movement and almost no growth. So we are praying that the blood is reabsorbing!

This weekend, as Annie and I were in the NICU, I took some time to really notice the nursery. Usually, I am so consumed by Braden that I rarely pay attention to anything else. We have always known that the medical staff at Baylor is highly skilled and knowledgeable. Also, we have always known that they are compassionate, warm and loving. But what some people don't realize is that they are also very funny and comforting. Occasionally we have time to chat about things that are not medically related. And they make us giggle and smile every time! They must know how nice it is to be able to chat with other adults and smile for a little bit. My father, better known as PoPo, has always shown us that laughter is the best medicine. I think he's right. The doctors and nurses at Baylor always take such excellent care of Braden, but they also take excellent care of us, too! I'm glad we don't take them for granted and we are truly grateful that Braden is at Baylor!

Thank you for checking on Braden. I promise to post the pictures on Tuesday. Have a great day!

A Good Weekend

Braden had a good weekend. On Friday, he got a visit from his PoPo, Aunt Connie, Uncle Chris, Uncle JJ, Uncle Leroy, his mommy and me. After all those visitors, he was tired and ready for a good night's rest. On Saturday, Annie got to hold him for about an hour! As soon as he got comfy, he went right to sleep! Early Sunday morning, his MoMo and PoPo went to see him. PoPo starting talking about hash browns and fried eggs and Braden started wiggling and looking all around. He was wide awake during their visit!

I got a nice e-mail from a woman named Misty. She and her family live in New Mexico and we have never met them. Misty has been checking Braden's site since March and one night her 4-year-old son, Caleb, saw pictures of Braden on the computer. Misty explained Braden's story to Caleb and that sweet 4-year-old decided he wanted to say a prayer for Braden. As Caleb prayed he said, "God help Braden get well and grow up to be a strong man...so he can be married to my sister." Caleb has a 2 year-old sister and Misty has no idea where the marriage thing came from, but it's such a sweet thought. He then asked if Braden would get "bumps" on his arms the way his daddy does. Misty then realized that those "bumps" are muscles and she assured Caleb that Braden would get them one day. Caleb went on to ask if Braden would have a sister one day. Misty told him that right now we need to concentrate on praying for Braden's health and later we can pray for him to have a sister. I realize we don't know Misty and her family but her e-mail was so refreshing and it's nice to get e-mails like that. We are touched that a 4-year-old would think of our Braden and say such an endearing prayer for him. So thank you Misty and Caleb!

Thanks for stopping by to check on Braden. We will have several photos on Monday afternoon. Thanks for all your prayers, we appreciate them more than you know! And we pray for all of you as well - we could never forget those who consistently pray for Braden.

Braden's First Bath

Braden got his first sponge bath. His nurse, Leslie, was careful and gentle with him. She even washed his hair and combed it over. That night, Annie had to change his pamper several times. He now weighs 2 pounds 14.5 ounces and is 14 inches long. He is REALLY growing!

The March of Dimes Walk-a-thon is Saturday, April 30. The Walk-a-thon supports preemies and their families. You may have seen billboards or television commercials about the Walk-a-thon and the Walk America organization. We wanted to form a team and make a pledge. But since Braden is still in the NICU, we are unable to commit a pledge this year. However, the NICU team at Baylor has made team shirts for Annie and Steve that say "Braden's Team." Also, Annie and Steve will receive one of the Walk-a-thon t-shirts that was designed by a nurse at Baylor.

Annie and Steve have been very blessed. Braden is such a joy and he makes us all so happy. Many people have been sending them such sweet gifts. Their 1 bedroom apartment is so full, they are actually considering the purchase of a house. They'd like to start the process very soon so that Braden will have a comfy home of his own when he's out of Baylor.

Below are some photos of Braden enjoying his first bath. You can see just how much he has grown and just how much he looks like his daddy! Thanks for stopping by and have a blessed day!

This is Braden's first bath...a sponge bath nonetheless!


After bathtime, his hair was out of control!


Leslie did a great job on that famous comb-over hairdo!


This is Annie's small hand against Braden's tiny feet.


Annie had to change that pamper several times that night, but I guess she better get used to that!

Results

Braden is having a good day and he's very stable. The results of his head scan show that the clot has not really changed. This is good news in the sense that it is not growing nor is it moving. We just pray that it will begin to shrink as the body naturally reabsorbs the blood. His lungs look the same. We were worried that they'd show signs of struggle and they'd put him back on that oscillating vibrator. But they are the same, so we were happy to see that.

He is back on formula and they increase the amount little by little every day. It just depends on what his tummy can handle on each day. He seems to be a good eater and he's really starting to gain weight. He now weighs 2 pounds 14 ounces and they expect him to be at the 3 pound mark by Saturday. We are hoping to have the 3 Pound Party on Saturday. I plan on bringing 3 pounds of chicken for fajitas. I heard that someone bought Braden a story book that happens to weigh 3 pounds! His nurses will also be able to enjoy this 3 pound milestone - they will be receiving 3 pounds of chocolate!

We continuously get the nicest e-mails from people all over the country that are praying for him. Some of the people that contact us have never even met us! Thank you for your kind, sincere words and thanks especially for your prayers. It means more to us than we could ever express.

Braden likes to sleep with this little hat that was made for him by Newborns In Need. He is usually all curled up and sleeping like this when we visit him.

A Big Day for Braden

This is a big day for Braden because he will have another head scan today. Over the last 2 weeks, the blood clot in his brain has not grown and it has not moved. So today's test will tell us if that has changed at all. We are praying for good results.

Braden can now have other visitors! When he was born, only 8 people -including Annie and Steve- were allowed in to see him. There was a very strict list that was submitted to the hospital and only those on the list could enter the nursery. Now that RSV season has ended, others can go visit him. There are no windows in his nursery so only a few of us have seen him in person. The visitation hours for those not on the list are 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 - 10:00 p.m. and all visitors must be over 14 years of age. Also, you must go in with Annie or Steve. If you would like to go meet Braden, please let me know. I will coordinate times/dates with Annie and Steve for anyone interested. You can reach me by e-mail at: cjackso1@pisd.edu or leave your information in the comments box below.

In other news, we are getting close to the Three Pound Party! Last night, I went to see Braden and he was weighing in at 2 pounds 13 ounces! Braden's weight does fluctuate because of formula, bowel movements and other fluids. But we are definitely getting close to that 3 pound mark.

Braden looked very peaceful last night. He was sound asleep. I talked to him for a while and even read to him. But he just slept like an angel. The only time he moved was when I told him about his cousin Jonathan's accident. Jonathan fell and inured his ribs and had bruising and a high fever. After a brief emergency room visit, we found that he broke no bones and he's going to be just fine. However, Jonathan was overheard saying, "My rib fell down and the other one is falling!" When I told Braden that, he wiggled and moved. It was as if Braden knew how much Jonathan makes us laugh with his creative sense of humor.

I also talked to Braden about my friend Gigi and her family. Her mother, Martina, was recently diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. Shortly after that diagnosis, Gigi's sister, Yanira, was admitted into the Denton State School Hospital. Yanira has lived at the State School for some time. She recently had severe problems with her blood sugar and they moved her into the hospital wing on that campus. Their family is going through a tough time right now and Braden and I said a prayer for them. Please keep Gigi and her family in your prayers.

Thanks for stopping by to check on our little man. We'll post any news regarding his head scan as soon as possible. Have a blessed day!

A note from Annie

We have had a small setback with Braden this week. He has developed what they think is the same infection as last time. He had an IV in his left foot and when they removed it last week the foot was red and swollen. They started antibiotics on Sunday and they will need to wait on blood culture results to see if it's working. Hopefully they have caught this infection before it gets too bad. Also, they have temporarily stopped feeding him through the tube. His tummy was just getting a little too full. As you know, his doctors detected a blood clot in his head in a sonogram. We are praying that the clot has been reabsorbed by the body. Braden has another head scan on Wednesday and we hope that this will show some improvement on that battle. Other than that, he's doing fine. He has good color and when he's awake his eyes are wide open. We pray for a good head scan tomorrow and a quick recovery from this infection.

Braden had his first visit from his Uncle Leroy (my brother) last night. Originally, we could only allow 8 people -including Steve and me- to go in and see Braden. But now that RSV season is over, Braden can have other visitors as long as they are with Steve or myself. Visitation hours for these visitors are every day from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. and from 8:00 - 10:00 p.m. Since his birth, Braden has had at least 1 visitor every single day. Most days, he has 2 or 3 family visitors! It will be nice for him to have even more loving visits.

Yesterday on my drive back home from the hospital, I realized that I am never outside anymore. I am either at home, at work, or at the hospital. It made me sad to think that I'm not enjoying this nice weather we've had. So last night Steve and I ate dinner on the balcony before going to the hospital. Of course, I'd rather be with Braden and Steve than spend time outside, but it was nice to get a little nature. We found out some great news recently! Braden is going to have another cousin. Steve's sister and her husband are currently doing missionary work in Thailand. They just found out they are expecting their second child early next year. They have a son, Josiah, who will be 3 on April 16. Congratulations on the new member of their family and Happy Birthday to Josiah from across the world!

As you know, Steve and I celebrated our 1-year anniversary on Sunday. We had a nice, relaxing weekend. We spent a lot of time with Braden on Saturday and I had some alone time with Braden on Sunday. It was nice to talk to him and have him all to myself. Steve and I really have grown as a couple and as parents. We've been down some bumpy roads and we wish this journey on no one. But the journey has been humbling and seeing Steve with Braden warms my heart so much that it makes me cry. Braden has brought us closer together and even closer to our families and friends. We have so many people to thank and so many people to share our son with. So from a mom's heart, I say thank you! You have no idea how touching it is to know that other people -even strangers- are praying for your child. Steve and I have been receiving the most wonderful e-mails, gifts, gas money, phone messages and cards from all over the country. All this has made us realize the power of prayer and what a difference Braden has made in the world.

We ask that you continue to pray for Braden to keep fighting. It is by God's grace that he is able to win so many battles and continue to thrive. We also ask that you pray for his nurses and doctors who care for Braden because it is by their knowledge and healing hands that Braden will come home safely to us. We've attached some new photos to share with you. Thanks for stopping by. - Annie

Steve getting a close look at his "Mini-Me."


Look at this sweet angel face!

Pictures

We have some fantastic photos to share with you. Enjoy!

Braden was very alert and looking all around on Saturday!


Steve, Annie and Braden posed for their first family picture on their 1 year wedding anniversary.


Braden got a massage and loved every minute of it! This is the first photo of his whole face without all the tubes and tape. Doesn't he look just like Steve?


Here, his legs are getting a massage.


After the massage, he was sleepy and ready for a nap. Look how much his hair has grown!


This is Annie's small hand next to Braden. This might give you an idea of how much Braden has grown. He's now 2 pounds 10 1/2 ounces!


Every time we leave, we read Goodnight Moon to him. He loves it!

1 Year Anniversary

Thanks to everyone who was concerned that Annie and I actually get out and do something to celebrate our 1 year anniversary. Well we did, and we had a good day. We got up and ran a few errands then went and visited Braden. Afterwards Annie, Clara, Leroy, and I all went to eat at Dave & Busters. This is a unique restaurant/bar/arcade well known in the Dallas area. It's a Chucky Cheese for adults. We played games like skeeball, basketball, and coin operated games that pay off in tickets. We used the tickets we won for prizes & toys for Braden. We played our old favorite arcade games like Space Invaders & Pac-Man. We had a few drinks and a nice dinner. It was a very fun evening.

Now for Braden's condition. The nurses had told us that they had been flirting with maybe removing Braden from his ventilator. This was surprising news since just days earlier his lung X-Rays had come back not much better, still slightly closed and cloudy. He had been making incredible progress in just days and even hours (such is the life of a preemie). We received a call at about 11am on Saturday that yes he was coming off. We cut our errands short and rushed to the hospital to be able to finally see his face without the breathing tube in his throat and the tape holding it in. We got there just in time. They had just taken him off and he was breathing room air on his own. His nurse was monitoring him and would give him oxygen from a mask as he needed it. He was doing great. We got the whole thing on film by the way. They did put in a CPAP in his nose. Here is what that is: CPAP (pronounced "C"-pap) stands for continuous positive airway pressure. Unlike a respirator, the CPAP doesn't actually mechanically breath for the baby. The CPAP provides continuous air pressure that makes it easier for a baby to inflate their lungs when they inhale. It is both less aggressive and less invasive than the respirator.

The CPAP isn't the most comfortable looking thing. Babies on CPAP look as though they are all hooked up to go scuba diving. However, it was a step in the right direction. We hung out with Braden before we went out to eat and he was doing great. We called to check on him later that night and he was still doing well except his blood gases were coming back a little off. The blood gas is the measure of oxygen, carbon dioxide and acid content in a small blood sample taken from Braden's arteries.

Unfortunately, when we called to check on Braden this morning his gases were still off. Due to this they thought it was best to get him back on the ventilator. We were hurt and disappointed, but the positives are that he did respond well off the vent and that the doctors/nurses were so well closely monitoring his situation. That alone gives us so much confidence. They assured us this wasn't even really a step back due to a lot of this being trial and error. In the past Braden has almost always needed a second try on each of his battles. We are sure that when his blood gases get back to where they need to be, he will come off that vent on his 2nd try with no problems. The nurses watching Braden told us his oxygen settings are great and he is doing fine. Eyes wide open and looking around at them. Annie will be going to visit him today while I am at work, so hopefully she'll have more good news to pass on. For everyone keeping count, Braden weighed in at a new personal best of 2lbs 10 1/2 ounces. We'll be posting some new pictures of him soon. Thanks - Steve & Annie

Wonderful News

Yippee! We have some good news to report today! Braden was taken off the oscillating ventilator!! The settings were so low that he was practically breathing on his own. He is now on the regular ventilator and that means that his little lungs are healing. They are giving him caffeine to stimulate his brain because hopefully they will be removing him from ALL vents very soon!! Also, he is weighing in at a whopping 2 pounds 9 ounces and is still loving that formula. He's definitely an eater and enjoys a full, warm tummy. (Don't we all?)

This good news could mean that Annie and Steve might get to hold Braden again. Annie has held him only once -for about an hour. Steve has held him only once -for about 2 hours. We are excited to think that maybe they can hold him again. This wonderful news came at a great time. Annie and Steve will be celebrating their 1-year wedding anniversary on April 10. Hopefully they can celebrate a year of marriage by getting to hold their baby for the second time!

Thank you so much for all your prayers...they are working! Praise Jesus!

He's Hungry

Braden should be off the oscillating ventilator very soon and we are so happy about that. It means that his little lungs are healing and he's able to breathe on his own. Right now his oxygen settings are in the low 20s which is amazing!!! Also, they removed all but one IV!!

Braden has gone from 12 CCs of formula to 19 CCs! Every 3 hours he gets his 19 CCs of yummy formula. It does take a while for the formula to make it through the tube and into his tummy, but he loves every drop of it! This increase of appetite is normal in our family - we all feel the need to celebrate and eat when we get some good news!

We do not have any updates regarding the blood clot in his brain. Right now we simply wait for the sonograms to be done and they will let us know if the clot is growing or moving. Please pray that Braden's body will reabsorb the blood and he will not have to go through surgery.

Thank you for checking on him and thank you for your prayers.

The Test Results

Last week Braden had a routine sonogram of his brain. The doctors found that he had a small hemorrage. Braden had another sonogram on Wednesday and the findings are that the small amount of hemorrage/blood that they saw on the last sonogram is still there. Luckily, it has not moved nor has it grown. The blood is located in one of the ventricles in his brain. At this time they are going to continue watching him and will repeat the sonogram next Wednesday. They do not feel that surgery is necessary at this time. If they do surgery later, it will be to insert a shunt in his head. The shunt is a tube that will drain fluid out of the brain. We are praying that the body will take care of this itself and reabsorb the blood that is there.

The good news is that his lungs have improved quite a bit. The doctors feel that he is proboby ready to come off the oscillating ventilator! Braden will have to go back to his regular ventilator, but that's still an improvement!

Overall, Braden is doing quite well. For having been born at just 24 weeks of gestation, he is showing such strength! By the grace of God and the loving care of his medical staff, he has had no surgeries nor has he had any major setbacks. He does have really bad days and really good days. Braden needs your prayers for more good days and the strength to make it through the bad days.

Thanks for stopping by to check on him. We'll definitely post any news as soon as we hear anything. Many blessing to you all!

Important Day

Today is a very important day for Braden. He is having a series of tests run today that will provide a great deal of information. We are praying that we will get a ton of good news for our Braden. Please say a little prayer for good news and the courage to face any bad news. We'll post any news as soon as we hear something.

I was able to visit Braden last night and I was actually able to touch him for the first time! When I got there, he had a small blue blanket across his face. The nurse said I could move it in order to see his face. When I reached in there, I pulled the blanket back but he was sound asleep! I then readjusted the blankets near his feet. He felt the extra leg room and he immediately popped his legs out of the snuggly. The snuggly is the border of blankets that keep him all nestled and warm. The picture below shows him busting loose! I placed his little legs and feet back into the snuggly and wrapped the blanket around him so he'd stay in there. He is constantly trying to break free of the snuggly! Oh, and check out that big boy pamper!


Here is a good picture of Steve and Braden.


This is Steve's hand holding Braden's tiny foot.

Getting Better

Braden is such a good eater. He seems to have no trouble with feeding, digesting, or bowel movements. Right now he is being fed 12 CCs of formula by a tube that is in his mouth and he is gradually gaining weight.

Braden will have a wide variety of tests run tomorrow. These tests will give us a lot of information in regards to his development and progress. It will also show any signs of potential problems. To be honest, it is slightly frightening and we can't help but be concerned. So we just pray and pray that when we do get the test results back, it will show many good things for Braden.

In other news, Braden received a book from his Aunt Candy in Memphis. "Good Night Moon" is now sitting by his incubator and we read it to him every night before we leave the hospital. Also, Braden has a new cousin in Lincoln, Nebraska! Olivia Patricia Jones was born on April 1. Olivia is doing great as is her mom, Kara. We can't wait for Braden and Olivia to meet!

Annie and Steve did get some sweet photos of Braden recently and we just couldn't wait to share them with you!

Braden holding mommy's hand


Braden holding hands with mommy and daddy


Daddy helping Braden with his first pacifier

5 Weeks Old

Today Braden is 5 weeks old. We sometimes get overwhelmed when we stop and think about how much we have all changed over the last 5 weeks. Thankfully, the change has been for the better.

Braden is doing ok. His infection has cleared and that means he is no longer on antibiotics. He is now back on formula. We're anxious every time they weigh him because we cannot wait for him to start packing on the pounds! He did get another IV in his head to receive calcium. Also, Braden is still on a high frequency breathing machine called the Oscillator to assist those little lungs. The Oscillator slighty vibrates his body much like vibrating baby chairs. He seems to enjoy the gentle rocking. He just lies on his back and sleeps like an angel.

We want to thank the many people who continue to pray for Braden. We get some of the most touching e-mails from all over the country. We read EVERY single one and we thank God for such kind people like you. Prayer has such a wonderful power and it is working! We received a request from another family who is in need of prayer. An 8-month-old little girl named Delaney pulled a hot Fry Daddy onto her lap while in her walker. She has 40% burns on the trunk of her body and they may need to amputate 3 of her fingers. Also, Delaney's mom and dad will need to have skin grafted in order to help her. Please keep Delaney and her family in your prayers.

Thanks for stopping by and many blessings to you!

Braden Got a Pacifier

Braden now weighs 2 pounds 9 ounces! That is such great news! We can't wait for him to reach the 3 pound mark. We plan on having a 3 Pound Party when he gets there. So if you live near Dallas, plan on attending the 3 Pound Party and bring 3 pounds of something!

He is only on 1 antibiotic. The doctors will run another set of tests to see if the infection is completely clear and if so, Braden will get off the antibiotic tomorrow. Braden is still on the ventilator that helps his lungs to function properly. Thankfully, Braden is slowly beginning to breathe more and more on his own. It will most likely be a slow process and getting him off that machine may take a while. But it's for the best and he seems to be responding very well to that machine. They do regular x-rays on his lungs to check on their development. Some days there is no development and other days there is a little bit of development. Again, we are left to wait and pray that our little fighter will get through this.

Last night, Annie and Steve spent a lot of time with Braden. He opened his eyes and gazed at them. The sweetest news is that Braden's nurses gave him his first pacifier. It's tiny! The mouth piece is about 2 centimeters long. And even though it is very small, it's a bit too large for Braden's small mouth. But he does suck on it and it is the CUTEST thing!

Thanks again for stopping by to check on our little angel. Special thanks for all your prayers...keep them coming!