Happy New Year

Braden and his whole family would like to wish everyone a HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!
This year has been hard for our family but we made it through and Braden can not be better considering all that he went through in 2005. So with a heavy heart we say good bye to 2005 and WELCOME 2006. We hope it brings you and yours the very best!! We are praying that God will contiue to watch and heal our little Braden and he contuines to grow and surprises us all everyday!! Lots of love from McKinney Texas
Steve, Annie and Braden Bunger

Braden got this Texas Longhorns jacket from his Uncle Junior, GOOOOO LONGHORNS!!!!!
Braden with his cousins, Elizabeth, Jackson Michelle & Jonathan

Braden's CT Scan Results

Well we have had Dec 15 marked on our calendar for quite a while. This was Braden's scheduled cat scan appointment and our first chance to really see how things were going since his last surgery. So, we had all been a little nervous awaiting the outcome. We felt really confident since Braden has shown no signs of anything out of the ordinary. Just shortly after noon, the CT scan was complete and we just had to wait for the neurosurgeon to analyze them. Our appointment was at 2pm so we has some anticipation building. Finally they call us in and tell us to have a seat, Dr. Weprin will be right in. The doctor walked in with a huge smile on his face and told us he couldn't believe how great things looked. The ventricles in his brain were recessed to normal size and the shunt was working well. He told us his brain looked like it was developing perfectly normal. I think he was as excited as we were, he told us this outcome made his day. He may or may not have known, but it made our Christmas, our holiday season, it made our year. We are in no way out of the woods yet, but for now all is good. We go back for another CT Scan in 3 months, if the results are similar, he doesn't need to see us but on a yearly basis. What a great Christmas gift. We tried to make as many calls as possible to spread the word, but we wanted to post here as well for those who didn't get word.

It was very sad to see the other kids in the waiting room. Many were preemies with similar conditions as Braden has. It made us even more thankful for how healthy Braden is, it obviously could be a lot worse. On a lighter note, Annie and I will be volunteering at Parkland Hospital, on behalf of Newborns in Need, on December 24th. We are going to be handing out gifts and hand sewn blankets and clothes to some of the sick and less fortunate kids. We may interact with some of the families of the preemies. We plan to take some pictures of Braden with us to hopefully help lift spirits. Thanks for checking in and Merry Christmas to everyone.

Visits & Birthdays, fun fun fun!!!

Where do we start with this month? Braden's MoMo, his cousin Jackson, his great Aunt Candy and his GrandBob all have birthdays this month. Happy Birthday to you all. This month has started out with some good news for us. Braden went to the doctor on Thursday Dec. 1st for his 9 month check up and things went very well. He is at 15.5 pounds and 26 and a half inches long. He is doing very well. The doctor said if he did not know Braden and his story he would have no idea he was a preemie. He also told us Braden's muscle tone was excellent, he was very limber, and his hemoglobin counts were great! When they pricked his little finger to take blood, he didn't even bat an eye. With all that he has been through, it is amazing to see his resiliency and just how tough this baby is. He is still eating very well and we cannot be happier about that. He is being spoon fed baby veggies and eating cereal in every formula bottle. This child of ours contuines to impress us everyday.

Braden will have a CT-Scan on December 15th and we will see at that time if his shunt revision he had back in September is working the way it should be. We pray for the best and hope for the best, but we also have to understand that it is not in our control. We have many times tried to understand why things happen the way they do, but we just have to understand there are powers greater than us, and we must accept God's will.

Braden's grandparents from Memphis, TN, came to stay with us this weekend. We had Christmas with them a little early. They got Braden some really neat stuff including his high chair & Baby Einstein DVD set. Braden is already sweetly spoiled but with his grandparents from Tennesse, it's even more so. But to tell you the truth Grandbob and Gramy spoil all of us - They got us a new LCD flat screen monitor for our computer and a new diaper bag to name a few things!!!! Grandma Shirley and Grandpa Gary will have their hands full with Braden this week.

Grandma Shirley is having surgery on Monday December 12th. We are sure that all will go well and she will be back with the boys in no time. We are thinking of her and wish her a speedy recovery. Many prayers are with you Grandma Shirley!!!

Jackson L. Havis, Braden's cousin, had his birthday party Saturday night. He had a few friends spend the night and they ate pizza, popcorn, candy, pickles, cake and anything else they could find. They watched movies and had a great time. HAPPY 9th BIRTHDAY JACKSON!!!!!

Well Sam and John, Braden's buddies have cut some teeth. So watch out McDonald's, you have some new future customers heading your way. Both boys are 6 months and doing great. Baby Tristan, as we call him, is as cute as can be. He is smiling and Grandpa Gary has him babbling a little bit now, but soon he will be talking up a storm.

We took some family pictures and some pictures of Braden for the holidays... enjoy!

Sweet Braden in his Santa hat!


The Bunger Family


Braden in his "First Christmas" shirt


Braden in his Santa Suit!


Braden can't wait for Santa to visit!