Back at Baylor

Braden has certainly had a busy week. He strolled into Children's Hospital around 5:00 a.m. on Monday and about 8 hours later he was getting rolled into surgery. The surgery went well and the doctors were very happy with the results. After his surgery, he was just resting comfortably for several hours before he started to open those big, brown eyes.

The visitation policies at Children's are very different from Baylor's. There was not an age limit for visitors. Two of Braden's cousins, Jackson and Jonathan, got to see him for the first time! They were amazed at how small Braden is and they both can't wait to get him home. There was no policy regarding a specific list of who can and cannot go back to his room. So he had lots of family and friends visiting throughout the day. Also, Children's allowed overnight visitors. Annie and I got to sleep in the same room with him. Honestly, we didn't sleep very well, but it was nice to see Braden each time we woke up.

The doctors had to stop feeding Braden during the time of his surgery and he was only receiving IV fluids. For Braden, that was tough. He is a formula eater now and he definitely did not like going back to IV fluids! Braden was extremely fussy and cried and cried because he was so hungry. Fortunately, he was put back on formula on Tuesday afternoon and has been receiving 35 CCs of formula every 3 hours since then. Once that formula hit his tummy, he dozed off and slept for hours. Late Tuesday afternoon, the doctors told us that Braden was stable enough to move back to Baylor! We liked Children's Hospital, but we knew that going back to Baylor was a good sign. By 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday evening, Braden was snuggled up in his regular spot by a window of the NICU at Baylor.

While Braden was in surgery, they placed him back on a ventilator. We wanted to see him stay with his C-PAP and felt that moving to the ventilator was a step backwards. But since his surgery was tough on his little body, he needed that extra help to breathe. However, this morning at Baylor he was taken off the ventilator and upgraded to a nasal cannula! This is great news!!

Now, we just need to focus on getting Braden fully recovered from this surgery. Also, we'd like for him to continue to grow and grow. The fact that he has successfully gained weight helped him through surgery and it will help him to recover. Right now he weighs 4 pounds 12 ounces but we'd like for him to keep gaining! So we are just praying for healing and growth. Braden seems to comfy and happy at Baylor and we are so glad that he's back in familiar territory. We missed Baylor and we especially missed Braden's nurses!

Thanks to the Lynda and the nurses at the Labor and Delivery unit of Presbyterian Hospital of Denton for checking on Braden even though you haven't had a chance to meet him yet. Thanks to all our family and friends -even those we have not met- for the many phone calls, visits, kind words and prayers. We are all so grateful that you keep Braden in your hearts! We took some photos this weekend to share with you. Thanks for stopping by!

On Saturday, a playful Braden managed to stick his tongue out at his daddy.


Braden was wide awake and ready to pose for pictures.


Of course, he got tired and was ready to enjoy that pacifier he loves so much.


Here he is gazing out his cool window at Baylor before moving to Children's.


Annie and Steve had some family time just moments before Braden's surgery.


This is the first picture taken of Braden after his surgery. Doesn't he look great!!??


He slept all afternoon in this private room at Children's which was a lot like a suite!


On Tuesday, the nice crew came to transport Braden back to Baylor.


Braden was all strapped in and ready to go back to Baylor! Annie got to ride in the ambulance with him.