Braden being Braden

November has started and like every other family with small kids we are trying to avoid colds! Well, it's not so easy. Braden got a small cold and passed it to me. Then over the weekend he shared it with my mother, his MoMo. We were both sick as dogs, and little Braden was fine after a day or so. Just like a kid to bounce back like that. But with Braden we except nothing else. Which brings me to my next topic.

Braden had an eye appointment Thursday Nov. 3rd and although the doctor said that the surgery he had while at Baylor looks great, he is very near sighted and will probably require glasses sometime early next year. Now I know you are thinking, "Glasses? That's it? Oh we handle that," and true we can. But when you are his mother and on a day to day basis you are dealing with every need for this baby it hurts like nothing else to hear that he has to have one more thing to deal with. He has been through so much this year and now the start of next year will start with glasses. And yes we can handle it but that does not mean I have to like it. My nephew Jackson was another baby who battled for his life at birth and he will be 9 in December. He wears hearing aids, and we are all used to them but it hurts every time I see them. Just knowing that there our kids out there who are going through this stuff kills me. And until it happens to you or someone you know and you see it every day it is not the same. Talking to someone on the phone or through email about their special needs baby or child is nothing compared to living with that person.

We lived through it with my sister and her husband we saw it on their faces, in their body language and now Steve and I are going through the same thing. People who are living it with us hurt with us. Yes, it is just glasses but to us it is more than just glasses. Being around Steve and I -day in and day out- you can see how hard it is for us to make it one day at a time. Sleep is here and there, dinner is catch it if you can, clean clothes are a maybe. Thank goodness for dishwashers or we would drink with our hands. Steve and I have not had a night of rest where we did not have Braden to deal with. NOT THAT WE ARE COMPLAINING. But we can not tell you the last time we slept in the same bed for more the 4 hours without having to get up for Braden. We love to do this for him, we strive to do this. We are doing what every parent in the world has done and will do. BUT when you add up all that he has been through and then you put glasses on top of that mountain that he is so trying to climb, he falls back on his mommy and daddy and we are there to pick him up and try again.

We will climb many more mountains and we will fall many more times but for our little family we would like a small hill for once. Something we can just get over, sit down, and enjoy the ride... without doctors or medicine or oxygen or Sleep Study Tests. But like all the other stuff we have been through in our short time as a family, we will be just fine with whatever life brings. Glasses, compared to other things that could have happened, are not that bad. But as a mom speaking from my heart and all the love that I have for my son, it hurts like nothing else knowing one more battle for my little guy to overcome. And I know he will be fine and then I will wonder what was I so worried about. He will live to prove me wrong. Jackson proves us wrong everyday!!

We are very happy about the holiday season coming up. We will be spending it at home and I am sure family will be coming around. Braden is still to small to grasp Santa and all that fun stuff but we are still going to do milk and cookies, and writing a letter.

Braden watch his first Mav's game with his daddy and loved it. Below is a picture of him getting pumped for the big game. He also watches the Cowboys with his PoPo, Uncle Chris and Uncle Leroy and he is always ready for a good football game.

So with this I will try to get myself back in order before I see my son and just hide my emotions in front of him and cry later, just like every other good mother in world does!