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.

Braden's Coming Home (Kinda)

Braden is going back home, to the only home he has known so far, Baylor Hospital. In less than 24 hours from his operation at Children's, his doctor feels Braden is stable enough to move back. We were told 1 to 3 days recovery, barring no unforeseen setbacks. The least amount of time sounds promising to us.

The report on Braden's condition is he is back to full feeds already. He came out of his ordeal hungry! He has been very comfortable, just laying there checking out his new surroundings. His color is good and his swelling on his head is down. Last night he gave us a little scare, his blood gases were coming back off. Turns out he had some liquid buildup in his lungs. They gave him medication for this and today he is breathing fine. We hate to get too excited because he still has a tough road ahead, but it is hard not to, at least a little bit. We have plenty of new pictures hopefully we can share with you in the next day or two. Thanks for checking by so often, and to the nurses, doctors, and friends at Baylor, see you soon! The preemie prince is on his way back!
Steve & Annie

Braden's Big Day

Just wanted to let everyone know that Braden did great with his procedure. The doctors said it was amazing that he lost so little blood. He went in early, shortly after 1pm and was in for about an hour and forty-five minutes. When they wheeled his little bed back in the room to us, he looked great for what he had just went through. His color was good and he was just resting so peacefully. He does have some battle wounds, but we can live with that. We are very thankful everything went so well. The doctors and nurses at Children's have been great. We were nervous being in a new, strange environment, but it was so smooth. Braden started to wake about 3 hours or so after his surgery. He was very fiesty and fidgety, which to me not knowing anything, looked like a good sign. After something like that, I figured he would be dead to the world, but he woke up squirming. Obviously, much of it was pain and discomfort, but the nurses were right on it and gave him medication and he quickly calmed down. Annie and her sister Clara (Aunt Clara, the famous writer) are staying with Braden tonight to keep a close eye on him. Thanks for all the calls, e-mails, cards, and even the visits. They really help at a time like this. Now we just wait, let Braden heal and continue growing and hopefully our highest hurdle is behind us now. Thanks one more time, we really, really appreciate the thoughts and prayers - and don't think we don't read every single comment listed, we love the support.
Steve & Annie

Surgery Is Over

Braden went in to surgery around 12:45pm. The surgery lasted approximately an hour and a half. The surgery was SUCCESSFUL!! Braden is resting and doing very well. Thank you for your prayers. Tomorrow we will post more specific details regarding the procedure of the surgery.

Quick Update

Braden was finally transported to Children's Hospital at 3:30am this morning. We were told the delay was due to how busy they were and Braden's condition being stable. They have his tenative surgery time set for 2:30pm. We will try to update his condition late tonight or in the morning. We apologize in advance if we don't call people with updates, it is just too stressful of times right now. Thanks for checking up and we will have another post as soon as possible.
Steve & Annie

Surgery Date Set

Braden will be moving from Baylor to Children's on Sunday, May 15. They have scheduled his surgery for Monday, May 16. We do not know an exact time yet, but we'll post any news here as soon as we know. Most likely, he will get to go back to Baylor on Wednesday, May 18.

Please continue to keep Braden in your prayers!

News about the Surgery

Hello! Thanks for stopping by to check on my precious nephew. Braden is having a good day. He is still on C-PAP to assist him with his breathing. They are going to try the nasal cannula again on May 16 and hopefully he will have a better response to it this time. He now weighs 4 pounds 5 ounces and he is eating 32 CCs of real formula every few hours. (He is plumping up fast...and that cute double chin of his is proof of that.) Braden is now at the right weight to undergo the shunt surgery; it's just a matter of getting it scheduled. The surgeon will let us know the exact date and we will post any info here as soon as we get it.

Braden will have to leave Baylor and go to Children's at Parkland Hosptial to have his surgery. He will most likely stay at Children's for a couple of days and then get moved back to Baylor. The surgery is a tough battle for Braden. But he's been so strong through all of this and we know he'll be just fine. He has worked so hard over the last 10 weeks and we are all so proud of that little fighter! We feel that once this battle is over, Braden's only challenge will be to grow and grow.

In other news, Braden is still enjoying that new crib of his. He seems to like being tightly wrapped up in his blankets. He looks like a little tamale in all those blankets! One thing that Braden really loves is story time! Anyone that has gone to see Braden knows that he dozes off right after hearing a fun story. On Mother's Day we wanted to sit outside by the Baylor fountains and enjoy the sunny weather for a little. But we couldn't find my dad, better known as PoPo, so we called the nursery to see if he was still in there. It turns out he had stayed behind in order to have some alone story time with Braden!

Some of MoMo's friends and coworkers at Evers Park Elementary, better known as the "Braden Bunch," gave Braden a 3 pound Winnie The Pooh Collection last month. We have already finished reading the whole thing to him! Braden's cousins, Jackson and Jonathan, decided it was time for some new stories. They bought him several new books including his first Olivia book. I can't wait to have some story time with Braden and his new books.

May 6 -12 is National Nurse Appreciation Week! Braden is celebrating by decorating his crib and giving a sweet wink to those lovely nurses of his.


Thanks for stopping by! Have a blessed day!

An Update from Annie

Hello everyone! Thanks for stopping by to check on our baby. He had a good weekend. On Friday night, Steve and I went to visit him. It's so fun to have him in that open crib because we can have more interaction with him.

On Saturday, Steve and I went to tour a house that we'd like to buy. (Please wish us luck with this one, we'd love to have this house for Braden!) After the tour, we went straight to the hospital to tell Braden all about it. He was wide awake and was even a little fussy. He cried when I changed him, he cried when the nurse was assessing him, he was just wanting all kinds of attention and we were happy to oblige! To our surprise, Lynda, Steve's mom, stopped by to visit Braden on Saturday. It was a lot for her to drive in from Sherman, so we were happy to see her. She was able to have some alone time with Steve and Braden and they all enjoyed it. After that, Steve took me shopping for my first Mother's Day! I had the best time; Steve really knows how to take care of me.

On Sunday, Mother's Day, we spent the whole day at Baylor. Unfortunately, Steve had to work. But my family spent the whole day there with me. Braden was wide awake for part of the day, but mostly he was sleeping while all wrapped up in his blankets. We didn't hold him all weekend. In fact, we have decided that we will not hold him until after his surgery later this week. We just want him to rest and grow as much as possible before his surgery. It was really hard to leave him, especially on Mother's Day. It broke my heart. My arms were dying to get a hug from Braden. When I got home, I had spent some time with Steve and held on to Braden's blanket. I just cried and cried because I missed Braden so much. But I know that he is being well taken care of at Baylor and I trust that I'll have many days to hug and kiss Braden in the very near future. I know how very blessed I am to have him and even though the last few months have been rocky, I am still very grateful for them. I also know that my family, extended family, friends, and especially my husband are very loving and supportive. Together, we'll make it through all this.

Again, thanks for stopping by. And Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there.

I've attached some photos for you. You can see his cute double-chin in some of these photos. We're still debating who he got that from. :o) Have a great day!

-Annie

This photo shows the C-PAP that is inserted into his nose to assist him with breathing. As you can see here, he has Steve's hair and complexion.


Braden was chilling out and stretching on Sunday afternoon. You can see him tugging on his feeding tube.


He loves to stretch and during a pamper change, he took advantage of the extra space.


This is the crib he sleeps in now. He looks so small in there but he is actually weighing in at a little over 4 pounds!


There's one big stretch!


His new crib is by a window and he enjoys a sunny afternoon nap.

News from Braden's Doctors

Well, we finally got the news back from Braden's doctors. The scans of his head were sent to the Neurosurgeon and after his review, he concurred with the doctors from Baylor. Braden, at this point, barring a sudden miracle, will need surgery to insert a shunt in his head. Just to clear it up, a shunt is a device that diverts fluid from the brain into the abdominal cavity where it is safely absorbed into the blood stream. Though a shunt may be inserted in infants, children and adults, the procedure is essentially the same regardless of the size of the patient. We have not had the opportunity to speak with the Neurosurgeon yet to have our questions answered, but our doctors tell us it will most likely take place in the next 7-10 days. They want Braden to fatten up a little more before the procedure - if performed too soon, it could require a second operation. Obviously, we don't want that, so we are hoping Braden's condition doesn't worsen between now and then, and he puts on more weight. We are really sick about all this, but there is no use getting down now, Braden is the one who we should be focusing on. He has been so strong through all of this, we know he'll be fine.

We had also noticed in the last few days Braden had struggled breathing in random periods of the day. He would be fine one moment, then require his oxygen level to be adjusted, then soon go back to normal. The nurses realized this was mostly happening during/after feedings. We now believe he has reflux, just like in adults. This can be treated with medication - again, just like in adults. Also, when his stomach got full from feeding, it put pressure on his esophagus and lungs. This was contributing to his lungs getting so tired as well. So for now, Braden has been taken off nasal cannula and placed back on CPAP. This is not the ventilator, it is still tubing in his nose, it just does a little more work for Braden. This allows him to rest and heal up a little bit. We need him at full strength for any potential, future procedures. We are ok with this, because his breathing was instantly better with less struggling. We don't really view it as a setback, just a short recovery period.

Well, not to be so grim, we do have some better news. Braden is in a small room with only two other babies. It is much less busy and a lot quieter. Braden is doing well in his open air crib, he is maintaining his own body temperature fine. He is also 1 ounce shy of 4 pounds! He loves to open his big eyes and just check out the scenery of the NICU. He likes to grab a hold of your finger and not let go. He is also not as sensitive when it comes to touch. We rub his head and he is overjoyed. Will close on that note and we've attached some photos below - as always, thanks again to everyone and their concern.
Steve & Annie

Braden looks exactly like Steve, but he definitely has Annie's beautiful brown eyes.


Braden laid across Annie's lap and you can see just how long he is getting!


This is the new crib! He looks so cute in it!


Braden and his daddy hung out by the new crib.


Who wants to go outside and play?
"Pick me, Pick me!"


Steve laughed and laughed at this silly face Braden gave him.

Braden is Moving On Up

Last night as I was driving to the hospital, I got a phone call from Annie and Steve. They told me that Braden had been moved out of Nursery F and into Nursery C. I didn't know exactly what that meant and I was actually a little worried. (It turns out that Braden was switched in order to make room in other areas - nothing to be worried about.) I made it to the hospital and checked in with the receptionist. After washing my hands, I walked down that very familiar hallway. Instead of turning into the first nursery on the left as usual, I walked all the way down to the very end of the hall. I had never made it that far down the hallway and I was able to see into the other nurseries. There were many nooks and hallways in each nursery and it was amazing to see how many Baylor Babies were there.

The families of those sweet babies were tucked into those nurseries and hovered over the incubators, beds, and cribs. As the parents were washing up, they looked so sad and stressed. But then they would walk into their nursery and their whole demeanor would change. Their sad faces became shiny and bright. To me, that was just a peek at how much parents love their children.

As I walked into Nursery C, I met his new nurse, Hope. She was so pleasant and warm. I looked at Braden in that new bed and I was overwhelmed. He looks fantastic! He was wearing a little shirt and was all wrapped up in a blanket. He was sleeping so peacefully and you could really see how much he's grown. He's a very blessed baby and we're thankful to all of you for your prayers.

This morning we got some great news. Braden will be moving on up to a crib today! That big-boy bed was fun while it lasted, but it will be wonderful to see Braden in a crib! I can't wait to get a picture of him in that crib. I will post a photo as soon as possible.

Thanks for stopping by to check on Braden and thank you for posting your comments to this blog. It's nice to read such kind, comforting words. Have a blessed day.

BRADEN'S IN A CRIB !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We called to check on Braden last night and were told he had been moved to another wing. The hall he was in previously was for "micro" preemies. Since Braden is only 2 ounces shy of FOUR POUNDS, he had clearly outgrown his "micro" status. They needed his space for more serious newborns, so Braden graciously gave up his spot. When we called back to check on Braden this morning, they informed us he had been moved into a crib! This is great news, besides giving us a closer feeling of a normal little baby, this also means he is regulating his temperature on his own. Annie and I have been so excited we are having a hard time at work. We are both watching the clock to get off where we can see his new living quarters in person. I am sure we will be writing back soon with more news, just wanted to share this with you all. Steve & Annie

An Eventful Weekend

Wow! What a wonderful weekend Braden has had. His mom and dad walked 5 miles at the March of Dimes Walk-A-Thon and he had some visitors. His Aunt Connie stopped by to see him and Nurse Leigh told her that Braden's pamper needed to be changed. So Connie anxiously volunteered! As soon as she removed his pamper and started to wipe him, he pooped on her hand! Then she started to wipe her hand off and realized that Braden continued with his duties and had pooped on his sheets and blankets! They had to change his clothes, clean him up, change the bedding, then get him all wrapped up again.

We do have some photos of this weekend to share with you. Luckily for Connie, we took no photos of Braden's special gift for her.

Here is Braden posing for Aunt Connie.


Aunt Connie gave Braden that famous comb-over hairdo!


Braden stared up with his mommy.


Braden loves storytime with his mommy!


Braden was placing a phone call to MoMo requesting some REAL food!


After the Walk-A-Thon, Steve held Braden as he smiled.


Braden and his dad snuggling.


Soon, Braden fell asleep and got kisses from his daddy.


This little guy was tuckered out and ready for his new bed.


This is the new big-boy bed!

March of Dimes - Walk America - Braden's Team

First off, I wanted to report that we still have not received any word from the specialist on Braden's condition with his head. As of the end of last week, he still had some swelling in one ventricle on one side of his brain. He has blood being mixed with his normal brain fluids which is not being drained properly. His head scans were sent to a specialist on Thursday and we hope to hear the results by Monday on whether Braden may require some minor surgery to help correct the issue. On a better note, he was upgraded from his CPAP to a different type of nasal prongs called a nasal cannula. I don't know much about the switch other than it is a good move and one of the last steps to him breathing on his own. This is Braden's second attempt at this procedure - the first time wasn't a success. He has had some difficulty so far, as could be expected, but he isn't dong too bad. Braden's weight has fluctuated between 3lbs 8oz - 3lbs 10oz, but overall he is really doing so good, we couldn't be prouder of his progress.

On Saturday, April 30th we participated in the March of Dimes Walk America to help save babies born too soon. It was a 5 mile walk around White Rock Lake in Dallas, Texas. It was a really inspirational event. People or businesses sponsor teams to participate. They are asked to take donations and if you reach the $1000 mark you get your name on the back of the sponsor shirts. Either our fee was raised or waived by the March of Dimes, but Braden's Team was on our shirts. Annie decided at the last minute to do the walk with me and the thousands of others. It sounds pretty easy, but to walk five miles on concrete and gravel, partly uphill after giving birth by cesarean just two months ago isn't too shabby. I haven't seen Annie walk that much since the last Red Apple Sale at Foley's. In all honesty, it was a great time. When we started out there were people holding up signs cheering us on, cheerleaders, clowns, and even some protestors. Some people seem to think a few lab rats used for testing are more important than human lives, but thats another story. We met a lot of parents of other premature babies, many had their little ones with them and we ate some good barbecue. We also saw many of the nurses from Baylor there showing their support. It was fun, exciting, sad, & tiring all in one afternoon. Can't get drama like that on TV.

All in all it was a busy weekend. Its amazing to see how many people are going through or have went through our same situation. It helps a lot, especially seeing the babies born so early now at three, four, and five years of age. Next year we hope to get our whole family to the event, including Braden. Speaking of, its time to call and check in on him. Thanks for taking time to out to read about our little story. Steve & Annie

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!