Braden's Journey

Medicine, Moons, and My Turn

2012-02-14T19:26:00.002-06:00

Medicine - Braden is so good at taking medicine, in fact he begs for it. Hilarious and we caught the moment on video. http://youtu.be/Wa7H3amyL1Q

Moons - Braden LOVES looking at the moon and the stars and often out of nowhere will say, "Moon stars at night". It is a bedtime ritual for him and daddy.

My Turn - Braden has learned all about his turn and has just started saying, "My turn! My turn!" when he wants to try something on his own. We usually go for a walk and he rides in the wagon but he is so interested in his turn he actually pushed the wagon the entire walk tonight!

Aside from strep (right after I said he was so healthy) he has been doing really well. We took a trip to the beach. What better timing than the ONE cold weekend we have had in awhile but we made the most of it and he even flew a kite with daddy!

Who is Ju-Ju?

2012-01-26T21:09:00.003-06:00

So my son says "momma" all the time but recently he started saying "ju ju" and we were soooo confused as to who he was talking about. Until he continued to look at me, or pictures of me, and exclaim, "Ju Ju!". We finally realized my mom calls my Jules or Ju-Ju and he has picked up the name.

He is in such an adorable phase. He is talking more and more and just such a love bug. School says he is a monkey because he climbs all the time on everything! He loves berries, broccoli, cheese, salmon, and rice. He is learning to count, knows tons of animals, says his ABCs, and is fascinated by music, lights, and blocks.

Best news is he has been so healthy. No issues of any kind since May (knocking on wood) and we are thrilled as he deserves the break! Love to you all!

Ringing in the New Year

2012-01-01T19:30:00.005-06:00

Our classic photo of Mr. B. We have an amazing son who is in love with blocks, water, being outside and the garage (seriously, he could watch it go up and down for hours).

Happy New Year to everyone!

2010......

2009.........

Santa, is that you?

2011-12-29T21:30:00.013-06:00

My serious son... as always. Great Christmas.... see highlights below.
Wind chime time with G-Bob!

Look closely but this "Santa" is related. This was after an initial meltdown.... eventually he warmed up.

Super excited about the TREE in our house!

Opening presents with Nana.... WHO-HOO a sand/water box!

Playing matchbox cars with Poppa! He is so much fun!

Not pictured are many more amazing family members. Special love to Nana, Paw paw, Gammy, and G-Bob for taking care of Braden while we work. We even saw Aunt Abbey and Uncle Scott briefly. Thanks to Aunt Sue and Uncle Brent for being amazing during the holidays and well beyond! Also, Braden has LOVED spending time with Uncle Geoff for a week straight! A special bday wish to my sweet Ama and I LOVED hanging out with my Poppa Godley (even though he is a backseat rocker).

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Happy Birthday to Me!

2011-12-04T21:48:00.005-06:00

Pics from my party... let's kick it off with the CAKE!

Hanging with my Aunt Jen.... love her! She even built my new train toy all by herself!

Hanging with my Gammy who came up for the entire weekend with G-Bob!

Hanging with Melissa and her really really really pretty daughter Lanie. She is helping me color!

Giving Thanks.

2011-11-29T21:04:00.006-06:00

Hanging at Nana and Papaw's house building LEGO structures. I am so an engineer in the making. :)

Daddy getting ready for the game and dressing me to support.

Hanging in my tunnel. This is awesome!! Thanks Ama!

Cracking up with Poppa Godley! He is sooooooooo funny :)

Braden also got to see Gammy, G-Bob, Uncle Scott, Geoff, and Brent and Aunt Abbey and Suzanne. We are so blessed. Braden is FULL on tornado mode tearing up our house but he is so much fun and full of life!

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things

2011-11-13T20:11:00.003-06:00

People always ask me... what is Braden doing these days? Funny thing is I find most the things he does are simple and entertaining to me but really.... other people want to know? Well here goes...

1. Braden likes to feed Daisy her food after I scoop into the bowl. But then after he feeds her he likes to go back and get one piece at a time and take it to her bowl.

2. He likes to pull daddy's beer bottles out of the fridge and throw them on the ground (fortunately they do not break).

3. Everything is, "I want this!?!?!!!!!" This = everything and anything.

4. Lately he likes to head butt us.... this is not fun for mommy and daddy. He has a larger than average head that he likes to throw it into our head and laugh. Hard part is I cannot help but laugh too! Even if it hurts.

5. He loves slides.

6. He loves older girls, especially ones with hair he can yank out.

7. He loves to eat rocks, leaves and dirt and then spit it out.

8. He loves to ask me to open and close the sun roof of the car and garage door.

9. He likes to go out the dog door... NOT a good thing either but hey, he is a boy!

10. He likes to sing... ALL the time. Favorite song is Twinkle Twinkle Little Star in English and Chinese.

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-30T22:05:00.007-05:00

2 years ago last Friday my water broke and we were sent into an unknown situation with our little man. Rather than reflect on a tough time I want thank you all again for your support and show you how amazing our little monkey is doing today!

Hanging with my daddy! Can I take this outfit off yet??

Figuring out the pumpkin. I see engineer in him all the time!

Making a major mess with mommy.

Happy Halloween!

Official Candy Inspector

2011-10-13T19:49:00.004-05:00

Suiting up for Halloween!

Braden is thriving and enjoying his friends and teachers at daycare. We returned from Houston where we saw Scott and Abbey tie the knot. Unfortunately Braden's debut as a ring bearer was a major flop and Brian watched the wedding from the cry room with him. It was a beautiful wedding and we loved seeing all our cousins, aunts, uncles, etc, most of whom met Braden for the first time.

We got to swim with fellow fish, cousin Kiera who was slightly attached to Uncle Brian!

I Need Your Vote!

2011-10-09T13:50:00.000-05:00

Mommy cannot decide what I should be for Halloween so cast your vote for:

1. Monkey (because I can go everywhere even with obstacles)
2. Koala Bear (because I cling to mommy but she says I need to grip better)
3. Fish (because I LOVE the water!)

What do you think?!

Game Day!

2011-09-03T13:23:00.013-05:00

Ok, I told mommy I write better blogs so I am taking over again and in honor of college football kicking off, below are some of my favorite pictures!

From the beginning in the NICU mom and dad were trying to confuse me (Thanks again for the hat nurse Lily).

Dad trying to convert me... I look pretty nervous about this idea.

One of my momma's favorite pictures.... me day dreaming of my future days watching UT games... or just in shock she would put me in Gilbert's jersey... still love the Horns regardless.

Hanging with the fellas Luke Panko and A.J. Franty. Many more of these times to come likely with booze and babes... WAY in the future.

Overwhelmed at that GIANT Longhorn bib. My Sooner Aunt Kelly gave this to me perhaps as reverse psychology of some kind.

Me and my die hard TCU Horn Frog Uncle Geoff. I have to admit this may be the front runner as my favorite team.

Me and momma on game day... even though I run around so she misses most of the game. Which was ok since her team was really bad last year.

Aunt Martha if you are reading this I wore the Ohio State shirt today... but I move too quick for good pics these days :) Love to you all! Going to cheer on all my respective teams as I am still undecided... no matter what mom and dad dress me in!

First Plane Ride and Trip to the Beach - From Braden's View

2011-08-21T19:39:00.015-05:00

Sorry my mommy has been sooooo out of touch on the blog. I thought I would tell you all about my trip to Florida!

Started with my first plane ride. I did not have my own seat but mommy let me ride on her lap the entire way there as I mostly slept and sweat all over mommy.... that plane was hot! We met Gammy at the airport and drove down to Venice.

I saw the ocean for the first time and took off towards it. I vaguely remember my mommy running frantically behind me with a camera while yelling something to daddy about not letting me drown. Video evidence of this will be posted later... my mommy is technically challenged with uploaded videos. :)

Daddy bought me "cool dude" sunglasses where I perfected my, "hello ladies" move.

I went to the splash park every day with Gammy and Poppa Godley and Ama. The park was a good place for me because my risk of diving into the deep water (which I love to do at the pool) is eliminated and I think mommy has better blood pressure. I really do not know why she gets so stressed, I tried telling her I am part fish.

We also went and got me my first ice cream cone.

I also went looking for sharks teeth with daddy and Poppa Godley. We found a bunch! Apparently this part of the world is known for sharks teeth!

I had a really good time and was a perfect angel on the plane ride back too. Even though I did get slightly fussy when we had to turn around on the drive home because daddy forgot the pack and play on the curb at the airport.... at least that is what mommy told me.... :)

Thanks for letting me take over the blog. I will be sure to let mommy know to get with the program on more frequent updates!

Can You Hear Me Now?

2011-07-25T20:48:00.002-05:00

Well, Mr. B had multiple ear infections and after a visit to the ENT he now has brand new tubes in his ears. At his follow up appointment,,,, he was told he has "perfect" hearing :). So we are on our way to a ear infection free Braden and on track to him having no excuse to tune me out .... at least for now.

He is doing great. Had some visits to splash parks, making friends at day care and really just growing to be such an inquisitive little man. We head to Florida in a few weeks which will be a trip of firsts including a vacation on the beach and our first plane ride :)

Picture Catch Up

2011-07-12T21:48:00.008-05:00

Lots to catch up on. Braden just got tubes put in his ears. He is wonderful, happy, thriving and healthy! See some of the latest pics below.

Discovering the dog door!!

Swimming with Poppa Godley!

Enjoying the pool... more than sweet Luke!

Aunt Suzanne!

March for Dimes

First hair cut

Like a Fish!

2011-07-04T21:18:00.002-05:00

Braden LOVES the water. He swam with Poppa Godley and Ama this weekend and went to another pool party to celebrate the 4th of July! He loves the water ans splashes constantly. He also jumps in with NO fear and even after going under he surfaces SMILING! He went on his first boat ride and loved the water but hated the life vest. Boys... :)

Braden has had good health and has been back in daycare for a few weeks. We are switching pediatricians as we feel it is best for Braden to be somewhere where they listen to mommy and daddy a little bit better...

Pics to come soon... we have been posting on facebook so transferring on the camera seems like a lot of work... :)) Love to you all. Thank for checking in on B.

I Take Mine in Twos or Threes

2011-06-21T22:14:00.002-05:00

Well... the delayed blog is because it has been nuts for Mr. B. He got really sick... again. Docs could not figure it out but I finally understand that they were trying to diagnose him for one virus when in fact he had 2 and was teething. So after temps between 104 and 106 for a few days he finally got better and we are on the mend.

He is walking around like a maniac making is impossible for us to do anything while he is awake. But it is also so much fun. He loves to share things. He loves to play with our dog Daisy. He loves to open and shut doors. Most of all he LOVES his musical star!

I have wonderful friends and family who helped us get through the last few weeks and hopefully he will stay healthy back in daycare.

Swimming With My Girlfriend

2011-05-22T21:38:00.005-05:00

Braden jumped into the pool more than willingly with daddy. Must have been that cutie pie on the other end of the pool :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5m-u70hDFg

He is 25lbs and attempting to walk all the time. Still wobbly and unsure at times but fearless in attempting. He loves to share things with us and shows us everything he encounters. It has been rough on his health as he has been sick all the time. He is such a sweet baby and everyone comments on how well behaved he is in public places.

Honoring Mothers

2011-05-02T19:42:00.004-05:00

Mother's Day is only a week away and a day we honor all our moms. As many of you know my journey with Braden was... well a journey, especially at the beginning. You may recall I had an amazing night nurse care for me who was involved with an organization African Mother's Health Initiative (AMHI) that focuses on saving moms like me and babies like Braden in Malawi Africa, a place with far less resource, money and technology to do what we can do in the United States.

In honor of Mother's Day, AMHI is running a fundraising campaign to help mothers and babies in need. Any amount makes an impact: only $20 provides a postpartum visit from a trained nurse and $35 will provide a month's supply of formula to an orphaned infant. Please consider giving a gift to AMHI on behalf of your mom, wife, sister, daughter, or any woman in your life who is an amazing mother.

Easy options to give are found here.

Thank you for continuing to follow Braden's Journey. He has been healthy for a whole week! Thriving at school. Trying to walk everywhere! Laughs all the time and loves life!

Stepping Out

2011-04-15T08:28:00.002-05:00

Everyone is asking if he is walking yet.... so here he is stepping out. Not too graceful but he loves trying over and over and over. http://youtu.be/za5ui2ql0hk He also loves to yank on my hair... hard. He discovered how to turn the shower on as I run his bath which was hilarious to watch. He even crawls to his crib to put himself to bed... I know I am so lucky. He continues to be a complete joy.

Discoveries: Trash Cans and Toilets

2011-03-31T18:37:00.008-05:00

I am starting a new standing piece called "discoveries" because Braden is into EVERYTHING and it is so fun to watch him process new things and how to interact with them. Hence he "discovered" my computer months ago and when I let him "interact" with is he proceeded to rip the keys off, some permanently. A funny discovery was the toilet and trash can. Brian had him in the bathroom and when he rounded the corner towards the toilet Brian found him in there sloshing his hands around in the bowl.... clean bowl.... thank goodness. Then he proceeds to find the toilet paper roll and he loves to make is spin spin spin so all the paper rolls off. I know I should stop him.... but it's so cute how fascinated his is by it all. Then there is the trash can. He is so curious what is in it we just moved them all to higher ground for now because really is there anything good a toddler can pull out of a bathroom trashcan? He is doing better health wise. After the flu and throat ulcers he got an ear infection. So things happen in threes right?? Which means he is done?? :) I know this is all good for him but sure but I love having happy healthy Mr. B back! Headed to see the grandparents in Houston this weekend to celebrate my dad's new marriage to Diana/Ama.

Two for the Price of One

2011-03-24T20:31:00.002-05:00

Mr. B started day care and he had the pleasure of catching not one, but two viruses.... He got the flu as well as a throat ulcer infection. Unrelated and both painful for different reasons. Thank God for Gammy helped as I was in Houston for most of it attending a wedding. Expected him to get sick of course but man it was still rough watching him suffer through the ordeal. He is def a mommas bot as he crawls around saying "momma, momma". Probably because he knows I am the sucker who will pick him up :) What can I say... :)

First Week of School

2011-03-17T21:25:00.002-05:00

Braden started day care this week. He did well but is having a tough time adjusting to the new environment, people, food choices and nap schedule. I have to admit I would too as that is a TON of change. He only went three days and of course when I picked him up day three he had a fever and runny nose.... that did not take long. He will be fine as he is going to Houston with me to stay with his Gammy (my mom) while I attend a wedding. Hopefully we will see Papa and Ama too :)

Bad to the Bone

2011-03-06T09:30:00.002-06:00

Two guesses at who dressed Braden up for Luke Panko's birthday party... it took about 10 shots to get this picture as he was not a fan of the glasses, however he dug the leather jacket and rocker shirt. He is just under 24lbs and getting closer and closer to walking as he pulls up, reaches out for us, leans and then decides to get down and crawl. This is his last week at home with Nana and then he enters the world of day care!

My Daddy's Chair and Crazy Hair

2011-02-13T11:03:00.004-06:00

Nana brought over a small rocking chair that Brian used when he was a young child. We put Braden in it to watch Baby Einstein and he sits very intently. However, I did take my eye off him and he plunged forward and did a face plant onto the carpet. It is moments like this when I realize this will be one of many bonks and cruises, especially with a boy!! I also felt like a horrible mom and Brian came running upstairs while I was consoling B and he knew better than to "judge" even though I could tell he had a look on his face to say, "if that had happened under my watch I would be getting yelled at." and he is right :)

Brian is also determined to convince me that Braden needs a haircut and he proceeded to take him into the bathroom, put gel is his hair and spike it sideways just to make his point. I do not know why I am resisting, but cutting his hair is such a big moment and I refuse to let it happen until absolutely necessary.

Braden is still home with Nana for one more month and then he is off to daycare. While it is bittersweet I am actually excited he will get to interact with other kids and learn new things.... including picking up all kinds of germs but that is to be expected!

In Remembrance

2011-01-30T20:17:00.003-06:00

Braden's Great Grandpa passed away but not before we had some great memories and pictures. Great Grandpa Charlie was a good man who served his country for many years while being a loyal and dedicated family man. Here is a picture of four generations of Betts men. Too much trouble in one room if you ask me :)

Braden has surgery this week and the recovery will be hopefully straight forward. He is crawling up on all fours and into EVERYTHING! Just put a swing in the front yard and he is enjoying it so much!

Ringing in the New Year

2011-01-08T11:51:00.004-06:00

Braden is doing great! He has fought off a few colds and tonsillitis. He is crawling and pulling up everywhere! It is fun but a tad stressful as he is such a hazard to himself! We enjoyed a nice holiday break and he got a little attached to momma. When I am in the room he will crawl as fast as he can towards me, throwing toys to the side that stand in his way.

He takes a bath like a big boy. He flails around on the changing table so I often find myself on the floor which makes it interesting for other reasons but removing the 3 foot drop sure makes mom feel better :) He has favorite books, toys, and sounds. He is just so much fun and such a sweet baby. Still having a tough time with actual solid food. We tried egg for the third time and it resulted in puking all over himself for the third time. He is still at home with Nana during the day and will venture into daycare in a few months... I cannot believe it!

We took a new picture with daddy's Aggie ring and WOW what a difference in a year. Day 3 versus 1 year.

Merry Christmas!!

2010-12-24T19:32:00.004-06:00

Birthday Party!

2010-12-12T21:29:00.004-06:00

We celebrated B's 1st birthday with friends and family and it was so much fun. B enjoyed his cake... although he was skeptical.

He is starting to crawl and constantly wants to pull up on mom. We are certain he will walk before he crawls! I have tried some solids (actual solids) which have resulted in projectile barf so we are taking some time off from the next step.

One Year Later

2010-12-03T20:40:00.010-06:00

It is amazing that a year has already gone by. It is hard to think about where we were a year ago because it was such a difficult place. However, when I think about what a miracle our little boy is and the trials he went through to get here I am overwhelmed in the best way. A few pics of the little man and his journey towards turning 1. Happy Birthday B.

Football Fanatic

2010-11-27T13:21:00.005-06:00

Our little man got decked out for the game Thursday and yes he is still a torn fan..... however, he is leaning towards Aggies or Horned Frogs this year.... I cannot blame him!

He is a whopping 22 pounds! I call him my bucket of lead, kid is giving mom some biceps! No crawling but lots of good efforts. He broke a tooth so he is not the happiest camper at times but he really is a love given the circumstances! A tooth pic will come once it is more visible. Right now you can only catch a look if he is laughing or a feel if you stick your finger in his mouth.

He spent a wonderful Thanksgiving with Uncle Scott, Geoff, Brent, Aunt Sue, Grandpa Bob, Gammy, Papaw Betts, Nana, and even Great Grandpa Betts! All that was missing was Ama and Poppa Godley but we will see them at Christmas. He has attempted all foods and on to some real solids which include pasta noodles and bananas. Does not help mom has a fear of choking which is slowing my urgency to introduce food that is not pureed!

We celebrate his 1st birthday with family and friends next Saturday so stay tuned for pics. Love to you all who continue to follow his journey. He is an amazing little boy and I hope you all get a chance to meet him as he is the best part of my life along with my sweet husband. :)

Did You Say...

2010-11-15T21:29:00.003-06:00

Da Da? Yes. B had his first words and it is "dada". I look at him constantly and say "mama" and he looks right at me and says, "dada". Kind of wonderful and at the same time I think... do you know what "mama" did to get you into this world! :) :)

He is motoring around on his walker all the time and moves with so much intent! He is an independent attitude and I already see the rebel developing. He is also obsessed with Daisy our dog! He stalks her in his walker and once he gets close to her he reaches for her, opens his mouth and proceeds to let her lick him everywhere! That is until I see what is going on and yell at the dog. Hope this habit breaks.

He is also eating well and insists on helping us feed him. our friend V was over and took her turn feeding him. You be the judge but I think he has a crush.... he is torn between Daisy and V :)

My Little Smurf

2010-10-28T19:23:00.003-05:00

So I call Braden many things, B, Mr Man, Bug, Boo Boo, Papa, Angel, and my personal favorite, Smurf. Why? Do most of the other nicknames make much sense either? No reason. But it was the inspiration for his Halloween costume and also the reason I "voluntold" my husband we would dress as a smurf family.... at our work party. He was such a good sport. While a very quick trip to the party we managed to look completely ridiculous and get plenty of laughs from people.

On a more serious note, today marks one year exactly from when my water broke. Wow, what a difference a year makes. That experience felt like an eternity and it is amazing how long ago it already feels. Our boy is so strong and thriving and we are so grateful to all of you who still follow this blog and keep track of his progress and the true miracle he has become.

Look Ma No Hands

2010-10-18T20:33:00.007-05:00

Braden is continuing to do so great. He has finally discovered his tummy at night and almost immediately flips over to it for his 12-13 hours rest at bed time... yes we know we are lucky.

He is eating all sorts of things including anything in his reach. He loves his car keys and is already asking about his wheels when he turns 16.

We just celebrated the marriage of Brian's brother to my wonderful sister-in-law Suzanne. B was at home but he got to hang with the family including his great grandpa over the course of the weekend (yes there are FOUR generations of Betts boys walking around).

He reaches with intent and is really such a joy. All his blood work came back normal and now we are just keeping up on shots to keep him protected from all the kiddo viruses flying around.

He is still as stocky as ever, hence the crazy amount of rolls in his first picture.

Braden Taste Test

2010-10-02T15:44:00.006-05:00

Braden weighs 20lbs 9oz and eats everything we put in front of him. Lately anything he can get into his hands goes immediately into his mouth. I call it the Braden taste test. It is hilarious to watch him get a hold of things, put them directly in his mouth, and then watch his facial expression either approve or disapprove. One of the worst reactions came when he gave my blackberry a taste... guess it looked more fun than it tasted.

Braden is sitting up and rolling around all the time. He wants NOTHING to do with his tummy and always rolls to his back, even when he sleeps. As a result he is not crawling or even close to attempting. We even try to put objects in his way, sometimes even ourselves, to try to keep him on his tummy but he is just not having it!

It is so fun to watch the discovery process and how he is connecting things. For example when he hears the front door open he looks up for who the new person is that has entered the house. Seems like a small thing but it is huge to us as another step in his development.

His determination inspires us every day!

Just a Reminder

2010-09-19T20:23:00.002-05:00

With football season in full swing I went back through some pics and found this one of Braden wearing a hat knitted by nurse Lily, representing our in-home rivalry and a time when he was much smaller (this hat fit on my fist).

These pics are good reminders of how far he has come. He is thriving... looking around more, recognizing people he loves, grabbing for toys, and in true boy fashion getting his first bonks and bumps.

All his appointments have gone well so far. We go to check on his potential blood disorder later this week and then get more news on precautions we would need to take for additional surgeries or procedures based on those results.

That's What I Call a Bib!!

2010-09-01T19:17:00.003-05:00

I could not resist this bib pic. Braden getting ready for the UT kickoff this Saturday! Thanks for the adorable clothes and bibs Aunt Kelly!

Braden had a hearing and eye exam this week and checked out with flying colors. He is desperately trying to talk and is making more and more noise to make sure we know he is part of the conversation. His latest trick is spitting and making bubbles.... constantly at times. Could be worse :) He is moving on to meats and pretty much chows down anything we put in front of him.

Thank you to all of you who continue to follow the blog and ask about our little angel. We are so blessed he is doing so amazing!

Now on to the clothing battle every Saturday for the next few months.... burnt orange or maroon??

My Best Bud

2010-08-21T19:33:00.004-05:00

Braden got to hang out with his best buddy Luke Panko today. They sat in the chair and talked all about the upcoming college football season. As you can see they were in Longhorn gear, despite the disapproval of our respective husbands. Luke and Braden had a great 2 minute convo until Braden leaned in too close and gave Luke an innocent headbutt.

Braden had 2 appointments last week and we were nervous his PDA had not closed properly and he would need surgery, but the miracle baby keeps on delivering with a perfect looking heart. He also saw his pediatrician and Braden is officially off the charts for preemies and is catching up to a 9 month old. He weighs 18lbs and 9 ounces and is 26 and 3/4 inches long. He is developing well ahead of his adjusted age and even started sitting up on his own this week!

He continues to amaze us every day!

Big Appointments

2010-08-17T20:24:00.006-05:00

I wanted to give an update on Mr. B's health. We have a series of appointments coming in the next month including a meeting tomorrow to check on the valve regulating blood from his heart and lungs. An appointment later this week to get his regular vitals and weight progress. Another appointment at the end of the month to check his vision. Finally a big appointment next month to check on a likely blood disorder that makes it hard for B to clot appropriately. This is crucial because we had to postpone some procedures that would put him under and be invasive enough to result in him needing a blood transfusion to help with the procedures.

So, fingers crossed all these appointments are just details and more milestones we can move beyond. That said, it has been awhile since we have had a reason to be nervous, but I am staying positive that this will just be more boxes we can check off the list.

Three Amigos

2010-08-07T11:38:00.003-05:00

Been meaning to get around to this post for a few weeks. These are 3 miracle babies who we met while in the NICU. We have Mr. Will on the far right and he is so happy and chill all the time. We have Mr. Reece in the middle who many of you know spent twice as long int he NICU as Braden and had quite the roller coaster ride but is doing great. Then we have Mr. B on the far left. They are all intently looking at Reece's mommy Kate who was making really funny noises.

B is doing really good. Sleeping and eating well. We survived our first trip out of town to Houston to see cousin Emily. She is so beautiful and loved meeting baby Braden. He also spent his first sleepover with Nana and Pawpaw while Brian and I worked the busiest week of the year, NIWeek.

He is still not rolling over and frankly hates being on his belly all together. He is getting stronger at sitting up and if he could walk/run he would!

Open Wide

2010-07-25T15:38:00.004-05:00

Braden has had some great firsts this week including swimming in the pool, grabbing for things with intent, and starting to eat a variety of foods which must be helping his almost 17 pound frame!

He is moving through the veggie group fast and furious. Some have been bigger hits than others. For example he LOVES sweet potatoes. As for peas, the jury is still out... see for yourself in the video. It is also quite the messy experience but so wonderful to watch him get better and better with each feed. Moving on to fruits this week!

Help Me Help You

2010-07-12T20:09:00.002-05:00

Our sweet little man is so big and strong. He weighs 16 lbs and 12 oz. He passed the 7 month/4 month marker... a vague age that blurs more and more each day as he grows. He is moving to formula and veggies this week.

Almost every day he does something that makes me realize he has such a strong will and sense of intent. He gets frustrated that his physical body is not quite ready to do what his mind is trying so hard to make happen.

For example if this kid could walk yesterday he would have. He continues to want to stand, bounce around in his jumparoo and push himself around on his walker. When eating his bottle he wants to help hold it so bad but little does he realize he is pushing it out of his mouth more than into his mouth. When we give him solids he raises his hands to help and puts them in his mouth, only to pull out about 90% of what I put in.

All these moments crack us up and every now and then we get a few giggles out of B. A special moment between Dad and Mr. B included in the video below.

Anything You Can Do I Can Do Cuter

2010-06-27T18:44:00.005-05:00

Lately Braden has started imitating our sounds and actions which apparently includes sticking out our tongues. Braden loves to talk and sing with us. Good thing he is unaffected by our inability to carry a tune.

He wants nothing to do with laying around and all he wants to do is have us help him stand, stand, and stand! He facial expressions when he gets a different view of his world are priceless.

We are so fortunate he is sleeping 10 hrs a night and he continues to gain weight at 15 1/2 pounds. He is an absolute joy and we are so lucky to have a smiley baby loving life!

Solid as a Rock

2010-06-17T21:59:00.003-05:00

Braden continues to thrive and we attempted semi-solid food tonight by mixing rice cereal with milk. This is the first time B has taken food other than from the bottle and needless to say he did a great job!

B was rooting for the Ags and Longhorns but unfortunately he is left disappointed. In fact he usually barfed on his UT outfits :) However, he is rooting for the TCU Frogs in the College bball World Series!

He smiles, laughs and tells us all about everything on his mind. He love baths, the outdoors and he wants to do nothing but stand up when you hold him.

I also survived my first time with daddy out of town... We take our first trip on the road with him July 4 weekend, fingers crossed.

Looking Good Kid

2010-06-10T21:09:00.003-05:00

Braden had a doctor appointment today and I am proud to say the doc thinks Braden is developing great!

He is 15 lbs and 6 oz! He is being taken off a few supplements to gain weight but is still on breast milk with some rice cereal to help with the reflux. We get to start to introduce solids this month which scares me to death!

He loves sucking his fingers (esp the inside ones so he makes a longhorn), continues to smile, laugh and discover the world around him. He is so vocal talking to us all the time about the latest dream he had, the happenings of the day, or just what is on his mind!

Look for a video soon as he is so amazing live and in person :)

Say Cheese!!

2010-05-29T15:36:00.003-05:00

Braden continues to grow and change every day. Lately he has picked up tracking us more and flashes us some really cute smiles.

He has discovered he has 2 hands and clasps them together all the time when he is not sucking on them. He loves to grip different things and he still LOVES to stand up. The kid would walk tomorrow if he had the chance!

Not sure on his weight but I would guess he is past the 14 pound marker. He sleeps about 10-11 hours at night in his crib and as we speak I have him napping in his crib for the first time. There was a 5-10 minute nuclear meltdown but all is well now.

Reunited and it feels so good

2010-05-18T21:04:00.003-05:00

Had a wonderful Saturday with my ante-pardum/NICU mommas. As many of you know we made some really good friends while in the hospital for a few months.

Missy and Russ on the left of the pic were on bedrest in ante pardum for 11 weeks and then in the NICU 2 weeks. We had so many laughs and honestly I could not have imagined experiencing this without them there cheering us on. Missy is officially a celebrity making it as long as she did in ante pardum and she and Russ are two of the most amazing parents and friends we could have in our lives.

Kate and Joey on the right are two of the strongest people I have ever known and wow did they have the book thrown at them being in the NICU 5 months! Kate and I only met the day before Braden was born but when baby Reece came just 3 days later we got to know each other for 10 weeks in the NICU as we were positioned right across from one another. We shared ups and downs and found ourselves rooting for one another throughout the process.

Our sweet photographer was none other than my most favorite night nurse Joanne. She is back from Africa working her magic at St. Davids and it is a pleasure to get to spend time with her again.

There is always silver lining and ours comes with a new family and new friends. Mr. B is likely 14lbs and then some. Doing great and loving spending time with his Nana every day.

Balancing Act

2010-05-07T15:36:00.002-05:00

I wrapped up going back to work a few days a week yesterday and it was definitely an adjustment to balance work and home life. However, it felt great to get back into a routine and to interact with adults! I miss Mr. B but his Nana is taking great care of him as our nanny and she even sends me email updates of how he is doing a few times a day.

Braden continues to grow and is 13lbs and 10oz. He is in the 98th percentile for his head... which is definitely picked up from my side of the family. He has a funny hair cow lick which he definitely gets from his daddy. He is still scarce on hair which could be pointed at either side of the family :)

He is picking up on smiling at mom and dad and is starting to track us a little better. He had a professional photo shoot today and he cooperated this time versus the first attempt where he screamed his head off at the photographer. He has really strong legs and insists on practicing standing up all the time.

We have taken him out on walks quite a bit and I even got him a hat to protect his face. Unfortunately for Braden mommy did not exactly get the right size... see video below.

To All My Working Mommas

2010-04-26T22:15:00.005-05:00

I go back to work tomorrow and wow it is bittersweet. I have this new best friend, who I am in love with, and while I only talk to him, I feel like I have known him my whole life.

I have so much respect for moms that stay home and moms that go back to work. Because both are HARD jobs regardless!!

I look forward to the challenge of work and actually having adult conversations. However, I will miss the meaningless TV time with Mr. B and the moments where there is nothing in the world that matters but me, Mr. B, and the trees he loves to gaze at all afternoon.

Going back to work is one of the hardest decisions a woman has to make after having a baby and while I was always certain I would go...I had no idea how heart breaking it would feel.

Silver lining. My mother-in-law moved to Austin and she is going to be Braden's care taker for the next year! We are so blessed to have her as well as my wonderful mother (Gammy) coming to town all the time to watch Mr. B.

Speaking of B... he is a love. Truly a wonderful person and such a joy to be around. I hope you all get to meet him soon :)

These are a Few of My Favorite Things

2010-04-19T04:33:00.003-05:00

When he grips my hands with intensity while taking a bottle.

When he gets a half smile, for no apparent reason, or due to gas.

How he sucks his pacifier while sleeping.

His constant talking/grunting about who knows what, but I wish I did!

His content during bath time, even when mom and dad are taking forever.

His looks of interest when his daddy reads him bedtime stories.

But one of my most favorite times is first thing in the morning when B wakes up and stretches as if to say, "Here I am world!".

He is doing great at about 12 1/2 lbs. He has completely grown out of new born clothing and even gives 0-3 month outfits a run for the money. He is sleeping better due to his special sling contraption you saw in the video. We had a 7 hour sleep the other night!!

We love how everyone continues to ask about our miracle boy and we read the blog posts to Braden so he can keep up with what all his friends and family say about him :).

Sprouts, Bouts and Ceiling Fans

2010-04-10T22:43:00.006-05:00

1Braden continues to grow and grow. He is about 12 lbs at this point and in the high percentiles for babies of his premature state. I swear he changes every day, in fact this morning I came to get him and I swear he had more hair that literally sprouted overnight! Speaking of overnight he is getting into 5-6 hour stretches of sleep, which is amazing for us, but still rough on me due to the pump schedule. I am starting to stretch that out in order to dry up my milk and will hopefully be finished in the coming weeks.

Braden is a total riot. If he is not taking on bouts with the play gym he is shadow boxing in mid air at who knows what, but it is adorable to see him work it out. He is also taking on daddy and the nurses. He peed on the nurse at his 4 month check up last week... but even funnier he peed on daddy when Brian had his back turned for a moment during the clean up of a huge stinky poop. It sounds cruel, but as a mom home all day, these moments make me smile just a little... well maybe a lot. Someone else has to feel the "experience" of Braden's bodily fluids :)

The video below is the latest of Mr. B and his sister Daisy. He continues to be a "vocal" child, but a dear all the same. We continue to feel so blessed and are doing our best to navigate through this adventure in parenting!

1st Easter

2010-04-05T04:15:00.004-05:00

Cashed out after a great weekend celebrating Easter. Dad ate my bunny while I was sleeping :) Even my sister Daisy was worn out from all the fun!

Have You Seen My Brain?

2010-04-02T20:35:00.005-05:00

Wow, when they tell you you actually lose brain cells when pregnant, they were right. But when they told me those cells do not come back when the baby arrives... well, they were right again.

I do not have enough text to tell you some of the most amazingly dumb things I have done so I will give you a few highlights.

Started the dishwasher, without loading a single dish.

Warmed up the water for the bottle, without putting the water in the microwave.

Washed clothes thinking I was using detergent only to realize I was using fabric softener... a month later... not proud of this one.

On a funnier note, my little B is growing like a weed. Already 11lbs 5oz. He loves his bath time and especially loves to pee in the tub mid-way through so mommy gets to start all over :)) Love our little boy! He is technically 1 month old but literally 4!

Triple P Kinda Night

2010-03-27T04:17:00.005-05:00

He is 10 1/2 pounds! 21 inches long and discovering his voice more and more each day.

If reading about puke and poop is not your thing today, stop reading now :). Otherwise let me tell you about the triple P.

P #1. It started out about 3:30 a.m. when I went to get Braden to eat and before getting to his crib I could smell the destruction that was coming from his diaper. Needless to say this comes with the territory, just funny/convenient it usually comes with momma's shift versus dad. No problem, we got cleaned up and headed downstairs to eat.

P #2. He was eating really well until about an ounce to go he put up the stop sign, aka tight lipped grimace and the hairy eyeball that says, "don't even think about it mom". I tried to wait it out for a few minutes when out of no where, a river (at least it seemed that way relative to his size) of milk came pouring out of his mouth, down his bib, down his outfit, and down my legs. At this point I qualified it as a puke which meant no more food and we headed back upstairs.

P#3. As I calmed him down and we walked upstairs I heard suspect noises coming from the southern hemisphere followed by that oh so familiar odor that usually meant there was more destruction to clean up. This one doubled the first P. So we got cleaned up, into a new outfit and back to bed.

Other times we just crash out together, as seen below, until daddy puts us both to bed.

Magic Tricks and Kicks

2010-03-22T21:29:00.002-05:00

Braden does amazing magic tricks these days. He has this amazing ability to fart (make popcorn) while eating. An innate skill at barfing all over mommy, even when I angle him away from me initially. He has learned how to grab things, including my hair... ouch. He starts with a bib on normal but we look away and somehow it always ends up turned at least 90 degrees. But in addition to his tricks, he also makes eye contact, smiles, and just is a really sweet baby :) He is learning to kick! The boy has found his legs and usually exercises them when taking a bottle. This means he propels himself backwards with jolting force while we try to feed him. Tons of fun :))

We go to the doc tomorrow but I am sure he is close to if not more than 10 lbs. I find my arm cramping as I hold him up for a bottle. He is still up a ton at night and we are trying everything to make him comfortable with the hope of getting 3-4 hours of sleep.

Our little man is trucking along and I am sure he has more tricks up his sleeves :)

All Dressed Up With Nowhere to Go

2010-03-16T13:02:00.002-05:00

Daddy decided to dress up little man and as you can see he looks ready for a round of golf! He is growing every day and now I see why baby clothes are so cheap... they grow out of them too fast! But getting B in an outfit is one of the highlights of my day... even if I have to do it 3-4 times because he has spit up all over the outfit and usually me.

In fact I barely notice the spit anymore. I went out to meet a friend and caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror (big mistake). I noticed what I thought was dry skin on my scalp only to discover it was a pretty big spit up that had dried up in my hair from when I apparently ran my dirty hands through it after feeding B.

Life as a mommy. Awesome. :)

The Bear Compare

2010-03-12T21:31:00.004-06:00

The past few months have seemed so long and there are times where I feel like Braden never looked any different than he does today. Then I decided to finally develop pictures from a disposable camera we had up at the NICU. The nurses would take pictures of Braden for us when they took him out of the isoltette to do various things since we could not take our own. They had various photo shoots including some of the pics below. There was one picture that took my breath away because it really reminded me how far Braden has come. There was this really tiny bear that Reece's mommy and daddy gave us and the nurses took pictures with Braden. I went up to Braden's room and got the bear and almost cried when I saw how tiny it was and how far Braden has come on this journey. It is hard to describe the change so I took a picture for a comparison. Braden is 9lbs 2oz, 4x as big as what he was in that the top photo! Still a grunter and not giving us any sleep but it is worth every minute when we reflect on moments in these pictures.

Eye Contact

2010-03-07T22:00:00.003-06:00

Braden is doing great. He went back to the eye doctor and they confirmed his eyes have matured and he is not at risk for sever visual disabilities. As you can see he is making solid eye contact with daddy and he is starting to follow our voices and eyes. He is still very newborn but getting stronger by the day. He is turning his head and we practice tummy time every day.

Braden continues to be a grunter but his personality and temperament make up for those moments in the middle of the night. Even his big sister Daisy loves to kiss him... constantly. He weighs more than 8lbs and is a wonderful baby. We are blessed.

All My Single Ladies

2010-03-02T16:58:00.006-06:00

-Seeking female playmate

-18-21 inches in length between 7-12lbs

-Quiet in nature since I like to do all the talking

-Communicates well via grunting, no criers please

-Must likes babies with light brown hair, even if it is not growing in on top yet. Can an infant rock the comb over?

-Appreciates short naps and lack of sleep, I need a party animal that can stay up all night with me

-Enjoys long meal times and appreciation of the feeding experience, especially the drops that come back up

-Weak sense of smell preferred so she can look past the frequent, and lethal gas bombs

Any takers? :))

Braden is doing well. Tiring us out, but that is life with a newborn! He passed the 8lb marker this week and continues to change in some way on a daily basis.

My First Ambulance Ride

2010-02-25T22:21:00.009-06:00

My first ambulance ride was today. Oh man was today a day. I noticed Braden was breathing harder than normal so I decided to take him into the doctor to get checked. What I thought was a precautionary step turned into a fiasco. We had 4 people, RNs, clerks, etc. try to take his pulse ox and all commented on how small he was and how hard it was to get an accurate reading. Well after being there a few hours and having a few nurses in with confused looks, it was determined Braden should go to Dell Children's Hospital, via ambulance, admitted through the ER.

Wait, did we mention he had not seen a doctor yet, nor did he... yup, our son was admitted to Dell via ambulance into their ER without even seeing a doctor. Once in the ambulance they took his vitals, the SAME vitals as the pediatric nurses, and he was just fine. They said they HAD to take him anyway but that we were likely victims of liability concerns in place of good medical practice.

We got to Dell and they were immediately more concerned with the fact we were there due to all the illness in the hospital versus any concern something was wrong with Braden.

We were evaluated and discharged within a few hours. We all immediately came home, exhaled, then looked for the nearest wine bottle ;)

We are totally exhausted and spent. But on a positive, Braden is born again tomorrow, his actual due date. Look for another post to come soon.

Braden's Big Sis

2010-02-22T10:03:00.007-06:00

As many of you know, our "first child" is a 70 lb Doberman named Daisy. We brought Daisy home as a 6wk old puppy a little over 1.5 years ago. Several of you have asked how Daisy is doing with her new little brother being home. Well, as the saying goes, a picture speaks a thousand words....

Braden and Daisy both enjoyed our first walk as a family a few days ago. But, no, unfortunately that is not my motorcycle.

Rear View Mirror

2010-02-19T14:54:00.003-06:00

As I take a few days to reflect I think about what we have left in the rear view mirror:
100+ days in the hospital
300+ trips to and from hospital
3 re admissions for mom
9 hospital rooms for mom
36 days of bed rest
73 days in the NICU
450 minutes scrubbing in per person
34 nurses and 5 doctors in the NICU taking care of Braden
19 nurses and 3 doctors taking care of mom
4 IV sticks... in one day for mom, not even sure on the total

While we are happy to leave these things in the past, we have made new friends for life with the Cook and Desormeaux family who have been in this experience with us from the early days in ante partum, in addition to meeting the Shoemakers in the NICU. All of our situations are much different but there is an unspoken understanding and support amongst all of us that just cannot be explained unless you have experienced it. Probably no coincidence we all have trouble-making boys.

We were also so blessed to have a wonderful family and friends come out and support us in and out of the hospital. I have had some beautiful showers and have no words or time to thank everyone for what they have done to support and prepare us for Braden. I have a countless list of thank you cards to write and am facing a reality that it might be some time, if ever, that I get around to them all! Usually the baby is not here yet when these things go on :)

Our faith has also been tested but strengthened throughout this process. We had a few talks with the big guy, some a little more colorful than others, but throughout the events thrown our way we were able to stay strong in our faith that God could and would get us through this.

Braden is home and spends his days eating, sleeping, grunting, practicing tummy time, more grunting, more eating and now and then some more sleeping.

I have been asked if I will keep up with the blog and I thought, well why not, the journey has just begun.

Home Sweet Hard

2010-02-15T11:40:00.005-06:00

Rooming in was quite an experience. We got to be with B all on our own in order to get a feel for the real situation at home with the convenience of nurses close by. It was really tiring having a grunting baby next to us all night, but it was the most wonderful noise all the same. Mommy dressed B in an over sized outfit thinking it was much cooler outside than the 65 degree day that was reality, but who cares, it was stinking cute outfit.

Braden came home at 38 weeks and 2 days weighing 6 pounds 10 ounces. A long way from his birth at 27 weeks 6 days at 2 pounds 9 ounces. It was a little surreal to be in our house with him. Realizing quickly we were responsible for a human life was quite overwhelming. It feels so good to have him here and equally as nice that this will be the first day in 120 that we will not be up at the hospital!!

Staying with him the first night was really so much harder than I expected. Mostly because you feel clueless as to what to do and you quickly realize you must exercise an unbelievable amount of patience as you get to know the ins and outs of what makes Braden comfortable and more important, what does not!

You would think after being in the hospital with him for 73 days we would have it all figured out, but the change in environment to home has definitely affected Braden. He is having trouble getting comfortable therefore not sleeping and he also grunts and strains constantly due to his reflux. As a result he was not taking much of his feedings which is frustrating for us but probably equally for him. Today was a little better as we experimented with bottles and nipples... who knew there were so many options!

We have had at least a few dozen moments where we just want to say, "talk to me buddy!" but knowing that is not an option :) we just do the best we can. After a night of little sleep Dad looked at me this morning and said, "this is going to be hard". But the kind of hard that is more than worth it given the kind of hard that is behind us now.

Braden's Buddy

2010-02-13T18:06:00.004-06:00

We have been telling all our friends and family how amazing our prayer circle has been throughout this experience and we are so blessed Braden has come so far and will be going home. We met some really amazing people and have created bonds for life with some incredible couples. One couple very special to us has a beautiful baby boy fighting for his life right now and he needs our prayers. Please keep them in your thoughts and add them to any prayer lists/circles you know.

We are currently settling in to our room outside the NICU and it is a surreal experience, but a welcome one. We gave Braden a bath this afternoon and put his outfit on without any wires and sensors. When you "room in" you are basically on your own with access to a nurse should you have any questions.

So here we are, no beeps, no alarms, no monitors, just us.

Homeward Bound

2010-02-12T15:45:00.001-06:00

Got the big news today that Braden is ready to come home! We will room in at the hospital with Braden tomorrow night and then bring him home Valentines Day!

More details to come later this weekend but I could not wait to share the news!

Can You Hear Me Now?

2010-02-08T21:19:00.005-06:00

I approached Braden's crib today to find a stranger there with a very large machine. Now let me tell you, there are many things you get used to in the NICU, but big machines next to your baby always make your heart stop.

Come to find out it was only a nurse there to do his hearing screen and he passed with flying colors. She said he completed the test faster than some full term babies :)

Now I know he is able to hear, but understand and comply is another step. If he could understand, he would hear me say, "please eat little man, please!". That is his biggest hurdle right now. He takes his feedings VERY VERY slowly and as a result does not always complete them. This is a must before we can even think about going home.

Going home. Seems so close, but still so far. It has been really tough these past few days as we try to stay patient through a situation completely out of our control. I find myself getting frustrated and then overwhelmed with guilt for feeling that way when this little man has come so far so fast. It is an emotional roller coaster but he is worth every moment.

Home might be a week or so away, it really depends on how he does these next few days. But all good things come to those who wait... and he is worth waiting for :)

Look Ma, No Cannula!

2010-02-05T05:59:00.006-06:00

It is official! Braden is cannula free and off oxygen support.... again! Hopefully third time is the charm. It was removed twice before but only for a few hours as his blood oxygenation would drop when he ate or slept. But this time it has been out since mid-afternoon of February 3rd so fingers crossed this is it!

Many have asked, so when is he coming home?! Well, that is the tricky part. He has to be off the cannula for at least 5 days before they will stop giving him his caffeine supplement which helps prevent apnea - where he forgets to breathe and all kinds of crazy alarms go off around your child.

During this time he has to figure out how to EAT!! You will see he still has a bright orange tube in his nose that they push food through into his belly. He is taking up to 6 bottles a day but only finishing half the portion at times. Goal is to get to 8 bottles and finish every one, every time. We know he has it in him as he took a full feed for dad last night, but consistency is key to getting us out of the NICU!

This progress has led to me stepping on the gas a bit to get things ready for home as well as take some health and safety classes like CPR to prepare for the wild ride that is parenting!

The new digs have not been so bad as they moved us to a different bed in the unit with a little more privacy. But no complaints here as the babies in our newer area are shipped home on almost a daily basis... our turn is coming!

Moving on Up... or Not

2010-02-02T22:53:00.004-06:00

Braden hit the 6 pound milestone and is gaining each day. In fact he is doing so well they moved him to the other side of the NICU. Lucky bed #13....

Well moving is not all it is cracked up to be...

Old bed: right next to nurse station
New bed: right next to .... well nothing, other than the doorway where every person coming in and out goes by

Old bed: cozy in a private corner with calming dim lighting
New bed: a cramped space with barely enough room for 2 chairs in a bunch of bright lighting, and oh the curtain does not close so I can put on a show when pumping or breast feeding (we put in a request for a new curtain or new location) :)

Old bed: nurses we know and love
New bed: full of unfamiliar faces

Old bed: next to our friends
New bed: full of new babies and parents

I know it seems silly to make such a deal about moving, but when you have become used to a place for almost 9 weeks, change is hard to deal with since there is constantly so much changing around you. The nurses say his move is because he is doing so well... but it just feels like an unnecessary change.

No major updates, just waiting. He is still taking feeds and actually took a full bottle for me this morning, almost 2 ounces! Hopefully they will try to take him off oxygen again this week. Keep the prayers coming, our little angel appreciates every one.

I also wanted to post an old photo that I just love. This is the night the Cook's went home with Kace. In this pic Kace is about 5 1/2 pounds and Braden was just under 3 pounds. You can noticeably see a difference between what Braden looked like then versus now!

21

2010-01-30T20:02:00.005-06:00

Braden has been hanging out at 21% oxygen for a few days now which is great because that is essentially room air. The only step left before he is completely off oxygen support is to turn the flow off. Right now it is currently on a half a liter of flow every minute which is like having wind blow in his face. But the doctors are keeping an eye on this positive progress and will likely give him yet another chance in the next few days to come off oxygen support completely.

He had another eye exam which went well and they are so pleased the scary eye doctor is not coming back for 2 weeks!

Bottle feeds are going back and forth. He gets really tired at the 30 minute mark and that is as long as they will give him to complete the bottle. He has not completed a bottle in a few days, mostly due to his reflux and the fact he just gets tuckered out. Regardless he is putting on the pounds and weighs 5lbs 12 ounces!

Side of Rice

2010-01-26T20:52:00.005-06:00

We walked into the NICU tonight to find our sweet boy had been spitting up, a lot. The doctors think he has reflux so they are adding rice cereal to his feedings in order to help thicken things up and hopefully avoid major spits.

Braden actually spit up into his cannula today (maybe another way of him telling us to take it off!) and they tried to see how he would do without it again.... only to put it back in a few hours later. He is just not ready as he still breathes shallow and strains constantly, especially when sleeping.

We are turning into the veterans of the NICU and I have to admit it is starting to get hard to see people come and go so quickly as we just sit tight and wait for our turn to leave. Don't get me wrong, we are counting our blessings, but this situation ichallenges you at times and I am so ready for the chapter at home to begin.

We are having a few showers in the coming weeks and I am so excited as I feel like it will begin to make our soon to come reality, well real!

Little Show Off

2010-01-23T15:15:00.006-06:00

I was in a meeting at work on Friday when I got a picture of Braden from Brian via my cell phone saying, "notice anything different?" As I peered closely I noticed his cannula was not on and I called Brian exclaiming, "Is he off oxygen?!"

Brian said when he got to the assessment Braden had pulled his cannula off his face and was using it as a chew piece in his mouth. Once again he was trying to show us he was a strong bot and as the doctor came over to evaluate they decided to give him a shot without oxygen support.

I drove to the hospital about an hour later ecstatic to walk in and see my little man off the cannula... until I saw his monitors beeping and alerting nurses that he was struggling. So as quick as he came off he went back on, but he gave it a shot! Of course I took out the video camera and captured Braden without all his gear on right before they reapplied a new cannula. They are going to watch him the next few days before determining if he has chronic lung disease at which time they would take additional measures to help him get stronger.

His feedings are going well and he passed the 5lbs marker!! He took 2 bottles in a row and almost completed his feeding each time. This is important because one criteria to leaving is he must be taking full feeds via bottle every 3 hours. So we have a ways to go, but headed in the right direction!

He also had a follow up eye exam and things seem to be the same as last week, which is a good thing.

So our little man is trying to break out of the NICU but that is to be expected, he is a little fighter and in the words of the nurses and doctors, he is an outright miracle.

Who Put My Baby On the Floor?

2010-01-21T04:06:00.003-06:00

Walked into the NICU yesterday only to discover...

It was actually quite adorable, even if the chair swallows him. They are trying out some new positions to see if it improves his reflux.

Braden is making some progress on bottle feedings taking an ounce of milk from the bottle for mom! I also just talked to his nurse and he is 4lbs 15oz!! It is amazing to hold him against me and see and feel the noticeable difference in his size.

Only now that could be working against him as the doctors are keeping an eye on if he is gaining weight too fast... the kid can't win! Hopefully it is all protein and muscle versus water weight... we shall wait and see over the next day if there are additional steps to take.

He is trucking along, we just don't want him to become the size of an actual truck!

Raise the Roof

2010-01-17T06:03:00.006-06:00

The roof is up and Braden officially came out of the isolette and is in a big boy crib!!
He earned this step by regulating his temperature and meeting the weight requirements. A few days ago I mentioned he was flirting with 4lbs... well he is already up to 4lbs 10 ounces! It is amazing how different he looks with chubby cheeks and multiple chins :)

Another huge piece of good news came when they did another chest x-ray to see if the valve between his heart and lungs developed appropriately and it appears that is normalizing as well and they do not need to recheck it until he is 6 months old!

On a more entertaining note, Braden continues to be one of the favorites amongst the nurses, despite the fact he is known to be a little on the stinky side between the gas and gifts he leaves us in his diaper. Rumor has it that odor will get better once the supplements are removed from his milk... fingers crossed :)

Many people ask me when he is coming home and it is actually still 4-6 weeks away. We continue to try to feed him the bottle but he is far from consistent at this point so this is the biggest hurdle we are working on with him outside of him being weaned off oxygen, which should come with time.

Thank you again for the prayers and thoughts. We feel them all and it has strengthened our ability to get through this process.

Mom and The Mirror

2010-01-13T22:59:00.005-06:00

Braden continues to do well. He is packing on the weight flirting with the 4 pound milestone. He is also regulating his temperature. Weight gain and temperature regulation both lead to him coming out of the isolette soon.

Braden also had a eye exam today to determine the progress of his retinal development. The exam is a little uncomfortable for babies and so when we went back later to hold our little man he slept the entire diaper change and kangaroo hold, an abnormal thing for him on a typical day but he was obviously exhausted from everything going on.

This was his second eye exam and he is showing some indications of abnormality, however, they are mild and somewhat expected given how sick he was the first few weeks. He will be tested again next week in order to determine if the development is trending in the right direction. So we hold our breath a bit, but again these are things you prepare yourself to address with a preemie.

We enjoy every moment with him including times like these where I use a mirror to see him as he lays on my chest. Overwhelming to be with such an amazing little man.... and a picture I will treasure for my entire life.

Changing Gears

2010-01-10T21:26:00.002-06:00

I head back to work tomorrow on a part time basis and I am already soliciting advice on the transition and balance ahead of me. This has been an unusual road and we continue to keep Braden first as we do what is best in the long run for our family.

Braden is doing great. He continues to figure out the bottle as he took 12 ml from dad and 19ml from our nurse! This is a big step but a long process as he works towards full feeds. It is still amazing to watch his face figure out how to suck, swallow and breathe. Gammy and Nana got to hold him this past weekend which was a joy for them both as it was for Braden.

Braden has started to meet with the physical therapist in order to keep the range of motion in his limbs healthy as well as shape his head which tends to turn into a toaster oven slot shape if not placed on his back enough. Toaster oven was the official description from nurses.

I have realized kiddos come with no instruction manual and I hope I get the swing of things soon as I am terrified at the thought of him being my responsibility, but look forward to it all the same.

Pass The Milk

2010-01-07T04:58:00.006-06:00

Last night we got a surprise when the doctor said Braden was going to be tested feeding on the bottle! He was giving all the right cues earlier in the day and given his gestational age of almost 33 weeks we prepared to give it a go!

They were certain to remind us to have no expectations as this is a big step that takes preemies time to master since they are swallowing, breathing and sucking all at once. It was so amazing to watch him discover the new tastes in his mouth and watch his eyes look all around at us as if to say, "what is going on here?". He only got down about 5ml out of 30ml, but we were thrilled to have some small progress while also avoiding episodes of him not breathing, which is common when they are learning about the bottle but obviously still scary! We will work him up to full feeds over time trying the bottle once or twice a day as we hope to pack on more pounds to his 3lbs 7oz frame.

We continue to be amazed at his progress as he attempts things he was not meant to do for weeks in a normal situation! The doctors say he is a super star given how sick he was in the beginning and we feel so blessed at all the progress he has made so far. See video for short clip of Braden attempting to eat.

A Poop For the Record Books

2010-01-03T23:44:00.002-06:00

Welcome to motherhood. Braden is one month old today and he let me know he was becoming a big boy by delivering the biggest poop.... EVER. I was so lucky to not only because I got to clean this event but my son decided to continue the "celebration" in mid-wipe, therefore getting it all over my hands and his isolate. It was unlike anything I have ever witnessed... it just would not stop. OK, sorry to gross you all out, but this is new territory for me. Braden's nurse recorded his episode as 2 large poops, yes 2 because 1 just did not do it justice. Ah yes, I realize I have more poops and barfs, yes my son LOVES to barf too, ahead of me. Welcome to motherhood.

Happy New Year

2010-01-01T19:09:00.005-06:00

Happy New Year everyone! Braden celebrated snuggling with mom. He is doing well, still working to cross same hurdles of further lung development and toleration of his feedings. Hope everyone is kicking off the new year in style.

All Dressed Up With Nowhere to Go

2009-12-30T17:01:00.006-06:00

Braden started wearing clothes last night and he is already making fashion statements in the NICU. He has several preemie outfits (thank you Gammy and Aunt Kelly) and even though they swallow him, he looks darn cute and given he just hit 3 lbs he will hopefully grow into them. The doctors are allowing clothing and blanket swaddling because his IV was removed and he needs to start to learn how to regulate his body temperature, which can take weeks to master and is a critical check box before babies leave the NICU. They do this by putting them in clothes just as they would wear outside the isolette and weening the temperature inside down more and more until it is off and he is in room air temperature without the support of the warming isolette.

Below are a few pics where daddy tried to catch his best angle... as you can see Braden loves to try to pull his cannula out of his nose and frankly he had enough of the daddy paparazzi by the 10th picture :)

A Baby Divided

2009-12-27T22:12:00.003-06:00

Many of you know my husband is an Aggie and I am a Longhorn... well so do the nurses, and sweet nurse Lilly made him a hat to reflect the family conflict.

Braden is doing well. Funny how poops become milestones you celebrate. I am loving being a mother and overwhelmed by how amazing Braden is and how much he changes each day. Crazy to think he was supposed to be cooking another 9 weeks!! Still a tiny guy at 2 pounds 14 ounces... but hopefully growing more each day.

Progress and Plateaus

2009-12-25T20:34:00.004-06:00

Merry Christmas to everyone! We had a great day with family and then a wonderful night with Braden. I got to do an hour long hold with him and feel him squirm to find a comfortable position while I felt his body expand and collapse as he breathed against my chest.

Braden is doing well and we are in more of a plateau phase at this point. He is 31 weeks gestational age and 22 days old. He made such wonderful progress these first few weeks and at this point the milestones are much longer and slower to show results.

On the up side Braden started feeding through a tube last week and has made solid progress in terms of volume as he went from 1cc to 22cc every three hours. Feeding is a long process and this is a great start, even if he is spitting up :) He also had his PIC line removed which means he is off IV support in terms of nutrition and getting his support through this feeding tube which includes breast milk (yes I am on the every 3 hour pump schedule), and additional vitamins.

The doctors have reassured us this is all expected with preemies and we need to exercise patience as we hope to cross the next several milestones. These markers include Braden continuing to tolerate his feedings as volume increases, meaning he keeps them down; moving his oxygen support towards 21% (room air); and reducing the flow through his nasal cannula. They also want to see his red blood cell count come up and are attempting to do this via medication in order to avoid another blood transfusion.

Braden is a popular guy in the NICU and we love that the nurses fight to care for him. We are also so thankful and blessed that our ante partum nurses, maternal fetal specialist Dr. DeStefano, and OBGYN Dr. Neyman all continue to take an interest in Braden by stopping by to check in on him.

He is surrounded by love and we need every ounce, thank you and Happy Holidays!

3rd Time is the Charm and a Visit From Santa

2009-12-21T15:15:00.007-06:00

Well I am being discharged from the hospital for the third time. Hopefully third time is the charm and this is the last time! I am leaving without a clear diagnosis of what exactly was the issue but hopefully they hit me with enough to get me through this recovery!

Baby Braden is doing well. He has had a good run these last few weeks and while he continues to do well, he has had a tough past few days in terms of progress, which is normal for preemies, but still hard to deal with as a parent. Another reminder that progress is a positive but this is a long road ahead and ups and downs will happen.

Braden also got a visit from Santa. While he was a 140 pound guy in a suit with a questionable choice of glasses, it made for a memorable picture.

Misbehaving

2009-12-18T19:16:00.008-06:00

Misbehaving - an endearing term my doctor uses when she sees me these days. I went home last Friday on a strong, wipe your system out, antibiotic. Now I sit, back in the hospital, attempting to understand what on earth is happening to my body after spiking a 102 fever yesterday.

While there is no conclusive diagnoses yet, the hypothesis they are hoping to prove out would mean the antibiotics worked so well they wiped out too much of my good bacteria and I have a new infection in my intestines. They are running tests to confirm tonight and with treatment I could only be in here a few more days. If that is not the case there is likely still something looming from the original infection and treating it could be a little trickier and take a little longer.

Readmission to the hospital was much easier, I mean we are pros after all :) We initially went to ER and after being told it was a 4-6 hour wait we opted to go home and work with the doctors from there. My wonderful OB got me directly admitted to post partum which was a blessing since I spiked a fever again in the middle of the night, resulting in the start of another round of antibiotics.

This situation has become really frustrating and even a little scary as far as my health is concerned but the doctors are outstanding and absolutely committed to figuring things out. I guess I can stop claiming I never get sick :) I am also likely to remain in isolation during my stay here so no visitors and no trips to see Braden, which is the hardest part since all I think about is holding him.

More importantly though is how Braden continues to progress and continues to have his doctors and nurses in awe of how far he has come in the last 2 weeks. He is putting on weight as began feedings a few days ago and is taking to them well. It is amazing to see his features change each day. He also completed his medication to close the valve between his heart and lungs. While the valve improved significantly it is not completely closed and doctors hope it will improve over the next few weeks without medication.

Hopefully this will be a short stay and I can get home for the holidays. Thank you to everyone for your help and prayers. This journey continues to have some bumps but we are determined to get healthy and work towards bringing Braden home in a few months.

Clean Shaven for the Holidays

2009-12-15T00:10:00.004-06:00

Julia was discharged from the hospital (again) on Friday evening with an antibiotic prescription that the infectious disease specialist referred to as a "carpet bomb for every bacteria in your body". It had to be special ordered by the pharmacy, if that gives you any idea. With the infection hopefully behind us now, Julia is feeling better but is still recovering from the surgery and 6 weeks of bed rest.

Braden has also made incredible progress. While he will likely be in the NICU well into February, we're constantly reminded of how far he's come from those first 48 hours. The doctors began feeding Braden yesterday, and he is responding well. Most of his nutrition is still coming intravenously, but he took 8mL of milk today as well through a feeding tube. The plan is to increase the volume of his feedings while weening him off the IV nutrition support. This will continue for several weeks until he is ready to suckle.

It's amazing to watch Braden grow and develop before our eyes. He has dusty blond hair and dark eyes (both susceptible to change, of course) and his facial features mature on literally a daily basis. With Braden's features changing and evolving so rapidly, we decided it was time for Brian to follow suit. After 6 weeks of "Growth for Braden", the mustache has served its purpose and long worn out its welcome. The support from the campaign has been amazing, and we'd like to document it for Braden to share with him as he gets older (and for future blackmail material!). Please email Brian before and after pics. Here are his:

Kangaroo Hold

2009-12-12T23:03:00.009-06:00

Well if you are familiar with the title of the blog then you probably figured we got to hold Braden tonight for the first time. The kangaroo hold is skin on skin in order to improve the health of baby and the connection to the mother, often used in premature babies.

It is a moment I have thought about for a long time and one that lived up to all I expected. Brian and I both held him for a few moments and enjoyed watching him sleep. He looked so peaceful in our arms and even felt comfortable enough to let out a few toots :)

This moment was possible because Braden had some huge milestones in the past 2 days including coming off respirator support. This means he is breathing on his own with the support of an oxygen line should he get short of breath.

Braden was also having trouble with his tummy and they worried there could be anatomical complications. Turns out is it just reflux and hopefully can be cleared with adjusting his position or medicine.

Today certainly marks a big step in the right direction. Largest obstacle now is getting the valve between the heart and lungs to close, a common issue with preemies that can usually be remedied with ibuprofen, however if unsuccessful, surgery is still a possibility.

We continue to live hour by hour and day by day. There are still lots of tests and steps in the future to cross but today is the kind of day to smile, not cry, and we hope there are many more moving forward.

p.s. For those of you awaiting an update on the stache growth campaign... Brian will be blogging on that soon but get your pictures ready and send them our way if you have not already.

Daddy's Wishful Thinking

2009-12-10T06:44:00.002-06:00

Braden with his daddy's Aggie ring. Don't worry all you Longhorns... while we do not have many clothes yet, Aunt Jen already got him a UT outfit. :)

Hospital Chaos

2009-12-09T13:34:00.002-06:00

So I decided someone could easily write books about stays in the hospital. My most recent chapter would be about my re admittance.

As most of you heard I was home 6 hours when I spiked a fever and Brian and I rushed to the ER at 2 AM. Again I picked a really convenient time to get sick :). Upon arrival we witnessed an "exchange" between Labor and Delivery and ER about who should take me. ER finally gave and as my fever climbed they got me situated. Apparently once you are discharged your slate is wiped clean and you start over... totally illogical since I had been there 6 weeks and gone only 6 hours.

Then I got transferred to a very logical (sarcasm) place... the Cardio Pulmonary Specialty Unit. Needless to say my nurse looked at me as if I had 3 heads and was completely clueless as to how to take care of a postpartum patient. The experience was less than pleasant for the next 12 hours and after being forgotten for 5 hours, no hot water, and told if I expect to be nurtured I am in the wrong place... Brian raised hell and we got moved to postpartum... where we should have been all along!

Settled in here and doing fine. Found out I have a bacteria in my blood, don't everyone rush to visit now :). It is actually not contagious at all, just very dangerous to me for obvious reasons. I am being treated and hopefully re-released in a few days. Braden is doing well but the list of obstacles is always looming. Today he will have a few procedures including a spinal tap and threading an IV to a main artery. Not simple, but necessary to determine so things to give him the best care.

We are taking pictures today via disposable camera when they do some of the standard bathing and changing. Stay tuned for pictures later.

Julia Readmitted; Braden Getting Better

2009-12-08T17:50:00.002-06:00

The last 24 hours have seemed like an eternity. Julia was discharged last night at around 7pm, and finally saw home after nearly 7 weeks in the hospital. We were met at the house by friends who brought an amazing steak dinner, and walked into a living room that had been decorated for Christmas by a group of our best friends. Unfortunately, the stay home was brief. Julia woke up at 1:30am with a fever and chills, and after talking to our doctor, we decided to head back to the hospital. The likely culprit: the same bacterial infection that had triggered labor 5 days before. There was some confusion at the hospital about whether we should go to Labor & Delivery or the ER, since she was no longer pregnant but likely still suffering from postpartum-related issues. They ultimately decided to send us to the ER and rolled us into triage. By 5am, we were admitted into a room in the general care area of the hospital. The confusion hasn't subsided, as the nurses here don't understand why a patient still recovering from a a complicated C Section is not in postpartum. We're just hoping the fever breaks soon, and that there are no further complications. Maybe the most challenging part is that NICU policy prevents parents from seeing their babies until you've been fever free for at least 24 hours. Julia is of course antsy to see Braden, and not being able to do so has been emotionally draining (as if we need that drain to be any bigger).

After Julia was settled into the room around 5am, Brian walked down to the NICU to check on Braden. There had not been much change from the night before. Five sleepless hours later, we got a call from the neonatologist. It's always nerve-racking when we first hear from Braden's doctor, but this time she had good news! Julia mentioned a few days ago on a previous blog post that Braden had been trying to pull of the "sunglasses" that are protecting his eyes from the bili lamp. Well, last night Braden decided to pull out the tube going from the ventilator to his lungs. I'm sure it set off all kinds of alarms, but to the nurse's surprise, Braden started to breath on his own! They closely monitored him for a while, and decided to keep the ventilator and nitric support off. He's now on a device called a Si-PAP, which gives him a little extra oxygen, but he's doing the breathing himself rather than relying on a machine. This is absolutely incredible considering that only 2 days ago the doctors said they expected Braden to be on the oscillation ventilator for another 2 weeks. He is truly a fighter like mom and dad, and all of our prayers are being heard and answered. Keep them coming.

Every Little Bit Counts

2009-12-06T15:52:00.004-06:00

Today Braden is doing a little better. After heading south quickly in the first 24 hours, the doctors were finally able to stabilize him with a very aggressive combination of machine and medicine support. He has pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in his lungs) which prevents blood from reaching the lungs and carrying oxygen to the rest of his body. Since stabilizing him, the doctors have been gradually weening him off of both the machines and medicines. He still has a long way to go, and will likely require breathing assistance for several weeks. The doctors also have to manage the aggressive treatment with caution as many of the things they are doing could lead to permanent damage to Braden. While these developments move Braden in the right direction, doctors are quick to remind us that he has a long way to go and is still in very critical condition.

Braden is watched closely by a nurse assigned to him 1:1 where in addition to all the important medicines and machines she monitors, she is also usually adjusting Braden's hospital sunglasses that he tries to take off constantly, even though they are there to protect him from his lights. Braden got to meet Poppa Godley today which was a nice treat for him since his middle name, William, is in Poppa's honor. He is also showing an interest in our voices and touch. When they let us open the window for a few moments to talk to him, sometimes he reaches out his hand in the direction of our sound or attempts to grip a finger that they let us place, but not move, on top of his hand.

Brian and I have aged about 40 years in the past 3 days but are definitely feeling some relief in the fact the situation is moving in a better direction. We feel every prayer coming through as does Braden. We have faith our little guy is going to continue to fight and pull through these hurdles.

p.s. As many of you know, we have made life long friends with another patient and her husband. They hit 32 weeks today and we could not be more elated that they check off another milestone on their journey. She is set to deliver December 21st and we ask you to keep them in your thoughts and prayers along with Braden.

Long Road Ahead

2009-12-04T18:34:00.003-06:00

Well chapter 1 shifted to chapter 2 quickly and it is apparent the road ahead is going to be just as long if not longer than the previous. It is another situation where being here awhile is actually an expected, and rather better scenario for Braden.

He is on day 2 in the NICU and in the doctors exact words he is in extremely critical condition with an uncertain outcome. This is obviously an extremely scary situation for us as parents and another reminder we are all in for a long journey. I wish I could sum up one issue with Braden, but at this point the list is quite extensive from high blood pressure, to lung development, to infection, etc. This is another hour by hour situation and getting through the next few days is critical, as will be the next several weeks.

We are so thankful again to the unconditional support from all of you. It is nothing short of priceless to get your emails, texts, and word-of-mouth well wishes. We have been running one of our dearest friends Jennifer "Whatever/Whenever" Brown around town helping us with things and many of you following the blog have been instrumental in helping us get through this, thank you.

This is the best way to stay tuned in to the progression of Braden. We will likely be here through the weekend before heading home early next week once Julia has fully recovered from surgery. Braden is taking things day by day and is certain to be here weeks if not months.

Love to you all and please keep the prayers coming.

Betts Family

Braden Needs Your Prayers

2009-12-03T18:27:00.002-06:00

Braden William Betts was born this afternoon at 2:18pm. He was 2lbs 9oz and 14.7in long - quite a bit bigger than we had expected. Julia started showing signs of an infection this morning, and after various tests, the doctors decided to perform a C Section. It was the eve of gestational week 28 (12 weeks early).

Julia is recovering now in Post-Partum, and will be fine. Her temperature has already come down from this morning after antibiotics and other meds. After Braden was born, I was able to follow him and the doctors to the Neonatal ICU (NICU) while the doctors wrapped things up with mom. Braden has developed a case of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). It's not uncommon for extremely premature babies like Braden, but he will likely be very sick for the next several days. He will be in the NICU for a minimum of 7 weeks.

He is in great hands with the doctors here, and will benefit greatly from all of the support and prayers that you all continue to offer. We are not yet ready for visitors, but will keep you updated here.

5 Weeks Here, 4 Weeks of 'Stache

2009-12-02T22:28:00.005-06:00

Anybody remember the old '80s tv show "Magnum P.I."? Tom Selleck played a private investigator who lived a posh lifestyle in Hawaii, drove a red Ferrari, owned a Doberman Pinscher, and sported a mustache that drew the envy of the dudes and attention of the ladies. Well, at least I've got the Doberman and 'stache. Today marked 5 weeks since we checked into the hospital and the 4th week of "Growth for Braden". If Braden stays on course, I'll be asking for some mustache wax for Christmas!

We found out last week that Braden is already an Aggie fan. While his heartbeat was being monitored, Julia mentioned that he had not been as active as normal (the doctors like to see "accelerations" in the heart rate above baseline). Half-joking, I told Julia that I thought the Aggie War Hymn would get Braden excited and kicking. Sure enough, as I started singing "Hullaballoo, Caneck, Caneck" Braden's heart rate spiked from 145 to 175 and stayed there through "Saw Varsity's Horns Off". Certain it was a fluke, Julia tried to prove that Braden was just excited by the singing rather than the song itself. As she started "Texas Fight", Braden's heart rate dipped. Startled, Julia stopped singing and Braden's pulse came back up to normal.

Guess we'll have to paint the nursery maroon and white....

Farewell to a Friend

2009-11-30T09:50:00.014-06:00

Many of you keeping up on the blog or coming by for a visit are aware of the fondness I have for my regular night nurse Joanne and my deep sadness that tonight is her last night before she returns home and to her husband in Africa. I feel confident I speak for all her patients when I say how unique and wonderful she is as a nurse and I want to share with all of you how she affected the lives of me, Brian and Braden as well as how she continues to affect the lives of mothers and children in some of the most impoverished areas of the world.

I have said a few times a big part of this journey is mental/emotional, and unlike anyone else, the nurses are with you 24/7 during this process. As expected the nights can at times be the toughest, and the nurses you encounter affect your ability to cope with those moments. Throughout many of the "normal" nights here Joanne took the time to get to know us and helped pass the time exchanging stories about our families and life journeys. Even more critical was how Joanne has been here for me during some of the scarier moments, whether it be a scare with vitals, or just nightmares, she offered a calming energy that eased me through to get to a better place.

But my tough moments pale in comparison to what Joanne will do once she returns to Africa where she spends her time working on a non-profit she started, African Mothers Health Initiative. Due to the local environment, access to technology, and healthcare costs, the mortality rate of both infants and their mothers is extremely high after birth. Joanne's non-profit works hard to better the chances of survival by primarily raising money to supply formula as well as doctors and nurses to these families. For example, right now they have one nurse covering 82 babies via bicycle transportation and they desperately need funds for more staff as well as a better vehicle in order to quickly provide more care.

There are few, if any, organizations like the African Mothers Health Initiative, addressing these specific problems and due to the impact Joanne has had on us over the last 34 days, we felt compelled to raise awareness of this situation in Africa with all of you and hope you will take a moment to visit their site and learn more about the cause.

Thank you for letting me share a little about Joanne, as she is a person leaving a permanent fingerprint on me and my family. Braden is doing great. We are only 4 days from another huge milestone of 28 weeks!

Post Thanksgiving Video

2009-11-27T17:29:00.003-06:00

We had to sweat it out (me and Braden), but UT pulled it out. Here is some video before the game finished. Daddy was not a happy camper so post-game video was not an option :)

Thanksgiving in the Hospital

Traitor :)

Tide Turns

Giving Thanks

2009-11-26T12:25:00.003-06:00

Happy Thanksgiving!

We had a good appointment with the specialist yesterday as my amniotic fluid levels went up some from last week. This is good for Braden as it creates more room for him to be comfortable and grow. He seems to be fond of laying feet first so send us lots of thoughts of back flips so he turns head down. He is an estimated 1lb 12oz, but growing by the day!

Enjoying today with the family. We will be watching the UT vs. A&M game later... I am saving my wheelchair ride in the case things go south and I might need to retreat to the room of our friends Missy and Russ, huge UT fans.

Here 30 days so far, 50 to go. I have a home-made calendar, courtesy of the Gretlein girls, counting us down to the huge milestone of 28 weeks right around the corner!

Police (Sort of) Incident

2009-11-24T22:04:00.003-06:00

So last night was my first run in with the hospital law.

It started with the delivery of a minifridge from Home Depot, courtesy of Rosanna (thank you!). Around 2:30 p.m., I got a call from Labor and Delivery (L&D) that a fridge arrived there in my name and they had no idea where I was since I was actually in Ante Partum. After they worked to track me down for 3 hours (not sure why it was so hard), she called me to tell me the fridge was on the way to maintenance and should be up shortly once they gave it the ok.

Around 5:30 p.m. Brian arrived and I mentioned the fridge was supposedly here but had not made it to the room. So he took action, spent the next hour with L&D who apparently had no idea who I was or what fridge I was talking about. Then we were told maintenance did have the fridge and it would be in my room in 20 minutes...

Brian went home because Tiff was staying with me and 3 hours later, no fridge, more calls, and then enters Wanda. She had a black puffy coat, walkie on her shoulder, badges galore, and a notebook. Needless to say this is a set up to let you know, she looked very legit. As she proceeded to ask me all sorts of questions about people and time frames I began to get slightly nervous that all this ruckus was over a mini fridge. She even checked my nurse's ID, when of the three people in the room, she looked the most legit!

I then thought it only made sense to call Brian and have him talk to the Wanda. I video conferenced him in and after a short exchange of words with Wanda I turned him around to talk to me and the first this out of his mouth was, "Jules, you told me the police were there, that woman is only a security guard." I was mortified as Wanda's ego was obviously bruised and I quickly proceeded to find the small x in the video conference window to silence my oh so subtle husband. :)

A few moments later Wanda proudly returned to tell me the fridge was found and I was allowed to use it if I accepted responsibility of all potential damages to the hospital including potential fires, power outages, and of course, freon spills. Need I remind all of you, this is a mini fridge, not an industrial freezer.

Needless to say we are taking on the risk and the fridge is staying!

Visits from Kiddos

2009-11-23T22:03:00.003-06:00

Lots of special visitors over the past few weeks including some special little cuties. Braden enjoyed meeting his future prospective girlfriends :) Enjoy our video clips below.

Tickle Monster - Starring Lanie Shapiro

Sisters Sharing - Starring Sierra and Lyla Gretlien

Does this backpack fit me? - Starring Addison Hopkins

First Crush - Starring Trinity Webster

Just What The Doctor Ordered

2009-11-21T17:00:00.009-06:00

Today has been a great day full of firsts as well as some uplifting visits and laughter that were just what the doctor ordered.

- First wheelchair ride outside, got to see my dog Daisy! I realized there is really not much else to see around the hospital... Daisy was somewhat freaked out by the chair but made friends quickly with some people more on her level.

- First visit to the NICU to see all the other preemies and meet nursing staff. They won't let you see any babies but it was nice to get acquainted with our next stop. Hopefully our stay there is a shorter timeframe than this one.

- First time I tried to download video from my new camcorder... and failed miserably...

The next set of firsts are gifts from Lil G and Laura with special guest appearance from my "W" girl Jen:
- First Chia Pet, video to come later of Laura applying seeds because well, she is good at everything :)
First Snuggie, I mean how could I turn it down, it is Longhorn pattern and so soft, even if it is made for a 600 pound 7 foot tall person.
- First set of rainbow socks to keep me warm. And of course lots of candy and some sporting magazines (they know me too well).
-First time Lil G felt a baby kick courtesy of Braden!

Speaking of the little guy, he and mom are doing better. He is back to his active self and showing off on the monitor. Countdown to 28 weeks sits at 13 days and then we celebrate and move on to the big goal of 34!

Finally, for those anxiously awaiting... she's baaaaaaaaaaack. Nurse Becky is in the building. :)

Ups and Downs

2009-11-20T00:15:00.005-06:00

As of 15 minutes ago I am officially 26 weeks :) Definitely feeling the highs and lows of the experience as we go. It is true when they say things can really change day to day.

The appointment with the specialist tonight showed my amniotic fluid levels were lower relative to last week, but still a positive that I have some. They also tried to get a weight estimate but Braden was being rather uncooperative and elusive so she said we could try again next week.

These past few days have been harder as I sit here each day and anxiously await each moment of reinforcement he is doing fine and find myself frustrated when he seems to not move as much or my body shows signs of inconsistency. Braden goes on monitor a few times a day and everything shows he is still in there happy as a clam, which is all that matters. I just have to remind myself this is just as much a mental/emotional test at times as it is physical. While I wish I could do more as his mom, I have to rest assured I am doing all I can. So we remain positive and the nurses doctors are quick to remind us not to get discouraged as this process will have its ups and downs.

Thank you all again for your emails, comments, visits, meals, and other creative distractions. You all are doing more than you know to pull us through this and your support and prayer is felt each and every day.

Love,
Julia, Brian, and Braden

The Forgetful Nurse

2009-11-17T08:28:00.004-06:00

Before you all get excited, no this post is not about Nurse Becky :) I have not had her since the last post, however my time may be limited as shifts will change up as nurses come and go later this month.

The past few nights I have had a sweet, but forgetful nurse. In terms of bedside manner she is just fine, however her ability to remember who I am and what meds I am taking is not so much consistent. She comes in each night with her documentation on each person, anxiously flipping through her charts and asking me detailed questions obviously intended for other patients at least a few times before stumbling across the correct info. Often she will ask if I am taking certain meds I could not even tell you the pronunciation of and I kindly remind her I just need my prenatal and iron pills. The other night she came in to give me an ambien and while she did not give me a Nurse B lecture, she walked in with the ambien, scanned my ID tags, then immediately forgot if she had given me the pill or not.

When I got this nurse for a second night I told her I would just call her when I needed things and remind her what those things were. She smiled with relief and said how wonderful that would be as it is hard to keep us all straight and she often forgets what she is doing. Now if this was my first night or so, this would be unsettling, but since this is my 21st day here I have my routine down, I am less worried.

Probably the funniest moment was during the Aggie vs. OU fball game. Guests drinking is not technically condoned, but in an effort to be somewhat normal on a Sat. night, and as the score became a little too much, our friendly neighbors came over with some beverages to numb Brian's pain. Brian was also suffering from a cough that night and asked the forgetful nurse what she thought it might be. she came back with a flashlight and tongue depressor and as she approached Brain to say "aaaaaa" we could all see the determination on his face to actually comply without breathing out his less than innocent breath on the nurse. He managed to go unbusted but there were some entertaining close calls as the guys tried to hide their beers from the nurse as she navigated throughout the room. We finally decided the shower was the best place to stash things... that is until I forgot about it and asked the cleaning lady to clean the shower the next day. Fortunately all she did was pull back the curtain, blush, and say she would come back tomorrow. What can I say, obviously I do not make the best accomplice.

Braden and I are doing well. He has started more alien roll-like movements and seems to be happy as can be. Another big check up on Thursday as we near another milestone of 28 weeks on December 4th! Who's counting though right? :)

What's Wrong With This Picture?

2009-11-14T17:26:00.007-06:00

I have to have some fun at my husband's expense for a moment. Below is a picture of our clothing inventory up here at the hospital. Exhibit A on the left is my inventory, exhibit B on the right is Brian's inventory.

The first time my sweet husband brought me clean clothes, it was the same 4 shirts I had worn the previous 4 days, which seemed very practical to him because they were clean and ready to go already. However, changing clothes is one of the few things I get to alter about my surroundings and becomes quite an event when you are in the same room and bed 24/7. So when the next round of clothes was due to come tonight I insisted he video conference me into my closet at home to pick things out.

After a tortured 5 minutes of entertaining me, and thanks to modern computer technology, I have 11 new shirts and 3 pairs of pants on the way! My husband is the best!