This was before:
And after:
He really liked the lullaby's! The nurses kept telling us today that they wanted to take him home. He is such a good baby! He is still being weaned off of his withdrawal meds but he is doing very well.They gave him a bottle at 2 and he took 15ml's out of 45. They also added a thickener (like cornstarch) to his formula to help slow down the flow and prevent him from choking and also to help prevent spit ups. We are hoping to get rid of his PICC line which is in his heel soon. He is still getting his lipids through it but once he is getting enough nutrition from the formula I think that will come out. After his 5pm feed he didn't spit up at all which is great.
So basically we are still waiting for him to figure out the whole bottle situation. He has a new doctor and her guess is that we will be here 10-14 more days. I told her I was hoping to have him home by his one month birthday and she said they would do their best to make that happen. Every time he gets fed through the tube we give him his paci but he usually does his best to spit it out immediately. His had gone down to 6lb 14oz yesterday and is back up to 7lb today (close to his birth weight of 7lb 1oz).
And I have to share this pic of Daddy and Brayden:
Thank you for all of your prayers!
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59 comments:
That last picture is PRECIOUS! Still praying for Brayden to get his feedings down! You are doing a wonderful job as a mother, Jenna! Hang in there!
Just wanted to encourage you to hang in there. Though I can't understand all that you are going through, I do know how hard it is to stay in the hospital with your baby. And I know how hard it is to have your "go home" date pushed back. As if giving birth doesn't cause a hormone surge like never before, you have all of this other stuff added to it. It's enough to put a Mommy into a tizzy! Don't be afraid to take a moment for yourself.
Your family is constantly in my thoughts and prayers. I am eagerly awaiting the "We're going home!" post... and I can't wait to see the sweet going home outfit Brayden will be wearing. That day will come.
Blessings to you as you wait.
Hugs
Brayden looks like such a little doll. Perfect little features! He just looks like such a good baby.
I'm so glad things are improving with his bottle feedings and will continue to pray for success on that front so he can have the line taken out. Also praying he improves so well over the next days that he comes home in plenty of time for his 1 mo birthday! I've been waiting for an update, so happy it was a good one!
Hi Jenna, I have been without power since Tuesday but have been thinking about you! Those pictures are just precious! I will pray for this feeding thing to come along.
Pam
He is so cute! He will get that feeding down. I happen to be a pediatric speech pathologist and have seen many children overcome those obstacles.
Cindy
Rogers, AR
Glad today was better for you all. Prayers are being answered in God's time. I am still faithfully praying. I'll be checking in tomorrow..
Love and many prayers,
Your Sister In Christ.. Bryant AR
Hang in there. I'll keep praying for y'all. Don't be discouraged by having to stay longer. These are small setbacks compared to what you have dealt with so far! We had a few setbacks with Blair, but it turned out to be a good thing in the end! You'll be home before you know it!
I've been reading your updates everyday- I'm praying not only for little Brayden but also for strength for you and your husband! You're an amzing mother and Brayden is blessed to have you!
~Sarah
Still praying...
His eyes are just beautiful! Hang in there, he's going to be a big chubby boy before you know it! Praying that he'll be able to make it home for his 1 month birthday!
What a beautiful baby boy! Very soon he will be home with you right where he should be!
Brayden is such a beautiful baby. We are praying that he gets the bottle feeding down very quickly.
Oh that last pic is just too cute!
He is SO cute!!!! Praying you get to go home soon. I know how much you must miss being home and how much you can't wait to get there. I think this time here in the NICU has been very special and I hope ya'll do too. We will never forget their births, will we?
Oh, Jenna! He is absolutely adorable!
Jenna, He is soooooooooo cute! That picture of Brayden and daddy is speechless. with him sitting up there, I could really get a good look at his adorable little face. Hang in there, it will happen. I know you want him home, but you don't want to rush it. I am praying daily for yal.
I'm so glad to see he's doing a little better!!! He is such an adorable baby, too!!
I have been praying for Brayden since I heard about him a few weeks ago. I pray that things continue to go well and you're home by that month mark!!
What an angel-baby you have there - such a sweet little man! Continuing to pray for his continued great prgoress!
Cutest.Baby.Ever. (Aside from my own, of course.)
He is such a precious baby! He will get the bottle thing. That baby has been through so much he isn't sure what to do right now. I can't wait for the day you guys get to take him home. I will pray for one month with you! That picture with Daddy is so sweet.
He's stunning. I fell upon your blog and have been keeping you in my thoughts.
So very sweet! All GREAT news :) The giraffe must be a miracle worker!!! Still praying for your sweet little boy.
Jenna,
Hang in there! Brayden will be home soon and y'all will have so much fun and so many years ahead of you to make so many wonderful memories. He is just the CUTEST baby boy EVER!!!! Y'all are still in my prayers and it is so wonderful to see the pictures!
Take care and God bless and keep you, Theresa Bliznik, Bucharest
I LOVE that pic of Brady and daddy! Too precious =)
Hugs,
kendra
How sweet that the music helped him fall asleep! Soo adorable! Brayden is soo cute, Jenna! We are praying for ya'll and thinkng about you too!
No wonder those nurses want to take him home he is adorable and I am sure they see plenty of cute babies so he must be super duper cute! Praying he does better with eating and the the thickener helps his digestion and reflux. Praying you get to bring that sweet baby home even sooner then expected.
Hugs and Prayers
Rachel in PA
He is such a handsome little guy! Im sure he'll get the hang of a bottle soon! That has to be a hard ajustment compared to getting fed in mommy's warm tummy!
I'm thinking of your family every day and I'll keep my fingers crossed for having him home by 1 month!!
He is SO precious! I am so glad to see how well he is progressing! Still praying!
He's just perfect!!! Praying that he is able to go home in time for his birthday!!
Sometimes you can bring in a small mobile or a crib soother to the NICU. So are they using the thickener to help with reflux?
I am sure you get frustrated and ready to go home. Just keep your chin up! We are all praying for you and you and your family will be home very soon!
I just wanted to say that I found your blog while doing a little blog "surfing"...and I am so glad I did!
What a precious little son!!!....I am adding your little Boy to our Prayer chain at my church...God is an AWESOME God!!!
My nephew was born a VERY premature and spent monthes in the Neo-natal unit...with lots of life threatening problems...But, God is Good!...and I am happy to say he is a healthy 3 years old now and terriorizing the family!...Just the way we love it!!!...hehehehehehe
Keep the faith...and be assured...The Lord is with your family each moment!
I pray for Wisdom, Stength, & Joy to be with your family each and everyday!
Wow he looks so wonderful. The giraffe is cute. So nice that it was comforting & helped him fall asleep.
I think that 10-14 days seems like quite a long time considering that pretty much all he has left is to wean off the meds & learn to feed from the bottle. But maybe that dr is conservative & finds it easier on parents to have a longer date to think about so that if/when you get to go home before that you will be extremely happy & not disappointed. When Morgan started feeding from the bottle she didn't quite get it at first either & then within a matter of a few days she was doing really good. I even nursed her once before we left the hosptial & she did even better at that then she did the bottle. In fact, once we got home & had our 1st follow up with our Ped I ended up giving up the bottles (they were stressing me out, longer story but I'll spare you the details) & only breastfeeding her & she did fantastic. Point being, Brayden will learn pretty quickly I think. At least that's what I'm praying for. Heavenly blessings.
We are praying for sweet Brayden! I know it so hard having him in the NICU. I'm sure these last few weeks have seemed like an eternity! The Lord is already using Brayden to touch many lives! He is absolutley adorable! I would love to send you a footprints bag. Please email your address to nicufootprints@yahoo.com. Praying!
"For nothing is impossible with God" Luke 1:37
Still praying for you and Brayden! I'm not sure what your thoughts are on breastfeeding but when my son was in the NICU everytime they gave him formula he would throw it all up, but as soon as my milk came in I would bring in breastmilk and he kept it down EVERY time! That's what God made it for, you can't recreate what God intended for babies to eat. Good luck and hope he gets to go home soon!! It's so disappointing when the date gets pushed :( Hang in there!
Hugs and prayers,
Heather~ On the Homefront
Glad to hear that things are still moving in the right direction. Looks like he definitely found comfort in the giraffe which is too cute!!
Continuing to keep you all in my prayers. I will say a little prayer that you all will be able to go home soon.
Stay strong.
Hugs,
Lisa
Hi Jenna!
My name is Lori and I have been following and praying for your sweet boy. My son was too in the NICU. He spent 99 days there because he was born at 25 wks gestation. I know every NICU is diff. but just incase yours would allow it....Have you asked if it would be ok to bring your own bottles. The exact type you will be using at home? Or atleast the nipple part? My son, Seth, had issues with the NICU type of bottle because it allowed waaayy to much milk to come thru. the nipple. And the ticker milk..well..he wouldn't have it so I brought my own bottle in and they allowed me to use it on him..and wa-la..he tolerated it much better then the other. I hope this helps and they allow you to bring in a bottle of your own..or atleast just the nipple part so you can attach it to the NICU bottle ring. hehe..you could even bring it in in a plastic bag so it would make them happy.. :-)
Still praying!
Lori from TN
Praying for you...hold on!
I can see how those nurses want to take him home! ;o) He looks so cute and peaceful! The last picture is awfully sweet!
He is so cute! Still praying for your little guy! =]
Brayden is adorable! Here's hoping you all will be safe at home by his one month birthday!
He is so beautiful. Hope you are continuing to stay strong and not get too worn out. Kind of a dichotomy for a new mom, I know. We are still continuing to pray for you all.
He is just too cute for words. I love his big eyes. He is getting better....and that is so rewarding. Him and Harper..... man I tell you, you guys know how to keep people on their toes. I have been praying....when I check Harpers blog I have to check yours too.....
You guys are doing wonderful and thanks for the update.
God Bless.
That little giraffe is always going to have a special place in your hearts--his first toy he was allowed to have. Little steps of progress are adding up. While it seems to drag for you, your little guy has made SO much progress--thank the Good Lord and good hospital staffs. He'll get those feedings learned eventually.
You remain in prayers for continued good progress and hearing the words, "You're going home!" Meanwhile, we all love seeing the pictures of your adorable baby boy--he's so precious!
Oh my goodness, he is such a dollface....the cutest!
I'm praying for you guys and for Brayden to catch on to the bottle feeding, so you can take him home very soon.
((HUGS))
Precious father and son pic!
Still praying!
Hopefully he'll figure out the whole bottle thing soon.
He is absolutely precious. I love the one of him with his Daddy.
Yup, I'm loving the last picture of Brayden and Daddy in this post. Praying for you!
Sending you hugs and prayers.
Brayden is so handsome and he has so gorgeous eyes!! So glad he's doing so well, praying for continued progress!
What a sweetheart! You all are doing a wonderful job with him! I'm praying that you'll be able to bring him home very soon!
Jenna, Your parents are too much! I don't know what to say......Tell them I said THANK YOU!!!! Give Brayden kiss for me.
Oh my goodness:)! I absolutely love that giraffe and the two pics you took of him. He is such a trooper Jenna!!!
he is so precious!!!!
Keep trying the paci. When they are that young, it isn't so much them spitting it out but them trying to learn how to maneuver the suck. He'll catch on and soon you won't get it out of his mouth! LOL.
I can see why the nurses would want to take him home, he is such a cutie or should I say handsome since he is a boy. I hope you know that I pray and think of Brayden and you often. My 12 year old daughter comes home from school and asks how Brayden and Harper are doing. What a strong parents you are. I will pray that he gets to go home before his one month birthday. God sure gave Brayden some great parents. Thanks for the updates. Happy thoughts to you from Iowa.
I love all your pictures of your precious baby boy- what a cutie:)and a beautiful family you have!!! I am sending lots of hugs and prayers your way. God Bless
Good to see Brayden lookin like a little man!!! He is precious! Still praying for your little Brady.....
He is so sweet! Hang in there and remember that we are all pulling for you!
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