Can you help?

First and foremost, if you don't read the rest of my blog post today, please read this:
Kayleigh's family needs your help! Brayden was only in the hospital for 5 weeks and I know what those bills look like. They are insane. Can you imagine having your precious baby in a hospital for 10 months? That is what the Freeman's have been going through.

Aimee took the time to post several comments on my blog while we were at ACH with Brayden. It meant a lot to me that someone else who was still in an NICU would take the time to do that. So today I was on their blog and a guest poster wrote a very, very moving note. I hope you have the time to pop over and read it.

I know that times are tough for a lot of families right now, but don't forget to count the blessings you have. I have a now healthy child, I have a loving husband, I have a loving family, a roof over my head and a vehicle to get me from place to place. I am blessed. I chose to pay forward some of what I have been blessed with, and if you are in a place where you can pay it forward, I would beg you to do so.

If you're still with me, I have some pics of B to share...

The bib says it all.

In his superseat. I wanted to get him a bumbo but all I could find were pink and purple...not gonna happen. So I found this super seat and it comes with this tray thing with toys in it, but it requires the use of a screwdriver to put it together, so that's a job for Daddy when he gets home!

For those who took a guess on my shoes....Those who guess CL's were right! I have a pic but I can't get the camera to upload so when Chris gets home I'll have him figure out what I'm doing wrong.

Last night we had professional pics taken of B! I can't wait to share them with you! If you're local and looking for an awesome photographer, check out Scott Plauche!

Edited to add: Thank you all for your concern about my brother! He is doing well at the moment. He's been able to eat like I haven't seen him eat in 6+ months! We're praying he will continue to improve and that he won't have to go to the Mayo Clinic. Thank you!

Big Boy Eater

If you have insurance you know how lovely they can be to work with. And when you've had a baby accrue the amount of insurance claims in one month that most people don't gather in years...well, their even more fun to work with.

As you all know, Brayden was on a special pre-digested formula called Neocate because he had been soooo sick and had such a hard time eating. Well, Sunday I started giving him rice. He didn't seem to have any issue with it. I went to get my new RX of Neocate and the pharmacy told me that they couldn't fill it anymore because the insurance wouldn't pay them enough to cover their cost. What?! Oh and did I mention that when the insurance was supposed to send a THREE month supply they sent me 8 tiny cans? I'll go through that in 10 days!

So I called my doctor's office and Chris ended up speaking to our pediatrician (whom we adore!). We asked if we could try out Soy formula (B's lactose intolerant). Then Chris tattled on me and told him that I've been giving B rice. He was thrilled! He said it was so great that B was handling it and that was a good sign that he would be able to tolerate soy formula.

So we got this:

And B is a happy camper! So now he's on Big Boy Formula and Big Boy Cereal!

For those that asked about my shoes, I took a pic but haven't uploaded it yet, so I'll leave you with a hint...they have bright red soles. That should be a big ol' clue for you avid shoe fans!

First Trip

I've been nervous about taking Brayden on a trip, but at the same time I am really ready to go somewhere. So I talked to my parents and the 4 of us decided to take a mini-trip to Dallas.

(This picture has nothing to do with Dallas but I couldn't not post it because it's just too cute. Ignore my messy bedroom please..it has since been cleaned!).

Brayden did really well. My parents were in the room next to us and they kept him with them the first night. He has gotten off of his 9-6 sleeping schedule but he did sleep from 10-4 and then slept again til 7:30.

Daddy and Brayden in the hotel room:

Chris surprised me with an early mother's day gift...a David Yurman bracelet with garnets (Brayden's birth stone).

When we got home we decided to give B some rice cereal. I fed him first with a spoon and he did way better than I thought he would. I also put rice in his bottle which is something they had tried at the hospital (instead of Thick-It 2) but he had had some residule (which means after 3 hours he still had some food on his tummy). My plan was that if he felt fuller he would sleep longer. I am going to give it a few days and see if I'm right.

So cute in his "I just had a bath, my head is cold" hat:

We had a really great weekend. I got a TON of shopping done - lots of cool stuff. I got a fantastically amazing deal on this certain pair of shoes that I've wanted for years...I thought Chris was going to keel over when he saw the box (he's familiar with the designer and the price) but he was even impressed with my deal! We had such a great trip!

Please Pray

My best friend Amy's 2 year old daughter Natalie is in surgery right now at ACH in Little Rock. She is having heart surgery.

Please pray that the surgery goes well, for wisdom for the doctors, for Amy and Trenton as they wait for their daughter to come out of surgery and for the rest of their family.

I'll update when I hear that the surgery is over (should be around noon).

Thank you!

Update: Natalie is out of surgery and did very well. She is off the vent already. Amy and Trenton are just waiting to get the green light to go back and see her!

Final Update: Check out Amy's blog for a link to her photo album! http://amystwoundertwo.blogspot.com/

3 Months Old!

He looks pretty happy about it too!

So what's Brayden been up to in the last month? Here are a few bullet points (I might continue to add as I think of them).

-You've been laughing up a storm for a good 4+ weeks.

- You love it when mommy says "Ah-Boo!" and she always gets smiles.

- You simply adore Mr. Fan, but Mr. Monkey on your bouncy seat also gets a lot of attention from you.

- You carry on long and meaningful conversations with Mr. Monkey and his friends Mr. Lion and Mr. Hippo usually involving you raising your eyebrows at them like they are nuts.

- You have started sleeping from 9:15-6am or so lately. Mommy loves this.

- Today you weighed 11lb 13oz (Mommy has to weigh you for your medicine dose adjustments) and you were 24" long!

- Mr. Paci is now your second favorite thing....your fist, which this week has been regularly crammed in your mouth, is the first.

- You heartily enjoy talking to Daddy and Grammy on speakerphone.

- Unkie Jeffie intrigues you. You stare at and study him unlike anyone else.

- You've been great at church. You've gone to 4 services now and you are an angel.

-You sleep on your tummy yet you hate tummy time. This confuses Mommy.

- You take about 4 - 4.5 ounces every four hours (you're still on 24 calorie formula).

- You enjoy car rides but you HATE stop signs/lights and traffic. You are so like your Mommy. We like to go fast.

- You snore. Like a freight train.

- You have made peace with the swing. He's not as great as the Bouncy, but he's ok.

- You are the nosiest child alive. We can't take you anywhere new without you looking at everything. You will miss your nap in order to check things out.

- You now seem to enjoy your baths. Finally.

Happy three months my little man!!!

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter!

Today was a long but great day. We went to the early service (8:30am) at church and Junior Hill preached. I thought the morning service seemed a little less packed that I expected but when we headed out the door I found out why. The foyer was a mob scene! I guess everyone was coming to the late service! Ha! It just made sense for us to go early ... Brayden usually gets up at 6am which means we get up at 6am so we just go ahead and get ready for our day then anyway.

It was a cold, rainy icky day and Chris had to wait in line for awhile to pick Brayden and I up under the awning but there was no way I was taking him out in that rain!

If I have time I will post more about Easter tomorrow, but for now I need to get him ready for bed! He's been sleeping from about 9pm - 6am every night for about a week or so now. YAY! That makes for one HAPPY Mommy!

I hope you had a wonderful, blessed Easter!

12 weeks old!

Who's a big boy?

I am!


On Tuesday, Brayden was 12 weeks old! I can't believe it!

I've been MIA for awhile. A lot has happened. My brother is very, very ill and the doctors here don't know why. He has been hospitalized 3 times and every test imaginable has been run. He's lost 40 pounds and is skin and bones. The GI doc is going to run to more scans and if the dont show anything he is probably headed to the MAYO Clinic in NY.

Also, I found out Tuesday that I have to have another knee surgery (this time on my other knee). I am going to put it off as long as I can.

Here are some pics from this past week...

Our Razorback fan:

First time in his jumperoo - he wasn't exactly thrilled...

"Mom, quit taking my picture and get me OUT of here!"

Me and my happy boy:

Please be in prayer for my best friend Amy...her daughter Natalie who's 2 is having heart surgery at Children's Hospital in LR on the 16th.