Playing in the snow

I just love this face!



I just can't seem to figure out this Iowa weather. One day we have rain and the next we have snow. Well at any rate, there was finally a day when the temps were in the 30's, so we bundled Brayden up and took him outside to get his first taste of snow. Literally. As I was getting him dressed he was fine with the snowpants until I added a coat, boots, hat and mittens. He could barely walk. I will let the pictures explain Brayden's reactions.

Brayden and Daddy all ready to head outside.

Daddy was trying to roll a snowman. The snow was nice and wet which made for good sticky snow.



Daddy was showing Brayden how to make snowballs.



It is so bright out here.

Help! I've fallen and I can't get up. Brayden toppled over in the snow and had a heck of a time trying to get back up. How terrible that instead of helping him up I snapped a quick picture.



Sitting on top of the ball of snow Daddy had rolled.




Daddy was pulling Brayden around in the backyard in his sled! His face says just how much he enjoyed it!




Daddy pulling Brayden down the hill next to our house. Thanks for the toddler sled Grandma Becky.

Tough Brayden

You read right, we are home and enjoying every minute of it. Here is a quick overview for everyone how the last couple of days went. While we were living each minute they seemed to go by so slowly but now thinking back I realize a lot happened in such a short amount of time.

Friday morning we all woke up about 5 and were on the road to the hospital by 5:30. Brayden woke up when we were getting ready and he was happy as can be. We got checked in and were given time to play before surgery so we pulled Brayden up and down the halls in a wagon. He loved it and made sure to smile at all the other patients, doctors, and nurses walking by. At 7:00 the anesthesiologist came back and let us know that one of us could go into the operating room with Brayden until he was asleep. Andrew decided he would do it so he was given some scrubs, a hair cover, and mask. There was a whole group of people who went into surgery between 7:00-7:30 and since there were only a couple of babies Brayden was one of the last ones. They told us that they like to have extra help with the babies because they take such good care of them! Brayden and Andrew went back around 7:30. Brayden gave me a kiss as I said good-bye. I went up to the waiting room and got checked in. Andrew came up about 15 minutes later and said Brayden did great. While Andrew was holding him in the OR he made sure to smile and win over the nurses and other doctors in there! They were all saying how adorable he was. We were told surgery would last about 4-5 hours. At 11:30 we saw one of the neuro doctors walking down the hall and he told us that Brayden was in the PICU and they were requesting us to go up there because he was starting to wake up from the anesthesia and they want parents to be there when this happens so if they wake up they are with someone familiar. As we were packing up our stuff Dr. G came around and wanted to talk to us about the surgery. I was so nervous as we walked into a room with him because he is not one to show much emotion through his facial expressions so until we got into the consultation room we didn't know how it went. He told us surgery went great! He said everything went very smoothly and he was very happy with how it went. He went into great detail with us the procedure and we really appreciated that. He then told us Brayden had started waking up on the way out of the OR and that we should go find him.

Saying my prayers in the wagon before surgery!

All ready in my hospital pj's.

Daddy, is that you under there?

A picture with Mommy before I left for surgery.

We went up to the PICU and upon checking in the nurse said he is ready for mom and dad so I left Andrew at the counter to check us in and I took off. When I got into Brayden's room he was actually being held by one of the nurses and there were a couple other nurses and two doctors in the room. We later learned that our nurse was trying to take his A-line (it keeps track of his heart rate during surgery) out and Brayden rolled over and tried to climb out of the crib. It took 3 nurses to hold him down. He was a little restless but when he heard Andrew and I talk he opened his eyes a bit. Once I held him he snuggled in and went back to sleep. The nurses were fighting over which one got to snuggle him.

This is about 30 minutes after surgery.

Mommy's turn with sleepy Brayden.


This was about 4:30 Friday afternoon! He woke up and was so happy. It was an absolutely amazing to see him awake and wanting to read and play.

They wanted us to stay in the PICU over night for observation. Our nurse, Brynna was amazing! At about 4 o'clock Brayden woke up and sat up and wanted to play. It was so awesome that he was jabbering away. Our doctor requested an MRI later that night so at about 6 on Friday night we went down for an MRI. Brayden was still kind of sleepy from some medicine that he was on so they didn't even have to sedate him for it. I got to go in the machine too. I just kind of laid on top of Brayden's tummy and held his hands to keep him calm.

This is Saturday morning! Not connected to anything! Good job Brayden!

Saturday morning our favorite nurse came back in and saw Brayden awake and said we could turn off the monitors and let Brayden play. She said they weren't used to such active babies because usually ones in the PICU aren't able to get out of bed so we took his monitors off and let him play with toys in his bed. He was so happy. When the doctors came to do rounds one of them commented that he was a very active baby and that orders said to move him to just the pediatric unit until after his second round of an antibiotic and if that went well we would be on our way home. The doctors also commented on impressed they were with his progress.

Brayden all packed up in his bed and ready to move to the Pediatric Inpatient Unit.

We moved down to the Pediatric unit and they took some vitals and then allowed him to go play in there playroom. He was excited to see so many toys. He rode around on a John Deere bike which was pretty fun. We ordered some lunch and he was able to eat actual food not just soft stuff so that was another step to getting us to go home. He got an antibiotic to reduce the chance of his sutures getting infected. Once he got that we were discharged and on our way home. Brayden slept the entire way home. Brayden slept for eight and a half hours straight last night! You could tell Brayden was happy to be home.

Brayden and Daddy riding a bike around the unit.



While Brayden was eating his lunch Daddy went to get us some lunch and when he returned he had a balloon. Brayden looked and just smiled. He loved that balloon.

We are home!

Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers! I think it is due to them that this morning we woke up in our own beds. Brayden was discharged last night around 4:15. Andrew and I are so proud of Brayden for being so brave and recovering so quickly. I just wanted to let everyone know we are home. I will post more during nap time.


Daddy and Brayden all ready to head into surgery.

Christmas at Omas and Papas

With the tons of snow we got during Christmas this year we ended up celebrating Christmas on New Years! That was when we were all able to travel and get there safely. Even though the roads were cleared better there were still very cold temperatures! We didn't go outside any more then we had to because it was so cold out. I got some time to play with my cousin Gracie and Mommy and Daddy tried to regain their title in Sequence. Overall, it was a fun couple of days in Algona. Here are some pictures from our trip. Thanks for the presents too!


Merry Christmas!

Oma has a snowman that is just my size and we match.

My cousin Gracie was doing her Mommy's hair.

Mommy wanted to get a picture of me and Cousin Gracie.

Mommy, I think Gracie liked the present we picked out for her. I remembered wrapping it too.

Thanks Oma for the kickball.

Papa and a picture from the Packers/49ERS game.

I got a cool race car book! The cars race around the track. It is a really neat book.

Gracie got some Elmo slippers to keep her feet warm.

So Cute

This is just a cute story I want to share from church yesterday. Usually we try to go to the 9:15 service because Brayden has been taking one nap a day and it is usually around 11 so yesterday we headed off to early church. During the sermon Brayden started to get wiggly so Andrew went and stood in the back with him so that he wasn't a distraction to others. They came back after the sermon as we were getting ready for communion. As the usher got to our row, we stood up to walk to the aisle. As we were standing in line Brayden extended his arm and hand out showing that he was ready to receive communion. Unfortunately, I told him that he would not be receiving communion quite yet, so when we got up to the front, the communion assistant put her hand on Brayden's head and said a prayer for him. As she did this Brayden folded his hands as if he were praying along with her. During the service, Pastor Scott asked the congregation to fold our hands and pray. Brayden did as he was asked and folded his hands. Andrew and I are just amazed at the things Brayden has been learning lately. Sometimes we just need to step back and take it all in as he is growing up way to fast!

Keeping my teeth clean

Mommy was remembering how 6 months ago she would have to lay me in her lap and try to pry my mouth open so she could brush my teeth and now she has to practically pry the toothbrush out of my hand when we are finished brushing. A couple of weeks ago Mommy was getting ready and I playing in the bathroom while she did. I opened her draw and pulled out her toothbrush and started brushing my teeth. The very next day Mommy bought me a new cool green toothbrush. I had a plain white one before, but her and Daddy had neat colored ones. I guess that is all it took for her to buy me a new one was to have her see me using hers :) Anyways, I am growing up so fast that usually I like to do things by myself. For example: get the syrup out of the refrigerator, brush my teeth, drag clothes from the dirty clothes hamper all around the house, get things off of my bookshelf without needing help, even if that means trying to stand on something to reach. Mommy tried to snap a quick picture of me yesterday brushing my teeth and I am so quick that she only got one and then I ran away because I didn't want my picture taken.

Mommy's Helper

Since I am lucky and get to stay home with Mommy during the day sometimes she will try to put me to work. During the day she tries to do the dishes, clean up my toys, and occasionally do laundry. I think sometimes she lets the laundry go for days and then has to play catch up to get it all done. When we do laundry I am big help because Mommy will put the clothes in the laundry basket and then I push it from her and Daddy's bedroom all the way to the laundry room. I can't reach the washer yet though so once I get it that far my job is done!

One load down, two more to go.

Almost to the laundry room!