Bradyn in the big D

Well, we made it! We went to Dallas on Sunday for Bradyn's neurologist appointment. Bradyn was the BEST little boy!! I was really worried because our plane left Amarillo at 2:00 and he did not get a nap that day. He fussed for a couple of minutes when we got on the plane, but he was calm by the time we took off. He was so good the whole time!

His appointment was on Monday. It went pretty good. The Dr. wants to have us back in a month to have another EEG (test for seizures). He wants to admit Bradyn to the hospital and run the test for 2 days. He will have about 20 wires glued to his head the entire time. It takes some major entertaining to keep Bradyn compliant during the test. We will definitely be bringing some grandparents along on this trip. His last EEG was when he was 14 months old so I guess it is time for another one. The Dr said that he is mainly concerned about watching Bradyn at night. Since he does not sleep and he is usually very jumpy in his sleep, the Dr wants to make sure there is nothing going on.

We headed back to the airport after the appointment. Bradyn had snuck in a very rare morning nap so he was still happy. He was happy and playing the whole way back to Amarillo. He even got compliments from 3 fellow travelers on what a good boy he was! Needless to say, we will now be flying from now on. We stopped at one of Bradyn's favorite places to eat, Dyer's, in Pampa and got home at 8:30 last night. We were still pretty worn out, but it was a great trip. I am so relieved.

Mommy is so FUNNY!

Bradyn had some very timely shoowees during the trip. I changed him on the shuttle bus. We were the only ones riding and the driver said to go ahead. He also had a shoowee on the runway on the way home and not 1, but 2 shoowees from Perryton to Amarillo on the way!

Flying high!

Once again, Grandpa was the best help. Bradyn absolutely adores him.

Just Livin!

I know it's been a while....not much new to report here. We have been at home everyday (except for one quick trip to Amarillo Brace and Limb for a minor adjustment to Bradyn's braces) and it has been wonderful! We have had several nice days that we have been able to get out for a walk. Bradyn loves his stroller, as long it is not in one of Mommy's favorite stores. Ha! We spend lots of time strolling at the school across the street from our home. He also enjoys the swings and sliding with his Grandpa. I am not brave enough to take him on the slide by myself.

Bradyn had to have his braces adjusted because he manages to get out of them. Little weasel. The guy at the brace place said he has NEVER had a kid be able to get out of their braces, especially when they are on as tight as I have to put them on. Leave it up to our little guy!

This week Bradyn is fighting a little cold. I hope that is all it is. Yesterday we had to take him to have his throat swabbed for strep. That came back negative, thank God! We have been on a strict breathing treatment regimen and I think he is going to be alright.

Daddy gets the job of beating Bradyn's back after his treatments.

He was so tired he did not even fight it.

Bradyn and his cousin Gracen!
More cousins! Bradyn, Hunter, Jordan, Colton, and Rileigh.

Grammy got Bradyn some big boy hair gel for his stocking. I thought he needed a mohawk!

Please keep us in your prayers as we are preparing to go back to Dallas to the nuerologist. We are going to fly this time to save lots of time and a little money too. This will be Bradyn's first time to fly and I am a little nervous about how he will handle it. Thanks

Not AGAIN!

Life is just full of twists and turns. The past two years have sure kept me spinning. Just when I think things are going great, life takes another turn for the worse.
It all started on Monday the 22nd. Bradyn was sick with the tummy bug, but by that evening he ate a little and felt like playing on the bed (his usual night time ritual). The next day he was not feeling great, but I was certain he was getting better. On Wednesday we went to Grammy and Grandpa's to have Christmas with the Haberthur's. He enjoyed the kids and was still not 100%, but again I was not alarmed. On Christmas day he was pretty fussy and I was not able to get him to eat. He acted like it hurt when I gave him fluid in his feeding tube. We tried to give him small amounts throughout the day so he would stay hydrated. Around 2:00 he started throwing up again so I called the Dr. They wanted us to bring him in to Northwest for an IV since he was probably dehydrated. Bradyn's takes seizure medicine 3 times a day and it is very hard on his liver. He must stay hydrated or his liver could be damaged. So we packed up and headed to Amarillo. Grammy and Grandpa went along for support and to keep Bradyn entertained. Thank God they came along.
We were supposed to come home the next day, but you know how hospitals are. They did not get orders written in time so we were to stay another night and make sure Bradyn was not going to be sick again. The nurse brought in Bradyn's night time medications and I immediately noticed that one of them did not look right. I told her that I thought it was wrong and she assured me that the pharmacist had diluted it and that it was right. Within a matter of minutes Bradyn was jerking and screaming. I knew that he had an overdose. I told them that I thought he had gotten too much medicine and again, the Dr. said that if it was an overdose that he would be very sleepy. She thought that Bradyn was screaming because he was having tummy cramps. Bradyn had a horrible night, jerking and screaming throughout the night. He would not lay down without screaming and jerking so we took turns holding him all night long.
His heart rate was dropping VERY low and we were getting scared. The nurses could not figure out what was going on. Bradyn was so drugged he could barely open his eyes. FINALLY at about 3:00, after I again insisted that there was an overdose, the day nurse said she would do some checking. SURE ENOUGH I WAS RIGHT. Bradyn had gotten 10 times too much medicine. The Doctors were very angry with the pharmacist and they were in the hall speaking back and forth pretty loudly. The pharmacist finally apologized to the Dr., not to us or to Bradyn. By that time we were able to get Bradyn to wake up a little. His heart rate came up that night and by the next morning he was fine.
I felt like we were in the NICU all over again. We did not know what was wrong and why his heart rate was so low. We were so scared and felt so helpless. We are still recovering from our Christmas vacation. I told mom at least it felt like we all got an extra long Christmas break!

Bradyn's IV. They really hurt in the foot. He always cries when they have to go there.

Thank goodness Grandpa was along to keep Bradyn happy.

Our family Christmas picture!

Bradyn did get to open a present. It was Elmo live. He is not too sure of Elmo yet.

Daddy had him laughing by the last day.

It's Almost Here!!

Oh, what fun it is... I love Christmas time!! We have been preparing for weeks now, shopping, cooking, making cookies and gingerbread houses, going on a sleigh ride, and wrapping ALL of those presents. Out of town family arrived today. We are ready to celebrate!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS!!!

This is Bradyn's Christmas church outfit. He has never had a vest. It was pretty cute.

Just me and Bradyn playing.
Gracen and Bradyn are the best entertainment for Grandpa.
Mamaw, Hunter, Colton, and Jordan went to church with us on Sunday. Jordan especially liked "comoonon" (communion).

Jarrod is the BEST dancer!! (Pause the Playlist before viewing video)

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Sweet Isamari

On our trip to Amarillo, Bradyn, Grammy and I got to stop and see our dear friend Isamari. She was Bradyn's favorite nurse while he was in the NICU. She took extra special care of him. We are so thankful for her and we are glad that she is still in our lives.

Sweet picture!

This is Isamari's little girl, Mia. She was pregnant with her while Bradyn was in the NICU.

Leg Braces for Bradyn ): ...Part 2

Today we went to Amarillo to pick up Bradyn's braces. It was another long day and he was such a good little boy. Bradyn will now have to wear real shoes (he only wore Pedipeds before, they are really soft and flexible) so I guess I will have to do some shopping!

This was BEFORE

His braces are camo. Daddy an Grandpa are so proud.

He did not like the man putting the braces on, as you can see.

SO MAD

He did really great after the man left him alone and he wore the braces for 2 hours. He even ate lunch in them. He is supposed to work up to wearing them all day.