Friday, May 25, 2012

Grayson turns 2

Oh what a week we have had.... it started with Braden knocking out one of his front caps.  The dreaded front tooth incident is one that we were hoping would not happen.  This is the 3rd cap and tooth pull he has had and let me tell you it is the worst.  Aside from the 20 min drama from the last tooth pull this one actually went as well as it could for not being able to sedate him.  That's the part that is so sad.  Braden has to be awake because unless he is in the hospital NO one is comfortable sedating him because of his medical history.  The only save this time was the tooth came out QUICK.  That and there was a mechanical horse in the lobby that Braden enjoyed riding a few times before he had the tooth pulled.  After he was just ready to leave and so were Pop Pop and I.  Lets pray that we don't have to do this again. 

Tuesday - Pop pop and Nana leave to go home.  They had come to visit so that Stephen and I could have a date nite and to see Grayson turning 2.   They left early morning and when I went to put the kids down for a nap at 12:45 - 1 Grayson decided to throw one of his fits going upstairs.  He likes to bang his head on the step when he gets mad.  Typical two year old tantrum.  Well he wasn't able to catch himself because this time he slipped.  Thus the nice shinner in the attached video.  Along with an ER visit to Vandy to make sure he was ok.  Fun Fun... lol  I will have to say Vandy did an excellent job getting us in and out. 

We are still battling sickness.   I have been fortunate not to become sick and B is doing great.  But G is still snotty.  Stephen still has a cough and now I am having mild drainage in the back of my throat.  I am hoping that's all I will get and can stay well.  I so don't need to get sick and we sure hope Braden doesn't either. 

Yesterday Grayson turned 2.  We can hardly believe it.  The attached video is a game we got for him.  He loves it.  It's the Vtech alphabet apple.  G is loving letters right now and says many of his letter sounds.  He learned them off the Leap Frog Letter Sounds DVD.  So whomever says kids don't learn from watching TV I can argue with them. lol  He also looks from left to right and does his letter sounds in order if looking at them written or on a poster.  He's a little smarty pants for someone who barely talks.  TEIS met with us again and he will be getting services in the next week.  So maybe that will help get him talking a little more.

video

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Sickness... :-(

Well we almost made it through this round of school with no illness.  Took the boys to the pediatrician yesterday because over the weekend Braden had tons of drainage and then Monday morning Grayson.  So as of right now Grayson only has a cold.  Braden has an ear infection and possible pneumonia.  Not a bad case of it and the antibiotics should take care of it.  So far he seems good.  He has been clearing his congestion well and acts pretty normal.  He gets frustrated and mad easily but that comes with feeling bad.  He is getting progressively better so hoping he will be back to normal in just a few more days. 

We have new weights on the boys.  Braden is now 33 lbs 6 ozs and Grayson is 23 lbs 2 ozs.  Both have gained since last pediatrician visit.  I was really worried that they had lost because Braden hasn't seemed to eat as much and Grayson is now on Almond Milk which has less calories than milk.  I also took Grayson off the carnation instant breakfast and now give him pediasure side kick to fill in his nutritional gaps.  He is still not eating any new foods.

The time timer is a special clock that helps kids know when they will be completed with a task.  We love it.  The boys think it's awesome and they are really doing well using it.  We use it for activities and for meal times.  Hoping it will work well for potty training this summer as well. 

Well the boys need attention and I need my breakfast.  So here are a few pics and thanks for checking in on the boys.





Nothing like a Swiffer to entertain you.... :-)

Monday, May 7, 2012

The month of May

Cannot believe it is May already.  Braden's last day of pre K is May 21st.  He has been loving school and doing soooo well.  They told us since he did not regress over the holidays during the winter months he will probably not qualify for summer services this year.  He is also doing so well he may get to be in the step before Kindergarten class next fall.  It's crazy to even think about it.  I know next year is going to be hard.  G will start his first school season and Braden will be one step closer to a full day of school.  They are growing so fast.

This week Grayson will have his full eval with TEIS.  It will be interesting to see how that one goes.  I don't really have an expectation.  We are only doing this as a precaution to make sure G isn't having some difficulties on a minor scale at best.  Either way it won't hurt to get him some help if that will keep him from being behind a few years from now. 

G is now in a toddler bed.  It is not without drama.  He is fighting us on the new bed depending on how tired he is... less tired fights longer.  Less tired... well you get the idea.  He is also allowed to freely go up and down the stairs.  This is not without reservation but he is actually doing very well and Braden is starting to walk a little more often up and down as well.  It's a life saver for me.  They are just way to heavy to be carrying up and down at this point.  I need to save my back, my knees, my arms... lol  It's worth the added stress of watching them like a hawk.  Over all it's best for their development as well. 

Braden is back to NO self feeding.  But he does eat some at school and will feed himself snacks so overall not too bad.  I have found that following him around and feeding him bites gets more food and calories in for the day.  Spoiling him I guess but when you tube feed your kid you'll do just about anything to get the necessary calories in.  It's just how it is and ALL of us who have tubie kiddos do things like this... it's just the way we have to live.  It's often misunderstood by others because they are under the assumption that if they are hungry they will eat.  Well I have a full termer with no tube that doesn't live by these rules so it's painfully apparent to me that not all kids work under the same rule.  So many are quick to give advice but it's just because they have had a different experience.  I usually give grace to those that don't understand as they don't live in my shoes so they are well intended.  Sometimes others actually do think or say something I may not have tried so I always try to appreciate that they are just trying to help.  Both of our kiddos are just too busy to eat.  They don't want to slow down just like those kids that are suppose to be potty trained have accidents occassionally.  I'm sure ours will be extremely difficult to potty train as neither of them cares much if they are wet and they are both as stubborn as they come... But we will attempt a huge try once school is out.  I remember not wanting to take time outs to pee and I remember my Mom telling me that when we were in public I'd just assume pee my pants than use a dirty restroom. lol  So apparently they come by their stubborn ways partly because of their Mother. lol  As well as my insisting not to eat what I refused to eat.  I remember going hungry many times as a child because my parents used the policy you eat what we eat.  I didn't like white beans and I never ate them.  I didn't like liver and I never ate it.  You can ask my Mom or my sister's they will tell you I refused to eat and that meant I'd go to bed hungry at a very young age.  That's by no means knocking my parents.  But I do see why our boys are so complicated. 

The boys are napping so I guess I should take advantage of taking one myself.

Braden's car

Braden's car

Adjusted age ticker

Lilypie 1st Birthday Ticker

Braden's new Car

Braden's new Car
1/10/08

Braden's new car

Braden's new car
1/10/08

Braden

Braden
Chick Magnet outfit 2

Braden

Braden
Chick Magnet outfit

Braden

Braden
12/13/08

Braden

Braden
12/13/08

Braden

Braden
Mr. Smiley

Braden

Braden
having a better day

Braden

Braden

Braden

Braden
11/2/08

Braden

Braden
11/2/08

Chillin on his boppy

Chillin on his boppy

Trying to take off his mitten

Trying to take off his mitten

Tummy time

Tummy time

Braden

Braden

Braden

Braden
10/3/08

Braden

Braden
Look Mommy I pulled out my nose tube again...

Braden

Braden
10/1/08

10/01/08

10/01/08

Braden

Braden
9/30/08

Braden

Braden
9/30/08

Braden in Camo

Braden in Camo

Braden

Braden
9/12/08

Braden

Braden
9/12/08

Braden

Braden
9/12/08

Braden

Braden
He loves to put his hand under his cheek. So cute...

Braden

Braden
Another photo to show how big Braden is...

Braden

Braden
Please ignore me in these photos. I just wanted you to see how big Braden has gotten.

Braden

Braden
9/10/08

Braden

Braden
8/21/08

Braden playing with his keys

Braden playing with his keys

Braden

Braden
8/17/08

Braden

Braden
8/17/08

Braden and Mommy

Braden and Mommy

Braden and Stephen

Braden and Stephen
8/10/08

Braden and Stephen

Braden and Stephen
8/11/08

Braden

Braden
8/06/08

Braden

Braden
8/6/08

Braden

Braden
8/6/08

Braden

Braden
8/6/08

Braden

Braden
After his bath

Braden

Braden
7/31/08

Braden

Braden
Tummy time

Braden

Braden
Playing in his mirror.

Braden

Braden

Braden

Braden
7/30/08

Braden

Braden
7/30/08

Braden

Braden
7/30/08 Braden checking out his wrist toy.

Braden

Braden
7/20/08 Enjoying his swing

Braden

Braden
7/18/08

Braden

Braden
7/15/08 Braden and his NG tube

Braden

Braden
7/7/08 Braden before his Dr. visit. He was happy this morning.

Braden

Braden
7/7/08 Braden looking at his Daddy taking his photo.

Braden

Braden
7/2/08

Braden

Braden
7/2/08

Braden

Braden
7/2/08 In his BeBe Pod. He's not sure if he like it just yet.

Braden

Braden
6/19/08

Braden

Braden
6/19/08

Braden

Braden
6/18/08

Braden

Braden
6/12/08

Braden

Braden
6/11/08

Braden

Braden
6/9/08

Braden

Braden

Braden

Braden

Braden's new toy

Braden's new toy

Braden and his Daddy

Braden and his Daddy

Braden

Braden
Last nite on his trach nose since we had no power. He did really well.

Braden

Braden
5/31/08

Braden & his wubbanub pacifier

Braden & his wubbanub pacifier

Braden at home

Braden at home

Braden and his tummy time Boppy

Braden and his tummy time Boppy

Braden

Braden
5/29/08

Braden

Braden
5/29/08

Braden

Braden
5/27/08 Getting set up at home.

Braden

Braden
5/27/08 in the van.

Braden

Braden
5/27/08 On our way out of the hospital

Mommy and Braden :-)

Mommy and Braden :-)

Braden and nurse Sherry

Braden and nurse Sherry

Braden's home coming

Braden's home coming
5/27/08 In his carseat. :-)

Braden

Braden
5/24/08

Braden

Braden
5/23/08

Braden

Braden
5/22/08 Braden with Nurse Patty

Braden

Braden
5/20/08

Braden

Braden
5/20/08 Braden and his nurse Stacy

Braden

Braden
5/19/08

Braden

Braden
In one of Missy's outfits. Can you see how big he is.. in his newborn clothes.

Braden

Braden
With Nurse Rachel. He is not mad at her he's got gas. :-)

Braden

Braden
5/17/08

Braden

Braden
5/17/08

Braden

Braden
5/16/08

Braden

Braden
5/16/08

Braden

Braden
5/16/08

Braden

Braden
5/16/08

Braden

Braden
5/14/08

Braden

Braden
5/14/08

Braden

Braden
5/14/08

Braden

Braden
5/14/08

Braden

Braden
5/14/08

Braden

Braden
5/14/08

Braden

Braden
5/14/08

5/11/08

5/11/08
Braden

Braden

Braden
5/11/08

Braden

Braden
5/10/08

Braden

Braden
5/10/08

Braden

Braden
5/10/08

Braden

Braden
5/10/08 4th months old today

Braden

Braden
5/7/08

Braden

Braden
5/7/08

Braden

Braden
5/7/08

Braden

Braden
5/4/08

Braden

Braden
5/4/08 Dressed up in his puppy dog attire.

Braden

Braden
5/4/08 Look at those big beautiful eyes.

Braden

Braden
5/4/08

Braden

Braden
5/4/08 Taking his bottle like a big boy.

Braden

Braden
5/4/08

Braden

Braden
5/4/08 In cousin Riley's lightning outfit.

Braden

Braden
5/3/08

Braden

Braden
5/3/08

Braden

Braden
5/3/08

Braden

Braden
5/3/08

Braden

Braden
5/3/08

Braden

Braden
5/1/08

Braden

Braden
5/1/08

Braden

Braden
5/1/08

BRADEN

BRADEN
5/1/08

BRADEN

BRADEN
5/1/08

Braden

Braden
4/30/08

Braden

Braden
4/30/08

Braden

Braden
4/29/08

Braden

Braden
4/29/08

Braden

Braden
4/28/08

Braden

Braden
4/28/08

Braden

Braden
4/26/08

Braden

Braden
4/26/08

Braden

Braden
4/26/08 Frog feet pajamas from Ashley.

Braden & Family

Braden & Family
4/26/08

Braden & Family

Braden & Family
4/26/08

Braden

Braden
4/26/08

Braden

Braden
4/26/08

Braden

Braden
4/25/08

Braden

Braden
4/25/08

Braden

Braden
4/24/08 In his bouncy seat.

Braden

Braden
4/24/08

Braden

Braden
4/22/08

Braden

Braden
4/22/08

Braden

Braden
4/22/08

Braden

Braden
4/21/08

Braden

Braden
4/21/08 Getting a break from his bottle

Braden

Braden
4/20/08

Braden

Braden
4/20/08 King Braden in his frog outfit

Braden

Braden
4/19/08

Braden

Braden
4/19/08

Braden

Braden
4/19/08

Braden

Braden
4/19/08 Taking his bottle

Braden

Braden
4/19/08 Wide awake after his feeding.

Braden

Braden
4/18/08

Braden

Braden
4/18/08

Braden

Braden
4/15/08 In his big boy bed

Braden

Braden
4/15/08

Braden

Braden
4/13/08 Look both eyes. :-)

Braden

Braden
With both eyes open 4/13/08

Braden

Braden
4/12/08

Braden

Braden
4/11/08

Braden

Braden
4/11/08

Braden

Braden
4/11/08

Braden

Braden
4/10/08

Braden

Braden
4/10/08

Braden

Braden
4/10/08

Braden

Braden
4/9/08

Braden

Braden
4/9/08

Braden

Braden
4/7/08

Braden

Braden
4/7/08 still at Vandy

Braden

Braden
4/2/08

Braden

Braden
4/2/08

Braden

Braden
4/2/08 Daddy holding Braden for the first time.

Braden

Braden
4/1/08 Dino outfit and blanket

Braden

Braden
4/1/08

Braden

Braden
Braden and Nurse Missy who sang a very lovely song to him tonite.

Braden

Braden
4/1/08

Braden

Braden
4/1/08

Braden

Braden
3/31/08

Braden

Braden
3/31/08

Braden

Braden
3/31/08

Braden

Braden
3/31/08 Braden is now 36 weeks gestational age. He will be 3 months old on April 10th.

Braden

Braden
3/31/08

Braden

Braden
3/31/08 Sleeping so peacefully

Braden

Braden
3/31/08 Momma holding Braden

Braden

Braden
3/31/08 He's telling them to be quiet or he's thinking. You decide.

Braden

Braden
3/31/08 Patty pics

Braden

Braden
3/28/08 Such a cutie :-)

Braden

Braden
3/28/08 Braden's alligator apparel

Braden

Braden
3/28/08 The Green bean bag alien from Roswell.

Braden

Braden
3/25/08

Braden

Braden
3/25/08

Braden

Braden
3/25/08

Braden

Braden
3/25/08

Braden

Braden
3/24/08

FEEDJIT Live Traffic Feed

Braden

Braden
3/24/08

Braden

Braden
3/24/08

Braden in Camo

Braden in Camo
3/23/08

Braden in Camo

Braden in Camo
3/23/08

Braden

Braden
3/23/08

Braden

Braden
3/23/08

Braden

Braden
3/20/08 Look how big he's getting.

Braden's new isolette

Braden's new isolette
3/18/08

Braden's new Isolette

Braden's new Isolette
3/18/08

Braden

Braden
3/16/08

Braden

Braden
3/16/08

Braden

Braden
3/16/08 Photo from last nite while Mommy held Braden

Braden

Braden
3/15/08

Braden

Braden
3/15/08

Braden

Braden
3/14/08

Braden

Braden
3/14/08

Braden

Braden
3/14/08

Braden

Braden
3/14/08 This duck is not as big as it looks.

Braden

Braden
3/14/08

Braden

Braden
3/12/08

Braden

Braden
3/12/08

Braden

Braden
3/11/08 New bedding..

Braden

Braden
3/11/08 Both eyes open. Taken with the lights down and no flash. He won't open them otherwise.

Braden

Braden
3/11/08

Braden

Braden
3/11/08 Doesn't he look bigger?

Braden

Braden
3/11/08

Braden

Braden
3/10/08 2 months old today. :-)

Braden

Braden
3/9/08

Braden

Braden
3/9/08

Braden

Braden
3/9/08

Family photo

Family photo
3/7/08

Braden

Braden
3/7/08 Photo by Aunt Paula

Braden

Braden
3/7/08 Our first family photo

Braden

Braden
3/7/08 Braden's tooth. Photo courtesy of Nurse Patti

Braden

Braden
3/7/08

Braden

Braden
3/6/08

Braden

Braden
3/6/08

Braden

Braden
3/6/08

Braden

Braden
3/5/08

Braden

Braden
3/5/08 Photo by Aunt Paula

Braden

Braden
3/3/08 With his mittens and hat to warm him up after his bath.

Braden

Braden
3/3/08

Braden

Braden
3/3/08

Braden

Braden
3/3/08

Braden

Braden
3/3/08

Braden

Braden
2/29/08

Braden

Braden
2/29/08

Braden

Braden
2/29/08

Braden

Braden
2/29/08

Braden

Braden
2/28/08

Braden

Braden
2/27/08

Braden

Braden
2/27/08

Braden

Braden
2/27/08

Braden

Braden
2/26/08

Braden

Braden
2/26/08

Braden

Braden
2/05/08

Braden

Braden
2/25/08

Braden

Braden
2/22/08 Evening visit

Braden

Braden
2/22/08 Daddy's a little better at taking my photo.

Braden

Braden
2/22/08 This is what happens when Mommy forgets to turn off the flash.

Braden

Braden
2/18/08 You can see he is still very little even though he's reached 2 lbs.

Braden

Braden
2/18/08 Look zero tubes :-)

Braden

Braden
2/18/08

Braden

Braden
2/16/08 Is that a smile on his little face:-)

Braden

Braden
2/16/08

Braden

Braden
2/16/08

Braden

Braden
2/16/08

Braden

Braden
2/16/08 Still off the vent what a trooper.

Braden

Braden
2/14/08

Braden

Braden
2/14/08

Braden

Braden
2/12/08

Braden

Braden
2/11/08

Braden

Braden
2/11/08 Braden on his camo and frogs blanket. Very Cute.

Braden

Braden
2/11/08

Braden

Braden
2/11/08

Braden

Braden
2/7/08

Braden

Braden
2/6/08

Braden

Braden
On his own blue bunny blanket given to him by Judy G.. :-)

Braden

Braden
2/6/08 with his purple passy

Braden

Braden
2-4-08 Sometimes it's just too hard to get a non blurry shot. He is so small. But, this is a picture without tape on his chin.

Braden

Braden
2/2/08

Braden

Braden
2/2/08

Braden

Braden

Braden

Braden

Braden

Braden
2-1-08

Braden

Braden
Our little superman 2-1-08

Braden

Braden
1-29-08

Braden's new hat

Braden's new hat
1/29/08

Braden

Braden
1-28-08

Braden

Braden
1-28-08

Braden

Braden
1-25-08

Braden

Braden
1-25-08

Braden

Braden
1-21-08 All I want to do is sleep.

Kaleigh

Kaleigh
1-21-08 Both eyes open and a non blurry picture. Thank you Daddy.

Kaleigh

Kaleigh
1-21-08 with both eyes open. Mommy had a hard time with the camera so my apologies for the blurred photo.

Braden

Braden
1/20/08 Little Kaleigh's photo last nite didn't come out. They had her in the dark so it was difficult to get a good shot. :-(

Braden John

Braden John
1-19-08 Still sleeping away and really tired but doing very well.

Kaleigh Grace

Kaleigh Grace
1-19-08 She doesn't look so comfortable but they had just flipped her back on her back. She would rather be on her belly.

Kaleigh

Kaleigh
1-19-08 Good pic of her little face.

Braden

Braden
1-19-08 resting peacefully from a hard day of breathing on his own.

Braden

Braden
1-18-08 with his purple passy

Kaleigh

Kaleigh
1-18-08 evening

Kaleigh 1-18-08

Kaleigh 1-18-08
Our little hero has showed us that she is a fighter.

Braden

Braden
1-18-08 first day off his ventilator. :-)

Kaleigh 1-17-08

Kaleigh 1-17-08
Resting so she can get stronger.

Braden 1-17-08

Braden 1-17-08
Has his lamp off today. So we can see his cute little face.

Kaleigh

Kaleigh
Laying on her pink gingham blanket. They just changed out that morning.

Braden

Braden
That's Mommy's hand on Braden's little head. In an effort to calm him.

Kaleigh

Kaleigh
They had Kaleigh on her side today. What a large diaper she has on.

Braden

Braden
Loves to sleep on his tummy. Kaleigh likes it too.

Braden

Braden
1/14/08 Stretched out and relaxed

Kaleigh

Kaleigh
1/14/08 crinkling her forhead

kaleigh grace

kaleigh grace
1/12/08

Braden John

Braden John
1/12/08

About Me

My Photo
This is the story of an amazing set of twins that were born 16 weeks to soon and their little brother Grayson. Kaleigh Grace who lived an amazing 13 days and we miss daily. Braden our super hero who is now 4. This is our journey in parenting with challenges above and beyond the norm.