1st Dentist Trip & Prayer Request

This morning Brayden had his 1st speech therapy with the school district. He had to be completely registered at the school, just as if he was in Kindergarden there, which was a treat. It was so weird to see him go in a big classroom, and the realization that it won't be that much longer until he is there full-time. His therapist said he did great, and she thinks he'll get it quickly. I am praying she is right, although, we were told the same thing when we started on this road a year ago. I think this lady will be great, and I am looking forward to all that she can do for him. Just last week he was telling a stranger he had cheese on his burger and he understood. That was a very exciting first, that a stranger could understand him! Way to go Brayden!

Both of the older boys went to the dentist for the 1st time today. Brandt let them do x-rays and look at his teeth, but wanted to lay in my lap when they cleaned his teeth. He has 1 small cavity in the front that we will have to see a pediatric dentist for, but other than that the dentist said he looked great.

Brayden was a little nervous this time. He wanted no part of the x-ray, and I was really nervous about how he was going to do with having his teeth cleaned. He wanted in my lap too, which is weird to lay in the chair with the light, but not have to have your mouth open. Anyway, he ended up doing great and had no cavities. So Brandt picked out a new green toothbrush, and Brayden picked out a new orange toothbrush.

Now on to the prayer request. Brandt had a follow-up appt with a pediatric gastroenterologist last Thursday. They ran 8 different blood tests, and we scheduled an ultrasound of his stomach and an upper GI, with continuance into the lower bowels for next Wednesday. Then we'll have another appt to go over the results on that Thursday. I am praying since we haven't heard anything on the blood results, then there isn't anything serious going on. We also could use a lot of prayers for that appt. He can't have anything to eat or drink after midnight until after his tests are completed. We start the ultrasound at 8, followed by the upper GI at 9. We're going to need prayers to get him to drink that stuff, although she did tell me to bring chocolate syrup from home and they'll add that for him. Then we have to wait for it to pass all the way through his lower bowel, which she said could be 30 minutes, could be 4 hours or more. All of this time, he can't eat. Ideally, we'd love to find nothing wrong and to presume these episodes are behind us.

Thank you all for your prayers!

Our Easter Morning

Brandt woke up this morning at 5:20 screaming that his stomach was hurting. He was throwing up, but nothing of substance. He would be fine for about a minute or 2 and then heaving again. He was in intense pain, and couldn't get comfortable. A little after 6 he ASKED to go to the hospital so I knew it was bad. He was so miserable and crying and doubled over. It is so hard to watch your child going through that. When we got to St Joe's we got back into the ER pretty quickly. They gave him an IV with the fluids, Zofran for the nausea, and morphine for the pain. The morphine took the edge off, but he was still in a lot of pain. They took 3 x-rays that were inconclusive. So he went down for a CAT Scan. His white blood count was 20 instead of the normal 12. They said that was either a blockage or an appendicitus, but they were almost certain it was his appendix. When he had the CAT scan they have to insert dye rectally, and afterwards he had a huge BM, and almost immediately started feeling better (something 6 doses of morphine couldn't do). Since he was feeling better, they changed their minds and didn't make us stay for observation. So now we are home, but they said the CAT scan didn't say yes it was his appendix, but it also didn't say that it wasn't. He said if it is, then it will probably flare up again today/tonight. So please keep him in your prayers that this is over, and it was just an intestional blockage that was passed.

UPDATE: 4/8/07 3:15 PM
Well Brandt's stomach is hurting him again, nothing like this morning, but it is very painful to the touch. So off to the hospital again we go. When I called earlier (he had started throwing up again), they are pretty certain they will keep him overnight for observation. Praise God, my parents were here for Brayden's birthday yesterday and stayed for Easter today. So they are taking the other 2 kids back to Austin with them now.
Please pray this is nothing serious, and that if he does end up needing surgery that God would direct the doctor's hands.

UPDATE: 4/9/07 12:40 PM
Brandt had a good evening, and his stomach hasn't hurt since yesterday afternoon. He had IV fluids all night, and today he is an all new little boy. He is very active and dying to get out of here (which we should do in just a little while). They think he had a blockage in his large intestines, and it passed yesterday right after the CAT scan. Since he hadn't had anything to eat or drink since dinner Saturday, he was also getting dehydrating. So we are praying that he is good to go now, and all of this is past us. He has a dr appt with a pediatric gastrointerologist on Thursday.

Thanks for all of your prayers!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRAYDEN!!!

Today Brayden turns 3!!! After 4 days of early labor (one of which I spent 6 hours in the hospital before they sent me home), I was very ready and so anxious. We were getting to watch the interesting and neat dynamics called brothers. Wow, has time flown, it feels like just yesterday. He is such a delight and a love bug. He is either sunshine or thunderstorms. He is usually so sweet & laid back, but when he gets upset, watch out. Even with his speech delay, he makes friends quickly. He has learned how to use his body language to express himself. He can count to 10, knows most of his letters, loves to color (and does a pretty good job of staying in the lines), he is a natural at soccer, and is a wonderful brother. He walks up to you and tells you he loves you to the moon and back and wants kisses and hugs. He is so affectionate and is truly a momma's boy. We have a very special bond, that I truly treasure.

Here is a video montage I made for Brayden. I really love looking back and seeing all the changes he has gone through the last 3 years.

Happy Birthday my buddy, I love you to the moon & back!!!

A Hard Day

Have you ever had one of those days? I am just beyond myself right now. Today is a day when I feel like I am completely done having kiddos. I know that is a decision that can't be made when there is this much emotion rolled up in there. But, I am just worn out and beat down today, and I could not imagine adding another child into the mix. Dustin has been gone since Tuesday for business. The boys overall have been good, but yesterday to a degree and now today have been anything but. My main problem, is my 4 yr old's behavior. I know it is just typical 4 yr old boy things, but I absolutely can't stand be deliberatly disobeyed. He is breaking all the rules and then lying about it. He is whining until he gets his way. I swear I feel like I have fussed and spanked all day today. I feel like I need to call Nanny 911 on myself, but I know this is just a phase, and he will eventually phase back into good behavior. He has done this since he was 2, he'll have months of just a sweet, great, well behaved child, and then months of just being a toot. Now he can talk back, and it is just doing me in. It is just all the little things that he is doing that is driving me bonkers. All the things he knows better, but does anyway because he wants to.

He told me yesterday that when he gets to be the dad that he won't ever make his kids sit in time out.

He also so said he is so mistreated because he never gets to do what he wants.

Hello, where did my baby go!?! Those are big kid statements, when did this transformation happen? I was getting all excited, because reinforcements were coming tonight (aka my parents). I just called to ask what time they would be here, and they have changed their minds and are just going to come in the morning instead. One more night, I can make it...right? To top it off 2 grandparents mailed us money to get a present for Brayden for tomorrow. So now I have to somehow try to figure out a way to get to the store to buy 2 presents and then wrap them all without him seeing. I am having a nervous breakdown just thinking of trying to take the 3 of them to the store today.

Anybody have any miracle ideas for dealing with a very strong-willed 4 yr old?

Birthdays and Carnivals, Oh My!

We celebrated Brayden's 3rd birthday last night at McDonalds. We had such a good time, and he just had a blast. There were 15 kids, so I was so glad I didn't have to clean up afterwards. lol He was so cute, he is still young enough that he was going crazy over even the cards. When we got home he kept asking me to tell him Happy Birthday and when I did he would say thank you. We had a great day, it is so hard to believe he will be 3 on Saturday.


I love the look on his face! He was just so excited with everything he opened. This is a cowboy dress up set from a little girl in his class.

Twice a year a little carnival comes to our mall and sets up. The boys have been begging to go the last few weeks and decided they wanted to spend their piggy bank money on it. Things have been so hectic that we were afraid they were going to leave before we got to go over there. Dustin left this evening for Dallas for 3 nights for training, so we ran over there and let them ride a few rides before he left. It was a great little family time. Dustin commented on how shortly it was going to be before it was going to cost us $135 to get wristbands for everyone. Thankfully now they are ok with going on around 6 rides and calling it a day.
We didn't take Bryson on any of the rides and he rode contently in the stroller. For any of you that know him well, you know this was a miracle in itself!!!
The boys absolutely loved this dragon rollercoaster. They laughed just about the whole time from when they left the gate until it pulled back in. They loved it so much, they rode this one twice.
What a priceless picture. They were holding hands and running around trying to decide what to do next. It is moments like that, that make this crazy life we lead worth it. Brotherly love, there is nothing like it!