New growth

Braden is almost 32 lbs if not already. His new feeding plan of 1300-1500 calories per day is packing on the pounds. In fact he isn't meeting that goal daily. He gets 1200 to 1300. I haven't pushed for more because this time last month he was 30 lbs 4 oz. A significant jump for not being on a push for maximum growth. So I have emailed his nutritionist to see if she wants to make any adjustments. I am still unable to get Braden to drink anything but water and I am still having trouble with new foods. But we are making great progress with using a fork. Braden is also brushing his teeth by himself. Of course as all Mom's do I go behind him to make sure it's a good enough job but we are very proud of him. He has made huge strides towards independence. He has never been as I call Grayson a go getter. He usually needs prompting for task and has been hesitant to follow directions. However lately he has exploded with motivation. He climbs into his bed consistently by himself. He is actually helping get in and out of his carseat. He runs down the hill when we walk out of the house. He comes to you when you ask him too. He actually strategically plans to get to what he wants by climbing counters, chairs, shelves. He has learned some from his brother but also I think he has just had another one of his bursts of development. We love those times because it's so sudden and encouraging to see him just a little closer to catching up with his peers. He has also been asking daily to watch his Elmo potty time video. So I thought I would do a trial run this week. I have his charts, stickers, potty seats, big boy pants and M&M's ready to begin. I do not have any expectations as I totally don't expect to accomplish anything but awareness and some new level of understanding. The real training will begin this summer when we can train more outside. But I do have towels couch covers and things in place to keep accidents from ruining our house. Our carpets have already seen one family with young kids so they really won't look any worse from us. I know for sure Grayson is not ready so we won't be working with him just yet. I would love for Braden to be trained before G. I just think it would be easier on us. This trial run will help me especially to know if I have a good plan in place and if Braden gets excited about the reward system. It will also help me figure out how his schedule works. Tube fed kiddos are a lot different to work with than non tube fed. They pee a lot more is one difference and that in itself complicates things.

Grayson is doing good too. He loves to dance and is a big fan of music. He will crawl in your lap and clap when he wants you to sing "when your happy and you know it". He likes to stump his feet and march in circles. He loves big knob puzzles and he loves the fridge magnets from leap frog that are the alphabet. He plays with them on the art easel. He also does really well drawing his up and down lines on the chalkboard. We have enjoyed two gifts that the boys love. Their animal baby mags and their high five mags. Both have short stories and activities. We read stories before bed and we have done several of the activities during the day. We have enjoyed activities like soaring like an eagle and imitating motions like a kite.

I will be mentioning March of dimes in every post till the walk. We really encourage your support and thank you for the continued support you've given Braden for the past 4 years. Please see the previous post for information on how to participate and a link to our March for babies web page.

March for Babies - Our babies please :-)

It's that time of year again.  The Nashville March for Babies is April 22nd at Centinnel park.  Would you like to donate to a great cause?  Would you like to join our team to walk in honor of our Super Hero Braden and in the memory of our precious daughter Kaleigh?  Here is the link to sign up or donate or both today. :-)  Your support is GREATLY appreciated.  We love this time of year.  It's our chance to give back and help others save their preemie babies and help prevent premature birth all together. 

http://www.marchforbabies.org/personal_page.asp?pp=3596480&ct=4&w=5236618&u=bradenandkaleigh

A pic from 2011 walk.  What a gorgeous day it was and what an awesome event and turn out.  If you would like a T-shirt this year please let me know.  Part of the proceeds go towards the March of Dimes and we are looking into custom shirts this year.  If interested please email me at nnyl1806@comcast.net.  Thanks again for everyone's support. 

January is almost over...

So as this year starts to fly on by I want to make sure I keep posting at least once every week.  Which is a little harder these days.  The boys are doing really well.  They are VERY active.  If it wasn't for laundry  baskets and toy tubs we would never be able to walk in this house. lol  But thankfully I can clean up one room in about 15 mins with my handy storage bins. :-)  I have made about 10 boxes of activities for Braden and a binder with 3 word puzzles and a section for learning colors.  I have been letting Braden pick which activities he wants to play and have quickly learned what's easy for him and what's not.  He definitely shy's away from the more difficult tasks.  But I would guess most kids do.  The three word puzzles he seems to breeze thru so I might have to make them more difficult.   But I am glad to see what he can do and what he really needs to work on.  I will have to post pics of some of his boxes so you can see what we are doing. 

Grayson is hilarious.  But he is also dangerous.  Yesterday we found him climbing the kitchen stool to get on the kitchen island.  I am constantly getting him away from the computer and he is so little I am terrified he is going to bust his head at some point.  Stephen has been surprised at some of the stuff he can do too.  He and Braden are so different.  Braden is laid back and cautious.  Grayson is a go getter and he doesn't hesitate very often.... he has been known to just walk off the couch without even a second thought as to how far down it is for him. 

Braden's progress while out of school has been fairly good but I know he would be doing alot more if he was with his classmates.  We have just a few more months before he can return to school.  We have mixed feelings but hopeful that Braden's growth will keep him from getting really sick.  He is now almost 33 lbs.  It's so hard to believe he has grown so much.  Grayson is now over 22 lbs.  Well I'm gonna have to go because we are having some melt downs, pulling and pinching.  They want me off the computer. 

Kaleigh Grace

Today is the 4th anniversary of our little angel Kaleigh Grace's passing.  I typically leave the posts to Stephanie but posting for Kaleigh on this day has become my special way of telling her hello.  I say it every year and I will say it again, it doesn't get any easier as the years pass. We think of her daily, but during the first part of January, memories flood back to the twins birth and the day we lost Kaleigh.  I caught myself going through the older pictures on the blog a few days ago and it feels just like yesterday we were saying goodbye. I relive that entire day in my head many nights as I lay down and try to go to sleep.

Although it is painful to miss her so much, we take solace in the fact we know where she is.  It would have been selfish of us to wish she was still here in the state she was in.  She has now been made perfect and no longer has to deal with the troubles she had on earth. 

The 13 days we were blessed with you mean the world to us. On this day and every day we say we miss you Kaleigh.  You live forever in our hearts and will never be forgotten.

Love,
Daddy, Mommy, Braden and Grayson

Successful surgery

My sisters surgery to remove her cancer was a success.  She has additional biopsy's that won't be back till next week but they said they are giving her some radiation anyway to cover and potential problems.  So overall she is considered cancer free.  HOORAY!!!!  I am so happy for her.

On another note Braden is doing great with his new boxes for specific activities.  This was put together with the help of his therapists at Lyttle foxes.  They are so great.  Braden worked with his home school teacher for 45 mins straight no breaks and did fantastic.  He really loves the different activities and knowing just what's expected of him to be "all-done". :-)

Grayson has had a nagging cough poor baby.  We really don't know why but he did much better last nite and we are hoping he gets over it soon.  He is doing well too and Braden's home school teacher said she thinks Grayson is actually advanced in what he can do for his age.  Which is great because I was a little worried Braden's development could have an effect on Grayson's as well.  But it appears that is not the case. :-)

Pop John and Nana visit

Pop John and Nana came to visit this weekend.  The boys had a great time and are now catching up on their sleep. :-)  I met with Braden's therapists last week and we have put together some simple assignments to do daily.  This will improve Braden's skills and hopefully help him learn to do an activity willingly instead of becoming Spaghetti at the site of work. hee hee.... Braden can be so content with all still being done for him.  Although I have to say he is improving with self feeding.  He has had several meals now where he has fed himself the entire plate.  Hooray for progress. 

Grayson well he is still a little tornado.  Just into everything he can lay his hands on.  He loves the art easel we got for Braden and has already picked up on drawing straight lines.  He also has been climbing the office chair and his book case.  It's near impossible to child proof absolutely everything from a climber.  He is so little too it worries me but for the most part we are making it. 

Tomorrow is SURGERY day for my Big Sister Jennifer.  We are hoping and praying this is all she will need to rid her of her cancer.  I will post an update late tomorrow afternoon when I find out the results of the surgery.  I'm not 100% sure they can tell right away or if she will be biopsied and results in three more days.  I know she is nervous and has had to wait longer than anyone would have wanted to. 

Here are a few pics from this weekend.

 

Braden is 4

Today our sweet miracle boy is 4 years old.  So many things this amazing toddler has accomplished, overcome, been through in his little life.  We are sooo blessed to have such a gift.  He is an inspiration to all those who have met him and will continue to surprise and amaze us. 

Too both our miracles Braden and Kaleigh have a great and happy 4th birthday.

one of our favorite pics

Thank you Hatcher's :-)