March News

We are into March already, enjoying the sunshine when it chooses to appear. Lucy (the beagle), Braden and I ventured out on a walk the other day. It is hard to simultaneously manage a leash and a stroller but it worked. Snow on the ground again this morning reminded us not to get too spring-feverish yet. Still it is very appealing to think about more outdoor time with baby soon.

Braden has his first cold, compliments of his sisters. It is amazing it has taken this long. The girls have struggled with cold symptoms since early January, off and on. He feels pretty well except for the stuffy nose. Poor little guy!

Today was Braden's March cardiology appointment and he had another echocardiogram. The heart looked good, still swollen. The doctors are always "watching" something but it wasn't anything that overly concerned us. Most things are presented with the knowledge that surgery can affect different areas of the heart just by the sheer fact that something unnatural has been done, it has been "messed with". The cardiologists are very zealous in their search for problems that might come up. Braden's was pronounced to be doing very well and doesn't have to be seen again for cardiology until June! The doctor also mentioned that he may be able to come off his heart meds at that time. That is encouraging news, giving meds to an infant has been very tedious. Braden has a pacer check at the end of this month, but that is a really short and sweet appointment, focusing on the function of the unit and any changes that need to be made to the settings.

Braden weighed 9 lbs. 10 oz. today, not the weight gain we would really like to see, but okay. He has the stuffy nose issue plus he has started to do a bit of nursing again which requires more energy. That means more calories burned and less calories going to plumping up the boy. We are still hoping that eventually he will be able to go back to nursing.

On Sunday Braden will be 4 months old. He has officially been home longer than he has been hospitalized! He is still uncomfortable on his tummy because of the pacemaker in his abdomen. We keep time on his stomach short. He has started grabbing hair and gets a great reaction from his sisters. Have you seen the hair on the girls? Braden is going to have a hay day! Braids and ponytails will have to be the sister style to save them from bald spots. He has also started to cackle when tickled. So cute!

Thank you for your continued prayers for Braden and our family. I know he has been so healthy and doing so well because of the Lord. Also, Darth and I are doing well and we thank Jesus for helping make a strong marriage stronger. So glad for the Love and Respect marriage conference we attended last spring. It was an investment that paid off in ways we never could have foreseen. Each day we are reminded that Jesus is our Rock in life and for the future. The news has been scary lately but no matter what happens, we know that God is still in control and that is where we place our confidence, not in people, or money, or government, or the medical community, in GOD. The peace from that knowledge is AMAZING.

"Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7, NLT