Brayden's Journey: We made it to Iowa and pictures of Super Hero Brayden!

Yesterday we had the long drive to my hometown in Iowa. It's a 7 hr drive. We made it in 8 hrs since we had to stop to change Brayden's drainage tubes and also stop to eat. Brayden did great on the drive and slept 90% of the time. Which is good, he needed his rest.

When we got into town, we went over to my sister's for dinner and my grandparents and grandma Pat came over to see us. We did a dressing change, and both my grandma's started crying when they seen Brayden's back. He was such a good boy while we did the dressing change, he didn't even cry. I have posted pictures below, so you can see what the expanders look like and where they are placed.

Last night he slept from 10:30 till 9 am. I was going to wake him for his pain meds at 2 am, but I figured if he's sleeping, I would let him sleep and he was such a good stong boy, he slept right through the night. Today he has been getting mad that he can't scoot around. He wants to get into everything and he can't right now, so he gets mad and he screams. How will we keep him from not moving around for the next 2-3 weeks, no clue...wish us luck!

Other then that, he has been such a strong boy and each day he is getting better. Thank you everyone for praying for Brayden and being so supportive!

This is a picture of an expander before they put it in Brayden. He has 2 of these in him now and the circle at the end is the port, that is where we stick the needle in once a week to do the fill

Here is Super Hero Brayden before surgery, not sure what is going on

Brayden & mommy before surgery

Brayden & Grandma Rhonda before surgery

Brayden talking to Mickey Mouse that mommy & daddy got him before surgery

Grandpa giving Brayden some kisses before surgery

Few hours after surgery, talking to Mickey Mouse again! Happy boy :)

Brayden with his toys in his crib after surgery, Boo Boo the monkey Grandma & Grandpa got him

Mommy's yummy hospital food!

Brayden feeding himself, yes, he's on his back right after surgery

Brayden & Boo Boo

Brayden day after surgery in his Super Hero cape ready to leave the hospital

Brayden & I in Chicago cubs shirts, ready for the drive to Iowa

Brayden's incesions, above the nevus on the left & right is the 2 expanders. On the bottom above the diaper line is the ports. And on the side is the drainage tubes that we have to change every 4 hours for 10 days.