Brayden is now less then 2 months away from his 1st tissue expander surgery in Chicago. In the mean time, we have to keep him healthy so he is not sick before we leave on July 17th. We are still trying to figure out where to stay in Chicago. Once we get that organized, we will be all set for the trip.
We were going to order 200 more cookbooks but since we have had so many amazing family and friends buying and help sell cook books. We ordered 300 more. They should be arriving in 4-5 weeks. So please let us know if you would like a cook book or help us sell some. Some will be shipped to Arizona and the others will go to Iowa.
My friend, Marli is from Cape Town and she is going back to visit in 2 weeks. We will be sending cookbooks with her to give to Kate. If you would like a cookbook and you live in South Africa, please let us know. All you have to do is hit the donate button and put in the amount you would like to donate for the cookbook. Remember when you are ordering it is in dollars. We are selling them for $20.00 or donations.
This month Brayden has been trying baby food, that his daddy, the chef has made him and he loves it! He really loves butternut squash! He also went swimming last weekend with mommy, Beth & Kyler. He loves being in the water, which is a good thing since we live in hot Arizona and summer is approaching!
Thank you for following Brayden's Journey. He is truly such an amazing little boy, always so happy and full of smiles. Brayden was born on 11/01/2010 with Giant Congenital Melanocytic Nevus. 1 out of 500,000 babies are born with this, so a lot of you may have never heard of this before. Continue to follow Brayden's Journey and you will learn all about nevus. We really appreciate all of your support.
Friday, May 20, 2011
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Going to order more cookbooks :)
We just want to thank everyone for your support and buying cookbooks to help baby Brayden with his medical expenses. We have been selling the cookbooks for a month now and we are close to selling all of them. Thanks to friends and family who have been spreading the word and helping us sell the cookbooks. I will be putting in another order tomorrow for 200 more cookbooks. They will be here in 5 weeks, so if anyone wants a cookbook, please let me know :) Thank you!
Here is a picture of Brayden at 6 months old. As you can see, he is a healthy little boy who LOVES to eat...we don't not starve him ;) He is growing everyday, somedays I wish he would just slow down. He loves to sit up now and also loves to stand up, he can stand if you hold his arms. I have been working with him to say momma and of course Geoffrey is teaching him, dadda....will see who wins this battle ;)
2 more months and Brayden and mommy will be off to Chicago for his 1st tissue expander surgery. In the mean time, he is getting spoiled by mommy and daddy since we know what is coming up for our little boy.
Here is a picture of Brayden at 6 months old. As you can see, he is a healthy little boy who LOVES to eat...we don't not starve him ;) He is growing everyday, somedays I wish he would just slow down. He loves to sit up now and also loves to stand up, he can stand if you hold his arms. I have been working with him to say momma and of course Geoffrey is teaching him, dadda....will see who wins this battle ;)
2 more months and Brayden and mommy will be off to Chicago for his 1st tissue expander surgery. In the mean time, he is getting spoiled by mommy and daddy since we know what is coming up for our little boy.
Friday, April 15, 2011
Cook Books are here!!
YAY!! The Cookbooks have finally arrived! We are selling them for $20.00 or donations for Brayden's medical expenses. 1 surgery down and only 9 to go. 3 more laser and 6 with the tissue expanders. Since he will be having his tissue expanders out of state, we will be using a lot of the money for travel expenses and paying off all the lovely medical bills.
Please let me know if you would like to order a cookbook for you or if you have any family or friends that would like to purchase some. If you live in Arizona, I can meet you sometime that way you don't have to pay for shipping. And if you live in Iowa, my mom will be in charge of all of those.
If you would like yours shipped, I have made a button on my blog, on the right hand side. Just pay though pay pal and I have also added a donation botton. Please let me know if you have any questions.
We appreciate everyone's support and love. Means the world to us that we have so many great people in our lives that care about Brayden as much as we do!
Please let me know if you would like to order a cookbook for you or if you have any family or friends that would like to purchase some. If you live in Arizona, I can meet you sometime that way you don't have to pay for shipping. And if you live in Iowa, my mom will be in charge of all of those.
If you would like yours shipped, I have made a button on my blog, on the right hand side. Just pay though pay pal and I have also added a donation botton. Please let me know if you have any questions.
We appreciate everyone's support and love. Means the world to us that we have so many great people in our lives that care about Brayden as much as we do!
Thursday, April 14, 2011
1st laser surgery down & he took it like a super hero :)
Brayden had his 1st laser surgery done today. It was a early morning for us, we had to wake up at 5 am to feed Brayden and give him apple juice since he couldn't eat past 5:30. We were off to the hospital and arrived at 6am. When we arrived, we couldn't believe how nice everyone was to us. Once we got in, they weighed Brayden...17 pounds 3 oz and they let him pick out a stuff animal...he went for the blue elephant!
After we checked in we went to a room, where they talked to us and told us all about the laser surgery and what would be happening. Then they put Brayden in a purple gown, which he is so handsome he can pull off any color ;) The staff couldn't believe how happy he was, I guess Brayden takes after his mom and is a morning person!
After we got him changed and they check his vitals, Dr. Hansen came in to talk to us before he took him back. He knows a lot about nevus and how to remove the satelites. So we knew Brayden would be in good hands.
It was time for Brayden to go back for surgery. We said good-bye to our little man and gave him kisses! As we were walking down the hall way, I heard the nurses say, look at how happy this baby is so early in the morning & all his hair! That made Geoffrey & I feel better, that Brayden was taking this on like a super hero!
The surgery only took 30 minutes and when Dr. Hansen was done he came out to talk to us and he said that everything went great and Brayden did really well. He said he did 100 zaps of the laser and that he did his legs, arms, chest and back. He left the few small light ones on his forehead because he wanted to see how Brayden's skin would do before he does the head. Dr. Hansen was happy with the results and next time he will make the laser stronger, that way it goes deeper.
Dr. Hansen wants Brayden's skin to heal 2-3 months, then he will start this process all over again. We are looking at 4 rounds of laser treatments. 1 down...3 to go!
After Dr. Hansen talked to us, they brought us back to the recovery room, Brayden was still asleep with the sleeping mask on (which they gave us to bring home for the baby book !) after 5 mintues, Brayden slowly woke up and mommy had a bottle of apple juice ready, thanks to the nice nurse. He ate all of it like a pro.
Since Brayden was doing so good, mommy went to work and daddy took Brayden home. He slept for the 1st 5 hours when he got home, which they said he would be tired all day. They just told us to keep an eye on him when he's sleeping and make sure he doesn't spit up.
All day Brayden seemed fine, full of smiles and not in pain. Which that made us feel good! Now all we have to do is make sure none of the laser spots blister and if it does we have to put vasaline on it and starting tomorrow he has to take medicine for 5 days to help with the swelling.
Other then that, not to much for recovery, just avoid the sun for awhile, that way it doesn't cause blistering. If he seems to be in pain tomorrow, I can give him pain meds but Dr. Hansen said he did so good, he doubts Brayden will need that.
Tonight, Kristy came over and brought us dinner and Brayden a big Easter basket...so sweet! So nice to have such amazing supportive friends and family right now.
Thank you everyone for praying for our little super hero and thinking about all of us today. He is such a strong little guy, I knew he would do just fine. Think this is harder on Geoffrey & I, then it is Brayden. Without all the support, we wouldn't be able to be so stong, so thank you!
Below are pictures from today, that way everyone has a better idea what I am talking about. What we call satelite spots are the little spots that are throughout his body. The main, or large nevus is on Brayden's lovwe back and butt. For his large nevus, he will go to Chicago in July for tissue expander surgery.
The 1st picture is the before picture and below that is the after picture. Right now since he just got the laser done today, since they were "zapped" the pigments come to the surface and that is why it looks so much darker. Over the next week or 2, all the areas that were lasered, will get lighter. Then each laser treatment the satelite spot will get lighter.
Below is the after picture...remember this is a work in progress
After we checked in we went to a room, where they talked to us and told us all about the laser surgery and what would be happening. Then they put Brayden in a purple gown, which he is so handsome he can pull off any color ;) The staff couldn't believe how happy he was, I guess Brayden takes after his mom and is a morning person!
After we got him changed and they check his vitals, Dr. Hansen came in to talk to us before he took him back. He knows a lot about nevus and how to remove the satelites. So we knew Brayden would be in good hands.
It was time for Brayden to go back for surgery. We said good-bye to our little man and gave him kisses! As we were walking down the hall way, I heard the nurses say, look at how happy this baby is so early in the morning & all his hair! That made Geoffrey & I feel better, that Brayden was taking this on like a super hero!
The surgery only took 30 minutes and when Dr. Hansen was done he came out to talk to us and he said that everything went great and Brayden did really well. He said he did 100 zaps of the laser and that he did his legs, arms, chest and back. He left the few small light ones on his forehead because he wanted to see how Brayden's skin would do before he does the head. Dr. Hansen was happy with the results and next time he will make the laser stronger, that way it goes deeper.
Dr. Hansen wants Brayden's skin to heal 2-3 months, then he will start this process all over again. We are looking at 4 rounds of laser treatments. 1 down...3 to go!
After Dr. Hansen talked to us, they brought us back to the recovery room, Brayden was still asleep with the sleeping mask on (which they gave us to bring home for the baby book !) after 5 mintues, Brayden slowly woke up and mommy had a bottle of apple juice ready, thanks to the nice nurse. He ate all of it like a pro.
Since Brayden was doing so good, mommy went to work and daddy took Brayden home. He slept for the 1st 5 hours when he got home, which they said he would be tired all day. They just told us to keep an eye on him when he's sleeping and make sure he doesn't spit up.
All day Brayden seemed fine, full of smiles and not in pain. Which that made us feel good! Now all we have to do is make sure none of the laser spots blister and if it does we have to put vasaline on it and starting tomorrow he has to take medicine for 5 days to help with the swelling.
Other then that, not to much for recovery, just avoid the sun for awhile, that way it doesn't cause blistering. If he seems to be in pain tomorrow, I can give him pain meds but Dr. Hansen said he did so good, he doubts Brayden will need that.
Tonight, Kristy came over and brought us dinner and Brayden a big Easter basket...so sweet! So nice to have such amazing supportive friends and family right now.
Thank you everyone for praying for our little super hero and thinking about all of us today. He is such a strong little guy, I knew he would do just fine. Think this is harder on Geoffrey & I, then it is Brayden. Without all the support, we wouldn't be able to be so stong, so thank you!
Below are pictures from today, that way everyone has a better idea what I am talking about. What we call satelite spots are the little spots that are throughout his body. The main, or large nevus is on Brayden's lovwe back and butt. For his large nevus, he will go to Chicago in July for tissue expander surgery.
The 1st picture is the before picture and below that is the after picture. Right now since he just got the laser done today, since they were "zapped" the pigments come to the surface and that is why it looks so much darker. Over the next week or 2, all the areas that were lasered, will get lighter. Then each laser treatment the satelite spot will get lighter.
This is the before picture
Below is the after picture...remember this is a work in progress
Sporting purple, I know...I can pull off any color ;)
Had to bring Sophie the girafe with me...I love chewing on her!
Daddy & me before I go in for surgery
Mommy & I
Tummy time...such a happy baby!
Kristy came to visit me & brought me a lot of fun toys
& mommy & daddy dinner!Thanks Kristy!!
Bed time...I was such a good boy all day, my happy self!
With Sofie & my new blue elephant from the hospital!
Friday, April 8, 2011
1st laser surgery booked for next week!
Brayden will be having his 1st laser treatment on his satelite nevus next week on Thursday morning. We will have to go to the Phoenix Childern Hosptial to check in at 6 am....this is going to be a very early morning for us. I'm sure Geoffrey & I will be tired, since the day before we have to leave at 4 am to go to Mexico. We will just go to Mexico for the day, to go to the dentist. I'm excited to have some yummy Mexican food and shop for a new purse! Not excited about getting fillings :(
Brayden will have to stop eating formula at 1:30 am and he can have apple juice until 5:30 am. I will make sure I wake him up at 5:00 am to feed him before we go. His surgery will start at 7:30 and he will be put under. Otherwise, he won't be able to sit still while they do the laser treatments....even though he is such a good baby, I doubt he would sit still when he's awake for that ;)
The actual surgery for the laser only takes around 30 minutes. So not too bad. Geoffrey & I will both be waiting in the waiting room until he is finished. Then mommy will go to work for the rest of the day and daddy will cuddle with Brayden all day :)
Next week after his laser treatment, I will post before and after pictures so everyone can have a better idea what we are talking about and see the results. This will be a work in progress and it may take up to 4-6 treatments and you have to wait 2 months between each treatment to let the skin heal.
We are happy to be starting the long process. We know, someday when Brayden is older, he will appreciate everything that we are doing for him right now. Please keep all of us in your prayers next week, as baby Brayden will have his 1st round of treatments!
Brayden will have to stop eating formula at 1:30 am and he can have apple juice until 5:30 am. I will make sure I wake him up at 5:00 am to feed him before we go. His surgery will start at 7:30 and he will be put under. Otherwise, he won't be able to sit still while they do the laser treatments....even though he is such a good baby, I doubt he would sit still when he's awake for that ;)
The actual surgery for the laser only takes around 30 minutes. So not too bad. Geoffrey & I will both be waiting in the waiting room until he is finished. Then mommy will go to work for the rest of the day and daddy will cuddle with Brayden all day :)
Next week after his laser treatment, I will post before and after pictures so everyone can have a better idea what we are talking about and see the results. This will be a work in progress and it may take up to 4-6 treatments and you have to wait 2 months between each treatment to let the skin heal.
We are happy to be starting the long process. We know, someday when Brayden is older, he will appreciate everything that we are doing for him right now. Please keep all of us in your prayers next week, as baby Brayden will have his 1st round of treatments!
Thursday, April 7, 2011
5 months old!
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Tickets booked for 1st Surgery in Chicago!
Brayden and I booked our flight to Chicago for his 1st surgery July 19th. We will be flying to Chicago on Sunday the 17th, his surgery will be on that Tuesday. Then if everything is good, we will be driving to Iowa to spend time with family & friends before coming back to Chicago on Aug. 1st for the 1st fill on the expanders. I am happy the flight is booked, one less thing to worry about. Now still trying to figure out where to stay. Luckily Brayden & I won't be alone and my parents will be driving to Chicago to support us. Will be so nice to have them with us!
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