Here is the latest on Bracey. Thank you for your prayers!
"Dear Family and Friends,
We hope your week is going well. Torrey went back to work this week. It has been extremely hard on him to have to leave his baby. We hold onto the hope that this part of our lives will soon be behind us and we can begin our lives as a family. Bracey is getting better every day. He is growing and he is doing great with his feeds. We get to bottle feed him 3 times a day. The rest he gets through his feeding tube. He is up to full feeds which is great. The doctors will be taking his IV’s off tomorrow and taking his NG tube out and replacing it with a regular feeding tube. This is a huge step closer to going home. We thought this would happen today, but the surgeons are very cautious. They take baby steps in everything they do for his recovery. The doctor’s have talked to us today about moving Bracey to the next floor by this weekend. This floor is called the transition floor. The babies usually go home within a week of being moved to this floor!
The physical therapists have been coming in once a day to work with his wrists and hands. They already look 100% better. He is able to stretch them much easier and he is getting more comfortable with his mommy and daddy messing with them.
Thank you for your prayers, cards and support. We could never get through this without the support of our family and friends and especially without prayer. We have truly felt God’s mighty work in Bracey’s life.
In His Hands,
Torrey, Angela, & Bracey"
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Taxes and Baking
Here's Molly helping Daddy do our taxes last weekend...
Umm, Molly, that isn't really helping :) (don't worry, the cord isn't plugged in)
The boys had fun helping make oatmeal cookies the other night. Cute little farts -
Umm, Molly, that isn't really helping :) (don't worry, the cord isn't plugged in)
The boys had fun helping make oatmeal cookies the other night. Cute little farts -
Spitin' and Sittin'
We've been working on sitting up - here she is with some goobers coming outta her mouth :)
Recent
Recent Development - Molly has figured out how to spit with her tongue out these last 2 days. It's hysterical!
Monday, February 25, 2008
No Rest for the Weary
Dinner is in the oven, Molly is napping peacefully, Jack and Mikie are watching some tv and Erk is on his way home. Now this is a nice evening :) We had a good day - Molly had her 6 month check up this morning, yes, can you believe our little peanut is SIX months OLD? She's doing great - long and thin this one! Her head circumference and length are in the 75th percentile and her weight is in the 25th. No worries though, she eats like a maniac and the doc said it's all good. Just very different from where the boys were at this age! From the doc appt, we came home and had some lunch and I hoped today would be a nap day. Not so much... neither boy would conk and with as much as I wanted to sleep (didn't hardly sleep last night - one of those wasn't thinking about anything in particular but I couldn't shut my mind off) we didn't do naps today. So I hopped outta bed (Mikie laying next to me whispering to himself the whole time) and I said, "we're headed to the gym!" So we did - the boys played soccer in the open gym with only 2 other kids running around, I sat there and fed Molly, then all 3 went into the kid area and I went up to walk/jog on the treadmill. Felt great! I even showered there (something I'm getting more comfortable with). And now we are home. Here's to hoping you had a nice start to the week too!
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Jack
Jack (AKA Buddy, Pal) – handsome, well versed, 2 middle finger sucker, quick learner, a bit bow legged, his fingernails and toenails grow really fast, good tooth brusher, excitable, thick/coarser hair than the rest, animated, great memory and imagination.
Recent Quote: “When you’re an adult, it’s boring… kids get to play and play.”
Hobbies: Likes the children’s museum, enjoys putting a blue colander on his head and pretending he’s “going to space,” loves to run laps around the house, camping, playing with movie Cars cars and Toy Story toys.
Future Aspirations: Wants to be a dentist and/or a toy fixer
These are the answers given to me when I asked…
Favorite Movie: “Toy Story 2”
Favorite Color: “Red”
Favorite Food: “Strawberries”
Favorite Toy(s): “Woody, Jesse and Bullseye” (he has made a stuffed dog into Bullseye since we can’t find him in the stores)
Looks best when wearing: Light blue
Favorite Book: “Cars book… the one with the discs” (pretty cool projector book thingy)
Favorite Person: “Papa”
Favorite Sound: “A tiger roar”
Who will be the next President: “Grandpa”
Favorite thing about Daddy: “He tackles”
Mommy: “You play”
Mikie: “He plays with me”
Molly: “That she’s my sister”
Bean: “She plays fetch”
Recent Accomplishment: Can write his letters
Mike
Mike (AKA Mikie, Pickle, Picky) – charming, easy going, a ladies man, well thought, handsome, nail biter like his momma, showman, hilarious, loves to get attention then play shy, likes to look out of the corner of his eye at ya, adorable, huge hands, right thumb sucker, great imagination.
Recent Quote: “Girls don’t have wiggle waggles, they go pee pee outta their buns.”
Hobbies: Playing tractors or construction site dude with CAT tractors, pushing a chair around the family room making a loud noise pretending he’s “snowblowing,” sitting on loved ones laps, taking all of his clothes off to go to the bathroom.
Future Aspirations: Wants to be a farmer (so he said yesterday, it changes often – we’ve heard builder or doctor or dentist)
These are the answers given to me when I asked…
Favorite Movie: “Cars”
Favorite Color: “Yellow”
Favorite Food: “Chicken”
Favorite Toy(s): “Tractors”
Looks best when wearing: Orange
Favorite Book: “Cowboy Camp”
Favorite Person: “Chet and Ivan”
Favorite Sound: “race car”
Who will be the next President: “I think you”
Favorite thing about Daddy: “Tackling”
Mommy: “playing wiss you”
Jack: “playing with him”
Molly: “being funny to her”
Bean: “petting her”
Recent Accomplishment: Can hop on one foot
Molly
Molly (AKA Little Peanut, Mouse) – smiley, loves to be held, gets bored when in one place too long, belly sleeper, I swear she has RLS (Restless Leg Syndrome), big blue eyes, 3 naps a day – sometimes 4, beautiful, female version of Jack in looks, long fingers, petite, left thumb sucker (future left hander?)
Recent Quote: “Eeeeeeeeeeeee”
Hobbies: Likes to be held, enjoys putting things in her mouth after finding them with her hands now that she got those things to work right, loves her feet and drooling.
Future Aspirations: ? Erk said tonight he thinks she’ll be a ballerina
These are the answers given to me when I asked…
Favorite Movie: doesn’t much pay attention
Favorite Color: Purple (ok, according to mommy)
Favorite Food: applesauce
Favorite Toy(s): pink stuffed dog or key thingy that makes noise
Looks best when wearing: Yellow
Favorite Book: any one she can get to her mouth, today it was “Arnie the Donut”
Favorite Person: Mommy (?) :)
Favorite Sound: her crib aquarium playing a song
Who will be the next President: Daddy :)
Favorite thing about Daddy: He carries me around like a football
Mommy: “The way you make me laugh”
Jack: “He plays with me”
Mikie: “He tries to get me to laugh, bless his heart, but I don’t think he’s funny”
Bean: “She licks up my spit up!”
Recent Accomplishment: She can roll over from front to back and back to front now.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Imagine if you will...
Imagine if you will for a minute - me, trying to vacuum just now... holding Molly in my right arm, vacuuming... Bean dog is attacking the vacuum (something I thought was cute when she was a puppy, now after 7 years? Not so much). Molly won't take a nap. Jack and Mikie were anything but quiet during "quiet time." I can't get the vacuum to come any further cause the cord is stuck under one of the 3 laundry baskets full of now folded clothes in the dining room. So there's me, trying to yank on it to get further, Mol in one arm, pushing the heavy vacuum, Bean attacking it. As I get enough "rope" to get into the family room, I watch (in seemingly slow motion) as Mikie kicks the end table over and the lamp and picture frame go flying.
And now? Mikie picked up the lamp and frame, fortunately neither are broken, Jack is yelling at Mikie and Molly is fussing on the floor in the other room. What you up to?
And now? Mikie picked up the lamp and frame, fortunately neither are broken, Jack is yelling at Mikie and Molly is fussing on the floor in the other room. What you up to?
May I Take Your Order?
Jack’s at preschool this morning and I have all kinds of housework crap to take care of, but Mikie wanted me to go upstairs and play “building” with him. So we got the construction stuff all set up and had our construction site where we were “building a house.” As I sat there getting kinda bored, I looked at Mikie and realized what it means to him to have me play just him and me. I smiled and watched him with his big imagination… a while later I told him I had to fold some clothes and asked if he wanted a snack. We don’t usually have a snack mid-morning but Jack gets one at school, so that was kinda fun. Hot chocolate and some triscuits (can’t believe he likes them, especially plain, but he does). Then folding clothes, and more folding and more… Seems we had Mt. Everest in our laundry room of clean clothes. How sad is that!? So anyway, I went up to put the boys clothes away in their room and there sits Mikie… all alone, with his headset and McD’s visor on, talking to himself, taking orders on the McDonald’s playset Granny got them for Christmas. He didn’t even know I was there until I coughed.
Then he proceeds to tell me, “my friends took my kitchen from me.” I said, “well, those aren’t very nice friends if they took your kitchen.” He says, “well, they didn’t have one and they needed one so I gave them mine." I said, "wow, that's really nice of you Mike," and he replies "that’s why I have to work at McDonald’s.”
Later while I was “ordering” some food from him, he would tell me “ohh, we are out of that or we don’t have that anymore.” Where does he come up with this stuff? McDonald’s hasn’t ever been out of anything we’ve ordered so I have no idea where he heard that!
Just now as I thought I’d tell ya this funny stuff, I hear Mikie say to me “Molly is working at McDonald’s with me.” I turn around and see Molly on the floor (don’t worry, I had put her there) with the headset on! Cracked me UP! So I quick grabbed my camera. Hilarious this kid, an original I tell ya!
Then he proceeds to tell me, “my friends took my kitchen from me.” I said, “well, those aren’t very nice friends if they took your kitchen.” He says, “well, they didn’t have one and they needed one so I gave them mine." I said, "wow, that's really nice of you Mike," and he replies "that’s why I have to work at McDonald’s.”
Later while I was “ordering” some food from him, he would tell me “ohh, we are out of that or we don’t have that anymore.” Where does he come up with this stuff? McDonald’s hasn’t ever been out of anything we’ve ordered so I have no idea where he heard that!
Just now as I thought I’d tell ya this funny stuff, I hear Mikie say to me “Molly is working at McDonald’s with me.” I turn around and see Molly on the floor (don’t worry, I had put her there) with the headset on! Cracked me UP! So I quick grabbed my camera. Hilarious this kid, an original I tell ya!
Foot in Mouth
Mikie took this picture of me and Molly earlier so I thought I'd share it :)
I really wanted a cute one of the 3 kids yesterday, sure they're cute, but not really the picture I was hoping for!
It's frustrating Molly, isn't it? Can't quite get your hands and feet to fit in your mouth at the same time!
I really wanted a cute one of the 3 kids yesterday, sure they're cute, but not really the picture I was hoping for!
It's frustrating Molly, isn't it? Can't quite get your hands and feet to fit in your mouth at the same time!
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Summer?
Is it summertime? Nahh, just the boys wishing so! The other day we got a package in the mail from Nanny Loo down in sunny Florida. Put the boys in the mood for bathing suits. I had them put sweatshirts on at first when they were pretenting to "surf," but those didn't last long. They proceeded to "fish" and "swim" after that :) Mike and his closed eye smiles...
Jack is really starting to enjoy writing. He concentrates really hard...
Jack is really starting to enjoy writing. He concentrates really hard...
Baby's Got Blue Eyes
Future businessman...
Here is the only picture I took at the children's museum the other day.
Baby's got blue eyes...
We finally took the Christmas village down in the kitchen... I know, I know, but better late than never! The boys had fun when I put it up, playing with their cars all around the buildings, so I let 'em do it again. Mol kinda had fun with it too...
Here is the only picture I took at the children's museum the other day.
Baby's got blue eyes...
We finally took the Christmas village down in the kitchen... I know, I know, but better late than never! The boys had fun when I put it up, playing with their cars all around the buildings, so I let 'em do it again. Mol kinda had fun with it too...
Saturday, February 16, 2008
The Dog Who Cried Wolf
Many of you know Bean dog – you’ve met her, seen her, watched her be all wild when you came over. Some of you don’t know her personally. I’m here to tell you, this dog is one of a kind. I imagine you’ve gathered that from some of my blog entries :). She’s seriously wacko – and very intelligent. Well, her latest ploy to get me to let her out is to pretend like she’s going to throw up. Yeah… she comes to me and will start licking her chops, bopping her head forward and back acting like puke is right on the tip of her black spotted tongue. Is it? No, she just enjoys doing that to make me think so. So I give in and let her out and off she runs barking at who knows what – usually the sky. Not today – I’m vacuuming in the kitchen and here she comes. Looking at me longingly, licking her chops, acting like she’s trying hard to swallow it back. At first I told her, “Bean, one of these days you really will have to puke and I won’t know it.” Well she continues and as I finish up vacuuming the kitchen rug, I turn the vacuum off and let her out. Sure enough she slowly walked to the driveway and “tossed her cookies.” Poor Beana, it really was the truth today!
Speaking of vacuuming, I had to chuckle to myself as I was vacuuming upstairs. I started in the boys room and I hear my name being called. Mikie is standing behind me, “did you suck up our toys?” “Nope Mikie, I didn’t,” I tell him reassuringly. I’ve told them I was going to do that before if they didn’t pick up, I guess it’s worked! So anyway, I continue into the hallway, our bedroom, then Miss Mol’s where she is sleeping. I vac in her room – not a movement, not a peep outta her. I was reminded of Jack and Mikie and how I used to vacuum while they were napping too right in their room. That right there is a sound sleeper! I suppose she HAS to be with the wild runnings around that usually happen while she’s sleeping. A couple of crazy boys, peaceful baby girl, a silly dog, and 2 very blessed parents live here :)
Speaking of vacuuming, I had to chuckle to myself as I was vacuuming upstairs. I started in the boys room and I hear my name being called. Mikie is standing behind me, “did you suck up our toys?” “Nope Mikie, I didn’t,” I tell him reassuringly. I’ve told them I was going to do that before if they didn’t pick up, I guess it’s worked! So anyway, I continue into the hallway, our bedroom, then Miss Mol’s where she is sleeping. I vac in her room – not a movement, not a peep outta her. I was reminded of Jack and Mikie and how I used to vacuum while they were napping too right in their room. That right there is a sound sleeper! I suppose she HAS to be with the wild runnings around that usually happen while she’s sleeping. A couple of crazy boys, peaceful baby girl, a silly dog, and 2 very blessed parents live here :)
Friday, February 15, 2008
Please Continue to Pray for Bracey
Dear family, friends, and friends of family and friends,
We are sending a short email to ask for those that are praying for Bracey to specifically ask God, if it be His will, to allow Bracey to breath stronger and more easily on his own, so that the doctors can take him off of the ventilator and stay off it.
Today they proceeded to take him off of the ventilator but we could all see that he had to work too hard for each breath that he took. They assume that his trachea, windpipe, is swollen so they put him back on the ventilator in order to let the swelling in his trachea go down. In addition, they are giving him a type of steroid to aid in this.
We feel like this has been a step back in his recovery rather than moving forward. We feel like we are on an emotional roller coaster. We know that God has something very special in store for His precious little child. Our faith is truly being tested but we are sticking close to God and trusting Him with our precious baby’s life.
We are praying that God will allow his trachea to heal, and allow Bracey to be able to breath on his own with greater ease. Thank you all so much for all of the continuous emails. We look forward to reading them every day.
In His Hands,
Torrey and Ang
We are sending a short email to ask for those that are praying for Bracey to specifically ask God, if it be His will, to allow Bracey to breath stronger and more easily on his own, so that the doctors can take him off of the ventilator and stay off it.
Today they proceeded to take him off of the ventilator but we could all see that he had to work too hard for each breath that he took. They assume that his trachea, windpipe, is swollen so they put him back on the ventilator in order to let the swelling in his trachea go down. In addition, they are giving him a type of steroid to aid in this.
We feel like this has been a step back in his recovery rather than moving forward. We feel like we are on an emotional roller coaster. We know that God has something very special in store for His precious little child. Our faith is truly being tested but we are sticking close to God and trusting Him with our precious baby’s life.
We are praying that God will allow his trachea to heal, and allow Bracey to be able to breath on his own with greater ease. Thank you all so much for all of the continuous emails. We look forward to reading them every day.
In His Hands,
Torrey and Ang
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Future Resume
Sometimes I wonder what I can put on my future resume – that’s assuming I go back to work :). Here are a few things that came to mind with my current employment experience:
I am a bellhop… bar keep (what’ll it be, milk or juice?)… laundry mat (open 24 hours, 7 days a week)… sanitation crew (ever seen “Dirty Jobs?”)… dog whisperer… punching bag… librarian… teddy bear… photographer… chef (or short order cook, chef sounded better)… ER nurse… waitress (not only do I cook, I take the orders)… dishwasher… fisherman (no, not the lake, the toilet)… survivor… artist (finger paints anyone?)… referee… teacher… toy store owner (do toy store owners get rid of old inventory? I did today!)… tour bus driver… pharmacist… chair… confidant… story teller… weight lifter (carrying Mikie or Mol buffs me up)… shoe salesman (“here, try these, they’re your size”)… tailor… psychologist… secretary… meteorologist… interior designer (“let’s see if your beds will fit this way”)… stairmaster… muppeteer… pack mule… I am a Mom.
I am a bellhop… bar keep (what’ll it be, milk or juice?)… laundry mat (open 24 hours, 7 days a week)… sanitation crew (ever seen “Dirty Jobs?”)… dog whisperer… punching bag… librarian… teddy bear… photographer… chef (or short order cook, chef sounded better)… ER nurse… waitress (not only do I cook, I take the orders)… dishwasher… fisherman (no, not the lake, the toilet)… survivor… artist (finger paints anyone?)… referee… teacher… toy store owner (do toy store owners get rid of old inventory? I did today!)… tour bus driver… pharmacist… chair… confidant… story teller… weight lifter (carrying Mikie or Mol buffs me up)… shoe salesman (“here, try these, they’re your size”)… tailor… psychologist… secretary… meteorologist… interior designer (“let’s see if your beds will fit this way”)… stairmaster… muppeteer… pack mule… I am a Mom.
Update on Bracey
Here is the latest from Torrey about their baby boy. Wow, I just sat here and cried as I looked at what that poor baby has gone thru. And to think of how difficult this must be on the new momma and daddy... Please continue to pray for them all. The Lord has given them incredible strength!
"Dear family and friends,
Sadly, there is not really any big update. Bracey was supposed to come off of the respirator today, but he could not because he has a small pnuemothorax. For those of you that are not quite as educated as we are, means that he has some air directly outside of his lungs which does not allow his lungs to inflate properly. It is similar to a collapsed lung. It is not as serious as it sounds. The doctors and nurses have almost taken care of it but we are waiting on the results from an x-ray to see if it has been resolved. If it has they will be able to take Bracey off of the respirator tomorrow.
Friday they will test the surgery that fixed his esophagus by doing a swallow study. They need to make sure that there is no leak where they sewed his esophagus, before they will put food in his stomach.
I am sorry that we did not include some important facts about our beautiful boy. Bracey was born full term on February 6 at 2:35 p.m. He weighed 5 pounds and 11 ounces and he was 18 inches long. As you have already found out, it was not “the baby story” that we have always envisioned. At first glance we knew something was wrong because he was white as a ghost and not crying. They did get him breathing but the crying was still very quiet at the most. Torrey also noticed his hands right away. Bracey was transported to a hospital nearby, and then transported again the same night to another hospital. Needless to say Wednesday was a blur. Thursday morning we both left the hospital where Ang had him and headed to be with Bracey about 9:30 a.m. where we have been ever since.
We want to thank all of you for the many prayers and emails that we have received. It is such a joy for us to sit down together and read through the many emails that we get each day. I do not think that we will ever get sick of reading them. We will continue to keep you updated. The picture attached is the way Bracey has been since last Friday. He has not changed much in appearance.
Again,thank you so much for your kind words of encouragement. We are so blessed to have so many friends and family praying for Bracey. God continues to give us strength every day. Our faith is stronger than ever. We have grown closer to Him and to each other."
Love, Torrey, Ang, and Bracey
"Dear family and friends,
Sadly, there is not really any big update. Bracey was supposed to come off of the respirator today, but he could not because he has a small pnuemothorax. For those of you that are not quite as educated as we are, means that he has some air directly outside of his lungs which does not allow his lungs to inflate properly. It is similar to a collapsed lung. It is not as serious as it sounds. The doctors and nurses have almost taken care of it but we are waiting on the results from an x-ray to see if it has been resolved. If it has they will be able to take Bracey off of the respirator tomorrow.
Friday they will test the surgery that fixed his esophagus by doing a swallow study. They need to make sure that there is no leak where they sewed his esophagus, before they will put food in his stomach.
I am sorry that we did not include some important facts about our beautiful boy. Bracey was born full term on February 6 at 2:35 p.m. He weighed 5 pounds and 11 ounces and he was 18 inches long. As you have already found out, it was not “the baby story” that we have always envisioned. At first glance we knew something was wrong because he was white as a ghost and not crying. They did get him breathing but the crying was still very quiet at the most. Torrey also noticed his hands right away. Bracey was transported to a hospital nearby, and then transported again the same night to another hospital. Needless to say Wednesday was a blur. Thursday morning we both left the hospital where Ang had him and headed to be with Bracey about 9:30 a.m. where we have been ever since.
We want to thank all of you for the many prayers and emails that we have received. It is such a joy for us to sit down together and read through the many emails that we get each day. I do not think that we will ever get sick of reading them. We will continue to keep you updated. The picture attached is the way Bracey has been since last Friday. He has not changed much in appearance.
Again,thank you so much for your kind words of encouragement. We are so blessed to have so many friends and family praying for Bracey. God continues to give us strength every day. Our faith is stronger than ever. We have grown closer to Him and to each other."
Love, Torrey, Ang, and Bracey
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Bath Time
Thought I’d share some cute pictures from the past few days. Many of them are of Mol, I know – but ya know how it goes when it comes to takin’ pics of a baby! I’ve been told the third baby doesn’t get as many photos taken, less albums for them… it’s my goal to make sure that doesn’t happen (sorry Mom and Dad)! So these are some cute ones for her scrapbooks :)
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