I Told You Ya So.....

I am 12 days post-op.

In some ways, it feels like 2.

I worked for a few hours Friday.

I wanted to work for a few hours to build some
endurance up, since I had not done anything for so long.

I thought I was ready.

I wasn't.

There are several people who'd say, "I told you so,"
or as we say in the South, "I told ya so."

I really thought it was a good idea.

I've done very little this weekend.

The weather here has been rainy and dreary with storms yesterday.

James Spann, our local ABC 33/40 Meteorologist,
was wearing his suspenders and had his MAC.

Around here you know it's serious when
you see James with his suspenders and MAC.

I just love him.

Even though I hate the rain and storms,
it's perfect for staying in your pjs.

We did go to Church today, but as
soon as I got home, I put them right back on.

I'll be returning to work full-time tomorrow.

We shall see how that goes.

Baby Bronson is doing good.

He did have to have some blood but his Mommy says they are
basically in a waiting game to see when he can come home.

Please continue to pray for this sweet boy and his family.

Here's a picture of Hayden I took from last weekend.

I thought I'd share it with you.

I love this boy and I love this picture.

He was so engrossed in whatever he was watching.

I LOVE his little hand.


I hope you have a wonderful week, Blog Friends.

Love you MUCH!

=],

Do Over.....

I wish life had a "Do Over" Button.

More specifically, I wish I
could "Do Over" the last week.

How many people wish that?

Maybe not specifically last week, but I bet there are
lots of people who wish they could get a "Do Over" in life,
at least one anyway.

Although, if you could only get one,
would it be hard to pick what you would "Do Over"?

Maybe.

In some cases, maybe not.

I just wished I could do last week over.

I don't mean my surgery.

It was definitely a success.

I saw my Doctor yesterday.

He told me my right ovary was normal and looked perfect.

That was music to my ears.

As expected, my left ovary wasn't so perfect.

It was encased with not just one, but multiple cysts.

So, I definitely wouldn't do anything different with my surgery.

It's just that since my surgery I've had some complications.

I definitely would like to do those over.

Oh well, we all know in life,
there are no "Do Overs".

It's very frustrating.

Very Discouraging.

I hate missing work.

I hate laying around.

I hate being out of my normal routine.

But.....

I am happy to have a perfect right ovary.

I am happy to be cyst encased left ovary FREE.

I am happy to be standing up straight.

I am happy to be moving, though it
is very slow, and only when I have to.

I am happy to have a FABULOUS Doctor, who doesn't mind
if I call his cell phone on Sunday night when I'm in excruciating pain.

I am happy to have awesome Family and Friends
to help me during this trying time.

I am happy for you, Blog Friends!

______________________________

When I said, “My foot is slipping,”
your unfailing love, LORD, supported me.
When anxiety was great within me,
your consolation brought me joy.
~Psalms 94:18-19~
_______________________________

This too shall pass.

Love you MUCH!

=],

This Is The Stuff.....

Cute song by Francesca Battistelli

It makes me smile.

Love you MUCH!


=],

Sorry, Neighbors.....

Post-op Day #3 has been, well,
just like Post-op Day #1 and Post-op Day #2.

Painful.

Miserable.

The minutes and hours run together.

I can tell in some ways I'm getting better.

I'm ill.

I am tired of being couped up in the house.

I'm hungry but nothing really sounds good.

I am still hurting.

My gut is tender and I can't stand up straight.

I decided today I was gonna cut my pain medicine down.

I'm sure I was on pain medicine when I decided this.

Although, I'm not really sure why I decided it.

I just know it was the wrong decision.

Needless to say, I started taking my pain
meds again this afternoon.

I feel better.

I hate to be whiny.

It really, really hurts.

I assume it's from all the
scraping he had to do to clean up the adhesions.

My gut is just raw and that's exactly what it feels like.

The kids have gone to my Mom's to spend the night.

I'm sure they needed to get away for the night.

Away from me, that is.
_____________________________________

My Roomie from work brought me a
basket of goodies from everybody today.

It was really sweet and YUMMY!

Have I told you I love my job and my work friends?



Mmmmm, Peanut Butter is my FAVORITE!










_____________________________________

My Friends, Jamie and Danny
sent me the most gorgeous flowers.

My whole house smells Heavenly.

Really good friends are rare and extremely hard to find.

Jamie and Danny are really good friends.

I love you, Both.

Very much!

I am thankful to have you in my life.

=)
_____________________________________

My kids also brought me flowers.

I'm not sure which of our Neighbors
are missing flowers from their yard.

Sorry, Neighbors.

=)

Just kidding.

Kinda.....


Daffodils, also known as
buttercups, are my most favorite flower.

I LOVE them!

It was really sweet of the kids to see these and think of me.


They are so beautiful!

=)
_____________________________________

Please, continue to pray for Bronson.

Last report, he was in stable condition.

This, after his Mommy and Daddy received a
call during the night telling them he had crashed.

I had no idea until this afternoon this had happened.

He filled with fluid that settled in
his right lung, causing it to collapse.

His Mommy said he was really swollen and they
have given him some Lasix to pull the extra fluid off.

He is still on the vent and may start dialysis back tomorrow.

Pray, Blog Friends.

God is in control.

He hears our cries.

With all of your might, Pray.

Without ceasing, Pray.
____________________________________

I love the LORD, for he heard my voice;
he heard my cry for mercy.
Because he turned his ear to me,
I will call on him as long as I live.
~Psalms 116:1-2~
____________________________________

Love you MUCH!

=],

Greater Is He That Is In Me.....

Just wanted to let you know,
Bronson is out of surgery.

His hernias are repaired and the feeding tube is in.

His Mommy said he fooled them again.

They didn't have to do nearly what they
thought they would have to do.

When the Doctor went into the bladder, he was able to
fix the blockage without doing the vesicostomy.

He told them as soon as he
removed the blockage, pee flooded out.

They are gonna leave him off
dialysis for a few days and see what happens.

The Doctor is not very optimistic
that he will be able to stay off it.

However, Greater is He that is in me, than he that is in the world.

________________________________

"Ye are of God, little children, and have
overcome them: because greater is he that
is in you, than he that is in the world."
~I John 4:4~
________________________________


Keep praying, Friends!

Love you MUCH!

=],

My Best Friend is a Snuggie.....

My surgery went well.

I am moving really slow and only when I absolutely have to.

I am hurting bad.

He took my left ovary and both fallopian tubes.

He also did a good bit of scraping
to clean up adhesions and scar tissue.

Did I mention I am hurting really, really bad?

I am.

I promise, I don't mean to whine, but it hurts so bad.

Actually, much worse than I expected it to hurt.

Mainly at my belly button and on my left side.

He had planned on taking the left tube and ovary all along.

I'm not sure what made him decide
to take the right fallopian tube.

I don't know if the tube its self looked
bad or if it was mixed up in adhesions
and it was easier to go ahead and take it.

He did say my right ovary looked good and healthy.

Hallelujah!

That means I don't have to take
hormones, which I am ecstatic about.

Thank you all for your prayers, txts,
phone calls, and facebook messages.

The couch, pain medicine, and this
snuggie have become my closest friends.

Also, sweet Bronson was having surgery this morning.

I have not received any updates about him.

I will let you know as soon as I do.

Please keep praying for this miracle baby and his Family.


Love you MUCH!

=],

Waiting!

I am in the Outpatient Holding Room. Just got my IV. I heard he finished his first case earlier than expected and is well into his second case. I am the 3rd case so hopefully it won't be much longer. There is a sign that says please limit guests to 1 visitor. I have 7 in my room, Lol. I'm sure the other Patients didn't expect Surgery and a Show this morning. I'm a little nervous but mainly ready to get it over with at this point. I'll update soon. Love you MUCH! =], Gracie
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Feedings and Fallopian Tubes.....

Bronson is doing GREAT!

He is peeing so much they have
cut his dialysis down to 12 hours a day.

They started his feedings back tonight, 7cc's every 3 hours.

Doesn't seem like much unless you're a Mommy
who has watched her baby go for days without eating.

Bronson is ready for surgery and the Doctor
is thinking it will be Wednesday.

I will keep you posted.

In other news.....

I will be having surgery in the morning.

It will be an outpatient procedure and I shouldn't be out
of commission for too long.

Hopefully.

I had a hysterectomy when I was 33.

At that time, he left my ovaries because I was so young.

Now, 7 years later, my ovaries have decided to go crazy.

I wonder if that's a 40 thing?

=)

My left ovary also has a really large cyst on it.

So.....

Tomorrow, I'll have my left ovary and fallopian tube removed.

He may take the right ovary and fallopian tube as well, but won't
decide until he gets in there and sees how it looks.

Hopefully, he will be able to save it.

I'd like to be able to produce my own natural hormones
for as long as I can.

However, if they both look bad and he has to take them both, so be it.

I just want to be healthy and feel good.

I told my Doctor I wanted to be awake so I could
see what he was doing and could talk to him during the procedure.

He told me, "That technology is not available yet."

I laughed and said, "Yes, it is! You just don't WANT me
awake, up in your business, trying to tell you what to do."

He laughed.

He never denied it though, Lol.

Hold the Fort down, Blog Friends and say an
extra prayer for Bronson and for me.

Love you MUCH!

=],

No NEC.....

Look at this sweet face.....


The first picture of Bronson without tubes.

He now weighs 6lbs 2oz and is trying to smile.

The Doctors have confirmed he DOES NOT have NEC
though they will finish the course of treatment for it.

They have also taken him off continuous
dialysis for a few hours at a time to see how he does.

So far, he's had the output he needs.

His surgery is still on for next week, though they are unsure what day.

They are still planning to completely stop
dialysis after surgery so be in prayer for that.

Miracle by Miracle.

God continues to show Himself.

Faithful.

He is always the same.

Unchanging.

Miracle by Miracle.

He will continue to show Himself.

Faithful.

Have a wonderful weekend, Blog Friends.

Love you MUCH!


=],

No Tubes.....

Bronson slept most of the day today.

That is a blessing considering he can't eat.

The Doctors came in this morning and told them his lab work, as well as x-ray results, are normal and are not suggestive of Necrotizing enterocolitis, otherwise known as NEC.

Did you get that?

The tests show he may not have NEC.

Oh, really?

Coincidence?

Absolutely not.

They think he may have a protein allergy.

However, they will continue to treat him as if he does have NEC.

They want to be cautious, until they know more.

They did remove the tube from his stomach today because there was no output from it.

That is a good sign.

This is the first time he has been completely without any tubes since birth.

How awesome is that?!

Still planning surgery for next week assuming things continue to go well.

Keep praying, Friends.

Love you MUCH!

=],

Urgent Prayers Needed.....

Bronson began vomiting and having bloody stool last night.

They stopped his feedings and took x-rays
and have diagnosed him with necrotizing enterocolitis, or NEC.

This is a very serious.

It occurs in preemies and sick babies
and can be life threatening.

They are hoping it was caught in time
and can be treated with medication.

They will do daily lab work and x-rays
to make sure it isn't getting worse.

He has a tube down his throat, into his
stomach hooked up to suction.

Surgery for tomorrow has been cancelled.

Please, pray for this Family.

This sweet baby is sick.

This precious Mommy, I'm sure, is at her wit's
end, worried sick about her baby.

Big Sister, Emme, is sick with a fever.

Does it ever end?

I'm sure, Mommy is attempting to be strong,
yet, all the while wondering how much more she can take.

Wouldn't you wonder that?

I would.

We have seen God work miracle after miracle in this baby's life.

We will continue to trust Him.

We will continue to place our Hope in Him.

________________________________________

So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
~Isaiah 41:10~
________________________________________

He is with us.

He is our God.

He will strengthen us.

He will help us.

He will uphold us with his righteous hand.

Know what?

This will NEVER, EVER change.

I will update you as soon as I know something.


Love you MUCH!

=],

One Month Miracle.....

Sweet little miracle boy is a month old.

Can you believe it?

Yeah, I know.

I can't either.

This is what his Mommy wrote in an update yesterday.....

".....On September 27, 2010 they told us that he probably would not make it to delivery, that he would pass in utero. If he did make it to delivery, there was only a 3% chance that he would survive because he would never be able to breathe on his own. Boy did he prove them wrong!!! When he was born the doctor was yelling, "He is peeing and breathing!" I was yelling back, "I told you he would!....."

".....He was taken completely off the vent by day 6 and now he is even completely off oxygen. He has proved them wrong again! The nephrostomy tube that quit working about 2 weeks ago and led them to the decision to go ahead and fix the valves mysteriously started working again on Thursday and he is putting out urine again!, And every diaper that they are changing is having urine in them! I can't tell you how excited we are about this! It is just God showing us that everything happens in His timing and we just need to continue trusting!....."

".....I can't say that in the very beginning that I didn't question God. I know we aren't supposed to but when something like this happens to your child you can't help but question. I had to take a step back though and remember that this is God's child and that He would take care of him in His way. Even if I don't understand why this happened to my child, God knows why and has a reason. Who knows, Bronson may grow up to be a Kidney Surgeon that fixes this problem for other little babies!....."

Words spoken straight from a Mother's heart.

How awesome is it to watch to Hand of God work
in this sweet baby's life!

They have decided to take him off continuous
feedings and let him take it all by mouth
with a bolus feeding if he doesn't take enough.

Bronson will be having surgery Tuesday
to do several different things.

They are going to see if he has a stricture in
the urethra or if it is really the posterior urethral valves.

If it is just a stricture, they will just fix it.

If it is the PUV they perform a vesicostomy.

This is an opening under the belly button that
allows the bladder to drain.

This will only be temporary.

The also told them they are going to hold
off on dialysis to see what kind of kidney function he has.

They should know this within 5 days of surgery.

His Mommy said he is doing great today,
looking around taking everything in.

Thought I'd share a couple picture of this one month miracle.





Miracle by Miracle, God continues to answer prayers.

Continue to pray for this sweet Family.

I know Tuesday will be hard.

Love you MUCH!

=],