Happy Birthday Braden!

I know I am a day late, but I wanted to post a Happy Birthday to my precious baby boy! This boy is a true blessing to our family and I thank God for him everyday! Happy Birthday Baby B!

Port Aransas, November 2009

Here are some of my favorite pictures from our Freeby family vacation last week. I had so many pictures to choose from but, this should give a pretty good representation of how much fun we had. Cody and Taryn got engaged...Cason and Braden loved going to the beach, playing in the sand, riding on boats, watching dolphins, going to the aquarium...Clark, Cody and Freeby went tuna fishing twice...and Peggy and I got to spend 10 days with Cason and Braden which kept us busy but, was so much fun.

October 2009 Pics

Dad and Cason carved their first pumpkin together. These pics are in backwards order, sorry. Cason named his jackolantern Punkin Punkin Punkin. What fun fun fun!

Ha Ha and Braden!

Cason and Sweets enjoying relighting the pumpkin that Dad and Cason carved together.

Cason loved blowing out the candle on the inside.

Cason getting a peek of the eyes being cut out of the pumpkin.

Dad and Cason carving their first pumpkin together.

Cason jumping off the haystack at the pumpkin patch.
Cason jumping with buddy, John.

All the boys climbing on the haystack together.

John and Cason jumping again.

Braden looking sweet in the hay.

John and Cason counting down to the next jump.

Braden playing in all the pumpkins.

Cason posing at the wooden house.

Cason and friend Kailey at the pumpkin house. Such sweet friends. Kailey has that pose down.

One Bite at a Time

I am so excited! Yesterday was yet another feeding therapy appointment. I have to be honest and say, that we go so often it becomes hard to see progress between visits. Yesterday, however, was a different story. We went in and Ms. Sarah started with the usual mouth exercises, which Braden hates, and then she moved to actual eating practice. This is our routine and I have gotten very used to Braden's reactions and the distractions that Ms. Sarah uses to try to get him to chew and swallow. During our visit, though, Braden did something that I used to take for granted. We have been working with tiny apple pieces for weeks now. Ms. Sarah gave Braden an apple piece and he chewed and chewed it, like always. Then...instead of spitting it out, he did what we have been praying for all along...he gathered the apple together in his mouth and swallowed it! I know to most this does not sound like a big deal but, to us, it is HUGE!!! He is getting it!! I was such a proud momma. Ms. Sarah could not contain herself either. This is a milestone in his therapy plan. He chewed and swallowed four apple pieces. I seriously almost teared up right there in the room. Ms. Sarah was so proud of Braden that she told everyone she saw on our way out. All the other therapists cheered and wowed at Braden's success. I am not sure I have said this yet, but I am so proud!! What we are doing is working. We still have a long way to go but we are getting there quicker that I had expected. God is so good! He has given us such wonderful people with perfect knowledge to help us through this trial in our life. Braden is such a quick learner.
On a side note, it is awesome to look back and see how God has gone before us and has prepared the way for us. My youth interns Kendra and Jennifer are both speech therapists. Jennifer was Ms. Sarah's professor who helped to make her who she is as a therapist (the best, if I do say so myself) and Kendra who works with Ms. Sarah now. I love how God weaves our lives together and blesses us even when there are hurdles to get over.
Anyway, I am so thankful for our sweet Braden who is such an eager learner and I could not be more proud and thankful for his amazing progress this week. Please keep praying that he continues this progress and that eating becomes second nature to him.

10 Months Old Today

I cannot believe it has already been 10 months since this sweet baby came into our lives. I have loved every minute of it. Braden is such a good baby. He is so happy and loves to play. He is already walking, which he started at 9 months. He can get anywhere he wants to. His favorite spot right now is up on Cason's bed. This is not my favorite place to find him in the house but, he loves it. He squeals with delight when you walk in and find him up there. He knows he is not supposed to, which I guess is what makes it so much fun. We pray everyday for this precious life God has given to us.

We love you more than words can express, Baby Braden!

Braden at Feeding Therapy Today

Today was not Braden's favorite day at therapy but, his is still making progress. We have so much to be thankful for. Sara is so sweet with him. We say a prayer of thanksgiving for her everyday.

Braden and Sara working on some mouth exercises.
Trying to distract him so some work could be done.

Braden playing in the waiting room.

So Much to be Thankful For

I cannot even begin to put into words how much peace I feel right now. I just got home after taking Braden to his second feeding therapy session. We have been working at home but, I was not sure how to judge his progress. I felt like he was getting better but, didn't know what was normal. After meeting with Sara this morning I now know that Braden is making progress faster than she ever expected. She was so pleased with what she saw in him. God is so good!!! This is such a relief and I am oh, so thankful. Braden still has a ways to go but, this progress is so encouraging.
On a little side note...Freeby and I have decided to build a house right by Mom and Dad. Keep that in your prayers and I will update on this as it unfolds. We have to make sure this house sells first before too much is done on the other house.