Sunday Update 3:30

We met with Dr Fontenot this morning and he says Brycen is recovering as fast and as well as anyone he can remember. The nurses here can't believe he is doing so well. At 3:00 he just had his last IV removed!!!! He is only on the heart monitor and pulse/ox monitor (what everyone has when they're in a hospital). He continues to eat well and is starting to gain some weight. I think at the last weigh in he was at 7lbs 4oz, that's a big change from 6lbs 10oz 5 days ago. Our going home outlook appears to be either tomorrow or Tuesday. We are so blessed that such a bad situation has gone so smoothly.

We also have an update on Brycen's friend Caden, from Jackson, MS. Caden's bleeding in his brain has stopped and they're hoping it's done for good. All signs seem to point that way. He remains in CVICU so that they can monitor his brain very closely, but he has recovered well from his heart surgery. All of his tubes and his ventilator were removed yesterday. His mom and dad say he looks so much better.

Both of our families thank you all for all of your prayers and support!!

Here is a picture of Brycen's room. Dad is still giving nurse Cydne fits on getting the XBox working for him :)

Brycen's Room

Well, the blessings keep coming. Brycen has had such a great past two days that this afternoon we were all 3 placed in an "almost home" room. We have to stay with him in a room so that when he wakes up he can be fed. This is continuing the trend of him eating on a regular basis for 24 hours. The doctor said tonight we're looking at possibly going home Monday.

Our new room doesn't have quite the comfort of the Residence Inn, but at least we're with Brycen........and at Children's every room has an X-Box 360. Dad is excited about that.

It's been another great day, filled with answered prayers. Thank you all so much! Please remember to keep the other kids here lifted as well as our men and women in Iraq.

Saturday Update 11:30 am

Brycen had a great night and is having a great morning. He ate for about 20 mins when we first got here. He's been snoozing since then and is just content as can be. It seems that we're in one last holding pattern until he can start to show us he's ready to eat consistantly ever 3 to 4 hours. Hopefully that will come early this week.

ANOTHER Great Day!!

Praise be to God! Our little miracle is on the road to a record setting recovery. He tried to nurse 4 or 5 times today and actually ate 2 times. I told him he's just like his dad, two good meals and a few snacks is always the way to go. He is doing great!!

Christy and I have felt the world lift off our shoulders this week. We made it through surgery, then through CVICU and now he's kicking NICU in the pants. Every time we go back to visit him we get to hold him! We couldn't be more pleased.

God has definitely used this child to draw his people closer together. Even through all of the little "ups" we've had through his recovery, one of our brightest moments came today. Brycen gained a very special friend today.......SSG Christopher Feeny emailed Brycen all the way from Iraq to share the inspiration that Brycen and God have given to him. What an inspiration he has been in return to us.

So as we lay our heads down tonight, let us give glory to God for what Brycen has been able to overcome and let us remember those who serve this country in which we have the freedom to live our everyday lives, especially for Mr Feeny. And together may we all fight the Good fight.

Thank you EVERYONE for every single ounce of support and every prayer you have lifted!

Update 3:15

Brycen keeps getting better and better. We just met with the cardiologist again and are starting to talk "going home." Brycen needs to start waking up more and eating a little more, but he's showing signs that will happen sooner than later. He is currently having the rest of his bandages removed from his abdomen (where all those chest tubes were coming from). If we can keep the ball rolling and start to wake up a little bit more for eating times we may be going home early next week.

We've been getting to hold him all day today. Tonight he even gets to have a bedtime story....so daddy's going to read him the Daily Racing Form for tomorrow's Belmont Stakes.

Where's Brycen???

What a difference a day makes! All of the stress and lack of sleep finally caught up to daddy, who came down with a stomach bug, but Brycen picked up the slack.

Christy shared the news of improvement with me as the day went on yesterday, but saved the best news for this morning. As we got on the elevator, we pushed button 3 (NICU) instead of 4 (CVICU). Surprise!!!! Brycen is back in NICU and has 90% of all the tubes and wires removed. No ventilator, no oxygen! Just basic IV's for a couple of medications that they are trying to ween him off of. He also lost his head monitor (the silver thing that dad called his football helmet). He is a totally different kid today, even trying to nurse at times! If it wasn't for the scar, you could hardly tell he's been through all of this.

Here is a picture to show his progress. This was taken before they removed his "helmet." He's been all eyes and smiles this morning.

One Week Birthday

Today the blog author has a stomach virus so this short update will have to do. It has been a great day. They removed Brycen from the ventilator and from his oxygen. He is breathing great on his own. He has cried and is sucking his pacifier which are things you look for after removing the ventilator. His mom got to hold him today, YEA!
Thanks for all the prayers!