Duck Opener 2008

It's hard to tell... but this ducks eye is popped out of it's head.

Duckies say "Quack quack"...

The boys' trying to line all of the ducks up for pictures.

Payton had been counting down the days all last week as to when he would be able to go duck hunting. The opener for duck hunting was this last weekend and he had a blast. Craig takes Payton along and they get their gear and decoys ready for when the ducks come in.
Craig's college friend Tony W. comes from Mankato along with his (Tony's) brothers, cousin, and nephew also join them.
Payton's main job is to sit quiet (if that's at all possible) and call the ducks in with his own duck calls. He too is decked out in camo - however by the time I had the camera ready he had changed into dry, clean clothes. Payton has never been a morning person - unless... there is something in it for him... like hunting. Saturday morning Craig went down to get him up and he popped his head up and said "are we going duck hunting... shhhh... don't wake Brooks up". He flew out of bed and was upstairs and downstairs and outside in no time.
They hunted all morning and when they came in - he couldn't stop telling stories about this duck and that duck or this goose and that goose, whose dog did what, who shot the most, who missed the most, how good he called the ducks, etc...
Brooks really enjoyed picking up the ducks and throwing them around too. Before we know it he will be out hunting too and Braxton will be the one throwing the ducks around.

Brotherly Love...

Well the boys have adjusted really well to having a baby in the house. Sometimes I feel like things are a little chaotic - but I think it's just me. For those who know me - I am pretty anal when it comes to a clean house and having things go "perfect" if there is such a thing. Here are some pictures of the boys with their brother and a couple of just Braxton. Have a Super Great Weekend... Tifanie

Yeah... I am going home!!! Dad wasn't too impressed with the yellow outfit.
Payton couldn't get off of the bus and in the house fast enough to see his brother.
Mom says I look a lot like my older brother Payton - time will tell.
Brooks was actually singing "twinkle twinkle" to Braxton last night.
It was homecoming this last week - Payton was pretty proud of his face paint and white hair.

WE ARE HOME!!!!!

Not sure if I could possibly put enough exclamation points behind the title of this post. It was such an awesome feeling today leaving the NICU - yet I will miss the very important people who helped to heal Braxton. Each and every dr., nurse, cardiologist, resp. therapist, lab tech, case manager, social worker, clergy, (can't forget) lactation specialist, x-ray tech, and the list goes on... Here is the link to his cradle roll picture through Sioux Valley - I will add a couple more once I upload them to the computer. http://www.sanfordhealth.org/CradleRoll/BabyList.cfm?CradleRollParentId=24241

Thanks A MILLION for all of the thoughts, prayers, offers, food, gifts, etc... Craig, Tifanie, Payton, Brooks & Braxton

Soon To Be HOME...

Braxton should be set to come home on Tuesday. YEAH!!!! Payton is super super excited for Tuesday.
He was taken off of his oxygen on Saturday morning and has done awesome without it. He has been taking a bottle like a trooper and is on an awesome schedule. We will definitely just have to work on the nights. He is back up to birth weight of 8 lb. 15 ounces.
He will be having this little "procedure" done tomorrow morning so hopefully he doesn't get too stressed out and need the oxygen again.
I was finally able to dress him in clothes today. By the pictures it's hard to see why he is in the NICU - compared to the pictures from a week ago.
Thanks Again for the continued thoughts, prayers, food, offers, etc... I don't know what we would do without all of you.
Have a great week... Craig, Tifanie, Payton, Brooks, and Braxton

Quality Time w/ My Dad...

Today Craig was able to visit Braxton and held and rocked him for about 2 hours. He thought it was pretty cool. Braxton just hung out and slept the entire time. This too was Craig's first time holding him since shortly after he was born.
He was still floating around with his oxygen today - between 28 & 30.
The dr. talked getting close to discharge but still has yet to give us a date. Tomorrow will be his day 10 of antibiotics and then they will check x-rays, and blood counts again to see if all infection has been taken care of. They sound real positive that we could be out of there soon.
His feedings are going good - he is eating like a trooper. He is still being fed through a tube in his nose but is up to 1 oz every 3 hours. By tomorrow he will probably be up to or close to 2 ounces.
I pray and hope that tomorrow will be an awesome day and that the dr. will have great news for us. Enjoy the pictures and the weekend...
Craig, Tifanie, Payton, Brooks, and Braxton

Braxton has graduated to a crib...

I will post more pictures this weekend...
What a surprise when I went to visit Braxton today... they moved him out of the isolet (sp) into a crib, he lost the bili-lights, was swaddled in blankets, and had a shirt on - WOW!!!! He has also mastered in blood pressure so they are no longer continually checking that - one more cord gone. I had to check him over twice as I wasn't sure if it was him I was looking at. They started his feedings on Wednesday however they are feeding him through a tube that runs from his nose to his stomach as his oxygen needs are still at around 30%. He is showing his true male characteristics and taking his sweet old time. I can now hold him whenever I want to - just have to be careful of all of his cords. Craig and I are both going to visit him tomorrow (he hasn't been able to see him since last week Friday) - I think he will be totally shocked.
I have yet to get pictures of Craig and Braxton as things went down so fast from the time he was born so super excited to get those.
Thanks Again for the continued thoughts and prayers... they are definitely working. There is still a possibility that he could come home on Sunday but if not then hopefully a couple days thereafter.
Have a Great Weekend...
Craig, Tifanie, Payton, Brooks, and Braxton

Braxton update...

Checked with Braxton's nurse this morning... She said he was doing awesome and that he is looking great. How reassuring.

~ He is still at 30% for oxygen... LAZY (meaning he is just not taking as deep of breaths as he should be).

~ His bili-level has dropped from 13.5 down to 11.7 so that's great.

~ He is still "pee-ing" quite a bit so that too will help lower his bili-rubin level as well as continue to get rid of the extra fluid in his body.

~ She said he is really ready to start eating - they will be starting that as soon as they get "orders" from the dr.

~ His weight continues to go down (which is okay) - he is now down to 8 pounds 5 ouces.

~ Here are the pictures that I took yesterday while I was holding him and I attempted to take some while he was awake but he has already figured out how to close his eyes when the camera is in front of him. Ha ha ha... Thanks Again for all of the help that we have received with the boys, food, thoughts, prayers, offers, etc... You have no idea how much it means and how much it's greatly appreciated.

Have a GREAT DAY!!! Craig, Tifanie, Payton, Brooks, & Braxton

Taking the nuk like a pro...
Look at all of my "mess" (wires and tubes)
Lil Stinker was awake - but wasn't impressed with the camera.