She Conquers Again

her last vital check before being discharged from the hospital
and she was SO VERY PROUD and completely joyous.

AMEN.

Braylin's surgery to "release a tethered cord" was Thursday, January 16th.

She was wheeled away on a gurney while she was on "giggle juice". Relaxed and carefree... just how they wanted her.  She smiled (not knowing what was about to happen).  Momma and Daddy gave her a kiss goodbye and watched her be pushed beyond the double doors to surgery. .. Momma praying and holding back tears.  The whole process took about 3 hours (too long for a momma to be away from their baby).  We received frequent calls while sitting in the waiting room to update us when her surgery actually began, when it ended, and how she was doing in recovery. Her neurosurgeon, Dr. Donahue, came out with a SMILE and assured us that the surgery went well and that to his surprise her cord was really tight and that the surgery was undoubtedly necessary (which makes us feel better about putting her through it all). Some time later, we finally got the call that we could meet her in the hallway! She was asleep on her gurney, no clothes, and covered in sheets and hooked up to wires.  She looked like an angel. SAFE.  Thank God.  Jared and I joined the nurses in taking her to the room where she would recover for the next day or so. She rested (slept) for several hours before waking and needing immediate comfort from Momma. They kept her on pain meds and she seemed to do well. We were told that the hardest part would be to keep her flat on her back for the next 8-10 hours (which turned out to be easy compared to what would come). She seemed as if she was doing well enough to go home the very next day, but we stumbled on a painful bump in the road... she wasn't able to pee-pee on her own. They ended up using a catheter on her 4 different times. IT WAS COMPLETELY TRAUMATIC for Braylin. It was most definitely the worst part about the whole hospital stay for her (and for this Momma who had to help hold her down each time). I've never prayed for pee before, but we ALL did, and I mean some hard praying for PEE! Finally, at the end of day 2, Braylin's little insides must have awakened, because she pee-peed all on her own! WE CELEBRATED!   HER NURSE CELEBRATED! WE TEXTED THOSE WHO WERE HELPING US PRAY FOR PEE, AND THEY CELEBRATED! Whew! We through a party, jumped up and down, high-fived! And you should have only seen Braylin's face when she realized that the nurses wouldn't have to "do her diaper" (thats what she called the whole catheter thing) again! She understood what the heck was going on and was determined to keep those nurses away from her! Her determination is beautiful!

Prayer. What a beautiful thing. Though it could always be worse, we still had people praying in every corner of Texas for Braylin's safety during and after her cord surgery.

THANK YOU TO EVERY SINGLE PERSON that took time to help us surround Braylin in prayer.
BLESSINGS TO EACH OF YOU. Thank you! Thank you!

Braylin will "take it easy and lay low" during the next month before her follow-up with her neurosurgeon. We pray that her little body heals quickly and resists any kind of infection or set-backs.

Thank you, Dear Lord, for keeping our baby safe and for the abilities to heal and fix like we can.

Waiting to be called back for surgery prep.
This was one of the hardest parts for me...
because she had NO IDEA what the next few days withheld. 

giggle juice in effect!

relaxed and carefree JUST HOW they wanted her.

Right after surgery. This is what she looked like when we finally got to see her.

when she finally woke, we had to do whatever it took
to keep her FLAT on her back. (not easy!!)
And she HATED her IV-green-wrapped-hands.
She called them her medicine hands.

She finally got to eat at the end of the day.
Still have to lay flat, too.
 a "hamburger, pickles, meat, and fries" dinner
is what she asked for, and thats what she got!

they kept her on pain meds the first day.
she didn't handle LorTab very well...
but Morphine worked well!
And it made her a little bit SILLY.
hee hee! And that was fine by me.

day 2 she got to get dressed and GET UP!
So this was the 1st time I saw her incision.
Sad. 

after her 4th cath experience we rewarded her
with a wagon ride around the hopsital!
She was so so so so so happy! 

BRAYLIN'S ENTOURAGE
Daddy, Nonnye, Sug, Momma

A little time in the playroom! So fun!

Bray and I woke up early on the 3rd day
so that we could get her fluids flowin' and her insides movin'
to show those nurses that
SHE WOULD PEE AGAIN ON HER OWN!
SHE DON'T NEED NO STINKIN' CATHETER!
And she proved them wrong again!
HOME BOUND!!!!!!

all packed. wagon loaded down.
BEING ESCORTED OUT!
WE ARE GOING HOME!
Saturday, January 18th

Sunday, January 19th
You would have NEVER even
guessed this little girl just had surgery.
She is a TOUGH one.
She is determined.
And she will win.

YOU WERE BORN A FIGHTER.
YOU ARE A STRONG LIL SOUL.
DON'T EVER LOSE
THAT WILL TO WIN.
This is what makes you YOU.
And YOU are one BEAUTIFUL
little girl.