Somedays

Somedays it's so easy to get caught up in the moment, to forget where you've come from and how long the trip has taken.

And others days you can't shake it any better than anything else.

You wake up with it, from a dream that haunts you all day and into the night.

You roll over to take in a good, long look at the miracle peacefully sleeping within arms reach.

Your heart fills with the warm fuzzies that you've heard so much about but rarely truly encountered.

You'd think this would do it. Off to the day. To deal with the weather and the traffic, the suddenly never ending poopy diapers and the hurry, hurry, hurry.

But not this day.

Everything you do, you do with a nagging something in the back of your mind. A slight tugging from behind. It implores you to stop and recall, it tempts you into its wonderment. You can't help but feel it's lure.

Eventually you give in. You go to the diaper bag and finally bring yourself to reading the discharge summary. You get to the bottom of page one and are amazed at how quickly your mind heals over the harsh. By page 12, of 19, you've hit your max and have to turn away. It's still too fresh, to sore to fully deal.

But you feel an odd sense of renew, refreshment, encouragement...hope.

We've come so far. It's cost so much, more than $2.8 million at last note. Must be something spectacular in the future.

For another parent that might be Yale or perhaps an M.D. but we're quite content with smiles and kisses.

It's been hard, it still might be, but I thank God for it every single night. I do.

Rice Cereal

Monday night Bryce had rice cereal for the first time...

Try as he did to get as much of the soupy cereal in his belly most of it ended up running down his belly. But it sure was cute.

It was very difficult to get a decent picture of the event because it was just the two of us and every time I put the spoon down to try and snap a photo he'd get quite mad! He was not a fan of the whole waiting for another spoonful o' food and still much prefers to attack his bottle as if at any moment someone might forever take it away.

In the same vein, he's begun eating quite ferociously. As I've said before, ever since he came home our biggest challenge has been trying to make him eat as much as the doctors prescribe. When we were still in the NICU they were fond of saying that eventually something would just click and one day he'd suddenly begin taking in all of the food he needed.

Well, turns out the NICU was right once again. Surprise, surprise. Last week Bryce went overnight from taking an average of 16 ounces per 24 hour period to an average of 20 ounces. But on some days he can even take more than the prescribed 24 ounces. And we've discovered that this directly relates to how much sleep we all get.

Dare I dream of a full night's sleep? Indeed, I do!

Bryce Babbling

It's been a long week and we're only half way there so here's a video of Bryce babbling. He's making all kinds of new sounds every day and they never fail to amuse his silly parents.

Hopefully this will make up for my lack of posting :-)

Sorry it's sideways...

Busy Day

And Momma's beat!

We were up before the sun this morning to head out for Bryce's monthly RSV shot. No fun. Poor baby was in such a good mood, there were mirrors in the doctor's office and he was having fun looking at the baby in the mirror, playing with the crinkly paper on the bed. And then the nurse walked in and stuck him in the leg with that big bad needle. Poor Bryce went completely red in the face instantly, screaming and crying huge tears that would melt even the hardest of hearts. Fortunately for me he forgives fairly quickly. It took a couple of minutes to calm him down but he's since forgotten.

Good thing too because we had to rush home for physical therapy. That was pretty good, despite a sore baby leg. He played and cooed and bahhed at Danny, his therapist. He did not however show any interest in turning his head from his left side to look at anything Danny could conger up on his right. Therapy always wears him out and he was sound asleep before we'd left his room. Just long enough for Mommy to grab a quick bite and wash some dishes.

And before I knew it 2:30 p.m. had come around and the ECI (Early Childhood Intervention) people were here for Bryce's assessment. A nurse, case manager from Williamson County's Pride Program and speech therapist came by to determine what therapy Bryce qualifies for. They decided that he will get speech/feeding therapy once a week for awhile. A nurse will also come by twice to teach us some exercises and infant massage. They'll also be putting me in touch with a therapist to talk to about the PTSD that is the usual result of a long NICU stay. At their expense too. I'm looking forward to talking to a professional about how all of this has changed me and it can't hurt in helping me be a better mom - which is always at the top of my list.

So at the end of the day we accomplished a lot but we're exhausted. And we have another early day tomorrow. You wouldn't believe how long it takes to get me and a baby out of the house for an entire day away - add thirty degree weather and we'll be up before dawn once again.

Night, ya'll.

Hook 'Em!

Is it a match made in heaven? Bryce's 7 month birthday (lucky number 7) and UT playing for the national championship on the same day...I dare say not.

Bryce and his many visits from UT football players, in order of appearance.

Bryce (and us, too!) with Brandon Collins and Eddie Jones...here's to hoping ol' Brandon will make a career of football instead of crime, but that's a post for another day.

Bryce, us and TX kicker Justin Tucker.

Bryce in his game day gear, my oh my how he has changed! NOTICE: this is the same onesie he's wearing in the last picture, from today, it fit a little better back when this picture was taken!

Bryce, Caleb and UT linebacker Dustin Earnest.

Bryce and us with Colt McCoy and Adam Ulatoski just over a week before Bryce got to come home - what a farewell!

And today...Bryce and Daddy ready for the championship!Hook 'Em Horns!!!!!!!!