Our Health is Such a BLESSING!

We've had a busy week...two well checks for both of the girls, a sick little Georgia Claire, and Shelby was out of town for a few days. BUT, the weekend is here, my house is clean, I have two babies sleeping, and the last load of laundry is washing...YIPPEE!

First things first...

Ivy Jane had her 6 week well-check (even though she was 7 weeks yesterday) and is doing great! She is 23 inches long (87th percentile) and 12 lbs 6 oz (95th percentile). She has started smiling at us and yesterday it actually brought tears to my eyes. She smiled at me so big that her nose wrinkled up and her eyes disappeared! Love this baby girl...

Georgia Claire had her 15 month well check and is also doing very well. She is 25 lbs (80th percentile) and 32.5 inches long (95th percentile). It's looking like we might have a tall girl on our hands! Georgia started sneezing last Saturday and by Sunday she had developed an awful cough. On Monday we went for her well check and she was wheezing, so the doctor wanted me to start breathing treatments with her. Let's just say she hates them BUT her cough sounds MUCH better! I always start by putting the inhaler & mask on one of her stuffed animals and then on me and she laughs and laughs but when I walk over to her she crawls away as fast as she can! Poor baby! Another thing we are working on is getting rid of the bottle and using a sippy cup...she hates it, too! I have spent a small fortune in sippy cups because what I've read says to try different types. So far, she doesn't like any of them...wants to chew on the spout instead of suck. It's been a frustrating task for both of us but I'm determined to get her drinking from a cup! Please pray that she would get the concept!

I'm also asking for prayer for Georgia Claire...specifically walking. She has been referred to a physical therapist for PT Evaluation because she is not walking. She is walking beside the coffee table, chairs, couch, etc. and will even walk behind a walker but will not walk on her own. On Monday I asked the doctor about getting her evaluated (I've been worried for awhile now) and she was in complete agreement. According to her, if a child is not walking by 15 months, they are considered delayed in their gross motor skills. Georgia has always been somewhat delayed...rolled over very late (but I think that had something to do with her herniated belly button when she was an infant), she didn't crawl until 11 months, and now she is not walking at 15 months. I have jokingly said from time to time that her little feet and ankles couldn't support her chunky thighs but now I'm beginning to think there may be some truth to that. It seems that her ankles are very weak. I'm very anxious to hear what the physical therapist has to say. I should be hearing from them next week to set up the initial appointment. She is SO precious and can crawl so incredibly fast...she is going to be so excited when she learns how to walk!

One thing that has been a great addition to our life is Mother's Day Out! My sister Kathy is the director of our church's new MDO program on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Georgia goes from 9-2 on those days and LOVES it! She and another little boy named Kipton are the only ones in their class. Their teacher, Ms. Janice, is like another grandmother to them...it is absolutely precious! I've been leaving my two seater wagon each day and she takes them on walks, her cousin Caroline had her cackling last week when she was blowing bubbles at her, they swing, they play...it is WONDERFUL! I was feeling a little guilty at first, but I've since gotten over it! It is a small program and Kathy pops in to her class several times (she loves Kat!) and Janice loves on her like she were her own! I love waking her up on Tuesdays and Thursdays because I go into her room and I ask if she wants to go play with Kipton, Ms. Janice & Kat and she says, "YEAH!" She usually starts crawling to the door before I can even get her dressed! I was worried she might cry when I left her, but she goes right to Ms. Janice & tells me "Bye Bye"and waves! Wow! I don't know if I should be happy or sad! Seriously, it gives me a few hours a couple times a week that Ivy & I can go to appointments or run errands. I refuse to get out by myself with two girls and go to the grocery store or another errand...if it doesn't have a drive-thru it's just not worth it!

(On another note...our friend Jimi Mankins is improving. He has been transferred to a rehab hospital in Houston but is dealing with paralysis. It's still too early to know what the outcome will be. A couple of things he has going for him is that he's young & very strong and he has the prayer support of our whole town!. Also, my nephew Will is facing surgery on October 5th. He will have his bad lung removed. It is a 6 hour surgery and will be performed at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston. Please pray for Angie, Joe, Gabe & Will...and also Dr. Darrell Cass-Will's surgeon and Dr. Chris Glover-Will's anesthesiologist. The great thing is that his other lung is beautiful and the pictures from his GI surgery back in April look fabulous. Angie, Joe & Dr. Cass (as well as all of us) all truly believe that removing this sick organ that is not functioning properly is what will help Will more than anything.) THANK YOU IN ADVANCE!

While thinking about Will, Jimi, and Georgia I am reminded today that our health is such a blessing. God is a good a faithful God...he has proven that to us time and time again.

How Times Have Changed...

Shelby and I were talking earlier about how times have changed...

We had the supper & the dishes done last night and tonight by 6:00 and our nightly activities included filling & washing bottles, changing diapers, giving baths, watching NickJr, and rocking babies. Times have definitely changed in the Braman household and we wouldn't have it any other way. We had to go shopping today to get Shelby another suit for a meeting next week and it basically took us all day to get it done. The girls did great...it just takes twice as long (or longer) to do things! Ivy Jane slept A LOT and Georgia Claire took a short nap and ate lots of snacks to keep her going.

Sisters...Georgia is SO curious about Ivy but she does REALLY well with her. She usually just touches her with one finger and then goes on about her business!

Crazy Friday night at our house...hanging out with Momma...
Laughing at Daddy...
Sweet cuddle time for both of us with Ivy Jane...

Playing with Daddy...
Ivy sleeping through play time...
Sweet baby...look at those blue eyes!
Ivy Jane is now 6 weeks old and is getting chunky!
Georgia helped me some bills. She was obviously in charge of addressing the envelopes!
A couple of prayer requests to report about...my last blog entry was about our friend Jimi. He is improving daily and should be moved to a rehabilitation hospital in Houston next week. His pneumonia is almost gone and he is doing some exercises with his arms...still no feeling below his hips. The prayers are working though...keep 'em coming!

The other prayer request is for my precious nephew Will. He is scheduled to have his lung removed on October 5th. My sister Angie, her husband Joe, and Dr. Cass (Will's surgeon) all feel that this is the best thing for Will. Of course, they are anxious but they know that he is the strongest he has ever been and this is the time to do it. They don't want another winter with a sick little boy. I am excited for them because slowly but surely Will's little body is being healed. I talked to Angie today and she said that when they told Will about his surgery he was excited to hear that it meant he would not have to do any more breathing treatments. He then asked when he could get his Scooby Doo sticker! WOW! He is one amazing little guy. When he got home he told his nurse Kathy that he would be in the hospital for a week or two and wanted to make sure that she was going to be OK without him...he didn't want her to miss him too much!

God is good. I can see his hand at work in our life in the placement of Georgia with us, in the birth of Ivy, in the improvement of Jimi, and in the healing of Will! Thank you God for the miracles that you have blessed us with...I hope that I am always mindful of them!

Prayer Needed

Hi Friends,

I'm writing tonight to ask for prayer. I know that many of you who read the blog are prayer warriors...college friends, church family, etc. and I'm asking you to join me in prayer for Jimi Mankins. Jimi's wife Tamara is a friend of mine and they are in need of prayer. He is a family man, hard worker, and very involved in our community. On Sunday evening he was at the lake with family and friends when he had an accident. He dove off their boat and hit something in the water and broke two vertebrae in his neck. He had to be taken by helicopter to a nearby city where he could get the best care. He had surgery yesterday to stabilize his neck and that gave him some pain relief. When he was first taken into the hospital Tamara was told that he could be a quadriplegic, but now he is letting them know that he has some feeling to his hips. He is in ICU and is fighting pneumonia & a fever tonight, and possible paralysis. They tried to take him off the ventilator today but that proved unsuccessful. It has been a roller coaster of a day for his wife and I cannot get her off my mind. I feel as though I am in a state of constant prayer for this family. Jimi is only 39 years old and he & Tamara have two children Jace & Jayden. They have a great support system but I can only imagine how they must be feeling, as well. I am praying for a miracle in his life and I am asking you to join me. Pray specifically that the pneumonia & fever would diminish so that he could come off the ventilator. Pray for NO paralysis. Pray for rest and strength for Tamara; also for wisdom as she has to choose rehab in Houston or Dallas. Pray for the doctors and nurses who are treating him. PRAY FOR TOTAL HEALING! The Bible tells us "Where two or more are gathered together..." that God will be there. I know we are not physically gathered together, but I believe that we are in spirit. Thank you for your prayers and I cannot wait to report the miracles that God is going to perform in Jimi's life!

Family Time

Shelby left to go to Kansas last Sunday morning and got home on Friday. Needless to say it was a LONG week without Daddy at home, but we made it! When he left Georgia was still fighting a virus and cutting her teeth. As the week went on she improved and is now back to her old self. Thank goodness my sister and parents live in the same town...they were a big help with the girls...giving me a couple of breaks. I was stressed about bathtime & bedtime; didn't know how I was going to appease two babies, but I worked it out! I learned to give Georgia a bath right after supper and then to feed Ivy before it was time to rock Georgia. That way she was happy to just sit in her bouncy seat or swing while Georgia had her final bottle & rocking time with Mama. Whew! I don't know how single moms do it...I managed, but I felt like someone was always getting the short end of the stick. We were all glad to see Daddy come home on Friday! We had a great long weekend. Shelby got home about 10 AM Friday morning and didn't have to go into work so we enjoyed just hanging out together on Friday and Saturday. Both days all four of us got at least a 2 hour nap...YESSSS!!!!! On Sunday Shelby's parents came for a visit, since no one had to work on Monday. It was a short visit, but sweet. Georgia even cried when Mimi & Grandbarry left--they give her so much attention--she LOVES to play and just hang out with them.

Speaking of hanging out...Ivy slept a lot!

Georgia reading her new book with Mimi & Grandbarry...
Paula, Shelby's mom, has started making bows for Georgia and she thought it was funny when Grandbarry put more than one in her hair...
She eventually had all three in her hair...
Georgia's old toys are suddenly interesting again to her as we get them back out for her baby sister...
Crazy girl playing with the "play food"...eating a meat patty and holding the mustard...

She loves climbing up in this chair and playing. It was the very first piece of furniture that Shelby's grandma & papa bought as a married couple. Barry & Paula had it reupholstered for us when we got married. I bet they never thought their great-granddaughter would be playing in it one day!