A Daddy-Daughter Date!

After two weeks of cleaning, scooping poop, and doing all that I asked her--Lexie earned 100 tokens.

She used the tokens to buy herself this dress.

And these amazing shoes!

She waited so patiently for her dad to get home and take her to the daddy daughter dance.

According to all the reports, a good time was had by all!

Toledo COSI-The Imagination Station

We got to go to Toledo COSI for the first time this Sat. Last year I bought a zoo membership. This year the money went for a COSI membership.

Each of the kids got a fill your own "pixie stix". Brady picked the most sour flavor they had!

There was a fun courtyard across the street, it had mazes on the bricks and interesting architecture to explore.

Lexie and Sydney highlighting the Toledo area architecture.

We only made one trip to the first aid station! I think that is a record for us! Lexie got a small sliver--she hates slivers!

The displays were very cool. Lexie and her friend Sydney had a nice time in the wind box!

The big kids loved riding the bike.

Lexie's 7th Birthday Party

After her pool party with friends, Lexie got to have cake and ice cream and presents.

She really loves this pool with the moveable floor. I like it too--cheap party!

The next night was presents with family! She was very excited to get another Zhu Zhu pet.

We all worked very hard at Chuck E. Cheese's to earn enought tickets to buy her this bear.

Don't even ask how many tickets it was! Let's just say--it was on the top row!

While she was impatiently waiting for her dad to come home so we could go to Chuck E. Cheese--Brandon kept her entertained. I kept thinking--I hope we end up going ot CC's and not to the ER!

The Going Home Day.

After getting his last IV out...

Brady was super happy to be a free man!

Ahhhh clothes!

Our 2 favorite nurses (probably cause they were the ones that got to let him go home)!

Back in his favorite car trip spot!

Bye bye Nationwide Children's Hospital!

Surgery-Post Op. Update

Sunday Jan. 11, 2010, 4 days after surgery. The bandage was soaked so they changed his dressing. He really wanted to see it so I took some pictures of his incisions while they did the dressing change.

Monday Jan. 11, around 2 p.m. Brady finally got to take a drink. Apple Juice never tasted so good.

First meal about an hour after first drink! Grape juice, banana, pears, french toast sticks, vanilla pudding, and cheescake with strawberries on top!

After food and drinks in abundance; the nurse came in and offered to take off Brady's IV! He still has the port on his hand but no more pole! Hopefully tomorrow the chest tube will come out!

Brady ended the day chatting on the phone with Grandparents and Aunt Lisa.

Brady is a Hero!

We left Bowling Green on Wed. Jan 6th after Gary got home from work. Brady watched movies all the way there. He was very excited and nervous about his pending surgery.

Wed. we told him to choose whatever he wanted for dinner. He wanted pizza in the motel room because "that is what we did with Uncle Steve" when we moved to Ohio. He ate an entire pizza by himself and then began his fast--nothing to eat or drink after midnight.

10 a.m. Thursday Jan. 7th. Getting ready for surgery. He said he is 50/50 nervous to excited.

The pre-op nurses were very sweet. Dr. Kenney is running about an hour behind.

Each surgery patient gets to pick a toy from the "Ocean Room". Hmm...decisions, decisons. He finally wound up picking a ball--it entertained all of us while we waited.

Dr. Kenney is now running about 2 hours behind but he stopped in to say hi, get a photo and ...

sign his autograph before he starts his next case!

With a wave of his arm, 3 hours later--a very hungry Brady is off to have his medial stinal cyst removed.

We were taken to the parent hospitality room. It was beautiful.

There were amazing fish in the tank. I took a pic of this angel fish because I have never seen one that looked like a koi. Thought my mom might like to see it.

The area was very nice and had little private sections so we felt like we could really relax.

After surgery, they called us and we went to Brady's room to wait for him. Surgery was about 4 hours long. They told us to expect him in about an hour. It took him 3 hours to wake up from the anesthesia and I thought I would go crazy before they finally brought him to me. He was very uncomfortable and really freaked out for a while.

After a long, crazy night--morning number one was time for a chest x-ray. They took him down in his bed and it was incredibly painful for him. He was very patient.

Day two--we rode to his morning chest x-ray in a wheel chair and it was ready to do a little exploring. By 11 he was really super hungry and thirsty. Starting to getting a little depressed and anxious.

Just about the time Brady thought he couldn't take anymore; we found the teen room! Hooray for nintendo. Unfortunately his chest x-ray showed that his lungs are still really unhappy and so he can only be away from his room for about 15 minutes then back on his suction for the chest tube to get all the air and goobers out of his chest.

He spent the afternoon chatting with his siblings and kicking my trash at hand and foot.

Dr. Pan just came in and said that his esophogram isn't scheduled until Tuesday the 12th. No food or drink until Tue.! Thank goodness for the teen room.

If his lungs look good on tomorrow's x-ray then he can be off suction--which means as much nintendo as he can stand and exploring the hospital.

The Last Day of Christmas Break!

The last day of Christmas Break we finally got a decent snow storm! We were dressed and had our sleds loaded as soon we could and hit the hill for some fun. Thanks to Alyssa for taking the photos! Conneaut Hill, Bowling Green OH, Jan. 4th, 2010--Kim, Brandon, Brady, and Lexie.