World Prematurity Day

Today is World Prematurity Day. It is a day when the March of Dimes joins with parent groups and organizations in countries around the world to raise awareness about premature birth and how it can be prevented.

In case you haven't been following my blog from the beginning, my son, Brandon, was born 14 weeks early in July 2008. He weighed 1 pound, 14 ounces and was 13 inches long. Brandon was in the NICU for 12 weeks and came home 2 weeks before his due date. While in the NICU he had his share of issues from being early. He had several blood transfusions, was anemic, had several infections, was intubated, on CPAP, and a nasal cannula, was transferred to CHOP for 2 weeks for ROP, had a PDA, and had reflux to name a few. He came home on an apnea monitor.

Today Brandon is a healthy, 5 year old boy. I wish 5 years ago, when I was wondering if my baby was even going to survive, I could see what a wonderful boy he would be. Today Brandon is in kindergarten and loving it. He is reading at least at a 2nd grade reading level. He plays soccer and just started taking ice skating lessons. He is a wonderful big brother to Wesley. He has the biggest heart and loves everyone. He always has a smile on his face, no matter what he is doing.

He is my miracle. And my hero.

Playing Outside

Yesterday morning Stu and I had yard work to do. The boys came outside to play while we worked on what we had to. They had so much fun playing together.

Last Soccer Game

Brandon's last soccer game of the season was this past Saturday. He had several kicks. At the end of the game he got a trophy which he was really excited about.

Low Key Weekend

We had a pretty low key weekend compared to other weekends this past weekend. On Saturday Brandon had a soccer game and then later in the day we went out to dinner. On Sunday morning I brought Brandon and Wesley to Shane's 6th birthday party. It was at a small movie theater. The kids were given a box with a juice box, snack bag, and small bags of candy when they walked in to the party. Then they put on the movie Crood for the kids to watch. When the movie was over it was time to leave the party. They had cupcakes in to go containers. The rest of the day was just spent hanging around the house and I ran to the supermarket with Wesley.

I did manage to take some pictures from this weekend.

Happy Halloween!

Brandon and Wesley were so excited to go trick or treating today. They rode from house to house in their wagon and both were so excited each time they got a treat.

Wesley's Halloween Parade

I took a personal day from work today to go see Wesley's Halloween parade at school. He was so excited to wear his Mickey Mouse costume to school and be in the parade. When the parade first started he was smiling and strutting. Then he noticed me and things started to change. He started saying my name over and over again. Then his lip started trembling and his eyes started to fill with tears. Then he was full blown hysterical. He kept telling me to walk with him which his teachers wouldn't let me do. He cried the whole time his class sang a few songs since he wanted to be with me. Hopefully once he went into the classroom for his party he stopped crying.

Bins and Hanging Out

Last night the boys had so much fun playing in the bins. Wesley especially cracked me up when he climbed into the blue one and sat down in it. I am still not sure how he managed to do that.

The boys looked especially cute a few nights ago in their pajamas and were being very cooperative so I had to take a picture. And yesterday I came downstairs and saw the two sitting together watching tv in the same chair.