Fashion Models:
Our Baby

On March 5, 2008, I published a post, requesting prayers for a sweet baby that was born into our family. He is my great-nephew, born to my sister's son, Cody, and his girlfriend. This child was born at 24 weeks on March 4, 2008 and weighed right at 1lb. and was 11" long.

When I posted those early updates about "Our Baby", I was hesitant to mention this baby's name or even show complete photos of his face and body, for several reasons, but primarily because I don't think we were sure our baby was going to survive. I wanted to share him, but was afraid that I was invading the privacy of his parents and also very afraid that he might not make it - therefore, showing his picture or mentioning his name - felt wrong.

Over the course of the past several months, this baby became known, by the nurses in the neonatal ICU, as their miracle baby, as he beat many, many odds. He overcame many obstacles and he continued to grow stronger and make progress each and every day.

This baby ...

Our baby ...

His name is Brazelton (Braz).

He is now nearly 6 lbs. and ...

He went home Tuesday!!!

He truly is a miracle baby and I completely believe that his progress - his survival - was the result of the many, many prayers that were sent to heaven on his behalf.

I thank you.

My sister thanks you.

My mother thanks you.

My nephew and his girlfriend, thank you.

We ALL thank ALL of you for your prayers and thoughts for "Our Baby".

I am so happy to say ---- he is home!

Here he is at home in his own bassinet!
Could he be anymore precious?

WELCOME HOME BRAZELTON!

WE LOVE YOU!!

Just look at my sweet grand-nephew!

He is filling out and he is doing very well.

Our baby is just over 4 lbs. Can you believe that?

He was born on March 4th - he is now nearly 3 months old and doing so well.

Per my sister: "They did laser surgery on one eye on Tuesday. They call it ROP and I think he has a stage 3. For stages 1 and 2 I don't think anything is required necessarily but I guess he needed it. They'll watch him, test him, see how he's progressing. I guess that's to keep him from going blind. He could/probably will wear glasses and/or may have a lazy eye. Not sure I understand all that. Anyway, that's what I know right now."

Per my nephew, Cody: "He is taking bottle feedings now and he may be out by the end of June, at the latest. "

We'd like to continue to thank everyone for their on-going prayers for our sweet baby. Everyday he grows stronger and bigger and healthier.

Thank you God for showing your mercy and love for of our precious baby boy!

I have not updated on my grand-nephew in a while.

He is doing very well. He now weighs 2lbs. 15oz (almost 3 lbs!). He's eating 6 cc's of milk and even his little fingers are starting to look fat (says my sister). He is just over 2 months old (born March 4th).

As you can see in this picture - my nephew has had the chance to finally hold his baby (skin to skin) - what a blessing.

This baby has had so many prayers and is doing so well - God has been very loving and merciful - we are so very thankful!

Isn't he the sweetest thing ever?!

I can't wait until they let me in to see him! I can't wait for this baby to be out of the hospital and is finally a part of our family - where we can hold him and hug him and kiss him and love him!!

I think we might just have to have a party for this baby on the day he gets to come home.

Yes ... A PARTY!!

Our sweet baby (my great-nephew) is doing pretty well.

He is now just over 4 weeks old and hanging in there.

As of yesterday, they took him off of the respirator and he is breathing on his own - this is good. He is still on oxygen.

He is almost 2 lbs. now and continues to gain weight and gain strength daily.

This picture, with the nurse's hands close, shows how tiny he is.

He is tiny - but he is mighty. He is a strong boy and we are so proud of what a fighter he is - what a strong boy he is.

God continues to stay close to our sweet baby and we are so thankful for his progress and pray that he continues to do well.

He is the sweetest thing. We love him so much!

Please continue to pray for my sweet little great-nephew.

He is just over a week old and holding his own.

I do not feel comfortable giving detailed updates, as I do not speak directly to the baby's mother and I don't want to make any assumptions that are not accurate. I just know that he is very tiny and so vulnerable and in need of prayers.

This is a very difficult time for the baby's mother and my sweet nephew - please keep them in your thoughts and prayers, as well as my sister, my mother and all of this baby's family.

My sister visits the baby daily and keeps me up to date on his condition, as I am not permitted to see him until he is much stronger.

We know God continues to watch over our baby and it will work out according to God's plan. We appreciate everyone that has been praying and worrying and inquiring about his condition.

For now ... we are hoping with all of our hearts, praying as hard as we can and waiting patiently for our baby to grow stronger and stronger each day.

Isn't he the sweetest little thing? I love how he touches his face and I love his little hands. I love this baby.

Thank you so much for your prayers!

*This is a message from my sister, Cheryl: As a first time grandmother of this precious precious gift of God, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for your prayers and thoughts and comments through this blog. He's a lucky little guy to have so many people praying for him. He's absolutely precious. We have a very long road ahead of us. I know this- My God is Mighty and He has a plan and a purpose. Please continue to pray for my precious new grandbaby, but also please hold up Danielle and Cody in your prayers. Thank you so much.

Again, I just want to give my thanks to everyone that has been thinking about and praying for my sweet little great-nephew. Your prayers are a gift to my family and I can't tell you how much we appreciate your support and love.

I am not able to visit the baby in ICU, as I am only his aunt and it won't be for a while before they let me in to see him. My sister goes daily and is able to be near him (and my nephew and the baby's mother) and has taken pictures for the rest of the family to share. My mother is also able to visit and has been several times.

For now, the baby is doing fine. The doctors and nurses seem pleased with how stable he is. There as been no traumatic events, as of yet, and that is good. He is holding his own and seems to be okay, for now. We know that this is a long road ahead and it will take time to see how strong he will grow and what affects (if any) this early birth will have on his life. We can only hope for the best.

We don't know the plan that God has for this baby's life, but what I do know is that he has already touched many lives. I know that God stays close to this child and is aware of how many love him and pray for him.

I appreciate the support and kindness we have received from so many wonderful women - so many wonderful mothers. Is there anything stronger than a group of women - really? Is there any group more driven? More compassionate? I don't think so! I think we are called to each other and when there is a need, we rally for one another and I am proud to be part of such a wonderful group of women that have rallied the way you all have around me and my family and this precious baby! I can't tell you how proud you make me and how touched I am!

I will be updating from time to time to let you all know how our sweet baby is doing. For now ... he is precious and stable and doing as well as can be expected. We thank God for this!

Dear God,

I know ....

I am the last person on this earth that should be asking You for blessings ...

As there is no one I know that You love ... more than You love me.

There is no one ... that has been more blessed.

There is no one ... that has had more happiness.

There is no one ... that has known more love.

And yet ... here I am.

Asking for your help ...

Pleading ...

Kneeling before you in humble prayer ...

Please ...

Take some of the light, Lord ...

That You have so graciously and so abundantly shown on my life ...

And move that light ...

Move it ...

To shine just as brightly ...

To shine just as mercifully ...

To shine just as lovingly ...

On the life of this child ...

Take some of my light, Lord ...

The light that is filled with Your love ...

Take it ...

Please ...

And shine it on him ...

I have more than enough to share.

I want to thank everyone for all the prayers for our sweet little baby. It is a difficult time for our family and we are grateful for all the thoughts and prayers. We are just taking it one day at a time.

The baby seems to be doing okay for now. He is a fighter, but he has a long road ahead, as does his parents (my nephew and his girlfriend) and all of our families. We will do all we can do and surround this child with our love and support and pray that God stays close and keeps a merciful hand on our little boy.

Please continue to keep our baby and his parents in your thoughts and prayers. Please pray for the doctors and nurses taking care of him. I truly believe in the power of prayer, as I know many of you do! It is in God's hands.

Thank you so much for your support and kindness to me and my family. Thank you for showing so much love and concern for this precious little boy!

(*Note - this precious picture is of our baby - it is his sweet little hand*)

It has been a while.

Longer than I realized.

I have to say ...

It is nice to ...

Smell a baby again ...

It is nice to ...

Touch a baby's soft skin.

There is not anything quite like ...

Sweet baby eyes.

Sweet baby feet.

Sweet baby hands.

I have to say ...

It's been quite a long while ...

Since a baby has been in our house and ...

We have loved having this baby around.

This is my grand-nephew, Braz. He is now 6 months old. He was born on March 4, 2008, 3 months premature. He is doing so well and he just couldn't be any sweeter or more adorable. He is such a blessing.

I don't know anyone that loves babies more than my mother does. And ... this baby is no different - SHE LOVES THIS BABY! And ... she is very good with babies. Braz is lucky to have this great-grandmother!

My sister puts him on his stomach and she says he is so strong - already trying to roll himself over. He is well over 11 lbs. now and filling out a lot.

Chloe and Alexis think Braz is the sweetest baby ever!

Courtney does too. She wouldn't even give him up so I could hold him.

My sister watches Braz a lot and says that he is a very good baby - hardly cries, eats really good and sleeps good too.

He's so precious and so loved!

Brazelton was born on March 3, 2008 at just under 24 weeks. He weighed 1 lb. and was 11" long. He was in NICU for 3 months. He now weighs over 11 lbs. He is so special - a blessing. We are so thankful that he continues to do so well. What a sweet little boy!