Happy Birthday BRANT!!!!

11 years ago, our sweet. tiny little Pre Mature (by 8 weeks) baby boy was born!!!! He weighed in at 4lbs 1 oz, but had gotten down to 3lbs 6oz after birth. He spent exactly 1 month in the NICU and then had the joy of wearing an Apnea Monitor for about 10 months. We were extremely blessed! He never had to be on oxygen, just a feeding tube until he was big enough to learn how to eat.

...wearing his protective glasses
...enjoying a little snack via feeding tube
It was hard for me, at times, b/c I was recovering from Pre-Eclampsia and an Emergency C-Secton, but I remember sitting in the NICU with him for hours just about everyday! Marty would drop me off at the Hospital on his way to USC. My mom, with her wisdom, did put her foot down a few times, and make me stay home to get the rest that I needed. I just couldn't wait until we could bring him home with us!!
Peepa & Meema loved going to sit with him in the NICU!! Brant didn't facny the feeding tube too much!
Our new little family! So young...so nieve....so much thinner! I'll never forget the joy and emotions and love of our first baby!!

Yesterday we Brant wanted to eat at Golden Corral for his birthday feast! We had a great time being together for the day!!
This morning we started the day off with our traditional "Birthday Breakfast In BED!". His breakfast consisted of Cocoa Pebbles, Chocolate Milk, mini candy bars and Butterscotch Pudding that he's been wanting for a week!! Brant also got some gifts. Torpedo Battle Ship and a Portable Skateboarding Rail were the big presents he opened. He couldn't have been more excited...well, if it weren't Sunday he would have been more excited...but he's totally excited to wake up a little earlier in the morning to hit the rail before school!!
Brant, we love you so much!!! We are so proud of your accomplishments and are so thankful for your sweet, thoughtful, loving, fun personality!! We are so thankful and blessed to have you in our family!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABE!!!!