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Bradleigh Nicolynn Dowdney

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Thursday, December 20, 2012

Updating on Brayden

We wanted to post some details on our blog that we had emailed out to our freidns and family. We figured there might be some people that we didn't have their emails for that follow our journey on here. 

Sent December 3, 2012


To my most beloved friends and family,

  I wanted to take a moment and send you a personal email asking if you each wouldn’t mind taking some time this Friday morning to pray for our son Brayden. As most of you know, back in June Brayden’s MRI showed that the Arachnoid cyst on his spine (found at birth) had started to grow and compress on his spinal cord.  Our neurosurgeon told us at that time that his spinal cord was 7 mm in diameter and the cyst had compressed in 2 mm.  This could, in turn, decrease blood flow and oxygen to the brain, affect his neurological response in his extremities, and affect the function of his bladder and kidneys.  At first Dr. Roberts suggest that we go ahead and schedule surgery, but after an additional consult with the radiologist we determined that we would look to see if it was actually having any of the above mentioned affects first.  After thorough testing, we learned that his oxygen saturation in the brain was normal, as well as his bladder/kidney function and neurological responses. We were given a 6 month pass and asked to come back in December for another MRI. This was great news as this surgery is extremely high risk. I will spare you of the risks during surgery and the survival stats but it is a very complicated surgery that he could have a hard time pulling through and recovering from.  

 My precious Aunt Nette often posted and shared throughout her battle with Ovarian Cancer and I have recently began to go back and read her words to draw strength and encouragement from. During her battle, she continued to give thanks and praise and glorify the Father, despite her struggles.  Her words have of late become some precious to me. I share “We go before His Throne with petition, to learn His will and to give Him thanks for His hearing our prayers. We are dependent moment by moment upon Our Lord. He graciously tells us “whatever we ask in His Name, He will do it that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” John 14:13 and “Those who Trust in the Lord, shall not be disappointed” I Peter 2:6  God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1 This is where I plant my feet and take my stand. The circumstances are too bizarre to try to untangle. All that matters is that I keep my focus on Jesus and to know He is with me to deliver me from all of my trouble.” She once told me that what kept her going was keeping her eyes on Jesus and His calling for her life and not on her circumstances.

 This Friday morning, we will be taking Brayden back to Cook Children’s for a repeat MRI to see how the cyst has developed over the last 6 months. If there is still compression, we will go fairly quickly into surgery.  We have recently had some very sweet moments, surrounded by friends and family, just covering Brayden in prayer, laying of hands, and anointing with oil; that our gracious Heavenly Father would hear our cries and heal our son.  We have directly prayed that this water filled cysts would just rupture and be absorbed by the body so that Friday morning his MRI would come back clean and normal. We have specifically prayed that no surgery would be required.  We have been comforted by The Spirit as David and I have been lifted and covered, experiencing the unexplainable “the peace that passeth all understanding.”  We now would like to call you stand firmly with us in the Victory that we claim through the blood of Christ. We realize that no matter what the outcome, this Victory remains; when Jesus defeated the  grave and our eternal salvation was won. We would like to ask that you boldly approach our Father’s throne and pray for the dissolve of Brayden’s cyst.  We also ask for peace and comfort for David and I as we go through the day on Friday. If you would please commit to praying for us for just 10 minutes anytime from 8:00 am – 11:00 am, as Brayden will be under during this time.

We can not express our utmost gratitude and thanksgiving for having the ability to live in a nation where we are free to call friends and family to prayer and having the blessing of people in our life that we can call on during these times. Many of you have given us so much courage and encouragement over the last 3 years, .  Thank you for continuing to laugh with us in the hysterical moments, put your arms around in the tough moments, and love and pray with us through it all.  

With sincere love                                        David & Kelli
 
 
Emailed December 13....with joy and thanksgiving!!
First and Foremost, David & I would like to express our most sincere gratitude to the overwhelming words of encouragement, prayers, and love that we are continually humbled and blessed by. On our drive home Friday from Cooks, I asked David how do you even begin to say "Thank you" to someone who selflessy gave up their time to pray for your child? Please know that we do not take that lightly and are so grateful for your prayers. We both experienced an overwhelming peace even before we started on Friday and we know that was a direct result of many people interceding for us, on our behalf! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!! I pray that one day when you have a burden and need a prayer warrior to walk with you that you allow David & I the opportunity to return the favor and intercede for you.
 
I know that some of you may have seen the status on FB, but I did want to follow up with everyone that we had asked to stand with us. David, my dad, and myself took Brayden to Cook Children's in Ft. Worth Friday morning. The MRI went rather smoothly, however it did end up being a little longer scan that usual. Brayden came out of anesthesia fairly well and was soon eating a popsicle and snuggled on my lap talking to Daddy and Papa. We were dismissed from radiology in the prefect time to walk upstairs and check in for appointment with our Neurosurgeon, Dr Roberts. Before he gives us the results, he always give Brayden a very thorough neurological assessment and does a clinical evaluation. He spent some time measuring neurological responses, oxygen saturation, and watching him walk, move, talk, and sing the ABC's. He said "I think we are looking very good. The cyst is still there but it has stabilized. There is not new growth or change and from the clinical evaluation, he seems to be improving. There are no visible signs that we are in any danger and I'm not thinking that the cyst has had any affects up to this point. Yes the cyst is still compressing, but I can not suggest a complicated surgery just from a scan when what I am seeing is a healthy 3 year old!" We talked for a while an we all asked a lot of "Maybe this or that" and "What If" questions just to ensure that we were all on the same page. We are so blessed to have this doctor that has been with us since Brayden arrived at Cook Children's just a few hours after he was born. He has a great bedside manner with David & I and takes time discussing and educating us. We recently learned from a contact I have at work, that he is highly regarded by his peers on the industry and is known for his continued involvement in research and development in his field. He even shared with us that Cook Children's is preparing to launch an new focus on Gate therapy, especially for children that have had a brain injury. He said that research shows that this Gate Therapy has significantly improved the stability and mobility of kids and he said that Bradyen was one of the first kids that he really wants to work within the program. I am so thankful that Dr. Roberts has a heart for our son, and we feel that he generally has a compassion for our family.
 
The plan is that we will repeat the MRI in another 6 months, no surgery for now. He said that he did notice that Brayden had a large growth spurt and it was interesting that the cysts had stabilized during that period. We are scheduled to go back in June 2013 and in the meantime, we monitor his behavior, reflexes, and oxygen saturation. We feel that every 6 months is more time for The Father to deal with this cyst in his time, in his way. Dr Roberts even said that if we can buy ourselves enough 6 months increments, you never know what kind of procedures or medicines will be developed between now and then. He assured us that even though he is a surgeon and he loves to do surgery, he will not carry us to that point until we are out of options and he will continue to explore ALL options for us.
 
David & I slept very good Friday night! :) And Saturday morning, I was suddenly ready to celebrate the Birth of our Savior! We enter this Holiday season with such an awe of who our Father is, the sacrifice that he gave so that we might become His children and heirs, that I have a certain reverence entering into Christmas this year I don't think I have had before. It's a small quiet place that the more I begin to understand the depth and unconditional love I have for my children as a parent, the more I understand my heavenly Father's love for me. This Christmas we will celebrate the birth of King that brought us hope of a future that one day we will be in eternity with Him forever. That same hope, carries our family through this journey, sometimes 6 months at a time! We pray that you and your family have a blessed Christmas. And just in case you may have stopped believing, He is still doing Miracles. We get to tuck one in bed every night.
Much love,
David & Kelli
 

 
 
 

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Needing to be Carried

I know it seems like The Dowdney's exited the bogging world, but lately I have felt a calling to be more committed in writing. So here is my attempt.  Over the next few months, I am going to to try to write from my heart but at the same time catch everyone up on where we are.  Yes, I know, I need to pen the amazing story of our new little gift Bradleigh Nicolynn Dowdney and update on Brayden. I promise I will get to that! 

 In this walk, I think I have been fairly transparent with my consistent need to lay my anxieties at the foot of my Savior.  It is something I struggle with on a daily basis, yet is something that I have a very hard time being completely transparent about.  I have a fairly strong personality, high energy levels, and extremely task oriented.  So to ground myself and share honestly "I really struggle with this inside battle of anxiety and fear." is hard to put to paper.  However, I have felt a tremendous transformation beginning and I feel that The Lord is taking this from me and teaching me about trust and complete dependency upon him.  In these very intimate conversation with Father, I hear him telling me to share. How many other people are out there that struggle with fear and anxiety. Maybe it is not as "in-your-face" as mine is. Maybe it is something more quiet. But I am going to try to share from my heart as the Lord walks me through what really leaning into Him looks like. 

Today I read this and wanted to share.  Very poignant .  Talk to ya'll soon. 


Who Is Carrying You?
Scott Hamilton - Senior Pastor - Harvest Glaskow, Scotland
Bel bows down; Nebo stoops; their idols are on beasts and livestock; these things you carry are borne as burdens on weary beasts. They stoop; they bow down together; they cannot save the burden, but themselves go into captivity. “Listen to me, O house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been borne by me from before your birth, carried from the womb; even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save.
-Isaiah 46:1-4

As you woke this morning, was it with the realization that God’s unbreakable promises to you in Jesus are designed to produce unimaginable salvation in you through Christ? It is easy for us to live out our salvation with some sort of diminished reality which in turn diminishes our capacity to live for God’s greater glory. Isaiah 46 speaks to people for whom such a diminished reality led to captivity. And we should learn from their mistakes. Think on these five truths.
 
Truth #1: The greatest of strength and the deepest of knowledge will end up face down before Jesus. The gods of their captive world were shown to be intergalactically weak. Literally, they sink to their knees, stooping, crouching, and cowering before the living God.
Good news right? Except that there was a further reality at work here:

Truth #2: The people whom God called His own had made Bel and Nebo their gods too. That meant they were broken people with broken gods who had broken relationship with the One true and living God. Rather than being carried through life by faith in God, their spiritual loyalties were very divided, resulting in both spiritual and physical captivity.
So who’s carrying you?  Or, more correctly, what are you carrying? Their gods were only as strong, responsive, or mobile as they were. Does that describe where your trust is today? The things you are trusting in are carried on your shoulders in your strength. Eventually, they become a burden that weighs upon you. Has it occurred to you that is why you are finding no peace or rest? Has the reality hit that this is the cause of the heaviness felt today and for quite a few yesterdays?

Truth #3: We need to realize in a fresh way today something about our god-alternatives. If you can carry it, there will be a day when it can’t carry you. Further, if you have to carry it, then it’s already crushing you. It’s time to give up investing such massive amounts of energy and emotion propping up idols. This passage speaks of three things sinking to their knees. Do you see it? The idol, the animal, and the one crazy enough to entrust their life to something made from the same raw ingredients as them.

Truth #4: God is saying, “Listen to me: while you are trusting in Disney characters, I am still speaking. While you are walking straight into captivity with whatever you have replaced Me with tucked under your arm, remember this—I have carried you from birth.” God is speaking of Jesus shouldering the burden of your sin, carrying your load, taking the strain of all that weighs you.

Truth #5: We need to realize when we are trusting in an idol and heed the warnings God is sending us every day!
Almighty Father, I am no different than the Israelites of old. I make and carry idols every day. Sometimes it seems like half of my life is spent guarding against the idols that creep up on me.  Please forgive for not throwing them down and jumping back into Your loving arms. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
 

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Onto the New Year!

So, here we are, moving into 2012...but before doing so let me recap Thanksgiving and Christmas for the Dowdney's in 2011.

We had Thanksgiving at Kelli's Parents house in Palestine, and Kaysi and Robbie met us there.  My Mom and Dad drove down to meet us too and stayed for a couple days, and we ate wayyyy too much and watched a bunch of football.  It was a great time of family and fellowship and we always love getting everyone together.

We decided to do Christmas at our house this year, what with having a 2 yr old and all. So, Mimi and Papa (Kel's parents) stayed with us for a few days, and Nana and Pawpaw (my parents) came over to hang out on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.  Bent Tree Bible was having their Christmas services on Christmas Eve to allow the Church Staff time to be with their families on Christmas morning.  So, we headed over there to enjoy their services. As usual, it was a lovely service, although our parents aren't real keen on this new way of doing worship music...they're a little more used to the traditional hymns, but c'est la vie -- we made the best out of it.  :)

Christmas Day got started a little late, as with all the excitement from Christmas Eve, Brayden slept in on Christmas morning.  I guess at 2 he isn't too keen on all the things that await him on the morning of Christmas, but that may change after this year.  Once we got to unwrapping presents, after praising the birth of Jesus (of course), it wasn't long before Brayden started figuring out this was pretty cool.  We saved his biggest present for last, but I don't think we quite made it to the end before he found it...a kitchen that we had covered with blankets so he wouldn't see it.  Once he found it, I've never seen him so excited about something!!  He was beside himself trying to figure out everything he could do with it, pushing buttons, opening doors, getting the ice maker to work, and "cooking." He walks around now talking about "cooking" and when we ask him what he's doing he says, "I cook." It's hilarious and we are eating it up right now (pun intended). Of course, he got a whole bunch of things for Christmas and we are so thankful for the family and friends we have that shower our son with love and affection, but the kitchen took the cake (again, pun intended). We also ate til our stomachs hurt, but it was sooo good to see our family again, and be able to spend time with them. We try to never take for granted the times we are able to spend with our families. 

Otherwise, we all shared in many blessings this Christmas...not just Brayden. :)

Since our last post, I have been able to go hunting twice with Kelli's Dad...Papa (to Brayden).  He and I have gone out to ranch just him and me...no girls or little boy.  I have always had a very good relationship with my FIL and I appreciate him for the man he is, the child of God he is, and the father figure he has become for me. I have been blessed with 2 father's here on earth that any man would kill to have, and I am so thankful to my Heavenly Father for providing these two men to emulate. 

Kelli and I celebrated our 11th Wedding Anniversary on Jan. 6, 2012!!!  Woo hoo!!  It just so happened that I had a little time off, and was able to convince her to go to Lake Tahoe with me for some skiing and a little time away from the daily grind.  We had a great time, albeit the mountain there (called Heavenly) was only operating 20% of their slopes as they had 0 natural snow thus far in the season.  However, they did a great job with the man made snow they produced, but we both noted how we would really like to go back when they had gotten a good snow storm blow through.


Below is a video I took of Brayden as he's playing with a Book Reader he got for Christmas...he is laughing at one of the noises it makes and I thought it was cute enough to video...enjoy.


This is a picture of Kelli on top of the mountain in Tahoe...note both views!

This was us out on the town in Tahoe...we had just watched 2 movies back to back.



This is me in my ski outfit...yes, really.

Brayden likes to ride the rides at the mall...so this is him in his truck



Just a cute one of him getting a drink

This was him in his T-giving outfit, playing outside.