Happy birthday Braylee!!

I can't believe a year ago Braylee was born.  It was one of the happiest and yet the scariest days of our lives!  We waited for hours to hear if she was going to be okay and what her diagnosis was.  All that we knew was that she had a prominent forehead, webbed hands/feet, and a cleft palate.  It wasn't until later that night that we found out that the Doctors were pretty sure she had Apert Syndrome.  They had to take a blood sample and send it all the way to North Carolina to confirm the diagnosis of Apert. Since then we have learned to take things one step at a time. 

In Braylee's first year she has had to go through more than most people will in their lifetime.  In January she had her cranial vault reconstruction where they had to take the top of her skull off, break it, reshape it, and then put it all back together.  She has had to wear a cranial helmet 23 hours of the day for 5 months now.   In May she under went her cleft palate reconstruction. Thankfully she has fully recovered from both of those surgeries and in less than 3 weeks she faces her 3rd surgery which is going to be on her hands. 

During this year she has surpassed our expectations!  She has learned how to work with what she was given.  It just goes to show that there are no limitations to what she can do!  She is getting so close to walking!  Soon she will be able to run away from and torment that protective older sister of hers.  It has been a fun and emotionally hard year and we are so grateful to have her!! Happy birthday baby girl!

 

Head full of curls!

 

 

Birthday Girl!

 

 

Cake is good!