Brandon Thomas Stansel was born December 14, 2015 at 1:05 pm. He was 9 pounds, 7 oz and 20.5 inches long. I was 36 weeks and 5 days. I was exactly that when I had Kayla. He had to follow his sister in her footsteps, but Brandon was much bigger and longer than Kayla. So in the early morning hours of December 14th I was having more stronger contractions and I knew he was going to arrive that day. We got Rachel and Haley off to school at 6:40 am and then we headed to the hospital. After arriving to the hospital I thought I would be able to have my c section right away, but we had to wait for an OR to open. I was in so much pain from those contractions. I was so happy when they finally gave me a spinal and did the c section. The doctors had to really work to get him out of me due to his large size. Also when the doctors got Brandon out he peed on them! We were all laughing! We are so happy he is here safely!!!
We found out that the open lesion/hole in his back was located at L5 - S1. It was much lower than the doctors first thought. Which is great news! He had surgery on his back to close up the open hole on December 15th which went well. He's going to have a big scar on his back due to the neurosurgeon had to pull extra skin from around the hole to be able to close it up. He will heal and it will be ok. His head is large due to the enlarged ventricles in his brain. The doctors are watching them carefully to decide if he will need a shunt or not. So far his ventricles have not changed significantly. We are hoping he won't need a shunt. He has moved his legs and ankles some. I have even seen some toes wiggle a little. Which is a great sign. Also he doesn't have clubbed feet which can happen to baby's born with spina bifida. We have been so blessed!!! Brandon is such a cute, adorable baby. We are so happy he has joined our family and that he is doing well despite his Spina Bifida. He will have to stay in the NICU for about 2 weeks or more depending and we look forward to having him home. I hated leaving the hospital with him still there, but I know that he will come home in due time. We won't have to wait as long as we did with Rachel and Haley. We love our children and have been so blessed!
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| Me waiting to go to the OR. I was smiling, but I was in a lot of pain |
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| Last belly picture. 36 weeks, 5 days. I was huge! |
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| Brandon right after being born |
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| You can see the open lesion low on his back. |
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| Brandon after his back surgery |
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| Me getting to feed him. He has to stay on his belly for the wound on his back to heal |
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| Love all his dark hair! |
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| Close up of his cute little ear |
Sorry I didn't get this post up right after he was born. I didn't have a computer at the hospital.
Congratulations on Brandon's arrival! So good to see he's here and doing well.xx
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! Brandon is beautiful! Our healing prayers will continue for Brandon and for you.
ReplyDeleteAww wow I am so happy for you! Congratulations Amanda, Thomas, Rachel, Haley and Kayla on the arrival of the precious gift of Brandon. He is absolutely adorable and will give you many blessings. Pleased that the surgery went well and that the signs are good. Love to you and your family and the new little one xxxx
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to you all. He looks super cute, and such a super size!!!! I have followed your blog since Haley and Rachel were born, but this is the first time I have commented. Sunny day here in the UK. Take care. Happy Christmas and all best wishes for 2016. for 2016. Anne.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your beautiful son Brandon!!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, Beautiful Boy, well done Amanda - thank you for posting and the pictures Love and Best Wishes to you and Thomas and the girls
ReplyDeleteHe is SOOOO cute! Congratulations to you all!
ReplyDeleteSo glad he is doing well. Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! Been waiting for an update. So happy for you guys :)
ReplyDeleteOh what a sweet angel. Poor little innocent fella having to endure that surgery and healing. But things sound much more optimistic than you had anticipated and once he's home you will love him up so much that his rude awakening to the world will be just a nasty blip. Congratulations.
ReplyDeleteSweet innocent angel. So glad to hear things looks more optimistic than you had anticipated. He's beautiful. Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! He is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on that sweet little guy. Much be such a relief that things seem more optimistic than you had anticipated. Love him to bits once you get him home and hopefully these tough couple weeks will just fade from memory.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations. He's beautiful. So glad he is looking as good as he is. Hopefully life will be full of beautiful things for him and for his family!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, he is so cute! And very big for coming 3 weeks before his due date :)
ReplyDeleteSo happy for you all!! Welcome to the world, Brandon!!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on Baby Brandons arrival. He looks just gorgeous. love that hair, So delighted that his problem area is lower than expected and hopefully it will not impact him as much as it could have.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! What a beautiful blessing and addition to your family! Prayers and love to you all. : )
ReplyDeleteCongratulations!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful baby! Such a blessing to your family and heartfelt congratulations!
ReplyDeleteWhat a gorgeous boy! May God continue to bless your beautiful family.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations!!! I'm so glad his health concerns aren't as bad as previously thought.
ReplyDeleteYay! He is so cute. What a great early Christmas present.
ReplyDeleteCONGRATULATIONS!!!! He's so cute and chunky!! So glad the opening was lower on his back and that he's moving those little toes! Enjoy his sweet baby-ness we all know how quickly they grow!!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your newest blessing! He is adorable and prayers for quick healing for you both. Fingers crossed he gets to join your family at home soon.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations!!! What a precious baby boy!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful blessing
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! Brandon is adorable! Praying for his continued healing and thanking God for the wiggles of toes and movement you have already seen!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on Brandon's birth. He looks wonderful and healthy. I hope he lives a terrific life in your special family and his spina bifida is minimal. Happy Holidays to all the Stansels !
ReplyDeleteCongratulations!! He is so beautiful and his dark hair is just precious and even looks a little curly!! I am so glad that all went well with his surgery and so many other positives. You are all in our prayers!!!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! He is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteall the best for Brandon and family !
ReplyDeleteI haven't looked at your blog for some months, so missed the pregnancy announcement! Congratulations on your beautiful baby boy! Most of my babies were 9+ pounds and those big babies are so nice and snuggly:) Praying all goes well with him.
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