My Lens On Life: Christmas Spirit...

Our son, Tyson Hugh Hooper, was born with coarctation of the aorta, hypoplastic arch, and a transitional avsd. His first open heart surgery reconstructed his aorta and was on day 9 of life. His second open heart repair was not anticipated to be needed until two or three years of age. Ty had other plans. We spent the vast majority of his first 3 months of life at Vanderbilt as he went into heart failure and was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension. As a result, the medical team concluded that he needed the repair much sooner than usually recommended, and at just shy of 3 months old Ty underwent his second life saving open heart surgery. God has already worked so many miracles in Ty's life and the life of our family and we know he is using our story. Because of this, we are grateful for Ty's special heart and feel beyond blessed that God chose us to travel this road. We ask for prayers as Ty continues to heal. We are praying for a full recovery and life without restrictions for Ty. We are praying for God to use our family and Ty for His glory.

Thank you to each and every person who supports us through prayer, giving, or just by loving on our family! We are humbled and blessed by all of the ways the Lord is providing for us and know that he is using Ty and his story to do great things!

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Christmas Spirit...

...strikes early!

Okay, so it's a little early for the Christmas look for the blog, but I couldn't resist! We had actual snow flurries this morning and I've been Christmas shopping... it's in the air people! I am pretty particular about the "rules" of Christmas decorations (up the day after Thanksgiving and down the day after New Years) but this year, I am breaking the rules (at least in blog world) and "decorating" early!

9 comments:

Amanda Ledford said...: Woohoo for the Christmas layout!!!! If I wasn't having all of Michael's family over, I would be all over the Christmas decorations a little early!; November 16, 2008 at 5:26 PM
ariel said...: love the new background! I have to admit I found the Christmas station here in Charlotte and was listening to it on my way to shop today! :); November 16, 2008 at 6:20 PM
Betsy said...: Oooooooo!!!! I love it!! Let the celebrating begin!!; November 16, 2008 at 7:28 PM
Lauren said...: Love the banner at the top! Happy Chri'mas! :); November 17, 2008 at 5:50 AM
Megan L Hutchings said...: The weather on Saturday was just perfect for shopping!; November 17, 2008 at 7:21 AM
Leigh Ann said...: I'm right there with you sista!; November 17, 2008 at 4:10 PM
Lindsay said...: Oh - I can't wait to do that either! Yeah....whenever I have a spare second or two :-) I forsee a LATE night in my future updating the bloggy look (again). :-) I love your header!; November 18, 2008 at 5:50 PM
Allyson said...: I totally think you're allowed to do Christmas before Thanksgiving this year because it is SO LATE!! We normally have a whole extra week in between. I'm a stickler for the after Thanksgiving rule and I'm wanting to break it too! Your blog looks so cute and is getting me in the Christmas spirit even more!; November 19, 2008 at 4:14 PM
Allyson said...: Oh, and by the way, I want to explain my vote on your blog! I voted for "something else" because we've never gotten a star or angel or anything else ordinary. So we have an Abominable Snowman (from the famous cartoon Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer) and he's holding a star for us like he puts on the tree at the end of the movie. It's quite the conversation starter and we love him! :) I would recommend it if anybody needed a tree topper! :); November 19, 2008 at 4:20 PM