Tyson Hugh Hooper

Tyson Hugh Hooper
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!

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Let them eat cake!

This past Saturday Chris got up early to go float the river and fish with Web.  They started around 7 in the morning, and it takes about 30 minutes to get to Megan and Web's from our house, so you can see how early Chris got up!  The morning was spent with just Lily and I.  In fact, Lily slept until 8:30!!  She NEVER sleeps late!  It was so peaceful.  Shortly after she woke up and curled up on the couch beside me, it started to thunder.  Lily looked at me and said, "I think this would be a good pajama day!"  And so it was.  All day at home in our PJs!

While we ate breakfast we watched a little food network and they were making Carrot Cake.  Lily said, "I've never had carrot cake before, is it good?"  Well, to me that was all she needed to say... the decision had already been made... the girl HAD to have to have some carrot cake and judge for herself... TODAY!

I hopped on my number one favorite website for recipes - allrecipes.com - and looked for a recipes for carrot cake that met the following requirements:  1. We had to have ALL the ingredients already in the pantry.  2.  It had to be a recipe with LOTS of reviews.  3.  The reviews had to be GOOD!  As always on this wonderful website, I found one right away!

 Ingredients: 4 eggs, 1 1/4 cups vegetable oil, 2 cups white sugar, 2 tsp vanilla extract, 2 cups all-purpose flour, 2 tsp baking soda, 2 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp salt, 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, 3 cups grated carrots, 1 cup chopped pecans (I added 2 very large spoon fulls of apple sauce - I love a very moist cake!!)  Icing:  1/2 cup butter - softened, 8 oz cream cheese - softened, 4 cups confectioners' sugar, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 1 cup chopped pecans.

1. 
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F, Grease and flour a 9x13 pan (I used 2 round pans and made it a layer cake.)

2. 
In a large bowl, beat together eggs, oil, white sugar, and 2 tsp vanilla.  Mix in flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon.  Stir in carrots.  Fold in pecans.  Pour into prepared pan(s).

3. 
Bake in the preheated oven for 40-50 minutes (25-30 if you do 2 rounds instead), or until a toothpick comes out clean.  Let cool for 10 min, then turn out onto a cooling rack and cool completely.

4.
To make frosting:  In a medium bowl, combine butter, cream cheese, confectioners' sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla.  Beat until the mixture is smooth and creamy.  Stir in chopped pecans.  Frost the cooled cake.

(Note:  Lily doesn't like nuts, so I left them out.)

('nother note:  This was the best carrot cake I have ever had)

You MUST make some!  :-)

2 comments:

Sarah said...

that looks so good! When you told me on the phone you were about to make one, I was so jealous. If it hadn't been so far, I'd have been running over to your house to join the two of you! And might I add, your pictures look like they came from a magazine?

Valerie said...

Well it's about time! I requested that you blog me a piece of that cake! When I heard you were making one, I couldn't imagine why, knowing how healthy and carefully you eat and that you're not a sweets girl. Did you know you can slice and freeze?????? and save for Grandmommy????? Please?????