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!

Friday, November 2, 2012

Halloween Recap

Halloween is probably my least favorite holiday.  I don't really get into spooky stuff or the blood, guts, and gore that dominate some decorations.  I prefer to decorate for fall or Thanksgiving and other than the fun of trick-or-treating for the little ones, I could pretty much do without Halloween and be just fine.
We do celebrate it though, and make the best of the holiday with as little spooky as possible, lol.  This year was special because it was Ava Grace's first Halloween.  We dressed her as a cat on Halloween and at the Halloween party we went to.  We had been given two different cat costumes as gifts.  Lily changed her mind several times on her costume.  At the last minute as we were buying costumes, she found alien glasses and decided she had to be an Alien and wanted to make her own costume.  I was blown away - that is so out of character for her.  I loved, however, that she picked it all herself and it was unique!!

On Halloween we went to Courtney and Brian's house for soup, sandwiches, and cider!  Friends of theirs joined us as did one of Lily's friends from her girl scout troop!  It was a good little crowd to trick-or-treat with and we had so much fun despite the cold wind!  I worried about Ava Grace being cold... and she was... but she could have cared less.  She had the time of her life!  (note to self: get the child a wagon)  She and Ben rode in Courtney's wagon.  Ava Grace spent the entire time bouncing up and down excitedly waving her arms!  She was beyond excited!
She figured out pretty quick that people were putting stuff in her bucket (which barely survived the week... it had been carried around, sat on, squeezed, filled and emptied about 200 times throughout the week).  We eventually had to get her out and let her carry her bucket and hold it out for treats because she was so interested in getting things out of the bucket in the wagon.

Here are our Halloween girls!
They got A LOT of candy between the two of them.

We also went to a Halloween Party at Chris' sister's house last weekend.  It was fun seeing family and some close friends we haven't seen in a while!  Our family is growing and so there are a lot more kids these days!  It's fun to see them playing and having fun at family events.

 "Don't touch me sister, I'm a big girl... I can do this myself."


"This is Silas, right here."

"Let's keep watch Silas, I got this way, you keep an eye out the other way."

I am certain that the kids had as much fun as the grown ups.  As always, they had a spread of wonderful fall foods and sweets!  It was a great party!

The week before Halloween we met Aunt La and Aunt Moo for lunch one day!  I had to share this picture of Ava Grace and La.  You can't tell, but Ava Grace is wearing her pumpkin "boo" shirt!  :-)

I hope you all had as happy a Halloween as we did!

Now, down to the serious business of the Holidays I LOVE... Thanksgiving and Christmas!!!  :-)

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