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, January 27, 2015

A birthday Girl...

One of my biggest fears about what we are facing with Ty is that Ava Grace and Lily's worlds will be turned upside down!  Especially Ava Grace, since she is used to being home with Mommy most every day.  We will make every effort to keep her routine as close to "normal" as we can, but some things will certainly change.. at least for the first few weeks after he is here.  That probably would have been true regardless, but now it is even more so.  

To that end, I thought I would carve out a sliver of time (and blog space) to document our special girl and a few of her special days here lately...

January 11, our "baby" turned THREE!  I can hardly believe it y'all. No one can prepare you for how much faster time goes when you are an adult... and it goes warp speed when you have kiddos!

(With Cousin's Bentlee and Kenslee)

This year at Christmas we got a 3-pack DVD of "winter" movies.  One was Bah Humduck (Daffy Duck Christmas movie), One was Tom and Jerry winter themed episodes, and the last DVD in the pack was Scooby Doo - three episodes that were winter/Christmas themed.  Ava Grace LOVED the Scooby Doo and instantly decided she had to have a Scooby Doo party.  I was surprised, to say the least, BUT, it's her birthday, so Scooby Doo it was!

(Cousins helping her open - Bentlee and John Harris)

We made her cake - a Carrot Cake full of Pecans, this girl loves nuts!  And she helped decorate it by placing the flowers around the sides and sprinkles on top!

(Ava Grace and cousin Silas... up to no good, I'm sure)

It was a wonderful birthday with family.  Ava Grace was beside herself and it was just the kind of low-key, relaxed birthday that Mommy and Daddy needed!  Minimal planning and prep, maximum results.  Special thanks goes to Grandmommy, Mimi, and Aunt Jessica for helping the party happen!!


A few days after her birthday we had an unseasonably warm day!  We just HAD to head to the park to try out her new tricycle that she got for Christmas!  She had been testing it out around the house and we couldn't wait to see how she did on the "open road."


She was a pro!  For parents out there - this is the coolest tricycle ever!  The handle on back is great for pushing when little legs get tired AND for steering, which she is still getting the hang of.  Plus, once it's no longer needed, the handle pops right off!

Who doesn't love a princess!  She is into dressing up now.  Half the time it's pirates and giants and monsters - oh my!  BUT, she still does loves her heels, tiara, and princess dress from time to time! Thank you Anne and Jay for the dress up clothes - big hit! 


Last, but not least - some snow pictures from this weekend.  Nothing excites this sweet girl like some freshly fallen snow.



And, of course, when snow is on the slide and swing set, you have to try it out!


Ava Grace, you have an excitement for life that simply can't be matched!  You have a funky dark side that intrigues us.  Your favorite color is black and you like cars and swords as much as you like dolls and dresses.  You sing EVERYTHING - both songs you know and just singing about whatever you are doing or thinking.  You are NOT a morning person.  You don't want anyone to speak to you for the first 15 minutes you are up.  You just want to sit and zone out for a bit.  You love green peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, and just about any fruit.  You love meat - sausage links, chicken, and even steak.  You eat breakfast 2 or 3 times each morning, then a reasonable lunch, and usually not much for dinner.  You make us laugh and have a killer sense of humor.  You are crazy wicked smart and you talk way beyond your years.  You love to talk to "baby brudder" in mommy's belly.  You tickle my belly and tell us that it makes him laugh, you sing to him, kiss him, and keep asking if we are sure he is going to come out of my belly!  You are a treat every day and a gift from God that we can't be thankful enough for.  We love you doodlebug!  We can't wait to see what this next year will bring for you!


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