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!

Thursday, February 5, 2015

Cake in the Shower for Big Bro

When we found out we were expecting, I certainly didn't expect a baby shower because this isn't our first baby.  I was so surprised and excited when my amazing sister-in-law called to say that she felt like we needed to be showered, especially with everything going on with Ty's health!  So this past Sunday afternoon we headed to Chattanooga for a fun afternoon at Sarah's house!

This is me and my lovely sister-in-law.  I assure you, she is the hostess with the mostest!  Sister knows how to throw a shower!  Cutest decorations, cake, delicious food, and fun!

 
This was Ava Grace's first baby shower experience.  On the way there, Mom and I were explaining what a baby shower was.  Ava Grace, more than a little confused, asked, "So, we are going to eat cake IN the shower?"  It was too funny.  She caught on pretty quick that "shower" was a lot like "party" and that worked for her!  The best part for both of my sweet girls was undoubtedly getting to play with their two best cousins who happen to correspond, more or less, in age!  The littles were wound up and rip-roaring wild and the bigs enjoyed a sleep over the night before the shower and a lot of fun play time!  We even got to play with Brady, my girls' cousin-in-law... he's such a little charmer and right there in age between Kenslee and Ava Grace!

I didn't take many pictures and as I sit here to blog realize I have no pictures of the cake, food, cousins, guests... just lots of me and gifts! I guess I was just having too good of a time to be behind a camera!  I'm so thankful my mom was able to take the pictures that she did with my camera and I know my sister-in-law took several that she will share later, thank goodness.

It was a wonderful shower.  We are so excited about each tiny little outfit, the baby gear and necessities that we were given, and we were down right blown away at the more than $400 in gas cards (above) that everyone pooled together to help us when we are back and forth to Vanderbilt so much!  What a blessing.  The best of the shower, however, was most certainly getting to spend time with family and friends that I do not get to see often enough.  I'm so grateful that each of you took time out of your busy schedule to come and to so generously shower us with things for baby Ty.  You'll never know how special that was!

On a bittersweet note, that was my last trip back home until after Ty is here!  So all you family and friends that I already miss better be thinking about a trip to Nashville to see us!  I have clearance to take Ava Grace to Cincinnati for one more laser surgery on her birthmark coming up and after that I am no longer allowed to travel.  My door is always open though - so come on up y'all!

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