The Hitchcock Family

Only 2 days away!!!!

2012-02-03T11:20:00.004-06:00

The big event in honor of Colby Chance is in 2 days...Saturday, February 11 from 9-2 at Hendersonville Church of Christ. Please make plans to attend!! February is Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Month, and this is the perfect way to celebrate and to help spread awareness of CHDs.

We need more blood donors!! If you can give blood or know someone who can, please contact me for an appointment time. There are still many open spots throughout the day. If you don't make an appointment but can come by on Saturday to donate, please do!! Walk ins are welcome too!!!!

Don't forget about the Bake Sale!!! There will be lots of delicious treats to choose from and all proceeds will be donated directly to the Congenital Heart Defect Research effort at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt. Research is VERY important for these babies and kids living with Congenital Heart Defects!! The research done in the last several years has given Colby the chance to thrive.

Please email me with questions, to make a blood donor appointment, or to volunteer your time on Saturday...mailto:jbbhitchcock@gmail.com or call 615-293-2903

If you cannot make it on Saturday but would still like to be a part of this event, you can make direct donations to CHD Research. Please just make your checks out to : Monroe Carell Jr Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt and write "CHD Research" on the memo line. Please send your checks to me or Jason and we will donate it with the rest of the money raised during the Bake Sale. Call or email me if you need our address. Thank you!!

Doughnuts with Dad

2012-01-22T19:47:00.004-06:00

Doughnuts with Dad at school was a special treat for the boys. They were so excited to have Jason at home when they woke up. They were even more excited when they realized he was going to school with them to eat doughnuts!

4th Annual Blood Drive Coming Soon!!

2012-01-16T07:23:00.012-06:00

BLOOD DRIVE

We are ready to schedule appointments for our 4th Annual Blood Drive in honor of Colby. The drive will be on Saturday, February 11 from 9-2 at Hendersonville Church of Christ (same place as the previous years). Time slots are again open in 15 minute intervals.

If you would like to sign up to donate, please send me an email to jbbhitchcock@gmail.com, and I will take care of everything. In your email, please include your name, contact number or email address, and a time range that will work for you. I will enter it into the Red Cross schedule and then send you a confirmation email with your appointment time. Please just let me know by email or in the comment section if you have any questions. Jason and I have set a goal of 75 donors, so please spread the word and help us fill up these time slots!!

One change this year is that the Red Cross has set aside time slots specifically for automated red cell collection (2RBC). Read below for a description from the Red Cross of this process...

Unlike a traditional whole blood donation, Automated Red Cell Collection (2RBC) allows the donor to give two units of red blood cells, instead of just one. The process separates your blood into its components while it is being drawn. Because only red blood cells are being collected, there will enough for two red cell transfusions. The remaining components are returned to the donor. The procedure takes just 20 minutes longer than a whole blood donation. 2RBCs can only be donated every four months. 2RBC donors must be certain height and weight requirements, as well as other donor criteria:
Males: Must weigh at least 130 lbs. and be 5'1" or taller . Females: Must weigh at least 150 lbs. and be 5'5" or taller.

Jason did the 2RBC donation last year and had no problems. Please just remember that it will take a little longer than the traditional whole blood donation. We would love to schedule as many of these as possible, considering they are able to get two units of red blood cells instead of one from each donor.

BAKE SALE

We will be doing a bake sale again this year and donating all proceeds to the CHD Research efforts at Vanderbilt Children's Hospital in honor of Colby. If you are interested in providing baked goods for the sale, please send me an email to jbbhitchcock@gmail.com. Just let me know what you would like to make (or purchase from a store) for the sale...cookies, brownies, muffins, candies, breads, cakes, cupcakes, trail mixes, etc.

If you would like to make a direct donation to the CHD Research efforts at Vanderbilt in honor of Colby, we would greatly appreciate it!! Checks should be made out to "Monroe Carrell Jr Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt." On the memo line, please write "CHD Research." You can mail those to me at home or bring them by the church on February 11th.

VOLUNTEERS

Volunteers are needed and greatly appreciated!!!!! If you would like to help, please send me an email to jbbhitchcock@gmail.com with the times you are available. Thank you all so much!!

Happy Birthday Shug!

2012-01-16T07:23:00.008-06:00

Granny Shug's birthday is coming up this Friday, and a few of us were able to get together on Monday to celebrate at Olive Garden. As always, the food was delicious, and we all had a good time visiting. When the server brought out Shug's birthday cake, the candles read "48." Sounds about right to me! Happy Birthday Shug!! We love you!!!

A "minor" surgery...and hopefully his last!

2012-01-12T07:33:00.006-06:00

Because of Colby's special heart, he was unable to be circumcised at birth like "heart healthy" kids. The cardiologist felt his heart would not be strong enough to go through this stressful procedure until after having the 3 heart repairs. So, once he was cleared at his 6 month post Fontan appointment, we scheduled the consult with the Urologist and got the ball rolling on what we hope will be his last surgery.

Colby was amazing through the whole day of surgery! We woke him up very early to get to the hospital by 6:30, and as always, he immediately started talking and smiling. He asked several questions about the surgery, and for some reason the only part that stuck in his mind was that he would be getting stitches. He asked every person that he came into contact with that morning, "You give me stitches?" He was determined to find out who exactly would be doing the stitches.

Colby drove himself back to the Operating Room in this little car a little before 9, and the surgery was over by 9:30. Dr. Thomas came out and talked to us when it was over and said everything went well. He went on and on about how well Colby did. Apparently, Colby just sat on the operating table with his little legs crossed and waited patiently for them to get started. He wasn't scared at all! Dr. Thomas said something that Jason and I have often thought ourselves..."there is just something special about this kid."

By the time Jason and I were called back to Recovery, Colby was already sitting up eating a popsicle. I was amazed and thankful for this!! In the past, he has been a little slow to come out of anesthesia. He ate most of the popsicle and then asked for a slushy. That is when the nurse said we were free to go...only 10 minutes after getting back in to recovery with him!! Jason and I are definitely not used to a surgery where you are only at the hospital for a total of 4 hours!! Before leaving the hospital, Colby made it clear that he wanted to go eat Subway, because he was "hunggy." So, we treated him to Subway for lunch before picking up Brody at school.

Happy Birthday Emilee!

2012-01-12T07:04:00.004-06:00

Emilee turned 8 on January 7! I cannot believe that she is already 8 years old!! We celebrated together with lunch at her house, and as always, we had a great time!

Happy Birthday Emilee!!!!!

Happy Birthday Poogie!

2012-01-04T16:41:00.003-06:00

We celebrated my mom's birthday with dinner at our house. I was so happy that this worked out, because it was last minute planning on my part. I love when all of us can get together!!!

Happy Birthday Poogie!!!!!

New Years Day at Mimi's

2012-01-04T16:40:00.003-06:00

Our annual meal on New Years Day continued this year with lunch at Mimi's Cafe! It is so much fun when this whole group of friends can get together. It doesn't happen often enough. Unfortunately, the Benzs were unable to make it this year. We really missed you guys!!!

Adventure Science Center

2012-01-03T19:40:00.004-06:00

Jason and I "won" tickets to the Adventure Science Center at a Ronald McDonald House Silent Auction a couple of months ago. We decided to go while Jason was off work and the boys were out of school. This was the first time either of them had been, and they loved it! There is so much to see and do! I am so thankful that we have such a great Science Center in our area! I look forward to taking the boys again!

Blast off...

The boys' favorite room (and mine too) was the room that was all about the human body and how it works. Seeing how the body moves on a bicycle...

This was about the digestive system and how "poop" moves through the body. When you get off the slide, the floor makes a whoopee cushion sound. They thought that was hilarious!

Practicing brushing teeth...

This was a booth that simulated a tornado with winds up to 85 mph. Fun inside for them and fun outside for us watching their reactions!

Dreamworks Experience at Opryland Hotel

2012-01-03T17:48:00.012-06:00

Colby's big gift from Santa this Christmas was an overnight stay at Opryland Hotel for the Dreamworks Experience. He was so excited to go meet Shrek, Po, and the Madagascar Friends!! We checked in on December 26th at 2:30 and did not stop moving until 9:00 that night when we finally got to our room. It was a busy but fun time!!

Our fun started with a Holiday Shrektacular show. The boys loved seeing all of their favorite characters dance and sing! Their faces during the show were priceless!!

After the show, we headed for Po's house to kick off our Meet and Greets. These were great! The boys got to meet, hug, and take pictures with 7 different characters! The characters also stamped a Character Passport for the boys to keep. This will be a great way to remember the experience!

Po from Kung Fu Panda...

Alex from Madagascar...

Shrek!...

Gingy from Shrek...

Puss in Boots...

King Julian from Madagascar...

After the Meet and Greets and a quick dinner, we walked over to the Merry Madagascar Ice Exhibit. The boys loved this!! I'm not sure they got the fact that every single thing in there was ice, but they really enjoyed looking at it all. Their favorite part was of course the ice slides!!!

The Penguins...

Finally, we made it to our room and got into our pajamas!! The boys were SO excited to be sleeping in a hotel. This is something they have been asking to do for a long time! Unfortunately, not much sleep was had! Colby could not settle down and go to sleep! He was asking me questions until 3:30 in the morning. I must have dozed off at that point. When I woke up around 4, I found him laying sideways in the bed with his head on Jason's back. Hilarious! I thought we would then get a few hours of sleep, but Brody woke up at 5:30 and was ready for everyone else to wake up too. It was definitely a memorable experience!

Breakfast with Shrek, Fiona, and Puss in Boots!!!...

After Colby's wild night of not sleeping, he was exhausted! The poor guy felt terrible and slept through the breakfast with Shrek. I hate he missed it, because he LOVES Shrek and Fiona and would have loved all of the Shrek themed food, especially the Shrek shaped waffles. They were delicious!

Brody loved the Swamp Juice...

Our boys are not car sleepers, but apparently they were both totally exhausted!!! Both of them were asleep only 10 minutes after leaving the Hotel. This was an awesome family get away that none of us will soon forget!

Christmas Day

2011-12-30T08:35:00.008-06:00

After church on Christmas morning, we went over to Gacky and Poogie's house to celebrate Christmas with them, Jeanine, Harper, Darbye, and Shug. We visited, ate a delicious lunch, and then opened presents. The boys got some really fun things, including a karaoke machine from Jeanine, Harper, and Darbye. I can't wait to hear all of the concerts that Brody and Colby will put on.

Brody and Colby's favorite present was new pajamas! They wanted to put them on immediately!

We left my mom and dad's house and went straight to Jeremy and Tammy's house to have dinner and open more presents with them and Poppy. Our boys get a little spoiled during Christmas!

Jason got the boys these mini racers. It was hilarious watching the kids ride around the basement. These little cars go pretty fast and are a lot of fun!!

This was such a fun Christmas, and everything about it seemed perfect! We are truly blessed beyond belief!

Christmas Morning

2011-12-30T07:55:00.008-06:00

We woke up to find that Santa had come!!!

The boys were both so excited to get downstairs and see what Santa had brought. I never get tired of seeing these looks on their faces...pure joy and excitement!!!

The first thing Colby spotted under the tree were his little Ice Age toys...

He then noticed his new movies...

He was very excited to see he got a new iPod...

Brody was excited to find some movies under the tree for him as well...

This cool helmet was under the tree for Brody. We couldn't figure out what it was for at first, but then Jason noticed a big present covered with a sheet by the front door.

Brody pulled the sheet off and found this...

Colby had a big box under the tree with his name on it. When he opened it, he found Kung Fu Panda 2 movie along with a note from Santa. Santa had arranged for us to spend the night at Opryland Hotel for the Dreamworks Experience and meet Shrek, Kung Fu Panda, and Madagascar characters!! Very exciting!!

Watching Kung Fu Panda 2 on his new DVD player...

Brody could not wait to try out his 4-wheeler, so at 8:30 on Christmas morning, we were all outside in our pajamas! I'm pretty sure this is Brody's favorite gift from Santa!!!

Christmas Eve

2011-12-30T07:18:00.007-06:00

We spent Christmas Eve at our house having dinner and opening presents with Nenny and Pa, Nana, Jeremy and Tammy, and Emilee and Kylee. We had a great time visiting, and the kids were very excited about their new toys!

Trying out the new air hockey table that Nenny and Pa got for them...

When everyone left, the boys quickly put on their "Christmas Pajamas" and went to work getting ready for Santa. They picked out special cookies for him and Truzz (our elf on the shelf), poured a glass of milk, and put out some carrots for the reindeer. Then, we ended our night with Jason reading "The Night Before Christmas." I love Christmas traditions!!!

Christmas Cookies

2011-12-30T07:04:00.004-06:00

The boys really enjoyed decorating Christmas Cookies for Santa this year, and I loved watching them sit and work together. They did all of the cookies by themselves...with no help from me or Jason. They did a great job too, especially if you like sprinkles!! I think Colby finished off 2 bottles of sprinkles on about 10 cookies. He LOVES his sprinkles!!!

Colby's finished cookies...

Brody's finished cookies...

Christmas at Aunt Pat and Uncle Lee's House

2011-12-30T06:35:00.004-06:00

Once again, our Christmas celebrations started on December 23rd at Aunt Pat and Uncle Lee's house. We always have a great time visiting with my aunts, uncles, cousins, and Shug!!

Gingerbread Houses

2011-12-30T06:17:00.005-06:00

This year, we were able to decorate Gingerbread Houses twice! The first one was with the Schimmels. Remi and Brody had a good time decorating their houses while Colby and Bain ran around playing.

Our second Gingerbread house was with the Farleys. This is the third year in a row that we have done this with them. I love this tradition and hope that Sarah and I can continue getting Brody, Colby, Cason, and Linden together for this for years to come! Colby actually helped Brody decorate their house this time. They both did a great job and had a lot of fun in the process.

Kindergarten Christmas Program

2011-12-28T08:00:00.003-06:00

The Pre-K and Kindergarten classes at Brody's school put on a Christmas Program. Each class sang a couple of songs, and the Kindergartners recited the poem, "Twas the Night Before Christmas." Each child had about 4 lines to memorize. The class practiced every day for a couple of weeks. Brody was so excited in the weeks leading up to the program. He could pretty much recite the whole poem by himself and tell us who would be saying each line.

Then, the morning of the program arrived. He was okay when he first got up, but when I said it was time to get dressed, he started telling me that he didn't feel well. He said he didn't think he could make it. After confirming that he didn't have a fever, I was pretty sure that he was just nervous. By the time we pulled into the school parking lot, he was white as a sheet and still telling me he didn't feel well. He wasn't even able to eat his breakfast, which is very unlike him!

I dropped him off with his class and then went to the auditorium to get a seat with Jason, my mom, grandmother, and Jason's mom. About 10 minutes later, Brody's teacher came into the auditorium to tell me that Brody had thrown up right outside the auditorium door. I went out to check on him as his classmates took the stage. He was a little shaken up, but he said he still wanted to go on stage and say his lines. I quickly cleaned him up and walked him to the stage.

As I sat in the front row watching him, I could not have been any more proud! Even though he was so nervous that it made him physically sick, he still got up on the stage and said his lines loud and clear. His eagerness to follow through with what he started, despite his anxiety, truly impresses me!

School Christmas Parties

2011-12-28T07:17:00.010-06:00

The boys celebrated Christmas at school with class parties. I had the pleasure of helping out with Brody's party, and I had so much fun!! Brody has such a fun Kindergarten class and two amazing teachers!!!!

Yummy pizza, grapes, chips, and cupcakes...

The kids were able to paint a photo ornament. This will be a great addition to our Christmas tree!!

Let the games begin!! We started out the fun with a Christmas tree wrap game. These were some cute Christmas trees!!

Run, run Rudolph!! Rudolph Relay...

The class's favorite game, the Gift Unwrap Relay...

After Brody's party ended, he and I walked down to Colby's class to join him for the rest of his party. Colby's class also enjoyed pizza, grapes, cupcakes, and cookies!!

Kindergarten Polar Express Day 2011

2011-12-16T17:08:00.007-06:00

Brody's Kindergarten class took a trip to the North Pole today aboard the Polar Express. They all wore their pajamas and slippers, and Ms. Jennifer read the story as the conductor. Colby and I also got to board the train! Two other moms and myself had the privilege of serving nougat candies and hot chocolate to all of the kids. It was a memorable day for all!

After the story and hot chocolate, the kids played a game of "The Conductor Says." None of them were too sure how to play, but they all improved as the game went on and had a ton of fun!!!

The conductor says, "everyone get under the table." They loved it!

Before leaving the North Pole, each child received their own Polar Express Bell.

Brunch with Santa at Bluegrass

2011-12-12T14:13:00.006-06:00

We went to Brunch with Santa at Bluegrass again this year. This has definitely become a favorite Christmas tradition of ours. The boys were so excited to tell Santa about what they want for Christmas. Brody said he wants nerf guns, and Colby said Ice Age toys.

Hendersonville Christmas Parade 2011

2011-12-12T14:12:00.005-06:00

The Hendersonville Christmas Parade was on Sunday, December 4, and the weather could not have been better! Last year it was snowing and freezing cold, but this year it was in the 60's. We were able to watch and enjoy with no coats or hats!!

The boys had so much fun watching the floats and getting candy!! I love that this parade is part of our annual Christmas traditions.

Waiting for the parade to start...

We saw some friends from Brody's class on one of the floats...

Colby waved and yelled "Merry Christmas" to almost every float! It was precious!

Candy, candy, and more candy...

As always, Santa and Mrs. Claus were at the end of the parade...

Breakfast with Santa at Church

2011-12-12T14:11:00.009-06:00

Our church hosts a Breakfast with Santa each year. This is the first year we have been able to take the boys, and we had so much fun! It was set up like the Polar Express, and the decorations were awesome! There were crafts, food, and Santa Claus! I'm so glad we were able to go!

One craft room was set up to write out your Christmas List for Santa and then put it in a big mailbox. The boys took this task very seriously!!

Colby's finished list (with a little help from me) included a personal DVD player and movies...

Brody's finished list included a personal DVD player, nerf guns, and Star Wars...

Brody's first Basketball Game

2011-12-12T14:11:00.006-06:00

On Saturday, December 3rd, Brody started his first basketball season, which he has been so excited about! He is playing in a small league that plays at a church just right up the street from our house. Mason, a friend and neighbor is on the team, and his dad, Bram, is the coach. Jason and I are very excited about this! Mr. Bram is a great guy and a great coach! I can't wait to see how much Brody has learned at the end of this season.

Six month post Fontan Appointment

2011-12-05T21:36:00.003-06:00

Colby went for his 6 month post op appointment with Dr. Doyle on November 22nd. The appointment was very quick and easy, and Colby looks great! His sats were 92!!!

Dr. Doyle didn't make any adjustments to his medicines, but he did give us prescriptions for chewable forms instead of liquid. This has been so much easier!! Now, Colby just has 3 chewable tablets to take in the morning (Aspirin, Enalapril, and Axid) and 3 at night (Enalapril, Axid, and 1/2 Lasix).

We aren't scheduled to see cardiology again until June!! Truly amazing!!

Streets of Indian Lake Christmas Tree Lighting

2011-12-01T06:59:00.003-06:00

The Streets of Indian Lake has a Christmas Tree Lighting on the Friday night after Thanksgiving. This is our second year to go. It is a very small and quick event, but the boys really enjoy it! Everyone counts down from 10, and then the big tree of lights comes on. Watching their faces is priceless! I absolutely love seeing the magic of Christmas through their eyes. I am pretty sure this is going to be a very fun holiday season!!

Thanksgiving Day

2011-12-01T06:37:00.007-06:00

A few years ago, Tammy and Jeremy started hosting a Thanksgiving Day Lunch for the family, so Jason and I agreed to start a Thanksgiving Day Rotation this year...one year with my family and the next year with his family. I have to admit that as Thanksgiving Day approached this year, I started getting a little sad. I am 31 years old, and I don't think I have ever missed a Thanksgiving lunch with Granny Shug. As Jason and I always do, though, we worked out a compromise. We met Shug, my mom and dad, and Jeanine and her girls at Shug's house for breakfast, and then we went to Jeremy and Tammy's for lunch. We did really miss seeing my aunts, uncles, and cousins, but we will get to visit with them in just a couple of weeks when we get together for Christmas. Thanksgiving ended up being a great day with lots of family and fun and of course great food!!

I LOVE this picture! I can't remember the last time the 4 of us took a family picture.

At Jeremy and Tammy's House...

After a full day of playing with Harper, Darbye, Emilee, and Kylee and no nap, Brody and Colby were exhausted! They ended up laying around watching a movie. Poor Colby fell asleep in the car when we left, and our boys NEVER sleep in the car! I guess holidays are tiring for all of us!

Brody's Kindergarten Thanksgiving Feast

2011-11-29T07:46:00.004-06:00

Brody's Kindergarten class hosted a Thanksgiving Feast for the Pre-K classes. The Kindergartners dressed as Pilgrims, and the Pre-K classes dressed as Indians. They were adorable, and I think that they actually learned a lot from doing this!

As the Pre-K classes came into the gym, Brody's class lined up and said "Thank you for coming to our Thanksgiving Feast." I was busy taking pictures, and when I looked over to find Colby, he was at the end of the line welcoming the Pre-K kids like he was one of the Kindergartners. He is too funny!

Nenny and Pa's Thanksgiving

2011-11-29T07:21:00.005-06:00

As we have done for the last several years, we got together with Nenny's extended family the Saturday before Thanksgiving. We all met at Joan's house and had a great time! We only get to see many of these family members once a year, so we always look forward to this day. Pa has been experiencing some serious health issues recently, so we are very thankful that he was able to be there and that he was feeling well!! God is good!!

Fun in the Leaves

2011-11-29T06:59:00.005-06:00

One Sunday after church, Brody decided that he wanted to have a leaf fight. I'm not even sure where he came up with this idea, but luckily, the tree in our front yard had dropped plenty of leaves to accommodate this. This is actually the first year that this tree has had this many leaves. We planted it 5 years ago soon after Brody was born. It is crazy to see how big the tree and Brody have gotten over the last 5 years!

We all had a lot of fun playing in these leaves!! Who knew leaves could be so much fun?? These are the little moments that I will cherish forever...the smiles and laughs are amazing.

Tom Turkey

2011-11-07T20:17:00.002-06:00

Brody's Kindergarten teachers, Ms. Jennifer and Ms. Becky, sent home a project last week for the whole family to work on together. Our instructions were to disguise Tom Turkey as creatively as possible to keep him from being eaten as Thanksgiving dinner. The only guideline was to be sure that his eyes still showed. After discussing several different ideas, Jason convinced us that a Christmas wreath was the best way to disguise him. I think he was right!

We had so much fun working on this together as a family, and Brody did a great job disguising Tom Turkey. I think he will be safe this Thanksgiving!!

Fall 2011 Soccer Comes to an End

2011-11-07T19:57:00.005-06:00

Brody's fourth soccer season has come to an end, and the Grey Team Sharks celebrated with a party at Chik-fil-a. The team ate, played, and got their trophies, which is always a highlight for the kids. We will really miss Coach Tyson next season. He is a great coach, and Brody learned a lot from him.

We are very proud of you Brody for another great soccer season!!

Trick or Treat

2011-11-07T16:20:00.011-06:00

Halloween night was so much fun this year!!! Jeremy, Tammy, Emilee, Kylee, and Nana came over for chili, hot dogs, and chips and cheese before we all headed out to trick or treat. The boys were super excited about going door to door, and I was super excited seeing them both so happy! Halloween is such a fun and stress free holiday, which makes me absolutely love it!!!

Brody had a lot of fun handing out candy to other trick or treaters during dinner. He was so funny counting out exactly 3 pieces for each person. He said it had to be fair!!

Brody and the ghost windsock that he made during his school party

Darth Vader, Storm Trooper, and 2 cute Senoritas

Me and my boys!

First Stop: Mr. Woody's House

Tasting a few of their treats!

Brody's Kindergarten Halloween Party

2011-11-04T07:55:00.006-05:00

At the beginning of the school year, we had to sign up to help with one holiday party. I am so happy that I signed up for Halloween! There were five of us moms that worked together, and I think the party turned out great! It is much easier to plan a party when you can split up the responsibilities between 5 people!! The kids seemed to really enjoy themselves, and I know I had a great time preparing for and attending the party! These are the times I'm reminded of how truly blessed I am to be a stay-at-home mom.

Food...

Craft: A Ghost Windsock...

Games: Balloon Pop, Pumpkin Bowling, and Eyeball Relay...

Trunk or Treat

2011-11-04T07:16:00.007-05:00

Every year, our church has a huge Trunk or Treat Event. We have never been able to go for one reason or another, so we were very excited that we were able to make it this year. Once we got there, we realized we should have arrived much earlier. There was so much to do!! They had games, a "Creepy Cave," food, inflatables, and of course the trunk or treating. It was a lot of fun, and we saw lots of great friends! We will definitely make it a point to go earlier next year.

We ended the night with lighting our pumpkins and eating some of the great candy the boys got at Trunk or Treat!

Bluegrass Halloween Party

2011-11-04T06:59:00.003-05:00

Jason and I have never been to an adult costume party together...ever! In 9 years of marriage and 2 years of dating prior to that, we have just never had the opportunity. We have only dressed up one time in those 11 years and that was for a Halloween party that Brody was invited to at age 1. So, when we decided to attend a Costume Party with friends at Bluegrass this year, we were clueless about costumes. It didn't help that we made the decision to go about a week in advance...not much time to get a costume!

I checked a couple of local costume stores, but nothing really stood out to me, especially since the majority of the costumes for women were a little revealing! With two days to go before the party, my sister gave me a few suggestions, including the one we decided on...Tacky Tourists. With one day to spare, I went to the local thrift store and found both of our costumes for less than $15. The costumes were definitely last minute and not super creative, but they were very inexpensive and hilarious, especially Jason's!

The party was a lot of fun, and I would love to go again next year! Hopefully, we will spend a little more time on our costumes, though!!

The Tacky Tourists

Mario and Princess Peach

Elvis and Priscilla

Popeye and Olive Oil

Gentry's Farm

2011-11-03T16:13:00.009-05:00

The Saturday before Halloween, we met Jeremy, Tammy, Kylee, Emilee, and Nana at Nenny and Pa's house for lunch. It was great spending time with Nenny and Pa and enjoying a delicious lunch! We then went to Gentry's Farm, which is a pumpkin patch in Franklin. The day could not have been more perfect for this...it was gorgeous!! There was lots to see and do at Gentry's Farm, and we all had a lot of fun!

Play areas for the kids...

"How Tall This Fall..."

Animals to see...

Activities to do...

Brody was fascinated by the Outhouse. This is the first time he has actually seen one, except for on the movie Shrek of course. He went in an out of there several times, and each time he thought it was hilarious.

Tire Swing...

Choosing the perfect pumpkins...

Fall Fun and Pumpkin Carving

2011-11-03T15:57:00.006-05:00

Jason surprised the boys (and me) by bringing home a fire pit!! They were so excited!! We decided to break it in by making some smores. I'm sure this is just the first of many Fall nights that we will sit out by the fire and make smores. I love Fall!!!!

The boys were really excited about carving pumpkins this year. Brody helped Jason decide on the designs to carve, but then he lost interest once he realized he couldn't actually do the carving. Poor Jason ended up doing all of the work by himself. He did an awesome job, though, and both boys were very happy and proud of the pumpkins, especially the skull and cross bones!

Halloween Party at the Calonge's

2011-11-03T15:49:00.002-05:00

One of Brody's classmates and friends, Greyson, invited us to his family's annual Halloween party this year. We were all so excited about going! The day before the party, though, Colby started running a fever. There was no way Colby and I could go, but we didn't want Jason and Brody to miss out on the fun! Fred Flinstone and Darth Vader went and had a great time!! Thank you Calonge Family for an awesome party! Colby and I will be looking forward to being there next year.

Fall Break 2011

2011-10-17T17:16:00.012-05:00

Our Fall Break this year was not at all what I had envisioned, but it couldn't have been any more perfect!! I originally wanted to take the boys to the Zoo, the Adventure Science Center, and some other fun activities, but due to my injured foot and Brody having a little fever on Tuesday, we ended up spending all week at home. It was wonderful!! We played games, painted, colored, tie dyed T-shirts for the first time, decorated our front door for Halloween, watched movies, and cuddled a lot!!! It was a great break to our hectic daily schedules!

On Thursday night, we met the Richardsons for dinner and bowling. I was happy to do something special and fun as a family with some great friends!

On Saturday, we decided to take a road trip to visit some family in Cookeville. Randy and Myra invited us to come watch their youngest, Cole, in the Junior Rodeo. Brody and Colby loved it!! They rode a pony, rode a plastic bull, practiced roping, and even raced in a stick horse race. When the rodeo was over, we went to Randy and Myra's house for a delicious dinner and lots of fun! The boys rode the pony again, fed a bottle to a calf, and drove 4-wheelers. The 4-wheeler was definitely Brody's favorite part of the day. I am so happy we were able to do something new, fun, and memorable!! It was a great day!!

An Amazing Poem

2011-10-14T11:13:00.003-05:00

I was reading another heart blog this morning and saw this great poem! I can't believe I have never read this before. It does a great job of describing the feelings I have experienced since hearing Colby's diagnosis.

WELCOME TO HOLLAND
byEmily Perl Kingsley.

I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability - to try to help people who have not shared that unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It's like this......

When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip - to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum. The Michelangelo David. The gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting.

After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, "Welcome to Holland."

"Holland?!?" you say. "What do you mean Holland?? I signed up for Italy! I'm supposed to be in Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy."

But there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed in Holland and there you must stay.
The important thing is that they haven't taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place, full of pestilence, famine and disease. It's just a different place.

So you must go out and buy new guide books. And you must learn a whole new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met.

It's just a different place. It's slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after you've been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around.... and you begin to notice that Holland has windmills....and Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrandts.

But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy... and they're all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say "Yes, that's where I was supposed to go. That's what I had planned."

And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away... because the loss of that dream is a very very significant loss.

But... if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things ... about Holland.

I absolutely love this poem!! I am glad that I am able to thank God for going to Holland now! If not for Holland, I would have never experienced the past 3 wonderful years with Colby! I would have never met so many amazing heart families. I would have never made such great friends at the hospital. I would have never learned so much medical terminology. I might never have appreciated the little things in life so much. I might have never gained the amount of strength that I have gained...emotionally, physically, mentally. Jason and my relationship might not be as strong as it is now. Brody might not be the amazing kid that he is. I could go on and on and on.

Basically, without experiencing the initial heartache of going to Holland instead of Italy, I would not be who I am today and our family would not be as it is today. I cannot imagine our lives without Colby. His half of a heart makes our family whole!!! Thank you God for sending our family to Holland and for guiding us during the times we were lost!

Haircuts

2011-10-14T09:25:00.004-05:00

After weeks of Brody going back and forth between wanting his hair cut or keeping it long, he finally made up his mind last weekend...he wanted it cut! We went to the salon with him saying he wanted all his hair shaved off. I wasn't really ready for him to have a bald head, so we compromised. Colby knew exactly what he wanted too. As soon as he got in the chair, he told her, "I want spiky hair." I guess it is good that they know what they want!

Colby loves his faux hawk!

The first cut...bye bye long hair!!

Look at all of that hair!!!

A happy boy with his new haircut!

"The Man Ride"

2011-10-13T08:34:00.005-05:00

This past weekend, Jason and a great group of guys that share his love for riding did their first annual "Man Ride." One of the guys, also named Jason, did a great job of planning and getting this ride together. They drove to Tupelo on Thursday afternoon, and then the 2 day ride began Friday morning. They rode their bikes on the Natchez Trace from Tupelo to the Tin Roof 2 Restaurant in Franklin, which is over 200 miles!! The riders' families, including the boys and I, met them at the restaurant to celebrate the completion of this first ride. They are already making plans for next year's ride. I am glad Jason got the opportunity to do this. He had a lot of fun, and I am sure he made a lot of great memories!

They made it!!!

The boys were so excited to see daddy! They really missed him!

This was the completion of the first victory lap around Tin Roof 2...they then did another lap! You would think they would be ready to stop after riding 100 miles that day, but apparently they weren't!

These boys were so happy to get a hug from daddy!

Alicia and Kyle...I've known Alicia since I was about 10! We took dance together for years, and she was even in our wedding! Kyle and Jason met in the last couple of years, and they just happen to share a love for riding. It is crazy how small the world really is!

David and Maggie...this is the couple that just got married in Charleston the weekend before!

Muffins with Mom

2011-10-12T18:01:00.008-05:00

The boys' school had their annual Muffins with Mom last week. When Brody was in Preschool, he didn't start until after this day had already happened (he started school late because of Colby's first surgery). Then, his Pre-K Muffins with Mom, we were on vacation. So, I was very excited to actually get to attend this year's Muffins with Mom...with both boys!!

Colby's Muffins with Mom was on Thursday morning. I loved being able to go into his classroom, meet his friends, and watch him interact with them. He absolutely loves his class, which makes me so happy!!! He was adorable telling me everyone's names and showing me all of his artwork. He is very proud of his art, and so am I! I even found out that he has a little girlfriend named Ava. Too cute!!! The funny thing is that when Brody was in Preschool, he also had a little girlfriend named Ava. What are the chances?

Ava and Colby

This is my favorite piece of art work! I get tears in my eyes every time I look at it. I hope that Colby always remembers that he is special, because God made him!! I am sure as Colby gets older and realizes that he has restrictions because of his half of a heart, he is going to have some questions and maybe even times of frustration or sadness. I will definitely keep this verse handy to remind him how special he is..."I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." Psalm 139:14

Ms. Sharon and Colby

Ms. Patty and Colby

On Friday morning, Colby and I went to Brody's Muffins with Mom. Again, I just love seeing the boys in their enviroment and see how they interact with their friends. Brody is absolutely loving Kindergarten this year, and after spending a little time in his room, I can see why. His teachers are amazing, and he has some really good friends in his class.

I am really impressed with Brody's self portrait. It seems like just yesterday when he couldn't even draw a stick figure for a person. I love seeing him learn and grow with each day!!

Later in the day, the kids got to go into the gym for a special performance by Kevin Kidd. Colby and I decided to go back and join the fun. Kevin Kidd is a great performer, and all of the kids had a blast!

This was Brody's Preschool girlfriend, Ava. I love that they are in Kindergarten together this year! She is adorable!

Weekend Getaway

2011-10-06T10:41:00.004-05:00

This past weekend, Jason and I were able to get away together without the kids. We obviously missed them like crazy, but it is always nice (and necessary) to have a few days to spend together talking, laughing, and relaxing with no interruptions. I wish we could do this more often, but for now, I will just cherish the few opportunities that we have to do this. Thank you Poogie and Gacky for keeping our crazy boys while we were gone. They had a great time!

The reason for the getaway was to see one of my best friends from high school get married in Charleston on Saturday night. To make the most of the weekend, though, Jason and I left on Thursday afternoon. A few weeks ago, Jason had made plans for us to stay at a great hotel in Asheville, NC on Thursday night and then tour the Biltmore on Friday. This is something that I have always wanted to do, and I was so surprised and excited that he remembered this. Unfortunately, due to my being put in a boot and on crutches last week, we were unable to tour the Biltmore. That was more walking than I could handle. I was so disappointed to mess up Jason's plans, but as always, he made the best of it. We still had an amazing time in Asheville...sleeping late, driving around enjoying the beautiful scenery, and basically just loving our time together. It was so weird but wonderful to not be in a rush to get anywhere or do anything!!

We arrived in Charleston late Friday afternoon and attempted to walk around the historic downtown area. It really is a pretty place, and I would love to go back when I have two good feet!! We spent Friday night celebrating with the bride, groom, and their families. The girls had a brunch/ lingerie shower on Saturday morning for the bride, and then Jason and I just relaxed until time for the wedding. We had a wonderful weekend and made some great memories!!

Kate has been my best friend since seventh grade!! It was so wonderful to have this weekend to hang out with her and her husband, Patrick. We definitely don't get together with them enough!

Kate, me, the beautiful bride Maggie, and Aimee...the four of us cheered together in high school and are great friends.

Maggie's uncle performed the ceremony and did an amazing job! The weather was perfect, the place (Charleston Yacht Club) was great, and the bride and groom were
beautiful! I basically cried through the whole ceremony!

Mr. and Mrs. David and Maggie Callahan!!! We love these guys!

Congratulations Maggie and David! We really do love you both and feel so blessed to have you as friends. Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your big day! There is nothing better than watching my best friend marry the love of her life while sitting with the love of my life!!

Brody's First Big Boo Boo

2011-10-04T11:57:00.003-05:00

Last Wednesday, I got a call from Brody's Kindergarten teacher during school. Brody had somehow fallen out of his chair and busted his chin open on the edge of the chair. She told me over the phone that it didn't look too bad, but it would probably need at least one stitch. I was absolutely clueless of what to do next! Surprisingly, this is our first big boo boo!!

I called our pediatrician, and the nurse told me to go ahead and bring him in. So, Colby and I picked him up and went straight to the doctor's office. Brody was a nervous wreck all the way there, and I felt so bad for him. He was trying to be brave, but I could tell inside he was scared to death!

We were both very happy to hear the doctor say that the laceration wasn't quite deep enough to need stitches, and he could fix it up with glue, which the boys thought was hilarious! After five minutes, Brody was glued up and ready to go back to school. I'm sure he had fun showing off the glue to all his friends!

Warrior Dash 2011

2011-09-20T09:13:00.007-05:00

On Saturday, Jason, Jeremy, and our friend Tim competed in their first Warrior Dash in Manchester. The Warrior Dash is a 5K run with several obstacles, including climbing walls, jumping over fire, and crawling through a mud pit. It is amazing to me that around 13,000 people paid to participate in this craziness. I guess it would be something fun to say you had done at least once.

Jason has not run in probably 10 years. After his 2 major knee surgeries while still in the Marines, his knee hasn't been able to handle high stress activities. I am so impressed that he even agreed to do the race, and I am even more impressed that he finished in 36 minutes!! We are all very proud of him!! We are also happy that he is still able to walk! Jason, you never cease to amaze me! You are a WARRIOR!

Is it any wonder our kids our so goofy??

Poppy and Daphne came to support Jason and Jeremy, and they bought the kids Warrior shirts and hats. They were so cute! We couldn't get Flora and Ya Ya in the picture, but they also looked adorable!

Jason looks ready to get started...

Our little Warriors!!

Approaching the last obstacle...the mud pit!

These boys were nasty!!!

Brody was so excited that we ran into Ms. Jennifer before we left. She was heading to the start line to begin her Warrior Dash.

These boys never fall asleep in the car! So when I turned around and saw this, I knew they must be completely exhausted after our full day of Warrior Dash Fun!

Brody's First Fall 2011 Soccer Game

2011-09-12T13:16:00.004-05:00

Brody's first soccer game of the Fall 2011 Season was on Saturday. His team, the Sharks, played great, had fun, and got their first win!! Brody played really well and scored 5 goals!!! We were very impressed and proud of him.

Nashville Sounds Baseball Game

2011-08-30T16:27:00.003-05:00

On Sunday night, we attended the Nashville Sounds Game to help kickoff the 2011 American Heart Association's Heart Walk. Our team, Little Heart Heroes, will not be able to participate in the actual walk this year, so we were excited to go and be a part of this event. We got to sit on the Home Run Deck, eat great food, visit with other members of the Heart Walk Committee, and watch our kids run, dance, and play. We had a really fun time!

Cain, Brody, Callie, and Colby

Brody's 5th Birthday!

2011-08-24T16:51:00.002-05:00

Brody turned 5 years old on Monday, August 22nd! He was so excited that he got to go to school on his birthday! On Sunday night, he helped me make some birthday cupcakes for all his friends. He knew exactly what he wanted too...chocolate cupcakes, green icing, and star sprinkles. According to Ms. Jennifer, the kids loved them!

After school, we came home for a short nap before Brody's 4:00 swim lesson. We had just enough time after swimming to come home for a snack and to play with his neighborhood friends for a few minutes before his first soccer practice of the season. Brody had a great practice. His coach and teammates are all very nice, and Brody had a lot of fun kicking the ball around again. He had a tough time choosing between baseball and soccer for the fall, but I think he will be happy with choosing soccer.

When soccer practice ended, we were ready for dinner!! As always, the boys get to choose on their special days. Surprisingly, Brody chose the same restaurant Colby chose on his birthday...Blue Coast Burrito followed by Maggie Moo's. So, we had a repeat of Colby's birthday, and it was delicious!

Brody had a very busy, but great birthday! When we were leaving for school, I told him how I couldn't believe he was already five and it kind of made me sad to see him so big. He couldn't have said anything more perfect when he replied, "I'm still your baby though!" I love this sweet boy!!!

Happy Birthday Brody! We love you so much and are very proud of you! You have been through a lot over the last few years with Colby's appointments, hospital stays, surgeries, etc, and you have handled it with a maturity unheard of for a five year old! I thank God every day for you, your health, your happiness, your maturity, your spirit, your compassion, your love for all those around you, and your smile! Your smile always brightens my day!!

Wilson County Fair

2011-08-22T17:06:00.002-05:00

Last Thursday night, my sister, my mom, and I took Brody, Colby, Harper, and Darbye to the Wilson County Fair. I am so happy that Brody and Colby have 4 cousins close to their ages to grow up with! They always love doing things with Harper and Darby and Emilee and Kylee. It is so much fun to watch them with their cousins too. I hope that they stay friends for life!

The fair was a lot of fun! We stayed in the kids' section the whole time, since the kids are still so small. Poor Colby got upset several times when he couldn't ride something because of his height. I even tried to explain to one of the workers that he really is 3, and he can't help being so short. It did no good, though! He was still denied!! We just had to search for rides that he was tall enough for, which was only a few. Luckily, he has a big brother and 2 very sweet cousins that did not mind at all! They were all just happy to be there together!

Colby's 3 year Well Visit

2011-08-18T07:17:00.003-05:00

I took Colby for his 3 year well visit with Dr. Hudson yesterday. I think it was the easiest and most positive appointment Colby has ever had! It was fabulous!!!

Colby is doing great with his development. The only thing he is still a little behind on is a couple of his gross motor skills...jumping and walking steps. Dr. Hudson reminded me to put the steps into perspective. Colby is tackling steps at the size of an 18 month old. It is obviously going to be harder for him to climb them when the step comes up so high on his leg. It's like a mountain to him!!

His size is obviously still small, but he continues to grow right along his growth curve. He hasn't reached the growth chart yet, but that doesn't concern Dr. Hudson at all. As long as he is growing proportionally, he is fine! His weight actually jumped up a little more than his curve called for. Most kids don't gain much weight between 2 and 3, but Colby gained 4 lbs!!! He is now 23 lbs and 32 1/2 inches tall!!

As Dr. Hudson was examining Colby, he read the shirt Colby was wearing, "Loud and in Charge." My mom gave him this shirt for his birthday. Dr. Hudson said, "well, that pretty much sums him up doesn't it?" Yes, it does!!! He is full of life, personality, love, and he is definitely in charge of every situation!! God is good!!

Colby's First Day of Preschool

2011-08-18T07:00:00.002-05:00

I can't even believe it myself, but Colby started Preschool on Tuesday!!!! This is more proof of how far we have come in the last three years!! We are past all of his surgeries, so Jason and I feel better about him being in a school environment with all of those germs. It is obviously still not good for him to get sick, but I think his heart is more able to handle an illness now. It's funny to think that about 6 months ago, we were dealing with Colby refusing to go into Sunday School at church. He would just cry and scream until we let him stay with us. He went through some major separation issues!! I'm so glad we are past that now, and he actually loves being in a classroom with other kids his age without me!

Colby was so excited about starting school Tuesday. I think he felt like a big kid going to the same school as Brody. When I dropped him off, he gave me a hug and kiss and then said, "Be right back?" He asks this every time Jason or I leave him for any amount of time. As long as we say, "Yes, we will be right back," he is happy and ready to play!

He is very proud of his new Cars 2 backpack that he picked out!! He insisted that I take a picture of it.

Brody was so funny on the way to school. I think he was a little worried about Colby starting Preschool. He kept giving him tips and going over rules. He told Colby, "no hitting your friends, share, and if somebody hits you, you go tell the teacher!" Ha!!! I love listening to their conversations!

Colby had a great first day of school!! His teachers, Ms. Sharon and Ms. Patty, are fabulous! I think he is going to have an awesome year and learn a lot!!

Party for the Rock Stars

2011-08-15T07:18:00.025-05:00

On Saturday, we celebrated Brody and Colby's Birthdays with a Rock Star Party! They both love music and dancing, so this theme was perfect for them this year! I've realized that their list of friends to invite continues to grow with each year, so we had to limit them this year to family, neighbors, and only a couple of friends from school or swim team. We ended up with a good number of guests, and the boys had an amazing time!! We hope everyone else had as much fun as we did!

Brody and Colby were so eager to open their presents, so Jason and I let them open their present from us before the party started. They were super excited to unwrap their very own Ipod Touches!!

The kids had a great time playing in the pool, on the water slide (thank you Uncle Jeremy and Aunt Tammy for letting us borrow it!), on the playground, and playing "music" with their rock star instruments.

After pizza, it was time for cake! Colby loved hearing everybody sing "Happy Birthday" to him and getting to blow out the candles.

Brody was so excited when it was finally time for him to open his presents! Thank you for all of the great gifts that the boys received. They LOVE everything!!! These are 2 very happy boys!!

Pinata time!!! Jason was very brave (or not very smart) to hold the pinata with 2-6 year olds swinging the bat!! Brody put a small hole in it on his first swing, but luckily, it held up for everybody to get a swing or two in before it finally busted open.

Bowling

2011-08-15T07:10:00.004-05:00

Last Thursday, we participated in a Bowling for the Kids event sponsored by Big Brothers Big Sisters. I think this is a great organization, and I'm proud of Jason for participating in as many of their events as he can. Over $5,500 was raised for Big Brothers Big Sisters through this fun bowling event. This was Brody's second time to bowl...Jason took him to this same event two years ago. For Colby, this was his first time in a bowling alley. Both boys had a blast and have already asked several times to go bowling again!!

Brody and Colby loved the loud music!! They both did a lot of dancing!!

Brody's First Day Of Kindergarten

2011-08-09T07:42:00.003-05:00

How in the world did we get here? How is my little Brody big enough for Kindergarten already? The years seem to be flying by way too fast!! I may not be ready for this big milestone, but Brody is definitely ready! He was so excited for his first day of Kindergarten.

Jason was sure I was going to lose it, but luckily, I did not cry when I dropped him off. It was hard not to smile watching him go in so excited. Plus, I just kept telling myself that we will most likely get to do this first day of Kindergarten again next year. Since Brody's birthday is so late, we are considering repeating Kindergarten next year in our zoned public school. This way, he will be one of the oldest in his class, as opposed to the very youngest.

Brody has 2 fantastic teachers!! Ms. Jennifer teaches on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and Ms. Becky teaches on Tuesday and Thursday. I am really looking forward to watching Brody learn and grow under their direction. I think he is going to have a fantastic and memorable year!!

To celebrate his first day as a Kindergartner, we went for lunch at McDonalds with a couple of friends from his class. The kids had fun eating and talking about their day. The three youngest siblings, Colby, Linden, and Paige are really excited about their first day, which will be next Tuesday.

Colby's 3rd Birthday!

2011-08-04T21:54:00.005-05:00

Colby celebrated his 3rd birthday on August 4!! He woke up around 7:30 and the first thing he said was, "it's my birTday!" The boys get to plan their special days, and Colby's first choice was to have breakfast at the new McDonald's. He wanted a biscuit, a yogurt, and a chocolate milk.

As we were eating breakfast, Colby tried to show me his three fingers. It started out as 4 fingers and him saying, "I'm freeeee!" After some practice, though, he finally got it!

Colby's next choice for the day was to go to the pool. As always we had a lot of fun swimming! Coach Will was there working, so the boys got to play with him for a while! That really made Colby happy! They love Coach Will!!

For dinner, Colby wanted Blue Coast Burrito, so he could have cheese dip and chips and a cheese quesadilla. After dinner, we of course went to the boys' favorite ice cream place...Maggie Moo's. Colby asked for an ice cream cupcake, but he ended up only drinking Jason's milkshake. He loves chocolate, peanut butter, and banana milkshakes!!

We had a great day celebrating Colby's birthday! I have been in amazement all week that he is 3 now!! When I signed him up for Fall swim lessons and My Gym, I realized he is in all "big boy" classes now. No more mommy and me! This is a big milestone that makes me happy and sad all at the same time. I just can't believe how big and independent he is becoming!

The last 3 years have had many ups and downs!! It has been a roller coaster for sure! Colby has been through 2 cath procedures, 3 major heart surgeries, ER Visits, many tests and procedures, and many, many doctors' appointments. When Colby was born, we had no idea what to expect, but I will say that I don't think any of us pictured his first 3 years being this wonderful!! He has overcome and shown us just how strong he is. He is a happy, social, smart, and energetic little guy with a lot of love to give!!! God is so good, and we are very thankful for all of His blessings! I know God has big plans for our little Colby!!

Happy Birthday Colby!! We love you so much, and we are very, very proud of you! You are officially a big boy now, but you will always be my baby!!!!!

American Idol Concert

2011-08-04T21:24:00.003-05:00

Last Saturday, Jason and I were able to go on another date...2 dates in one month! We had dinner at The Palm and then went to the American Idol Concert with our friends, Craig and Jennifer. Dinner was great, the concert was awesome, and the company was so much fun!!

Our last day in Rosemary Beach

2011-08-04T20:42:00.005-05:00

Since the donuts were all sold out on Thursday, Jason and Brody went out early Friday morning to get us some donuts to enjoy on our last morning at the beach. We quickly understood why they were all sold out...they were delicious!!

After our donut breakfast, we went to the pool for one last swim before loading up and heading home. It was a great day to be in the pool! Jason ended up entertaining several kids with a beach ball. It looked like he was running a little summer camp! Our fun at the pool was a great way to end our vacation!

This was an amazing vacation! Sure, it rained more than we would have liked, but we still managed to have lots of fun and make wonderful memories! I can't wait to go back!

Family Vacation Day 5

2011-08-04T17:10:00.011-05:00

Last Fall when we went to the beach, this donut truck was closed for the season. We had heard people talk about Charlie's Donut Truck and how good it is, so we decided that we would definitely go this year. We rode our bikes down there about 8:45 am. As we parked our bikes, a man was placing the sign in the window...Sorry Sold Out. We were so disappointed!! We tried a bakery in Seacrest that sells these same donuts, and they were also sold out! No donuts for us!

We decided to go to Sugar Pies and get a cinnamon roll instead. According to the boys, they were delicious!!

It was raining on and off, but we decided to go to the beach anyways. We didn't get to stay long. Once the rain picked up and the wind was blowing, Brody was freezing!

Since the beach didn't work out, we played outside our condo with the Frisbee (or as Colby says, sibbeee), the rocket, and the beach ball until lunch time. We had so much fun!!

After the boys' nap, the rain was gone and the sun was out! We went back to the beach for some more fun in the sand and ocean.

On our last night at the beach, we ate dinner at Summer Kitchen Cafe'. Then the boys got a big snow cone to eat on the way back to the beach. We just had to go walk on the beach one more time!!

Family Vacation Day 4

2011-08-03T17:54:00.006-05:00

The fourth morning turned out to be rainy as well, so we drove to the outlet mall in Destin to do some back to school shopping. We had a great morning and got some new shorts and shirts for the boys. Jason and I even got a new pair of shorts!! We wanted to eat at Cheeseburger Charlies for lunch, but the wait was an hour. So, we ended up at Whataburger. I think this is now Brody's new favorite restaurant. It doesn't take much to please us!!

Colby was up and ready to go swimming after nap, but Brody was still sleeping. Colby decided he needed to wake him up!!

We went swimming at the pool and then went to the condo for showers and baths. Since the rain had cleared out and it was a beautiful night, we wanted to get some nice pictures on the beach. I love the pictures we have from our past beach trips, so I was excited to get some during this trip too!

Family Vacation Day 3

2011-08-03T17:38:00.007-05:00

Our third day at the beach turned out to be a rainy one. After breakfast, the rain stopped and we thought we were clear to go out. After only riding a short ways down the street, though, it started pouring!! By the time we turned around and found shelter, we were soaked! I never thought I could have so much fun out in the rain!

We didn't let the rain stop us from having fun! We got in the car and headed for an area farther down the beach to look for a cool place to eat. By the time we found one, the rain had stopped! We ate at Bud and Alley's, which is right on the water. It turned out to be a nice afternoon, and we had a great view for our lunch!

After a fun dinner at the condo, we went back over to the beach to walk around and enjoy the ocean. We of course stopped for a milkshake on the way back from the beach!! Milkshakes became pretty common for Brody while we were at the beach!

Family Vacation Day 2

2011-07-26T11:09:00.009-05:00

On our second full day, we went over to the beach. It is across the street from our condo, so we all rode our bikes. Colby rode along in the trailer behind Jason's bike along with all of our beach stuff. Poor little guy was so crammed in you could barely see his little head!

The boys had so much fun at the beach. They loved playing in the sand, finding seashells, and walking in the ocean. Unfortunately, there was a lot of seaweed in the water!! We had to take baths as soon as we left, because the boys had seaweed everywhere!!!

After nap, we went out for a long bike ride. I think this is Brody's favorite part of Rosemary Beach. He loves riding his bike, and he thinks it is so cool that he is able to ride everywhere while we are there. We rode around for a while and then went to dinner.

Colby didn't go anywhere on this trip without his lunchbox full of Cars.

Brody is a great little photographer. He always takes a picture of me and Jason, which I am very thankful for.

The restaurant was right next door to a cute little toy store named GiGi's. We of course had to go in and look around. Colby picked out a frisbee to buy, and Brody picked out a rocket launcher. Both of these toys came in very handy during this vacation! We played with them a lot!

When we got back to the area in front of our condo, Jason decided to show Brody how the rocket works. Unfortunately, on his first shot, he got it stuck in a tree!

We tried everything we could think of to get it down, including me getting up on his shoulders. We just could not get it, though! Poor Brody!! In a last attempt, Jason threw the launcher part up into the tree. When it came back down, it broke, and we still didn't have the rocket! About 30 seconds after this happened, a nice man came over with a ladder. A little late, but at least he was able to reach the rocket. We now had a broken launcher and a rocket. Jason somehow managed to get it to work for the night, though. We went back to the store the next day for a new one. Brody was a very good sport about all of this!

Family Vacation Day 1

2011-07-26T11:00:00.005-05:00

We left for our vacation to Rosemary Beach as soon as Brody's swim meet ended on Saturday. It was a long drive!! I think we heard "when will we be there," "how many more hours," and "I want to be there right now" about 200 times! After the fourth hour, it just became comical. If Jason and I didn't laugh about it, we might have exploded!

We finally got to the beach around 8. We checked out the amazing condo and then went out for a quick dinner. The condo had a cool bunk room for kids, so the boys wanted to sleep together. After two nights of partying late instead of going to sleep, though, Jason and I separated them!! We will have to try that again next year.

On our first full day at the beach, the boys wanted to go swimming at the pool. It was a great pool!! It had really long steps, which Colby loved playing on and practicing his swimming (big arms, kicking, and blowing bubbles). Brody had fun playing with him, diving for dive sticks, and swimming laps.

After a morning of swimming and a quick nap, we drove into Panama City for dinner. We of course also had to go to the Super Target to get the boys a "prize" that we had promised them. They could have picked anywhere, and they chose Target!! I have trained them well!!

Since the restaurant was right across from the pier, we went for a walk after dinner. It was a gorgeous night and the temperature was perfect! I loved every second of walking down that long pier with my 3 favorite boys!

Swim Team Fun Fridays

2011-07-26T10:34:00.007-05:00

On Fridays this summer, the swim team had what they call "Fun Friday." The coaches announce a theme and the kids come to practice Friday morning dressed up in that theme.
This has been a lot of fun! Brody has really enjoyed getting to dress up each Friday. Below are the pictures from each of the Fun Fridays.

Rain Boots...Brody doesn't have any rain boots, so he wore his snow boots.

Adventure Day...Brody and Remi both dressed for a Hawaiian Adventure.

Greek God or Olympic Athlete...

Decades Day...Brody went with the 50's and looked like he stepped straight out of the movie Grease.

Harry Potter...this was Brody's favorite.

After a short practice on Fun Friday, they always get to play games and have fun!!

Silly Awards Day...On the last Fun Friday of the season, the coaches gave out silly awards. Brody won the Hollywood Shades Award. They described this as a Bluegrass Star, someone who fights off his fans and stands out!

City Swim Meet 2011

2011-07-26T10:21:00.005-05:00

Brody competed in his first City Swim Meet at Centennial Sportsplex on Saturday, July 23. It was a very early morning! We had to be there for warm ups at 6:30, which meant waking up both boys from a dead sleep. Plus, we were surprising the boys by heading straight for the beach from the meet, so we had to have our car completely packed for a week away from home...bikes and all. It was a crazy morning, but worth every second of craziness! Brody did amazingly well!

Brody's first race was his 25 yard Freestyle. His seed time for this event was 1:00, and he finished in 41.74 seconds...almost 20 seconds faster!!! This put him 75th out of 106 six and under boy swimmers. His seed time for the 25 yard backstroke was 58.88 seconds, and he finished in 46.90 seconds...a 12 second improvement!! This placed him 65th out of 89 six and under boy swimmers. His relay team finished 3rd! The coaches joked at practice that the City Meet Pool was magic, and I think they might be right!

The Marlins finished as the AA City Meet Champions!! We are so proud of Brody and all of the Bluegrass Marlins Swimmers. We are already looking forward to next season!!

Bluegrass Marlins vs Cages Bend Breakers

2011-07-21T08:29:00.004-05:00

Tuesday was Brody's last regular swim meet for this season. It was at home against the Cages Bend Breakers. It was a close meet, but Cages Bend ended up winning in the end to break Bluegrass's undefeated season.

Colby had a great time as usual playing with all of the 6 and under girls. The pictures below show how he spends most of the day...surrounded by girls! He is a mess!

When Colby is not playing and talking to the girls, he is playing with his buddy Nate. They love playing in the baby pool together.

Brody getting ready to line up at the Clerk of Course Tent with the other 6 and under boys...

Kaleb and Brody...

Brody showing off the ribbons he got for winning his heat in the Freestyle and the Backstroke! This was the first time he has ever won his heat, and he was so excited!!! Jason and I were excited and proud too!

All of Brody's times improved once again this swim meet. He finished his Freestyle in 46.03 taking 12th place in the 6 and under boys division. He got his backstroke time under a minute...58.75 taking 9th place! This is the one that really impresses me, considering he only learned the backstroke a month ago! His IM time also improved...2:04, which earned him 9th place. Because of his faster freestyle time, he was placed in the B Relay for this meet, and they finished in 2:47 earning 2nd place!!!! We are so proud of you Brody!

Another big milestone for Colby!

2011-07-17T08:22:00.002-05:00

Colby has now pooped in the potty twice!! The first time was about a week ago, and I honestly thought it was just a fluke. He did it again yesterday, though!! I cannot believe it! He is only 2, and he's already taking this big step. He is very proud of himself for being a "big boy", and we are proud of him too!

First Dive Lesson

2011-07-15T09:33:00.002-05:00

At Brody's swim lesson with Coach Will last week, he worked on diving. This was the first time that Brody has ever attempted diving, and he did great! He impresses me with how well he listens and follows directions. These are two skills that will serve him well for the rest of his life!

I can't believe Brody is only 4 and is already learning to dive, has taken almost 2 minutes off of his backstroke time in the last month, and has gained a lot more confidence in the water. If he continues to love swimming and continues listening so well to his coaches, he will be an unbelievable swimmer when he gets older!

A trip to the ER

2011-07-06T17:27:00.007-05:00

On Tuesday morning, Colby woke up crying and very agitated. We could not get him comfortable. I have not seen him like this since he was recovering from his Fontan, and to be honest, it was really scary! Brody had swim practice, so Jason and I thought Colby would calm down in the car on the way to the pool (he has always enjoyed car rides). He did stop crying, but he just didn't look like he felt well at all and his color was horrible. He has been very pink since his Fontan, so seeing him blue/gray again was very unsettling. His breathing was also very labored.

Without even thinking, I took him straight to the pediatrician's office. I wanted someone to check his sats and listen to his lungs and heart. I was concerned that he either had a respiratory illness or something was wrong with his heart. As soon as I told the receptionist that he was a heart patient and was having trouble breathing, a nurse came and took us straight back. His regular pediatrician was out, so she got one of his partners to come in and check Colby out. His sats were in the low 80s. That used to be an acceptable number for him, but since he has had his final repair, his sats really shouldn't be below 90. They started him on some oxygen and his sats only rose to about the upper 80s. He sounded fine, had no signs of illness (fever, runny nose, etc), and was no longer crying. There was absolutely no explanation for his sats to be so low.

So, the pediatrician did the only thing he knew to do and that was to send us to Vanderbilt Children's ER. Unfortunately, he required us to go by ambulance. He wanted to be sure Colby could stay on some oxygen and be monitored for the 30 minute drive.

In the ambulance heading to the hospital...

When we arrived, the nurses and doctors immediately started assessing him. They decided to keep him on some oxygen, draw some blood for labs, take a chest x-ray, and do an EKG...all of the normal tests. Colby was not very enthusiastic about the blood being drawn. He was stuck in a few different places before they finally found a vein that would work. Our poor boy is just so scarred up from all of the blood draws, IVs, etc.

Colby was also not enthusiastic about the oxygen. He has never liked having to wear oxygen, especially the nasal cannula. It was a battle trying to keep it on him!!

After about an hour or two on oxygen, they decided to take it off and see what happened. He was more than happy to get rid of that nasal cannula, and we were more than happy to see his sats hang in the low 90s with no oxygen!! Once that nasal cannula came out, he was a whole new person! He was back to being crazy Colby...singing, making jokes, laughing, and being LOUD!

All of the test results came back about 4 hours later, and we still knew nothing! Everything looked great, which was good news, but also frustrating. We have no idea what caused his sats to drop like that! The attending cardiologist mentioned that several things can cause sats to drop, one of which was dehydration. He didn't think Colby was dehydrated, but we did spend the entire day before outside...the morning at the pool and the afternoon playing outside and watching neighbors shoot fireworks. Another thought was maybe he had some heart rhythm issues, so after leaving the ER, we went up to the cardiology clinic to get a halter monitor. He had to wear the monitor for 24 hours. I have mailed that back to them, so they will review the recorder and see if he experienced any rhythm issues during that 24 hour period. I guess we will wait and see.

Thankfully, Colby has been absolutely fine since then. I am praying that this episode was just a fluke and will not happen again. These scares really take a toll on all of us!!

Brody was a trooper as always!! Jason picked him up from swim practice, and they met us at the ER. Colby was pretty happy to see his big brother! It was a long day, but Brody hung in there and didn't complain. I think he was too excited about getting to skip his nap!!

Annual 3rd of July Fireworks

2011-07-04T09:40:00.012-05:00

As we have done every year for the past several years, we celebrated the 4th of July by having a cook out on July 3rd. The kids played, the parents talked, we all ate, and then watched the Drakes Creek Fireworks from our front yard. I think everyone had a great time...I know we did!!!

Some great friends...

Mr. Nick brought over sparklers this year, and the kids loved it!

The fireworks started about 9, and everyone was ready to sit down and watch. Everyone that is, except Colby and a few other kids. They were ready for a dance party!

Brody wouldn't take his eyes off the fireworks even for a quick picture. He was absolutely fascinated again this year.

I try to get a group picture of all the kids every year, and every year, it gets harder! This was the best picture we could get. It's not easy getting 17 kids to stop, look, and smile at the same time!

U2 Concert

2011-07-03T08:22:00.006-05:00

Last night, Jason and I went out on our first date since before Colby's surgery. We waited way too long for a night out alone together!! We get so wrapped up in the day to day family activities that we forget to take time for just the two of us. This is one of the things that I am trying to make a priority from now on. One date every 3-4 months is not acceptable!

Our night out started with dinner at Maggianos with Jeremy and Tammy and Tim and Wendy. Our friends and neighbors, Nick and Kelly, were supposed to have dinner with us, but Kelly is about 34 weeks pregnant with their third child and was recently put on bed rest. We missed you Kelly!! After dinner, Jason and I and Nick and Jeff (Kelly's stand-in) walked over to Vanderbilt's Football Stadium for the U2 Concert. It was extremely hot, but we had a great time!

It is hard to tell from this picture, but the stage was unbelievable! It was huge...going from sideline to sideline on the football field. I don't think anyone had a bad seat! The technology (lights, videos, moving stage walkways) used during the show was amazing. It was a great show and a great date night with Jason!!