Brandon and Mandy's Wedding

Brandon (BJ's brother) and Mandy got married on October 3rd! It was such an exciting occasion, and we were honored that they wanted the boys as ring bearers (although, at the last minute them actually CARRYING the rings got vetoed... could have SOMETHING to do with Sam repeatedly throwing the pillow on the ground... I'm not sure!?) OH! And BJ was the best man! ;-) He was so thrilled when Brandon asked him - it really meant the world to him!

Here we are on the way... Sam fell asleep - he had just woken up from a 2-hr nap, and he fell asleep on the 20 minute ride to the wedding!?

Jake was just uncomfortable. He kept telling me he couldn't breathe!We finally made it... Jake hammed it up right away!The cake!Here I am walking the kids TO the isle...Jake wouldn't let me put him down, so I made a 'game-time decision' and kept Jake and sent Sam on up the isle. He did GREAT! He took the pillow right to BJ. I went around the outside to intercept him on his way out, but Sam turned around and went back DOWN the isle!!!! By the time I realized and got back to him, he was at the end of the isle yelling, "Mommy? MOMMY?" It was quite endearing (but it was my kids and wasn't my wedding... I hope everyone else thought it was cute too!?!?)Here's BJ with 'his' ring pillow!!!!! (Lucky Daddy was the best man, huh?)Here comes the bride...I promised a sucker if they walked down the isle and did a good job at the wedding (OK... so I just wanted them to be quiet during the ceremony), so here's the reward! My bad for choosing purple!!!There goes the bride (and groom)!And the best man...Jake making his rounds after the ceremony!Sam just wanting POOOOOOOP POOOOOOOOP... [**extremely whiny voice here**]Our little family (waiting for the photographer to tell us what/when he needed (of) the boys)!There was a server walking around with trays of hors de vours, and Jake LOVED the crab cakes. He kept saying, "I want crabs!"The photographer was taking their picture, and Jake wouldn't look. Finally, I announced to Jake that I had crab cakes! That got a look AND a smile!!!!Jake was DONE with being outside... it was REALLY hot!!!Jake and his lady friend... I mean the flower girl! She was adorable, and just kept laughing at Jake!Jake finally getting some water!!!Sam thought the music was loud... what a prude!Jake LOVED it, and couldn't wait to DANCE!!!!Silly Sam...Jake making friends! Everyone thought he was so cute and funny... I lost count of how many people wanted their pictures with him!!!!Still dancing...Jake and the Maid of Honor (Mandy's sister, Maggie)Jake being cheesy with Daddy!Jake not wanting to go back to the table... he wanted to DAAAANCE!!!!More dancing with the ladies...And his flower girl(friend)...Talking/dancing with Opa and Ernie...Sam waiting on his cake... so he could leave!!!!!Jake hiding under the table...Me and Mandy...

Everything was beautiful and perfect for their special day!!!! We loved being there and being a part of their incredible day! They have since been to Aruba for a week, back to Atlanta for 17 hours, and onto New York.... yep, they're moving to New York. Brandon has secured two different jobs, and is pursuing his career in the restaurant business. What an exciting time in their lives! Perfect timing to take on new adventures! Best of luck to them --- they are going to do great!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! WE LOVE YOU GUYS!!!!

HAPPY 2nd BIRTHDAY JAKE!!!

Two years ago, a (big) little miracle entered our lives. Jake is two-years-old today! Every baby is an unbelievable miracle, but Jake is an extra measure of God's love, mercy, and grace on our lives. He shouldn't be here today... much less doing SO well! He is a 'normal' healthy little guy, and no one would ever guess what he has been through in his short little life. THAT is the miracle I am talking about!

Jake was born with four heart defects, two of which should have cost him his life. He had a 9-hour open heart surgery at six-days-old, and another emergency surgery that same night where he actually did die. God put the right people in the right place at the right time to let us enjoy our little miracle today! And what a joy he is to our family! We don't/can't stop smiling when he is around!

Our miracle workers:

Lyndsey Piland - Jake's Guardian Angel... that just says it all! She was there by our side every step of the way and was in charge the night Jake had his emergency surgery, and it is because of her that the right people were in place that Jake needed that day and evening (and more).
Dr. Kirshbom - aka Superman... God gave him an amazing talent to perform these miraculous surgeries on our little guy, and he did not squander this gift from God.
Dr. Samai - Jake's cardiologist, who prepared us for what was to come with Jake, and has been so personal and supportive of us and of course Jake. He is an amazing doctor - again, extremely gifted by God, and chooses to use his God-given gifts and talents for wonderful things.
CICU Staff - they were just amazing in Jake's care and quick recovery.
My parents - who watched over Sam, Jake and us during this trying time... they are amazing, giving and loving people. We would not have made it through without them by our side every step of the way!
Our friends and family - aka prayer warriors... there are too many to name, but these were the people who prayed for us, fed us, called us, wrote us, and lifted us up in so many ways multiple times a day. Prayer is a VERY powerful thing!

Looking at this picture brings back so many memories, not to mention tears! This is Jake less than a week old...
And here he is today! I call him my fearless kamikaze! He will run, jump (launch), swim, dive, ride (usually saying, "Go faster!"), anything and everything! Nothing bothers him, scares him or slows him down! I LOVE IT!!!!! After Jake's story, NO ONE can say that God isn't listening or that He isn't in the miracle business!

Two years ago seems like a lifetime ago, yet it feels like just yesterday. I fear that one day these memories may fade, or that I won't 'appreciate' my little Jake enough... so far, that is far from the case! I can look back at pictures and re-live the details of each day in the hospital, I can feel that pressure in my chest, I can bawl my eyes out, I can smell the smells of the hospital, I can hear the beeps of the equipment, I can remember the nurses and doctors, I can remember the meds and machines, I can see his little heart beating (literally)... all of these things are still so vivid. Thank God! I don't want to ever take EITHER of my children for granted!

In these past couple of years, we have had the pleasure of using Jake's story to comfort other families in similar situations, to offer hope, to offer understanding and to offer support. Recently, a family we were supporting lost their son after a month in the CICU. He was born with other issues along with a CHD, which they weren't aware of until birth. My heart breaks for these families that have lost their children. I cannot imagine such a loss. On the flip-side, my heart rejoices with those families who get to go home with their babies. It is a range of emotions that I honestly would rather NOT deal with. The pit in your stomach and the choking feeling in your throat is not fun. BUT, God has led us down this road, and we choose to do something with it, and not just to leave it behind us. If that means re-living our experience, or experiencing heartache with other families, and joy with others; that is what we will do.

For today, though, I am just so thrilled to be able to sweep my little baby up into my arms, give him a BIG kiss and tell him HAPPY BIRTHDAY (and probably tickle him a little because his laugh is infectious)!

I love you Jake Robert!!! Happy Birthday!!!

Caught-Up to a Fault...

I am a 'List Person.' Sometimes to a fault. I have lists for my lists... it's borderline insane, but my greatest fear about going somewhere is to not have something I need. Which leads me to another problem/fault. I take EVERYTHING with me... To me, it's like being caught with your pants down if there is a need for something and I don't have it (for my family anyway... I can't even BEGIN to project what other people might need!)

This being said, we are off to BJ's brother's wedding and then Disney World tomorrow... and I am also one of those people who want the house clean, dishwasher empty, no dirty dishes in the sink, all laundry done and put away, house picked up, etc, etc. SOOOO.... part of my need for organization and to be caught up on absolutely EVERYTHING seems to include my blog! Yay!!!


My usual list of things I don't want to forget (see, even lists for my kids!):

• We took Jake to the cardiologist the other day, and he is still doing wonderful. I'm not gonna lie, there's always that gut-check moment waiting for the doctor to confirm this! He even said that, at this rate, that Jake may even make it to his teen years before he has to have surgery on his coarc again! Wow! What a little miracle!!!
• Before Sam's first week of school, Mimi and Pop Pop got Jake so Sam and I could have some 'special time.' It was a wonderful week with my big little guy! But when we left the farm, we just left... no formal good-byes or anything. We didn't want Sam getting upset that Jake was staying. Before we even got out of the driveway, Sam was asking, "Where's Jake? Where's Jake's seat? Should we go back and get him? After school, can we go back and get him?" I don't know if he was more concerned that Jake got 'left' or if he was afraid Jake would have fun without him!?
• BJ got Sam out of bed on his first day of school, and Sam said, "Where's Mommy? This is Sam and Mommy's special day... but you can come to my birthday, Dad!" [And bring a gift, I am sure!]
• We were walking through Wal-Mart and Sam said to me, "Jake's an idiot!" After making him repeat that to be sure I heard what I thought I heard, I had to explain that 'idiot' is a bad word... ugh! Where did he learn that???
• Jake smacks his lips when chewing! VERY endearing (right now). I'm sure when he's 30 it won't be anymore, but right now, I think it's precious!
• This morning at breakfast, Sam asked, "Can Daddy just go to the houses and get candy for me?" After some deep thinking (I have Disney on the brain, people), I realized he was referring to Halloween! What a lazy bum!!!!!!! :-)
• Which leads me to the vast difference between my two boys. Jake is VERY independent. His mantra is "Me do it." And by that, I mean EVERYTHING... and he gets SOO upset when I try to help him! Sam, on the other hand would let me do EVERYTHING FOR him! Why, just this morning, he called me to his room to get his flashlight... it was laying BESIDE him (basically TOUCHING him) in his bed!!!! It's not that he didn't see it - he just wanted ME to pick it up for him!!!!! Really... I'm not lying!!!! It's that way ALL day... makes me laugh so much, though!!!

Picture time...


Sam and Jake on the grasshopper at the playground...

Jake eating a cupcake. I had my hand down while helping Sam with his, and Jake just dove his head right in... literally!Sam's first day of 3-yr-old pre-school... I took his picture 'going out the door,' and he proceeded to EVERY door in the house wanting a picture! I obliged! ;-)I didn't post ALL of them, but who can resist Sam's cheesy grin?In the carpool line...Getting out...After school when I picked him up... he got in the car and proceeded to the back-back seat and buckled up! What a ham... No worries - I made him get in his car seat... although I would be lying if I didn't admit that I considered letting him ride back there! He was so cute about it!
Sam did great at school. His teacher called to give me a report, and he was really good and had a great time. He said he got to play on the 'big playground,' and he ate cupcakes and crackers, and played with Everett. What a cutie!
The pencil he made at school...Here, we're at a birthday party with Bo and Jen...This really needs no words... they're at Mimi and Pop Pop's house...Jake with his foot on the table saying, "Me eat, Mommy!"Warning: spoiler!!!! Sam's Batman costume for Halloween! He's 3, and this is a 3T/4T. WAAAAAY too small, in case you can tell! It's so tight that the mask pulled his nose up!!!!Jake is going to be Buzz... what a cutie! His fit fine!!!! ;-)The 'big boy' Batman... much better!!!BJ (in preparation for the trip, of course) mowing the grass with his little helper... BJ took his shirt off, and Sam ran up to me shortly after holding his shirt so he could be like Daddy! Jake was running around mowing the grass and promptly took his off too.... he just wouldn't slow down for a picture!!!!Ahhh.... (one of) my little angel(s)! They are just so sweet and innocent and peaceful when they're asleep...

OK... onto the next item on the 'To Do List.'

Disney or Bust!!!

Best of Intentions

Oh No! It would appear that I have had the greatest of intentions with no execution! No blogging!?!?! My bad!

Here's my update:

WE LEAVE FOR BRANDON AND MANDY'S WEDDING... AND...

DISNEY WORLD

IN 9 DAYS!!!! WOO HOO!!!!

I will try to post some pictures before then... but don't hold your breath!!!!! ;-)