The BIG Snow of 2015

We don't get a lot of snow, so when we get ANY,
WE MAKE THE MOST OF IT!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ayden & Jude: A Five-Year Friendship

We have journeyed the past five years closely with Jude's family, as Jude was born only the month before Ayden at Vanderbilt. Jude was also born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, and the boys' surgeries, struggles, and victories often coincided. We often nervously joked that the boys seem to follow each other around the hospital... from the floor to the PCCU and back again.

The first blog post that marked the beginning of our friendship can be found here: http://whattoblogwhenyouareblogging.blogspot.com/2010/06/buddies-ayden-jude.html.

Our families remain good friends. I don't know what I would do without Diana, Jude's mother, and I know that Ayden adores his heart buddy, Jude. Together we will walk as part of the Lionhearts Team. We will walk on May 16th for our families and for others.

Will you walk with us?
http://events.congenitalheartwalk.org/site/TR/Walk/General?team_id=2450&pg=team&fr_id=1150

December 2010 - The boys officially meet each other.

February 2011 - Zoo

March 2011

April 2011 - Boys' First Birthday Party

May 2011

July 2011

September 2011

November 2011

January 2012

May 2012

June 2012 - Post-Fontan Surgery
"on the floor" and unhappy

August 2012 - Adventure Science Museum

March 2013 - Jude's 3rd Birthday Party

April 2013

June 2013

November 2013

March 2014 - Jude's Birthday

April 2014 - Ayden's Birthday

LIONHEARTS' AUCTION

We need YOUR help with the Lionhearts' Auction!

Amy, a precious friend of ours, is doing a Facebook auction during Heart Week, February 7-14, to raise money for the Lionhearts. Amy is gradually adding her own creations to the auction; however, WE NEED YOUR HELP as well! Please consider donating items to the auction.

I know we have CREATIVE FRIENDS who make and do amazing things (and whose children make amazing things!!!), and I know we have FRIENDS IN SALES who have items people would love to try, and I know we have FRIENDS WITH CONTACTS who could obtain signed items or event tickets! If you are interested in donating to the auction, please message Amy through her fAveritte creations Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/p…/fAveritte-creations/167262824900.

If you don't think you can donate something to the auction, PLEASE BID on items starting FEBRUARY 7th! We are so grateful for you all!

Lionhearts Nashville Congenital Heart Walk Fundraising page:
http://events.congenitalheartwalk.org/site/TR/Walk/General?team_id=2450&pg=team&fr_id=1150

The Lionhearts

Our family is a part of the Lionhearts Team for the May 16th Nashville Congenital Heart Walk. Please read the following for a snapshot of how our team came together and why we are participating:

OUR HEART STORY
Once upon a time in the year 2010 at Vanderbilt Children's Hospital in Nashville, TN, three families were forever joined by Courage, Hope, and Determination. Our children, born with a congenital heart defect (CHD) called hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS), would fight for their lives over the course of three major heart surgeries, and, in one case, a heart transplant. One son, Tristan, was embraced by his Father in heaven.

Even with the heartache and struggle, our families have experienced so much joy and hope in the lives of these children. In response to our personal journeys, the families of Blake & Tristan, Jude, and Ayden will be participating in the May 16th Nashville Congenital Heart Walk as the Lionhearts.

Why help us fundraise for the event?

Congenital heart disease is the most common birth defect and the leading cause for birth-defect-related deaths worldwide. How common? Nearly 1 in 100 babies are born with a congenital heart defect. Congenital heart defects are actually 60 times more prevalent than childhood cancer. However, unless one has family or friends who have a child with a heart defect, one doesn't hear much about CHD.

Awareness is important to medical advancement. Awareness provides funds. Our families are grateful for medical advancements. Had our boys been born before 1981 (the first successful Norwood procedure was performed that year), they would not have survived more than a few days. Certainly, there is a need for research funds, for medical support, for family support, and for awareness. We will be fighting the heart battle for the remainder of our lives, both for our sons and for other families. These children are worth the fight!

"Be strong and let your heart take courage, all you who hope in the Lord" (Psalm 31:24).

To join us in the walk or to donate to the cause, please go to the following address: http://events.congenitalheartwalk.org/site/TR/Walk/General?team_id=2450&pg=team&fr_id=1150

Links to Blake and Jude's stories can be found to the right of our blog page under "Folks We Follow."

Ayden with his little brother, Brogan

Blake with his twin sister, Lauren

Jude with his little brother, Samuel

Nashville Congenital Heart Walk - May 16th

Our oldest son, Ayden, was born with a congenital heart defect (CHD) called hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS). Essentially, Ayden was born with half of a developed heart and had to undergo three planned (and some unplanned) surgeries to reroute his blood flow. His life is miraculous. His struggle (and ours) in those first couple of years was intense. 

Though Ayden's heart has thus far been a success story, he still deals with some developmental issues with his gross motor skills and feeding. However, if you were to look at our son and interact with him, you probably wouldn't even know Ayden has a serious CHD... only his scar gives him away.

Congenital heart defects have no cure. One can't "fix" a CHD. We don't know what the future looks like for Ayden's heart. The oldest survivors with the same three surgeries are in their early 30s.

Over the past few years, we have become more and more involved in the heart community. So many people have supported us in our journey, and we hope to help others in the same way. We have grown to love many families, and we wear their burdens and their joys. We are all working hard to make the struggle better.

One way we can help is by participating in special events, such as Nashville's Congenital Heart Walk on May 16th. Events such as these help raise awareness for CHDs; they also help raise funds for research and family aid.

Our family humbly requests your participation. Please consider donating to this fundraiser, and/or please join us in the walk as a participant on our Lionhearts team!

We are grateful for your part in our journey. We are so immensely blessed!

Ayden's Lionheart Donation Page: http://events.congenitalheartwalk.org/site/TR/Walk/General?px=1072161&pg=personal&fr_id=1150

Playing Sports

In 2014, Ayden played soccer in the spring and baseball in the fall. We discovered that he has a huge left kick (he took a lot of corner kicks!); he takes direction very well and makes adjustments easily; he's quick to say what he is thinking about the coach or other players (e.g. telling the coach his pitch was "pitiful"); and sometimes the biggest victories are getting all the way around the bases without being thrown out or tagged out! Ayden was ALL SMILES in both sports, and the coaches provided super positive experiences for him. He loves athletics, and we saw so much improvement over both seasons. (During his first at bat, he ran the wrong direction around the bases. He never made that mistake again! :))

Ayden liked baseball better, so he will be playing again this spring. Bryan played a lot of baseball growing up, and he really enjoyed helping out with coaching Ayden's team, so Bryan is thrilled that Ayden loves it so much.

Brogan will be playing soccer this spring. I know Brogan is tired of sitting on the sidelines, even if it does mean eating a lot of yummy snacks. We are all excited to have both boys participating in organized athletics this year!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Playing Pitcher

 

 

 

 

Snacks in the Dugout

 

 

 

 

 

 

Playing in the gravel was a big hit for Brogan!