Beach Trip!

We have had a great but busy summer and know that it is coming to an end really soon! I can't believe that the twins will start preschool this fall, it is so exciting! We took our family vacation at my grandparents beach house in Blue Mountain Beach, FL. We stayed 5 nights and had a great time. We encountered all kinds of wild life while we were there, and even road a pirate ship. We made some great memories and can't wait until our next vacation. Here are some pictures from our trip, I hope you enjoy!

Summer Time!

Well we have three accomplished swimmers on our hands! I taught the twins first and it wasn't a week and Laeton followed! It is a great way to start our summer!

One year ago today...

One year ago today we faced our fears and put our trust in the hands of some incredible Surgeons, cardiologists, anesthesiologist, and pulmonologist. It took them an expected 9 hours to complete his heart surgery and the outcome couldn't have been better. So many tears were cried and prayers were said from all over the world. So many memories flood my mind when I go back to that day but the one that really holds me and lets me know that God was holding our hands the whole time was about 6:00 a.m. and we were already in the holding room that you are in before you child is wheeled away to surgery. I can remember standing there shaking with nerves wondering how I was gonna let these people take my child from me, granted I knew it was for his best but so so hard to do. Any mom or parent who has gone through a similar experience can understand. But we were standing by his side and we had just spoken to Dylon's anesthesiologist and the surgeon had just walked up and was asking some other questions about Dylon b/c we had to move his surgery up a few weeks b/c things had gotten worse for him. The door flew open and it was our Pastor Amy from our church in our hometown, remember this hospital is huge with several different elevators and 21 floors and she miraculously found us. How she found us on that floor I will never know but she walked up and without and hesitation I asked Dr.Fraser if she could pray over the situation and we all bowed our heads, Dr.Frasier, anesthesiologist and a few nurses and prayed! That was a moment that will forever be untouchable! They then gave him something in his I.V. that made him sleepy and they wheeled him back. The surgery was a very long 9 hours but all went extremely well. We saw him like the photo below for the first time after surgery. (TCH did an awesome job controlling his pain)

Now Dylon is such a healthy, nonfearing, baseball loving, handsome little guy. He has just really blossomed this past year and we couldn't be more excited for him. God really showed up and showed out.

I often wonder why we didn't know about Dylon's condition until he was 2 1/2 but I know it was in good timing. But to all expecting moms please insist that your newborn gets a simple heart screening test, it could save thousands of lives.

Thank you to all who kept up with my blog or facebook updates and prayed for our little guy. We love you all so much!

God Bless!

Shelli

ps check out Mandi's blog, she too blogged about this day, just click here

Whats been keeping me busy?

I know it has been a few months since I posted, I do appologize for that. My time has been consumed with a booth my friend and I have opened up in a local emporium. We named our little booth Polkadots and lollipops, you can find it on facebook. We do all kinds of stuff but mainly children's clothes(see above photos). We try and sew twice a week together and we let our kids play while we sew. We have been very impressed with how well they play together. I am hopeing that we will open up an etsy store soon.

So the time that I would usually blog, I have been sewing. I learned to sew from my grandmother Cotton. I made my first quilt with her and I still have that quilt. I learned to sew on a singer sewing machine that wasn't all digital like the one I use now. It has been quit a few years since she taught me how, I was probably in elementary school or early middle school when I learned. I never really thought I would ever really get into sewing, but I have really enjoyed it and any questions I have, I usually call her but thankfully I haven't had to many problems!

On another note, can you believe it has already been a year since Dylon's surgery? I think this time last year we were either on a plane headed out to Houston,Tx or we were already there. It is so amazing to watch him and know just how big of a miracle he is. God really held our family during this time and we are forever thankful of the outcome we received from the surgery. I will probably blog on the 4th (actually anniversary). We are taking full advantage of this warm weather, hope you are too!

Love y'all!

Shelli

Father Lead Me!

I look around and see my wonderful life

Almost perfect from the outside

In picture frames I see my beautiful wife(husband)

Always smiling

But on the inside, I can hear her saying"

Lead me with strong hands

Stand up when I can't

Don't leave me hungry for love

Chasing dreams, what about us?

Show me you're willing to fight

That I'm still the love of your life

I know we call this our home

But I still feel alone."

I see their faces, look in their innocent eyes

They're just children from the outside

I'm working hard, I tell myself they'll be fine

They're independent

But on the inside, I can hear them saying"

Lead me with strong hands

Stand up when I can't

Don't leave me hungry for love

Chasing dreams, what about us?

Show me you're willing to fight

That I'm still the love of your life

I know we call this our home

But I still feel alone."

So Father, give me the strength

To be everything I am called to be

Oh, Father, show me the way

To lead them

Won't you lead me?

To lead them with strong hands

To stand up when they can't

Don't want to leave them hungry for love

Chasing dreams that I could give up

I'll show them I'm willing to fight

And give them the best of my life

So we can call this our home

Lead me, 'cause I can't do this alone

Father, lead me, 'cause I can't do this alone

Lead Me by Sanctus

I heard this song on the Message XM this morning, and I couldn't help but know how this song reflects in my life, Father Lead me, show me how to raise these precious boys to be wonderful men of God someday. This is my goal, my job..God you gave them to us so we can raise them so that they will bring glory to you! Thank You God for such beautiful, sweet, handsome boys!

my twins..the next #1 doubles team??

Did anyone see the interview on 60 minutes about the Bryan twins?? Mike and Bob Bryan are identical twin boys who are ranked #1 in men's doubles. Its so funny to watch another set of identical twins. They showed were they move at the same time on the court or when they sit down between games they drink at the same time. It almost seems that it could be staged, but seeing how my Identical twins are with each other, I know that it is not staged. The story goes on to tell about how they started playing tennis when they were 2 and won their first tournament when they were 6 yrs old. They also talked about how there was no t.v. in there house growing up, and they had to play tennis so many hours a day and they also had to practice music so many hours a day as well. The relationship between twins is something that is so neat to witness, I can't wait to see how my twins relationship with each other matures and to see if what they become in life. Will they be the next tennis stars? or the first twins to walk on the moon? or will they be totally different, one a farmer the other a doctor? Whatever they choose, Mommy and Daddy will always be proud.

Well its off to train for tennis, i'm gonna make me some pro's! ha ha!

OH wait, we can't train yet! I forgot to tell you that Houston broke his foot Tuesday afternoon and he now has a cast on his foot. He broke his first metacarpal on his left foot. How? He and Dylon were wrestling and Dylon landed on the top of Houston's foot. I didn't see it happen, this is what they told me had happened. It sounds a little "fishy" to me but Whatever!

As you can see he was really excited to get a cast and he chose for it to be red! He will need to wear it for 3 weeks!

I hope everyone has a blessed Monday, we are suppose to get our SUV back today! =)

Love y'all!

Shelli

Very Exciting news!!

We took our trip to Houston, Tx on Wednesday which was also my birthday. We only took Dylon and Houston because our loaner car is well a car and we couldn't fit all of us in there. Laeton Reid stayed behind and stayed with my S.I.L and her 10 month old baby girl Kyleigh Waynn. LR had a blast, but we couldn't wait to get back to his little silly giggle and sweet kisses. The trip took the expected 9 hours and of course the hotel that we always stay at greeted me with "Hey Mrs.Smith, glad you made it safely. How is Dylon?" I enjoy that b/c they became our home away from home on all the trips to TCH that we have taken. Dylon and Houston both had "A-plus" check ups. We couldn't be happier with the results of Dylon's surgery. We are not due back to TCH for another year, which also excites us. Well today is my hubbies birthday, our family is full of March birthdays. I hope everyone has a great day. I'm feeling a little under the weather today, hopefully I'm just tired from all the going we have done lately.

I couldn't leave without some pictures for you all. Here are our 2010 Easter pictures. Don't worry the chicks did survive as well as the bunny!

Love y'all!

Shelli