O Holy Night - Josh Groban

♥ •Bless your heart Charlotte•♥

IUCharlotte had open heart surgery on November 21, 2012 at Valley Children's Hospital. The surgery was expected to last 7 hours, but it actually took 6 hours 17 minutes. Her surgeon walked out and spoke to us before Charlotte was wheeled out of the surgery room. He said, it was difficult to close the large membranous VSD (hole in her heart), but he did. He also closed a hole in the upper chamber of her heart, a Atrial septal defect (ASD) is a form of congenital heart defect that enables blood flow between two compartments of the heart called the left and right atria. In addition, an unroofed coronary sinus which was closed, and her superior vena cava was rerouted and "tied off". Surgeon said, the surgery was a success, and everything went well. When Charlotte came out of surgery she was hooked up to 13 different machines. It was breathtaking, and humbling to see our sweetheart look so helpless.  Falyn, Farah, Scott, and I each got to give her a kiss and tell her we love her. We thanked the Surgeon for mending her heart. Charlotte spent three days in PICU, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, and two days in recovery. We stayed at the hospital with Charlotte day and night. Taking shifts. Falyn and Farah stayed all night to morning and Scott and I stayed morning until night. We were so blessed to bring her home five days after surgery. We recognize the hand of the Lord and his blessings. Charlotte listened to Christmas carols this morning and kicked her legs to the music while eating breakfast. She is already crawling and even standing again. She is AMAZING!

George the Giraffe Visits Charlotte day 4 Hospital Stay

Visiting Farah

Shopping with Farah Bear in San Luis Obispo

Out to lunch in SLO

Last Friday Scott had to work in San Luis Obispo- so I went with! Yes, I had ulterior motives... a day with my girl Farah! We had so much fun- peppermint hot chocolates at Star Bucks, shopping in downtown San Luis Obispo. Trying the latest lip color at Sephora, enjoying the beach weather and sunshine. We met Scott at the Firestone Grill for lunch. It was a great day- just never long enough... :)

It's the Great Pumpkin Patch Charlotte Lyn

Charlotte wearing her elephant costume

Pumpkin Patch

Falyn and her lil' punkin

The End

You make my heart sing...

Bath Time

Splish Splash

Toothless, bald, and the love of our life...

This Used To Be My Home...

This used to be my playground (used to be)
This used to be my childhood dream
This used to be the place I ran to
Whenever I was in need
Of a friend Why did it have to end...

Live and learn
Well the years they flew
And we never knew
We were foolish then
We would never tire
And that little fire
Is still alive in me
It will never go away
Can't say goodbye to yesterday (can't say goodbye)


This used to be my playground (used to be)
This used to be our pride and joy
This used to be the place we ran to
That no one in the world could dare destroy
Madonna

Hot and tired, moving day. I took this picture minutes before they left.

After 40 years and 10 months... my parents are moving. I've been walking through this front door since I was four years old. Kindergarten to college, marriage, children, and a granddaughter. 3414 Pickwick Drive. It's been my home. Even when I was away- I could still go home. All of my childhood memories are in this home. Christmas, Easter, New Year's Eve, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Valentine's Day, Fourth of July, Birthday parties etc... Shannon says every home has a smell- and in her opinion my house smells like a mixture of perfume and popcorn. That makes me smile. I have a flood of emotions and mixed feelings. I will miss my home. I will miss everything about it. But, the feelings that are in my heart and my memories are forever. A mixture of emotions- every feeling from sadness to nostalgia. I am happy for my parents embarking on a new adventure. I admire their courage; and I pray that they find a new home that brings them warmth, happiness, love, peace, and joy. Life- what an adventure, to live!
 

“Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on; you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make any sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of - throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were being made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself.”
― C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

     

What would you do if you knew you could not fail?

Memorable quotes for
Orange County (2002)

Shaun: I have to go to college.

Cindy: Why?
Shaun: Because it's what you do after high school.

Farah move in day

Cuesta Campus San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo Coast- I think this influenced her choice

Campus/Library

 Farah started college today! She has a scholarship that covers tuition, books, supplies, and gas. Farah is living in student housing (dorms). She has 5 roommates, and her own bedroom. Her classes include US History, Ceramics, Health Science, and Music. I hope she loves it. I miss her already!