Ten Years with Dad's Liver

There's not much I can say that hasn't already been said. Thank God that Anthony has done so well with the left lobe of Mark's liver (said it...at least a million times!). Thank God that Mark has not experienced any complications himself (said it!). Thank God for the wonderful doctors, nurses, aides, techs who have taken care of Anthony over the years (said it!). Thank God for our family who supported us and who keep on supporting us (said it!). Thank God for our friends who have stood  by us and walked this crazy transplant journey with us (said it!). So now I'll just let the pictures speak for themselves.

2004

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2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

Daniel, Chapter 3: 89-90
"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his love is everlasting.
Bless the Lord, the God of gods, all who fear him, give praise and thanks to him, for his love is everlasting!

Touring DC

So it's taken me a little too long to update the rest of the photos, so I'm just going to put a few up here (OK - 16). I want to update with some pictures of our trip to Alabama to ride on the Polar Express, too, so I'm going to do that right after this. Lots of pictures to catch up on!

Remember this photo?


Here he is, two years later!


Riding the Metro (aka: THE TRAIN, MAMA, WE RIDING THE TRAIN)


Anthony had the Metro map memorized by the time we had ridden it twice.


We got to go to the zoo, too! We saw lions (most important), elephants, tigers, orangutans, and found this adorable hat for my littlest lion!


After the zoo, we took the boys on a tour of the Capitol Building. Anthony recently finished a Social Studies unit on the US Government, so this was exciting (and boring) for him!


He did enjoy telling our tour guide that he knew all about the Capitol, though!


We went to the National Archives after the Capitol to let Anthony see the Constitution. We got a little bored waiting in line, so Anthony and I horsed around.




The next day, we went to the Natural History Museum to see the dinosaurs again. Here's another throw-back photo:


And two years later:


After seeing the dinosaurs, we got some popcorn and had some little friends who asked us to share.


That evening, we celebrated Mark's aunt and uncle's 50th Wedding Anniversary. It was such an honor to be there to congratulate them. They are truly a beautiful couple, and an inspiration for Mark and me on what true love is.


My mother-in-law (standing, on the right) with her sister, Carmen (standing on the left) and their sister-in-law, Ina (seated).


Mark, his brothers, and some of their cousins:


Pat and Ina, Charles and Carmen, Mike and Margaret:

Touring DC - November 24

I'm going to have to do this in multiple posts because I have SO many pictures to share!

This one is clearly not from the 24th, but I couldn't resist putting up this cute picture of Benjamin passed out on the plane. He slept the entire flight from Atlanta to DC!


Anthony at the Capitol. We walked all around the outside, taking pictures. We were able to tour the Capitol on Friday.


Nanny and Teeta (also known as Nana and Grandpa) with my boys.


This is the back side of the Capitol. The front is much the same...more steps!


Godfathers with their Godsons.


After walking around the Capitol, we wandered over to the Botanical Gardens. They had put up their Christmas Train display and we saw....THOMAS THE TRAIN, MAMA! Benjamin was very excited.


Benjamin spent a lot of that day on someone's back or shoulders. I got smart and bought a small stroller the next day. But on Thanksgiving Day, he kept telling Parrain to do silly things like, "Be a wall, Parrain!" And Parrain was very willing to oblige.


Anthony had tons of questions about the Vietnam War. Some were hard to answer. Benjamin just liked looking at the American flags put up here and there.


In front of the Lincoln Memorial.




Uncle Matt tossing Anthony around. I think Anthony had had enough of walking by that point, too!




Hi, guys!

Pictures from the Race

My dad and I finished the race in 33:18! It's the fastest I've ever run three miles. I felt like I was on top of the world yesterday after the race - I could have moved mountains! Instead of actual mountains, though, I came home and moved mountains of homework...BORING!

Anthony and Benjamin both ran the entire 1/2 mile fun run/walk! Anthony was third past the finish line, with a time of 4:40. Benjamin took off and his grandmothers couldn't catch him, so another lady running the 1/2 mile ran with him. They crossed the finish line in 6:44.

My father-in-law, my dad and me before the race.

The walkers/runners.

Anthony crossing the finish line.

Benjamin crossing the finish line.

Anthony doubled back to finish the walk with his grandmothers.

My dad and me at the end of the race.

I love these boys so much!

Church Fair

Our Church fair is this weekend and we took the boys tonight because a lot of Anthony's classmates were going to be there. He got to ride a lot of rides with one of his best friends, Kaden, and was pretty sad when we left around 9:00. Benjamin had a great time riding a few rides with Grandpa, and Maw Maw, Paw Paw, and Nana all got to watch (fun for them, I'm sure). I don't have many pictures of Anthony on the rides because they all have his friend in the picture, too, and I don't have the mom's permission to post pictures of her son...so just trust me that Anthony had the time of his life, and that I have an AWESOME picture of Anthony and his friend on the Sizzler (Twister?) with their hair flying around them.


Feed ME!


Can I go ride the rides now?


Flying horsies, Mama!!


With Maw Maw and Paw Paw


And then with Teeta and Nannie (Granpa and Nana)


Anthony got a flashing magnetic light, and it kept falling off of his shirt, so he asked me to hold it. So I was holding it on my ear!


Snack time!


And because this is just hilarious to me...I had to post it!