Thanksgiving Day 2011

Happy Thanksgiving from our littlest turkey...

More pictures to come after we eat our turkey and take a nap!

28 days...

Today Hogan is 28 days old.  He has been with us exactly 4 weeks now.  As I hold Hogan today, and look at him, and snuggle him, my thoughts are captured by memories of his beloved brother Odell.  I simply cannot stop thinking about Odell today.
You see, this is where our journey ended with Odell...day 28.  This is when we lost him.  This is the day his heart became weak and his battle to great and God welcomed him home.  This is when we had to say goodbye. 
Spending these last 28 days with Hogan has been a vivid reminder of how short our time really was with Odell.  No wonder we miss him so much, we were just getting started in life together.  I had so much more to learn about who he was as a person, and what his personality was going to be like.  Although I had seen Odell's courageous and brave spirit in those 28 days, there was still so much more life to be lived together.    
Because of those short 28 days, my memories of Odell are limited.  It's not as if I have a lifetime of memories that we made together.  He wasn't here for a lifetime, or a few decades, or even a year...just 28 days.  So that's what I have to remember, when he was with us here as a baby, for those first 28 days.
I can't seem to take my eyes off Hogan today.  I just keep staring at his precious features and feeling his soft hair, remembering Odell and what it felt like to hold him. 
Today I am thankful for the 28 days we shared with Odell.  I am grateful for the 28 days and counting that we have had with Hogan.  I am thankful to be blessed with another son to love and care for during my time on this earth.  Lord thank you for my children, and for each and every day that I am able to spend with them.  Let me not take even a moment for granted. 

He is here!! Hogan has arrived...

We are delighted to announce that Hogan Marshall was born October 24 at 1:18 p.m.  He weighed in at 6 lbs. 8 oz. and has the sweetest red hair you have ever seen.  We are completely in love!

Surgery went very well.

 Just got into surgery, eager to see our son...

Welcome to the world Hogan!

 He looks just like daddy!   So glad his middle name is Marshall!

We finally get to "meet" him

 Love this picture of daddy checking him out!

 The big weigh in

 All cleaned up, hairbrushed and all

Just came out of surgery.  Feeling good...

My mother and sister picked the kids up at school during lunch and brought them to the hospital around 1:00.   By the time I got done with surgery, went through recovery (1 hour) and moved up to a regular room it was after 3:00!  The kids had waited very patiently, and very excitedly.  They were super thrilled to see their new baby brother.

 Payton got her hands on him first...

 Let the inspection begin.  First his face...

 Then his hands and fingers...

and finally his toes and feet...

Then Eli got his turn

I must say, there is nothing sweeter than seeing the kids holding and interacting with their baby brother.  Melts my heart everytime.