Birthday Parties and Uber Fails.

First thing is first.  I apologize for my uber fail - It has been over a month since I last posted an update!!!  In my head, this is what I'm hearing, "Come on, Ezell!! Get it together!!!"  But before we get to all the recent goings on, I have a lot of funness to impart.  

Two words:  BIRTHDAY PARTIES. 

Dave and I had a small, intimate birthday party for the babies on July 15th (their actual birthday).  We were able to invite a few of the doctors and nurses who we have become very close with over the past year, as well as our family from Arkansas, and our closest friends.  There were many people who were not able to make it, and they were certainly missed!

And just look at that AMAZING cake!!!  I have to offer a ginormous thank you to Erika Bridges, owner of Confections In Cake.  She introduced herself to us through email, and offered to make Emmett and Owen's first birthday party cake, and WOW!  It was 1.) absolutely beautiful and 2.) incredibly delicious.  It was perfect.  I sent her my color scheme, a couple of pictures for my inspiration, and gave her free design.  She nailed the look and feel that I was going for, exactly.  All this to say, if you have cake needs (birthday parties, weddings, anniversaries, etc...), Erika Bridges gets the highest recommendation from me!  Here is her website:  www.confectionsincake.com.  Sersiouly, take a peek at her website.  It is time well spent!

I can't say enough about Erika Bridges, and what an all around lovely person she is, but I will get back to birthday parties, now.  (Thank you, Erika!)

There was much celebrating, much visiting, and much eating of deliciousness!  I call THAT a successful party!  The babies received many presents, so thank you to everyone who came, to everyone who gave them a present (though you certainly didn't have to!), and thank you all for being such a huge part of our lives!

A few of the babies' presents. (A few days before the party, Liam unwrapped one of the large birthday presents (bottom of picture). I was not a happy momma. Especially considering I had bought the wrapping paper six months before, and could not find more like it!!)

The over-the-top cute banner lovingly made by Emmett and Owen's Aunt Stacey. (Stacey also helped with the decorating and design for the party. She could go into business as a party planner!)

And now,  I will barrage you with pictures from our little party. :)

Mammow and Owen

Audra (another one of our favorite peoples) and me

Dr. Renard (the babies' lead surgeon, and one of our favorite people. ever.) with Emmett (left) and Owen (right).

Liam helping Pappow and Papa Dean put toys together.

Johnny Archer ( NBCDFW CH 5 news anchor) getting down with the celebrations!

As much fun as we had on the boys' actual birthday, Medical City wanted to celebrate with us as well!  There are so many people who have been involved in the care of our boys, that I would have never been able to gather them all and tell them thank you.  Dave and I were grateful to Medical City for throwing a "Lifesaver Luncheon" for our boys, and giving us the opportunity to hug some necks, and say thank you to so many that we had either missed, or been too emotional to thank properly.  It was a blessing to see so many familiar faces, and to be able to just visit, and talk, and celebrate with them.  Brings tears to my eyes, even now!

These people - they are some of my favorites.

I was given the opportunity to say a few words, and while most of the time I either don't know what to say, or I fly by the seat of my pants, I actually PREPARED something to say.  For those of you who were not there or unable to attend, it went something like this:
 
"If you were to tell me a year ago that I would be standing in front of a group of people, some family, many more friends, and almost all of them familiar faces, with two big, growing, happy babies playing happily amongst the crowd, I would probably have cried tears of anger, tears of fear, and tears for the vast unknown that we were facing; however, we are standing here, crying tears of gratitude and tears of happiness at what lies ahead.  This is possibly only because of the support, encouragement, knowledge and skills, and experience of many individuals who came together as a team for our boys.

I am not sure why my family was chosen to undergo this experience, or why my babies have shown such strength and resilience, but I look around at all of the familiar faces - all these faces evoke an overwhelming humility in me.  I look at your faces and I see God's plan; this has bee His plan all along, and you and I are the lucky ones; we are seeing firsthand the strength, power and compassion of our God.  So perhaps we were chosen for this task so that I could see firsthand that miracles still happen.  God continues to use His people that we may see His glory.

I have often heard that it takes a village to raise a child, but in our case, it has taken a city - Thank you, Medical City, for what you have done for my family."

---

Dr. Weiss - best Maternal-Fetal Specialist. Ever. (And also one of our favorite peoples.)

Me talking with Dr. Schwindemann, one of the babies' neonatologists [ and one of our favorite peoples. Ever. But don't tell him!! :) ]

It was a pretty excellent day.  More to come soon.  I am a little behind in updates, but this is a good start on getting caught back up! 

May God bless you all.

3 good things:

1. Good people
2. 4 sweet boys
3. Life.  God is good.

(So did I make up for my uber fail by providing tons of pictures of the babies?!  lol  )