American Heart Walk...a little late

We did our Third Annual Heart Walk back in October. Yes, we are a little late with posting! The kids love doing this in honor of Nicholas. It is so neat to see their excitement every year to walk for their little brother. Every year it is freezing and we have to get up early to get to Tanglewood on time. Every year they get up with no complaints and smiles on their faces.

Some of Nicholas' nurses or girlfriends as the kids say.

Amanda wrote names of the heart kids and angels on her pants. Nicholas is on her left hip.

Sweet Jacob. Amber and Chad did this in honor and memory of their sweet little angel Jacob. Someday we will all meet again!

On the way home...he is out!! A busy morning with lots of kisses from his "girlfriends."

Disney on Ice 2010

Megan and I have been going to Disney on Ice for the past 6 years (she is now seven.) This year we brought Brandon as a surprise for him (Megan later got mad that he was interrupting our mother/daughter time.) Anyway, we had a great time together and now Brandon wants to be a part of our annual tradition.

Trying to fit all three of us in the picture.
Princess Megan.

Blurry Minnie-do you know how hard it is taking a picture of moving ice skaters with a camera phone???

Jasmine and Aladdin striking a pose.

Sorry it ended up being a rear picture-not intended.

Bye Bye Mickey...until next year!

Happy Thanksgiving from the Richardson's

We pray everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and that each of you realizes the blessings in your life. Appreciate your families, your friends, your spouses and children.
We have so many things to be thankful for...our Nicholas, my three other awesome children, our family, our friends that are family to us, our Brenner family, our church family, and the list goes on. Happy Thanksgiving to all. Let everyday be a "Thanksgiving to our Lord." My mom and Nicholas.

My sister in law's mom and Stephen's Aunt.

Brandon (begging to eat)

Brandon and Megan having enough of the pictures! Out of all of the desserts, Megan wanted a doughnut.

Quick Updates

I know...I know...it has been a while since we have blogged. We have been super busy, super sick and super tired!!!

Here are the quick updates for now....

Nicholas is finally getting better from his Oct 28th tonsillectomy. He has had a rough time of healing. As soon as his 10 day antibiotic was over he developed a double ear infection. HELLO!!! They said the surgery would reduce his chances for ear infections. The poor thing never even got them before! When the ear infections were diagnosed, they also found that his throat was still swollen and the scabs were still there. So...back on antibiotics and steroids. Over the weekend he has started to smile again. Very sweet and very encouraging. Please pray he remains well. He has had such a rough time.

Steve had a sinus infection. He is on antibiotics and healing.

Stephen David got impetigo. He is also on antibiotics and getting better.

Brandon just started getting impetigo. Started him on antibiotics to fix it.

Megan has a ear infection. The ENT was a bit concerned with the amount of fluid and frequency of ear infection with her. There is a slight chance she could have permanent hearing loss. They will test her hearing in six weeks and we will go from there (another prayer request, please)

And then me...while everyone was sick, I had something too. I just did not have time to get sick or realize that I was so it got worse. I ended up having a sinus infection, double ear infection and finally had one of my ear drums rupture. That HURTS!!!! I am on day 10 and it still hurts plus I cannot hear out of that ear. The doctor said today that the rupture looks better but it is still highly infected (thus the pain and loss of hearing) So... I am on new antibiotics and praying for healing SOON!

That is our update for now. When we are better we will join the land of blogging again!

By the way...the day we came home from the hospital with Nicholas we had a guest waiting for us at the PICU doors. It was sweet JuJu and Amber!! Her scan was clear of any cancer! Huge, Huge, Praise! We are so excited for them. Keep updated at Amber's blog and keep them in your prayers.

Nicholas is Home!

Nicholas was discharged today to the surprise of us all. He was doing very well and there was really nothing that the PICU was offering him that we couldn't give him at home. In addition, a case of H1N1 was admitted which scared Nicholas' surgeon enough to kick us out the door. Praise God and thank you again for your prayers.

Nicholas' Surgery

Nicholas had his Tonsilectomy surgery today which went great. The surgeon was surprised that his tonsils were actually larger than he had anticipated. However, the surgeon is now more convinced that we will see more positive results as a result of this surgery. Because of Nicholas' history, he will be staying in the PICU while he is hospitalized. We are just not sure how long we will be here.

I would like to offer a special THANK YOU to all of you that have been in prayer. We have received so many calls, text messages, emails, and facebook messages. We are very appreciative of your love and prayer support.

A day at the Dixie Classic Fair

We took the kids out of school early to attend the Dixie Classic Fair, an event which we had never been to. We spent more money and more time than we had planned but made memories that will last a lifetime.

Megan eating her favorite food on the planet

Stephen taking a break from his funnel cake

Brandon eating a turkey leg that was bigger than his own
Hey, look who we ran into at the fair!
Megan and Anna Ritchie rode every ride about 16 times
Nicholas is under there somewhere

Megan, Brandon, and Anna Ritchie

Chris taking his life in his own hands

Brandon's red and sore forehead...see video below and you'll see why

Poor video but the laugh factor is worth it! That would be Daddy laughing hysterically in the background

Why this picture?

I have had people ask my why I don't change the main picture of Nicholas on this blog. It was taken a little over two years ago. He has so many cute updated pictures but honestly I am not ready to change it yet and this is why...

During the summer months of my pregnancy with Nicholas, we hung out at the pool a lot. Steve's mom had cancer and it was progressing rapidly. Nicholas' birth and heart surgery was rapidly approaching. The pool time was our little get away. As I sat on the lounge chair watching the kids laugh and play with Steve in the pool, I couldn't help but imagine the next summer. The next summer when Nicholas would be with us and the heart surgery would be done. I would rub my belly and tell Nicholas all of the fun things we would do next summer. The cute little swimming trunks I would get him, the float he would sit in in the pool. I couldn't wait until we as a family would be together the next summer.

Fast forward to May 2007. Nicholas had coded and was on life support. We lived second by second, not minute by minute, but second by second not knowing if Nicholas would live. It was an emotional roller coaster that drained us. Nicholas had been pronounced brain dead by neurology. We were told if Nicholas came home he would be a vegetable. I refused to believe that and so did many of our nurses and doctors. I looked at my son who lay there with eyes wide open, not blinking, legs and arms stiff, and knew that my baby was in there. I refused to give up. I would fight for him. Nicholas would come home.

So...I went to Target. Enough was enough. I was going to buy my son swimming trunks, sun glasses, a sun hat, and a float for the pool. I talked to Nicholas last summer about going to the pool as a family and that was going to happen. I refused to be "drained" anymore. I gave it all to the Lord and finally was at peace. It was going to be okay. Then my cell phone rang. It was Steve who was with Nicholas at the hospital. "Lisa, you need to get here fast. They think Nicholas is having seizures and have rushed him for a CAT scan." If he was seizing it meant he was going downhill. Again, here we go again. I sat there in Target with his cute outfit in my arms and cried. Then I stopped. No, Nicholas would be okay. I am buying him his swimming trunks and taking them to him right now. And I did. I drove to the hospital and set his new swimming outfit out on his bed. I told him he was now ready to come home and go swimming with all of us.

And he did! Nicholas did not have a seizure that day. They are not sure what happened. He came home in June. That picture is of my baby boy the first time he went to the pool. I treasure that picture. We had many trips to the pool that summer but the picture is of his first time. So...that is why I keep that picture up. A reminder of the love of Jesus, the blessing he has given to us.