Pictures from Andrew's baseball award ceremony.

We went to St. George Island for a week for our summer vacation. We rented a house on the beach, and the kids played on the beach all day, every day. Allen and Austin went on a 5-hour fishing trip in the Bay and caught dinner for a few nights. Allen also went fishing at the Cut several mornings and caught 20-40 fish each time! We can't wait to go back!

Andrew decided on a pool party this year. He had about 20 friends come to the YMCA for a fun day in the sun.

Claire had a blast at her 1st Birthday Party! She had so much fun opening gifts and tearing into her cake. I can't believe my baby is already one year old!!!

The transplant was textbook! Everything went perfectly for Grandma and Andrew. Both surgeries started around 8:00 a.m. Andrew's had to get a few lines installed, so his actual surgery did not start until 9:15. By noon, the new kidney was in and working!

Andrew's kidney levels are normal for the first time! He doesn't feel so great because his stomach is hurting from the surgery, and the next few days will be rough for him. He is still in ICU and will probably remain here for at least 2 more days.

Keep him in your prayers!

We decided that we should take all of the kids to Disney World for the last big event before Andrew's transplant! The kids had a blast!

We went to St. George Island for Christmas this year, and took the entire family! We had the Clemons, Valentine, Stanley, Steadham, Leonard, Reed, and Vowell families present. We rented a MANSION in The Plantation, a secluded, gated part of the 22-mile island. The name of the house is Devocean and it had 5 master suites, 4 bunk bed and 2 queen sleeper sofas. It was AMAZING!

We were there for 8 days. The guys went fishing in the Bay and caught dinner for the night! We toured the lighthouse with the kids, hung out on the beach a lot, went swimming several times a day in our own private heated pool, had 2 beach bonfires and 1 amazing firework show!

I think the funniest part of the trip was the family talent show. We all laughed so hard! Hannah Grace, who is Angel and Keith's 3 years-old daughter did several cheers. Hope (Allen's sister's daughter) did sign language to a song. Sydney & Jordan (Allen's sister's twin girls) and Lauren did 2 cheers. Andrew did break dancing. Keith, David and Tyler did the funniest cheers and Angel and I did an old-school rendition of Ice Ice Baby. Allen and I finished it off with a comedy piece where we gave everyone a sample of the local culture we encountered earlier that day. It was a great time!

We feel so blessed to be able to spend this much time with our great family and can't wait to do it again December 2009!

The families include:
Allen, Jenni, Austin (12), Lauren (8), Andrew (5) and Claire (6 months)
Marlene & Kristen Valentine
Shirley Stanley (Grandma)
Tammy, Corey (13), Sydney & Jordan (9), and Hope (6) Vowell - this is Allen's sister
Angel, Keith and Hannah Grace (3) Reed
Darlene, Ernie and Tyler (17) Steadham and David Leonard