18th Annual Donor Family Gathering - "Stars of Life"

"One Small Star" by Eric Bogle

When I need to feel you near me
I stand in this quiet place
Where the silver light of countless stars
Falling on my face
Though they all shone so brightly
Somehow it comforts me to know
That some that burns the brightest
Died an eternity ago.

But your light still shines
It's one small start to guide me
And it helps me to hold back the dark
Your light's still shining in my heart.

I'm learning how to live without you
And I never thought I could
And even how to smile again
I never that I would
And I cherish your heart's memories
Cause they bring you back to life
Some caress me gently
And some cut me like a knife.

Can your soul be out there some where
Beyond the infinity of time
I guess you've found some answers now
I'll have to wait for mine
When my light joins with yours one day
We'll shine through time and space
And one day fall on a distant age
Upon some stranger's face.

But your light still shines
It's one small star to guide me
And it helps me to hold back the dark
Your light's still shining in my heart
Your light's still shining in my heart.

Sherry & Johnny standing beside Chad's quilt square.

Sherry and me proudly showing off Chad's quilt square.

Each year donor families create a quilt square/piece in memory of their late family member.
Above is a picture of last year's quilt unveiling and dedication.
Below is a picture of this year's quilt pieces.

Light a Candle - Representatives of a Donor Family, Medical/Transplant Staff, and Recipients.

Lighting of Candles in thanksgiving and honor for the "Gift of Life"

Sherry & Johnny - it was a good day remembering Chad!

Spring has Sprung at the Ezersky Household

Donor Family Gathering

This morning I received a voice mail from my dear friend Sherry inviting me to attend the 2009 Donor Family Gathering this Sunday as a guest of her late son, Chad Frazier. I attended this event a couple of years ago with Sherry and it was beautiful, moving and life changing - I became a registered organ donor!

You might be wondering what is a Donor Family Gathering:
"The Donor Family Gathering is an opportunity for families to celebrate their loved one's life as well as to see firsthand how organ and tissue donation truly makes a difference to so many. Each spring the Washington Regional Transplant Community (WRTC) dedicates a day to honor and remember those individuals who have given or desired to give the ultimate gift… The Gift of Life. The Gathering of donor families, recipients and transplant professionals has grown over the years to more than 600 people in attendance. The nondenominational service includes music, a message from a donor family and words of thanksgiving from both tissue and organ recipients. Highlights of the service are a pictorial tribute to our donors as well as a candle lighting memorial and quilt dedication. Immediately following the service a reception is held, giving recipients an opportunity to personally thank donor families for their unselfish gifts and allowing donor families to meet other donor families in mutual support. During the Gathering, families also have an opportunity to pin a square to be included on a future quilt. All donor families are invited to create a square as a memorial to their loved one. The quilts are shown throughout our service area and are a very personal and visual way to educate our community about the importance of organ and tissue donation."

Chad's square is included in Quilt #10.

If you would like to sign up to be an organ donor and give the ultimate gift… The Gift of Life please see the below link:
http://www.beadonor.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=886&Itemid=171

I am so honored that Sherry has asked me to go again this year! I would not miss it for the world! Stay tuned for pictures of Sunday.

New Blog Design

The orange and blue layout was getting pretty boring so I decided to update the look of our blog. I mean come on, does everything have to be blue and orange. If it was up to Corey the answer would be yes. But since I blog for this family the layout is being changed - love ya babe!!! Plus the blue in the new layout goes perfectly with Cooper's eyes!!!!

See my toofers!!!

Daddy & Gramp's lil baseball player

Cooper's 1st Easter - Smith Family Pictures

Happy Easter from Cooper!

Grandma's Birthday Get Together

Last weekend we headed to West Virginia to celebrate Grandma's (MawMaw to Cooper) 71st Birthday! On Saturday, Jeanie, Lee, Jessie, Allie, Campbell, Corey, Cooper and me kidnapped Grandma for an afternoon of bowling, milk shakes and bread pudding & ice cream.

Once we got back to the house the cars started pulling into the driveway within five minutes of each other - Aaron & Brook; Mike, Lura, Cassie & Seth; Jean & Ed; and Uncle Chris. It was time for Grandma's semi-surprise birthday get together. We had all of Grandma's favorite foods - fried chicken, cheesy chicken from Pano's, pulled pork sandwiches, cheesy potatoes, cole slaw, macaroni salad, potato salad, coconut cake, and white cake with strawberry filling. Everything was in Aunt Judy's words - "Deadly"! The night was filled with old family stories, your mama jokes (don't ask), and a game of Ole' Shit.

Cooper was a party pooper and slept through the entire party. However, I can't say too much I fell asleep at the end of the party also... Hey sleeping is what I do best! =)

Happy Birthday Grandma!!! We hope you enjoyed your day and it was filled with lots of laughter and tons of love!!!

Did some BUNNY say Easter was right around the corner?

I'm a Big Boy now...

The after effects of an afternoon with Poppy...

Grammy's Birthday Celebration

Jackie's birthday was on Saint Patrick's Day so we celebrated it Irish style - corn beef & cabbage, Guinness, Irish music, green attire, and an Irish jig courtesy of Maddie. It was fun time by all! Happy Birthday Grammy!!!

Cooper, Grammy & Maddie waving Hi!

Grammy's wild childs

Grammy's angels.

Cooper decked out for St. Patty's Day!

Grammy's how old??? Wow! Now that's funny!

Grammy getting a little help from Maddie with blowing out her candles.

New Pictures of Cooper

Uncle Aaron and Brooke brought Louie up to play with Cooper. Cooper loves Louie!

Uncle Aaron feeding Cooper. Cooper is awe of his Uncle Aaron - they are best buddies!

No need to buy Cooper any new toys - he likes Emmet and Dixon's toys better. Catnip anyone?

Visit with Babci & Aunt Pat

Corey's grandmother, Babci, and his Aunt Pat were up last weekend for a long over due visit and to meet Cooper.

Babci & Cooper

4 Generations of Ezerskys

Corey, Cooper, Popci, & Babci

Happy Saint Patty's Day!!!

Let's Go Mountaineers

Corey is sick in bed with the intestinal stuff again, so I decided to take advantage of the situation and put Cooper in a WVU Mountaineer outfit for the day.

With help from Walker the pictures turned out really cute.

New Pictures of Cooper

So my blogs are starting to be few and far between, but at least I am still taking pictures of my favorite subject - COOPER!

He now weighs 21 lbs 6 oz and is a little over 30 inches long. He sits up, holds his own bottle (when he chooses to), has started to army crawl, does the helicopter and still has no teeth. On Tuesday he will be 8 months...

Everyday he looks more and more like his Daddy. As Corey's friends said a couple of weeks ago - Corey just needed a host to make his clone and that host was me.

Cooper's hair is straight and fine on the top like Mommy; and curly on the sides and back like Daddy - it's a royal mess! Most of the time it ends up in a mohawk and no jell will keep it down.

Emmet & Dixon are his favorite toys!

Everything goes in his mouth - EVERYTHING - even his toes!

Cooper loves his "Who Loves Baby" book ~ Thanks Izzy & Kel! It has pictures of all his favs - Mommy, Daddy, Nana & Gramps; Grammy & Poppy; Uncle Aaron & MawMaw.

Happy Belated Valentine's Day!

Blue Eyes

Bitten by the Bug & his Friends

I know a disturbing title for our first blog entry in over a month, but this is how we feel...

December and January have been very rough on us! I don't think there has been a day in those two months that all three of us have been healthy! I will give you a quick summary of everything we have had - intestinal virus (TWICE), fevers, coughing, pink eye, RSV, bronchitis, colds, sinus infections, ear infection, double ear infection, dental issues - you name it we have had it! It usually starts with Cooper and then progresses to Corey or me.

I had planned on updating the blog when we were all healthy but I think that is never going to happen so here I am...

Christmas was fantastic! We got to spend a lot of quality time with our family! For Christmas Eve and Christmas day my parents, brother and his girlfriend (yes I said girlfriend - that's a separate blog entry), grandma and Brasco came to our house. It was so nice getting to spending Cooper's first Christmas at our house. Dad re-proposed to Mom with a brand new diamond ring and wedding band. It was very sweet and the rings are BLING!The following weekend we headed to West Virginia to have Christmas with the Thompsons, Smiths and Humphreys. It was wonderful seeing everyone - we don't get together often enough!

Of course everyone went over board with Cooper and got him way too much! Thank you all!!!

New Years Eve and New Years Day we spent with Corey's parents. We celebrated Christmas and New Years all in one shebang. We keep the family tradition alive and took Cooper to DC to see his first National Christmas Tree. He also rode the DC Metro for the first time.
Cooper turned 7 months this past weekend. His stats are:
weight - 20 lbs 5 ounces
height - 28.5 inches
head circumference - 18 inches

He is sitting up on his own, jumps like a mad man in his jumper and has started hand feeding himself. We have started the Gerber 2nd step solids and graduates snacks. Still no teeth, but he is working on it. Also, he can do a helicopter spin in the middle of the floor - any day now and he will be crawling. Another new trick of his is he has figured out how to turn the mobile over his crib on, so at night when he wants to party in his crib he turns it on. He loves water - swimming and bath time are his favorite!
His favorite toy is the Fisher Price first block set - it keeps him occupied for hours.
So, that's the update! As soon as we are germ free we hope to get out of the house more and see everyone!