OUR FIRST PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES....

Today was our first Parent Teacher Conference and Terry and I could not be prouder. Raelynn has 2 teachers, Ms. Hanf and Mrs. Strong. They are both wonderful and Raelynn loves them to death, but after our meeting today I had even more respect for them than before. First the funny part, we get there and I insist they take pictures for the scrapbook of our first conference. They already know I am a little crazy so the laughed and went along with it. Terry made the comment, "It's not like your the first parent to do this" and Ms. Hanf says, "Well, actually.....". How funny is that. I am sure if they did not think I was crazy before they sure do now.
Ms. Hanf.....

Mrs. Strong.....

They had nothing bad at all to say about Raelynn and only made us prouder of her with their comments. Raelynn is an amazing little girl and they only reiterated that. Where I was quite taken with them was with one little discussion. This month they studied the human body. It has been Raelynn's favorite month so far and she has daily told me new things about her body. Ms. Hanf and Mrs. Strong made the comment that going into this month they had discussed that they would need to watch Raelynn to make sure as the discussed the heart that it did not cause her any discontent due to Cooper. At the time I thought this was thoughtful of them but as I thought about it throughout the day I could not help but think what good and insightful teachers they were. They are very in tune with the kids which is sometimes not easy to do with 3 and 4 year olds. The fact that they would think outside their class about how a lesson plan could stir up emotions of discomfort for her made me respect them in a whole new way. There attentiveness and insightfulness is very touching to me and I could not be happier that my daughter spends every morning learning from them. Ms. Hanf and Mrs. Strong~ Thank you! We truly appreciate you!

Yesterday was absolutely beautiful here. When I got off work I picked the kids up and we treated ourselves. We went through Sonic and headed to the park. We ate dinner and played. It didn't take long to cool off when the sun started going down so we didn't get to stay too long but it sure was wonderful to spend some time playing outside! The kids had played outside all day at Lisa's too and Raelynn was all too ready to go to bed. Coop was tired too and went to bed easy enough but he has started waking in the middle of the night. He wakes up around midnight and literally screams for an hour. I am not sure if it is his teeth as they have been bothering him or what. We try to comfort him while still trying to teach him that we cannot just hold him all night but it is making for long nights or I guess rather short ones. I didn't even wake through either of my alarms this morning and did not get up until around 5:30am. I am hopeful tonight he will stay asleep :)

Tomorrow Steph comes down and then Saturday my Aunt from Western KS. She has never been here so I am anxious for her to see how our life is but also don't want to jam too much into the weekend. She had cared for my Grandparents for years until they passed away and just really hasn't been anywhere for years. I think she is looking forward to the trip as well. I hope she will get to bond a little with the kids as she really hasn't seen them much. It will be a good weekend and of course is always fun when Steph comes to visit!

A WEEKEND WITHOUT DADDY.........

Terry left Friday to go with Tom to put carpet in their house in Missouri. It was the first time Terry had been gone over night in quite some time. I wondered how the kids would do because they really love their Daddy. Surprisingly everyone did quite well, me included. Raelynn said she missed Daddy several times and was anxious to call him but thought it was ok that he was gone because he was helping Tom and Raelynn loves Tom. Cooper was fine too.....until Terry got back. Yes Mr. Attitude chose to completely ignore Daddy and even cry when he tried to hold him. This lasted until today and I guess Coop decided he had punished him enough because he was back playing with him this evening.

Tonight I had to work late so when I finally got home around 7:45pm I was all in a rush to get the kids ready for bed. Raelynn was eating a little snack while I was getting Coop's PJ's on. When I got back out to the living room I asked Raelynn impatiently if she was done with her snack as she was staring at the TV. She said she was but couldn't go to bed yet because she was listening to President Obama. What?!!! Yep, there she was glued to the TV watching the Presidential Address to Congress. I have no idea what intrigues her about the President but it makes me laugh every time. Then there was Cooper clapping right along with everyone on TV during the address. My political children.....how funny is that considering neither Terry or I are that politically involved.

Cooper has become very opinionated and although still does not communicate mucb verbally, he is definitely getting his point across. He shakes his head "yes" and "no" when asked a question and will sign "more" when he wants more of something. The rest is pointing and grunting which drives me crazy but I love that he is getting more independent. He did refer to me as "Mama" this weekend which made me super happy. I remember once Raelynn started saying Mommy she never stopped! I never get tired of hearing it.

As I have mentioned the foundation is going like crazy. We have our new website up and running and adding to it everyday. Terry had a couple guys stop by the other day that had decided to have a "swap meet" to raise money for the foundation and gave the foundation a very nice donation. Terry was quite taken with their generosity and I hope to have some information about them on the website soon. We are also preparing for our float in the St Patty's Day Parade and our Bowl-a-thon in April. I got an email today from one of the committee members for the 5K and she already had over $1000 om sponsors. If I could even express how much it means to me what everyone is doing to support the foundation. I know how overwhelming everything is in our day to day lives and the fact that so many people make room in their already jam packed lives to raise money and support the foundation is just extraordinary. We are going to help families feel just as special as we do this year and help remove a huge burden from their already difficult situation. I don't think I have ever been involved in something so rewarding.

Below are some pictures of my source of constant motivation.....

Cooper loves his milk!

Raelynn's wonderful preschool class. If that doesn't make you smile, nothing will!

THE NEW WEBSITE IS FANTASTIC.........

The new website for Cooper's Cause Foundation is up and running. It turned out great. We have been so lucky to have Sanders Software working very hard to get it all put together. Thank you so much Tim, Kalene and Liz!!!!!!!!!! You did a wonderful job!!!!!!!!

Check it out www.cooperscause.org

JUMPING FOR HEART DISEASE.....

A friend of ours forwarded me an email she had received from her Granddaughter. Her Granddaughter was participating in the American Heart Associations Jumping for Heart Disease. She had sent out an email asking for online donations. At the top of her email it said, "I am jumping for Cooper K and Papa Tom". She had chosen to jump for her Grandpa, Papa Tom and for Cooper! It was awesome that she would think to jump for Coop. It is these little things that make me realize everything we are doing with the foundation and Cooper in general is really making an impact whether it be a big or small one. Anyway, I really thought this was awesome. Thank you so much Madison!

So far this week it seems that we have not had a second to breathe but I think this is just becoming the norm around here. I have been crazy busy with foundation work and we have some really great things in the works. This has really became a second job to me and I get so excited about our achievements. The only drawback is the hours. Basically I work on it over my lunch hours and from about 9pm to 12 or 1 in the morning. I know once everything is established things will be much less demanding but the last couple weeks have been very overwhelming. Terry is working like crazy too and is headed out of town this weekend to help Tom. It is sure to be a "fun" weekend without him. ( I say this with much sarcasm) Coop and Raelynn are.....well.....Coop and Raelynn. Coop has learned how to shake his head yes and no and now tells you in this way just what he wants and what he doesn't. Let me assure you he does know exactly what he does and doesn't want! Raelynn is still trying to be patient with Cooper but informed me last night that "Cooper's badness level is really high lately" and boy is she right. Cooper still is not eating but seems to finally be drinking a little more throughout the day. He is starting to nibble a little more on crackers and our neighbor, Brianne, discovered he likes Mini Teddy Grahams so I am still hopeful that some day he will learn to eat. One thing is for sure, his lack of eating is not slowing him down!!!

THANK YOU FPC PRESCHOOL......

Before I can fill you in on the latest happenings I have to say a big THANK YOU to Raelynn's Preschool! Since the first week of January they have been participating in a fundraiser for Cooper's Cause called Coins for Cooper's Cause. These adorable little kids collected coins and brought them to school to raise money for the foundation. The preschool tied the fundraiser into their lesson plans and made it a very involved learning experience as well. Friday was the final day for the fundraiser and this morning they presented the monies to us during their morning chapel. Terry, Raelynn, Cooper and I were all there. Before they presented it they asked the children about the things they had been learning about in relation to giving and then what they have been doing to give. Just hearing those little kids say they were giving to Cooper's Cause was touching enough but then they asked what Cooper's Cause was and this little kid speaks right up and says it is about a little boy named Cooper who has a sick heart. I looked at Terry right then and said "I am going to cry." Every time we do a fundraiser and we stand up to say our thank yous, I lose it. There is just something so touching about all of this that I just cannot keep the tears back. This morning, I knew surrounded by 3 and 4 year olds I could not cry because they would not understand. So I kept my thank you to a few short words. The preschool gives so much to us on a daily basis with the songs and crafts Raelynn brings home, and the general knowledge she gains. Now they have given something else that means so much to us. This was the first fundraiser done solely for the foundation which made it extra special. In coins alone, this small group raised $376.05! I could not believe they raised so much in coins alone. It was a wonderfully successful fundraiser in so many ways and we are so thankful for their thoughtfulness and effort!

After Chapel Terry, Cooper and I stopped by Raelynn's class to say a special thank you to them. Her class alone raised over $154. Raelynn seemed to be beaming with pride. Ms. Hanf, Raelynn's teacher told us that she had asked Raelynn last week why when I dropped her off she just came in and went right into her table time and told me Goodbye like it was no big deal, but when Daddy brought her to school she clung to him and didn't want him to go. Raelynn said, "I just love him so much, I don't want him to go!" How sweet is that! I felt a little like chopped liver, but all the same it was very sweet.

Our weekend was fun as always. Saturday was crazy between tumbling, the KU game, a birthday party and then our dinner out, but it was all a lot of fun. The kids loved their little Valentine's from Terry and I and of course, Aunt Sherri ang Grandma.



Raelynn and Cooper had a blast at Emma, Henry and Ian's birthday party. It was fun to watch them and even Cooper participated in all the fun. Terry and I had a great time at dinner with Cody and Steph as well. Steph makes me laugh so hard and when we're together I cannot help laughing at us both. We do the same stupid stuff! We catch each other literally doing the exact same thing or not understanding something that Terry and Cody think we should. It is truly comical. We had a really great time and I laughed all night long. It was also really nice to sit and eat an entire meal without getting up to get a glass of milk for someone, or to clean up a spilled drink, or to refill a plate, or to try to find something to keep Coop entertained at the table, or answer the phone.........it was great! The kids had a blast at Lisa's too. It was a great time for us all.



I know I constantly say how ornery Cooper is, but tonight topped the cake. I have no idea what got into the boy but I could hardly keep up nor could I stop laughing. It literally started as soon as we got home. I hung his coat up on his door knob and I had no more than turned my back to walk away and he had pulled it off. I put it back and took him to the kitchen with me. I was starting supper and he had went back to Raelynn's room. Pretty soon he returned to the kitchen eating a crayon. Yes, the boy that eats nothing decides to try a crayon. I dug it out of his mouth and told him no. With a smile he takes off back to Raelynn's room. Raelynn is not with him so I go back to check on him. He is nicely decorating Raelynn's walls with the crayon. I clean up the walls and again firmly tell Cooper no. As I am putting the cleaning stuff away I return to the kitchen to find Cooper has unrolled by entire roll of trash bags. I roll them back up and call Terry begging him to come to help me watch Coop while I try to finish dinner. While on the phone Cooper manages to empty an entire box of tea bags and pour instant potatoes all over the floor. I clean up that mess. He was like a tornado just going from one room to the other making a mess. While Raelynn was in the bath I was putting laundry away. I put our swimsuits in the bottom drawer and turned around long enough to pick up something else and Cooper manages to empty the entire bottom drawer I had just put the suits in. He did this literally in a matter of seconds. It lasted all night right up to the time we put him to bed. Each time I would get stern with him he would look at me and smile! He has this all figured out. He intentionally tries to get me worked up. In the mornings I always spike Coop's hair. Well now, as soon as I get it all perfect he reaches his cute little hand right on top of his head and just messes it all up. He just grins the whole time he does it. He thinks he is so funny and the truth is most of the time so do we. Raelynn and I try so hard to keep a straight face when he is doing something wrong but no matter how hard Raelynn tries she always ends up laughing which only encourages Cooper. Boy are we in for it!!!

Our weekend ws again much too short but this just gives us a reason to look forward to the next!

A THOUGHTFUL GIFT, A TERRIBLE SISTER AND SO MUCH MORE....

This morning I receive a call from my little sister that is living in Manhattan (I cannot bring myself to say who is in college at K-State----TRADER!) She was very excited about a surprise for me. We had talked earlier in the week about Terry and I and she and her boyfriend meeting in Topeka for a dinner together for Valentine's Day. At the time I had reminded her that we would of course have the kids. She said she would talk to Cody (her boyfriend) and I would talk with Terry and we would see if they were up for it. So this morning she calls to tell me that Cody thought it sounded fun and that she had arranged a babysitter for us. What!? I was furious. How dare she find us a babysitter because she didn't want my kids there! I let her know I was not pleased and hung up. Seconds later it occurred to me that she didn't get us a babysitter because she didn't want the kids there, she got us a babysitter because after almost 4 years she thought Terry and I needed a night out together. I felt horrible!!! I hate leaving the kids behind because working full time I don't feel like I ever get enough time with them anyway so I just took it all wrong. After a few minutes I realized it was a good idea and then after a few more minutes I was a little excited about the whole idea. So Terry and I have plans for Valentine's Day!!!!!!!! Anyway, it was such a sweet thing for Steph to do and I am happy she did! Fortunately for me she is an awesome sister and completely understood my earlier freak out session about the whole idea.

Coop met with Dr. Kelley today and got 4 more shots. He has a terrible cold and is throwing up again but Dr. Kelley said he is fine. He had only gained 1oz since last month and that we were not too excited about but he is so active right now! He now weights 16lbs 13oz. I am still trying to find ways to get him to drink more so he can gain a little weight. We need him bigger by summer for his next surgery.

Raelynn has a cold as well but does not seem to bothered by it. This morning she was walking around the house swinging her arms and turning her head side to side. I asked her what she was doing and she informed me she was practicing her swim arms and side breathing because she has swim practice again in 2 days and she needs to practice. I cracked up! I have a feeling we will be at the pool a lot this summer.

A QUICK UPDATE ON THE EYES.....

We saw Dr. Green tonight to evaluate Coop's eyes after just one month of glasses and she was pleasantly surprised. Cooper is using both eyes now and actually they are both working very well. She was really surprised how quickly his eyes and brain communication had started to work. She had suspected that we would actually have to put a patch over Coop's right eye to make the left one start to work but he is doing great. We will go back again in June to evaluate his progress but this was all fantastic news.

Well that is all I have time for tonight. I am swamped in foundation work but will keep you posted as we have an appointment with Dr. Kelley on Wednesday.

ANOTHER MAGICAL WEEKEND

As another weekend ends and as Raelynn says "our two days together are over, five more days and we can spend the whole day together again!", I am reminded that in our busy schedules it is our time together that is important. Tonight after a meeting for a fundraiser for the foundation we hosted at our house, we cleaned up and then found ourselves all in the living room together. Terry was playing Candy Land with Raelynn and I was trying to keep Cooper from interrupting them. It is those times when we are all together that I wish I could bottle up and never let go. If every minute of every day could feel as simple and as good as that, we would have heaven right here on Earth.

The kids both were very tired tonight and neither seemed to be feeling 100%. We put them both to bed early and they willingly went. I am constantly reminded of how alike Raelynn and I are. She was exhausted but asked that I leave her light on for just a few minutes after we had read her story so she could get her "friends" ready for bed. Every night she organizes her stuffed animals in her bed in the exact same order and the exact same place. Terry has no idea how she can sleep with so much stuff in her bed but I remember doing the same. The funniest part of it all is how perfectly neat it all is.

Then there is Cooper who tosses and turns and wiggles and squirms until he just falls asleep. There is no order to anything he does and as I type this I cannot help but smile. Cooper is uniquely himself and I have a feeling there will be much about him I will not understand but already seeing myself willingly letting go of the exact way I think things should be done to let him slide a little part of his spontanuity in. I love this about him and each day I see him become more of his own person. I am growing with Cooper day by day and know that he will challenge me often and it is just that challenge that will keep me searching for new and better ways to be the best parent possible. I often feel it is because of Cooper that I love both he and Raelynn so much. He made us learn early on not to take them for granted and I think he will continue to teach us many things.

WHAT A BEAUTIFUL DAY.....

I have decided I cannot wait so long to update the blog because then I have way too much to say. Today was a beautiful day! I cannot believe how warm it was. In between tumbling and swimming lessons the kids and I were able to vacuum out the car, ride bikes and roller skate. Both Raelynn and Coop took their first bike wrecks of the year. Raelynn's made me laugh but Cooper's caused a few scrapes and bent the glasses we just had adjusted this morning! Raelynn is still enjoying tumbling and swimming. She had her team swim practice again tonight and you just cannot believe how much she does. She made huge improvements over last week. The best part of it all is she never stops smiling. I mean she is swimming up and down that pool for 45 minutes!!! Every time she stops to take a breath or wait for the next instruction she has this huge smile on her face. It is just awesome. Coop on the other hand still thinks it stinks. I have been getting in with him and he seems to be doing a little better but he still "complains" as Claudine says.

The past week was again crazy. Terry had to open the store on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday so that meant he left early which meant I was left to finish getting everyone ready, Coop to Lisa's and Raelynn to school. Even though it was a little hectic it was kind of fun taking Raelynn to school since I never get to. Last Sunday we went to Tom and Jan's for the Super Bowl and had a great time. Raelynn and Cooper played with Emma and Cooper found out he loved M & M's. Monday the kids were at Mary Beth's because Lisa took the day off. That is always a treat for them because both of Raelynn's best friends, Kaden and Cayman are there. On Thursday morning we had a little more trouble than we had Tuesday and Wednesday getting ready without Daddy. Cooper is starting to get a little cold again which is causing him to throw up again because of the drainage. Thursday morning Cooper was sitting on the counter while I was standing in front of him eating a banana. He started to cough and I knew what was coming. As I saw him start to throw up I stepped aside thinking it would be easier to clean up the floor then try to find something new to wear. I stepped aside as Coop projectiled but there stood Raelynn right behind where I had been standing and right in the line of Cooper's throw up. Now I realize that it is completely disgusting to get hit in the face with vomit, I also cannot tell you how funny it was. There Cooper sat on the counter covered in vomit, crying and there stood my 3 year old daughter also covered in vomit, crying. Where was I? Curled up on the floor laughing so hard I thought I was going to pee my pants! I quickly gathered myself and began the calming and cleaning up. After things had settled Raelynn began to feel bad for Cooper because he was sick so she went and got him one of her babies, Jack. She handed Cooper Jack and Cooper gave him a big hug and started to pat his back and caress his head. Raelynn looks at me and says, "That's the sweetest thing I ever saw". It was so cute!

I could continue to tell you story after story of the things Raelynn and Cooper do throughout the week because I am sure I could write a book. Raelynn was in her bath the other night and told me she wanted a Leapster. I told her I didn't know anything about them and she said, "just go to www.goleapster.com and they will tell you about them and you can order me one". Well alright then, I guess there is not playing dumb anymore. How does she learn this stuff!!!!!!!!!!!!! Raelynn is also starting to talk a lot about when we had to stay at the hospital with Cooper and asking when we are going again. I know she hears me talk about it but I don't want it to be a big surprise to her when the time comes. We talked quite a bit about it the other night and she seems to understand. She told me she knew we would come home as soon as we could.

As everything is great with us, unfortunately it is not for a friend of ours. Her husband was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer and from what I understand it is very rare and located in the top of the small intestine. They are an amazing family that hav already faced some very scary medical issues with their son. Please, please pray for them. They are wonderful loving people and deserve all our prayers! She helped me tremendously with resources to better help Cooper. I now only hope I can find a way to help her!