DID WE HAVE A WEEKEND.........

After Terry being gone for a few days you would have thought the weekend would have been a little calmer when he returned but instead we were just getting warmed up!  Terry left early Thursday morning for a golf tournament.  We did great getting ready and getting everyone where they needed to be and then had a fun evening.  When it came to going to bed though Coop missed his Daddy!  Terry always puts Coop to bed and the tears just ran as he held on to me telling me in a meek quiet voice that he missed Daddy and wanted to know why he wasn't home.  It was so heartbreaking and cute at the same time.  We managed to cuddle enough that Coop finally fell asleep and all was fine when he awoke Friday.  Terry got back Friday night and had a good time.  Karli and her college roommate, Yung, came up Friday night as well and spent the weekend.  I was a little cautious about the kids reaction to Yung as she speaks little English and I wasn't sure how the kids would react.  Well I guess I was worried about nothing because they talked to her and communicated better than Karli or I.  Coop really latched on to her and she seemed to understand him really well.  He made her play ALL weekend and it may be that she will never want to come back but she seemed to enjoy herself. 

Raelynn had her first soccer game of the season and they got smashed.  The field is twice as big and they have goalies this year.  Raelynn was exhausted from running the field.  Hayden spent the rest of the day and night with us so we did a lot of playing including time outdoors. 

Karli can be prety silly sometimes which makes for a fun afternoon.

We also had some indoor fun making sugar cookies and then pizzas for dinner.

Raelynn and Cooper introducing Yung to Disney Channel

Hayden, Raelynn, Yung, Coop and Aunt Karli's arm making Cookies

Our evening ended with a Justin Beiber movie, of course  Sunday we ha church, 2 meetings and a birthday party so there was no time for rest.  But who would want to rest when you are having so much fun!

Tonight the kids were great.  On the way home from swimming lessons Coop informs me that he wants a new family.  When I asked why he wanted a new family he said, "Because you and Daddy are old."  Raelynn piped in immediately saying,"Mommy's not old, just Daddy."  As soon as I got done laughing I asked Coop why he wanted a new family and who he would like me to talk to to see if they would be his new family.  He said he wanted Terry and Kristi.  I explained Daddy and I were Terry and Krsti.  He said, "No we pretend you are Terry and Kristi, they are the new family and you nd Daddy are the old family.  In fear that I was going to get really confused, I turned to Raelynn and asked her if she wanted a new family too. She responded, "Sure I would take a new family but only for a a little while, remember I don't like to get rid of anything old!"  How true that is.  For the time being Coop and Raelynn are both letting us stay :)

Raelynn pulled her 2nd tooth tonight, finally!  I will never be able to explain how I can insert a feeding tube, assist in changing an arterial line, drain blood after open heart surgery, hold my kids down while getting stitches with no anthestetics.........but pulling a tooth wigs me out!!!  Raelynn has to pull her own teeth and this one was holding on a little long.  But tonight as she sat on the counter in front of the mirror, we were uploading pics to facebook when she says, "Mom I got it."  It was so matter a fact like and then she just cracked up and started running around.  Now I just hope Raelynn can take the tooth fairy's credit card because the tooth fairy never seems to have cash these days!!!!  We are waiting for the money fairy to get home and hopefully he can save the tooth fairy :)

THEY ARE JUST WHAT I NEED..........

Today was one of those days, nothing was really wrong but it just wasn't a great day.  Some things are bothering me, nothing that is a huge deal but you know one of those days.  I call these my "Fat Days".  I had an old friend who termed days like these "Fat Days" for us because you just don't feel good about anything.  Sometimes there is a reason, other times there are so many you can't pin point just one.  Anyway, that was today for me, that is until I picked up the kids.  It is a mad rush for me now after I get off work at 5 I have both kids at different places and they both have to be picked up by 5:30.  This is turning out to be a daily challenge.  So I am rushing to get Raelynn, I run in and she comes walking down the hall with this huge smile and a picture she had drawn in her hand.  She instantly yells for me and comes running to give me a hug.  She is instantly joking around and chattering about this and that.  I am already smiling.  As we sign her out and rush out to the car to head of to get Coop she says "Mom, look at my picture and I have a story to go with it."  The one thing I have been working really hard on and even told the kids I was working on it is to stop when I am rushing if the kids need my attention.  So I took a deep breath and as I am buckling up and starting the car I have her hand me her pic.  I take a look at it and then let her know I have it in my mind so now she can tell me the story as we drive to get Coop.  The story went like this.......

This is me in a wedding dress and this in Justin Beiber in a tuxedo.  We are getting married.  This is Daddy and he is a monster coming after us (she says with a big giggle)  He brings me back home.  Then Justin Beiber comes and gets me again and this monster is you (she laughs again)  You bring me back home again.  Then Justin Beiber comes and lives with us because you won't let me leave and he kisses me.

She is laughing so hard by this time and I am laughing too.  Then she says, "You know Mom I am going to grow up and marry Justin Beiber."  "I almost guarantee you will not marry Justin Beiber", I tell her.  "I know but you know I will have to leave and get married to someone but don't worry if you don't get rid of the stuff in my room we will come and stay with you too."  "Ok but can we wait awhile before we talk about that and can you just be 6?" I ask her. Raelynn responds with laughter in her voice, "Oh Mom you're so silly, I love you and Dad and I will always need you and I will have to grow up and leave but I won't go far I promise."

So by the time we get to Mary Beth's we are both laughing and I had forgot all about my "Fat Day".  Then Coop comes running.....Mommy!  I get the biggest hug!  He jumps in the car and give Raelynn a huge hug.  As I buckle him in Raelynn asks how his day was and how school went.  He tells her the A/C wasn't working but it was fun.  He then asked her how her school was and she starts telling him her story about she and Justin Beiber.  When she gets to the end and tells him about them kissing, Coop covers his face and says "Oh Brother!"  It was hilarious!

The rest of the evening was just as great!  Thank you Raelynn and Coop for ending my Fat Day!

COOPER'S FIRST DAY OF PRESCHOOL.....

Today was Coop's first day of preschool.  I cannot even explain to you how I feel about him at this point.  I guess, unless you have been on the journey with us, it is hard to explain.  For 2 1/2 years we were concerned if we gave his meds at Q8 or Q12 and that each of his 13 meds were given with or without food.  We were concerned with how he was going to learn to eat and whether or not a G-tube would have to be inserted.  We fought with him pulling out the NG Tube. We operated on little sleep with less than 3hours between feedings and meds and any given time within a 24 hour day.  We were concerned with his color and his O2 level.  We were concerned with the viruses he was exposed to with his weak immune system.  Then there was the scare with seizures and when his next surgery would be and if it would be as horrible as his second surgery and if we would loose him.   During these 2 1/2 years it really didn't seem that bad and it was just what we had to do for Coop. But over the last year that has all changed.  Cooper is eating and off meds.  He is energetic and a pale pink most of the time.  He is ornery and smart and so very "normal".  I guess it just seems that we have not had 3 1/2 years to watch him grow and enjoy all the little things but instead we have had 1 year and it has been an amazing year.  So in one short year Cooper has completely changed and it just seems that he has done 3 1/2 years of growing in 1 short whirlwind of a year.  I guess that is what made today a little more emotional for me.

Today was a short introductory day at preschool.  The parents stayed and they were there just an hour.  I met Terry and Coop there to see him in on his first day and then I headed to work, but before I did I just stood at the door and watched.  I watched Coop sit there with Terry and do what all the other kids did and do it well.  Tears swelled in my eyes partly out of pride but mostly out of pure love and thankfulness.  I remember early on before even Coop's 2nd surgery I used to pray to God that that if he was going to take Coop that he would do it quickly before I got too attached.  Now I pray that if he is going to take Coop, just to give me one more day, one more second, one more breath!  I love him so much and it just grows stronger day by day.  I am so excited to watch him develop even more throughout this year.

 He was absolutely adorable this morning and loved preschool.  I asked him on the way home if he was excited to go back to preschool on Wednesday, he said with a big smile, "Yep!"  Then tonight as I lay with him at bedtime he held up his hand and said, "I have 5 fingers" and preceded to count them.  He then held up the other hand and said "I have 5 more."  I asked him how many fingers he had all together?  He held up his fingers and counted them to 10, he turns to me and says, "I have 10 fingers! I wonder if my teacher knows that?! I will tell her on Wednesday!"  It was so cute!  Who knows what he will be telling them by the end of the year!

Proud Sister!



1st Day of Preschool!





Big Boy!



Mommy and Cooper

Daddy and Cooper

HERE WE GO AGAIN..........

Time is once again flying by.  Last week was basically a blur.  I took Monday and Tuesday off because I did not have anyone to watch Raelynn and it was awesome having 2 days with them before school started.  Well I guess I should say Tuesday was awesome but Monday was a little rough.  Raelynn had not been home for some time with all her visiting the family and I think she forgot some of our expectations.  This is a nice way of saying she acted terrible all day.  I even sat her in timeout for her constant complaining and whining.  I must have gotten through to her though because Tuesday was back to normal and we had a great day. 

Some time ago I had promised Raelynn that if she stopped putting her fingers in her mouth (nasty, germy habit) I would take her to Build-a-Bear.  We had never been and Raelynn had been asking to for some time.  Well she did stop putting her fingers in her mouth so we decided Tuesday after her school physical we would head to KC.  Her physical went great and Dr. Kelley confirmed she is growing by leaps and bounds.  She weighs 48 pounds and is 44 inches tall!!!  Coop disassembled Dr. Kelley's "tools" while waiting which gave us all a good laugh too.  After that we were off to Build a Bear.  We had so much fun and ended up with Heartlynn and Snuggles!

Wednesday was back to school for Raelynn and back to work for me.  I can hardly believe Raelynn is in the 1st Grade!!!!  She did great that morning and we took lots of pictures.  I just look at her and the tears roll.  I cannot tell you how excited I am to watch her grow and mature but I am equally miserable thinking of the day I will move her out of our house and on to her next chapter of life.

Thursday was my first day of volunteering at Raelynn's school.  I am reading to the K-3rd grade before school begins.  Thursday was a little rough as I had no idea what to expect but I have to say Friday went very well and I am super happy I chose to do this.  The kids are great and it gives me an extra 30 minutes a day to be with Raelynn!!!

Then Friday came along and we headed to Topeka to check out Karli's new dorm.  This is the one that is killing me right now.  Karli was 9 months old when I left for college and now she is in college.  This terrifies me knowing how quickly this all happened.  I know Karli will do great at school, she is an amazing woman.  The fun thing for us is she is coming here every Sunday to go to church with us, do laundry and eat. We are thrilled that we will see her so often.  Tomorrow is her first day of classes and I cannot wait to hear how it goes.

Tomorrow is also Coop's first day of pre-school.  I will save my feelings on this until tomorrow because I am afraid I will get my self all upset if I start talking about it tonight.  He has really done all his growing and maturing in the past year and I am so thankful, proud, amazed and happy that he is more than ready to be in preschool.  Cooper has really been an amazing little boy and he doesn't even know it.  I love him so much and every second with him I just want to hold onto every sound, smell and thought he has!  I am sure he will keep his teachers hopping but always with a smile.  Tonight I layed out his clothes and he said, "That is what I wearing to my first day of preschool." "Well that's boring!"  And here I thought I would only have the clothes issues with Raelynn!

Last Tuesday morning Coop decided Raelynn's bed looked pretty cozy!

WE ARE ALL FINALLY BACK TOGETHER......WELL SORT OF....

Last week Raelynn spent the week with Steph and it was definitely a long week.  I missed her so much.  It does give Coop and I some special time together though.  He is just too funny and is so easy to care for.  He is pretty laid back just like his Dad and just kind of goes along with whatever.  Monday night Terry's Dad ended up in the hospital for pneumonia so we went to KC to visit him.  He is doing better but still having a little trouble.  Tuesday we came home and played "tackle".  It is his favorite game!  I just never have the heart to tell him he is never going to really play football.  Maybe if we keep playing "tackle" he will be tired of it by the time he is old enough to really be able to play.  Wednesday is was off to swimming, Thursday hair cuts and Friday we picked up Raelynn!  The week went much quicker than I thought it would but still was too long. 

Raelynn had a great time visiting Aunt Steph.  She always gets to visit Cody's Dad's farm which she loves.  This year while on the farm she got her first driving lesson.  I about had a heart attach but they said she is a better driver than I am!

They also kept her well sugared up with soda and homemade ice cream sandwiches.  You can see now why she loves it there!

I have to thank my family greatly for helping us care for my kids with a month without daycare.  Karli spent a week here babysitting, then a week with Coop at Steph's, a week with both of them at Mom's and then a week with Raelynn at Steph's.  The kids loved every minute, I of course despised every minute but I knew they were being loved which is everything!

So finally we are all back home....except that Raelynn is at a sleep over tonight.  I hardly could let her go but it had been planned for well over a month and she had been looking forward to it longer than that.  I told her after tonight, she was all mine and I wasn't ever letting her go again.  Oh how I wish that were true.  School will be starting soon and our hectic lives will resume.  I love the chaos we live in but the summer days seem to give us just a little more time together and I will miss that over the winter. 

The next week is filled with madness! We have an event of some sort every night and on some nights we have two.  Raelynn starts school on  Wednesday and then Cooper the following Monday.  I am so excited for them both and cannot wait to hear about the new teachers, friends, etc.  Wow I love being a Mom!  I had almost forgotten how much until today.  Not having both of them pulling me different directions for the past month, I had forgotten how good it felt.  Today I had a million things to get done and almost got half of them done.  That is a successful day in my eyes because I know while I wasn't getting the other half done, I was laughing, playing or snuggling with the two best kids in the world!

2 SHORT DAYS WITH THE KIDS.........

The kids made it back on Friday night and it was better than GREAT to see them.  They ran and hugged us so hard and held on forever which was perfect!  We enjoyed some time together over the weekend but it was way too short.  The kids had a horse show on Saturday and both did great.  Then we headed back to Lawrence for the fair.  It was fun but maybe not as fun as in the past.  We usually attend on "Family Night" where the rides are discounted.  This year the kids were gone so we went Saturday night and let me tell you, you can drop a lot of money really fast.  That kind of thing makes me crazy because I feel like I am just tossing money out the window.  They did have some fun though.  They always enjoy the petting zoo.  They also wanted to ride the horses even though they had just spent all morning riding horses :)

Sunday Raelynn headed to Aunt Steph's house for the week.  Yep, you got it, she was home for 2 days then gone again.  She and I both cried when she left.  I wish I did not miss her so much.  This week is a little easier because at least Coop is here.  He is enjoying a little more attention and has been great even giving me a few extra hugs.  Raelynn is having a great time in Manhattan.  Today they headed out to Cody's Dad's farm.  Raelynn loves it there because they have a garden and lots of fun things for her to do.  Today was no different.  First, Aunt Steph let her have a soda on the way out which that itself is a huge treat.

Then after a fun time there, Uncle Cody gave Raelynn her first driving lesson.  Everyone will be happy to know she drove great, nothing like her Mother :)

I asked her if she told Uncle Cody she did not have her driver's license.  There was a long pause and then she giggled and said no like she had just gotten away with something she shouldn't have.  As I looked at the picture of her it made me think back to when I was her age and driving on my Dad's lap.  Oh the memories both my old ones and Raelynn's new ones.  We are so fortunate to have family!!!

LAKE BAPTISM, A VERY SPECIAL DAY..................

This morning in church they played the part of the Lake Baptism.  It was an awesome day for Raelynn and I.

MY BABIES ARE ON THIER WAY HOME.............

Well after a very long week Raelynn and Cooper are finally on their way home.  I have gotten so much accomplished why they have been gone but I feel like I have missed so much too.  Everyday I spend without them I fill like I have missed special time with them.  I have missed their laughter and questions and I have even missed Cooper's constant, "Mommy I want you."  The house has been so quiet.  It was nice to go out to dinner with Terry and it was nice run errands after work and it was nice to get every cupboard and closet in the entire house cleaned out but it was not as awesome as hearing them giggle or listening to their stories or hearing them argue about what to play.  It is quite amazing how they have changed our lives!!!

They have had a great time though.  I don't know if Coop even noticed we weren't around but I think Raelynn missed us a just a bit.  Last night I was trying to call her when they called me so it went straight to my voicemail.  By the time they hung up and called me back and I answered Raelynn was crying.  It freaked her out that we wouldn't be there when she called.  I felt bad for her but a tiny piece of me also felt relieved that she cared so much that we were just sitting there waiting for her call.  Someday when she has kids she will realize that even when she is sitting right next to me I am just sitting there waiting for her call!

Raelynn right before leaving for Grandma's House

Coop right before leaving for Grandma's House

Chandler, Coop, Cassidy and Raelynn having fun running through sprinklers!

No appropriate movies at the theater so Aunt Karli brings the movie theater home!

The Zoo!

Can we have one Mom!
(NO!)

Raelynn, Coop and Karita (Karli's Best Friend)

Raelynn and her first fish!

Cassidy teaching Raelynn not so nice gestures :)

Coop and Raelynn with their new fishing poles

Photo Book

Click here to view this photo book larger

COOPER'S CAUSE FOUNDATION 4TH ANNUAL GOLF TOURNEY.......

Friday was the 4th Annual Cooper's Cause Foundation Golf Tourney.  We sure lucked out when it came to the weather.  It was in the low 90's with a breeze!  We could not have asked for more.  It was an awesome day and fun as always.  This is my favorite event because I actually get to enjoy it and have little to do on the day of the event.  We had a great turn out and sounds like we made another chuck of money.  I cannot wait to provide funding to more families in need.  Raelynn, Cooper and thier friends; Kaden, Brooks, Kiyana and Cayman all ran a lemonade stand at the golf tounrey.  The absolutely love this and although it was a long day for them, they seemed to have a great time.  They reaised $183 this year!!!  Wow, at a $1 a glass that is pretty impresive!!! 

I guess as they day went on, Coop got to drive virtually every golf cart on the course!  Who can say no to a face like that? :)

As you know last week Coop was with Steph. He had a great time and didn't seem to mind being away from home much at all. Every day Steph would send me pics of him so I knew what they were up to. It made a wold of difference and helped me to not feel like I hadn't seen him for so long. Here is how it went........

1st day there they ate out at Arby's!

Then it was off to the zoo!  Coop loved the Otters!

Waking up from naps was the hardest.  Thank goodness Uncle Cody was there!

Look Mom!  I am wearing a K-State hat!  Can you please come and get me!

So I barely had Coop back and now they are both off for a weekend at Grandma's.  I cried when they left and I really tried not to but I just couldn't help it!!!  I miss them horribly.  I did get both their rooms and their bathroom cleaned tonight after I got home from work so maybe a few things will get done!  I hear they are having a great time and we have Skyped every night which helps tremendously.  All the same, I cannot wait until their return Friday night. 

Chandler, Cooper, Cassidy and Raelynn

 I took a couple pics before the kids left so I could look at them often and they just made me even sadder!

Come on Friday!!!