FAST WEEK ALREADY........

This week is flying by.  Raelynn is still at Granny's house and believe it or not I have not cried EVERY night.  I do miss her horribly but Coop and I have been having a great time.  I tell 'ya though, one kid makes you lazy!  I feel like I am on vacation which might say something about which of my children is high maintenance as if there was any question about that to begin with.

Coop got his new glasses from Lawrence Family Vision.  These people are outstanding.  This is the first pair of glasses that Coop picked out himself.  They are a light blue with little red accents on the sides.  You would never guess my son is a Jayhawk fan (note the colors he chose).  He is so proud of them which makes him even cuter wearing them!

Tonight is Coop's very first sleep over.  One of his best friends is moving and leaves tomorrow.  It kind of snuck up on us so I was very happy that his Mom agreed to let him stay.  I tell you, a boy sleep over is so much more fun than a girls'.  We were outside or at the park most of the evening and then the boys wanted dinner outside which I was all for because that means no mess to clean up :).  Then it was shower time and Kaden explained to Coop that boys can sleep without a shirt so Coop thought he should try that tonight.  It was so cute.  Coop also called me into his room after his shower and quietly asked me if he could wear his undies to bed instead of his pull up.  He still wears the pull up as a precautionary measure but on occasion it is wet in the mornings.  I explained to him why I thought he should still wear the pull up due to the fact they were sleeping in the tent together and how bad that would be if he did have an accident and Kaden was sleeping beside him.  When I had finished Coop pauses, looks straight at me and says, "Yep, I see your point!"  and preceded to put on his pull-up.  It was so funny.  As he ran out of his room he turns to me and says, "Please don't tell Kaden I am wearing a pull-up and I will start working on not wearing one."  Again, he is just so darn cute.  The entire night went great.  The boys got alone so well and were so polite I could do this every night.  However, the fact that they are moving makes it a little less exciting.  I truly love Kelly and her family as if they were mine.  They have been such a part of Terry and I's life that I am going to miss them dearly.  I know we will visit and they will be back here as well from time to time but I will miss running into her or hearing the cute little stories about Brooks and Kaden at daycare from Cooper.  Sometimes change is just hard! I love you Kelly and will miss you!  

Coop and Kaden at the park!

CATCH UP TIME...........

This post is going to be incredibly long so feel free to read it little by little all week to get caught up.  My last update was May 16th and we had visited Coop's cardiologist and Coop had been put on a heart monitor for 24 hours to check a few things out.  We finally heard back on Saturday that the results had been read.  Dr. Kaine explained that Coop's heart rate was relatively low as his resting heart rate is at 70 bpm and an average 4 year old is at 80 to 85 bpm.  However, his heart did slow down during sleep to around 40 bpm and increased during activity to 185 bmp which was good because it did show that his heart beats fluctuated.  Unfortunately though it left them with little reason as to why his heart rate is so low.  The one possibility is something called Sinus Node Dysfunction. From what I understand, the Sinus Node is basically your hearts pacemaker located in the Right Atrium.  When Coop had his 2nd surgery and had such a tough time, they used the ECMO machine which was a total life support machine.  With this machine, 2 large canals are inserted in the carotid artery and then are placed in the right atrium of the heart.  Unfortunately this is also where the sinus node is and sometimes this can cause damage or scar tissue can build around this area and cause problems.   The interesting thing about this though is that Cooper should be short of breath and not very active if this is the problem and we definitely know this is not the case.  Dr. Kaine has decided to not proceed with any further tests right now.  Instead of our annual checkup we will have to go back in 6 months to monitor how he is doing.  We have a list of things to watch for on our end but we were assured that we would see a drastic change in Coop's activity level if this is actually the case.  I asked what the treatment was if this is the case and Dr. Kaine said we would cross that bridge when we came to it.  After researching online, I read that the only treatment is to insert a pacemaker into the heart so I am assuming that is what we would be looking at.  I was a little disappointed to hear these results as it seems that Coop is just doing sooooo well but I am also thankful that we are so closely monitored and have such a wonderful medical team.

On the 17th Raelynn had a Cheer performance and she was so excited and I was too.  She really loves cheer and this was the first time we were going to see what she had been doing.  I picked her up after work and we ran home and got her all dressed up.  We made it there and it was complete chaos.  There were so many performers there but we didn't see any from Raelynn's class.  I asked the director who had been out on maternity leave and she assured me the girls would be there.  Finally she admitted that there was a misunderstanding the the girls were not performing.  Raelynn was devastated and I was so sad as well.  It was just a mess and I was very disappointed in the organization.  To cheer her up we stopped by and got her Subway and took her over to Tom and Jan's to check out there new landscaping.  The evening ended up being alright but just disappointing.

Friday I did not work to get ready for Steph's Bachelorette Party which was Saturday night.  We worked all day and into the evening but we finally had the house cleaned, food prepared and everything set.  Saturday morning flew by!  We had so much going on it was crazy.  We took 2 vehicles over to our hotel to be ready for our return Sunday morning and ended up getting lost only to find that out hotel was just around the block from Children's Mercy Hospital which I could drive to in my sleep.  It was pretty funny and we had many laughs throughout the day.  We started our night at our house at 5pm and had o'rdouves, drinks and played games until 7:30 pm when our limo arrived.  Then it was off to the power and light district where we spent the rest of the evening.  We had so much fun and things went pretty much as planned.  The night ended back at the hotel around 3:30 am.  I won't go into details but we probably should have made it back to the hotel 3 hours earlier but heck, it wouldn't be a bachelorette party without a few girls who over indulged!  Terry was a champ through it all.  He ran Coop and Raelynn to 2 parties and kept them and 2 dogs away from the house for 3 hours.  Then he cleaned up the entire mess we left when he returned our which was awesome.

This past week was mostly spent preparing for the wedding and settling into our new office.  We opened at our new office on Monday and the office is awesome!  It is beautiful and so much more professional looking.  Tom and Jan worked incredibly hard over the weekend to have everything ready to go on Monday.  Karli helped me out greatly on Monday being my personal shopper.  She went and picked out wall decor and picture frames and office supplies to decorate my office so that it would be ready for open house and so I could get everything done I needed to do.  She was amazing!  Then on Tuesday she came in and helped clean and organize 2 of our huge file cabinets.  All in all she was a huge help this past week.  Then Karli and I and the kids headed to Scott City for Steph's wedding.  Steph requested we be there Wednesday so both our family and Cody's came in at different times on Wednesday.  Thursday we started working.  I had no idea how much work we would be doing.  We were constantly running around for things and decorating and getting tuxes and dresses finalized etc.  An Aunt of Cody's is an event organizer for large fundraisers and had access to an incredible company/individual that would let us rent the decoration and show us how to put them up.  The building looked amazing when we were done as did the church as well.  All in all things went great.

Bridal Luncheon

Finally the day arrived and Cody and Steph were so calm.  I think I was more nervous for them then they were!  Things went by really quick but it all was great.  The only bad part of the day was that it was Scott City, KS and of course it was soooooo windy and dirty.  We traveled from the wedding to the reception in old convertibles and it was fun but we felt a little wind blown and dirty afterwards.  It was an emotional day as well.  I guess just because it is Steph and Cody but I was shocked how emotional I got.  The two of them are such a large part of our family that it was nice to finally make it official.  It was also fun two watch the two families.  Everyone got along so well.  Cody's family is just wonderful.  Mom and Dad and Steph and Karli have grown up with them but I went to college when Mom and Dad moved there so I haven't known them as well.  I love Cody to death and this week got to know his family a little better too. They are just so much fun and do anything and everything to help.  It was just a great week and weekend of friends and family.  Our family from Alaska and Colorado were all there as well which I have not seen for years.  It really was quite the family reunion!  Our family in Colorado is rather large and there are several young kids.  Raelynn says to me, "Mom, I have so many cousins, why didn't you tell me!"  She and Cooper both were fantastic.  It was a long week and lots of late nights yet they were all smiles most of the time.  Overall things really did go just outstanding.

Today we started the morning with all the family at Brunch and then we tore down all the decorations and headed back to Lawrence.  Unfortunately we didn't leave Scott City until 4pm and have a truck load of gifts and supplies to drop off in Manhattan.  So I think tomorrow will be a day of relaxation and will be enjoyed greatly.  The other unfortunate thing is we are returning home with only 1 child.  Raelynn is spending the week at Granny's since we don't have any daycare for her until June 4th.  I miss her already and it has only been 3 hours.  I know she will have fun but I really love that little girl and never like it when either of the kids are gone.  I am thankful though that we have Coop and hopeful he will keep us entertained until Sissy returns on Friday.

Grandma Branine at Brunch!  She is so beautiful

To Steph and Cody~  I hope everything went just as you had dreamed.  I love the 2 of you more than you know and promise to be by your side supporting you through whatever life has in store.  I really meant it when I said this stage in life is the best yet.  Enjoy each other!

To Family and Friends (Which please knows includes ours and Cody's)~ I am blown away by your kindness and love and wiliness to help one another.  You are all so wonderful and thank you for letting me have so much fun with you this past week.  You are all fantastic and I am so happy Steph and Cody have the support system they have.

COOP'S ANNUAL CARDIOLOGY CHECK UP

As most of you know Coop is doing amazing in regards to his heart defects.  Today we had his annual check up.  Every time we approach a cardiology appointment or surgery Coop is a little older and the issues we face are a little different.  Last night I reminded him that we had an appointment this morning and he says to me, "Are they going to cut my chest open again?"  I assured him they were not that it was just a check up.  He replies, "Good because I didn't pack my bag and it's a little boring!"  It was funny to think that he would refer to surgery as "boring" because that is one word I would not have used to describe his surgeries.  This morning Coop woke up winy and remained that way until we were headed to CMH.  He objected on the way out to the car and said he did not want to go.  Once we arrived he seemed ok and everything went well.  However we did leave with a heart monitor for the next 24 hours.  It is primarily precautionary but his heart rate and blood pressure were very low today.  They are looking to see that his heart rate increases as his activity increases and that his heart beats are not irregular.  The monitor is of course connected to "stickers" on his chest and then the monitor hangs in a bag like a purse. From the time they put the monitor on him until about an hour afterwards Cooper said nothing.  Not one little peep.  He finally did talk to tell me he wanted the monitor off.  He protested as I took him to Mary Beth's also.  He said he didn't want the kids to see it.  Luckily we have the most amazing daycare ever and his 4 best friends were right there when we arrived to look at the monitor, talk about it and encourage Coop that it was "cool".  He will wear the monitor until 1pm tomorrow and then we will return it and they will call with the readings.  We are all just praying for good news!  We really are not concerned but will be happy to get confirmation that everything is working as it should.  Coop is 3' 2" tall and weighs 32 lbs now.  Little by little he is growing :)

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

So another week has passed and it was a good one!  Last weekend, as I already posted, Raelynn and I were gone all weekend and Dad and Coop hung out.  They had a great time and Dad even made sure Coop made it to a Cinco De Mayo party and a Birthday Party.  I think they were pretty worn out by the time we got back home.

Last week was Teacher Appreciation Day at Raelynn's School.  We made cookies, cards and took flowers on various days.  Coop was feeling a little left out so he too took cookies and cards to his teachers.  We have been so fortunate to have outstanding teachers for both the kids and it is an honor to give a little back.  The kids love it as well.  This year Raelynn had a whole list of teachers to deliver flowers to and it was so much fun watching her pick out the perfect flower for each one.

Thursday was transition day.  This is a day the kids get to move up to the next grade to meet the teachers and get a brief of what they will see next year.  When I picked Raelynn up she was talking so fast I could hardly keep up.  She has her 1st and 2nd pick for teachers already but realizes it is just the luck of the draw.  Regardless, she is super excited for next year!  Thursday was a big day for Coop as well.  It was his first Art Show.  We love the FPCP Art Show.  They display on the art work the kids have been working on and they have a silent auction for each room on a project the kids have worked on.  When Raelynn was there we always bought one of the pieces so we had to get Coop's as well.  We bought an awesome abstract piece.  Coop was pretty excited and I loved it.  They also have a book fair at the same time so of course we got a few books as well.  It was a fun evening!

About midweek we spent another day at home with Raelynn.  She has been fighting stomach aches.  We have been to the doctor and we initially started with allergies but have treated that and still have the stomach ache.  We now are looking more at an acid reflux type issue or digestive problems.  Unfortunately on Wednesday she ran a fever as well.  We spent the whole day at home and by the next day she still had a little stomach ache but was good to go.  We had some friends suggest Aloe and so we are giving that a shot and so far so good.  I researched Aloe quite a bit and it truly seems to be a miracle drug.  I am not sure if it will solve my little girls problems but it is certainly worth a try!  One good thing did come of my day at home with a sick little one.  Our bank has introduced eDeposit and it is like an answer to my prayers.  This is no joke, I simple scan a picture of the check I wish to deposit and tada the check is in your bank!  It is awesome.  They have a mobile app coming soon and with that you just take a picture of the check and it's done.  I absolutely love technology!!!!!!  This means trips to the bank will be cut down to next to never!!!

Besides eDeposit making me week pretty exciting I also won a contest I didn't even know I was entering. I listen to a Christian radio station, KLove, quite often.  During the time I am picking Coop up from preschool they have this session on "Blessings in Disguise".  One night last week I logged on to their web page before going to bed to see if they had any of the stories I had heard them share.  Well they didn't have them listed but there was a link you could share your "Blessing in Disguise".  I kind of chuckled because I have often said Coop was a blessing in disguise.  I found myself typing our story in a very condensed version.  The next day as I was picking Coop up on KLove I hear the DJ say they have a winner for the day and that this story is so touching she had no problem selecting it as the true blessing in disguise story for the day.  She went on to read what I had submitted the night before.  I could hardly believe it and tears rolled down my face.  I think sometimes when I hear our story it doesn't even seem like it is ours.  We have been blessed over and over again and we have been given the most amazing friends and family anyone could ask for.  It was really an honor to be selected.  That night I received an email from a man in Indiana whose Grandson was having surgery for a heart defect on Friday and he had heard our story on KLove.  I offered him some encouraging words and just thanked God again for the way he works in our lives.

Friday was an early Mother's Day treat for me.  Coop's school had Mother's Day Tea.  It was fantastic.  He treated me to Strawberry Shortcake, a flower and a story.  We had a good time and it is just fun to be in the classroom with him!

This is exactly how it looked when it arrived!

This passed weekend was great.  Friday night we headed to Manhattan for Steph's graduation at 8:30am Saturday.  Her graduation lasted forever but it was great.  I am so proud of her and become prouder every day.  I was 15 years old when Steph was born and she has always held a very special place in my heart.  We have went from being sisters with a wide age range to best friends in adulthood.  I would have never guessed how our lives would go but I am sure enjoying it!  I am very proud of you Steph and cannot wait to be a part of your next stage of life!

After graduation was over we treated Mom to an early Mother's Day Outing.  She often takes us on shopping sprees for our birthdays so we decided to take her on a shopping spree for Mother's Day.  So Steph, Karli and I headed to the mall.  We had a great time and Mom ended up with 2 dresses and a shirt. I think she had a good time and I know the 3 of us girls had a wonderful time just us and our Mom.  Thank you Mom for all you do for us!  I love you!

Today was an awesome Mother's Day!  My day began with breakfast in bed made by my beautiful daughter.  Coop woke up just in time to snuggle a little with me before my breakfast arrived.  After breakfast I was given a map for a scavenger hunt to find my presents.  It was pretty cute.  Once I did find my gift I found sooooo many beautiful crafts made by Cooper and Raelynn.  It was perfect!  After that we  went to church and then spent the day together doing "Sunday" things like washing cars, planting flowers and eating Orange Leaf :)  Terry and Karli both treated me to beautiful flowers as well which I loved!!!  Karli included such a loving card that even made me shed a tear or two which just made the day a little more special.  She also cooked me a spaghetti dinner.  It was delicious and I didn't have to cook it!  The day was perfect and I know I am the luckiest Mom ever!

BRIDAL SHOWER DONE.....

Another weekend checked off the list!  This weekend was Steph's Bridal Shower and Lingerie Party in Scott City.  I think Steph had a great time again this weekend.  This time Karli, Raelynn and I were the three that went back and Terry and Coop stayed home.  Boy have I missed them!  Coop's smiling face and silliness is something I need daily.  I can't wait to see him in a few hours.

Our celebrations started on Saturday morning at the church Steph and Cody are getting married at.  They had a nice shower for her.  Then we headed to the house and started preparing for the Bridal Shower.  Karli made sooooo much wonderful food and I was sure we had more food than necessary but every bit of it was ate by the end of the evening.  We started with the Bridal Shower and then moved right into the lingerie party which was absolutely hysterical.  Steph is so blessed to have so many wonderful friends and family.

The lingerie party got a little funny!

Last week went by so fast.  Raelynn had her "Bridging Ceremony" for Daisy's.  This is the ceremony they have when they move from Daisy's to Brownies.  So we now have a Brownie Girl Scout :)  I actually really love what she is learning and doing in this organization.  She absolutely loves it and as long as they don't make me go camping with them, I completely support her enthusiasm.

On Thursday Karli graduated from the Citizen's Academy in Topeka.  Its a 13 week program that she went through that was like a modified police academy.  She of course loved it and they had a wonderful ceremony for them.

Raelynn also lost 2 more teeth!  We had tried so hard to keep those two front teeth in for the wedding but one was just too loose.  Raelynn lost the first one at school.  A few days later the second was completely loose and bleeding.  Unfortunately it was holding on a little tight.  It was just hanging there and she had tried to pull it but couldn't.  She asked me if I would which is a completely awful thought to me.  She was so desperate though and it hurt.  So I agreed and pulled the tooth.  I was so grossed out I made Raelynn laugh.  By the time it was over she was assuring me she was alright.  It was kind of funny!

We also had another heart warming story regarding Cooper's Cause.  One of our friends had a garage sale this past weekend and their daughter had a lemonade stand.  When the day was over she told them she wanted to donate her earnings to Cooper's Cause!  Every time a child does something like this I am just blown away.  I love that kids have such a passion to help and I love that Cooper's Cause can give them a way to do that.  Thank you Emma!

Well we are on our way back home!  Another long trip but I am really learning to use these trips to catch up.  Thank goodness for technological advancements!!!  This next week will be another fun and adventurous one I am sure.  Friday night we will head to Manhattan for Steph's graduation at 8:30am Saturday morning.  Then we are hosting a gathering back at her house to celebrate her graduation.