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.