IMPOSSIBLE…….

It honestly has to be impossible that I have not updated since November 7th?!  I cannot believe how busy things get and how time flies.  In some respects nothing has changed since November 7th and in some aspects so many things have changed!  I feel like we "parent" so much more lately.  The kids are growing and maturing and along with that comes so many ups and downs. I can truly say though with every day that passes I am more amazed at the children we were blessed with and also know that I completely underestimated parenting!

This weekend was all about Coop.  Saturday was his Birthday Party Day and then he had a couple of the boys spend the night.  I am happy to report it all went great!  Saturday started with Coop's basketball game which is the highlight of every week for him.  He LOVES basketball.  Whether it be practice or a game, he counts the days until the next one.  I love his passion for sports but what I love most is his demeanor.  He never gets discouraged or mad and loves to be the one to assist a shot and less worried about being the one to take the shot.  Now don't get me wrong, he loves to score, but he celebrates his teammates successful shots as much as his own.  I am so proud of that and can only hope that he holds on to his confidence and his ability to recognize others strengths and encourage them.  After his game it was on to his birthday party.  He had it at the local bowling alley this year and I have to admit I was concerned about the chaos but thanks to my sister and friends that stayed to help, Terry and I had it easy.  The kids had a blast and almost everyone was there which made Coop happy!  The sleepover went equally as well.  I was shocked how easy the boys were.  There is no doubt that a boys sleep over is much less drama and work than a girls!!!!  It all was perfect and Coop was super happy so for me it couldn't have been better!  Now we look forward to celebrating his actual birthday on Thanksgiving this year!  The whole family, both Terry's side and mine, will be together which Coop thinks is pretty cool!  I am pretty excited about that too :)

Miss Raelynn has been busy too.  Last week she had her music program and for the first year ever she actually sang and did the actions!!!  She always sort of sings but this year she looked involved and it was awesome.  She did a good job and I just couldn't help but stare at her and realize how grown up she is getting.

Last weekend into the beginning of the week Raelynn and I struggled.  I felt like I was constantly on her.  I felt like she was making poor decisions or just disregarding what she knew she should be doing in general.  Finally Tuesday night I had a long talk with her.  She kept trying to hide under her covers as she cried to avoiding talking to me.  At one point she said, "We don't always have to talk about everything!"  I laughed and assured her that we actually DO have to talk about everything because if we don't talk I can't understand and if I don't understand than I can't be the best parent possible to her.  I also reminded her that it was fine if she didn't want to talk to me but I wasn't going to go anywhere because when she did need me and did want to talk to me, I wanted to be there.  This lasted for about 45 minutes but she did decide talking it out was the answer and by the time we finished we were laying in bed snuggling and laughing about silly stuff.  Sometimes maybe she just needs to cry and maybe sometimes she just needs to challenge me, I really don't know.  But what I do know is that as long as we continue to end with hugs and laughter, we are doing something right.  The rest of the week was a breeze and she was back to her old self full of sarcasm and spunk but respectful and sweet!

Raelynn had fun at Coop's bday too.  She got to have her own sleep over with a friend which probably kept everyone happier :)

We have so much too look forward to this week!  Wednesday I get to spend the day helping Bonnie get  ready for Thanksgiving which I have never been able to do before.  Then Thursday we get to spend the entire day with family and being so grateful for so many things while celebrating one of those very things I am most thankful for.  Then it is Black Friday shopping, arrival of Santa and decorating for Christmas.  Saturday is all about Karli as she celebrates her 21st and then we end on Sunday with decorating for the Festival of Trees.  If you ask me it sounds FANTABULOUS!!!! (And exhausting, hahahaha)

LIFE IS GOOD…...

Today was a good day!  Today is Terry's birthday.  He is impossible to buy gifts for so even though we did get him a few things I think he liked, we really just wanted to spend time with him and that we did. The kids wished him a Happy Birthday this morning and then we treated him to dinner tonight.  I wish I could find something amazing to do for him, but I never can.  The truth is he does amazing things for me every day and most of all I just want to thank him!  I always say how special the kids are and how much I love them but I have a very special husband that I love very much as well.  As always, I am a very, very lucky woman!!!

Brownie dessert to celebrate good conferences after dinner for Dad's Bday!

Today was also a good day because it was teacher conference day!  I have to say that I was a little nervous about Raelynn's conference just because she is so much more out spoken and silly than she has been in the past.  This year has been such a year of transition where she can be so mature one minute and so immature the next.  It seems though as the days fly by she spends more time on the mature side than the immature.  She amazes me daily but I just didn't know.  I had nothing to worry about, her conference was FANTASTIC!  Her teacher had wonderful things to say about her and seeing some of the projects she has worked on filled my heart with pride.  It is just amazing how proud they can make me.  Terry, Raelynn and I all love her teacher so much.  She has a wonderful sense of humor but can also be stern.  She understands this age and is just outstanding.  The entire conference we had a smile on our face.  Way to go Raelynn, you make us very proud!

After Raelynn's conference it was off to Coop's.  It is funny because my concerns for my children's education and social development are so very different between the two.  I really had no preset concerns about Coop but always have concern about his academic development due to his "brain damage" that occurred while he was on ECMO.  I hesitate to even call it "brain damage" because basically they have no idea what affect it will have on him and we may never know.  Unfortunately, I always have it in the back of my head.  Luckily, Coop's conference was outstanding as well.  Coop's teacher is loving, sensitive, grounded and absolutely the perfect fit for Kindergarten as well as for Coop, Terry and I.  I didn't really know how fortunate we were to have her until today.  She shared with us that she had a childhood friend who suffered from congenital heart defects too.  She grew up with her and remained friends with her until she passed away last year.  Because of this relationship, she has easily adapted to Coop's quirky color changes, chest pains and other odd symptoms.  I often commented how well she handled it all and now I understand why.  She had mentioned this to us before, but I did not realize how involved she was with her friend and how she grew up with her friends experiences.  I think what got Terry and I the most was when she referenced that Coop was brought to her her class; was meant to be in her class.  I wanted to hug her right then and there because I realized she felt a small connection to Coop and would explain why Coop and I have loved her so much as well.  There are some very special people in our lives and we have met yet another.  So needless to say we ended conferences on a wonderful note!

As I say all the time, we are surrounded by absolutely the most wonderful people in the world and that circle of amazing people just continues to grow.  Thank you to our wonderful school!!!

So looking back over the week we had some fun!  Coop had his first basketball game on Saturday.  His team is really good for Kindergartners!  He absolutely loved it.  Mary Beth and her son, Cooper came to watch which made Coop feel pretty special!

We also had Halloween which of course was fun.  It was much more social this year for Raelynn and took a little more planning than years past but it got to be more social for Terry and I too which was fun to hang out with friends while spending time with the kids.  Sunday we celebrated Popo's birthday at Aunt Bonnie's so once again enjoyed so great family time.

As you can tell, it has been busy but the best part of busy means we are learning and growing and experience so many wonderful things so bring on the busy!!!