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!!!