IS IT REALLY MIDNIGHT ALREADY.........

I know I complain about this all the time but really how is there ever enough time. I had a meeting tonight for another Cooper's Cause Foundation venture and I just finished it up. It started at 8:15pm but with technology these days there is no quitting time! I think I have just opened up another great opportunity for the foundation but we will see what happens.....

So the kids are doing great and our seemingly quiet week has yet again turned out to be rather busy. Cooper is talking up a storm and mimicking everything he sees both good and bad. Last night as we were playing in the living room I had America's Got Talent on the TV. Susan Boyle had a performance and there in the middle of the living room stood Coop with microphone in hand mimicking not only her singing but her actions and tone and pitch of her voice. Terry is convinced the boy is going to be musically inclined. He definitely has a taking to anything musical. He and Raelynn spend hours dancing and singing around the house. Raelynn informed me today that she needed the Cheeta Girls new CD! Cooper also had his first nightmare last night and although sad it was also so cute. I had just put him back to bed around 2 a.m., about 2:15 a.m. there was this terrified voice yelling, "Daddy, Daddy, Daddy!" Raelynn always yells for me when she needs something or is scared so it was so cute to hear Coop yell for Terry. Terry didn't find it so cute though. When I got up at 4:15 a.m. to head to the gym, Coop and Terry were laying together in the recliner in the living room. Apparently Coop was not having anything to do with going back to bed. Tonight Terry was exhausted and thank goodness Cooper has stayed asleep for the most part. He did wake a few minutes ago for a drink which I never really mind because it just gives me a little "pick me up" to see his cute face and give him one more kiss before morning.

Raelynn is her normal hilarious self. Since I pick her up every day after school and run a few errands before we head to Mary Beth's for daycare, we get some good time just the two of us together. The girl is really pretty funny! We have great conversations about school and what we are going to do after I get off work and whatever else might come up. I was really dreading giving up my lunch hour every day to shuttle her to and from school and daycare but it has turned out to be really great. It has meant for some late night errand runs that don't get done during the day but it is all worth it. Raelynn has had a few struggles this week though. All the sudden socks are too tight. We have had 2 meltdowns because she did not want to wear her socks because they were too tight, but they really aren't. So this morning I got a pair of socks that really were too tight. One pair was Coop's and one pair she had just out grown. I put them on her foot and explained that when a sock fit like those she could complain about them being too small, but if the heel went where the heel is suppose to go and the toes line up like they are suppose too, there could be no complaining. She giggled and understood my point so we will see how things go in the morning :) Besides that, she Daddy and Cooper went to the park on Sunday. When they returned Raelynn looked a little different.......

I guess another little girl twisted the swing beside Raelynn and then spun it and it popped up and hit her in the eye. Then while Terry was tending to her, Cooper fell out of his swing. I think park time was a little rough on Dad.
One last picture to sum up my kids......


Well I guess I better shut things down for the evening. Tomorrow we have a birthday party in the evening and then I am helping with a garage sale to raise money for the March of Dimes bright and early Saturday morning. I committed to bringing 4 loaves of banana bread for the bake sale we are having there too. Therefore, after the birthday party there will have to be some baking done. After the garage sale we are all headed to CMH to visit a family that is there with their little girl who also suffers from heart defects. Hopefully Sunday after church we will find some time for rest, that is what Sundays are for, I think!

COOPER'S CAUSE 2ND ANNUAL 5K, ANOTHER SUCCESS...

Saturday's 5K was another huge success. The morning was beautiful and we had a great crowd. I am always touched by a couple things that happen at every event we have and Saturday was no different. A little boy who goes to Raelynn and Cooper's new daycare came with a baseball cap full of money from his piggy bank to donate to Cooper and his foundation! I, unfortunately was not there to see him but as I was told the story there was not a dry eye around. What a sweet boy. I love how the foundation has brought families together and even the littlest members contribute. There also was a little girl who is a granddaughter of friend's of ours. She walked up to me, hugged me and said, "I am glad Cooper has a family like yours." I teared up right then. What an incredibly inspiring thing to say. I am always thankful that we have Cooper but to say that Cooper is lucky to have us was the biggest pat on the back I think I had ever received. Later that day, she stopped by our house with a bouquet of flowers she had put together herself and gifts for both Raelynn and Cooper. How do you thank a young girl for being so thoughtful? I can only imagine how proud her mother must be for raising such a sweet girl. I know she made me proud.

Sometimes I get all wrapped up in how much this foundation means to Terry and I and I forget how much it means to those involved as well. As Tatum, who heads the committee on the 5K, stood up to talk Saturday morning, tears rose to her eyes. It was then that I was reminded that we are such a small part in all of this. It is all those who help and the families that are in need and the families that come out to support the foundation and the little kids that do so much to give that make this something special. I am just so proud to be a part of it! This year we raised just under $5,000. What a great job everyone did! The results from the run are posted at runLawrence.org.
Raelynn and Coop cross the finish line!

What a great crowd!

Warming Up!


Raelynn and Cooper also had a great time at the race and with Granny (Raelynn's new name for my Mom), Aunt Karli, Chandler, Aunt Steph and Cody. It was a house full and so much fun. When they left today Raelynn cried and cried, "I want my Grandma!" It was sad but also sweet that she misses her.

This week is sure to be somewhat relaxing after the last few. I hope to get caught up on final paperwork from the 5K and on to finalizing the application for funds. I love my family and I love what we are doing, what more could a person want!!!

MEDIA TIME........

Well it is that time of year again to get the word out about Cooper and the foundation set up in his name. We had an interview on KSNT last week and our local news this week. We have been fortunate enough to also have interviews on KLWN and the Lazer. We cannot thank the media enough for getting the word out about Cooper's Cause Foundation. They have all been so supportive. Channel 6 did an amazing job and you can view it at the link below:

http://www2.ljworld.com/news/6news_lawrence/

You may have to copy and past this into your browser but it should take you right to the video.

Once again, we cannot thank all of you enough for the wonderful support!!!

A HAPPY LABOR DAY.....

We had a great long weekend. Friday night we went to the Lawrence High football game. Terry actually had a Friday night he wasn't reffing so we all headed to the game. The kids loved it! The new stadium is wonderful too. They still have some work to finish but it is going to be great. Saturday was our day to get everything done so we could enjoy Sunday and Monday. Saturday night we headed to a BBQ Party at our cousins house. It was fun to gather with the family and watch Cooper and his little cousin Sky play.

Sunday was Donovan's birthday. The kids again had a blast. Donovan has this great swing set in his back yard and Cooper fell in love with it.



Today we just spent the day hanging out and then visited our friend Jill and her daughter Taylor who were back visiting for the weekend. It was a great relaxing day. As I put the kids to bed tonight I could not help but wish every day was a holiday. Every day I spend with them I want to spend the next with them even more. They both make me laugh so much and watching Raelynn and Coop play together was absolutely perfect. Raelynn continues to amaze me with her maturity, most of the time, and Cooper stuns us with how smart he is. If it weren't for his lack of words I would swear he was older than he is.

This upcoming week is sure to be a little crazy with the Cooper's Cause 5K on Saturday. Last week Terry and I did a couple interviews, one for KSNT and one for our local news stations. Both turned out pretty well. We just saw the one on our local news and they did a great job tying it into the one that aired this time last year. My family will come in on Friday which I am really looking forward to. The last couple weeks have been the first time I have ever really wished they were closer. Not that I don't always, but recently I have just felt how easier everything would be if they were here. However, I know they are happy where they are and we are happy here so I will just be happy with their visits. Raelynn is so excited to see them as well. I told her today they were coming and she was ecstatic. Cooper was sitting there too and he said, Ga Ma coming? Raelynn and I just started laughing and Raelynn says, "He just said Grandma!" So we will pray for good weather and a good turn out for the 5K. This will be our last major fund raiser for this year and then we will focus on the family or families we will be helping after the first of the year. I cannot believe how far the foundation has come. We are so fortunate!

LIFE GOES ON.....

God presents us challenges daily and I have always thought one should make the most of each challenge he offers. I live by the sayings "Obstacles are opportunities in disguise". Without saying any more than this, both have been put to the test over the past week. However, I do believe we have once again grown as a family, became better parents, learned things we did not know before and love one another more than ever. With every breath I take, no matter how difficult it may be, I will continue to believe in a good world and do all I can to make it better. I will pray for those who do not.



Raelynn started soccer today and loved it. She has wanted to play soccer as long as I can remember and now her preschool has a little class they offer. She was so excited coming out of practice! I guess I better start reading up on soccer, I may have to actual understand the rules if Raelynn sticks with it. We did not have soccer when I was a kid and I know very little about it. I would hate for Raelynn to know more about it than I do.

Cooper had another eye appointment today and his check up was great! His eyes had improved over our last visit and therefore we once again made it out without having to patch his right eye to make his weak left eye work. I was very happy as I had been sure after our last visit that is where we were headed!