ARE WE MAKING PROGRESS....

Nothing too exciting finished out our week and that is good. I was exhausted. Terry started reffing football Friday night. I am glad he does it for him but it was a little rough around here. Cooper seems to be getting very spoiled about being held and it is impossible to hold him the entire evening while still getting dinner, bathing Raelynn and putting her to bed. Needless to say there was a lot of crying Friday night, from us all. It will get better I am sure. I just usually hand Cooper off to Terry why I get Raelynn bathed and to bed and it is so much easier that way.

Steph and Cody were in town again and stopped by today for lunch. Raelynn loves Cody and it is so cute to watch him with her. He is very good with both the kids. I am really enjoying having Steph so close to see her so often. I had planned to clean after they left but started doing thank you's for those who helped with the Henry T's fundraiser. They did such a great job and I wanted everyone to know how appreciative we are. I started them about 2pm today and just finished. There were a lot of wonderful people involved!!!!!

Today Cooper, although very winy, decided he needed to drink water with ice out of my glass. He drank it like he had never had water before at three different times. He also drank a yogurt drink, ate some Won Tons and a fortune cookie. I don't know what got into him but it all had to be on his own time. I tried to give him a drink at one point and he batted at it like he always does now. Not 20 minutes later he was grabbing for my glass and took several drinks. If only I could figure him out. I just hope we are getting closer!!!

I have added a link over to the right. This is Raelynn's Preschool Class's Website. Her teacher says it is a work in progress but it is suppose to be updated throughout the year and even pictures posted. Isn't that sooooo cute!!!

COOP'S TROOPS AT HENRY T'S, A HUGE SUCCESS...

I cannot begin to tell you how wonderful the turn out was for the Cooper's Cause Fundraiser at Henry T's. The night began with a limo ride from our house to T's. That started a little shaky because she was 45 minutes late and you can imagine how irritated I was getting :). That was soon forgotten though when we arrived. The place was packed! There were people greeting us and wishing us well before we even walked in. Our little Cooper was a celebrity!!! Terry with Cooper in hand and I spent the whole evening greeting the amazing people who took time out of their busy schedules to help our cause. It was so humbling. I smiled the whole night, not because it was the polite thing to do but because I couldn't help not to. People were so generous and thoughtful. It wasn't even the funds we collected that astonished us the most but rather the kind words and heartwarming stories we heard. People as sooooo good! There were so many people that we did not even know that went out of their way to stop in and support us. I truly am amazed and this is an experience I will never forget. I have heard that this is the biggest fundraiser T's has ever had and that makes me feel so good. Terry and I keep thinking, what if we are able to help another family even this year???? I cannot wait to make another family feel as special as we do. We count our blessings nightly not only for our two beautiful children but for our wonderful friends and family. Cooper made quite a showing himself pulling his feeding tube right there in the middle of everything. We just laughed!!!

Steph and Cody came up for the evening as well. It is really great having Steph so close. It was pretty funny because Steph kept being mistaken for me. There was a point she gave up trying to tell people she wasn't me and just went along with it. Especially when it came to the benefits of them thinking she was over 21 :) Anyway, it was a really good time and great she and Cody could be there.

So this morning, after not getting to bed til around midnight, Raelynn was a little groggy. She was a real trooper though and got herself up and dressed. I woke her up pretty late so I was a little rushed leaving. It is her job to feed Poho so as I was leaving I told her she needed to feed Poho. She looked at me and said, "Mom, look at the clock, we are running late again! We do not have time for that now!" The girl is hilarious and now she is starting to know she is funny because her little comments are always followed by a sweet little smile. After school we went for her annual well check. She is now 34lbs and almost 38 inches. The funny thing of this all is that remembering she was born at a little over 4lbs, she is now in the 59% for height and 76% for weight. I told her she may be eating too many cookies!!! As we were leaving there was a lady jogging by. Raelynn asked me if she was running for her kids. I smiled and said yes she probably was. She replied, "She is a good Mom." Raelynn always asks me why I run in the mornings and I tell her so I can stay healthy so I can take care of and play with her and Cooper. It was cute that she really understands my words.

Tonight Terry got home after we had all eaten. I was helping Raelynn finish her shower. Terry had filled a plate and was eating with Cooper on his lap. The next thing I know Terry hollers for us to come here. There Coop was sitting on Terry's lap with Terry's fork eating the gravy off of his chicken fried steak. He ate 4 or 5 bites all on his own putting the fork right in his mouth and loved it!!! A little later on I gave him a piece of licorice and he put it right in his mouth and started gumming it like crazy. Maybe, just maybe, we are starting to get somewhere with the whole eating thing.

SO MUCH EXCITEMENT....

I have so much to say today I am sure I will not be able to type fast enough!!!

Friday was a great day! It started by dropping Raelynn off for her first day of preschool. It was so cute. She was a little apprehensive at first but as soon as she realized there was play-do she was good to go. She was definitely the cutest kid there, hahaha! She is just growing up so fast. From there I headed to Manhattan to help move Steph in. What a day! It brought back so many memories. I think Steph was a little nervous but I know she will do great there. She would do great anywhere. She is one of those people who can do anything and get along with anyone. I am so proud of her. I talked to her tonight and the first day of classes went pretty well except for her very advanced Spanish class. The entire class they speak Spanish. Her comment was "I think they gave an assignment but I am not sure." Not a real good thing but I know she will work it out. Anyway, I think she is settling in and I know I am happy to have her so close.

While I was in Manhattan, with no cell service in hick town, Cooper got a fever. Of course, Saint Lisa took care of him and got him some Motrin and gave him lots of love. We were up all night Friday and Monday morning I took him to the doctor sure he had another ear infection. He did not. You would think I would be happy about this, but with Cooper, not knowing what is wrong is far worse for me. Dr. Kelley assured me this was a good thing and he just had a little bug. By this morning his fever was gone and he was doing much better. Now Raelynn has the sniffles so I am sure it will work it's way around the whole family. Mom was here Friday night and went home Sunday. She spoils us so much when she is here. It is no wonder I always hate to see her go!

Tonight Rick and Shannon brought over one of Chandler's bikes she had outgrown. It was so cute and Raelynn started riding it right away. She had just told me she needed a bigger bike and I guess she was right. It was so cute so enjoy her first "big girl" bike ride.

I cannot even begin to tell you how excited I am for tomorrow night. It is Coop's Troops fundraiser at Henry T's. I got so many wonderful emails and comments after the news report and article today. If you didn't catch it, copy and past this to your address bar. It turned out pretty good.
http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2008/aug/25/infants_illness_spawns_charity/
We actually got an email from another local family that was in the NICU when we were there right after Coop was born. We had thought often about them and I was thrilled to hear from them. There were others too. I just cannot begin to tell you how "big" this all is. It is so worth all the work. I get chills just thinking about it. Tomorrow night will be a very humbling experience I am sure and one I will never forget! Who would have known these two could bring so much good to the world and to us!

WE SURVIVED MEDIA WEEK :)......

Well the interviews are over for the week. The photographer that came Wednesday night for the LJWorld was so nice. He was great with the kids and just flashed away as we went about our nightly routine. He is actually sending us all the pictures too so I am very excited about that. This morning was the live interview with the Lazer and I think it went pretty well. I was so nervous but once we got started I relaxed a little. The DJ's were great too and asked the perfect questions. Isaac got us in contact with KSNTV out of Topeka. They emailed me late this afternoon and we are trying to set something up with them. The media attention has really surprised me but I think it is wonderful to be able to get our story out there. Setting up the foundation is getting a little frustrating but I refuse to give up on this and it will happen I am just shocked at all the hoops you have to jump through and the expense associated with trying to give money to other people. I am enjoying the challenge though I must admit. I feel like I have been incredibly busy and honestly I think I do better when I am. Also today I received an email from a Mom of a little boy who has cardiac issues very similar to Cooper's. She lives right here in Lawrence and I was quite touched by her email. She provided me with her phone number and said if I ever wanted to talk to call her and she and her son were going to be at the 5K/Fun Run to help support us. I was really touched by her and plan to call her this weekend. I just keep saying how touched I am by things that have came about since Cooper's birth but I am truly convinced that setting aside the suffering Cooper has had to endure, this has probably been one of the best things in a weird sort of way that has ever happened to me. I am a better person and a better Mom because of our situation, not that I would have chose this path if it was up to me, but given the situation I think we are very blessed for what has come out of it.

So Raelynn will head to her first day of preschool tomorrow. I am sure to cry!!! She is just so grown up!!! I continue to be in awe with her. She gets frustrated now with the things she cannot do. She is very independent. I love to watch her learn how to handle her emotions and learn to solve her own problems. I think the hardest thing for me right now is not just jumping in and fixing everything for her. We talk through her emotions and try to find resolutions to her problems. I am trying to teach her to talk things out because neither Terry or I are talkers. We are much better at not talking then talking when it comes to our emotions so I want Raelynn to learn a better way. Tonight she had a meltdown as soon as we got home because she wanted a sucker and couldn't find them. She never bothered to ask me, just became angry when she could not get one for her and Cooper on her own. After she spent some time in her room "calming down" she says to me, " I got mad because I can't find the sucker". I asked why she didn't just ask me to help her find them. She said because if I asked you, you would know Cooper and I were eating suckers before dinner and then wouldn't let us. I cracked up, she was right! What a delima that left her in. Really I have no idea how any parent can get furious with their kids. If you take two seconds to think of the situation from their perspective, it is always humerus!

So tomorrow I am headed to Manhattan to help my little sis move into her dorm. I have no idea how my Mom can do it, I am almost ready to cry. I remember when Steph was 3. It was the year I was moving out and heading to K-State myself. I was in my room crying so hard and there walked in my oh so fat 3 year old sister, one of the reasons I was crying so hard and didn't want to leave. Now she is the one going off to college. I have to admit I am so happy she is moving closer to me. It will be good to have a sis close by again. I am looking forward to tomorrow so much for so many reasons. I missed Steph's graduation because of Cooper's surgery and so I feel like this will be something I can do to make up for that. I also am looking forward to a day off. It is just me, no work, no doctor appointments, no kids, just me, my Mom and my sis. It will be a lot of fun and I am sure bring back a lot of fun memories.

RAELYNN IS GOING TO PRESCHOOL.....

Well the first interview is over and I guess it went alright. Terry and I both started crying and Raelynn was a maniac. With today's technology and a lot of editing I am hoping it turns out good. The article will run in the Lawrence Journal World on Saturday or Sunday and the news clip will be on Sunday at the 10pm news. I am so nervous to see it. I thought of a million things I wish I had said and a few I wished I hadn't but we'll see.

After the interview we went to Parent's Night at Raelynn's Pre School. Raelynn and Cooper got to go play with Kelly, Brett and Kaden. The loved it and I loved Parent's Night! It was so great! Raelynn is going to real school now, I almost cried and Terry almost fell asleep!!! Just kidding, he loved it too. Her teachers, Ms. Hanf and Mrs. Strong are awesome and seem so excited to teach the kids. It is ridiculous how cute I think all of this is. Seriously, I would have never dreamed it, but I love being a Mom. I love all the organization of the teachers too. They have everything so spelled out and we can keep track of exactly what our kids are learning so we can practice at home. They have things all set up so we can also see at any time how Raelynn is progressing and what she needs to work on. I swear I am more excited than Raelynn!!! She will go to a pre school orientation on Thursday and then her first day is Friday. She is going to love it. We bought her this little pre school T-shirt that she has to wear on field trips. Yes she gets to go on field trips. Isn't that so cute! There was another Mom there that was just as silly about all this as I am, I liked her right away. :) Anyway, who would have ever imagined I would be excited for school, hahaha!