Where has the time gone?!!

Like every attempt I have made at maintaining a blog, I have let so much time pass without updating. It is time to get back in the swing of things, and when better to start, than today?!

Moose is now 13 months old. Approximately 11 days away from being 14 months. He started walking just 2 days after he turned 1, and is all over the place now. It is amazing to watch him become more comfortable with every step he takes. He has realized that his hands are very useful and should not be used as a mode of transportation. By walking upright he is able to open all of the drawers in our kitchen and throw the contents on the floor. He can open the door to our bedroom (yes, at 13 months we already have to find a way to child-proof our basement door!), and search table tops with those precious little (sticky) fingertips to yank my place mats off. What an active boy he is! We quickly learned that if there is dead silence in our home, you better find out what Coop is up to.

 After carting Coop to work with me for a little over a year we decided it was time for a change. He started attending a local daycare named Little Explorers and is at the youngest age required for his class. The kids are as old as 24 months in his group and I have found that he has learned a lot from them. He does not want mommy and daddy to feed him, for he is a big boy now, and feeds himself! He loves Little Explorers and has made many new friend's. I am blessed to have found something so close to home that has employees who love my boy almost as much as we do. Granted, since starting daycare we have have more illness in our home. He was diagnosed with Roseola within the first week, and is now being treated for an ear infection.

These pics were done by Sadie Collins for his first birthday.

Zach and I are quickly approaching our second anniversary. Our family has grown exponentially in more ways than one the past two years. We have so much to be thankful for. Our love is stronger than ever, and if I am lucky, I will continue to say that year after year.

Life

Life is a privelege, not a right. Sometimes, too often, we forget that. I wish that every morning I woke with a positive attitude and remembered that living for today...... really living- is my main focus. The moments that I share with my family are the memories our future is made of.  I am trying to make more of an effort to let the dishes sit in the sink for an hour longer just to catch an hour worth of smiles and giggles with my little moose. The house surely won't clean itself; dinner doesn't magically appear, but those are all things that can wait. My family however, cannot.

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Cooper is 8 months and boy, has he found his personality! He definitely gets it from his, uh-hem.....mother. He knows what he wants and is head strong. While he cannot talk, he still is able to communicate. He yells, grunts, screams, growls, cries, laughs or smiles when he wants our attention. He has both of us wrapped around his finger and I believe he knows it!

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Our poor dog, Jack, was hit by a car early yesterday morning. Both of the bones in his front leg are broken and require the placement of pins to heal. He is in surgery as I type this, anxiously awaiting the call from the vet to say he is going to be ok. His recovery will be around 2 months and we are hoping he will be back to normal, without a limp.

Going Through the Motions

Robotic is a great way to describe my current mental status. I am completing the last 10 hours of a 60 hour work week. An emergency came up at work and I was more than happy to take charge. I have always been anal and NEEDED to have control in all situations! (Ask anyone who knows me.) At this point, I am going through the motions and waiting for 6 o'clock to roll around. Luckily this week has been low impact and has actually sped by. Cooper is a trooper, and has adjusted well to the schedule. He is at home today with his daddy and I am missing him terribly.

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We paid our last respects to a friend this week. He passed away suddenly at the young age of 24. There are no words to describe the hurt I feel for his family and close friend's. He was a man who was always smiling and willing to help anyone in need. "To be absent from the body, is to be present with the Lord." We will always remember your smile Derek.

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Cooper is growing faster than ever lately. He is more aware of his surroundings; taking in everything as he views it in this world. He is not crawling yet, but he pushes up on his arms as well as his knees. Performing these two acts at the same time proves to be difficult for the little moose!

Spring is quickly approaching and with it comes sun, fresh cut grass, bare baby legs and days outside with the family. We had a photo shoot with Aunt CoCo in the warm sunshine and got our little piggies a little dirty in the surprisingly green grass.

Luckily I have a little warrior child. His brain and body must have an extremely high pain tolerance. He has never cried upon receiving shots, bumping his head or teething. Surgery proved to be a breeze also. Healing went as planned and all looks to be normal. -- I can't believe the time is approaching; the time to begin planning his first birthday party. Something I swore wouldn't be a big deal but inevitably will be "the party" that all babies on the block will be babbling about for years to come! (OK, let's not go that far!)

Thankful for Today

At some point during each week I have an "ah-ha" moment. I wake up and realize that today, I am thankful.

thank-ful:
                : conscious of benefit received
                : expressive of thanks
                : well pleased
                : feeling or showing gratitude

Thankful for my husband who loves me in an unconditional way that only a husband can. He is able to see past my imperfections and silly inconsistencies. He is my backbone and believes in me when no one else seems to be around. He has blessed me with a life that I love and am happy to live, and with a baby boy that has brought new meaning to my existence.

hus-band:

               : a male participant in a marriage

               : a manager

               : a cultivator, a tiller

Thankful for my little Moose, Cooper. Everything that I do in this life is for his benefit. He came into this world and helped me understand that love at first sight does exist. Loving someone more than you love yourself has never been so natural, so immediate. Today I am thankful because Cooper doesn't experience emotional pain; he does not know what it is to feel fear. He is the best thing I have done in my life. I am proud to be a mother. It fills my heart with pride and joy to know that I alone, am his protector- his guardian.

son:
      : a male offspring
      : the divine word of God; the second person in the Trinity

Thankful for a family that sticks together no matter what. My mom, dad, brother and sister are four of the most amazing people I know. They each are unique, yet so much alike. There is an unconditional love between a family that you are unable to find anywhere else. The support we give each other is beyond measure. We are family, but we are the best of friend's also.

fam-i-ly:
             : two or more people who share goals and values
             : have long term commitments to one another
             : all members of a household under one roof

Waiting

Our day consisted of hurry up and wait. Today was Cooper's surgery and as anyone who has been a patient will tell you, it always consists of hurrying to wait. We were scheduled to arrive at Cincinnati Children's Medical Center no later than 9:30am. Cooper was able to nurse as late as 7am thankfully, and was showing no signs of hunger upon arrival. We were triaged and taken to our room where they went through his medical history and obtained his vital signs. Everyone that works at Children's (those that we came in contact with) are so enjoyable to be around. You can tell they love what they do and strive to make each child's experience as positive as possible. We met with anesthesia and the urologist performing his procedure and were informed that surgery would begin "promptly" at 11:08am, last 83 minutes from start to finish and not go over 12:24pm! Talk about precision. Zach was counting down the minutes until they would come and whisk Cooper away and I reminded him that we were on hospital time- where everything happens an hour later than scheduled.

At 11:30am the surgical nurse came to take Cooper. We were able to walk him to the operating room doors and give him "night night" kisses as we handed him off to the anesthesiologist. This must have been the hardest part for us. Leaving our child with a room full of people he does not know, to be intubated and put to sleep. Only to wake up confused, in pain, surrounded by a room full of more people he's not familiar with. Tears filled my eyes as the doors closed and I watched my baby stare me down, wondering where his mommy and daddy were going.

We sat in same day surgery waiting where there is a strange sense of "family." Although we are blessed to have a child that is "healthy as a horse", as one doctor put it, we were nonetheless in the same boat as all the other concerned family members. In that moment I scanned the room, studying each person with wonder. A woman approached us to ask what our son was having done, and I vaguely explained Cooper's procedure. She replied that her 18 year old son was having a kidney removed and started to cry. We wished her and her family well as she took a seat. It was at that moment that I remembered just how blessed we really are. Here I was, carrying guilt for having my 6  month old in surgery for something that he will never remember, while she was waiting on her son to have a kidney removed. The next time I studied the faces in the room, I looked closer and realized there were much larger issues being faced than what we were going through. Blessed is an understatement.

Once out of surgery we met with the urologist who informed us that everything went as planned and Cooper would be waking up shortly. We met Cooper in the recovery area and held him as he slept.

Our day was eventful and filled with stress and anxiety, but it was just that- one day. I have the utmost respect for those parenting a chronically ill child. The bravery that you must exemplify for not only your child, but also your family while going through something so drastic is exhausting to say the least.

We Made It

 Our mini-vacation was a success. We traveled 5 hours south to Gatlinburg, TN with a six month old and a 23 month old. I am proud to say- we made it! Cooper is such a great traveler and I now have high hopes for the drive we will make this summer for a beach vacation. Our cabin was beautiful and in a great location. We spent Friday at the Tanger Outlet mall updating Cooper's wardrobe. Saturday was a day spent driving through the Smoky Mountains and enjoying the warm sunshine while strolling the streets of Gatlinburg.

 

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In two days our baby boy will be having surgery. We have known this day was coming since his first week of life, but now that it is here I am ready to back out. While this is a minor surgery to his doctor's, no surgery is ever "minor" when it is your child. We hold all of the fear for our baby, because he does not know what it is to be fearful. For this- I am thankful. After all is said and done he will have no memory of this day. Again, I find myself being thankful.

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Today was Cooper's first taste of pineapple. We used our mesh feeder as he is able to hold it himself. I fed him pieces of my turkey breast (low sodium) from lunch and he seemed to enjoy the new flavors. We enjoy introducing new foods to him and witnessing his facial expressions. He is open to trying everything and usually enjoys all foods.

A Letter From Cooper

Dear Grandma & Grandpa Angel,

I am missing you bunches!! Mommy and Daddy tell me you will be home soon, but they have said that since Christmas. Are you really coming home soon?!

I am getting SOOOO BIG!! (Ask my mawmaw. She puts my arms in the air and says, "How big is Cooper?! SOOOO BIG!") I can sit on my own, although sometimes I fall. I am eating big people food when my mommy will let me. She has given me bananas, chocolate pudding (sugar free of course!), and pretzels. I am rolling all over the place and I love to blow raspberries. My hair is finally starting to grow, but it is so blonde I still look bald. (Kind of like you, Grandpa Russ!) I'm not quite ready to crawl, but I push up on my arms and turn in circles on my belly. It won't be long!

I know the weather is very pretty in Florida, but it's time for you to come home! I will be having surgery on February 25th, and should be all better by the time you are home.

Can't wait.

Love you bunches,

Master Cooper S. Hon
(Translated by Mommy)

Aunt's Have an Unconditional Kind of Love

.....Or so we thought! Almost every weekend mom, Courtney, Cooper and I venture out to run errands, have lunch and enjoy each other's company.

While browsing the baby aisle at the local Meijer, Aunt CoCo took charge of baby Cooper. I deemed him in capable hands and....well...this was the end result-

My baby BOY had been snatched and potentially confused!  Aunt CoCo had attempted to make Cooper a girl, and as you can clearly see- he is ALL BOY!!!!

We are taking our first family vacation this weekend. While it is only a short trip to Gatlinburg, TN, it is still our first as a family. The weather looks promising and we can't wait to get outside with our little moose. We have rented a cabin for Thurs-Sun with the Carroll's and plan to have a relaxing time with great friend's.

Happy Valentine's Day to all.

To the Doctor we go

Six months later and Cooper's statistics are as follows:

Weight- 20lbs. 4oz.

Height- 29in.

He, undoubtedly, is a healthy baby boy. He is off the charts for his height, and actually on the "slim" side (according to the doctor) for his weight. As for the immunizations he received today- not even a peep! (Mommy and Daddy are so proud of you baby!) We were given the okay to begin giving him finger foods. Anything that we eat and does not require chewing, he is allowed to eat with us. What an exciting time! It comes with more work, but he enjoys food so much that it makes it fun.

Milestones this week include consistently rolling onto his stomach. Once on his stomach he remembers why he originally learned a way out of this position. He rolls onto his back, then to his stomach. He repeats this cycle a few times, until he is exhausted and settles for laying on his back. It won't be much longer and we will be chasing him all over the house.

Cooper Stephen is 6 months- ALREADY!!!!

You heard right folks. My baby boy was born at 2pm, weighing in at a whopping 10lbs. 4oz. six months ago. As many moms say- where has the time gone?! Today the amazing Sadie Collins of SC Photography came to our house and shot some wonderful pictures of Cooper.

Like I said, she is amazing! Cooper was more than willing to flirt with her to get a good picture.

In the past week he has mastered the art of sitting on his own. It won't be long now and he will be crawling, which leads to walking which will then lead to driving and dating! Maybe I am a little ahead of myself on this, but I assure you time flies. Just yesterday it seems he was a newborn.

Suddenly I woke one day and he was 3 months.

It doesn't stop. He grows before our eyes everyday, and amazes us with the new things he accomplishes.

Letter to Cooper:

My little Moose,

Holding you as you sleep, I stare in disbelief that anything in our lives could be this perfect. You came into this world and suddenly, nothing else mattered. I knew at that moment what love at first sight felt like. You are my reason for living; the one I would die for. (In addition to your daddy of course!)

You are learning new things and growing every day. You love to eat bananas, peaches, sweet potatoes, peas, apples, carrots and prunes. Green beans don't agree with your belly, but we'll try again later. You sit on your own, although you still topple over when you get excited. Crawling is next on your list of things to accomplish. When you lay on your tummy you are eager to scoot forward, but can't quite figure out how. You are mommy's biggest fan, and admire your daddy to pieces.

We are so blessed to have you in our lives Coop.

Love,
Mommy

Someone Is Rolling....Both ways!

As of last night at approximately 10pm, my little Moose rolled onto his stomach. He was in his crib playing as he fell asleep. When the screams started, I ran to see what had happened. Moose was just startled by the fact that somehow he had gotten himself on his stomach; a situation in which he does not like to be!

I am so proud of him! He figured out how to get out of "tummy time" at 3 months of age- roll from tummy to back. Finally, he is rolling both ways. Maybe not on purpose, but it is happening nonetheless.

Poor Moose has been coughing for a couple days. I took his temperature today and got different readings. Each time was more increased than the time before. He is his normal perky self, but I opted to give him Tylenol for the slight rise in temperature. We will continue to keep a close eye on him.