Cooper Performed Today...

Cooper stepped up to the plate and performed today...we heard a NORMAL consistent heart rate! It was the BEST sound we have heard in a long time...we have listened so much that we now know what we are listening to and it was obvious it was NORMAL today. Needless to say, Matt and I both sighed a huge sigh of relief...the medicine and prayers must be working and we are so thankful!

Through the chaos of his little heart issue, my doctor failed to schedule my sugar test so I will go back Thursday for that, and she will listen to Cooper's heart beat again. She said listening 2 times in one week cannot hurt and especially if we can hear something as good as we heard today!

I cannot thank you enough for all the prayers...keep them coming because obviously they are working! I will continue to keep you updated as we continue to get doctor's reports, which come pretty frequently these days.

Gymnastics....

It is 5:55 AM on Saturday morning, and I am pulling into the parking lot of Courthouse Gymnastics. Oh don't worry...I'm not the only mother pulling into the parking lot and there are already 11 cars (yes, I counted) in the parking lot...not sure what time they began arriving.

And you are asking why in the world was I pulling into Courthouse Gymnastics...well, it was because they were having their registration for gymnastics, and I was told the line would start before 6 AM for the registration to start at 8 AM. After being completely shocked I had to wait in line for a 3 year old to do gymnastics, I put on my big girl panties and got in line with every other mother doing what us mothers do best...crazy things for our children!

Needless to say, Anna Lauren has a spot for gymnastics and the child is absolutely beside herself...she has been asking to go to gymnastics for weeks and now she knows she has a spot and has asked to go the past two days. She cannot wait to go turn flips and has asked everyone she has seen to come watch her turn flips! Now...let's hope she is this excited when the time actually comes for her to go...we start on August 9th!

Just Another Cooper Update...

Well, it appears from this point there may be a weekly update on baby Cooper because when we saw the specialist (Dr. Perry) on Friday, he said he would prefer that someone take a look at Cooper every week. As of now, I see one of my three doctors the next 3 weeks...this week my normal doctor (Dr. Cole), the next week the specialist (Dr. Perry), and the following week the cardiologist (Dr. Shores).

I saw Dr. Perry on Friday after taking the medicine for a week and a half only to find a "few" normal patterns of a regular heart rate. This was comforting as it was the first time we had heard "normal" in the past several weeks...however, the problem has still not been cured. Dr. Perry was going to talk to the cardiologist, but he said they will most likely leave my dosage of medicine where it is for now...he hates to change the dosage because he is afraid I would see some major side effects with a stronger dosage...so far, I've been "ok"...haven't felt the best this weekend so I'm wondering if it is due to the medicine just now really getting into my system. But...I'm trying not to complain because I want this to work for baby Cooper!

My prayer is that by the time we see the cardiologist on the 27th that we will have a regular heart rate...I think it is reasonable to think that it will take the medicine some time to get in my system and actually work.

And last but not least, thank you all for the many phone calls, texts, e-mails, and especially prayers regarding Cooper...words cannot express how much we appreciate the love and support of our family and friends!

Oh...and a few "fun" things we have heard about Cooper:
He is going to look just like his sister...
He takes beautiful pictures (Jennifer, you should appreciate this)
He is WILD...really? is one wild child not enough?

Cousins Come to Jackson...

Matt's sisters and their children spent a week in Gulfport with Matt's parents and before heading back to Atlanta today, they came to Jackson and spent two nights with us. We were so glad to have them and had so much fun the two days they were here with us! Not sure why I didn't take more pictures but here are a few...

The BIG kids had a blast on Anna Lauren's jeep...it has finally "clicked" with Anna Lauren how to drive her jeep but the boys need a little more driving school before they can be turned loose to ride by themselves. However, it did provide much entertainment until Uncle Matt got tired of chasing them around the yard to keep them from killing themselves...he finally took the battery out.

Yesterday afternoon, we headed to the splash pad...Madeline wasn't sure what to think at first...

Anna Lauren and James...

Anna Lauren...

Mary Martin...she found a stick so was was happy with her stick and the water...

Spencer...

4th of July Parade at Ridgecrest Weekday...

Wednesday, Anna Lauren had her 4th of July parade at school, and she was so not happy about being in a parade. She DID NOT participate to say the least...no marching, shaking her shaker, smiling, NOTHING! When we picked her up from school Wednesday afternoon, she said she was not happy about the parade because all the classes were in it...she just wanted it to be Ms. Tammie's class...oh my...we have a problem, don't you think?

Anna Lauren walking beside Miss Sarah with her fingers in her mouth (her new thing), which is what she did the entire time.

The only good thing was that she agreed to wear her 4th of July outfit along with the crown Ms. Regina bought her and Holli Grace. Just ignore the purple flip flops...we were close to having it all together!

Anna Lauren was not interested in me taking her picture so I just took pictures of Holli Grace, who was LOVING the parade!

Sweet Holli Grace...

Not so sweet Anna Lauren...

The girls ~ Sara Kate, Holli Grace, and Anna Lauren...

Holli Grace still posing for Ms. Mandi...

Anna Lauren's class with Ms. Tammie...of course, Anna Lauren was being ugly and would not get in the picture...

Anna Lauren (far right)...this is what she did while I was taking pictures of her class...sometimes we just don't understand this child of ours and this was one of those days.

Ms. Tammie and Anna Lauren...of course, Ms. Tammie felt sorry for her and was loving on her...oh my gosh, can we say SPOILED!

Weekend at Pop Pop and MeMe's House...

Last weekend we went to Matt's parents along with his two sisters and their children...there were all of the adults along with three 3 year olds and two 1 year olds...you can only imagine!

The BIG kids watching tv before nap time...I was just impressed to see Anna Lauren sitting still watching tv for a few minutes. L to R: James, Spencer, and Anna Lauren

Something on tv must have been funny...

Oh my gosh...she is really sitting still and watching tv!

Mary Martin begging to come outside with the big kids...and isn't she adorable in the swimsuit we got her for her birthday?

All smiles while preparing the slide for a little water play!

Enjoying the fun slide MeMe bought for the grandkids...

James LOVING the slide...

More smiles...

We attempted a photo shoot of all the grandkids...we actually got a few good ones so I was pleased...

So Pop Pop had this great idea of the kids racing...you know Matt and I were all over this and talked to Anna Lauren about it all week before we went to Gulfport so she was READY! In this picture, Uncle Matt is discussing the "rules" of the race...

On your mark, get set, GO!

They all thought this was great fun...however, our little girl won...she was loving it!

She was so funny because she would run past the finish line and keep running so she could get some water on the golf course...that is probably why she was running so fast...she just wanted to drink water from the cooler on the golf course!

Daddy / Uncle Matt ALWAYS makes little ones laugh...they were sitting on the recliner, Matt would close it, and they would hit the floor...they laughed and laughed and laughed!

Woolmarket Duathlon...

Little behind on posting...but...better later than never, right?

Last weekend we went to Gulfport for the weekend so Matt could race and we could visit with his parents, sisters, and their kids. It was a chaotic but fun weekend for all!

Anna Lauren all smiles as we waited for Daddy's race to start...she has really enjoyed her Daddy's races this summer!

We took James, our nephew, with us to the race...he however, was not all smiles...he was not that impressed by Uncle Matt's race and asked to go home several times. Good thing his Daddy and Mommy don't drag him to races every other weekend!

Off he goes ~ 3.1 mile run, 11 mile bike, and then a 1 mile run...

Coming in on the run...

Headed out for his 11 mile bike...

Coming in on his bike...wasn't his best ride, but he handled it well...there are always good days and bad days...

James was DONE...he was hot and ready to go home! Some nice man let him sit in his chair while we waited on Matt to finish.

Uh oh...Matt was spotted WALKING...no worries because Anna Lauren was fussing at him for walking.

Anna Lauren running down the sidewalk...she was going to yell at her Daddy for walking...I LOVE it! Poor Matt...he just wasn't having the best race and not to mention it was probably 105 degrees.

Running to the finish line...

A little smile...the finish line is in sight!