Happy 2nd Birthday Cooper!!

Today is sweet Cooper's 2nd birthday!! In so many ways these last 2 years feel like they have flown by, and in other ways, they have felt long and full of uncertainty and waiting. Words do not begin to describe the joy and gratefulness I feel in my heart for this child today. His little amount of life has had an enormously huge impact on me.

I have learned so many things throughout these last 2 years with Cooper.......  how to walk in blind faith because of biblical hope, to cherish every moment with my family because we don't know what tomorrow holds, to let the small stuff go, to laugh more often, to hug more often, that my Heavenly Father is ALL that He says He is, I have learned how to love more deeply, how to listen for God's voice in the midst of LIFE, to say thank you more often, I have learned who my true friends are, I have seen the power of prayer, have felt the peace that only God can give, and have learned to complain less- because there is always going to be someone who is struggling more than me! The list could go on and on.

I remember the night Cooper was born very well. A friend had just dropped off a meal for my family, as I was on partial bedrest with full placenta previa and a history of premature births. My due date was still 6 weeks away and I was hoping to make it for at least another 2 weeks. I sat on the couch and thought my water broke when I sat down. I got up and there was blood everywhere. Thankfully, we live about 4 minutes from the hospital. Bunky got me to the hospital QUICKLY, as I continued to bleed pretty bad. There was no stopping labor and I was rushed in for an emergency c-section. I just remember thinking...."this is not how I wanted this to go, God, but please let him be okay". Cooper was born and although he was only 5 lbs, he seemed to be okay. He stayed in the NICU for 6 days. I didn't do so great- lost a lot of blood as they could not stop the bleeding after the c-sec. My dr. later told me I gave her quite a scare, and that I was the most complicated c-section she had ever done. Needless to say, we came through all of that to find out 8 weeks later that Cooper had Infantile Fibrosarcoma. So, here we are 2 years later and a lot of that is still very vivid in my mind, and a lot of it feels like a huge blurr!

I love you Cooper Samuel Cook! I am hoping that the next 2 years are a little less "eventful" than your first 2! Happy Birthday!

Cooper's MRI

We found out today that Cooper had another clear MRI- no evidence of tumor!!! We are so thankful and excited for this news. God is so good and mighty! It is hard to believe that he will be 2 years old in just a couple of weeks. On one hand, those 2 years have gone by fast, but in other ways and at certain times, it has felt like an eternity- lots of waiting and uncertainty marked these 2 years of his life. I have truly learned not to take one minute for granted! Thank you so much to ALL the many people who have prayed on Cooper's behalf- Our Father has been faithful to answer- He has heard and chosen to answer our prayer for healing of our son. I am reminded daily that this is not the same story for many families, and my heart breaks at those thoughts. I still know that God is who He says He is and is kind and wants good for His people, even in the midst of uncertainty and heartbreak. I am humbled and feel extremely blessed that we are rejoicing in the good news for the moment! Thank you Lord Jesus!

What's Really Important- Life Lessons Taught

This week has been difficult and emotionally draining, to say the least. We found out on Tuesday that Bunky was let go from his job with Takeda Pharmaceuticals, after 11 years with the company. We knew it was probably coming after an announcement by the company several weeks ago, but getting the final word was still hard to swallow. 75% of management in this area were let go, as the company, like many other pharmaceuticals, were unable to meet financial expectations and had to make serious cuts company wide.

I guess the good thing is, that after you have been through what we have gone through over the last 22 months with Cooper, these difficult life circumstances, really seem like "small potatoes" (as my husband said so eloquently himself)! Nonetheless, it causes one to ask a lot of "why" questions. Thankfully, we believe in a God who loves us, cares for us, and will never let go! He writes our story and knew and still knows what lies ahead. Therefore, we put our trust in HIM and wait and hope with joyful anticipation at what HE has in store.

Last night was our end-of-the-season party with the Dodger little league team that Bunky coached. The players got their trophies, had pizza, played a game of wiffle ball and we all enjoyed being at Crockett Park.

Zach Benson (one of the players)- I love this picture of his face as he 

was listening to Coach talk about all he did this season right before he got his trophy!

So proud!

Zach getting his trophy!

After the trophies were given out, the players presented Bunky and the assistant coach with a framed poem, which each of them signed. I think the poem sums up what really matters when you look at the big picture of life! This meant so much to Bunky, especially in the midst of all he has going on. I took a picture of it, but will type out the poem since it is hard to read.

You have taught me to-

Start with prayer before the show

"skateboard, step, and throw"

Stop a ball with my "alligator" chomp

calm down when I run off with a stomp

Play ball in the hot summer rain

Ask, "where's the play?" to awake my brain

Hold the ball up if there isn't a play

Signal me when to steal and when to stay

Have fun by ending practice with a relay race

Look at the dirt outline of where my feet should be placed

See me at my best and award me with a game ball

Grow my confidence and make me feel so tall

Know that some things are more important than to win a game

Give great effort, respect and kindness to others

life-long lessons to real fame!

THANK YOU COACH

Real victories in life aren't about winning or losing games, employment, how much money you have, or how you look to others! Real victories are made of the little things- kind words spoken, bonds that can't be broken, confidence built in a child, forgiveness, and having little glimpses into God's perspective of others and life around us that are important!

Dodger Baseball with the Cook Boys

Colby and Carson

It's that time of year and Carson is almost done with his regular season of baseball with the Dodgers- complete with his dad as Head Coach and Colby as the official bat boy! We are going into the last 2 games undefeated and have had a blast with a lot of our teammates from last year, along with some new ones. Colby was not quite ready to play organized sports, so we decided that the bat boy position would be a perfect entry into all of it. He has loved it and when he is not too hungry or distracted in the dug out- he really does a great job running out to get bats! He is part of the team and makes sure anyone who asks knows that! We only had one wack in the head (of course he wasn't wearing his helmet) and coincidently it had to happen while I was away on my girls trip. No stitches were needed and after a little apprehension, Colby is back in the game!

Colby with his new helmet after getting hit in the head!

He is very serious about being bat boy!

Carson is quite a little ball player!

Coach Rod does an amazing job with these boys! He really loves these kids and has a "ball" with them!

Nothing better than getting the game ball and having a bag of chips!

Carson, Zach (next door neighbor) and Colby before a game!

Spider Monkey

Cooper has officially been given the nickname "spider monkey" by my husband!! A few weeks ago when the historical flood hit the Nashville area, my sweet hubby was on full-time duty with our 3 boys while I was away on a girl's trip with some dear friends. It was during this time, that my wild little almost-2-year-old, rocked daddy's world and hence received the nickname. I received a text from Bunky saying, "Cooper is like a caged spider monkey who has been cut loose". Cooper truly is into EVERYTHING! When I say everything, I don't mean toys, baby Einstein movies, or anything that little boys his age "should" be into- I mean toilets, coloring on the walls, destroying everything in sight, trash digging, climbing on tables, staplers, screwdrivers........ and the list goes on and on. He is non-stop and runs everywhere looking for the next thing to destroy!!

I came back from my trip to an exhausted husband, who truly has a new-found appreciation for my daily routine with the kids. And although I want to pull my hair out most days, I sit back and truly marvel at all God has done in his little life. I can't help but be thankful for his "high energy" and know that things could be very different with this little "Spider monkey", so I just try to remind myself of that on those days that I want to flush him right down the toilet along with all of the toys, food, toothbrushes, etc that he himself has managed to flush down!! :)

How many pieces can I tear this into??

In Daddy's office with the stapler!

The Impact of Teachers

Well, Carson officially finished Kindergarten last week! He had a wonderful year and the progress he made with reading, writing, and even math are simply amazing to me. Holding him back one year was, no doubt, a right decision. His teacher, Miss Mackenzie Riggs, complimented him so much on how well he focused and took responsibility throughout the year. I am so very proud of him! We are truly blessed to have had, what I believe is the BEST kindergarten teacher EVER! Unfortunately, she will be moving to New York City, so we won't get to see her next year. Carson's last day was truly devastating for him as he said his goodbye's to her. It was like a scene from a movie. We said goodbye and as we walked down the hall the flood gates opened and with tears streaming down his face, he said, "Mom, I might not see Miss Riggs again, I need one more hug", then proceeded to run back down the hall and grab her, bawling his little eyes out. He then cried the whole way home, telling me that when he got to Heaven, the first thing he was going to say to God was, "Can you help me find my Kindergarten teacher...her name is Miss Riggs"- how precious is that??

Being the kind of wonderful person she is and knowing that Carson's birthday party was the next day- she took a break from packing and she came to his party!!! Thank God for teachers who REALLY do love their job and care about their kids! OH, and Carson has a framed picture of him and Miss Riggs on his dresser and he prays for her every night- she had quite an impact!

Another Clear MRI and Perspective

Well, first of all.... Cooper's MRI was completely cancer-free!! I can't begin to describe what it is like to answer the phone call from his Oncologist after an MRI. I almost feel like I can't breathe as I wait for the words to come out of her mouth. It is truly a relief like nothing I can put into words, to hear good news. I think for so long we continued to get one set of bad news after another, that the good news we have been getting more regularly now is almost unbelievable. I have to pinch myself. So, Thank you, Lord Jesus, for your hand in all of this!!!!! We are filled with JOY and happiness and even more hopeful of what lies ahead for our sweet boy.

Cooper with 3 of the nurses in Radiology- they know him well in there!

He is still coming out of "happy land" from the anesthesia here.

This morning as I was spending a little time in prayer and reading God's word, I just kept thinking about how so many things that seem so big to me at times and consume my time and energy are just so completely worthless. As I thought this morning (before I got the "good news" call), I just had a renewed perspective about life. I tend to draw closer to God when things are tough or uncertain, but He wants me there at all times! I have definitely learned that aligning myself with God's plan- spending time with Him, listening to Him, crying out to Him, stepping out in faith, and taking my focus off of all the craziness of this world we temporarily live in is a practice I should continually walk in- NOT just when life is hard. He reminded me that HE NEVER CHANGES- He is a constant, steady, ROCK, in a world of waves crashing all around. If I will just cling to that, my perspective on life really is different! The things that are sometimes seeming so big are really so small.

Psalm 17:1-2
"I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold."

II Corinthians 4:17-18
"For our light an momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."