Weekend Recap

Our Friday morning started like this.  Cooper got a battery operated train for Easter and he wanted to play with it Thursday night.  When it was time to go to bed I said he could play again in the morning if he got dressed quickly.  So I got him up about 10 minutes early and he played quietly.  Yes the playroom/office is a disaster! I still have boxes that need to be put away.

 

Friday evening was quiet at home and I went to bed around 9.  We got up at 5am to head to FW for our 5k.  Kyle and I participated in the Victory Over Violence 5K.  I didn't talk about it much because I wasn't ready for it.  I signed up 3 weeks ahead of time and went running 5 times outside total.  Each of those times I wasn't able to run more than 1.5 miles.  I was dreading the run and would have backed out if it wasn't for Kyle. 

 

We took a quick selfie before the race.

 

 

My goal was to run 2 miles.  It was further than I had been going and I hoped adrenaline would get me there.  Well in case you didn't know I am stubborn.  And I ran the entire thing!!  My time was horrible at 11 minute mile but my goal was to keep a steady pace and go as far as possible. 

 

Below is my time from my app but my chip time was 34:35 (11:09 pace)

 

 

Tiffany also ran and did great!

 

And Kyle of course did awesome as well! We had a lot of fun and I was so proud of myself afterwards.  It gave me the boost to continue running and not take months off! Kyle and I already signed up for the Filthy 5K in May.  Hopefully this will be a fun new hobby to do together.

 

Aunt Jen Jen and Uncle David watched the boys for us while we ran.  That meant we made them get up at 7:00 on a Saturday so they must love our boys.  When we got back to their house we found this...They went to a baseball game and must have had too much fun.

 

We raced home to eat lunch and then get ready for a wedding.  We wore our Easter outfits again.

 

 

We had so much fun.

 

My cousin's little boy was a dancing machine! He was too cute!

 

Casen sat right by the stage and watched the band (my uncle's polka band)

 

They loved it! (notice no rain boots at the wedding! I won that battle! Though I did bring them and let him wear them the last 20 minutes before we left)

 

Time for the chicken dance!

 

Sunday we got ready for church and Casen decided he needed on underwear...over his clothes...and backwards.

 

Then he also put on his brother's old rain boots that are too big and were on the wrong feet.  He is such a mess.

 

After church we went to McDonalds to meet Mrs. Jamie!

 

They didn't do much eating but they had so much fun.

 

I was a little nervous about how Cooper would do because he gets so shy sometimes and it has been 4.5 months since we have seen her.  But after about 60 seconds of shyness it was like no time has passed.  He was so happy to see her.

 

 

We just love Mrs. Jamie and miss her so much.  It is really important to me to stay in contact with her so I definitely won't let it be 4 more months before our next visit.

 

This pose is funny but it is too cute.

 

Then we went home to get stuff done around the house, grocery shop, and relax a little after our crazy weekend.

 

This morning Casen woke up with croup.  I knew he had been exposed to someone in his classroom last week and when I heard a little coughing yesterday I was worried.  Sure enough this morning I heard the seal's bark.  You can't tell my his sweet sleepy smile that he doesn't feel good.  Notice his lack of pants? But at least their is a diaper.  And the beloved soccer ball.

 

 

This morning I was putting Cooper's socks on and Casen grabbed the other sock to help.  It was so sweet!  Cooper said 'he doesn't know how to do it.' But I told him to wait and let him try because he was being sweet and wanted to help.  I just melts my heart.  I am so blessed.

Update on Casen

This amazing little boy is growing up so fast.  In so many ways I realize how little he still is.  And I realize that I thought Cooper was so big at this age but he was little too.  It is crazy to think that in one month he will be the same age Cooper was when Casen was born.

 

Casen still sleeps in his crib.  We plan to transition him to a toddler bed since this crib converts.  I am not in a rush.  Cooper moved to the big boy bed earlier because we needed the crib for Casen.  But this time I am more than happy to let my baby be a baby.  (This is how the baby of the family ends up spoiled.  Because you realize how fast it goes and that you don't want to rush things this time.  So you let them be little and get away with more.  I am trying to not let that happen too much).

 

Casen is a good eater however he isn't a big meat eater.  Cooper has always been a good meat eater. Casen went through a phase where he would but a lot of food in his mouth and then spit it out because it was too full.  It was gross and frustrating at times.  Luckily he seems to have outgrown that now.  I really don't know if Casen has a favorite food, but some things he enjoys are bananas, blueberries, olives, crackers, waffles, shredded cheese, and anything sweet.  We don't let Casen have ketchup or dipping sauces because he is a complete mess with them.  He is definitely a messy eater. He has a designated chair at the dining table and no one wants to sit there.  We hate having to clean it from sticky hands and dropped food.

 

I took this picture this morning and you can see he is fully clothed.  He has stopped taking his diaper off but most mornings I find him in just his shirt and diaper.

 

Casen was a big spit up baby and drooler.  Through speech therapy we learned that drooling could play a part in his speech development because he doesn't move his mouth much and ends up drooling.  Luckily we have also noticed an improvement in this area. 

 

Casen loves bath time with his brother.  He gets a little wild with splashing, but he just loves being in the bath.  He also loves bubbles right now.  Casen would choose to be outside constantly if we would let him.  He shows no interest in TVs or movies.  Cooper was the same way until sometime after he turned two.

 

He has been very healthy lately except for runny nose due to allergies and he got 5ths disease in March. Luckily besides having bumps he had no issues with it. We have finally been ear infection free for a while.

 

He is wearing 18 or 24 month shirts. And 12 months or 18 month shorts.  18 months usually have to be rolled because he is so little.  I am not sure on his stats for weight and height.  He is wearing size 5/6 shoes and size 4 diapers.

 

I still change him on this changing table mostly because I don't want to sit on the floor and change him thought I do sometimes.  He is too big for it but he doesn't mind. I took this picture this morning when he wasn't quite ready to get dressed and trying to go back to sleep.

 

 

Now the speech update.

 

I got a phone call last Monday (almost two weeks ago) from Casen's ST office saying there were some insurance changes.  After phone tag I finally found out that insurance has denied coverage of Casen's ST.  We are still trying to figure out what happened because I gave them the name of the lady that called and said we were covered.  When she called we were approved for two days a week and we scheduled our first appointment.  So not sure what happened and I am still waiting on them to call back.  He didn't go last week and for now they are on hold until we get this sorted out.

 

For the most part I am okay stopping ST.  Though I have seen Casen become more vocal I have just never felt confident in the process.  The appointments are so simple and consist of me updating the therapist and then them doing some play where she observes him.  She definitely interacts and I see how she plays which has given me ideas, but it just isn't what I expected.  I had already been considering asking about just going every other week before this insurance mess.

 

But like I said Casen is becoming more vocal.  These are some words he has said lately- cookie, peez (please), mo  (more), no, gog gog (dog dog), Ooper/Pooper (Cooper), wah wah (water), ball, mine, dis (this), dat (that)

 

Yesterday he kept looking for Kyle and said dada multiple times.  He has says momma more but not sure I hear it every day.  More, please, dog, and no are ones that he uses regularly now.

 

The other night Kyle was using his headphones to listen to music and Cooper and Casen wanted to hear.  Casen just loved it and kept asking for more and pointing to his ears.  I wish I had taken a picture but I just stood there smiling with tears in my eyes.  My sweet boy can hear!!  6 months ago we were going through testing to determine how much hearing loss he had. I was so scared. He had failed 3 hearing tests and every time it was the same noises he missed.  Then with the ABR his hearing was completely normal.  My mom is still convinced Casen's hearing is a miracle.  I find myself disregarding that because I don't think we are worthy of a miracle.  All I know is he can hear! God is with our little boy and has protected his hearing.  Yes he is behind but he is slowly making progress. 

 

I am so proud of our sweet boy and I just adore him.  He is stubborn, has a temper, and very busy.  But he is loving, happy, smiley, and has stolen our hearts. I pray daily for the child he is and the man I hope he becomes.  I am so thankful God blessed us with our Casen Andrew.

 

 

Randoms

I have a lot of Easter pictures that I need to post but my camera is currently in Ennis so those will have to wait.  So instead you get a random post today.

 

Last week we met Melisa and her girls at Payless and then went to dinner.  Cooper stood waiting for Mac Mac to get there.  It took longer than I thought and he kept saying 'I just can't wait this long.'

 

Saturday morning Cooper and I made our trip to the donut store and this was his outfit.  Pajama shorts with his rain boots. 

 

Casen looked so cute in this cowboy hat over the weekend

 

Before we headed to an egg hunt at my Grandad's I took these car selfies with me boys (I really need to start wearing a lip color, but I discovered my Burt's Bees tinted lip balm that I loved is giving me blackhead along my lips...sad day)

 

I had a coke for the first time in 40 day and you know what...it wasn't that good. Maybe this will help me get out of the habit of 'needing' one every day.

 

Monday evening the boys played with paint brushes and water outside.  They thought it was so fun.

 

This boy is growing up so fast and is just too cute.

 

And this boy was waiting in his underwear to go outside and have a popsicle. I did this once before bath so they didn't stain their clothes and since then he thinks he always needs to be in his underwear for a popsicle.  So be careful if you offer one at your house! Ha!

 

Yesterday Cooper wore his superman shirt but of course needed his cape.  He wore it into school and was so cute! He did good and told me to take it with me so it wouldn't get messed up at school.

 

When we said our morning prayers today on the way to school I always pray for Kyle and I to have a safe drive to and from work.  Cooper said 'Watch our for boulders and big mud!' They will brake your car or make you get stuck!'  I told him thank you so much and that was a good idea. It was too cute! Pretty sure he got those from Paw Patrol.

 

Yesterday morning we could see the moon on the way to school and he said it is 'miraculously magical' also from Paw Patrol.

 

I will do a speech therapy update on Casen tomorrow.

Easter Treats

I wanted to do something for the boys' teachers but I wasn't feeling very creative. I saw this fun flavored popcorn in the Easter section at Target and decided to add a little gift card to it. Just a simple way to say thank you.

 

 

I also went very simple for the boys Easter baskets. Cooper's current favorite color is green so when I was picking things for his basket he got green things.  Then Casen got the other 'boy color' of blue. It wasn't until I set them up that I realized it matches their basket liners.

 

I got the boys matching pjs from Kohls which is the orange you see in their baskets. Other than that everything is consumable.  This is kinda my motto lately when it comes to things for the boys.  They have so much stuff that I like the idea of edible, consumable, and disposable.

 

I got stickers, microphone shaped bubbles, glow stick trident/swords, and water bottles all from Dollar Tree.  Then I got the egg filled with M&Ms and the duck pez dispenser and candy from Target.

 

 

The boys love bubbles right now but Casen is messy so they don't last long.  Cooper thinks PEZ is the coolest thing. They both love glow sticks in the bathtub (those these were opened right away) and they love to play with stickers during church. And they need spring pjs and these came with shorts or pants which is perfect for this weather right now.

 

Casen approved!

Weekend Recap

Friday night after speech therapy we went to have Mexican food and then spent all evening outside.  Kyle helped our neighbors work on clearing their lot.  Afterward they offered to show us their house and we visited with them until nearly 9 o'clock. The boys were with us and despite it being late they did pretty good.

 

Saturday morning Cooper was awake so we decided to run to the donut shop.  I told him to just put boots on with his pjs (plaid pants).  But then we discovered it was cool outside so he needed a jacket.  Then he needed his backpack (probably because I had a purse). And therefore this is what he looked like at the donut shop.

 

 

Then we headed to Granny and Papa's house to celebrate Easter with my dad's side.  Casen insisted on taking the soccer ball and shot this cheesy grin.

 

We had a delicious lunch and then headed out for the hunt.  There were only 4 kiddos but so many eggs!

 

Doesn't Casen look like a pro running out there with his big basket!

 

 

Tinsley loves her Grandaddy so he assisted her in her hunt.

 

And we started in tennis shoes but as soon as we got there he switched to his boots.  Get ready for lots of boots with shorts pictures this spring and summer!

 

 

Afterward this little guy fell asleep with his Grandaddy.  I must say I am a little jealous because he doesn't do that much these days.

 

We enjoyed a great game of Canasta (Erica and I won! By a lot!!) and Cooper sat here perfectly content with duplo legos.

 

He just kept rearranging them into all sorts of things and was so proud.  Most of them were a 'spaceship'

 

Casen accidentally peed through his diaper (thanks to us not changing him) and had no extra pants.  Love that little diaper butt!

 

 

That evening we played with water, paintbrushes and the concrete!

 

It soon became this!

 

And of course they had to go out for their evening ride. Really Cooper had the gator all over our lot and was having a blast 'helping' Daddy and Mr. S.

 

I just love this picture! I am so blessing by these two little boys.

 

Sunday morning we got up really early to go to church.  And of course, the soccer ball went with us and another cute smile!

 

I took this picture after church.  I shared on Facebook-

 

It isn't easy taking my boys to mass with me.  They can be noisy, fidgety, and distracting to others.  But hearing Cooper sing the Our Father in the sweetest, a little too loud voice brought tears to my eyes. Easy isn't always best.

 

I regularly have to remind myself that 'easy isn't always best.' It would be much easier to sleep in.  It would be much easier to make microwavable meals every night.  It would be much easier not to eat out with my boys or take them on adventures.  But one day they will be grown and gone and I don't want to miss out on these memories or these chances to form them into the young men I want them to be.

 

 

After church we had a play date with Aiden.  Cooper had been asking about it all week.  Reminding me which toys Aiden had and of course 'Aiden is my best friend.' The boys did so well playing together. They picked up right where they left off and did pretty good at playing with baby brother (I call him tag-along)

 

Notice Casen looked up and smiled in the background.  He is too funny!

 

 

The boys did so great that they guys got to play some disc golf and Tiffany and I got to enjoy uninterrupted conversation.

 

Someone had a lot of fun.  Kyle said he thought the boys were pouring dirt on him.  Oh well! He didn't seem to mind.

 

Right before we left we tried to get a picture of these two.  They are just so sweet together.

 

After seeing our neighbors (on both sides) clean up their lots but keeping the mesquite we are really regretting clearing out lot.  Sunday we went by a tree farm and were shocked to learn how expensive trees are. We had always planned to plant some different trees/shrubs once we got settled but now we know we will just have to buy a few things at a time.

 

That evening we enjoyed our first popsicles of the season...in our underwear...just the boys, not me.

 

Casen didn't care for the popsicle.  He just didn't even seem interested in the concept so Cooper and I shared it.

 

 

We had such a nice weekend where we really took advantage of the gorgeous weather before it gets too hot. Yay for spring!