Sunday, August 3, 2014

Two Weeks Worth

So I spent over an hour and a half last week working on the blog before accidentally deleting it. So, it won't be in as much detail but I will try my best to recap the events from last week. 

Cooper had all his regular therapies. We believe he has now learned it is therapy and not play. When the therapists arrive he turns into an "I'm not going to do that, ignoring you" kind of child. So tomorrow we are going to try therapy at the park. 

Cooper and I had dentist appointments. Cooper's teeth are beautiful and we are now flossing them. He actually finds it funny and goes along with it. 

Two weeks ago Cooper was neutropenic and last week his platelets were too low for chemo. We go Tuesday for blood work and hopefully all will be good and we can start back on chemo this Wednesday. 

We got to spend the night in a hotel last week due to two full days, back to back, in Roanoke. We met with Cooper's eye doctor and he was beyond thrilled with the progress he has made. He said his right eye is doing amazingly well. We are to continue to patch until his next visit in September and we will determine our next steps from there. 

Cooper had a vision evaluation this week. It's really hard to determine much at this point since he can't talk to us. She will be visiting us once a month. 

I've discovered a way to get Cooper to eat at least a small amount to food. He seems to do better if I just put it all in front of him at once and allow him to make a mess. No, it's not what I want but he's eating. Sometimes you have to pick your battles.   

Cooper has been book crazy this past week. He is constantly going over and choosing a book he wants me to read to him. Today we spent about 45 minutes reading books. I love it!

Daddy has been working on a new project for Cooper: a swing set with a clubhouse. We are so excited to see the finished product. 

Cooper and Mommy started a new project this week also. A sweet lady has been sending Cooper a pack of stickers, about one per week, ever since he was in the hospital. We decided to start a sticker collection with them. So tonight we sat down and started putting the stickers in the book. We didn't get too far because there are so many, but I'm very excited to continue this activity with Cooper. After finishing a page Cooper would look at it in amazement, rub the page, and say "awe."

This is going to be a very busy and stressful week. We may start back on chemo if counts are good, we have an MRI to check the tumor, then we have an appointment with the neurosurgeon, and an audio gram to check Cooper's hearing. This doesn't include his PT on Monday and Friday, his OT on Tuesday, and his regular PT/OT/ST in Roanoke on Wednesday. Please pray we receive positive news. 

    Cooper listening to paw paw read him a story. 


            Cooper had a date with Kendall last week

            Dr. Katie checking Cooper's teeth


             Enjoying an ice cream cone


            Love his face

           He heard a truck go by

            Loving Uncle Kelly's new store

            This is so cute

      At the eye doctor


            Eating a little Japanese

           He insisted on taking his own luggage into the room

           He slept all night in a big bed

           Riding elevator, heading to therapy- this pic cracks me up!

           After all our appointments we went to the zoo ( PetSmart!!!). Cooper like the birds but loved this      
           little puppy. The couple was so kind to let Cooper play with it. 

           Would you eat from his kitchen?


           Helping Mommy pull weeds, is it sad a two year old knows what a weed is?

            Hanging out with cousins: Ashton and Eli

            This little stinker and his coffee

           Who cares if he makes a mess as long as he eats!

            Wasn't too happy about this meal. 

           Walking in the water by himself. He went under twice and it didn't phase him at all. 

           He's this happy because we were at Mommy's doctor appointment and not his for once!

           Jewell's IGAs new stock boy. He loved changing the prices. 

           I always stop at the end of the driveway so Cooper and I can check the mail. Then he drives us 
           to the garage. Well lately he's been wanting to ride in the passenger seat. Cracks me up how     
           he acts so big!

           Well this is just great. He found one of his birthday gifts and he will not let me take it away. 

            Taking a lunch break from all the hard work. Building a clubhouse is tough!

            Cooper's Sticker Collection

           Beyond adorable!

           Looking through his book. 

           Cooper and Eli had a few pics made last weekend. Here's a sneak peak of one of Cooper's. 

Sunday, July 20, 2014

Cooper's Found His Voice!

While listening to music this week Cooper has been singing along. I couldn't get every time on video but I did get one good one!

Cooper had lots of therapy this weekend. He had his Physical Therapy evaluation Wednesday. We were told Cooper is at about 13 months. He walks pretty well as long as he wears his braces on his feet. When barefooted, he struggles. This was hard news for us to hear. 

Our physical therapist told us we need to make sure Cooper is weight bearing on his left arm/hand at least one to two hours everyday. This is very challenging for us because Cooper does not tolerate this well. I've tried to use play dough and cookie cutters but that lasts about 10 minutes if I'm lucky. I need to get more creative. 

Since Cooper loves Popsicles I decided to make homemade ones using fresh fruit. Thinking this was such a good idea I was disappointed when he refused to eat one. Daddy tried to make Cooper a smoothie. Well Daddy ended up drinking it. Once again I guess I need more creativity. 

Blood work was another negative experience this week. This time they were able to hit the veins but couldn't get blood to flow. After 30 minutes we gave up. We discussed having to put Cooper through this every week with the doctor. She said we could do only one test which requires just a finger sick on weeks he does not have chemo. Then on weeks he does have chemo we will run all the tests since his port will be accessed. This was a relief for Mommy and Daddy. 

It's hard to believe that we have been patching Cooper's eye for a month now. He has been such a sport with this. It doesn't even bother him when we put it on. The ONLY time he tries to pull it off is when he is in time out. Go figure! We go back to the eye doctor on Tuesday. I'm so excited to brag to the doctor on how well Cooper is doing. I'm also excited to hear what he has to say about Cooper's progress. 

Something very exciting is that Cooper has been signing like crazy this week. He is using: more, out, all done, and sometimes please while saying the words. I'm so proud of him. 

     Cooper being sneaky and hiding under the table to eat a cookie!



     Cooper's favorite part of therapy

  He always wipes up after he eats

     New Hair Cut

     This pic just cracks me up, look at his face and with that thermos......


     Brushing pup-pup, let's not mention its a cleaning brush!

     So handsome :)

      
     We still the mail 7 days a week, sometimes twice a day. He loves getting mail. Here he is reading          
     the mail. 
     
     Being a great sport and wearing his eye patch

    Cooper and Mommy enjoying breakfast together. Cooper sometimes eats at the "big" table. 


     Listening to Pops play the guitar and sing

     Playing the iPad with Daddy

    *Sorry, but I have tried several times to upload the video of Cooper singing and can't get it to do so.     
     I will keep trying and if I get it I will post it next week.