ENT update.

Welp, its official. I have lost count of how many ear infections Cooper has had. But he has one yet again and with it so early in the cold season, his doctor thinks tubes is the best choice. (We kinda all knew this would happen.) So October 18 will be the day he says goodbye to constant fluid in his ears and equilibrium problems (we hope!)

His best friend got tubes just a few days ago and recovered within the day and is waaaay happier since. I am definitely more confident about getting tubes than I was 8 weeks ago. I am definitely looking forward to relieving the discomfort my sweet baby has been in.


Since we haven't heard much improvement with his stridor, they have once again extended the window, now we should expect he will grow out of it by age 5. This was beyond disappointing but also not that much of a surprise, either. I'm just so thankful he is hitting milestones like he's supposed to. We are continuing to cherish every moment since time is definitely not slowing down!

Here's to tomorrow!

I can't get through posts without a few tears anymore. Each one is about how much my life, cooper's life and even our life as a family has changed and (usually) improved.

Last night, Cooper blew me a kiss. I instantly teared up. He is turning into such a sweet, sweet boy and it is hard to keep the tears at bay.

We have said good-bye to the bottle, baby food and most recently, the paci. We have said hello to walking, talking (and talking back) a little bit of hitting and defiance and sadly I am sure biting is just around the corner.

Every night there is some new moment that Rick and I look at each other, utterly excited, that tomorrow is going to be even funner (oh, its a word!) than the day before.

I just had no idea how amazing being a mother would be. I had no idea how much more fun our little family was capable of!

So here's to tomorrow! And the absolute joy our dear Cooper has brought into our lives!

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Thank You Mike!

In lieu of a long, drawn out post about the difficulties we all have experienced with the death of Mike Fawell and the value of life we have been reminded of, I would just like to say...

Tonight, I am thankful for my amazing boys, for the time I have with them and for the ability to cherish them a little more in light of tragedy. I will hold them a little longer, hug them a little tighter and remember to forgive them quickly, for it is not up to us what tomorrow will bring.

Thank you, Mike, for helping me to remember this.

so beyond blessed.

So yesterday was about summing up my sweet baby's first year. Today is about summing up the best school year. Ever.
I am pretty sure the latter was easier.
We have had the year. The year you beg for and the year you dread. I have had 6 years of class "families". I have had more co-teachers than I care to count. I have had a handful of bosses and a few different styles of curriculum in a few different kinds of schools.
But nothing will ever amount to this school, with this co-teacher, with this curriculum, these parents and these kids. These kids.
These kids that we miss when they leave for the summer. These kids that quote us and pretend to be us and maybe sometimes call their parents us.
And these parents, oh these parents. That spoil us with wine parties and gift cards and "comfort" treats because they know how difficult today would be. These parents that tell us how we taught their kids to be better people and them to be better people. These parents that not only value our line of work but are convinced (because its true) we were born to teach and who are trying to figure out ways to get us jobs at their public schools (even if its not true, its still nice to hear!).
This classroom family that went to hell and back and can still laugh and cry and still laugh some more. That slides down the water slide with us and plays tag and duck, duck, goose and may be a little sadder than their kid to leave our room.
If I ever have a moment of weakness and question my path, here is the year that will prove it. I am a teacher, was born a teacher and will always be a teacher. It is said to be the hardest job, but this co-teacher and these families and these kids make it oh so easy.
We, my dear Lauren Moreno, are so, so, sooo beyond blessed to have a year like we did. Cheers!

Happy First Birthday sweet baby Coop!

How do I sum up the most amazing year of my life? It's hard for me to remember what life was like before Cooper, before motherhood.
In the past year, Coop has kept me up countless nights, caused serious physical discomfort in various ways including causing my feet to swell up like jimmy dean sausage logs, been on at least 12 sick visits and a weekend in the hospital, with many diagnosis ranging from ear infections all the way through his floppy voice box aka laryngomalacia, ruined various items of clothing with mushy peas and green beans, has probably given me my first gray hair trying to hear him breathe over the monitor, has even started hitting/pinching and has still brought more joy to my heart than I ever knew was possible.
He is more than walking-ish. Each day he has a little more confidence than the last (what a man, right?) and will be running any day now.
He is more than talking-ish. He says: mama, dada, dog, uhoh, byebye, thank you, and countless other things that I have yet to decipher.
He is definitely more than siging-ish. He signs: byebye, milk, more, eat, all done, dog, and is very close to please and thank you.
I just cannot believe how challenging/fun/emotional/exciting this year has been. How having this beautiful baby has made me a better person, woman, wife, daughter, friend and teacher. Each day is better than before and each day he does something equally as amazing.
Today was the birthday dance. It consisted of Coop stomping his feet, bouncing on his knees and throwing his body onto the bed while I sang him happy birthday. (Don't worry, I got a video!) The day before was me asking him why he was crying and him instantly showing me the sign for eat. Each night I go to bed, I am so excited to see what cool thing will happen the next day.
So happy birthday sweet Cooper James and thank you, thank you, thank you for choosing us to be your parents!

peace is calm in your heart.

In the midst of an earthquake, a hurricane and many tragedies, this past week has challenged my core in the most chaotic sense. Just thought I would share the mantra that I am repeating to keep myself steady and grounded. May you all find a calm in your own hearts.

The best classroom family...

There are a million things I have missed blogging about... Cooper got his 7th? (I may have lost count) postcard in New York, he is walking-ish, talking and throwing 3 year old fits, not to mention Rick and I celebrated our 3rd wedding anniversary (we lost count on that, too!). But tonight with tragedy weighing heavy on my heart I must blog about my classroom family.

I should've met my co-teacher a million times before. She and I have crossed paths so many times its a little bit ridiculous we didn't meet. Between VCU, common friends and even hanging out with her brother a few times, it just didn't make sense why we kept missing each other.

So when we did finally get together, we instantly realized it was a relationship long overdue. We brought (and still bring) the best out of each other and with that we have brought out the best in every single kid in our class. We have had (as you have previously read) one of the best years a teacher could ever ask for.

All year we have questioned why it took us so long to meet. What is it about our kids that have touched us more deeply than any other group of students? What is it about us that has touched this group more than any other teacher?

For a long time I thought it was the success in our diaper drive. We exposed a group of families to economic difficulties they may not have been exposed to and the beauty of making a difference. But that wasn't it at all...

Last night, a father of one of our students was hit on his bicycle by a truck. He is finally stable but has a long recovery and we aren't even sure the details of that recovery after such serious brain trauma. Every bone in his face was broken along with many others in his body. A part of his skull was removed to make room for brain swelling.

In the face of tragedy I can safely say, this is what it was about. We were being prepared to come together for this family. This is the true test of why it took us so long to meet, why we have spent 12 months touching each other and creating the deepest bond I have ever felt in a classroom family.

So here we are, ready for the next challenge. We are a family and we will get through this. We will face this tragedy and not only come out of it stronger, but better because of it. And I will continue to trust that everything happens for a reason.