February Updates

Some updates on my little guy....  we go next week to the St. Mary's feeding clinic for a consultation.  Tyler is still not receptive to eating baby food.  He has also become difficult when trying to feed him a bottle and it is quite a stressful event to get him to eat.  They are going to do a 2 hour evaluation and then give us a recommendation.  We are hoping they can help us get him to eat and also be able to monitor him more closely since they have a nutritionist on staff.  We will be going back to Louisville at the end of the month on the 29th for the MRI with contrast.  This is another procedure in which he has to be sedated.  This will be the 3rd time in 5 months and it really makes me nervous.  After the MRI we will meet with Dr. M to go over the findings of how the contrast reacts to the cyst and also the tethered cord surgery.  This is a big day and I am anxious waiting for it.  In physical therapy, we have been working on sitting up unassisted and bearing weight on his legs.  We had made a lot of progress but now the helmet has made things a little more difficult as far as the sitting goes.  Nothing Super Tyler can't handle!  We will eventually get there! Last post, I mentioned a local restaurant contacting us to do a fundraiser.  I am super stoked to announce that Tyler's Benefit Comedy Show will be held at Ri-Ra's on April 5th!  This is going to be a fun evening and we have some awesome comics.  These guys have been on Bob and Tom, worked with the comics of Chelsea Lately, and the list goes on and on...I hope to have the tickets in the coming weeks.  I will keep everyone posted and hope to see you there!

The Boomerang

I have been thinking about this blog post for awhile, trying to piece together how I could express the gratitude that I am feeling towards so many people.  If you have been keeping up with our story, you know my mom had the idea to do a Mary Kay fundraiser for the helmet that Tyler needed but insurance denied.  Not even in my wildest dreams could I have imagined the response we would have from friends, family, and our community. We even had someone from a local restaurant get in touch with us to do a fundraiser (stay tuned for more info).  I am overjoyed to tell you that through the Mary Kay sales and  donations, we have raised all the money needed for the helmet ($1,500)!!!  We are also able to pay for a months worth (1 hour/week) of music therapy.  This is another expense that insurance will not cover but we know that Tyler would benefit from.  He LOVES music and research has show that this can provide benefits in many different areas.  I want everyone to know how much our family appreciates everything and also our promise to pay it forward.  Prior to Tyler's birth, we had the ability to contribute financially to many of the causes that touched our hearts.  Since this is more difficult, we are committed to giving back with our time through volunteering.  I want to also add that when we got the news that insurance denied coverage, I was heartbroken, frustrated, overwhelmed, {insert negative emotion here}.  However, I was given yet another example of trusting God in all situations.  I would have missed out on this lesson.  I would have missed out on being a witness to the generosity and kindness that in today's world can often be overlooked.

Special thanks to:

Valerie Cole and Customers

Jim Cole and Thompkins Middle School Staff

Abigail Guessfeld and the Cardiac unit at Deaconess Hospital

Turonis Staff

Coffey Family and Friends

Roz VanHandle and Friends

Tina Pfingston and Friends

Oakhill Baptist Child Care Staff and Parents

and

the Most Awesome Life Group Members on the Planet!!!

Mary Kay for Ty J.

My mom is a Mary Kay consultant and has offered to help with Tyler's helmet by doing a fundraiser.  Mary Kay has a new Nourishine Plus Lip Gloss that is awesome and she will donate 100% of her profits from this product towards the helmet. If you are in the tri-state area, we will deliver the order to you.  If you are out of the area, she will ship it to you for free.  You can order directly from her website-
www.marykay.com/vcole22
If you have any questions, email me directly at acole1984@yahoo.com

Thanks so much and God Bless!

Resolution Smesolution

2011 was a crazy ride.  I welcome a new year and new beginnings.  I refuse to make any resolutions.  2012 will be year the year of positivity.  These are just some simple thoughts I am going to try and remember this year....

• Eat better
• Be kind
• Accept help
• Follow through
• Everything is going to be alright
• Worrying solves nothing
• Don't forget to have a good time
• Keep calm
• Don't think too much

I want everyone to know we sincerely appreciate you.  Just taking the time to read this blog means something.  I have been humbled and brought to tears by the outpouring of love and support by family, friends, and people we have never met.  Thank you, thank you, thank you! I wish you all health and happiness in 2012 and look forward to seeing where it takes us on this journey.

Autumn

Full Circle

Anyone who watches Big Brother knows that every season, someone gets stuck wearing a ridiculous outfit.  Several years ago, Brian had the idea that this could be carried over to the Coffey adult dirty Santa game.  He found a costume and wrapped it.  The rules of the package were that it couldn't be opened until the end of the game, it had to be used for an hour after the game, and that it had to be put back in the exchange every following year.  Of course, this gift was fought over in the original exchange because of the mystery associated with it and has been a running joke every year since then.  Wouldn't you know, the gift came full circle this year.  Scroll below.......

The Chicken Suit

The Helmet Adventures Continue

Tyler got measured for the helmet and it was submitted to insurance.  Surely insurance will pay since we have met our out of pocket max and our neurosurgeon prescribed the helmet...right?  WRONG! A clause in our insurance policy and we are denied :( Our dilemma was do we fight the insurance company with an appeal when this is a time sensitive treatment or just suck it up and pay for it ourselves.  We decided to just go ahead with treatment because we could put it off to do the appeal and that could also be denied.  On a happier note, Tyler had his tear duct procedure done last Friday.  He did great and no more goopy eyes :)

After his procedure-still smiling!

Merry Christmas

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas.  This year was the first year we sent out Christmas cards.  We took some pics of Tyler in his crib and the caption read: Merry Christmas from our crib to yours!!  Here are a few of our faves.

We also took the boys to get pictures with Santa.