We can't get enough of you!

YESTERDAY: You're up to 2 pounds 7 ounces. Your feedings are at 5 mL. Daddy got to hold you. Dr. says it looks like your PDA artery is probably closed because the murmur has gone away and all your stats look good. They think you're doing great!

TODAY: Daddy and I got to give you a bath for the first time. We did our best to keep you warm. We were very careful because we didn't want to hurt you. You enjoyed your bath except for us washing your bum. You liked your head washed with the toothbrush, probably because it was like a massage. I combed your hair to the side like a little man. You looked so cute (when do you not look cute though)!?

Daddy saw you at lunch time today. He said you didn't want to go back to sleep. He said he played with you and when I asked him how he said he would put his hand by your feet and you would stretch your feet to try to kick him. Once he covered you up and put his hands on your feet and head you calmed down and went to sleep.

Lastly, I got to do kangaroo care with you today, which means skin-to-skin. They put you on my bare chest to keep you warm. We both LOVED it. When we put you back in your bed, your temperature was great! I loved hearing the sounds of you moving your mouth. I even sang to you You Are My Sunshine and Little Black Rain Cloud.

Daddy and I love being parents. We can't wait until it's time for you to come home. We can't explain how much we love you. You mean everything to us.

Today's Milestones - 2 pounds 8 ounces and 7 mL on your feedings!

Happy {2 Weeks Old} Birthday!

We love you so much!

Hi, Baby Boy! Daddy and I love visiting you though we wish you were home. You've done great the past two days. Grandma Smith got to see me hold you today. She kissed your forehead. She was all gitty that she was going to see you. It made Daddy and I smile that she was so excited. It's probably what he and I look like each time we go to see you. Grandma and Grandpa Frederiksen got to see Daddy hold you yesterday. You spit up a little bit and you scared me because it was kind of choking you for a second. The nurse came and cleaned your mouth out with a suction thing. Then you were fine and went to sleep. You looked at me and smiled many times.

We also purchased your bed and bedding today! I'm excited to get your room together. We can't wait until you come home. It will be a wonderful day.

Milestone - You're up to 3 mL on your daily feeding.

You're doing FANTASTIC!

When we visited you today, the respiratory therapist said you were doing "fantastic!" We're so proud of you! Daddy changed your diaper, which is now bigger than the diaper you were wearing because you've started to pee out of your smaller diaper! You started to cry when we were changing you so we popped in the binky and you were content. You're already sucking, which is great! I got to take your temperature and change the probe on your foot that reads your oxygen level. They are feeding you 1.6 cc of my breast milk and you're handling it well so far. You were also sleeping on your belly when we arrived. You were all bundled up like a little cocoon.

I got to hold you this evening. I love holding you. You seem to like it, too. You like to have your hand out holding my finger. Your little cry is so precious. I feel bad you have so many things hooked up to you, especially your oxygen because you don't like the nasal thing in your nose. You always try to take it out. Daddy and I are so proud of how well you are doing and pray each day that you may continue to do well. They were able to lower your oxygen today, which is great!

Today's Milestones - Sucking. Sleeping on your belly. Bigger diaper (but they moved you back to a small again because you were peeing out of the leg holes in the big diaper because it's too big). You're up to 2 pounds 6.5 ounces. We saw you sneeze twice!

Newborn Intensive Care Unit

Each time we walk into the NICU area to see you, there is a wonderful message on the wall that lifts Daddy and I up: Newborn Intensive Care Unit, Where Tiny Miracles Happen Every Day. It makes us smile every time we read it. You're our little miracle and we love you so much!

Daddy's First Time Holding You

Daddy and I love every time we get to come see you. Today was especially important because Daddy got to hold you for the first time today for an entire hour! He asked me if I was jealous because I only got to hold you for 20 minutes yesterday. (Don't tell him, but I was a little bit!)

I loved watching Daddy hold and watch you. He loved it. Your dad couldn't stop smiling. He sang a few songs to you--- You Are My Sunshine and Ye Elders of Israel were two of them. He also discussed sports with you. You didn't say much, but Daddy felt you understood. He said he was going to get you a TV to watch the Buffalo Bills game tomorrow. He loves you so much and so do I. (I couldn't stop kissing your little forehead while Daddy held you.) You cried a few times, but Daddy calmed you right down. You loved him holding you, too--- your stats were great!

The developmental therapist came by today to check things like your reflexes, responses, etc. and said you're doing great. We were happy to hear that!

Milestone - Your umbilical cord fell off today when they took out the last tube in your belly button. You now have an adorable belly button which they tell us will probably be unnoticeable as you get older since it's so small (about half the size of an eraser on a pencil or just smaller). We were also told you will have an increased chance of hernias because of your prematurity. It's scary for Daddy and I, but we're glad we were told.

A Day of Firsts

Happy Thanksgiving, Cooper! We had a day full of firsts! The nurse surprised Mommy and Daddy by telling us that one of us could hold you! I held you for the first time for a whole 20 minutes! My eyes were wide and I had a huge smile on my face because I was so excited! Holding you is the most incredible feeling. There is something about you being in my arms. I am craving to do it again. You calmed right down and went right to sleep. Daddy and I also heard you cry for the first time. People say we'll get sick of hearing it, but we were so excited to hear it. Its such a little cry. We loved it. Before putting you back in your bed we also got to kiss you for the first time. Your forehead was soft, fuzzy, and warm. It melted our hearts.

Today's Milestone - You were weened off to just a nasal cannula. You will probably be on this as long as things are going well until time to go home.

Scrapbooking for NICU Parents

Today was an amazing day! You're so strong and doing so well. You were changed to a different ventilator that just has a little nostril piece that goes in your nose. It's better for you and now you don't have that big thing in your mouth. You're such an incredible blessing in our life. We have so much to be thankful for. 


We had our first family picture today. We love it! We couldn't be happier having you in our life.

Daddy and I attended a scrapbooking class for the NICU parents. Daddy was the only guy that came, but he loved it. We made a turkey with your little footprint. Your feet are big for your size, but they were so much smaller than the other baby footprints we saw during the class!

We also took some pictures of you today. You had your ventilator taken out and your fingers went straight to your mouth and you were trying to suck on them. It make me and Daddy smile.

Happy 1 Week Birthday, Cooper!

Tonight, Daddy and I celebrated your ONE WEEK birthday with ice cream (Daddy's favorite) from the hospital cafeteria. We had a "Candy Bar" ice cream shake. It was delicious. We feel so blessed to have you in our life. The past week has gone by fast and slow all at the same time. We're just happy you're here and doing well. I love when you hold onto my finger and when you acknowledge that Daddy and I are there by looking at us. Love you and happy birthday!

Ups & Downs of the NICU

Today was the hardest day for Daddy and I. You've been doing so well and when we walked in to see you for the second time today, many things had changed. It's just a reminder that your stay at the NICU will be full of ups and downs. Today we were told you had a Stage 4 brain bleed. It's the worse stage, but of that stage they said it appeared to not be a bad Stage 4 bleed. You had to have a blood transfusion. The PICC line they put in leaked so it had to be taken out. Your body didn't look great today because of it, but you started to look better as the fluid soaked into your body tissue. You will have another one put in your head, down through your neck in a day or two. The artery in your heart (PDA) reopened. It was closed on your first test. It was a day full of tears for me. Daddy and I just want you to be okay. It hurts knowing you've had a rough day and we can't do anything to fix it. We're doing our best to be there to let you know we love you and care about you.

Daddy and I decided to have him and Grandpa Frederiksen give you a blessing. Daddy, Grandpa Frederiksen, Grandma Frederiksen, Grandma Kim, Grandpa Todd, Camille, and Mommy were there for the blessing. Many are also fasting for you tomorrow.

Leaving You at the Hospital

You have a head of blond hair and we LOVE it! Daddy and I both changed our first dirty diapers today! You're opening your eyes and wiggling more. We discovered you don't like your face touched (just like your Daddy) and you will try to move our hand if we touch your face. So cute!


Leaving your precious baby at the hospital while you get to go home is the hardest thing Daddy and I have ever had to do. We both cried when driving away from the hospital. We were holding hands. We feel so blessed to have the gospel in our life. It provides us with so much strength and comfort. We are looking forward to raising a future missionary.


Milestone - You really looked into my eyes today. Having you look into my eyes for the first time was an indescribable feeling. You kept looking at Daddy and I tonight and it was amazing.

You're doing great!

You're doing very well. You look so much like your Daddy it makes me giggle. Especially your feet! I felt your hair and it's so soft! I can't believe you grew inside of me. You were stable enough to get a sponge bath today, but you weren't a huge fan! You are opening your eyes, yawning, and stretching today. You move when you hear Daddy and I talk to you. Daddy has decided that you're going to be a point guard because of your large hands and long legs. We love you so much!

Be Positive!

It was a great day! Daddy fed you some milk through your feeding tube. I picked you up in the incubator while they changed your bedding. Daddy and I each changed a diaper and my first time you peed on me! You like to point your pointer finger on your right hand. You look just like your daddy when he was little. It amazes me. You even have hair! You decided you wanted his blood, too. You have B+ blood so Daddy and I decided you wanted to tell us that our motto should be "be positive!" We think it's great and are doing our best to "be positive!" So many great things happened today. You're perfect. We love you!

Where's My Baby Bump?

Realizing you're not in my belly anymore has been hard. Had I known you were coming so soon, I would have enjoyed the movements you made in my belly even more than I already did. It's weird not feeling you move around inside of me anymore (even makes me cry sometimes). Daddy is good about reminding me that it's okay because you are here and because we actually get to see you now. Daddy and I think you're a stud (and so does everyone else). We feel so blessed to have you here. I thought you might enjoy seeing some pictures of the cute bump you gave me during your stay at Mommy's.

Welcome to the World!

Cooper Joel, you were born at 12:10 AM on November 16, 2011 weighing 2 pounds 5 ounces and measuring 14.25 inches long. Doctors were surprised you were so big for your gestational age.

Daddy and I had your name picked out for years, but didn't want to name you that without looking at other names. With you arriving early, we realized we needed to finalize a name. I kept asking your Dad if "Cooper" was your name and he would never give a straight answer, just a "maybe" or "probably." Daddy was sleeping when a lady came into my hospital room wanting me to fill your birth certificate information out. I didn't want to fill out the paper without having the final say from dad on your name, but Grandpa Frederiksen asked me what "Plan B" was and I said there wasn't one so he said I guess I better go with "Plan A." We laughed that Daddy was going to wake up with a child named Cooper Joel. I've made it clear to many that I don't want you called CJ. Your name is Cooper. Your name fits you perfectly and everyone loves it.  We couldn't have chosen a better name.

Daddy used to watch a show called "Hanging with Mr. Cooper" and is excited for people to ask what he is doing so he can say he is "hanging with Cooper."

You're named after your Grandpa Frederiksen because of what a great man he is. He is a wonderful man and father whom your dad and I love and respect. Grandpa said on Facebook, "The greatest event in an old mans life...to have his 1st grandson named after him. I'm pretty blessed."

Your Arrival

November 15, 2011 at 1:00 PM, I headed to parent teacher conferences. I was having low abdominal pain and figured you just moved into a weird spot. Around 7:15 PM conferences finished and I headed home (I was in pain any time I stood between conferences). I immediately hit the floor on my hands and knees when I arrived home and called the on-call doctor who said it was probably just ligament pains and to take Tylenol. On my way to get Tylenol, I hit the floor on my hands and knees in pain again. I finally found Grandma Frederiksen to take me to the hospital.  (Funny Story: We got to hospital and I had to stop because I was having a painful contraction and I held onto a road sign and Grandma Frederiksen said she was going to get a wheelchair and I said "No, I'm ok" and then, "Ok, go get one" and then "Ok, I am ok, I am ok.") I expected it to be something simple and be sent home. When I went to labor and delivery I guess I said, “I’m not in labor, I’m just having pains.” They had me get into a gown and pee into a cup and there was blood. I started bawling and came out of the bathroom hysterical. The nurse had to finish dressing me. They thought it was a UTI and irritated cervix (my contractions weren't registering as contractions) and when they looked at me they realized they could see your head and no cervix. (Not good.) Grandma Frederiksen had left to call Grandma Smith to tell her everything was ok when I found out this news. Daddy and Grandpa Frederiksen just arrived from the WSU basketball game. 


Then, my doctor  (Marylynn Cardona) came in and told me I was dilated to an 8 and would be having a baby any time.  They put me on my head in a room to wait for Grandma Smith to arrive and Grandpa Frederiksen and Daddy gave me a blessing. (I am so grateful they hold the priesthood.) Grandma Frederiksen held my hand while they gave me an epidural. I went in for delivery and they broke my water. Grandma Smith and Daddy were with me. As I pushed, it seemed like you went further up instead of down so they did another ultrasound and saw that you had flipped around and become breech so I had to have a c-section. It turns out they had to give me a vertical c-section (inside) so I will never be able to have children vaginally. At first, I was disappointed and started to cry, but then I realized after you were here that I was just glad you were here safe. Daddy stayed with me the whole time. Your delivery went nothing like planned. I kept teasing the nurses that I hadn't "read that part of the book yet." We enjoyed the laugh. 


Your dad was a trooper. He was by me every moment doing his best to stay calm and keep me calm. It’s amazing how much stronger you realize you are when you have to be. I look back and was terrified, but things happened so fast I didn’t really have the time to freak out too much. I was just worried about losing you. I don’t remember you coming into this world. Daddy says he saw them immediately take you once you came out and you weren't crying. Daddy stayed with me for a few minutes and then left to be with you. He got to touch you just briefly. I guess I kept asking if you had hair and even though they answered, I still kept asking. 


Having you come early was the last thing I expected since my pregnancy had gone well. They aren't quite sure why you came early, but you did. Daddy and I believe the Lord has great plans for you that can't wait. I have been overwhelmed and tired. I've been scared and happy. I constantly worry about you. Life has unexpected turns and Daddy and I are just trying to enjoy this huge miracle and blessing in our life--- you.