Grandma and Grandpa Frederiksen

It's been a few days since we've updated you! As of today, you are 4 pounds 6 ounces. Grandma Frederiksen got to hold you yesterday and Grandpa Frederiksen got to hold you today. They both greatly enjoyed it and can't wait to hold you again.

It's hard for Mommy to let others hold you because I'm afraid it's going to bother you. You're doing so well that I don't want anything to happen to you. I'm still scared something will happen to you. People don't realize you aren't a traditional baby. You can't have your feet, back, etc. rubbed or even be rocked because it's too much stimulation for you. You have to be careful with your feeding tube cause it can easily be pulled out or even to the wrong number and affect you. I hope people can trust that your dad and I are new at this, but we will raise you our own way and they have to trust us and support us.

We spent New Year's Eve at Grandma and Grandpa Frederiksen's playing Wii games and watching the ball drop. We had a yummy dinner, too. Daddy and I watched you on the webcam at one and it was great to see you. Your nurse put a message on the webcam that said, "Happy New Year Mom & Dad...guess what, I get to come home this year! love, Cooper" It made us both smile. We can't wait!


Another eye exam today. Your eyes are still immature, but looking good. 


Milestone - 4 pounds 6 ounces. Grandma & Grandpa Frederiksen have held you!

Isolette to Bassinet

You're 4 pounds 1 ounce today so when Daddy and I were there, they changed your isolette to a bassinet! You look so cute in it! Daddy and I can't believe how much you are growing! You're even doing well on a .1 flow on your oxygen! You're percentage was in the 20s and 30s today! So close to 21 percent!

Grandma Smith also helped Daddy and I clean the house today to prepare for when you get to come home. We wiped down all the walls, the blinds and window seals, we dusted and packed stuff up and moved things around. Your room is clean and ready for us to put up the crib and bring the rocking chair in! All the rooms have been deep cleaned except for the kitchen! (Thanks, Grandma!)

Milestone - 4 pounds 1 ounce. First time in a bassinet!

A Special Visit

Guess what, Cooper!? Aunt Katie and Uncle Scott (from Arizona) got to visit you today! You were such a show off! Your flow on your oxygen is at .1, which is as low as they can go and you went all the way to 22% on your oxygen while Daddy was holding you and they were there (21% is room air). I gave you your bath and you loved it! Aunt Katie and Uncle Scott thought you were so cute and were so glad they got to meet you! (The NICU made an exception since we aren't sure when they will be back to Utah.)

You and I practiced breast feeding again today and we tried the football hold. We both liked it and I kept telling Daddy that you and I played football and he kept telling you it wasn't football. We laughed a lot!

You were just over four pounds today, so if you gain more tomorrow, they will be moving you to a bassinet from your warmed isolette!

Milestone - 4 pounds!!!

Your First Christmas

Merry Christmas, Cooper! Daddy and I went to see you first thing this morning! We believe you were the first kid in the NICU to be visited on Christmas! Wahoo! You woke up to see Daddy and I. We think you saw Santa Claus! We brought you a little blanket with your name on it and an outfit from Grandma Smith. We both held you, too. We had a wonderful Christmas. Most everything we got was stuff for you. It was so much fun opening things for you. You got lots of clothes and toys. Grandma Smith got you some Disney videos and a book for you and Daddy to enjoy together. You're going to love everything! A beautiful crocheted blue, green, and white blanket was left for you at the hospital, too.

The hardest thing today was knowing that you are here, yet you weren't with us. We had a blast, but as the day went on it got harder and harder knowing we hadn't seen you since morning. We know you were in good hands and we were thinking about you and wanting to be with you. We enjoyed time with both our families. Everyone asked about you and were glad to see the camera recordings we had of you.

We told Grandma and Grandpa Frederiksen that they can hold you this coming week! They're excited!


Milestone - First Christmas. 3 pounds 15 ounces (1 ounce away from 4 pounds!!!). You're just about 30 grams away from being able to move to a bassinet. Held your binky in your mouth all by yourself!

Christmas Eve

Tonight was so fun for Daddy and I. We got to give you a bath and put you in your first pair of Christmas pajamas. They fit you perfectly! It's the first outfit that has pretty much fit you right. It was a little big around, but overall, a nice fit! We both held you and together we sang Christmas songs to you. We're excited for your first Christmas!

Milestone - 3 pounds 12 ounces

Non-nutritive Breast Feeding

Today was a special day for you and I. You started non-nutritive breast feeding. I pump and then you can practice without getting any milk. Preemies (that's you) have a hard time sucking, breathing, and swallowing at the same time and since you're so young you are more likely to have that problem. I know breast feeding is the last thing you want to read about when you read this story of yourself, but it's a very big moment. This usually doesn't start until 34 weeks, but they said you were reading and you'll only be 32 weeks tomorrow! The nurse was teaching my how and put you by me to get you in position and away you went before she could even fully get your little body in the right place. She thinks you'll be a great breast feeding baby because she said you know all the right moves. You did great! We practiced for 40 minutes and your oxygen never went down! Speaking of oxygen, they have lowered the flow on your oxygen to .2. They tried .1, but you didn't like that so they will ween you a little more slowly. Daddy held you for over an hour. He said you loved it and were smiling. I stayed with you all day today since I had the day off. Keep up the good work, Sugar! Mommy and Daddy love you!

You're still 3 pounds 10 ounces today.

Milestone - Non-nutritive breast feeding.

Merry Christmas!

Our first family Christmas card:

What happened this year in our life:

• Daddy got promoted to Marketing Assistant for Weber State University athletics.
• I graduated from college in Elementary Education as the first female in my family.
• I got my first job as a teacher. 
• We went to Victoria, BC, Canada... we didn't know you were with us!
• We got pregnant with you!
• You were born!!!

A Very Exciting Milestone

Hey, Baby Boy! You're up to 3 pounds 10 ounces! You're growing more and more each day. You get cuter and cuter, too (who knew that was possible)! Daddy and I decided we wanted to start our first family tradition. We bought you your first pair of Christmas pajamas today. We will give you a bath and put you in them on Christmas Eve so you're ready for Christmas morning! We're very excited! We were also told that you weight 1670 (about) grams and when you weigh 1800 grams you can be put into a bassinet! Crazy, huh!? We're very excited! The nurse said you should be growing about 20-30 grams a day now that you are on full feedings (30 mL). You may move back and forth between an isolette and a bassinet until you fully control you're own body temperature. They said right now you're doing great and you're in the 20s on your oxygen. When you're comfortable on 21, which is room air, you'll be able to come off the oxygen! Aren't you just amazing!? We think so!

As far as the hole in your heart, it's common. It's approximately 3 mL big. They will continue to watch it. It's currently not affecting you. Worse case, when you're bigger they will have to have surgery to close it, but they are hoping it gets smaller and/or closes on it's own. Oh, and Daddy held your naked body while they weighed you and you peed all over his hand!

Milestone - Grandma Smith got to hold you for the first time today. Her early Christmas present! You two are going to be great friends!

A Hole in Your Heart

It's been a few days since we've updated you. You're up to 3 pounds 7 ounces. You're looking bigger, but still so small. You had your first eye exam and show no signs of ROP which is something to do with your retina. Your eyes are premature, which is expected since you were premature, so they will check them again in 2 weeks. They did another heart echo and your PDA is now closed! We're very happy about this. However, they did find an ASD which is a hole in your heart. We figured this out by phone so will speak with the doctor tomorrow to get more details and try to better understand what this means for you. We love you! Keep growing! We want you to come home.

Happy Birthday!

You're ONE MONTH old! Happy birthday!!! I can't believe it! I feel like I just had you yesterday. It's probably because we don't see you much. Though it feels like you shouldn't be one month, the traveling to the hospital seems like it's been going on a long time. It's hard, but so worth being able to come up and see you. I miss you when I'm not holding you. We're glad you're doing well. Love you!

Milestone - Nurse tonight decided to weigh you on a regular scale. You looked so tiny on it!

The Daily Dish

Daddy, Grandma Smith, and I visited you this evening. You were snug as a bug when we found you. We woke you up and did your cares then Daddy held you. You were full of smiles, but kept getting low on your oxygen. Daddy loved talking to you about your aunts, and sports, and my cooking. He said he was just preparing you. He loves you so much. He's a very proud dad. However, he handed you over to me and you only dropped on your oxygen once. You loved that I was holding you. We enjoyed the laugh. Grandma Smith loved seeing you. She can't wait until she can hold you!

You do have some goo in your left eye. They think you just have a clogged tear duct, but are going to watch it incase it's an infection. We are starting to realize you probably have a birth mark on the side of your face. Initially we thought it was a bruise since you had so many when born and a lot of it did go away, but a large portion is still there. As a mom, it does make me slightly sad only because I don't want people to make fun of you. I hope your dad and I can teach you to embrace it and be yourself. You're so stinkin' cute I can't see anyone making fun of you, but people can be mean. I hope your dad and I can raise you in such a way that you accept people for who they are. Have I mentioned how much we love you?

Faith in the Lord's Timing

Cooper, your dad and I want you to know how blessed we are. Though we never would wish that you would arrive three months early, we have learned, even more, that the Lord is watching over us. During my pregnancy, blessing after blessing kept occurring. I started to worry that with all these amazing blessings that something bad was going to happen... you came a few days later. Your dad and I were scared. More than anything, we didn't want to lose you. We have come to learn that you coming early wasn't an ideal situation, but it wasn't a bad one either. The Lord is watching over us. The past few days your dad and I have received great news after great news about you and other things. We had everything planned to work a certain way once you arrived with insurance, paying for my labor and delivery, etc. With you arriving early, all that changed. The past few days we have received blessings from our Heavenly Father that have reminded us that He has better plans than we do and that they work out better than the ones we planned for ourselves. We love you. We want you to know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only true church on the earth today. Jesus Christ lives and died for us. Heavenly Father knows us and loves us and is constantly watching out for us and hearing and answering our prayers. We know as we live worthily that we will continue to be blessed. Never forget that you are a beloved son of your Heavenly Father.

Updates - I thought you looked bigger today. You definitely are bigger than when you first arrived, but still so tiny! Developmental therapist said you're very strong. You're showing signs of wanting to breast feed already. You may have to go back on the high flow oxygen just because it is heated and won't dry your nose out like the low flow is right now. Daddy and I gave you a bath today and I put you in your towel after (I was so scared you were going to slip out of my hands). Then, as we were washing your hair, you pooped in your clean towel! It smelled really bad. Your feeding tube had to be changed cause you pooped on it! They also used the BBG (Baby Booger Getter--- yes, this is the patented name) to clean your nose out before putting in the new feeding tube and you had a huge one in there! I held you skin to skin. I love it. I love you.

Milestone - 3 pounds 3 ounces

Crazy About You

Daddy and I both held you today. We could hold you and stare at you for hours (creepy... sorry)! Years from now you will think we are crazy... maybe you already do! We just love you so much! Grandma Frederiksen came up to see you with us. She loves you tons, too. We're all just crazy about you! The doctor explained your head ultrasound to Daddy and I. It looks good. It's not worse than last time. The blood is dissolving. It will be years before we know if it affected you, but we know you're doing well and are going to do well. We can't wait to bring you home.

We went to our ward Christmas party and everyone asked about you and they are so glad to hear that you are doing well.

Milestone - 3 pounds 2 ounces

Drum roll please....

You're a WHOPPING 3 pounds! Daddy and I are super proud of you! We celebrated with a peppermint ice cream shake! Yum! You were wide awake after your bath today. We enjoyed holding you and interacting with you. You wanted your pacifier and let us know by moving your mouth. You sucked so hard on it that it was squeaking! You had a shot today to help your kidney's produce more blood cells so you don't have to have another blood transfusion. It's common for preemies to need this shot.

We also put Uncle Cory's hat on your head from when he was a preemie and in the hospital. We hope it brings you good luck. It fits you better than the ones the hospital has and you seem to love it. You went right to sleep when we put it on.

We love you, Sugar!

Milestone - You hit 3 pounds!!! You received your first Christmas card from Grandma Smith. We'll save it for you!

I love my boys!

You're doing so well! Keep it up, Sugar! Daddy and I visited you before going to the Annual Smith Family Christmas party in Lehi. Everyone asked about you! You are off your high flow oxygen! Daddy and I are so proud! You're doing extremely well and hope you keep it up! Daddy held you today. I love the way you and him look at each other. It's truly priceless. My two boys. I love you both so incredibly much. I couldn't be a happier mom and wife. You also let us know you want your binky by moving your mouth. You suck on it so hard that it squeaks.

Milestone - 2 pounds 14 ounces, as of yesterday. Off high flow oxygen.

What an evening!

Cooper, Cooper, Cooper! What an evening! Daddy and I gave you your second tub bath, but it was our first time giving it to you. We tried our best to wash you quickly. You loved the bath, especially when we scrubbed your head with the toothbrush! Daddy dried you off. Just before getting your bath, your diaper was down and SQUIRT! you let a big squirt of poop out that went through the air and hit the bottom side of your incubator and slide down the window of it. We were laughing so hard! Talk about force! After your bath, Daddy held you skin-to-skin, but for some reason you just kept wiggling. Then, you spit up. When the nurse checked, she discovered you pulled your feeding tube out from all your wiggling. I was so worried it was going to happen and then it did. They decided to put a new one in through your nose since they were going to move it there eventually and since your nose is big enough now. Also, when they put you on Daddy's chest, we laughed because you tried sucking on his skin. Wrong person, Buddy! Daddy and I put a preemie outfit on you that I picked out and it was way big on you (and to think I thought it looked like it would fit cause it was so small)! After you went to sleep, we left. We loved being with you and are so glad you're ours. Grandma Smith came to see you get your bath, too! She comes up as often as she can. She LOVES seeing you and can't wait until she can hold you!

Milestones - Back up to 2 pounds 13 ounces. Being put on regular fortified milk with all the calories.  First tub bath for Mom and Dad! Developmental therapist thinks you're doing well! We read that on December 2nd when you were checked last that you had the muscle tone of a 30 week old!

Cooper the Trooper!

You're doing amazing! You're at the volume of milk they want you at (24 mL) and they have started to fortify the milk to increase the calories. You were in a different outfit when I saw you and it was so stinkin' cute on you! It also fit you a little better than yesterdays, but it was still big on you (it was even a preemie outfit). I liked it even more because it was green (my favorite color)! I held you twice today. Life has become a little overwhelming and it hit me today. So, I decided I was just leaving it all and going to see you so I headed to the hospital to visit you this morning. You made my day. Even though there is so much craziness going on in our lives right now, we feel so blessed to have you here. We know we will get through this and be stronger because of it. You lost 10 grams today, but still maintained 2 pounds 12 ounces. Daddy and I get to give you a tub bath tomorrow so I bought you a preemie outfit to put on you! Love you bunches! See you tomorrow!

A Tub Bath & Clothes

I was so excited to get to see you today! I just felt like I needed to hold you and it was great because Daddy and I both got to hold you. We arrived at the NICU to find you had been moved to a different room. They referred to it as the "big kid room." It's a lot noisier than your other room. More babies in bassinets and crying.

When I saw you, I couldn't help but giggle. You were on your belly and in an outfit! Your first time wearing clothes! They put you in a premie outfit, but it was still too big. Your shoulders were the width of the neck and kept coming off. I was also told you had a tub bath. I was disappointed they put you in an outfit and gave you your first tub bath without me there. I wanted to have that experience with you. I heard you didn't like the bath at first and then realized you enjoyed it. You looked so cute in your outfit. It said "beary handsome" and had a bear on the bum. Your PICC line was taken out because you're doing so well with your feedings. You still weigh 2 pounds 12 ounces. Yesterday we found out you had grown an inch since birth and your head is a cm bigger. You're growing!!!

Cooper, Daddy and I love you more than words can say. We love every moment we have with you. We could stare at you for hours. You mean everything to us and we feel so blessed to have you in our lives.

Milestones - First time wearing clothes. First tub bath. Move to the "big kid room" aka "the noisy room."

Doing Well

You've done well the past few days. You keep going up on your feedings. They were going to take your PICC line out, but you started spitting up a little so they decided to wait. They slowed your feedings down to the same amount, but over an hour and a half. You've been doing well so hopefully you will have your PICC line taken out tomorrow. There is a good chance you will need a PICC line again, but it will be nice to see you without it. You were up to 2 pounds 13 ounces, but lost an ounce so they were waiting because of that, too. You've smiled a few more times. I absolutely love holding you. I wish I could do it more. You mean the world to your dad and I. We can't begin to express how much we love you and how much you mean to us. I think about you constantly. Stay strong, Sugar!

You're Our Number One

I just love visiting you! I got to give you your bath today and change a dirty diaper. You're up to 15 mL on your feedings and weigh 2 pounds 11 ounces. You're growing like crazy! I also love when you hold my hand. You love to put your little fingers around my finger. I had to watch them poke you in your foot to get your sugars today and I was impressed... you didn't even flinch! Not a single cry! However, you did cry while I was bathing your bum. You didn't like that at all!

 I am a little worried about you, though no one else seems to be. Your heart rate dropped to like 63 from the 150s twice while I was visiting you. It was only for a couple seconds and it immediately fixed itself, but it worries me. They said it's great that it corrected itself, but again, it worries me. I hope you keep doing well and that these are just things that happen sometimes with an early baby and that it will go away. I love you and want you to know you're my favorite person (don't tell daddy). Just kidding, it's okay because I'm pretty sure I'm now his #2. That just happens when you have a little one.

It's a boy!

We thought it would fun to share with you how we told friends and family that we were having a boy! We told close family by showing them the ultrasound and letting them see your goods (sorry so many saw)! Others we called. And, to others, we text them this picture:

Can you tell how happy Daddy and I were... are!? I knew you were a boy from the beginning. Daddy was so in shock that he couldn't sleep that night. He couldn't believe he was having a boy! I had fears of raising a boy. I felt I wasn't adequate enough to raise a boy. I felt like I wouldn't know how. Though I'm still not sure if I know how, once you arrived the feeling went away and it was filled with excitement. I can't wait for all the things we will do and learn together!

Growing like a weed!

Hey, Little Guy! Mommy and Daddy got to see you twice today! I got to hold you this morning (skin-to-skin) and you loved it. I love having you so close, but I get a little scared with all the wires. Daddy and I saw you around lunch time and then again at 7 PM. You had a head ultrasound and it appears that the blood from your brain bleed is dissolving (which makes Mom and Dad really happy). You are up to 2 pounds 10 ounces. Doctors are a little worried with how fast you are gaining weight because you don't gain fat as fast as you are gaining, it's usually water weight. They are going to keep an eye on that. Your breathing was a little fast today, which they said you do on occasion so they aren't worried, but they're going to watch that, too. You're up to 10 mL on your feedings! You smiled at me today when I talked to you. It was adorable! Grandma Frederiksen saw so no one could say I was a liar! Daddy also got to hold you skin-to-skin for the first time today. He was a little hesitant at first, but loved it. He liked feeling you move--- we couldn't feel you move when you were all wrapped up in blankets. You two loved the skin-to-skin.

Funny Moment - I decided to leave the dirty diaper for when daddy came to see you so he was surprised when he changed your diaper! Then, you pooped in your new one before Daddy had it shut so he changed it again and then broke the tab off your diaper so we had to tape it. I sure enjoyed the laugh, though Daddy didn't think it was as funny.

Love you bunches!!!