Your Last NICU Night

Tonight was your last night in the NICU. You looked so chubby and cute! We kept telling you that you were going to a basketball game! Daddy and I are so excited to have you home tomorrow!!! We were able to come visit you everyday you were in the NICU. It wasn't easy, but it was worth it. Emotions are running high. The people that took care of you in the NICU are like family. We are going to miss them. We can't wait for you to come home!!! Love you!

Last night in the NICU:

Getting closer!

We're getting so close to you coming home and with it comes more and more excitement from Daddy and I! We are so excited! We can't wait to have you home!!!


Today's Milestone - 7 pounds 2 ounces!!!!

The Question We've Been Waiting For

It's the question all parents in the NICU wait for. It tells you that your baby is coming home soon! And... today we got asked that question!!! They asked us if we had a car seat and asked us to bring it in so they can do a car seat check and have you sit in it for a while to see how you do. Wahoo!!! We're getting closer to you coming home! We're getting so excited! You're still 6 pounds 14 ounces today. We can't believe you're almost 7 pounds! Aunt Lois and Uncle Eugene got to see you a few days ago. They think you're so cute! So do we, but we're a little bias! Your little plastic thing that was on your pee pee from your circumcision fell off. You're still a little swollen, but everything looks good. We were told to make sure we still pull back the skin and wash real good. You also had another eye exam today and you passed it! You're good for 6 months! Your head ultrasound showed the blood is dissolving well and your heart echo shows you still have a hole in your heart so that will need to be checked again. You're doing great and we can't wait to have you home!

Chubby Boy!

You're 18.5 inches long! Three and a fourth inches longer than when you were born! You're doing well today. Eating like crazy! You ate 100 mL at one of your feedings today. You love your food! You had another hearing test today and they aren't sure if you can hear or not because they can't get past your eardrum. It's closed, which probably means you have fluid behind your ears, but they aren't sure. This is sometimes the case if on oxygen. You'll have another test done in February and hopefully they will get some information back by then. We hope everything turns out ok. 6 pounds 8 ounces.

Ups and DOWNS

Oh, our sweet little Cooper. Lots to catch up on. We were told the NICU would have it's ups and downs. We were told you would be coming home this Tuesday, but that has since changed. I'll update you on that in a minute.

The past few days have been crazy. We finally finished your room and it looks so cute! The house is clean and ready for you to come home. You had your circumcision 2 days ago. Your nurse said you did better than any baby she has ever seen... and she's seen a lot done! Your little pee pee looks like it hurts, but you seem to be okay with it. You had a sleepover with Daddy and I last night. You did extremely well. They had us "room in" so that we could take care of you on our own overnight to get ready for you coming home for Tuesday. We came tonight to move you to sleep in with us again and you refluxed and held your breath to the point that you started turning blue. Then, you went limp. They "bagged" you, which means they put an oxygen mask on you and got you back to where you needed to be. It scared Daddy and I. If this had happened at home, we would have had to give you CPR... we didn't realize that. You're doing better now though. (When a person refluxes, it's natural to close off your airway so it doesn't get into your lungs, but most know to open it back up. You don't always remember to do that because you are so young and then this happens.) We decided not to room in, but to go home and get some rest instead. It will be at least another week until you come home, if not longer. They told us to think of a fun place and instead of using the "h" word... home... to use that word instead. Hmmm. Zoo? Basketball game? We gotta think of a good word! The whole experience was very scary for me. I had a good cry, but know you're in good hands. They said they are surprised you're eating like a big boy already (instead of every three hours, it's whenever you wake up) and so it's not uncommon for you to have these episodes, but clearly they don't want to send you home with you having these episodes and Mommy and Daddy agree. We also were told that you didn't pass your hearing test. You could have hearing loss due to the brain bleed you had. So, we're full of worries, but have faith in the Lord's plan for you. You just need more time to grow. Daddy and I will be ready whenever you are. We love you. Stay strong.

Sleepover with Mom & Dad

Cooper! Daddy and I had so much fun at our sleepover! You did so well. At one point, you cried cause you were hungry and Daddy slept right through it! He was tired. Your cry is so cute! You don't do it much, but it's pretty cute! You made a really big poopy and Daddy and I weren't sure how to go about change you! It was a big explosion and we looked and your diaper was a pool. We were afraid to move you at all or it would leak out all over your bed! Daddy got it through and we were good! You stayed with us all night and most of the morning. Then, they came to get you for your hearing test. The nurse, Lisa Little, said that we did really well. She said most parents sound exhausted and are ready for them to come take their kid back to the NICU, but Daddy and I were neither!

Coming Home Soon!

We were told Thursday that you would be coming home over the weekend. You've had some good heart rate drops so they have decided to have you stay a little longer. They are planning on sending you home on Monday or Tuesday! Daddy and I are excited and scared. Some of your nurses started to say goodbye tonight and it's hard to hold in the tears. These people have become family to us and they've taken such good care of you. Your feeding tube also came out within the last 24 hours. Daddy and I will be "rooming in" in a room beside the NICU Saturday and Sunday night to get use to taking care of you on our own. We had our CPR training tonight and will have your monitor training tomorrow and then oxygen training on the day you get discharged.

Cooper, we feel so blessed to have you in our lives. You mean the world to us and we are so excited that you are coming home soon!

Picture of you with no feeding tube:

Yesterday's Milestone - 6 pounds! You're 6 pounds 2 ounces tonight!!!

Mommy's First Night

Last night was the first night I stayed at the hospital to be there for all your feedings. Talk about exhausting! When your 4 o'clock feeding came, I asked them to give you a bottle so I could sleep. I loved being there for them though. You seemed happy to see me each time I came to get you out of your bed and that made it all worth it. Tonight, Daddy is staying with me. We will see about making it to all your feedings. This morning was your first time without your oxygen. You were doing so well they took it off. You were off for at least an hour. I'll figure out how you did after that when I see you tonight. Love you!

Happy 2 Month Birthday, Cooper!

Daddy and I can't believe that you are 2 months old today! We're so proud of how well you've been doing! Doctors say you should be home in a week or two if things continue to go this well! We're super excited and super scared! We hope we'll be great parents! We brought you a balloon to put on your bed for your birthday! 5 pounds 14 ounces! Getting bigger and bigger each day! Love you! Happy birthday!

Two Week Warning!

Today the doctor told us that you could be home within the next two weeks! Scream! We are VERY excited, but also VERY scared! You may be coming home on oxygen, which is kind of good because you will have a monitor that will warn Daddy and I, but at the same time, it would be nice if you were off of it. We will do whatever though. We have to get so many more things ready to have you home! Your room isn't quite finished!!!

Grandma Smith helped me get a few things ready for you today. Uncle Cory bought your stroller/carseat. Great Grandma & Grandpa Call are getting you your mattress, if we can find it! We got a few other things, but have laundry we need to wash, a shower to still have, and more to do! We better hurry up! You want to  come home! Cooper, we are so excited! We love you so much and can't wait until you can come home!!!

Yum! Yum!

Today was the first time Daddy fed you a bottle. He enjoyed it. You're a great burper for the both of us. You are moving on to Step 3 on your feedings. I think you'll be coming home soon! You're breastfeeding and taking your bottles well. You're continuing to gain weight. You did have a "brady" today, which means your heart rate severely dropped, but you self corrected right away. That means an automatic 7 more days. You're doing great though! So proud of ya!

Had a shower for you today at my school. It was fun and you got some great things! Cute clothes and lots of diapers!

How I Found Out & How I Told Daddy

I was on my way home to eat lunch after work and I thought I should take a test. I was telling myself I was just going to waste another one, but did it any way. When the second line started to appear I just figured it was where you could kind of see the strip. I didn't think I had seen that line before though. I waited for 2 minutes and checked and there were two lines. I had never seen two lines before and according to the test two lines meant PREGNANT! I didn't believe it. I kept telling myself it wasn't true (it was a Dollar Store test-small center one in the picture). I was practically choking on my lunch so I decided I couldn't wait. I had to go get better tests. On my way to Walmart I realized there was no way I could pee again yet anyways so I was going to have to drink water like a mad woman when I got home. I did. Then took the other two tests. Both positive. I cried because I was shocked and excited. I prayed. I laughed. I paced the house. I couldn't believe it. They all said I was pregnant.

It was about 5/6 days before Father's Day and I thought... should I wait and surprise Daddy? That would be the best! I couldn't wait. I could barely wait the 5 hours for him to get home from work. I kept texting him asking him when he was going to get home. Well, the first thing he does it head to the bathroom when he gets home so I put something on the bathroom mirror. He turned the corner and saw it and looked and me and smirked (I'll never forget his face) and said "You're silly." I started crying and said, "I'm serious." "Oh!" was his comment followed by a hug. He said it would take at least a week to kick in.

I wanted a picture of us the day we figured out. We took it right before I was heading to bed. Don't mind my looks. I love looking at this picture cause you can tell Daddy was excited... and me, too, of course! 

We're so incredibly excited. I love the little things that Daddy does that reassures me that he was serious when he told me he felt it was time for us to have kids. One I loved the other day... Daddy loves to make up songs and randomly sing. While he was cooking dinner the other day, I heard him singing his own song... "We're having a baby." It was so cute.

Newborn Clothes!

You're 5 pounds 7 ounces today. Doing great. In your first newborn outfit. The preemies are too short for you now. The newborn is a little big around for you, but you aren't so squished in it like you were the preemies! You're growing up too fast, but we're glad you're growing!

Milestone - First newborn outfit.

First Bottle

You're 5 pounds 6 ounces today. You are now on Step 2 on your feedings. This means you will eat 4 of your eight feedings by breast/bottle each day. I can't be there every feeding so we gave you your first bottle today! You did great with it and we giggled by how much comes out the corners of your mouth onto your burp cloth... also known as your drip cloth! You're doing great, babe! Keep up the good work!

Gettin' chubby!

You're getting so big, Cooper! You weighed 5 pounds 4.5 ounces. Your head measured 31 cm and you were 46.5 cm long! As of a few days ago, you become the grandfather of the unit. You are now the oldest baby and by a long shot. A baby went home after being in the unit for 95 days! We hope you aren't there that long! We were also told that once you come home, we will want to limit those who see you to just immediate family until May. That includes not taking you to church. It will be hard, but we will do anything we can to help prevent you from getting RSV. We were told if you get it, you will likely go back in the hospital and could go back on a ventilator, etc. So, we have to do what is best for you! We want you here for a very long time and to do very well! Breast feeding went well. They want us to do it twice a day. You did well this morning taking your entire feeding. Your evening feeding only went for 5 minutes though so they had to give you some through your feeding tube. Doing great! Love you!

Eating at Mommy's

Today you did your first real time breast feeding and you did incredibly well! You did it for 8 minutes (10 minutes is considered a full feeding). You were sucking and swallowing so loud they could hear you outside the curtain. You loved it and did so well! I am so proud of you!!! Everyone else is, too! It's getting closer to you coming home!!! I put polka dots up on your wall that match your bedding. It will be fun when you get to be in your room!

Milestones - Out of preemie diapers and into a Size 1 diaper! Breast feeding for the first time! Some preemie clothes are too small on you! You're off your caffeine, as of yesterday.

Good job, Buddy! You're doing great! We love you!!!

Drum roll please...

You're 5 pounds today!!!! Daddy and I celebrated with ice cream shakes! Yum!

Your nurse, Rachel, put on your web cam:
"Cooper weighed 5 pounds 1.5 ounces-- for those keeping score at home: we have hit the 5 pound barrier, he is getting so big!"

Cooper the Pooper!

It's true... you're an incredible pooper! You love to go in a fresh diaper! Once we put a new diaper on, you start to fill it up! We laugh every time because you are so predictable! And boy does it stink!!! Tonight, we changed you and then, yup, you pooped in your new diaper. So, we changed you again and you decided to pee on us and your outfit we just put on. So, we had to change your diaper again and change your outfit. You got stressed so we had Grandma Frederiksen hold you tight. They explained to her not to rock or stroke you because it irritates babies as small as you. She took great care of you! You're getting so chubby! Especially your cheeks! Love you, Cooper!

Growing Up Too Fast

Boy, you're growing up too fast! We know you need to grow, but...! You no longer have teeny tiny fingers... they are chubby. Your head is no longer smaller than my fist, but bigger than it. Your legs are starting to get little rolls on them. You're already growing up too fast, but it's for the best. I love getting to hold you each day. You get so comfy laying on my chest. You love pooping in your freshly clean diaper once we change it and peed on me when I was changing the second diaper today. You're a whopping 4 pounds 14 ounces (you were 4 pounds 11 ounces yesterday)!!! Again, my baby is growing up too fast. Daddy and I can't wait until you come home! We start breastfeeding on Saturday. We're getting closer to getting you home! Love you, Big Boy!

Mommy & Cooper

I always take pictures of you and Daddy, but always forget to have someone take them of me and you. I had Daddy take one of us:

Stuffy Nose

4 pounds 10 ounces today. Have a stuffy nose so they are watching to see if it's a cold or just a side effect of your reflux. You're up on your oxygen today because of that stuffy nose. You are in the 30s. You did great with non-nutritive feeding and Daddy and I loved holding you. We can't believe we have a child! We love you so much!

Gettin' Bigger and Bigger!

You looked so much bigger today than yesterday. You weighed 4 pounds 9 ounces and had such a great day! I came to hold you at 10 AM (and Grandma Smith came to visit you, too) and I held you until 1:15 and then I held you a little more after that. You were on 20.9/21 percent oxygen the entire time I held you (room air)! You were all comfy on mommy's chest. I loved it. Love you bunches, Little Guy! (Though you aren't so little anymore. We thought you looked like Grandpa Frederiksen today when you had your eyes closed. I think it might be the cheeks!

Happy New Year!!!

Happy New Year, Cooper! Daddy and I watched you on the webcam at 1 AM when we got home from Grandma and Grandpa Frederiksen's. The message said, "Happy New Year Mom and Dad! I come home this year! Love, Cooper." It made us smile. You do get to come home this year! We can't wait!