A Story in Pictures

As I've thought about it over the last few days, I realized this isn't really the place to write all my experiences with Cooper's hospital stay.  I will keep those things in my journal.  My experiences were much too personal to seem appropriate to post on a blog.  There were moments in the hospital that were easily some of my darkest moments in life.  But I wanted to share some pictures, which if you are like me, you will feel that they tell a lot.  This mama still cries when she looks at these.  I can barely catch my breath when I think about it all.  And I'm still so overwhelmed with gratitude that he's home and I can hold him close.  Looking back, I'm grateful for the miracles that occurred during his hospital stay.  His ability to suddenly come off oxygen as one example.  And mostly how he was finally able to come home and has since been doing well.  Oh Cooper, I love you!

His hospital set-up with intense phototherapy

 His first IV, used for replenishing his fluids and his IVIG treatment

 Oxygen and second IV, used for both his blood transfusions

 All the tubes and wires to monitor his breathing, oxygen, heart rate, temperature, etc.  His had to wear socks on his hands so he wouldn't pull out his oxygen tube.

 During his second blood transfusion

 Wire free and almost ready to go home

 The survivors

 Grateful to be going home (and happy to have a nurse who made us pose!)

We're so glad to be home.  Understatement.  

Pictures From Cooper's First Time Home

Enamored is a good word to describe the kid's opinion of Cooper.

 And they just looked so grown up next to him.

 Especially Ethan.

 I love this picture!

 Our first Family picture.  I hope to look better in our next.   :)

 We got to hold him and snuggle for a couple hours, then the home photo therapy set-up arrived at home.

 And there he stayed, other than when he was eating, for the next couple days.

First Hospital Stay

I was blessed to have a quick labor and delivery.  I was induced at 8 AM and Cooper was born just before noon.  I have a hard time calling labor easy, but it definitely was easier than my other two.    Those first moments of holding him close were better than the dreams I'd been having of it.  And he was immediately and perfectly so easy to love.

 Before long, he was put under intense phototherapy.  He tested positive on the Coombs Test, a test which indicated he had the presence of the antibodies my body produced during pregnancy attacking his red blood cells. This break down released a higher-than-normal amount of bilirubin into his system.

Here he is under the lights sporting his sunglasses

 the full set-up

 At the time of my discharge, his bilirubin levels had dropped off enough that it was thought he was safe to go home with me and continue photo therapy with a home set-up.  So we got discharged together on Saturday September 15th.

 His first outfit:

 So home we went.  Happy and tired and eager to be greeted by the welcoming committee of our other kids at home.

Little did we know it would only last 48 hours.

Cooper Grant

Cooper Grant was born Thursday, September 13th at 11:56 AM.  His birth was one of the most incredible experiences of my life.  The joy his little soul brings me is unmeasurable.  But the story of his first nine days is long and painful and impossible to sum up in one sitting.  In time, I will write a little about some of the experiences he had suffering from severe jaundice and severe anemia, undergoing an IVIG treatment and two blood transfusions.  The first nine days of his life were some of the most difficult of mine.  I want to post a record of it here, but for now, I am GRATEFUL we made it home.  GRATEFUL he is off oxygen and doing better.  GRATEFUL he can get bundled up and cuddled close, GRATEFUL to be a family again, and most importantly, GRATEFUL he is my little fighter.

Here are some pictures from his first day of life:

To my mini Cooper, I love you to the moon and back!

xoxo, I sure love you two

First Day of Preschool

The anticipated first day of preschool finally arrived!  Madeline has been wanting to go since Ethan started school in July!  She was really happy to go this morning.  And cute as can be too:

 Thanks to Mimi for the new school outfit

 and it's always fun to have a pink backpack.

 Madeline, are you excited to go?

 My kids are cute.

Ethan's off track now, so I'm having a great time switching off with each one for one-on-one time before our baby comes . . . in THREE days.  Ethan and I have already enjoyed some go-fish and now we're heading to swim lessons.  We're glad Madeline is having fun at preschool too!

ONE WEEK!!

This last week has been REALLY. LONG.  But I survived it and today was FINALLY able to schedule my inducement date!!!!!

It feels so so so so good to be done with doctor's appointments and differing opinions and non-stress tests and know that the next time I go to the hospital, it will be to have my baby!!

Only one week left.  I am scheduled to be induced on Thursday, September 13th!  I am very happy about this day.  Ethan's birthday is also the 13th, so it will be fun to have both my boys have their birthdays on the 13th.  And Thursdays are really the most convenient day for Todd and time off work too, so that's also really great.

I'll be 38 weeks, 2 days.  Not a day too early in my book!  I was so worried my doctor wouldn't let me be induced until 39 weeks, but I think he decided to have mercy on me.  He said he realizes how emotionally stressful a pregnancy like this can be and that also had to be taken into account.  Thank you!

But overall, what a blessing this pregnancy has turned out to be.  All the scariest things never happened, and my baby seems as healthy as can be.  Thank you to those who have had us in your prayers.

I'll be so glad when he's here.  So glad to see he's healthy.  I can totally make it one more week!

. . . unless he decides on his own to come sooner . . . with the number of contractions I'm having, it's probably not too crazy a thought, and really, I don't think I'd mind.  :)