March of Dimes 2011

We had the opportunity to walk in two March of Dimes March for Babies walks this year! If you look at the pictures, it looks like there are months separating the walks, but would you believe it was a little more than 24 hours apart??? It was freezing cold and raining on Saturday and sunny and warm on Sunday....go figure! We walked with Team Emmanuel Lutheran on Saturday. I was raised in that church and my parents still attend. They have been a constant support throughout my life and definitely prayed us through the NICU!!

On Sunday, we walked with two of the families from the NICU at Baptist. Our team was named Team JAC for Johannah, Addie, and Cooper. These families are such a blessing to me! Their constant support, both in the NICU and since we have been home, is such a blessing to me! I will always cherish these families and they will be our extended family!! Johannah and Addie were Cooper's first Valentines!! :) God is good!!

It's been a while!

I went back to teaching in January. It has been a CRAZY few months and I am still learning to balance life at school and home. Just when I think I have it figured out, something changes...like Kevin's schedule! :)

The first few weeks of teaching were ROUGH! I cried all the way to school most days. I felt so guilty leaving my precious boy with someone else. I have been with him every day since he came home last March. I was very grateful for snow days and believe me, I was doing the snow dance with all the kids! I have the BEST babysitter for Cooper, so I don't feel as guilty leaving him anymore. Mrs. Amy is WONDERFUL!! She works hard every day with Cooper! She always writes these great notes that tells me all about his day! I know he is having so much fun with her and her son, Kaden! I don't worry so much about him when he is there!!

Let's see....What is new???? Cooper is growing like a weed! He came off oxygen TOTALLY in February. He had his eye surgery in February as well, and it went very well! He is in size 3 diapers, he wears mostly 9 month clothes, but can wear some 12 month clothes as well. He weighs 17 pounds 8 ounces. We are struggling with the weight, but we will get there! He is 29" tall!! He wears size 3 shoes.....He just got fitted for some orthotics that will help with his turn out when he stands. He is NOT walking and only army crawls on his belly. He gets physical and occupational therapy each week in a therapy center as well as TEIS services at Mrs. Amy's house. He is talking up a storm, but mainly just babbling. He is super happy and such a joy!! I am beyond blessed to be his mommy!!

Goodbye 2010....Hello 2011!!

What an amazing year!! It has not been all sunshine and roses, but I wouldn't change one minute of it!! We spend the first 3 months of 2010 in the NICU at Baptist Hospital (3 weeks at Vandy). The majority of the time we were just waiting on Cooper to gain weight and grow and use his lungs.

This is me holding Cooper! I had to wait just over a month to hold him for the first time. After he got more stable, I got to hold him almost every day! He was on Vapotherm here but not yet taking bottles. We had to wait until he came down on his flow to start bottles. He was eating through an NG tube. What a sweet blessing!!

I've learned more than I have ever wanted to know about the medical profession! I feel like I can hold my own in conversations with doctors and nurses when it comes to Cooper's health.

 I cannot thank the doctors and nurses at Baptist hospital for teaching me all I know! Especially Cooper's primary nurses Lisa and Karen.

FINALLY HOME!!!! It took 4 LONG months, but we finally got to bring Cooper home! I looked forward to this moment the whole time we were in the NICU, but I was so nervous the first week home!! He came home on oxygen, so we qualified for a home health nurse that came by twice a week to check on us. She was an absolute blessing and made me trust my motherly instincts!

 

I can't believe I don't have a picture of our favorite pediatrician Dr. Bill!! He is absolutely wonderful with Cooper (and me too)!  

Some great friends!! I am so grateful to these ladies!! They kept me sane in the NICU. We got to share stories of our miracles and celebrate the victories, no matter how small!! They will forever hold a special place in my heart!! There are MANY other families we are grateful for, I just don't have their pictures! :)

I have MANY other friends outside of the NICU that kept me sane! They prayed for us, cooked for us, cried with us, and were just there for us. I can never thank you enough for your constant prayers and support!

I have the most amazing husband! He is so wonderful with Cooper and allows me to have little get aways with the girls!I love my boys!!

Cooper got glasses this year! His eyes began crossing when he was concentrating, so we took him in to see a pediatric eye doctor. Cooper is far-sighted and crosses his eyes to see up close. We got him glasses to see if they would correct the problem. Unfortunately not....His eyes still cross with the glasses so our next option is surgery. Stay tuned!!

Cooper turned 1 on November 23rd!! My sweet baby!!

He got to eat some cake at his birthday party!

And we got to spend Christmas at home this year!!

It has been an amazing year with lots of ups and downs! I have learned that God is in complete control and I am just along for the ride! This experience with Cooper has taught me that God is indeed trustworthy and good. I have learned that a change in perspective can change everything! I have cried more tears than anyone cares to count, both out of fear and pure joy! I have questioned everything I thought I wanted in life and found complete contentment in all I have at this very moment!  I am truly blessed beyond what I deserve. I am looking forward to all God has in store for us in 2011! Happy New Year and God bless!!

Christmas in the Mountains!

Every December, my family celebrates Christmas with a weekend in Gatlinburg! We always have such a good time! This year I was SO excited to take Cooper with us! Kevin decided to go up a day early and have a "Family Day" with just us three! We had so much fun!! We toured the Titanic Museum, did a little shopping, and ate dinner at The Smoky Mountain Brewery (delicious pretzels and cheese!) I LOVE MY BOYS!!

My grandmother took all the grandkids and great-grandkids to the aquarium on Saturday. Cooper had a blast! Well, kind of!! He was interested in some things and not in others....but he was very good!! I have some cute pictures, but we have lost our cord to upload them and haven't replaced it yet.....stay tuned!!

On the way home Sunday, it actually started snowing! It was so pretty! We stopped at The Christmas Village and had Cooper's picture taken with the most adorable Santa Claus! He even sang songs! Once again, Cooper could take it or leave it. He is too funny!! The picture is precious regardless!!

Operation Fat Baby is well underway!! Cooper gained 1 pound in less than 2 weeks!! He is having a little
trouble getting in all the calories we need to get in, but we are trying!! He now weighs over 16 pounds!! Stay tuned!! Merry Christmas everyone!!

Our first sickness

Well it was bound to happen........Cooper got sick. Toward the end of his birthday party I could tell he was not feeling good. I was hoping he was just tired, but my fears were confirmed with a fever.

I took Cooper to the doctor on Monday morning to see what was going on with my boy. He still had a bit of a fever and was snotty, but most troubling was this cough. His oxygen saturation was still fabulous, so I knew he was breathing just fine. The doctor could hear a little "crackling" in his lower left lung...NOT GOOD! I remember those crackling days of the NICU and it always meant trouble! She sent us in for an x-ray and it was confirmed that he was in the beginning stages of pneumonia.....YIKES!! They put him on some pretty tough antibiotics and we were told to keep an eye on him for signs of breathing distress.

It just so happened that I had Cooper's 1 year old well visit scheduled for Wednesday, so we went back in. His lungs sounded a little better, but his ears looked bad. He had an infection in one ear and the other ear was starting to get infected on antibiotics.....Poor guy! They switched antibiotics and gave him his 1 year shots; Fun stuff!!

We are still working on "Operation Fat Baby". We were told we could switch to whole milk and load up on the solids! They also gave us this pediasure extra calorie shake to give him once a day. This should put weight on him!! He already looks fatter to me after 1 shake! LOL!! His breathing is still great without oxygen!! God is so good!!!

Cooper's 1st Birthday

Cooper is 1!!!!

Cooper and his NICU buddy Johannah!! She is so beautiful!

We decided to do cake anyway.....

Cooper's presents!

What a wonderful day!! Cooper had a blast hanging with family and a few friends! We were showered with gifts for this sweet miracle!! We debated and debated about the cake and I kept changing my mind...He barely eats solids and definitely has not had sugar yet. When the time came, we gave it to him and he licked his fingers a few times and was done! He got very messy, so everyone got the pictures they wanted!! After a short bath he rejoined the party and opened his gifts...Note to self: Save money; give wrapping paper and boxes!! What a great day!

Happy Thanksgiving!

This is Cooper 1 year ago!! We truly have A LOT to be thankful for!!

I am counting my blessings today:

1. My husband, Kevin, who works very hard and is a very "frugal" with money! I am thankful for his frugalness~it has allowed me to stay home with Cooper this last year!!
2. My son Cooper! He is a fighter!! He is stubborn!! He is loving! He is funny!! I am blessed!
3. Our friends and family! They have prayed us through this LONG year!
4. Doctors and nurses who really care!!
5. Military who fight for our freedom and sacrifice being away from their family!
6. Our Early Intervention teacher, Mrs. Sandy!
7. Our wonderful church family!
8. We have a warm home with all the comforts!
9. We have food in the pantry!
10. Too many to count!!

Most importantly, We are thankful to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! He died on the cross for our sins, even though we are grossly undeserving! Thank you Lord for our many, MANY blessings!!