The difference a year makes!

One year ago today!

Our very first glimpse at our baby!

Cooper at the half-way point...

Cooper born at 31w1d on 11/1/09 at 11:01 AM...

Today!

Priceless!

Maybe, my sense of humor has lost it's edge...maybe, I'm reading one too many children's books these days but I HAD to post the following picture...

This pic is from the book "You are my wish come true" by Marianne Richmond. First, I have to say that this is a very sweet book and actually made me cry the first time I read it. Any mommy, and I think especially mommies that had to really work hard to get pregnant, will love the tender message of the book. I make a huge deal out of the pictures of any book while reading to Cooper and the following pic had me almost peeing in my pants:

Does anyone else find it HILARIOUS that a bear is taking a pregnancy test! I can almost picture momma bear going to Wal.greens after work...running threw the house to get to the bathroom to POAS!...and, doing a happy dance when she got her two lines!

Again, I could be losing it...but, none the less got a great laugh out of this pic...ahh, I think this may be my favorite kid's book yet :)

How a preemie mom is chosen...

I stole this from Melanie's blog...a fellow preemie mom whose blog I've just started reading recently...check out her little miracle if you have a chance :)


(Adapted from Erma Bombeck)

Did you ever wonder how the mothers of premature babies are chosen? Somehow, I visualize God hovering over Earth, selecting his instruments for propagation with great care and deliberation. As he observes, he instructs his angels to take notes in a giant ledger. "Beth Armstrong, son. Patron Saint, Matthew. Marjorie Forrest, daughter. Patron Saint, Celia. Carrie Rutledge, twins. Patron Saint ... give her Gerard." Finally, he passes a name to an angel and smiles. "Give her a preemie."


The angel is curious. "Why this one, God? She's so happy."


"Exactly," smiles God. "Could I give a premature baby a mother who knows no laughter? That would be cruel."


"But does she have the patience?" asks the angel. "I don't want her to have too much patience, or she'll drown in a sea of self-pity and despair. Once the shock and resentment wear off, she'll handle it. I watched her today. She has that sense of self and independence so rare and so necessary in a mother. You see, the child I'm going to give her has a world of its own. She has to make it live in her world, and that's not going to be easy."


God smiles. "This one is perfect. She has just the right amount of selfishness."


The angel gasps, "Selfishness?! Is that a virtue?"

God nods. "If she can't separate herself from the child occasionally, she will never survive. Yes, here is a woman whom I will bless with a child less than perfect. She doesn't know it yet, but she is to be envied. She will never take for granted a spoken word. She will never consider a step ordinary. When her child says 'mommy' for the first time, she will be witness to a miracle and know it. I will permit her to see clearly the things I see - ignorance, cruelty, prejudice - and allow her to rise above them. She will never be alone. I will be at her side every minute of every day of her life because she is doing my work as surely as she is here by my side."

"And what about her Patron Saint?" asks the angel, his pen poised in the air.


God smiles. "A mirror will suffice."

Cooper Spring 2010 Edition ;)

Here is Cooper's Spring/Easter picture! I think the pictures turned out great and Lilybear was (and always will) in attendance :)

A preemie's world: Cooper's journey through NICU...

The March of Dimes' March for Babies walk is in 13 days! I'm really looking forward to GOING to the walk but not so much DOING the walk! I put this video together so that people that aren't familiar of the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) world could get a small glimpse. There is still time to donate to the March of Dimes by going to the badge to the right :)

My hubby and I were talking today about how far Cooper has come since he was born at just 31 weeks. He was 4 pounds at birth and now weighs in at over 15 pounds! He was 16 inches long at birth and is 25 inches long now! I can't tell you how proud I am of our little man...he's been through so much already!

**TURN OFF PLAYER BEFORE STARTING VIDEO :) **

Cooper's first trip to the aquarium!

We had a lot of fun at the Georgia Aquarium! I was 8 weeks pregnant with Cooper the last time that we went so the trip was extra special for mommy! We went with my sister and her three kids...here are just a few pics of our day :)

Cooper and his cousin, Madycait

I got this outfit for him just for his first trip to the Georgia Aquarium! (I think he was getting tired by the time this pic was taken)

( Sorry about the picture quality)

We cannot wait to go again and next time will not be a day when all the kids in the area are out for any kind of school holiday!

Cooper the "talker"

This video was shot a couple of weeks ago on a lovely Spring day :) We're just sitting on the patio and Cooper was having a very indepth conversation with Daddy...I think he's trying to give his opinion on the health care reform debate ;)

Bliss

I had a moment of pure bliss this evening as I rocked in my glider with a freshly bathed Cooper in my arms.  I rocked and just took one deep breath after another taking in the smell of Johnson and Johnson's lotion and  I just payed attention to his weight in my arms.  How empty they felt before he came into my life...

I am just so thankful...so utterly happy...for him.  I don't care about what he's doing versus the other babies in our lives...all I know is that I'm thankful for him to be alive.  My baby...the one the doctors thought I should terminate...my baby that was born 2 months early...my baby who amazes me everyday with everything that he does...

He is my bliss...

I love you, Coop~

March for Babies!

This is our second year doing the March of Dimes's March for Babies walk and we have been working very hard on our fundraising goals. I'm always an overachiever when it comes to fundraising and this year is no exeption. It's a wonderful cause and I know all preemie moms (and, moms of babies that didn't survive when they were born too early) hold the March of Dimes very close to their heart.

We're a mere $220 short of our $1000 goal! I start fundraising in February, though! I would be so thankful if you would donate to our team if you haven't donated to a team already! All you have to do is click on our March of Dimes button on the right and it will take you straight to our page.

The pic on our button is of Cooper on the day that he was born! Oh, how terrified I was when they told me that I was in labor at 31 weeks! I had been in the hospital for 7 weeks already and the plan was to try to keep him in until 34 weeks. They put me to sleep for the c-section and as I drifted off to sleep my last thought and prayer was "Please, Lord, let him be strong. Please, let him live. I live without Lily everyday, I can't outlive both of my babies..."

I woke up to hear that Cooper was doing beautifully. His APGAR scores were 8 and 9. He weighed 4 lbs. and only required a c-pap to assist with his breathing. He was so tiny. The NICU staff was amazing and what they can do for preemies now just boggles my mind!

I will participate in the March of Dimes's March for Babies every year to say "Thank you and keep up the good work!"