One Year

It was May 30, 2011. A little before 7 am when I got the text from my mom. "Pray for KK - headed to hospital. Having contractions". My heart stopped for a second, but thinking it was just braxton hicks or something, I didn't worry to much right then. Not long after, I got another text. "Pray hard, Karen is in labor and they are trying to stop it."
I jumped up and got ready to head up to the hospital. At that point I started to get worried and continually said a prayer. She was only 24 weeks along....
I remember everything about that day. From the second I got to the hospital to the second I left. I remember where I was when I got another text that said "COME QUICK" from my mom. Karen's water had just broke and we all got the news that Cooper would make his appearance into the world that day - three and a half months early. I remember every phone call I made. Every face I saw there that day.
I remember being in Karen's room with several friends and family. We were all talking, thinking of names (ALL the names we came up with...) and all of a sudden the monitor tracking Cooper's heartbeat went silent. Everyone in the room froze as the nurse ran in and tried to find it again. She kindly asked us all to step out of the room. Not 10 minutes after that we heard the news that Cooper was here...and he was breathing! That was the first miracle. A baby born at 24 weeks. 16 weeks early. He was breathing and alive! It was a very happy time, but also very scary.
I remember standing out in the hallway outside of her room... Just waiting to hear what was happening. Then all of a sudden...just like in the movies, Cooper was wheeled out in his incubator. There were at least 6 doctors and nurses around him. There was a lot of talking and yelling, and people pumping and directing... They went by as fast as they could to get him into the NICU. We could not even see him in there because he was so small.
I remember seeing him for the first time. About 2 am the next morning. It was amazing. It was incredible.... He was such a tiny little thing. So fragile, his skin was red, and almost see through. He would have fit in the palm of your hand. At 1 pound and 5 ounces, he was a miracle of God. The journey had only begun.... but you know the story. {and if you don't...start HERE}...
There were ups and downs, but with your prayers, support, the fabulous nurses and doctors and the simple miracle that our amazing God performed... Cooper Grayson is turning ONE today. He is healthy, happy...crawling and doing amazing!
Happy First Birthday, Cooper Grayson. You are LOVED!

Day 98.

Again, I'm sorry for the lack of post... If at any time you all feel like I am neglecting the blog feel free to email me at katyanne@sbcglobal.net and say "GET TO IT!" - I won't be offended... I promise.

Well, Cooper the Trooper is doing great! He is so very close to going home, yet still has one huge hurdle to get over.

They have not been feeding him from a bottle lately so they could give him more time to grow and mature. Tomorrow at 2:30 they will be doing a swallow test. They will feed him under an X-Ray and this will show if he is swallowing or aspirating the milk. We want him to be swallowing, of course.

If the test does not go as well as hoped, the option of a G-button will arise. A g-button {or a gastric feeding tube or button}  is a tube inserted through a small incision in the abdomen into the stomach and is used for long-term nutrition.... This is an option that J&K would rather not do... Of course they want Coop to be able to eat, drink and be happy.... THIS IS A HUGE PRAYER REQUEST!

In GREAT NEWS... Cooper has been off of all forms of oxygen since 12 am this morning... {midnight}. He is going on almost 21 hours of breathing 100% BY HIMSELF! AMAZING!!!

SO... what I'm getting at is... he really needs to be able to eat, so he can go home!

He weighs 7 pounds 10.8 ounces...not so much fitting into those tiny preemie clothes anymore.

And of course, he gets cuter everyday!

A few pictures of the cutie pie...

 I mean, SERIOUSLY! He's cute.

 Sweet little family.

I didn't purposely cut my sister's face out of this picture..... I promise.

Baby M is doing great! She is on the CPAP and doing well! They are going to give her a little bit more time before they try to take her off of it. AS far as I know, she is eating well and disposing...well. :-) Keep the prayers for baby M coming!

PRAYER REQUEST:

A HUGE HUGE HUGE Prayer request tonight {and tomorrow} is that Coop passes his test with flying colors! I mean really... Pray that he swallows well and that all that yummy milk {well...to him, its yummy} goes strait to his big 'ol belly!

Keep K&J always in your prayers... As the days go on {98 days} they are getting anxious and are ready to take Coop home.