Photo Dump

Napping before the doctor comes in 6/13

Nap time! 6/13

What are you talking about?! 6/14

Drunk smile :) 6/14

Exercising! 6/14

What are you staring at?! 6/14

Sleeping in my bouncy seat

Going for my first stroll! 6/14

What? You no like my clean hair? 6/14

Too small for my MS outfits, this bulldog one will do! Go State! 6/15

The boys on Father's Day! 6/16

Grinning in the morning! 6/16

They treat me good here! 6/16

Sleeping on mommy 6/18

Story time! 6/19

Lazy morning with daddy 6/20

Enjoying the view on the way home from the park 6/20

Yawning it out! 6/21

Oh! Did you see that homerun?! 6/21

Wearing daddy's outfit! 6/21

Chillin' in my cradle 6/21

Wide awake in my bouncy seat 6/22

Bullets

Bullet points because I think that's all I can handle right now :) 

• Cooper is gaining weight and growing like crazy! Last Tuesday (6/11) he was 5 lbs 2 oz.  Last Thursday (6/13) he was 5 lbs 4 oz.  Yesterday when the early intervention nurse came, he weighed 5 lbs 12.5 oz! All that eating he is doing is working!  We go to the doctor again tomorrow, so we will see what that scale says.

• J took today and tomorrow off to spend with us Coop.  It's so nice to have him here with us all day.

• 12 days in the NICU.  Those were the longest 12 days of our lives, but we are so glad to have him home!  It was crazy fast once they decided to send him home.  They told us that Saturday that they usually don't do weekend discharges, so we could expect to go home Monday.  Then the doctor came and said we could go home Sunday.  J asked when we could get him on Sunday, and the doctor replied, "Anytime."  J asked if we could just take him home now since we could get him anytime tomorrow.  They said yes!  They got all the paperwork together and had us watch a CPR video, and we were out of there!

• We can't take Coop out to public places where he will be exposed to people/germs until he is two months old.  However, we are allowed to go on walks, so we have visited two different parks.  We also went to Sonic tonight since you don't have to get out of the car. :)

•  When we got home tonight, we drove by several SWAT team members and police officers.  They were arresting someone by the dumpster.  When we got to our parking lot, several of our neighbors were out, so they told us they busted into an apartment in the building next to ours and the guy ran.  It was crazy!  There was a K9 unit going through the apartment and several police cars around.  We hope to find out why they arrested him soon.

• Another photo dump coming soon.

• Cooper was not a fan of baths in the NICU, but thankfully we have not found that to be the case since we came home.  I don't think he likes them, but he doesn't scream like he did in the NICU.

• Thanks to not gaining much weight during my pregnancy and breastfeeding, I am now a little under my pre-pregnancy weight.  I sure didn't think it would happen so quickly (it only took 10 days). 

• Our glider still hasn't come in.  Should be any day now.  I am looking forward to being able to feed Coop in a chair that has arms!  I hope it comes in sooner rather than later.  Then maybe I will get Cooper's room more presentable for blog pictures.

• I can't think of anything else to say, so I guess this is it.

[3]

I can't believe Cooper is already 3 weeks old! In 10 days, he will be a month old.  I think time has sped up since we got home from the NICU. Coop has grown so much already.  I am so thankful to be able to stay at home with him.  I will always have pictures, but so glad to have time. :)

  

And of course, the other ones I liked :)

Jumping Jacks

Mid sneeze

Typical Cooper :)

Photo dump

Dumping pictures from my phone :) a real update soon(ish) 

Monkey Butt at my first doctor's visit 6/11

Ready to go home from the NICU 6/8

Milk coma, with the typical Cooper hand 6/10

RAWR! 6/10

Rawr... yawn! 6/10

Getting my tan on! 6/12

Snug as a bug in a rug! 6/9

Sleeping in my bunny swing! 6/12

Not letting mommy feed me! 6/12

On my way home! 6/8

So hungry! Where is mommy? 6/11

Survived my first night with mommy and daddy! 6/9

 

And because it's always cute:

 

[2]

Hope to make this a weekly post. We'll see. :)

And some others I liked...

Videos

Sorry they are grainy.  I recorded these on my phone to send as text messages, so the quality isn't as good.

Check out my wingspan! The ultrasounds didn't lie!

[We have a .....]

WIENER! Wait, what?

Saturday, May 25 I started to feel off again.  I was having some contractions, but they weren't painful.  However, I did notice them, so it was different from when I was in the hospital.  I called the after hours number for my doctor's office.  The midwife told me to take a Tylenol PM and see if I could sleep through them.  So I did.  And I slept through them.  Sunday, I was still having some and called again.  It was the same midwife, who wasn't familiar with my pregnancy, so we decided to head to the hospital after much debate.  We were hoping we were just being paranoid, but decided we had to go in.

It wasn't busy at all when we got there at 11:15.  I went to the assessment area where they tracked my contractions and checked to see if I had progressed any.  I was having regular contractions every 7 minutes and I had dilated beyond what I had been when I left the hospital on bed rest.  I was in labor.  I got two shots of terbutaline to stop the contractions (the first one didn't work).  It made me extremely shaky!  But it seemed to work!  They wanted to keep me overnight to monitor me because they thought my water would break at any second.  They decided to keep me in Labor & Delivery instead of the Antepartum unit.

We had a calm night.  They were treating me like I was in Antepartum even though I wasn't.  It was bed rest in the hospital again (no monitors, IV, etc, could only get up to go to the bathroom).  We both slept well and were thinking they would send me home in the morning.  The night nurse forgot to bring me my medicine that stops contractions until 4 hours after it was due.  20 minutes after she brought it to me, my water broke.  It was 6:35 AM.  I was sad because that meant no breakfast!  The doctor wanted to start me on pitocin to get things started, but I asked if I could wait and see what would happen.  Almost immediately (long enough for John to jump in the shower and wash his hair), my contractions were 3 minutes apart.  SO glad I asked to stay away from pitocin!  They were coming regularly and strong.  My parents had driven down the night before (we had asked them not to, but thank goodness mom decided to come anyway).  Mom stopped and got breakfast for those that could eat and brought it to the hospital.  I am not sure what time she got there, but my contractions were about 2 minutes apart now.  J had to stop eating every couple of minutes to help me through a contraction.  The nurse checked me again, and I had made a TON of progress.  She thought we would have a baby soon. (Side note, the nurse that forgot to give me my medicine said we were having a girl and would have her by midnight.)  The contractions started coming on top of each other.  Checked again, but no progress.  I was begging for an epidural at this point (9:00 or so).  The nurse, Joy- what an appropriate L&D nurse name, started getting things ready for the epidural.  She had gone to get a bag of fluids and when she came back, I was screaming, "I have to push, I can feel the baby!"  In about .02 seconds about 20 nurses dashed into our room.  Sure enough, the baby was ready to come out.  I pushed for just a few minutes (3 pushes, I think) and the doctor said, "We have a wiener!!" It was 9:18- less than 3 hours after my water broke.  I guess you could say I had a quick labor.  But my body had been in labor for weeks, really!

The NICU nurses took him to evaluate him.  He had to be given a little oxygen, but I could hear him screaming.  My mom went to go tell my dad, who had been banned to the waiting room.  He thought my mom was coming to tell him it would be a while.  He sure wasn't expecting to hear he had a grandson!  The NICU nurses let me hold him for a couple of minutes before they took him to the NICU.  J went with him.  We made our phone calls and sent out mass texts.  It was all so surreal.  We had a baby, but he was nowhere to be seen.  I couldn't believe we had a son!  It wouldn't hit me for a couple of days, but man it is awesome!

So that is the story of Cooper Marshall's entrance into the world.

May 27, 2013

5 lbs 1 oz

17.5 in

Maroon Friday

Go Bulldogs!!!

Coop

Pretty sure this is going to become Coop's blog....

He is just too cute.  My fear of having ugly babies has now passed. He melts our hearts!

[34]

 

 

Relaxing under the lights

[33]

Another week towards a healthy baby!

33 weeks~

________________________________________________________________________

Tu is the size of a pineapple (that sounds painful!)
 

Weight: +14 lbs (over 4 of that is baby!)

Craving: Anything sweet that I can't eat! Especially sour gummy worms! And those IHOP commercials are killing me! I have said once I have this baby, I want some Krispy Kreme- and keep it coming!

Maternity Clothes: PJs from here on out pretty much, except when I have guests, then I put on maternity clothes :)

Sleep: Been great lately- once I fall asleep.  I usually only wake up to take my medicine at 2:00.

Aversions: Still ground meat.

Gender prediction: We are both thinking boy.

Name(s): Picked and will be a secret until July the baby is born!

Labor signs: Painless contractions

Belly Button in or out: Mostly in

Wedding rings on or off: On 

Feeling: Pretty good; my hips are sore from laying on my side so much, but I gotta do it for the baby!

 

Looking Forward to:  Hopefully getting off bed rest in 2 weeks!

Movement: Baby doesn't sleep much, that's all I know!

Development: Bones are getting stronger and still plumping up!

Next Appointment: Appointments with regular doctor and specialist May 29 (34 weeks)

_________________________________________________

The nursery is almost ready to go!  We have most everything done (clothes, bedding, and diapers washed!) except we don't have our glider yet.  It is supposed to come in sometime in June - July.  I hope we get it before baby comes!  I will try to post a picture soon!

[1461]

Time flies.  I know I say this every year when I do our anniversary post, but wow! I can't believe we have been married 4 years.  And just like normal, it has been a crazy, jam packed year. This year we didn't do much celebrating, since there isn't much you can do on strict bed rest!  We did part of our online birthing class and J cooked steaks.  These days, that is all the excitement we want!

4 years ago!

June 2012

Switzerland, June 2012

Switzerland, June 2012

Switzerland, June 2012

Switzerland, June 2012

Easter, 2013

May 2013

What we've done in the past year (seems like it always involves a move!)

- Tybee Island and Savannah with J's family

- Switzerland!!!

- Marion lived with us for the summer

- Worked on the house (painting, decorating, etc)

- Myrtle Beach 

- Durham Bulls game

- J got a new job in Atlanta

- J started his job, I interviewed for and was offered a job, and we found out we were pregnant all in the same week! 

- Prepped our house for sale and closed on it in less than 2 months on the market

- I traveled back and forth to Atlanta A LOT

- Caitlin graduated from WKU

- Exploring Atlanta and the area 

- Chattanooga and trip back to NC :)

- Babymoon!

- Tu wanted out early, resulting in a 3 week hospital stay

- Marion graduated from State

- I finished my Master's!

- Bed. Rest.

What a list, right?! I couldn't imagine doing that list with anyone else though. :)
 Here's to another 60ish years!

[32]

Coming to you from Casa de Morrow!

32 weeks~

________________________________________________________________________

Tu is the size of a jicama
 

Weight: +13 (down 3.5 pounds since I went to the hospital; 4 of that is baby!)

Craving: Anything sweet that I can't eat! Especially sour gummy worms!

Maternity Clothes: PJs from here on out pretty much, except when I have guests, then I put on maternity clothes :)

Sleep: First night at home last night was GREAT! Even if I have to wake up at 2 AM to take my medicine

Aversions: Still ground meat.

Gender prediction: We are both thinking boy.

Name(s): Picked and will be a secret until July the baby is born!

Labor signs: I am sure  I am having contractions, but I don't feel them.  The last few times they monitored me at the hospital, I didn't have any.

Belly Button in or out: Partially in/out

Wedding rings on or off: On 

Feeling: Pretty good; my hips are sore from laying on my side so much, but I gotta do it for the baby!

 

Looking Forward to:  Having food not from the hospital

Movement: Baby doesn't sleep much, that's all I know!

Development: Tu is plumping up!

Next Appointment: Appointments with regular doctor and specialist May 29 (34 weeks)

_________________________________________________

So excited to be home! I am on strict be rest (can get up to eat, shower and go to the bathroom, but that's it).  After they adjusted my medicine over the weekend, the monitors didn't pick up any contractions, so that's exciting.  Baby is still in the same position and I haven't progressed any.  We are hoping to keep it that way for the next two weeks.  I am still on medicine for now, and we will re-evaluate that at my next appointment.

[31]

So excited we made it another week!

 

31 weeks~

________________________________________________________________________

Tu is the size of 4 navel oraanges
 

Weight: +?? Haven't been weighed since I got to the hospital

Craving: Anything sweet that I can't eat! Especially sour gummy worms!

Maternity Clothes: Hospital gown with pj pants.

Sleep: I got them to drop the 4 AM vital signs check, so now I at least get a 6 hour stretch with no interruptions.

Aversions: Still ground meat.

Gender prediction: We are both thinking boy.

Name(s): Picked and will be a secret until July!

Labor signs: I am having contractions, but I don't feel them.  They aren't regular either, so the doctors aren't too worried.

Belly Button in or out: Partially in/out

Wedding rings on or off: On 

Feeling: I got to go outside today for the first time in two weeks, so pretty good! They also let me have pizza today. :)

 

Looking Forward to:  Hopefully going home next week if I am still stable.

Movement: Constant!  The nurses have a hard time keeping the baby's heart rate pinned down.

Development: Tu can move his/her head from side to side

Next Appointment: Meet with a Dr. and specialist everyday.  I will have another ultrasound either Tuesday or Wednesday.

_________________________________________________

[30]

I feel like I look much smaller than 2 weeks ago!  My fluid levels have gone down 7 cm since I got to the hospital a week ago, so I am sure that explains it! (My fluid levels are still higher than normal though.)

 

  

30 weeks~

________________________________________________________________________

Tu is the size of a butternut squash.
 

Weight: + 16.5lbs (~3 of that is baby) but haven't weighed myself since coming to the hospital.

Craving: Anything sweet that I can't eat!

Maternity Clothes: Hospital gown with pj pants.

Sleep:Would be a lot better/easier if they wouldn't check on me every four hours.

Aversions: Still ground meat.

Gender prediction: We are both thinking boy.

Name(s): Picked and will be a secret until July!

Labor signs: Contractions...etc.

Belly Button in or out: Partially in/out

Wedding rings on or off: On 

Feeling: Pretty good considering the circumstances.

 
 

Looking Forward to:  Hopefully making it to 34 weeks.

Movement: Constant!  The nurses have a hard time keeping the baby's heart rate pinned down.

Development: Tu's eyesight is continuing to develop.

Next Appointment: Meet with a Dr. and specialist everyday.

_________________________________________________

I've been stable so far in the hospital, but I'll be here for at least 2 more weeks since the Dr.'s want me to make it to 32.