santa!!

Cooper got to see Santa tonight!!!!  I am not sure what he wanted, but I am going to say he asked for world peace and for his family to be healthy and happy... and maybe lots of presents in the future when he can remember them!!!  

He hated his outfit, but I really LOVE it!!  If we go to Disneyland, he'll wear it again!!

He was soooo good with Santa!!  Didn't cry, just stared!  We were at the fire station because Santa was supposed to be driven to the tree lighting ceremony by the engine... ya didn't happen, they were on a fire.  Go figure!!!

His other Christmas outfit!!  

So happy!! Andy took this pic, those are his hairy legs!!!

Our little sleeping angel!!!!  I can't stop staring when he sleeps, and I can't help but think, "gee, I can't believe he is half of me, so surreal!"

Cooper finally gained some lbs!!  He was 8.0 lbs exactly at his appt 2 weeks ago.  I was so happy.  He got his first shots as well.  I was not so happy, my poor baby.  Mommy needed the bandaid more then Cooper!  He was very brave and cried only a little bit.  The only difference I saw in him the rest of the day was that he wanted to eat more!  I am super lucky and super thankful for no reactions or fussiness!!  He is a pretty happy little dude except when he is hungry or needs a diaper change.  He smiles a lot when he wakes up and when he is being burped (which is weird because he HATES being burped, especially mid-feeding!!)

Happy Thanksgiving!!  The hat only stayed on for the pics, but it was super cute!

Halloween

Halloween was super fun!!  Cooper was himself, a little monster.... just kidding.  He was a cute little green and blue spotted monster.  I hadn't found something that fit him, and then it just appeared (on sale!) I got him all dressed up to take to Lake Arrowhead, stuck him in his carseat and discovered that he was too fat to fit in it.  Ugh, so I had to undress him and get him dressed once we got there.  It was pretty funny to see him sitting there!!  He got a ot of candy for one who doesn't eat solids yet.  Oh well, I will eat them and he will get to enjoy them too!! haha

We trick or treated in the village for a bit with the family, and Jenny and Liam.  It was such a beautiful day for it, not foggy and cold like I remember Halloweens being.  After that we came home and got ready for the tons of trick or treaters that never came.  We had 7... and they were all boys!  Sad!!!  But, Cooper's first Halloween is a good memory I am glad both Grandparents, Jimmy, and Andy were here to share!  Kronk and Mochi had fun too!

More Cooper coming at you!!

Randomness

Belly Bath... highly recommend it...he LOVED it!

No tears here!!!!

Junior firefighter!

First family picture outside of hospital (stn 51)

Yea Sparky!!!!!

The boys are all sleeping!

Cooper's first car ride home .... from the hospital

Cooper's first time in the coolest swing ever!

His first wipe down... hated it!

See, HATED it!!!

So these past three weeks have gone by super fast!  Cooper is "official" according to social security.  I can't believe he will be a month old next week!  I wish I could go out and show him to the world, but the Dr. said not to for 4-6 weeks, not to mention they are predicting the worst flu season ever.  So I am patiently waiting.  Besides that, Cooper and I survived our first night without Andy.  It wasn't bad at all.  We still miss him when he is working... he does a LOT for Cooper when he is home, and for that I am grateful!

Cooper doesn't like his crib so much yet.  He loves to be held, and is slowly liking his swing more and more.  He does very well in his carseat thank goodness.  Kronk is a little jealous, and unfortunately relapsed on his meningits yesterday, so time with Cooper has been cut down alot.  He seems to be doing better today though.  Cooper just stares at Kronk when he is around, it's pretty funny to watch his reactions to things.  Babies make so many faces, especially when they sleep!  All in all, things are going well with us!

COOPER ANDREW!!!

He is FINALLY here!!!  Cooper Andrew.... born on his ACTUAL due date of 09-23-09 @ 23:09! (I thought that was pretty dang cool!)  Anyways, the day he was born, I had been having contractions that whole night and I waited to call the hospital until the morning onl to be told, "well, we would like the contractions to be closer together before you come in, but we won;t stop you from coming in..."  what the heck I thought.  Oh well... I cleaned the house a bit and got ready because I had that feeling.  Andy and I dropped off Kronk at my parents and headed down around 8:30ish and I was admitted around 10 am.  I was dilated at a 4 when I got there and a 5 when admitted.  My labor was really good (weird).  I had lots of back pain, but nothing intolerable.  I was just starving! (Note to self... eat before going to the hospital!) 

At around 4 pm the nurse proudly said, "well I think you will have ths baby before I go home at 6!"  It was like she jinxed it.  The dilating came to a screeching halt at 8.5 cm.  I was at 8.5 for over 5 hrs before the c-sec.  Cooper was tangled in the umbilical cord, his neck specifically.  Everytime I had a contraction his heart rate went to the low 50s.  So, after pitocin, fetal heart monitor, amnio infusion, epidural and hours of oxygen and flipping from side to side, they decided a c-sec was the safe way to go.  Personally I didn't care.  I wasn't one of the people who had to go all natural in the first place.  Whatever was best for me and the baby was my philosophy from the very beginning.

So, the sad thing about going in to the operating room was that I couldn't say anything to my parents and friends.  They were asked to leave when the dr wanted me to try pushing.  Then, they literally took me away very quickly.  Thank goodness Andy was in the room because if he wasn't, I don't know if he would have been there for surgery!  I felt nothing during the procedure.  I couldn't even feel my arms I had so much stuff in me.  I tried to adjust my non-rebreather mask and literally dropped my hand on my face. I laughed a bit.  Anyways, after a few minutes... the baby was out.  I remember asking Andy like three times if he was still a boy and how much he weighed.  Turns out he was still a boy and he weighed 6lbs 3 oz.  (I won the guessing game on that one!!!)  I saw him and told Andy I think he looks like a Cooper... so, there he was, our little Coopman!

We stayed in the hospital for three days and had lots of family and friends come by.  It was nice!  We are very loved!  We have been home a little over a week now... time flies for sure.  We are settling in with Cooper and his ever changing (for the better) schedules.  Kronk came home for a day and was totally depressed.  It is super sad for me to see him that way.  Cooper is just a little more high maintenance then Kronk and Kronk doesn't understand.  

Cooper is just so small and cute.  Andy tells him everyday how cute he is.  He is definatly a proud papa.  He has been such a help to me because of my hindered recovery!  Let's just say he has been peed on many times!  It's all good though and we are having fun learning about babies everyday.  I can say that when he gets sick for the first time I am going to freak out.  I can't imagine anything happening to such an innocent guy.  We can't wait to bring on the good times!

Poor Kronk!

  My poor poor baby boy!  It started out on a Tuesday night.... Kronk didn't sleep.  He wanted to be held, and the he would cry a bit and want to hide.  I stayed awake all night with him and Andy was of course at work.  By the time 6:30 am came around, my dad went to pet him and he screamed bloody murder.  It about killed me!  His neck was killing him.  He NEVER lets us know when he is in pain, he always deals with it and goes along with life, but this was B A D!  It was quiet coincidental that he had an appt already that morning at 9 for a random check up.  

  When we go to the vet, he asked what seems to bother him.  I said, "well, turing his neck to the right."  What is the first thing he does...?  Crank Kronk's neck to the right.  Kronk screamed again and tried to escape.  They needed to get xrays to see of he slipped a disc.  That was a task for sure.  I had to go back and try to calm him down so they could muzzle him.  He was fighting and screaming, pooping and peeing all over me and everyone else back there.  It was terrible.  i wanted to cry.  They got one xray and couldn't really tell what was wrong, so Kronk was referred to a neuro surgeon in the O.C.  We had to take him right then, no time to waste.  I stopped at home and packed up some stuff to spend the night at my brother's.  Then we went to take Kronk to see Andy.

   Andy got Hans to come in for a while at work so he could come to the hospital with us. That was the longest drive in the history of the world.  We got to the hospital and they were amazing!!  They saw Kronk right away and told us what they needed to do.  They needed to knock him out, inject dye into his spinal column to see his nerves ect, and then do the surgery on his neck (c-2) to be exact.  The surgery should only have taken 45 min and the dye tests would be a little longer.  

    We went to lunch because me being a retard, hadn't eaten all day.  Not smart for being pregnant.  I anxiously awaited a phone call and decided it had been way too long, so I called myself.  Well, the Dr told me... "he didn't need surgery." Oh thank goodness right?  Wrong!  She continued to say, "He has spinal meningitis, do you know what that is?"  Of course I know, my brother had it and almost died.  It is a very serious sickness that kills people and probably dogs.  My heart sank.  I almost wanted him to have the surgery so that he could heal and be fine.  With this sickness, nobody knows what exactly causes it, how exactly to treat it, and when or even if it will go away.  It just sucks!

   They kept Kronk that night in the CCU and I called every three to four hrs to check on him since it was his most critical time.  He got through the night and we went to visit him Thurs morn.  He was sooooo happy to see us.  He had that lamp shade thing on and bells on his neck.  He just wanted out.  But, we opted to have him stay one more night to be sure he kept down his meds.  It killed me to leave those sad eyes alone for another night.  But, his pain seemed to better and his spirits were high.  

   We finally got to take him home on Friday.  He was given steroids, pain meds, anti-biotics, stomach easers ect... to get him better.  He was so happy to be home... and I was so happy he was home.  I was worried, but happy.

   As of right now, he hasn't relapsed.  Knock on wood!!!  He had a bad night a few nights ago, but is ok.  He has been slowly decreasing his steroids, which could cause a relapse, so everyday is scary.  We were told that he could relapse at anytime within a year.  But, if he doesn't... the chances of it happening again are slim.  The Dr. called it an auto-immune meningitis.  She doesn't know what caused it... maybe he ate something or maybe not.  It is so hard because of not knowing what triggered it.

   I don't understand why something so crappy happened to such a good and loving dog.  I will never understand.  He is such a gentleman of a dog, I don't know what I would do without him.  It was so hard to think he could have died.... I told Andy, I don't want anymore dogs.  It is too hard emotionally!  He has brought so much happiness to our lives... especially me.  Kronk and I are always together.  Andy goes to work and who is at home with me...?  Kronk of course!  He is an excellent traveller and pretty personable so I take him lots of places.  

  Anyways, I am happy he is happy right now.  He loves chasing his lizards and kitties!  He lets Mochi abuse him and he loves food so much right now!  I can't wait until he gets to meet his little brother!  He will be such a good protector!

Yay for cribs!

So we finally found a crib and dresser set that we both liked and was everything we needed!  We found it at the most awesome baby store ever!!  Their prices were better then Target and Babies R Us!!  Too bad it is all the way in Irvine...booo!  Andy and my Dad put it together relatively fast... and had furry helpers along the way.  We just got the mattress (thanks to my mom and dad) and can't wait to put in the cribbing.... just in time for the shower!

Fun

  July started out with a 4th of July/family baby shower.  My cousin's wife is due three weeks before me... I wander what they are having?!?

   Andy and I were excited because we were given the stroller that we had registered for!! Thanks everyone!  It is sitting in our living room and can I say it is a TANK! I can't wait to run over rude people "on accident" with it.... just kidding (sort-of)!  We also got a whole bunch of cute stuff along with really cute decorations (diaper cake!)  It was a very small shower, but super fun!

 


I showed my mom our page and she asked, "where is the pics of Kronk?" So, here are a few of my four legged furry boy!!!

24 weeks....6 long months!

I really didn't want to take pics to remind me of how not in shape I am, but my Dad convinced me for the sake of my daughter.... if I ever have one.  So, two is all I did!!! Maybe I will do more next month!

First time

      I finally figured things out enough to write our very first blog....wooohoo!  I wanted to start way back when I was in Europe, but I never had the patience to figure it out.  I didn't have the patience for a lot of things when I was out there.  Mainly just skating and trying to get through the days without getting fined for something stupid like weigh-ins, costume mishaps, or other things.  I was basically pretty miserable out there and wanted to be home.  I guess prayers are answered in some strange ways because I tore my labrum in my shoulder and I couldn't really skate pairs to my full capability.  I knew I needed surgery, so I wanted to have it done by an American dr. at home.  I left Germany and came home in time for a huge snowstorm and Christmas.

     After hearing that the ortho surgeon didn't wan to operate because of a "disorder" he diagnosed that I have, I was so sad.  I went for a second opinion and that ortho said he would do the surgery... but he only takes ppo insurance.  Lucky us, we have hmo.  So, I am hoping we can change that in a few months.  The surgery is postponed until we can figure it out.  With that being said.... everything happens for a reason!

     Pretty much after I found out I couldn't have surgery, then I could but would have to wait.... I found out something else.  Something that gathered this response from Andy, "How did that happen?"  Ha!  I just had this feeling,  so I bought a test.... POSITIVE!  Went to the dr's office... POSITIVE again.  Had blood drawn and two days later... POSITIVE!   Andy finally decided to believe me when he heard the nurse on my phone say, "Your blood test is positive, you are pregnant!"  

     Wooooo nellie.... how did this happen is right.  How can two yrs of no results just happen randomly?  I will tell you.... no skating plus low stress levels equals pregnant!  Guess the dr was right when he told me that LAST year!  Anyways, now I was stressed.  Top of my mind was of course, Knott's.  Pretty selfish right?  Well, Knott's is what I look forward to every year, and now I couldn't do it but I wanted to keep my spot since once you get a spot and you give it up, it is pretty much gone.  Ahhhh....chillax Naomi!  I told the director and she said no problem, she will hold my spot.  So, I am just hoping she keeps her word if I can and want to go back next year.

     Once that was over, I could go back to not believing there was someone living inside of me.  Nature took it's course and forced me to believe it!  All day, all night... I believed it up until the 16th week!  I couldn't do anything physical without getting sick.  Shoveling snow took ALL day because I would have to stop so many times.  Kronk took Andy's place in being my cuddle buddy when I was at my worst.  I spent a lot of time at my parent's house when Andy was working because I didn't want to be alone!

     Anyways, hearing the heartbeat.... and then feeling the pokes for the first time at Home Depot really hit the reality spot for me.  Oh yes, and of course seeing our baby BOY for the first time with Andy.  Sooooo weird.... kind of hard to comprehend.  

      I'm pretty sure Andy is good with things.  Probably a little more then me right now since all he has to deal with is me and my wants to improve our house.  Me on the other hand.... my poor body! My mind is racing through every little thing that I want for this baby and for us.  Knowing that I can't handle every little thing is tough for me!  

      So I think this extra long blog is a good start.... let's see how the next few months go!  6 months and counting (quickly)!!!!