Cooper’s swelling is going down!

I can really tell a difference in Cooper today. His swelling is going down.

 

Look at his hand…it is so much skinnier, now that it isn’t all puffy with extra fluid.

 

Oh how I miss my baby when I go home.

Today I spent 4 hours in the hospital with Cooper while Laun watched the boys. I wish Laun & I could have time together with Cooper, but someone has to watch the boys, since they rarely allow children in the NICU. I love anytime I can spend with Cooper. Rachel Starchman came to our house to help us out. She is a friend of mine from the Black Canyon Ward in Phoenix. She brought us food & helped in any way needed. What a great friend. Tonight Laun visited with Cooper. We love our boy.

I came home today, but Cooper has to stay-

How cute are Laun & Clayton in my hospital bed?!

 

Sweet Cooper:

 

Mommy & her baby

Today my incision is starting to feel better & I can walk a little better. I can’t believe how painful the recovery has been. Ryan & Kami Hall came to visit. Cooper looks good today. He has been kind of puffy from his extra fluid, which has started decreasing. I was discharged from the hospital today. I am happy to be home with my family, but I am also sad to leave because my baby is still there. I will miss being where Coop is. When we left the hospital today I started crying on the way to the car. It was such an empty feeling to leave without Cooper. I just had a baby & I was leaving without a baby in a car seat. What a sad, depressing feeling. Laun & I long for him to be home with us. Luckily we live close to UMC & I can go & see Cooper often. Tonight our neighbors, the Horner's came over & brought a wonderful dinner. We all ate dinner together & had a good time visiting with them. Tonight Laun went to pick up my prescriptions & to visit Cooper. I miss Cooper so much, especially at night time. It is nice to have our oldest boys home with us.

another day in the hospital…

This little sign that says Cooper on it is from Clayton- so sweet.

 

Porter made this little sign with stickers on it for Cooper.

 

Hi Cooper (poor little baby is pretty swollen)

 

I am amazed at how many tubes are connected to this little guy, they are all over his bed!

 

I love holding this little guys hand, melts my heart.

Today Laun went to Phoenix to get our boys. Today was a good day. Cooper got some of my milk through his tube twice today! I love being in the hospital still so I can see Cooper more. I usually sit by Cooper & put my finger in his hand. I love when he squeezes my finger. I love him so much. I sing him primary songs & sing him I Am a Child of God a lot.  I talk with him about his daddy & brothers & how much we all love him & want him home soon. They usually say babies are in NICU until their due date. Cooper’s due date is May 18th, that seems so far away. I miss Laun & the boys. They are back in Tucson now but the boys fell asleep on the way home, so Laun will bring them tomorrow.

some visitors

I am still in the hospital as a patient, since I had a c-section. I am actually happy to be here-with Cooper. I love to have visitors. Our amazing neighbors Davey and Carrie Horner stopped in today. Jared and Lisa Hall were here too. Jared gave Cooper a blessing. I am grateful to have the priesthood in my life.

My arms feel empty and my heart aches

We are not able to hold Cooper because of all the tubes/machines he is connected to and until he becomes more stable. I am too short to lean over and kiss him- it feels so unnatural not to hold and kiss my baby. I am also pumping every 3 to 4 hours right now, so that I can nurse Coop when he is able. Right now he just gets a nutrition-liquid through a tube. Today has been an emotional day. I hurt a lot, and because of that I cannot see Cooper as much as I would like to. My parents and Lucy went home today, they will help take care of Clayton and Porter-thank goodness they are in good hands.


You can see in Cooper's eyelids, hands, and fingers just how swollen he is-poor baby.

Cooper Hugh Hall is here

Today Dr. Coppola did an ultra sound of our baby. It didn't look good, there was fluid around his heart. This meant that the baby needed to come out. This was a bittersweet moment for us-we get to see our baby today, but it also means that his body isn't doing well. His heart beat continues to be fast. I feel sick and scared of the thought of having another surgery (c-section), but mainly of not knowing what will happen with our baby boy. I have to have a c-section because of the complications the baby is having-he can't take the stress of normal birth.

Cooper came into this world at 11:13 am. He was born at 31 weeks old, weighed in at 5lbs and 1.5 ounces (this was a shock-he is so big for his age), and is 18 and 1/4 inches long. After he was born they held him up for us to see and then whisked him away to the NICU nurses and doctors that were waiting for him. When the doctors received him, he was limp and blue and not breathing. He wouldn't respond to the bag and mask and vigorous stimulation, and had to be intubated. We were not able to see him until he was stabilized. Laun was very anxious to see our Cooper, several hours later they let Laun in the NICU to see him. I was still in the recovery room with my parents by my side-this is the 11th time that my mom has been in a recovery room with me. Lucy was able to come today too. Finally, I was able to be wheeled in (still in my bed) to see him. He was beautiful. He has medium brown hair with a red tint and long fingers and toes. He was pretty swollen from retaining fluid, but that should go down in a week or so. He really likes to keep his right arm near his face. He has lots of tubes in his mouth and on his chest, umbilical cord, and feet. He is connected to so many machines. He is on a ventalator that makes his chest go up and down fast. He is on an oxygen machine too-technology is crazy. It is overwhelming to see your baby with so many machines attached. Hopefully the medicine works and his heart will slow down. This is a lot to take in. We love you Cooper-please hang in there.











A doctor came in the hospital room tonight and asked for premission to give Cooper a blood transfusion-we agreed. I am having a hard time sleeping. I am nervous and hope Cooper is okay. I wish everything was fine and that he was in our room and I could hold him. I am filled with emothional and physical pain. Luckily Laun is here with me tonight. My c-section hurts so bad. Thankfully my boys are being taken care of by Janae and Sam-what would we do without family? I miss my boys. Clayton is sad and worried and it breaks my heart. I love my family.

Premature news

Porter & Clayton sharing a drink in my hospital room. They are such cute boys & tomorrow there will be three cute boys.


Dr. Copolla did an ultra sound today & found that there is now fluid around our baby's heart. This is not good news at all so the doctors feel that it is best for him to come out tomorrow. I will have to have a c-section because otherwise there will be too much stress on our baby. I am so nervous & we have been told that things could be really bad, possibly death. This seems like a bad dream, can this really be happening to us? The doctors had us take a tour of the NICU center where preemie babies go so that we could be a little more prepared. Although I don't know if one can ever really be prepared to have a preemie baby. The babies around 31 weeks (which is what are baby will be) were only 3.5 pounds- they are so little. It was pretty emotional to see such small babies. When we got back I just cried. Laun gave me a another blessing tonight, I am thakful for him & the priesthood. It is quiet in my hospital room, we sent the boys to be with family in Phoenix. I miss them but they will be in good hands. I know that whatever happens tomorrow that everything will be okay because we are sealed as an eternal family. Since I'm pretty sure our baby will need to come tomorrow I had Laun take a picture of my prego belly:

Our Porter is 3 today

We celebrated Porter's birthday in the hospital today since I am still here at UMC.
I am just thankful that we had a fun party for him a week ago-must have been inspired:)


We got him play-doh because he loves to create & build things.


I watched from my hospital bed. I'm on bed rest & my heart & the baby's heart are always being monitored. Grandma Turley & Rachel were in town too.

Happy birthday Porter! You are such an amazing & wonderful boy & are so loved by your family.

my monkeys at the zoo

Lucy came in town and her & Laun took the boys to the zoo. I am stuck in the hospital being monitored 24/7. I am glad that the boys are in good hands.

 

I didn’t sleep well last night. The ultra sound showed more fluid in the baby, that isn’t good. His heartbeat slowed down some today and that is good. The Horners visited me today and brought me some food. Then Lucy, Laun & the boys visited me. I am lucky to have great family & friends. Tonight Lucy put the boys to bed & I got a visit in the hospital from Laun. He brought me treats and we watched a movie. I had a meltdown & cried for awhile. This is hard, really hard, but I can do hard things with the Lord’s help. I hope our baby is okay.

Doctors visit-unexpected news

I went to my doctor today for a regular checkup & when they checked our baby boy's heartbeat they found that it was way too fast. His heartbeat was 220-240 & usually it should be around 120-160. So they took me over to labor & delivery so they can run some tests. I had the boys with me at my appointment & I could see the worry on Clayton's face. Laun was there shortly to pick up the boys. They did some ultra sounds & found that our baby has retained some fluid in the abdomen area, around the intestines, which is not good. This indicates that he is stressed by his fast heartbeat. They give babies a score based on different things and our boy got a 6- anything lower than a 6 they deliver the baby. So things are worse than I imagined. They are going to hospitalize me & give me steroids to help the baby's lungs develop in case the baby has to come early. They are also giving me medicine to lower the babies heartbeat. His heartbeat has been high all day. Lucy came to Tucson to help out with our boys, thank heavens for family. Tonight Laun, the boys, & Lucy came to visit me at UMC. Porter misses me so much-so sweet. The crazy thing about this is that I have been telling Laun throughout my pregnancy that I feel that this baby will come early, maybe I was being prepared for what is to come, who knows.

still not a blonde-still getting used to it

cute boys

Clayton was sick today. He stayed home from school & we just took it easy.

Soon to be 3

Porter will be 3 in a week but we had an early birthday celebration today since we were in Phoenix.
We went to the park with his Grandmas & some of his cousins & had cupcakes.

Lucy got all the kids party hats.

 

I love his long lashes.

Big brother Clayton


Porter & mom


He was so excited about getting more dinosaurs.



I love this picture of him in the car because he had to be holding all his dinosaurs.


He also got a Mr. potato(corn & carrot) head kit from Grandma Turley.

I love this little man & can't believe that he will be 3 in a week!