What was life like before...

I'm sure every parent goes through the same emotions and thoughts of what life was like before their children.  Its hard to even imagine life without Ryan even after only 14 very short weeks on this earth.  She's filled this void that we never knew was there.

Don't get me wrong, we've definitely have had to adjust to our new way of life.  We've been really lucky with her sleeping habits.  On most nights, she goes to bed around 10 pm and doesn't wake up until 7 am the next morning.  On very rare occasions or that first night Travis goes on a business trip, she will wake up in the middle of the night but even these nights remind us of how lucky we are.

We had our first official lunch date out in public with her friend Sullivan (3 weeks younger and an absolute DOLL), Erin and Gina.  I've been really nervous about taking Ryan out to eat thus far but realized how I need to do it much more often.  We had a great time, fussed a little at lunch (enough to have Mommy sweating in the restaurant trying to get her back to calm and happy), and then passed out as soon as we got home.  Hope to do it again soon.

Gran (my mom) is in town this week visiting and soaking up as much Ryan as she can.  I didn't think it was possible that anyone else could think Ryan was super baby the way we do... until Gran got here.

I'm officially back at work, which has been challenging and great at the same time.  Anyone in sales will tell you it's an on-going process.  Taking 8 weeks off for maternity leave was time I wouldn't give back for anything but it made it like I was starting over when I got back to work.  I'll get there and I just have to keep grinding it out every day to get caught up.  I will say that although I miss that constant 1 on 1 time with Ryan, it's nice to get to talk to other adults during the day.  Helps me retain what's left of my sanity.

We've got our 4 month old appointment coming up with Ryan's pediatrician next week but from what we can tell, she's around 14 lbs now.  Our last visit, she was in the 97% for her growth and development.  Couldn't ask for anything more.  Happy, healthy baby.

Thanks for taking the time to read our blog and catch up on Cooper news. 

Introducing Ryan Elizabeth Cooper

Friends and Family,

Michelle and I would like to announce the birth of our daughter, Ryan Elizabeth Cooper.  She was born on July 1st at 11:56PM at Harris Methodist in Fort Worth, TX.

Starting a family is much like embarking on an epic adventure and our beginning lived up to that billing without doubt.  Michelle began first stage labor on Thursday June 30th at about 2:30 AM.  We counted contractions and waited for signs and finally went to the hospital around 4PM.  She was only dilated to 3CM after 13 hours of good, hard, evenly spaced contractions so we were sent home.  We labored at home until 5 am the following morning before we returned to the hospital.  Despite hours of much harder contractions and very little rest Michelle was still only 5 CM although she had achieved 100% effacement.

They decided to keep us this time so we began laboring at the hospital and shortly thereafter her water broke.  We continued to labor for a few hours but due to lack of rest and a total of 30 hours of labor we chose to have an epidural.  Michelle was able to rest and work through contractions with much more ease but still, progress was slow.  Finally at around 7:30 PM she reached full dilation and was able to start pushing.  We went through 6 different positions for laboring and pushed with every single contraction for 3 hours but Ryan would not budge an inch.  The midwife and nurses said they had never seen someone work with such determination through this stage and I can say that I saw my wife in a new way.  I could have never imagined that after all she had been through that anyone would have that much fire left to fight so hard for the birth we had planned to have.     Finally under the advice of our midwife and the OBGYN on call and after almost two full days of uninterrupted labor we chose to have a cesarean and relieve the stress for both Michelle and Ryan.

Her procedure went very smoothly and within moments of my arrival in the OR the sounds of a healthy and very vocal baby filled the room.  She weighed 8 pounds 5 ounces and was 19.5 inches long at birth.  Nothing I imagined about how this day would be could have prepared me for the overwhelming feeling that you have when you get to see and hold the little life that you and the person you love most created together.  Michelle was soon able to hold her and the two have been bonding and recovering together ever since.  Both are doing great and though we had to alter many of our plans we couldn't be happier.  We are happy to share the news with all and appreciate all the love and support.   We will post pictures on Michelle's baby blog and facebook in the near future.

Attached is our first family photo taken by one of the attending nurses in the operating room.  Feel free to email and text and we will reply as we have time.

Last 2 weeks. Let's Hope!

We are officially in the home stretch!  2 weeks and 2 days to go if she's born on her due date.  Thank you everyone for your kind advice and support these last few weeks.  I think we keep wrestling with the idea that these are our last few days/weeks with just Travis and myself after 14 years and the idea that we are so ready to meet our little girl. 

Poor Travis mentioned casually to a friend that "he wasn't getting much sleep lately because Michelle has been so restless at night".  Fortunately for him, there was a witness present or the blood shed would have been epic.  Poor Travis?!?  LOL.  I have to laugh because I know the man likes his sleep but next time he has a little person dancing on his bladder, then we can talk.  Plus, most people will say that these last weeks prepare you for the lack of sleep you get once the baby gets here.

Everything is finally packed and ready to go to the hospital. The baby seat is installed in the car.  The nursery is almost ready.  Some of the last minute things we have to do like hang the paintings, install the crib bedding, finish the changer topper & closet drawers can all wait if she comes tomorrow.  Plus, she will be sleeping in her bassinet for the first few weeks anyway.  I just cringe at the thought of Travis trying to finish construction projects with a new born in the house.  He's got lofty goals.

Mom is coming down next week so she is here when the baby is born.  That's been the one constant piece of advice Travis & I have gotten:  Don't turn down help.  So we're not.   Times like these really make me wish my family lived closer but we're so thankful they will get to come down for periods at a time to be with the new baby.

After this Friday I am officially on maternity leave.  I have these ambitious plans of manicures, finishing up any last minute baby shopping with mom, going to the movies, maybe going to the pool when no one is there so I don't scare anyone...  We'll see how that goes.

Toothless Man at Kroger Called me Big Today

Don't you just love it when random strangers feel like it's okay to make comments about your physical appearance, pregnant or not?  LOL.  I had a man today at the grocery store tell me I was  "big" and "looked 'bout ready to pop any day now.".  Thanks Toothless Joe.  Next time I see you out in public or any of your kind, I plan to point out how you are missing a mouthful of teeth.

Lol.  Now, granted, I understand I am very pregnant.  I understand I DO look ready to pop but it will never cease to amaze me people's verbal diarrhea when it comes to talking to pregnant women.

6 More Weeks to Go...

We are officially 33 weeks 6 days along.  6 weeks and 1 day to go until our due date, July 2nd.  Everyone please pray that this child is NOT late.  Lol.  We want her to come on her own time but between these cracked & dislocated ribs, I don't know how I'm going to do another 7 or 8 weeks.

We are ALMOST done with the nursery!  Just a few more final touches and we're there.  Travis did the waynes coating himself.  I doubt this a project he will want to repeat anytime soon but it turned out fantastic.  All of our furniture has been delivered and set up.  Just a few more last minute things off our registry and we are Baby Ready!

WORST DOCTOR EVER

I am still in shock... hours after my visit.  Today, I had the absolute most offensive doctor I have ever come into contact with.  If anyone even recommends you to Dr. Walsh with Obstetric Manipulative Medicine you better have thick skin or the common sense not to go.

I'll give you some background.  I was originally recommended to Dr. Walsh because of what I thought was a pinched nerve in my back.  Apparently, my ribs are cracked and also popping out of place because Baby Girl is running out of room.  I've been going to see a WONDERFUL chiropractor- Dr. Crisp.  However, my midwife group thought it might make sense for me to go see a specialist since this problem has been going on for about two weeks now.

The day started out like any other.  I waited in a waiting room to see the doctor for about 45 minutes.  Finally, I hear him approaching the door as he says to the nurse, "ANOTHER pregnant woman?!  UGH!".  The nurse apologizes (I guess for my being pregnant???).  And IN walks Dr. Walsh with two trainees. 

Dr. Walsh introduces himself and his trainees.  He asks a little about the history of this rib issue I've been having.  I told him I've been seeing a chiropractor and he tells me that there is no way a chiropractor knows what she is talking about.  He then has his trainees "take a guess" at what might be wrong with me.  This goes on for about 10 minutes.  Finally, he steps in and examines my back.  He then informs me, "It seems like your ribs might be slightly cracked and popped out of place because you're fat."  Yes, you read that right.  He told a pregnant woman she was "fat".  I said, "Excuse me.  I'm not fat.  I'm pregnant."  He says, "You ARE fat but its a good fat.  You're beautiful!  Embrace it.  What other time in your life can you get as fat as you want and no one can say a thing to you?".

The training session continues for another hour where he has his trainees fumble around on me and try to make adjustments that were not correct.  He would show them how to do it properly on his test dummy... aka me.

Some of the other highlights from today's visit included him asking me, "Are you leaking yet?  I don't want to get any of that stuff on me.  I had a friend who was 8 months pregnant like you and did it on purpose."

The referred to my boobs as "watermelons".

He had me laying on my back with his hands cupped over my ears (he was in the process of cracking my neck) for a good 10 minutes while he taught a lesson to his trainees about the proper way to adjust a patient's neck.  I finally interrupted him by saying, I can't lay on my back this long.  It's not good for the baby.  And he FINISHED his sentence before he released my head!!!

Oh, and he told me that the reason my baby doesn't have enough room and my ribs are cracked is because I slouch.  And if my husband catches me slouching, he should YELL at me.  He actually instructed me to go home and tell Travis that if he sees me slouching, YELL at his pregnant wife.

Some advice I read in an article a few months ago fortunately for me prepared me for just this very visit.  The article talked about how to handle unwanted or rude comments during pregnancy.  The author said, "take your pregnancy out of the situation.  If someone said this to you when you weren't pregnant and it is STILL offensive, then you should say something."  The author didn't recommend a full on rage at every person who put their foot in their mouth but this doctor obviously had no clue that his behavior was unacceptable.  So, knowing if I didn't say something, I would go home and stew about it... I said something.

"Dr. Walsh, just so you know, in the future when you are dealing with pregnant women or just women in general, maybe you should avoid using the term fat.  It's very offensive.  Also, terms like watermelons and leaking might not be the most professional way to address your patients.  I don't think this is a good fit for me so I will not be coming back to see you."

Maybe not the witty response I would be proud of years from now but I got my point across.  And considering I have ungodly amounts of hormones racing through my body this close to the end of my pregnancy, it was the best I could muster.

Week 31 Check Up

I cannot believe we are in our 8th month!  I say that and most days these days, I feel like I've been pregnant FOREVER. 

We had our 31 week check up with our midwife group yesterday.  Everything is looking great.  She is measuring a week further along, which really means nothing at this point other than she's healthy.  She is facing down, which is really great news, as long as she stays that way.  We have check ups now every 2 weeks until we get a little closer to the due date and then it moves to every week.

The nursery is coming along great.  We are almost done.  Travis has been working his tail off, with the help of family and friends, to get the wayne's coating and trim up and painted.  It is going to look so great once it's done. 

Our nursery furniture is also slowly making its way to the Cooper household.  Our crib arrived last week.  Our rug is suppose to be done sometime this week.  We already have our changing table.  Our glider is SUPPOSE to be here on May 2nd.  Our side table is also suppose to be here by next week too.  Apparently, Pottery Barn Kids online orders all of their items from overseas but there is a Dallas warehouse that stocks the same products.  It all depends on HOW you order it... via phone or internet.  Whatever, as long as we get our side table before the back ordered date of August!

We are also wrapping up our Bradley classes.  A 12 week crash course on birth & newborn care.  It's nuts to think that the end of this class almost means Baby Girl will be here that much sooner.

Baby is doing great on a personal note.  She is moving a ton still but the movements have gone from drop kicks in my stomach to hard rolling movements.  The midwife said her feet and hands are on my left side which makes sense.  I was starting to get worried when I could only feel her on my left side. 

Being pregnant has definitely become more difficult.  It's harder to move around on a daily basis.  I am not sleeping very well anymore and most days feel like I would rather nap than eat during my lunch break.  I shouldn't complain.  My first trimester was so easy and I know for most people it's not.  And everyone gets to go through the same joys of the third trimester.  Everyone tells me to get plenty of rest NOW because once she gets here, I am done with sleeping for a while.  But I can't seem to be able to sleep very consistently.  Oh well, it will all be worth it.

Hope everyone is doing great and had a wonderful Easter!