Happy Thanksgiving

The best part of Thanksgiving this year was the fact that Dayton had improved enough to be able to come home from the hospital and spend the day with our family!!! I am thankful for many, many things; this year I’m especially thankful for Claire, Dayton, and Jordan. It’s fun and exciting to have our family grow. (It’s also fun and exciting not to be pregnant anymore!) :-)

We celebrated with our own little family. I contributed to the meal by making a fruit salad.

Jordan did everything else! - I love that guy!!!

I wanted some pictures of Jordan and me with our kids. I had to include this one because of Claire’s silly face.

I haven’t been up for many crafts lately, but Claire frequently asks to do one. I decided we could easily make a little turkey and write things that she’s thankful for on the feathers. (And it’s not too late to make a turkey when it’s still Thanksgiving, right?!)

My own little turkey

Here’s what she said she’s thankful for:
my baby brother
me
Mom
Dad
Marcus
Lillian
Aunt Jennifer
Uncle Marshall
I love that we’re making a turkey out of feathers
the flowers from Chelsea
the cake we made
pictures and paint at school

Here are a few Thanksgiving decorations and the flowers from Chelsea.

Claire thought it was hilarious that she was lying on lots of pillows and blankets on the ottoman.

And here’s my other little turkey! He was stuffed!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Back to the Hospital

On Wednesday morning, we took Dayton to his pediatrician for his first doctor visit. It turned out his bilirubin levels - 19.7 - were too high, (which was no surprise to me, considering what happened with Claire). This is what he looked like that morning.

So Dayton and I went back to the hospital on Wednesday. He hung out under the lights all day and all night.

Thankfully, by Thursday morning, his levels had dropped to 12.1, so we were free to go home!

Claire and Dayton

Claire came to see Dayton and me at the hospital every day we were there. The first day, she was so excited to meet Dayton, and I was really tired and slept a lot while she was there. The other times she saw me she always asked if I was coming home that day. If I was sitting in a chair instead of in the bed, she would say, “Mom, you’re not in the bed!!!” And she was always very loving towards Dayton.

She was thrilled the day that we came home, and I love how happy and excited she looks in these pictures.

Visitors

We had a number of visitors come see us while we were in the hospital. I enjoyed seeing everyone, and I’m guessing they all enjoyed seeing Dayton!

Claire with Kelly, my hand-selected-by-Jordan nurse. She took good care of me.

Kelly and Lou gave Dayton a bath, and then my mom joined, too.

I love these pictures of Jordan and his kids!

Claire was soooooo excited to hold Dayton all by herself. What a good big sister!

Aunt Mel with Dayton

Kyle, Ryan, and Evan met him, too.

But honestly, they were more excited about looking out the window! 

Aunt Mel and Uncle Stephen with Dayton

 Aunt Laura with Dayton

Belton flashes a grin when you pull out the camera these days, so we had to get some of him, too!

Grandpa with Dayton

He’s awake!

Uncle Marshall with Dayton

Aunt Jennifer, Lillian, Marcus, and Uncle Marshall with Dayton

Uncle Matt with Dayton

These two little ones had fun together. (And my mom certainly held Dayton some, but somehow we didn’t manage to get a picture of the two of them together. Also, my dad was there on Friday, but we didn’t get any pictures of him with Dayton, either. I was extremely tired and slept through a lot of the visitors on Friday, so I wasn’t up asking for people to take pictures - like I did the other days!)

Marcus and Marshall got a tour of the OR, and Marcus liked the mask that smells like bubble gum.

Lillian with Aunt Laura

And here’s the little guy.

I just love his hair!

The hospital provides a fancy dinner for mom and dad. Jordan got steak, and I had chicken cordon bleu. We also enjoyed the sparkling white grape juice and the cheesecake. It seems a little silly, but it is also nice.

And after three nights at the hospital, we went home!

Dayton Bond Cooper

On Friday, November 22, Jordan and I went to the hospital so I could have this baby!!! I was certainly ready!

At week 37, this baby's head and belly were measuring beyond 42 weeks. Because this baby was measuring big and because Claire had a broken clavicle upon delivery, we chose to go with a c-section this time.

Jordan basically hand-selected everyone who worked and cared for me during the c-section. From the back-up OBGYN to the CRNA to the anesthesiologist, Jordan selected the best for me. That was comforting.

When Shelly gave me a spinal, my legs went warm and tingly, and they had me lie down quickly. Eventually I felt pretty weird and very tired, but this baby still came out healthy and strong.

At 12:14pm, Dayton Bond Cooper was born! He weighed 8 pounds, 15 ounces. He was 20.25 inches long. His head circumference was 38cm. Look at how handsome he is!

And look at all of that hair!

Mom, Dad, and Dayton

Proud Daddy!

Our newest addition

Jordan went with Dayton while my doctor finished sewing me up. When I went back to the recovery room, Claire got to sit with me and meet her little brother. She already loves him so, so much!

We’re so thankful that Dayton is here with us, that he’s healthy, and that we are now a family of four. Wow! Just thinking about that sometimes seems a bit crazy!