DOCTOR DAY!

What a day! We started visiting doctors at 12:15pm and saw the last one at 4:30pm. It was a very long day but went well. We met with the Neonatologist and a social worker first. They helped us understand what we could expect once Cooper is born. It was a little scary but I am glad they have prepared us. They expect that within a few hours of delivery he will be transported to Children's Mercy. I will probably be able to see him briefly in the delivery room, then again about 2 hours later. I have no idea why they think it will take 2 hours for me to be able to get in a wheel chair, go up an elevator and look at my baby but apparently they feel quite sure about this. I will argue the issue much more when the time comes. I think the hardest thing will be when they transport him because then I will not get to see him again for a few days. The good news is that Terry can! Of course, I will again battle the 48 hours they think I need to stay in the hospital as I am sure 24 hours will be plenty of time. From there we will not know exactly what to expect until the time comes. They have stated that they are sure we will have a long stay at Children's Mercy and encouraged us to check out the Ronald McDonald House. This was a little hard for me b/c I think I was holding onto this idea that just maybe we would get to go home with him within a week or so and they pretty much assured us this would not happen. They also prepared us for the fact that Cooper would have several IV's and possible oxygen and that it would look worse than it actual is. Again, I am very thankful for everything they told us but know when the time comes nothing can prepare you for seeing your precious little boy lying there and nothing you can do about it. Heck, Raelynn has a cold right now and I would do anything in the world to make that better!

Next we had another sonogram and little Cooper is growing great. He is approximately 5 to 5.5 lbs and is moving like crazy. I did not need a sonogram to tell them this :)
We left there and pre-registered at the hospital and were able to tour the NIC Unit. That was all fine and was only slightly confusing because of the short amount of time that we will actually be at the hospital before he is transported. Therefore, certain things such as circumcision, Hep B Vaccine and Hearing Screening we were asked to elect not to have so that they could focus on the more immediate needs and then Children's Mercy will do these things closer to the time he is ready to come home. Of course I had to make note of everything so I can make sure they get it done! :)

Finally we met with my doctor and everything seems to be going well. Cooper has dropped and I am 50% efface and about 1 cm dilated. All this means is I am where I should be at this stage of the game and that it is no wonder I go to the bathroom 50 times a day and am never comfortable, hahaha!

I am sure that everything is going to be just fine and things will turn out just as God has planned, but it does not make this any easier. I worry every day about what is going to happen. I worry about Raelynn too. I am going to miss her so much while we are at the hospitals. I know she will visit but I will miss picking her up from pre school and listening to her funny stories and cute little voice and no one else knows just how to read her stories or play with her hair when she can't sleep. I tell her everyday how much I love her so hopefully when I am not there to tell her she will still know!