Welcome to the World, Cooper Willie!

We are so excited to announce the newest addition to our family, Cooper Willie!  We named him Cooper because we love the name and Willie after Park's dad.  He was born on November 19th at 8:53AM, 6 pounds 6 ounces and 19.5 inches long with a head full of hair.  He is just the sweetest little babe.  He loves to snuggle, especially on my chest, his favorite spot! I love the way he sleeps when he's not swaddled.  He loves to have either one or both hands up by his face.  

I went into this c-section feeling confident since I've already been through this once before.  Park said I started the day in a very jokey mood, first joking with the nurses while I was getting IV'ed up on both arms, then in the operating room.  I was told before the surgery that the assistant doctor (Dr. Taylor) always suggest parents to name the baby Taylor since it can be for either a boy or girl.  So once I was in the operating room and Dr. Taylor came over to say hi, I told him I was naming my baby Taylor and later after the surgery, the nurse told me I had him going for a bit, heehee.  My doctor requested an anesthesiologist that she knew and trusted since my last one didn't go so well. This anesthesiologist knew what he was doing and got the epidural going with just one try!  He was so nice and reassuring that I was completely at ease.  Once the doctors got started, Park was brought in.  This time around, he was able to take picture of the baby being pulled out!  (I'll spare you the detail pictures) but I thought it was really cool.  With Alyssa's birth, we weren't asked if we wanted to take pictures of her coming out.  I thought this was a great picture Park took that captured my very emotional joy upon hearing Cooper's cry.

My recovery from this c-section started as expected but then went down hill on the second day.  So much went on that I can't keep it straight and can't really remember exactly what happened, but Park thinks it was the pain meds that caused all my nausea and lightheadedness.  It was a roller coaster ride for me.  In the early morning I would be on a high and feeling good but as the day wore on, I'd start to feel sick.  I fainted once into a nurses arms while trying to get out of bed and had 2 blood transfusions.  After the second transfusion, I was feeling better and on my road to recovery.  Again, I stayed the full 5 days at the hospital but I could not wait to get home to see my sweet little girl.  The first day, Alyssa came to visit with my mom and brother, who was watching her, she didn't even want to come near me.  I didn't take offence since I think seeing me hooked up to all these tubes scared her. She didn't take too well to baby Cooper either.  Did not want anything to do with him at all till the end of the visit when she started to warm up to him.  Park told me on the ride home, Alyssa kept asking for "baby", mama, Bocoupe (what she calls Cooper).  By the second visit, she was more interested in Cooper.

We didn't have much visitors since I wasn't feeling well most of the time, but Park's mom, sister and her family were able to visit.  

Now, a week and a half after coming home with Cooper, we are settling in and enjoying time as a family of 4.  Alyssa has grown into such a loving big sister.  She thinks about Cooper all the time!  First or second name really that comes out of her mouth every morning is "Bocoupe".  She gives him kisses and will help me pat his back when I burp him.  She also wants to "bao"(hold) Bocoupe all the time!  It's really sweet seeing her with Cooper, I'm thinking they'll get along just fine!  At least for now. :)

Alyssa's Birth Story

Here is the story of sweet Alyssa's arrival on April 2, 2013

We had a scheduled c-section because Alyssa was breech.  At every check up, except for one, she was breech so I was pretty much prepared to have a c-section.  The night of the surgery, both Park and I could not sleep.  The c-section was scheduled at 7am which meant we had to check in at 5am.  We were both so nervous and excited that it kept us up till 2 in the morning.  We pretty much only had 2 hours of sleep.  

Once we arrived at the hospital, I was taken into the prep/recover room.  I was only in there for a few minutes before a rush of nurses came in with cord blood banking and placenta information.  At that point, I was still in my normal clothes.  The nurses saw that I was still trying to change into the hospital gown, they left to give me a few moments of privacy.  Once I was changed and settled, another set of nurses came in to hook me up with the IV.  I don't know if it was the nurse that I had or what, but it was a little painful.  But now looking back, that was not as bad as the epidural.  

Last picture as a family of 2

Once all the paper work was taken care of, we were left alone.  We talked about how excited we were to finally meet our little girl and how nervous I was about the surgery.  Finally at 7am, my doctor came in to do another ultra sound just to make sure the baby was still breech before we move forward with the c-section.  After another 15 minutes of waiting, I was taken into the OR.  Once I was settled on the operating table, the anesthesiologist started prepping my back for the shots.  The first shot was the numbing meds and the second is the epidural.  Normally, it would just be those two shots but I was super lucky, I got about 10!!  Due to my short torso and HUGE belly, I was unable to bend over enough for my spine to separate for the anesthesiologist to insert the epidural.  It was pretty painful every time he stuck me with the numbing meds then the epidural that I wanted to give up, but I couldn't because how the heck would the baby be delivered if I did?!  Finally, he had to ask another anesthesiologist to help him.  I think it only took the new anesthesiologist one try to get the epidural in.   My legs started to feel warm right away.  The nurse slowly helped me lay on my back in preparation for surgery.  Once I was down on my back, I got a headache right away.  The nurse injected this medication that took the headache away like magic!  Then I started to feel nauseous then light headed.  It seem like every symptom I was told I had but the nurse was able to keep me comfortable the entire time.  At first I was getting really scared because it sounded like my doctor was already starting the surgery and Park was still in the prep/recovery room.  But I finally heard one of the nurses say they were going to get dad.  Once Park was in the room and sitting next to me,  I felt calmer.  I can't remember what happened but I just remember after what seem like minutes, my doctor said all the working parts are out and seconds after that, I heard screaming!  I kid you not, my baby came out screaming!  My doctor even said that she didn't even have to do anything to get a sound out of her and that her lungs were definitely healthy!  My doctor presented Alyssa to us Lion King style and by this point I was crying my eyes out I was so happy.  

Proud Papa

Love her dimples!

After going through the pain and discomfort of pregnancy and the epidural, holding Alyssa and seeing her sweet face was all worth it.