25 days and counting

Well, we have picked a name...first a little background before his name is revealed...being a teacher makes names VERY difficult...you may love a name and the child who has that name, and then the next year a terror with the same name enters your classroom...therefore, making it nearly impossible to find a PERFECT name.  Almost 36 years ago when I was born my mom had been a teacher, and decided upon my name...but I know nothing about the Jessica from all those years ago, as my parents moved to Lake Charles, LA and well, the internet didn't exist.  :)  We knew we wanted Kenneth to be the middle name, as it was my Papa Steger's name, my dad's/Judd's/Knox's middle name, and my mom's brother's name....so with Kenneth and Cozens...that was two hard C sounds, so we/I wanted another hard C.  We had it narrowed down to two, one had no sentimental meaning and the other was/is the name of two of my favorite guys from my BEST year in the classroom (2011-2012) and one other student from the year before I met Bryan, a boy who was a twin and living in foster care.  Secretly, or not so secretly I knew that would be his name but we still came up with other ideas but continued to go back to the two C names.  While walking on the beach in Gulf Shores this past week, we decided on his name...I told Bryan I wanted birth mom to be the first to know his name, as she had been asking what we would name him, as she wanted to call him by name.  So, we took a family picture to send to her....

 

 

And here we are, just before sundown, just beyond the stairs of our beach house.  And then we began telling people his name.

 

 

This past weekend a new complication was added to the long list of troubles this pregnancy is causing her...it breaks my heart to know how her body is reacting to this pregnancy, but I am reminded that the Lord has had this in HIS hands the entire time and He will continue to hold birth mom and Cooper in his hands and deliver him to us and heal her body.  Due to the added complication the doctor is even more aware of birth mom's safety and has decided that Cooper will arrive at the 32 week mark, May 22nd.  She will be admitted on the 21st to begin to wean her body off of the blood thinners for her blood clot, so we will already be there as he may come prior to the scheduled surgery due to the complications of taking her off the blood thinner. An earlier than that delivery is always a possibility, but we pray he can stay baking until then.  So...we'll have a baby and then I'll get to have my baby shower.  :)  We know he will be in NICU for a period of time, however the doctor believes it will not be until his July due date, as he is already in the 90th% in growth and organ development...but once again, it's in the Lord's hands.   We are prepared to be in Austin until he's ready to come home...minus a few trips back home for my shower and my best friend's bridal shower and wedding....but we will tag team for those and Bryan will be with Cooper when I leave for a day. 

 

We still covet your prayers....safety of birth mom at all times is our most important prayer, her peace, Cooper to keep baking until the 22nd, wisdom and guidance for the doctors, and for the doctors to remain just as cautious as they have been.

 

25 days...oh my!!!