Our journey to become parents wasn’t as easy as most people. Craig and I tried for 4 years and with the help of a fertility specialist we finally became pregnant January 2, 2010, we didn’t find out until January 16, 2010. Our lives changed that day for the better. We were so excited to finally tell our families and a select few that we were pregnant. The doctor advised us to wait until the first trimester was over. Our due date was set for September 25, 2010.

Once we told everybody we were expecting things seemed to fly by. On April 23, 2010 we had an u/s, my parents and sister got to be there to see our little baby for the first time (for them). We were told that they were almost positive it was a girl. So I compared pictures with Katie and sure enough it looked like we were having a girl. Her name Emmerson Lorene.

Well time came for our 4D ultrasound and we were informed that it was not a girl, we would be having a boy. The emotions were high that day, we had gone from talking to this baby girl, who in fact was a boy. So we left the appointment with my parents and grandpa in the car. We now had to come up with a name for this little boy we were going to be having. The middle names were easy Lorene was for my mom and Alan would be for my dad. So I told Craig “Cohen Alan”, he agreed and within a few minutes I went from carrying Emmerson Lorene to carrying Cohen Alan.

I went to the doctor whom I love and adore and told her. She couldn’t believe it. So I requested another u/s just so we could be sure. So we scheduled the u/s and everything was going just as a perfect pregnancy should. August 2, 2010 my Grandma picked me up from work to go to our u/s. I never went to an appointment by myself for fear something might happen. As we are sitting waiting for my appointment we just were shooting the breeze in the waiting room. Amber told us we were indeed having a boy but to sit tight the doctor would come in. I looked at Granny and told her I shouldn’t have to see a doctor. As we waited a high risk doctor and Dr. Nightingale came in to tell me that something was wrong. Our little boy would be here sooner than we thought. Cohen had IUGR: Intrauterine growth restriction refers to the poor growth of a baby while in the mother’s womb during pregnancy. Specifically, it means the developing baby weights less than 90% of other babies at the same gestational age. Cohen was only weighing in at 2lbs 10oz at the time. The doctors informed me we would be having Cohen by Wednesday unless things started to improve.

I can remember everything so vividly… I asked if I could go home and get my things together (I had 8 weeks left so no bags were packed) to which they replied “no you need to be monitored”. So they brought in the wheelchair as I called my dad. I informed him he needed to be the one to call mom, Craig and then go pick Craig up because he had ridden with James to work. So I remained calm surprisingly well while talking to my dad. I think I was in utter shock that this was happening this way. So they wheeled us to labor and delivery area as I waited for Craig, mom and dad to get there. After 3 hours of poking and 8 sticks later we finally got an IV started. There were several times when the nurses would rush in and try to find the heartbeat….I would have to get in all kinds of positions to see if we could find him. Craig got there and we thought things were going good so dad and Papa were going to take Craig to get our car (it was left at work). Mom, Granny and my sister Tommie were there to hold my hand so we knew things were under control. I had a doctor come in to tell me that at shift change the new doctor was not going to put up with Cohen’s heart rate going so low. So at around 5:30 we heard them page my doctor. We called Craig and dad and told them to get back as soon as possible. All I can remember thinking is…. I can’t lose this precious gift. Dr. Nightingale got to the hospital and came to tell me I would indeed be having Cohen. I have never been so scared in my life. She kept telling me that we were going to be okay. She held my hand and while sitting in the operating room being prepped waiting on Craig to come in she was my very best friend. She let me know that we were going to get through this together. I kept asking her how Cohen was going to be and she kept reassuring me that it was going to be okay. I looked in her eyes and believed everything she said to me. Whether at the time she knew we would be okay, or not she made me calm. She believed that God had us in his hands….and she couldn’t have been more right. As Lydia (yes we are on a first name basis now) cut and gave me a play by play I remember this scream….a cat like scream. My son was here all 2lbs and 7oz he was here. I told Craig to go check on him and he came back for a moment to say “he looks just like me”. Craig was so proud and in that moment so calm. As they whisked Cohen off and the proud new daddy I laid their….left wondering, worrying, questioning the care my son would be given. I knew nothing about Cohen…other than he looked like Craig.

While in recovery I was told Cohen was doing well….it would be about 24 hours before I could see him. The month of August was full of ups and downs….the biggest up for us happened August 30, we brought our 3lb 14oz little boy home. Our family was now complete. We have had several ups and downs and they will continue, it is part of life. After all most things are JUST A PREEMIE THING. Follow us along our journey of parenthood and enjoy the ride with us.

Cohen is currently 6 months old/4 months adjusted and weighs in at …….