How Big Is She?

2lbs 14 ounces sounds pretty small, but she is actually a nice size and healthy color. She was sticking her foot out at me (Adam) and you can see that from my knuckle to the end of my finger is about the same size as her foot.

Ava, Abbey, and Adam in the NICU

Welcome Ava!

Everyone, here is Miss Ava Elizabeth Cooler. Born at 4:45am on 12/30/08 at Kennestone Hospital (Marietta, GA). She's weighing in at 2 pounds 14 ounces and it feisty as she can be. This is her at 4:50am with a head full of brown/black hair. Mama and baby are doing great.

I'll be home for Christmas!

YEAH! We are home! Today I was able to go home but I am still on full bedrest. The only thing I can do is get up to shower, potty and eat a meal. Other then that, I have to be in the bed resting. So far so good. I am a little nervous, with out my nurse alert button right beside me, but I am trusing that all will continue to go well. Ava is still moving around alot, which is a good sign. Adam and I are very excited about being able to be at the house and stay in my own bed. Thanks for all of your thoughts and prayers. We are still praying that Ava stays where she needs to stay for a few more weeks so she can get a little bigger and stronger.

Christmas Eve Day

I am growing! Here I am in my Christmas night gown

Here is a little silver bracelet that Grammy and Doc
gave Ava for Christmas

Here is Ava's first doll

Here are some little bloomers for Ava that have
her name embroidered on them.

Today, is Christmas eve day. I have officially been here in the hospital for a week. Dr. Nathan, the high risk pregnancy doctor, is about to come in and check me out. I have a feeling I will be here a few more days, if not a few more weeks. We opened presents from my mom and dad this morning and Ava received some cute surprises.

Mamabear came to the rescue

When I went into labor on Wednesday morning, mom came in town about 5 am. She had driven in the middle of the night to come and make sure Ava and I were doing well. Mom has taken care of me and made sure I had everything I needed and helped me get settled and become comfortable. I am so blessed to have the most amazing mom in the world!

Decorated for Christmas

On Sunday, Adam went to Wal Mart and bought a Christmas tree and decorations for my room. I told him that he is the best husband ever for decorating my room. I love Christmas so Adam even got a room air freshener that makes the room smell like a live Christmas tree. So my room feels more like home today and all of the nurses are complimenting my room. I have also received many beautiful flowers that have brightened up my room as well.

Update for the day

Well, I am still hanging out in room 340 in Kennestone, but I am unplugged from everything. As of right now I am not having anymore bleeding but I am still having contractions. I have had about 4 to 5 contractions per hour. The Perinatal Doctor came in and said that Ava was looking good, but that since I am still having contractions, I have to hang out for a few more days. The doctor is going to do another ultrasound on Wednesday to check Ava out again. So as far as going home, I am do not have a date yet. But, I would be okay just staying here just to be on the safe side.

Yesterday Adam decorated my room to look like Christmas so, I will post those pictures later on today or this evening.

Also, wanted to give a shout out to my friends, Matt, Corie, Santiago, Kristen, Matty and Becky who posted a hilarious spoof video for me on my facebook page. I will try to get it posted on the blog, so others can enjoy it.

Thank you to all of everyone's, thoughts and prayers! I can sure feel them and I think that is why I am handling this stay as well as I am. God is good and I know has a perfect plan for little Ava's life.

Abbey TV

Little Ava's Heartbeat

You have to turn up the sound a bit, but you can hear Ava's little heartbeat.

Abbey TV

Click to the side on the YOUTUBE spot and I have a message for everyone. I am still here at the hospital and Ava is still in my belly, growing one more day!

Love,
Abbey, Adam and Ava

We are still here at Kennestone

Well today is Saturday and I am still on pretty much complete bedrest here at Well start Kennestone Hospital, Room 340. The highlight of my day is getting up to take a shower and wash my hair. I actually got to shave today, which was a much needed event. As of right now, I am pretty stable. They have given me some medication to stop my contractions and I have only had about one contractions every hour, which is great. I am still bleeding a little, so there is no prospect of going home until that stops. The good news is that my doctors and nurses have all said that I am doing great. The Perinatal doctors say that Ava is looking great and doing really good. My blood pressure, sugar levels, etc have all been good. So over all I am being an A plus patient and so is Ava. If have had a ton of phone calls, flowers, and visitors that it has made the time pass pretty fast. As of right now, I am still here until I deliver but it really is a day to day diagnosis, so who knows what tomorrow may bring. Adam and I have a great peace and about this and know that this did not catch God by suprise. We are blessed to be at an amazing hospital that has the BEST NICU in Georgia, so if Ava decides to come early she will be in great hands. I will be 29 weeks on Monday and our first goal right now is to get to 30 weeks. So lets pray for that! Thank you so much for all of your prayers, I can definitely feel them.

I am on bedrest now!

Adam kissing me in my hospital bed



Here I am hooked up to my IVs



Adam and I snuggling in the hospital bed


Excitement at the Cooler home started Wednesday morning at about 1:00 AM in the morning. I woke up thinking I just need to go to the potty...well I got more then expected! So I screamed for Adam, Bella ran into the bedroom and jumped on the bed and helped me wake Adam up. We then threw on clothes and heading to Kennestone Hospital. We arrived at Kennestone and I wa90% effaces, dialated 1 1/2 centimeters and my contractions were 3 to 5 minutes apart. Since I am just 28 weeks and 3 days pregnant, they stopped my labor and gave me steriods to help Ava's lungs develope. They got the bleeding and contractions stop so as of now I am stable. I am currently just hanging out at Kennestone hospital in room 340. I have met with my OBGYN practice, the doctors in the NICU and Neofetal medicine people. SO I have about 3 departments that I am dealing with each day. All the doctors are saying that Ava is still looking great in my tummy, her heartbeat is strong and she has good movement. She is just really little and her lungs arent completely developed. But all the doctors said that is she is born anytime now, she will survive and not have any major complicatioons, which is a blessing. God is good to keep me safe and have me at such at amazing hospital.

We have also been blessed with amazing friends and families, visit, call, email and text. It has truely been a blessing. WE LOVE YOU ALL!!

Fun with Ava this morning!

I have a devotional book that gives you a devotion, tells what your body is doing and tells what your baby is doing each week of your pregnancy. This week's devotion for Week 28, was about how Ava now knows the difference between light and dark ( good spiritual concept there) and is about to be able to recognize my voice. Ava of course is brilliant and on track with her development, so this morning she showed me that she already knew my voice and showed out a little bit on the way to school this morning! As I was driving to school, she started pushing out on my right side with her little feet, I could actually feel the foot (very cool). So I said to her, "Are you trying to kick Mommy?" I guess she was because just as I finished the sentence, she kicked twice. I then said, "Ava, show mommy your trick again." She then kicked twice again. I know it is a little early to brag on my precious little girl...but she is brilliant already!

How I test my sugar

Due to the fact that I have gestational diabetes, I have to test my sugar levels four times a day. I check it right when I wake up in the morning, then after every meal. My levels have to be above 60 and below 140. So far just changing my diet to the one the nutritionist gave me, I have kept my levels with in those numbers. Except friday night when I went to Chick fe la and they gave me regular lemonade instead of diet lemonade which I had asked. Here are some pictures that show just how I test.

Here are all my tools to check my sugar:

meter, needle, notebook to record numbers

Here I am pricking my finger, pricking

on my pinky works the best

Here is my needle and my meter with

my sugar number after breakfast on Sunday

Funny story from the weekend! Bella likes to cuddle with me on the couch just as she is doing in the picture. On Saturday, she was laying on the couch with me with her head on my belly. All of a sudden Ava decided to kick or hit and started moving alot. Bella looked up as if to say, "What in the world was that". She laid back down and just as she got comfortable again, Ava again kicked or punched out. So needless to say, Bella just looked at me again and changed positions.

They say dogs have a great sense of smell. Well, Bella has known I was pregnant from the very beginning. All through my pregancy, she has been extra protective of me and most of the time will not let me be out of her sight.

27 Weeks and Gestational Diabetes!

Here are some updated pictures of what I look like at 27 weeks Pregnant! Adam and I decorated the house and Christmas tree Thanksgiving weekend. Then this past weekend, I finished up all of the Christmas shopping and wrapped all of the presesents. I was at the Town Center mall at 9:00 am and was finished wrapping everything by 4:00 pm! WHEW, I was warn out!

I am really feeling good but last week I took the 3-hour gestational diabetes test and failed it. Which means that I have gestational diabetes. On Wednesday, (12/10), I go to a class to meet with a nutrionist and to get my meter to check my blood sugar, 4 times a day. Then in a week, I go back to my OBGYN to review my sugar levels and see if just a change in diet will help the diabetes or if I need to go on insulin. I have already, cut out all desserts and are counting my carbs and sugars even before they give me a strict diet. Gestational diabetes is very common but it is still scary. The big fear is that Ava will get too large and I will have to have a
C-Section or she will come early. Another fear is that she could develope diabetes or become obese as a child. Even though it is no fun to not eat any desserts during the holidays, birth day, and showers, my main focus is my precious child and I will eat whatever I need to keep her safe and healthy!


Close up of my belly at 27 weeks



The full view with our Christmas tree


Bella was not happy being a reindeer!

Thanksgiving Weekend

Thanksgiving weekend went great. It started off on Thursday with Adam's mom and dad, Aunt Melissa, Uncle Bruce, Jonathan, Robert and Grandma all came to my house for Thanksgiving. We had a great time of fellowship and GREAT food. It was so nice for everyone to pitch in and bring stuff, so no one had to do alot. Thursday afternoon/evening we went over to my Aunt Kathi's house because my mom and dad were there. It was nice to see them, even if it was just for a short visit. On Friday Adam and I went over to Me-Me and Bob-Bob's house and helped them but up their Christmas decorations with Kathi and Rick and had some great BBQ. On Saturday went went over to our friends Andy and Kristen's house and watch the GA Tech vs GA game with friends Clint, Kristin, Baby Maddie, Kelly, Jason, Jenn, Kevin and Greg. It was a great day, especially for the fact that GA Tech won! Then on Sunday Adam and I went to the Church of the Apostles in Atlanta and were able to hear Mike Huckabee preach! It was great!



Also, on Tuesday before Thanksgiving I found out I have to go take the 3-hour gestational diabetes test because I failed the first test that was just an hour. I am praying that my sugar has gone done so that I did not have gestational diabetes. I am not excited about taking the test and having to sit in the waiting room for 3-4 hours. But I want to find out if anything is wrong so that I can take care of it and make sure that Ava has the most healthy start that she can.

Update on my friends Casey and Dan:
A few months ago I told you that my friends Casey and Dan's little boy, Asher went to be with Jesus just moments after he was born. Since then they have been trying to adopt domestically from the Raliegh/Durham area. They just recieved good news that they are now the parents of a beautiful little girl named Zoe. Then birth mom has signed over parental rights but still has 7 days to go back and get the baby. Please pray that all goes well and that Casey and Dan will be able to have Zoe in their home by the end of the week. Some times we don't always know Gods plan or will, but we can always trust that His plan is perfect and that all things work together for good for those who love the Lord. If you would like so read about Casey and Dan's journey, here is their blog site. http://www.caseychappell.typepad.com/baby/

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Why the name??

Many people have asked me why and how did we come up with the name Ava Elizabeth.
Ava is a direvative (not sure that is spelled right) of the name Eve. In Hebrew Ava means "desired". For all of you who know and where with Adam and I through the struggle of infertility to the glorious June day when we found out I was pregnant, Ava is most certainly desired! My sister in law helped put it into perspective to me. She said that it is not like your friends or family members love their child/children less because it was easy for them to concieve and carry their baby/babies, its just that you love your child in a special little way becauase of all it took to get them here. Ava's middle name Elizabeth in my (abbey) middle name. The name Elizabeth means in Hebrew "consecrated to God". She truely his concecrated and given to the Lord. I pray everyday that God will use Ava to bring glory to Him. So that is how we came up with the name, Ava Elizabeth Cooler:)

21 and 1/2 weeks

Here is me at 21 1/2 weeks pregnant. I am finally looking like I am pregnant and not just that I ate too much Moe's! It is so fun to see my body change and to feel Ava moving inside of me. God is so good and I can not wait to meet Ava in just a few short months!

Finally! The 19 week pictures of Ava

I finally scanned the pictures we got at our 19 week appointment, when we found out that we were having a baby girl and her name is Ava Elizabeth. Here are three pictures. The first picture is a picture of her little face. I think she has my nose. The second is a picture of her hand. The third picture is a picture of her back and spine. There was a fourth picture showing us that she was a girl, but I am already teaching Ava about modesty, so I will not be showing that picture.

I am now at 21 and a half weeks and boy is Ava moving around a lot! She seems to move alot when I drink orange juice, eat candy or a dessert and when I am listening to country music! It is so fun to feel her move around and respond to my voice and touch. She is not big enough or making big enough movements for Adam to feel her yet, so for now I am enjoying this special mommy and daughter bonding time.

We are having a.......

Adam and I are excited to announce that on March 9th Miss Ava Elizabeth Cooler will be making her first depute into the world!! We went to the doctor yesterday afternoon and had a very extensive ultrasound and were able to see that we will be having a precious little girl!
My mom (Grammy) and Adam's mom (Grandmommy), were both in attendance to find out that who was growing in me was little AVA. During the ultrasound we got to see the four chambers of the heart, the heartbeat, spine, bladder, kidneys, brain, legs, arms, fingers, and toes. It was absolutely amazing. Ava is truely "wonderfully made" in the image of God! After the ultrasound I met with the doctor and got the all clear from our little excitement on Friday night. He said I probably just over exerted myself and just need to take it a little easier. (Easier said then done). Once we completed our doctor's visit, Adam, me and mom headed to Babies R Us to start registering. I will have to say I did pick alot of pink, but I also choose neutral colors for the basic stuff, so all those who know me as the "pink princess" should be proud!

I am still overwhelmed with knowing now WHO I am carrying in me. It is incredible to think that God already has all the plans for her life written out before she has even taken a breath! (Ephesians 2:10). God is so very good to us and Adam and I feel so blessed to be given this opportunity to parent this precious, precious child!

Thank you all for your love and support, especially those who where on their faces before the Lord for us in trying to concieve and on Friday night, when we thought tragedy was about to happen! Thank you, Thank you for all of your love, support and prayers! We are so blessed!


PS: One of my mom's in my class are making pink cupcakes and that is how I am going to tell my class. Pictures will follow later in the week!

A Little Scare

On Friday night we had a little scare...okay a really big scare. I was over at my friend's Kelly E. house for a birthday party for Kelly S. We had just eaten some yummy lasagna, salad and bread. Kelly S. had just finished openning up her presents and we were just laughing and having a good time. I went to the restroom and there my scare began. I called my doctor's office and the nurse on call told me, after I explained my symptoms, that the best thing for me to do would be to go on into the Emergency Room. I had to go to the ER instead of Labor and Delivery because the hospital does not consider an unborn child a baby, until 20 weeks and I will be 19 weeks on Monday. So we went to the ER at Kennestone Hospital at 10:00 pm. Which was quite an experience. They got us back quickly to a room, had me put on a lovely hospital gown and hooked me to an IV for fluids. After a while the doctor came in, who looked like Warrick from CSI Las Vegas! He exammed me a little and asked me some questions. I then went and had to have a full exam and everything checked out great! Then they wheeled me on a stretcher, in my beautiful hospital gown, to recieve an ultrasound. Once in ultrasound, the tech looked at the baby and saw that everything was great! (Sigh of relief). We were able to hear the heartbeat (which made me bust out in tears), see the heart (including the 4-chambers of the heart), the brain, bladder, little arms and little legs. Our baby is perfect! She asked if we wanted to know the gender of the baby. Even though it was 1:30 am at this point, I resisted because I am going back to my OBGYN on Monday for a planned appointment to find out the gender. My mom and Adam's mom are both coming to experience the excitement. So this weekend I am just taking it easy and thanking God that all went well and that the baby is still doing great.

On the way to the hospital the two verses that came to my mind were, "The Lord is my rock, my strength and my salvation, I will not be shakened." and also "The Lord giveth and the Lord, taketh away, blessed be the name of the Lord." I was not sure what the outcome was going to be, I just knew that the MIGHTY GOD I serve already knew the outcome and I just prayed that no matter what happened God would be glorified through me and through my child. Thankfully, the outcome was wonderful and me and my precious baby are great!

PS. I never knew I could love someone so much, that I have not met yet nor know their name!

Beach Trip 08

Doc (my dad) and Hudson chillin on the beach



The lighthouse at Folly Beach.

Hudson braving the high seas with a little help from

Uncle Adam.

Grammy and Doc at the beach (my mom and dad)

Carri and I with our baby bellies!

(Carri is due May 3rd and I am due March 9th)

Brad, Carri and Hudson, building a sand castle

While at the beach we celebrated Me-Me's

birthday. Hudson REALLY enjoyed the

birthday cake!

Me-Me and Bob-Bob walking on

the pier.

Bob-Bob giving Hudson some advice

Adam and I on the deck of our house. It was a

bit windy!

Carri, Brad and Hudson on the deck

of the beach house, where we stayed.


We had a fabulous time at Folly Beach with the Family! My parents, brother and sister in law, Hudson and my grandparents Me-Me and Bob-Bob were all there! Even though the weather was not great but for just about two days, it was still wonderful hanging out and spending time with my family. On Saturday, when we were all on the beach, playing in the sand and the ocean with Hudson, I took a step back and with a lump in my throat told God just how thankful I was for the amazing family He had blessed me with. It was one of those once in a lifetime moments in life where life is just ...perfect! I can not wait until Baby Cooler joins this incredible family. He or She already has so many family and friends that love them. Bless the Lord all my soul and all that is with in bless His holy name!!

Furman versus Delaware Game

On the first Saturday of Fall Break Adam and I were in Greenville, SC for the Furman/Delaware game. It was so great to be with friends and family for a great day of tailgating and football. My parents, brother, sister in law and Hudson where there. Also, our family friends the Heaths and the Haithcocks enjoyed the game with us. The Heath's girls Courtney and Lauren were there with their husbands and daughters Ivey and Campbell. Courtney, Lauren and I used to play "My Little Ponies" during the games when were were little! Oh the memories!


Adam and I at the Furman game (16 weeks pregnant)


Baby Cooler's tailgating chair is ready for next
year's season!


Hudson is chillin with his ladies!
(Campbell, Hudson, Ivey)

September 11th

The Flag drapping the Pentagon

NewYork City after 9/11

A plane hitting one of the Towers

The second plan heading towards Tower 2

Since today marks the 7th anniversary of 9/11, it has caused me to reflect. I can still remember where I was, what I was doing when the first plane crashed into Tower 1. I was 24 years old at Southeastern Seminary. I was in the library doing some research for a paper before I had to be in class. That is when someone said that a plane had crashed into the one of the towers on the World Trade Center. Many of us thought it was not big deal because just a few weeks before a young man had run his small personal plane into a building in NY so we thought it was some sort of copy catter. But, it ended up being so much worse then that. All of us in the library gathered around one of the main TV's in the library to watch the coverage. Then we saw the second plan hit the tower and heard that there was still a third plane that was unaccounted for. Later, that plane went down in Pennsylvannia.

While watching the coverage of the tragedy, the news people said that one of the planes that had hit the towers was on its way to Boston. That is all I heard, but I knew that my brother was suppose to fly to Boston that week. I frantically called his office and his cell phone. When he finally answered the phone, I actually dropped my phone! When I picked it back up and heard his voice I just lost it and started bawling and crying hysterically. Being the "sensative" brother that he is, he asked me what my problem was and why I was so upset. I told him I had heard that one of the planes that had crashed was heading towards Boston. He said that was sweet that I was concerned but he was fine and was not actually scheduled to fly out until later in the week. Which actually ended up being cancelled. At school that afternoon we had a special prayer service and prayed for those who had lost family members, the President, Guilliani and others involved in the tragedy. 9/11 defined my generation! We are forever changed because of the events that took placed that day. I thank God each day when I am saying the Pledge of Allegiane at school, that we live in a free country and I am thankful to all those who are continuing to fight to keep us free ( Thanks especially to BRENT!! ).