Much to talk about.

Well I don't have my memory card with me right now so I can't upload any pics right now. I will tomorrow I promise. So, since about two weeks ago we have gone to the Dr twice. The first time he checked out healthy and was 7 lb 9 oz. Most breast fed babies aren't supposed to reach their birth weight until they are two weeks old and he got back to his in one week! Momma feeds her little boy! The two week visit went well too. Dr Olson was there this time and he did the usual check of the stomach and heart beat and checked his circ. which was fine too. The best part was when Stratton decided to pee on the Dr! I know! That's my boy. Haha.

Anyway, we weighed the little guy today and he weighs 9lb 7 oz and is 22 1/2 inches long! He's getting so big so quick! I've had a hard time with him at night the last week or so because (as I feared) he has colic. Yes, my breastfed son has colic. Most babies that are breast fed don't get it but of course anything that could go wrong does for me. Just call me Murphy. (Murphy's law for those of you out there that didn't get that one) So, we are having to feed every 2 hours now plus get a nice hefty dose of Mylicon with every feeding as well. Poor little guy just get's so fussy that he turns bright red and holds his breath. I feel so bad for him because he's in so much pain and there's nothing that I can do about it. I guess it's part of being a mommy though. You just have to do the best you can with what God has given you.

Since my last post there has been something very tragic happen on my mom's side of the family. A cousin of ours little boy passed away in a car accident. He was 13 years old and his name was Calvin. From everything that I have read on posts and articals about him he seemed like such a loved little boy who had a very bright future ahead of himself. So sad that it came to such an abrupt stop. Before I woud have never felt such remorse for Calvins mom but now, having a little boy of my own, I couldn't imagine losing him. My thoughts and prayers go out to the family. I wish them well and pray that they get comfort knowing that he is in a far better place now.

This weekend Derek's Uncle Jimmy and his wife Shana came into town with their son Jimmy. He was born Oct 1, 2008. The day before Stratton. He was so cute and tiny compared to Stratton. I couldn't believe how tiny and cute he was. (not as cute as Stratton though ;) Shh) We had a good weekend getting to see the family. It's always nice having loved ones around. I'll get pictures on here of little Jimmy as soon as I can. He's adorable.

Update on Derek's hand: It is pretty much all the way healed. He can move it just as well as he could before he cut it. The only downside is that he still had no feeling in some parts of it. We just thank God that he still has his thumb.

Grandma Kathie has been a big help still with the little guy. She has come over again to help me calm the little guy down. She's so awesome.

We found a baby sitter here in Jackson as well. Her name is Lisa. Derek and I go to check her and the house out tomorrow around 5 to see how much we like her and the house. I hope she works out.

Other than all of that everything has been going well. I go back to work in about 3 weeks. I know I'm going to be a mess when I have to go back. I don't want to leave my little guy there at the baby's sitters house. I know I'll probably cry. :(

More pictures will be here soon. I promise.

Catching up.

Ok, so since the last time I posted SO much has gone on. There was a trip to the E.R. (nothing serious) more grandparents came to see the baby, and I have more pics that I know what to do with.

Lets just start with Friday the 10th. So, to start off the morning I was extremely cranky. Lack of sleep. Derek got a call from his mom that they were on their way over. I freaked because I was still in nothing but shorts and a bra because all I have done for the last 9 days is breast feed, change diapers, and sleep (every now and then). So Derek stalled and showed them the outside of the house. Mind you Brenda (Derek's mom) has yet to get to see the baby so she is dying to come inside to see him. I get dressed and do what I can to look at least a little bit presentable and finally they came inside. Well, on my way to taking Stratton out to see Breanda and Jim, Stratton starts to spit up and it's PINK! I freaked out a little bit and called Cathy my Building Blocks lady. She told me to call Dr Olson our pediatrician so I did. Well he was out so I had to wait for the nurse practicitioner to get back with me. Right after I got off the phone with her Stratton spit up again and it was BROWN with red streaks in it. Something was wrong. Something was very wrong. (so I thought) I called the Dr back and told them what was now coming out of him and they told me to go up to the E.R. BIG MISTAKE! So, the first 10 min Stratton's Grandma Brenda and Grandpa Jim are there we have to pack him up and go up to Southeast to see what's wrong with the baby. I of course was a mess and was crying and carrying on. Derek kept telling me everything was ok. I didn't really believe him though I should have. We got in and 6 hours later got an answer. So Brenda's first pictures with Stratton are in the E.R. room. Here is Brenda's first pic with Stratton. Don't you just love the lovely blue backdrop? Daddy was making baby feel better and Grandma just wanted to hold him more than anything. Derek didn't show it but I think he was kinda scared too. He slept most of the time.

Turns out it was from me. Since I was raw from breast feeding my girls were cracked and bleeding and he was getting blood from me plus milk. So, 6 hours of waiting to find out that it was because my nipple were cracked and bleeding. I guess I shoulda just looked down and put two and two together. I felt so bad that our first day with Brenda was in the hospital. I felt so bad.

After the hospital we all went back to our house where Stratton's Uncle Garrett, Great Grandma Maxine, Grandma Brenda, and Grandpa Jim came over. Uncle G loves his little nephew. 4 Generations Grandma Brenda and Grandpa Jim were so happy to finally get to see Baby Stratton.Grandpa Jim loves his little Stratton too. Stratton loves his snugglie. It makes him all swaddled up tight and he sleeps MUCH better. Grandma Brenda couldn't put him down. She loves her little Stratton so much. I love this picture. He found him thumb and was sucking on it. It was so cute. He sounds like a little pig. The gown is a little big but he loves them and so do I. They make it so easy to change diapers. Our foot stool has officially become a sleeper for Stratton when we are in the living room. He sinks down into it. Daddy changing Stratton's dirty diaper. Happy Baby! So glad his diaper is clean. Thanks Dad! Stratton was staring at his Grandpa Jim. Isn't that sweet? Stratton loves his swing. It puts him right to sleep when he gets fussy.

Grandma Brenda stayed the night with us last night to let me and Derek get some sleep. It was so nice of her. Jim, Brenda, and Derek also hung pictures and shelves around the house as well. Brenda was such a good help. We can't wait to see her again for christmas.

The last few days I've had a terrible migraine and my body has been achy. I think I have the flu. Can't wait for this to pass.

Derek's First Time to Change a Diaper...sort of.

This moment that we had was short and sweet but made me realize (not that I didn't already know) that even the small things make life that much better and happier.

Derek decided that this evening when we got back from his Dad and step-Mom's house that he was going to take on the task of changing Stratton's dirty diaper. So he thought. I of course supervised like the worry some mom that I am. I made sure he kept the old diaper under his butt and made sure he put the wash cloth over his little wee-wee so he wouldn't pee on himself. Derek pulled open the diaper, grabbed a wipe, and started to go in for the kill when Stratton let out a nice juicy fart right in Derek's hand. That was enough to get Derek to throw the wipe, scream like a girl, and run to the bathroom. I of course was in tears because I was laughing so hard. Derek was in tears because he was laughing so hard and Stratton was turning red because I wasn't cleaning him fast enough. Since all the commotion that went on distracted me from cleaning his diaper properly he peed all over his onesie which I hated to change because he has started a new cry where he sounds like he's laughing then he just starts to hold his breath and won't inhale. I got him all cleaned up while Derek watched and laughed it off. At least he tried. That made me happy.

I really do have the best husband in the world. He knows how to make me feel better and make me laugh. What would life be without all the small things?

Day at the Park!

So today was day 4 of not getting out of the house and the last time I left the house it was to Wal-Mart to buy a breast pump at like 10:30 at night. Not really the outing I needed or wanted. I was bummed that I really didn't have anywhere to go and even more bummed because I wasn't really feeling that well. Being inside with no sunlight for that long can't be good. My friend Erica Haff ( a friend that I met about 2 years ago that now lives in San Diego) sent me a text message wanting to know if I would like to go to the park with her. I of course jumped at the occasion because I SO desperately wanted and NEEDED to get outside and get some sunlight. This would be the first time that I took Stratton in his car seat anywhere by myself. The only other time we had used his car seat was going home from the hospital. Needless to say I was REALLY nervous. I fed him about 20 min before we needed to leave so when we got all loaded up he would be nice and sleepy. So I thought. Of course he had to get fussy right before we were getting ready to leave and it made me super stressed out. I decided I just had to bite the bullet and get him in his car seat and go. It wasn't that far of a drive and it couldn't be that bad. Thank GOD I was right. I put him in his car seat and he went to sleep even before I had him loaded up into the car. He rode over to Erica's house completely silent (which still worried me). He was so quite that I kept on having to reassure myself that he was ok and that he was just sleeping. We got to Erica's house and waited for her mom to get there. Of course I wound up having to feed him like an hour after I got there but it was not that bad. That was the first time I had to breast feed him somewhere other than home. Erica breast feeds her son Tyler as well so she was very accomodating and let me go back in her room and feed him since her brother and his friend were there too. Anyway, once Erica's mom got home I took my car and Erica took hers and we met up over at Wibs for lunch. I was so nervous the ride over there that I had to call my dad just to ask if there was anyway that a baby could get strangled by his carseat or if his head being off to one side could hurt him. Plus about 20 more questions about if I was hurting him and if I was being a good mom. You know the normal. :) Anyway, we got to Wibs ate lunch now it was time to go to the park and get some sunshine! We got to the park and found a nice shady tree next to the playground and we layed out a blanket. It was so nice outside and the sun was perfect. I felt so much better once I got outside in the sun. Stratton slept the whole time we were there.

He got fussy so I had to change his diaper. It was a little too cold to do it on the blanket so we went up to the car and got him all fixed up. Stratton's Aunt Steph called me to see what I was up to and came to visit us at the park too with her dog Marley ( the goldendoodle)

He looks like a horse! Everytime he would bark Stratton would jump. It was cute.

Erica's little boy Ty is 10 months old now and is starting to learn how to stand up all by himself. He is trying so hard and is doing so good. He can stand for a few seconds. Here he is standing all by himself like a big boy!

After a few hours out in the sun it started to get a little windy and a little chilly so I had to wrap Stratton up in his snugglie. He looks so cute. He looks like a little caterpiller in a cacoon. And yes he sleeps with his mouth open. Just like his daddy!

It was so nice getting out today. I really just needed the fresh air and sun to make me feel better both physically and mentally. Stratton was so cute all snuggled up in his carseat. I hated waking him up.

I was so happy to have my baby and finally get outta the house.

Erica and Ty enjoyed the swings. We're going to have to wait a few more months before Stratton gets to swing. Maybe next year. Erica is such a good momma too. She's helped me out with so many different questions that I have had. She is such a great friend. I'm really going to miss her when she has to go back to San Diego.

Over all it was such a great day to go outside. I didn't even mess up once as a new mom. I'm very proud of myself. Baby steps. That's how you have to take it. One baby step at a time.

The Best Mother a Mother can have

Long nights with a newborn as most of you that have kids know is hard. Of course it's hard. You go from having all night to sleep, all day to take a shower, all day to feed yourself to BOOM your whole life is consumed by this little tiny person that does nothing but poop, eat, sleep, and look so dang cute you can't help but stare at him all the time. All of this so new to me and Derek and it's been especially hard since Derek cut his hand. I've pretty much had to take on most of the duties. I have to change the diapers, change the clothes, feed the baby, burp the baby and at some point try to squeeze in time to pee, eat, change clothes, and maybe at some point in time take a shower. (I know I stink right now so please don't remind me if you see me) Last night was my breaking point. I had been pushed past both my physical and mental limits and I completely broke down into tears. I couldn't get him to stop crying and I couldn't get him to latch on so he could eat. I was getting frustrated and scared and so I called the one person that could comfort me and help me out more than anyone else....my mom. My mom is the best mother a new mother could ask for. She worked all day yesterday going into work probably around 7 and not getting done with her jobs until almost midnight last night but she still managed to come over to her crying daughters house one town over and help until the wee hours of the morning and then wake up and go to work at 7. She let me sleep for a few hours from around 12:30 to almost three in the morning. Once she woke me up I let her sleep. She would wake up everytime the baby would and she would help me get him latched on then she would either burp him or change his diaper. He's been so fussy these last few nights because I didn't have my milk the first night. The second night he kept getting cold and not sleeping very well. Then last night I couldn't get him to do anything but scream. My mom has helped me more than I have asked for. Even in the delivery room she was by my side when everyone else was gone. She stayed with me for everything and was always that little voice that kept telling me I was doing so good and that it was all ok. She has truely gone above and beyond the call of mother hood and I hope that one day I will be able to show the same care for her that she has shown to me. I don't know what I would do without my mom. She is my rock and I love her so much for all the things that she does for me both small and large. I truely am thankful and greatful that God blessed me with such a wonderful mother.

Thank you momma!

Day II

Today was day two of being a new mom.

I woke up a few times during the night to feed him and then they would take him back to the nursery.

He is latching on soo well. He is such a good eater. Which makes me super sore. My whole body hurts and is sore from the pushing and proding from yesterday. My arms hurt from pulling myself up while pushing, my back hurts from the epidural and the contractions, my sides and stomach hurt from the contractions, and my uterus hurts for obvious reasons.

It has been a roller coaster of emotions today. I have never fell in love with something so fast after seeing it for the first time. He is so adorable and perfect. Derek thinks so too. When he cries it makes my heart just sink and makes me feel so bad for the little guy. I'm so in love with him and he doesn't even know it. I'm so lucky.

Something that I will probably laugh at later down the road was the first time I changed his diaper today. He was circumsized this morning around 7 and was doing so well after he came out of it. He was still eating really well which was a really good sign. Only bad thing is what happens when he eats....he pees. This in return makes his little weiner hurt really bad and makes him scream. Well, he started to scream today and I decided it was time that I tried to change his diaper by myself. I didn't know that he pooped himself too. Changing his diaper was so much easier said then done. I got his diaper open and started to clean him up and it just went downhill really fast from there. As soon as I was almost done getting his poop cleaned up he started peeing, which made him start screaming, which made me flustered. Then he started to poop again, then I realized he peed on his onsie, then I couldn't get him to keep his legs up so I could put the bandage on his circumsizion. At this point I was almost in tears because he was screaming and my back was hurting so bad from leaning over him. I'm so lucky I had Casey there to finish getting him cleaned up for me. She is the best sister in the world. I couldn't have asked for a better sister. She got him all cleaned up, changed, and swaddled again and was so calm and collected.

We got a few visitors today which was so nice. My friend Callie Hoffman came up early around 7 or so when she got off work. She works doing the switchboard here at the hospital. Dale, Lisa, and Seth came up before they left to go to Knoxville this morning around 9. Jim and Judy Wunderlich (Lisa's (my step-mother-in-law's) mom and dad) came up and saw me later today too.

Last night there were SOOO many people that came up to see our little boy. I was so drugged up that I don't really remember who all came up. Most everyone was gone around 9:30 so I got to go to sleep and at least get a few hours of sleep.

Casey came in this morning along with Marcus and my mom. Casey also helped me take a shower. She talked to me while I showered then blow dried my hair and styled it. Thank the Lord because I was looking a little rough. (still am actually) I'm so lucky to have such a good sister.

I'll get some more pictures up here of the little guy as soon as I can.

Thank you to everyone who sent flowers and gave gifts. Thank you also to everyone who congratulated us also. Without all your love and support Derek and I would not have been able to do all of this. You all are so great both near and far.

We can't wait to see all of you. Love you all so much!

Our Baby is FINALLY here!

Happy Birthday to me!

Happy Birthday to me!

Happy Birthday dear MOMMY!

Happy Birthday to me!

Yesterday was the best birthday I have ever had. My baby boy is finally here and he is more beautiful and perfect than I ever imagined.

After going to the hospital on Sunday, spending the night, and being sent home Monday morning, I was pretty sure I would have to wait till I to my due date. Which I wasn't very happy about. I wanted my little guy NOW! I went to the Dr on Tuesday and got checked hoping that Dr Morton would just go ahead and tell me I could be induced that day and I would have him. But no. I was only 2cm and barely 80%. We were told we had to wait until the 7th and he would induce me that afternoon. So, there was a light at the end of the tunnel now. We could see the end. But, apparently Stratton wasn't satisfied with the 7th. He just had to share his b-day with his momma. At 12:30 in the morning on the 2nd I started having pretty bad contractions that were right around 3 minuets apart. I decided it was time to go to the hospital at around 1:30. Once we got there they monitored my heart rate and blood pressure since I had problems with it being high on Sunday. It was again VERY high and wasn't showing any sign of going down even when I would try to settled down and not be as stressed.

The nurse that helped me out that night was super nice and she helped with answering all my questions. She told me out right that I was probably not going to be sent home this time without my baby. She said I would probably be given the choice to either induce that night or wait and be monitored the next couple of days. I was nervous at first but agreed that doing it now was better than doing it later. They called Dr Morton around 5:30a.m. on Thursday (10-2-08) and asked what he thought they should do with me and he told them to go ahead and admit me. After they admitted me they did some blood work and got my I.V. going with a Pitocin drip which made me start having more regular contractions and more severe contractions. Around 7a.m. Dr Morton came in and broke my bag of waters. (which hurt SO bad) After my water was broke they gave me some meds for my blood pressure and also something for my nerves. The meds they gave me for my nerves made me super sick. I felt completely drunk. I knew the only thing that would make me feel any better was throwing up and that was the pretty much the only thing besides time that made me feel better. Soon after that they had the anesthesiologist come in and put my epidural in. (which wasn't near as bad as I thought it was going to be) They checked my cervix at this time too and I was only at 4 cm. Once my epidural was in I had no pain what so ever so I slept as much as I could. At around 2:30 they checked me again fully dialated to 10cm. YAY!

Lovely, I know! 10 cm is finally here. Now for the fun part!

So, this was it. It was time for me to get ready for my little guy to finally get here. Magin Chapman ( one of Casey's friends from high school) was the nurse that got all the equipment ready for Stratton to get here. She did so great.

Aunt Casey and Magin waiting for Stratton to get here.

Soon after the table was ready the nurse came in to tell me how and where to push. She also showed me how to pull up on my knees and where to bare down. At 3:10pm Dr Morton came in and that's when ALL the pain started to kick in. The contractions started out in my belly earlier and since I had the epidural I couldn't feel any of them. It was great. But as soon as they moved down into the back of my legs and my butt cheeks it really started to hurt.

Derek did so well with me being in so much pain. He rubbed my face and kept telling me all the right things that made me feel better. Again I was in a lot of pain at this point but Derek was so good about helping me out. That bedrail really helped during all the pushing. It kept me from completely breaking Derek's good hand. Hand still on the rail. Casey was AWESOME! She was such a good coach too.

It took everything in me to keep from pushing since the Doc wasn't there yet. As soon as he got there though I pushed as hard as I could. Twelve pushes and ten min later at 3:20 pm I could hear my little man crying. Derek held my back up and helped the nurses count to 10. He was such a good help. I couldn't do it without him.

His cry was seriously the most beautiful thing I had ever heard. It was amazing. All the waiting and pain that I went through was so worth that first little whimper of a cry that I heard. It was so great.

Here he is! My beautiful baby boy!His umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck two times. Poor little guy.Magin did his APGAR test and he scored an 8 and then a 9 out of 10. Which is good. Still checking him out making sure he's all right. Look at all that hair!He weighed in at 7 lbs 7 oz and he was 20.5 inches long.

My little Stratton Allen Williams aka Saw was finally here. Totally drugged up still but SO happy that I was finally done and my baby was here. This is my favorite picture. My two favorite boys. Derek is looking at his little boy and his little boy is looking at him. I'm such a proud momma and wife. Proud parents. Stratton's first little foot prints. I'd been waiting 9 months for this very moment. He is so beautiful.

It was worth all the blood, sweat, tears, and stitches. He's so beautiful. I'm such a proud mama.

One More Week

So today is October 1st, 2008. Much to tell. Much to tell.

Today is the birthday of James Dale Shadrach Williams.
I haven't heard if he is here yet but seeing how it's almost 9 I'm pretty sure the little guy is here I just haven't gotten any news about him yet. He is the son on Shana and Jimmy Williams. Derek's uncle and step-aunt. Derek's cousin Ashley Williams is also having a big week this week. Not only did she get a little brother today but this weekend she is getting married. Ashley is the oldest daughter of Jimmy (Derek's uncle) she is getting married to one of the sweetest guys. His name is Justin Hoskins. Derek and I wish we could be there for this wonderful event but since there's no baby here yet, that means we can't go.

Speaking of our little one getting here. Derek and I went to the Dr yesterday and he told us the good news. He said I was dilated to 2cm. Which doesn't seem like much but its better than nothing. Anyway, on with the good news. He said that if I haven't had him by Tuesday the 7th that he is going to induce me that day. So, if all goes according to plan, we should have a baby by either Tuesday night or Wednesday early morning. YAY!!!! Finally, the light at the end of the tunnel.

Sunday (the 28th) was a great night for us though. We were both getting ready for bed around 10:30 or so when I started to not be able to breath very well. I was having a hard time breathing and my chest was really tight. So, I called Cathy Schloss my building blocks lady and she told me to call the Dr who was on call. I called and woke the poor guy up and he advised me to just head up to the hospital. So, that's what we did. Derek and I packed into the truck and headed up there. No bags, no extra clothes, nothing. Just my purse and him. We got up there and I wasn't in labor so the guy at the desk sent us down to the ER. So, I sat still gasping for breath as they asked me my life story it seemed like and after some paperwork and a few more questions sent me up to the OB without Derek, because he was still filling out paperwork. I was scared s**tless at this point. I still couldn't breath, my chest hurt, I was being wheeled up to the OB by myself and all I wanted was to be at home, in my bed, asleep. But no! They wheeled me into my first room where I had to get one of those LOVELY gowns on that is great for pregnant women because it's just big enough to get around your belly and your ever so wide hips and barely creeps past your now stretch mark covered butt cheeks enough to kind of shut in the back. Needless to say I mooned every nurse that came in that night if they liked it or not. Once I was in my lovely get up they put me in a bed and proceeded to ask me MORE questions. I could barely breath and they are STILL asking me questions! About that time Derek found his was from the ER back up to my room where the poor guy had no idea what was going on. I didn't either at this point. All I knew was that they were rolling me into a new room. We got into the new room where they told me I had to get an IV and some blood work done. My friend Jennifer Morris was the one that took my blood and she did great. While Jennifer was getting my blood work the other nurse was getting my other arm prepped for the IV. Which wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. All this and I still wasn't done with getting stuck. Since my blood pressure was through the roof they had to get a pee sample too! Easy enough right? Pee in a cup, send it to lab, get the results....done. WRONG! More like......spread your legs, get the first catheter put in, FULLY FEELING EVERYTHING, have the nurse say "well, I gotta get another one. I slipped that first try and didn't get it in.", have another nurse come in, hold up my ever shaking legs, stick the dang thing in AGAIN, get the sample, and bleed for the next 2 days. Lovely, I know. So, at this point I'm scared, I'm shaking, I'm hungry, and I just want to go home. Eight long hours later Dr Morton (my OB) comes in and says that I'm free to go home. My blood pressure was back down to somewhat lower level and I wasn't having contractions as frequently anymore. I later found out from one of my friends that works up at the hospital that they had a seizure syringe ready on hand for me since my blood pressure got so high.

Anyway, I stayed for 8 hours, got no sleep, was in some pain from getting stuck so many times, went home, slept all day Monday and found out my good news yesterday (tuesday).

Only one more week and my little guy will be here.
Can't wait to put pics up on here for everyone!

Oh, p.s. it's my b-day tomorrow!
22 years old! 10-2-08