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

"Glad You're Going To School"

As most of you know Derek hurt himself at work last Friday (9-12-08). He was at work using the table saw when a piece of wood kicked back and hit him in the stomach. That wasn't the part that hurt him though. Once the board hit him his hand grazed the blade on the saw.

I got a call from Derek's phone around 10:30 but it wasn't Derek. It was his boss John Beussink. My heart automatically went straight from my chest to my throat. He told me that Derek got hurt and they were on their way to St Francis Hospital. I dropped everything I was doing and left work. I got up there right around 11 since I'm all the way in Fruitland. I came in the door to see Lisa, Mona, Dale, and John Beussink in the waiting room, and Derek covered in blood and white as a ghost sitting in a wheel chair. Poor guy. John said he was going in and out of conscienceness on the way up there too. He let me see his hand and let me tell you it was NOT pretty. Proving the point that we can't go ANYWHERE without knowing at least one person, Mark Sprigg was the person who took care of Derek and cleaned him up, Dr Pancoast was the Dr that looked over him, and the nurse knew my mom from Bath & Body Works. As soon as they cleaned up Derek and got the nasty shop rags off his hand they wheeled him back into the waiting room so we could do 30 more minuets of filling out paperwork. YAY! Finally they wheeled him back into one of the rooms where they gave him a tetanus shot and an I.V. with some antibiotics and some MORPHINE! Derek was just happy to finally get some pain meds in his system since the initial shock was wearing off and the pain was setting in.

After about 20-30 minuets they wheeled him down the hall for x-rays to see if he hit the bone and how much damage he had REALLY done. After he got the x-rays they decided that he was going to need more than just a few stitches. He hadn't hit the bone but he had cut through the muscle, some tendons, and some nerves. The nerves are what they were really worried about so they drugged him up and sent us over to Dr Tobins office. As soon as we got to Dr Tobins office it was more paperwork.

After the paper work they looked at his hand and the x-rays and took him back to get him ready for surgery. We all got to go back and say something to him before he went into surgery and Dale's words were "Glad you're going to school." Which I was thinking the SAME THING! The surgery took about an hour or so and we had to wait about an hour after he woke up to take him home. He woke up at around 4 and was SO funny! He was so drunk from the anesthesia. I took him home, sat him on the couch, made him something to eat and gave him a bunch of water to help wake him up a little and get the anesthesia out of his system. I helped him back out of his work clothes that were COVERED in blood and got him into a t-shirt and pair of shorts. This is where he stayed pretty much all evening. They put him in a cloth splint that was down to the middle of his forearm and hard to do anything in but at least he still had his thumb. Thank God!

The Dr had to reattach his muscles back together, reattach his tendons with a pin, and reattach his nerves. They said he should have about 65% of the feeling back in his hand in about 6 months. It could be better it could be worse but they put everything back together the best they could. But again...at least he still has his thumb!

He went in yesterday (9-16-08) and got his bandages changed and got a new "user friendly" splint put on his hand that allows him to be able to move his wrist back and forth but not his thumb.

So, everything is good for now. We're still trying to unpack everything at the new house slowly but surely and my nesting has kicked in so at least the laundry is done and everything has been swept and wiped off. :)

I have another Dr apt this week on 9-18-08 where they again will check my cervix and hopefully put me on bed rest so my feet, ankles, and legs stop swelling as bad.

I'm 37 weeks as of yesterday and SO ready for my little guy to get here.

Moved In!!!

Saturday was the first night that Derek and I stayed the night in our new house. It felt so good to be in our own house and be able to sleep in our own bed. We had so much help moving stuff in and putting stuff away. First thing Saturday Mona and Bill helped Derek move boxes onto the truck. Then slowly but surely our friends and family came over to help. My friend Lauren came over first, her boyfriend and their friend from Australia named Jeff arrived just behind her. Dale, Lisa, Garrett, Marcus, Chris (Derek's co-worker) also showed up there shortly after to help. Every little bit helped since I couldn't do much of anything. They all loaded up the box truck that Derek borrowed from work and Lauren and I loaded up my little car with about as much as it could hold. Which was mostly baby stuff and stuff from our bedroom.

After all of the big stuff was loaded we headed for the NEW HOUSE! Our neighboring house is still on the market to be sold so we pulled the box truck in the driveway and unloaded everything into the back of the house which happens to have a sliding door. So everything went in pretty easy. Except, sadly, the big brown leather couch. Derek and the guys tried everything to get the couch in but it just wouldn't budge.

While the boys unloaded everything Lauren and I went with Lisa to Seimers. Derek and I had to buy a new washer and dryer. Lisa and Dale were nice enough to give us Mady and Erik's old dryer so all we had to do is get the dryer which saved us so much better.

After we got the washer and dryer Lauren and I scooted over to Cape to Casey's house and went to her Spa party and had a Beauty Control Party. I didn't much participate because my feet were swollen up to about 2 or 3 times their size. They looked pretty bad. Leslie the lady that does the spa parties rubbed my feet and it felt SO good. Not to mention it made the swelling go down a little bit.

After all of that Lauren and I picked up lunch and went back to the house where Derek, Alex and Jeff were "working." Which is kind of funny. When Lauren and I were walking up to the house I heard one of them say, "Their home. Look busy." So, yes, we caught on to them and no they didn't get away with it. It didn't help that the couch and chair was still warm from where they were sitting. Haha. Dumbies.

That night my mom, dad, sis, and Marcus came over and helped us put everything away while Derek, Alex, and Jeff went to Stooges (a little bar and grill) to go eat. After they got done eating they went bowling and had a few beers. While all of this is going on my mom (God bless her) picked up and straightened our ENTIRE house. I owe her BIG TIME!

Our deck is getting finished as well this Tuesday. They took out the old railing and the planter that was full of trash and now we have a regulation handrail. The only thing that is left is the steps that go from the bottom level to the top level. The guys that are doing our deck are also going to take these two nasty burn barrels out of the backyard AND take all the pieces from the plaything and haul them away. Those guys are the best! If you need anywork done call them. It's the Gabrial Brother. If you want a number call me or Derek and we can get it to you. They really are AWESOME!

Yesterday was a pretty un-eventful day. Lauren came over around 9:30 and woke Derek and I up. Her boyfriend Alex and Jeff (the Australian guy) came and picked up Derek and the three boys went to St. Louis for the day and watched a Cardinals game.

Lauren and I slept until about noon then woke up and took showers and went to Grandpa Bill and Grandma Mona's house and got some more clothes and a few more boxes that we didn't get the other day.

After we got done unloading the truck at the new house the boys were pretty much almost home. We had dinner at Alex's parents house and had hamburgers and fresh vegetables from the garden. MMMmmmmm. Derek pigged out to some of Alex's mom's homemade salsa so she sent us home with a jar full.

So, two nights down at the house and it's still sinking in that it's OUR house. I woke up this morning thinking "where the heck am I?"

Everyone is welcome to stop by and see the new house. Call me for directions. It's really easy to get to.

Thank you to everyone that helped out though this whole experience. Without you all we could not have done this. Thank you SO SO SO much!

yearbookyourself.com has pulled me in too.

Baby News and Moving In

So I'm at a little over 35 weeks as of today. How exciting! I went to the Dr yesterday and he checked my cervix and said I was dialated to 1cm. Which isn't much but it's something right? He also said that I could wind up going a week early. Other than that he said everything looks good. I have a dr. apt. every week now until Stratton gets here which means I have to get a pelvic exam every week now too. : (

Earlier this week Mona and I went shopping and got Stratton a dresser and a changing table. My friend Sarah Robinson came over and helped me put the dresser together and Bill helped me with the changing table. Everything looks so cute and matching. Derek and my dad put the crib that Beth gave us together last night. It looks so great with all the bedding in it.

So this weekend (weather permitting) we are moving in EVERYTHING!
Couches, clothes, dishes, EVERYTHING!

I'm going to miss staying with Bill and Mona but it will be nice to have our own place. The worst part is that I'm going to have to start cooking again. :( Derek is REALLY going to hate that.
Mona and Bill have been SO great to us. We owe them BIG TIME.

Other than that nothing else big is going on.

If anyone would like to help we are moving everything on Saturday.

Moving In.....Well Sorta.

Slowly but surely Derek and I are getting things put into the new house. We had a small get together with one of my friends and her boyfriend and one of their friends they met at camp. It started out great. The boys got the DVD holder together AND a bookshelf. At that point they probably should have stopped because it was like 2 in the morning. BUT, of course boys are hard headed and HAD to put the third piece together. Bad idea. We now have the most haggard looking t.v. stand in Southeast Missouri. But it's going down stairs so like they say "out of sight out of mind." Right?



Here are some pics from that night.



The start of a LONG night. Derek and Alex getting ready to tackle the book shelf.

This is Lauren and Andy their friend they met at camp this summer. He's from London and stuck in the U.S. for now because the airline he bought his ticket through went bankrupt. So he's here till he can get another ticket.

The first piece of furniture DONE! Don't ask why but they wanted to show the back of it because that's were most of the work went into it. Haha. Boys.

Second Project, The DVD shelf and a very messy living room.

Andy kept saying that this project was like war. You have the british kid yelling out directions and the american guys do all the work. And that's pretty much all he did all night was tell them what to do.

35 Weeks Pregnant and ready to go to bed.

The large trash pile that was left in our planter on our porch. We took out the planter and this was what was left over. There was even a turtle shell in there. Yuck.

Starting on the 3rd project that shouldn't have even been touched. This was taken at floor level because I was sleeping on the floor at this point. Needless to say I was sore when I woke up at 4:30 to go home!!!!

Our cute upstairs bathroom. The only room in the house that is pretty much done. It's really all I could do since there's no heavy lifting involved in this room. I think it tured out ok.