Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Four Weeks Old

Gavin is four weeks old today. It is still strange having a new baby here. Getting used to bottles, feedings, no sleep. He eats a lot and only sleeps about an hour and a half at a time. It's hard to get things done during that time especially with two toddlers to take care of as well. However I wouldn't change it :)
On Thursday afternoon Mark took Henry and Irene to the park while I stayed at home with Gavin. It was sunny out but chilly and I did not want to take the baby out. About half an hour after they left they suddenly came home. I was surprised since they were suppose to be going to the store after the park. Mark came in carrying Henry...not a good sign. Henry's face was covered in blood. At first I thought he broke his nose but his lip was cut through. He fell on the wooden stairs at the park and the uneven wood edge sliced his lip. The worst of the cut was inside his mouth and he even had cuts on the gum above his teeth. His lip and cheek were very swollen and bruised. It was a mess. We got him cleaned up and gave him some Tylenol and debated going to the emergency room. However when Mark made dinner Henry chowed down so we thought he would be okay. The next morning his lip looked gross. We figured that it was infected. So we made a doctor appointment and Hen had to miss school. Thankfully his lip was not infected and his tooth wasn't loose either. The doctor said that since most of the cut was inside his mouth he was actually protected against infection since the only germs the cut was exposed to were his own. The part of the cut outside his mouth is small and the doctor said it was unlikely to scar.
Yesterday we had to drive Mark to Grand Rapids. He was going for orientation for a new job with a company out of Grand Rapids. It was a bit of a hassle and the baby does not like to be in the car for two and a half hours. I am not expecting anything great with this company. We have not been having luck with jobs. The job that was only 45 minutes from here turned out to be a mess. The woman decided once Mark was on the road that she wanted him out two weeks at a time and that she wasn't going to send him home even though she said she would. Mark only got to spend three days with his new son before running out for this woman. She did not care. Then while he was on the road she did some other crazy things. He did not get home until midnight and on Sunday Mark decided he could not work for her even though we desperately needed a job. I couldn't blame him though...she was....well lets just say not good. Then when she finally paid him it was less than half of what it was suppose to be. Thank you but you can keep your crappy job and loony tunes self!
So Mark is at this new company. I have no idea how it is going since we still do not have phones. I can't call him and he can't call me. That does kinda make it difficult to find out when he'll be home (and when I need to drive down to get him). I have a Tracfone that the State of Michigan gave us. We get 63 minutes a month for free. We qualified for this phone since I was pregnant and we had two little kids. I am thankful but I only have ten minutes left on it and no way to buy more. I hope that this new job works out but I am not holding my breath.
While I was in the hospital having Gavin and recovering, my mom was taking care of Henry and Irene. My dad called her the week before and offered to come stay the week with her and help. So after a lot of years (and my mom's new marriage) my parents actually lived under the same roof again. The got a long surprisingly well and the kids had a great time with them. Grandpa Jay took Henry to school is his cool car. My mom cooked and my dad did the dishes and he cleaned too! I had a clean house!
We got home late Friday afternoon. We saw my dad for a few minutes before he left but he offered to come back on Monday to stay with me while Mark started the new job with the crazy lady. I was pleased since I would be alone the entire week and since I had just had major surgery. It was weird at first. My dad and I had not lived under the same roof in 13 years. It was great to have him though and we talked a lot and made plans for Thanksgiving. When he left on Thursday I missed him like crazy. We have not been able to talk (no phone) but we've been emailing. The kids miss him too and are looking forward to seeing him again.
My mom stayed overnight last night. I got some sleep! Today though I am on my own. I need to go to the grocery store and that will be my first outing alone with all three kids. Tomorrow Henry has school so it'll be interesting to see if we can make it there on time (and dressed). I admit I am worried about being able to get things done with three kids. I know that once we get into a routine I'll feel better but until then I am a bit freaked out!
Well I will end here since the baby has been sleeping but I suspect he will be up soon and I have two stinker butts ton get down for naps before that happens!

Saturday, November 7, 2009

Fooling Around With the Camera

Here are my silly kids. They wanted me to take pictures of them and of course they had to ham it up. Life continues to be a little crazy here with the new baby. I still want to do a post about Gavin's birth as well as an update on all that is going on. Perhaps tomorrow....







Monday, November 2, 2009

Halloween 2009

Gavin in the lobster costume that all the kids have worn!






With Mark being out of work and our lack of funds we reused the Tigger and Ladybug costumes from last year. Thankfully they both still fit and were as cute as ever!






I plan on doing a post all about Gavin's birth and our life adjusting and such but I have been very busy and when I do get a break I am so tired I can't even see straight. I will work on it though!

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Gavin!











Gavin has been doing well today! He has been eating his really well and tonight when we went for his 8pm feeding he was no longer hooked up to the IV. He still has it in his hand in case they should suddenly need it but he is no longer getting IV fluids. Mark feed him tonight and Gavin ate it all. Then he fell asleep in Mark's arms.
It is possible that Gavin will be getting out of the NICU tomorrow. Unfortunately my mom and dad can't bring Henry and Irene up tomorrow. The hospital is no longer allowing children under 18 in any part of the hospital because one of the schools here was closed down because of the flu. I am worried about it. I am afraid to have a newborn out and about right now.
Thank you all for your kind thoughts and prayers!

Gavin Peter Williams




Gavin Peter Williams
Born 10-20-09
7 lbs, 12.6 oz
These are the only pictures I currently have of Gavin. Shortly after he was born he started having trouble breathing. Turns out he has a small infection and is in the NICU. Today he is bottle feeding and eating quite a bit. He will be in there overnight again. I did get to hold him today and that was the greatest feeling. It's hard to feel like a mommy when the baby isn't in your arms, but I am thankful that he is doing so well. We get to feed him this afternoon and I am really looking forward to that.
I have been tired and don't have a lot of energy to write. I will post another time with all the details.






Monday, October 19, 2009

Tomorrow Is The Day!

Well the time has finally come...tomorrow is the day that baby #3 will be here. I go in early tomorrow morning for a c-section. My mom will be coming over at 4am to stay with the kids. My dad will be coming up later in the day. Mark and I have to get up at 3am in order to be ready to hit the road at 4:15. Ugh, so early. I can't believe the time is already here. I am looking forward to meeting the new little guy. I am a little apprehensive at the thought of major surgery. Although the surgery doesn't bother me so much as the getting of the epidural before it. That part makes me nervous. When I had Irene the epidural went in fine but I threw up from it the entire surgery and until 11pm that night.

Wish us luck and send happy thoughts and blessings our way!

Friday, October 16, 2009

Let Me Help Myself...

Thursday was not a good day. We had been hoping for good news from the new job Mark is suppose to be starting. On Wednesday the lady that hired him finally answered the phone. She was very apologetic because some decisions she had made had messed up the week for Mark. On Monday she allowed a different driver to take the load Mark was suppose to get. This driver managed to break the truck. So she was out of town taking care of that. She said she'd get Mark a load for Thursday that would get him back sometime on Monday. We were thrilled since he would be making a little bit of money. Of course when he called on Thursday she did not have a load that would get him back on Monday. Of course he has to be home sometime Monday since we have to be at the hospital early Tuesday morning for the birth of baby #3. This lack of a load put both of us in bad moods. Add to that the children were being complete stinkers.
I also had a doctor appointment in Traverse City. My mom was going to take me up. I didn't want to go. The week before I did not get to see my doctor instead I got the mid-wife. She was running very behind and made me late for the appointment I had at the hospital. Unfortunately I had to see her again this week. My mom picked me up and drove us up there. I was not in a good mood since I have been stressing about how we were going to pay for gas to get there on Tuesday and how we were going to be able to feed Mark while there. When we got to the doctor's office I was surprised by the lack of cars. When we got inside there was no one in the waiting room. At the desk I was informed that the mid-wife had pneumonia and was at home. She tried to call me but my phone has been turned off soooooooo.......we made the trip for nothing. I realize that this time they did try to call but I have not had a good experience with this office. I have only seen my doctor three maybe four times in nine months. That is not what I signed up for. When she was in a practice with just one other doctor I saw her every time...which is exactly what I wanted!! Two babies with her that way. Then she joined this practice and I have seen the other doctors more then her. Right now my doctor is in Florida. She is suppose to be back before Tuesday. This experience with the new office makes me question if I would go back to her if I had another baby. Granted I don't plan to have another baby but then you never know.
After getting back home Mark and I had a huge fight. We are both stressed beyond belief right now and sometimes it bubbles over. We did make up before bed though. This morning I mentioned selling some jewelry at a pawn shop in a town about 3o minutes from here. Mark called them and they do buy jewelry so we went there this afternoon. They bought a necklace/bracelet combo and some rings. We now have enough money to get to the hospital on Tuesday and to feed Mark while we are there. Yay! We can now have a somewhat stress free weekend and finish up the few things we need to do to be ready for the baby.
I am thrilled to have enough money to have my husband by my side for the birth of baby #3. We have to leave around 4:15am on Tuesday. My c-section is at 7:15 and we have to be there by 5:30. I better get all the sleep I can this weekend!!!