A Time For Every Season....

Our Christmas went great, Drew was totally shocked about all the gifts he received! Mommy and Daddy had such a great time enjoying all the smiles and eating all the yummy food. Gabe slept most of the day and enjoyed being held by all the relatives. Our friends the Tyson's came over for Christmas which was very special for all of us. The guest included: Grandma Patti, Uncle David, Papa Brian, Ti Ti and Tio, Nana, the Tyson's, and the four of us. It was so nice to relax and enjoy each others company. Drew woke up around 9:15 and we took him downstairs to see his Christmas train, bike from Ti Ti and Tio, and his Geo Trex train all set up in the dining room (with the added pieces this year it was too large to fit in the living room!) Drew was in heaven! He received some awesome Zondervan books from the Thomas' and Tyson's that talk all about Baby Jesus' birth - he loves to listen to those each night. Drew also received a fun train from the Souza's which he pulls a...

One brief moment in my crazy life - this moment took place on Monday December 17, 2007 at 10:35 AM. I sat back in my office chair and laughed! Here I was, breastfeeding my 4 week old, while trying to calculate how much money our company needed to advance for the day, my 3 year old is down stairs with an open box of "life" cereal happily pouring out the contents into his milky bowl and the floor. I can overhear him having a detailed conversation with his cereal, something about trains and tunnels, the dog is staring at me to take her for a walk and the cat is sleeping to my left in the baby bouncer. The phone is ringing, I am still in my PJ's, so are my two children, and the other cat is walking back and forth across my desk in hopes that I would get tired of the game and go down stairs and feed him. Oh, what a great day it will be, assuming I live through it! My adrenaline from the birth of Gabe has finally wore off and reality has hit... life with two children is hard w...

Today is Gabe's due date - December 11 th ! Hard to believe he has already been with us 3 weeks! Gabe is changing daily, he can already hold up his head for longer periods of time, he is staying awake for about an hour between daytime feedings, he is following us with his eyes, and has discovered the fun of swinging. He is still getting constipated so I am giving him Pedialite every few days. Gabe is over 7 and a half pounds now! Drew is getting excited for his Grandma Patti to return and his Grandpa from Washington will also be visiting. He also is excited for Christmas, I asked Drew today what Christmas was and he jumped in the air and shouted "presents." We then had a 5 minute dialog about the true meaning of Christmas. I asked Drew what we should get Jesus for Christmas and he said trucks and trains!" This year we chose to help a teen mother through our church, we are still mulling over where to spend the rest of the money we have set aside - either buying pres...

Our little Gabe has been having intestinal issues this week. I took him in to the doctor this afternoon and we think he has been constipated. He has also been eating a ton which accounted for some earlier colic episodes. I gave Drew an ounce of PediaLite to clean him out - he then went on to have 2 BM's within the hour. I hope that helps make him feel better! Gabe is also very gassy and is always hungry! We had to limit his feeds to 2 -3 ounces of breast milk every few hours so he won't get an upset tummy. As it is he gulps down the milk and takes in too much air which also gives him tummy aches. Gabe loves to have his tummy massaged and to take warm baths. He is growing a ton - an ounce a day. Today he weighed 7 pounds 4 ounces - he has gained a whole pound in 2 1/2 weeks. Gabe is already holding his head up and today tried to roll off the scale at the doctor office - he would have succeeded had the nurse not caught him. Gabe is starting to have fat rolls around his neck and l...

Has it really been a week since I posted last? Life with two little ones sure goes by fast. There are so many things to be done in a day that I hardly have time to think, I can't imagine how I will fit work into it all. I guess I will find out on Monday! We had a great week spending time with Grandma Patti; Drew is captivated by her joy and singing! They made very special memories the past 2 1/2 weeks, Drew is constantly asking for Grandma Patti and even insists on calling her every night before bed so she can sing him lullaby's - so sweet! Drew went to school this week and enjoyed telling his class all about his new brother Gabe. His teachers are anxious to see Gabe too, so we will be showing him off on Monday. Gabe also has his two week appointment Monday. Drew loves his new brother and seems to have adjusted well. Gabe is still sleeping a ton, he is the most relaxed baby I've ever seen. He isn't at all like Drew. Gabe loves to be held and cuddled and hates to be cold...

“Earth is crammed with heaven, and every common bush afire with God; but only he who sees takes off his shoes. The rest sit around it andPluck blackberries.” ~Elizabeth Barret Browning 176. The coming of Winter and the growing life inside that is close to appearing 177. The fun of planting 100 white tulips while 36 weeks pregnant 178. The preparation of bringing our new life home 179. Final days of togetherness before the impending change 180. Family assistance in the final weeks 181. A mother-in-law who sings sweet hymns to Drew as he begs for more 182. 36.6 days of pregnancy 183. Our little blessing with 10 fingers and 10 toes 184. A peaceful and relaxed labor, 4 pushes, and the shocked look on Gabe’s face when he came out 185. John’s careful wiping of my brow and his constant encouragement during our 3 hours of labor 186. John’s diamond game on his palm that distracted me from most of the pain from contractions 187. Focused breathing 188. Gabe’s perfect little body, all 6 pounds 4 ...

(John after eating his Thanksgiving Meal!) We had a wonderful Thanksgiving, spent with family! It was so much fun to get together, play games, eat tons of food and take turns cuddling with little Gabe. Drew loved all the extra attention as well, Daddy brought home a huge box from Home Depot and made Drew his own fort, equipped with a window, door, and lighting system (flashlight). Drew has been enjoying all his family, especially his Grandma Patti and Tio ! Grandma Patti has captivated little Drew with her songs and Tio has been Drew's personal playmate for the weekend. It has been so much fun! Little Gabe had his first checkup on Friday, he was a little jaundiced, but nothing the Doctor was too worried about. Gabe weighed in at 6 pounds 4 ounces - he lost very little after birth (1/8 of an ounce) and has maintained his weight all week. The doctor said my breast milk must be made of butter - most babies take 2 weeks to get back to their birth weight. Gabe;s eating style is very d...

Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples!2 Sing to him, sing praises to him;tell of all his wondrous works! Psalm 105:1-2 We give thanks for the many trial and tribulation that have softened the uneven edges of our hearts, bringing us wisdom and understanding and the life-changing realization that God is always in control. We give God thanks for the life that is growing inside of me, that by Thanksgiving will be home in his parents arms – Gabriel Allan Williams. We are thankful Lord for the gift and blessing of life, the responsibility to raise godly heirs, and the wisdom you provide to us daily. Thank you Lord for continued health, it was a rough year for John and the auto accident that brought on back and neck pain. Thank you that he is healing and is able to return back to work. Thank you Lord for the blessing of a great family. Our little boy Drew is abounding with energy and life, he loves to sign praises to You and is learning to...

We are so excited to announce that Gabriel Allan Williams arrived on Monday, November 19, 2007. He was 36 weeks 6 days old. Gabe was 6 pounds 4 ounces and 19 inches long and has a full head of dark brown hair. Gabe was born at 3:39 in the afternoon and was very healthy upon arrival - thank you Lord for another baby that didn't spend time in the NICU!. We only stayed at the hospital 24 hours and are now home enjoying our family of 4! Drew isn't too sure about his new little brother but he loves to hold him and tell people when he is crying. To ease some of Drew's tension his Grandma's bought him a baby boy doll that he can feed and hold and dress. The doll has been a huge success and has helped Drew feel more involved and included. Drew loves to be included in everything we are doing with Gabe! For those women who are curious about the birth story, I'll now delve into the finer details of Gabe's arrival. Monday morning John and I went into the Dr's office for...

I went in today for a routine checkup, my BP was about the same. All looked well, I am dilated to a 3 already! My last progesterone injection was on Tuesday so I hope it is safe to say we should deliver next week - pending no BP issues. I can't believe I had dilated from a 1 to a 3 in one week because I haven't been having any contractions. Dr. W. said that the combination of the baby's weight plus the fact that I have already had a child before could dilate me. So, my next appointment is on Monday 11/19 - a great date for a birthday? One funny moment I just had to share. Tonight John said to Drew " OK Drew" in that voice that Drew knows so well. Drew completed his sentence by iterating " Two minutes." John is always preparing Drew for changes like getting ready for bed or getting into the bath. The timing on this was perfect!

Week Thirty-Six Your baby is almost ready and most likely, so are you! The only organ still to mature is the lungs. While certainly you are both growing anxious to meet, remember that each day (up to 42 weeks), that your little one stays within your womb will multiply his chances to breathe on his own. If he hasn't already, this week your baby may drop into the birth canal. While breathing for mom becomes easier, walking may be the exact opposite! If he's not your first baby, this "lightening" may not occur until right before labor. Fat is dimpling your baby's elbows and knees, and forming creases in the neck and wrists. His skin is growing smooth and, shall we say it, "baby" soft. His gums are very rigid. It won't be many months before you'll see his teeth. She has a fully developed pair of kidneys and her liver has begun processing some waste products. Your child's average size is now 18.66 inches (47.4cm) and 5.78 pounds (2622 g). Between ...

We are back from an overnight trip spent in Labor and Delivery. I went in on Saturday evening with a blood pressure of 150+/102+. My BP had progressively worsened throughout the day, I was also having upper gastric pain and a very mild headache. John, my knight, stayed with me the whole night while they monitored my BP , took blood labs, 12 hours of urine samples, and the highlight - an ultrasound of little Gabe. All checked out well and my BP was able to get back within normal range by late evening. Little Gabe measured on the small side - 5 pounds 8 oz and mommy and daddy enjoyed watching him on the monitor. The blood flow from the placenta to his body looked great, which is what I was worrying about. My doctor sent me home on bed rest until Wednesday, when we will re-evaluate everything. It would be great to get to 37 weeks! Drew handled the whole thing with much ease, he spent the night with Nana and then went to church this morning. He visited us around 1:00 this afternoon and t...

In this world, a second is a second. Time paces forward with exquisiteregularity, at precisely the same velocity in every corner of space. Time is an infinite ruler. Time is absolute.-- Einstein's Dreams

Today I was explaining to Drew what Thanksgiving was all about. I asked him what he was thankful for and he replied "God," I asked him again thinking I might not have heard him correctly and he proclaimed "God mommy, I am thankful for God." Oh so cute, no wonder Jesus said in Matthew 19:14 "Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."

The human body is an amazing thing! I made an early appointment to see my OB today, I have had a feeling my blood pressure was starting to rise and my contractions were getting more regular and painful. i was amazed to discover that my blood pressure was 140/90! Then my doctor looked at my chart from Drew and would you believe that my body did the exact same thing at the exact same time? On Monday I will be going in for another appointment and if history repeats itself I could be sent to Labor and Delivery to induce labor. I would be exactly 35 weeks 6 days, the exact same gestation that Drew was born. Dr. W stated that some bodies are just like that, they only go up to a certain point and then the BP rises in the body's attempt at delivering the baby. The good news is that I am still 1 CM dilated and only 50-60% effaced - I really was expecting her to say 3 CM! Little Gabe's head is down and somewhat movable. Gabe is still moving well and keeping active. The toxemia hasn'...

Well, for 35 weeks I have had great news to report, alas those times are changing. I went in today for a routine exam and discovered that I am 1 CM dilated and the thinning process has begun. I have had a lot of pain in my lower pelvic area so I think my body is getting ready for our upcoming birth. I also have had a hard time getting rid of the swelling in my legs and had a little protein in my urine, but not enough to worry about yet. I have to make it to 36 weeks so the Dr. wants me to take it easy - no picking up Drew or getting to active. I am so glad to be hearing this at 35 weeks instead of 22 - like with Drew! On the bright front, my BP has remained low 124/72, Gabe's head is down and he has dropped a little, but not into the birth canal . In fact, my Dr. was able to couple his head with her fingers and move it to the left and right. Gabe's buttox wraps around my right rib cage and his feet and fingers are on the left side of my tummy. His heart rate was also very stro...

Sorry for the lack of posts. Drew has been sick with the terrible flu since Wednesday! He finally started to keep down liquid on Sunday and is slowly returning to his old self. It was a rough 5 days without Daddy here to help out, but it made us all appreciate him more! Drew did loose 2 pounds this week and was dehydrated for a day. We almost took him into the hospital, but I held out for 1 more day and of course he started to get better. My mom had her Thyroid surgery on Friday and has recovered well. My sweet sister drove down to take care of her. Drew and I tried to keep her company too!

Researchers studying those who kept gratitude journals concluded : "At the end of the 10 weeks, participants who’d kept a gratitude journal felt better about their lives as a whole and were more optimistic about the future than participants in either of the other two conditions. To put it into numbers, according to the scale we used to calculate well-being, they were a full 25 percent happier than the other participants. Those in the gratitude condition reported fewer health complaints . People who kept a gratitude journal reported feeling more joyful, enthusiastic, interested, attentive, energetic, excited, determined, and strong than those in the hassles condition. They also reported offering others more emotional support or help with a personal problem— supporting the notion that gratitude motivates people to do good. And this was not limited to what they said about themselves. We sent surveys to people who knew them well, and these significant others rated participants in the ...

I just have to share with you how crazy and fun it is to be married to a youngest! Last night John and I were talking, I had noticed he had drifted in to a type of "funk" - he was not his normal jovial self. After much conversation it came out that he missed his family and their hunting trips. His brother just returned from Afghanistan for a visit and the boys and their dad are going hunting. His sweet brother had offered to buy John's ticket home if he could come for a brief visit. Well, John being the sweet and wonderful husband that he is didn't even consider flying to Portland since I am so close to delivering our precious little boy. I love to see my husband smile, so I told him I didn't care if he went for a few days? I was not going into labor before Monday since my FFN test came back negative ( I hope !). I told him I thought he should go enjoy himself. After very little prodding, he said, "well lets go check flights!" So, at 11:15 pm we were s...

Our pastor, Bob Roberts, spoke to us Sunday about his recent trip to Washington where he was invited to speak with Condoleezza Rice. Northwood and other churches around the US, are actively seeking involvement in bringing Christian aid to the Palestinians. I love how they call our pastor a Mega church pastor - our church only has 2,000 people which is small for a Texas church! The article is a great read! Melissa October 30, 2007 2:56PM Condoleezza Rice: From Bethlehem to Annapolis The Secretary of State is determined to lay foundations for Middle East peace. David Neff Last Friday, I joined five other evangelical Protestant leaders for an intense and rewarding half-hour conversation with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Our goal was to assure her of our support as she navigates the treacherous waters of Middle East politics—particularly as she arm-wrestles the various parties toward the summit planned for the beginning of December in Annapolis. The Bush Administration is hop...

Drew celebrated the last day in October by moving into his new bed! Daddy finished his bed and moved it up the stairs today - in three pieces! The bed weighs over 200 pounds, I hope it doesn't fall through the floor. Drew is in love with his Daddy's custom made bed, he can jump on it and it doesn't make a sound and he can build a fort under it for himself and Kitty. Kitty also loves it because the bed is tall enough to sleep under. Drew also dressed up like a Bee tonight and visited a few neighbors, begging for candy. He was especially fond of the orange sucker that he picked out at Mr. Roy's house. Nana also came by and took him to her neighborhood to visit some friends. What a fun day! In all the excitement Drew did succumb to sickness. He went to school this morning and at lunch told his teacher he wasn't hungry, then he proceeded to get out his nap mat and go to sleep. Poor guy! His temp has been around 99.5 all afternoon. He mentioned his ear hurt, so we shall ...

Your baby acts completely like a newborn, with her eyes opened when awake and closed when sleeping. You may also find her settling into more of a routine for sleeping & awake times. She has learned to blink. She can also see more clearly when there is a bright light on your stomach and probably has the outline of all your organs memorized! Antibodies from your blood are being tranferred to him. These immunities continue to build until birth. Then breastmilk will add even more protection against disease. Your baby may have already turned to a head-down position in preparation for birth. If he is your first baby, he may be settling into the pelvis with his head pressing against your cervix. Fingernails have reached the end of the fingertips now. She may scratch her face even before she is born! Your little one's length is 17.7 inches (45cm) and weight is 4.7 pounds (2146 g).

We had a very ordinary week just playing around the house, Drew went to school on Monday and Wednesday, and John went to therapy appointments. I had my mom2mom on Thursday and book club Thursday evening. We spent the weekend cleaning the house and playing at Nana's. We also had Bible Study on Sunday afternoon where Drew enjoyed playing with friends and Mommy and Daddy enjoyed their study on parenting. John just received the OK from his doctor to return to work full time. That's a huge relief since HD hadn't been giving John any hours as a part time employee. John also had an interview for a science teacher on Monday so we are praying diligently about him being hired. Drew has not been listening as well as he should so Mommy and Daddy are cracking back down again on the discipline - evenings seem to be when it all falls apart! Drew is talking up a storm, asking tons of questions and he always has to mention his teachers "Lilo and Nene ." Drew loves school and rea...

Hi everyone! I found little time this week to write, but did find a lot of time to read, so I thought I would share with you a piece written by Lisa Welchel that I've been meditating on all week. This past two weeks my husband and I have been praying and listening to God about some major decisions we need to make, mostly my husband finding a full time teaching job. I admit that I have been quite fearful; worrying about the upcoming baby, the delivery, working from home with two kids, and on the list goes. Then this sweet piece of mail arrived at my in-box! I encourage you to read Lisa's reflections about the role that money and fear play in our decision making. God promises us in 2 Timothy 1:7 that he "did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power love and self discipline." and I needed to be reminded of that! I loved the part she wrote about eliminating money and fear from any major decision. My husband and I did just that this week, we eliminated fear and money fr...

Fetal development in pregnancy week 33: fetus in eighth month For all the weight and bulk you’re lugging around these days, you’d think your little champ should weigh much more than a mere 5 lbs and measly 17 inches in height, but nope, that’s about the average size for a baby in its thirty-third week. In terms of appearances, they’re getting cuter and pudgier every minute as they pile on the baby fat for those adorable little wrist rolls and chubby toes. And as we’re sure you’ve already noticed they’re getting stronger with every passing day. Nowadays, it’s possible to observe a well-placed kick just by watching your belly—but you already knew that didn’t you? Although they’re getting stronger, your bigger-by-the-day baby is losing space to move around, so the actual rate of movement will drop off in the last few weeks, despite that powerful drop-kick they’ve been working on. Hey, did you know you’ll continue feeling their movements even during labor? Amniotic fluid is at its highest ...

We had a very busy week. I've posted some of the pictures = we had two Birthday's and went to the Pumpkin Patch! Drew spent the weekend with Nana and Mommy and Daddy spent their time relaxing and enjoying the opportunity for some quiet. Drew had a blast with Nana and didn't want to come home on Sunday, so Nana took him to carve his pumpkin! Then we celebrated my (mommy's) birthday that evening. John bought me a new IPOD so I've been listening to music and planting the last of my tulips in the back yard. We are still adding dirt to the flower beds - seems like a never ending process. We also watched the air show from our backyard over the weekend, so Drew is totally into jets now. He thinks that the Blue Angels is an every day occurrence since we were able to watch 2 days of practice and then 2 days of the real thing. Kitty didn't like the Blue Angels very much I think it took her back to her days in Iraq. She barked a lot and then finally calmed down. Drew is ...

We all celebrated John's 27 th Birthday on Tuesday! He requested a breaded Chicken Alfredo dinner with a strawberry rhubarb pie instead of cake. Yummy! Then I blessed him with a trip to the doctor the next day for a physical. Isn't that nice! John received clothes and also money for a lathe he has been eyeballing for months. I think he will go pick up the lathe this weekend. John was also exempt from all housework for a day and he loved that! Happy Birthday Sweetie, I love you! We are going to the Pumpkin Patch tomorrow! I pray it is cold! I will post some pictures soon!

I heard this song on the radio and laughed so hard I had to post it. John heard it too and thought it was pretty awesome!

Your baby is up to 3.75 pounds (1702gm) now and is 16.7 inches (42.4cm) long. You might notice she's not moving around as much now. Don't worry! She is fine -- just running short on room. She still has plenty of growing to do though, believe it or not! All five senses are working. Your little one is fascinated and practicing testing these out as much as possible! Toenails are completely formed even though she may not be quite ready for a French manicure. Hair on your infant's head continues to grow in. Will he have dad's black hair or your red hair? Brain scans have shown that babies have periods of dream sleep (REM) starting around the eight month. What do you suppose your son is dreaming about?

Northwood Blog - for more comments and info on the Makeover I just wanted to take a few seconds to brag on my wonderful husband! I have never been so proud as I was on Friday and Saturday watching him serve people. John spent Wednesday through Saturday building and prepping for the Makeover that was sponsored by our church and implemented by the congregation. Everyone involved was a hero! The body of Christ, came together with a vision to change the community in Haltom City. This week was the culmination of all that prep work! Read the previous post in the Star Telegram for the summary of what went on. I have heard that over 120,000 was spent to remodel 4 homes and that over 30% of our congregation participated. That is huge! All the families loved their new homes and this project has opened many doors for talking about the love of Christ and being the hands and feet of Jesus. Since I am too pregnant to help remodel a house, I brought over sugar to the 100 person crew on Friday night...

Four Haltom City families getting home makeovers from church By TERRY WEBSTER Star-Telegram staff writer Related Content Four Haltom City families getting home makeovers from church HALTOM CITY -- Four families are just a few hours away from living in their dream homes. They were whisked away Friday afternoon to a hotel in Grapevine, where they will stay overnight while hundreds of volunteers from NorthWood Church in Keller renovate their homes. All the families have children attending the Academy at West Birdville elementary school in the Birdville school district. For three years, NorthWood has teamed with the school, where about 90 percent of the students are economically disadvantaged. The four families spent some time swimming and shopping Friday evening, and today they're headed to Six Flags Over Texas. This evening, they will return to homes that have been newly repainted, carpeted and decked out with new appliances and furniture -- and maybe even plasma TVs. Children's ...

This week has been all about the Home Makover Project! John has been working all week in the garage and at the house in order to get a jump start on all the work that needs to be done. Drew and I baked fall cookies to take over to the workers and little Gabe has been rolling around all week in my tummy. I don't know what has gotten into him, but he has discovered how to roll. My stomach lumps are always changing shape. Drew was a very quiet non mover, so this is a huge change. I have been busy with a mom2mom group, Northwood's mentoring program, and a mom's book club! We also went out to eat with our friends the Tyson's for Zac's birthday. On Friday afternoon Drew and I get to watch little Ethan while Zac helps John on the makeover project. How fun! I've also been busy closing the books at work and cleaning up the never ending mess at home. Drew spent Monday with Nana since it was Columbus Day - they ran errands and then went to get Drew's haircut. On...