This is a sleepy Sam 

This is Sam in the mirror.. I took this after feeding him.  

This is Sam saying "Hi" and working on a smile. (Not the best pic, but it's cute) 

Dad with Sam Again 

Ugh...

So the last week has been awful, to say the least. My poor little Samuel Paul was hospitalized. He had a urinary tract infection. We noticed that he was fussy a day or so before he started getting the fever. We thought it was thrush. He's had that for about a week now, so we just assumed it was the diaper rash and sores in his mouth.

About 3:00 on Wednesday, Sam was REALLY crying. We tried everything to get him to stop. I noticed he was warm, so I had Greg take his temperature. It was 101.9, which in a baby is dangerous. So, off to the hospital we went. On the way there, I took his temp again, and it was 103.5, which terrified me.

So, we got to the emergency room. They ran a series of tests on him to try to find out what the problem was. One of the tests they had to do was a lumbar puncture to test for Spinal Meningitis. A lumbar puncture is also known as a spinal tap. Poor Sam was stabbed in the back with a long thick needle about 12 or 13 times. The first doctor had a really hard time getting the fluid, so that's why he had to be re-punctured so many times. The second got it on the second try. It was awful!
So then they did an IV and blood tests and the poor little guy was just crying like you wouldn't believe. I had to feed him countless times that night to settle him down. He was then transferred to another hospital where he would stay for two more days. The next hospital was a lot nicer, but we still felt very traumatized. We had not been expecting what happened, and it was really hard to accept anything anybody told us. By the time we were released on Saturday, we felt like we were ready to crack up.

So Sam is doing okay. But unfortunately, it's looking like he's in for surgery. He has what is known as Vesicoureteral Reflux.Basically, it's that one of his uriters (the tubes that connect the kidneys to the bladder) is not functioning right. It looks like it is twisted and longer than it should be. This causes a problem with urination where pee actually backs up into the kidneys again, causing infections. The only way to correct this particular type of problem is through surgery. There are lesser degrees of the same condition, but Sam's kind of the worst case senario. So please pray for him. He's on antibiotics and stuff, so he won't be getting an infection again (we hope). He's really doing better and his thrush is MUCH better than it was. But we are so sad that he has to have an operation. Talk about trauma for the little man. We are hoping that they can get it done as soon as possible so we don't have to think about it any more. But the doctor on the phone said that the specialist that will be doing the surgery is very busy and it could be a couple of months before he's available to even do a consultation.

I'm scared. Being a mom is hard enough. Dealing with all this is something that I never believed would happen. It is going to be a tough few weeks ahead.

Sam With Dad 

Sam Staring Out the Window 

2 Weeks

He's 2 weeks today! I can hardly believe how busy the life of a mom is. Sam's honestly the next best thing to Greg that has ever happened to me, though. I love him sooo much. He's pretty dang adorable. He's learning all sorts of stuff. He's always got his hands near his mouth, which is dangerous, but we try to keep him out of yucky stuff. He also likes to hit himself in the face. A few minutes ago, he accidentally grabbed his belly button stump. He didn't like that very much. Sometimes he'll grab his nose, which is one of my favorite things, but my absolute favorite thing he does is play with his dad. Greg is really good at showing him how to do stuff. It's his teacher instinct I think. Anyway, here's some more pictures for your enjoyment!

Waiting For Sam to Arrive 

Greg and Sam 

This Is IT

This is the last time I will be writing before I'm a mom. We leave for the hospital in an hour! Mom.. what a strange title for me. That's the title for MY mom. I'm happy, but wow, what a change this will be! Please keep us in your prayers. I think the things I'm most nervous about are the IV, the epidural, and avoiding an episiotmy. (In other words, please pray for those the mostest). Hopefully this will go fast!

Love

Crystal

Tralala

So today I thought my water might have broke, but I was wrong. It's just an infection. Yummy.. sorry if that's TMI. But we got to see an ultrasound. That was fun. It made my mom cry happy tears, which was cool. It's hard for me to be emotional about all this right now. I feel so distant from birth, even though it's coming up THIS SUNDAY. Is that strange? I feel like it probably is, but it's hard to be all into it right now for some reason. He's kicking like mad right now.. he always seems to do this when I am writing in my blog. He'll probably be a computer nerd too. We did notice something with the ultrasound today. He's A CHUNK! He's going to be quite portly, we think. That was fun to see =) He sure is excitable.

So that's about it for now. We're just praying that everything is okay on Sunday. We're excited, but scared. Please keep us in your prayers too. Hope you're having a great week!

Love

Crystal

Noooooooo!!!

Shoot Shoot Shoot Shoot Shoot

So I went to the doctor today. I was all excited, hoping I would have made some progress. Just a little would have been fine.

Nothing

Once again, nothing has happened. I am one centimeter dilated, which is what I was a WEEK ago. DARN IT! Really, this is ridiculous.

They'll probably induce on Sunday. It's a bummer, but at least I know that he's coming. And induction means I KNOW WHEN. But it's still bad because there are higher risks with induction; things like episiotomies and tearing and heart rates dropping and other such fun things.

I am excited, though. I know God's going to take care of my baby and me. It's hard to believe it's almost time.. but then again it's not really. He is being SO active! It's awful! He's trying to pop out my belly button or something! Arg!

But we'll keep you informed. Who knows.. maybe something will happen before Sunday. Pray that it does. I am READY for him to be here!

NOTHING

D'oh.. he's not here yet! I'm a day between my two due dates. I have had hardly any contractions today. Last night I was feeling them every 15 minutes or so, but I am not now. It's very sad. I wish he would hurry up and get here. On monday I have a doctor's appointment, so maybe I will find something out then. It feels like nothing is happening, though. Really. I feel exactly the same pretty much. The contractions I have been getting are not painful at all. He's moving around quite a bit still, which is not supposed to be happening just before labor.

But that's okay, I guess.. it just means he'll be that much more prepared for the world. I'm just eager.

So my sister has morning sickness. I feel bad for her. I was one of those lucky few.

Well, I'll keep ya'll updated. Please pray that he comes soon now. IT'S SAFE! Tell him that!

Love

Crystal

My Sis Is PREGGERZ too!!! 

Exciting Times, These Are!

So, wow..

My sister is pregnant.

I figured this was a good enough wait. I've known for about a week and apologize for not posting on this sooner, but it's happened. My sis is going to be having a baby too... looks like sometime between January and February of next year. wowowowow.

She sounds pretty excited, and as you can tell by the look on Jesse's face, he's excited too. =) Which excites me and I'm excited!

So, Sam is nearly here, and he will have a little cousin coming about 8 months after!

I'm not really scared of labor anymore. I am more scared that I won't know when it's really happening, will end up at the hospital or get stuck on the way and have the baby on the freeway or something.

We have everything we need, though. I even got the baby bath tub today.. and some Lansinoh and all that fun stuff. Hooray! Almost here!

TWO WEEKS LEFT

There are two weeks until my due date. This feels weird. I can't believe that there will be a new family member in a matter of days! Skittle is jealous. I'm nervous. Greg is doing better than the two of us. =)

We had another doctor's appointment today. Everything looks fantastic. He's head-down which is nice to know. No forceps here! =) My heart problem comes and goes but it's no longer as scary as it once was because nothing seems to happen because of it.

I have all sorts of weird dreams--last night I dreamed that he was talking in my tummy and they could hear him when they did the doppler thing. It was pretty cool! And another night I had a dream that he came out and started walking in a matter of days. That was fun too.

My sister made the dean's list at the University of Arizona's online criminal justice course! YAY KARLIE! You rule the school!

My mom comes to help out with labor and delivery and the stuff afterward in less than two weeks! I'm so jazzed. I find the 14th of June to be a more significant day than the actual due date. I know it's silly, but it's true. The night after my shower I got all emotional because it was such a DATE. I mean, you have the shower, you're having the baby. It's just how it works! I freaked. But Greg was very good at calming my nerves.

So, I'll try to keep in touch and let everyone know when I am going into labor. if it's not too painful to be on the computer, I'll try to post here when the contractions start.

PLEASE comment with any advice and/or encouragement!

NINE MONTHS!!!

I'm nine months on sunday! Wow... can't hardly believe this. We're so close. I had my southern-california shower last saturday. It was a really smashing good time. Thanks to all of you who came for making it such a special and memorable event. I love all my gifts so much!

God is good. My husband found a real-estate job! He has to wait until his lisence is issued before he can go to work, but he has a job lined up with a man we believe is trustworthy and smart... not to mention, ETHICAL! Hooray! For more details, email me!

All the recent pictures are from last weekend. My family came down to visit and we took these while they were here. =) My friend Becs says "You're GINORMOUS!"

I agree

The men belonging to my sister and I 

My beautiful sister and me