INTRODUCING BABY WILLIAM!!!

Welcome to the World, Sweet Will!!!
Mommy & Will... I can't stop kissing those wonderfully soft, huge cheeks!

Daddy & Sweet Will... fast asleep
Mommy & one of Will's great expressions
Will reading his scripture...Psalm 139

Our family!

18 people anxiously awaiting the news... It's A Boy!!!
What a joyful celebration!!!
Daddy, Will, & Aunt Melinda, just after the birth
Mommy (exhausted & emotional from labor), Daddy (exhausted from coaching me... bless his heart, What a day!), & Will (also probably exhausted and confused from his own labor experience)
Our door sign - Happy Birthday Sweet Will!
Cheers to Will! Thanks to our sweet friends, Leah & Dustin... we love celebrating with you!








William David is here!
I often cry with a sense of overwhelm of love and euphoria - I'm completely in love with two boys!!! I have such a crush on my son - I miss him when I'm away from him & I picture his face all the time. My heart aches to be near him & I'm just euphoric after holding & feeding him! He has stolen my heart completely!

He was born on August 30th at 3:22 pm. Labor was the most difficult yet incredible experience of my life. It was 7 hours and 2 minutes long. I was so fortunate not only to have a speedy labor but to be able to do much of it without drugs- they didn't need potussin to induce me & I progressed rapidly on my own. Labor recap coming soon. The waiting room was quite the party room - I think Will had about 15-20 people waiting on his birth... praying, celebrating, and betting on the time (they had to keep changing their bets on the baby pool I made as labor progressed so quickly!) Our church had a 24 hour prayer vigil - wow! Thank you! We have since found out about other churches- one in a town I've never heard of, having prayer vigils as well. Thank you for praying for my child! He has continued to have lots & lots of visitors - from Dallas, North Carolina, Waco, Midland, Tyler, Missouri, and Indianapolis! Thank you, dear friends & family who have made the effort to come celebrate with us- it means so much to us & we love introducing Will to you! I can't wait for him to meet more friends when we get home! Mr. Popular likes visitors. My doctor also comes by about twice a day to check on us as does another doctor we've worked with this summer. His nurse who helped deliver him came to see him too yesterday. Pretty much we refer to him as "Mr. Popular." In the NICU the other day, Reagan walked in to see a nurse ("Bong" from the Phillipines- hiliarous & great nurse), carrying Will arround, unplugged from the machines. He told Reagan that Will needed a walk! When we left the NICU yesterday, Bong told us he would miss getting to hold Will & walk with him. Most of the babies are so tiny & sick in the NICU that the nurses really seemed to enjoy alert, full term, precious Will!

Will is absolutely beautiful - a head full of hair! It was dark when he was born and is now a golden brown - reflects the light & is so beautiful! He weighed 5 pounds, 15 ounces (1 ounce short of 6 pounds) & is 17 3/4 inches long. He has actually gained weight while in the hospital for a week! He has huge blue eyes & is very alert & observant. We laugh at his expressions & have various nicknames for the looks he gives. His skin is kind of olive colored and is so wonderfully soft- I love to hold his little naked body against my body. He has wonderfully pinchable,kissable, big cheeks! He hates diaper changes & often retaliates by peeing on people after they change him. He has incredible aim and manages to keep his clothes dry & somehow it escapes through the diaper & the legs of his onesie or outfit & onto whoever is holding him! (However, I've found I get him naked for a feeding as we go through lots of outfits every day!) His nurses are all in love with him too - he's so cute!

We're still at the hospital & I've finally found internet but will have to be quick. I have a boy who will be hungry again shortly. Pretty much feeding is my new life! Due to low blood sugar, Will needed to be in the nicu around 2 am after he was born. This is a very normal problem for lots of full term babies. In fact, we were told that of the 42 babies on his wing of the nicu, Will was the healthiest! He was released yesterday & we were put in a room together to practice "rooming in" - basically so they could observe him from a distance & periodically check his blood sugar levels prior to discharging him. We were told today that although his blood sugar is often in the 60s & the high 50s, they want it consistently above 60 before discharging so they've all but promised he can go home tomorrow!!! (fyi - typical babies who don't spend time in the nicu just need blood sugar levels between 40-80... Will has a higher standard to reach since he spent some time in the nicu & also because we have a long drive ahead of us. They are being extra cautious.) We were so fortunate that our hospital has a hotel connected to it so we were only an elevator ride away from Will & were able to continue feeding & loving on him all day & night. We love rooming in with him now & can't wait to bring him home soon!!!

More pictures & video coming soon - we promise! Love, R & K & W (aka, daddy, mommy, & Will) :)