tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53349437318963846082024-03-12T21:03:18.183-07:00My life as a mom and a truckers wifeTiffany Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01654052078948486251noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334943731896384608.post-56730897639817415772009-10-04T10:33:00.000-07:002009-10-04T10:58:45.212-07:00New kitten & the taping of COPS at a truck stopOne of the little boys on my bus told me his cat had lots of kittens and wanted me to have one. Of course I coudln't refuse that. Especially when I found out that they were going to take the kittens they couldn't find a home for to the pound. I took Will with me to look at the kittens and he held them and when I gave him the third little girl kitten he smiled and when I took her away he started to cry and point at her. He had picked out his kitten. We ended up naming her Chelsey. Right now Sasha & Dakota are unsure of her and keeping their distance but I have a feeling they will come around. Stanley says it took Dakota 3 days to accept Sasha when we got her last summer. Will absolutely adores her! I was holding her and at first I thought he was jealous that I wasn't giving him attention. Boy was I wrong - he wanted the kitten - not me! LOL. He actually even says "Kid-dee" now. He really is my son!<br /><br /><div><div><div><div><div></div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SsjhEBe1ioI/AAAAAAAAAT4/ys2gIjr2m2E/s1600-h/Chelsey.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 152px; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388804413382298242" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SsjhEBe1ioI/AAAAAAAAAT4/ys2gIjr2m2E/s200/Chelsey.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SsjhLrcdm9I/AAAAAAAAAUA/YksPlxSQEJ8/s1600-h/kisses+Chelsey.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388804544905714642" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SsjhLrcdm9I/AAAAAAAAAUA/YksPlxSQEJ8/s200/kisses+Chelsey.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SsjhRYFbqgI/AAAAAAAAAUI/Rh8VQIrWXF8/s1600-h/Sahsa+%26+Dakota+reaction.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388804642788059650" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SsjhRYFbqgI/AAAAAAAAAUI/Rh8VQIrWXF8/s200/Sahsa+%26+Dakota+reaction.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SsjhmmJI4sI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/oU8TZG3mlZM/s1600-h/cops.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388805007338955458" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SsjhmmJI4sI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/oU8TZG3mlZM/s200/cops.jpg" /></a>Today (Sunday Oct 4th 2009) Stanley was driving thru Indianapolis so Will and I went down to see him. When we were almost there Stanley said cops were all over the place at the Pilot Truck Stop he was at and for us to park at the Omlette Place across the street. Apperantly a Lot Lizard (prostitute at Truck Stops) held a trucker at gun point (at the Mr. Fuel) when he didn't pay for his services she had preformed and stole all his money and some electronics. As soon as she drove off he got on his CB radio and asked other truckers to see where she went while he called the cops. She was a big idiot and she and her pimp when across the street to the Pilot to get gas where Stanley had parked his semi. Some truckers heard this on the CB radios and two truckers used their bobtail semis (w/o trailers) to block the entrance so the Lot Lizard could not leave before the cops came. When I arrived there were at least 8 cop cars, 2 news vans, and the COPS TV show van. Her car was wrecked after she tried to run into one of the semi's and she was hand cuffed and on the ground along with her pimp. It was so funny to see a line of truckers on the sidewalk with their cameras and cell phones taking pictures of all this happening. Of course Stanley & I were talking to each other so neither of us got any pictures but I'm sure it will be on the Indy News tonight and we'll look for it on the COPS show too. Stanley heard that she had done this to several other truckers too and they had been looking for her. I am so glad she was caught! </div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/Ssjh8Eq4b9I/AAAAAAAAAUY/sXfIcUzz35M/s1600-h/68054352v2_350x350_Front.jpg"></a> </div><div>Stanley better NEVER use a Lot Lizard for more reasons than just that happening. <br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/Ssjh8Eq4b9I/AAAAAAAAAUY/sXfIcUzz35M/s1600-h/68054352v2_350x350_Front.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388805376310800338" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/Ssjh8Eq4b9I/AAAAAAAAAUY/sXfIcUzz35M/s200/68054352v2_350x350_Front.jpg" /></a></div></div></div></div></div>Tiffany Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01654052078948486251noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334943731896384608.post-53272132428709899952009-09-22T06:09:00.000-07:002009-09-22T06:32:48.807-07:002 funerals and the death of a carOn Sept 17, 2009 Stanley's great grandma Georgia Pugh died. She lived a long life and was in her mid 90's. A few days before she passed away our friend Rachel's grandpa also died. Grandma Georgie's funeral was on Saturday and Rachel's grandpa's fuenral viewing was on Sunday so it worked out where we could go to both.<br /><br />I was very worried that Stanley wouldn't make it home in time to go to the funeral but he did! We weren't able to go to Grandma Georgie's viewing but we were scheduled to go the funeral on time and when we were almost there we got a phone call from my sister in law, Martha. Their car had died about half an hour away from the funeral location. Stanley & Martha's mom was able to have a friend go and pick up Martha & 2 of the kids to make it in time for the funeral but they didn't have room for Radek and Christian. I dropped Stanley & Will off at the nursing home where the funeral was and went to pick up Radek & Christian. It was more important for Stanley and Martha to be there for their great grandma's funeral. Radek, Christian, and I made it only 10 minutes late, which isn't too bad at all. We were able to go to the graveyard. <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SrjPaluTodI/AAAAAAAAATI/V2qsVsco_Vw/s1600-h/Rachel.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384281410231312850" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SrjPaluTodI/AAAAAAAAATI/V2qsVsco_Vw/s200/Rachel.jpg" /></a>I am so thankful that Rachel came to the funeral too because when Will got fussy she was able to take him out so he wouldn't disturb anyone else.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SrjO-pHXKgI/AAAAAAAAAS4/tS9-AkNGOu4/s1600-h/Twins.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384280930105371138" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SrjO-pHXKgI/AAAAAAAAAS4/tS9-AkNGOu4/s200/Twins.jpg" /></a><br />One of my favorite parts of the weekend was seeing the twins Ethan & Dallas again. They are finally taller than me, which I knew would happen sooner than later. They also made me so proud because they know tons of baseball stats, probably more than I know! I was also excited because I could tell them apart! (Dallas is on the right & Ethan is on the left in the picture of both of them) They were both so good with Will too and played with him and gave him his first popsicle. <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SrjPRIIkOdI/AAAAAAAAATA/rcqyJH8GIsg/s1600-h/dallas+popsicle.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384281247669565906" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SrjPRIIkOdI/AAAAAAAAATA/rcqyJH8GIsg/s200/dallas+popsicle.jpg" /></a>He definitly loves them and they love him! Hopefully we'll get to see them more often then just weddings & funerals. <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SrjPmCyGd7I/AAAAAAAAATQ/7tjFDs0nwqA/s1600-h/3+boys.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384281607010416562" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SrjPmCyGd7I/AAAAAAAAATQ/7tjFDs0nwqA/s200/3+boys.jpg" /></a><br /><br />On Saturday night Radek borrowed our car to take his family home and then brought the car back to us and then we would drive him home that night. So he got to tag along with us to Rachel's grandpa's viewing. We thought it started at 11 but it didn't actually start until 2 so we killed some time by having fun at the park. Even Stanley & Radek had fun by playing on the teeter totter!<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SrjQED001kI/AAAAAAAAATY/BgF4Ag0rzNE/s1600-h/teeter+totter.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384282122686355010" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SrjQED001kI/AAAAAAAAATY/BgF4Ag0rzNE/s200/teeter+totter.jpg" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SrjQabkceKI/AAAAAAAAATo/QFBTr1qoY9s/s1600-h/two+of+us.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384282507017222306" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SrjQabkceKI/AAAAAAAAATo/QFBTr1qoY9s/s200/two+of+us.jpg" /></a><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384282325871124722" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SrjQP4v2YPI/AAAAAAAAATg/Xy5OG8QKUO8/s200/Will+on+swing.jpg" /><br /><p>I will end this by saying it was very good to see family. There was a lot less tension this time then there was at Janna & Terry's wedding. I hope this means we can actually be a family again and put the past behind us. It was neat that we were able to take a 5 generation picture with Will's great great grandma Betty, great grandma Sharon, grandma Sheila, Stanley and Will. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384283005273883906" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SrjQ3buFxQI/AAAAAAAAATw/INJa_HgqMqo/s200/5+generations.jpg" /></p><br />It was also nice that I got 3 days PAID off for grievance so I was able to spend more time with Stanley alone! (We paid for the babysitter already so we took him and had a much needed date day!)Tiffany Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01654052078948486251noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334943731896384608.post-46594517913136788022009-09-11T14:17:00.000-07:002009-09-11T14:36:04.250-07:00I can't believe it's been 8 years since 9-11-01<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SqrCltsAGcI/AAAAAAAAASw/3nGLrolaSkw/s1600-h/towers1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 190px; height: 200px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SqrCltsAGcI/AAAAAAAAASw/3nGLrolaSkw/s200/towers1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380326658022578626" /></a><br />8 years ago today marked a day in history that no one will ever forget. I remember walking into the Blair-Shannon Cafeteria and seeing a ton of people huddled over the TV in the lobby of Blair. I wondered what was going on but went ahead to the cafeteria and got biscuits and gravy for breakfast and sat down in the TV room to see what was going on. As I sat there I watched the second plane hit. I didn't even take a bite of my breakfast. The girl at the next table was crying because she had family in New York. I was just in shock. I remember walking to my psychology class and the teacher had left a note on the door saying class had been cancelled and to spend time with loved onces and be sure to watch CNN. I went back to my dorm room and sat on the couch with my suite mates Heidi & Darci and we just watched TV all day and cried and called our love ones. I personally didn't know anyone in the towers but I still get chills everytime I watch a program on TV about it or think about what happened that day. <br /><br />I thank all those people who gave their lives to try to save people and that day will never be forgotten!Tiffany Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01654052078948486251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334943731896384608.post-85843623380424578062009-09-02T18:06:00.000-07:002009-09-02T18:07:36.324-07:00An old fashioned movie of my favorite pics of Will's first year!<div><embed src="http://widget-9a.slide.com/widgets/slideticker.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" quality="high" scale="noscale" salign="l" wmode="transparent" flashvars="cy=bb&il=1&channel=3314649325773364890&site=widget-9a.slide.com" style="width:400px;height:320px" name="flashticker" align="middle"></embed><div style="width:400px;text-align:left;"><a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&at=un&id=3314649325773364890&map=1" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-9a.slide.com/p1/3314649325773364890/bb_t041_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide1.gif" border="0" ismap="ismap" /></a> <a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&at=un&id=3314649325773364890&map=2" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-9a.slide.com/p2/3314649325773364890/bb_t041_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide2.gif" border="0" ismap="ismap" /></a> <a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&at=un&id=3314649325773364890&map=F" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-9a.slide.com/p4/3314649325773364890/bb_t041_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide42.gif" border="0" ismap="ismap" /></a></div></div>Tiffany Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01654052078948486251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334943731896384608.post-9692626113688108672009-09-02T16:16:00.000-07:002009-09-02T16:34:25.325-07:00Dear WillDear Will, <br /><br />You are now 13 months old and I have no idea where the time went! I can't imagine life without you and what I did with my time or money. Whenever I buy anything I usually have you in mind. It's amazing how life changes when one tiny little boy enters a family. <br />You made your dad and I a family! I wish daddy could be around more and watch you grow up but he's doing what is best for us at the moment. Hopefully someday soon he'll find a job at home. I don't see a lot of Stanley in your physical looks but I see a lot of him in you in your actions and smiles. You are onery just like him! I hope you're just as handy around the house too. I'm sure he can teach you. He loves you so much and I am thankful for picture mail on cell phones so I can send him pictures of you. <br />We just got off the phone with daddy, actually. When I put the phone up to your ear you tried to show him your ball and said ball probably eight times in a row. You love balls! You have an arm on you too! Maybe you'll make mommy proud and become a baseball player. But if you want to play basketball or soccer that's okay too. I want to take on the philosophy that my mom took with her kids and that we had to be active in something but we could chose it. I wouldn't mind if you wanted to be a gymnast but I know daddy wouldn't be to happy with that. <br />I also talked to Colleen tonight, Emily's mom. We are already planning for Halloween and we're going to go trick or treating in St. Charles with the White Family. She is going to let you wear Aaron's old Tigger costume! I bet you will look so cute! I wonder if you and Emily & Anna will be friends in the future or even in a relationship. It's crazy to think of you having a girlfriend but I'm sure you will have tons. I just hope I can help to raise you to be respectful of ladies and be a nice boy. (Unlike how your daddy was in high school. LOL)<br />Well you are actually getting clingy now so I am going to end this letter and put you to bed. So you know I still enjoy watching you sleep. You are absolutely perfect and I thank God everyday for you! I can't wait to make you a big brother!<br /><br />Love always,<br /><br />Mama <br /><br />PS - Thank you to Kendra for the great idea to write letters to Will in my blog. I hope I can write several letters to him a few times a year!Tiffany Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01654052078948486251noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334943731896384608.post-17269281127211123872009-08-28T17:06:00.000-07:002009-08-28T17:30:26.591-07:00Lucky # 7Well Stanley and I officially going to TTC and I have been thinking about baby names a lot. Ok, who am I kidding? I think about baby names all the time. Especially with friends who have babies or who want babies. I think about my cousin Michael and his family and how all their kids initials spell something (William Owen W, Ryan Andrew W, and Luke Alexander W). Another cousin has Anthony, Brandon, and Cody - ABC. Then there is my friend Paul's family who are all named after names in the Bible.<br />Stanley mentioned liking the name Abigail and I have fallen in love with it. But how is that cool? Well it just occured to me while I was chatting with my friend Jennie that Stanley, Tiffany, William, & Abigail all have SEVEN letters. And we got married on 7-7-07!!! So now my plan is to name all our kids with 7 letters. It's not as obvious as ABC but I think it's still pretty awesome! So here are names we like and may very well use in the future:<br />Girl Names: Abigail, Madelyn, Isabela, Kristen, Whitney, Brianna, Nichole, Bethany, Chelsey, Allison (I love that name but we wouldn't use it because Allie Allen would be mean!)<br />Boy Names: Zachary, Garrett, Matthew, Cameron, Patrick, Tristan, Spencer, Gabriel, Michael, Brendan<br /><br />Let me know if you can think of any other good names that have 7 letters. I tend to typically like names that can be shortened to nick names like Abbie or Zach.<br /><br />Keep us in your prayers that God will give us a baby when we're ready for one! We'll definitly have fun trying! :)Tiffany Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01654052078948486251noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334943731896384608.post-55812943214504567042009-08-26T17:45:00.000-07:002009-08-26T18:43:49.098-07:00It's been almost a year since I've blogged.....<div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div>So I've been totally slacking in my blogging and I hope to do better. I'll give you a quick recap of what's happened in our life since September 2008.<br /><br />*In November Stanley got laid off from his job at Wabash National (they laid off everyone with less than 12 years experience!)<br /></div><div>*I got a job with a temp agency working as a bus monitor/classroom sub at Head Start a week after Stanley lost his job<br /><br />*Will began crawling very early at 5 months old <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SpXdxK8OeaI/AAAAAAAAAP4/nK75XLkFprA/s1600-h/crawling+with+Sasha.jpg"></div></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SpXdxK8OeaI/AAAAAAAAAP4/nK75XLkFprA/s1600-h/crawling+with+Sasha.jpg"></a><p align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SpXf9KSWKHI/AAAAAAAAAQo/hLz9bgn1b3Y/s1600-h/crawling+with+Sasha.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374447972162873458" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SpXf9KSWKHI/AAAAAAAAAQo/hLz9bgn1b3Y/s200/crawling+with+Sasha.jpg" /></a></p><div><br />*Stanley looked for jobs and the only one he could find was becoming a truck driver and he got his CDL in Feb. 2009. <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SpXf02lR8UI/AAAAAAAAAQg/Bo0-Sre1voM/s1600-h/swim+lesson.jpg"></a></div><div><br /> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SpXgCSLq0RI/AAAAAAAAAQw/jCVNXBQNG-o/s1600-h/family+picture+infront+of+Stanley%27s+truck.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374448060181696786" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SpXgCSLq0RI/AAAAAAAAAQw/jCVNXBQNG-o/s200/family+picture+infront+of+Stanley%27s+truck.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SpXgHcmhq1I/AAAAAAAAAQ4/mkUige2JonQ/s1600-h/Will+driving+-+May+2009.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374448148878043986" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SpXgHcmhq1I/AAAAAAAAAQ4/mkUige2JonQ/s200/Will+driving+-+May+2009.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SpXgMWlsNnI/AAAAAAAAARA/XBp9TXjRAJ0/s1600-h/swim+lesson.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374448233163273842" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SpXgMWlsNnI/AAAAAAAAARA/XBp9TXjRAJ0/s200/swim+lesson.jpg" /></a>*Will took swim lessons at the YMCA and loved it!</div><div><br />*I helped him to get his CDL and they were hiring a bus driver at Head Start so I decided to apply for the job and get my own CDL. I finally got mine in March.<br /></div><div>*Stanley finally began driving solo in April and while he was gone I water damaged my phone due to crying because I missed him so much<br /></div><div>*I got to spend the whole summer off and spend time with Will. We went to St. Louis in June for Robyn's wedding and ended up staying for 5 weeks!<br /></div><div>*Stanley and I celebrated our 2cd wedding anniversary together! He was going thru St. Louis and I got to meet up with him and enjoy cupcakes and a little time alone with my husband.</div><p align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SpXgR_VEFnI/AAAAAAAAARI/2jPu4uQSbGk/s1600-h/anniversary+cupcake+July+2009.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374448329998734962" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SpXgR_VEFnI/AAAAAAAAARI/2jPu4uQSbGk/s200/anniversary+cupcake+July+2009.jpg" /></a></p><div><br />*Will had his first birthday party on July 19th in Lafayette, which Stanley got to come home for!!!</div><p align="left"> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SpXgXt6mUNI/AAAAAAAAARQ/O050HQyM6eo/s1600-h/opening+presents+with+daddy.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374448428403544274" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SpXgXt6mUNI/AAAAAAAAARQ/O050HQyM6eo/s200/opening+presents+with+daddy.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SpXgbbZ_NeI/AAAAAAAAARY/mm7_Q4DsLt0/s1600-h/cake!.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 150px; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374448492154402274" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SpXgbbZ_NeI/AAAAAAAAARY/mm7_Q4DsLt0/s200/cake!.jpg" /></a></p><p align="left"> </p><p align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SpXgl8EvBGI/AAAAAAAAARg/-Sbk8CytTkI/s1600-h/indiana+group.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 329px; HEIGHT: 226px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374448672722322530" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SpXgl8EvBGI/AAAAAAAAARg/-Sbk8CytTkI/s200/indiana+group.jpg" /></a></p><div> *Will had another first birthday party on July 25th in St. Louis </div><p align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SpXgp1WyZNI/AAAAAAAAARo/5Dtob9e8h24/s1600-h/St.+Louis+group.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 315px; HEIGHT: 188px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374448739638469842" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SpXgp1WyZNI/AAAAAAAAARo/5Dtob9e8h24/s200/St.+Louis+group.jpg" /></a></p><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SpXgvne0YKI/AAAAAAAAARw/qV8yDcxhP6s/s1600-h/dad,+me+%26+Will.jpg"></a> </div><div>*We found Donald a new home with two adorable little boys that will really love him<br /></div><div>*My mom and sister got to go be with David on his naval ship for 2 days while my dad, Will, and I drove to Virginia to meet the ship and be there when David came home from the Persian Gulf<br /> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SpXgvne0YKI/AAAAAAAAARw/qV8yDcxhP6s/s1600-h/dad,+me+%26+Will.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374448838993272994" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SpXgvne0YKI/AAAAAAAAARw/qV8yDcxhP6s/s200/dad,+me+%26+Will.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SpXgzV3hYpI/AAAAAAAAAR4/ikgQ3spxf9k/s1600-h/David!.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374448902984524434" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SpXgzV3hYpI/AAAAAAAAAR4/ikgQ3spxf9k/s200/David!.jpg" /></a></div><div>*We spent a few days in Norfolk, VA and then went to visit Washington DC and Annapolis, MD.<br /> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SpXg3dxZfbI/AAAAAAAAASA/lyAXXtmymCw/s1600-h/David2.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374448973825801650" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SpXg3dxZfbI/AAAAAAAAASA/lyAXXtmymCw/s200/David2.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SpXg8i_9oLI/AAAAAAAAASI/cip6eUw8KXI/s1600-h/DC.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 150px; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374449061128413362" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SpXg8i_9oLI/AAAAAAAAASI/cip6eUw8KXI/s200/DC.jpg" /></a><br />Currently I have started up back at work. It's been a very hard transistion for both Will and I after being together all summer. I do love my work and the people I work with but I miss spending so much time with him. I can only imagine how hard it is for Stanley to only be able to come home once a month to see his son. But at least he has a job and that's hard to get in this horrible economy. I just have to remember that God will only give us what we can handle. </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Tiffany Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01654052078948486251noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334943731896384608.post-70587478706211075412008-09-15T15:28:00.000-07:002008-09-16T10:52:41.685-07:00Visit to St. Louis (September 2008)<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SM_ayzjrmtI/AAAAAAAAAK8/gPLkheBsfBA/s1600-h/will,+mom,+and+me.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SM_ayzjrmtI/AAAAAAAAAK8/gPLkheBsfBA/s200/will,+mom,+and+me.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246652657278098130" /></a><br /><br /><br />I hadn't been to St. Louis since May so I decided to make up the lack of summer visits by staying for over a week and see people I hadn't seen in awhile. My brother David was turning 21 on August 31 so that was a big deal! Will hadn't met either one of his uncles so I was curious to see how they would react to a month old baby. Tom immediatly fell in love with Will! The only time I could hold my son was to change him or feed him. David was a little different. He was very nervous to hold Will and very careful. He loved him, I know, but was unsure about holding him. He kept saying "It's a real baby!" <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SM_Zr06bkrI/AAAAAAAAAK0/7Ni6t5Vf0Q0/s1600-h/Its+a+real+baby.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SM_Zr06bkrI/AAAAAAAAAK0/7Ni6t5Vf0Q0/s200/Its+a+real+baby.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246651437871239858" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SM_ZhKsMDMI/AAAAAAAAAKs/kamQ-g98qtc/s1600-h/Tom+and+Will.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SM_ZhKsMDMI/AAAAAAAAAKs/kamQ-g98qtc/s200/Tom+and+Will.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246651254738521282" /></a><br />There were a lot of friends who wanted to meet Will. They hadn't seen me in awhile but I knew I was "chop liver." They all wanted to meet my son, which was fine with me. I went to visit my friend Colleen, whose daughter Emily was born a week after Will was born! <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SM_bJABuMeI/AAAAAAAAALE/h3mJUCQPzZE/s1600-h/colleen,emily,me,+and+will.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SM_bJABuMeI/AAAAAAAAALE/h3mJUCQPzZE/s200/colleen,emily,me,+and+will.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246653038582444514" /></a> We have decided that Emily and Will are each others first girlfriend/boyfriend. They were so cute together!!! <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SM_bXVaj-rI/AAAAAAAAALM/jAVbRL91EqA/s1600-h/will+and+emily.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SM_bXVaj-rI/AAAAAAAAALM/jAVbRL91EqA/s200/will+and+emily.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246653284841945778" /></a><br /><br /><br />My friend Sara also has a son named Josh, who is two years older than Will. He LOVED Will and kept calling him "my baby." Sara couldn't even take a turn holding Will because Josh would cry if someone took him away. It was so sweet!! <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SM_b7lQhmZI/AAAAAAAAALk/3ju-fKLXYP0/s1600-h/josh+crying.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SM_b7lQhmZI/AAAAAAAAALk/3ju-fKLXYP0/s200/josh+crying.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246653907570104722" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SM_b2rVjaEI/AAAAAAAAALc/nQUCRKTBujc/s1600-h/josh+and+will.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SM_b2rVjaEI/AAAAAAAAALc/nQUCRKTBujc/s200/josh+and+will.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246653823302461506" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SM_bxqxPfpI/AAAAAAAAALU/vmkOxJiulrg/s1600-h/me,+will,+josh,+and+sara.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SM_bxqxPfpI/AAAAAAAAALU/vmkOxJiulrg/s200/me,+will,+josh,+and+sara.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246653737250815634" /></a> <br />A lot of my childless friends couldn't wait to meet him and had experience with babies b/c of nephews, nieces, or working in schools. Jen and the out fit that she bought Will. I love how he is looking right at the camera. He finally learned to find mommy's voice! <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SM_uOlD-JcI/AAAAAAAAALs/Xzo_h0kj2vc/s1600-h/jen+H.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SM_uOlD-JcI/AAAAAAAAALs/Xzo_h0kj2vc/s200/jen+H.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246674025144264130" /></a> Robyn, Janel, and I went out to eat with Will. He was much better behaved then the little boy sitting at the table next to us! Janel is a baby pro now because of her niece and nephew. Robyn graduated with an early childhood degree so she's used to babies. I love how Will is giving her the peace sign! <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SM_ut_9ozNI/AAAAAAAAAL8/cvpCx18go1s/s1600-h/will+and+robyn.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SM_ut_9ozNI/AAAAAAAAAL8/cvpCx18go1s/s200/will+and+robyn.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246674564941401298" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SM_upM9kzWI/AAAAAAAAAL0/TwP7ilvopso/s1600-h/will+and+janel.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SM_upM9kzWI/AAAAAAAAAL0/TwP7ilvopso/s200/will+and+janel.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246674482531454306" /></a> <br /><br /><br /><br />Cecelia is a friend from elementry school who stopped by for a couple hours to talk. She said she complained to her husband later that he arm was sore from holding him the whole time but that she loved holding him. Maybe she and her husband will start a family soon! :) <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SM_vEpoy4PI/AAAAAAAAAME/VRGGV7y9zMY/s1600-h/me,+cecelia,+will.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SM_vEpoy4PI/AAAAAAAAAME/VRGGV7y9zMY/s200/me,+cecelia,+will.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246674954085392626" /></a><br />Some other important people to meet Will were the older family members. He is not only the first grandchild but he is also the first great grandchild! Here is a picture from my grandpa's 90th birthday party with 4 generations! <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SM_wEoHRnNI/AAAAAAAAAMM/k5Iptnr7l1o/s1600-h/4+generations.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SM_wEoHRnNI/AAAAAAAAAMM/k5Iptnr7l1o/s200/4+generations.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246676053187992786" /></a><br />My grandpa's girlfriend, Gini, also loved him. So did my Great uncle Bud. I love the smile on their faces when the hold Will! <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SM_wVzWuSYI/AAAAAAAAAMc/ETtw1LSPeuM/s1600-h/Uncle+Bud.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SM_wVzWuSYI/AAAAAAAAAMc/ETtw1LSPeuM/s200/Uncle+Bud.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246676348263352706" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SM_wSU7OmMI/AAAAAAAAAMU/XHYwN0i0zIk/s1600-h/Gini.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SM_wSU7OmMI/AAAAAAAAAMU/XHYwN0i0zIk/s200/Gini.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246676288555358402" /></a><br /><br /><br />Daddy planned on joining us in St. Louis for the second weekend (my grandpa's birthday) but he missed Will so much (and me a little) that he drove all the way to St. Louis for a day and a half instead of catching up on his sleep. I'm glad he loves his son so much! Will missed him too. Stanley has a way of holding him that doesn't look comfortable but they both seem to enjoy it. <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SM_w6K4WpII/AAAAAAAAAMk/OXZxcOhWCPw/s1600-h/daddys+special+hold.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SM_w6K4WpII/AAAAAAAAAMk/OXZxcOhWCPw/s200/daddys+special+hold.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246676973053715586" /></a><br /><br />Because we stayed so long we were able to stay for my dad's birthday (I won't say how old he was turning). My dad loves holding Will and he loves his grandpa. Here is a picture of my dad trying to rock him to sleep on his birthday. <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SM_yTMdajhI/AAAAAAAAAMs/tUKgQyR_VwU/s1600-h/dad+and+will.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SM_yTMdajhI/AAAAAAAAAMs/tUKgQyR_VwU/s200/dad+and+will.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246678502485954066" /></a>Tiffany Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01654052078948486251noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334943731896384608.post-64337725394235719592008-08-19T16:43:00.000-07:002008-08-19T16:57:40.552-07:00Two Weeks Old<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SKtdGLRT-KI/AAAAAAAAAKU/CG06nljTT4w/s1600-h/100_3357.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SKtdGLRT-KI/AAAAAAAAAKU/CG06nljTT4w/s200/100_3357.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236381352434333858" /></a> <br />Will is now a little over 2 weeks old! We had his two week check up and the doctor said he's doing perfect! He weighed 7 pounds 12 ounces at birth and was 20 inches long at birth. Now he is 8 pounds 3 ounces and 22 inches long. I am go glad he is doing well! The only concern was his small amount of wheezing - probably due to the cats. I would hate if we had to get rid of the cats but I would do anything for my son. <br /><br />Will is so amazing! He is so much like me that is scary! He's very particular about things - he will only nurse if he had a dry diaper and has been burped. He will only take the soothie pacifiers that they gave us in the hospital. Luckily they sell them at walmart and target since they get lost easily. Will also sleeps like me - he prefers his stomach (which we only put him on if he's laying on our chests) and has his mouth wide open. <br /><br />Breast feeding is going amazing! At first it was a challenge and I was sure I would give up. I'm glad I kept with it because its like second nature now. He and I definitly prefer the skin to skin part of it!<br /><br />The lack of sleep is starting to catch up with me but it's still all worth it! I try and sleep when he does but sometimes thats hard. My main goal lately has been to try and keep him awake as much as I can during the day. <br /><br />I will now add some of my favorite pictures taken at the Indianapolis Museum of Art when we went with my Aunt Jean, Uncle Jules, Jen, and Sam on August 16. <br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SKtdgDSNPoI/AAAAAAAAAKk/rMSmKBinMQ0/s1600-h/100_3372.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SKtdgDSNPoI/AAAAAAAAAKk/rMSmKBinMQ0/s200/100_3372.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236381796967202434" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SKtdW2_ctpI/AAAAAAAAAKc/Ay_e10RJm2g/s1600-h/100_3360.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SKtdW2_ctpI/AAAAAAAAAKc/Ay_e10RJm2g/s200/100_3360.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236381639048476306" /></a>Tiffany Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01654052078948486251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334943731896384608.post-79541416684505684272008-08-14T13:12:00.000-07:002008-08-14T14:10:57.059-07:00Will's Birth<div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div>July 30, 2008</div><br /><div>7:08 AM - My water broke. Poor Stanley had only gotten 2 hours of sleep b/c he works 3rd shift. He was very confused as to why I had wet myself and soon realized what was happening. </div><div> </div><div>7:15 - Stanley called my mom while I called the doctor. I had an appointment at 9 AM but she said to go ahead and come on in to the hospital. We rushed around trying to remember last minute thing<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SKSTUwqOn4I/AAAAAAAAAH4/-YRXbSuZZ2Q/s1600-h/100_3054.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234470651780046722" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 206px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 180px" height="133" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SKSTUwqOn4I/AAAAAAAAAH4/-YRXbSuZZ2Q/s320/100_3054.jpg" width="142" border="0" /></a>s and I couldn't find matching shoes so I grabbed the first flip flops I could - one red and one white. We knew it would probably be a long day so we stopped at Burger King for breakfast for Stanley. I decided not to get anything because on our first alarm to the hospital I ate quickly and it ended up coming back up.</div><br /><div>8:15 - We arrived at the hospital where the receptionist gave him trouble for eating burger king in front of me. They also all loved the fact that I was wearing one red flip flop and one white flip flop. </div><br /><div>8:45 - The doctor checked me and I had not changed in a week - I was still 1 CM dialated and 25% effaced. I was disappointed but glad my water broke - I would have been more disappointed at my appointment later that morning.</div><br /><div>9:20 - Stanley's dad, Melvin, came to the hospital to visit.<br /></div><div>9:40 - They started pitocin in hopes to get labor going. I talked to my mom and she had the dogs in the kennel and was now leaving St. Louis. She asked me to tell Will to wait for his granda to make it to his birth.<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SKSa1qeGyVI/AAAAAAAAAJA/iiCw6Sy9c64/s1600-h/100_3061.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234478913635666258" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SKSa1qeGyVI/AAAAAAAAAJA/iiCw6Sy9c64/s200/100_3061.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div>12:15 - Janna and Mackenzie arrived at the hospital. Stanley went home to take care of the animals. In our hurry to the hospital they had not been fed or taken out. Poor Donald, our one year old lab, had an accident in his crate. He hasn't had an accident in over 9 months. While Stanley was gone us girls watched "What Not To Wear" on TLC.<br /></div><br /><div>2:00 - I really began to feel the effects of pitocin. They put "the good stuff" as the nurse called it in my IV so I would feel good and loopy. The doctor checked me and was only dialated 2 CM and 50 % effaced - not much change. The upped the pitocin dosage. </div><br /><div>3:15 - Jen and Sam arrived from Bloomington</div><br /><div>3:50 - My mom arrived from St. Louis</div><div> </div><div>4:45 - Stanley, Jen, & Sam went to the cafeteria to get some food. </div><br /><div>5:15 - Janna and Mackenzie came back and brought Terry with them.</div><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SKSWv1WDBuI/AAAAAAAAAIQ/lH-VhGiFLH4/s1600-h/100_3065.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234474415428929250" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" height="122" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SKSWv1WDBuI/AAAAAAAAAIQ/lH-VhGiFLH4/s200/100_3065.jpg" width="150" border="0" /></a> 5:45 - I started to get major pains and wanted Stanley badly. I had a break down. Terry said he would go get Stanley. He finally got back from the cafeteria and rubbed my back. He was very apologetic and said he wouldn't leave me again.<br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div> </div><div>7 - I was 3 CM dialated so they decided I could get an epideral. </div><br /><br /><div>7:30 - Anestesiologist came in. Stanley asked my mom to stay with me because he didn't want to faint. It worked out well because they raised my bed and I put the inside of my feet on my mom's hips and squeezed whenever I got a contraction. She was the perfect height. My mom said she never knew I had such expressive feet!<br /></div><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SKSZYyp8TVI/AAAAAAAAAIw/qgVDUIBwkDw/s1600-h/100_3071.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234477318104960338" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SKSZYyp8TVI/AAAAAAAAAIw/qgVDUIBwkDw/s200/100_3071.jpg" border="0" /></a>8:30 - My cousin Jen was in the waiting room and got the feeling I needed her. She came in the room and woke me up to see if I was okay. Within a few minutes I threw up and luckily I was awake when it happened - it would have been a lot yuckier if she hadn't woken me up. My nurse Suzette got excited and said "You know, a lot of people get naustiated at 7 CM. They would be wonderful!"<br /></div><br /><br /><div><br /> </div><div>9 PM - the doctor checked and I was still at 3 CM. NO CHANGE. The doctor said he would be back in 2 1/2 hours and if no change then we would have to talk about other options. He said it was taking too long for my body to change and Will's heartrate was going down. I began preparing myself for a C-Section. It wasn't ideal but I wanted my baby.<br /><br /></div><div>11:15 - The doctor checked again and still no change. Suzette, the nurse, came in the room wearing her hairnet already so I knew it meant C-Section. I was a little disappointed because I had gone through 17 hours of labor but all I cared about was Will getting here healthy. Stanley had been asleep and was woken up to hear that I needed surgery. He got emotional - worried for me and his son. It was hard to stay calm seeing the man I love in tears and worried for us. I knew the doctors knew what they were doing. I asked if he would be born before or after midnight. The anesthesiologist looked at the clock and said it might be able to get done before (his birthday was on the 30th and we had talked earlier about them sharing birthdays)<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SKSbZzkf6uI/AAAAAAAAAJI/Ljz4EQhHlX8/s1600-h/100_3089.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234479534553688802" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" height="100" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SKSbZzkf6uI/AAAAAAAAAJI/Ljz4EQhHlX8/s200/100_3089.jpg" width="150" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div>11:50 PM I was in the OR getting prepped for surgery and Stanley joined me. The doctors all introduced themselves to me and told me what they were doing. They were all very nice and calmed my nerves somewhat.</div><br /><br /><div>12:14 AM July 31, 2008 William Thomas Allen was born. He weighed 7 pounds 12 ounces and was 20 inches long. I rememer the first thing I said was "Is he still a boy?" The doctor laughed and said "Oh yes, this is most definitly a little boy with a head full of red hair." All I remember is starting to cry. Stanley got to cut the cord and then I got to meet Will. I talked to him and told him I loved him and he looked right into my eyes!<br /><br /></div><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234475393396576178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SKSXowjtD7I/AAAAAAAAAIY/8UjabBy1QPg/s200/100_3080.jpg" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234476852064160498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SKSY9qhKCvI/AAAAAAAAAIo/Emiys-EAs0A/s200/100_3086.jpg" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234476509969817250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SKSYpwHgnqI/AAAAAAAAAIg/usoHjFilANU/s200/100_3090.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><div>12:45 My dad and sister Laura arrived from St. Louis. My mom, dad, sister, cousin Jen, and her husband Sam stood for hours and just watched the window while I was in recovery. Stanley got to be with him the whole time! I am so blessed to have the most generous and kind husband ever. We had never discussed it at all but Stanley decided to wait and not hold Will right away. He decided I should be the first one to hold him! </div><br /><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234480822610220034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SKSckx9G1AI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/929051GpF2w/s200/100_4392.jpg" border="0" /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234481082013468770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 198px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="220" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SKScz4TqSGI/AAAAAAAAAJY/bmhMtVEK7L0/s200/100_4350.jpg" width="162" border="0" /><br />Around 2 AM We all lost track at this point. My family decided to leave once I was in my room and out of recovery. They would be back tomorrow to meet Will - they knew this should be an intimate moment between mother, father, and baby.</div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234481760644767506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SKSdbYZ-HxI/AAAAAAAAAJg/xu0SPQDNT98/s200/100_3108.jpg" border="0" /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234482054487929042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SKSdsfDo8NI/AAAAAAAAAJo/Ur660RauAGs/s200/100_3102.jpg" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234482363380460114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rrz5ZORRchc/SKSd-dxW6lI/AAAAAAAAAJw/lHxKpm2W-Eg/s200/100_3104.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Tiffany Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01654052078948486251noreply@blogger.com0