Summer in a nut shell

WOW! Our summer went way too fast, it always does. We started school this week with the kids which makes summer officially over in the O'Connor house. Summer was great but it's good to be back in a routine.

Here are some highlights of our summer

Our newest addition
Joel Philip O'Connor born on July4:)

What a blessing he has been!

Our oldest, Elijah, decided to become a follower of Jesus and was baptized.
(another joy filled day!)

We got to spend some time catching up with family

Adah took advantage of the fact that her mommy has been a busy lady.

We spent some time outdoors

(I would not recommend trying to hike a trail and nurse a baby at the same time, it was not easy)

And at the pool

We enjoyed the fruits (& veggies) of our labor in the garden, even though the crazy weather did some of our plants in.

We just hung out

Joel started smiling:)

And still loves snuggling,

(I get less snuggle time because everyone wants to snuggle him)

What a great summer it has been

Baby Joel Week 2

Joel sleeping near the front garden week 1
Micah kissing Joel

Adah kissing Joel at the zoo, she LOVES her brother

Levi watching over his new little brother

Elijah adores baby Joel

Anna is a little mommy to him

Sweet lil' boy

Well I've been a mommy to 6 a little over 2 weeks now and things are going well. Joel is a precious little guy, we are all crazy about him. Just the other day Anna told me she loved him so much she just wants to hold him and hug and kiss him all day. I feel the same way, he's just so sweet. Even when he's having a fussy night, I don't mind; I know from having gone through it 5 times before that he'll grow so fast so I'm trying to enjoy each moment I can while he's still small.

Being a mom isn't usually convenient and it's hardly easy but it is such a great job to have:)

Joel's First Week

Grandma Janet, Joel, Adah & Matt
Pepaw with Joel

Uncle Drew & Joel

Aunt Barbara

Anna & Joel

What a sweetie

Adah & Joel getting ready for the pool

Grandpa O'Connor & Joel

Grandma O'Connor & Joel

nothing sweeter than a sleeping baby

Elijah & Joel

The kids at the museum

Levi & Joel

Micah loving his baby brother

Adah enjoying her new brother

She did not want to let her baby go

Daddy & Joel

We had an awesome first week with our newest little guy Joel here. Matt took the whole week off and we had a vacation at home. Matt took the 5 older kids to the Air Force museum, the pool, Dave & Busters for a few hours throughout the week so I could rest and spend some time with the baby. Matt and Elijah got to spend some father/son time at Spirit Song at Kings Island Thursday night. We spent most of our mornings and evenings together hanging out, playing games, reading books, and just enjoying one another.

The transition from 5 to 6 kids has been seamless so far. He is so sweet and fits right into the family as if he's always been here. The kids adore their new brother as do we.

I feel so blessed to have such an awesome husband and great children.

Happy "Birth-Day" to me!

I got the best birthday present yesterday, our new little guy was born.

Joel Philip O'Connor was born on my birthday, July 4 at 4:24 am.

I went into labor July 3 late afternoon and headed to the hospital after about 3 hours of good contractions at home. I was excited that Dr. Brenner just happened to be on call so Matt and I were excited about that. Not only is she a great Dr. who has delivered 3 of our 6 kiddos but she and her family go to our church and we have enjoyed getting to know her in a more personal setting over the past couple years.

I got an epidural around 10 PM which did not work at all so they had to take it out and do another. I didn't know until yesterday that the more epidural's you have the less effective they become and can even not work from the scar tissue that builds up each time. Thankfully the second time it worked and I felt some relief although I still felt pressure and the urge to push.

My labor slowed way down after my epidural as it always does so they started pitocin and broke my water around 1:30 am which got things going again.

After a couple more hours and a few pushes, Joel Philip was born.

He was 9 lbs 2 oz and 21 1/2 inches long, a good sized boy!

I feel great and was ready to go home as soon as they would let me so we got to leave a little after the 24 hour mark since he was born at 4:24 am. The kids are still at my in-laws and will be home later this afternoon so we're enjoying a nice quiet afternoon until they get here. But it's a little too quiet for me. As of now (which will likely change) he is a very very quiet little guy.

He is doing awesome and sweet as can be! I couldn't have asked for a better addition to our family:)

Still Here

As for now I am still here...

Meaning I am still at home, still pregnant and still ready for our little guy to arrive.

I'm ready, I'm tired, I feel sick and can hardly eat anything, I'm anxious and excited and I'm growing more impatient by the minute.

I'm sure some of you can relate.

My due date was yesterday so I'm not really that far beyond my due date but it feels like an eternity.

I've tried all I know how to get my labor going and it's just not so I'll continue to wait. He can't stay in there forever.

I have to keep reminding myself that in God's perfect timing he will arrive. I trust in the Lord and know that this baby is His precious child.

Weekend Fun

The kids huddled together to watch Elijah play his ds
some of the lettuce from our garden (this was only about 1/4 of what we harvested yesterday..we'll be eating meals with lettuce for weeks:)

Adah munching on some fresh lettuce

Anna snacking on some lettuce (my girls LOVE to eat fresh stuff out of the garden)

Micah getting ready to go fishing with Daddy

We had one of those glorious weekends this past week where we really had nothing planned. That's not to say we didn't do anything but it was just a great laid back weekend. I love weekends like this.

Matt took Micah fishing by himself Saturday morning. Micah has been begging to get into some sort of activity or sport like his older brothers but we have told him time and time again he's too young or too little. So Matt thought he'd take him to get donuts for breakfast and then go fishing, just the two of them. They had a great time just Daddy and Micah.

Then in the afternoon, I took the older 3 kids to the pool while Matt and the two little ones rested. They came up later and met us for some family swimming time.

Sunday we worked in the garden in the morning before church then headed to church and lunch. We came home, I rested while Matt played with the kids. We enjoyed some of the fresh lettuce and dill that came from the garden earlier in the day with our dinner. Then got everyone bathed and into bed.

What a great weekend at home with the family. It's so nice to be able to take a break from the busy life and enjoy time together.

Father's Day

D-1 All Star Team
Elijah pitching

Elijah playing 1st base

Gearing up to catch

Matt and Adah watching the game

Matt and Elijah

Matt and Levi

Matt and Anna

Matt and Micah

What a day yesterday! Father's Day was a busy one at the O'Connor house yesterday. We started with church, followed by lunch. Elijah played in his division all star baseball game in the afternoon. It was hot! I wasn't sure if I'd last the whole day after the game (I was pretty miserable from the heat but really enjoyed watching my boy play in the all star game); after cooling down we headed home and had a cook out for some of the dad's in our life.