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.