One week old!

What a sweet, beautiful baby!

At the hospital

I didn't get into my regular room until midnight so the kids did not come to see their new sister until after Church on Sunday. They were all very excited to see the new baby - even Domonique! It is always fun to see the kids with the new baby and they enjoy holding the newest family member.













This was the second Sunday in a row that I didn't make it to Church. This was also the only Sunday I ever missed because of a baby.

Officially announcing...

the arrival of our newest little girl!

Harmonie Christine Roy

She was born on February 18, 2012
at 8:26 p.m.
weighing 8 pounds 6.4 ounces
measuring 19 1/4 inches long

I did not go into labor on my own so we went to the hospital on Saturday morning.

It snowed Friday night so the kids were out shoveling the snow when we left.

It was strange to be going to the hospital without the pain of contractions to keep me company.

I received pitocin at 10:45 and we all thought it would move right along.

Unfortunately, it took all day before I started to have painful contractions.

I got the epidural at 5:15 p.m. and they broke my water at 5:45.

Really thought things would move along after that.

Started to feel pain again so they added more meds to the epidural at 7:45.

It took and I felt much better.

Started to feel the pressure that everyone talks about but I have never felt before.

Nurse said I should take a nap so I'd have energy when it was time to push.

Called my parents at 8:09 to tell them it would be a couple more hours.

Really felt the pressure so I gently pushed through two contractions.

Then I told Kevin it was time to have a baby because I felt her descend.
When he pulled back the blanket he saw her head half way out.

Nurses got there and told me to hold on - I didn't do anything from that moment on.

With every contraction the baby moved a little farther out.

Kevin and the nurse delivered the baby.

Harmonie was on my chest when the doctor ran in.

Now that was an easy delivery! No tearing!

She is beautiful and perfect and loved by everyone!

40 weeks and 6 days

Tomorrow will mark my 41st week (approximately) of this pregnancy. That will be the longest I have ever gone. I had an NST today and an ultrasound to check some things. The baby was very active and everything looks good. They started out saying, "You have lots of options..." Then it came down to, "You can induce tomorrow morning or Saturday morning." They don't want to see me go much later because of the possibilities of the baby dying. So, we have a 9:00 a.m. appointment on Saturday if I don't go into labor on my own Friday. On one side, I'd like to go into labor on my own. Seems to work better for me. On the other hand, I'd like the controlled environment and best chance of epidural with the induction. I guess we'll see. Either way I'll have a baby this weekend and that's the best part!

Fun with marble tracks

It was great to watch Domonique and Xiomara play together today. I helped Xiomara build the track and then Domonique wanted to join. Xiomara was excited to have her playmate. Domonique really enjoyed dropping the marbles in and was anxious for more when she ran out. Xiomara was happy to retrieve the marbles.


Ben also enjoyed playing but with his own track.

Due Day!

Yes, I've made it to my due date once again. Not uncommon for me. Actually, it's really the norm. Now we just see how much past the due date this baby wants to wait. I keep expecting contractions to start but they don't and may not for several more days. Oh well. I know she'll come soon because she can't stay inside forever.

The newest issue is that I fell on the stairs this morning and landed really hard on my tailbone. I have limped around all day. The most painful is when I go to sit or get up from sitting. I can't bend over - so no more touching my toes from a standing position. I'm nervous now for the after delivery when my bum is still healing and I have to take care of a newborn and 6 other kids and a house and husband and furnace and cooking and so forth and so on. I take comfort in knowing I'll heal and try not to focus on how long it will take.

It's February now...

Let's have us a baby! I'm so ready... I think!
Domonique was the first to come early.
Kemiah was the fastest labor/delivery.
Xiomara was the latest (7 days late).
Maybe this one will be the first to come ON the due date (Feb 10th).
We shall see.

Thought this might happen one day.

I had some left overs that the kids weren't eating, so I took them out to the chickens. Since the weather has been nice they are out in the yard instead of staying in the house all day. The 6 or so that were out in the yard today were excited to have some new food. Due to my poor planning I had to make two trips out but oh well. After lunch, I was laying on the couch reading to Kemiah and Xiomara when the doorbell rang. It was our neighbor, James. He wanted to talk to me and I invited him in from my couch (my back hurts a lot now and it feels better when I lay down). He wanted to talk to me outside. Fine. I got up and went outside only to hear him sort of whisper, "You have a dead chicken." That has happened before but I was surprised because I had been out twice and there was no dead chicken. He said it was in the wading pool and talked like the chicken had been dead a while. Totally surprised me! Then he added the clincher... "There was a huge hawk pecking at it." Oh my. The hawk must have swooped into the yard and scared those poor chickens. There were black feathers all over and a poor dead chicken. I assured James that the hawk had just killed the chicken, and we both wondered why it didn't fly off with it. Anyway, we bagged up the dead chicken and I put the other chickens into the coop window in the garage. I wonder if they'll come out again tomorrow? Kevin and I talked about the hawks and wondered if they'd be able to get into the yard. I guess during the winter they'll take what they can find.