Baby Love

Life is slowly beginning settle here at home. Skyler went back to school yesterday, and Chris goes back to work this weekend so it hasn't been too crazy with all of the kids by myself, yet. I'm sure I'll have my share of pulling-my-hair-out moments when Chris is on shift for 24 hours, but until then I'm going to reflect on the peaceful moments I do have and enjoy our sweet baby girl! Here are some of my favorite photos of Miss Amelia:

Hope you all take time to enjoy the moments of peace in your day!

New Beginnings

As many of you know this has been a very busy week for us here at the Johnson household. Miss Amelia Marie was born on Thursday, August 5th at 8lbs 6oz and 20 3/4 inches! She was a week over due, but fortunately being my fourth, the delivery was quick and I was able to go without an epidural.

Her siblings came to meet her later that day and we brought her home Friday evening. She was pretty fussy from the get go, so Saturday at home with all the kids was a little crazy. After trouble all day with nursing and no wet diapers, we took her temperature and realized she had a fever.

We ended up having to take her to the emergency room that evening. Because she was only a few days old, they were required to admit her for two days. A fever could have meant any number of things in a newborn and they had to wait on some tests to be sure that it wasn't anything serious.

I couldn't stay with her in the NICU or IMC so we spent a lot of time going back and forth to the hospital. Fortunately all of the tests came back negative and her fever had subsided within hours of arriving Saturday evening.

I think the hardest part was not being able to stay with her. I was able to hold her and nurse her as much as I wanted while I was there, but I felt terrible having to leave her; there were definitely some tears (along with wacky hormones) over those few days.

Seeing some of the other babies (most of them premature), we knew we were lucky, and were able to bring her home on Tuesday.

We had a little party to welcome her home and she's been a completely different baby since her second homecoming. She's been sleeping four hour stretches at night, is nursing perfectly, and hardly cries--God has really blessed us!

We had tons of help from family and friends with watching the kids, providing meals, and lots of prayer!

I had something of a cold the Sunday before Amelia was born and the pediatrician thinks she probably caught whatever I had and still had it when she was born. We are extremely grateful that it wasn't anything more serious and are glad to have her home. Thank you all for your prayers for Amelia and our family!

I have lots I want to share with y'all, but I probably won't be on here too much in the next few weeks--I want to spend as much time snuggling sweet Amelia (and getting some rest from time to time)! See you soon!

The End and the Beginning are (Almost) in Sight

We spent this morning with the kids at Brackenridge Park, Chris and I enjoying the kids, our family. I had my camera with me and caught a picture of my blooming shadow (I have a similar picture of Chris and I holding hands at the same park before we were married). 

Obviously expecting our fourth, we often attract attention (both good and not so good) from strangers amazed at 'how we do it.' I don't know that I have the perfect answer to that question--it's definitely not easy--we just do it. Having a 'larger' family (at least by today's standards) is chaotic and extremely stressful and draining at times, but I feel like it's made us work even harder at building our family together. We are far from perfect (tempers do flair from time to time), but these little kids keep us grounded and focused on the important things in life. 

And any day now (that's a hint to you baby), we'll grow even closer together as we celebrate and share in this new life together!

Skyler says goodnight and see you later each day with the anticipation that the baby could be coming at any time. Eleanor asks baby? every time she sees me making something, and Liam loves to wrap his arms around my belly and kiss the baby. And I can tell Chris is in love with the idea of having another little girl by the way he dotes on Eleanor and stops what he's doing to smile as she plays swords with her brother and gives her extra cookies from the cookie jar!

As anxious and sleepless as I've been waiting for our little one, I'm thankful that God has blessed us with such a beautiful family and is entrusting us with one more precious soul. May God open all our eyes to the blessings He has given us so that we may fully celebrate in the joy of life!