More Pictures of Baby Elias

Here are some more pictures of Baby Elias. I've been so busy feeding and changing the baby, as well as, playing referee between the kids over who gets to hold him, that I haven't had time to upload any pictures until now. Some of these are from a week or more ago.

Elias has been such a good baby. He is very mellow and even tempered. Elias has been very patient with all of the kids, too. They are constantly wanting to hold him and he is happy to oblige them. Thank goodness he is a sound sleeper and doesn't seem to mind being jostled around.

Here is Elias with his God Mother (my sister-in-law) and God Father (my brother).

Elias with some of the visitors, Grammy and Paw Paw, Aunt Olivia and Nana, my oldest brother, Ma and Pa, and my sister.

Little Elias Michael is Born!

Introducing our newest little blessing---- ELIAS MICHAEL !

He was born Thursday, September 17 at 12:37 am. He was a little over two weeks early and still weighed in at 8 lbs. Elias measured in at 19 1/2 inches. Though, not the longest he is the heaviest.

Thank God, we had a healthy and rather uneventful labor despite my broken tailbone. It was due to God's own goodness and impecible timing. My husband was searching channels on the television to keep us busy during labor. I asked him if they had EWTN. It just so happened that the most difficult part of my labor coincided with the replaying of the daily Mass on EWTN around midnight. Thankfully, I was able to focus my attention on listening to the wonderful gospel readings and homily while I tried to breath through the most difficult contractions. As the time to give birth got closer, the nurses and doctors came in and turned the television off, but it was just after the Liturgy of the Eucharist of that retelevised Mass that Elias was born.

I repeated to myself, "I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me." I kept thinking about the sacrifice that Jesus made for us nearly 2000 years ago on the cross. And continues to offer to us daily in the Holy Sacrifce of the Mass. It helped me to realize to join my sufferings to those of Christ. What I was undergoing for another person was nothing compared to what Jesus had done and continues to do for us. He hung there for three hours on that cross, being humiliated, taunted, and insulted. I was able to put my own sufferings into perspective when compared to those of Christ on the cross. As a result of God's Divine grace, this was one of the easier labors.

Enough about my inner thoughts during labor, here are a few of the photos we have taken thus far.

Another Little Visitor at Our House

The other week we discovered that a skunk was visiting us to eat the cat's food. I thought I had out smarted him when I moved the cat's food dish to the railing of our deck. And for quite some time, it appeared that I had. However, while sitting at the kitchen table the other night, I discovered that we have a new visitor who has the ability to climb our railing and get to the cat's food.

This little opossum was rather friendly and didn't mind us coming out to look at him in the least. Now the problem is, where do I put the cat's food dish? I guess we'll have to make sure we only feed the cat what she can eat or bring the food dish in the house each night.

Oh, well, it was kind of nice to see an opossum that close up, again. My family used to have a pet opossum when I was a kid and it brought back some memories seeing this little guy. This last picture was of me with our pet opossum while we were camping. I think I was about 10 in the picture.

Pregnancy Photos

Okay, here are the dreaded belly shots that we usually do before the baby arrives. They aren't the greatest, but you get the point. I feel like I am ready to explode any day now. I can hardly wait to see our newest addition, baby Elias.

First Cross Country Meet

On Wednesday, the two oldest kids had their first cross country meet. I was very proud of both of them. The persevered and finished the race. Dear Daughter finished in the middle of the pack of 70 some girls. Considering she is rather small for her age, I think she did great. Dear Son is a year younger than any of the other boys out there, and he is running just for the fun of it, so I was very proud that he was able to finish the race. The kids had another meet on Friday night that I was unable to attend, but Dear Hubby took them and I hear they did even better! Way to go kids. So proud of your efforts.

Happy Birthday, Mother Mary

Today is the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin, Mary. We celebrated this morning by going to Mass early and taking Mary some of the roses from our flower bed. We first sang her "Happy Birthday" and then Immaculate Mary. The kids laid their roses at her feet and then posed for a picture with "Holy Mother" or "Mama Mary", as they sometimes call her. On special Marian feasts I like to make a food or desert and incorporate the color blue, which traditionally is associated with Mary. Some suggestions are using blue frosting, blue berries, blue sprinkles, or blue food coloring to color drinks or mashed potatoes. Sometimes the little extras are what help the kids really remember the importance of a feast day.

Our First, First Friday Activities for the New School Year

We had our first, First Friday activities for the new school year today at a nearby nursing home. The leaders focused on "The Year of the Priest" as proclaimed by Pope Benedict XVI for June 19, 2009 to June 19, 2010. We learned about he importance of the priesthood, holy orders, what the role of a deacon, priest, and bishop are, and watched a short video about St. John Marie Vianney. To celebrate the year of the priest, each child will be adopting a priest. Each child made a card to send to the priest letting them know how much they appreciate them and their vocation, as well as, letting the priest know the child will be praying for them. The kids then made a craft that held a prayer card for vocations. When finished decorating their crosses, the kids took the craft around to the nursing home residents and gave them out. I think everyone learned something from today's lessons and activities and was encouraged to think more about how vital the priesthood is to our Faith.

Friends Over to Play for the Day

On Thursday the kids had some friends over to play. Their oldest son was celebrating his Birthday, so he brought cupcakes to share with the kids. They had lots of fun eating them on the deck and swinging together afterward while they were hyped up on sugar.

Shortly after coming in the house it started to thunderstorm and the younger two girls decide they were going to do a play by play conversation about what they were seeing. It was really cute to hear them talking about the weather. They kept tapping each other on the shoulder to get each other's attention before making their next comment. Very cute stage they are both in right now, nearly two and going on 13.

Baby #6 (Elias Michael)

Well, I am almost 36 weeks, and baby Elias will be here soon. The last three girls came about 3 weeks early, so that means little Eli could be here sometime next weekend. I am starting to have Braxton Hicks contractions and feeling like a whale. The baby dropped last week and is in position. Thank, God! I was worried about having a breech birth on top of the broken tailbone I have. That would not have been easy. I am trying to take it easy, especially for the next week and a half. This weekend is the full moon and I know is sounds silly, but the first 4 kids all came on the full moon. I know that sounds like I am paranoid or believe in old wives tales, but you can never be too cautious when y0u've already had three early deliveries. My husband keeps thinking Eli is coming early. I just hope not too early. Keep us in your prayers, especially a happy, safe, delivery.