Instagram Recap & Other Special Moments
Grandpa and Grandma stopped by with our other little ones to say hello after the baby and I got back home, then they kept Rose & Bud at their home for one more night.
Instagram: Between outfits, but we wanted to make sure and pray the holy rosary right at 7:00 PM tonight, for the soul of their grandfather, even though we couldn’t be at his wake down in Arizona with the rest of the family. 🌹🙏🏻❤️ #babysfirstrosary #prayersforgrandpa #requiescatinpace
Instagram: Processing payroll with my new little helper… So glad that I was able to get set up to work part-time from home, instead of always at the office, especially since I never got around to training a temporary replacement for once baby arrived. 💕#workingfromhome #corporatesecretaryandbookkeeper
Instagram: This morning I did the best I could to hide my exhaustion with my first shower since being discharged from the hospital and some makeup… Didn’t last long though, since I was in tears once again shortly after making the drive and arriving at the pediatrician’s with my three little ones. Baby’s bilirubin levels were high enough to require a trip back to the hospital for additional blood work (thankfully the numbers came back a little lower and we didn’t need to be admitted) and her weight has continued to drop despite having plenty of milk and nursing 27-29 times every 24 hours… (Haven’t slept more than an hour at a time since her birth…) She is now weighing just 6 lbs 1 oz. She’s so tiny! The goal for the rest of today is to get her back into some filtered sunlight and to try my best to rest and reduce my stress levels in the hopes of a better milk supply. We head back to the pediatrician’s tomorrow. Say a prayer that her weight starts to climb back up!
Instagram: It started out hard, but today ended up being such a better day than yesterday. Thank you all so very much for the prayers, encouragement and support! ❤️ I met with a lactation consultant for an hour and a half and we have a plan to help with all the nursing challenges. Baby’s jaundice is continuing to improve, she weighed 6 lbs 2 oz (up an ounce from yesterday, then up another ounce after nursing), and we won’t need to go back until her 2 week check up next Wednesday. SUCH a relief! My dad stopped by around lunch time and caught up all our dishes from the week, I got a heavenly little nap, and then my mom came over to watch the other two while baby and I went to the appointments. I’m not very good at asking for or accepting help, but my mom keeps insisting (despite her own busy schedule – there always seems to be at least one of us 12 kids that needs something!) and I really don’t know how I would have survived without it the past month – before I delivered (taking kids to baseball games and practices and me to appointments when I was unable to drive myself, co-hosting a gorgeous baby shower and gifting us with the infant car seat needed to bring baby home), during labor (she drove me to the hospital since Sean was working in the forest and out of cell range when it was time to go – so glad he made it for the delivery and that she got to be there for the birth too), and now post-partum (watching the little ones until the day after I was discharged and then again today, catching up laundry and feeding them dinner which will make this evening so much easier). After getting a flat tire repaired today, Sean and the older kids will begin the long drive back tomorrow and will arrive late Friday night. After spending just 12 of the past 42 days all together I am so looking forward to having everyone home again!
Instagram: Little luxuries like hot showers, naps, and not needing to leave the house have quickly moved towards the top of my list of favorites lately, right after snuggling this sweet baby of course. ❤️ After getting rid of nearly all the baby gear last summer, we didn’t plan to replace very much of it this time around. How hard could it be to live without a swing/crib/etc with so many extra sets of hands around all the time?! With most of them out of town this past week, this little soft and soothing removable napper which came as part of the new Pack ‘n Play we were given has been so incredibly helpful especially when it comes to finally getting to shower! Thank you, Charlotte and family! 😘
On the Day You Were Born
Grace upon Grace
I know it was all the prayers and extra graces from God that got me through the past nine months and this challenging pregnancy… It’s so fitting that she was born on June 8th, on the traditional feast of Mary, Mediatrix of all Graces. I think we’ll nickname her “Grace” here on the blog.
With her birth just two days after the death of my father-in-law, my husband’s brother (Father D. Gordon) pointed out that the name we choose happens to mean Resurrection. A friend also shared the morning prayer (Divine Office) for June 8th with us, which is also so beautifully fitting:
Congratulations to her oldest brother, who not only was the person who told me that I was pregnant before I had even considered it a possibility – (“Mom, are you sure you aren’t pregnant? This is not your usual sick… this is your pregnant sick!”) – but was also the person to win the baby hunch online pool for guessing the closest (date, time, length, coloring, etc) before she was born! (Charlotte and my sister-in-law Meagan were so close to winning too!)
I’m enjoying having another baby girl so very much! Before we were discharged from the hospital this afternoon, I had a little fun dressing her up to bring home, in her new rose covered gown, and taking a few pictures with the letter board the girls and I had started filling out before her birth (just needed a couple changes) and the cute little bunny her cousin gave her at the hospital yesterday!
My sister-in-law picked us up from the hospital and brought us home. It’s so quite here at home with just the baby, while most of the family on their way to Arizona for my father-in-law’s funeral and our other two little ones are staying one more night with my parents. Last night was the first time they had ever spent the night at their grandparent’s home and they are enjoying the treat! Please continue to keep our family in your prayers.
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| I’ll probably take down this picture after a little while (or update with her blog name), but wanted to share her name with all my dear visitors here at Shower of Roses. Her patron saints tie in to her pregnancy in little ways. All her siblings found out she was going to be a girl on Christmas Eve… There is also a little nod to St. Therese who I’m sure had something to do with her unlikely conception at the beginning of October. God is good! |
Prayer for a Happy Delivery
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| Mother Love Prayer Book • Watercolor Rose Swaddle Blanket |
Instagram Update: Thank you all for the prayers! Our beautiful little girl is here! Everything went really well and she arrived at 1:56 AM this morning, June 8, 2017, weighing in at 6 pounds 15 ounces and measuring 19.5 inches. God is good!
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One of my favorite captured moments from today  💕She prefers to be held all the time, but I don’t mind. #whoneedssleep #twodaysold |
+ Requiescat in Pace +
Please pray for the repose of the soul of James Patrick Gordon, Jr. I’m going to miss this amazing Irishman, inspirational father of five (a daughter, three priests, and my husband), and loving grandfather. He passed away much sooner than expected yesterday morning, June 6, 2017.
Update: There will be a wake at the funeral home 6 – 10 pm Sunday, June 11th and funeral mass at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Nogales, at 10 am Monday, June 12th. Please say a prayer for the safety of all those who are traveling to attend, including my husband and our five oldest children.
Murphy Family Reunion
All of my siblings are in town this weekend for a Murphy family reunion! It’s the first time all 12 of us have been together at the same time in over 13 YEARS! I figured this would be the day I’d go into labor… #murphyslaw … but I made it and we were even able to get some family photos including a fun reenactment of one from 21 years ago! #ilovemycrazyfamily #firstbornoftwelve #sixgirlssixboys
While the cameras were out we got a family picture too! Sean and our oldest son have arrived back home again after spending 2 1/2 weeks in Arizona caring for my father-in-law, who is currently suffering greatly due to rapid stage 4 cancer. I’m so sad he had to leave, but also relieved that he will be here for the birth of our little girl whenever she decides to arrive.
Pregnancy Pictures & Online Baby Pool
Happy Feast of the Visitation (OF) and the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary (EF)!
It has been so much easier to share little updates and pictures over on Instagram this pregnancy, but I wanted to go back and record some more of those memories here on the blog too. It’s hard to believe that our “baby” will turn six this year, it’s been nearly three years (June 13, 2014) since our last miscarriage, and that we have been blessed with another baby to love. We are so excited to meet her whenever she decides to arrive! Thank you all for the encouragement and prayers!
#icanfinallysaynextmonth #mayday #stjosephtheworker #orapronobis #32weekspregnant #butshesmeasuringover34 #countingthedaystojune24
My ultrasound and doctor’s appointments went well yesterday. Due to the issues I’m having with my hips and lower back, and the likelihood of re-breaking my tailbone during delivery, my doctor has recommended scheduling an induction for June 17th, when I am 39 weeks pregnant, rather than waiting to see if I go to my due date on June 24th. I have never made it to my due date and have only made it to 39 weeks a few times. I’m guessing it will be sooner. After seeing my chiropractor/physical therapist today, she thinks the baby has dropped since last week and is wondering if I’ll even make it to next weeks appointment. We’ll see! Sean and our oldest son started the drive home today and should be back home by tomorrow night. Hopefully I can at least make it until then.
For reference, here are the past stats:
Captain: 5 days early, 10:24 am, 7 pounds 2 ounces, 20 inches
Rascal: 7 days early, 11:19 am, 7 pounds 11 ounces, 19 inches
Twinkle Toes: 10 days early, 12:55 am, 7 pounds 4 ounces, 19 1/4 inches
Chiquita: 21 days early, 9:54 pm, 7 pounds 4 ounces, 18 1/2 inches
Snuggles: 3 days early, 10:37 pm, 8 pounds 5 ounces, 20 1/2 inches (He was also due on June 24th, 10 years ago, just after I started this blog!)
Rose: 10 days early, 11:49 pm, 8 pounds 1 ounce, 19 inches
Bud: 6 or 16 days early (depending on which due date you went with – cycle or early ultrasound), 10:02 am, 7 pounds 5 ounces, 20 inches
Update: Congratulations to the winner!
A Baby Shower in May
Our Godson’s Baptism and Pregnancy Blessings
We ended up being able to deliver that Spiritual Bouquet to JOY{filled}family in person and hold our darling (two-day old) Godson during his baptism on May 10th! I didn’t think it was going to be possible, between my husband camping over at the coast with our five older children May 7th-9th (for our older boys’ High School Regional Golf Tournament) and my own pregnancy complications and challenges, but Sean was able to take another day off work and my doctors said the long 11-12+ hour round trip drive would be ok, as long as we stopped every 1-2 hours to walk and stretch. It was such a beautiful day filled with so many blessings!
After the baptism I was able to receive the Blessing of an Expectant Mother and our baby girl and I were also blessed with a relic of St. Gerard by this faithful and holy priest.
The King’s Prey: Saint Dymphna of Ireland {Sponsored Giveaway}
Happy Feast of St. Dymphna!
To celebrate her feast this year I wanted to introduce you all to the brand new book that has just been written and released by author Susan Peek about this holy saint and give away a copy to one of my visitors!
During our correspondence the author shared:
“I really, really feel Saint Dymphna needs to be known in this day and age of such widespread depression and stress. She is the patron saint of so many things: mental illness, emotional disorders, depression, nervous ailments, autism, intellectually handicapped, runaways, victims of family and sexual violence, the list goes on and on. So I would love to spread devotion to her in my own little way. I timed the book to release in time for her feast day, so now I just have to get the word out there!”
Let’s help her spread the word and increase devotion to this little-known Irish princess saint!
This new addition to the God’s Forgotten Friends series recently received the following endorsement from The National Shrine of St. Dymphna in Ohio:
“I work at the Shrine of St Dymphna. The King’s Prey is great. A very good story. True to the facts, with excitement to thrill the young. I am looking forward to selling it at our gift shop.”
An insane king. His fleeing daughter. Estranged brothers, with a scarred past, risking everything to save her from a fate worse than death. Toss in a holy priest and a lovable wolfhound, and get ready for a wild race across Ireland. Will Dymphna escape her deranged father and his sinful desires?
For the first time ever, the story of Saint Dymphna is brought to life in this dramatic novel for older teens. With raw adventure, gripping action, and even humor in the midst of dark mental turmoil, Susan Peek’s newest novel will introduce you to a saint you will love forever! Teenage girls will see that Dymphna was just like them, a real girl, while young men will thrill at the heart-stopping danger and meet heroes they can easily relate to. If ever a Heavenly friend was needed in these times of widespread depression and emotional instability, this forgotten Irish saint is it!
I have really enjoyed reading some of the other titles in the series and am looking forward to reading The King’s Prey: Saint Dymphna of Ireland this summer, learning more about Saint Dymphna, and possibly sharing it with our teens once they are a little older and ready for the mature themes.
In addition to The King’s Prey: Saint Dymphna of Ireland, Susan Peek has also written Saint Magnus, The Last Viking (the first volume in her series God’s Forgotten Friends: Lives of Little-known Saints, which was awarded the Catholic Writers’ Guild Seal of Approval in June 2015!), A Soldier Surrenders: The Conversion of Saint Camillus de Lellis (recommend for ages 15 and up), and Crusader King: A Novel of Baldwin IV and the Crusades (which made it onto the list of the Top 50 Most Popular Homeschooling Books in 2013).
She has also written a number of great Catholic books for children including Animals of God Volume 1 and Volume 2 as well as the titles in her God’s Forgotten Friends: Little-known Saints for Children series: Small for the Glory of God: Saint John the Dwarf, The Man God Kept Surprising: Saint William of Bourges, and The Forgotten Christmas Saint: Saint Anastasia.
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