Our Bundle of JOY is here!

Our little girl arrived exactly 2 weeks early according to her actual due date, but she is strong and healthy! Joy Brooklyn Durkee weighed 8 lbs. 3 oz. and is 20 1/4 inches long. I was scheduled to have her a few days early by c-section due to my previous one with the twins, but she had her own ideas! For once this delivery had nothing to do with high blood pressure either. I simply went into labor on my own and got to experience contractions not induced by any medication. We actually had to rush to the hospital as my contractions were down to 3 minutes apart. We arrived a little before 6 am and she was born at 7:14 am. Needless to say, they wasted no time! Since this all didn't go "as planned" we have a lot of people to thank as they stepped in to help take care of our other 3 children. Our good friend, Debbie, took our call at 5 am and came over to stay at the house until noon. (Thanks for taking on my dirty kitchen...the one I planned on cleaning that morning!!) Jerry Ann, another friend from church, came over from noon until Guy went home to put them bed for the night. Cathy also came after work to help out. And while all this is going on, my parents quickly packed up, Dad wrapped up bids at work, and took off in the car to get here by 9 pm that night. They graciously jumped in and took on all 3 kids until Wednesday afternoon when Guy and I and Joy got home. Guy's mom unfortunately got sick or else she would have been here as well. Anyway, we are now home and adjusting to life with another baby. At times it feels like a 3 ringed circus, but we are so thankful for God's miracles, his control and his perfect timing...even when it doesn't seem perfect to us. Thanks for all your prayers and your continued prayers. We couldn't be happier and feel more blessed!
Our Joy

Mommy's first time holding Joy
A very happy Daddy with his kids

Mommy and Joy

Daddy and Joy

Ready to go home

Mommy and Daddy are ready to go home too!

At home, Nolan, Grace and Hope can't wait to kiss their little sister!

Pumpkin Patch

On Saturday we took the kids to a local Pumpkin Patch. They had so much fun running around and attempting to pick up all the pumpkins!

They had these cute cut-outs for the kids to put their faces through...

Mamaw and Grandpa Jack had spent a few days with us and got to go along.

I took MANY more pictures, but I will put more on our Snapfish album at the end of the month. It's my favorite time of the year, so I go a little crazy with all the fall and pumpkin pictures! Hope you are all doing well. Just a couple more weeks and we'll be uploading pictures of our new little one!

An Old Fashioned Church Hoedown

Our church had an old fashioned hoedown this last Saturday. It was easy for the Durkee family to dress the part! Thanks to Guy's love for horses and Papa Durkee we seem to have a lot of "cowboy" stuff around our place. Hope had just gotten her outfit from a lady at church who made it for her, Grace's outfit was Hope's when she was little (from Papa) and Nolan's chaps were from Papa and his boots were once Guy's when he was little! Ready to head out the door
Family picture...even pregnant Mommy managed to find an overall dress in her closet!

Daddy and Grace listening to dancing instructions

The recreation committee did a great job! They provided a perfect "hoedown" meal: fried chicken, potato salad, baked beans, biscuts and several kinds of fruit cobbler. Then we had square dancing and marshmellow roasting around the bonfire. It was a fun evening!

Here He is!

Here's the promised picture of our new nephew, Elijah Charles Erickson. He was big enough to wear a pair of adorable overalls home from the hospital!