With Holly just 10 days post-partum, and feeling better than she ever has at this point after a delivery, we decided to take a spontaneous road trip.  Holly's brother and sister-in-law had just returned from a weekend trip to Lake Powell and Goblin Valley State Park.  They had nothing but good things to say about both places and so we decided to explore Goblin Valley ourselves.  We have wanted to get down there for a couple of years but have never made it happen.

I had the day off of work, and we decided a family road-trip was an excellent reason for the kids to play hookie from school for the day.  Noah was the only one that had hesitations as he actually "feels responsible" for attending his ballroom dance, choir, and drama classes where his absence puts his partners and class at a slight disadvantage.  He had no problem missing math, language arts, science, or history, where he feels he can easily catch up or do the work on the road.  Anyway after showing him a few photos online of Goblin Valley, I had him convinced that the adventure was worth missing a day of school.

JOYCE JOANN JONES is BORN

It's a GIRL!!!

JOYCE JoANN JONES


Born April 15, 2011
8 lbs. 11 oz
21 inches

Holly was amazing and is doing wonderfully.  With the birth of Joyce JoAnn (baby number six), Holly has now given birth in three states, on two different continents, and under almost every variety of non-complicated modern medical care. (in-hospital natural birth with midwives, in-hospital birth with Ob/Gyn and epidural, in hospital birth with Ob/Gyn and IV pain control, and now natural birth in a birthing tub at a birthing center with direct entry midwife.  She is my HERO and a shining example of the courage, strength, grace, and FAITH that all women must possess to undertake the journey to motherhood.
 

 Holly just 24 hrs before going into Labor

 Holly blames the above photo for starting her labor

Holly and Joyce at 0400 on April 15th, just 2.5 hrs after giving birth.  This is our Midwife, Heather and her assistant, Jenee.  We were home and asleep in our own bed at 0500 that morning.  It was fun to have the kids wake up that morning and not even know that we had a new baby until they came into our room to say good morning.