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Maggie Whitley

joy in motherhood, homemaking, faith & simple living

You are here: Home / family / Baby Josiah is Here!

Baby Josiah is Here!

July 2, 2023 · 34 Comments
Filed Under: baby #5, Faith, family, Josiah

We are a family of seven!

It’s time to meet our baby, Josiah Solomon.

Josiah came at exactly at 36 weeks (the precise date I had prayed for and asked God to make his birthday weeks ago).

He arrived Wednesday, June 28th  at 7:38 am – a healthy 6 lbs 6 oz, and 18” in length.

Josiah has lots of baby rolls, skin fuzz, and brown hair on his head.

We praise God for this boy. On Wednesday early evening, about 12 hours after birth, he had a second surgery on his original incision site. He’s doing very well, and each day brings more progress.

We have a few things to plan for as the weeks pass, so please continue to keep us in your prayers. One main request is that his brain ventricles *continue* to maintain a normal size. This is being monitored through an MRI and bi-weekly cranial ultrasounds.

More praises:

  • God is good, even when things are hard (Habakkuk 3:17-19)
  • Josiah’s heart is strong
  • I’ve been able to hold him a few times (which was initially not a sure thing), as well as nurse him!
  • He’s off oxygen and an IV
  • His kidney and bladder functions are better than we hoped
  • Physical Therapy & Occupational Therapy have been by and are happy with the muscle stretching they could get Josiah to do. We will continue to work on this each day.

I’m so amazed at how precisely God has answered many of my prayers.

There are a few things that God has answered differently than I prayed for. I know his will is perfect, and I trust his goodness (Ecclesiastes 3:1; Lamentations 3:25–26; Psalm 13:5).

It’s a good reminder that His will is perfect, and the prayers that don’t feel “answered” are continuing to be worked out by the only One who can do it best: God himself. I’m reminded that time and patience are good things to have on hand. I’m eager to share more with you :)

“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” Isaiah 26:3

With God leading us, it will be peaceful! Like one of my nurses said while I was recovering from my c-section, “The good Lord is watching over him!” Amen!

PS. Josiah will stay in the NICU for a stretch of time (tbd), and we thank you for all of your prayers.

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34 Comments
Filed Under: baby #5, Faith, family, Josiah


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Comments

  1. Jannice says

    July 2, 2023 at 5:17 pm

    Congratulations! He’s beautiful!! Continued prayers and blessings for your family.
    God is good all the time.

    Reply
    • Maggie Whitley says

      July 2, 2023 at 9:26 pm

      Thank you, Jannice. Please share any prayer requests for yourself. I’d love to pray for you.

      Reply
  2. Karen Thomas says

    July 2, 2023 at 5:29 pm

    Your faith is bringing me through a dark valley. Congratulations on this sweet baby boy♥️

    Reply
    • Maggie Whitley says

      July 2, 2023 at 9:27 pm

      Oh Karen. I’m sorry to hear about the dark valley. Praise God for community and the chance to be a light to one another. I pray you can boldly ask God for help, trying in His perfect timing. Please let me know if there’s anything I can pray alongside you. xx

      Reply
  3. Sherry says

    July 2, 2023 at 6:02 pm

    Congratulations on your beautiful boy. Continued prayers for his health.

    Reply
    • Maggie Whitley says

      July 2, 2023 at 9:29 pm

      Thank you, Sherry! xx

      Reply
  4. Jennifer Horn says

    July 2, 2023 at 7:20 pm

    What a beautiful boy and what a beautiful family! I will continue to pray for you and him.

    Reply
    • Maggie Whitley says

      July 2, 2023 at 9:30 pm

      Thank you! Prayer is a beautiful way to stay close to God. xx

      Reply
  5. Sandy says

    July 2, 2023 at 7:52 pm

    So happy to see Josiah is here and your family shining with smiling faces. God is Faithful. May He hold you close as you recover and lean in to learning all the things needed to care for your sweet boy.

    Reply
    • Maggie Whitley says

      July 2, 2023 at 9:30 pm

      Sandy, what a beautiful prayer. We join you in those asks. Thank you! xoxo

      Reply
  6. Zelma Ramos says

    July 2, 2023 at 8:04 pm

    Praying for you guys. So happy he’s here. ❤️

    Reply
    • Maggie Whitley says

      July 2, 2023 at 9:29 pm

      Zelma, thank you so much. We are very blessed. xx

      Reply
  7. Nicky Langford says

    July 3, 2023 at 2:38 am

    Awww how cute and congratulations He is going to be so spoilt by his siblings Will be thinking of you all and wishing you all the best, he’s certainly a fighter bless him. Sending Welsh cwtches from South Wales UK xxx

    Reply
    • Maggie Whitley says

      July 5, 2023 at 12:25 am

      Thank you, Nicky! We are incredibly blessed by Josiah’s life. xx

      Reply
  8. Angie says

    July 3, 2023 at 11:52 am

    Congratulations to everyone! Will continue to keep you all in our prayers. Thank you for the reminder to walk by faith not by sight.

    Reply
    • Maggie Whitley says

      July 5, 2023 at 12:27 am

      Thank you, Angie. Goodness, it’s hard sometimes. My flesh wants to know all the details and steer clear of any pain. But, I know God is with me, and because of that I can trust His plan. Walking by faith has already blessed me greatly. xoxo

      Reply
  9. Theresa Robinson says

    July 3, 2023 at 12:55 pm

    Praise Jesus for all he has done so far . He is a Mighty God! That loves us so much!

    Reply
    • Maggie Whitley says

      July 5, 2023 at 12:27 am

      Praise Him, indeed. Thank you for the comment, Grandma. We love you!

      Reply
      • Theresa Robinson says

        July 5, 2023 at 10:44 am

        Happy Birthday Maggie! I am so proud of you how you let the light the of Christ shine so brightly every step of the way ! What an example for all to see and attempt to follow.God is truly blessing you and Zack and your little family because of it! I love you allGrandma Robinson

        Reply
  10. Amanda Russell says

    July 3, 2023 at 2:25 pm

    Continued prayers for all of you! Praying for healing for you and Josiah! He is so precious!

    Reply
    • Maggie Whitley says

      July 5, 2023 at 12:27 am

      Thank you so much, Amanda! xoxo

      Reply
  11. Maia Wright says

    July 3, 2023 at 9:25 pm

    How wonderful to see this little boy in the world! God is so faithful. The whole family picture is wonderful. :-) We’ll continue to pray.

    Reply
    • Maggie Whitley says

      July 5, 2023 at 12:28 am

      …isn’t it wonderful? I agree :) And thank you for your continued prayers. Prayer is the best medicine, the best way for me to feel God’s presence. xoxo

      Reply
  12. Katie @ The Cozy Burrow says

    July 4, 2023 at 7:09 am

    Maggie, he is BEAUTIFUL! I was just thinking of you and wondering how things were going and was so pleased to find this post. Congratulations! I am grateful that you and Josiah and are receiving such wonderful medical care and are surrounded by family! And I’m happy to hear that he’s nursing and cuddling with you.

    And a family of SEVEN! That’s just amazing :)

    Reply
    • Maggie Whitley says

      July 5, 2023 at 12:29 am

      Well HEY, Katie! Here we are, a family of seven :) Such joy we have with Josiah being on this side of my body. We love him so much. He’s an itty bitty super mighty gift to our family. xoxo

      Reply
  13. Caroline says

    July 5, 2023 at 6:20 am

    So sweet! What an adorable fella! God is so good Prayers will continue.

    Reply
    • Maggie Whitley says

      July 6, 2023 at 9:27 am

      Thank you, heart friend!

      Reply
  14. Sierra Waller says

    July 5, 2023 at 6:25 am

    Maggie!

    You have been in my prayer journal for months – you, Josiah, your whole family. I am overjoyed for Josiah’s arrival! Your story is strengthening my own faith. I will continue praying for healing from your c-section, Josiah’s health and all that comes with adjusting to a new baby. Hugs!

    Reply
    • Maggie Whitley says

      July 6, 2023 at 9:28 am

      Thank you, thank you. Wow.

      Reply
  15. Janet says

    August 6, 2024 at 6:56 pm

    Josiah has come a long way and is so adorable!

    Reply
    • Maggie Whitley says

      August 19, 2024 at 1:03 pm

      I agree! :) praise God for all his growth!

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Summer Days in July. - Maggie Whitley says:
    July 24, 2024 at 11:17 pm

    […] you likely remember, our fifth child, Josiah Solomon, was born with spina bifida. This means his spinal cord was exposed while he grew in my womb for 24 weeks, resulting in nerve […]

    Reply
  2. Our Seventh Year Homeschooling: What's Different, and What's the Same - Maggie Whitley says:
    September 3, 2024 at 2:36 pm

    […] soup with sausage and beef. As I write this, the soup is simmering and the baby is napping. Adding a fifth baby to our family is something else different about this school year :) While he was born last June (’23), I […]

    Reply
  3. Thirteen Thoughts in December... - Maggie Whitley says:
    December 19, 2024 at 8:49 am

    […] while I healed from a major prenatal surgery (April – July 2023), because in June of last year, we joyfully welcomed our fifth child, Josiah. His spina bifida diagnosis has been so hard, yet it’s been such a testimony to the […]

    Reply

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MAGGIE WHITLEY WEAVES HER WRITINGS around joy in motherhood, homemaking, faith, and simple living. She homeschools her children, enjoys a quiet room while reading, and roars with laughter over the challenges and delights of motherhood. Maggie and her husband, along with their five young children, live in northern Michigan. She has been writing online since 2008. CLICK TO READ MORE ♥

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