Jude Michael Hulet

As I sit here in my bed with my day old baby boy just breastfed and sleeping on my chest, I thought I'd write (type) down his birth story while it's still fresh in my mind. 

He was born on his due date, October 19, 2014 at 1:12 in the afternoon. 

It all started in the morning when I got up with Noah and Elijah at 6:30. I used the bathroom and noticed I had some (TMI) bloody show. I didn't think much of it except maybe I would go into labor in a few days because that's how it happened with Elijah. We went downstairs after getting the boys some breakfast and started a movie so that we wouldn't disturb Jordan, who was sleeping in after his late night game night with a few of his friends. Around 7:30 I started having Braxton hicks and a few mildly uncomfortable contractions that were sporadic and not consistent. Jordan got up around nine and I decided to start getting ready for church around 9:30. By then the contractions we're starting to pick up and building in intensity. After my shower I started timing them because they were starting to feel pretty consistent and painful.

 Then around 11 a really big one hit me and I decided I'd let the relief society presidency know I wouldn't be able to teach my lesson that day. After making a call to the RS president and counselor and then a call to my doctors office I told Jordan we should probably head to the hospital; my contractions were about 7 mins apart and pretty strong by then.

 We dropped the boys off at friends of ours and fellow ward members and went to the hospital. They got us right in and I changed into a hospital gown and got hooked up to the monitors. By then it was a little after 12 and they checked me. I was 6 cm dilated and 100% effaced. The nurses put in my IV and gave me a pain med to take the edge off my contractions. They were still painful and getting stronger and I was starting to feel pressure so they checked me again. By then I was 8 cm and I jokingly asked the nurses if I would have time to get my epidural (I had asked for one when we got to the hospital) and they all laughed and said of course! I was relieved because the pain was *almost* unbearable at that point. Finally, I had enough fluids in me that they paged the anesthesiologist to come give me my epidural; it was almost 1:00 by then. So I sat up and they started prepping my back. They put numbing meds in the area and put the kneedle in but had the wrong size so the anesthesiologist asked for a new one. Just then I started having overwhelmingly painful contractions to the point where I was almost screaming. Then I had an insane amount of pressure and told the nurses that I thought I needed to push. They took everything off my back and laid me down to check me. I was complete and my bag of water was bulging but hadn't broken yet. That's when I started screaming and kept telling the nurses I needed to push. Everyone (I had four nurses in the room with us that were still trying to prep everything) was telling me not to push and to wait for the doctor. I kept saying (screaming), "no, I really need to push!" Just then the doctor rushed in and got my feet up and I just started pushing and screaming and within a push and a half, Jude was out and on my chest. They measured his head, one nurse said, "that is not a small head!" weighed and measure is length. He was 8 lbs 10 oz and 21 inches long. 

It was such a different experience from my last two births but I wouldn't change it for anything (well, maybe I would have really liked to have had that epidural). Giving birth is a pretty incredible thing. Seeing this brand new person that grew inside you for nine months and is suddenly in the world is such a beautiful thing. It was amazing and I'm pretty proud of myself (trying not to sound too braggy but it's hard not to think back and go, "whoa! I did that!"). 

Recovery has been much easier this time around but that could be because this is my third baby, although the cramping is the worst post-birth cramping I've ever had. Jude is amazing, of course. He started breastfeeding less than an hour after birth and has been a pro-latcher ever since...such a great thing after struggling in the beginning with my other two. I've been loving the skin to skin and seeing Noah and Elijah so excited about their baby brother is the best thing in the world. 

I'm so in love with my FOUR boys and feel so blessed to have them in my life. Jordan is also the best husband/father/support I could ever ask for...he was so incredible while I was in labor and giving birth and continues to be now that we're home. 

Heavenly Father has seriously blessed us and I'm so so grateful. 

Summer so far...

Our summer so far has been a good one. We've gotten out a lot more and have even traveled a bit! Woo hoo! Here are the highlights or bigger things that have happened so far...

~The boys and I took a trip to Utah for five days to see family. It was a really fun trip filled with playing outside, swimming, eating out, and of course spending time with family. We got to celebrate my nephews first birthday with him and the boys had fun playing with aunts, uncles, grandparents, and dogs (they LOVE my sisters huskys)

Richie and his smash cake. My sister made and decorated it and it was all vegan!

Noah and Richie skinny dipping in the kiddie pool at my parents house

Lots of playing happening at Grandma and papas house

More playing outside at grandma and papas house

My sister did her first half marathon here (Jordan El?). It was a trail run and she did awesome. We got to go see her at the finish line.

~During the last week of June, my cousin Michael unexpectedly passed away. It was such a shock to our whole family. So I flew to Denver for two days last weekend to attend his memorial service. It was beautiful to see so many people come out to show their support and share how much he touched their lives. He was an amazing person. And it was wonderful to spend time with family that I never get to see (two of my cousins- Michaels brothers- I hadn't seen in nine years)

Michael is the one on the right in the white shirt. These are all the cousins on my dad's side of the family and this was also the last time we were all together- Christmas 2005

Sisters, mom, aunties, uncle, and cousins at a music festival in Longmont, CO

From Left to right: Amber (Pats girlfriend), Pat, Ryan, Bryan, Erik, Auntie Liz, Auntie Cathy, Uncle Karl, Dad, Hilary, Adrienne, Me

This is super random, but the rental car I rented had Washington license plates and it was a Hyundai. I thought it was funny.

Here are the random happenings from our summer....

~We've taken a few trips on the bus to go see Jordan at work and have lunch with him.

~Trips to Ikea when we're desperate to get out of the house (and I feel like shopping- the boys have fun there)

~We went berry picking once and the boys loved it.

~Trips to the beach with friends. We're starting to make friends with people in our neighborhood and ward so its been fun hanging out with new people.

~We got a new car! We traded our Sonata for a Sienna and are loving it. Its nice to have so much more space.

At Richmond beach during low tide- this isn't the lowest but its still low. The boys love throwing rocks into the water

Berry picking. We did strawberries first, then raspberries. 

Our new car! We love it.

In the common area in Jordan's building at Amazon. This day we brought pizza from home and got drinks from the vending machine.

Playing at Ikea. Jordan was in the process of buying our car so we came here to hang out, have lunch, and play.

Its been a while...

I realized just the other day that its been over 16 months since I last posted. I know this because my last post was Elijahs birth story and he's not over 16 months old... my, how times flies (sorry for the cliche but its so true). I had a girls night this last week with some good friends and they inspired me to start blogging again. I tend to feel like my life isn't interesting enough to tell about and that no one really cares that much... but here I am. Maybe a few people will read it... maybe not. So a ton has happened in the last almost year and a half. I guess I'll just do highlights...

~Elijah's first year + of life! The first ten months were hard. So hard. The transition to two kids was very rough for us... I remember how hard becoming a parent was but then becoming a parent to two was so much harder. Elijah wasn't a good sleeper. For the first 4-5 months he woke up every one and a half to two hours and then until ten months it was every three hours. Let me tell you, if he ever gave us a four hour stretch during that time (which did happen a few times) I felt like a new person... but three hour stretches just aren't enough to feel sane. He also loved to be held. All the time. I didn't mind this so much because I love holding my babies. I discovered baby wearing which saved my sanity. My mei tai and Ergo became my best friends. It was the only way I could get anything done and still help Noah to feel like he wasn't forgotten. Anyway, we got through it and though it was rough I love love love being a mom to these sweet little boys. Boys are seriously awesome. I feel pretty lucky to have them. Elijah has the funniest personality and is so fun to watch. He's our crazy boy who loves to be messy and be outside and has a ton of attitude but is our cuddler. He says a ton of words which is weird and fun since Noah didn't talk until he was two and a half. Noah is now three and a half (!!!!) and is as sweet as ever. He's so compassionate and loving and really loves and cares about everyone. Everywhere we go he wants to talk to everyone and tell people what we're doing. He's the sweetest. Noah and Elijah are becoming best friends and really love each other. Its amazing to see them play and laugh together.

~We went on a few trips in 2012. One was to Utah when Elijah was seven months old. It was just him and I during this trip and it was mainly to see my sister and her new baby (my nephew!!). It wasn't a super relaxing trip but it was fun none the less. Elijah wasn't sleeping well and Richie, my sisters baby, was colicky. I tried to help with things the best I could. Our second trip was a road trip to Utah for Christmas. We spent two weeks there visiting family and it was a great trip. The boys did great in the two day car ride, to and from, and had a blast seeing all of our family.

~January first, just a few days after we returned home from Utah, we wanted to start looking at houses just to see what was out there. We weren't super serious about buying yet but we did have enough for a down payment so we decided to look anyway. Our realtor had five listings set up for us to look at so out we went since Jordan had the day off (new years day, obviously). A few of the houses were ok but most were too run down for how much they were listed for. But the last house we saw that day we fell in love with. It was only the fifth house we had seen so we felt a little crazy for thinking this but we really felt like we should put in an offer. It was a brand new house, a little smaller than we originally wanted, but we loved the house and the beautiful yard and neighborhood. It was also an area that had really good schools and it was in Shoreline which is where I wanted to end up. So that night be got together with our realtor again and drew up the offer. The next night we found out there was another offer on the house and the seller wouldn't tell us what the other offer was. They just wanted us to put in our best offer and the highest would get accepted. We we offered $7000 above asking price and then waited. I was already so invested in the house that the wait the next day was excruciating. Well seven that night our realtor called and told us our offer was accepted. It was an unreal feeling to hear we were going to own this house. The next few weeks were a bit of a blur. We slowly packed up our townhouse and had the inspection and appraisal of the house. Then the week before our move Jordan had to go to New York for an Amazon recruiting event. He got back the day of the move and we moved into our new home! It was a bit of a whirlwind and we are so grateful to be in this house and to be home owners. Its been fun making the house ours and Jordan loves working in the yard.

~Two weeks after we moved into our house we found out about baby number three! At the time I was about five weeks along but had no idea how far along I was. I am now 20 weeks (tomorrow) and due October 19th! And we couldn't be more excited about welcoming another baby boy into our family. I was afraid of having gender disappointment, not that I really wanted a girl, but it was more of a fear of just being disappointed. The second I saw him at our anatomy scan that thought of being disappointed at all just disappeared. We are thrilled! Three boys is going to be sooo fun!

...so that brings us to now. Right now I'm just enjoying my house and my littles and my pregnancy while I paint rooms and plan out baby projects. The boys and I will be taking a trip to Utah at the end of June to see family and to celebrate my nephews first birthday and we're also planning a trip to Hawaii for next year for just the five (!!) of us. It'll be a fun trip but we're sad that Jordan isn't coming to Utah with us. This summer I'm hoping to get out a lot and enjoy more of Seattle and hopefully take a trip or two down to Portland and out of the city. And hopefully I'll be better about blogging about our adventures! Stay tuned...