On Tuesday, April 8 we moved into a cute little town home in Sandy to be closer to Jett's work, but still close to our families. My mom spent the entire next day helping me put the place in order and was a super big help since I couldn't lift much. Jett and I were up late the whole week getting things done in time for the baby.
Thursday I went to the doctor and I was dilated to a 1 so my doctor stripped my membranes. I was hoping the baby would come that weekend. That Friday I spent 3 hours walking around Walmart and Costco getting groceries and things for our new place that we needed. I was SO exhausted after that. Jett and I stayed in that night since he had an assignment, project, quiz and test to study for the following Monday and Tuesday. Friday was also the day we got another nephew! Very early in the morning on Saturday, I started contracting and couldn't sleep. I got up around 7 that morning and took a bath, but nothing seemed to help. I contracted really long and close together for about an hour and then Jett and I went on a walk. After that they slowed way down to every 20 minutes. We headed up to bountiful that afternoon to see our nephew that had just been born the day before. We were right by my doctors office and he offered to check me. I was almost dilated to a 2 and 80% effaced. He told us not to go back home and to just hang out until my contractions got more intense. We were having the baby this weekend!! What!? So we went out to Chick Fil A since that would probably be the last time I could eat anything for a while. Then we went and held our new nephew again until my contractions got bad enough to go to the hospital!
We got to LDS hospital at 6 pm the night of the 12th and I was dilated to a 3 and 90% effaced. They immediately put my IV in and gave me my epidural. As labor progressed I could really feel my contractions and was in soo much pain. My doctor came in around 9 pm and checked me and broke my water, all of which I could feel because my epidural wasn't working. My anesthesiologist did every trick he could think of but it only eased the pain for a little while. He finally decided to re-administer it at midnight and it worked instantly. I was so numb I could barely wiggle my toes. It was so awesome though and such a relief! I tried to get some sleep while Jett, my mom, and sister in law waited for me to progress. I was dilated 10 cm at about 3:45 am, my doctor got there about 4:20 am, and I started pushing at 4:30 am. 19 minutes later with the help of my doctor, nurse, husband, sister, and mom she was here!! It was the most amazing experience in the world! There aren't even words to describe the feeling of bringing a child into this world! Jett and I hugged and just looked at each other for a few minutes and just balled. We couldn't believe she was finally here! I can't believe how much more I love Jett after bringing our daughter into the world. Right after she came out they took her to the side to clear her lungs because she had a bowl movement before I had delivered her. While she was getting taken care of and cleaned off I just laid there and cried and couldn't wait to hold my baby. As my doctor was pulling on the umbilical cord to get my placenta out it detached. He immediately went elbow deep to retrieve it. Luckily I was extremely numb and was so focused on my baby that I had no idea what was going on. Everyone else in the room watching was in complete panic mode though. He was able to get it out and began to sow me up. They brought me my baby and I got to do skin to skin with her and then tried to feed her for the first time.
We decided to name her Grace Mychel Hudson. Jett and I both just loved the name Grace and felt such a peace about naming our first born that. Mychel (pronounced Michelle) was Jett's moms name and is also my middle name. We decided to spell it how his mom did to make it a little more special. We know that our little Gracie was sent to us straight from Jett's mom and twin brothers up in heaven. What an amazing thing!!
A little side story before I get into the next part. My really good friend who I have known for years was due on the 12th so she was sad when she heard I was in labor when I wasn't due until April 20. Well, sure enough she went into labor a few hours after me and got to the hospital at midnight and had her baby two hours later! It was hard hearing she had already had her baby when I had been at the hospital all night but I am so happy she had hers first and was able to get him out so quickly and with no complications!! I hope our kids will be great friends one day especially since they share the same birthday!!
After I had Grace, they wheeled me into my recovery room around 7 am. We started telling family and friends she was here and that everything went great! Little did we know, not everything went so great. For the next three hours I hemorrhaged and felt like passing out. (I felt the hemorrhaging, but didn't know that wasn't normal so I didn't say anything for a while) I ordered breakfast but only took one bite because I was sick to my stomach. They tried to get me to go to the bathroom, but I couldn't go, and then I told my nurses to get me back in bed because I felt like I was going to pass out. They had to put a catheter in me (while not numb..ouch!) and said I needed that in for a while until I could go on my own. A little later a few members of the branch at the hospital offered to bring us the sacrament. I was feeling so sick and they said they would come back, but I insisted on taking it then. Then I asked for a blessing which Jett gave me so I would feel better and be okay.
Moments later the doctor on call came in to check on me because I was passing clots of blood. He wanted to take me back to surgery and fix my incision. Originally they said I had a third degree tear (you can look these up on your own if you are curious how bad that is). Turns out I actually had a fourth degree tear and wasn't sown up all the way.. It was going to be a pretty easy fix and Jett was going to be right there with me. While waiting for them to prep the room I told Jett I was losing a LOT of blood and I was going to pass out. Then I did. Jett couldn't get me to wake up and immediately began paging the nurses and calling for help. They called emergency response and wheeled me into the OR to do emergency surgery. I remember waking up in the OR and being so scared. There were about ten or more people surrounding me in panic and poking me with needles EVERYWHERE! They were strapping my arms and legs down and putting a mask on my face. I looked to the guy holding my mask and asked him where Jett was and that I was scared. I was also FREEZING cold. Then they put me under and did the surgery. Meanwhile they had to give me 5 units of blood. That is about 5 pints and more than half of the blood in my body. I lost about 60% of blood and it gets extremely dangerous at 40%. My blood pressure was 60/20 (normal is 120/80) and my hematocrit was 15 (normal is 40). They used all the blood they had on hand in my blood type and almost gave me unmatched blood just to have a chance of saving me.
Meanwhile Jett is in total panic that he is losing his wife and has a newborn baby to raise by himself. When they wheeled me into the OR the doctor told Jett "she is young, she'll probably be okay" and then walked off. What the heck!?!? Then our nurse came in and told him he needed to get our families there ASAP. He called his dad and brother and my parents and they were there super quick. Luckily my friend who had her baby that morning as well was still there and her husband heard about it and was able to sit with Jett until our families got there.
I remember waking up and Jett was right by my side. The first thing I said to him was "what happened?" He laughed and said he would tell me later. He was SO happy he didn't lose me and I am so glad he didn't have to raise our sweet girl by himself!
What a day! It took me a while to completely wake up and that night I was able to go back to my recovery room. I'm sad we don't have any pictures of any of us in the hospital, but I was in pretty bad shape after surgery and the next few days. I started walking Monday, but it took me until Tuesday afternoon to be able to walk on my own and even then it was extremely difficult. It's going to be a long recovery for me and has been really hard to take care of myself and Grace, but I have had lots of help between Jett, my mom, and our families. I am super grateful for all the prayers throughout the entire thing. This experience has truly strengthened my testimony and feel so blessed to still be here.
I also just have to add that I have the BEST husband ever!! He has gotten up with Grace most nights so I can sleep and recover faster. Also, because it is still hard for me to get in and out of bed. He is always making sure I am okay and have what I need and is so willing to hold Grace and give me a break. I love him so much more than I could have ever imagined!
We love our Gracie girl!!
