Hyrum Crew

Hyrum Crew Austin

Below are the pictures from his newborn photo shoot, (Jessica did an amazing Job as always) and his birth story and pictures from the hospital. We love having this little guy in our family.

Birth Story

I am not exactly sure where to start with this birth story as it started well before Crew was born. Before Emree was born I felt the presence of a little boy spirit (I have actually felt it for quite a since Kayelee but it was very real right around the time Emree was born), I knew there was a little boy that was supposed to come to our family but I had just had a baby so I tried not to think to much about it, but it was always in the back of my head. I thought about it on and off and then about 6 months after she was born I decided I should pray about it. Elder Ballard was coming to our stake conference and in conjunction with him coming our stake president had asked us to read our scriptures everyday and pray and that we would receive answers if we needed them. I wasn't perfect about reading everyday but I made a diligent effort and I was praying specifically about some things I needed help with, regarding Kambree and also asking Heavenly Father if there was another little baby waiting to come to our family. Because Joe is the stake exe. secretary we had some neat opportunities to be in close proximity with Elder Ballard and it was a super neat experience. During the Sunday morning Session. I was sitting there and Elder Ballard was speaking and he was talking about the pioneers and then specifically about Hyrum Smith and how Joseph F. Smith was his son who came across the plains with his mom, Elder Ballard is a descendant of Hyrum Smith and he was talking directly about some revelation Joseph. F. Smith had received. As he started talking about Hyrum a very distinct voice entered my head and answered my prayer. It said there is a little boy waiting to come and his name was Hyrum. It was probably the most direct revelation I had ever been given. I was a little shocked as I had never ever thought of using the name Hyrum for a name before, but the revelation was so direct there was no mistaking, the other crazy thing is I had just had a baby 6 months prior to that so I was a little nervous about trying for another but I knew I needed to listen. That night as Joe and I were laying in bed I told him my experience. He of course was completely supportive just like he always is when I receive revelation. I think he was a bit shocked that I knew his specific name but he thought it was so neat. As I was telling him that night I remembered that he was named Joseph for a reason, his parents had felt very prompted to name him Joseph after the prophet Joseph, it was then that I realized that those two things were not coincidence either. It really was an amazing experience for me. 

We started trying to get pregnant with a baby within the next month or 2 but were unsuccessful. it took us 4-5 months which was kind of devastating knowing there was this sweet little boy waiting. Finally in early September I found out I was pregnant. I was so excited. I had switched to an OBGYN rather than a mid-wife for this baby, I felt like after Emree's delivery I needed to do that just in case I needed a c-section (as she was so big) and just to have a Doctor because I have had scary deliveries at times. I felt really good about this so I re-searched a specific Doctor in Idaho that I had heard very good things about. He was rated in the top 2 in Idaho and had a very low c-section rate and he came super highly recommended by some friends, even though the hospital he delivered at was a bit more expensive I felt like it was the right thing to go to him. I had my first appointment in early October 2012 and when I went in we found out the baby was a bit small... I will admit I was worried and I hadn't been as sick as I usually was, the doc said lets wait 2 weeks and then see. When I came back for the 2 week check the baby had died it was so so sad and heart wrenching. I had never had a miscarriage before and I knew this baby was supposed to come to our home so I was heart broken. I found out the day we were to leave to St. Louis for Kambree's SDR surgery. I didn't pass the baby till we got back from St. Louis and I had a rough go about with passing it and ended up in the ER. It was so sad but I made it through. That January I found out I was pregnant again and I was so excited!! this time everything looked great and after I got past the scary part I was so so excited to share the news. The pregnancy went great and I felt very strongly it was a boy. At 20 weeks I went in for the ultra sound by myself, Joe couldn't come with me he had a mandatory real-estate class he had to go to so I got to hear the fun news all by myself, I most wanted to know if the baby was doing well and growing right on schedule with no complications and as soon as she told me everything was perfect I was so excited to find out for sure if it was a boy or girl!!:) as soon as she was finished checking the baby out she said to me... it looks like you are having a BOY!! I felt my eyes fill up with tears and I was reminded that all those things I felt were real and that this little boy was supposed to come to our home. I felt so honored and I remember being reminded that Heavenly Father truly is aware of our little family and cares so much about us on a very individual level. It was a very sweet feeling, I was not forgotten. Even though things hadn't work out exactly as I thought they would, everything did work out. 

As Crew's delivery date drew near I knew he was big but I didn't feel like he was bigger than Emree so I felt okay about things but I will admit I was worried all along that things might not go exactly like I wanted come delivery time. The doctor and I both agreed I shouldn't go past my due date considering my babies are big. I had taken my magic drink and one night thought for sure I was going in to labor but the contractions stopped and things didn't progress. I truly think my body knew he was to big to come. We set up an induction on my due date, I went in to be induced on October 16th. We got to the hospital and got started on the pitocin and then a few hours later Dr. Hodges came in to break my water. As soon as he did Crew put his had right over his head which is not a position he could deliver in. We were nervous but the Doctor said we could try some things to get him to move his hand, eventually with some position change and the doctor pinching Crew's fingers he moved his hand out of the way. I continued to labor all the rest of the evening and into the night at about midnight Crew's heart rate dropped to 70 which is a super scary range for a baby, it was at that point they almost took me back for an emergency c-section, luckily with some position change and some different things they were able to get the HR back up to normal and it looked like everything was fine. I continued laboring through the rest of the night and about 4 am I was finally dilated to a 10 I started pushing around 6:30-7 and ended up pushing for 2+ hours the Doctor tried all he could think of and I tried all I could think of at one point in the delivery I had told him I was willing to do whatever was needed to get Crew here safe. After we had tried everything he looked up at me and said he's not going to come, and it was time for a c-section. The tears welled up in my eyes but I knew he was right I had done all I could and I knew he wasn't going to fit. I had, had that feeling long before delivery that this might be the outcome for Crew and I and though it wasn't the outcome I wanted I knew it was the right thing. I knew I had chosen a doctor who would only allow for a c-section if it was absolutely necessary I was confident it was the right thing so they got me ready and prepped to deliver by c-section. I had been so worried about Crew the whole time I was just so grateful to get him hear safe. 

My doctor was truly amazing. After he had broken my water he didn't leave the hospital, I think he to was worried about things and wanted to be right there if needed. Even though he wasn't on call he stayed all through the night and into the next morning to make sure Crew got here safely. It was so neat that he was willing to do that for Crew and I, I will stay with this doctor until I am done having babies. What an incredible person more than just a Doctor. He truly cared about Crew and I and I was so grateful for him. 

So at around 9:30 that morning I delivered my first baby by c-section, the minute he was out and I heard him cry, I cried. I was so happy to have him here safe and sound, it was pure joy, this little boy I had known about for so long had finally made here. 

After they got him all cleaned up he was fussing a bit and they brought him over and laid him on my chest, I started touching him and talking to him and he stopped crying immediately, it was the sweetest. He was so happy he was with his mama and I was so happy he was with me.

Even though things didn't go as planned Heavenly Father was in charge and it was the perfect day. 

The kids came and saw him that afternoon and they were in HEAVEN it was love at first sight for all of them.

What a JOY each one of my children are. I have felt the same overwhelming feelings of love for each of them. We have a lot of kids 7 to be exact:) when you look at the whole it looks like a lot but when you look at the individual each one is so unique and special. I love being the mama to these 7 amazing kids.