He's Home!!

After 271 days he is finally home for good. Joe got in yesterday and the boys have been attached to him at the hip and have barely let him out of their sight. He has jumped right back into daddyhood and has taken the boys to Starbucks, the commisary, and the pool while Chase and I hung out here at the house.

He is getting use to changing diapers and is quickly learning what Chasers likes and his dislikes are. He is a quick study. I will post some photos and try to give a longer update later. As the boys said in the car on the way home "We are a family again!", and we are enjoying just that.

Airplane Shipment,

Express Shipment, and Unaccompanied Baggage.  Three names for one shipment.  I like to refer to it as my airplane shipment because that's exactly what it is.  It flies to Okinawa on an airplane.  Our documents say it will be there August 10th.  That is exactly 45 days from June 26th.  We arrive on the island July 27th so hopefully it doesn't show up late.

As I was preparing for this shipment I went through the house and gathered things and brought it all to the living room.  I though it would be easier to bring it to one location instead of trying to remember what went in each room.  So here is a photo of all that went out on the airplane shipment June 26th.

Finally out of A-stan!!

Joe is on his way home and is finally out of Afghanistan.  He should be home within the week.  I can's give the exact date but I have one.  YEAH!!!

He will finally get to meet his little boy, the big boys finally get their daddy back, and I will finally have my love home.

It's like waiting for CHRISTMAS!!

2 Months

That's how long our little Chasers has been with us. It doesn't seem that long...two months, but it feels as if he has been with our family for a life time. He just fits so well. Bryson and Carter love baby Chase so much. Their love for him has grown and grown. When he cries they jump right up to give him his pacifier, or Carter will yell to me...."I think he's hungry mom!". They always want to hold him and they never complain about diaper duty.

Chase, you have learned and have done so much this past month.

• You rolled over at 5 weeks.


• You started to coo.  Bryson and Carter get so excited when you talk.
• You went on you first plane ride, and did so well.  
• You have more awake times.
• You have started to play with toys.
• You still hardly cry.
• You start to fuss right around 8 to let me know it's bath time.
• You moved to your own bed in your own room at 5 weeks,
• and you stopped wanting to be swaddled then, because you sleep with your arms above your head.
• You still love to be held.
• Though you also like to be in your swing relaxing.
• Your eyes still have not changed to brown, and I love the color they are.
• You have the prettiest smile.  

At your two month check up you were 14 lbs and 24 inches. That is just bellow the 90 percentile for both.  You are getting so big.  

One Hell of a day!

Yesterday we boarded a plane headed to New Mexico to visit family. It was a long day. We were up before 6 to get dressed and then we left. The drive is about an hour and a half up to Raleigh were we fly out from.



We were making great time until we get to the city limits and then it started to down pour and there were car accidents. It took us 40 minutes to go 8 miles and we missed the check in by 5 minutes. "Note to self..Make sure you are there at least 30 minutes prior to departure." We were there 25 minutes before and were given a big fat NEGATIVE! You will be on stand by for the next flight.



We were rushing around trying to get on that flight but they put us on an 11:30 flight. So off we head to the gate to hang out. Bryson was struggling with our carry-on and I unzip it and realize they checked the wrong bag. We went to the gate and I explained to the lady what happened and then a rude guy that complained the whole time and finally said he would go locate it for me. I mean it had all Chase's diapers in it. I played up the "My husband is deployed" card and lady felt sorry for me and the man...well he was still complaining.



After we switch suitcases I bought a Starbucks and took a few drinks and then it was spilt shortly after that. Darn it



We head back to the gate and I was talking to the counter lady about our connecting flight in Dallas. We were going to be there in plenty of time to connect, though she says we are on stand-by for that. "What do you mean stand-by" I say. That flight was our original flight that I had paid for. Well, apparently when they cancelled the first flight it cancelled the second also.

I also realized once on the second flight that in our rush to try to make it to our first flight I left the radar detector in the car on. I am really hoping my battery is not dead when we return.

The second flight went well and when we arrived we headed to baggage claim. We walked through one of those spinning doors. Carter walked in first and on the next section I walked in with the stroller and Bryson was following behind. He made it in but the door got stuck on the luggage. Carter made it out and was laughing at us because we were stuck. The alarm was going off and the police officer standing there couldn't get the door to spin us out. After the day I had all I could do was grin and think "Are you kidding me!".

We finally made it out and made it back to my dad's house.

YEAH!!!

7

That's how many hours I got in a row last night. Its the longest stretch in 7 weeks. So...why is it then that I am even more tired? Doesn't that always happen you get use to no sleep then all the sudden you get a lot and you're even more exhausted.

Carter had his MRI follow up appointment today and his little brain looks great. Nothing wrong there. Nothing more needs to be done!! YEAH!

Bryson had his final award ceremony today. He has received an award 3 out of 4 ceremonies. He didn't get one the first 9 weeks of school but I think he was getting use to school again. The rest of school he kicked some major butt doing his homework, being accountable, and being a great student. I can't believe it was time for an award ceremony already. It feels like we just had one. The last one was on my birthday April 23rd. Speaking of I never did end up posting about it did I? Well, can you blame me I had just had a baby three days before. To be honest turning thirty came and went and it didn't even bother me. I have told Joe that our thirty first birthdays we will be partying it up like its 1999 and pretending its our thirtieth.  Though I do have to say spending part of my birthday watching my oldest get the highest award offered at his school is pretty amazing.

The fourth award ceremony today.

The third ceremony and my birthday.

The second award ceremony .

MRI

Carter had his MRI done today. We have the follow up appointment next week. Here are a few pictures.


The lady had to stick him twice. She messed up the first time around, poor Carter! The kids have to be knocked out so they don't move around. That medicine works so quickly. I think he was out in less than two minutes.

I told Carter he was going to go into the Star Wars Spaceship and he thought that was pretty cool.

This afternoon when Bryson got home from school the boys both wanted to hold baby Chase.


Carter was having a little to much fun making funny faces while holding Chase.

Carter's rough day

Carter had a very rough day today. It started at Starbucks. He was goofing off on a chair and before I knew it he was screaming. I look down and he is in between two chairs with his neck bent back up against the wall. I pull him up hoping he hasn't broken his neck and ask him where he hurt himself. He is pointing to his mouth and saying he hurt his teeth. I make sure everything is alright and then I look at the windowsill where he fell down and I see two teeth marks in the wood. He hit his teeth so hard on that wood windowsill that it left and impression of his front two teeth. I am hoping his front teeth don't turn grey.

A few hours later Bryson was coming in the back door and sure enough Carter was standing behind the door. I am sure you can imagine what happened next. Bryson opened up the door and it swung in and the door knob hit Carter in the eye. It's nice and red and now I am hoping it doesn't turn blue.

Fast forward another hour and the boys put on their swimsuits to play with the slip in slide. Not five minutes later I hear Carter screaming. I run outside and he now has a busted top lip.

I am going back to Starbucks tomorrow, camera in hand to take a picture of the tooth marks so stay tuned for that, and a picture of Carter's eye if it turns blue.

POOR CARTER, I am sure he will be glad when this day is over.

One Month Old

A month has already come and gone in little Chase's life. I can't believe he is already a month old. As he grows older it's bitter sweet. Sometimes I feel as though I am wishing his infancy away just counting down the months until Joe returns but on the other hand I don't want time to go by so fast because they don't stay this cute forever.

• You love to be held and I can rarely set you down


• You smiled for the first time May 15th.


• Your eyes are still blue and I'm loving it. Though I'm sure they will change shortly.


• You love your mimi (pacifier).


• You are starting to make a few sounds other than grunting/fussing.


• You rarely cry, you just fuss.


• Since Daddy is gone and Bryson has been sleeping in your room you are still sleeping with me. Maybe tonight is the big night. We shall see. (Bryson was in his own room at 6 weeks and Carter at 2 weeks, so Chase will be in the middle.)


• Did I mention you love to be held?


• You had baby acne more than the other two boys, though you still looked pretty cute.


• You are one pooping machine.


• You have been a trooper going to all our meetings and appointments preparing for our move to Japan.


• You had your passport photo taken today.

These are just a few things about you this month.

• 
  

Hello

My name is Dawn and I have a problem.

Do they have meetings for buying to many pacifiers? I seriously think I have a problem. I walk to the baby department and go straight for the pacifiers and a package always seems to end up in my buggy.

Please tell me I am not the only one. Just look how many (Mimi's) I have, and that's not even counting the one I have lost and the one he is sucking on right now.

Lets be honest do I have a problem???

Chase

Dear Chase

Will you be my friend again?

Love Mommy



Chase and I were not friends last night. He was up at 11:30, 1:30, 2:30, 4 something and then up at 6 something. All the kid wanted to do last night was eat. So last night around the 4 something feeding time I said "Chase I love you, but we are not friends right now." I don't even think it bothered him because he just kept on eating and then drifted back off to sleep.

Hopefully tonight he isn't as hungry.

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all the mother's out there, especially my own mother.
I am so thankful that she was able to come out here for a week and help me with the boys while I had Chase. I also want to say Happy Mother's Day to my grandmother Gigi and my mother-in-law Denise. Without Gigi I wouldn't have the mother I have today and my wonderful hubby wouldn't be the man he is today without his mother. So thank you to all three of you.

I also am so blessed on this Mother's Day. Do you see why??

Have you ever washed deli meat?

Well that's what I did tonight for the boys dinner.

Let me rewind....

Boys, what do you want for dinner?

We want turkey and cheese sandwiches.

I get out the bread, turkey, cheese and mayo and start making two sandwiches. The mayo and cheese are now on the bread, when I open the turkey package and get a whiff of a pepper smell. I say "Oh shit!" and Bryson wants to know whats wrong. I tell him I bought the wrong turkey, and then I sat there for a spit second thinking what I could do. I check the fridge for another package of turkey and no such luck so then I decided to do what ANYONE would do right?? I wash the turkey with water to get the pepper off. I then proceed to make two very delicious clean turkey sandwiches.

Eat up boys!!

Four

I walked into the hospital expecting another hard long labor and Carter you were anything but hard and long.

They started the pitocin at 6am and less than 6 hours later you were here. There were a few tense moments right before you were born where they lost your heart rate but once you were here you were healthy and perfect.

You are so special and so funny. I have never met a more funny kid than you. I laugh at least once everyday with you. From the way you walk, or the funny faces you make, and even the words that come out of your mouth. You are a character!

Your daddy and I wouldn't trade you for the world. And guess what....you are four now so that means you get to wipe your own butt! (This is something he has been saying for the past year. He would yell for me to wipe his butt and I told him he needed to do it and his answer was always..."I'm not four yet!")

Happy Birthday my Special Boy!!

Please tell me why.

Why do I continue to cut coupons?

Alright so I have done the coupon thing twice, actually let me rephrase that. I have cut coupons twice and have taken them to the store twice, and twice I have come home with said coupons.

Why do I continue? I am now sitting on a pocket full of coupons. Do these coupons make my butt look big?

Also I almost got ran over by an old man on a scooter at walmart. We both spotted an empty line at walmart. He gave me the evil eye and stepped on the gas. He rounded the corner on two wheels and squeaked by me.

I ducked my head in shame told Chase not to be disappointed and found an even better line and actually beat him out of Walmart. Eat that old man!!

On other news. Guess who's birthday it is tomorrow??? Our little Carter will be turning four tomorrow. I will post about his adventures tomorrow.

And last but not least, Chase is two weeks today.
I took him to his 2 week check up today at the clinic only to be told that its tomorrow. I told the lady that NO it was in fact today because I wouldn't have made the appointment on another child's birthday. It's their special day and they get to do what ever they want and I know in fact that he wouldn't want to spend it at the doctors office. I walked away pissed and Chase was carried out pissed also. If Mamma is mad then everyone is mad!!

Have a great Monday!

Cake

Mom: Carter, what kind of Cake would you like for your birthday?

Carter: A chocolate cake with yellow cheese on top.

Photo Shoot with Chase

Here is a quick look at what Chase and I did this afternoon.

Baby Chase..

Chase is now 8 days old. The time is just flying already and I have a feeling the next three months are going to pass by in a blink.

Here are the events that Chase has already done in his short 8 days on this earth.

• Being Born


• Going to his first doctors appointment


• He has been to Starbucks twice


• Target twice


• Walmart once


• He has been to the mall


• Went shopping at Kohls


• Bryson's award ceremony at school


• Celebrated his mom's birthday (I will blog about that later...I turned 30 this past week)


• Ate at Red Robin


• Ate at Joe's Crab Shack


• Ate at Macaroni Grill


• Ate at Chick-fil-A


• Ate at Wendy's


• Drove up to Raleigh to drop off his grandma Mimi at the airport


• Watching his mom coach and his big brothers play TWO T-ball games.


• His Baby Celebration (Which I will blog about later)

I have to say he has been a pretty busy kid already huh?

Here is a photo I took this morning off Carter loving on Chase.

I survived...

my first day all by myself with my three boys. We had cinnamon rolls for breakfast, leftovers for lunch and pizza hut delivered our dinner. While eating breakfast this morning the boys played with some modeling clay. Carter made rocks and Bryson made a dragon. I don't have a picture of the finished product but will get one at some point. Then the boys played outside with the water hose on the trampoline and Chase and I watched from the couch.



We were able to skype Joe this morning. He is doing well and missing us so much.

This evening Chase and I had our first bath together. Definitely a little more difficult without Joe here to take him afterwards but he did great and hung out in his bouncy chair. His cord stump hasn't fallen off yet so he didn't get to be submerged all the way though he had a great time floating around in the water.

Tomorrow my friend is hosting a baby celebration for Chase and I. She asked if I wanted a baby shower and honestly what does a mom like me with two boys and having a third really need. She insisted bless her heart and I told her let's wait until after the baby is born so that everyone could see him. When you have everything there is no rush to have a baby shower. My baby celebration is going to be great. It's more of a diaper and dinner shower. So I am looking forward to all the diapers I am going to get and the surprise of dinner every night for however long it lasts. I will keep you posted on all the great meals I will be receiving.

We are moving

We don't have our official orders yet but we found out last week that we will indeed be moving.

We are so excited. Though very nervous at the same time. We are moving overseas. We have a report date of July 31st. For those of you doing the math that means not only did I just have a baby by myself but that I will be preparing and moving the household by myself. Joe will get back and turn around to out process. He is trying to of course leave early but no such luck yet. Though the way luck should have it he will probably get back and we will be in New Mexico visiting family.

We werent expecting to move until next year. So far North Carolina is the longest we have lived anywhere. In July we will have lived here 2 years and 7 months. Before that was in Phoenix, Arizona for a total of 2 years 2 months. I am thankful we are moving as I was already dreading the next year. Not because I don't like it here, I love it here and I love the friends I have. Its just I get antsy and ready to explore more of the world. That is why I just can't wait until July. I know the time will go by fast as there are so many things I have to do: Passports, three different furniture moves, medical and other clearances, we also have to sell all three of our cars as you can't take ours over there. Like I said I know the time is going to fly by.

The boys were sad that we had to cancel our beach trip but once I told them we were going to be living at the beach they quickly perked up. Though they are still sad that we had to cancel our Disney world trip in December. They love spending Christmas at Disney world and were so looking forward to it again, but we will just have to do something special this year at our new base.

So the question is....Where are we going?

Are you ready for it??

We are moving to Kadena Air Base in Japan. Kadena is on the main Okinawa Island. The boys can't believe all the beaches. The island is 67 miles long and between 2-17 miles wide.

I will finally have my beach baby, actually I might have two surfer boys also. At least I know Bryson will be loving his boggie board.

And his name shall be...

Chase Turner Hudson

Bryson and Carter love to come over and rub his head. Then as quick as it starts they are off to play star wars or the wii.

He's here.....

Date: 4-20-09
Time: 12:19 a.m.
Weight: 8lbs 11oz
Length: 20 1/2 inches


We were able to come home today right after lunch and have been trying to figure out what to name him the rest of the day. Joe and I were able to skype once we got home and then I sent him some photos and we skyped again. The picture on skype isn't very clear. After what seemed like forever we finally have a name. I will share his birth story at a later date and his name tomorrow. I have yet to call the rest of my family and share his name so I had better do that first.

Tomorrow is the big day

Well, baby has been very good and has listened very well. He is still nice and warm in my belly and as many contractions as I have been having doesn't seem to want to come anytime soon.

Yesterday went smooth. We made it to Carter's appointment and he did well. It was a very long 3 hour appointment but thankful it's over. He will have an MRI done in a few weeks.

We then had lunch and picked up Mimi from the airport. I did bring my suitcase along just in case but baby was good and stayed put.

Today was a great day. The boys had a wonderful first t-ball game and the opening ceremonies were nice. Once again the contractions have been off and on again all day long and I am getting a bit nervous about tomorrow.

Here I am nice and pregnant coaching t-ball!!

I am devastated that Joe will not be here. The next time I post I should be the mother of three. Wish me luck!!

I am dialated to a...

3 and they sent me on my way.

I have been having contractions off and on for the past three days. Nothing horribly painful but enough to keep me up at night. I went in this afternoon to get checked even though I am scheduled for my induction on Sunday. You see if I don't have this baby by 9am tomorrow I can't have him until Sunday. It just doesn't work in my schedule, so I wanted to see what all my body was doing.

The reason he doesn't fit in my schedule is because Carter has a neurology appointment Friday morning an hour and a half away. I would need to leave here by 9am to make it there in time. This is a very important appointment and one we have waited a whole month for and something that can't be rescheduled. Then later on in the afternoon my mother flies in to the airport in so said city. Therefore after 9am on Thursday is a no go and all day Friday is a no go.

Have I mentioned that I am coaching T-ball. Well, I am coaching Bryson and Carter's team. Saturday is the opening season and in the morning is the ceremony and later that afternoon is their first game. So having a baby on Saturday doesn't work either unless it's after 5pm.

So, I guess secretly I was just hoping to be four centimeters so they would admit me and get things going because I fear this baby is going to want to come when he isn't suppose to.

Now I am kicking myself in the ass for saying "I wish I new what it was like to go into labor by myself!" Even though this is my third child I have never gone into labor naturally, I have always been induced. These contractions I am feeling is a first for me. I feel like such a newbie!!

Happy Easter

We had four Easter egg hunts this year.

1. The first egg hunt was held last weekend. It was held at our baseball fields. The boys had a great time and this was our third year doing this egg hunt.





2. The second egg hunt was with Joe's squadron. It was the first time they have had an egg hunt while we have lived here. It was a lot of fun and Carter got a special prize.



3. The third egg hunt was put on by Pope AFB. They didn't have one last year and that is the reason why my friend Sarah and I held our own neighborhood egg hunt. Do you remember reading about it here. This year the boys had a lot of fun and Bryson even found the golden egg to get a prize. He was so proud of himself.




4. The last Easter egg hunt I was not a part of. The boys woke me up Easter morning with the eggs that they had already found outside by themselves. I guess they woke up that morning so excited to see what the bunny had brought them and went searching on their own. To bad I don't have any pictures to share on this one.

Here are a couple of photos of the boys coloring eggs.

7 Days....

I will start off with a big Happy Easter. I will post tomorrow about how our Easter went and the boys 4 Easter egg hunts. Can you believe it, they had four hunts this year.

So, on to the big news....the still unnamed baby boy. We have seven days left. It's hard to believe that around this time next week I should be holding my third son.

For my list of items I needed to complete I have finished 2 of the 4.

The babies room is finished thank goodness,












and I found him a coming home outfit. After searching high and low I went back to Ralph Lauren and payed more than I wanted for his little outfit. Though now it only seems fitting as he actually matches his room so I guess it all turned out alright in the end.

I still need to pack our hospital bags and this little one still needs a name.

14 days

April 5th 2009

I go in for my induction in just 14 short days. Here is my new belly photo, and for comparison reasons I changed shirts and took another photo. I added it to the bottom.



12-5-09 4.5 months


2-5-09 6.5 months


3-5-09 7.5 months


4-5-09 8.5 months

I am.....

having a baby this month.

Things to do...

1. Figure out a name for this poor child

2. Find a coming home outfit. Proven to be more difficult this time around. I have searched high and low. Target, Walmart, Gymboree, Gap, Ralph Lauren, Old Navy, The Children's Place, JcPenny's, Babies-R-Us, and Sears. I have also searched e-bay and the internet and can't seem to find anything I like.

3. Finish the babies room.

4. Pack my suitcase.

I think these four things are very big and very important. What am I going to do if I don't finish my list.

I will be back on the fifth with a belly pic.

March 26th....Our Anniversary

Our anniversary has come and gone this year. Just like last year we spent it apart and in different time zones.

I am really hoping next year we can celebrate together. My wonderful husband bought me the most beautiful bouquet of fruit. He sent flowers a couple of weeks ago and as much as flowers are nice they do die. With our anniversary coming up I told him how nice it would be to have some fruit that the boys and I could eat. Boy my husband sure listens good, and the boys and I were in love.



Thanks hunny, I loved the fruit. I also love you more with each passing day. Stay safe and hurry home.

My sister is off the market.

Shannon had a big month this year. On the third she celebrated her 28th birthday and then on the 21st she got married.

I have not been very good at blogging recently I have just been so sick this past week. I wish I would have been able to travel back to New Mexico for the wedding but at 8 months pregnant the docs and airlines frown upon it.

I have heard that everyone had a great time and the weather was awesome. It was an outdoor ceremony and the news said there was a possibility of rain. No rain in sight and the weather turned out to be perfect. Yeah!

They leave to Hawaii for their honeymoon in just a few short days, boy do I wish I was going off to a tropical island. Well, not sure anyone else would want to see my pregnant belly in a swimsuit but it sure sounds nice.

Congratulations Ryan and Shannon!! May you learn to love all the good days and to work hard to get through the tough ones. There is a lot of give and take and no matter what anyone says NO marriage is ever perfect.

Have a great honeymoon. Can't wait to see all the pics when you get back.

I was trying to wait until the professional photographer had his pictures up on his website but maybe he is not feeling well either because he is taking his time. Here is a photo so that you can see a little of Shannon and my new brother-in-law Ryan.

Wouldn't you know as soon as I posted this I get the good photos. So here are a few.

What would you do?

If you saw a pregnant lady with 7 bags of groceries on one arm and with the other hand wheeling her trash container from the curb up to the side of the house what would you do?

A. Say "Here let me help." Knowing she probably doesn't really need it or would never ask for help, even though you really don't want to be a good neighbor and offer help you do it out of common courtesy.

B. Say "You sure like doing a million things at once, have a good evening."