Gimpy

So you'll never believe the newest addition to craziness in our life... Luke broke his leg last Saturday!

SO... about gimpy.  

The whole thing pretty much breaks my heart. As a mother of boys you prepare yourself for things like broken bones, blood, ER visits... but not already! And not for something so stupid! We were at an auction last Saturday in Chetek and we were walking through a big field with lots of different equipment and other random things for sale. Caleb, Max and Grandpa Joe were in front and Luke was walking behind me (I had Jack in the baby carrier). Luke was walking slower, just taking his time admiring EVERY piece of equipment. I turned around to take his hand again and hurry him up and as I did I watched a skid steer attachment fall on him, just a couple feet from me! 

So above is a picture of what fell on Luke, but the problem is that it didn't have the big forks on it (the long pieces that are sticking out) and it was set up like that on a pallet. So when Luke walked by and started to look at it the attachment started to tip towards him and he tried to sneak away but the top of it pinched his leg right above his little snow boot. It was horrible to watch! I was so close but not close enough to catch the attachment from falling. I ran over to him and ripped it off as fast as I could and Caleb came running over and scooped him up. Luke was crying, of course but calmed down quite quickly. Another man was standing close by and saw it all happen and was appalled at the fact that the attachment was stood up like that and said it could have fallen on anyone... too bad it fell on probably the smallest person at the auction!

We decided to wait to take him in to the doctor until Monday from the advice of one of our doctors since they couldn't do really anything for him until then anyway. Meanwhile, all weekend he was still unable to bear any weight on his leg/foot and seemed to be in quite a bit of pain. He did quickly figure out how to get around... by crawling! Monday morning he had an X-ray and it confirmed what we thought .. a fracture. But just a tiny green stick fracture on his fibula. So it didn't break all the way through. We were sent home from our visit and told to just let him heal, that there was nothing else they could do. Then just an hour later I got a call back from the doctor saying that they needed us to come back for casting! They sent his X-ray up to Duluth and they spotted something that they were suspicious about. Basically there was speculated damage to the growth plate, nothing they could confirm, but at this young of an age they always cast an injury if there is even doubtful damage to the growth plate... so BACK to the clinic!

Cast # 1 ... yup you read that right!

Because of his young age, again, his cast needed to be mid thigh to the toes because little ones have a tendency to wiggle out of their casts. Even though his injury only needed a short cast.

Luke got an orange cast the first round and then we went back a day later and got him a new black cast because the first one he was unable to walk in. He fought the doctor and ended up with a pointed toe instead of having his ankle at a 90 degree angle. As they tried to push his foot towards him he just pushed back and in turn, made his foot point. 

Cast #2

New cast! To any mom out there that ends up with a kid in a walking cast... check out Walmart's "Rubberoos" or Target's "Skidders" for a shoe/sole for their cast! Works great! SO nice to have him in a walking cast now! I was not okay with him being unable to walk for three weeks! And the cast would have left damage to his leg/foot if left the way it was originally.

I would say... so far so good with the cast! I was very nervous for Luke when we had to go in just a day later to get his cast removed and another put on... seemed so traumatic... but YouTube saved  us! We watched multiple videos of casting on and removal to prepare him. It worked great! I found videos with little ones ... but the key is... pre-watch! It could have really added to the anxiety if I wouldn't have done this! Some of the videos started out fine and then the kid would freak! 

Going for a snowmobile ride with his cast on... it can't get wet, hence the plastic Walmart bag on his foot!! 

It's amazing to me how he's getting around. You would have NO idea that he had a cast on his leg! I no longer have belly updates to put on my pantry door chalkboard so this is what I decided to do now... put up scripture every week or so... and this one reminded me of Luke this week!

I thought it would be a good way to help me memorize scripture since it takes me a while to do... I reread the verse over and over as I draw! And I see it many times a day!

Finally... Jack Martin Yoder

It was Friday, March 8th when it all started...

I was 38 weeks and 5 days along that Friday. Feeling great and looking big! That afternoon I went for a walk with some of my girlfriends and I felt really good the whole time. I had started to walk more that last couple of weeks, despite the weather, in order to get my little man ready for labor. I wasn't feeling anxious at that point to get him out, more anxious to keep moving because I had a hard time being stuck inside all winter! 

So Friday evening I went out to dinner with my sister-in-law, Rachael, alone... crazy I know! Me with two two year olds and her with a ninth month old... let's just say it never happens! We left our guys home with all the boys and enjoyed probably the last solo supper out for quite a while! During dinner our conversation centered around birth and other baby centered topics... and I was still feeling great... and clueless!

After dinner we headed to a friend's house for a Thirty-One party. I had a few mild contractions while we were there, but didn't think anything of it. They felt very similar to the false labor contractions I had been having since 30 weeks. When we got back to my house I told both of my sister-in-laws that there was no way this baby was coming anytime soon... since I still felt so good. Little did I know he would show his face in less than 12 hours from then!

Once home Rachael and Josh were just hanging out at our place visiting and Rach was having fun timing my contraction while I was constantly reassuring her it was nothing! Well soon after they left  I lost my mucus plug and minutes later my water broke... but I was still unsure because I had just went to the bathroom when that all happened and I was sure... from all the stories I had heard... that having your water break was supposed to be this major production with water gushing everywhere. Not so much I guess. 

Soon after all of that my contractions became noticeable. Still not bad though. I sat down quickly at the computer because I all of a sudden felt the urgency to get some loose ends tied up with book work and then I cleaned all three of my toilets. My body and subconscious knew I was in labor but for some reason I was still in denial! My sister-in-law, Rachael, had known from dinner that I was in labor and by this point she was texting me asking if she needed to come to town... I was still thinking no way... false labor once again! Boy was I wrong! Ha!

Mid contraction... crazy how your belly starts to literally squish baby out!

Last pictures during labor... trying to pack my hospital bag!

As soon as I finished my bookwork and cleaning I did my best to go to bed and sleep. However, this is when I KNEW that I was finally in labor! My contractions became more than noticeable very suddenly and I could no longer just relax easily through them. It was about 12:30 am at this point and I woke up Caleb and told him that it was IT! He just rolled over and said, no surprise...he knew it as soon as I was running around cleaning toilets!

Like a thunderstorm in May, my contractions seemed to come out of nowhere! I was doing my best to get clothes on and my bag packed but I was struggling because I was only getting about a minute between contractions. Caleb kept encouraging me to move and wait it out and I kept telling him to call my mom... I knew I needed to get to the hospital. Just an hour later Caleb was convinced and called my mom. She was at our house by about 1:30 am and we headed for the hospital as soon as she saw me and said GO! 

The walk to the car, the ride to the hospital, the check in, the walk back to OB... were all beyond difficult. At that point my contractions were about one minute to 30 seconds apart and crazy intense and long! We made it to the hospital around 2:00 am and were checked in and ready to go by about 2:30 am. Things just continued to get more intense and blurry from there. I remember taking my clothes off in the bathroom - CONTRACTION - getting into my robe - CONTRACTION - the nurse asking me to pee in a tiny cup, me laughing and saying heck no - CONTRACTION - peeing in the cup and then all of a sudden I felt like I had to push! When I got to the hospital I was already at 6 cm and I very quickly progressed into transition and ready to push. Intense is an understatement but the thing I still remember most vividly is needing a break and feeling like I couldn't get one! Finally once I started pushing I felt like I could at least breath between pushes! Dr. Hyser got there just as I started to push and about 42 minutes later... Jack Martin Yoder was born! 

It was absolutely incredible!! The most amazing experience ever! Jack came right up on my chest and the feeling is really almost impossible to describe. All my life I have longed to experience birth the way I feel God created it... allowing our bodies to do exactly what they are made to do. Now... don't get me wrong, medical intervention has it's place. I mean if it wasn't for skilled medical professionals, c-sections, etc my boys would not be here! But it's hard for me to not feel like my boys got cheated, along with myself now that I know and have felt the difference. There was an automatic bond between Jack and I that felt so natural and beautiful. As he came out and up on my chest he was calm, happy, content... until they started to suck him out and clean him off! But it was so amazing! 

I was so blessed to have an all natural birth VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean section) with as little medical intervntion I could have in a hospital. Now many have said... don't be a hero, get the epidural, and I can see where you would want one after expeienceing it... but honestly... be tough, feel it all, be a HERO or at least do your best to experience it fully so that you FEEL like a hero. Now I have opinions on epidural, medically speaking, but my emotional take on it is more opinionated... motherhood is hard. Period. And if you are willing to take the easy way out at birth, it might not be the last time you go down that road. God created you to feel the pain, feel as if you could conquer the world afterward... because well, frankly, you need to! Women who have c-sections and survive the first week of having a newborn and being bed ridden... same thing - tough! All mothers are tough no matter how their babies enter the world, but my point is be ready for the toughest and most rewarding ride of your life! (Now a disclaimer... I am writing this as a crying newborn just fell asleep in my arms and two crazy two year old boys are fighting at my feet! The chaos around me is most definitely affecting my writing slant!)

I would love to document more about my birth for my own sake and for anyone who is interested but as I mentioned above things are a little crazy around here and I know have a little one asking and pleading that I read a book to him so I'm off for now! I'm hoping to get better about posting... ya.. heard that before?! But really, I need to keep up on what Jack is doing so he doesn't feel slighted! Ha! Oh - speaking of that... He was back up to birth weight at his follow up and has been eating and sleeping like a champ! He's a good baby and is sweet and cuddly as can be! Can't believe he's a month old already!! Ok... gotta run!

The boys always bring Jack toys while he's nursing!

Big brother Luke!

Hopefully there is still someone out there checking my blog for posts! Keep checking for updates! :)

FULL TERM!

Can't believe I can say we made it! Made it to full term! And yes... once again... I'm the worst blogger ever. I have my excuses, but I will spare you... life has just been too busy to stop and take time to write. I would like to say that things will change soon... and yes they will change... but probably only for the busier!

I finally stopped and took a picture of the billboard we are on so that I have proof when the boys are older and I try to tell them they were on a billboard! I figured that if I didn't have an actual picture to prove it... they'd never believe me!

One thing that has kept us especially busy is our room switching! We have moved the boys out of the nursery next to our room and down the hall to the old guest room! They are now in 'big boy beds' and have new furniture and surroundings. They've done pretty well with the transition. It's been harder for Max than Luke. Since Luke has been crawling out of his crib for a long time he did well with the concept of staying in his bed at bedtime/naptime, but Max has been exasperating his freedom a little too much! The first couple of nights were hard but he's caught on fast! They still get up earlier than they did in cribs, but that may adjust overtime. (I'm hoping!) 

New dresser from Nana and Papa, the boys' Christmas present instead of toys. 

I was excited that their tree from the nursery transferred so well! Never thought I would get two uses out of it! And I love the boys' quilts that Grandma Candy made them! So fun!! (Folded at the base of the bed).

Candy took the boys for a day the other week and my mom came over and we pretty much painted the whole nursery and switched all of the boys' stuff over in one day. I was sitting in the boys' new room and (yes I'm pregnant) got suddenly overwhelmed with emotion! I was sitting there, looking around at their "new" room, their big boy beds, and then their baby pictures still framed on their dresser. I just COULD NOT get over how big they are now. And how they are no longer my babies and I will soon have a new baby in my life. I all of a sudden had a flash forward of kindergarten and that just sent me over the edge! I hated hearing when they were infants from everyone to enjoy it... it would go so fast... because in all honesty, it wasn't that enjoyable. But from about 9 months to now... it's been great! And I just can't believe they are almost three! Ok... enough of all that emotion... it's great that they are growing... just hard for the mama!

Riding their snowmobile! :)

On to the new nursery! And a new baby?! Really?! Seems so surreal still! We went with the transportation theme and my husband really loves decals, just so you know he put them all up so far! As you can see I still have some frames to hang but we are getting there!

We repainted the room a gray/blue and Caleb repainted the little dresser of the boys' red and added some chrome knobs!

Really strange to have only one crib in the nursery! Seems so big!! Hanging on the side of the crib is another masterpiece Candy made! This one a crib quilt for the new guy!

Caleb and the decals again!

I took some of the left over fabric and framed!

My helper as I was setting things up!

I must say... it feels SO great to have things in order BEFORE this little guy comes!! I can't wait to take him home and enjoy this organization, while it lasts! I had an amazing shower put on by my sister-in-laws and mother-in-law. It was done up so cute and I feel so blessed to have made it to my shower and able to actually experience that whole thing! It was so fun to hang out with everyone and just sit back and enjoy!

Luke in his "office." He has junk mail, a phone (hooked up to a charger) and the necessary work boots on! So funny to hear him on the phone. Everyone once in a while he will put the phone down and say... "Mama, please be TWIET! I'm on the phone!" 

We've all had the stomach bug... besides Caleb. This was Max last week... so tired! He was sleeping on the couch, rolled off and never woke up! 

My monkey boy, Luke!

I sure love all these guys!

So what do you do when you can't zip them?! Just wear a big coat over top... because you have no other option! Ha!

My helpers!

How far along? 37 weeks 2 days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Total weight gain/loss: 30 +
Maternity clothes? Yup!
Sleep: Let's just say my body is preparing for a newborn...
Best moment this week: Making it to FULL TERM!
Movement: Not as much since I think he's getting pretty squished in there!
Cravings: Spicy food.
Gender: BOY!!!!
Labor Signs: Nothing consistent yet.
Belly Button in or out? Still an innie/outie... sometimes totally out and sometimes totally in... weirdest thing! Depends on how the baby and how I am positioned.
What I miss: Snuggling close with my boys. Putting them both on my lap.
What I am looking forward to: So excited that hopefully the next time I'm admitted to ER/OB it will be IT! The big day!! I can't wait to labor this little man into the world and hold him, touch him, meet him, kiss him!! Another thing I'm looking forward too... getting a massage! Kasey got me an hour massage as part of my shower gift and I can't wait to go this week!!!

(Aunt Kathy and Sue... hold me accountable to update my last three weeks!) 

It's FREEZING!

As I write this our wind chill is around -20 and it doesn't look much better until the weekend... brrrrrr! We are happily hunkering down inside... working on endless projects awaiting this baby's arrival! Caleb is doing some trim downstairs and I've been organizing baby clothes and sorting things along with rearranging,what feels like, EVERY room in our house! We are in the process of moving the boys out of the nursery, into a new room down the hall (that was the guest room). They will be transitioning into "big boy" beds once in there! Then I am redoing the nursery and we have been working to finish the basement so we still have a guest room and an additional living space/toy room! So far so good! We've been getting lots done daily!

Taking some time to play in the snow!

Going down double!

  CHRISTMAS!

We had a great time with both of our families celebrating Christmas! We had my family at our house for Christmas Eve dinner and then spent the following day opening presents and hanging out!

Waiting for the feast!

I'm really bummed that this is sideways but I can't fix it! It's my "new" dinning room! Since we now have the toys downstairs I got my dinning room back and a new table that we got SUPER cheap from Slumberland! I love it in the room, which is a relief because we never even saw it in person! Just ordered it from the pic in the flyer!

Nana reading books!

The boys' tree they were so proud of!

This little boy wore this hat for three days straight! Then I  hid it! :)

Christmas shopping in Menards... I lost these two elves for a minute!

The boys in their Christmas outfits from Nana!

Hanging out and reading at the Yoder Christmas!

Modeling their new gloves, jammies and hats they got for Christmas!

Playing some play dough with Uncle!

Hmmm... do they look guilty to you? Well, they are! Cousins riding on a skateboard sneaking Christmas candies by the handful!

Playing with a new Christmas toy! A train set!! 

We went to a water park in Eau Claire for Caleb's birthday.  The boys loved it!!

 We went to Duluth a couple weeks after Christmas to get Luke checked by an allergist. It just pretty much confirmed his lactose intolerance but it was good to learn more and help alleviate some of his discomfort! Feel like I could write a book about all of this... so I'll just move on to the next picture! :)

POLAR PLUNGE

The "boys" were at it again for Caleb's birthday this year! They haven't done the plunge for a few years and Caleb declared it as a must this year since he was turning 29... forever young? And dumb? Ha!

He jumped in and out so fast I couldn't even get an action shot! Just IN and OUT!

Our basement project! It's almost done! We had carpet installed this last week and now it's just trim and the finishing touches!

The new guest room!

Getting some furniture moved in!

As you can imagine there is a lot of construction being witnessed around here... and then interpreted by our boys... Cracks me up when they come up with these types of combos all by themselves!

The boys had a biannual physical the other week and their stats looked great! Max was 28.5 lbs and 35" tall and Luke was 27.8 lbs and 34.5" tall! Dr. Hyser was also beyond pleased with their communication and problem solving skills! It was great to have such a positive check up! The boys have also remained very healthy so far this winter. Really praying it stays that way the rest of the season... especially with a new little one joining us soon!

SO about that baby... we have some updating to do! Last Friday, well two Fridays ago I guess (the 11th) I woke up and was feeling some tightness in my belly. As I was in the shower I got about eight Braxton Hicks type contractions... tightness in my belly but no pain. I had a doctor appointment that day but called in anyway and talked to a nurse in the OB who told me to come in...really because of my history! It was just too surreal... I was in the same room, with the same nurse as I was when I went in with the boys. As she hooked me up to be monitored it was the same question... Are you feeling anything in your stomach right now? Me... No? And the nurse said the dreaded same words... Well you're having a pretty good contraction right now. Ugh.. my heart sunk and I just kept thinking... this is not happening again, this IS NOT happening AGAIN! My doctor came over to the hospital and checked me and I was so surprised when she said my cervix was completely closed and thick! I immediately said... Praise the Lord! And my doc and the nurse said... Amen! Ha!

They monitored me for about 3 hours and after seeing no cervical change in that time they sent me home... with a peace actually. It's hard, because if I was "normal" meaning never have had twins at an extremely early gestation, this would be routine... no biggie! But given my history it makes us all a little panic stricken! Since my hospital visit I've been getting about 6 contractions a day, but nothing painful. Just Braxton Hicks I'm guessing! So please say a prayer for this little boy... that he stays put! I would love a 42 week 10 lb-er! Ha! And I know in the next 8 weeks I will be more and more uncomfortable, but NOTHING... no discomfort is bad enough for me to want this baby to come any earlier than 40 weeks! Everyday IN is making him healthier and stronger! I'm so thankful that God has given me a peace to feel that the baby is in his hands and will be just fine! I feel like I was given a second chance this time by being sent home. Last time was all too similar, but the outcome so far is way different! I'm just doing whatever I can to make this little guy feel no rush to come out!

This was taken the morning I went in to the hospital... 30 weeks 5 days... my first thought was hurry up and take a last picture!

I have a confession... just took this picture today... and I'm actually 32 weeks 2 days! 

How far along? 32 weeks 2 days
Total weight gain/loss: 30 lbs! Ooops! Let's just say I've enjoyed eating this pregnancy!
Maternity clothes? Yup ... but still mixing it up!
Stretch marks? Well I have found four little ones so far! They are just kind of extra stretching from my old ones... like extension marks! :) Oh and when I was in the hospital at 30 weeks 5 days I measured at just about 33 weeks. So my whole measuring huge tendency is starting to level out I guess!
Sleep: It's still difficult with this whole hands/arms going numb thing. But we did buy a recliner on sale at Menards the other week... and that is kind of my new best friend!
Best moment this week: I think I have to get rid of this question... since I only update every 4-5 weeks... it's hard to pick! But THIS week... getting things done and ready for the baby! Caleb was saying to me the other day that it sounds so nice to think that we can have a little room all ready with the baby's new clothes and things. I agree! Sounds much more fun than doing construction while he sleeps in the living room... like his brothers did! :)
Movement: Starting to get more exaggerated! Lots of pushes and noticeable punches and kick from the outside. Along with rolling where my whole belly shifts!
Cravings: Still into HOT stuff and bacon and BLACK PEPPER! I can't seem to get enough spice! I went out to lunch with a friend the other day and actually unscrewed the top of the black pepper so I could get some extra out! :)
Gender: BOY!!!!
Labor Signs: Well you now know that story...
Belly Button in or out? I honestly would call it an inny-outy! Depends on my position and baby's. Mostly out though. 
What I miss: Hmmmm... the big thing that has bothered me lately is snuggling my boys! I miss holding them real close and putting them on my lap. Just running out of room!

What I am looking forward to: Continuing to get ready for baby! Organization... what can I say.. I'm as Type A as they come! Unfortunately, Type A with two boys that are two... looks more like procrastination... it's just not by choice! Ha!