1 Month Old!

I can't believe our little guy is one month old already!! Time has gone by so quickly! Knowing now how quickly kids grow I'm trying to enjoy this "baby stage" more this time, but it's still going fast! He does not do as well with sleeping at night as Layla did, but hopefully that will come in time. He'll normally goes 3, maybe 3 1/2 hours between feedings at night and typically sleeps the whole time in between, however, he seems to have such tummy issues after he eats and spits up lately after every feeding that it can sometimes take him a bit to fall asleep. When he was in the ER last week he drank a formula bottle and did really good with it so we thought we'd try that at home. We gave him that bottle at night and he slept TERRIBLE the whole night. I'm not sure if that was a coincidence or what, but he would NOT settle down and just screamed and screamed. I'm hoping his tummy issues get better because it makes him quite crabby--he just seems so uncomfortable!! Layla was allergic to the protein in cow's milk, so I really hope it's not that--I love dairy! :) Anyway, he seems to be growing good. He is totally filling out his newborn sleepers and definitely has chubby little cheeks! He has just been such a little blessing and we're so happy to have him as a part of our family. I just love being a family of four now (well, five with Elv:D).

Nudey one month pic...


Getting a kiss from his sis...


Daddy squeezing his cheeks:)...

Chillin' with his bro...

4 Week Birthday Accident

Well, we didn't exactly spend Gibson's 4 week birthday quite the way we had planned yesterday. We had planned on heading over to my sister's house and then quickly going to Carpet Bonanza to get some samples of carpet for our basement. Unfortunately we didn't make it to Em's house as planned.

We were heading north to her house when I suddenly started fish tailing like crazy. The next thing I really remember is looking at Elv next to me in the front seat while the vehicle was upside down. I don't even remember being upside down or unbuckling my seatbelt or anything. I remember then moving the floor mats aside and getting around our privacy screen bar (that had detached landed b/w the front and back seat) in order to crawl into the back seat and I saw Layla and Gibson both hanging upside down in their carseats. Layla's face had blood all over it and she was screaming "mama, mama, mama". I remember thinking, 'Ok, Layla's alive, so I need to get Gibson out first'. At some point a guy knocked on the front driver side window and I could see that he was calling for help. I'm pretty sure I was screaming hysterical for help at him. I really don't remember when I saw him--before heading to the back seat maybe?? I also remember trying to get Gibson's carseat detached from the base, but I couldn't for some reason. So since I could clearly tell that Layla was alive I'm pretty sure I then unstrapped Gibson from his carseat first. I think I then handed him to the guy who had by then opened the front passenger side door. I can't remember if he was even awake when I got him out of the car, but I know that when the guy was holding him he was sleeping. I then got Layla out. It's all so sketchy and I'm really not even sure what details I'm mixing up. The only other thing I can remember from being in the car was having the guy tell me to shut the car off and so I did. I just then remember that we were all out of the vehicle safely and the guy that first came to help was holding Gibs and another passerby guy was holding Layla (who was screaming and not appreciating being held by a stranger). I remember seeing Gibs' hatless head and wanting to find his hat to keep him warm and the guy had set it on top (or actually the bottom) of the car so I was able to put it on him. Another guy had also stopped to help. I have no idea if any of them were together or not. There was then also a girl that had stopped that said that we could keep warm in her car. I feel bad because I think I kind of ignored her because the lady that lived in the house that we crashed in front of then came out and said that we could go into her house. I was then holding Layla and began to walk up the tree covered hill to the house. I kept slipping (not great traction on my boots) and was scared that I'd hurt Layla by falling and sliding down the hill with her in my arms. The guy was carrying Gibson up after me. At some point while we were still by the vehicle I had called my sister to let her know that we had been in an accident. I think I was so shaken up that even those details are confusing--I could just tell her on the phone that we were on the road going to her house and got in an accident. She asked me what road it was and I didn't know. Thankfully there is one "normal" way I take to her house so she figured it out and headed down that road to find us. (I really should learn the name of the road--the insurance company asked me today when giving my statement and I still wasn't sure!) After we got inside the house (the nice lady even let Elv inside with us) I called Joe to let him know and he left work immediately. Layla was totally calm by that point and Gibs was sound asleep on a chair:). The cop then showed up and since an ambulance hadn't been called the cop said it'd be okay to have Em drive us to the hospital. I didn't realize until we got in the house that I was bleeding and my head really hurt. It's amazing how the adrenaline of everything makes you not feel pain! We got checked in at the hospital (which took over 4 hours in Holland's ER!) and the kids checked out totally fine and I just had to get 3 staples in my head.

We are SO thankful and PRAISE God that we were all okay!! We pretty much came out scratch free. The car is a different story, but that doesn't matter. My children are what matter! It's just amazing how it all worked out. It could have been SO much worse! Had we been a little bit further north we would have ended up in water. Even the deep ditch we did land in floods easily so we were so fortunate that it wasn't flooded. There are trees all over that stretch of road--it was only by God's gracious protection that we didn't hit a tree. I am SO thankful for carseats!! My 20 month old and 4 WEEK OLD baby (who hasn't even hit his due date yet) were hanging upside down after rolling into a ditch and came out totally fine!! Layla's face had been bleeding from some scratches, but after they cleaned her up at the ER you could hardly see them and they are totally gone today. I am SO thankful that we didn't hit another car--of coursee because it then could have been way worse for us, but also because I would feel even worse had I involved and possibly hurt anyone else. I am also thankful for carseats and seat belts. What's weird is we've been saying lately how we should flip Layla's car seat around to face forward now that she's 20 pounds (21 something in the ER actually--although she had clothes and such on). Well, we kind of just haven't gotten around to flipping her yet--she is, er, was still comfy riding backwards in our Endeavor but is starting to get cramped in other people's cars that she rides in. I'm sure she probably would have been just as fine facing forward, but who knows--facing backwards is five times safer for head injuries. So I'm thankful that at 20 months we still had her rear facing and I have the reassurance now that I had her as protected as possible for her age. It's crazy how even the "little" things worked out. When leaving the house that morning I wasn't planning on bringing Layla's beloved "Dolly", but I then decided that since she might be napping at Em's I would just grab it and put it in the bag. I was hoping to not have her see me put her in the bag (we don't like her getting in the habit of taking her out of the house unless she's going somewhere where she'll be napping). Well, I tried to put her in the bag without Layla noticing, but Layla heard me put her in the bag (she rattles) so I just handed her to Layla. Layla then wanted to also take one of her babies along, but I told her to leave her home and she set her right down--had she put up a fight I probably would have let her take her and who knows, maybe the baby (with a hard plastic head) would have hit Layla or Gibson in the face or something. Layla also had two pipes as we were leaving and I grabbed one away from her and stuck it in my coat pocket. Layla's pipe flew out of her mouth during the crash (Dolly remained in her arms the whole time), so thankfully I remembered that I had one in my pocket for her after the crash. I know that seems unimportant, but Layla stayed so calm and happy the whole time and I really think it was because she had Dolly and her pipe. Another thing that worked out great was that the lady whose house we crashed in front of is my neighbor from growing up's (and Em's friend) mother-in-law and that old neighbor actually lives with her family right next to her mother-in-law. She occasionally helps Em out by watching Gavin so when Em came to the accident site she quickly dropped Gavin off at her friend's house. We also used her infant carrier to transport Gibs to the hospital (Layla used Gavin's car seat). It's also amazing that Elv was totally unharmed. He had been on my lap the whole ride (he sits nicely--he was not a distraction). I have no idea if I held him as we rolled or what, but he doesn't have a scratch on him. I know he's "just a dog", but we really love him and I love now how much Layla loves him (they actually play pretty nicely together:D). It made me think about it when we got home from the hospital and Elvis was still at Em's house (we dropped him off on the way to the hospital) and Layla was walking around the house yelling "Elv, Elv". Even our dog was okay!! And it's also amazing that Joe answered my call. He was just stepping into a meeting and said that he wasn't going to answer it since it was an unknown number to him, but he ended up answering it. I so thankful he could come right away to help us in the ER--he was actually just exciting the highway as we were passing the exit on the way to the hospital. I am also so thankful for the guy that was there pretty much immediately I think (as far as I know). I wish that I knew who he was (and the others too). I would like to know what happened (after he arrived--I think he told my sister that he didn't witness the crash) and I would like to thank him. I feel like I was so out of it that I didn't even really thank him! I'm grateful that he was traveling down that same country rode at that time and that he thought to stop--some people might have assumed that we weren't in there or something and kept driving.

As far as crash details go, I was heading north towards Zeeland, I hit black ice close to where Ottagon intersects, I then started fish-tailing like crazy. Like I said, that's as far as I remember. My front driver's side tire must have then caught on the gravel on the east shoulder which then sent us rolling into the ditch and we then landed upside down facing south. The back of the car appears to have been hit too so we must have landed on that first and then ended up landing on the roof. I will miss my car, but a car is just a car. We should hear early next week if it is considered totaled or not. I would think so judging by how it looks, but we don't know for sure yet. If so, we will be looking hopefully soon for something a little bit bigger for our expanding family.

We took these pics obviously after it had been towed. I should have taken some at the scene. I did have my camera with me which thankfully survived the crash:). Everything did really--even our GPS screen wasn't cracked or anything!

The beginning part of our time in the ER is scetchy to me. I started getting a migraine at some point and it was the early stage where you can't think straight (or at least that's what happens to my brain--I remember at one point not being sure if Gibson was really my son's name or not!), but since we were there so long, I do remember the majority of it. Layla was SUCH a big girl. She was happy as can be walking around the boring room just waiting for me to get my staples. She cried when she got checked, but I didn't even see it--I was down the hall in the bathroom and could hear her--she was quiet by the time I got back though. I think she thought she was pretty cute in her little tiger "dress" and thought her "bracelet" (hospital band) was pretty cute too. And she was even missing her nap! I think it helped though that Em found an area with graham crackers for her to snack on! And Gibson just slep the whole time only breaking to eat once.

Here's Layla and me waiting in the ER...(a little blurry since they were taken on Joe's phone)

Gibson waiting patiently in the ER room...

I'm pretty sure that when the accident happened the main thing going through my mind was, 'God, please let my children be alive and okay'. I would have NEVER thought to pray that my children would come out of the crash totally untouched. I'm sure if I you would have asked me in that moment that I would have thought they'd be really hurt. GOD IS GOOD! We must have a really great gardian angel!! I feel blessed beyond words. I was cleaning all the stuff out that had been in our car today and can't believe how dirty everything got and how blood stained things got (I guess from my head--it was not a big cut, just deep). From looking at that and from seeing how our car ended up I can't believe that we're all okay. Layla acted totally fine today and Gibs did too. I'm super sore and have some bruising and aching and such, but nothing major at all!! Again, GOD IS GOOD!

I don't know now how to really process what happened or what to do with all that has now gone through my mind. I feel scared thinking about driving them in the future. I feel so horrible that it was my fault. I jeopardized my kids' lives. It could have ended up so badly because of me. I pray that I can now learn to deal with what happened and move on with my life. Not necessarily unchanged--but move on. I hope I can now appreciate my kids even more and keep them safe without trying to keeep them in a bubble. I haven't really been in an accident before (besides some minor fender benders) and I didn't realize how tramatic it really can be especially when it involves children! I pray that something like this never happens again to my kids or anyone else in my family!!

Another Week Already!

I can't believe it's already been another week home with Gibs! Time has been going fast. Gibs has been home for almost two weeks now. We've been pretty much just staying home. We're trying to keep him as healthy as possible. Even though he was only 5 1/2 weeks early, he still was premature, so the doctor said to be very careful about germs--especially since it's flu and RSV season. They said to keep him away from church and similar places until May--which means keeping Layla away too since she catches colds all the time from the nursery it seems. By the time she can go to the nursery again she won't even know what it is--she hasn't been to church since probably early October (or whenever the start of my partial bedrest was)!

Here's what we've been up to lately...

I thought he matched his blanket so cute in this outfit that he needed a picture on it. He wasn't so happy about it:)...

This is typical for how close Layla likes to be by him. She definitely really loves him!!

And she's been really into her baby dolls lately. She LOVES them and takes them all over the house putting them "nigh-nigh" in their beds and getting mad when she can't put their hats on. She loves hats! She also loves to copy what Gibson is doing with her babies. So here her baby is playing on the floor by Gibson:)...

And here's another typical example of her copying. Since Gibson was in his bouncy she decided to lug over his car seat and put her baby in it.

I just love the age Layla is at now. She makes us laugh all the time with the silly things she does and with her squealy laugh she's developed recently. She loves copying what we do and loves "helping" with everything. She keeps learning new words daily and it's fun to see her developing into such a little girl! She can be such a neat freak and loves to clean up if she spills and likes to throw away any garbage she finds (thankfully she understands what needs to be thrown out and what doesn't:D). But she can also be super messy by taking her toys ALL over the house! She can be so full of energy running and playing all over the place yet can be so clingy at times asking all the time to get picked up and having to sit by me when I pump or feed Gibs.

Sitting right next to mom...

Layla and her crazy after napping hair. No, she does not have pants on--she took them off as she likes to do.

Grampy holding Gibs for the first time...I thought I had taken a pic of Gigi feeding him the other night, but unfortunately I guess I didn't...

Grandpa's first time holding him...

Grandma and Gibson...

Just chillin'...

Going to sleep in his funny hospital hat. He's had some clogged tear duct issues so that's why his eye looks a little mattery and small here. He's been sleeping in a pack n play in our room, but our basement is close to being done! Well, close to being to a point where we can at least move Layla in and our family room furniture. Joe and I stayed up Friday night to finish most of the painting and then Joe's dad and brother came Saturday to finish up some other final things. Now we just have to get time to go pick out carpet so that can go in. Then Gibs can move into his nursery!!

First Week Home Update

Gibson has been home over a week already! And he's almost 3 weeks old already--3 weeks ago tonight I was at the hospital. Things have been going well at home. He's still in that super sleepy stage so it helps that he naps all the time:). He's been having some spitting issues and seems really uncomfortable after he eats, so we're not sure what's causing that. The hospital said that he should eat 8 times a day which hasn't been a problem as he gets up to eat anyway. Every night aside from last night he's gone 1 or 2 four hours stretches and typically goes right back to sleep after eating which is nice. Last night he was up every 3 hours though and we try to keep him upright a bit after he eats and then I pump, so I was quite tired today. Hopefully he goes back to 4 hour stretches tonight! He had his first ped appointment last Wednesday and weighed 5 lbs 10 oz and was 18.6 inches. He's been gaining weight good, but we do need to add EnfaCare formula to his breast milk to add extra calories and protein and other things he missed out on in the final weeks in utero.

Layla has been a big older sister. She's not as jealous as I thought she'd be and she's just as "helpful" as I had thought. She really is helpful with things like going to get him a diaper or his pipe when I ask her too, but she's not very helpful with things like trying to put his pipe in his mouth when he doesn't want it or taking burp clothes out of his drawer and putting them on his head. She also likes to bounce him in the bouncy which isn't so great for a spitter right after eating and she gets a little wild with the bouncing which he doesn't appreciate! The one thing I have noticed that I think may be out of jealousy is that a couple of times after I've changed his poopy diaper, Layla says that she pooped. She's been really good at telling us when she poops (or sometimes right before she poops), so I think she was just saying that so that she could get a diaper change too (which she normally doesn't like). Silly girl:).

She's been enjoying his toys more than him. She likes to bring her buddies into his rainforest play mat with her. She doesn't leave much room for him so that might be challenging once he starts to be interested in it!

Gibson had his first real outing on Sunday to Em and Mike's. Gavin and Layla loved playing in Gavin's new tunnel...


And Layla enjoyed Gavin's bouncy ball...

My three boys were worn out once we got home...

Layla wanted to wear a hat since Gibs' had his on...

Last week Saturday we went to Brad and Jill's for a late Christmas party. The kids were excited like usual for a pic together:). I suggested that Julie and Lindsey stick their bellies in the picture so that those kids would be included, but for some reason they didn't go for that idea. I guess since Gibs missed out, it's only fair that their babies miss the pic too:).

Layla, Jonathan, Ava, Alden and Ella (L-R)

They were ready for their pic on the couch...well, sort of, not exactly real smiley!

The kids all exchanged names for a gift exchange--the guys for some reason weren't interested in watching the kids open presents:).

This monkey bib and socks go with one of Gibson's sleepers...Layla thinks that Gibs can share all his stuff with her. She also has had problems keeping pants on lately. If she doesn't wear a belt, she can pull most of them off, so she does. She thinks she wants to go potty and pulls them off in the bathroom, but I don't want to start potty training for awhile yet as I know she's not ready yet! She just thinks it's fun apparently...

Checking each other out...don't mind his pink blanket:)...

Joe spending time with the kiddos...

His first "real" bath. He was relaxing nice right before I took this pic and then of course got upset once I took it!

Joe's cousin got him this adorable blanket! I thought it'd be a good thing for him to have his monthly comparison pictures with...so here he is at like 2 1/2 weeks. He already peed all over it yesterday! That was my first experience with him squirting all over, so that was fun:). I thought it was cute though when I was undressing him to get a new outfit on, Layla brought me one of her sleepers for him:). She tries to be helpful:).

He's Home!!!

When I called this morning to see how Gibbers did during the night they told me that he was coming home today!! He was circumsized (poor little guy) around 6 and then we just had to wait to make sure that was doing okay and then we could bring him home! We are so excited to have our little guy home, yet a little nervous having a newbie at home again:). And a little nervous to see how things will go with him and Layla!! It'll be way different having an older one at home that tries to "help" and is very interested in the new baby. But we're excited to begin this new chapter in our lives!

Getting ready to go home!

Relaxin' after drinking his last bottle at the hospital...

Waiting for his circ...poor little guy!!

Ready to leave!

Leaving the nursery...

Arriving home with both kiddos...

First family pic at home (yes, our tree is still up--the ornaments are all off--just needs to be taken down. Now that I'll be home more it'll be down soon--not that I'm sure I'll have that much more time! :D). Joe's dad and brother were finishing up getting our basement ready to have the trim painted tomorrow morning--they have been SUCH a help with our basement project!!

Layla couldn't see him very well so she thought she'd get her chair to give her a boost up...she is definitely very interested in him!

Day 12

Gibs has been doing really well with his feedings! He took almost all of them Friday during the night and into Saturday morning, then didn't finish his Saturday noon bottle, but since then has finished all of them! He was still on the bili lights yesterday but came off of them this morning. They will recheck his bili level tomorrow morning and we hope that they find that it's gone down or stayed where it's at. Hopefully then he'll be home!! We're proud of our little guy for eating so good:).

They moved him to the back of the nursery so we'd have a little more privacy. Him and the two other babies that were born just a bit before him are now all towards the back. No one else has had to stay very long. Hopefully this bed won't be his place of residence much longer!
Wearing clothes again!

Showing off his cute little buns in his monkey outfit...

Chubby cheeks while getting burped...

Layla visited him yesterday. She hadn't seen him since last weekend, but she still remembered who he was so maybe that's a sign that maybe she'll like him:)?? She was trying to be helpful by putting his pipe in his mouth--too bad he was sleeping and really didn't want it:). We had to keep her quiet in the nursery so she got special priviledge of playing with Mommy's phone. That was more interesting than her baby brother:).

Holding Dad's hand...