Another Dr. Update

So I had another Dr. visit and sono today and many are asking what she said. The sono is showing that the amniotic fluid levels don't appear to have increased over the past week, which is a good thing. Karis looks great and healthy - her heartbeat and movement are all really good.
The part that concerns the Dr. is just how much I have been contracting and cramping over the last week, yet I'm not really dilating at all, plus Karis is still up really high. She hasn't dropped down at all. Dr. said that if the contractions and cramping continue over this coming week and there's still no change w/her position or my cervix, then we will go ahead and schedule a c-section. My Dr. explains that the concern that is that all those contractions are meant to dilate the cervix, but if that's not happening then instead it's stretching and affecting the uterus, which is not a good thing.
It's funny how I really just don't care this time how this kid comes out - I just want a healthy baby girl, preferrably soon! I'm 36 weeks today but measuring at 40 weeks or more, so I'm ridiculously uncomfortable. So we just might be having a baby in a week or so. I'll keep you updated.

Christmas

I know. I know. Christmas was a month ago. But at least I'm getting some pictures up! We had a great week of Christmas spending time with family. And we even got a white Christmas! My parents got a good bit of snow at their house. Caleb loved discovering the snow with Pappi.


Caleb and Grayson love their Mimi!
We couldn't get Caleb to wear the santa hat by itself, but as long as he could wear his own hat underneath, he didn't even notice.
Marc and I got Caleb a helmet so he can ride on the back of his daddy's bike. He loves to wear the helmet and watch his daddy ride the bike, but he's still freaked out at the idea of getting on the bike.
For Christmas Eve, we got to spend some special time just the 3 of us. But I was so bummed. We had big plans to go look at lights in Highland Park, but the ice was so bad, we had to turn around and come back home after just getting 3 miles down the highway.
Caleb loves his Grammy.
Caleb was pretty sick most of the week, but his Gramps helped take good care of him.
He also had lots of fun with his Aunt Janice.

And probably the coolest toy car I've ever seen - a BMW just like the one his Gramps drives.

Dr. Appointment Update

I've promised quite a few people for an update after my visit with the OB today. So, here goes - the sonogram showed that I have a condition called polyhydramnios, which basically means there is too much amniotic fluid. Right now I am 35 weeks pregnant, but I measure at 39-40 weeks. No wonder I am so stinkin' uncomfortable and look like I'm about to pop. My OB is also watching my blood pressure, which is a bit elevated, and her theory is that even though I passed my glucose screen, I probably have a touch of gestational diabetes as well as possible thyroid issues. Sheesh, what has not been an issue this pregnancy?! But everything right now looks ok. The sonogram showed that baby girl is healthy and they estimate the weight at about 6lbs so far (which we all know how accurate those are right!)
For now my OB wants to keep monitoring the fluid level, so I go back for another sono next Thursday, and if the level has gone up, then we'll reevaluate. Either way, she said this baby will probably be a bit early, but the goal is definitely to make it to at least 37 weeks, which I cannot believe is only 2 weeks away! It's hard to imagine that I could have a sweet baby girl in my arms just 2 weeks from now.
I guess now is as good a time as any to share the name. Marc and I have decided to name her Karis Kathreen Rose. Karis rhymes with Paris, in case you were wondering how to pronounce it. It is Greek and means grace and can also mean beauty and kindness. Kathreen is a family name. It has been passed down as the middle name through at least 6 generation of women on Marc's mom's side. We are so excited to meet this sweet girl, and I promise to do better at posting updates and pictures! I know several of you will set me straight if I don't :)

As Promised ... The Potty Video

This is not how you use the potty seat!

Ok, so I guess I better explain! Caleb has been showing interest in using the potty, so we got him a big boy potty that we put on the floor in our bathroom. He likes to sit on it when mommy is in the bathroom. So today that was the norm until he decided to take the top of the seat off and put it on like a hat. I just thought it was cute - no big deal - until he said "on" and then pulled it all the way over his head. He quickly realized it was stuck and completely freaked out. I tried and tried to get it off, many times, but he was hysterical every time. I couldn't hold his hands out of the way and pull it off at the same time. So we had to wait until Marc got home to get it off. 2.5 hours and a lot of tugging later Caleb's head was finally free of the potty seat and only a little scratched up!

Good News

We saw the orthopedic surgeon yesterday morning and got some great news. Not only do I not need surgery, but I also don't need a cast! The tip of my ankle bone broke off when the ligaments pulled so hard, but the bone is still sitting in place. So I just have to wear the brace for the next 3-4 weeks, and then another splint for a while, which will keep my ankle from turning to the side. I can start trying to put a little weight on that foot and eventually walk w/the boot w/o the crutches. This means such a faster recovery time and hopefully no atrophy of the muscles etc from lack of use of my leg. It would have been hard to rehab the leg while in my 3rd trimester of this pregnancy! I'll still be staying w/my parents for several more weeks and will still need help w/Caleb etc, but this news is such a huge relief. We appreciate all of the offers for help, and will be sure to let you all know as needs arise. Thank you for the prayers!

My life is never boring!

Well, this is the best way to update lots of people at one time, so here it goes:
I (Laura) fell and broke my ankle on Tuesday! I was at my best friend Tanna's house and was chasing Caleb as he tried to run out the garage. It's all kind of a blur, but I stepped wrong on the little 2 inch step where the garage meets the driveway. My ankle rolled to the side and I heard and felt it snap. Nasty. I've always heard people talk about how painful that is and such a crazy sound, but I never had any idea what it was really like. Now I do! But I am so glad that I was with Tanna. She was awesome and got me to the ER with our poor, scared, screaming babies! Then she took care of Caleb while I was in the ER.

Anyhow, b/c of the swelling, they could only splint it at the time. I go to see an orthopedic surgeon tomorrow to find out if I need surgery or just a cast.
The craziest part is that it was my right ankle so I can't drive, can't take care of Caleb by myself, and can't live at my own house b/c all the bedrooms and showers are upstairs! I am so thankful to have family close by. Caleb and I are staying at my parents' house indefinitely, and I guess Marc and I will see eachother on the weekends :(

Anyways, I'll keep the blog updated as we know more about surgery etc. We would appreciate the prayers. Later that night after I broke my ankle I started worrying about all of the things that I wouldn't be able to do, and I couldn't see how they were all going to work out. But I just started praying and asking the Lord to work them out, and it has been exciting to see all of the ways He is taking care of us in this and providing for our needs. And we know He will continue to do so.