Four times Mother’s Day joy for Holmes mother, father, two twins

‘We went home with four children under the age of four’

Having twins was never expected.
The family bond between two twins is close

NASHVILLE − Raising twins appears to be twice as difficult as raising one child. Imagine you are raising two sets of twins.

That has been the blessing for Greg and Vanessa Woods, longtime teachers and coaches in West Holmes Local Schools, making Mother’s Day twice as special.

“Well, I can’t say I know the exact percentage, but the first time we went to the doctor we were told we had a 6% chance of having twins,” Vanessa said. “When we decided to try for another baby, they said to cut the percentage in half, so a 3% chance of multiples… and you know how that turned out.”

The Woodses eventually found out there were twins on Greg’s side of the family, but we didn’t think about it because we assumed it wouldn’t happen, she said.

But it did happen… twice.

The first time was a major rollercoaster ride

“When we first found out we were having twins, we were ecstatic,” Vanessa said. “But Cael and Maddie’s pregnancy wasn’t the easiest. We were literally on a rollercoaster ride of highs and lows.”

She said they were so happy to find out they were having twins, but at the next doctor’s appointment they were told that one of the babies was not thriving and would most likely be lost, while the other seemed to be doing great.

“We had time to process it and when we went back to the next doctor’s appointment, they told us, ‘Oh, the one we thought might have been lost is catching up.’ So we were back at the highest level,” Vanessa said.

And that’s how the entire pregnancy went, she remembers.

“And of course Cael had a mind of his own and was willing to come five weeks early, while Maddie was perfectly content to stay in and bake a little longer,” she said.

Intensive delivery of one 3 pound, 10 ounce; other at 5 pounds, 8 ounces

They ended up at the Cleveland Clinic for an emergency C-section, where Woods experienced a very intense labor.

“Cael was my little peanut weighing 3 pounds, 10 ounces and only 16-3/4 inches long,” she said. “Maddie was 5 pounds, 8 ounces, 18 inches long. She was doing very well, but Cael had to go to the NICU and I couldn’t even hold him.

“He has always been a fighter and he spent an extra 10 days in hospital to get his blood sugar levels back up,” she added. “He was supposed to be a wrestler who would watch his weight.”

A truly supportive husband and father

Vanessa said she could never have done what she did without the incredible support and help of her husband, Greg.

“I would have to stay home and take care of Maddie while Greg drove back and forth to the Cleveland Clinic to be with Cael,” she said.

Greg Woods adds that Vanessa has been a rock star through it all.

“I feel very fortunate to have her as a wife and mother of my children,” Greg said. “She is the unsung hero behind the curtain. I feel very lucky to have someone who supports our children and me.

“For 27 years, she has supported me while I was coaching, often making late dinners and offering words of encouragement,” he continued. “We’re not perfect, but she did her best every day. It’s great to do all this with four kids.”

Greg added that for years they might only have a weekend or two off from tournaments the kids participated in.

“This wouldn’t have been possible without a very strong woman who often had to go to tournaments alone,” Greg said. “With four children, everything is twice as difficult, from doing the laundry, cooking dinner, doing homework, exercising, etc. She has been the rock of our family and has also helped many other children in her class, or who she has coached. I have too. I am blessed to have a woman who puts her children first before her own interests.”

A little easier the second time

Vanessa said the second pregnancy was a little easier than the first, although Kenzie and Kali also arrived five weeks early.

“However, we were able to give birth in Wooster and we were all released at the same time, so we went home with four children under the age of four,” she said. “Cael and Maddie had to ‘grow up’ a little faster because of the newborn babies around, but they were always very helpful with the girls and quickly bonded with them.”

Many successes academically and athletically

“Our children have achieved great success in their athletic and academic careers,” said the proud mother. “We are so proud of everything they have achieved. That’s not to say they haven’t had hard times at times, but we’ve stayed together as a family and made sure everyone knows they’ll get through whatever situation they’re in. positive and that we were there for them.”

Maddie Woods has been killing it in the classroom and on the ball field. She graduates from Tiffin University with a 3.87 grade point average. She also was the starting second baseman for the Tiffin University softball team all four years. She was GMAC 2nd team her freshman year and GMAC 1st team her sophomore year.

Twin brother Cael is back at college after taking a year to figure out what he really wanted to do with his life. He is also back on the wrestling mat. He attends Tiffin University and the three-time All-Ohioan from West Holmes is on the wrestling team.

“Cael just got accepted into their education program,” his mother said. “He will be just like Dad with his love of history. He was an Academic All-American in wrestling, something he aspired to do. We are so proud of his comeback.”

Kenzie and Kali are preparing to graduate from West Holmes this year. Kenzie will play softball at Findlay University and Kali will play soccer at Lake Erie College. Kali has maintained a 4.0 GPA throughout his education and plans to become a teacher as well. Kenzie was an honor roll honoree in high school and plans to major in sports management/marketing at Findlay.

“They’ve both had success in their athletic careers; a very successful soccer career for Kali, especially in her senior year,” Vanessa said. “Kenzie has had a great career in high school, where she was a member of the varsity for the boys golf team. They are currently in their final softball season that they will play together, and the team is doing very well and so are they.”

Greg believes that one day the children will look back at their mother in wonder.

“Hopefully they will learn from her example and do the same for their children,” he said.

The hardest part is finding time for all their events

The Woodses say the hardest part about having the two twins and the age difference is having to split time to get to all their events.

“There were a lot of times where I had to be on one set while Greg was coaching or with the other kids,” Vanessa said. “Thank God for technology because we could catch games on gamechanger or flowwrestling.”

A natural maternal instinct

“Being an elementary school teacher for 27 years, I think of my students as ‘my own children’ while they are in my classroom,” Vanessa said. “Just like at home, I try to make sure they know that I love them, that I am there for them, but I also come down on them if they don’t follow the rules or don’t work to the best of their ability.

“I feel like over the years I’ve had students who thought I was hard on them at the time, but as they grew up they realized I did it because I cared and I wanted them to succeed” , she said. “I think I approach my classroom and my motherhood the same way my mom and dad did. They were both teachers and had expectations for us. They were so supportive and loving in good times and bad.”

Vanessa said she is finding it difficult to accept that her children will all be gone next year.

Empty nest: ‘My babies are leaving’

“Empty nest syndrome has hit me really hard lately,” she said. “Don’t get me wrong, we will still follow them in everything they do, but knowing that all my ‘babies’ are leaving… I am so full of pride and sadness at the same time. But I know the bond we have made with our children will last a long time and we raised them to be independent but always know we are there for them.

She adds that people often assume that Kenzie and Maddie are twins and Cael and Kali are the other set, because Kenzie and Maddie are both blondes and Cael and Kali are brunettes.

“Maddie sometimes finds it annoying that everyone on the Woods side has the ‘C’ sound that starts their name except her,” Vanessa said. “I tried to give her and Cael a matching name, but Greg wanted the name Cael, so I gave in.”