20 Weeks

We've reached the halfway point with Lilly Grace. It's hard to believe we're already that far in. We spend so much time counting down and looking forward to all the milestones, but it's a little sad how truly fast it passes in the grand scheme of things. I pray I enjoy and soak up every week and moment left in this pregnancy. At 20 weeks, the LG is the size of a mango! At our ultrasound, she was measuring only 1 day ahead, good news. All things look good and I'll return on Dec. 30 for my glucose test and another check up. The doctor even said we'd take another look at her because they couldn't see all of her spine. No worries, he just wants to be able to see it, and her position wasn't very cooperative. I am of course excited because that's another ultrasound to see our little princess!

Lucas is starting to remember a baby is in mama's belly, but I don't think he truly understands yet. But I know he'll be very excited once she arrives, although, he may not be happy she stays :) But he'll get there. We are very excited for the next 20 weeks, and we are so blessed.


And for a few weeks, we will have a pretty background for our baby fruit and bump pics!

Baby Girl or Baby Boy?

We've been anxiously anticipating this day for weeks now, even months. We got up, got ready, had breakfast, and headed off to our doctor's office, Lucas included. So not only was today the first day of our Thanksgiving break, but it was also our 20 week ultrasound to reveal the gender of Baby Oliver #2!

After our appointment, we went to Wal-Mart, Build-a-Bear, and lunch as a family ;) Here's a look at what we got on our stops.

So it's confirmed...it's a GIRL 

We both thought it was a girl and we both wanted a GIRL!! We are so excited to meet and welcome Lilly Grace Oliver into our family come April 2016. Her due date is April 15, 2016. Above all else we wanted a healthy baby, and how lucky and blessed are we, that she's healthy and it's a SHE like we wanted and like we thought!!! 

 

Lucas' 2nd Birthday Paw-ty

While this weekend was full of bumps, ups and downs, today we had a great time celebrating Lucas turning TWO!

Oliver on the Way Updates

17 weeks-size of an onion

18 weeks-size of a sweet potato

19 weeks-size of a tomato (That Lucas wanted to eat)

So far, the bump is showing, but comes and goes as far as how big it feels as the baby moves around more. Baby does move a good bit, especially after eating or laying down. I have pretty good energy (most times), and I feel pretty good (most times). We are excited for counting down to our gender reveal ultrasound...it's only a few days away on Wed. 11/25/15. Be on the lookout later on that day for a reveal showing if Lucas will have a brother or sister.

Our vote is girl...what's yours?

Our girl name is 

Lilly Grace Oliver. 

This is the name we chose for a girl when we were pregnant with Lucas. At first, I was unsure about using that name as at first I felt like it was meant to be for that baby if it was a girl. However, after much deliberation and talking, and coming up with other names, I couldn't find anything that I loved as much. So we went back to it.

Our boy is not nailed down. We have some competitors.

Either Collin Bradley Oliver or or Collin Edward Oliver or Bradley Edward Oliver.

I think because we are feeling it's a girl, we aren't stressing about it.....yet. But either by or on Wednesday, we will have made our decision.

The countdown is on...and we are excited that it is just days away. 

Lucas Update and Trial Period

So many people have been asking us and praying for us and with us for Lucas. Over the past 5 months, we've been trying to heal his skin from what doctors believe is eczema. In addition to the eczema we had him tested for allergies, and found out a few weeks ago that he has mild allergies to:
cow's milk
egg whites
soy
peanuts
cat dander

And high allergies to:
dog dander

After SO many appts, doctors, medicines, etc we think we have a plan to help Lucas get relief.
The plan is to avoid cow's milk, egg whites, and soy, which takes a lot of monitoring and working. We are going to try this for about 4 weeks and see if his skin improves. We've only done this since Wednesday morning and we already see improvement. Sadly, with eczema, it comes and goes, up and down, and there isn't a sure answer to heal it or get rid of it. He is on an antibiotic to help clear up the skin since some places can become infected. He will also be on a zyrtec and benadryl type medicines to prevent allergies and scratching. His highest allergen is dog dander and with two dogs, that one is tough, but we trying to just avoid direct contact as much as possible.

The allergist wants to keep him eating peanuts and hopefully build his tolerance to it. Our goal is to hopefully narrow down and find his trigger for the eczema, if the allergies and eczema are related.

We pray for Lucas every night and we hope you will, too. Also, praying for patience as we make changes and find substitutions as it is a difficult transition for him and us at times. But we are thankful for a plan and possible solutions.

14, 15, 16 Week Update

14 week updates-size of a lemon

15 Weeks-Size of an orange (we chose to use a small pumpkin)

15 week ultrasound from our new doctor, we are much happier! 

Baby Oliver has his/her own pumpkin

16 Weeks-Baby is the size of an avacado

I've definitely felt different this time around. I still have more energy and can eat usually, but still have some stomach aches at times. So far, I can feel some movements this week and it still surprises me, but I'm excited for Andrew and Lucas to be able to feel baby move. I can't wait for our 20 week ultrasound and gender reveal :) Then we can start decorating and designing the nursery.

In preparation for baby 2, we've tried to get a few things ready. We found our double stroller at Once Upon a Child last weekend, tonight we found a Rock n Play at Once Upon a Child, and Andrew also got another camera to go with our current monitor online-all of these things we got for almost half of the original price. We are excited for these finds. We know with baby 2 we won't need as many big items as we have so many from Lucas, but these few things were needed/wanted. 

A Prayer, Please

You'd never know it...you'd never know Lucas was still in pain, still scratching, and not being allowed to eat some of his favorite foods, he is so sweet, so happy, and so easy going. We are truly blessed with the most low key and happy sweet boy, and I couldn't feel more blessed with our support system. But I feel like we are in need of prayers. The next couple of weeks we have so much going on for the lil man. This week he is going to the allergist to have his allergy test read and hopefully with guidance on how to best treat these 'mild allergies' as his dermatologist called them. We had a test done through our dermatologist since we had more accessibility tothem, and the results were mild allergies to peanuts, milk, soy bean, egg whites, and pet dander. We have made some changes and are trying to be smart about what he eats, but at the same time, the pediatrician doesn't necessarily believe the allergies are related to the eczema, which we thought.

He is also going to the dermatologist this week, as a follow up on his eczema. Until recently, we thought it was under control as well. However, in the last few weeks, it has gotten progressively worse. It is so hard to watch him scratch uncontrollably. We haven't changed anything as far as his eczema treatment, except no oral meds and rarely using topical meds and steroids, unless in dire need. It is quite terrible to watch your baby being in so much pain, and yet he is a delight 99% of the time.

I know people (and doctors) will and have told me that eczema is tricky because there are no direct answers and that it can come and go, but to be in month 5 of what feels like an endless battle, that does not comfort or help me in anyway. Sorry if those were your guiding and comforting words. I know there are many worse situations that could be trumping us and that everything else is just perfect and magical for us, but my heart is still broken for my baby boy. To watch him scratch to the point that he bleeds and puts himself into more pain, and damages his skin even more, just breaks my heart. When we apply medicine although he will struggle and fuss, he will say "Thank You" after in his sweet little voice, and that breaks my heart even more.

I want answers and not only answers, but solutions, that will last and give him relief, and not temporary, steroid induced relief, but true, lasting, real relief. My real true prayer is that one day soon this is gone for our sweet boy. I pray he grows out of it all.

So my plea for prayers is for answers, solutions, relief, and healing.

God is in control.

In addition, this sweet boy has also been healing with his cast on, and it hasn't slowed him down. But, every time I change his clothes or unbag his arm from a bath, he'll ask "What happened?" And I have to tell him, "You broke your arm, remember?" It's quite cute and sad at the same time. Luckily, even though it's another appt, # ????? this year, we go to the orthopedist next week to get the cast off and get an x-ray. Prayers please that his arm has healed and he will not need any further treatment.