Blog Breakdown

I just switched my blogger to the new mode they have and I'm loving it.  How did I miss this before - you all are probably saying what new mode & it's been there for 7 months and I was unaware...anyhoo....

Along with this new format (no Mom I'm not switching you over just yet) they have given me the ability to see my most popular blogs & also common search engine keywords that have led people to my blogs.

I was cracking up because this month & annually one of my top blogs has been this.  It also drew people in with search engine results for - wait for it - boxer briefs.  I didn't even remember blogging about boxer briefs, but apparently I did and it was a super hot topic.

Seriously people - get your minds out of the gutters & out of the pants I was sporting when I was pregnant.  Hilarious.  Simply hilarious.

I don't know when I'm going to stop cracking up over this one because I really, really, think it's humorous.

My last night pregnant...

'Twas the night before Ollie,

and all through the town,

everybody was praying; everybody knelt down

to bless this sweet child

with good health and love

from all of her warriors and God up above.

Tomorrow at 9AM we check into Barnes-Jewish South in St. Louis. 

I will labor while Jade stands by my side...as we silently pray for our baby girl.  We long to see her sweet face, stroke her tiny hands, and kiss her cheeks and forehead.  She will know how much she is loved by so many so soon.

 Please pray for us tonight and tomorrow as we start the real journey with Ollie Faith.  Emotions will be high as we welcome our third child into our family, and as Aubrie and Everett meet their tiny sister.

"You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me!"

Psalm 139:13-18

Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
1 Corinthians 13:7

Ollie is perfection in God's eyes.  He has a plan for her no matter how many chromosomes she has, and no matter what her heart looks like...she is a miracle...and a gift that Jade & I are blessed to love and parent together.

It's A Date!!

We have an induction date!  February 10th at 9 AM -  St. Louis - Barnes-Jewish South!

So excited to meet baby Ollie!  Today her ultrasound measured her at 5 pounds 8 ounces & they can tell she has a lot of hair.  We could only see the back of her head since she's so low, so it may be a mullet of hair, but that's OK too!

Jade & I are very excited, and can't believe how little our Princess may be.  Everett was 8 pounds 11 ounces and Aubrie was 7 pounds 12 ounces, so Miss Ollie will most likely be a tiny bundle of joy!



36 weeks

Wow!  Time flies doesn't it?

Today I am officially term, officially 36 weeks! 

I just can't believe it's going so fast.  This summer when we found out, we were so surprised and excited.  We were still debating the 3rd baby with the other two so "big".  We were out of diapers and into sleeping through the night regularly.  We were having conversations that made sense & everyone had a booster seat now.  The thought of starting over, was a bit scary.  However, we still thought 3 was the right number, and that maybe this fall or winter would be the time if we were ever going to take the plunge. 

They say make a plan and God laughs right?!  So in June - Father's Day weekend to be exact - Jade & I realized we were becoming parents again, and oh my gosh we were excited.  And we realized Ollie was a miracle.  She was God's plan, not ours and we were so happy we were blessed with her.  We decided that we wouldn't find out her sex because it didn't really matter.  We wanted to be surprised.

And man, she has not stopped surprising us!  In September, I dreamt she was a girl with Down Syndrome.  I'm weird like that, but I always dream and know what my babies are.  I just know.  In October we saw the specialists and life crashed down - just temporarily.  October was Down Syndrome Awareness month & all the bloggers were posting daily blogs - 31 for 21 (Trisomy 21 is the real name of Down Syndrome).  It was a wonderful time to read about all these families & a big help emotionally.  Since this fall we've been on an uphill climb.  We've grown in our faith, and we've grown in our marriage.  We are stronger than we have honestly ever been, and after 14 years, we were pretty darn strong to start.  At this point, I don't know how Jade could be any better for me, but I know every year he gets better and better!  I heart him friends.

It's amazing that this one baby, that we debated over, has been such a blessing to us.  Such a joy, and we haven't even met her yet!  I am so excited and I know the next 3 weeks will fly by.  I can't wait to announce Ollie Faith to the world & I know so many people are praying over her and loving her - it's really quite unbelievable. 

Today I go to the OB in all the snow and wind (with Jade as my driver in a 4x4 big truck)!  It's just a checkup so everything should be well.  I do know that Ollie's head is locked & engaged!  How do I know?  Well the belly/crotch of all my pants are now too tight.  Her head is so low, that sitting in pants just shouldn't be done.  If I have 3 more weeks of this, I think I'll be sporting some unattractive yoga pants to work daily - apologies in advance!!

And don't worry - I washed the face off already!  If I paint that face on and whistle while moving my belly just right my kids laugh and laugh and laugh.  It's so worth it!

A St. Louis Update

Our appointment yesterday went really really well!  Ollie is about 4 pounds 14 ounces and I'm 34 weeks along.  She's growing like a weed which is what we had all hoped for!

We also had an echo cardiogram of her heart just to look it over again.  Everything there looked the same so that was good news as well.  There were no surprises or new upsetting news.  I'll take good news and a miracle, but I don't want any more bad news for Ollie!

We also toured Labor & Delivery, the Ronald McDonald Room, NICU, and Cardiac ICU.  The hospital is very impressive! 

I go back on January 26th for an ultrasound to check her growth again and then to see my OB team.  At that point they will set my date for induction.  Right now he's shooting for 39 weeks so hopefully she decides to stay in there.  I typically don't go into labor on my own, so I'm hoping I'm the same way with her so Jade isn't frantically driving down I70 like a mad man to get me there in time!  However, I have tried to boss my uterus in the past & it never seems to listen so we shall see.

When she arrives, we will take it as it comes.  It's really all in God's hands right now, and whatever is his will - we will be thrilled with her.  The doctors have several concerns that they want to be sure aren't present at birth, but they at this point are just concerns.  Nothing is concrete there so we won't worry about them.  They will evaluate her after arrival to be certain she looks good, and we'll go from there.  We really don't know what we're up against or how long we'll stay in St. Louis until she arrives.  So now we wait and wait for the next 5 weeks!

Oh - PS - she has hair!!  I'm hoping for wild black monkey mohawk hair just like her sister Aubrie, but we shall see.  If you see my sister Maggie , please tell her to get busy crafting Ollie some headbands so she can work it girl at the hospital.

Thank you all again for the prayers & keep them coming!  She will be here so soon & don't worry the hospital has WIFI so I'll be in touch & you'll see her beautiful face in blogland!  However, you won't be seeing my face in the labor pictures, but trust me I will be there too!

On one last note - Mama Fox has started a blog.  Click HERE to check her out. 

Too Many Hormones...

As February approaches, I notice my emotions are going a bit hay-wire.  Perhaps it's the fact I'm 33 weeks pregnant, and my hormones are out of control.  Maybe it's the fact that I am scared to death about what is to come with Ollie's health.  The what ifs, if I allow them, became deep and wide and dark.  Trust me, I have never realized before what a true miracle it is to have a healthy child.  I took it for granted when I had Aubrie & Everett.  I am so blessed to have them period, let alone the beautiful children they are with good health.  It is honest to goodness a gift from God that you get to carry a baby, and that your baby is healthy.  When you are faced with news that your child isn't healthy, she needs surgery, well everything else kind of melts away.  Then, you realized how stinking blessed you are to live here - in a country where we have the medical teams to save her - if I lived somewhere else that wouldn't be the case & I can't even imagine how that would feel.

Ollie's Face

Her room awaits her - filled with happiness and gnomes!

It's hard at times to listen to other people's complaints & sickness they are struggling with at home.  It's typically a cold, a fever, a stomach bug.  I wish that was all we had to worry about - it's hard not to let yourself grow bitter.  But, I remember those small sicknesses used to be what I talked about too!  I wish all I had to worry about with Ollie was an ear infection or a cold here and there, or the cold symptoms when she gets here teeth in, but I think those small things will be the things that are normal that we are some what grateful for if that makes sense at all.

Aubrie (5) & Everett (3)

Partners in crime, best friends, slap fight warriors

So please say some prayers for me, and for Miss Ollie today.  I am doing very well almost every day all day, but heart surgery is scary, and I'm only human.  I feel the closer I get to her arrival the more unstable at points I do become - even though trust me I can not stinking wait for her to get here.  I think then it will be better - but it's been a long wait of appointments showing me how broken she is and that unsettling worried feeling in your heart every time she kicks.  I want to fix her, for her to be healed, but that's God's will, and I am yet to fully understand his plan.  Only 6ish more weeks my friends until she arrives!  I think her beauty will blow you all away!  

14 years together, going on 7 years of marriage

Best friends, partners in crime, hug buddies

Thank the good lord for Jade.  Having a marriage like we do was a great base.  Fourteen years together gave us just a start, but what it has happened in our lives & marriage this past 3 months is even more than I imagined.  We are stronger than ever, and more thankful than ever for each other.  I'm very blessed to have his hand to hold and his arms to hug.    I do the best I can, I pray hard, then I pray harder.  I try to bargain with the lord - yes I know that's ridiculous.  So keep on praying for us my friends - and my kids - and my family - and especially my doctors, nurses, and surgeons.  Next Wednesday we head back to St. Louis for a day of appointments.  I love that hospital, but trust me staring at a 60" plasma TV with your babies heart the size of your hand with a big hole in the middle of it is really not fun, or enjoyable, but we do it with a smile on our face and a song in our hearts. 

Psalm 139:13-18

I also apologize if this seems depressing or if I seem ungrateful for anything I have at all.  I truly don't mean it to come off that way.  This blog is my journal, to track my feelings, and my life & I need to remember my dark days as well as my bright ones.  I have all the faith in the world that Ollie will be just fine - my faith is not wavering - my hormones are!  I pray the next 6 weeks fly by, and I expect they will as we also start the basement renovation for Maggie's sweet family to move into!  We have a lot of work to do in a hurry!

Puffer Fish

Oh puffy has arrived in a big way.

My size 7 feet no longer fit in my shoes.  For this reason don't be shocked to see this girl rocking my new Crocs almost every single day.  They are shockingly comfortable & cozy in the winter.  I bought leopard because they go with brown or black - see how versatile I am!

My wedding ring no longer fits, and neither does my backup ring.  I usually wear a 5 1/2 for my wedding ring & now I'm wearing a size 7 after I outgrew the 6.  My hands are so puffy they have dimples on top!  I always wanted dimples, but not on my hands!

When Maggie Jo had Caroline I remember thinking, why is she holding her lips so funny - then I realized oh - OH they are swollen.  It was a site to see (Maggie I still love you!)  Well guess what - God got me back.  With Ollie my lips and nose are now swollen and I never had that with my other babies.  The nose a bit, but not like this.

The cankles I am rocking are something else too - the go to the knee!  Basically everything on me feels tight and stretched lately.  My belly hangs out of my t-shirts that I ONLY wear at home.  I joke with Jade it's to keep him interested in me!  Which is hilarious if you seriously saw the get ups I am modeling.

I'm 31 weeks now.  Only 9 to go, but more like 8 since I'm going a week early. Now the uncomfortable begins!  Dear Dr. Abbie - when you read this - I need an adjustment I literally have a pain in my butt - the right side to be exact.  It is tight like I have been jogging, and trust me I haven't been :)

We picked a hospital - St. Louis it is!

After our trip to Peoria I wrote a blog found at this link The Facts About Ollie's Heart.  If you haven't read it, please do.  It goes over Ollie's heart in detail - the problems, what to expect before surgery and what not.  The very next day, Wednesday, we went to St. Louis and met their team to pick Peoria or St. Louis for delivery & open heart surgery.  We had been praying hard that the choice on where to take Ollie for open heart surgery would be obvious to us and it was praise the lord!  We have decided St. Louis is the place for us.  St. Louis is closer to home and to our support system, and it's just a really great hospital as well.  Pretty much the entire post I had written after the Peoria appointment is the same as far as Ollie's heart structure.

At St. Louis I saw a group of Maternal Fetal specialists first.  It's basically a group 12 high risk OB doctors.  There I get ultrasounds to monitor Ollie's growth & heart.  I walk out one door in their office from an ultrasound and go in the next door to meet with an OB that day.  They want me to deliver there at Barnes so I'll be induced around 39 weeks - I'm guessing around February 10th.  My due date is February 17th.  Until then I'll have split care so I'll see my regular OB and also these high risk OBs for the next 9 weeks.  Both groups that I met in the ultrasound area & OB area were awesome.  We were very impressed.  It's also a teaching hospital so there were multiple students involved & I liked that as well.

After this appointment our personal nurse coordinator (who I can't express how much I appreciate her!) took us through the sky walks over to our to our echo cardiogram appointment.  The lady who did our echo had the most amazing equipment used on us so far.  She's done only echos for the last 25 years.  She was fast, accurate with the images needed, and very funny - we really liked her.  Then we met Dr. Lee the Pediatric Cardiologist.  She was very nice, and also funny.  She has two small children around the ages of Aubrie and Everett and was very personal with us which was nice.  She went over again in detail Ollie's heart structure, which I posted about yesterday.  She then said the surgeon who will operate Dr. Huddleston has been there for 10 years and does these surgeries daily.  They are his favorite operation, and to him very routine.  She acted like it's ear tube surgery to him which was good to hear.  She said the survival rate is very good & basically not to worry about that at all.  The big difference is she said Ollie's recovery time will be 7 to 10 days in the hospital - this is awesome news!  I was very worried about being away from my kids for weeks, and 7 to 10 days is a long time, but really that's very doable.  Again, she said probably 3-6 months of age Ollie will have surgery, but that will all depend on how she is doing after birth, but basically a plump baby is better when it comes to surgery.

So we're going to St. Louis for sure and head back January 5th to see the specialists, get an ultrasound for Ollie's growth, another heart echo, and meet the cardiologist again to make sure everything looks good.  On top of that, Meg, our personal nurse, is setting up all our appointments with all the doctors as well as meetings with neonatologists and tours of the facilities.  She makes sure nothing falls through the cracks, and she is really good at her job - I seriously love her.  We are looking forward to going back.

Thank you all again for the prayers and support & please keep them coming.  After going to Peoria & St. Louis we feel much much better about Ollie's surgery and look forward to meeting her around 9 weeks from now!

Peoria Called!

After harassing the receptionist two times today I finally have an appointment!

December 7th at 10:30 AM we are meeting Dr. Bramlett in Peoria!  Pray all goes well.  I'm also waiting to hear back from Saint Louis so we can compare the two and decided if we're going North or South.

Three awesome days in a row!  God is good!

A Happy Tears Day

There are points in our lives where things go absolutely wrong - in our eyes.  They just don't pan out as we expect them to at all.  My Dad has the perfect statement for these days, but since I try to avoid cussing I'll just call them a crap sandwich so you get the point.  He said some days you eat a crap sandwich for breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day for weeks, then one day maybe just for lunch and dinner, and eventually you aren't eating them at all except here and there.

I feel like that statement perfectly sums up my late summer fall.

Earlier this fall my worst nightmare could have happened to my kids.  I won't go into details, but I thought at the time, this is the worst worry Jade & I will ever have to deal with ever.  It was awful to say the least.  Then, we found out about Ollie.  Again, more crap sandwiches every day, day after day until we found out the truth of her heart.  Then it was like we were given a huge Subway crap sandwich platter. 

Aubrie & Everett this summer - they are best friends!

However, the entire time - Jade & I happily ate our crap sandwiches with smiles on our face.  How do you not take what God gives you and accept it as a gift and move on?  How do you no longer act like yourself because you have an extra heart ache?  We just aren't capable of that because we are generally very happy people, so we accepted everything about Ollie and we marched forward armed with a strong faith in the Lord that Ollie will be fine, and a deep love of each other that has only grown strong. 

We rarely take pictures of ourselves, but celebrating 5 years of marriage in 2009!

Then, on top of everything I hit a deer with my "newish" minivan.  Really - at that point Jade and I laughed hysterically - I kid you not - we laughed hard because what else could go wrong? 

Well yesterday the news about Ollie was great.  Granted her heart still needs fixed and it will be major, but nothing else bad was told to us!  She's growing & she's healthy!!  Praise the good lord - I was beyond thrilled.  Then today, I got our insurance bill.  Let me tell you I have fretted and fretted over medical bills.  The two level II ultrasounds and one heart echo cost $2,400, but they forgot to bill insurance so I prayed that we'd only owe 20% of that amount.  I worried about all these bills and future bills - I imagine heart surgery isn't cheap, but I really don't care because she needs it.  

Today I saw the bill go through insurance, and since everything was performed in office it is covered by my co-pay.  I will only pay $20 for each very expensive very detailed ultrasound & heart echos we get.  I was in happy tears.  Seriously I will have 4 of these before January plus whatever tests Peoria performs - just a co-pay is a bargain!  We are beyond blessed!  Plus, yesterdays appointment - extra goodness!

So today I have almost bawled two times - happy tears - I'm hormonal and can't help it.  No crap sandwich for breakfast, lunch, or dinner today friends.  It is a good day and God is great!  He really really has blessed us so many ways in our lives.  Ollie is a blessing in herself - no matter what she looks like, no matter the level of her intelligence, no matter how many surgeries and scars mark her skin - we love her no matter what.  God gave her to us when we least expected her to come and for that my cup overfloweth today.  And dear lord I'm in tears again!



Other blessings in my today:
I figured out how to adjust my office chair so I don't feel like I'm going to pop all day - this is a big deal!!

The specialist told us we could also get stats from Saint Louis on Ollie's type of heart defect & surgery, and we'd have the option between Saint Louis & Peoria.  I emailed St. Louis yeseterday to get stats - today the nurse calls me!!!  She's getting my records as we speak & will have the pediatric cardiologist personally call me to discuss so we can decide between Peoria & Saint Louis.  I've waited 3 almost 4 weeks for a Peoria appointment so I'm very excited about this call, plus it's a whole hour closer one way - so visits from family & Dr. appointments would be much much easier on us all.  We'll only go there though if their success rates for AV Canal defects are better of course!

Pictures of Ollie

Here are the pictures we got today of sweet Ollie.  They are a bit blurry, but she never stops moving!  She is a challenge to say the least for all the ultrasound techs that meet her.

This is her face to the right.  You can see her eyes, nose, and mouth.

Here are her toes!

This is the foot that keeps kicking me in the ribs!

Update on Ollie

Today I went to the specialist for an ultrasound to monitor Ollie's growth & while we were there they decided to do another full echo of Ollie's heart.

Today was a good day - no more bad news.  As far as everything is concerned Ollie is doing well & growing.  She's on the smaller scale, but at the 38% they aren't concerned about her size right now.  Her heart, other than her AV Canal defect that is scary, looks good & is growing how it should - that was a huge relief.  Sometimes the heart will grow unevenly with this defect, but hers is even - praise the lord!

So basically no new news is good news!  The Dr. was upset that I still haven't been called with an appointment time for Peoria to see a pediatric cardiologist so she personally called today.  I should have my appointment by Friday or I am to call her and hopefully she'll throw a stomping fit and I'll be in.  I'm really hoping to get up there before vacation or the week after we are back.  I'm anxious to talk to the pediatric cardiologist & get all the information I can about Ollie's heart.

So thank you for the continued prayers!  Keep them coming - she's one special and very loved little girl!

A Checkup For Ollie

Tomorrow I have another level II ultrasound.  This is my third so far + add in the two regular ultrasounds that never detected a thing.

My Mom is going with me and I'm excited for her.  These ultrasounds are so detailed, they are just really something to see.  She's been to a regular ultrasound, but never a level II so she'll be surprised.  Jade can't go along tomorrow so I'm praying that the only news we get is the news we already know.

So say a prayer or ten for baby Ollie and us tomorrow.  They are mainly checking her growth to make sure she's growing along (which I know she is because I can definitely feel a difference in her size within the last few weeks)!  They also are monitoring her heart to make sure that both sides continue to grow together - sometimes one side doesn't grow and becomes smaller & I really don't want that problem added to the list.  So please pray hard & I'll update everyone tomorrow!

God bless!

PS - 3 weeks and counting and we are still waiting to get into Peoria to meet our pediatric cardiologist.  I'm really hoping the specialist tomorrow can get it lined up for us.  I thought last week my OB was going to get us in very soon, but that was Thursday and so far no call yet so I'm keep praying we'll have that appointment date as soon as we can get in.

Proud Mama

Today I got home and found this on the fridge.

Aubrie saw a blue jay and decided to draw him all on her own.  Can you believe at nearing 5 she's this good?  Of course I'm partial, but I'm so proud of her!

I recently bought a huge bulletin board for our laundry room for her craft and art projects.  She makes as many as she possibly can in a day & I can't keep up with them all on my board. 

I hope she always stays this creative and continues to have a hobby she loves like this - maybe even a career!

PS - I am impatiently being patient about our appointment in Peoria.  No news yet about an appointment date after nearly 3 weeks.  My regular OB made some phone calls because he wants me in soon because this next appointment determines where they want us to deliver.  So hopefully early next week we'll have an appointment.  So I have a prayer job for you dear friends - pray that Miss Ollie's valves are OK.  If her valves are OK then we'll have surgery they estimated at 3-6 months, if her valves also need repaired it may b

All up in my grill

I'm 25 weeks 1 day pregnant...or that's what my main OB says.  Each Dr., since I see so very many now, says I have a different due date.  So I'm sticking to my main OB because February 20th is easier to remember.

With so many months left to be pregnant I'm a bit concerned.  You see, Ollie isn't that big yet, but she's all up in my ribs already.  I am SO uncomfortable all day long in my chair, it's like I'm carrying Aubrie all over again!  Why oh why can't she stick out and touch my keyboard like Everett did?  Why did the good lord bless me with such a short waist?

Right before I had Aubrie - I was so uncomfortable with her, and lucky you guys - I found the picture of my feet from the hospital.  They were size 6.5 when I got pregnant & at the end they looked like monster feet slippers.  They were so painful & full of fluid they wouldn't fit in a size 11 snow boot.  I literally wore brown crocs to work every day with my black dress slacks - hot I know!  I carried socks in my purse since the snow would get in the crocs holes, but darn those crocs were comfortable!

Hilarious that I regularly made Maggie paint my toenails!  Luckily they didn't do this with Everett and I swear they don't look like this normally at all!

 

The night before I went in for Aubrie Grace.  They induced me 2 weeks early & she was 7 pounds 12 ounces - she would have been a chunky gal if I met my due date!

The night before Everett Mason.  Notice the tiny trailer background I once lived in & oh so different style!  Everett was 8 pounds 11 ounces, and he was a chubby boy!

He was out so much more in front - oh baby it was nice to have room to breath!

Also, how do you like that the only two things I can wear at the end are these jeans which become spandex, and that darned orange tank top!  It's even under my brown sweat shirt above b/c Aubrie came in December!  I bought some new pants & shirts this time, so pray that I wear something different at the end of my pregnancy for my own sanity!

Also, if you don't like belly shots - so sorry, but I said my blog is the good bad & the ugly!

P.S.  Pray for me in Disney - I'm going to be one tired mama, but I'm going to be rocking my shape ups even if I'm wearing shorts - it again won't be pretty, but a girl has to do what a girl has to do right!

Update on Baby Ollie

Today we had our follow up level II ultrasound to review baby Ollie's heart.  Last time we really didn't know much about Ollie's heart defect other than Ollie had a hole between the ventricals that may heal itself.  Today we found out that Ollie has an AV Canal Defect.  It's a more serious defect than Jade & I had originally thought, and we feel a little knocked down by our news today.

We will continue to see our specialist probably every 4 weeks to monitor Ollie's growth & heart.  We will also have an appointment soon with a pediatric cardiologist in Peoria to review Ollie's heart.  Our Dr. told us that we will most likely deliver normally in Mattoon & take Ollie home.  That ideally they will wait until Ollie is 3-6 months so he/she has time to grow, then we face open heart surgery.  This is typically not a heart defect that will heal itself and will require open heart surgery.  Basically we're facing a hole between Ollie's ventricles and when the heart pumps, it creates a bigger hole between all 4 chambers of the heart.

With this type of defect, the Dr. believes that Ollie does have Down Syndrome, although he was sure to remind us this isn't certain until birth, but 50% of babies with this defect have DS.  Which we are still perfectly fine with Down Syndrome, this possibility doesn't worry us at all.

Just so no assumptions are made, Ollie is perfectly fine while I am pregnant & will most likely be fine after birth.  The surgery has a high success rate so that is something to be extremely grateful for, and our Dr. said we will just love Peoria and the doctors and surgeons there - also a blessing.  So please keep praying for our entire family, friends, doctors, nurses and surgeons.  February seems far away, but will be here before we know it.

Thank you again for all the outpouring of love.  We are doing extremely well considering what we are facing & we are still confidant we will have a long, exciting, and perfectly happy life with Ollie, Aubrie, & Everett.  Do not greive or be sad for us, we still have a miracle in the making & God is blessing us daily with family & friends that love and support us.

God Bless!

If you are just now stopping in - start here with our Previous post about Ollie

PS - Ollie is a baby GIRL!!

"You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me!"

Psalm 139:13-18

Baby Ollie's Room

Today is the big day.  We meet with the doctor at 10AM CST.  So pray pray pray for a good heart evaluation at our level II sonogram.

Since Jade & I will be off to see the doctor I wanted to show you the happy we have in our home for Ollie.  We still don't know if Ollie is a girl or a boy, but Ollie is the name for either sex - another name of a great grandpa.  We named all our children after their great grandpas & it's special to us.  Ollie is Jade's grandpa.  We never knew him, but his Dad said he was so much like Jade - and well Jade's spectacular so Ollie must have been too.

Anyway - here is Ollie's room.  I started on it very early fully expecting it to take me a long time.  Before I could start, we had to move Aubrie & Everett into a shared room & I had to get all the baby boy & girl clothes out of tubs in the basement - rewash them & hang them up.  However, it didn't take me nearly as long as I expected & the room is pretty much ready.  Of course when Ollie arrives as a boy or a girl - it will need some tweaking to make it perfectly special.

This is the view when you walk in the door.  This used to be Everett's room.  We kept it red for a boy or a girl.

The crib we received as a gift at my baby shower with Aubrie.  It was from JC Penney.  She never slept in it - she was stubborn, but Everett loved this crib, this music box, and this mobile.  I can't believe how old he is now & that he used to sleep 7 to 7 here!  PS - I know the crib is extremely low right now, but my beautiful neice, Caroline, naps here until Ollie arrives.

I found this print on an adorable Etsy site.  I kid you not, the picture she showed for sale with the baby name already said Ollie and had this gnome on it - it was fate.

I found the fabric for the bedding at Fabric.com & it is perfect!  It's quirky & fun and most of all happy.  My husband was nervous when I said gnomes - he thought gnomes were scary - until he saw these!  They are so me.

I adore the bumper with the gnome village & mushroom houses with the clothesline at the top - perfection it is.  Thank you again Esther for sewing this for Ollie & for all the prayers you said while you made it for our special baby!

These cards were at the same Etsy site as the gnome print.  I love them & they are just right with the bedding.  Simple, but cute.

This is the reading corner.

I bought this adorable fox from a friend.  She crafts the most fabulous pillows, purses, jewelry & also a soon to be children's line.  Since my maiden name is Fox - I HAD to have it for Ollie.  The quilt was handmade by my Aunt for Aubrie - how I love handmade baby blankets!

Books are a staple in my house.  My kids aren't into toys too much.  They love to read & craft.  So we have joined many book clubs & my house overflows with children's books.  I look forward to reading with baby Ollie.  Here I have another giant fox - I can't say no to a good stuffed fox!

These prints were given to me by my Mom when I had Aubrie.  They have been in all the baby rooms & are the perfect bedtime prayer.  They are hand stitched & I love them.

The changing table is really a vanity.  I have used it with all my babies and it works great to store diapers & wipes & ointments.   Everything is at a hands reach.  I painted it a bright blue for Ollie.  The gray armoire was Everett's when he was in this room - it holds so many clothes!

 I'm not normally a blue person, but I love this blue.  It is happy to me.  It will probably bounce to Aubrie's room when she is older to be used as an actual vanity.

I painted this armoire gray for Everett & I still love it.  Now if Ollie is a girl I can't promise it will stay gray, but it probably will.  The gray just makes all the imperfections of this old piece stand out & I love furniture that has been beaten up over time!

This rolling basket was found at my Dad's concrete company & Mom gave it to me.  I love it!  It holds extra stuffed animals for now.  When Ollie arrives I'll find a better purpose for it, but I'm just not sure what that purpose is yet!  For now Aubrie has loaned Ollie some of her stuffed animals, but Ted E. Bear in the center is mine - I got him when I was 5 from my Uncle.

For those of you thinking - how in the world do you not know the sex of Ollie...here is your answer.  Jade would tell you it's because I'm the most organized person in the world - which is just partially true.  These are the clothes I have gathered from Aubrie & Everett & then unisex clothes at the top right.  This is just the sleepers, blankets, towels, and burp clothes.  The armoire is full of socks, hats, pant sets, and onesies.  Oh see my fabulous diaper bag!  I do large purses instead of typical diaper bags - it's how I roll!

As you can see we are ready and waiting for baby Ollie (we have a long wait until February!)  We have a room full of joy & things we love setup and waiting.  It's filled with memories of our two younger children and dreams for our 3rd perfect child.  So keep the prayers coming.  Jade & I are doing well and very excited about our baby - DS or not - heart defect or not.  God is great all of the time!

I leave you with this bible verse.  I recently found it & it is one of my favorite verses now.

:

"You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me!"

Psalm 139:13-18

 

 

 

My Thankful Heart

My sister Abbie wrote a post today on what she's thankful for & in turn inspired me to do the same.

1.  My husband.  Everything about him makes me love him more & I am a better person because of him.  He's a strong man in hard times & I just can't get over how much I really need him - always and forever no matter what.

2.  My kids.  Everett's absolute obsession with me makes me feel like a shiny special stone & Aubrie's love
to the moon & back for me always makes me sparkle a little brighter.

3.  Ollie wiggles and kicks often.  Every kick makes me happy & excited about our future.  He or she is one special baby.

4.  My family - all 100+ of them- I have gotten so many messages of love & support from cousins & aunts, etc. - I love them for all the right reasons.  They are beyond supportive & can't wait to share in our growing family.

5.  My parents - without them life wouldn't be the same.  We need more parents like them in the world - they are perfect and they don't even have to try to be.  If I am half as good as them - I'm one heck of a Mom.

6.  My dear friends.  Through this process we have become very aware of the people that truly love and care for us.  We really need friends right now who go out of their way to support us, hug us, wipe away our tears, and to make us laugh when we feel like crying.  Friends like that are few and far between, and are some of the best things in life.  We have been very blessed with some very special friends old and new.  I appreciate them more than they know, but I think they do know :)

7.  My church.  Sunday was a hard day in that place for me, but it was a good place for me to be.  I love that church.  Everything about it inspires & lifts you up.

8.  Vacation - that's right.  I am counting down the sweet sweet days until my entire family heads to Disney.  It's the happiest place on Earth & we can use all the happy we can get right now!

9.  Trudie Claudette.  This is my pug I've had since I was 20.  I swear she knows something is up and sits her head on me as much as she can.  She is a spoiled brat & refuses to follow my rules, but she's special to me.

10.  My faith.  For as little Bible knowledge as I truly know - which I'm working on - I have a very strong faith.  Jade & I actually took a "gifts" test at our church & faith was the highest scoring category for both of us.  In our current situation - our faith is all that gets us through the day & what keeps us strong.  Without our faith & strong belief - I can't imagine where we'd be - but not nearly where we are now.

11.  Finally for all of you.  I don't know most of you and probably never will, but you have overwhelmed my blog with stories of inspiration, prayer, bible verses, and encouragement.  For that I will always be appreciative.  I have met a few new "friends" that have given me inspiration & books to read by e-mail.  I already have them on order & I'm anxious to read all I can about Down Syndrome before Ollie arrives.  Yes nothing is certain & Ollie may not have DS, but by golly if he or she does, I am going to know everything I can before we meet.  I know I'll probably fall on my face a few times learning more, but that's the best part of parenting - learning about your children as you learn about yourself. 

Don't forget to pray for Ollie!

We Were Love Bombed

Yesterday, the most amazing thing happened.  Jade, Aubrie, Everett, Ollie, and I were love bombed.  We were inundated with love, and prayers from an amazing group of people that we have never even met.  It's just unbelievable how we are all brothers and sisters through Christ.  In a time where we needed it most, God provided it us with over 200 messages of faith and hope.  I just sat at my desk dumbfounded as e-mail after e-mail came through.  Jade sat last night and read them all in awe as well. 

I want to say thank you to anyone that has taken the time to acknowledge this in our lives.  The prayers you are sending up ARE working.  We feel positive Ollie will live a full and long life as a member of our family.  We appreciate you all more than you know.

We are excited about Ollie & continue to pray for a healthy heart - down syndrome or not.  God Bless & keep on praying!  The next appointment is Tuesday the 26th!

The Love Bombing Organization:

It Starts With.Us

The Assignment Link - Our Family