Time in a season

I decided to start selling some of the skin care products we use on Gavin "for sure". Woo Whoo! I'm super excited! The website is complete I just need to post photos of the products. Here are the "for sure" products I'll be selling until I figure out what all I want to sell since we literally use everything homemade (even our cleaning products).

• Everyday Balm (can be used throughout the day 10+ times a day)
• Diaper Butt (great for diaper rash or eczema breakout in the diaper area)
• Sniffle Stopper (perfect for allergies, colds, and stuffy noses)
• Baby Oil (it's baby oil)
• Belly Rub Oil (for those expecting this helps fight stretch marks)
• Soap Me (bar of soap)

Things you WILL NOT find in our products: Coconut, Soy,  Milk, Shea Butter, Acai, or Wheat

The ingredients we DO use: Olive Oil, Vegetable Oil, Jojoba Oil, Rice Bran Oil, Aloe Vera, Lavender, Peppermint Leaf, Glycerin (natural thickener), Sunflower Oil, and Cocoa (fruit of the cacao tree)

Because Gavin did once have an allergy to rice we will offer products without rice bran oil. Not to worry! I have especially designed this brand around those with food allergies and eczema. I know it's such a struggle finding products around your needs so I hope to make things much easier for you.

Okay, on another note...

Gavin's still doing great! We've been indoors a lot still because it's so darn hot outside. Did I mention we live in Texas? This heat is no joke. The only time I get out is when the sun's going down. I can not wait for Fall! 

I took his bottle away for 5 days (yippee) but then Dad gave in and gave him one while I was gone -_- so he's back on the dang bottle. I've tried putting his milk (Neocate Jr.) in his sippy but that doesn't help any. Looks like I'll have to take his bottle away cold turkey again. I just need to prepare myself mentally and physically before trying again lol! It's not easy guys! He's almost 2 and terrible two's have came a little early for us (tantrums). 

His "Mah-Mah" (my grandma/Gavin's great grandma) bought him a toddler potty seat and a two step stool as a "surprise gift" lol pushing us to potty train him She say's all her kids could go potty by the age of one. Geez!! So we have started potty training as of last week but with my husband's work schedule it's a little harder to have him help train Gavin. I put him on the potty a few times throughout the day... hopefully he'll be potty trained in no time!

Oh wait! Important to know! We had a visit with his allergist last week! On man. I almost forgot to include this in my post (shame on me). The doctor said he looks amazing then he asked, "What does his meal plan look like?" (where's the big cheesy smiley at!) I couldn't be any more excited to tell him, "he eats anything and everything!" He couldn't believe it. Heck, I sometimes can't either lol. We choose NOT to give him eggs just yet because of his anaphylaxis last year and we dont do cow's milk. He even said it's been a bad summer for his eczema patients so he was impressed with Gavin.

As we were leaving... literally right before the doors leading outside I felt a tug from my gut telling me to go to the bathroom. I went ahead and changed Gavin's diaper while I was there and as I left the bathroom I saw a girl (a patient of Dr. Birds) waiting in the room where the restrooms were. She stopped and asked what Gavin was seeing Dr. Bird for... and as we were talking I couldn't help but to notice her entire body was covered in extremely dry skin at least 90% of her body just like Gavin's skin before he was healed. I knew it was chronic eczema. She must have been at least 14-16 years old. It broke my heart. I asked if I could pray for her and so I did. She said she felt a tingle in her body as I was praying for her and I truly believe that was the power of God. I've come to a part in life where if I see someone who needs healing I WILL stop, pull over if I have to, and pray for them.

I gave my life to God in 2009 but I've never been so close to him then I am now. I have truly devoted my entire life to God these past 20 months. I dont know how I made it day after day without Him. I'm just so greatful for Gavin's healing! When I get asked by friends or family what or how did Gavin clear up the first word that comes out of my mouth is, God. Even though all these products have helped along the way Jesus is who brought the products. Jesus is who healed him... I get no credit. All the glory to God. Where I would be embarrassed to pray over my meals in public I now feel the need to pray for others in public. My entire life has changed because of my son. I will never see life the same. I'm grateful just to wake up to another day with him. Gavin was brought in my life as my son and because of him I'm a new person. God works in mysterious ways. We may not ever understand his ways but I've learned to understand his decisions will always be better then our own.

Even right after Gavin's healing I would ask God, "why did it take so long? why did you let us go through all this for so long?" I heard him say, "Had I healed him at your time right away like you asked, you would've never read your bible, you would've never fasted and prayed, you would've never forgave everyone who you thought did you wrong, you would've never repented of all your sins, you would've never made alone time just to cry out to me, you would've never humbled your heart, you would've never felt confident enough to pray for others, you would've never known I gave you healing hands, had I healed him just a few months before his healing you would've never had a Revelation chapter 4 expereince, had I healed him just a few days before his healing you would've never been grateful for the little things." I cry every time I think of all that we've been through. I'm crying now... but I now know God has a reason for everything. Your love is loyal. 

Update:
The photo on the left is a photo I posted months ago... that's what Gavin looked like most of his childhood up until just 2 months ago.

B&W photo was a few mornings ago :)

Skin Care Products

Here's the latest...

As I posted on my last blog, I totally went away with the steroid ointments and antibiotics. I was so fed up with changing his medications what seemed like every doctor's visit (every 3 months).

I have added probiotics to his diet and still continuing with his vitamin D. I've slowed down on the Zinc since his skin has cleared. I give him Zinc once a week now.

His skin is clear! I'm sure you all are wondering how!?
On my last post he was already starting to clear up but he still had dry skin. It definitely wasn't as dry as it has been in the past but he still had dry spots (you can kinda see on the photo I posted). Since I went away with his prescribed ointments I created my own. He now uses handmade products and I couldn't be any more happier! I know everything that's going into his lotions and soaps. I love it!

I've used natural store bought products on him before but none of them had real background experience with eczema. I almost felt like they just Googled "ingredients for eczema?" because every natural product I found almost had the exact same ingredients. One being coconut oil and with Gavin's allergies I was way to afraid to buy anything with coconut in it. I know the FDA says coconut isn't a tree nut but I think otherwise. I could argue that all day but it doesn't really matter. What does matter is that I have created products WITHOUT coconut oil! :)

I recently had a friend ask if she could buy a cream from me so I sold her a 4oz jar of the morning cream we use. Since then she's now bought the night time cream and the green tea soap. That being said, I'll be selling all the products we use online! It's helped Gavin so much and although there isn't a cure for eczema you can definitely control it with all the right products. Take it from someone who has literally gone through 30 different lotions off the shelf not including the medicated ointments.

All of Gavin's skin care products now have all the right oils and plants known to treat eczema. Here are some of the oils and plants you'll find in the products: Neem Oil, Rice Bran Oil, Green Tea, Spinach, Olive, Aloe Vera, Lavender, and his soaps are DETERGENT FREE! SCORE (where's the hands up emoji). The very first soap I created for him had no Lavender Essential Oil (natural scent) so that'll be on the website too (for those working on EO's). All lotions and soaps are carefully measured giving you the perfect moisturizer. I took my time creating each one around Gavin's sensitive skin so it is a product line for everyone! Anyone form normal skin to psoriasis.

Once I started using our natural and handmade products on him, his skin started drying up and peeling off. Almost like all the dead skin was coming off. It was remarkable! It did take a week before I started noticing a difference but heck 7 days isn't nothing! It was totally worth the wait. I'm no expert but I am highly aware of my son's prior food allergies and what triggers his eczema. Not every product line is for you. You pretty much just have to take a chance and try it out. I know, because we had to do the same with Gav so I'm not saying my line is the one that'll clear your skin. However, it's what has helped our son's skin and I can't imagine using anything different.

I almost want to slap myself in the face for not creating his skin care products from scratch long ago but I was so exhausted when I first started blogging, I barely had enough time to feed myself lol.

Today's post is to tell all you eczema parent's out there DONT GIVE UP! I'll never forget all the sleepless nights and long exhausting days we had for almost 2 years. I would definitely give Gavin's skin care products a try! (website coming soon)

As always, feel free to send me an email: Uniquemaree@gmail.com

Recent Photo: 

This was the first time not wearing a onesie since he was 6 months old because he would scratch his sides. This is the only time I can get a photo of him being still btw lol. He's a wild one.

                                                    

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER: @RaisingGavinN