Wow, our baby is ONE! We made it!!!

Today is emotional for me.  We’ve come a LONG way in the past year.  Here are some statistics:

• 19 days in the hospital
• 12.5 lb Weight gain (approximate)
• 11 Visiting Nurse appointments
• 11 trips to the pediatrician
• 6 trips to the pediatric cardiologist
• 4 hospitalizations
• 3 trips to the Operating Room
• 1 trip to the cardiac catherization lab

ONE BEAUTIFUL PRINCESS!

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who has prayed for us and been such a source of strength for us in the past year and a half.  Without all of you, we never could have made it to today.  You have comforted us in our times of sorrow and cheered Olivia on when she accomplished something big.  Today is not just Olivia’s day, but it’s a day for everyone who knows Olivia and whose life was touched by her.  Thank You!

• Still not walking but OH SO CLOSE!  She’ll take up to 3 steps but seems a bit cautious so we’re trying not to push her.
• 5 teeth now!  She had 3 coming in on the top - one on each side and one center tooth.
• New words: “Happy” and “Olivia”.
• Brushes her own hair:  Sunday evening Maddie was brushing my hair. I took the brush and brushed Olivia’s hair.  Olivia then took the brush from me and brushed her own hair! It wasn’t a one time thing either.  I have it on video and hope to shorten the clip and post it here.
• Finger foods:  Olivia loves to eat! She is starting to eat finger foods - grilled cheese, mini ravioli’s, bananas, cherries (pitted, peeled and cut up).  She really has taken an interest in everything we are eating and we have to share with her or we hear about it!

Tonight we’re all going to the DQ Grill & Chill on Rte 5 in North Haven to celebrate. My brother in law owns the restaurant and has to work so we’re bringing the party to him!

Saturday is both Maddie & Olivia’s family party.  We have asked everyone that in lieu of gifts they bring a donation to the CCMC Foundation in Olivia’s name.  If anyone else is interested in contributing, please drop me an email. Thanks.

Next Friday is Maddie Rose’s 5th birthday. We will be taking her out for pizza that evening.

And finally, on July 31 is Maddie’s friend’s party at a gymnastic center.

Both girls have their annual checkups on Monday, July 25 in the evening.  I am SO excited to see how much they’ve both grown in the past year. Expect an update after with pics from the party this weekend.