So it’s been a while, a VERY LONG while. Life gets in the way and I can promise you when you don’t hear from us, it’s because there’s nothing but NORMALCY to report.
I’m not sure what happened to most of the links on this site, I will take a look when I have time (ha) to figure it out.
I’ve been reminded by my husband, my family, my CHILDREN (who are now old enough to read this blog and POST comments on it!). So here’s the very long, very overdue update.
Olivia was released on Monday afternoon.
Tuesday we saw Dr. Friedman for a followup. Olivia lost 5 oz since her 9 month checkup. The previous weight was incorrect. Dr. Friedman believes that Olivia has a “sore throat virus” along with a tummy bug. She gave us the green light to travel though.
Olivia is feeling better but is still not 100% herself. She is clingy and scared of strangers. She seems to be throwing up once every other day. We’re hoping she’ll start feeling more like herself soon as it’s been almost a week that she’s been sick.
Next update will be after 5/20/05 since we’re headed to the Happiest Celebration On Earth! ºoº
Olivia had her followup appointment with Dr. Heller today. It went EXTREMELY well, as always!
Olivia is still weighing in at 14 lbs, 13 oz. They measured her but I didn’t get that written down. Her EKG looked great.
We met first with an adult cardiologist who was visiting the practice. He’s starting to get some single ventricle patients so he was visiting to learn the anatomy, etc. It made us happy to know that the single ventricles are growing to the point that they have to leave the pediatric groups!
Olivia’s oxygen level was 90%! She’s now big enough to wear the finger monitor versus the infant toe monitor which drives Olivia crazy!
They also did an ultrasound and Olivia’s valve looks amazingly great. She used to have “some” leakage (back flow) and now it’s “miniscule”. So Olivia no longer needs to take her captopril medication! So we’re down to Amoxicillan and aspirin for medications.
Dr. Heller called Olivia her star patient (again) and called her the poster child!
We asked about Olivia’s bump on her chest. Where the chest bone comes together she has a bump which apparently is very common in heart kids and actually Olivia’s is not as pronounced as others.
We also asked about taking Olivia on vacation. Arnie and I are aching (ok, *I am*) to take Olivia and Maddie to Disney World. For me, what kept me going throughout the surgeries and hospital stays was the thought that one day Olivia would be healthy enough to go to Disney World and meet Mickey Mouse. Well, Dr. Heller said “GO FOR IT!” and the only restriction is that Olivia cannot ride Splash Mountain. *LOL*
So we’re going to Disney World in May!!!
Our next appointment is not until June 2 at 9AM.
My girlfriend Lori from my mother’s group is in Walt Disney World this week with her family. Last night they were at Magic Kingdom watching the fireworks show which is titled “Wishes”. She sent this to me this morning:
Tricia, every now and then my husband does something that melts my heart. Tonight was one of those times. When we were walking out of the Magic Kingdom he asked “your friend who is pregnant with the baby who will need heart surgery, she’s one of the Disney gals, right?” I said, yeah, that’s Tricia, why? He asked what’s her name (meaning baby)? I told him Olivia and he said “well, you can tell her my wish (as in Wishes, the show) is that sometime next year that they can bring a healthy, happy Olivia here to see the show for herself.
It’s our wish too. Ours too.