OK, it’s time for all the lurkers to come out and let me know you’re reading!

I ran into an old friend from High School at the grocery store yesterday. And I find out he’s been reading this blog!

So I’m going to ask that you please just post a comment to this post to let me know you’re reading. Your name, location, and if I don’t either talk to you on a regular basis, see you during family holidays or kid’s birthday parties - please let me know how you found us!

And if you’re someone Arnie and / or I knew in a previous lifetime, drop us an email so we can get reacquainted!

Here we go … (more…)

It’s been quite hectic in the Belfonti household lately.
Arnie starts a new job tomorrow morning.  He’s going to be working for a company in Windsor from 10 - 6:30pm.  At first I wasn’t thrilled with the hours but then realized that he’ll be able to handle drop off of both girls AND if there’s a snow delay for school he can handle that as well.

And I accepted a new position as well.  I start a new job a week from tomorrow. I’m very excited because it is a new industry for me. For the past 12 years I’ve worked in the manufacturing industry (meaning that I’ve always interfaced with hardware of some sort or the other).  I’m going to be working for a bank - working on their website and automating their testing.

I’ve switched over to a new design which will allow me to update much easier which means … MORE UPDATES! I’ll be able to quickly document cute things miss Olivia has done. I’m also going to branch out and update about Maddie Rose as well.

You’ll notice you can comment to each entry as well . I left the old guestbook up, but this will be easier to track.

Finally if you look to the left, there are different sections.

• The menu section contains links from the old site.
• The pages section contains a list of all the old pages but converted to this new format.
• The calendar section will allow you to quickly see how many entries were posted this month and click on a day to access those entries.
• The categories section is going to be great for me. As I type out an entry, I can “label” it so that way someone can quickly access all the entries relating to Olivia’s hospitalizations or cardiologist appointments, etc. “Life with Maddie” and “Life with Olivia” are going to be those general updates on what is new and exciting with them or if they said or did something cute and / or funny
• The archives section lists all the months I have posts for. So someone can quickly go back to July 2004 to see my posts about Olivia’s birth.
• The links section lists all my links for heart friends and other useful links.

I will still be keeping the Announcement Email List but I won’t be sending out announcements daily. Only after appointments or things like that.
So feel free to dig around and drop us an email or comment if you have any questions or concerns.

I’ve been very bad about updating!  We’ve been so busy with life and everything in general that Olivia’s site is last on the list and gets put off.

All is well with us.  Olivia had her first double ear infection last Wednesday (4/12/06). She had been running a fever on and off for about 5 days and I figured it was time to bring her in due to the long holiday weekend.  Never have I seen a parent and doctor cheer over a child having a double ear infection!  But we did. And we’re thrilled it was something so “simple” and she didn’t need to go in for bloodwork.  Olivia took zithromax for 5 days and is now back on her amoxicillan.

Olivia was exposed to Fifth Disease earlier in the month. This is a typical childhood virus that causes a child to get bright rosy cheeks (looking like they have been slapped).  We believe this was part of the reason for the fever. My sister, brother in law, both nephews and my mother have it this go around. It hits adults much harder than children.  Ironically it was my exposure to Fifth Disease that brought about Olivia’s diagnosis of her heart defects when I was pregnant with her.

Olivia is definitely going to be 2 this year. She is testing boundaries and has her own opinion on how things should be!  She wants to walk all the time (no time for carriages or strollers in stores anymore).  She tells you NO if you ask her to do something she doesn’t want to do.  She’s a bundle of energy and a joy!

Swimming has been a lot of fun with her recently. She has NO fear and LOVES the water. She actually will put her face in the water, take it out and then laugh hysterically.  Her instructor, Miss Kimberly gets such a kick out of her.  We’re trying to get Olivia to be able to stay upright in the pool without me having to hold on to her.  We are now using a bubble and a quarter (floatation devices) with the one full bubble on her belly (a first for Miss Kimberly).  We’re not sure if it’s just that Olivia likes to put her face in the water or it’s the way her muscles are from the surgeries, but with the one bubble on her belly and the quarter bubble on her back, we’re finally to the point that I can let go of her for a second and she doesn’t end up face down in the water.

Olivia’s newest trick is removing her diaper in the middle of the night.  On Sunday morning Arnie found her without a diaper and soaked from the waist down. And this morning I found her in a similar predicament but her diaper wasn’t fully off. Thank God for that one because she had a little present in there for me.  A good friend of mine suggested I put her diaper on with the tape backwards so we’ll try that tonight.

T-10 days until Disney. I am very unorganized this time around - or I feel unorganized. I have the major things ready but I feel I’m forgetting something.  I need to review my lists again.

So that’s all from here. We’ll update again after Florida unless anything comes up in the meantime!

God has a new angel.  On Friday evening, Aidan Stewart went back to God.  Aidan battled liver cancer for almost two years.  Aidan Stewart

November 27 we’re taking Christmas pictures. Arnie won’t allow me to post our christmas card picture until it’s been received by the masses but I’m sure there will be other pictures to post

November 28 at 5:45pm is her 16 month checkup with Dr. Friedman.

Just wanted to wish everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving.  We are so blessed to have our two beautiful girls and our loving and supportive family and friends around us.  We are thankful for each and every one of you every single day of the year.

During the emails with Dr. Heller this week I asked about signing Olivia up for a swimming class.  The YMCA offers a Parent & Child class that would get Olivia comfortable in the water.  Dr. Heller thought this was a great idea so we’re going to sign her up.

This past Wednesday was Olivia’s one year anniversary of coming home.  Again I have to say Happy Anniversary sweet cheeks! We’re so happy you’re here and we love you!

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!