Olivia update

Where to begin? She’s getting so big, so fast. It’s hard to believe that in a month and a half she’s going to be a year!

I just went back and reviewed my notes from last year at this time. On 6/4/04 we were told there was something wrong with Olivia’s head … Doctors, what do they know?

Anyway, back to the princess. She is doing so many new things!

  • She waves bye-bye and says “buh buh”. She really got this down pat in Florida when we were sitting in a restaurant watching the It’s A Small World boats float by. She would wave to all the boats and so many people would smile and wave back. Hours of entertainment for everyone.
  • She is starting to wave hello.
  • Words she can say: Mama, Dada, Baby.
  • She calls out “Maaa” for Maddie (sounds like Maddie without the -ddie).
  • She said Memere (pronounced “memay”) in Disney to my mom.
  • Calls her daycare provider Diana “nya”.
  • She tries to say “more” for more food.
  • She is cruising furniture.
  • Stands up and holds on to someone with one hand.
  • Can walk with the assistance of a toy or box.
  • Eating: She is now mastering eating! She normally eats (2) stage 2 jars of baby food at each meal (or 1 jar and a baby yogurt). Drinks whole milk. And just yesterday she ate cut up bananas and sweet potatoes from our dinner AFTER eating an entire 6 oz jar of sweet potatoes (stage 3). She is really starting to show an interest in food.

Little hearts picnic

Yesterday was the annual Little Hearts picnic. This is our support group of all families with children who have heart defects (CHD). Yesterday there were 500 people in attendance – 111 CHDs! Last year we were one of two families there who were expecting – Arnie & I and Delys & Noel. This year we were able to reunite those beautiful babies who were born just 5 days apart. It was SO nice to see our friends again and see how big the kids have gotten. The oldest person there with a CHD was 39 years old! And the oldest HLHS survivor there was 20!

As usual, the tear jerking moment was the taking of the Picture of Hope. They take three pictures. The first one is the picture of the kids with HLHS (which is in my opinion one of the most serious CHDs one can have). Next they take a picture of all the kids with a CHD. And finally they take a siblings picture.

Delys and I were getting emotional. We both said “we are SO LUCKY”. Funny because someone who hasn’t been in our shoes may not consider us lucky – but we sure do. We have two beautiful girls who are doing so well. We are truly blessed.

I don’t have pictures to share yet – my camera battery died. However, as soon as I get copies, I will definitely post them for everyone to view.

Cardiologist Appointment

We had an appointment with Dr. Heller this morning.  Olivia weighed 18 lbs, 10 oz and was 28.25″ long. That puts her at the 50% for weight and the 75% for height!  Not too shabby!

Her oxygen level was 82 and her heart rate was in the 150s. Dr. Heller says she looks GREAT and she looks forward to seeing us as Olivia is doing so well.  Olivia showed off her chatting abilities to everyone.  We don’t go back until October!