Update on Olivia

Since Olivia's surgery on 5/21/09 I have not updated. I don't have many followers but I did just want to come here, update the few I do have and get it all off my chest. Ok so Thursday May 21st Olivia had her open heart surgery. We had to be there at 6:00 am. We were glad for an early start. The sooner they start the sooner they finish. Right? Thats what we told ourselves anyway! So we got there, they took her back soon after. We were sent to a room where they got all of her info and #'s. Her oxygen level was in the 70's and had been for weeks, every time it was checked anyways. So sad. That was the main reason we were so READY to have this surgery. Got all info, came in and gave her some liquid medicine that made her very sleepy. She konked out on her daddy and was off to happy land. They looked so precious together. A great friend came by and snuck in our room. We had prayer and good conversation. We requested no visitors, this great friend (really an angel sent to us from the Lord) did not get the no visitor email and came at 6 am. God knew just what we needed and sent it. I was a little overwhelmed because I felt bad that no family was allowed. But looking back I see God just sent what we needed. That would have been a VERY long day with just the 2 of us, but with the friends that came we talked and talked and looking back it made it go by much faster. We got phone updates every hour or so from the operating room. They let us know that everything was going ok. That sure helped too. Her surgery ended right about noon. We were so thankful to see Dr Kogon walk in to talk to us. He told us that when he got in there, there were 2 holes instead of 1. A VSD and an ASD, he fixed both of them perfectly. But he had some not so good news about the Pulmonary Valve Stenosis. The pulmonary valve could not be repaired, once he got in there, it was more messed up than first thought. After trying and trying to fix it, he had to opt to just take it out. What does this mean? Well this means another surgery in about 25 years. Could be more years could be less. We pray for more. I was super discouraged once I heard this. I just didnt know if I could handle 25 years of knowing something is still wrong and that you will have to go through this again. As soon as I saw how much better you are now, and what a difference this surgery made, I came to a real quick conclusion that I am super blessed, so in 25 years or 60 years, I will tell your husband to take care of you, and I will watch the grandbabies for yall! LOL! One friend even mentioned in 25 years, there might be a drive thru for a pulmonary valve, I can only pray!

Anyways, at 2:20 pm we saw you for the first time in CICU. Cardiac Intensive Care Unit. It was a scary sight, after the dreams I had though, I was just glad to see you. You were laying there with all kinds of tubes and wires all in you. You looked so scary and so beautiful. I didnt cry, I held my breathe. There are I think 27 beds all lined up in a row, in there, no privacy between you and the others, I didnt want to embarrass you.

5/21/09 at 4:50 pm you came off of the breathing machine and are breathing on your own. What a blessing. The nurses in ICU are amazed with you. You already want to stand up and roll over. Baby you just had surgery... just rest....

5/22/09 You waved to mommy, It took my breathe away. You had more tubes removed, you smiled, and moved to the step down unit. All GREAT news! You are though realizing that mommy and daddy brought you here and are getting some mad at us, that involved slapping us when we got too close to you. We will let it slide for now, but when we get home we will work on this. Today Gran Gran, Papa, Uncle Lance and Austin came to visit you. They were sad, its ok.

5/23/09 We were in the step down unit. You did amazing, you are drinking and eating small amounts on your own. You look rough, really just your hair.... it is a mess, but we are so proud of how well you are doing. Today Aunt Judy, Uncle Donnie and Nikki came to visit you. You drank so much lemonade it was scary. They brought mommy and daddy subway and we have never been so thankful.

5/24/09 TODAY YOU ARE WALKING UP AND DOWN THE HALLS PUSHING TOYS AND WAGONS, they are going to kick us out of here and we are proud!!! You are doing amazing. We are heading home!!! They told us to expect a week stay, your surgery was on Thursday, and we are going home on Sunday. You had lots of visitors as we got home. You enjoyed it. You showed off for all of them. You are trying your hardest to walk now.... Love you baby!

Since being home, Olivia is FULLY walking, as of 5/25 ish, maybe 5/26. She acts like nothing ever happened... Yesterday was her 4 week post op and other than a scar you could NEVER EVER tell she had anything done. She is doing amazing. She has a temper problem that we are working on, but we are just thankful she is doing so well. Dont get me wrong it has been a process of lots of medicine, watching her extra carefully, and taking care of the incision daily, and the worry of another surgery down the road, but in the long run, or looking back things have went much better than I had in my head. I tell you, God is Amazing and babies are resilient and nothing less. No more blue at all, no more low oxygen, no more giving out easy, breathing hard. You are just perfectly healthy!

In the hospital they called her a big kid! We thought that was cute, but she is also called a cardiac kid now. And boy will she have a BIG story to tell one day.

Remember God is amazing and with him we can get through anything.

Sorry some of this went from talking to you, to talking to her back to you. Its hard to write it all.... wasnt sure I would even be able to write it. I did the best I could.

Back to being a stay at home mommy!