Thursday, April 1, 2010 - Update

My husband's attempt at being artsy :)

The more I looked at this picture, the more I liked it. It's not the first time God provided a beautiful vision of pink when it seemed nothing else remained. It reminded me of how thankful I am for my little girl. She continues to bring us such joy.

Helping In The Garden

Tuesday, March 30, 2010 - Update

Should've eaten one of these every day.

Don't let the picture fool you. I ate most of the apple and then she wanted it so that she can take bites and then spit it out in little pieces. I only wish she was eating the apple. That's how she eats most of her food. The girl doesn't like to swallow. I tell ya, I will go out to dinner and watch other toddlers snarf down their food and I'm so incredibly jealous!! I just sit and stare at them in amazement. . .they open their mouths, put food in, chew it up and swallow it. I just wish I knew what to do. I know she has something wrong, but I don't know what and I don't know what to do. Don't criticize, but she still takes a bottle a day. That's the only way to get some calories in her. She's very particular about her sippy cups and will not drink any milk out of them. . only water and juice. She'll drink 8+ oz of milk in a bottle, but only takes 1 or 2 sips from a cup. I get so frustrated. I am, however, thrilled that she is feeling better. Too bad my husband is now sick with possibly the same stuff. I thought it was spring? Shouldn't all of this be over with? :)

Olivia

This morning, Olivia woke up 90% better. Thanks for all of your prayers!

Olivia Update

This evening went much better than our morning did. We actually got the antibiotic to stay down and she ate a bit. . .like, a few crumbs, but that's something. Maybe this means we're on the mend. I found out yesterday that Madison (daughter of my friend, Stacie) has pneumonia, so please be praying for her. Lots of illnesses going around, it seems. . . nasty illnesses. This is definitely the most sick Olivia has been since we brought her home from the hospital. And, I'm no good at having a sick child. I fret A LOT and drive myself insane with worry. My heart breaks every time Olivia cries. I just want this illness to go away!!

Olivia

Please pray for Olivia. She is a lot worse this morning, can't keep anything down (including her antibiotic) I've never seen her like this and it scares me.

Friday, March 26, 2010 - Update

Here's a pic from earlier this week.

We're still fighting this nasty illness, but I think we're gaining the upper hand. Olivia still has barely eaten in 3 days and we're trying our hardest to keep her hydrated. She has thrown up a handful of times, which haven't helped matters, but is mainly due to severe congestion. It's like watching those ounces (that we worked so hard for) just disappear. Olivia has almost a constant cough that sounds awful. Thankfully, when the doctor listened to her lungs, they sounded clear. . .amazing for a former 23 weeker on the vent for 2 months. The hardest thing is seeing that glimmer disappear from her eyes. I just want her to start feeling better soon.

Thursday, March 25, 2010 - Update

We went to the doctor today. Olivia had a little bit of fluid accumulating in her ears which they thought was the start of an ear infection. She tested negative for strep and they think it's just a virus. We switched her over to Motrin as she still has a temp and that has perked her up a bit more. She is sleeping now, but has been playing as usual today (without the gusto that she normally has.) She hasn't eaten a thing in two days and we're trying to keep fluids up. This will be great for her weight gain. . .hohum. Hopefully, she'll start feeling better soon.

Wednesday, March 24, 2010 - Update

Well, Olivia did get sick. . .very sick. She has had a fever since last night, awful cough, runny nose, vomiting. . .the works. Thankfully, I've seen 'glimpses' of my Olivia throughout the day and I even had her laughing this evening. I've been trying my hardest to keep her hydrated, but that's been a struggle and she isn't eating anything. The two times she has tried to eat. . . she's thrown it right back up. I'm sure we'll be off to the doctor tomorrow. Most kids will want to cuddle up in their mom's lap when they are sick. Olivia is not like that (and selfishly sometimes I wish she was.) She would much rather go lay down in her bed by herself which she did quite often. I would periodically go check on her. One particular time, I found that she wasn't lying down at all. She was lining up her little figurines on the side of her bed. What a great fine motor/hand eye coordination task! And to do it when she felt so sick! Then, she asked me to get the camera! She wanted me to take a picture of it. I couldn't help but chuckle as I was taking the picture and she was clapping for herself. Here they are in all their glory. . .the three Chipmunk sisters, Elmo, Grover and Cookie Monster!

Please pray for a speedy recovery! I can hardly stand to see my sweet girl so sick.

Tuesday, March 23, 2010 - Update

What a gorgeous almost 70 degree day we had today! I don't know how Ryan lucked out and had his birthday on such a beautiful day. The three of us enjoyed some time outside. Olivia's outside activity of choice? SWINGING! She had a blast despite a cough and later a fever of 101. It seems she is sick again. . .bleh. . .although she isn't really acting like she feels too bad. I guess that's what happens when you rejoin the land of the living. . .you get sick. Hopefully, she feels okay tomorrow. I wanted to wish my husband a happy birthday one more time. And. . .I also wanted to say happy birthday to my cat, Autumn. Yes, they share a birthday. Isn't that sweet? When we got Autumn, her paperwork listed her birthdate as 03-23-09. So, happy #1, Autumn!

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to my husband, Ryan who turns. . . . a year older on March 23rd! I couldn't ask for a better husband, friend and father to go through life with. I love you with all of my heart!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

DADDY!

Love,

Mommy and Olivia

Fun Zoo

It was beautiful outside today, so the three of us went to the zoo. Ryan couldn't have picked a better day to be off work. Olivia had a blast!! We let her "run free" and she literally did just that. She ran and ran and ran and ran. We were there for probably an hour and a half and she ran the entire time. Afterwards, she kept saying "Fun Zoo! Fun Zoo!" It was a great day!

This is what I felt like after trying to keep up with Olivia. Her little legs move faster than you think.

March for Babies

The March for Babies is fast approaching. Remember it is April 17th 9:00 am at Lawrence Dumont Stadium. The walk is only supposed to be 1 mile this year, so it won't be near as tiring as last year. Unfortunately, we are not doing t shirts this year. I think we will do them every other year. If you have your t shirt from last year, please wear it and if not, you could just wear yellow if you'd like. I'd love to have another big team this year. Please consider joining us or donating to the Olivia and Logan team. Here are the people that are planning to attend:

Ryan, Jodi, Olivia

Kerry

Ivette

Holli, Steve and Logan

Jenifer and Robby

Shawna, James, Kerrick and Mckenna

Grandma and Grandpa Sailing

Grandma and Grandpa Glunt

Laura, Julia and Rebekah

Cody, Heather, Ella and Kyler (Unfortunately, I know they may not be able to make it as Heather discovered her cancer is back. Many prayers sent to them daily.)

Don, Shelley and Izzy

Carol and Lindsay

Amanda (honorary member)

I've changed my personal goal to $1050. I'm trying to raise $10 for every day that Olivia was in the hospital. So, by donating just $10. . .you are remembering one of the many days towards her journey home. Please email me if you have any questions or concerns. I hope to see many of you there!

Thanks Everyone!
Jodi

Sunday, March 21, 2010 - Update

My sweet girl. . .she's growing up so fast. She has a thing where all the doors need to be shut. She's always saying, "Shut the door. .shut the door." Funny that one of my bad habits is leaving cabinet doors open, so I'm always hearing, "Shut the door!" Her other saying is, "It's okay." Whenever something is out of place or not like it should be. . .she'll say, "Uh Oh. . .it's okay." Olivia has also developed opinions about where I can sit and what I need to be doing. It's amazing that I'm on the computer right now. . .usually she'll say, "Mama no computer." So, I'm gonna make this a short post. She's getting frustrated about something.

Saturday, March 20, 2010 - Update

Oh, I love Birthdays!

Today, we celebrated my brother's birthday! Olivia heard us talking about ice cream AND cake and thought we said "ice cream cake." Olivia absolutely loves ice cream cake. She wasn't too disappointed because I gave her cake and ice cream in every bite. Maybe that's why she was so happy today. . .

Back In The Saddle Again

Olivia discovered how to ride a pony in a dress. . .

Friday, March 19, 2010 - Update

Pondering the weather

It was beautiful outside this morning. . .almost 60 degree weather and we were looking forward to some outside fun. After lunch we went outside and it was cold and windy. Now, we're expecting snow with highs barely above freezing. Crazy weather. It's probably for the best that we didn't go anywhere because Olivia crashed around 4:30. I think the sleepover wore her out. She just crawled into her bed and went to sleep. Olivia hardly ever naps anymore and if she does, I often have to force the issue. Not today. . .she was exhausted. But, it sounds like she had a great time with her cousins.

Thursday, March 18, 2010 - Update

Olivia had a busy day today. We spent the afternoon with cousin Izzy, Aunt Shelley and Grandma Sailing. Then, I dropped her off at her other grandparents for a sleepover with 6 of her cousins. Yes, I think Grandma Mary has gone crazy. I'm sure she thought she would never have ALL of them together on one night especially after Julia and Rebekah left for California. This is very special for everyone. Olivia is often referred to as everyone's favorite cousin, so I'm sure she's having a blast! Boy, the house sure is quiet with her gone. Ryan and I don't know what to do with ourselves. Autumn is soaking up all the extra attention and is a little irritated at me for being on the computer right now. Okay, now she has climbed up in my lap which makes typing very difficult. I hope my baby girl is having a good night. See ya tomorrow, sweetie!

All 7 of the cousins at their sleepover!

Wednesday, March 17, 2010 - Update

It's amazing to find out what makes your child tick. What kinds of things are they attached to? Out of all her stuffed animals, I would have never picked these two as the most special of them all: Lullaby Gloworm and Leap Frog Lily. Olivia takes them everywhere. We had a battle a few weeks ago because she didn't understand why she couldn't take a bath with them. Instead of Gloworm, Olivia always called him Gogum and the name kinda stuck. She can now almost say it correctly, but we still call him Gogum. We even brought them to her eye appt in hopes it would be easier for her, but that didn't work. For those that are wondering, Dr. W is the only pediatric ophthalmologist in town. There is a low vision doctor in town, but I don't know if that's what Olivia needs since her eyesight is okay. I may need to look into that further. I don't know if she would act like this regardless of the doctor or not. I just want to make it easier for her, especially because she will continue to have regular visits for quite a long time. I'll have to ask about the sedation or anything that would help calm her down.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010 - Update

At her eye appointment. . .life was good until the eye doctor came in.

Well, Olivia's eye appt went just as bad or worse than usual. She was so happy when we got there, I thought maybe things would be different. However, the second the doctor walked into the room, she starting bawling. She hates eye appts (especially with dilation) and she doesn't care much for her eye doctor either. (This is why I've learned to bring my husband with me for dilations.) It breaks my heart every time. The news we got wasn't stellar either. He doesn't want to do a second strabismus surgery because he is unable to get adequate measurements because of Olivia's protests. She can't help it. . somehow it triggers really bad memories for her. Olivia's prescription has changed and she needs something a bit stronger, so she is getting new lenses. I suspicioned she would. She hasn't worn her glasses as well lately and I wondered if it was because her prescription changed. We also believe that she has problems with depth perception which is hampering her fine motor skills. We have basically accepted that, for now, her eyes are going to misalign. Our goal is to make sure they don't with her glasses on. Hopefully, we're doing all we can for her. No more eye appts for 2.5 months. . .whew.

Monday, March 15, 2010 - Update

Please be thinking of Olivia tomorrow. She has another eye exam with a dilation. These are just awful for her (and mommy too.) Thankfully, daddy is going with us and we're hoping for a good report. We've noticed, however, that her eyes are crossing even with her glasses on. Hopefully, that doesn't mean a second strabismus surgery is in the near future. I'm hoping to do something fun afterwards because I know how hard these exams are for her. Whatever we do, I'm sure I'll take lots of pictures because I can't seem to put my new camera down.

Almost Spring!

Happy Spring Break Everyone!