Jello

There was a time about a year ago when I sat with Olivia at the kitchen table trying to get her to say jello. I sat there patiently encouraging her, trying to help her until I was crying. She loves jello and she was trying to say it but just couldn't get the word out. Now I'm listening to my beautiful little girl who just had her tonsils out yesterday and spent the night in the ICU sitting at that same kitchen table cheerfully talking to her orange jello. She's not just saying jello but she's using two words to talk about her yummy jello. She's eating it with a spoon, all by herself. Please pray that they approve her transplant, we should hear something today.

No More Tonsils

Olivia had her tonsils and adenoids removed this morning (She'd had her adenoids initially removed last year but they grew back so they were removed again). She's doing well but the tonsils were so large that they are keeping her in ICU overnight just to make sure that she doesn't have any trouble breathing. The nurses are all very impressed with how well she's doing, she's had 4 Popsicles, juice, jello, and macaroni and cheese. I'm so thankful that the nurses today were so accommodating. I don't think that infants are really allowed in ICU but Peter was with us all day, charming the pants off of all the nurses. Mike is staying with Olivia tonight and it's killing me that I'm not there. When I was pregnant with Peter I remember being worried that I wouldn't have enough love to go around. I love Olivia so much, I couldn't imagine that I could possibly share that love with another child. Of course everyone I know who has multiple children explained that your love just grows. They were completely right. I love Peter just as much as I love Olivia. What they didn't tell me is that there would be times when I would have to choose between my children and it's the absolute worst feeling in the world. I know that Mike is taking great care of Olivia and she's enjoying this special time with him. I know that I'm happy that I'm able to be here snuggling with Peter. But this mother guilt is killing me! I just keep telling myself that you do the best with what you have and I'm so glad that Mike is here right now so that he can be with Olivia.

Let's Be Specific

If you've been following the blog you know that we're trying to get our insurance company to authorize a transplant for Olivia. At this point our insurance company has denied our initial request and we're currently appealing their decision. This part of the appeal process should take about 72 hours. Olivia's case is being sent to a peer review board. A practicing medical doctor (who is not affiliated with our insurance company) will review Olivia's history and the transplant request and then make a decision about wether or not the transplant will be authorized. Please pray that the doctor who is randomly selected to make this decision gives it serious thought and consideration. Please pray that God gives them wisdom and understanding and that they approve Olivia's transplant. This process started this morning so hopefully we should know something by Thursday so check back then for updates.

Tulips

Since Mike got to spend all day on Saturday snowboarding in Whistler he cheerfully agreed to stop by the tulip festival on the way home. This truly was a labor of love, what guy wants to drive out of the way to look at a field of flowers in the middle of no where? Mike did it with a smile on his face and even bought me some beautiful tulips to take home.





To see more tulip pictures click on the shutterfly link on the post below.