Olivia’s Tenth Day

Olivia is napping at the moment. Over the past few days we have had many conversations about which labs to draw, if any, and when and how to draw them. The options of a mid line or a PICC line have been discussed at length, but we have found other options that did not involve poking her again, so we have chosen those. Her one and only IV, which is in the left side of her neck, has held up so far. I did notice today that is has come out about one-quarter inch, but it is not leaking so I hope it will still hold for however long we need it. The options are not fun.

Amy has come out every day and played with Olivia a lot. Yesterday they got out of the room and spent the day meandering the hospital. There are lots of lights and colors, a toy train that rides on an overhead track, and large Seuss-ish plastic creatures that hang from the ceiling and slowly turn. These seem to keep her attention pretty well and take her focus off how she feels at the moment. Olivia loved being carted around so much yesterday that she was quite unhappy to be put back into her bed that evening.

Design thought for a children’s hospital: putting fun things just out of reach is a great way to get kids up on their feet and working their bodies in a way they haven’t done for a little while. It’s just enough motivation to encourage movement, which helps the healing process. Good job, Children’s Mercy!

In just a bit, Amy will be arriving here at the hospital with Kayla and Maddie. I’ll have the three girls in the hospital for a few hours. We’re gonna play a few games, have a small meal, and allow them to be around each other for a bit.

I spent time at home with the other kids yesterday; first time in nine days. While Amy was with Olivia at the hospital, I came home at nap time and stayed until all the kids were asleep. The kids were having emotional meltdowns so we thought it would help for Amy and me to switch spots for a few hours. However, it seems that they now know exactly what they were missing, whereas before it was only a generalized frustration without knowing what was missing. It’s very hard to know what the right strategy is in this situation. Should Amy and I switch places every few hours or every few days, or is it better for us to stay in our separate locations until it’s all over? There is not a definitive answer in this situation.

The schedule is going to get real crazy starting today: I still have school, Amy needs to work, I need to work, the kids need attention from both of us, one of us has to stay with Olivia at all times, the lawn and housework needs doing, etc. Many, many people have already pitched in and we are exceedingly grateful to all who have helped already in what ever way they could. Thank you so much!

Patting Myself on the Back

I have mowed the front lawn, but not the back. Instead, I pulled up the three- and four-foot trees by the roots that had planted themselves there. It took two days to rip them all out, but it needed to be done.

I scraped paint off some kitchen windows. Difficult to do with a dull blade.

The laundry is done, as usual.

I have held the hair of my puking daughter, and cleaned up the couch after we figured out she wasn't feeling so well. Three words: pro jec tile.

I have put together an oak table and chairs. This is the first time in almost seven years of marriage and family that we have all been able to sit down together for a meal.

I have taped off Samuel and Olivia’s room so I can paint it.

I have gotten shots and shot records for school, faxed several copies of things to the Nursing Division, completed a background check (not on any federal psycho lists. Yay!), and switched my classes around a few times.

I have been to visit the financial aid offices at school several times already. We need all the help we can get. We’re behind, I believe, by about a few hundred dollars per month, even with all the help from my military benefits. That’s why Amy and I are both working part-time. But even with that, we’re still not breaking even.

I have completed several exciting projects for the International House of Prayer in Kansas City, and am now assisting the Creative Director in revamping our choices of typography for the IHOP–KC brand. Right now, our main fonts are Perpetua, Gill Sans and Helvetica Neue Condensed Bold. We’re looking at getting two serif and two sans fonts (a loose and tightly kerned of each, giving us 4 total) that all work well together, and can translate easily to any media (Web, TV, print, postcards, etc.). It is a tough goal to hit, but I think we can do it.

Life is crazy right now. And my semester hasn’t even begun. This is gonna be nuts.

Madeline’s Birthday

Our wonderful Madeline turns three on Wednesday. In the past few months she has turned a corner to become one of the most voluntarily loving kids that we have. She regularly kisses everyone within arm’s reach—even if they are too busy to be stopped in their tracks. She’s a great girl.

Happy Birthday, Maddie.

The “guess what I’m thinking” look

The “about to lick the zoo glass” look

The classic look

Can They Sue Us?

Is it considered slander if a child equates their latest “porcelain deposit” to Thomas the Train?

See the mugshot of the accused below. See how she tries to blend into the background. Obviously guilty.

Olivia's Surgery Complete

Friends and Family,

Olivia's surgery is complete. It went very well and the surgical team is very happy with the results. They chose not to insert the middle wall in her heart; instead, they basically rerouted all the blood to make it go in the top of the heart (the atriums) and come out the bottom (the ventricles) to the rest of her body.

Olivia will be fine until about two or three years old, at which time she will need to have one more surgery to complete the re-routing of the blood (called a Fontan procedure).

Reasons for not putting in the middle wall:
—Not enough heart muscle to sew on to.
—Too much wall to reconstruct.
—Reconstructing the wall would most likely have led to a heart attack.
—Reconstructing the wall would have been more of a "messy" procedure, and it would have led to at least 3 or 4 more surgeries through age 18.
—Doing the in-the-top-out-the-bottom surgery will only necessitate one more surgery at age 2 or three.

The plan for the rest of the day:
—Olivia has enough anesthesia to keep her comfortable for a few hours, so they will let it wear off and allow her to rouse herself and start breathing on her own (she's on a breathing machine now).
—They will take out the breathing tube this evening once she has proven she is breathing on her own.
—She will be given enough pain medicine to keep her comfortable (and sleeping) for the rest of today and into tomorrow morning.
—She is on three normal medicines now, but they should be weaned by tonight or tomorrow.
—Amy and I are spending time with Kayla and Maddie. Once they are in bed, we will go back to the hospital.

Olivia will be in the hospital for about the next week or two as she recuperates. Thanks for all your prayers!