Princess Livvie is Here...Update

I am so sorry for neglecting my blog - I know I promised to update during my maternity leave and I have been horrible at it!  The first few weeks of May were spent mostly organizing, cleaning, and preparing for our little Olivia's arrival.  Of course I had planned to work on my own projects, and I have some, but I think I needed the breather from crafting and sewing as at 9 months pregnant my energy was waning.

Olivia arrived as scheduled on May 30, 2015 via c-section.  I started having contractions the morning of my scheduled surgery so I feel pretty confident that she was coming pretty soon on her own if we had not already had a repeat section planned.  She came about an hour later than expected, at 1:37 and weighed in at 6 pounds 11 ounces and 20 inches long.

Part of why I haven't updated is that 24 hours after Olivia's birth she failed a routine newborn heart screening.  I don't remember the name of the test but from what I understand it's a new one they do at our hospital, and it's only been in effect for about a year.  My daughter is the second child ever at this hospital to fail the screening...and because of that she was sent to Rainbow Babies and Children's NICU in Cleveland, Ohio.  Our hospital also eliminated it's NICU unit since the last baby we'd had there - I was very saddened by that.

We are so fortunate and blessed to report that Olivia's problems were very small.  She had a small hole in her heart - a flap that hadn't completely grown closed, something that was supposed to happen in the last few days in the womb.  She also had quite a bit of fluid in her lungs...the cord was wrapped twice around her neck when born and she didn't let out the loud cries that you normally hear from a newborn baby...though she did cry.  She scored 8/9 on the Apgar so she seemed in good condition, until she started throwing up everything she ate and wouldn't keep anything down - and she began breathing strange to compensate for the lack of oxygen she was taking in due to the hole in her heart.  We spent four days at Rainbow with Olivia on IV nutrition and oxygen until her little heart grew enough to be on her own.

It was hands down the most terrifying ordeal I have ever been through - but absolutely NOTHING compared to some of the stories we've heard since.  I have a new compassion for parents who've had children with illness.  From what I understand the doctors explained that Livvie's issues are very common with preemie and c-section babies...and luckily for her not life threatening.  She needed round the clock care and monitoring until she grew enough to breath and eat on her own.  She had two echo cardiograms while there both showing that her heart is growing on its own and they determined she will likely never need surgery...but she does go in for a follow up echo in six months to be sure it's doing what they anticipate.

On top of all of that I was discharged with Olivia so I could be with her - 24 hours after having a c-section which is not the norm...I had my own set of complications when I came home, so it has been quite an overwhelming month!!  Things are starting to get back to normal now - thank goodness - and I am looking forward to resuming quilts in just a few short weeks.

I'm so sorry for the delay in updates!  Thank you so much to those who sent me messages and emails to check in on us!  :)