OUR VISIT TO ALIVIA

Terry and I were able to go down to Palo Alto for a few days to visit our God Daughter and lend some support to Breanna and Richard. It was definitely an emotional trip, but we were glad we were there either way. This is how Alivia was when we first got there.

At this point she was in an "isolation" room and she had a breathing tube because her lungs weren't strong enough to breath on their own. Because of that she also had a feeding tube in her nose for formula. The colorful things wrapped around her arms are called "no-nos". These are for just in case she wakes up she can't bend her arms to pull tubes out. She was on melrinone for her heart, zantac for her tummy, a medication to keep her sleeping and fentanyl for pain. Very rarely did she move, and if she opened her eyes, it was only for a second.

On day two of our visit Alivia got a little stronger and was able to move out of isolation. The doctors started weaning her off of the IV milrinone and onto an oral medication for her heart, one she can be sent home with once she is strong enough. They were also slowly lowering the amount of oxygen going through her breathing tube so that she would start breathing a little more on her own. Alivia started opening her eyes for short periods of time and looking around, but still, she mostly slept. October 15th, 2009, Terry and I got to be a part of baptising little Alivia. We had planned on it since she was born, but it was important to Breanna that both Terry and I be there. Since Terry left the day after she was born, and is leaving again this Friday we decided to have it done right there in the hospital. First, I was appointed to get her dressed.

During the ceremony, her parents and godparents got the chance to each give Alivia their own blessing.

Alivia and her parents, Richard and Breanna.

It was amazing that she stayed awake for the whole baptism. It was the first time she was actually awake and looking aroud since she entered the hospital more than one week before.

On Friday we had to come home to our own baby (Nathyn) but we went to see Alivia one more time before taking off. When we got to the hospital we were surprised to Alivia with NO breathing tube! She was finally breathing on her own! However, there was also another surprise... She was now cross-eyed. At first we were all very concerned and feared some brain damage because of lack of oxygen, we thought maybe they took the breathing tube too soon. Her doctor informed us though that there was no brain damage and that Alivia was going through withdrawls from being removed from the fentanyl, the pain medication she was on for 10 days. They took her off because she no longer had the breathing tube so they thought she didn't need it anymore. This was Alivia on Friday.Time to say goodbye, Alivia had a little something to say to her God Dad. Terry was sad that he still has not been able to hold his god daughter (he was nervous to the day he was born, he'd been swimming in the river prior to seeing her). We're hoping that Alivia gets stronger so that her and Breanna are able to visit us in Germany! If not, we will definitely see her on one of our trips home for vacation! WE LOVE YOU ALIVIA!

I have talked to Breanna every day, morning, noon and night since we left. She's doing MUCH better! Breanna says she awake for long periods of time, she plays with her toys in her crib, and smiles and laughs often. Her eyes have even went back to normal! Breanna has been able to put her little hairs in pig tails and even has been able to hold her and feed her. I'm hoping that I will get to see her one more time before leaving to Germany, I miss her so much already! Alivia is one strong little girl, and I know she'll continue to do great! I can't wait to see what she does next! Here's Alivia TODAY!