It amazes me how different it is raising Oliver.  I am sure part of it is because I am older and wiser than I was with my other two children.  Life is so precious.  Every day is a gift!  This is especially true for my little Ollie!  I am so grateful God blessed me with Oliver James!

Oliver has been growing big and strong!  At our last doctor’s appointment he weighed in at 6 pounds and 9 ounces!  Oliver has been taking his required 2 ½ ounces by mouth and has not needed the NG tube!  We go back to the doctor this Friday for another check-up. 

The past two weeks have been extremely busy.  Oliver saw his ENT and was diagnosed with microtia of both ears.  His microtia consists of a very narrow ear canal.  He also had his hearing rechecked and the results were the same.  He can hear a little out of his left ear and failed hearing out of his right ear.  The ENT discussed the use of a hearing aid head band with me.  We will follow up with the ENT in August to discuss a plan. 

The cardiologist added a second diuretic to Oliver’s daily prescriptions.  Because Oliver’s hole in his heart is large, he is shunting a significant amount of blood.  If he does not develop more pulmonary stenosis, the open-heart surgery will be scheduled when he is approximately 3 ½ months old.  The cardiologist will be discussing Oliver’s case with his partners (including the surgeons) in two weeks and they will finalize the decision whether or not they will do the surgery around the end of August. 

I am officially back to work at the hospital.  It was bitter sweet going back to work after being off for 2 ½ months.  If you know me, then you know I love being a nurse and taking care of people!  But, at the same time I hate leaving my little baby!  I work three- twelve hour shifts.  As a nurse, it is easy for a twelve hour shift to turn into a fourteen hour shift.  Which is what happened my first day back.  One of the benefits of being an ER nurse is my shift flies by and then I am on my way home to see all of my babies!