Cinder-Livvy

Cinder-Livvy

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

My Heart Beats for Olivia

You've seen the all the stats thus far about CHD's and I could post more, but I think that would become redundant.  Olivia celebrated the Super Bowl with my extended family this weekend, but I think she was really pulling for the Steelers because she was in one of the worst moods I have ever seen her in.  We threw in the towel before halftime and decided to head home where little missy ate some food and promptly went to bed all before 7:30 which is virtually unheard of.  Weekends are becoming a little bit of a challenge, I think she really knows that when Brian's mom comes over to watch her on Fridays that it's followed by two days of Mom and Dad home.  Subsequently, she wants to spend every waking moment with us and that means that she is really fighting naps in every way shape and form.  Saturday she was fantastic, fun and engaging, Sunday she went to the dark side (that's the best way I can describe it). 

While we were at the party and trying to keep her entertained it was quite clear that she is really outraged when anyone is eating in front of her and she has nothing so I offered her a Ritz cracker.  My mom looked at me and asked if I had given her one before and I said nope, but no time like starting now.  She asked me again was I sure that she could handle it; what if she choked?  I said the only way we would know was by finding out so I gave it to her.  EIGHT Ritz crackers later it was quite clear to everyone that she will do just fine with something so dry and crumbly and not have to worry about choking.  Maybe it was a little early and she doesn't have quite as many teeth as a baby normally would to give them something like that, but my rationale whenever I'm letting her try something new is that she hasn't come all this way in her short life for me to deprive her of life experiences. 

With that said, I found myself talking to one of my best friends last night and something came up about riding a motorcycle in the course of conversation.  I said how I loved hopping on the back of a bike and going out for a ride and then I looked right over at Olivia playing away and said that was an experience I'd really like her to skip.  Totally tongue in cheek of course, but I was amused with myself that just 24 hours later I was using "how far she's come" as a reason to skip out on taking a risk and playing it safe.  Sigh

I don't know what it's like to have other heart healthy children, but I do know that from the moment she was born a little piece of my heart now lives outside my body in her.  I can imagine that lots of parents feel that way, that sense of being incomplete until you're with your children whether they're awake or sleeping in the next room over.  My heartbeat had a rhythm before she was born that probably said more "me, me, me" and now it beats for Olivia.

2 comments:

  1. Awww! What a great post! I love "she went to the dark side". You are too funny. :)

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  2. Love this post! Absolutely beautiful. (And so glad to hear she's doing so well with crackers - yay, a whole new world just opened for her - and you (crackers are an amazing diversion!)!) And yes, even with heart healthy children, each child takes a piece of your heart and you somehow have have to live with a piece of your heart walking around outside your body forever. :-)

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