Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Update on Baby Ollie

Today we had our follow up level II ultrasound to review baby Ollie's heart.  Last time we really didn't know much about Ollie's heart defect other than Ollie had a hole between the ventricals that may heal itself.  Today we found out that Ollie has an AV Canal Defect.  It's a more serious defect than Jade & I had originally thought, and we feel a little knocked down by our news today.

We will continue to see our specialist probably every 4 weeks to monitor Ollie's growth & heart.  We will also have an appointment soon with a pediatric cardiologist in Peoria to review Ollie's heart.  Our Dr. told us that we will most likely deliver normally in Mattoon & take Ollie home.  That ideally they will wait until Ollie is 3-6 months so he/she has time to grow, then we face open heart surgery.  This is typically not a heart defect that will heal itself and will require open heart surgery.  Basically we're facing a hole between Ollie's ventricles and when the heart pumps, it creates a bigger hole between all 4 chambers of the heart.

With this type of defect, the Dr. believes that Ollie does have Down Syndrome, although he was sure to remind us this isn't certain until birth, but 50% of babies with this defect have DS.  Which we are still perfectly fine with Down Syndrome, this possibility doesn't worry us at all.

Just so no assumptions are made, Ollie is perfectly fine while I am pregnant & will most likely be fine after birth.  The surgery has a high success rate so that is something to be extremely grateful for, and our Dr. said we will just love Peoria and the doctors and surgeons there - also a blessing.  So please keep praying for our entire family, friends, doctors, nurses and surgeons.  February seems far away, but will be here before we know it.

Thank you again for all the outpouring of love.  We are doing extremely well considering what we are facing & we are still confidant we will have a long, exciting, and perfectly happy life with Ollie, Aubrie, & Everett.  Do not greive or be sad for us, we still have a miracle in the making & God is blessing us daily with family & friends that love and support us.

God Bless!

If you are just now stopping in - start here with our Previous post about Ollie

PS - Ollie is a baby GIRL!!




"You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me!"

Psalm 139:13-18

34 comments:

  1. Many prayers going out to you and your precious baby girl! I know she'll be a-okay, and completely gorgeous and amazing. I can't wait to hear the happy news that she's here!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I've been praying for you and you're family. Megan Lucas

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thinking and praying for you family every day.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Annie, that positive attitude and all of the love and support you have will get you through any obstacles ahead of you. And you will love the staff in Peoria (OSF) Children's Hospital. That's where both of my kids were born!

    Love & Prayers!
    Erin

    ReplyDelete
  5. Congratulations, a baby girl, now you can finish the nursery. Love the name. She will be an amazing little girl.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Love and prayers to you all! Bring on the ruffles! Love you guys! - Ellen

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hey! Congrats on the baby girl!! I knew it :) you will love the dr s in Peoria. Tht is where Brett goes.... They have good people on staff. Will keep praying for you all!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Annie-prayers are still continued from my end but you and Jade seem so strong and Ollie couldn't have picked better parents to love her! HER!!! And congrats on it being a girl :)
    Rebecca Miller

    ReplyDelete
  9. Annie,
    Another little girl..how exciting :) I can't imagine a better family for her to join with your upbeat and optimistic attitude. She will be a very blessed and loved little girl. Can't wait to meet her :)
    Kristen Perona

    ReplyDelete
  10. Annie - We will continue to pray for Ollie. I was secretly hoping for a girl, my maternal grandmother's name was Ollie! I think it is neat how things like this work out in families. We Love you all and Love your little ones bunches. Cathy

    ReplyDelete
  11. Annie, I am overjoyed with the news that Ollie is a Miss Ollie. I will keep you in my prayers and it sounds like an outcome that will be ok. Serious, but ok. We live close enough to Peoria to know that anyone we know who has gone there has had an extraordinary experience. The staff is kind and knowledgeable. I have faith that things will go well there. She will be here before you know it and will be gorgeous and sweet and have wonderful parents and older siblings. You have so many people rooting for your family. As always, keep us posted. BTW...anymore ultrasound pix???

    ReplyDelete
  12. Annie, sending prayers your way. Keep the faith honey! I live close enough to Peoria to have heard so many wonderful stories and great outcomes from the super people at the Children's Hospital. You and yours will be in great hands while you are there! Miss Ollie will be just beautiful, because God has made her perfect in his image! Tish

    ReplyDelete
  13. I have been away for far too long. I am sorry to hear of all the different things happening with Ollie. She has an amazing family and my thoughts and prayers are with you, her and your entire family. oxox Thinking of you! oxox

    ReplyDelete
  14. Annie,
    Wishing you and your family the best! How exciting to get another fabulous girl! I can't wait to see photos of her!

    ReplyDelete
  15. YAY !!! A girl... another of God's angels. There are just not enough words to express my heart's love for you all . Love to you all...
    Nancy W

    ReplyDelete
  16. You two are stronger than you know. I am inspired by your faith and optimism, Ann. I can't wait until baby Ollie gets here! She is a lucky girl to be born into such an incredible family. She will be beautiful and perfect in every way. My prayers are with you and Jade. I love you all! xoxo- Elly

    ReplyDelete
  17. Annie, I've been gone for most of the day so I just read your post. So we are to have a baby girl, Ollie. How wonderful and I know she will be as strong and as unique as her beautiful name. She and her family will have a huge challenge when she is born, but when you are born with and into love anything can be dealt with. I love your positive spirit Annie and it is something you have passed down to your two oldest children and something that Miss Ollie will latch onto during her first few months of life. What a lucky girl and what a lucky family! {{Ollie}} Ann

    ReplyDelete
  18. still thinking about & praying for you <3

    ReplyDelete
  19. Annie, Congratulations on finding out that your lil Ollie is a baby girl! She's a lucky baby girl to being born into such a loving, caring family!

    I will continue to have you, Jade, your family, and baby Ollie in my thoughts and prayers Annie..

    Thank you so much for the update today on your dr's visit..

    Blessings,
    ~Lynn

    ReplyDelete
  20. Another reason Ollie is going to be just fine :
    Girls are stronger than boys : P~~

    Have you thought about coming to Columbia Babies Hospital in Manhattan? When J#1 was there we met families from around the country and around the WORLD with Down's babies having heart surgery ! This place really knows its stuff.... just a thought.

    I LOVE the nursery ! The gnomes are the cutest thing ever and Ollie is going to love them !

    hugs,
    gena
    www.thehouseonlavenderhill.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  21. I'll keep your family and baby Ollie in my prayers. I'm sure that everything will be fine! :)

    Love and hugs,
    Carol

    ReplyDelete
  22. How exciting - another girl! I just love the name Ollie! You're all in my heart and thoughts! Thank you for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Wooohooo!!! A GIRL!!!! :) God has formed her and knew her before any of us had any idea about her! Jer. 29:11 - He has a plan and purpose for her life which includes a HOPE and a FUTURE!!! Will continue praying... Diana L.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Thanks for sharing your latest news about little Ollie. Stay positive and God will answer your prayers. Love to you all...keeping you in our prayers.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Another GIRL!!! SO happy and excited for you both!! You will continue to be in my prayers, you two are such special people, and Ollie has got to be the luckiest baby girl to have you two for parents:)

    Love ya girl!
    Cara

    ReplyDelete
  26. Ollie is a girl...woohoo!!! Annie, you and Jade and Ollie are in our prayers. In fact, Wade just asked me yesterday if I had heard anything recently. I love the Psalm you included, it's one of my favorites. Jesus makes us stronger in our trials, I know it for a fact.

    xo
    LeAnn

    ReplyDelete
  27. Dear Annie,
    If all the parents were just like you and your husband, every kid would be living in Paradise! Ollie will definitely be one more happy kid in your family, and this is what really matters! She's a lucky girl already to have such a great parents! I'm sure everything's gonna be just fine, with or without DS! I'm only wishing you to remain the way you are - two beautiful, wise, and unconditionally loving people!:)

    ReplyDelete
  28. Baby Ollie is so lucky to have a loving family that is waiting to meet her. I am a mother to a special needs son and I love him more than life itself! You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.

    ReplyDelete
  29. We are still praying for your family and Little Miss Ollie. As you stated, DS is manageable... and you will have many challenges ahead, but keep your faith in God and you will be blessed!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Annie, as the mother of a son and a grandson both born with heart disease, I know everything will be okay,research has come so far and it will be amazing what they can do! My grandson,Shadrach was born with 5 heart defects and he is living a wonderful life at 19 months old now and my son,Cody is 26 (Shad's dad) is also a precious gift,Cody had a 12 hour open heart at 2 weeks and another at 3 years and again at 13 years old. Shad's surgery was at 8 days old and was 14 hours long but it turned out perfect, so please keep your faith in God with you,I know you are over whelmed but your strong and you have a wonderful support system with your family, you and Ollie will be fine, your normal may not be the normal you have now, but yall will find a new normal, and it will be WONDERFUL!!! I have all the faith in GOD and you and Jade and all your family support... it's going to be okay! I promise.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Good for you for staying positive! You can get through anything with Christ. He loves Ollie more than you (I know its hard to fathom) and he has a special purpose for your little girl. I cant wait to meet her and you! We will continue to pray healing miracles!

    ReplyDelete
  32. Annie, I'm praying for your family, but not because you need prayers for something sad, but because there is so much to be happy about!

    ReplyDelete
  33. I saw you "stopped by" my blog a few weeks back. It has taken me a while to get caught up with some of your more recent posts, and now your comment makes sense to me :) Your baby girl will be fabulous! If you think of any questions or need anything, just hop back over to our blog.
    PS iIs your Peoria the one in Illinois??

    ReplyDelete
  34. This is what happens when I go to Ohio for 4 days - I miss important stuff like this! I was thinking about you guys today and had to go searching for the Ollie Update. :) She's a girl!! Ack! How fun. Makes the "Ollie" name even betta!

    So glad I'm in the loop now. I know it must be scary, but remember - Nothing surprises God! His plan is perfect and I cannot wait to meet that little Ollie Girl of yours. (And the other two, and you and heck, might as well meet your Mama while I'm at it.) ;)

    ReplyDelete

Thank you so much for your kind words & support! I love hearing from you & read each and every comment you leave for me! ~Annie

LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails