Over the last day and a half Olive has started to act a little more like herself. She is still having some of those episodes of apnea and bradycardia, but not nearly as often. The doctor is not sure if her episodes are due to them trying to wean her off of seizure medication (which have since been increased), or if they are the beginning symptoms of cerebral palsy. We were told that prior to these episodes Olive had a 90% chance of developing cerebral palsy, but now they would even assume a 99% chance.
As far as her head, today her head circumference grew a bit, and her fontanel was tense. Tomorrow morning she will undergo another CT scan to assess the fluid in her head. After the scan the neurosurgeon will know if everything is ok with the shunt, or if there are any complications. If things are ok, he will then most likely reset the settings on the shunt with a magnet to have it release more fluid than it is currently releasing.
We are still recovering from jet lag and waking up at 4:00 am having conversations, but each day we are feeling more like ourselves. This week will be filled with meetings with social workers, physical therapists, occupational therapists and a nurse who teaches massage therapy for infants.
Olive has been having trouble feeding since arriving here. She has either been drowsy, exhausted, or irritable and hasn't done well bottle feeding.
We have been thankful for so many friends and family who have been supporting is in so many ways since coming home. It's been hard not to feel concerned when Olive hasn't yet returned to her pre-surgery little self, but we are hoping within a few days things will continue to improve.
thank-you for all of you who have been thinking of us and praying for Olive.
Much love,
Lynette
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Ten on Ten
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2010
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January
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- spit up.
- a sweet gift.
- My letter to Olive.
- Video for Olive's Memorial Service
- our address.
- in lieu of flowers
- Memorial Service
- Olive went home to be with Jesus today.
- Infection?
- Little Miss O
- Olive's mounting medical costs.
- not going home quite yet...
- A day of good news.
- Love from the grandparents
- Surgery #2 completed.
- A broken shunt.
- Dear Refuge of My Weary Soul
- Surrounded by so many of you...
- unexpected laser treatment.
- update.
- Not doing so well.
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January
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19 comments:
I'm so, so glad you guys are home with family and friends close by. I know at times that can really make all the difference. Olive is on my heart often and I'm so amazed by her life and the journey He has you guys on right now. May He continue to be your everything.
Awww....thanks for taking the time to update your bloggy friends. We care and love your little family. Praying for little Olive that she will have a good test tomorrow and start eating better for you. Poor little thing has had a LOT happen to her little body in the last week.
Thanks for the update, Lynette. We think of you guys so often. Love you and miss you!!!
I missed seeing her today. Love you daughter of mine.
Praying for you all...our little Amos had a hard time after his VP shunt was placed, probably b/c they took out the temporary shunt and then put in the VP shunt on the other side of his brain, away from the bleed. They thought he had a seizure and gave him the meds for it. So it took him a few days to get back to breathing well (had to give some caffeine) and getting back to where he was, pre-surgery. It was hard and scary; we had no idea if we would be back again for more surgeries or not. But in the midst of all of the uncertainty, God was good, he was with us and gave us comfort and strength to get through it. He will be with you with every step you take, just as he has done already. I'm so glad that you all are here, close to friends and family and the resources that can help you and Olive as she grows and as things come to the surface. Hope you all get used to our time zone, too! God bless!!
Thanks so much for the update. I know it's not easy with all that's happening to have to write on your blog, but it means a lot to us who are praying for Olive. Helps me to give updates to friends who are also praying. With lots of love for all of you.
continuing to pray, dear ones. loving you three into Jesus' hands. xox
When the storms of life are raging,
stand by me.
When the storms of life are raging,
stand by me.
When the world is tossing me like a
ship out on the sea.
Thou who rulest wind and water,
STAND BY ME!!
I am intently following this precious little girl's journey, and praying fervently. Those eyes...definitely the window to her soul...and to God's heart!
Oh, I am so glad you have made it home to the arms of your family!
Blessings...Nancy in CT
If the jet lag is still affecting you guys, then for sure, little Olive is feeling it too. Surgery is very hard on a normal adult person, probably twice as hard on an infant.
Letting you know, God is definitely in charge of Olive Hope, her present, her future, her yesterdays. "No weapon formed against me shall prosper, and all those who rise up against me, shall fall", don't ever for get that.
I pray a hedge of protection around Olive Hope and around your entire family. I pray there will be guard angels everywhere your steps take you.....at home, on top of your home, in the backyard, in the front yard, on the sides, in the neighborhood. I pray for guard angels to be in your vehicle, at the hospital, on the roof of the hospital, all around the hospital, in the NICU, all around Olive Hope's little bed. I especially pray the Blood of Jesus Christ to be upon Olive Hope Polinder, and that she will get well and go beyond what the doctors are all predicting! "I'm trading my sickness, I'm trading my pain, I'm laying them down for the Joy of the Lord!! Yes, Lord, yes Lord, yes, yes, Lord (Trading My Sorrows song).
Enjoy the snow you must be getting - - I saw on our local radar, a huge snow area around South Bend, IN.
Thank you again for sharing your journey with all of us.
Marti B.
Madison Square Church
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Thanks for taking the time to update all of us! Know that we're all still praying for the three of you!
praying for good rest for all of you & continued strength for Olive.
so happy for the update! we are praying for you all the time. so glad you are close to home to be loved on by family and friends. love you all.
Thank you for taking the time to update the blog so that all of us "extended family in Christ" know how best to pray for you and Olive. It may not feel like it, but you are taking care of her and yourselves by reaching out to us and allowing us to hold your needs up in prayer. Connecting is important and will continue to be as you go forward on your journey. If you feel helpless to do anything, connect....with God, with others, with God via others...and don't lose your connection with the saints in Thailand who have walked with you on your journey from the start. They are still with you despite the geographical distance. I am wondering how you all are doing financially. Is there any way that we can help support you during this time? I only work part-time and am home recuperating from surgery, but if you need help with medical bills to care for Olive....I'd be more than happy to toss my pennies into your pool. I'm guessing that others would do so also. You worked for God while in Thailand, and his HR and benefits dept rests upon all of His servants here on earth. We all support one another in His name. Love, Jenn/Snowflower
in GR, MI
Jenn and others,
Feel free to contact me at tshoek@sbcglobal.net regarding financial assistance.
Thanks much,
Stacia Hoeksema
(Rusty's sister)
i read this when you first posted, but have re-read it twice and am only now commenting. (yes, i DID just give a long disclaimer on why it took me so long to comment.)
so this may be stupid, but i think of you (very, very often, but also) every time i watch the show "table for 12" because one of their daughters has cerebral palsy. i think of sweet O and whether she will also have cerebral palsy, and if so, how that will impact your lives. (for that reason, i must admit that she's among my two favorites of the ten kids.) i love to watch the love that that she shares with her siblings and her parents, and to see those smiles that fill her pretty face.
i love you.
So glad that you are meeting with all the specialists that you are. They will help you through every step that little Olive needs and for you to be the best parents you can be to her, which is what I am 'hearing' in your posts--- to be the best possible parents for little Olive.
A parent I worked with taught me to see disabilities not as DISabilities but as DIFFERENT abilities. That changes the whole outlook..... to focus on what a child IS able to do instead of what they are not. The words of a diagnosis are necessary for the 'system' to assess her eligibility for specific services according to her needs, but outside of that, the diagnosis does not define Olive's worth, abilities/gifts or purpose in life-- the diagnosis is only a combination of words to explain physical symptoms. What those words mean to Olive and how she learns to cope with that will depend on your faith and hers....
Praying for your strength, rest and sense of peace in His hands as he cradles little Olive in them...
Praying for Olive and for you and Rusty! -Jeremy & Renée Miller
Rusty, it was great meeting you Sunday. I find myself bringing up your situation regularly with people. With God too. I'm sure the days are a blur and there's plenty on your plate, but I do hope we can have coffee or something. Let me know. Here's my email mroeda[@]sbcrc.org.
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