Happy Birthday Olivia 2/19/09

Olivia Anne Huelsbergen was born Thursday 2/19 tipping the scales at whopping 5lbs 14oz.

The first 36 hours in the hospital were very unremarkable, each member of a new family getting to know each other.  Feedings, diapers, crying, burping, little sleep, everything thst goes along with adjusting to a newborn.

A Trip to the Pediatrician 

Aside from a slight case of  

Jaundince on her discharge exam from the hospital on 2/21, the on-call 

Pediatrician did note a mild heart murmur (Grade 2/6). A chest X-Ray was ordered along with Blood Pressures, which both came back normal.  Up to 60% of newborns can have benign or functional murmurs at the time of birth, so no one was overly concerned due to the 'Lower Grade' of the murmur and the normal radiographs.

We took our little bundle of joy home to start a new chapter in our life as a family of 3 ( + Zoo of course). Olivia quickly helped us settle into our new roles as parents. She cried when she had a reason; hungry, dirty diaper, burping, comfort.  When she was clean, dry, fed,

 burped or held she was content.  She'd sleep 2-3 hours at a stretch, then let us know when she was ready for more. Af far as we could tell she was a healthy and happy Newborn; Eating, Sleeping, Drinking, Pooping, Peeing, and Crying.

On day Monday 2/24 we took Olivia for a follow-up visit with our Pediatrician to evaluate her Jaundice and overall well being after leaving the hospital. At that time Dr. Lee confirmed a Grade 2/6 systolic murmur and felt her Jaundice deserved some follow up bloodwork.  Dr. Lee did reccommend arranging a Cardiologist consult to make sure her Murmur was benign. 

Her labwork continued to show elevated Bilirubin levels, both Direct Bilirubin and Total Bilirubin. The contined elevation of these values, especially her Direct Bilirubin suggested close monitoring for any Liver/GI issues with a possible Gastroenterologist consultaion.  Olivia's (aka Little Peanut's) medical chart was starting to take on a life of its own at 10 days old.

A Trip to the Cardiologist

For Olivia's two-week birthday (3/5/09) instead of a big party, She wanted to see a Cardiologist, to make sure everything was ok. We took a sort drive to Kalamazoo to Bronson Hospital for an echocardiogram.

 To our shock and suprise the echo revealed that Olivia's heart mormur was associated with a quite severe Congenital Heart Defect (CHD) called Tetralogy of Fallot. Our Little Peanut wasn't done with surprises yet, because the ultrasound revealed she also has a malformation of her Pulmonary Ateries called Pulmonary Atresia.  This combination of Heart Defects occurs in about 1 in 10000 or less births. We knew our little Olivia was special, but we had no idea how special she really is.

Olivia was immediately admitted into the Pediatric ICU at Bronson Children's Hospital in Kalamazoo. She was started on IV's, medications and monitors to make sure she remained stable. As I am writing this (3/8/09) we are waiting on a transfer to University of  Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor to further evaluate her heart and prepare her for the first of multiple surgeries to 

correct blood flow to her underdeveloped lung circulation. 

We will try to keep this blog update with any new developments as they happen to our sweet little girl. Initially things have been happening fast and furious, but we must soon settle into a rhythm, but will continue to use this site as our meeting space.

Thank you so much for all the support and love we have received over the last 3-4 days since Olivia's diagnosis.

Peace,

Ben, Sara & Olivia