Better Days

WOW! I can't believe the change of events from a mere 12 days ago. From life support, and multi organ failure to sitting up, standing, walking and at times out right laughter. Yesterday was the first time I had seen her smile (without medical help, aka. morphine) in a long time. She had every now and again smiled a cute peaceful smile when something made her happy, like sitting on a neighbor's couch, but yesterday was HUGE! We were sitting on her bed with her watching Mickey Mouse Club House and me giving her a foot massage, complete with lotion. She suddenly got a euphoric grin on her face and said, referring to the movie, "He just said 'crap'!" I laughed and admitted that it did sound like that but in fact the character had said "drat". She giggled again and said, "It sounded like he said the C word." A few minutes later she smiled huge again when another character said "underpants". It was hilarious. My Aunt Yvonne, who was visiting with us, and I just laughed.

Last night was the last night Angie and her friend were going to be in town so they offered to stay the night with Livi so Bill and I could go out for my birthday dinner with some friends. (My birthday isn't til Friday.) When I left the hospital to get ready for the evening, Yvonne stayed with Livi until Angie and Jacob arrived. Voni said that it was the best she's seen Livi. She said, "It was Livi!" She said they had been talking and Voni noticed the pulse ox. bandaid on Livi's toe and realized it glowed like E.T.'s finger. Voni said, "Hey Livi, look, your toe is glowing! You have a glow toe!" Livi laughed! She actually laughed out loud for a measurable amount of time!!! I wish I could've heard such sweet angelic sounds. Bill and I do not remember the last time we've heard Olivia laugh.

Bill and I had a great time with a few friends out for dinner. It was great conversation, good food, and all in all a fantastic evening being a couple again. We even got to enjoy the pool at 10:00 at night. That will be a blessing of living in Vegas in the summer. I told Livi that when she gets home we'll get to go swimming at night when it's dark. When it gets down to a chilly 95 degrees by 11pm you can spoil yourself like that.

Angie said that the night went off without incident and this morning we started on a strict schedule for exercise. Olivia is a very determined little girl. This morning I was helping her to the bathroom and halfway there she really was struggling and starting to cry. I offered to carry her the rest of the way and she said, "No mommy, I have to do this!" She did, and she walked all the way back too. (None of this without alot of support. She is very weak and can only focus on one foot in front of the other, not so much weight baring.) So I know she has it in her. The trouble comes when O.T. (Occupational Therapy) and P.T. (Physical Therapy) come to work with her. She is strong willed. It's probably how she was able to fight so hard the last couple of weeks. But this fight turns into defiance when it comes to these people and their assistance. She doesn't really show the best...compliance, but she's getting better. This is a picture of her doing O.T. yesterday. O.T. deals more with small motor skills where as P.T. is large muscle groups.

It's really been great to be a part of a great network of people who care. Around the noon hour 2 women came in to do a special music time with just Olivia. The guitarist/singer was magnificent and brought tears to my eyes, along with the woman who came with her. She made words up as she went specific to Olivia. Livi had just previously ridden in a pillow stuffed wagon around the floor. So as the songs played out she lay there eyes closed, hands held close. The lyrics to one of the songs were as follows:

"Don't tell me what to do,
Please don't tell me what to do.

I'm just fine with my eyes closed.

I'm just fine with my hands to myself.

Thank you for all of your help."

It was just perfect. What a special talent she has to beable to put my daughter's unsaid fears and emotions into song. She went on to sing another song where she talked about closing her eyes so she could be brave and safe on the mountain top with the trees. "Beautiful and brave." (We have a poster hanging that a girl in the ward drew of mountains with trees that says, "Olivia the Brave."

After a full morning she rested on my lap to get reaccessed. (They had disconnected her port for about 1 1/2 hrs.) She didn't even flinch although she squeezed my hand pretty tight. With all this excitement, probably the best thing of all was that she tooted, twice! All you ladies that have had c-sections will know that that means we're that much closer to EATING!!! It also appears that the NG tube isn't getting anything out of her stomach, which is another very good thing. They just did an x-ray to check the tube and also to get a visual of her bowels, but things are definetly looking up.

After a restful nap she played cribbage with me and Papa for 5-10 minutes and then rested/watched a movie. She's doing great! And her attitude is improving. When Papa told her Angie had to go home but didn't want to, she started to cry and said through tears, "I didn't want her to either." She'll be back.