Olivia Judith Barney

So I have decided to be a better blogger. Now that I have so many fun pictures (not of me) to share with everyone. Our precious gift of a beautiful baby girl came on April 10, 2008. Olivia (Livy) is definitely my most favorite baby EVER! She was born a nice big size of 8 lbs 7 oz and 19 inches long. WHEW am I tired.



We had a bit of a scare on 4/11 when the on-call pediatrician noticed that Livy had been running a temperature. They ran some blood work and came back with tear inducing news, my little girl had to be admitted to the Newborn Intensive Care Unit. No mom wants to hear that. I was discharged from the hospital the following day without my baby. That is the most heart wrenching experience I have ever had to go through. What a blessing that we live so close to the hospital. We practically lived in the NICU and watched helplessly as the nurses stuck IV's and needles in our little girl. I am definitely not okay with an IV coming out of my babies head. Well, Olivia stayed in the NICU until Monday the 14th. It was a short time compared to what many parents have to endure. What a blessing that all her cultures and labs came back normal except some jaundice.

Finally we had our baby girl home with us. Well, that first night was horrendous. We had an option from the Neonatologist to have Olivia stay in the NICU for another day to be put under lights for the Jaundice. Well, I was not about to go another day having to visit my daughter in the hospital. We instead took her home and had a phototherapy bed at home. Those are not the most baby friendly beds. They look like miniature tanning beds and the baby has to have eye patches on their eyes at all times and stay in the bed at all times except when feeding. Since when do babies like eye patches? They don't. Travis and I would switch shifts sitting up with Olivia to keep those patches on. Thank heaven that the next day we went back to the hospital saw the pediatrician and got some more labs and her jaundice was all better. We are truly blessed that even though it was a rough start and both Olivia and I cried every time a needle came out or a doctor came over she had great doctors and nurses and she recovered quickly. YEA for everybody praying for us and all the thoughtful concern. WE LOVE YOU!!

Today Olivia is a week old and cries and poops and sleeps just like the rest of the babies out there. Travis and I are doing well with the adjustment of NO SLEEP! Life is good. I couldn't ask for anything more.