{Mid-January 2010}

Unbelieveably EXCITED for this week's USA Network's Season's Openers:

{White Collar}

{Burn Notice}

Tonight is {White Collar} at 9pm, then Thursday at 9pm, we will enjoy {Burn Notice}, YIPPEE!  It has been a LONG wait and a whole lot of re-runs!  I have also found a new love:  {Criminal Minds} which Evan loves too! So, I guess the wait was not all bad!

Also, we have now made it through S1 of High School Finals for School Year 2009-10...{HOORAY}!  It was a bit rough going for Ian, but he survived.  Evan did too! Now, all four kids move into S2 and wth the exception of 1 week off for Spring Break, really have to just dig in and get it done for Summer to arrive!

{Change of Subject}

Just thought I'd share with you, a picture I played around with recently.  It was an adorable photo we took of little Oliver not long after he came home from the Intensive Care Nursery after 7 months...it's a {Bath Time} photo, complete with silvery bubbles and soft glows!  Enjoy!

Even though we don't {tape} Oliver's face this same way, he still requires Oxygen continuously.  He now wears it much more {adult-like} around his ears and then under his chin.  We usually tuck the tubing down into his shirt front to keep it out of his way.  This is working out well right now.

{How long will he need Oxygen?}  Good question!  Wish we had an answer for you!  Wish someone had an answer for us!  Oliver needs Oxygen for multiple reasons:

{Chronic Lung Disease}

{this info speaks to "infants" though Oliver's medical complications continue}

&

{Pulmonary Hypertension}

&

{Patent Foramen Ovale}

Below, I have listed some more of Oliver's diagnosis for you to read up on.  Maybe you have heard of some of them, maybe not.  Maybe you think you know what the details and implications of a diagnosis like these are, but maybe you don't understand what it means for Oliver...please read below:

{Gastroparesis}

&

{G.E.R.D.}

&

{Deafness & American Sign Language}

&

{Food & Environmental Allergies}

Not exactly exciting reading material: Definitely not material you want to have to read about your child or any child you are close to, but it's material {though not a complete list of Oliver's special medical needs} we are offering to you, our readers...so maybe you will understand Oliver just a little bit better.

I've enjoyed my Nurse Mommy Tuesday today.  Oliver was energetic, though febrile due probably to sinus issues which also plague his little childhood.  He has had 2 or 3 bloody noses already today!

Ian, Evan, Ilse and I are off to Sign Language class tonight. We receive these classes as part of Oliver's IEP due to his need for all family and caregivers to be able to communicate with him.  Our local school district pays for our family to attend Sign Language classes through SASED Deaf & Hard of Hearing Program as well as Oliver's Private Duty Nurses.

Take Care and Have a Great Rest of the Week!

-Renee'