Horrible blogger

I started this post 2 weeks ago and never finished, so i just have to keep adding to it, which makes for a really really long post. Tonight i am going to finish it before i get more behind.

 There has been a lot of love in our house since we have brought Ally home. Don't get me wrong, there was a lot of love before she came, but now there is a kind of love that we didn't have before, its called brother/sister love! I have to admit I was really worried about how he would react to having a baby in the house and not having all of the attention, especially since he joined the "terrible two" stage just a few weeks after she was born, but to my surprise, he is completely opposite. He is so sweet with her.  Deegan LOVES his Ally. He is always rubbing her head, kissing her, holding her hand, giving her bink to her and tells her "here you go, its ok". He is always worried about her and where she is. He knows she has a owie on her back and is very careful not to touch it. I couldn't have asked for a better big brother/helper! Today as I was holding Ally and Deegan snuggling up next to me rubbing her head, all my stress and worries went away. It amazes me that no matter what we have been through the last month it seems like I look at our two beautiful kids and everything stressful fades away! We are so grateful to have such beautiful, healthy children!

Cousin love- Ally got to meet her cousins that are just a few weeks older than her. (left to right) Brynlie (feb 13th) Taigelee (Jan 17th) Ally (mar 9th) I cant wait to watch these 3 grow up. it will be so fun to have them so close in age and hopefully they will be great friends! Thanks Aunt Mary for the skirts and bows, we will get a better picture of them all together when we can flip Ally over!

Ally hit the 1 month mark! I am in shock when I think she is a month old. I feel like march just came and went in a blink of an eye. My friend Jessica was so kind to come and take her newborn pics. She does an amazing job, and got some really great shots since we could only have her on her belly! And thanks to our great friend Megan for making the hat, love it!

we had our check up on Tuesday and here is what her back looked like when they took off the vac. The top layer that looks yellow/white it actually the fake durma skin. they ended up taking that off during the appointment...

 so now it looks like this! There is still a bit of the durma skin on it, since she was awake they were not going to scrape it off. they thought it looked pretty good. they put the vac back on and off we went. not before getting some great news that we could lay her on her sides and even her back. now if we could figure out how to get her on her back with the vac on and not pulling the cord out. but it will be nice to get her off her belly! Not sure how she will like it. 

So now our plan is to go in for surgery next Wednesday. there again is two options, of course we will not know until they come out of surgery. option 1, they clean it out and put the vac back on for a couple of weeks then do option 2. option 2, they clean it out put a skin graft on top, then put the vac back on for 5-7 days! both options will require a one night stay. although we have learned not to plan on anything, so we will be packing extra stuff this time. at least it is not a surprise surgery!  we are praying for option number 2. this means her back will finally be closed up and no more surgery's!

Ally also had her 2 week check up.. we were a little late so it was a 1 month check up. she is weighing in at 9lbs 7 oz and 21 inches long. (yup Katy we are still winning) She is a big healthy girl! 

The next Wednesday came pretty fast. When we got there we did our normal routine, we checked in, waited for them to come and get her, they took her back, and off we went to the waiting room. Like i said before we had no idea what they were going to be doing. i am not sure if its just cause we were anxious about it might be her last surgery but for some reason this surgery seemed to be taking longer than all the others. Finally her doctor came out to fill us in. He said they had gone in and taken out some scar tissue that had built up in her upper back and restitched it, then he said they were able to do the skin graft. Hearing him say that was such a relief!  We were so excited that this should be her last surgery and she would finally be on her way to healing fully. He also told us that we would not have to spend the night and we could go home in a few hours. we were happy to hear this as well. This day really was a miracle. we called this surgery our lucky number 5! they called me back to go see her, then about 30 mins later they moved us to a recovery room where Colby could come. we were only there for about 45 mins then we were on our way home! I don't think either of us could wipe the smiles off our faces! 

so this is what her back looks like now.... 

the strip that goes from her back to her leg is just connecting it all together so we don't have to have two tubes. the skin graft is not that big. if that makes any sense!  

We have been enjoying being able to hold and snuggle Ally. I don't think you really understand how hard it has been to not just be able to pick her up and put her on your shoulder, or feed her on her back. We had all been waiting for this day. and we are trying to catch up.

Deegan has loved it. the first time he saw her laying on her back, he was in shock, it was like he was looking at a whole new person. He kept saying, "oh hi ally bug". in the mornings he wakes up, and goes to find her and wakes her up and says, "i hold you"! once he has her, he does not share, he will not give her back, even if she is screaming.

She has also tried out her swing, and she loved it. i think we spoiled her a little too much, because all she wants to do is be snuggled and lay on her back or sides. i don't blame her one bit.

Tuesday came and we headed down for her check up. we were so anxious and excited to see her back! we got there, the wound care nurse came in and took off the vac and cleaned it. then she went to get the doctor. as soon as he walked in we knew something was not right. usually he walks in and barely sees it and says it looks really good. but this time he walked in and didn't say a word, just asked for a q-tip and started checking her out. Colby and i kept glancing at each other, i think we both knew deep down it was not going to be good news but didn't want to hear it. the doctor looked up at us and gave us the news that the skin graft did not take. It took a lot to hold back the tears. After last weeks miracle, this was the last thing we expected to hear. So they put the vac back on for another week to see if the skin graft will take. We will go down next Wednesday for surgery. we will drop her off and they will take her back, they will take the vac off and if the skin graft has taken they will leave it and put the vac back on. if it hasn't then they will take it off and go in for surgery number 6. they will clean out more scar tissue if there is any, then they will fillet her sides again to make the skin more stretchy and pull it together and stitch it up. It was really disappointing and frustrating. it just feels like we are back to square one. this is the same surgery they did on day one. and it didn't stay so we are worried about it not staying again. We know it is in heavenly fathers hands and he will do whats best for our sweet girl.
Here is her back, if you know anything about skin grafts then you know what to look for. but if you are like us, we had no idea. so the white net is the skin graft. one side took, about half.

The good news from the appointment is where they took the skin from her leg is almost healed! Thats one less thing to worry about!

Ally also got a new car seat at her appointment. It is huge, it takes up almost the whole back seat, we could barely get Deegans car seat in. but she has a lot more room and this one is 100 times more safe than the other one!

after a long frustrating day... we are home and enjoying time together. we are getting as many snuggles in with her and dressing her up just in case next weeks surgery puts her back to strictly tummy time and no clothes! i just cant imagine going back to strictly tummy, but i know if that's what needs to happen it is best for her!

Once again we are so grateful for those who have prayed for our family! Even though we did not get the news we wanted to hear, we know our prayers are being heard and answered!