WE ARE HOME!!!

After driving to Atlanta for my cousin's wedding, we are finally home.  Everyone slept in their own beds last night and boy did it feel good.  Abby is playing with all her toys at home like they are new toys.  Max is glad to be home and Jonathan even came by last night to welcome us home.  

We have to go back in April to have the colostomy reversed, but all is well.  We thank everyone for you prayers!

Just a quick  note, will send more later.

Mom, Dad, Abby & Max

Happy Birthday Abby!!!!!!!

Sunday was Abby's second birthday and her first as part of our family.  We had a small party complete with cake, ice cream, party hats, and even a few presents.  She had a great time and as you will see from the pictures, she loooooved the cake.  She continues to get better every day and we are even getting better at changing "the bag".  We are so blessed to have her and all of her friends and family.  Everywhere we go she steals peoples hearts including here.  We have met some wonderful people here that we hope to stay in contact with, even after we get home.  Abby is getting more vocal every day and we both think that it won't be long before she is talking up a storm.  

We have an appointment Friday with Dr. Levitt and he thinks we should be able to leave once he is done.  If that all works out, we will leave after her appointment and drive as far as we can Friday evening.  We would then be home sometime Saturday evening.  God Bless!!! 

Update

Hey guys, some of you have asked to send Abby something for her birthday.  We would rather you wait until we get home and have a party for her.  There are so many kids here with different issues and I wouldn't want to compromise any of their health with flowers or balloons. 

We are still having trouble with the colostomy bag.  I don't think we will be able to get the bag to stick until her wound heals.  Unfortunately, it is a question of what came first the chicken or the egg.  Every time we have to change her bag, we have to pull on the wound which doesn't help it to heal.  Please keep your prayers going for her healing.  

Dad and I are doing OK until we have to change the bag and then she starts screaming.  We having a little birthday party tomorrow with some of the kids she has met here.  We will have something else for her when we get home.  

We are also having trouble with our e-mail so have patience and we will get back with you or update you through this blog.

Thanks!  Hugs and kisses to everyone!

Debbie

Abby Continues to Amaze Us.

Hi everyone, just a short note to let you all know that we are all fine and Abby continues to get better each day.  She has met a new friend, her name is Kai Ping and she is 3 1/2..  She was adobted from china about a year ago and has had the same surgery as Abby.  We are having some struggles adapting to the colostomy bag, but we will get there.  We meet with Dr. Levitt tomorrow for her first follow-up visit.  We are still hopeful that he will release her to come home next Friday.  

Abby received a wonderful surprise from her cousin Misty today.  Thank you so much Misty, she is loving it (see the pictures).  Please send us your email address again, we seemed to have lost it in the computer shuffle we recently went through.

Thank you all for the calls and emails.  Please continue to pray for our precious little girl.

By God's Grace and wonderful Doctors we are out of the Hospital

These pics are from last night in the hospital and from Today at RM House.

Believe it or not, we are checked out of the Hospital and back at Ronald Mcdonald house. 

Abby is just unbelievable.  She is off all pain meds and walking and playing like nothing ever happened. All of this less than 48 hours after her surgery was completed on Thursday.  Her prognosis is as good as it gets. She is on no special diet, and no special care.  What a blessing.  We return in about 6 weeks to have the colostomy reversed and after that she will be a happy, normal little 2 year old,  although I don't know how much happier she can get.  Thank you all for your prayers, they continue produce amazing results.  We are so humbled by God's plan for us and Abby.  He continues to reassure us every minute of every day that bringing this little girl home was exactly what He wanted us to do.  We are really growing to be better people because of her.  We experience so much joy and have met so many wonderful people.  

Day 1 after Surgery by Dad

Abby is doing ok.  She continues to have pain but she is trying very hard to be strong.  Mom is doing a great job sitting with her.  She will not leave her arms.  No more bonding issues it appears.  I am just trying to do what I can but feel a little helpless.  Here are some pictures over the past couple of days.

Abby Update

The last two days have been rough, but Abby has been a trooper.  Her ultrasound shows that she has a horseshoe kidney.  This is no big deal, just means that she can't play football.  Today was her surgery. Dr. Levitt and the staff up here have been WONDERFUL!  He told us that the Dr. in China did not do the initial surgery correctly.  Today's surgery was more extensive than Dr. Levitt thought.  But, he was able to fix EVERYTHING and he was very proud of his work. He said things came out so well that he did not want to risk any damage or infection that may cause them to have to go back in. He recommended a colostomy so that she would heal better and have less risk of infection.  The only downside is that we will have to come back in 6 weeks or so to have it reversed.

We thank you all for your prayers.  We know God is in control but we are only human and it is very hard seeing our little girl go through this.  Please continue keep Abby and us in your prayers.  She is in a good bit of pain, but has some pain medication and a booster button for when things get to bad.  The only problem is mom and dad don't have a button.  She is sleeping peacefully now.  We are hoping that by tomorrow she can have clear liquids.  We will be here at least until Jan. 25 when we have our follow up appointment.

It is hard for Mark and I to see her in pain because she is such a happy child and cries so infrequently.  We will post some pictures tomorrow when she is a little more up beat.  Thanks again for your prayers.

Detail info:

Room 435, Cincinnati Childrens Hospital

Phone # in the room is: 1-513-803-1435 

Just remember we are on Eastern Standard time.

   

Debbie, Mark and Abby

We're in Cincinnati

The drive wasn't real bad and Abby did great!  The weather was a light rain but again nothing bad.  We had diner at Loretta Lynn's restaurant just west of Nashville.  That is why the picture. 

Abby's first test is tomorrow at Noon.  We probably won't have any updates until Wednesday on the findings, but we will let everyone know.  

We are blessed to have gotten into the Ronald McDonald House.  They provide housing for parents and children who are having procedures at Cincinnati's Childrens Hospital.  One of the guys is a die hard OSU fan so we have already worn our purple and gold and played her tiger puppet for him.  He has told us that if OSU loses, he is going into hiding.  The people are great here.  God is watching over us!  They provide us with breakfast and supper which either a restaurant or a local church group prepares.  All this and a nice room, wireless internet for $20 a night.  

Keep us in your prayers and GO TIGERS!!!!

Mark, Debbie  & Abby