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Cute Little Bow Head - 3 days old



Mommy & Melody - Day 3

Here's looking at you! Day 3

Looking at Mommy - Day 3

It is so good to be home! I got released from the hospital today, and am thankful to be home again with my family. Of course, the hardest part was coming home without Melody, but we are thankful she is in very capable hands. The nurses at the hospital have all been excellent. All of mine and Melody's.

Tomorrow they will be doing another head ultrasound to further determine whether Melody will need a shunt. We are praying a shunt will not be necessary this week, or ever. Most spina bifida children need them, (at least 80%) so we are praying for her to beat those odds.

The other thing the doctors continue to monitor is her bladder function. At this point it is not voiding properly. They are running a test for the next 24 hours and depending on the results of that will do a contrast test of some type tomorrow to determine how her bladder is functioning. We would be very thankful if the lack of function is due to the "spinal shock" from the surgery. However, we know this could be a permanent condition as well.

There is so much to write about. My mind is a whirl of thoughts and emotions, but these are the most pressing concerns on our hearts right now. I'm hoping tomorrow or Tuesday we'll hear positive news from the tests and begin to hear a coming home date. However, I'm hesistant to get my hopes up, too.

Thanks so much for all the prayers, encouragement and words or support. We are so blessed by all of them.

Melody Updates

Melody shortly after birth

Melody Annalise Allen made her debut at 11:44AM on 9/9/09 via C-Section. Mom & Dad got a quick peak at her cuteness and her head full of hair before she was whisked off. She did also let us know that her lungs functioned quite well- no problems there, just like the other 4!

While Mom was recovering, Dad & Grandma Allen got a quick peek before she was taken to NICU. By mid-afternoon, Mom was up for the wheelchair ride to NICU. We had the privilege of getting to hold her for the first time that afternoon just after she got her first bath.

Melody clean & alert in NICU

By evening of day one, Melody's condition was stable enough to plan for closure surgery on Day 2. If you haven't gotten enough info. and have a spare day, google myelomeningocele. I think we can almost pronounce it now.

Surgery was scheduled for 7Am, it started about 11:15AM. We got to hang out with her just outside the operating room for 15 minutes before they wheeled her in. The surgeon reminded us of what he'd be doing and let us know that she would not need a shunt today. Our surgeon refers to this surgery involving an exposed spinal column as easy- he has done over 200 of them.

She was done with surgery in about 2 hours and then received the surgeon's report that all went as planned. Based on how the nerves looked, it reconfirmed that her left leg and foot will have more motion & maybe more feeling than the right. He did feel like Melody will one day be a "Walker," which was encouraging. We were able to see Melody a few hours after surgery and she looked good.

A Drugged-Up Melody after surgery

Melody will continue to have tests at least through Monday to check other possible Spina Bifida areas of concern. If all looks good, Melody could get out the middle of next week and Sara should be out by Sunday. We still have many more questions than answers, some which we may not know for years.

Sara & I are extremely greatful for all of your support and prayer. We are delighted in the gift of Melody to our family and with the help of God and all of you, we will move ahead a day at a time.

We just might make it!

Amazing as it may seem to me, Melody just might wait until Wednesday's scheduled c-section. Tomorrow morning Kevin and I are off to the hospital for the anethesia consult and pre-admit bloodwork. Assuming Melody does not decide to arrive tonight or tomorrow, she'll be delivered at 11am on Wednesday. Of course, the time is subject to change depending on emergencies, but that is the scheduled time. Today was a relaxing day at home with no school work that had to be done. Dad spent lots of time in the yard fixing the drip system and playing with the kids. I got all my to do list done, and even got some "want to's" done. I got a little scrapbooking done and some organizing of pictures as well. We are rested and ready for complete upheaval in the next few days. We are all looking forward to meeting Melody.

Waiting for Melody

Grandma & Grandpa Coats with the kids at church. (No, we're not torturing Joel, he just looks that way. :)

We continue to have fun with Grandma and Grandpa while we wait for Melody. Today I actually left the house for church and then we all went out to lunch at Applebees. The kids had free meals from the library summer reading program they have been anxious to use. We were trying to stay away from home a bit longer as a wonderful friend came in and cleaned out house today. It is so nice to look at clean floors and not feel like I have to bend down and pick something up. We all took long naps or rests this afternoon, before having an easy dinner and spending a little bit of time outside after it cooled down.

Allen four, soon to be five!

4 Days to Go . . . .

.... and if I stay up another hour and a half, there will only be three days to go! So far Melody is staying put this weekend. I am still having contractions, but only about every 20 minutes, so unless they speed up, we'll be fine. I am very tired and just ready to have the whole thing over with. 4 days may sound short to you, but it seems very long to me. The fact that I dread the whole c-section thing isn't helping my attitude. We continue to enjoy Grandma & Grandpa's help and the three days weekend. Tonight we are praying for one more night without a hospital run.

Thoughts

As Melody's birth approaches, I feel excitement at meeting her, and yet fear of the unknown. A part of me will be ready to just know what we are facing, but there are times when I wonder if I will then just wish to be pregnant again and ignorant of all we might be facing. But, whether I am truly ready or not, Melody will arrive next week. Here are a few of the things I find myself pondering and/or worrying about.

- When others brag of their child's athletic achievements, I wonder if I will ever see Melody run a base or stand at bat.

- Songs I have sung all my life which talk of the lame and verses of how God made the lame walk, have taken on new meaning. What will it mean to have a daughter who might truly be lame?

- Thoughts of heaven are sweeter. Will that be the first time I see Melody run and jump?

- Our kids were discussing the other day "when Melody crawls" or "when Melody walks." It brings tears to my eyes as I remind them that her walking and/or crawling time table may be very different than other babies.

- Will Melody need a shunt? What will it be like to live life watching for signs of shunt failure?

- Will my daughter be moving her legs when she is born? How will I react if she is not?

- As I watched all of David's school run up onto the stage for a performance, I couldn't help but thinking of Melody. Will she be the one slowly making her way in from the side on crutches or joining the school by wheelchair?

- I'm sure I will weep tears at all of her accomplishments. All the ones I'm not sure now she'll ever make.

-Will she struggle with learning disabilities in addition to physical challenges?

- How will I handle life if it includes catheters and bowel programs for the rest of Melody's life?

These are just a few of the things I think about. I know many of you think I have a wonderful, positive outlook. But, the reality is I am human and I am prone to worry just like anyone else. I know God has it all under control and with His help we'll handle whatever we need to, but it doesn't mean I don't worry, too.

One Week

One week from today we will have met Melody. It is coming up fast. So far she is staying put. I do have my last NST in the morning, so we'll see if all still looks good there. If she doesn't decide to come tonight or tomorrow, I am really praying she waits until the 9th. Labor Day weekend would not be the best of times for Melody to arrive. I know the hospital would scramble the surgery team, etc, but I think getting the tests done and surgery done in a timely manner would be seriously impaired. So, for that reason I am really hoping she waits.

My Mom and Dad arrived yesterday, so we have been having fun. I hardly know what to do with myself with all the help with kids, meals and schoolwork. My Dad has already fixed doorknobs, the gate to the yard, and done more yardwork in an hour or so than I would get done in 2 months! I'm going to have to keep the projects coming. I love it when he comes to visit for more than one reason. Joel loves to follow Grandpa around and see what he is doing. Mom has been awesome at helping the girls with their schoolwork. Funny thing, Elizabeth is much more agreeable with Grandma than with Mommy. :)

Thanks for all the continued prayers and encouragement. We'll try to keep posting regularly as life unfolds.