She is so Sweet...

This morning my Ashley is so very sweet. Her smiles are contagious! Everyone who has passed by our room has had to stop and visit with our sweet girl. We started the morning off right by taking a bubble bath. Oh my goodness! She loves to splash her little hands in the tub of bubbles. She drowned the baby in the mirror and her bed sheets, but she was happy and having fun. After her bath we dressed her in her pink velour jogging suit with her bunny slippers and a big white bow(I have got to find a pink one!). She then sat up in her bumbo seat and played and played until she was too tired to sit up any longer. By the time the doctors were rounding she was fast asleep on her pillow. She is still napping and I have been admiring the "pinkness" of her skin. I love that God created little girls with rosy pink cheeks and pink lips. It just seems right to me. It is amazing what a new liver will do for the color of your skin.


Dave called this morning to tell me all about my silly kids pulling a fast one on him last night. As he went into Blake's room to tell him goodnight and to pray with him, "Blake" was all cuddled up in a ball under the covers. Dave just leaned over him and started praying. He thanked God for Blake's little sisters and for Blake being such a good big brother. When Dave was finished he then waited and heard a mumbling prayer come out from under the blankets. At the end of the prayer he kissed the lump on the top and turned to leave the room. As he approached the door her heard a voice say, "What about my XMO kisses?" and then it was followed by a lot of giggles. Allie had been hiding in Blake's room, in his bed, and Dad had been none the wiser. He had no idea it was her the whole time. She begged him not to let Blake know and then sent him over to her room to tell "her" good night. So in Dave goes to lean over the lump in Allie's bed and gets ready to begin praying over our "daughter" when all of a sudden from Ashley's nursery Blake comes running up behind Dave and pushes him over the bed to the other side and onto the floor Dave goes. Well you can just imagine the chase that followed. Two giggling kids on the run from one surprised dad. Oh, how I miss being at home in all of that wonderful chaos! I can't wait for Ash and I to return to those guys.

The doctors decided to increase Ash's feeds by another 5ccs. She still has not thrown up although she is very nauseated and gagging. We seem to be making progress. At some point today they will run the Ph probe down her esophagus and into her stomach. It will be attatched to a little box that will register the number of times and what level she is refluxing in a 24 hour period. This will allow us to know for sure if reflux is what is causing her discomfort with feeding her new intestine. I am hoping this will bring us the answers and some new solutions that will help us get on our way home. Other than a little discomfort with her feeds she looks amazing. Her TPN is down to just 15ccs per hour. I am looking forward to getting it turned off soon. Her new organs are functioning beautifully at this point with no indications of rejection. For this I am truly thankful.

I am going to try and have Dave teach me over the phone how to post pictures so I can show you all how good she is looking. I want to share with you the miracle that God is doing in her life. I would also like you to see how precious her little bunnies are with the new haircut and all. Thank you for your presence on this website. It is so encouraging to see that you have taken the time to visit Ashley's story. We can feel Him working in her life because of your faithfullnes to pray. We owe you so much more than just our gratitude. I pray you have blessed day. Trish