code: def load_and_append(probe_dict, probes, instruments={}):
          loaded_failed = {}
          updated_probes = {}
          updated_probes.update(probes)
          updated_instruments = {}
          updated_instruments.update(instruments)
          new_instruments = list(set(probe_dict.keys())-set(probes.keys()))
          if new_instruments != []:
              updated_instruments, failed = Instrument.load_and_append({instrument_name: instrument_name for instrument_name in new_instruments}, instruments)
              if failed != []:
                  for failed_instrument in set(failed) - set(instruments.keys()):
                      for probe_name in probe_dict[failed_instrument]:
                          loaded_failed[probe_name] = ValueError('failed to load instrument {:s} already exists. Did not load!'.format(failed_instrument))
                      del probe_dict[failed_instrument]
          for instrument_name, probe_names in probe_dict.items():
              if not instrument_name in updated_probes:
                  updated_probes.update({instrument_name:{}})
              for probe_name in probe_names.split(','):
                  if probe_name in updated_probes[instrument_name]:
                      loaded_failed[probe_name] = ValueError('failed to load probe {:s} already exists. Did not load!'.format(probe_name))
                  else:
                      probe_instance = Probe(updated_instruments[instrument_name], probe_name)
                      updated_probes[instrument_name].update({probe_name: probe_instance})
          return updated_probes, loaded_failed, updated_instruments