Kidney Overview and Update

Max had a follow up appointment this week for his kidney. After some reflection I realized I haven't blogged about his surgery. 

So let's back up from the beginning:

Our 20 week sonogram with him showed his left kidney to be slightly enlarged. Might be something or could be nothing. We did another sonogram at 34ish weeks to recheck it and see if it was indeed something. Well the left kidney was still enlarged and the right one was also slightly enlarged but there was nothing else to indicate a serious problem so the doctor thought it was just hydronephrosis and there was a good chance it would take care of itself after delivery. He wanted us to do another sonogram about a month after delivery to see how his kidney was doing. If it was better then it was exactly what he was thinking: hydronephrosis. If it wasn't better then we would do more to figure out what was going on. 

A month after delivery we had a recheck for his kidneys and his right kidney was completely fine and had shrunk down to a normal size. His left one was even more enlarged than it was in utero. Pretty clear sign that something was going on and we needed to see a specialist. :( Well we were in the process of moving so we were able to see a specialist here once we got moved in. 

The week we moved in we saw a pediatric urologist and he did a sonogram and agreed that it was not a normal size. He then explained that a sonogram can only show the size and shape of the kidney but doesn't show the function of it. We would need to do another test for that called a Lasix Renal Scan. In order for this test to be successful the patient needs to be still for an hour. Obviously a 3 month old baby isn't capable of sitting still so they decided to put him under anesthesia to do the test. It was more stressful than I was expecting it to be but all went well and we got conclusive results. The kidney was not draining at all which indicates a blockage of some kind in the tube that goes from the kidney to the bladder (called a ureter). UPJ obstruction if you want to google it. :)

So we scheduled a surgery for August. I was so nervous and stressed about it. Max was almost 5 months old. 

Before surgery. 

Momma holding him after surgery. 

It was a rough 24 hours. He was so groggy and sad. We had to spend the night in the hospital and Dan and I took turns holding him all night. Anytime we moved or put him down he just cried and cried. We got no sleep. 

But very quickly he perked up!

Dan was exhausted but Max was feeling a bit better!

Ready to go home!

He had a drain put in and needed it for a week. Then he got it removed. We had a follow up check at 6 weeks and the kidney was significantly smaller. The surgeon was very pleased! He wanted to see us again in 6 months to see how the kidney was doing. 

The 6 month check up was last Friday. I am so happy to say his kidney looks completely normal!!! His scar looks great, too. The surgeon was so happy with how it looked and considers the surgery a success! The surgeon wants to see us back in FIVE years (2020. Max will be 6. Does that seem weird to anyone else?!?!).  I am so very thankful! It was a rough summer and fall and I am so relieved to be on this end of it all! 

A now happy and healthy 13 month 

old! So thankful that God led us to a city with such an amazing pediatric urologist. I am so thankful for modern medicine. 

*you can see his arm is brace free! Got an all clear on that last week, too!!! Phew what a year we have had!!! 

A few pictures

Here are some random pictures from the last little bit:

Met Daddy for lunch!

I hopped in the shower and came out to this mess from a certain 2 year old!

Tried the mini water beads again but so success this time!!!

Max is my sensory boy! But they all enjoyed playing in it 

They stick to EVERYTHING!!!!

Little boy in a big rocking chair!

Enjoying the outdoors!

We found a little friend in our yard!!!

Little miss got an ear infection for the first time. I knew she was really sick when she fell asleep in the waiting room at the dr office :(

Peek a boo!

Yaya reading to the kids!

Holding a butterfly at the butterfly pavilion!

Landed on his head!!!

Sleepy baby boy!

Spoken Gems

Saffryn was very excited and came inside after playing for a while and says "Mom we found TWO caterpillars outside. We named them Lizzie and Squirt. They went their separate ways after they met. They even kissed! We saw them do it!"

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Me: "who is ready to meet our friends for lunch?!?!"

Pierce in a very excited voice, "I am!" Then he stops and says in a very serious voice, "first I need to check out my sharp teeth." Then he ran to the bathroom and looked at his teeth. 

Okay?

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Pierce: "Mom, can I have a blueberry muffin for breakfast?"

Colt: "Mom, can I have a greenberry muffin for breakfast?"

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Colt and I were reading a Kansas State board book together. One of the pages has some of the different buildings. I went through and pointed them out. Colt looked thoughtfully at it for a moment then says, "where Captian America lives?"

Me baffled: "what do you mean? Why are you asking that?"

Colt: "well Hulk lives here (pointing to one of the buildings). Where Captian America lives?"

Me: "oooohhhh! That's Holtz Hall. Not Hulk's hall."

Bahaha sweet boy!

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Pierce brought a snail inside to show me.(my kids are super into little creatures these days). 

Me: "No no no. Bugs do not belong in my house they stay outside!"

Pierce: "Well mom it's not a bug."

Me: "well no creatures in the house. They all need to stay outside."

Pierce: "It's not a creature mom."

Me: "Okay what is it?"

Pierce in a very serious little voice: "it's a beautiful little animal."

Me: "hahaha. Okay but the only animal allowed in my house is Crash. Take that beautiful little animal OUTSIDE!!!"

Seriously what is with my kids super loving snails?!?!

Not a baby

Max is trying to make it crystal clear that he is not a baby! 

The last little while we have been having trouble at meal time with him. I put him in the high chair and he screams. He throws his food. He is mad and difficult. It was exhausting. One day during this episode I decided to put him in my lap and try to feed him. He wiggles down. He walks over to an empty chair and starts trying to pull himself up. Trying to read his cues I put him in Colt's booster seat and push him up to the table. Mr big stuff was so happy. Ate his entire meal without one peep. 

We have put him in it now for several meals and the result has been the same. Happy baby who eats his meals. Max I got the memo...you are not a baby. Sheesh! :)

Birthday Weekend

My mom and sister and step dad came to visit me for my birthday weekend!

They even surprised me by planning a surprise girls night out with some dear friends and family! It was so fun!!! A big huge thanks to everyone who was able to come. I felt so loved!

I am so spoiled! Thanks for a wonderful birthday weekend!!!!

Our fun day

We managed to make it out of our house for something fun for the first time in two weeks! Between sickness and a broken arm we have been COOPED up and going batty!

We went to the arboretum and it was toddler Tuesday's which means free face painting and a small petting zoo! To say the kids were excited about getting their face painted is a major understatement. 

Colt chose The Hulk. After he got his face painted he looked in a mirror they had set up and got this super scared look on his face. It was hilarious and Saffryn and Pierce and I died laughing about it! Such a ham!

Saffryn chose a kitty and was so thrilled about how it looked. She told me about 100 times: "thanks for letting us get our face painted!" Hahah! If that is all it takes to be mom of the year...

Pierce wanted a tiger and loved roaring the rest of the day. He is the only child who still has the face paint on over 24 hours later. He is Mr. Expressive!!!

We walked around with our friends and had a lovely time. It was so refreshing to get outside and see beautiful flowers and have fun conversation. 

It was soon lunch time and I was so not ready to go home. We have been home wayyyy to much. So I got impulsive and went to sonic for lunch. As we pulled up Saffryn asked if we could stay and eat outside. 

Great idea! It was fun!!! While I was trying to feed/corral Max, Saffryn got ahold of my phone. Enjoy the pics she got. 

Yes. That is Colt trying to do a headstand on the table. I promptly got him off. I'm so glad my daughter can catch my proud  parenting moments. Lol. 

It was a very needed and refreshing day for us. Don't you love those kind of days!