Five-Years-Old!! (Great News!)

First of all, thank you so much for your prayers!  Our second attempt at Little Man's renal scan went absolutely smoothly!  We came in and saw three of the four nurses in the hallway already conferencing their plan of attack for Little Man's IVs.  At first, I wasn't entirely thrilled with their plan, which was removing him from us and doing a burrito wrap to our son (which wrapping him up like a papoose was completely understandable).  However, having him removed from our care at that point was simply nerve wracking especially given how scared he gets.

Anyways, they had me stay behind in a small waiting room and I watched one of the nurses walk with Scot and Little Man, who were holding hands by the way down the hallway until they reached the door of the prep room where Little Man let go of his dad's hand and requested to be picked-up, which his dad did so promptly, and they went through the doors.  Right then and there, the pregnant hormones kicked in as well as just plain old mommy mode started in, and well tears started flowing down my cheeks.  Scot came back with out our son and gave a brief description of the scene he left, and I cried some more.  But within a few brief minutes and after hearing Little Man's cries echo down the hall, all was quiet and we heard steps coming down the hallway with quiet soothing whispers and some whimpers from a little child--our little child.  One of the nurses entered the waiting room with Little Man wrapped comfortably in a blanket and in her arms as she declared the victory on the first attempt!  What a relief!  He did well during the 55 minute test and quiet time on the table.  At a few points he did cry out, "Get out!" as he kicked his feet, but for the most part he did splendidly. 

I took Little Man to his urologist last Friday, so that his urologist could examine the results of the renal scan and to discuss things.  Well, it was a great visit and we have great news to share!!  Giving God the glory!

While Little Man has a larger left kidney, hence taking that kidney longer for urine to evacuate, his kidney is no longer considered to be partially blocked and causing urine reflux.  In other words, both of his kidneys are functioning well!  Although, the doctor believes that there was an anomaly that occurred in his left kidney and has caused the left kidney to be larger, it is working well now!  So Little Man does not have to have another renal scan performed in the near future!

Due to his slightly enlarged left kidney, however, he will be having an ultra sound performed at about five-years of age (in about three years) before he gets involved in sports just to be safe.  Sometimes when you have an enlarged kidney, the risk of kidney injury is greater while playing sports, but the urologist said that there is actually a greater chance for kidney injury to occur in a car accident than while being active in sports; but just the same, he will have a test performed to make sure all is well before he dives into sports.

The urologist wants Mac's kidneys to be checked at our next prenatal ultra sound that has been scheduled on October 11th, because urinary reflux can be hereditary.  So we shall see how everything looks in the next few weeks for my youngest Little Guy.  If fluid retention is noticed, Mac will have tests performed at two weeks of age like his big brother did.  But again, things have looked great thus far and in the end it is all in God's hands anyways.

                                       Little Man at two-weeks of age during first renal scan

It was such a relief to have such great news about Little Man's kidneys.  And then we had a very peaceful Friday afternoon.  Including the girls after they came home from school.  It was such a pleasant and refreshing time--much needed and God knew that as well.  Thanking Him for the calm Friday we had and one more worry that He has taken care of for our family, especially as a new one has developed over a long period of time and has really begun to roar its ugly head now.  I will begin sharing our new obstacle as a parents shortly.  I want to be delicate with how I share about it with you all.  It has been tough for Scot and I, but even as of last night, I can see that God is in the midst and looking out for us.  I have been trying to decide whether I should share it with you all on this blog or not, but I think I have decided that I will, because if another person needs to hear about our experiences, or can relate with me as well on another level, and know that they are not alone, then I think it can be beneficial. 

With that said though, we are very grateful for all that God has done and is doing and we can rest in the fact that God doesn't give us more than we can bare, which was evident to us this past week and the good news about Little Man's kidneys!  He knows when to take on a burden, if we allow Him too and when we need a break.  Have to also know how to find the positives in everything and thank God for each positive you find!

Adrenaline (Well, That Was A Bust)

Whelp, yesterday Little Man was supposed to have another renal scan, but that simply did not occur though I assure you all that attempts were made. By 2:40 PM in the afternoon, everyone including hospital staff, Little Man, Scot and myself, parted ways with total frustration.  Last time we had a failed attempt at his renal scan, it was because by the time the Lasix flush was administered, his vein had collapsed and perforated.  We had to go back a few days later, which turned out to be a successful attempt; and we hope that like last time, we will have a better outcome the second go round, although the test failure was due to different reasons this time.

Little Man was doing alright and was all full of smiles and even followed A, to the room on his own accord and on his own power--he walked happily behind A.  However, as soon as we stepped into the very familiar room his whole countenance simply changed.  You could just see the memories come flooding right into his head and fear began to take over.  Right away he reached for Scot and wanted to be picked up and Scot did so accordingly.  Even when we had to lay him onto the table, he didn't want to let go of his tight grip around his dad.  Simply heart-breaking to watch and experience. 

Then we all watched as fear turned into adrenaline and strength.  Tears came flooding and screams came but then the sweating and the struggling began.  It was awful.  Little Man is a strong two-year-old boy on any day, but you add fear, memories and adrenaline into the mix, you have a new kind of strength and determination from Little Man.  He is a fighter and that was evident yesterday.  He will not go down with out a fight and a good hard struggle.  Part of me wonders if sometimes that is a good thing; and other times I believe simply that it is, especially given everything that he has been through.  Even when one staff member asked about his history for this procedure, two other staff members with out skipping a beat said that he has been in quite a bit.  About six times alone for this procedure and that they also remembered us bringing him in when he was only two-weeks-old.  J even said, "We have seen him grow-up."  She stated it perfectly, because he has been there a lot for a guy who is only two-years of age.  He has not only been there for six renal scans, but one VCUG and a barium test (for GI concerns) as well, not including the ultra sound performed at another hospital and his speech pathologist to help him swallow correctly that has an office at the hospital.  Little Man has been through the ringer, at least where his parents and he are concerned and it is starting to definitely show.

Anyways, to make a long story short, Little Man was pricked six times but had some form of needle in him constantly for about 40 minutes total with a small break in between.  He was so strong at points there were four to five people trying to hold him down including Scot and myself and/or to start an IV going.  They even put in a call for another male nurse to come in and help hold him down; however, he did not come in time to help as we all decided that we should end it all.  WE ALL left sweating and breathing hard and at one point had a bloody mess for the nurses to clean up as Little Man moved his hand enough to dislodge a needle with out any bandages ready.  It was a mess and we were a mess.

The nurses stated that he had great veins and could seem them all nicely but they said basically what was happening was that he had so much adrenaline, which is a vasoconstrictor--meaning it closes the veins--that his veins clentched/clamped up.  They told me that it could be a problem for years to come and it is something that we need to keep in mind for later medical care.  Before we all departed ways we discussed options.  The nurses explained why most hospitals refuse to do sedation.  She said because at that age, the amount to give is sometimes very hard to determine and if they react poorly to the dose before you have an IV going yet, there is no way to get stuff into the child to reverse the ill affects.  She said as a mom herself she wouldn't want to sedate her children.  So that option is out of the window now.

So the urologist wants us to try again...try again... Breaks my heart just thinking about trying again.  We will be trying again on Wednesday, but this time we are trying morning time at 9 AM (like I had originally wanted anyways) because Little Man seems to be the most hydrated and they may bring in ultrasound equipment to help locate veins even better.  Scot and I have discussed that if this next attempt works, great; but if it doesn't, we may consider another hospital where they have a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and request that some of those nurses come down to administer the IV since they work with children all the time who have weak and poor veins and adrenaline.  If that fails Scot and I would then for sure call it quits.  He is seemingly well and if there doesn't seem to be noticeable changes then we will just do nothing for now. 

If the tests are successful, and we discover that he still has urinary reflux and a partial blockage in his kidneys than we may consider and push for surgery.  Usually, people refuse surgery, but putting him continuously through these tests, or attempts, is just becoming too much.  WE will definitely be seeking and praying the next few days.  We ask that you pray on our behalf as well, and that God would help direct Scot and I to make the correct decisions in regards to Little Man, and to pray mightily over his second attempt at a renal scan next week.  I am so very nervous just to go through those doors.  I don't want to see his lip quiver again and tears flow down his cheek.  I have been trying to tell him that we are not doing this to harm him but to help him in the long run.  I have my 31-week prenatal check-up tomorrow and I have to bring Little Man with me, and I am so afraid he may panic before he realizes that we are going to a different area in the hospital and that the appointment is for me.  I even told Scot last night that I wanted, if at all possible, to get Little Man in to see me and his new little brother as quickly as we possibly can, so that of course he could see his baby brother, but that I want him to see that I had to be pricked and that I had to have needles in me as well.  How pathetic is that?  I just want him to know that he isn't alone.  I want him to know and see that others have had to go through what he has had to endure.

Scrapbook Pages

I just finished scrapbooking the events for which this blog was derived from a couple of years ago.  Yes, yes, yes, I do realize that I am a little bit behind in my scrapbooking hobby; but slow and steady is okay, especially when working on these photos and pages came in perfect timing as it served as a great reminder to me when I needed some reminding over a week ago.  I needed to remember that God can and does use anything for His glory; and He knew exactly how I needed to be reminded of that goodness--what a better way than to use my favorite hobby and these various pictures.  There is no better way to know where you are heading than by remembering where you have been...

This page depicts when Sky Baby (Yes, names have changed a little bit for this blog.) was having a blast in a huge snow fall back in 2010 while she was coming down with a seemingly harmless cough at the time.  I remember hearing her cough as I took these photos.  We had no idea what lay ahead for her, and for us--her family.

Her cough was soon accompanied by a fever, and at points a relatively high fever.  She fought the fever for four days before she spiked a fever high of 104 on the fifth day.  I proceeded to take her to the doctors telling them that she shouldn't be spiking a fever like that on the fifth day of a virus.  I knew something was wrong, but I was told that some viruses last eight to ten days.  I ended up taking her to the pediatricians three times in four days.  After a night when I saw her spike a fever of 105, I demanded more attention to her symptoms and told them I was taking her to the hospital.  The doctor concurred with me.  Sky Baby was diagnosed with pneumonia and was admitted; however, her infection wouldn't respond to antibiotics.  The girls were banned from seeing each other because Sky Baby's health scare occurred during the H1N1 scare, so I took pictures of the girls to show each girl how the other one was doing.  I was trying whatever I could to help lift their spirits as they missed each other greatly.

It was a long road.  Sky Baby spent a total of about 12 days in the hospital including two days in the PICU, after a bronchial scope went south and Sky Baby needed 15 liters of oxygen and was almost intubated.  She had a gastric tube placed at one point due to concerns of TB and she was held prisoner in her little room during that time.  She was placed on various antibiotics (the big guns were brought out) and vanc levels had to be checked and such, therefore, blood was drawn frequently.  She eventually had a PICC line placed for easier access for IVs and blood draws.  I took a nasty spill one night in PICU, where Little Man and I had to be checked out as I was pregnant with him at the time.  It was during that check-up that it was discovered that Little Man had some concerns with his renals.  Sky Baby spent a total of 19 days straight with fevers before her fever finally subsided.  When she did come home, Scot and I proceeded to administer her IV antibiotics through her PICC line for two additional weeks.

Through everything that we went through during that time, however, God showed me so many things... so many things...  He took the things which scared me most and He used them to grow my faith in a way that at times, I am almost at a loss for words to describe.  God was and is good.  The page pictured just above reflects how God saw us through it all; the joy that came from it all.  Just days before Sky Baby's PICC line was to be removed, Paize took a hard  hit to the head when she fell on the sidewalk while she was finally enjoying playing with her sister.  Sky Baby's pulmonary specialist even announced the day her PICC line was to be removed that Paize's hit to the head was now more of a concern than Sky Baby's lungs.  Paize was fine though and Sky Baby's PICC line was removed the day before our church's Daddy/Daughter Dance.  Looking at these pictures (and yes I have what appears to be several copies of the same pose, but each girl had a precious expression in each frame), I remember how God saw us through even up until the day before that dance.  God was good and He allowed us to breath in the sweet, fresh air of peace and love that day.  And like Scot being the father of and to his children; who also loves his children dearly, so does our Heavenly Father.  What a great depiction of God's love for us, even during the hard times.  What a wonderful page to follow-up the prior pages with than with the above page and its depiction!

And yet the trials didn't stop after that day of the dance.  We had others which laid just ahead of us, like our new concerns and focus on our unborn son's kidneys for instance; but we had a new way to cope and approach those trials with God's hope, love, and our faith which had grown tremendously during that time.  These scrapbook pages reminds me of just that--God loves us like a Father and He is with us during the difficult times and He can provide us strength to overcome them if we just run into His fatherly arms.  He will never give us more than we can handle...Amen.