God is the Ultimate Healer

So I took Claire to the pediatric urologist yesterday, and the results were awesome!  The ultrasound showed good functionality in both kidneys.  And while she is having trouble with only one, we were worried that this might cause the good kidney to be overworked and damaged, but that is not the case!

Now we wait three more months for another round of tests, but she will get to keep both kidneys for sure!  They haven't ruled out any "intervention," which is just a more pleasant word for "surgery."  While things would be alot better alot quicker if we did do a small surgery now, there is still a chance that the kidneys will heal themselves without it.  Since this is not painful to Claire in any way, Luke and I agreed to not do the surgery yet.

We thank you for all of the prayers you have said for Claire, and ask you to continue to pray for the doctors to have wisdom, for Luke and I to have peace, and of course for the miracle of ultimate healing that is only possible through Jesus Christ!  Happy Humpday!

Renal Scan Results

Well, if I knew, I'd tell you!  I feel like the doctors don't tell us anything.  They just ask us to come in for another test in a month.  But it's a different test at a different location.  So right when I figure out where to park and how to get to the right check-in desk (Children's Hospital must have at least 50 check-in desks) and meet the technician, it's BAM, they ordered a different test at a different location with a different technician.

I know they are only doing what is best for Claire, and I appreciate that.  And other than this, I have been so happy with Children's.  They have toys and books for kids to play with, cartoons playing in every exam room, wagons to take them from one room to another.  It is a Children's Hospital.  But children have parents, and those parents are terrified to be there in the first place.  Tell us what's going on with our kids!

:::focus on the positive, Gini, focus on the positive:::

Hydronephrosis does not hurt Claire.  She experiences no discomfort, no pain, and I am so thankful for that.  And while it may not hurt her, Mommy may have when she put the band on a little too tight!

Today, Claire received IV fludis (since she couldn't have anything to eat or drink) and let me tell you that she is not a fan of needles!  Or the nurses who poke her with needles! 

Then, they put in a catheder and injected dye into her kidneys.  (She's not a fan of those either!)  But it was all for a good reason, or that's what I have to tell myself to make it through the torture that is your child's screaming and looking at you like "mommy, how can you let them do this to me?"  Under the machine she goes so that the technician can record the dye as the kindey empties it into the bladder (sort of like an ultrasound from afar).

And I had to keep her still (with the help of straps of course) for 30 minutes.  She calmed down after a bit, but she was just looking for something to nom on.

And I knew Claire was trying to figure out how to get that needle sticking out of her arm into her mouth.  I mean look where her hands are!  So Wubbanub saved the day!

And can you see her super cool neon green bandaid to prove she's a tough kid?  I just melted.  And those poor eyes, red from crying make me want to cry!

According to the technician (I was supposed to see the doctor today, but he was at a different location), the right kidney is not emptying properly.  It is emplying some, just not as much as it should and not as quickly as it should.  The left (good) kidney is picking up the slack and doesn't appear to be hurt by the extra load.

But we have faith in our great God and His power to heal.  We know that His will for us and for Claire is holy and perfect, and we are trusting in that.  We'll have to wait and see what the doctor says about the results of this test (it's called a MAG3, although I have no idea what that means) and go from there.

We are so grateful for all of the prayers, support and encouraging words from our family, friends, and e-friends!  It means so much to Luke and I.  We are off to visit Luke's family in Knoxville but will keep you updated if we hear any news.

Happy Friday and Have a great weekend!

Hydronephrosis Update

So, this is not the way I wanted to end the day.  I slipped out of work for an extra-late, extra-long lunch to meet Jessica, Camille, and Claire at Children's South.  We did our routine with the ultrasound and Claire screaming because she couldn't eat for 2 hours before the test, and by gosh, she was hungry!

There is nothing more pitiful than your child, who cannot yet speak, looking at you and saying "mommy, why are you letting them do this to me?"  It hurts.  And it hurts bad.  But once the ultrasound was over and the bottle resumed its rightful place in the mouth of the babe, all was right with the world once again.

The Claire was weighed (16 pounds, can you believe it?) and we went back into the exam room.  Then we proceeded to wait, and wait, and well, you get the idea.  Thankfully, Children's Hospital was kind enough to place televisions in the exam rooms, so Camille could watch cartoons while Jessica and I gabbed about all kinds of randomness.

And then the pediatric urologist came back with the news I didn't want to hear.  Claire's kidneys are looking worse.  There is more pressure and dialation on teh left kidney than our ultrasound three months ago had shown.  He reccomended we have a renal scan to determine the functionality of the kidney, and that would tell us if "intervention" (aka surgery) is neccesary.  So that is scheduled for April 30th, and we just ask for your continued prayers for healing. 

"Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security." Jerimiah 33:6