Kidney update

We took Sean to the pediatric urologist yesterday morning to review the images taken at the ultrasound last week.  The doctor said everything looks great and the rate of drainage in his kidney is much improved from when he was a baby. We're so grateful and so happy that Sean's kidney is on the mend. We don't have to go back now for two years! (Sean will be five. Oh my goodness.)  During those two years we can focus on being silly with Sister rather than wondering about that pesky kidney :-)

"Baby Clare! I have your pacifier!!! It's my paci now!"

"You can have this toy. It's your new paci!"

"You like that paci, Clare? She doesn't like her new paci, Mommy."

"I'm sorry I took your paci. I won't do it again. *Muah*"

Doctor Visits

We took Sean to his three-year well visit on Monday night.  At first, Sean was a little shy, but once the doctor showed Sean some cool tricks with his instruments, he warmed up quickly. The doctor said Sean is meeting his milestones and even noticed that Sean "likes to be in charge." No kidding!

Here are his stats at three years:

Height: 38 inches (60th percentile)

Weight: 35lbs 4 oz (81st percentile)

Head: 20 inches

The nurse tried to take his blood pressure, but he got very fidgety due to the "squeezy" feeling and we couldn't get a good read, which was fine. Then we got the good news that there would be no s-h-o-t-s on this visit - yay!

The doctor asked how Sean's kidney treatment was going, and funnily enough, we were scheduled to take Sean for an ultrasound of his kidneys Tuesday morning! I took Sean to the brand new hospital (which opened about 2 weeks after  Clare was born) to get a look at his kidneys.

"We're at the hospital!  Just like George!!!!"

We were very patient in the waiting room - the nurses put on some cartoons for Sean, but he got tired of them after awhile and we read books and he told me all about this gigantic painting of a farm - "they have chickens and a rooster and two cows and two pigs in that barn and all the animals are ready for snack time because they like to eat their snack..." I started to think that someone else was ready for his snack when our turn was called.

Sean sat nicely on the bed, munching on his snack of Cheerios and blueberries while the ultrasound tech tried to get good images of his kidneys and bladder.

After a few minutes, Sean started to get a bit fussy but the ultrasound tech let him put on a glove and help her out while we got pictures of his belly.

"Can you see my Cheerios? Can you see Nemo in there? I didn't eat Nemo but sometimes he's in my belly. But sometimes he goes to Sydney Harbor..."

After the tech got the images she needed, she went to another room to burn a CD for us. Meanwhile, I tried to answer all of Sean's questions about the hosptial and the room we were in ("why is there a curtain here?") - he's so curious! Then we got our CD and we'll take it to the pediatric urologist next Tuesday to have the doctor look at it. Fingers crossed for a good visit!

Ultrasound

Yesterday I took Sean to get an ultrasound of his kidneys and bladder.  It's been a year since the pediatric urologist last looked at him after following-up on the surgery he had in November 2009.  We're going back to the doctor next week to find out if Sean's kidney continues to improve!

I was very worried about taking Sean this time around since he's now a very busy toddler, but he was an awesome patient.  Luckily, Sean's Woody doll (from Toy Story) made the trip and Woody let the ultrasound tech look at him first.  Once Sean saw how brave Woody was, he confidently declared that it was "Sean's turn to look at Sean Sooy's belly!"  He sat very still while either watching the screen (he was looking for whales!) or reading books with Mommy.  Afterward, we waited for a doctor to say the images would be sufficient for Sean's doctor to look at and Sean enjoyed his Cheerios on the bed:

Sean used to call them "yee-yos."  I miss his baby words for certain things!

"Cheese, Mommy!"

Little Clarebird was so cooperative and slept through the whole appointment.

Fooling around while waiting for the technician to burn us a CD of the images:

Fingers crossed for a good appointment next week!

Hydronephrosis update

We visited the pediatric urologist last week to get the results of the second Mag3 Renal Scan taken a couple of weeks ago. The doctor was really pleased. Sean's left kidney now drains a lot quicker and at a more normal pace than this time last year - indicating that the hospital visit for surgery last November was a success. Our next follow-up is an ultrasound in Spring 2011!!! Hooray!

Second Mag3 Renal Scan

It was back to downtown Camden today to get a scan of Sean's pesky kidney at Cooper University Hospital. Despite the rough surroundings, Cooper is a very nice place - I suppose putting up a gigantic banner featuring the effervescent Ms. Kelly Ripa on the outside of the building will do that to a place :)

Anywho, just like last June, Sean got an IV and a catheter put in, was swaddled and strapped down onto a board for 45 minutes while images were taken of dyed liquid being processed through his kidneys. Sean did the best he could and despite being so very tired, he stayed awake through the whole darn thing - alternating loud wailing and desperate sobbing with sad whimpering. With about 6 minutes left in the scan, Sean was so tired that he found tickling amusing again, so we played "little piggies" with the only unswaddled part of him - his chubby little toes - until the test was done. Whew! We go back to the urologist in early June to get an interpretation of the scan - fingers crossed!!

We took the train and a mysterious stranger joined us:

Oh just kidding - it's Sean!

All strapped and swaddled: Post-scan graham cracker:

Post-scan nap:

The Stent

On Wednesday, Sean and I headed to the outpatient surgical center next to the hospital. He was due to have the stent that was left in after his November surgery removed. The biggest challenge was keeping the little bugger happy - he was not allowed to eat after midnight and his procedure was scheduled for 11 AM. It was touch-and-go in the morning at home and in the car ride to the surgical center, but once we got there, Sean was dazzled by all the new faces, including a new little friend he made - a two year-old-girl who was getting a procedure done to remove an earring backing stuck in her ear canal.

After lots of flirting with the nurses, it was time for Sean to go into the operating room. My heart leapt when Sean showed a little stranger anxiety, clinging to my shirt and burying his face in my neck when they came to get him, but he was a brave little trooper and went without a whimper. And forty short minutes later, I was called back to the recovery room and the babe downed 12 ounces of formula. Whew. The stent removal went perfectly and the doctor was pleased with how Sean's kidney looked. We'll go in six weeks to get a follow-up ultrasound and hopefully things will still be progressing as expected.

Hospital pictures

We got home from the hospital at about 5pm tonight and Sean went to bed at normal time. Here's hoping the little guy has a good night of sleep. And here are some photos from our stay:

Before surgery, in his hospital duds:

Checking that the equipment is up to snuff:

Sooooooooo hungry:

Afterwards, with mommy:


Puffy face!


The next morning, feeling good after being disconnected from the monitors:

It took a lot of work to keep Sean entertained all day Friday - we had a fashion show with bunny:

We played with balloons:

We walked around the childrens' ward, we looked out the window, and we napped. Lots of short naps.

Finally, the doctor came in and said that Sean was doing so well that he should be a "poster boy for recovery." He gave us some final instructions and we were on our way home.

The morning after

Sean's doing great this morning - he's totally shaken the effects of the anesthesia and is up and about and into everything. His face was really swollen after the surgery, but he's almost back to normal. He even managed to find time to perfect his new move - getting up on his hands and knees!

Early this morning the nurses took out his catheter and unhooked him from all the monitors. He's had about 16 oz. of formula in 6 hours, so I'd say his appetite is back - with a vengeance. The nurses have taught me how to take care of the drainage tubes sticking out of his side (yuck) which should be taken out sometime next week (yay).

Now, we're waiting to see the results of Sean's bloodwork and have the doctor take one more look at him and we might get to go home today - fingers crossed!

Surgery

Sean's surgery is over and all is well. Everything went as expected - the doctor found a "kink" in the tubing between Sean's kidney and bladder, so he took out the kink and connected the good tubing with the good funnel-type part of the kidney. Sean is cranky and sleepy and will need a good bottle when he's finally up - the poor kid hasn't eaten in almost 18 hours!

6 months

Our Sooy baby turned six months old on Thursday! I can't believe how quickly the summer flew by and now we're getting close to the holidays. Well, the first hard task of November is over - Mommy is back from Nebraska and I came home to find all my guys doing just fine. The next task will be lot trickier - Sean is scheduled to have surgery on his kidney this Thursday. The hydronephrosis isn't getting any better and it seems the best thing to do is to take care of this before any damage occurs to the kidney. Sean's a tough little boy and hopefully he'll recover in time to cheer Thom John on at the Philadelphia Marathon, or at least in time to enjoy his first Thanksgiving dinner.

We've seen so many new things with Sean this month:

-he can sit up on his own for long periods of time

-he has two little toothies sticking out of his bottom gums

-he reaches for and grasps anything he can get his little hands on

-he's conquering a new food every week; his menu currently consists of green beans, peas, sweet potatoes, squash, apples and prunes, along with oatmeal, rice cereal, and wheat cereal (kind of like cream of wheat)

-he loves to play with paper - the crinkly noise seems very satisfying

-he is Mister Personality, smiling at everyone he meets and his giggles come so easily

-he can play independently on his playmat, in his pack n' play, in his crib, or in his exersaucer at daycare

-he can take his paci out of his mouth and put it back in, too

-he LOVES the other children at daycare and we're always getting positive reports about his interactions with the other babies in his class

And now for the good stuff: