Num Num!

We're at the zoo and we visited the Bison. Judah immediately said, "Num Num!"

Judah Update

Judah is hanging in there today.  Not really any better- needs mom or dad at all times,  still not eating really but drinking is still good and no fever. His doctor went ahead and called in an antibiotic today so we just got the first dose in and hope to see improvement this weekend. 

It's hard to understand why it's ambiguous whether or not there's an infection. We know he is fighting something with elevated blood cell count in his blood and in his urine. There's occassional bacteria seen under the microscope. To my untrained mind, it seems simple. What else would cause WBC and bacteria in urine?!

Anyway, the culture wasn't back yet so they won't know until Monday, therefore they put him on cephalexin and will just switch Monday if it comes back with a better match.  (Assuming something grows?) 

Thanks for all of the prayers. He played more today and seems mostly normal,  just clingy. They're definitely working! 

Old picture of Judah. Babies are so cute.  

No News is Good News

I'm sorry it'll be quick again,  it's late and I'm so tired. 

Judah woke up happy this morning with no fever. Temp was 97.5 at the hospital.  Nurse was great getting the sample.  The quick test in office looked okay, some blood but nothing alarming.  Sent off for urinalysis and culture and sent home. I was second guessing myself again, even though there's no better explanation for all of his symptoms. And he was 101 last night. 

Will hear more tomorrow, but I'm still pretty sure it's a UTI. Bacteria seen under microscope. Luekocytes are high.  Smaller amount of  blood (could be from catheter.) Still most likely scenario. 

He's much better today. Clingy and quiet, but not glossy-eyed and no fever. Went to the park with our homeschooling group and he wouldn't leave me at all, not even to play on the playground with his siblings. He nibbled a little, still doing okay on fluids. Dinner he actually ate a few bites of food, but still very little.  I'm grateful to still be nursing so at least he is getting some nutrition. 

I can't post a picture because my phone is so full it won't allow any photos. Really hope to get that cleared this weekend, but here's a few older ones for good measure.  It just goes so fast.  

Needing some Prayers, Once Again

Judah's been having a rough week.  He hasn't been eating or drinking much and he's had an intermittent fever. We met with Dr Park today (urologist) and it seems likely he got an UTI. Taking him in for a urine culture in the morning. Please pray it goes smoothly and that they get accurate results from the sample.

Today's he's been pretty bad.  Fever never broke until bedtime when I gave motrin.  He ate basically nothing today, though he drank all of his bottles and nursed so much that I didn't have any to freeze (so 6-10 ounces more than I normally try to feed via bottle PLUS he rarely finishes his bottles these days.) Pray he continues to keep up the good work with his fluids, at least. 

He also slept a ton today. He just seemed sick.   He's been up twice in the first 90 minutes of me putting him to bed. Last night was bad with a 30 min scream fest at 3 am.  I could use better sleep with all the driving tomorrow. 

Doc had more to say but I'm just too tired. Overall things are okay. We will see how they are in the morning.  

Adventures

At 2300 last night, I finally made it downstairs to pump after getting Judah to bed and I was greater with this sight. I had half a mind to wake kids up, but I really just wanted to go to bed. 

Glad to say that we were able to get it all cleaned up before we all left at noon.  Which is good, because this mama wanted to run away! Coming home to a messy kitchen is one of the worst things. 

Bryan, Selah, Micah and Elijah went camping this weekend. Noah, Judah, and I are in Ft Wayne, Indiana so Noah can compete in districts for taekwondo. It was a bit of an adventure getting here today.  

We blew a tire after the unnamed driver side-swiped a concrete divider downtown. All was fine until we got to Monroe, 15 miles north of the Ohio border. The tire blew and Chrysler no longer puts spare tires in their vans,  it hampers fuel economy. It just cost me $148 to replace that one toe,  with the insurance picking up the tab on the tow.  I'm really not sure I've saved that much in gas. 

Overall,  we had such a great experience.  It was only about 30 minutes until the tow truck arrived.  (Not fun on the side of the interstate but still.)

They weren't supposed to take us to the tire shop,  first because of COVID and then because their insurance doesn't allow a baby in the vehicle (!?!). But they DID take us. 

The tire guy knew we were in a hurry because I had called ahead and he got us out in an hour. Would have been about 40 minutes but my ringer was off and I missed the call. 

Such great history,  would love to go back!

And we finally made it to the competition! Poor Judah was so happy to get out of that seat and wander around!

Post- Stent Removal Ultrasound

Judah had an ultrasound of his urinary tract yesterday. It was a follow up to see what things looked like post-stent removal.  Some good news,  some bad.  The right kidney has improved some since the ultrasound in the ER back in March. There's still too much fluid (hydronephrosis) and there's dilation of the ureter,  but it's not severe. 

The left side,  has even more fluid and dilation than the last look. The hydronephrosis is severe and the ureter is once again dilated and torturous (as it was pre-reconstruction.) I snuck a picture of the left  because that was up on the screen when the tech went to check with the doc that they had what they needed.  The black spots are fluid. 

For comparison, this is a normal/ healthy kidney image I stole off the internet. You can see there are just little pockets of fluid. 

We also stopped by the lab to get his bloodwork that was long overdue.  I hoped it would go well being at the children's hospital but it did not. 5 pokes, lots of digging, and almost an hour later....we had success. This poor child. The hardest part of all that we've been through with him is definitely feeling like a bad guy holding him down for procedures. Don't look into his eyes, it will crush you to your soul. 

A number of things are flagged in his bloodwork reports that I received, but I'll wait to speculate on all of those concerns until I hear from the doctor. He sees his urologist next week and I expect the nephrologist will call in the next couple of days (as she ordered the bloodwork.) Please pray for wise counsel from both of those docs. 

Thankfully, he bounced back quickly from the pokes. We spent a few minutes outside in the garden before heading home. All that screaming and sweating does make pretty curls!

He enjoyed his popsicle when we he got home even though he had already forgotten the trauma. (I hope.)

Least favorite part of my day. This was the van- the truck cost me 150 last week. Between the cost of groceries and gas, I sure wish we could sit home and live off air. But I know everyone else is dealing with the same, this is more for the sake of future memories.

I can't keep up with the dishes or laundry,  nevermind with the blog. Time disappears right before my eyes these days.... here's another week or so.  

This was taken taken last week.  Blessedly, it hasn't increased, but it also hasn't decreased.  I'm over it.

We got a new digital piano,  as Noah and Jonah have started lessons again. I miss the real piano but this actually sounds pretty good.  Much better than the keyboard and can't just autoplay. (If I never hear "The Entertainer" again,  that'd be great.) You can also plug in or Bluetooth to headphones and no one has to hear a thing. 

Of course,  we already have trouble getting Noah's attention because he's always wearing headphones and I don't mind hearing the piano, so I'd prefer not that option.  But it's a nice option.  Here's Noah,  playing in the dark. He scared me because I couldn't hear anything and didn't realize he was there. Yay for practicing,  though!!

We made doughnuts for National doughnut day last week.  Boston creme. A lot of work. They said they were good but I didn't get the feeling they were worth the work.  We'll try again when I can eat them and better determine that. All in the name of science,  of course. (This was pre- chocolate frosting. The kids did that while Bryan and I saw the new Top Gun. Which was worth the work. A little cheesy, but Excellent.)

Micah,  with Judah pillow, playing ball with Judah

Tried again on the table top. Much happier. Too bad it cost hundreds to redo. Still cheaper than buying it, though. 

Got it for a walk.  I don't think Judah was as miserable as he looks here...

I found a seasonal creek- reminiscent of Colorado where most water was seasonal.  This is for you,  Caroline and Rita! You were missed on the walk. It would have been perfect for the kids on bikes and scooters. 

Dead tree.  Reminded me of Jekyll Island.  Not nearly as cool,  though. 

Behavior to the kids to a golf lesson. Judah disappears.  I call him,  nothing. I figure he's gone upstairs. I almost stepped on him, he was just sitting here.  Looks at me and says " Bug!" And then stomps his little foot! He wanted me to squish it!

Sure enough there was a spider in the corner. I used that little slipper to smash it.  I think he enjoyed it too much.  He keeps squishing bugs outside now 🙄

It's been a bad week for this kid.  Sleeplessness. Screaming.  Not eating or drinking. It's stressful and scary to not know when he needs to go in.  I don't know what's going on but I googled kidney disease symptoms and those are both on the list. Trying not to worry.  He goes in next week for an ultrasound of the kidneys and bloodwork.   Please pray for an easy stick and accurate results for both.  We won't see the doctor until the following week, and I'm just stressed about not being proactive enough. Prayers for wisdom are appreciated.