Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Predictions and Prognosis
I have never been one to buy into the phrase "everything happens for a reason." I mean, good and bad things happen to people. But, when I think about the fact that I am living in Houston, a place I never thought I'd be, and I have a baby who has kidney issues, I have to think there was some guiding hand that helped us end up here. Texas Children's Hospital is ranked #1 for Kidney disorders. We're in good hands. We had our appointment with the Nephrologist today. We loved her. She confirmed that Mitch has Renal Tubular Acidosis, so we'll be working to get his pH sorted out through a medication he takes three times a day. The tough part about today was just the reminder that there are a lot of unknowns with his health. She explained that his right kidney took the brunt of the damage, and his left looks a bit enlarged, still much better than the right. What is hard to know is what the future will be for that left kidney and whether it will continue to have enough function as he grows. There is no solid prognosis that we've been given, because there are many variables and things change. Right now, we're happy that his Creatinine is good and that he's gaining weight. Mitch goes back for a blood draw in a couple of weeks to ensure the dose of Bicitra is good. So the story is the same: Mitch will be followed closely for a long while. I think we've answered our question about whether we'll stay in Houston. We're in the best possible place for this to be happening, and we're lucky to have access to the best doctors around.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Heading to Nephrology
After talking to Dr. Gonzales yesterday, we're made an appointment to see Dr. Brewer in the Nephrology department. She'll manage Mitch's kidney issues from her end. Mitch is now on Bicitra, an antacid he takes 3 times a day. I have to mix it in an ounce of water and give it to him in a bottle. This means he's up to three meds a day: Bicitra, Bactrim (his antibiotic to prevent infection), and Zantac (for his GERd). We're becoming fast friends with the local CVS. (Actually, I am going to switch pharmacies. Note to Katyites: the CVS on Westheimer screws up our prescriptions too often and their service is poor.)
We have our visit with Dr. Brewer tomorrow. I am anxious to hear what she has to say. Mitch will have another blood test tomorrow to see if the Bicitra is working and to ensure his dose is accurate.
He really is such a trooper! He is all smiles!
We have our visit with Dr. Brewer tomorrow. I am anxious to hear what she has to say. Mitch will have another blood test tomorrow to see if the Bicitra is working and to ensure his dose is accurate.
He really is such a trooper! He is all smiles!
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Mixed Results
Mitch had some mixed results after his blood work on Monday. The good, and most important news, is that his Creatinine level is .24, an improvement from .35 after the first surgery. (The normal range is .2-.4). This number is very important because it tells us how well his kidneys are functioning. We are thrilled that this number continues to improve.
We did learn, however, that his Bicarbonate level is too low. This is problematic because it means his pH is off, which could be caused by Renal Tubular Acidosis, a condition not all that uncommon in boys who had PUV (Posterior Urethral Valves) like Mitch did. Of course, we found all this out at 5 o'clock on a Friday, so we are operating on little information. We do know that if he does have this condition, it is treatable with medicine. We are, of course, trying to understand what this means for Mitch and for us, and we'll know more once we sit down with Dr. Gonzales. For now, we are celebrating the great Creatinine number. If anything, we're reminded that PUV results in a lot of unknowns, so we're facing each challenge as it comes.
Mitch is such a happy, smiley baby. We know he'll be fine, but we sure would appreciate your positive thoughts and prayers.
We did learn, however, that his Bicarbonate level is too low. This is problematic because it means his pH is off, which could be caused by Renal Tubular Acidosis, a condition not all that uncommon in boys who had PUV (Posterior Urethral Valves) like Mitch did. Of course, we found all this out at 5 o'clock on a Friday, so we are operating on little information. We do know that if he does have this condition, it is treatable with medicine. We are, of course, trying to understand what this means for Mitch and for us, and we'll know more once we sit down with Dr. Gonzales. For now, we are celebrating the great Creatinine number. If anything, we're reminded that PUV results in a lot of unknowns, so we're facing each challenge as it comes.
Mitch is such a happy, smiley baby. We know he'll be fine, but we sure would appreciate your positive thoughts and prayers.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Just So I Remember...
In my three years of being a parent, I have learned that there is a sort of "irony of time" that exists. In one moment, I can be cursing a stage my children are in, desperate for it to pass, while, at the same time, lamenting how quickly time seems to be slipping away. Like every well-intentioned parent, I purchased baby books, keep a mommy journal and write this blog as a way to keep track of life. And, actually, I have been pretty good about recording events, moments, firsts. I even try to take note of the seemingly mundane, a typical day here, a funny story there, as an attempt to capture our daily adventures. What I have found, however, is that I didn't record things I thought I did, so now, with baby #2 here, I am challenging myself to remember what Henry did when.
Like most parents of newborns, sleep is our issue. I am a huge proponent of fostering healthy sleep habits in kids. I strongly believe that behavior is very much related to sleep (or lack of), so I am pretty strict about sleep schedules around here. We worked hard to get Henry to be a good sleeper. He goes to bed early, sleeps until 7 am, and naps well. (Now that he is almost three, naps are a bit more unpredictable, but we still put him down for a nap each day.) We're almost at the 4 month mark with Mitch. I feel the need to write this post, if only so I remember what we did when, in case we decide to have another child.
Starting at 3 months, we began letting Mitch fuss a bit before he fell asleep. At around 3.5 months, we let him cry in 5 minute intervals in order to fall asleep at naps/night. He caught on quickly.
But now we've hit a plateau. At his last well-visit, our ped. said he could go longer between feeds at night. I know this is true, but it's hard because he still needs to eat a couple of times, and it's challenging to determine when that is. I do know that some of the times he's waking, it's because he's not next to me. I would bring him to bed around 3 am; any nursing mother knows that it's likely I'll fall asleep nursing anyway, so I'd rather be in my bed. But, it does have the potential of creating a co-sleeping habit. I am not against co-sleeping in general, but, personally, I don't want to have a co-sleeper.
Anywho, so back to the plateau...Mitch is soooo restless beginning around 3 or 4 a.m. and it's exhausting. I know, eventually, his brain will develop more and he'll sleep better at that time, but, right now it's tough. And so I am in that weird irony of time. I long for nights of uninterrupted sleep, but I know it'll mean that Mitch is growing up. Cliches exist for a reason, and the one about how quickly the time of raising children goes is true. So, maybe this post is more than a memo of "what my baby did at 4 months" and, instead, is a reminder that I need to enjoy the stage, rather than being ready to move onto the next big thing.
Like most parents of newborns, sleep is our issue. I am a huge proponent of fostering healthy sleep habits in kids. I strongly believe that behavior is very much related to sleep (or lack of), so I am pretty strict about sleep schedules around here. We worked hard to get Henry to be a good sleeper. He goes to bed early, sleeps until 7 am, and naps well. (Now that he is almost three, naps are a bit more unpredictable, but we still put him down for a nap each day.) We're almost at the 4 month mark with Mitch. I feel the need to write this post, if only so I remember what we did when, in case we decide to have another child.
Starting at 3 months, we began letting Mitch fuss a bit before he fell asleep. At around 3.5 months, we let him cry in 5 minute intervals in order to fall asleep at naps/night. He caught on quickly.
But now we've hit a plateau. At his last well-visit, our ped. said he could go longer between feeds at night. I know this is true, but it's hard because he still needs to eat a couple of times, and it's challenging to determine when that is. I do know that some of the times he's waking, it's because he's not next to me. I would bring him to bed around 3 am; any nursing mother knows that it's likely I'll fall asleep nursing anyway, so I'd rather be in my bed. But, it does have the potential of creating a co-sleeping habit. I am not against co-sleeping in general, but, personally, I don't want to have a co-sleeper.
Anywho, so back to the plateau...Mitch is soooo restless beginning around 3 or 4 a.m. and it's exhausting. I know, eventually, his brain will develop more and he'll sleep better at that time, but, right now it's tough. And so I am in that weird irony of time. I long for nights of uninterrupted sleep, but I know it'll mean that Mitch is growing up. Cliches exist for a reason, and the one about how quickly the time of raising children goes is true. So, maybe this post is more than a memo of "what my baby did at 4 months" and, instead, is a reminder that I need to enjoy the stage, rather than being ready to move onto the next big thing.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Aimee and Andy's Wedding
It was a beautiful day in Erie for Aimee and Andy's big day. We loved escaping the Houston July heat. Here is one shot of the beautiful bride and her 'maids. One thing I really miss here in Houston is how green everything is. It was a wet summer in Erie, so everything was so lush.
Congrats, Aimee and Andy!
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