Dialysis Has Begun

The internet at the hospital was down yesterday so I wasn't able to update.  Both yesterday and today, Maci's BUN and Creatinine was a bit lower.  This is GOOD news to me and Rick.  Dialysis was also started yesterday.  Maci has slept pretty much all day yesterday and today.
"During dialysis, the abdominal cavity is filled with a dialysate solution. Because the peritoneum is rich in tiny blood vessels, it continually provides a supply of blood to be filtered by osmosis and diffusion. The excess fluid and toxins in the blood move toward the dialysate, which is drained and replaced periodically."

Yesterday we started with 35 mLs and her Nephrologist bumped her up to 40 today.  She is handling dialysis very well!  Right now, she is doing the dialysis 24 hours.  She gets 40 mLs in, it sits in the abdomen to filter (called dwelling) for 45 minutes and then it is drained for 10 minutes and then refilled for 5 minutes.  This happens continuously for 24 hours.  When she drains, the goal is to get out more than was put in.  So far Maci has been doing marvelous and she continues to have pretty decent tee tee diapers as well.

Once she is at a certain amount, we can take her home and a machine (called a cycler) will run throughout the night for her daily dialysis treatments.  I can't recall the amount of fluid the doctor said she would require....so I will update that info later.

Guess who got her first bottle today and guess who got to give it to her her??  She only had 4 mLs but she drank it.  I was very proud of my girl!  I was concerned that since she had not had a bottle she would have to learn how to suck, swallow and breathe but she did it! 
YAY MY MACI!

Aunt Jess came to visit today and brought her some happies.  Here is a pic of one happy.  We LOVE it.