Whhheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeew!

Internet finally came up and I can update.  Wheeew, what a whirlwind of a few days we've had.  Maci's most recent labs from today....**drum roll**BUN - 17 (great)
Creatinine - 2.06 (great)
Sodium - 133 (up from previous labs which is good)
Hematocrit = 29.8 (down from previous labs, not so good)

Maci had an ultra sound and a milk scan yesterday morning and an upper GI this morning.  The ultrasound showed she has a hernia.  They are likely not going to do surgery right now since it is not compromising her bowel and is not painful for her.  The fluid for her dialysis causes pressure in her belly which ultimately caused the hernia.  If they were to do surgery to fix it, she could very well end up with another hernia.  So, right now, we watch it and leave it. 

The milk scan is a test where slightly radioactive material was added to her milk & a camera takes pics of her esophagus, stomach & lungs to check for reflux, rate of gastric emptying & aspiration. This was needed to determine the type of g-tube she needs. The g-tube will be for feedings at home when she doesn't take an entire bottle, the left over will go in her g-tube that will be surgically implanted in her belly.  The milk scan showed refulux as well as the upper GI.
The degree of reflux will determine whether she gets a Nissen or not.  Here is info about the Nissen.  http://www.tofs.org.uk/leaflets/nissenfundoplication.pdf but in summary it prevents reflux so that Maci would not throw up from reflux and would keep her milk down and retain her calories and grow. 

The surgeons are to talk this week to discuss when Maci will have surgery to get her G-tube.  Her G-tube will be for administering meds and for feedings when she will not eat or not take her entire bottle. 

Rick and I haven't been told just yet when we will train on the home dialysis process.  It is expected to be about two weeks, less if we catch on quickly.  It's during the day so I will have to miss additional time from work. :(

Rick had an on the job injury and had surgery on his wrist to repair a torn tendon in 2009.  He had to have another surgery in January 2010!  NOW, due to additonal problems and continued pain in his wrist and recent swelling, he has to have a THIRD surgery on January 24th.  This means no more looking for a job until he can work after his wrist heals. They couldn't even see the tendon on the MRI and the Ortho said he'll probably remove the damaged one by cutting it out and replace it with a tendon from another finger. This will also cause Rick to have less function in the finger they remove the tendon from.

I catch myself feeling significantly overwhelmed but so far God has provided for my family.  I can only trust that He will continue to do so.  I can also only trust that He doesn't allow me to have a nervous breakdown with a husband having surgery, a daughter hospitalized with an upcoming surgery, a husband recovering from surgery and a baby who I dare not leave alone all day at the hospital after she has had me or both Rick and myself by her side, every single day of her life.  I don't want to miss anything and it's going to be hard to not be here and receive updates from the doctors and nurses directly. 

My Maci is going to teach me to be as strong as her some day!  We are still crossing our fingers to be home "soon".