We're home

in pre-op

getting dressed {which he hated...it might have been the worst part!}

killin' time

at the moment....

What a day! We left at 3 am this morning, surgery check-in was at 6:45, surgery at 8:15...

The drive was good, roads were clear the entire way. I left Noah and Ridge with Chases mom {Sheri}... Thank You Grandma!!!! It made the trip nice and easy to only have to get Ryder and I out of the house.

Ryder was amazing! He was so composed this morning before surgery, even in pre-op, where they go through details of the surgery...emotions got the best of him when the Dr. that was performing the surgery {Dr. Randall...who we see a few times every year, so Ryder is very familiar w/him} came to talk to us before surgery. Ryder saw him in full surgical attire, and told him that he looked weird today and that he usually wears gray pants! Ha, so funny! He started to get a bit teary but overall did so good!

Surgery was scheduled to take 1 1/2 hrs, but only took 1 hr....things went very smoothly. Ryder was very sleepy in post-op. I think alot of it had to do with the fact that we left home at 3 am! But recovered quickly and we left the hospital about noon I think...

Sigh...and a miracle.

Well we are back from Utah...AGAIN. More appointments for Ryderman. We have a new surgery date for his legs....December 2nd, if all goes well and he does not have any more relapses from the Minimal Change Nephrotic Syndrome. Its a double-edged sword. On one hand, the steroids he is on alleviate the negative side effects of the kidney disorder BUT... on the other hand, steroids are also an immunosuppressant, meaning it weakens the body's ability to fight off infections. And infections {i.e. colds, flu, etc.} are what trigger the relapses of the kidney disorder. Which is what has happened again.

During our ortho visit, the x-ray of his legs showed his left leg {the shorter one} caught up to the right leg by almost a 1/2 inch in 4 months! Amazing!!! There hasn't been that much growth EVER! It is still significantly shorter {1 1/4} but we are definitely seeing progress! Thank you all for your continued prayers, we are definitely seeing God's work in our lives!

Another PCMC trip...

Yesterday we made the 3hr trek AGAIN to Primary Childrens Hospital. With Ryder and Noah in tow, {Ridge stayed with grandma} we made it {barely, but thats a whole different story...}

We went to see Dr. Randall, {Ryders Ortho doc for his legs}. No change, good or bad for his legs. His left leg hasn't caught up any to the right leg, but it hasn't gotten any worse {bowed} either. So the next step is to schedule a surgery date for August. Late August more than likely, so he is hopefully off of the steroids he is currently on for the Minimal Change Nephrotic Syndrome. {more on that later} The plan is to place an "8" plate on the outside growth plate of the left knee to straighten it out more {Again}, and to remove 2 of the screws from the "8" plates that are on the right knee to allow the growth plates to "breathe" so they don't forget how to grow. Phew!

Ryder also has an inguinal hernia. I asked Dr. Randall if we could possibly speak with Urology and be able to fix that at the same time we do the ortho surgery in August and he didn't see why not sooooo...now we schedule an appt. with a Urologist for sometime next month. On the bright side, Dr. Randall gave me the name and number of the bes....well not the best he said, they are all good, which I am sure they are {but he is probably the best}. He said this Urologist is always booked way out, but to "drop" his {Dr. Randalls} name if I have too and he will get us in!

As for the Minimal Change, it hasn't come back thus far and things are looking good. Starting the 1st of July we are starting to wean him off the steroids and hopefully be done! Please pray for no relapses. Poor kid just can't seem to catch a break!

On this visit, I was also able to visit a good friend and fellow NICU mom, Shelly. I was able to go and hold her little Brinnlie who is still in the NICU at Primarys. What an awesome visit! Thanks Shelly! I hope you are able to bring her home soon! She looked so good. I was hoping some of Noah's old primaries were working, but no one was Darn it! Oh well...