McKay woke up at 5:30 am screaming like he was in pain. I took him to his pediatrician who found a hernia (apparently that is common is premies and twins). He told me that we needed to take him to the Primary Children's Emergency Room and possibly have surgery to get it fixed. We took McKay to Primary Children's and for the next six hours did blood work, vitals, ultrasounds, more blood work, etc. (and they wouldn't let him eat in case he had surgery- poor kid!).
SURGERY:
McKay's surgery went well. His catheter was removed the next day and he has had great wet diapers ever since! He has continued to improve and has started to take full feeds again which means he gets to come home... tomorrow!!
KIDNEYS:
We were finally able to talk with a Nephrologist (kidney doctor). He told us that McKay's kidneys are functioning at about 38% (which isn't as low as it sounds because newborn kidneys usually function at around 45-50%). His Creatinine levels (which help determine kidney function) continue to go down (which is good). His blood pressure is high (kidneys help regulate blood pressure) so he will come home on a medicine to keep his blood pressure down. He also has high phosphorus levels so we have to mix calcium carbonate (similar to TUMS) in his milk. This will bind with the calcium so his body doesn't obsorb as much phosphorus (who knew?!). He will continue to be monitored throughout his life by the Nephrologists at Primary Children's.
We are so glad that he is doing so well and that he gets to finally come home!!
McKay has had a rough couple days. On Thursday he started acting strange (moaning/whimpering, pale, lethargic) and he had air in his catheter which was concerning. Labs, x-ray, ultrasound, and a dye test were done and they found air in his bladder. The Dr's explained that one of the only explanations for air in the bladder would be a bacteria (like E. Coli) so it was assumed he had a bladder infection. He was put on strong antibiotics, put back on oxygen, got an IV for the antibiotics and fluid, and stopped his feeds. Yesterday he was alert enough to want to try eating so they let him have a little food. Today he is feeling better (still a little more sleepy than usual) and he is back on full feeds! Primary's is still not ready for him so we are going to try to get him better from this infection and keep increasing his feeds.
Kooper keeps working on increasing his oral feeds. He was off oxygen for 48 hours then he started de-stating after his feeds so every so often he needs a little oxygen to keep him going.
*I'll try to post more pictures soon!!
Sorry we haven't updated for a while! We've been busy running back and forth to the hospital. The boys are both still in the NICU but doing good. They are both off the ventilator. They are on and off oxygen and just working on increasing their oral feeds (they can do about half of their feeds orally). Kooper can come home when he can do all his feeds orally (whether that's one week or three weeks is all up to him!) McKay hasn't been transferred to Primary's yet. We are so grateful that both boys are still together at one hospital.
Thank you again for all your comments, texts, phone calls, and especially your prayers!
