We were hoping that we could treat the kidney reflux with a daily antibiotic and that eventually she would grow out of it. This is the approach most people take to treat it. Isabelle had two breakout urinary tract infections while on the antibiotics. As a result the doctors recommended that we repair it to prevent damage to her kidneys. We were wary of surgery but felt that Isabelle would be in good hands at Primary Children's (which she was) and that she would recover quickly (which she didn't).
After we arrived at the hospital they examined Isabelle and then we went to wait in the Pre-Op playroom. We waited with other parents and children who were waiting for their surgery. Soon after we arrived we realized how blessed we really were. Many of the children were there for their 6th and 7th surgery and most were under 5 years old. Our hearts ached for them. We were terrified as we contemplated what our child was going to go through. I can't imagine having to subject your child to multiple surgeries. We were very thankful that our child was there for her first and hopefully only surgery.
We waited in the Pre-Op room for about 2 1/2 hours. She didn't go into surgery until 2:30 PM, without any food. She was such a trooper. I was hungry and I had had breakfast!
Before they took her into surgery, they gave her some medicine to help her relax; and relax she did. We had some good laughs before her surgery. Our wild child became very relaxed and loopy.
As we had to hand her off to the anesthesiologists I couldn't hold back my tears. I felt like I was abandoning her. I knew that they would take good care of her, but I still wanted to be with her. After she came out of surgery they told me that after we handed her off she put up quite a fight, even with the meds to help her relax. That's my Isabelle.
Her surgery took 2 1/2 hours. They let me go into recovery to see her shortly after. When I saw her, the nurse said she definitely had spunk. When she first woke up she was very mad and put up quite a fight. But can you blame her? Waking up from surgery is the worst. While I was with her I was standing and I think I had my knees bent, or the stress of it all came crashing down, but I got super hot and sweaty and nauseous and I almost passed out. I seriously never do that. I felt so stupid. They got me some juice and after I walked around a bit I felt better, but seriously how embarrassing is that? I am sure strong under pressure aren't I?
My parents came to see Isabelle that night. I was disappointed Lillian couldn't come but they only allowed visitors over the age of 14. They brought us some dinner and a little emotional support after a long and emotional day.
After a rough night, Isabelle seemed to be doing better the next morning. She ate pancakes for breakfast and had her catheter taken out. They have a cute playroom at P.C. that children can go and play in when they feel okay. The nurses mentioned it and so she wanted to play in it. Looking back I think she definitely over did it. After the playroom she started to go down hill a little bit. She quit eating and she just became irritable and tired. Can you blame her?
Trying to put on a happy face. She is holding her doll affectionately named, 'blue baby'. They let her take blue baby into surgery with her to help her out.
One good thing about being the hospital is that you get to eat whatever you want and you get to watch whatever you want on TV.
We brought her home the day after her surgery and on the way home she threw up in the car. She had a tough night and threw up again before she fell asleep. The next day was like a roller coaster. She would feel good, and then she would crash, then she would feel a little better, and then crash again. That night she threw up and had super bad bladder spasms. Bladder spasms are like a muscle spasm but with your bladder. They were painful because her bladder had just been operated on. The doctor said she would have a few but she would have them constantly for 2 hours.
In the morning we took her home and she just struggled. She threw up a few times and she kept having spasms. We tried different meds but they didn't work for her. Finally the doctors at Primary told us to come back into the hospital but we were back in Cache Valley so we went to Logan Regional.
They admitted her into the hospital because she was dehydrated and she was still having bad bladder spasms. After the surgery she had blood in her urine, but at L.R.H. she was peeing almost straight blood.
I spent the night in the hospital with her and it was one of the hardest nights of my life. She was so miserable, nauseous, in pain, having bladder spasms. My heart was just breaking for her. She didn't settle down until 2 AM, then she woke up at 5 AM with more spasms, and couldn't sleep until 6:30 AM, and then woke up about 9. You feel so helpless as a parent when you can't comfort your child; I felt completely helpless.
Kevin stayed home with Lillian that night. Then a great friend watched her so he could come back the next day. Jim and Mary came to help us with Lillian that night and they ended up staying the week. They were a big help and Lillian, who was feeling a little left out, had a great time with them.
During all of this we felt such an out pouring of love and support from friends and family. Calls of reassurance and love and offers to help. That meant a lot of us. Thank you, thank you to those who showed us so much love.
She spent one more day and one more night in the hospital. The next night I asked if there was something they could give her to help her sleep. They gave her some, but about 1 hour and a half later when she was jumping on her bed I asked the nurse if it could make her hyper. Which, we found out was one of the side effects. So it took her a while to calm back down and sleep, but I could tell she felt better.
The next morning we went back home and she was doing so much better. She still had spasms at home and we just had to do our best to comfort her to get her through them; which, as you can imagine, was so hard. She spent a lot of time in the tub, because that was one thing that seemed to help her.
When we got home we felt more love and support from family and friends. We have such good friends and family. You guys are the best! There were meals brought it, calls, and visits to see how we were doing. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
She is doing so much better now. She is still having a hard time with bladder control and her incision hurts a little at times, but overall she is doing great. We go back to Primary in a few weeks where we will find out if the surgery was a success. Hopefully it was and we can close the book on our experience with kidney reflux.
As we had to hand her off to the anesthesiologists I couldn't hold back my tears. I felt like I was abandoning her. I knew that they would take good care of her, but I still wanted to be with her. After she came out of surgery they told me that after we handed her off she put up quite a fight, even with the meds to help her relax. That's my Isabelle.Her surgery took 2 1/2 hours. They let me go into recovery to see her shortly after. When I saw her, the nurse said she definitely had spunk. When she first woke up she was very mad and put up quite a fight. But can you blame her? Waking up from surgery is the worst. While I was with her I was standing and I think I had my knees bent, or the stress of it all came crashing down, but I got super hot and sweaty and nauseous and I almost passed out. I seriously never do that. I felt so stupid. They got me some juice and after I walked around a bit I felt better, but seriously how embarrassing is that? I am sure strong under pressure aren't I?My parents came to see Isabelle that night. I was disappointed Lillian couldn't come but they only allowed visitors over the age of 14. They brought us some dinner and a little emotional support after a long and emotional day.After a rough night, Isabelle seemed to be doing better the next morning. She ate pancakes for breakfast and had her catheter taken out. They have a cute playroom at P.C. that children can go and play in when they feel okay. The nurses mentioned it and so she wanted to play in it. Looking back I think she definitely over did it. After the playroom she started to go down hill a little bit. She quit eating and she just became irritable and tired. Can you blame her?
Trying to put on a happy face. She is holding her doll affectionately named, 'blue baby'. They let her take blue baby into surgery with her to help her out.One good thing about being the hospital is that you get to eat whatever you want and you get to watch whatever you want on TV.
We brought her home the day after her surgery and on the way home she threw up in the car. She had a tough night and threw up again before she fell asleep. The next day was like a roller coaster. She would feel good, and then she would crash, then she would feel a little better, and then crash again. That night she threw up and had super bad bladder spasms. Bladder spasms are like a muscle spasm but with your bladder. They were painful because her bladder had just been operated on. The doctor said she would have a few but she would have them constantly for 2 hours.
In the morning we took her home and she just struggled. She threw up a few times and she kept having spasms. We tried different meds but they didn't work for her. Finally the doctors at Primary told us to come back into the hospital but we were back in Cache Valley so we went to Logan Regional.
They admitted her into the hospital because she was dehydrated and she was still having bad bladder spasms. After the surgery she had blood in her urine, but at L.R.H. she was peeing almost straight blood.
I spent the night in the hospital with her and it was one of the hardest nights of my life. She was so miserable, nauseous, in pain, having bladder spasms. My heart was just breaking for her. She didn't settle down until 2 AM, then she woke up at 5 AM with more spasms, and couldn't sleep until 6:30 AM, and then woke up about 9. You feel so helpless as a parent when you can't comfort your child; I felt completely helpless.
Kevin stayed home with Lillian that night. Then a great friend watched her so he could come back the next day. Jim and Mary came to help us with Lillian that night and they ended up staying the week. They were a big help and Lillian, who was feeling a little left out, had a great time with them.
During all of this we felt such an out pouring of love and support from friends and family. Calls of reassurance and love and offers to help. That meant a lot of us. Thank you, thank you to those who showed us so much love.
She spent one more day and one more night in the hospital. The next night I asked if there was something they could give her to help her sleep. They gave her some, but about 1 hour and a half later when she was jumping on her bed I asked the nurse if it could make her hyper. Which, we found out was one of the side effects. So it took her a while to calm back down and sleep, but I could tell she felt better.
The next morning we went back home and she was doing so much better. She still had spasms at home and we just had to do our best to comfort her to get her through them; which, as you can imagine, was so hard. She spent a lot of time in the tub, because that was one thing that seemed to help her.
When we got home we felt more love and support from family and friends. We have such good friends and family. You guys are the best! There were meals brought it, calls, and visits to see how we were doing. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
She is doing so much better now. She is still having a hard time with bladder control and her incision hurts a little at times, but overall she is doing great. We go back to Primary in a few weeks where we will find out if the surgery was a success. Hopefully it was and we can close the book on our experience with kidney reflux.
We surprised them and didn't tell them we were going until right before. They didn't believe us at first and then when they realized we were serious they were super excited.
It was a great night. Have I mentioned how much fun girls can be? Since I grew up with all brothers it is fun to do super 
I lied and told Kevin my sister in law, Mick and I were going shopping and to meet us at dinner that night. I told him Mick was craving a good steak so could he meet us at 
Here are some pics of our family and friends who were at the party.
Thank you to all who came that night. We had a great time and I hope all you guys had fun too.
Isabelle decided to pad her bucket with the candy we had to pass out to the trick-or-
Ready to hit the neighborhood. It was a beautiful night perfect for trick-or-treating. They sure cleaned up, we have so much candy! 
