VCUG #2

As much as I tried to ignore it, this dreaded day arrived.  Thankfully, Jase was in a great mood taking advantage of the extra morning at home.

 We were on the road to Peoria by about 9:30am, headed to OSF Children's Hospital.  Kiel & I were both on edge...my stomach had been in knots for days and I felt stressed to the max.  Not many words were exchanged on the car ride there and before we knew it we were pulling into the parking garage after a slight delay in traffic.




We didn't wait very long once we signed all the insurance paperwork and got up to the VCUG room.  We were happily greeted  around 11:15 in the waiting room by the same nurse that helped the first time.  She took us to the room and had us get Jase into a gown...hello photo op.

I am a little embarrassed to admit this, but I don't remember any of the nurses names, or the doctor who performed the VCUG for that matter.  If it wasn't about the procedure, the information pretty much went in one ear and out the other.  That being said, every single one of them was very nice and very aware how much this procedure sucks for the kid and the parents.

Once Jase was dressed we laid him on that table and the nurse pictured above played with him while another nurse cleaned his pelvic area and inserted a little numbing cream with a syringe-sans-the-needle looking instrument.  Jase didn't even noticed she was doing this as there were bubbles floating above his head and a toy iPhone in his hand.  One nurse held his legs while I held his arms (my stomach is turning just remembering) and a 3rd nurse inserted the catheter.  He instantly started screaming when the catheter was inserted, but contrary to our first experience, the nurse was able to quickly get it into place and after a few minutes and more bubbles, Jase was calmed down.  As soon as everything was in place, the doctor came in to insert the dye and take pictures of his kidneys.  We could all see on the screen that Jase's bladder was extremely full which is a good thing as the doctor wants to see the urine leaving the kidneys to check for reflux.  He did let a little go while the cath was still in place and the doctor told us right away he did not see any reflux...HALLELUJAH!  Unfortunately, Jase didn't release enough for the catheter to be pushed out so after a few minutes of waiting, the nurse finally removed the catheter...cue tears again.  I think I sang every single song from every single show on the Disney channel while we waiting for Jase to urinate.  None of them worked by the way.  I even tried to talk to him about tractors, the lawnmower, Lani, Grandpa, but he wasn't having any of it.  He would relax for a min and let a little out, but it was obviously burning because he would immediately stop going and reach for his diaper.  The doctor suggested I hold him for a minute to let him relax a little...I think I was holding him before he finished his sentence.  He laid on my chest like he was a part of me, I could literally feel how comforting it was to him to be held...it was heart wrenching.  That didn't work so while he cried on the table some more, the nurses tried pouring warm water on him and I finally said screw it, undid his diaper and blew on him in hopes that the cold air would get things moving (I mean that's why he would pee when he was a baby when we'd take his diaper off right?).  Just as the nurse said, "You're being awfully brave, mom" he let a pretty good stream go, but didn't finish as it was still obviously stinging.  Luckily, the doctor was happy with what he had seen and the pictures he had gotten so after a half hour of waiting, he gave Jase a break and told us we were good to go.  He could of straight up peed in my mouth and I wouldn't have cared!  I just wanted to get him off that damn table so he could settle down.  It was such a relief to have it be over. 

I REALLY wish I would have gotten a picture of him in his stroller after he was dressed because he was completely zapped.  But, children are resilient, and he was happily looking at his tractor book 5 minutes later.  If only Kiel & I could re-coop that quickly!     

We headed outside to get some fresh air and some lunch before we had to meet with Dr. Rhee.  Kiel has always been irritated with the fact that after each test or sonogram, we have to meet with the urologist to get information we already know.  Today was no exception.  We were in the waiting room longer than it took Dr. Rhee to come in, tell us how cute and big Jase is, report the kidneys are no longer refluxing, and ask us to come back in 6 months for a sonogram just to keep an eye on things.  Whatever.  I'll come back once a week for a sonogram as long as you can promise me we never have to do another VCUG.  Done.

Jase probably could have gotten us to buy him a car after all of that, but he can't ask for anything more than a ball so we just spoiled him rotten the rest of the day.

What little kid doesn't love all the animals at Bass Pro?!?

 

With a new truck & toy sized version of this boat in the cart and ice cream in his belly, we jumped in the car and headed home.

And continued to give him anything his little heart desired...guilt much?!?

Hey, you missed a spot.

I have no idea where this came from...

It was a horrible day, but we got great news and that's all that matters.  No more daily sulfameth, no more VCUG's.  I can't imagine having a child that is chronically ill and/or requires endless procedures.  Seeing your child in pain and not being able to explain to them what is happening is like an out of body experience.  Here's to putting this day behind us and appreciating how healthy and wonderful this kid is!

-Nicole