Update on Ronni

We have received many emails and facebook messages asking what is going on, so here is the low-down.

On Friday night, I had lots of extreme pain in my back and belly.  I knew it wasn't labor, because the pain was constant, not coming and going like contractions do.  But, I knew something was definatly wrong.  We went to the ER and they admitted me into the Antepartum part of L&D.  They diagnosed me with kidney stones and started me on IV fluids and pain medication.  On Saturday night, the on-call doctor said I could go home as soon as my pain was under control since there was nothing they could do, and that the stones would have to just pass on their own.  Well, they had just given me a strong pain shot and I thought I was feeling better, so we went home. 

Sunday was miserable, as the pain was not going away.  Monday morning I got in with my regular doctor and she quickly ordered several tests to be done.  One thing about me, is that I have very tiny and deep veins and I am a very hard stick (meaning its hard to get blood work done or start IV's).  The first test was a blood test to check how my kidney's were functioning.  It took several hours for them to get enough blood to do the test (and several different sticks).  The results came back 'not good" and my doctor was concerned.

Then, I went to have another test where they had to start an IV to inject some dye into my veins and then take a series of x-rays to see the kidneys.  Well, they tried for hours to start the IV and couldn't get it going.  They even had the sonogram machine out trying to find a vein they could get to.  Anyway, I had to go home and wait till the next morning to go back and try again. 

So, here we are on Tuesday morning.  I go back and thank God, they were able to start the IV right away.  The test came back that my right kidney was completly blocked and they found a kidney stone 7-8mm in size.  The took me straight to surgery at that point because my doctor was afraid the kidney was going to erupt.

They gave me a spinal block and I was awake during the entire surgery.  It was very strange.  I got to see the kidney stone via the camera monitors they had going.  Unfortunately, my kidney was too damaged and the stone was too large for them to retrieve it.  So, the surgeon put in a stint to drain the kidney and left the stone in there.  The stint should drain the fluid enough to allow my kidney to heal and then they are going to try the same surgery again in 2 weeks (or sooner, which I'll talk about later).  At that time, hopefully they will be able to cut the stone with a laser, remove it and also remove the stint.

Right now, I am at home and very sore from the surgery and from having the stint, but thankfully, not the same pain that I was having from the blocked kidney.  My step-mom has been here since Saturday and she is helping take care of Brady and the house and me.

During all of this, Laney has been holding up like a trooper.  All my doctors have been very careful to make sure that nothing we do hurts her in any way.  Laney is due in 2.5 weeks and since I've already had a c/section, they will not let me go very much past my due date.  So, the 2nd surgery that I talked about above will all be dependant on when I have Laney and how (natural or c/section).  It's all a waiting game now.

We will try to keep the blog updated with any new information.  Thank you all for your prayers and good thoughts.  It means so much to us and we are so blessed to have friends and family who care about us so much.  We love you too!