Ellie is the toughest baby in the world

On the 13th, we traveled to Missoula to get a final test done to check the function of Ellie's kidneys (Lasix Renogram). These photos (still!) make me cry because our little Ellie was so strong and tough.

Since we needed Ellie to be still for 45 minutes and we didn't want her to have to be sedated for the second time in a week, we opted to not feed her or let her sleep for 4.5 hours. The idea was that after she got prepped for the test, we would feed her and she could sleep through the exam.

Unfortunately things did not quite work as we planned.

First, they took her blood pressure and pulse (that was the easy part). Second, they inserted a catheter (she peed out the first one, the second one worked like a charm). Next they put warm, wet diapers on her hands to try to pull up her veins to insert an IV. The nurses ended up poking her six(!) times to get the IV going to no avail. It took 45 minutes and three nurses to finally get the IV in a vein in her head. Poor tired, sad little thing.

She was so tired from crying and being scared, she went directly to sleep without eating. She was very weak that day.

Fortunately, after the test she was able to eat and we drove 1.5 hours back to Helena. Happily,she's back to normal. What a tough, resilliant little girl!

The results of the test show that Ellie's left kidney is functioning better than the urologist expected. Originally, he thought he would take a portion that was not functioning out-- but now we know it is viable, working tissue (YEAH!) though it functions slower and more inefficiently than the right kidney.

So, we will return to the urologist in February (when she is six months old and physically mature enough to undergo surgery) where we will look at the duplicated ureters to start the process of surgery to correct the issues to ensure that Ellie will not have a lifetime of dealing with urinary reflux, infections and possible kidney damage.

We'll keep you updated on things as they continue to develop. Please keep our little girl in your thoughts and prayers!