Brayden's Kidney

Most of you know that Brayden was born with a Multicystic Dysplastic Kidney.  So he has one beautiful functioning kidney.  The other kidney is full of cysts. This kidney could possibly absorb, (which I hope it does) or it could sit there and do nothing for the rest of his life, (another good option) or it could later in life cause some problems with infections and what not. At this point, from all of the testing he has had, the doctors say he shouldn't have any complications from it.  So hopefully it stays that way. 
We found out Brayden had Multicystic Dysplastic Kidney when I was 19 weeks pregnant.  We went over a lot of different scenarios with his kidneys.   He could have problems, need a transplant, dialysis and anything else that could make you cry your eyes out. I feel like they went over the most extreme things.   Either to scare me, or to scare me.  After doing my own research and talking with other doctors I decided not to worry about his kidney unless I had to.  So much less stressful if you ask me.  Plus I tend to make situations positive until I know 100% that something is actually wrong.  (You notice I said tend..  Because I still had/have my moments where I was scared and am not always positive). 
Well, Brayden was born and they did ultrasounds to check on his kidneys until he was out of the NICU and could be seen by his Nephrologist. (who I really like)  This doctor and his wife had twins also. They are much older now; but it was nice talking to him about late nights and early mornings and having two of everything.  Just an all around awesome doctor.  Brayden was supposed to be seen twice a week once we left the NICU to have two creatinine blood tests done.  This was something I couldn't do.  Take three kids, 2 of which were on oxygen to the doctors office twice a week.  I went once with David and it was just too stressful. And the last thing I wanted to do was take my preemie babies to the dirty hospital twice a week. So we had home health nurses come to our house.  Talk about a life savor. We did this for 2.5 months. We did get to a point where twice a week was too much for Brayden and I couldn't handle all the poking and failed blood draws. So I told them to stop and that Brayden needed a week off.  At this point his creatinine levels had been fine and I knew he didn't need to be poked so much so I told them to tell the doctor he wouldn't get any results this week.  The nurse looked and me and said, "I completely agree with you." After she called the doctor and told him we weren't going to do the tests that week he ended up having the nurse come every other week to give Brayden a break.  That made me feel so much better and proud of myself for saying something.  I have nothing against medical technology or doctors at all.  In fact I am very appreciative and supportive of both, but sometimes a mothers intuition is better; and you need to stick to it.
During one of Brayden's ultrasounds the doctor noticed that Braydens non functioning kidney had more kidney tissue in it then before.  This could mean that his kidney might have partial function in it.  Kind of exciting right?  You are thinking his kidney might start working again right?  I thought the same thing.  The doctor told me if it did have partial function then urine could be trapped in the kidney, which could cause kidney infections and could cause his good kidney to get infected as well.   So Brayden had to have a nuclear renal scan to see if his kidney had any function in it at all.  He did so well during the scan.  He cried in the beginning which made me sob because I couldn't hold him.  I could hold his hand and rub his face.  He cried and looked at me like, just hold me mom.  Once they gave him a pacifier with sugar water on it he was much happier.  We found out his kidney doesn't have any function at all.  I was very pleased with the results.  Brayden's healthy kidney is doing great and he will just have to have it checked once a year now. 

These boys are such a sweet blessing.  I can't imagine my life with out them.  I find myself staring at them in awe that they are even mine.  They are just two beautiful perfect little boys who stole my heart.  I am lucky to have them, and I thank my Heavenly Father daily for all three of my beautiful children.