Still Trudging Uphill...

We're still hanging on, though my tooth is not feeling great yet (and day three of a toothache is taking its toll on me). Thankfully, I did see the emergency dentist yesterday and am hopefully on my way to healing - or will end up with an extraction - egads!

Casey's one month "well visit" was scheduled for this coming Wednesday, but her belly button has been discharging some funky mucus since Friday. (GROSS, I know!) The pediatrician asked me to wait over the weekend and see how things were going, and when learning that she was still "leaking" today, they saw us early.

I headed to the appointment in good spirits (Casey had been fussy yesterday, but ended up sleeping well last night and having a beautiful morning with me). The pediatrician said that many things could cause her belly button issue, but that she didn't want to jump to any of the "simple" conclusions until she was able to rule out a cyst, abcess, etc.

Additionally, the doctor helped me to realize that the mucus seems to seep out more so when Casey pees or cries - basically meaning that pressure on her abdomen facilitates the discharge.

Because Casey had a two- vessel umbilical cord in utero, a renal ultrasound was done when she was first born... and though there wasn't a significant finding, it was felt that maybe her left kidney was smaller than her right. So with the possible kidney issue and now the umbilical discharge, the pediatrician thought it would be best to have both a belly and renal ultrasound done at the local children's hospital today.

Unfortunately, it was already 3:00PM when this determination was made, so we can't get in until tomorrow at 8:30AM. And logistically, it works out since she already has a 9:00AM nephrology appointment at the same hospital to get to the bottom of the whole kidney issue.

All in all, it doesn't sound like the end of the world. But I left the pediatric office feeling deflated, defeated and worried. Many "what ifs" come into my mind, and I have to push them all aside, realizing that Casey is in God's hands and that we have no diagnosis to deal with yet. It's not easy, but I've got to trust that things will be okay or that we'll work our way through them.

Whew.

In good news, Casey now weighs 8lbs, 3.6oz ~ which means that she has gained more than an ounce per day since our last appointment!! She is still only in the 25th percentile for her weight, but we realize that's mainly because it took her so long to get to this point. But now she's gaining beautifully, and we're thrilled.