Norah

Norah is an awesome, but sick baby. Here's the story so far...

Some time last October, Norah started getting really fussy, which was abnormal for her. We went on with our normal stuff until she had a really high fever on Sunday night. REALLY high. Like 104. (Brian claims it was not that high, but I took it and read it. So I know).

The next day she went to the doctor. I was hoping it was a simple ear infection, but her ears were fine. The next thing the doctor was talking about was meningitis or bladder infection. They both sound terrible to me, but meningitis was far worse.

One catheter later, and the results come back. She definitely has a bladder infection!! YEAH!......wait...

the better of two options, at least.

(As a side note, Brian's job had not started yet, but his fellowship was over, which meant we had only lame catastrophic insurance, that pretty much covers nothing unless we are dying. So all costs are out of pocket. Now you would think when your child's health is in question, you would say, "to hell with what it costs! let's just do ALL the tests!" But it isn't quite like that. We had bills to pay and no money coming in...so we had to make some decisions that are, and still feel totally lame. Such is life)

The doctor talks to me about what is likely causing her infection, and I halfway listen. She is going to be fine. I had a bladder infection before, and they hurt like crazy, but drugs make you better. Anyway, Norah gets antibiotics for 10 days, and starts getting better immediately.

Fast forward 11 days, and she has a high fever and is suddenly crying and screaming. I KNOW what is up this time, and we immediately call the doctor. Another infection. Back on antibiotics. She most likely has vesicoureteral reflux, which is when urine from the bladder backs up into the kidneys.

We need to get a renal sonogram and do a VCUG test (shoot dye up through a catheter and into her bladder to see how severe the reflux is).

$$$$$$....

So we wait. We will get insurance once Brian's job starts, then we can get insurance, then we can get the tests.

Meanwhile, Norah takes a low grade antibiotic everyday. She looks healthy, but her daily dose reminds me that she isn't QUITE healthy.

So now we live in Texas. We have been working on getting insurance since we moved here. We entered all our information, including Norah's brief medical history. We decided to have a really high deductible, since we rarely go to the doctor, to keep our monthly payments low. we got a good estimate, but the final cost was double what they quoted us. DOUBLE!!!

We decided to just pay out of pocket for the tests she needed. Honestly, we both thought her reflux was mild, and getting that diagnosis would help make our case to the insurance company that our premiums should be at the original quoted price (we already appealed once).

Monday morning comes, and we head to the hospital. We had to be there at 7:30 for an 8 am test. Brian dropped the older two off at school, and then brought the little girls to the hospital...Norah and I were there together. the first test was a sonogram of her kidneys. She didn't like it.

Next, the VCUG test. When asked if I would like to stay or go, I promptly left. Brian stayed. I did that trick once, when I thought I should be in the room when Landon got...um... minor surgery as a newborn :).................the unnatural screaming from that baby about broke my heart in two, so I now know my limits.

I left. I knew the test would be favorable, as much as it could be. The severity of this type of reflux is 1-5, 5 being the most severe. After walking the hospital halls with the little girls for a while, Brian came out of the room and said, "it's not good."

I walked in the room, and the radiologist started explaining that her reflux was a 4. WHAT?! Her ureter is dilated when it should be small, and her left kidney is already dilated as well.

Now we need to see a pediatric urologist. Surgery is likely, but there are lots of unknowns. We'll see what happens.