We saw the kidney specialist today and he wants to operate to remove a blockage in the tube between her bladder and kidney (it's called a ureterocele). According to him it is a "matter of some urgency" so she will have it before Xmas. I am freaking out a bit. Maya had surgery on her foot when she was 2 1/2 and it was so hard holding her while she had the general. And Sienna is so much younger.

She will have to stay in Starship for 2-3 days afterwards to make sure her kidney is functioning OK afterwards, and to have another test where they run dye thru an IV line to check her kidney function. Mercedes can stay in hospital with us and my Dad is going to come from Australia to look after Maya.

We don't have a definite date yet but sometime in the next couple of weeks. I am really still trying to process the whole thing. From the time they first discovered the dilated kidney at 33 weeks pregnant I have been told not to worry and that it is minor, and now we find out it is actually more serious.

But if they fix the blockage and she stays on antibiotics for at least 18 mths we should be able to avoid any long-term kidney damage.

Emma, I am sorry to hear that, but if all goes well hopefully she will be fine in the long run.

Big hugs to you all

Kim

Emma

Keep the faith, we are all here pryaing for your family for a positive outcome. I have every faith in the surgeons & kidney specialists that they know what they are doing.

Just know we are here supporting you. Please let me know if there is anything you want help with, as in babysitting Maya etc if your Dad needs a break. I am more than happy to provide some hours in the evening or weekends.

Hugs
Rae

Emma, I'm sorry to hear how serious this is, it must be hard to come to terms with in a short space of time. Please let me know too if I can do anything e.g. if Maya needs collecting from kindy or anything (since we live close she can always come and play with Joel!!). I hope it doesn't spoil your Christmas.

Big Hugs Emma, what a hard thing to cope with.
It's never easy having to see our children go through things like this, especially one so little
You are all in my thoughts.

Take care
Jacqui

Emma,
I'm so sorry your poor wee girl has to go through this (and you). Like the others have said, we're all here for you. Let us know if you need any help/support, be it emotional or otherwise. Keep us posted on dates etc. Our thoughts are with you and your family. Take care hun.

Oh Emma, I am so sorry to hear about the surgery. I will keep her and your family in my thoughts and prayers. You must be so scared. I wish there was something I could do to help.
Jenn

OH Emma....
I'm so sorry your little one has to go thru this. You are all in my thoughts and prayers. Keep us updated on things please.

Bridget

((((Big Hugs Emma)))) - I'm so sorry to hear that Sienna needs surgery. I completely understand the GA thing as well because Noah had to have one at 13 months. It's such a comfort to have mummy or daddy hold them though isn't it.

I'll be thinking of you, Sienna and the rest of the family over the next couple of weeks and fingers crossed everyone is home safe and sound before xmas.

((((Big Hugs)))) again.

Claire

I know how hard this must be for you and your family - especially for your wee baby to have to go through something so major at such a stressful time of the year.

I wish I was there to give you a hand and a hug - but please know I am thinking of you all - and am here if you need to vent. Please feel free to text me also - you have my number.

((hugs))

Emma, huge hugs to you and your family. I think of you often with your little girls, I hope it all goes smoothly for little Sienna. I'm pleased they are letting Mercedes in with you too.

Will pop in one day soon and surprise you at home.

Luv Ally

Thank you all so much for all your kind words and support and offers of help. This has been a pretty full on year for us, not neccessarily in a bad way although it started badly, but full on nonetheless. Knowing that we have so much support out there has really helped get me thru.

We have a date for Sienna's surgery, she is having it next Tuesday morning at Starship. The letter we got said 7.30am but I won't know till I speak to the bookings clerk tomorrow whether that means we have to go in Monday night or whether we just show up on Tues morning. It seems so close, but in a way I'm glad that she is going to get it fixed as soon as possible.

Am glad that you got an appointment sooner rather than later for Sienna.

((hugs)) thinking of you

I too am glad to hear that have given you a date.

Big hugs to you all.

Huggles
Kim

Well we're home, and earlier than expected - Sienna has recovered amazingly quickly. Can't fault the staff on the ward at Starship (even tho I didn't get any meals and they didn't organise the girls formula in time) as they were brilliant, helping me feed the babies, watching the other baby while I took one or other for a scan/test etc. Was hard as I wasn't allowed to pick Sienna up and cuddle her as she had a catheter, IV and pulse/ox machines connected, but she was really patient and well behaved, and poor old Mercedes who got dragged along for the ride was very patient too.

Long story short they have removed the blockage in Sienna's bladder, she still has severe kidney reflux so will have to be scanned every 3 months for the next couple of years and may need more surgery down the track but at least the urgent part of it has been fixed. She also has to stay on antibiotics for at least 18 mths. They scanned Mercedes just to be certain she was OK and unfortunately it looks like she also has a blockage but hers is only Grade I (Sienna's is Grade IV) so they will just scan her again in 3 months, and at this stage she doesn't need surgery.

The girls are obviously very glad to be home, they settled straight away in their cots, and Maya is glad to have us home too I think. We're still waiting on the results of Sienna's kidney function test, should get them tomorrow.

Here are a couple of pics...
Tubes and wires...


In the box for the MCU (kidney test)


Mercedes talking to her puppy in the Mountain Buggy basinette she slept in...

That is fantastic news that you are all home safe and sound Emma. I have been thinking about you all this week wondering how things have been going and whether the surgery was successful.

Thanks for sharing the pics - you must have had the two cutest patients in all the hospital. They look so contented and relaxed...what a fantastic mummy you are!!!!!

Take care of those three gorgeous girlies.

Claire

Great news Emma! I am so happy that everyone is doing well.
Jenn

Oh Emma I was just bout to do separate post to find out how thikngs have been.....lol then had a thought to check here first hehhhee
So pleased to hear all has gone well and you are all back home now. Wow what a brave girl you have there, and pleased you were treated well while in hospital too.
How is everything else going? Was it you that was going to spent acouple of nights at the place that helps get bubs into good sleep habits etc??? Did you do that?
Thinking of you and the girls
Take care and share my cuddles around

Nope not us going to the sleep place, but we do go to Plunket Family Centre once a week so I can have a sleep while they watch the girls. They are sleeping quite well now, go down between 6pm-7pm, I wake them for a feed at 10ish then they wake at 3.30am for a quick feed and straight back to bed till 7am. So we are doing OK.

Plunket nurse is coming to weigh them this week, last weigh in they were both over 5kg! The doctors in the hospital couldn't believe that Sienna was a twin (and the smaller one at that!) and born 3 weeks early coz she is such a chub.

Well done Emma, you are doing such a great job of your girls. I am still dying to come and see them. I need some more hours in my days.

So pleased to hear Sienna's op went good, and you are all home in time to enjoy their first xmas, not that they will remember. lol.... Bet Maya is excited though. BUT what more could she have asked Santa for, she has two beautiful living dolls.

Take care and hope to catch up with you REALLY soon.

Luv Ally

So glad to hear that everything went well Emma. What a stressful situation for you guys to cope with. I hope you all continue to get good care.