Glimpses of the return...

I am a blogger. Unfortunately I live in the middle of no where. Ask JulieAnn. My laptop has wireless capabilities, but we are still Dial up at the house. I do have several things to share with you from the last few. Now that I am back at work 1/2 days, let's catch up.

Bootcamp saved my life. Everyone - doc included - thinks that a drill we do pulling tires up and down the field via a strap around our waist, may has damaged the tumor and started the bleeding. The amount of blood I was passing was dangerously high (2 units of blood worth) and the CT scans revealed the cancer.

Remove Kidney was the only option and turns out give the best long term prognosis.

I have a twelve in incision across my upper abdomen. Only southern folks will understand this statement (Tipper this is for you). This bad boy itches like a twelve inch chigger bite. Julie Ann wanted to know what a chigger was. The incision cuts through my entire left side trunk muscle structure.

I am so much healthier now than this time last year. 50 pounds lighter and stronger. Been eating better and working out. I have been anxious for approval to return to work and return to exercise. I will not be letting that hard earned better health go wasted.

So being a blogger - I took the Man at my Address to bootcamp with me for my return. Hand him camera and tell him this needed to be documented. He really does not understand, but he did follow instructions.


Left to right Melissa (hiding in the back) Becky, Christie (fearless leader) Me (sporting a lovely white corset), Tanya Tonya Torrie (Tanya is her real name but nobody gets it correct), Jan, and Renee.

The ladies welcomed this poke along right back. This will be a very slow rehab process. I can walk all I want for a couple of weeks. Do some light warmup and stretching and a tiny bit of leg work. I could be up to 6 months before I can do any ab work.

My first outing was two measly laps - then I had to go home and nap.

Because we blog everything - here is a back side view. I have 30 more pounds to lose.

Last night - I walked over a mile and did two 1 minute wall sits. I also did a few step ups on a short retaining wall. It was still a better night than the first night I went last year. My first mile time was 24 minutes and I thought I might die. Last night was 17 minutes and I probably could have done better than that.

Exercise saved my life - in many ways. It feels really good to be moving again.

Today's half day of work has been exhausting. There will be a nap in my afternoon.

Love ya'll - more catch up tomorrow.

things they don't tell you

The doctor dropped that word on April 9th. Just like saying "it's lunchtime". Then on April 16th, they removed my left kidney and with it a golf ball sized cancerous tumor. Going into surgery, I was afraid. Afraid of two things, pain and puking. I had no idea what to expect pain wise, but puking that was familiar. Everytime anethesia is used on me I throw up -- big time. It was a topic of serious discussion with my anesthsia team. They did a fabulous job of controlling that -- I had traditional drugs - Zofran and phenergan, plus a motion sickness patch - all done before - but the seemingly magic ingredient in that concoction - benadryl. No idea why that worked but it did.

Arrive at the hospital - happy drugs - no more fears until they are sitting you on the side of the bed. By then it's too late to worry about the pain, you just do it.

Here are the fun things nobody really tells you.

1. They will teach you to get up and down from the hospital bed. This is great information for the few days you are there. It won't help at all when you get home. My bed ain't got any of those damn buttons and the call nurse feature involved tapping the snoring man to my left until he was awake enough to pull or push or whatever we were trying at that moment.

2. Taking pain meds in the middle of the night. Those nurses brought them to me in my bed, with juice or water and a little something to eat. At home, tap said man, drag butt out of bed, go pee, then stand at the kitchen island, eating whatever cracker is handy and drink soda out of the bottle. (Shhh - that's our secret)

3. That big cushy sofa that swallows you so nicely for a sunday afternoon nap, well it is not friendly with a twelve inch gash across your abdomen. You may need the man and a softball player to help you up from there. Not a great feeling when the urge to go to the bathroom finaaly comes.

4. About that -- TMI WARNING. Take your pain meds and take your meds that offset that side effect of the pain meds. Eat more fiber than the field next door. Be ready for that urge at random and inconvenient times. Be warned, this is quite possibly more uncomfortable than anything else. Here's one more for the TMI file - next time you go, try wiping on the other side. It is an enlightening experience that everyone should have.

5. It does not matter what time you shower, the second you get in the shower, someone will arrive at the door, with food, or best wishes. Again, you cannot plan to avoid this. I have showered at 7am and at 10pm - this has happened repeatedly.

6. Wander outside in your pjs - say around noon - serious bed hair because the sofa has had you swallowed. YOU WILL RUN INTO THE REALLY CUTE UPS GUY YOU GO TO CHURCH WITH. He will smile and wave and be super nice - he's really thinking -"glad that didn't wake up at my house this morning."

7. It doesn't matter how much weight you have lost, adding an elastic and velcro corset will destroy any illusion of a waistline you have. Plus this nice undergarment has no provision for garters or stockings, therefore rendering it useless for future corset wearing opportunities

8. Toenails - can't reach them - wear socks.

This one is serious - those little bolster pillows filled with the fiber pellets. The super squishy ones. These are wonderful. I got all that we had in the house and I get in bed then poke and tuck them to pad sore spots ---- yes blissful relief. It also keeps the man from rolling over and endangering his life, because something hurt you.

Hey ya'll MaggieGrace is back. I have missed you.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

We sing this every Sunday. I have been guilty of singing it without even thinking about it. But today I am pondering those words carefully and what they mean to me and my family.

I am a very blessed woman. Three weeks ago, I felt blessed, but today everything is different. The list of people I need to thank and can never make them understand just how important that they are is unbelievable.

Im uncomfortable, but that means the surgeon got it all.I have a pile of dishes to do, because so many have fed my family.

Blew a hole in all record cell phone and text usage, because so many reached and wrapped their arms around us via their words and calls.

I have learned first hand that people want to and will help each other.

Over the next few days, I'll be here posting blessings and thanksgivings. Starting here with MARYANN AND JEN V. You have no idea how badly I want to hold these women close to my heart, cry tears of love and celebration with them and generally love them back, the way they have loved me in the last few weeks.

And The Man at my Address, who even went to get the prom dress. He has been right there thru all this, from hearing that CANCER word dropped rather casually from the docs mouth, to bringing me one more cup of tea. He has even learned the right tension to put this dang corset on. Thank you so much -

This was scary and quick and I am just now finding my way back, but hey, we are on the way now.

Have a beautiful day - I know that I am.

Results are in!

The pathology results are back from mom's operation!

6 cm rapid growth kidney cancer, fully contained. No chemotherapy or radiation. Prognosis for a full recovery.

Is it just me, or can everyone actually start breathing again? RELIEF. :)

~College Girl

Smiling Kidney?

Mother Teresa is doing well! She has been up and awake all day and has cut her pain medications in half! So glad she's starting to return to the normal world again. Now if I can get her out of my very comfortable bed... :)

She was very excited to receive an awesome package in the mail. Probably one of the funniest (and most random) packages she has ever gotten: a kidney. Only Very Mary would think of an idea like that. Mad props. Haha.

Once again, a big shout out to all those praying for Mom! Thank you oh so much.

Oh, and for anyone who has sent her flowers... Our dining room table is now covered with them! We can't even eat at it. But it's not like we ever eat at the table anyways. Thank you for your love, care and generosity!

~College Girl

Home, Sweet Home

Mother Teresa is home and resting in (MY) bed, due to the fact that it is easier to get in and out of my bed. I guess I can at the very least sacrifice my mattress for her. :)

I have heard rumors that she is also wearing what she calls a "velcro corset without the garters", which is basically a device given to her by the doctors to keep her from bending over but to stretch her ab muscles as well. I just thought her description was pretty funny.

She is disappointed that they took away her pole though. No more pole dancing for Mother Teresa!

Mom extends a special thanks, once again, for all your support and prayers. You guys are awesome. Props.

Love,

College Girl

Mom is Rejoining the Living

Mom asked me to update maggiegrace and let everyone know how she is doing. The surgery went well, and she is in the recovery process. Other than being angry about being confined to eating jello and chicken broth, she seems to the doing alright. She has been sitting up and even taking pretty long walks down the hallway. Thanks to everyone for all your thoughts and prayers!

Love, Molly (a.k.a. College Girl)

Don't forget........

I have made this one mine. Last night I sat down and wrote a note in the front of this journal. A note to my friends and family. Not a morbid note at all. See I am fine. Gonna be anyway. I am so very appreciative of every call, every meal, gift, visit, on an on. And, just like everyone else, I say "I'll never forget what you did for me." But I also know that time erases details from our memories. I know that in the next few days, there may be visits or calls or actions that happen without me being fully aware. So I have asked my family to keep this book available for my friends and family - to leave me notes, funnies, whatever. I have added drawings already from my Sunday School kids. I have listed "special angels" who have stepped forward and made things go smoothly. I have printed emails that touched me. (Ellen Kelly - lady you rock.) This will be my touchstone, my reminder of those who helped me carry this challenge. It will be a record of those who danced with me in this particular show. Whatever this book becomes in the next few weeks, starting it and adding the few things I have already added, has shown me just how blessed my family is.

I learned years ago to focus on those blessings, and this will be a fabulous record for those blessings.

Til after this calms down.

Have a wonderful day. ---- Teresa

a finished WIP

And when I looked at this just now, I realized that this is a great phrase to claim this morning.

The Georgia Theatre Art Quilt Project is approaching final call. MaggieGrace has suddenly been sidelined with an unexpected CANCER timeout. Well my surgery is Friday and this needed to be finished just in case, so last night I perched on the sofa (like the Queen that I am) and finished it.

My artists statement includes phrases like repurpose, recycle, mixed media art, explore new ways to use normally toss away materials and I have lots of that stuff. (Most people would call it JUNK)

I took a broken record album - no need for those anymore. and printed a guitar shape and the RISE AGAIN phrase out.


I glued it to the album from the back and cut out the shape with the words attached. I love my dremel. Note - this part has been complete for quite some time. I liked it all black, but then, digging thru the stash, I found some lightweight aluminum and decided to feature the GA. Cut the letters and using old print blocks from my buddy VERY MARY, I textured those letters just a bit.

I printed the Logo from the theatre website and relabeled the album.

What I did last night was sitch down my "light show" fabric, add the studs to the background, and USING some E6000 adhesive, glued the cutout down.

Now - I gotta dig in the boxes to find something I JUST KNOW I HAVE. Years ago, I was given a guitar pick by a guy who had all of his printed "timmy on the bass". Lets say I have had my party years, because I really can't even remember what he looked like. But anyway, I know I kept that and I think it is in a little watch box in the stash somewhere. (Go ahead only you other craft stash people understand that). I want to attach that to the smaller lightshow patch. But the thing can be finished just like it is.

A MaggieGrace update. The stress level is high. The emotion levels are high. The area around me is loaded with land mines. I am positive and upbeat 98% of the time. But approach during that other 2% and the trigger sensitivity is increased. Enter at your own risk. Unfortunately The Man at my Address stepped on one of those this morning. My apology was as immediate as I could do it, but I sure would like to be on the other side of this quickly. I have things to turn over that I do automatically, its hard to remember what they are and who to ask to cover it.

Soccer tonight - pre op tomorrow - surgery prep Thursday - Surgery Friday - Full day from hell Saturday. Anyone interested in switching lives with me right now?

Have a great day --- T

light duty until

eta - Surgery is scheduled on Friday morning. April 16th.


I am at work. STOP ---- THE DOC SAID I COULD.

I cannot lift anything heavier than a coke bottle. I had a few things to tie up. So I am taking care of those. The emergency bleeding is over - so now we will proceed at a little less stressful pace. They will schedule an OR and a team to remove my left kidney.

I will post the date here.

You guys are great. The support from all the world has poured in. I am so appreciative of every comment and every prayer.

Now I shall confess -- MaggieGrace - Teresa - SHE IS SCARED. There - said it - fessed it up - move on.

They are 98% sure this is cancer. A word I refused to bow down to 14 years ago. A word I refuse to bow down to now. Only now I am stronger. Surrounded by better people to support me. While I am sure there are going to be pity party moments in the next few weeks, I know they will pass. Please bear with me.

I will try to post thru the process and will for sure be back as I recover. You may get random posts from those around me. Although I am a little concerned about how giving some people access to this blog could affect what you guys think of me LOL.

Again I thank you for your support -

I hope you guys have a blessed day.

from my hospital bed

I am a blogger. So here we go.

It is quite possible that I have cancer. Kidney cancer. The scans for the stone issue indicate a mass in my left kidney.

I am in the hospital and looking at surgery within a few days.

Needless to say, MaggieGrace goodies may be in short supply.

Please pray.

Running commentary at my facebook. Teresa Atkinson.

a post with no pix

An update of sorts. There is no kidney stone. More than likely wasn't one.

When the xray tech shakes her head. And the practitioner shakes her head. And the doctor shakes his head. Changes are good the soon to be occuring discussion is not gonna be pretty.

There are details that follow this that are medically graphic and pretty much gross..... Consider yourself warned.

I got up around 2am to pee.

Urine stream stops abruptly.

Urine is bright red with blood.

There is no more pee coming no matter what.

phone call doctor - they work me in - 2 hours in waiting room - NO DAMN STONE. Add to this now - they don't take my insurance. Discuss with money people, decide to see doctor and pay this out of pocket.

Add monkey tail (catheter) I get to keep it until monday. Bright red blood. Look at images - nope - NO STONE.

Blood culture - urine culture - tests for abnormal cells (the "c" word) Treat it right now as if it is a serious infection. Teach me care and feeding (just kidding) of monkey tail.

For now - I am uncomfortable - monkey tail is larger than the tube so the constant urge felt to go. Then there are tubes acroos my stomach and down my leg to a bag full of still bright red urine.

The last thing the doc said -- relax, go about your business as normal, have a good weekend, see you monday?

Is spitting the phrase "yeah right" an appropriate way to end that conversation?

Me and monkey tail are headed to concession duty tonight, senior night stuff tomorrow night, and then west georgia college on Saturday for volleyball. Sunday School on Sunday - then maybe answers on Monday morning. Oh and here I sit at work.


YEAH RAH -----

The newest color trend

There is a new color trend here in the south. Houses are being covered in it. Cars too. I have even noticed some floors and furniture this color. Last night, our black lab, Licorice, was in on the color change as well.

Its a bright, chartruese (sp?) almost flourescent yellow green color.

Sherwin Williams, Valspar, Behr all call it the same name ----- POLLEN.




The normally black bumper on my boss' car.

There is no sticky left on this spider web. Look closely - the poor little spider in the middle may starve, all he has captured is pollen grains. When you look across the landscape, even the air is yellow, hazy, almost as thick as fog. (that's Earl and Sugar in the picture)

A slightly different view of the web.

Last night I crocheted squares together on my little granny blanket. After bootcamp. My blue shorts were coated with a granular yellow. My dark green tshirt too. You can even fell the grainy texture on your skin. Nasty.

Happens this time every year. Tomorrow the weather men are predicting rain. And for a few days there will be less of it in the air. Welcome to springtime in Georgia.

Have a wonderful day.

WIP's

I've got several things started. I've got a list of items that people want. I've got a list of "house" things I want to do. So the next couple of weeks are gonna be WIP finishes.

I AM ALSO NOT ADDING TO THE STASH. Hoarding a kidney stone and all that other crap in my studio is bad enough, so this project will be my focus one for right now. (the afghan I spoke of yesterday is the travel project, so I kinda don't count it.)

The great big bag of yarn that the Easter Bunny brought also included these..........


A big pile of granny squares. I am not adding to the stash.... repeat.... I am not adding to the stash. So I grabbed a vinyl tablecloth and flipped it over, to make a tacky (as in sticky) design surface and went to the front porch on Sunday evening. In the sun. Yummy. I arranged these in a random (kinda) pattern.

The problem with these is that they came with lots and lots of tails.

Have I mentioned that I hate to weave in tails? I hate it enough that I always weave mine in as I go, because I can tolerate one at a time much better than bunches of them. But after I spread these out, I sat in the porch glider and proceeded to turn those tails into this..........

A little pile of ends. I am about a third of the way finished. I will be making a small "baby" sized granny blanket out of these and three skeins of worsted weight yarn from the same bag. The blanket will go with our church mission team to Mexico. No stash hoarding. I'll be updating you as I get closer to finishing this.

Also on the target list is my quilt square for the Georgia Theatre Project and Soccer Senior Recognition night materials.

Have a wonderful wonderful day.

happy hooking

Wonder how that's gonna affect my search stats.

Thrifted and free yarn normally enters my life in bits. Tangled knarly bits. I'll dump it out and clean it up then add the small bit to my scrap basket.

But sometimes the Easter Bunny is really good to you. Softball Princess came home from soccer on Friday afternoon with a big bag of yarny goodness. And I do mean goodness. Look. Entire sleeves of lustersheen yarn. The purple and orange are really not my colors so I'll be making market bags from them. But that neutral varigated in the back ----- MMMMM. This is from the stash of a lady at church.

So while that is patiently waiting on the corner of the dining room table, I am trying to rid the stash of this bag. Two ply herschnerrs afghan yarn. Some full skeins, some pieces.

I cram a few skeins into my travel bag and at ballgames and other waitings, I add a few stitches. College Girl had her wisdom teeth cut out this weekend so in the waiting room and then at home all weekend, I stitched. It's a quiet activity so I didn't disturb her. (The boy was there most of the time, so I didn't have to do too much. He has been very good to her.)

I posted about crocheting on my facebook and Dana asked what I was working on. This will be a scrappy blanket. The kind we toss in the car for bleachers and ballgames that go on into the cool of the night. It might find its way onto the sofa or a bed - never know.

There is no pattern here. No plan of attack. When I get to the end of a skein, I tie on another and keep on keeping on. That purple you see there - is about a 20 inch little part of the row.

We have several of these floating around. Made by my mom. All of us grab one from time to time and love them. It feels good to snuggle under - by yourself, with somebody, or occasionally the random animal.

While I can read patterns, this is not one. I crocheted a chain until it looked good lengthwise. Double crochet in each chain, chain three, turn, back and forth, mindless, meditative work. MMMMM.

I'll post a picture of it when I finally finish. Meanwhile I got a couple of WIP's that need my attentions this week. More on that tomorrow.

Have a wonderful day.

(College Girl is fine. She's back at work this morning. Still tired and sore, but well on they way to being back to norm. )

Thank you thank you thank you.

Cell phone picture snapped during the happy dance last night.

Those yellow roses were on my door steps yesterday with a card that says....

"To celebrate you, 50lbs lighter, and to bring some sunshine into your day to take away the pain:) Love, Me"

Oh ME - I love you and your gesture of kindness and friendship has just blown me away.

I did celebrate - I danced - I giggled - I am so blessed and I recognize that.

Oh ME - did I already say that I love you.

(Besides all that the flowers did for me. Have to say a large part of the celebration was over the look on the Man at my Address face. :) LOL)

I hope your days are full of fabulous surprises.

I learned a new word yesterday......

2007_08_25 Tent Cabin Interior
Originally uploaded by d_m_w

And became reaqauinted with another one.

The new word - ASTHENIA - it means muscle fatigue. As in extreme muscle fatigue. Like can't hold a hairdryer up long enough to get my short hair dried fatigue.

The word I knew but had never really experienced - MYALGIA - it means muscle pain. As in "oh god don't touch me it hurts" pain. All over one's body.

Both words are listed as side effects for ENDOCET - the prescribed pain med for kidney stones and can last up to 10 days after the last dose. I thought I might die from the side effects.

PSA - RANT COMING - I tend to believe that the medical community often doesn't give you the entire picture and that each person needs to become their own advocate. My breast cancer story would had been much more traumatic if I had not insisted on a lumpectomy immediately, because the docs assured me that I was too young for this to be any reason for concern. I am fortunate - I have access to the information and the common sense to know to track stuff down. So when I called the office to tell them how I felt, I knew what to tell them and what to ask. I am also not afraid of demanding answers. Others may not have this ability. But what I found out actually enraged me. Fibromyalgia - an often misdiagnosed condition with symptoms of muscle pain and fatigue - is a familiar word for me. More than one of my friends suffers from the condition. Yet the medicine that I was prescribed for the excruciating pain of a kidneystone, and actually CAUSED those symptoms, is commonly prescribed for fibromyalgia patients. WAIT -- WHAT????? WTF?!?!?! Surely we have better than that. I actually (in a more than confrontational voice) said that to the practitioner. This is America folks - we are intelligent and supposed to be responsible people - yet we are feeding the monster of ill health. And that is my rant. My self earned degree in advocacy - was validated. We cannot blindly follow where the medical community leads us. Informed patients are powerful patients. Become informed and stand up for yourself. OKAY NUFF SAID -- RANT OVER.

The picture has not one thing to do with the post - but i love the idea of a small guest house/studio/ retreat on the land where I grew up. Somewhere close enough by to escape to regularly. Built simply and furnished sparsely, available to be used for an afternoon or even a week. HMMMMM.

Now about some fun stuff already for the day.

I left my cereal on the tray by the sofa - Poca Dog discovered she likes Frosted Flakes and milk.

College Girl asked me to sign her for something that I am already doing so she can go with me. (more on that later).

I get great joy from making my store manager's day a challenge sometimes. (the feeling is mutual on his part I promise)

I have on a pair of pants that I haven't worn in at least 5 years. I have lost some 50 pounds - I may have a few creep back on because I can eat food again.

I would much rather have cherry trees in my yard. Bradford pears are beautiful but they stink. Cherry Trees are just as stunning and they don't smell bad.

Yesterday, I was feeling awful and hurting and basically a teary nasty mess, but I cam home to a FedX package on my door step. It was this prize I won over at Little Bluebird's place. Rosalyn-Sue takes better pictures than me - so go ever there and look. That big sucker was packaged in a shirt box - yes it is that big. Thanks sweet boy for picking my number.

I ordered some more Glimmer Mist. I bought my first bottle not too long ago and I am in love. I cannot wait to get these new colors.

I finally am beginning to feel like me.

It's a good day.

Waving the white flag of surrender.......

MaggieGrace is whipped. Beat. Defeated. I will never be addicted to pain meds - I take them as needed, but I really hate how they make me feel. And how I feel after I quit taking them. The kidney stone pain is now at a point where I can manage it with OTC meds - Advil and Aleve. But all of my muscles are weak weak weak - like jello weak.

Yesterday - MaryAnn's advice seemed so unnecessary. Rest -- not even. Besides, MaggieGrace was BORED. I have repeatedly uttered that I do not sit still well at all. But I didn't have the energy for an all out studio cleanse (and that will be required before serious use again). But I gathered up a couple of boxes - the paper cutter and a few hand punches. Add glue stick. Then I traipsed off into the house.


I dumped paper scraps out of all those boxes onto the table. I gathered up those envelopes that I made and posted about here. I initially just found pieces big enough for note flats. Then went back and started some simple punching and collaging embellishments.

Here are a few of the results. A little space for a few words.

Because - I have learned from my beautiful friend MaryAnn that it really doesn't take a long letter. I get little notes often from her. a couple of lines - sometimes several. And every one of them makes my day. I am taking these lessons from her and trying so hard to apply them. But she is mos def one of my family's favorite people. We love you sweetie.

MaggieGrace ran out of steam before said little diversion project was finished. But I'll be back there tonight finishing up. And hey ----- this was all made from scrap/stash. Because apparently, I keep everything.

Hell - right now I'm even hoarding that damn kidney stone.

Have a wonderful day.

Oh and just a little fun stuff. My sister in law Lynda and her big brother who also happens to be "the man at my address". Barefoot Boy's hair looks a lot like this right now ------

Home Remedy

Pictures of a pretty postcard I had in my stuff.

So Thursday night found me throwing up despite taking taking the anti nausea drugs they give chemo patients and in severe pain. Taking prescription pain meds - sleeping under the influence of those meds - waking up and counting the seconds until I could take another pain pill. I have taken a cocktail of prescription stuff. I WAS MISERABLE. I also hate the way they make me feel in general so no worries about any addiction problems.

A customer had given me a home remedy that inxluded fresh black watermelon seeds as an ingredient. Fresh out of watermelon and it turns out so are the grocery stores in this neck of the woods. (I'll be freezing me some seeds with the first one I cut though).

Well I got this handy dandy DROID phone. You know - the phone I hate. It has google search easily available. I typed in lots of words before I got it right -- go ahead laugh - I did - remember I was pretty stoned anyway. I finally googled "KIDNEY STONE HOME REMEDIES" and decided that the very first one I found that I had the stuff to create, I was gonna do. Well I found a concoction on several sites that was very similar, and I had the stuff in my pantry/fridge.

A tablespoon of olive oil and a tablespoon of lemon juice. (Notice I found various amounts of the mixture referenced but it was always an equal amount.) Nothing poisonous or unknown in there. Shouldn't hurt me. So I crafted it up - in a tequila shot glass - cause I had one handy - imagine that - and I downed it. Not so bad. Then the battle to keep it in my tummy - that was a challenge - a true battle of wills - but I did. Then like magic that stone moved out of my kidney. And in a matter of 6 hours the nausea eased up. I was better.

I have had worse shots that involved alcohol - I'm thinking JAGER BOMBS --- LOL. So I repeated said concoction on Saturday morning, Saturday night, Sunday Morning, Sunday Night, and this morning. The stone is still there, but it is moving down as it should be and the pain and nausea are SO * MUCH * BETTER.

I am at work and trying to get a few things done. Still very, very weak. But a lot better.

I am alsp at my lightest weight in the last 10 years. I lost 9 pounds since last Wednesday. I'll gain some of that back - but hey its my story and I'm telling this my way.

Thanks so much for the calls and emails and prayers and good vibrations sent my way. It's all headed towards good.

Maybe MaggieGrace can accomplish something this week.

Out of Comission

Kidney stones.

Sweet prescription narcotics.

Zofran is a magical drug.

Being stoned at work -- makes life better for everyone.

See you guys in a few.