Day 14

Did a load of laundry for Drox and I, phone calls from SJSK re: the van's gas gauge and what to do, changed credit card bill mailing address, changed mailing address with USPS (used the other computer because ours has problems and had a trojan virus that steals passwords and who knows if it is actually cleared up because spyware doctor has no history any more and doesn't update when it scans... anymore ;-Þ) Yeesh!
Listened to Elder Bednar's talk on prayer whilst I had unfrozen waffles for brunch.

My visiting teachers came and are very nice, brought a gift and card and the talk chosen to share was Elder Uchtdorf's from the Women's Broadcast, great talk, good choice.

Spoke to the county lady, she extended the deadline to get info back to her, said yes, go see your doctor Monday and discuss postponing the second operation with him (what his office said when I called to ask about options) and clarified that part of the things on the list are for the hospitals to provide, not me... the list went to them also.

Looking forward to taking a walk when Drox gets home, the sun is out!

Day 11

SAK dropped me at the Surgery Center just before 0800, I paid the anesthesiology bill from the 14 Oct procedure by phone from the lobby ;-} and then went back for round two... also put down 295 to the doctor for today and 500 to the center... they had asked for 150 and 250 but they have been so nice and discounted alot so I wanted to do more. The doctor got my pay check for the work I did in October above and beyond rent and the center took a bigger bite out of my plastic... I am thrilled I am able to earn money AND that I have the plastic available!

SO, now to the important parts, even tho the stint made it nigh on impossible to walk for exercise for the last two weeks, I lost 7 more pounds! As the nurse pointed out to me, after they successfully removed all 4 stones!!!!!! and the stint, I weigh less than 200! ! ! Best of all, I do NOT have a stint! Serious. He didn't need to put one in. I am SO stoked but I am waiting until Drox leaves for school in the morning to take my first real walk, have to let you know how far I get ;-} Have to set a mark to surpass!

Thank you for all the prayers in my behalf. Today's results surpassed my boldest dreams... I really did expect a stint for at least a few days. I also came out of the anesthesia much better, did not have to take a pain pill... at least not yet, and can move freely... what a blessing!

SJSK reread Elder Bednar's talk on prayer and recommended it to me, and her visiting teachers, and talked about how following his advice was having a positive effect on her life. I read some of it last night and put it to use this morning. Listened to the entire talk tonight on the computer. I am really glad she shared her impressions.

Buh's transfer to Meridian has been approved! His first day of work will be 3 Dec. happy day! He also agreed to mail my mail to me tomorrow in a flat rate box like Le and I discussed. I want to get the info in to the county indigent people even tho I probably won't need them if I don't do the second surgery, especially w/Buh moving down... and I hope Le - if they can find someone to take over the lease. Know anyone in Bellingham looking for a duplex?

I am blessed.

Day 6

Didn't get home last night until 2235... 0830 was the county interview (hour and a half) for help from the indigent fund, spent an hour plus at a high school in Boise and then 4+ at the high school in Jerome. When I made it home SJSK greeted me with, I have an early Christmas present for you... she is making a quilt and noticed my enthusiasm so bought fabric in colors Drox likes for me to make a quilt for/with him. Very thoughtful and very sweet. I was really under the weather especially the second half of the day, worried about if I would even make it until the next stone procedure this coming Tuesday. Everything felt wrong (tender, touchy, not well) and the long drive to and from Jerome didn't help.

Today was better but I still had to take a nap. We spent 3+ hours at a local high school tonight. Drox is home today and tomorrow, parent teacher conferences... which I worked thru... and teacher recovery, I mean inservice. Today SJSK mentioned how happy she was that Prop 8 in CA passed (marriage is between a man and a woman). Eventually she believes people will cave but for now marriage is still what God intended... per the scriptures... and mentioned that it is a blessing that God is not sending more than we can handle. Obama AND opening the door to the church being forced to stop marrying people in the temple if they won't marry same gender couples there, would be too much in her opinion. I found it refreshing that she is comforted by the knowledge that God is involved in all facets of life and cares about how we are affected by politics as much as anything else... not expressing this well at all, I can tell I am up too late!

Day 4

a day that will live in infamy...
I'm too old to ask how this could happen, how dim can people be? he is NOT going to pay your mortgage or fill your gas tank! That poor woman will find that out all too soon.

So, on the positive side, great Home, Family and Personal Enrichment meeting tonight, Drox took little Brown Dude to his final resting place so he won't have to suffer anymore, SJSK and I talked about real things and I have hope that maybe I won't have the surgery in December, listened to Elder Holland's CES address to start the day and found more things that I need for the interview tomorrow and I still feel calm and peaceful about the appointment in the morning.

I will be influenced more by my children, instead of me influencing them.

They (and their generation*) do have lots to offer! Ddonn mentioned in her blog that she was looking for a theme for this month's posts, since it apparently is national blog posting month, and I like one of my suggestions to her enough to try it myself ;-}

Here is the quote upon which it is based - Elder Henry B Eyring "I wrote down a few lines every day for years. I never missed a day no matter how tired I was or how early I would have to start the next day. Before I would write, I would ponder this question: 'Have I seen the hand of God reaching out to touch us or our children or our family today?' As I kept at it, something began to happen. As I would cast my mind over the day, I would see evidence of what God had done for one of us that I had not recognized in the busy moments of the day. As that happened, and it happened often, I realized that trying to remember had allowed God to show me what He had done." November 2007 Ensign (October 2007 General Conference)

-and I will have to post twice today to cover yesterday I suppose... MAK's baptism was yesterday which brought back memories of my own baptism in July 1962! and all the consequent blessings I have enjoyed over the years. People were over for lunch, etc. and in one of the discussions a visitor mentioned a talk by Elder Joseph B Wirthlin, October conference 2006, which I looked up, listened to, read and felt encouraged by... again
"I think that of all the days since the beginning of this world's history, that Friday was the darkest.
But the doom of that day did not endure.
The despair did not linger because on Sunday, the resurrected Lord burst the bonds of death. He ascended from the grave and appeared gloriously triumphant as the Savior of all mankind.
And in an instant the eyes that had been filled with ever-flowing tears dried. The lips that had whispered prayers of distress and grief now filled the air with wondrous praise, for Jesus the Christ, the Son of the living God, stood before them as the firstfruits of the Resurrection, the proof that death is merely the beginning of a new and wondrous existence.
Each of us will have our own Fridays—those days when the universe itself seems shattered and the shards of our world lie littered about us in pieces. We all will experience those broken times when it seems we can never be put together again. We will all have our Fridays.
But I testify to you in the name of the One who conquered death—Sunday will come. In the darkness of our sorrow, Sunday will come.
No matter our desperation, no matter our grief, Sunday will come. In this life or the next, Sunday will come." http://lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,23-1-646-11,00.html

{*The visitor wasn't my child but he was the age of my children ;-} AND we gained an extra hour of sleep last night -a man made plus, but welcome none the less. Now I will update Wil's age and get ready for the coming day.

I will be grateful for things I never even noticed...

So, I have 4 stones in the right ureter, and apparently some in the right kidney, tumors on the right ovary, larger than the ovary and an irritated intestine due to the nearby pain and invasion of space.

I am scheduled to have the stones removed 14 Oct. 08. They are too low to do ESWL and it will be a 3 hour procedure to insert a camera in the bladder, blast the stones and pull out the fragments. The lowest one is 10mm, above it are 3 more - 8mm each, and this is in the ureter blocking the flow from the right kidney, which wreaks havoc on the kidney.

I am scheduled to have a hysterectomy 2 Dec. 08 because of the theory that at my age the ovaries are NOT going to stop making cysts/ tumors and I don't really need all of that stuff any more, even tho' I haven't managed to do the menopause thing yet.

I know the stone procedure will happen, I can cover a lot of the cost up front... plastic. I am not as sure the female operation will come off as planned, have to work with the hospital in question to find financing possibilities. Meanwhile Drox and I are living with SAK and family to save money on expenses thereby giving me more to throw at the medical bills. It is a blessing to be safe and fed and loved. I am loved by lots of people and I am not taking it for granted!