Until Next Year

Maggie has had a sum total of ONE bath since she joined us two years ago - and it was last summer.

So - I felt that it was time we try again this summer.

As you can see, it did not go well.

Really not well.

I'm not sure she will forgive me/us! Oh well, we'll try again next summer!

 

Greek Dancing

Practice is back! Which means it's time to measure KK's head against the flowers. She (and he!) just keeps growing!!

 

Our Happy Place

Our happy place - it can be in many locations, but usually there is water...friends...and/or copious amounts of fun. When we arrive in Ivy Log, GA, we find all three.

We leave before the sun comes up. I'll drive for a few hours before being greeted with a glorious sunrise over the corn or bean fields of Ohio.

.We will arrive - and there will always be shouts and glee - and usually cake. Because we're always celebrating something!

And then we just camp out - on the couch, on the boat, doesn't matter. We simply hang out with friends, absorbing their presence and kindness like a sponge. Snuggles on their dog, Bug, don't hurt either!

We'll tube and knee board and float....

We will go out for dinner at least once....

And act goofy along the way. 

We'll hang out some more....

Maaaaayyyybe do an adventure...this time, a water park ON the water.

We will play games and tease each other to no end...

And by the time it comes to a close, we plan for the next time....

I love it here.

 

More Birthdays and Babies

We took time to celebrate more birthdays on Hubs' side - and had a few new people to meet - including my newest great-niece in from Idaho. She's just a peach and my kids just adored her. So fun to snuggle a little one.

We also got time with Grammy - at 102.25, she's still kicking it and is a rock star. I know her body hurts and she's tired of this life - but I'm so glad we can still get time with her. And selfies!

 

There Was A Birthday In There

For my 48th birthday this year - my kids went to camp. Talk about a present! Hee Hee!

KK joined her BFF, Lucy, at Camp Manatou Lin for Harry Potter Week - she had a ball meeting new girls, trying new things...and hanging out at the same camp Bumpa did when he was her age....70 years earlier. SO COOL!

Bubs took one for the team at went to Ada Bible Serve Camp where he worked around town doing projects of service for those in need...charities or groups of individuals. It expanded his heart and his maturity. It was harder on me than him - but that's a story for another day.

 And somewhere in there, I had a birthday. Forty Eight trips around the sun and no signs of slowing down. WOO HOO!

My Buddy & More

My buddy - Uncle Jungle Matt - because my kids treat him like a jungle gym - sensed crazy had been in the air. And upon picking up the phone to chat - he informed me he was inbound to pilot a plane out of GRR the next morning.

So he came to spend the afternoon with Hubs and me - and cheer me up. Which, he most certain did.

Fourth of July weekend rolled around - and the kids had a ball at Grandma and Grandpa's lake house. They get more confident and adventurous each year - and I love that about them. They also still goof off well in the car together!
 

And, with sincere thanks to a colleague of Hubs from the ISD - we got our air conditioner replaced - and saved 30% off the other quote. Hallelujah for that!

Polly Positive checked in - and we are finding many things right with the world once again!

The Next Step That Wasn't

 So if I arrive home at 1:00am on a Wednesday...and I'm to check in to the hospital at 8:30am on a Thursday, am I crazy?

Don't answer that.

Hey - they tried to make it 8:30am on that same Wednesday. And if it wasn't that Thursday it was going to be well into July. So Thursday it is.

I'm writing this a few days after all this went down - and still back posting it to keep it in the timeline correct - so I'm in a better frame of mind than when this all happened.

Regardless - it's not a happy story.

Sometime on Wednesday after laundry and unpacking and feeling like it was the middle of the night in Athens, I finally reached out to Urology to say "hey - I don't have a check in time for tomorrow so what should I do?"

The honest response was to call the hospital and rattle a cage.

I did gently - they called back twice to ask a series of questions and I was clocked for 8:30am arrival, 10am procedure.

We got there on time on Thursday - and the room is full. Like can't really find a place to sit. Which ended up as no worries, I was called back within a minute. 

Upon walking back, I asked the nurse for a urine dip, I thought I had a UTI. She wasn't really a nurse, just the aide, I had to ask the nurse.

The new nurse said "well do you have any symptoms?"

Um, no, I don't. I just want an unnecessary test for you to charge my insurance AGAIN for the umpteenth time this year.

OF COURSE I DO!!

She was concerned because the doctor hadn't ordered one yet.

The other nurse - you get two - said behind the curtain "Just do it. Let her get the catch and if he says no, so what. But if he says yes, at least we have it."

Hallelujah, logic prevailed.

I did the quick cup thing - got in my gown, got comfy in my bed and had some fun, witty banter with the nurse. The logical one.

She has me sign off on a few "oscopy" tests and stent replacement. I stopped, joked and said this is an exit only procedure.

"Oh, it's just covering all our bases."

You know where this is going.

My urologist comes in, we chat about Europe, I explain that the leakage I've had for the entire month is still there and that I've probably given myself a UTI. He is pleased to hear there is a sample to test. He also mentions while he's down there, why doesn't he look to see if the cuff that was created by my hysterectomy has completely healed - because that peritoneal fluid that's leaking out really does need to stop.

Um, duh.

He's confident all will be well - but mentions if the stent hasn't protected the ureter long enough, I'll need another. And, if after that it still hasn't worked, we'll need to talk. Seriously.

The trip back to happy land was the last happy memory I have.

Adjust the mask - wake up later.

This time, I shot right out of anesthesia and asked how it went.

The stent went back in.

And my eyes leaked.

I wanted my husband - and with this ask and this level of conversation post sleepyhead moments - they can transition me from Post Op 1 to Post Op 2. Hubs walks in and we both cry. 

Not only has the ureter not healed - it still leaks under the flouroscopy. Which means its not a scab that healing slowly - it's still a hole. And...he can still see a small hole in the cuff area, too.

BLOODYMOTHERPUSSBUCKET.

A little med for nausea, a bucket, some cranberry juice and tissues. I want to go home.

I mope for a few hours.

May I also mention that it is 90* and our air conditioner is fully dead. Like not coming back, $6000+ for a new one?

We have a small portable one in our bedroom and I crawl into bed and cry in the only cool spot in the house.

A few hours later, my phone dings that I have a new test result on MyChart....and I have a raging UTI. I've never seen so many red exclamation points on a test result. I'm a mess.

But no call from the doctor.

So I call them...um, yea, I was right, I need meds. Just send them to Walgreens.

She calls back an hour later "oh, goodness, yes you do."

Oh for the love of all the tea in China.

Hubs gets the meds. I sulk.

I take the meds. I sulk more.

And then I go to bed. 

Friday - well, it's a new day and it is what it is. The meds are highly effective and I'm already doing better. The OBGYN appointment is July 14 and the stent is in until August 12. I just wait. And pray that I heal in time to prevent further appointments, procedures and/or surgeries. My body has had enough. I am one tough cookie and I am in good shape (physically otherwise healthy and more healthy than many). But I'm tired of all this crap that was never supposed to happen. 

So now we wait.

And you know how patient I am.