Just Like Ligtening!

Once upon a time, there was a girl named Wonelle and a boy named Wood. They met and fell in love. Then they decided to get married. They had a beautiful wedding and all of the people that were important to them came to the wonderful celebration. After Wonelle and Wood got married they decided to have a baby. The baby grew and grew inside Wonelle's tummy for a long time. Then one day the baby decided that it was time to come out. After three long days and a bit of help from Wood, Doula, and Dr. I, Twig was born! And we were very, very happy!



In this photo, we are in Hawaii vacationing with friends. We had been married just over a year. I am pleased to not be pregnant. Twig is 5 months old. He's so pudgy, sweet, happy, and addicted to chi-chi milk. Wood was shell-shocked. I was miserable. Five months into parenting and we all were overwhelmed with our new-found-family.

Wedding daze, pregnancy haze, and the nursing maze are all quite distant now. We've been married for over 4 years, I haven't been pregnant for three, and nursing ended seven months ago. I feel like the woman that walked on clouds after our wedding and before pregnancy. It's strange but maybe Three is the magic number.

Happy Birthday, Twig!

!!! Gall-ish !!!

Since previous tests were inconclusive for gallstones, further tests have been ordered. A blood test to determine whether or not I have a bacteria that causes ulcers and a CAT Scan using radioactive dye to see how my gallbladder and digestive system in general are working. Apparently this test can show stones and sludge (same stuff that the stones are made of just in a less hardened form) that the Ultrasound won't pick up. In the meantime, my pain is mostly gone with the aid of drugs and a very bland, high fiber, low fat diet (read: tasteless and boring). I've lost several pounds during the ordeal because since it's started, I've been anything but hungry...

I'm traveling today for work - an overnight trip - and even though Twig and Wood will do fine together, I always feel a bit melancholy when I leave my boys. It's the Mama thing.

We've got a large scale plumbing project going on - not entirely by choice, either. The natural gas lines were leaking and when Wood was attempting to repair the gas leak, that made the hot water heater break (it was overdue - it was date stamped 1953 for goodness sake), which begged the question: do we do a half-way repair or rip out all of the old galvanized pipes and put copper in? You already know the answer to the question...

The water issue is causing Wood a fair amount of distress - I don't really care about not having hot water. Granted, it's a pain when considering showers but all else - no big deal (and I can shower at the gym). However, Twig's 3rd birthday is in a couple of weeks and Grammie is coming to town. He's flipped out that she'll flip out if we don't have any hot water.

Hopefully, the boys have a good overnight together, my tummy continues to cooperate, and the plumber shows up this weekend.

Now, I have to go pack.

??Gall-ish??

Well, after a trip to the ER, an Ultrasound that showed nothing abnormal, and some advocacy on the part of my Husband, the Doctor saw me today. She believes that there are three possibilities as to my upper right abdominal pain:

1) strained abdominal muscle
2) Gall Stones and/or Duct problems
3) Smoldering Appendicitis

However, I appear to have none of the other symptoms that would normally present with such problems (#2 &3, that is). She prescribed new meds, told me to not eat any fatty foods (practically impossible unless you're a rabbit), and to not go to work.

I'm feeling really bitchy because of the pain and not knowing. And because I really have a lot to do at work. My boss is on vacation for the rest of the month, my co-worker is out because of a recent appendicitis, and another co-worker recently resigned. There are two regular people and a temp there right now. Grr.

Wood is going out of town this weekend on a "get drunk" Skunk Train trip with a bunch of his friends. I refuse to let him cancel on account of me. It's already paid for, it's been on the calendar for months, and one of the guys is traveling from Pennsylvania for the festivities. I'm feeling bitchy but despite the pain, even I've got a heart.

I'll brave my mom for the weekend and look forward to a couple of friends whose Husbands are on the same trip and/or traveling this weekend that have offered a get together on Saturday evening. I'll gladly take my drugs and count the hours until the next step in this gall-ish process.

Now it's time for trash TV and some sleep. I love our living room furniture. It's really comfy.

Gall-ish

For a long time, years maybe, I will periodically have pain on the right side of my upper abdomen, just below my ribs. It feels like an amazing gas bubble or constipation and it's tough to breathe in. Doing so makes it feel like someone is stabbing me.

About 2 weeks ago, I had a bout with this pain that lasted a full day and had me doubled over with pain unable to move. It was the stabbing sensation combined with a horrible muscle spasm that kept me down. It eventually subsided but has never really gone away.

After a week of fairly severe pain, I called my doctor's office. They fit me in with a Nurse Practitioner whose first question was "is there any possibility that you're pregnant?" HA! None whatsoever, thank-you-very-much! She did her exam and said that it was unremarkable, at one point making a comment to the effect that I hadn't given her the "whole story", but suggested that I was having gall-stones. She referred me out for blood work and an ultrasound and said that if I had some other symptoms to go to the ER.

The weekend went by and starting Sunday night, I had the other symptoms. By Monday they were more severe. So being a thoughtful consumer I called my Doc's office first before going to the ER... After 4 hours of messages and calls back from the office staff stating that there were no appointments available, I went to the ER. Actually, since Wood was at work, Twig at school, and I hurt too badly to drive, my Mom took me to the ER. You know I'm feeling like shit if I call my Mom and ask her to help.

Four hours later, I've had an exam by the doctor who agrees with the Nurse Practitioner that it's Gall-stones. But the only thing that can confirm or rule it out is an ultrasound - but it's too late for that... She offered pain medication, to which I gladly agreed (it was the first offer throughout the entire ordeal and I had never thought to ask). Morphine in the hospital and a prescription for Vicodin at home. And orders to eat a no-fat diet until the Ultrasound on Thursday. Not that I want to eat much anyway, it hurts too much afterward, even with the drugs.

More later.

I've Been Simpsonized!

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