I had a super busy, super fun Saturday. We got home around 8 and I noticed my back and hip were starting to hurt a little. I tried my heating pad and naproxen – didn’t help. I tried a bath – didn’t help. Around 10:15 I decided to go to bed – I just couldn’t get comfortable. That lasted about 20 minutes. I got back up, tried the bath again. I started to feel queasy from the pain. And then started throwing up.
After an IM consult with Lisa, we decided to go to the ER. Dan took Ursula over there, I got ready (read “lined a trash can with bags for puke”). We got to the hospital just after midnight. Thankfully, no car or waiting room vomitting. The hospital did my check in and triage very fast (there was puking in triage). Then I had to wait in this waiting room – being in a waiting room with other people when you are a 9 on the pain scale and puking is not fun. Especially when it’s 1am and there are two groups who are at odds with each other and security has to come it. Thankfully, I was probably only there for 20-30 minutes.
Once in my room, they checked my urine and were pretty sure it was a kidney stone. They gave me pain and anti-nausea meds (yay!), then a CT scan. I have a lovely 5mm x 6mm stone on my right side. It seems to be stuck near the entrance to my bladder.
Since then, I have been on non-stop pain meds, plus anti nausea meds, antibiotics and even prostate meds (Flomax is supposed to relax things and help pass the stone). I saw a urologist Monday – they gave me a 30-40% chance of passing the stone and scheduled a procedure for Thursday morning if I hadn’t passed it by then. That’s 10 hours from now, so it looks like I’ll be having a cystoscopy in the morning. I am not a big fan of being anesthetized, but I will be SO happy to have this over with. I am tired, bored and cranky!
First grade is underway! Ursula has had an excellent first two days – she really likes her teacher, she has sweet kids in her class and there is just all sorts of “grader” excitement. There are 7 kids from her K class in her new class (out of 20ish). Her classroom has a smartboard and they have a student teacher through Thanksgiving (very exciting since 1st grade classes only have shared assistants).
Meeting her teachers on Monday:
She and I both have summer colds, so these pics are not great. They barely look like Ursula…
First day of school!
Backpack
Stuffy and sleepy at traditional IHOP breakfast
Dan is also feeling awake
Posing at school – we went straight from IHOP to school and got there early. Which meant – photos!
She rode the bus for the first time (ever) today. She is wearing clean clothes – she has two of those dresses.
Waiting with Trixie.
Bus!!!!
The bus was 15min. late today (which is apparently typical for the first week), but she was unable to tell me if the bus got to school before or after the tardy bell. It was definitely before OR after – we just don’t know which.
Not to be outdone by her big sister’s pediatrician visit last week, Trixie had a vet visit today. Where I learned that Ursula is not the only Curlin to have a huge growth spurt this year… In the last 6 months, Trixie has gained about 3 pounds. Depending on which weight check we believe (she was weighed on multiple scales at the vet), she’s gained 2.7-3lbs. In case this doesn’t sound dramatic, I will point out that in January she weighed 12.7 pounds. So it’s not “just” 3 pounds – it’s like 20%+ of her body weight. Aside from that, she is super healthy and doing well, so that is great. I just need to brush her teeth more. UGH.
I can’t remember if I have blogged about this, but I have changed Trixie’s diet twice this year, plus added some raw. I guess I wasn’t very careful about switching formulas – I kept amounts the same by volume without really thinking about calories. Plus adding in the raw. For a bigger dog, that probably wouldn’t be an issue. But, she’s not big so here we are…
Yesterday afternoon (Friday), I took Ursula to McDonald’s for lunch. The oh-so-fabulous McDonald’s closest to our house happens to be attached to a gas station. It is known for frequently being out of things and having an Obey sticker on the drive through menu, but at least it’s close. And has the aforementioned Obey sticker.
Anyway, while we were waiting (forever) for our food (because it is a crappy McDonald’s), we noticed a news van setting up filming in the parking lot. The giant antenna was up, so it was definitely a live update, not some taped fluff piece (also, what taped fluff would be at gas station McDonald’s?). As we were leaving, we passed a competing news van headed that way so something was definitely up.
This morning, I saw an article in the paper – apparently, the neighboring Wendy’s had been burglarized very early Friday morning. He was apprehended and the neighborhood is safe.
M: I found out why we saw those news people – Wendy’s was robbed. But they caught the bad guy, so it is safe.
U: Why didn’t he rob McDonald’s too?
M: Because they caught him and McDonald’s harder to rob because it has the gas station attached, so there are more people around.
U: But there is more money because it is a gas station AND McDonald’s!
There is a mouse inside my house.
The mouse is disliked by my spouse.
I want the mouse to go outside,
I fear Dan wants the mouse to die.
So, yes, a mouse. Affectionately known as House Mouse. Maybe 6 weeks ago, I saw *something* scurry out of the corner of my eye. Came out – ran back. This happened a few times, always late at night. I told Dan who said he thought it was a bug. Some sort of mystery giant bug that would see me and flee. Um – okay? But I looked around and didn’t see any evidence of a rodent, so I sort of forgot about it.
Then, Dan was away the whole week before Ursula’s birthday and I saw House Mouse for the first time. Once I saw House Mouse once, I saw him all.the.time – even during the day. U had a camp that week and with Dan away I guess it was just a very quiet week so House Mouse felt okay with coming out. (Note – Trixie is *completely* oblivious to all of this).
I was not really up for mouse removal, then it was Ursula’s birthday, then I stopped seeing the mouse. So I *thought* he went to find a new home. (Yes, laugh!). Then 2 nights ago – House Mouse was BACK.
So – yesterday we went and bought a trap. A no-kill, traps mice so you can free them trap. Which so far, is not at all appealing to House Mouse… I guess I need better bait?
On the plus side, I haven’t seen House Mouse since the trap has been out – maybe he decided to leave on his own.
You may have seen my tweet last week saying that per my closet door measurements, Ursula had grown 2 7/8 inches in 11 months (8/16/09 – 7/20/10). I was wrong. Or she grew a LOT last July. Because according to the pediatrician, she grew *over* 3 inches between her 6 and 7 year visits. (Sadly, I can’t find her 6 year stats – need to call the ped).
So, the official 7 year starts:
49 3/4″ tall (79%)
56 3/4lbs (75%)
She is SO big. Like gigantic. What I notice the most (besides her super short clothes – her uniforms are all 2 sizes bigger than last year’s!) is how big her hands are. Her hand used to totally fit in my palm. And now it doesn’t. Whenever we walk across a parking lot I am taken aback by how *big* she is.
We have had a *huge* 7th birthday weekend! I don’t have pics yet (my photog friend took them though I should check to see what I have). And excellent time was had by all!
Dan got home very very early Saturday morning (2am) – his flight was delayed 2+ hours. Thankfully, he was taking a taxi, so it did not affect Ursula and I (much).
Ursula had a pool party this year – very similar to last year’s party. On party-morning, I picked up her cake from our baker friend who has done her previous two cakes. It was *awesome*!!!! Came home, got some more things ready, picked up U and headed over to the Anderson’s. Unloaded LOTS of stuff, then went and picked up balloons at PartyCity. Got back to party locale and set things up, hung out, etc. It’s better to waste time at the party locale than to be a wreck at home. And I was a wreck about this party, even though it was super organized and drama free. I know my stress was not *really* about the party, but I needed something to fixate on.
Anyway – the party was a HUGE success. We had 10 guests (plus lots of adult family). The difference between this year and last year was huge. The kids were *way* more independent in the pool. Aside from goggle adjusting (lots because they kept trading) it was very hands off. There was a lifeguard (like last year), but last year it was a lot more encouraging kids to get off the stairs, worrying about splashing, etc. This year, they were all swimming in the deep end like pros. And we got to sit and chat with guests. That has *never* happened – seven is seeming much better already.
They swam as long as possible, then had cake and ice cream. For favors, I made them all personalized stainless water bottles. Well, I bought the bottles, but I did the personalizing. (I am IN LOVE with craft vinyl!) I think they were a big hit – I am super happy with how they turned out.
After the friends left, the family stayed for a cookout, which was really nice. We always either have adults bored at a kid party, or two separate parties, or some other less than ideal set up. This was perfect – the childless people could just come to the latter part, we had time to spend with everyone – it was so nice. We don’t open friend gifts at parties (usually) – it’s just too rushed. So, this gave us a chance to open her family gifts (which they really like).
Today (actual birthday), Ursula got up her usual time. She didn’t wake us, but she did seem to watch TV much louder than usual. We got up around 7:15 and did gifts. We met Lucy and Lisa at IHOP for a late breakfast (free birthday dessert count = 2 – she had one at American Girl last week) and gifts. Then Lucy came over for a spectacular playdate. Dan and I were wiped so it was very nice for her to have something super fun to do. They played school, watched a movie, did makeovers – an excellent day.
Then tonight, the three of us went out for pizza (free birthday dessert count = 3). With a busy 4th of July weekend, our trip to Atlanta and Dan having a business trip last week it’s probably the third meal we’ve had together (just us) since the beginning of the month. It was a great ending to our weekend!
