Randy's LAST Kidney Stones Graphic Pix , Medical Descriptions

From the last procedure! Inside Randy

Great news today!  Randy went in for his ESWL (Extracorporial Shock Wave Lithotripsy) today at the Reagan Surgery Center.  He brought his x-rays that showed the 2 mm and 3 mm stones that have been lodged in his kidney for basically 3 years.  They were what was left over after his last procedure and after the ones over the past 2 years. He wanted to wait until after his colonoscopy so it's been about 6 weeks since his laser lithotripsy..

Before they were shards!

About 2 weeks ago, he had a small stone that passed without too much incident.  Then for about a week, he's been uncomfortable and could feel a fairly large stone traveling and then right at the top of his bladder for about 2 days and yesterday, he passed it!  He was able to retrieve it to take to the doctor.  Here are the pix:

Pretty gross, right?

Well, I walked Randy to his appointment.  The surgery center is right across the street from my work.  I left my number and Christa's number with them as Christa was picking him up for me.

They took him back. Got him ready.  Gave him the meds to make him sleepy.  Started the scope and .... No kidney stones!  They were gone. Completely.  No sign!  The doctor help up the one in the plastic bag to the x-ray.  The profile matched!  After all that time they picked the day before the surgery to come out.  Randy didn't get the procedure as he no longer needed it!

Thanks to all our family and friends who kept him in their prayers!  We feel truly blessed today!!!

Mother of the Bride's Dress picked! Father's day weekend.

I finally picked out my Mother of the Bride's dress! This is the general style, but the color and fabric will be a little different. I also had them take the dress my mom wore at my wedding as a template for her dress. In a different color and length.

It was so good to see Frances again! She is just the BEST. I'm having my dress for Alexandria's wedding (2 weeks before ours) and my rehearsal dinner dress taken up at the shoulders. Pru went with us and she's getting the dress they got at Macy's altered to fit and Ummi will take hers in on Monday.

Christa brought her wedding dress in and they are going to put in a corset back as well as shorten it to fit her outrageous heels. They are also going to put in a way to bustle up the train. Looks VERY pretty!

They also have the vests that Christa wants for ushers!  A bit of a contentious bone when I had bought a set of patterned pink vests after consulting her only to be told the groom didn't like them after they arrived.  My real problem with that was he was very fast to say he didn't like them, but not willing to help find replacements.  I was going to stand my ground on that one until Frances came up the exact ones Christa liked.  Crisis averted.

I picked my mom up from her SNF and got her ready.  Put on make up and curled her hair.  The girls met me there, but we decided to take 2 cars to make everyone more comfortable.  My mom is pretty good with everything except getting into and out of the car.  She has the strength and ability, but the concepts are gone.  We have to show her every time how to scoot back first then bring her legs in to get into the car and how to hold on to our necks to help lift her out.  She can walk with her walker, but gets tired easily and prefers her chair.

When we go to Frances' whom should we meet, but my friend Corina and her daughter, Alexandria.  They were bringing a straggling bridesmaid to get measured.  It was a great time hanging out with each other as we planned our daughters' weddings!

After, Christa, Pru, Grandma and I went to lunch at Polly's.  My mom is so funny now.  Whenever we go out to eat, I have to remind her to not say anything about the prices and to find something she can eat on the menu without complaining.  She usually likes the chicken pie, but she doesn't want it today.  The girls decide what they want and I know what I want.  I show her several things on the breakfast menu since she doesn't seem to want lunch items.  I point out her favorite soup.  Nothing is good.  Christa tried to help and shows her a few things; she shakes her head.  I say I'm really surprised that you don't want the chicken pie.  She says, "They have chicken pie?  That sounds great!"  We all stifle laughs.  The waitress comes and takes our order.  She doesn't want anything to drink. Not even water.  I order a water and a coffee for her.  When the coffee comes, she adds 4 creamers and 2 sugars.  Tastes it and says she needs more.  One more creamer and 3 more sugars later and she loves it.  We had a good time eating with each other.

Randy has to work this weekend so I took him to see the Green Lantern in 3D for Father's Day.  I give it a C+.  I really had hoped it would have had better 3D effects.  It just wasn't that great.  But there was a lot of eye-candy.

I also got him a cover for his Nook which he loved.  Unfortunately, they messed up the rest of the order and sent Kindle accessories.  But it was still cheaper than just the cover would have been at Barnes and Noble.  And he can still use the light and the ear buds, so not a total loss!

T-Minus 3 months!!! & Wedding Stuff Arriving

Today is T-minus three months! YIKES!!! We are two-thirds of the way there. Where did the time go? I guess when your daughter only gives you nine months to plan, it really does go quite quickly. But, I mean, it's long enough to make a baby, so it should be long enough to plan a wedding, right?

All week long all the stuff we ordered over Memorial Day has been arriving. The dishes that look like china, but are plastic (the venue doesn't allow any glass) arrived first. Then the box of napkins. They were cheaper to buy than to rent even with shipping. The non-personalized items from Oriental Trading Company (mostly stuff for the candy buffet and some pew clips) were next and then the vests for the groomsmen. It's like Christmas every time I come home and there's another box!

My dress from Bloomingdale's arrived. I was so excited, but sadly, it's too large and would need too many alterations to make it work. So back it goes this Sunday when I can get to South Coast Plaza again. I also got two pairs of shoes from after6.com. One of those needs to be returned as well. Also, the first set of vests from Overstock.com were the wrong ones, but I got the corrected order two days later, before I could even ship back the wrong ones. I also wound up exchanging the multi-colored dress from Nordstrom's for the one I wanted originally. They had my size in Cerritos, YAY!

So far we have the venue, the florist, the photographer, the videographer, the caterer, the bartenders, the party rentals, the photo booth, the D.J., the day of coordinator, the decorations, the linens, the candy buffet and most of the supplies, the wedding dress, the bridesmaid's dresses, favors, the overnight accommodations.

We still need some more candy, my dress, my mother's dress, a place for the rehearsal dinner, lights for the paper lanterns, transportation firmed up from the hotel to the venue and back for the guests, finishing up the OOT bags. I think that's about it. Still very doable!

In other news, still waiting for Fluffy to pop. She is so pregnant! According to Google (the giver of all knowledge) She should have been done at the VERY latest by last Wednesday. She just started looking for little hidey places last night. I'm hoping that's a good sign. It should be fun trying to find homes for kittens just before the wedding. Maybe I'll give them out as shower prizes?

We will be having our second and last garage sale for the year tomorrow. I could do probably two more, but I just don't have time. So, the garage and storage will just have to wait until next year.

I started a new program at my work called Calories In, Calories Out. I completed my initial evaluation on Monday and my first work out on Wednesday. It will be three times a week for then next three to six weeks. Alicia and I are their guinea pigs, along with a former patient. I'll let you know how it goes!

I spent time with Gillian this weekend. It was so good to see her! I dragged her to my company party at my boss' house. They won the Camp Pendleton Mud Run in both the men's and women's categories. Seventh year in a row for the men. First time for the women. It was quite a victory celebration!