Yesterday started out as the typical Sunday. Everyone was getting up, eating breakfast and trying to quickly get dressed for church. I did my usual “packing of the bags” for all the girls to make sure I had all the necessary diapers, juices and such for whoever needed it. Somewhere in the midst of all the hullabaloo, I noticed that my left side (toward the back) started to hurt. It was a constant pain and continued to build into more of a sharp pain. I was scheduled to sing a solo in church and was thinking through whether I thought I could sing or not with this type of pain. I told Mark that I was hurting but thought I would try to see if I could deal with it. As we drove to church, the pain worsened and brought me to the point of moaning and tears. With all three girls in the car, me scheduled to sing and Mark being one of the pastors of our church … we bypassed the church exit and headed straight for the nearest hospital. It just happens to be the hospital that I delivered two of my girls at and have visited the emergency room recently when I had an allergic reaction to a medication last year.
Mark let me out at the emergency room door while he stayed in the van with the girls. We had called my parents to meet us there. Thankfully, they were not in church yet and could head to the hospital to meet us. I went in to register myself and the dreadful waiting began. When you are in pain, the waiting seems forever, even though it might only be 10 minutes. Mark came in soon after I signed-in and he sat with me in the waiting area. As I sat in the waiting area, I could only keep my eyes closed to breathe and deal with the pain. Finally, my name was called and we went back to the registration area where they ask you a bunch of medical questions and inquire about your current condition. At that point, I really began hurting. I hated to moan out loud around people, but I couldn’t help it. I did the best I could to control myself, but it was terribly hard. After I finished answering questions (with which Mark had to help me with some), we were told to go back out into the waiting area. I had started feeling nauseous by this time and didn’t want to return to the same “general public” waiting area. We found a bathroom near the waiting area and went in there. Sweet Mark stood by my side while I hovered over the toilet in case I threw up. I never did, but wanted to be close by just in case. We finally went back out into the hall where I sat in a chair waiting for my name to be called. My name was called a few moments later and I couldn’t have been more relieved.
I was taken back to a small room where I had to change my clothes and put on one of those embarrassing gowns that tie in the back. Honestly, after having three babies these past three years, I don’t really care who sees what when I go into a hospital! So, I wasn’t too concerned about the gown. I was just hurting and wanted relief. I was asked a few more questions and then a nurse came in to start an IV. That is always “fun” for me because I am a hard stick, I’ve been told. After a few tries, she finally got a vein. The vein lasted long enough for her to give me several different drugs to relieve my pain. I began to feel much better. After a few moments, I actually didn’t feel any pain. I could just lay and rest, even though I still knew what was going on. They got a urine sample and took me for a CT scan.
Turns out that I have a small kidney stone on the verge of entering my bladder. My urine sample came back negative, so thankfully there was no infection there. When the doctor came in, she told me that they would send me home with some pain medication and also a medication that will help me pass the stone a little easier. We were allowed to leave, after I put on my “normal” clothes again and headed home.
At this point, I don’t think I’ve passed the stone yet. I’ve been using the “strainer” but haven’t seen anything yet. We are praying that this “passing” is a quick process. I’ve not taken any pain medication yet and don’t plan to unless I start having terrible pain again.
Please join me in thanks for my wonderful husband who took charge of the situation and rushed me to the hospital, which was where I really needed to be. And, join us in prayer that this stone will “let go” and “get out!”
Here are a few fun videos I wanted to upload for your viewing pleasure! Hope you enjoy them and maybe they will bring a little smile to your day!
This video is from Christmas morning. We have decided that Natalie may just be a physical or occupational therapist one day. She is always handing Victoria toys and trying to help her during her “play” time.
Mark’s sister, Karen, got the girls some water flutes to play with in the tub. Here they are playing some songs during a recent bath time.
Here is a video of Natalie and Elyssa singing to Victoria!
Sometimes I get so cracked up watching Natalie and Elyssa playing pretend together. It is absolutely wonderful to see them playing so well together now!
Elyssa reminds me so much of my sister in this video. I remember an old movie of my sister, Shana, reading to us kids and none of us payed much attention to her. And, Natalie cracks me up grabbing Victoria’s phone rattle and pretending to talk on it!
Well, it appears that 2008 is now just a memory and 2009 has rushed in suddenly. It’s hard to believe that so much has happened in the Messick household in a year!
In this video, you will see how Victoria is such a tactile baby. She loves touching my fingers. She is, also, constantly rubbing on different materials close to her surroundings. I love that she is so “touchy! It’s very sweet!
In this last video, Victoria is getting some “air!” The girl can bounce her legs so high in her bed that the rest of her body probably becomes airborne for a second!
Another Christmas has come and gone. It’s hard to believe how much we anticipate the wonderful Christmas season and how quickly it passes by us. Christmas is one of my favorite times of year. I love the music of the season, all of the holiday movies that come on TV, the special church services and especially the Christmas foods! I especially love the fact that families make such an effort to be together during the holidays. It is truly a wonderful time of the year and when this season comes around it makes me sad that we cannot have such a holiday more than once a year.
I took a few photos during the holidays that I wanted to share with each of you. I can honestly say that I felt very blessed this year. To know that Victoria could not been with us, had God not intervened … well, that made “God With Us” have a little deeper meaning for me. God was truly with the Messick family this year and I cannot be more thankful!
