Christ-like Love, Through the eyes of a 6-year old

Wow! What a week. Being sick for the last 6 days certainly hasn't been much fun. Tonight I am keenly aware of how blessed I really am. I am healthy...my kids are all healthy and happy...I have a wonderful wife who teaches me and supports me in all that I do. A kidney stone is no walk in the park, but overall I feel very blessed. My Bishop has come by twice, his counselors, as well the EQ Presidency. And many friends!

Last week, in the midst of my suffering, I found this sticky note attached to my dresser:


This is a note left by my 6-year old daughter, Emilie, last week while I was sick. Now, over last week or so my kids have only seen me either moaning/cringing in pain, or in a Percoset-induced haze on the couch! Needless to say, I have not been a ton of fun to be around. No bedtime stories, no sitting on dad's lap, really no interaction at all. So when I saw Emilie's note, it was hard because I had been so miserable I couldn't interact with my family in a normal way. I get very grumpy when I get sick. I look back with guilt, wondering...even as I was so sick, could I have done anything better? But Emilie's heart emulated that of the Savior...she loved me "even when I was sick". Even when I am not at my best, my 6-year old daughter sees through the "muck" and loves me for who I am.

One of the most cherished lessons that I have ever experienced!

Kidney Stone is OUT!

Had quite the week! Things started off innocently enough on Thursday night with a trip up to Spokane with Carl to go see a prospect. On the way from the airport to the hotel, I developed a very intense pain in my lower abdominal flank. It continued to worsen, so shortly after checking into our hotel, we headed to the ER. After a CT scan, a kidney stone was diagnosed. They prescribed some pain and nausea meds, and sent me on my way. I returned to SLC the next day and started to wait things out; these stones usually pass in a few days. After a few days of suffering (the pain meds did help) and throwing up, we headed back to the ER. They recommended a Urologist, who I went to see on Monday. They recommended that I continue to wait it out. Then, this morning, after the pain increased even more (as if that were possible) and more vomiting, I went back in and they decided to go in and get the stone via a procedure called a Ureteroscopy. They basically go up the wrong way down that one-way street, through the uretha, bladder, and into the ureter and grab the stone. The procedure went well; and, it was a good thing they did it. My kidney and bladder were in pretty bad shape from the blockage, and the stone, though only 3mm in size, wasn't going anywhere...it was lodged pretty good. They left a stent in place in the ureter to assist in drainage. I actually feel so much better without all that back pressure on my kidney. 5 days of that was enough for me!

Preparing for an unpleasant precedure, but happy to be getting the stone out!!!