Kidney Stone Lasers!

In January there was blood in my pee. There isn't supposed to be blood in your pee. I was able to get a requisition for a urine sample right away and so began the investigation. Multiple urine samples, ultra sounds, and finally an appointment with a urologist, a ct scan and a diagnosis - a kidney stone in the left urethra with a partial obstruction. The urologist said I had two options, wait and see if it comes out on it's own, or have it lasered. He put it this way, I could get a "hat" (a toilet insert) and constantly check my pee to see when and if it comes out, and then follow up down the road to make sure it did come out, and then possibly still have to have it removed because it would eventually cause long term kidney damage. I chose lasers.

I had to be at the hospital at 7:30 Saturday morning. My sweet Ken drove me to the Markham Stouffville Hospital. Having a surgical procedure on the weekend means lots of one on one attention. It was super quiet, as I was the only patient when I first got there. Ken gave me a blessing the night before that my surgery would be "flawless" and this was a great comfort to me.

Just before 9 I walked into the operating room and lay down on the table. And then it was lights out. I had a left urethroscopy, kidney stone ablation and stent insertion. Blech! I felt fine when I first woke up, I was able to pee right away, and I was out of there just around 11. 

The nausea hit pretty hard on the drive home - longest 30 minutes of my life, and I was really thankful for the pee/barf cup - use for either, that the nurse gave before I left. I barfed up the little cup of ginger ale that I had in recovery. Fun times. 

Ken dropped me off and then went to the pharmacy to get my prescription - pain meds and antibiotics, then he dropped Fiona off at a friend, and did grocery shopping. Kate stayed with me the whole time and held my cold hand in her warm hands. (Sadly I don't have a pic, I was too out of it.) I started to feel kind of yucky so I took one of the pain meds - eek - I felt weird, but no pain! After Ken was done his errands he sat with me.

Sunday I stayed home from church and watched zoom church with Kate. First thing in the morning I thought, I'm going to go walk the dog with Ken. I took about ten more steps after this pic, and then thought, nope, I'm going back home. I was three houses and a little bit north of home - so not far. I felt uncomfortable and slightly cranky but okay. 

Yesterday I felt a little better but still a little uncomfortable and cranky. I finally took a picture of my bruised right hand. The guy who did my IV in the OR blew up my hand. It was so swollen on Saturday. IVs are the worst! My heart breaks for people that have to live with tubes and things on the regular.

Today was stent removal day. I was not excited about this - I was actually dreading this. I was advised to take pain meds and remove the stent first thing Tuesday morning. I took two extra strength advil at 6:30 and went in the shower at 7:30. Everything was fine, just as it should have been, it felt weird, but didn't hurt at all.

It's 1:00 pm and I'm feeling a little weird. I'm not in pain, but my body doesn't feel completely normal. The question is, does it matter? Will I do harm to myself if I go back to school tomorrow... I don't think so? I really hate having to make decisions like this. 

It's 1:48 and the pain meds have definitely started to wear off. I'm still feeling okay though. I'm going to call the urology office and ask a follow up question and hopefully this is the end of the kidney stone laser story!!

First Day of School

Back to school day!

First a pic of the elementary girls. It's weird that they're at different schools again. They had been together for five years in the same school which was such a blessing.

Fiona is in grade 5 this year. Her homeroom teacher is Mrs. Hargrave and she will have Mme Legge for her French subjects - the same teachers that Alice had in grade 5. We think that Fiona is in a 4/5 split, which I'm hoping will be a good fit for her. 

This is Alice's "I'm an annoyed teenager" face, which I think she does exceptionally well!

Alice is in grade 7 this year and has Mr. Robertson has her homeroom teacher. She's hoping that the French counterpart is Mme Tang, because we all like her very much. Mr. Robertson was Kate's homeroom teacher in grade 7. Alice is in class with almost her entire friend group so that's pretty awesome. 

All three together! 

Kate starts high school this year! She's going to Ajax High School. In term one she has science in French, music, math and drama. Should be a good first term. Today is grade nine day, so only the grade 9s are at school having an orientation welcome day. I hope that she has fun and forgets to be a nervous wreck!

One of the Mom's shared this in the mommy chat on WhatsApp. This is their big huge friend group. It's a really nice group of kids! Back row: Zac, Kailey, Paige, Noraa, Alice, Caden, Leila, Ade Front row: kid? Emily, Heather

I don't usually ever take a back to school pic. I had Ken take one after I dropped Kate off at school. I should be at school but I'm not. See separate kidney post. But here I am! Hopefully ready to go back to school tomorrow.

Twas the night before school!

I'm currently sitting on the couch with a moaning Kate. She is wishing pretty hard that tomorrow will never come, but it will, and she will survive. I know she will. Hard days come and we get through them, one moment at a time. They do a pretty fun thing at Kate's high school. They have grade nine day. Only the grade nine students go tomorrow, they meet their teachers, figure out where the classrooms are and just have a little class meeting? (We're not exactly sure, but after looking at the schedule again, 20 minutes isn't enough time for a class!) There's a BBQ too and take your school photo and get your locker and a scavenger hunt. It sounds like they've tried to make it a really fun day with just the grade 9s, teachers and student council. I think it's such a great idea! I made Kate promise she would talk to people and not hide in a corner.

I'm still recovering from my kidney stone ablation on Saturday - that needs it's own post - so I won't be going to school tomorrow. All three girls will though. Kate, grade 9 at Ajax High School, Alice, grade 7 at Southwood Park P.S. and Fiona, grade 5 at Southwood Park P.S. In term one Kate has science first period in French, music second period, math is third period and last period she has drama. I hope she likes her teachers and that she makes new friends and has an awesome first term! Alice's homeroom teacher is Mr. Robertson who was Kate's grade 7 teacher. Fiona has Mrs. Hargrave for homeroom and Mme Legge for French subjects. Alice had them too - mixed reviews on Hargrave and positive reviews for Legge. 

After dinner, made by the amazing chef Ken, we did back to school Father's blessings and played cards against humanity. There were some anxious feelings last night but we had a good night. 

Blessing Notes: 
Alice
- be a great example look for ways to be an example
- be a good example for your family and community
- ability to make good decisions
- be healthy and strong
- ability to understand the consequences of your actions

Fiona
- mind will be sharp and that you will learn and retain all that you need to to do well in school
- find and keep friends
- be healthy
- a good example to friend and family
- manage your stress and anxiety
- integrate and feel a great deal of self esteem

Kate
- find your place and find your people
- feel great joy in your education
- excel in school
- help the students around you
- find solace and rest at home
- treat yourself and those in your family kindly
- bless you to make good decisions about your health
- see the blessings in your life
- be grateful for all you have

Wendy
- know how to help students - emotionally and in school
- balance work and family
- be a resource and an example to my colleagues
- health
- help my own kids and my students

Cottage Week 2023

Sunday

The original plan was for all ten of us to stay in a cottage together. Emily found a cottage for us in Val-de-Monts. It looked good so it was booked. The cottage was booked from Saturday, August 19 - Saturday, August 26. 

At the same time, Emily and Jinx had been looking to buy a cottage, but they weren't finding what they wanted, and considering they were in no rush, it didn't look like that was going to happen, until things changed. On July 21st things changed. They found a cottage they liked, they put in an offer and it was accepted. They were going to get possession the week before cottage week. Emily tried to find someone to take over the rental, but no one surfaced. But then it made sense for us to have our own place, not lose all of the money and so we would be in our cottage and Emily and Jinx in theirs. 

We had kind of thought that we probably wouldn't come up on Saturday, as Kate was only just getting home from FSY on Saturday and that's what ended up happening. Emily and Jinx took possession of their cottage on Friday, and we came up on Sunday. It was so awesome because Emily and the family came to the cottage in Val-de-Monts just ahead of us and spaghetti dinner was served!

Alice sat in the back with the dog all the way! Thanks Alice!

Kate and Fiona were right up against their windows - doesn't even look like they're in the car!

Kate - I really am sorry that the timing couldn't be better. You've had a busy summer, but you've also had a great summer. Lots of new learning opportunities and lots of rest too, even if it doesn't feel like it!

It was kind of funny when Milo crawled out of the backseat and into Fiona's lap!

I love how the road changes when you get past Kingston and you're in the Canadian shield.

We stopped once at the Mallorytown Enroute. We had to get gas, but we didn't buy any food because we brought lots of snacks. Milo had a good stretch and a good drink of water.

The view from the deck.

Selfie number one by the water! So still, so pretty.

Looking up at the cottage from the water. Milo and Bella running around together.

Fiona giving Hazel the Our Generation riding habit that she picked out for Hazel's birthday present.

PLAY! These two are always so excited to see each other and they just dive right in.

Lauren and Alice were fishing. Lauren caught lots of minnows in a net and then they transferred them to a garbage bag.

The bag of minnows.

Alice on the pontoon boat.

I wanted a group shot, and this is what I took - I should have taken another pic.

Kate enjoying her Reese's Peanut Butter Cup LUMP! I bought her a welcome back from FSY packet of Reese Peanut Butter Cup which we then left in the hot car accidentally. Ken put it in the fridge, and the LUMP was born lol. Kate said it tasted good. 

This stair case needs to be remembered. It is so creaky and seems unsafe, but it's fine?! 

Monday

The plan for today, head over to the Lim-Anderson cottage and have bacon wrapped hot dogs for dinner and banana boats for dessert. A few things had been forgotten so Ken and the girls went to Walmart this morning. The Walmart was half an hour away so it was an all morning affair! While they were gone I wrote my Relief Society email. 

Ken and the girls started a puzzle this morning.

Fiona really wanted to go swimming but it was quite chilly. She wasn't happy when I told her no, but it really was chilly! I took the dog for a little walk down the road. We're number 48 and it goes to number 80 and then there's a dead end. The forest is across the road and goes up a steep hill. It's so pretty.

The name of the cottage in Val-de-Monts.

None of us were in any hurry to go anywhere so we took our time leaving and didn't get to Danford Lake until just after 4:30. I noticed these signs yesterday. A car going up a hill and then an exclamation point on the other side. I get what they are trying to say, but I found them VERY alarming last night! I suppose the desired effect was exactly what I felt, I felt great alarm so I slowed down.

Emily was painting trim when we got there.

Right now their cottage is one bedroom on the main floor, a small kitchen, a living room, and then an upstairs loft with a divider in the middle - so kind of two rooms in the loft, but no privacy.

Jinx found the barrels and warped dock on the property and put it together to make a floating dock that is good enough for the end of this year.

Their cottage is at the top of the hill, so there are lots of stairs down to the lake.

Fiona is standing on the front lawn I guess. The building on the left is the garage and the building on the right is the back of the cottage. Emily and Jinx want to turn the garage into three more bedrooms and a bathroom, and they want to join the two buildings with another living room between them. Their plans sound amazing!

Ken and Jinx tried to resurrect the BBQ that was left behind, but it would seem that it needs a new part. I can't remember the name of the part.

Fiona and Hazel used the paddle boat and all the kids went in the water, Emily too. I didn't feel like it was warm enough for me to go in, so I didn't.

Milo and Bella and their cute cottage pic for this year!

Hazel and Fiona make me so happy! (All the kids do, but the sweetness of littles playing, it's a thing!)

Ken started making the fire for the cookout.

An inside pic of the cottage.

This is the shed which I think will one day become a bunkie. This building hadn't been sanded yet. All of the buildings looked like this when they bought the property. They've been sanding the buildings and they're going to stain them. Staining will need to happen every two years, but because they're using a stain, they'll never have to sand again! YAY!

The fire! Costco hotdogs were consumed in abundance. Why are they so good?!

I love the reflection of the clouds in the water!

So, Fiona was roasting something, and when I tried to help her I helped her burn her finger. (There was no mark, but she touched the hot part of the roasting rod she was using) I asked/told her that we needed to go to the lake to put her finger in the water - thinking it was a bad burn. She didn't like that idea and ran away from me which is when she found this nail. It went right through her shoe and into her foot. Now she has a rusty nail story - although her story is quite different from her Dad's! Thankfully it didn't go very deeply into her foot, and Emily had hydrogen peroxide and polysporin and bandaids.

Hazel and Fiona made mini s'mores.

And they needed to go out in the paddle boat again. Their own sea faring vessel of which they had autonomous control!

The cottages are almost an hour apart. Alice wanted to sleep over at the Lim-Anderson's and we brought Hazel back with us. There was a half birthday tragedy (refer to the separate post), and we got back to Val-de-Monts at around 10 pm. 

Tuesday

I was grateful that when Emily and I were talking about this cottage week, that even though she wanted to get work done on her cottage and even though the two cottages were almost an hour apart, the plan was to spend lots of time together. She wanted to be able to work in the morning and then play in the afternoon - with some exceptions, but that was the general idea.

Ken pretty much finished the puzzle. He let Fiona and Hazel put in the last few pieces.

Ken made pancakes for breakfast.

It was discovered that the puzzle was missing one piece!

Ken and I went to Wakefield to go to the bakery to find a treat for the forgotten half-birthday. It was such a cute bakery with some yummy looking food.

We walked around a little bit and then drove to try and find the covered bridge. I thought you could drive there, and drive on it - wrong on both counts. The roads all around the covered bridge on the town side are all private roads. 

So we went back out to the main road, and drove across the bridge to the little area where you can park and walk to see the covered bridge.

It was really cool.

Alice's half-birthday cake. It looks pretty big, but it was a mini cake. Lemon flavoured with blueberries on the top and between the two layers. I thought it was adorable!

Looking down from the porch at the cottage.

The matching shirts we bought for $5 each at Walmart. Cuties!

Looking up at the cottage from the water.

The sketchy pontoon boat.

Alice made $30 for two hours of work at Emily's cottage. They stained almost the entire garage and main cottage.

Ken had a nice nap.

Kate came out of the basement!

Ken's work for the day - he slow cooked ribs all day on the BBQ.

Hazel and Fiona went for a swim.

And then we went around the lake in the canoe. We were staying on Lac McGlashan and it was a little lake, but also a good size. Honestly, perfect for paddling around in the canoe. Canoeing with Hazel and Fiona was an adventure. It was just a little bit windy which made it just a little bit tricky to go where I wanted to go! But, we got there, and we got back, and we had fun. I wanted my phone because I really wanted to take pics, but Ken thought it unwise because we might tip. So, no phone, no pics. (Aside from the pics Ken took of us from the dock.)

After we got back, Ken and I went for a paddle. 

Then I sat and enjoyed looking at the lake.

Fiona played in the hammock. 

And then the Lim-Anderson's arrived!

After we ate the delicious dinner that Ken made - ribs, gf cornbread and coleslaw, the kids went swimming. Lauren and Alice had a pool noodle fight of course.

Bella was being cute. 

And then the kids decided to take the pontoon boat out with paddle and people power. It was hilarious and so so so amazing. Alice was the motor on the way out. 

Thankfully they didn't go out too far, and they were actually able to bring the boat back!

Such a pretty sky tonight.

Everyone slept in their own cottage tonight. Alice fell asleep in bed really fast, and Fiona fell asleep on the couch. She and the dog were too cute. I carried Fiona down the stairs and she went straight back to sleep in the bed with Alice and I count that as a minor miracle!

Wednesday

Emily purchased three tickets for the musical Hadestown which was at the National Centre for the Arts in Ottawa. That meant a lunch visit at Lac Danfield but not before a morning hello to the lake and French braids (or maybe they were Dutch?) from Alice. 

This was my absolute favourite road sign in Quebec. I realize that it means slow down - farm vehicles that you can't see ahead, but my more fun idea of what it means is Car goes up a hill and becomes a tractor!! BAHAHAHA. I know, I'm so funny!

The buildings looked so so good with their coats of stain!

I like this shot because you can see the sanded side against the stained side. This is the garage, that is going to be turned into more living space.

I will never get tired of taking pictures of Fiona and Hazel!

Or Milo lol!

Or Alice and Lauren... or you know, everything!

We all left just after five. Hazel, Holden and Emily were going to the musical, Jinx was going to do some shopping in Ottawa, and Lauren came with us. Our first stop was Wakefield for poutine! YUM! AND the gravy was gf and so were the fries. I love feeling food safe. It's such a good feeling.

We drove over to the parking area by the covered bridge to eat our fries.

After enjoying the covered bridge and area around it (and finding Fiona) we headed back to Lac McGlashan just in time for the beautiful sunset!

After some showers we played a rousing game of Cards Against Humanity - Family edition.

The best was when Lauren pulled a huge baby carrot out of the bag and Kate had the matching card. Too funny!

Thursday

Today's plan, beat the rain and head out early to Jon and Janelle's in Val-de-Bois. Good morning lake!

Cute Alice!

Fun bridges!

JANELLE!!!

Jon and Janelle rented a sea-doo and there was lots of fun for everyone getting pulled behind the sea-doo on an inner tube. The river was pretty chilly but we were brave and smart! I didn't swim with a pool noodle this time, so I had to keep moving the whole time - much better.

The tubing in the river was lots of fun. Alice went, Fiona went, I went and Ken went. Jon was kind to me and didn't throw me off the inner tube. Ken had a rougher ride and decided to let go instead of losing his pants.

After we'd mostly come out of the water for lunch Sonia arrived!! SONIA!!

It was hilarious to see her motor biking around the cottage.

Knox - her son, and her nephews didn't like the fact that she wasn't wearing a helmet!  

I felt so very grateful this week to be in such beautiful places. This was one such moment that I was struck with awe and gratitude.

Alice had a turn on the Spiderman Quad.

As did Lauren.

And Kate and I. But I'm not pictured. 

After lunch the promised rain did arrive and we left not too much longer after the rain started.

Janelle - you're such an amazing host! Thank you for having us for the day, we all loved visiting and being at your beautiful cottage!

After we left we all drove back to our cottage so that Fiona and Alice could pick up their belongings to sleep over at Emily's cottage. Fiona went back and forth deciding whether or not to go, and in the end, she decided to go even though she felt afraid. And in a last minute move, Holden stayed over with us. He and Kate played different games on the Nintendo Switch and had fun chatting. It was fun for me to hear them hanging out and chatting and having fun together like the used to when they were little.

Fiona had fun sleeping over and she did it - she slept over without me. I think she was proud of herself! I hope she was. And Alice was totally fine. Alice's report: So around 7 o'clock Fiona started to get a little scared because she didn't want to be alone and then she was in the bathroom and she was taking longer than usual and people were telling her to hurry up. Then she started crying a little bit because she thought people were mad at her, so I went into talk to her. Then she finished getting ready and went upstairs, and I went upstairs with her. She and Hazel got in bed and I told her it was going to be okay, and that she was going to be okay and I gave her something to think about and then she fell asleep. (Jinx stayed up until midnight shushing Lauren and Alice.)

Friday

A cute mushroom from our morning walk - Ken, the dog and I.

It was pretty misty and overcast this moring.

I learned a new French word - ralentissez. I don't know why that pleased me so much, but it did!

Ken and I noticed the symbol of the town on all the signs - funny that we didn't notice it until today. We stayed at number 48.

Kate decided that yes she would go in a canoe with me. And I realized that she hadn't yet been outside in our cottage back yard yet??? (In fairness, Kate was battling a cold and tiredness from FSY the previous week.) 

We had a fun little paddle, and I really, really, really enjoyed taking pictures as we paddled. Kate was a great paddle partner. 

 

This rock reminded me of a similar rock at Heidi's parent's place north of Sault Ste Marie. I just love the Canadian Sheild.

When we got back Ken wanted to go for a paddle, so this time he went out with Kate.

Not long after our paddling adventures Emily texted to say that they were on their way to Wakefield. We met up with them at the covered bridge. We took some cute pictures!!

I love this picture of all of us. And I'll try really hard not to be sad that Milo isn't in the pic!

Alice loves doing her hair.

And Fiona's too!

After the bridge we went back into the town and picked up fries, and treats from the bakery. I had a gf scone from a bakery and it was really yummy!

We checked out the "End of the Line" gift shop. There used to be a train that went to Wakefield, but there was a landslide in Chelsea and it would have cost too much to repair, so the train is no more. (I spent a little bit of time googling the historic train - it was pretty cool.)

After hanging out in Wakefield we went back to our cottage. Fiona had a turn in the hammock (something she said she'd forgotten to do) because it was going to rain, so I wanted to take it down.

After everyone had digested their Wakefield snacks, we had pulled pork tacos - so so yummy! Thank you chef Ken. And having a dishwasher at the cottage was awesome.

There was a beautiful sunset on our last night!

And then it was time for goodbye.

Thanks Lim-Andersons for a great week. We'll miss you heaps!

Saturday

This morning it was pack up and go mode. I took the dog for a walk - he wanted to go right not left, so it was a short jaunt, but because he went right not left we met Raffi - a cute dog a few doors down who decided to walk with us a way. It was really cute.

We packed up kind of slowly? Took a last few looks at the water, and a selfie. 

I decided I needed a pic of the girls by the lake!

And then I took pics of the nice and tidy cottage.

Crossing the bridge into Ontario with a view of the parliament buildings. 

We really had such a lovely week. I think I would definitely stay at this cottage again - if it weren't so far from Emily and Jinx's cottage - that's the only downside. It was a lovely relaxing week. Friends, lakes, trees, canoes, kayaks, and even a sea-doo and a quad. We all had a great week! I'm so thankful for family holidays! We've got one more full week of summer in front of us, and it's been a really lovely summer!