Izzy Weekus Brennan-Conti was euthanized by his loving parents Meg Brennan and Ted Conti the morning of December 30, 2008. Izzy had fought a strong battle after suffering a stroke on Christmas Eve that rendered him blind and somewhat confused. Izzy's suffered two severe seizures in the morning of the 30th and his parents decided to end his suffering shortly thereafter.
Izzy, originally named "Inky", was rescued by Meg and Ted in February of 1995 from the Denver Dumb Friends League. Upon meeting Meg for the first time Izzy promptly "marked his territory" by peeing on Meg. It was decided immediately he should become a part of the Brennan-Conti Family. Following his "Big Snip" Izzy joined the family at their first home in Aurora, Colorado.
It didn't take the young pup long to get accustomed to his new home. Thanks to a very quick smack from Misty the Cat that left some scars physically and emotionally Izzy found immeadiate appreciation for the status of cats in the home. After short time Izzy and Tashi, the younger feline at in the Brennan-Conti House, soon forged a friendship that would find them rough housing and as "Dogs and cats living together."
In February of 1996 the Brennan-Conti family moved to Walnut Hills where Izzy enjoyed a HUGE backyard and further explored the aspects of inter-species (cat and dog) love with his beloved Tashi.
Izzy's life was turned upside down on March 13, 1998 and the birth of Amelia Brennan Conti, the first child of Meg Brennan and Ted Conti. This family addition was at first difficult on the dog as he had to learn to share his parents, grandparents and friends. Izzy soon warmed to Amelia after he was joining her on a daily basis at the home of Meg's parents, Peter and Cindy Brennan. This change in attitude was do primarily to the constant availability of bacon in the morning provided by his Grandpa Brennan and the swift smack from his Grandma Brennan when he attempted to show his displeasure towards Amelia. Izzy enjoyed many years of "going to Grandma's" with Amelia, and for a short time his friend Herder Dunn, while enjoying the wonderful handouts from his Grandpa and the cooking of Grandma.
Izzy did suffer a personal loss in April of 1999 with the loss of his beloved feline friend Tashi. His despair was deep as he wallowed with his socks and bones for at least a week.
The dog's life was turned upside again on April 11, 2002 with the birth of Meg and Ted's second child, Reese Brennan Conti. It was at this time that Izzy discovered the power of kids and accepted Amelia as a playmate and was soon accepting of pets, pats and ball throwing. Izzy could also be counted on when a dog tongue was needed to clean up after the young and "urpy" child.
Further turmoil was unleashed on the dog in the Spring of 2003. First was the introduction of "Daisy" the young and sexy Shit Tzu (Spelling is correct as she is still prone to poop in the house.) Shortly after Daisy's arrival the Brennan-Conti family moved to their current home in Heritage Place. Izzy enjoyed the home's new backyard, the other canine neighbors and smaller steps.
In the Spring of 2004 Izzy and Ted embarked on an ambitious weight loss program that resulted in significant changes to both. For Izzy this meant daily morning walks. Many a morning sunrise came with Izzy and Daisy whining at Ted to get him out of bed and on the road. This daily routine was followed, weather permitting until about a month before Izzy's death. Cold winter weather and Izzy's failing eyesight made it more difficult for the pup to safely complete the 1.4 mile loop around the neighborhood.
Izzy will be fondly remembered for his horrible under-bite, love of the games "Sock" and fetch, constant begging at the table and in the kitchen, his great love form his Grandma Brennan and Mommy Meg, and his tolerance of his life companion Daisy. Izzy lived a great many adventures in his 14 years. He was a companion on camping trips and Rendezvous adventures, the first dog in Sammaw's house, an occasional playmate to Josh, Katie and Fergus, occasional visits to his daddy's office following trips to the groomer and his constant search for a spot of sun in the house.
Beyond his immeadiate family Izzy's favorite people were Auntie Catherine, Grandpa Brennan and anybody that came into our home with a friendly greeting and a warm hand.
His entire family will greatly miss the old guy and we are grateful for being able to share his life with him.
We Love you Izzy Dog.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Sunday, April 13, 2008
40 year-old 7th grader.... or How old R U?
The movie "Big" was on last night ( I think it is my favorite Tom Hanks movie with "Forrest Gump" number 2. but I digress) and it got me thinking about what my real age is.
On paper I am 40, but sometimes I feel more like 14, sometimes 20, occasionally 25 and this morning 60. (Because I have been doing hard physical labor and am very sore. But I digress, again.) But the age thing is something that I have been considering my mind lately, even before seeing Big.
Yes, I know Big is a movie and in no way real. But it has some interesting things to say about how "adults" work and live. I think it may even be more appropriate for todays work environment.
When Josh begins his job in the data entry group he sits on his knees in the chair, then he plays with the toys in the office and with the kids in the "research room". As he "matures" he is in a suit. The 13 year-old then gets it, understands he doesn't need to grow-up, yet, and goes back home. But my attitude is we don't all have to be the Paul (the John Heard character) guy. All stick in the mud and uptight. (butt-hole all puckered up from windy day. Thank you Boo Weekly. ) We need to make sure that 13, 20 and 25 year-old in us gets out more often than we do now.
On occasions I may not act age appropriate. I have kept Star Wars figures on my desk and posters on office walls, made the inappropriate poop joke, or turned the occasional practical joke. I keep a bowl of peanuts at my desk to snack on through out the day and encourage sharing. While some people may not look at this as "age appropriate" I say it is LIFE appropriate. Life is too short not to take the opportunity to laugh, smile, have fun, share with other people or just take a nice long deep breath.
So I am here to ask you. How old are you? Do you take time to live life? When times are tough or sticky do you make sure that you laugh and blow off steam? Not just at home, but at the office. Do you act stupid in front of your kids and their friends? Do something in front of your co-workers or subordinates that shows you are human, and not just an EBITDA focused manager, leader or coach.
Let's not call it "Age appropriate" let's call it "Life appropriate". What is going on in your life at that time and how are you responding to it that is appropriate.
My challenge to you is to start acting "Life Appropriate". Do things that add to the richness of life.
"Ladies and gentlemen, take my advice; Pull down your pants, and slide on the ice."
Sidney Freeman , Psychologist MASH 4077.
On paper I am 40, but sometimes I feel more like 14, sometimes 20, occasionally 25 and this morning 60. (Because I have been doing hard physical labor and am very sore. But I digress, again.) But the age thing is something that I have been considering my mind lately, even before seeing Big.
Yes, I know Big is a movie and in no way real. But it has some interesting things to say about how "adults" work and live. I think it may even be more appropriate for todays work environment.
When Josh begins his job in the data entry group he sits on his knees in the chair, then he plays with the toys in the office and with the kids in the "research room". As he "matures" he is in a suit. The 13 year-old then gets it, understands he doesn't need to grow-up, yet, and goes back home. But my attitude is we don't all have to be the Paul (the John Heard character) guy. All stick in the mud and uptight. (butt-hole all puckered up from windy day. Thank you Boo Weekly. ) We need to make sure that 13, 20 and 25 year-old in us gets out more often than we do now.
On occasions I may not act age appropriate. I have kept Star Wars figures on my desk and posters on office walls, made the inappropriate poop joke, or turned the occasional practical joke. I keep a bowl of peanuts at my desk to snack on through out the day and encourage sharing. While some people may not look at this as "age appropriate" I say it is LIFE appropriate. Life is too short not to take the opportunity to laugh, smile, have fun, share with other people or just take a nice long deep breath.
So I am here to ask you. How old are you? Do you take time to live life? When times are tough or sticky do you make sure that you laugh and blow off steam? Not just at home, but at the office. Do you act stupid in front of your kids and their friends? Do something in front of your co-workers or subordinates that shows you are human, and not just an EBITDA focused manager, leader or coach.
Let's not call it "Age appropriate" let's call it "Life appropriate". What is going on in your life at that time and how are you responding to it that is appropriate.
My challenge to you is to start acting "Life Appropriate". Do things that add to the richness of life.
"Ladies and gentlemen, take my advice; Pull down your pants, and slide on the ice."
Sidney Freeman , Psychologist MASH 4077.
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Getting smacked in the face a third time....or hey losing a job ain't that bad considering.
AS you can probably tell from the previous posts the month of March really challenged our family. It was topped off by the loss of my job on March 31st.
I cannot say it was that big of a surprise. My now previous employer had seen some difficult times with the "parent" or holding company in bankruptcy but all the muckity mucks said things were ok. I knew otherwise with the number of calls I would get from sub-contractors (my friends) regarding late or no payments on invoices. I also was concerned when they let my counterpart in another city go. Hence the writing was on the wall and I began to take some precautions. But you always want to make it on your terms and I did hold out hope that thing would work out. I had just been selected as a preferred contractor with a couple of property management companies and was seeing inroads in other sectors. But the company gave up on me. (They didn't even let me keep my cellphone number. I had it for 12 years.)
This is not the worst thing to happen to me in my life, nor even in the month. The loss of our dear friend Ann is tragic and we (our expanded family) is just now beginning to come to grips with and understand the challenges ahead. We are just now preparing for the coming storms.
The questions now are...What do I want to do to provide for my family and the world? and What color is my parachute?
If you were to look at my resume (You can if you like, just send me a e-mail.) you would see that my last five plus years years of employment have not been very stable. I have been laid off, left a job for family reasons, got hit with the entrepreneurial bug and lost money and now have been laid off again. I have learned a ton in this time and believe that I have a great set of skills and experiences that would fit in may many different locals.
Early on in my last job I found it cute to put quotations in my weekly reports. They would be about money, goals, success, achievement..all those things that are supposed to prop you up. In doing this I found one that really spoke to me. It is from Albert Einstein and talks, at least to me and my personal philosophy.
I cannot say it was that big of a surprise. My now previous employer had seen some difficult times with the "parent" or holding company in bankruptcy but all the muckity mucks said things were ok. I knew otherwise with the number of calls I would get from sub-contractors (my friends) regarding late or no payments on invoices. I also was concerned when they let my counterpart in another city go. Hence the writing was on the wall and I began to take some precautions. But you always want to make it on your terms and I did hold out hope that thing would work out. I had just been selected as a preferred contractor with a couple of property management companies and was seeing inroads in other sectors. But the company gave up on me. (They didn't even let me keep my cellphone number. I had it for 12 years.)
This is not the worst thing to happen to me in my life, nor even in the month. The loss of our dear friend Ann is tragic and we (our expanded family) is just now beginning to come to grips with and understand the challenges ahead. We are just now preparing for the coming storms.
The questions now are...What do I want to do to provide for my family and the world? and What color is my parachute?
If you were to look at my resume (You can if you like, just send me a e-mail.) you would see that my last five plus years years of employment have not been very stable. I have been laid off, left a job for family reasons, got hit with the entrepreneurial bug and lost money and now have been laid off again. I have learned a ton in this time and believe that I have a great set of skills and experiences that would fit in may many different locals.
Early on in my last job I found it cute to put quotations in my weekly reports. They would be about money, goals, success, achievement..all those things that are supposed to prop you up. In doing this I found one that really spoke to me. It is from Albert Einstein and talks, at least to me and my personal philosophy.
"Try not to become a man of success but rather to become a man of value."
I love that line and I am trying to make this my mantra, for lack of a better term. But I definitely want this to be my underlying theme as I go on this journey for a new job. But what is it that I want to do?
For years friends and family tried to push me towards sales. I finally listened last year and that landed me with my last job. It wasn't really a sales job in the true sense, it was a relationship job. But that is what sales is all about, relationships. I was just starting to get those relationships to work when I got let go. Now I find myself at another starting point.
I AM A PEOPLE PERSON. I like being around all people. Honestly, I like everyone. I am more golden retriever than rotweiler. I am good at making friends. I can hold conversations, I find most any topic interesting and will talk politics with anyone. So maybe the sales thing is for me.
Who knows!?
But for now I am just trying to sell myself. Maybe the relationships I was just starting to build over the last year are the place to start. I have had a couple of interviews and am working the network.
Here is what I do know...I want to make time for my wife, kids, Ann's family and the rest of the world.
I'l up date you in a week or so when I have more.
For years friends and family tried to push me towards sales. I finally listened last year and that landed me with my last job. It wasn't really a sales job in the true sense, it was a relationship job. But that is what sales is all about, relationships. I was just starting to get those relationships to work when I got let go. Now I find myself at another starting point.
I AM A PEOPLE PERSON. I like being around all people. Honestly, I like everyone. I am more golden retriever than rotweiler. I am good at making friends. I can hold conversations, I find most any topic interesting and will talk politics with anyone. So maybe the sales thing is for me.
Who knows!?
But for now I am just trying to sell myself. Maybe the relationships I was just starting to build over the last year are the place to start. I have had a couple of interviews and am working the network.
Here is what I do know...I want to make time for my wife, kids, Ann's family and the rest of the world.
I'l up date you in a week or so when I have more.
Friday, March 21, 2008
What You Leave Behind Matters Most
Last week our family lost a dear and prized family member. My best friend's wife died suddenly at the age of 44. She leaves behind a husband, 9 and 10 year old daughters, a dog, cat, a brother, 2 sisters, 4 nieces, a nephew, and hundreds of friends.
Since Ann's (I will not give her last name for privacy) passing I have obviously been thinking about my own impact on this earth. There are some things that just don't seem as important as them once were. But what is important are the relationships with people that, while I have always prized them, seem even more important and relevant in my life.
In the span of 24 hours after Ann's passed I must have made 50 plus telephone calls on her husband's behalf to tell people of her passing and pass along other important information. This was by far the most difficult thing I have ever had to do. Calling personal friends of mine who knew her husband directly and Ann on the periphery. Or those that knew only her children. The one thing that truly amazed me were the responses. In today's world we forget how compassionate and caring a single human being can be and how when a whole bunch of people respond it can be amazing.
Every person I talked with asked first about the rest of the family, no good answer there, and then what they could do to help. Every single person. Follow-up calls and/or e-mails focused on the family and their immediate needs. As the days moved on towards the memorial service friends and family focused on the needs of the survivors foremost. Each phone call made and received asked first about our friends.
Then it came time for the service, and the true measure of Ann and the influence she and her husband had on those around her.
To be honest I didn't know what to expect. I knew we would have family and close friends in attendance. I knew a few people from Ann's husband's work relationships. But to fill the church with more than 300 people and nearly half of those attending the reception afterwards was mind blowing. It really made an impact on me and it has got me thinking about how many people I will have when my time comes for people to come and remember me.
We have all seen those bumpers sticks “He with the most toys wins” and laughed. I think I may have even had this at one time slapped up in my garage. But now it holds very little meaning to me. Life has nothing to do with toys or anything physical that we collect in our garage, living room, or kitchen . Life has everything to do with the relationships we hold in our hearts and the impact we make on the world around us.
I am the first to admit I have a bunch of stuff and at times I would like more toys. But those things don't stand up for you when “shuffle off this mortal coil.” It is the people that come to celebrate your life that really matter.
Monday, March 17, 2008
The Giving Child
A parent is never more proud of their children than when they do a selfless act. Even if that child was pushed into the act.
Last Friday my son Reese and I participated in the St. Baldrick's Day activities at Fado Irish Pub in Denver. This was the culmination of 6 weeks of fund raising for the foundation. My son raised more than $1600 to fight childhood cancer. (Together we raised more than $3,000. ) Now who can deny a five year -old you ask? Not many, but I have to say there is still something special about a child putting himself out there for a cause.
Several weeks after we started this journey one of Reese's fellow kindergarteners was diagnosed with Lymphoma. This gave the cause more meaning and really gave my son some clarity into the cause.
Yes he is five years-old, but he does understand life and death (Especially after event of the past week, but that is for another blog.) and Reese really took this seriously. He talked with adults and fellow kids alike about his efforts and why it was important. He really put in the effort and worked to make this successful.
Friday morning we got up early and picked up Preston and his mom and headed down to Fado. I have to give a HUGE shout out to my wife. She is not a morning person, but really got into the event the last couple of weeks and has really given us a great deal of love and support. She did not like the fact that her husband and son would be bald, but understood the needs and appreciates the cause. I also want to say thanks to my daughter Amelia. She was a great boy wrangler and is excited about next year. She will donate 12 inches of hair to the Locks of Love.
Back to the event. We arrive and get to see members of the Colorado Avalanche shaving their heads, get pictures with the kids, and enjoy the festivities. An Irish breakfast down the hatch and then it is time to shave. Prior to our team the "The Snow Balds" taking the shears Preston's mom brings the crown to tears and laughs with a short speech. Then off with the hair. Reese was a trooper and I think is happy to have shared this experience with his dad and his friend Preston. I just can't convince Reese to take the blade and go to the skin.
I want give a special thanks to Melanie, organizer of the event and to Paul Miller, Captain of "The Snow Balds" we have raised nearly $20,000.
As a thank you to those that gave, not just to Reese and I, but to all those that support the St. Baldrick's Foundation we have posted a video on YouTube that were have made in honor of Preston. We hope you enjoy it. Click on this link.
Check out a few of the photos as well of Preston, Reese and I.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Hair today...gone on Friday
Let's call it blog infatuation...two in a row. It won't last.
There are more important things in this world than hair. That has been my mantra the last 6 weeks to my son and daughter.
My son and I are raising money for the St. Baldrick's Foundation. They are the worlds largest charity organization raising funds to support research to fight childhood cancer. I have watched this organization from afar for several years and this year, thanks to a friend, jumped into the fun and dragged my 5 year old with me. Check out the website www.stbaldricks.org
Through March 14th we are raising money for the foundation and on Friday will be shaving our heads in support of kids fighting the cancer challenge. Our combined goal is $3,000.
This cause has taken new meaning after we started as one of my son's fellow 5 year-olds was just diagnosed with stage 3a Lymphoma. this has given new meaning to our cause.
There is more to this than a fund raiser. I am hoping to impart some wisdom onto my kids. This is about imparting on my kids a sense of proportion. Hair can grow back, raising money for kids that can't come back is more important.
My daughter has told me she wants to do this next year and make a donation to the Locks of Love group by donating 10 plus inches of hair. Kids in my son's class want to join now, but it looks like we will wait till next year and make it a full school project.
Our hair, clothes, cars and houses are not the important things. It is the choices we make on the rest of the world that is the true impact on our souls.
There are more important things in this world than hair. That has been my mantra the last 6 weeks to my son and daughter.
My son and I are raising money for the St. Baldrick's Foundation. They are the worlds largest charity organization raising funds to support research to fight childhood cancer. I have watched this organization from afar for several years and this year, thanks to a friend, jumped into the fun and dragged my 5 year old with me. Check out the website www.stbaldricks.org
Through March 14th we are raising money for the foundation and on Friday will be shaving our heads in support of kids fighting the cancer challenge. Our combined goal is $3,000.
This cause has taken new meaning after we started as one of my son's fellow 5 year-olds was just diagnosed with stage 3a Lymphoma. this has given new meaning to our cause.
There is more to this than a fund raiser. I am hoping to impart some wisdom onto my kids. This is about imparting on my kids a sense of proportion. Hair can grow back, raising money for kids that can't come back is more important.
My daughter has told me she wants to do this next year and make a donation to the Locks of Love group by donating 10 plus inches of hair. Kids in my son's class want to join now, but it looks like we will wait till next year and make it a full school project.
Our hair, clothes, cars and houses are not the important things. It is the choices we make on the rest of the world that is the true impact on our souls.
Sunday, March 9, 2008
To Blog or not to Blog...and how do I get rid of this stone
As you can see I have not done a very good job in keeping up with my blog. Sure I posted a cutesy little poem that I hopes would have won me a super fancy bike. But since then...nuthin'.
In the last couple of day I have added a banner and a picture, refined a few items and now feel it is time for me to start blogging. The question is what do I blog about. My wife has a blog about marketing http://www.qgenisys.com/blog/ that she shares with some co-workers at the consulting business. I occasionally reads the blogs of Wil Wheaton, Bruce Cordell, Orson Scott Card and others. But really how much time does one have to read all there is to read out there in Blogland.
So here is the deal. My goal is to blog once maybe twice per week. It may just be a couple of lines, it may be a whole lot of nothing. But let's try this and see how it goes.
First item up for discussion --- KIDNEY STONES
For the last 4 days I have been fighting the mother of kidney stones. This isn't my first and I know it won't be my last. The thing about this one is that it has really kicked my ass.
It started on Wednesday morning. i had a meeting downtown and wasn't feeling that well. Drove home and literally collapsed in bed. I knew it was a stone and logically concluded that it would pass within an hour and all would be fine.
WRONG
Fortunately my wonderful daughter was home and proved to be of great support. At noon I had to call my in-laws and neighbor for assistance and requested that wife come back home. At 12:30 my wonderful wife, rushed me to the ER and after a glorious round of pain medication and some fancy pictures of my guts I was informed by the physician I did have a kidney stone that was 6 to 8 MM in size. (They thought it was a girl.) We were back home by 4 with a bottle of "happy pills" and an appointment at the nearest urologist set for the next day.
I felt good, ordered some Indian food and invited the neighbors to grub out and laugh off the days eariler excitement.
WRONG AGAIN
Back in the ER for more pain medication and a stern lecture from the other attending ER Physician about the importance of following directions about taking the drugs perscribed.
Back home at 10 PM and a restless and painful night of sleep. A "happy pill" every 3 to 4 hours lots of water, groaning, laughing, cursing and tears.
Wake up at 7 AM and I feel great. Thinking the stone has passed I start breakfast for the kids, coffee for the wife and prepare for a day of work. All I have to do is catch the stone.
STRIKE THREE.....I'M OUT...
at 8:30 I am knocked to the floor again and with pain the exceed the previous two incidents. More "happy pills" and semi-consciousness till two and the trip to the urologist. Good News and Bad news from this guy.
Good News - "We know why you haven't passed the stone, it is actually in excess of 1CM in size and stuck"
Bad News - "Probably can't get you relief until Monday because the BLAH BLAH BLAH."
The sight of a 40 year old man crying is not pleasant. I am not proud but the thought of this pain continuing until Monday and me missing a weekend of family planned activities was not good. My tears worked and an d we were sent the "The Kidney Stone Center" in downtown denver for blood work, additional consultation and advised to return Friday Morning at 11AM for Lithotripsy. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithotriptor
Another restless night of sleep, more couch time in the morning, then off for treatment. Not to mention I now haven't eaten for 48 hours and couldn't any water since Thursday at midnight. I was beginning to get cranky. Put the pain was getting in the way of my foul mood.
Let me just say that "The Kidney Stone Center" is a wonderous place. They confirmed the size, (one big mother of a stone) location(not good) and sent me off to sleepy land. I woke up some time later in recovery. Can't leave until I pee, (Never peed blood before, but they said it was a good sign.) and ate two graham crackers. Bliss, sweet bliss. Off to home and recovery.
Send the kids to the neighbors, wife to her Friday night work function and I lay around for a bit, over to the neighbors for a light dinner, back home and a great night sleep.
Saturday morning the birds were singing, the sun was shining and I was again my joyful happy self. The battle is fought, the war against the stone is won and I will be able join my daugther for Pinewood Derby and my wife and friends for an evening of fun.
WRONG AGAIN...WRONG AGAIN...WRONG AGAIN...
Pain..."happy pills"...pain..."happy pills"...Three hours later I am back to the zoned out zombie. I am still peeing blood, urine filled with gravel, and more couch and down time. This is not fun anymore.
So no Pinewood derby...no fun time with the wife and friends.
I do have to say this. Even as a 40 year-old man, there is something comforting about having your mom around when you are sick. My mom had previously planned on coming up for a conference we had been expecting her. But it was nice to have some "Mommy care". I think my wife was grateful for the assist and a chance to get away from me for a night.
So here it is Sunday afternoon, 10 minutes to four. I am feeling human. Still peeing gravel and waiting for the big chunks to show themselves.
For those that don't know the real pain from kidney stones comes from the the stone leaving the kidney and going to the bladder. Leaving the bladder and out is uncomfortable also, but minor in comparison. So for the next week I will pee through a strainer and on March 20th or so, return to the urologist for a follow-up.
My father has dealt with stones for 30 years and the "experts" are always changing his diet. Hopefully we can figure this one out. He has been a guide for me in my struggles. He has had the Lithotripsy done several times before and still fights the stone battle on a yearly basis.
If you have ever fought the stone let me know. Have they returned on you? if not what changes have you made?
In the last couple of day I have added a banner and a picture, refined a few items and now feel it is time for me to start blogging. The question is what do I blog about. My wife has a blog about marketing http://www.qgenisys.com/blog/ that she shares with some co-workers at the consulting business. I occasionally reads the blogs of Wil Wheaton, Bruce Cordell, Orson Scott Card and others. But really how much time does one have to read all there is to read out there in Blogland.
So here is the deal. My goal is to blog once maybe twice per week. It may just be a couple of lines, it may be a whole lot of nothing. But let's try this and see how it goes.
First item up for discussion --- KIDNEY STONES
For the last 4 days I have been fighting the mother of kidney stones. This isn't my first and I know it won't be my last. The thing about this one is that it has really kicked my ass.
It started on Wednesday morning. i had a meeting downtown and wasn't feeling that well. Drove home and literally collapsed in bed. I knew it was a stone and logically concluded that it would pass within an hour and all would be fine.
WRONG
Fortunately my wonderful daughter was home and proved to be of great support. At noon I had to call my in-laws and neighbor for assistance and requested that wife come back home. At 12:30 my wonderful wife, rushed me to the ER and after a glorious round of pain medication and some fancy pictures of my guts I was informed by the physician I did have a kidney stone that was 6 to 8 MM in size. (They thought it was a girl.) We were back home by 4 with a bottle of "happy pills" and an appointment at the nearest urologist set for the next day.
I felt good, ordered some Indian food and invited the neighbors to grub out and laugh off the days eariler excitement.
WRONG AGAIN
Back in the ER for more pain medication and a stern lecture from the other attending ER Physician about the importance of following directions about taking the drugs perscribed.
Back home at 10 PM and a restless and painful night of sleep. A "happy pill" every 3 to 4 hours lots of water, groaning, laughing, cursing and tears.
Wake up at 7 AM and I feel great. Thinking the stone has passed I start breakfast for the kids, coffee for the wife and prepare for a day of work. All I have to do is catch the stone.
STRIKE THREE.....I'M OUT...
at 8:30 I am knocked to the floor again and with pain the exceed the previous two incidents. More "happy pills" and semi-consciousness till two and the trip to the urologist. Good News and Bad news from this guy.
Good News - "We know why you haven't passed the stone, it is actually in excess of 1CM in size and stuck"
Bad News - "Probably can't get you relief until Monday because the BLAH BLAH BLAH."
The sight of a 40 year old man crying is not pleasant. I am not proud but the thought of this pain continuing until Monday and me missing a weekend of family planned activities was not good. My tears worked and an d we were sent the "The Kidney Stone Center" in downtown denver for blood work, additional consultation and advised to return Friday Morning at 11AM for Lithotripsy. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithotriptor
Another restless night of sleep, more couch time in the morning, then off for treatment. Not to mention I now haven't eaten for 48 hours and couldn't any water since Thursday at midnight. I was beginning to get cranky. Put the pain was getting in the way of my foul mood.
Let me just say that "The Kidney Stone Center" is a wonderous place. They confirmed the size, (one big mother of a stone) location(not good) and sent me off to sleepy land. I woke up some time later in recovery. Can't leave until I pee, (Never peed blood before, but they said it was a good sign.) and ate two graham crackers. Bliss, sweet bliss. Off to home and recovery.
Send the kids to the neighbors, wife to her Friday night work function and I lay around for a bit, over to the neighbors for a light dinner, back home and a great night sleep.
Saturday morning the birds were singing, the sun was shining and I was again my joyful happy self. The battle is fought, the war against the stone is won and I will be able join my daugther for Pinewood Derby and my wife and friends for an evening of fun.
WRONG AGAIN...WRONG AGAIN...WRONG AGAIN...
Pain..."happy pills"...pain..."happy pills"...Three hours later I am back to the zoned out zombie. I am still peeing blood, urine filled with gravel, and more couch and down time. This is not fun anymore.
So no Pinewood derby...no fun time with the wife and friends.
I do have to say this. Even as a 40 year-old man, there is something comforting about having your mom around when you are sick. My mom had previously planned on coming up for a conference we had been expecting her. But it was nice to have some "Mommy care". I think my wife was grateful for the assist and a chance to get away from me for a night.
So here it is Sunday afternoon, 10 minutes to four. I am feeling human. Still peeing gravel and waiting for the big chunks to show themselves.
For those that don't know the real pain from kidney stones comes from the the stone leaving the kidney and going to the bladder. Leaving the bladder and out is uncomfortable also, but minor in comparison. So for the next week I will pee through a strainer and on March 20th or so, return to the urologist for a follow-up.
My father has dealt with stones for 30 years and the "experts" are always changing his diet. Hopefully we can figure this one out. He has been a guide for me in my struggles. He has had the Lithotripsy done several times before and still fights the stone battle on a yearly basis.
If you have ever fought the stone let me know. Have they returned on you? if not what changes have you made?
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