Heat Exhaustion and Kidney Stones

Playing at the park with Kacey.

Gracie enjoying the shade at the park.

I find it funny how life can sometimes play tricks on you at just the wrong time. I was on a roll with my packing. I had a list of all I needed accomplish daily in order to get the house packed by Saturday night (which was my goal) and I was feeling comfortable, a little overwhelmed, but confident. Yesterday morning I had agreed to a play date with a family from karate. I wasn't thrilled about going, but I knew how important it was to them and I have a hard time saying no so despite the fact that I had a lot of packing scheduled for the day and it was still so hot outside, (103 without the humidity factored in) I agreed to meet them at the park at 10:30. We hung out in the shade for a few hours and then went to the spray park to cool the kids down. At the park I started getting cramps in my side, but thought very little of it. At the spray park I got really nauseous and when I stood up I saw spots and got really dissy. I decided to go home and get out of the heat thinking I was suffering from heat exhaustion.

The kids stayed near this one slide the entire time because it was the only shaded area.

Playing with the rocks, trying not to get too hot.

I got home around 1:00 and managed to get the kids in bed for naps (in only diapers and underwear because I couldn't get them dressed) and then laid down. Having suffered from heat exhaustion twice before I knew what to expect and when I didn't start to feel better I started to worry. I called Kenny who told me to call someone to come check on me. I actually did, which is not like me because I hate to bother people. My friend, Kristy Camp, came over and gave me Gatorade, ice, and other stuff to help me with my heat exhaustion. I started feeling a little better, but my side was still hurting. Then around 3:00 I got really sick again and finally threw up at 3:30. That's when I knew something else was wrong because my body temperature was back to normal and it had been a few hours since I got inside. I called my friend back who arranged one of the young women from church to come watch the kids and after about an hour and a half of horrible pain I decided to go to the hospital.

I of course, got to sit in the emergency waiting room forever. I arrived at about 5:30 and wasn't taken to a room until around 9:00 and then I waited in the room for another half an hour until they came to see me. They drugged me up, which I was very happy about, did a CT scan and discovered I have kidney stones. It's not something I would recommend. They're not fun at all. A little like labor, at times I thought it was worse than labor. The stones are small enough that I can pass them on my own so they game me a prescription for drugs and at 12:30 sent me home.


During this time I had a husband 2500 miles away in Idaho and 4 children at home to take care of. Kenny was feeling very helpless and concerned. He made many called to friends and church members to have people sit with me and make sure the kids were taken care of. It was not the best timing and I know Kenny didn't like knowing he couldn't be here. Our ward was just amazing. I left my kids with one of the young women and another one took me to the hospital. Kidney stone pain goes in waves depending on where the stone is in your body and by the time I was able to make a phone call many friends had already gotten together and farmed the kids out to 3 different houses for the night. They cleaned my kitchen and family room. At one time I had 4 adults from 3 different families sitting in the waiting room with me. There was also another ward member who came at about 8:45 and said he was prepared to stay the entire night, until I was released. They're sure making it had for us to leave. I am so grateful for all the wonderful friends and neighbors we have out here. It was so wonderful to know that my kids were all taken care of and that there are so many people who care. I know it was wonderful for Kenny as well who is so far away and he was able to feel a little more at ease knowing we were all taken care of.

I guess the moral of the story is always expect the unexpected. I'm a little behind on my packing, ok a lot behind, having lost 2 days. I have a meal coming tonight and I've been told that there are already women from the ward prepared to come pack my house up tomorrow when I'm, hopefully, feeling better. I was told that they would not take no for an answer. Again I'm so amazed and so grateful for everyone's generosity. My advice, don't get kidney stones! If you do take the drugs they give you, it makes them bearable. Hopefully by tonight the stone will pass and I'll be back to my normal self again. Until then my world is spinning due to the drugs, but I'm in very little pain.

The Spray Park

We have a little spray park just up the road from our house and the kids have been begging me to take them since it opened. I finally decided Monday after school would be the perfect time. The weather here was still unbearable hot and it was a great way to cool down. I called our friends the Gulicks to let them know we were going so they could join us and we headed off. We were apparently not the only ones who thought it was a great idea. Our backyard neighbors Gabriella and Luke were there along with Taylor who lives a few houses down. Sarah Kate best friend from school, Veronic (I realize there is no a at the end it's actually pronounced vAr u 'nEk), also came. The kids had a wonderful time with all their friends and being that we're leaving soon it was wonderful for them to get to play with everyone.

Gracie and Gabriella. Gabriella was a huge help and loved to watch Gracie.

Sarah Kate and her 'school sister' Veronic posing for the camera.

Hannah getting hosed down by the water.

Hannah and Dallin Gulick playing in the small puddle near the drains.

Sarah again with Veronic. Those girls were inseperable.

BenBen getting hosed down. What a cute boy I have!

Saying Bye to Daddy

Riding off on the bike, one last time.

Well, we said goodbye to Kenny tonight as he left DC for the last time. We originally had a lot planned for the day, but instead we did pretty much nothing. We were going to have a yard sale, but we didn't get ready in time so I get to do that next Saturday. We wanted to go to Great Falls or Teddy Roosevelt Island, but it was so hot here (98, but with the humidity they say it felt like 105) we decided to stay inside. All we really did was go through things, box a little, and have Kenny pack. We also sold the bike this morning to some friends, the Dance's, and before they came to get it Kenny let the kids go for one last ride.

Sarah Kate's ride was apparently a disaster. It reminded Kenny of why he hates driving out here. He took her down Old Bridge Rd (a main road out here and always busy and slow) which was the wrong choice. It was high school graduation so the cops were directing traffic at the high school, there was an accident and there was road construction all in a 4 1/2 mile span. They were trying to get to the 'jungle jungle tree's' (this is what the kids call the road that goes down to the small town of Occoquan and the Occoquan river. It's surrounded by tree's) but when they finally got to the road they found out it was closed due to a craft show down in Occoquan. How disappointing. At this point they had been sitting in the hot sun forever on Old Bridge and they couldn't go where they wanted to . Sarah got scared that with all the cops around they would get her in trouble for being on the bike and so she just wanted to come home. I feel bad her last trip was such a downer, but it did make it easier for Kenny to be ok leaving.

Hannah got a short little ride around the neighborhood. She absolutely loves to ride on the motorcycle and would sit up there forever if we let her.



Ben got a short ride as well. His rides aren't as long as Sarah Kate's due to the fact that he has a hard time remembering to hold on. Kenny took him to the marina nearby and he had a lot of fun. The kids were all very happy to have one last ride on the bike, despite the heat.

We've begun doing our last time things. Last night we had our last game night. We actually didn't play a single game, but I must admit I kind of preferred it that way. We just sat around and talked. It was kind of disappointing for us in that a lot of who we wanted to come had other things to do or were too tired so we didn't get to see many people, but the cool ones came. :) Gulick's were nice enough to host because our house is in no shape for company. Pomeroy's came and we talked, ate a little, and released Gulick's butterfly's they had been growing in their butterfly farm (Sarah, if those pictures turned out I'd love a copy of them.)Shortly after Pomeroy's left, Dances came and we stayed way to late talking. It was very nice and the kids had a blast playing. I will admit leaving was difficult. Watching Kenny say goodbye to Gulick's made me emotional, and I still get to see them. I dare say Gulick's have been the best friends we've ever had as a couple.

While I'm really not looking forward to the many 'last times' the kids and I are going to have over the next two weeks, I'm also excited for the new adventures in Idaho Falls. I try to keep that in mind as I trudge through the next two weeks.

Sarah Kate's Taking After Daddy

This morning, Sarah Kate was rushing to do her homework before the bus came. I've become a bad parent who doesn't care all that much about her homework. In fact I'm a little bugged. She's in all day kindergarten, which I don't believe she needs, and for the last two or so weeks they've been sending homework every night but Friday. I don't think kindergartners should really have homework let alone every night the last few weeks of school. Anyway, I'm done venting, on with my story.

Sarah Kate was doing her homework. At school she's been learning about living and nonliving things. She had to cut out pictures and paste them in their correct spot and then color the living things and circle the nonliving things. A fun little activity, but still not needed in my opinion. She pasted the flowers in their right place and then glued the rock in place. I was making breakfast when she called me over. "Mom, look at this rock. Wouldn't it be a great rock for a picture. You could sit on it and the trees in the back would make a great picture." I just laughed and had to go upstairs and tell Kenny how Sarah Kate is taking after him. Maybe we have a professional photographer in our midst. If not you can sure tell we just finished our annual photo shoot.