..... know what's NOT fun??

 A kidney stone! Man, people aren't lying when they say it's worse than child birth! I've had 3 kids... I'd take them again anytime over having another stone. And at least with child birth, afterwards you have a sweet baby to curl up with.

So Tuesday and Wednesday I was having cramping. I chalked it up to normal cramps, took some tylenol and tried to ignore it. Around 8pm Wednesday, the pain was piercing, stabbing and it was only on my right side. I thought for sure it was my appendix and it was going to explode, or worse, had exploded. Lee decided we needed to go to the ER, and he was right, we did. We called a friend, the Saint Mary Meredith (seriously, I think she should be sainted!), and she came to stay with sleeping Amy and Will. We took Tyler with us and headed to a long wait.

Seriously- I know that ER's are doing the best they can, with the staff they have, their resources, the rooms available, that people come in with non ER type emergencies, etc... but WHY is the wait so long?? Especially when you are in dire pain? I seriously thought I was going to die right there in the waiting room. I couldn't sit still, the pain was so severe, I had chills, a fever, I cried, I moved around, it was 2 hours of pure hell. I was never so thankful to hear the name, "Wade" in all my life. Although even getting into a room wasn't perfect... it took a good 30-40 more minutes to get some pain relief.  At this point I was certain my appendix has exploded.

After some pain relief (morphine spells niiiiiice) I could finally relax. They took me for testing and it turned out that my appendix was fine, but I had a severe kidney stone. I was shocked! First off, there was no pain in my back, where the kidney's are- it was all up front. Second- aren't kidney stones for the meat eating, milk and soda drinking people?? I don't do any of that.... and I drink a lot of water. So yes, I was shocked.

The Dr. said I would probably pass the stone, eventually, but because of it's size (the size of a man's thumb tip), it had been there for awhile and in turn had blocked that kidney for so long that my kidney was swollen and badly damaged. They don't do kidney stone removal at night (it was now about 3am) so after awhile they moved me upstairs into the 'hospital' for the night. Lee called mom and asked if she could come, and of course she left right away. She got to the house around 7am..... Saint Mary had stayed all that time and thankfully the kids actually slept!

Around 9am, they whisked me into surgery... literally that fast. I was asleep (Lee had gone home to drop Tyler off with mom), the nurse came in and said, "Ok, its time."  I hardly had a chance to text Lee and tell him I was headed to surgery. It's amazing what drugs can do.... the anesthesiologist said, "Ok, pick out a nice dream" and bam, I was out. A second later (more like an hour in real time) a different nurse was saying, "Wake up Sarah! You are done!" I felt good, sleepy but good. After surgery I never even needed any pain killers. Since the vein was damaged in the stone removal process, they put a stint in that will come out next week. The Dr. made it out that it was going to be incredibly uncomfortable, but its not too bad. At times I don't even know it's there.

I came home around 6pm that night. It was nice to come home! Although I have to admit- that quiet hospital room, in that comfy bed, and anesthesia still in me... was quite nice. I have needed a good night's sleep! Granted, this isn't what I had in mind to get it, but still, it was nice.

I couldn't nurse Tyler when I had the morphine or anesthesia, but luckily we had a few bags of pumped milk that got us by. Mom did use formula a few times Thursday, but by the time I came home, I was able to nurse again, and that wonderful. I prayed all of this wouldn't interfere with nursing him, he's only 3 months, I didn't want to have to give it up yet.

Anyhow- that's my kidney stone story. Not fun, not fun. I looked it up, and apparently they can be caused by sugar (or sugar additives- such as high fructose corn syrup). But one major thing was chocolate, and well, I have been on a bit of a chocolate binge lately. It's been my coping mechanism with the 3 children! I'm not sure that's "exactly" what caused it, but I'm sure it didn't help! So I guess I'll have to figure something else out! haha. Anyhow- I will definitely reform my eating as I never want to experience that again!

I am so thankful to Lee- who had to watch me in pain for all of those hours. For St. Mary, being willing to come and stay, all night, in my messy house, with my kids. And to my mom who willing (and able!) to leave at 3am to come help us out! And all of my ward family who have offered meals, babysitting and everything in between. We are so lucky to have our lives filled with such wonderful people. And yes, I can say, I'm doing great, practically back to normal. I even took a four hour nap today! I don't think I've slept for 4 hours, without interruption, in who knows how long! It was wonderful!! The kidney stone, not so much.