Arizona: Stoned

We arrived home from Virginia on Tuesday, 3 May, with a kind pickup by Uncle Stephen. We spent a day and half washing clothes and repacking for Arizona and Texas. At 5:45 A. M. on Thursday, Cinco de Mayo, we headed out of Provo once again, for a visit with the Youngs, Grandmother, Katy, and the Gibbs in Arizona and Texas respectively.

I received a GPS for Christmas, not because I get lost -- I never do -- but because it tells me lots of other cool things that I like to know. (I am the only person I know who can watch the GPS on an overseas flight as if it were a good movie.) The voice we selected is that of a refined British man, so we named him Giles. Giles Poppleton Smythe (G.P.S.). Giles was a great accompaniment to a gripping book on CD, and we made the journey to Peoria in 10 hours flat.

It is good to see Maren, Gavin, and family again. We have had a bit more relaxing schedule than we had in Virginia, but fun nonetheless -- for the most part.

Supper with the crew at the local Smash Burger

Beckham Gavin Young is a most pleasant little guy

Last night I awakened with a killer back ache. I am sleeping on some really good pads, which I have used happily and successfully several times before, but this time I thought my back had given out when I awakened a 1:00 A.M. and was unable to stem the pain by changing position or stretching. I took some ibuprofen and applied an ice pack to no avail. I checked symptoms online and they matched those of a kidney stone. When the pain become intolerable, I awakened Kris and Maren, got some directions to the hospital, and had Kris drive me as I writhed in pain. It took two and a half hours to confirm what I already knew from a previous stone over 20 years ago. The little booger was on the small side, 2 millimeters; I saw the CT scans thanks to a very nice doctor and staff (I thought kind thoughts about Doctor Rob). When I told the doctor we were flying to Texas he said it was safe but might be uncomfortable, so I guess we will continue with our plans. We were discharged by 5:00 A.M. and went in search of meds to manage the pain in an ongoing fashion.

These places are helpful when one is pacing
madly and writhing in pain

Fashionable hospital accessories

Young Beckham has stolen my heart: a cuddle
and he looked at me and said "Pop Pop!"

This evening we drove to Mesa and had a Mothers Day celebratory dinner at the local Big Fat Greek Restaurant. Grandmother is very well and it was so nice to see her.

Dinner in Mesa

I am pleased to report that the kidney stone appears to have passed: the pain was gone by noon and I feel great. The timing was perfect -- a miracle. So we are off to Houston tomorrow morning early. We will keep you posted, but that's all for now.

OXO

D.