Spokane or Bust

Well, today has consisted of scrubbing wall after wall followed by cleaning blind after blind. All our things are off in the moving truck. Kam is at a doctor appointment (see previous post) and when he comes home we will pack up the car and drive off. It is strange to sit in an empty apartment and even stranger to think that life as I knew it for the past two and half years will be completely different. All though I am excited to move on from St. Louis, I can't help but be a little sad. I have learned so much from moving to a big city that I knew nothing about and where I knew no one. I had a challenging job that has stretched me beyond what I thought I could do. I have had an amazing ward full of amazing people (thanks for all the help moving guys!). I have grown to love a lot of things about St. Louis. I finally know how to get around and I have my favorite stores and restaurants. I love how excited everyone gets over the Cardinals (and it was awesome to live here when they won the world series). In other words--St. Louis felt like home for awhile. But now we move on to somewhere I am hoping will be more permanent (maybe not the apartment we are moving to but the city at least). I will tell you one thing I will miss--the weather was in the 60s today and apparently Spokane continues to double all their snow records. I guess the only other thing I can say is...Spokane, here we come! (The picture is of my empty living room (except for the computer, obviously)).

What Doesn't Kill You...

So Kam is officially gallbladder-less. We took him to the emergency room on Saturday, it was removed on Sunday, and I picked him up yesterday and brought him home. He is feeling great and hopes to return to his internship tomorrow.

Kam is no stranger to surgery. We have only been married six years and he has already had three surgeries--all completely unrelated. He has had countless other surgeries and injuries before we were married. I'll spare you the details of each surgery, but know that this is a man with many scars.

I was thinking on the way to the hospital yesterday that the things we go through together just make us stronger as a couple. His hospital stays are definitely not the most difficult things we have been through, but they increase our history together and bind us together even more. Through all the times I've been in the hospital for hours, waiting for his surgeries, and sitting by his hospital bed, I know that trust deepens betwen us that we will be there for each other no matter what. So am I saying that I am greatful for his hospital stays? I guess in a way I am (not that I am hoping for any more). But I know we'll continue to have our share of strengthening experiences.

I hope you are not too grossed out by the picture of Kam's tummy. I think the picture is hillarious because Kam is a pretty hairy guy but his stomach was shaved for his surgery--but only half way. You can also see where the doctor marked "yes" on his stomach to show where they were going to perform surgery (is there another gallbladder somewhere in his body?).

Murphy's Law: Gallstones Happen

So Kameron has been having these insanely painful stomach pains. He got his first one a few years ago and we rushed him to the emergency room. Before we entered the hospital, the pains stopped. So we went home. This happened again awhile later and Kameron went to the doctor who told him that he had an air bubble in his intestine that had to pass through, causing the pain. He perscribed Kam a laxative. A couple of months ago, they came again. Kameron went to the doctor who said she didn't know what was wrong and perscribed him a pain killer in case it happens again. Guess what, it happened again. He was prescribed pepsid. Here the pains come more and more frequently. These are more than just stomach pains, these are violent stomach attacks that leave him doubled over. Kam is prescribed Prilosec and went in for an ultra sound yesterday. Guess what our Christmas present is this year? Gallstones! (How did Santa know?) Now Kam has to see another doctor to confirm that he needs surgery, and then the surgery is scheduled. Hmmm, this sounds like it will run right into the time that we are moving. Why does this happen? Why didn't this happen a month ago? Why couldn't it happen next month? I guess it is Murphy's Law: If anything can go wrong, it will. By the way, this is the least disgusting picture I could find of gallstones. I wouldn't sicken you with the other ones. But to look on the bright side, maybe this could happen: