Kidney stones

On the very early morning of March 23rd, Nathan woke me and Justin up at 2:45 a.m. complaining that his left side and back hurt really bad.  The sharp pain had woken him up at 2:30.  I gave him a Tums and some Advil and he was going to try and go back to sleep.  I asked him if it was bad enough he wanted me to take him to the ER but he wanted to try the Advil.  He took the heating pad to lay on and I fell back to sleep.  Just after 4 he came in again.  Justin was up showering since he had to leave for the airport for a business trip at 4:30.  He did not get a lot of sleep.  Nathan was still in a lot of pain and after another half an hour, he started throwing up and I decided to take him to the ER.  I woke Hannah up and told her where I was going and had her reset her alarm to miss seminary but help Isaac get up and ready for school.  Charlyce would gome and get them for me.  Thankfully, the staff got us right in.  They started Nathan on a Morphine drip and he went through the whole bag with no relief at all from the pain.  They took him down for a CT where they found he did have two stones.  One he would pass and another they said he could pass in the near future or may never pass.  We'll hope for the never pass!  They needed him to give them a urine sample but the poor guy was in so much pain and everytime he stood up to try, he would throw up (dry heave by now).  They decided to try a different pain med, Dilaudid and that started to help and he was able to lay still and rest a bit but still could not give them a sample.  After three hours and two bags of fluid, they ended up having to cath him.  OUCH!  After it was over he said, "Why does that even exist!"  He much prefered the pain from the stones.  There was no infection associated with the stones.  We were able to come home after that.  They gave him a medication to help pass the stone, one for nausea and a pain medicine.  He took one dose of the Hydrochodone and it made him a little loopy but the pain subsided a little and he was able to sleep for a good two hours.  He then started passing the stone and by the evening all the pain had stopped.  His sweet friends Cydnee and Josh brought him over candy (way too much candy) and a milkshake.  He ended up missing the next two days of school.  He had a headache and felt a little dizzy.  I think it was all the drugs in his system and his body being exhausted.  I really hope that this was a one-time thing and he will not have to suffer with them through his life.  

  At one point when the pain was really bad in the hospital, he suddenly loudly said, "Mom, prayer."  I had been saying them since the moment he woke me up but said one out loud for him then.  I am so glad he thought of prayer.  Word had gotten out at seminary that he was in the hospital and I got a text from his seminary teacher saying the class had prayed for him that morning as well.  I couldn't help but think of the Savior and the Atonement as it had been on my mind anyway with it being Holy Week.  It really is unfathomable to think of all the pain and sorrow Jesus felt for Nathan and me and everyone so that we never have to be alone and feel like there is no one that understands what we are going through.  Another thing that was so sweet is a couple times Nathan would tell me thank you for taking him to the hospital or tell me he was sorry I had to be awake or sorry that I had to sit so long in the hard chair.  I sure love my boy!  It was hard watching him in so much pain.

Concert and movie plus seminary equals very tired mom

Hannah had talked Justin into taking her and some friends to the Charlie Puth concert.  We really didn't think through the fact that it was a school night in Atlanta.  Justin would take her and three friends and then Autumn's parents were taking a van load of kids as well.  It was at Terminal West which is a pretty cool venue, very small and tickets are standing only.  Unfortunately, two of Hannah's friends were not able to come last minute because of school conflicts so I ended up going with Justin, Hannah and her friend Annabella.  The girls wanted to get as close as they could to the stage so we taught them how to squeeze in and stand their ground so they would not get pushed back.  The beginning of the concert got a bad start as two drunk dads were being rude and trying to get them out of their spots.  We ended up having to get security and they moved them from the front.  Hannah wasn't feeling well so she came out into the food area and sat with me and Justin.  I think she got too hot squished in and standing for so long and the stress of the situation got to her.  It was nice that she wanted her mom.  She wanted me to go to the restroom with her, get a drink with her and then wanted Justin and I to walk with her to find a good spot to watch farther back and less crowded.  It made us happy to know that even though she was there with friends, she still needed and wanted us there too.  Once the first two acts were over and Charlie started, she was feeling good and went off with her friends.  It was so fun to stand back a little and watch them sing, scream, dance and wave their posters.

 He announced his last song and the girls ran out to get in line to hopefully be able to meet him like they were able to for the first two opening acts.  Many others left too.  Justin and I knew there would be an encore so we walked right up close for the real last song so I could get a couple close pictures for Hannah.  He really is a talented kid.  He did not come out to meet and greet.

He had posted on social media that he was hoping to meet as many fans as he could so they all waited out by the tour bus but he never came.  We let them wait for almost an hour but then made them go.  Of course, about thirty minutes later (after most of the crowd had left), he came out.  We didn't get home until after midnight.    

Hannah and a few of her friends have read the Divergent book series and have seen the first two movies.  The new movie for the third book, Allegiant had its opening night and they wanted to see it.  I guess I was too tired to say no plus, I wanted to see the movie too.  We saw it at a newer theater in Alpharetta at a shopping place called Avalon.  The seats were so nice!  Every person has their own recliner with a tray that swings in front for food.  We all enjoyed the movie and they had a great time.

 This is there "that was nothing like the book" picture.

 So glad I can sleep in tomorrow!  I know Hannah is exhausted too.  

Orlando!

This last week, Justin had a work conference in Orlando, Florida.  We decided that since it was only a seven-hour drive and he already had a hotel paid for by his work, it would be a great opportunity for the kids and I to join him.  On his last day of the conference, he would be going to Universal Studios for his excursion so we could meet him in the afternoon.  He left on Wedensday and the kids and I left early Thursday morning.  We left around 5:40 am and beat all the Atlanta traffic and had a nice drive.  We stopped for lunch along the way.  Justin was staying at the Orlando Marriott World Center which is the biggest Marriott.  It has many conference rooms, shops, restaurants and has 5,000 rooms.  I think the parking garage was almost a mile to our room through the hotel!  They did have a parking shuttle but we liked the walk.  While Justin was at meetings, the kids and I went out and explored the pool.  We enjoyed a little basketball and went down the three water slides.  Well, Hannah went down all three, the boys and I were too chicken for the straight down one.  It was 78 degrees but the sun wouldn't stay out from behind the clouds so it was a little chilly.  We couldn't complain though because we heard that it was snowing/raining back home.  The resort was really beautiful.

 The view from our hotel room.

I made the kids take a picture.  I told them they had to take one on the bench and one in front of Universal Studios.  They were so cooperative. 

Justin hired Jared Watson about four months ago.  The Watson's are in our ward and Daniel and Thomas are the kids' friends.  Jared was also at the conference so their family came down as well.  They arrived about 5:30 pm.  Justin had a break from 5-6 so we got to see him for a few minutes before he went to dinner.  I invited Paula and the boys to join the kids and I for dinner.  I asked a hotel worker for a recommendation for a pizza place that was local.  We went to PizzariaItaliano.  It was really good!  We got back to the hotel just in time to watch the hotel lazer show at the pool and the fireworks going off in both Universal Studios and Disney World. 

 Above you can see red fireworks from Universal and below you can see white ones from Disney World.  My phone camera had a hard time capturing them.

 Back to the pool.  Paula made the boys take a picture too.  

 Hannah, Paula and I enjoyed the hot tub and the boys enjoyed the pool.

Friday morning, Justin got up and went down to more meetings and the kids and I headed to Universal.  It opened at 9 but by the time we got ready and stopped for cold sore medicine for Hannah (boo) and some suncreen, Advil and kleenex and a drive through breakfast it was almost 10.  The park was pretty empty.  This is a good time to go!  The kids and I had a great time doing Shrek 4D, Transformers, The Simpsons and Men in Black before lunch pretty much walking straight through the lines.  I think 15-20 minutes is the longest wait all day.  We had a park hopper pass and spent the morning at Universal Orlando Florida in the morning and planned to meet Justin at Universal Island Adventure later.

 We met up with Paula and the boys at Mel's Diner for lunch and then rode ET.  ET ended up being Justin and Paula's favorite ride.  It is very mellow but definiely makes you remember watching it as a child.  Most of the rides are simulators and many have 3D imaging.  I made sure to take a motion pill and handled everything ok.  I only had to shut my eyes a couple times.  It is always so amazing how much details are put into the rides!  Just incredible.

After lunch, we met up with Justin and Jared.  

We did my favorite ride, Spiderman, and then decided since it was hot, we would hit the water rides.  Most water rides I have been on are kind of random as to who gets soaked.  The way they do them at Universal, everyone gets soaked!  They were so fun.  It was great having the boys' friends there because it made them brave.  They were both loving things I don't think they may have tried without them.  Nathan even did the water ride that is like Splash Mountain in Disneyland.  We did not do the big roller coasters though. 

The Watson Family

 After we were good and wet, we went to what we had all been waiting for.....Harry Potter!  If you haven't read the books or haven't seen the movies, I think this would still be fun to see but having seen the movies and the kids having read the books, it is absolutely incredible.  We went to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and of course, had to try the Butterbeer.  It was good.  I would say it is like really creamy cream soda with cream on top.  

You can see how wet Nathan's shirt is here.

So much detail in all the little shops.  They had things set up to look like magic was going on just as in the movies.  I was trying to take a picture of the group not knowing I was taking the picture but they saw.  I told them to act natural and forget I was taking it.  Yeah, that looks natural! 

 Hogwarts was beautiful at night.  There was a really fun ride inside and as the park was about to close, we were able to get there to ride it again and Justin, Jared and the kids went on it as soon as they got off as no one was in line.  They got to do the last run of the night.

We left the park and went to Hard Rock Cafe to eat dinner.  It is right outside between Universal Orlando Florida and Universal Islands of Adventure.  We had to wait 20 minutes or so for a table.  We figured everywhere else would have a wait too. 

 

It was a great day!

Saturday we started off at the Orlando Florida side at the Harry Potter stuff we did not do yet.  We started at Diagon Alley.  They had a fun ride at Gringott's Bank.  The dragon atop the bank spits out fire every so often.  Again, just amazed at the detail.  Wish I could have taken pictures of the inside of the bank.  Looks just like the movie.

We also rode the Hogwarts Express.  For those that have not seen the movie, there is an invisible entry into the train staion at King's Cross at platform 9 3/4.  The station looked like a real station.  So glad the lines were not long.  They could have wrapped around for hours!

 Here is Isaac going through the invisible entrance.

Each group of people get their own train cabin and the windows are screens that are made to look like you are really traveling from King's Station to Hogsmeade.  We rode it to Hogsmeade and then back and each way has different scenes based on the direction you are going and stories that happen in the hall of the train like you were there with Harry, Ron and Hermione.  

 We then met back up with the Watsons at a little parade.  Paula and Jared let Hannah and I use two of their express passes to ride The Mummy ride with Daniel and Thomas.  The boys weren't quite up for that one.  It was fun!  A mini roller coaster inside so you couldn't see where you were going.  You were inside the set of the movie, The Mummy.  It had jerks and drops.  Nothing too big.  Justin and Nathan and Isaac headed back to look at the shops in Diagon Alley again.  When Hannah and I came out, a performance of the Blue's Brothers was starting across the street so we watched that.  Very good singers and man could that guy play the saxophone!

Justin had found the wand experience store inside of Olianders wand store.  In the movie, the kids go there to get their wands.  The worker tells them that the wand chooses them.  The kids will try one wand and funny things happen and try another and more until a wand lights up on the shelf and that is their wand.  Isaac got picked to be the kid to be able to experience having the wand pick the owner.  He was very excited.  Of course, to keep the wand that chose him, we would have to pay $40 so he did not get to keep it.

 Justin had been dying to have real English food so we stopped for a snack at The Leaky Caldrin.  He had a kid's meal of fish and chips and a mini sheapard's pie.  I had some carmel bread pudding that was really good and the kids had Butterbeer.

 He was excited for the brown sauce.

The Watsons were headed to ride the Express and we went to ride a few more things.  The lines had gotten pretty long by the afternoon so we did a couple rides as single riders.  You get to go in a much quicker line!  We still walked the line together but you are used as fillers for rides that need an extra rider based on how many people want to ride in groups.  We either were in different rows of cars or ones right after each other.  Since we had already ridden everything together, it was a great way to not have to stand in line long and still have fun.  We were exhausted and didn't make it until closing.  There was a concert that night and a Mardi Gras parade so the park was really filling up.  We decided to go outside the park and have dinner and head back to the hotel.  We were exhausted.  The kids and I headed down to the hot tub.  It felt good on my legs and back.  I think we all slept very well that night.  We slept in and lazied around a bit and then left for the drive home.  So glad we were able to do this.  It was such a fun weekend.  It was fun to see Justin on a trip.  Isaac asked if that was what he did on all his buisiness trips.  Unfortunately, no.  Ha.

Youth hike on the Indian Seats Trail

This coming Saturday, the Bishop has planned a "Press Forward" hike.  The theme this year is Press Forward in Steadfastness in Christ.  He wanted the kids to do something challenging.  The hike will be the Brassman Bald Trail which is the highest natural peak in Georgia.  It is 6 miles to the top.  Once there, they will have a speaker and sack lunches and then drivers will take the kids back down.  I think I would have made them walk back down!  I thought it might be nice to do a little easier hike with the kids as a prehike so we did that last Saturday.  Unfortunately, we will not be in town next weekend for the other hike.  We will have to go do it on our own.  There was a lot going on Saturday so I didn't expect many kids to show up.  I was pleasantly supprised at the group and it was nice to have some parents and siblings come too.  It was a beautiful day.  It was a little chilly at 41 when we left and sunny and 53 when we got done.  Hannah was at the school all day helping build the drama set for their upcoming play so she missed the hike.