Blessings and Stones

O.K. I know this title seems odd but it will make sense when you read on. We just got back from an exhausting trip to Reno. It really was exhausting emotionally and physically. We arrived Friday the 9th and first thing from the airport decided to go and visit my grandmother Dorothy. She is 91 and had just recently moved to Reno. I expected the move to be a lot of stress on her. She left her lifetime home of Texas to live in Reno where most of her family lives and could visit and take care of her regularly. My Reno family would visit her daily sometimes multiple times in the day. She was making friends with many of the other members of her home and seemed surprisingly very happy and healthy. We had a wonderful visit. Callie talked to her, hugged her, she taught Dorothy about her princesses, and colored in her book with Dorothy's praise. Avery just sat and was admired lovingly by all. Oh, how grateful I am for this day we had. We took pictures and videos and looked forward to a week of more visits. She seemed very happy and healthy, she even stopped by the lunch room to have desert before we left. Well, Saturday we woke to a phone call informing us Dorothy had to be taken to the hospital for a heart attache. Callie and I said a little prayer, but things did not sound good. They resuscitated her after being out for over 5 min. We were able to meet her at the hospital and say our last goodbyes. I kissed her hand and told her I loved her. Callie was in the hall with us watching us take turns going into Dorothy's room to say goodbye. I used this as an opportunity to talk about the plan of salvation, about life and death and how Dorothy's body was old and dieing. She decided at the last minute before Dorothy passed that she wanted to see and say goodbye. I really tired to prevent her, thinking that this could scar a kid for life. She was so determined I knew it was going to be a fit if I did not give in. So, I took her in. I lifted her up to see Dorothy's face and she said "Goodbye Dorothy, I love you." then she blew her a kiss. It was a precious moment. I will never forget it. I think Dorothy always thought Callie looked like her. In a way I felt bad for coming to Reno, I think she was kind of waiting to see the new baby, and see Callie again. The day before she died she told my mom, "I can't wait to tell Robert about how great our family is." I like to think that is where she is now filling him in on the last 15 years. Dorothy lived a very full life. She was feisty, smart, well read, well traveled, well versed. I remember her taking me around the ranch and pointing out every genus and species of plant, what sun it needed and where it was indigenous. She was often saying "that is a _____, I killed one of those once." I remember her also shooting a snake till it was just a stain on the ground and saying to us grand kids, "get back, get back, it can still get ya." She was very generous. I could not have had such an easy life with out her. I also remember her signature laugh and how she she would easily laugh at her self. I think Callie has even inherited her laugh. Well, mothers day was a little somber, even though we were in pretty good spirits, you just always wish for more time with loved ones. We tried to enjoy our visit even though now there was funeral stuff to consider. We got pedicures, Sarah came to town, we went to the River festival, and to the park. Callie enjoyed the grass and slip'n'slide in the backyard. Wednesday night early Thursday morning I woke up in dire pain. So we ended up at the hospital one more time. I have kidney stones again. This is the third time I have had them. Right now I have three. Two in my left kidney, one large on in my right. I had to have an emergency surgery to place a stint in my right kidney. With all this going on I could not make my flight Thursday, so we left on Friday. It was actually good timing. Cameron had his last final Friday, and I would have felt terrible had I messed him up being home. So it was perfect that Sarah could stay home with Callie, and I could go to the hospital and have my mom help Avery and me. This all happened May 15th. I had to wait until June 9th to get in for an appointment with a local urologist. I am still living with the pain and heavy medication when it gets bad. I am scheduled for surgery to laser one of the stones on July 10th. Right now we don't get out very much. I did get to go to Texas to see my grandmothers funeral last weekend. It was perfect and so fun to see all the family. Really if this had to happen it really could not have happened at a better time, Cameron is out of school. He started his internship, which I think he really likes, and he has more time to come home and take care of us. This ordeal will hopefully be over after July 10th. Then we can enjoy more of the summer.