Carin called...

...and it looks like she'll be home today so I'm grabbing this opportunity to post a picture of my marvelous dog, Nick. This is him in Wisconsin's Kickapoo River. Four hours of canoeing and the boy swam and waded the whole way. Whatta dog! You just can't beat a Border Collie. ...well, you can but they're so quick they easily get away so what's the point?

So anyway....

She sounds much like her old self but tries to keep the laughing to a minimum as it hurts. We were remarking over the apparent success of this unusual weight loss strategy. They didn't feed her solids until this morning and so in addition to the lost kidney weight, there's no telling how much she wasted away. She couldn't put away any more than one pathetic pancake for breakfast. Well done, Carin!

So this is it for me. As Carin prepares to resume control of her blog, I am gearing up to depart for Fort Myers Beach tomorrow. Thanks for having me.

By the way....I hear Sven is planning something special for his last post too.

George

If I had Carin's kidney...

First, an odd story:

Woman Claims to Have Diana's KidneyA French woman, Francoise Gaellar, had a kidney transplant two days after Princess Diana died in a car crash. She believes that she received Diana's kidney. As a consequence, she now feels urges to speak in English:"I found myself speaking English to my friends, something I don't normally do because I have no reason to," she says. "I cannot explain why I did this."Is this evidence of a fanciful nature, or an indication she had indeed received an organ from an English-speaker? Improbable though it sounds, there are many documented accounts of organ recipients taking on characteristics of their donors.The French authorities aren't allowed to say who people get their organs from. They also aren't about to reveal what happened to Diana's body after she died. But a Hospital spokesperson did say that: "Because of bioethical laws and other considerations, it would have been impossible for this type of transplant to have taken place in a French hospital involving a British citizen, particularly when that person was the Princess of Wales."
Posted: Wed May 25, 2005

Now if I'd received Carin's kidney, I'd be pleased to discover a new expertise in choosing a good bottle of wine.

George

This is incredible...

This is a resin cast of the urinary vessels of a kidney. The red structure shows the major and minor calyces which receive urine from different sections of the kidney; passing it first to the renal pelvis and then to the urethra.

Looks kinda like coral, don'tcha think?

George

Carin at the slots

I think this was taken when she really let loose and moved up to the quarter slots. Too rich for my blood.

I'm posting this because I think she's been pretty stingy with the pictures - unless, of course, our children are being sucked into jet engines.

Isn't she adorable?

George

Due to technical difficulities beyond Carin's control...

...we have updated scar information.

The first picture shows the scarring that results from the laproscopic procedure that had been planned. The second shows the scarring that results from the more traditional procedure that she ended up requiring. Both were taken one-year after surgery and neither looks too bad. Her husband assured me when I spoke to him on Wednesday that he fully intends to keep her.

She may have to give up bikinis but it seems to me that if she just takes it one step further and sheds only the top no one will ever notice the scar. ...or her hair color. ...or that she's trailed by five children. ...or that they're standing on a beach.

George

Spoke to Carin!

I figured that she might be feeling somewhat conscious today so I gave her a call right after I woke up this morning at 5 am. Took her FOREVER to get to the phone. Strange how she's still so groggy....

Of course I'm kidding you. I figured she might be up at lunch and would have her cellphone near if she was interested in calls.

Indeed she is beginning to feel bit better, certainly more awake, but I could tell that she's somewhat uncomfortable. Weird drug effects, she says. She has been up though for a shower and is able to take a turn about the room. She hasn't yet been to see her Dad as it would be a considerably longer walk and she wants to be more "put together" when he sees her. How nice, not wanting to trouble her Dad with the vision of her discomfort.

Reading, yes, even US magazine or the National Enquirer, has been out of the question though she admits they'd be the perfect thing at this point. She has about a two minute attention span with napping breaking out without warning.

Her doctor is guessing she'll be released Sunday or Monday and I would advise her husband to acquire for her a nice riding crop or some other long, light & threatening stick before her homecoming. ...just a little something to warn off a charging child or dog. You'd think kids wouldn't forget that their parent has an injury when said parent is now incapacitated in the La-Z-Boy but they do. Best to raise a warning crop or yardstick before suffering serious trauma. Keep the buggers at bay!

The flower, by the way, is the kidney flower.

George

Carin's Life Without Carin - Cars

Medical Updates:

Everyone's fine, and everything's working fine. Father slept four or five hours, which in an ICU with hourly tests is pretty good. Now he's reading Vince Flynn. Carin, we can't get quiet the same details on, but she's comfortable.

So, now as for Carin's day-to-day life.

I showed up at Carin's at 6:45 this morning. I was originals told that Husband would be leaving about that time. Instead, he was still getting ready. While waiting, I tested something. DLP actual works pretty well as a computer monitor, and Civ IV attracts little eyes on the bigger screen. His RSX had been in the shop for a while, but was ready for pickup today. The children woke, Husband got ready and we went to the dealership to get the car.

The Acura RSX is great fun, especially in second.

While we were out, #1 decided on breakfast - a bratwurst and a pork chop.

After returning, I've been watching the kids. Husband got some bagels and has done some laundry, and about 10 minutes ago, Husband has finally gone off to see to Carin. So I'm here. Two youngest children are watching Robots upstairs. First and Third are watching Big-O with me. Remaining child is down playing his MMO-resembling RPG.

And So lets see how things go. At some point, I'll be getting pizza for the kids. Given the fight on getting #3 to eat her Bagel without toasting it, should be interesting to see how it goes.

The Brother Appears

Yes, I left the hospital for all of you...

I'm going to keep this as a quick little update, but as of 5:00...

In the words of the surgeon I talked to, the actual incision Carin ended up with is similar to what would happen in a non-laparoscopic surgery, so the results and complications of it should be minor. Even before that discusion, Carin's Husband got to see her in recovery. In his words, she's "out of it" but I suppose for now thats for the best. He was planning on returning to the kids, but another has been found to watch them for the evening, given the minor complication.

Our Father is was almost done with Surgery. One of the surgeons came and talked to 'the family' and everything on his side went fine. We were going to find out his location shortly after five, but I had to leave. Following his time in recovery, he will be/was sent to the ICU. They will spend an hour to an hour and a half getting him settled and checked out once he gets there, and only then will he be allowed visitors. That should be around 7:00 PM.

I'm in a class right now, and it's sad when a grad class is so simple you can blog it, isn't it?

Expect my next post to bring word of the father, and tomorrow...

Blogging the Life of Carin without Carin - The Brother alone with the Kids

UPDATE!

Just got off the phone with Carin's husband who reported that she is fine. The surgery ended up being more complicated than had been anticipated but she is fine, her Father is fine, the kidney is working and that's all that matters.

Let's pause to thank God for keeping them safe and for giving us all the gift of having this truly amazing woman in our lives.

Now for the details...

They did the laproscopic procedure as planned but somehow in the process her aorta was torn and an additional incision was required to repair it. That turned a 2-4 hour procedure into a 6.5 hour procedure and her potential 3" scar into an 8" one. She'll also likely be in the hospital now until Tuesday.

I sent her husband on a mission to get her US magazine. I know, I know...but as smart as she is it's really all she can handle right now.

George

While we wait...

...and keeping with our Theme of the Day, I have a cute Carin story that actually involves kidneys!

We were in Las Vegas a few years ago with two other friends. (Suddenly inspired to locate my pictures of Carin at the nickel slots - oh, but it could have been a bad move giving me the keys to the kingdom...) In the course of conversation we learned that the friend Carin was rooming with only had one kidney. As we'd known eachother for many years and had shared innumerable details about ourselves we were surprised by the revelation. Someone said, "I didn't know that!" To which Carin replied with a crinkle of her nose, "I saw her sleeping and could kinda tell."

Ah...good times, good times....

George

"I'm in charge now..." Alexander "George" Haig

As I haven't heard otherwise, I'm assuming that the surgery is underway. There was to be one last scan this morning before going in.

Here's the deal....

During laparoscopic donor surgery, three small incisions are made on the abdomen (shown in red).Since 1999, University of Colorado Hospital transplant surgeons have been utilizing video technology to allow the kidney to be removed safely through small incisions on the abdomen. This procedure is called laparoscopic donor surgery.
Patients undergoing laparoscopic donor surgery have significantly less pain, a shorter hospital stay and return to normal life much faster than those who undergo the more traditional “open” procedure.
The donor kidney is removed with sections of artery, vein and ureter through this laparoscopic procedure and placed in the recipient’s lower abdomen. Veins and arteries carry blood to and from the kidney and the ureter carries urine to the bladder. All blood vessels and the ureter from the donor kidney are connected to vessels in the recipient.

As you can see from the illustration, Carin is indeed a Barbie doll. Saves her a fortune on Brazillians...

George

Of special interest to Kel

I checked out The Sopranos first season DVD from the library to watch while I'm down. I know you LOVE this show, right? I watched the first episode while working out yesterday.

Nano-Review of last night's "24"

Not enough Jack.

Public service announcement

I'll be offline for a few days. In my never ending-quest to lose weight, I've decided to have one of my kidneys removed. Granted, it is only going to result in a net loss of a few ounces, but I'm thinking that every little bit will add up. Not wanting the kidney to go to waste, my father has graciously offered to have the kidney attached to his body. Apparently, he can use it (how's that for lucky coincidences?) And it will free up some time for him since he will no longer have to spend 12 hours a week on dialysis. I'm supposed to arrive at the hospital at the beastly hour of 5:45 on Wednesday- so after this evening I won't be posting (or trolling anyone else's blog) until I get home. My brother has (been) volunteered to post in my absence.

Stupidest dog award

Not to piss anyone off with this, but chihuahuas have to be the stupidest dogs ever. And, I've had stupid dogs in the past, so I'm not speaking from an ugly place. You can love your stupid dog, but you should know it's limitations. It's weaknesses. Knowledge is power.

I do not currently own a stupid dog, chihuahua or otherwise. I have a queen of a dog- a white German Shepherd named Greta. In addition to being beautiful, loyal, and smart, she is also protective and very (very) strong. And, to focus my argument, her jaws, and therefor her BITE, is forceful. A thing to be avoided, especially if you were -say- a tiny little dog.

Now, imagine, if you will, you took this white shepherd on a walk though your neighborhood, properly leashed. It's dark (or light, whatever, it doesn't matter), and you've got your iPod on, and you're just generally enjoying life. Suddenly, you look up, and there is this rat heading STRAIGHT for your properly leashed dog. Except, the rat is barking! It's not a rat, it's a stupid little dog, UNLEASHED, trying to attack. Greta, of course, is always prepared to go a few rounds. But, this battle wouldn't make it one round. It would make it about two seconds, at which point I'd probably hear a hideous crunch. The only course of action, is to desperately RUN from this tiny dog, because if it gets w/in leash length, it's over. And, this (really) stupid dog is determined to get within range.

Needless to say, that dog didn't die that fateful day. Nor the other time the same (stupid) dog ran ACROSS the street to try to start something. The owner was at least outside that time, yet for some reason didn't seem to think the incident was the fault of his stupid dog.

So, here is my note to stupid dog owners: If , some day, your STUPID DOG finally does manage to get with-in leash length of my dog (by chasing us, barking and in attack mode) it will be TOTALLY YOUR FAULT. Your dog will be dead, and I don't want to hear boo about it.

Stupid internets

Is that all you got? Don't you have something else to distract me with?

Go visit the mayor

Content warning: Happy Abortion Day

Kennedy on Alito

Regarding the nomination of Samuel Alito, U.S. Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA) had this to say:

In sum, in case after case, Judge Alito's decisions demonstrate a systematic tilt toward the powerful institutions and against individuals attempting to vindicate their rights. He cites a few instances in which he has decided for the little guy, but they are few and far between.

Justice Lewis Powell captured the spirit of America best when he said: "Equal justice under law is not merely a caption on the facade of the Supreme Court building. It is perhaps the most inspiring idea of our society. It is one of the ends for which our entire legal system exists."

I'm sure Kennedy believes this- except when the "little guy" is a woman named Mary Jo Kopechne, and the big, drunk, guy is himself. That Kennedy went on to have, and continues to have, such a long life in the Senate is as much a mystery to me as the whole Chappaquiddick incident.

Update: The The Mayor has his own post about Kennedy. And, as is mentioned in the comments, Fenris - I suggest you invade Massachusetts first. As a personal favor.

A hypothetical question

Do you think it possible, or at all advisable, that I spend the waking hours of the next 5 days surfing the internet?