Toothbrushes and Kidneys

Hello all.

I'd like to tell you that I've been writing a novel, curing cancer, or even getting some rest, but none of those are reasons for not having updated this not-quite-that-exciting tomb of Stacey's life miscellany for so long.

Let's see what's been going on for the past month:

I've been brushing my teeth with my newly resurrected Sonic-care toothbrush. That thing is a fabulous advancement for mankind. Just two minutes to stare at the wall and be completely taken care of. I mean, it is the ultimate in lazy - much like many of our modern day "conveniences". I don't even have to move my arm! But, if this is a sonicare advertisement, you must know what a fabulous job it does. This coming from the gal who is excited to get floss in her Christmas stocking (thank you Kylie) and for my b-day (thank you Katie).

I've been competing with Blaine for most-miles-driven. He does about 1,000 per week in his truck (or so he says). I am averaging 800, because I only have my Saturday class every-other week. Maybe one of you will volunteer to be the Director of Weights & Measures for us? I'm sure that I will beat him with all my additional trips to Salinas and back. **NOTE: do not purchase a Ford if you will be traveling any distance. They are NOT comfortable. Repeat, no Fords. (If you talk to Blaine, please reccommend the driving comfort of a BMW for his pregnant wife.

I've also taken a trip to the hospital in September. I had some bleeding and MAJOR pain in my right abdomen: so of course we thought the worst. Upon arrival to SVMH we walked right up to labor & delivery (as instructed by the doctor over the phone) ...
...side note: I was only 26 weeks & totally praying that neither 'labor' or 'delivery' would be applying to me...
...they immediately monitor the baby & everything is fine with her. However, some little elf is running around a tiny hamster wheel on my right side throwing nun-chucks while stabbing me with his little double-edged sword. I'm thinking for sure my appendix has burst & I am bleeding internally and about to die. Blaine was just relieved because there were two monitors on my belly and the baby's heartbeat was echoing throughout the room at a healthy 140-150 beats per minute.
Back to the pain in my side: they did some very unpleasant tests and, after waiting in agony for an additional hour or so, determined that I had a kidney infection, or a urinary tract infection, or kidney stones. Then, the novice nurse proceeds to poke my hand and arm FIVE, yes five, times prior to successfully protruding a vein in order to start the IV for the antibiotic.
That was the long story; the short one is that in September I went to the hospital to find out that I had a kidney problem (babe is OK), and the follow-up ultra sound showed no kidney stones, so it must have been a kidney infection. And a kidney infection is freakin painful.

So that is the excitement for the month. I will get off my tush and upload some photos soon.