Results are good

I had to go to have another test this week since the ultrascan last week that I had on my gall bladder was not definitive. The test that I had this week was a Hydascan. Basically, this is a nuclear X-ray. The technician shot some kind of nuclear liquid into my blood stream. This stuff had a half life of 6 hours, so I was radioactive for most of the evening after the test. :)

Anyway, I had to lay on this small table, like an emergency backboard, under this huge camera that was about four inches from my chest. The hardest part was being completely still for an hour. After the first thirty minutes of taking a three minute picture every five minutes, the technician shot me up with what she called "my big fat cheeseburger with no calories". hahaha

It hit me quick and hard. After a few minutes of continuous picture taking, she said that I could get up from the test early. My gall bladder emptied just as it should have.

I got a call from the doctor Thursday after he got the results from the radiologist. Everything looks normal with my gall bladder. He said that he could refer me for an upper endoscopy, but at this point, I am not interested in getting the scope down my throat.

When I first started having my symptoms, I prayed about it and changed my diet a little. I have not actually had any problems that I was having for about three weeks.

Green Eggs and Ham

My 6 year old son came into my room tonight while I was hanging up my shirts and said that he wanted me to read to him. I told him to get his Bible and I would read a couple of stories from that. He really likes that. He walked away and when he came back, he said that he had changed his mind. He wanted to read to me instead.

What do you think he wanted to read? Yep... Dr. Suess' Green Eggs and Ham. He started reading the book and it brought back old memories. I told him that this was my favorite book when I was growing up. I believe my mother still has my copy of this book at her house.

I am happy to see that things like this still continue to be a child pleaser 30+ years later. :)

Blood Work

When I went to the doctor the other day, they took my blood to determine if the health issue that I currently have is caused by something other than the gall bladder. The nurse called today with those results. Everything was normal. So, I guess I now have to wait until my doctor gets the pictures from my gall bladder ultrasound to find out whether or not I am indeed going to need gall bladder surgery.

Work Day at the Church

The morning started out at 8:00 a.m. with breakfast. Our local Jack's Restaurant donated biscuits. We had about 20 people out for our work day today. It was good to see a large crowd come out to work, because we can usually get more done.

We completed quite a few tasks including changing out a broken commode, cleaning and reinstalling some gutters, pressure washing the sidewalks, replacing a door closer, and cutting the grass.

I got to do one of the jobs that was indoors. Unfortunately, it is probably one of the most humbling jobs I have ever done. I had to spend time over a used commode changing out the broken lid. Don't laugh! This was not a fun job, but somebody had to do it. :)

All in all, it was a great day of fellowship and work at God's house with some good people.

Buying the Taj Mahal

Early last week, my wife walked through a house in a very nice neighborhood near where we want to put our son in school. After she walked through the house and fell in love with it, the builder told her that someone was closing on the house the following day. What luck!

Well, he made her feel a little better when he said that he had planned to build the same house just two lots over from where she saw that one. So, we took off last Saturday to meet the builder. Great guy. We went through the plans since I had not see the house. I loved it a first site. We made a few changes that we would like to see in the house.

Early this week, our mortgage guy called us to get some information so he could start the process of getting pre-approved. Since we had not heard from him in a couple of days, my wife called him this afternoon to find out where we stood. He told her on the phone that we could buy the Taj Mahal if we wanted it.

I said to her, of course, that is considering our credit scores, not what we can afford. Needless to say, we have done the math. We will be able to afford what she looked at last week. This is an exciting time!

Going Under the Knife

I went to the doctor this morning for a follow-up from a visit that I had four months ago when I was diagnosed with high blood pressure. I have recently been having problems very soon after eating fried foods. After telling the doctor this, he said that I probably have Dumping Syndrome.

From what the doctor was telling me this usually caused when the gall bladder leaks fluid when a sudden rush of fatty foods comes through the system. Sometimes, it can be treated with drugs, but more often than not, people have their gall bladder removed.

Right before the doctor let me go today, he told me to say goodbye to my gall bladder. :)

A wiki definition of Dumping Syndrome is available. There is also more information about the disease at eMedicine.

Helping Family

My father-in-law asked me earlier in the weekend if I was interested in using a portable building, but I would have to help him move it. Reluctantly, I agreed to help out. Before it was all over, he was the one saying that he wishes he had never gotten us into this mess.

We had to move a very heavy, site-built building by jacking it up and putting it on a dove-tail trailer so we could move it to my house. Unfortunately, the several thousand pound trailer had to be backed up a hill to the building. The truck we were using has pretty fat tires on the back, so with the slightly damp ground, it was just not happening.

To make a long story short, it took us 10 hours just to get it on the trailer. It fell a few times, almost slid off the trailer, about fell on my arm once, and kicked a support beam up and knocked my father-in-law in the head. We still have to get it out of the area where we put it on the trailer and then move it over to my house.

None of this was worth it, but at least we did not pay any money for the building. :)

Cookout with the Choir

We had a great early July 4th cookout at Brother Jeff's today.

Since we did not have church tonight, the minister of music at our church (First Baptist Church Graysville) invited all of the members of the choir and the sound engineers to his house for an early July 4th cookout. Brother Jeff handled all of the cooking while everyone else had great fellowship and relaxed. Of course, the little ones, Luke and Lance Kelly, stole the show. They are the five month old grandsons of Brother Jeff and his wife Vicki. They are just cute as can be.

Everyone had a great time. Some of us ate a little too much food, but all in all, it was a great time of fellowship.