It’s time again to have a cup of our favorite hot beverage and enjoy a little heart-to-heart. After all of the recent holiday celebrations, I am looking forward to a quiet, relaxed cup with some friends.
I am linking up with Coco from Running With Perseverance and Deborah from Confessions of a Mother Runner for their Ultimate Coffee Date. Pull up a comfortable chair, pour yourself a cup, and let’s chat about all topics – running and otherwise.
If we were having coffee, I would tell you about a recent incident in which I was a supporting character. My usually quiet, conservative husband Bill was the star of this story.
Two of our grandsons slept over at our house one night shortly before Christmas. We went out for a family breakfast the following morning, then, completely worn out, went home to take a nap.
I was awakened from a deep sleep with Bill’s contorted face six inches from mine. He was doubled over in pain.
After a brief, panicky conversation, we decided he needed to go to the nearest hospital emergency room, stat.
On our run the day before, Bill had complained about some mild lower back pain, but it did not affect his run and he quickly forgot about it. Now the pain was back with a vengeance.
Our middle son was home, so he hopped in the car with us. I drove; Bill was in the front seat. “Don’t hit all the potholes!” he cried as each bump increased his discomfort, “Drive faster!”
I frantically tried to follow his instructions, while gliding through four-way stop signs, hoping not to see flashing lights from a police car in my rear-view mirror.
At the hospital, he was given medication for pain and nausea and the immediate crisis subsided. It was determined that he had a kidney stone, or “crystal” as our grandchildren now refer to it. It’s not (quite) as big as the one in the picture above, but to Bill, it sure felt like it.
After receiving some instructions from the emergency room physician, we returned home to relax, or so I thought.
Bill had other ideas. Our running club was meeting that evening for a Christmas light-viewing run, followed by dinner at a local pizza joint. He insisted he was fine to go. “You have a kidney stone!” I protested. “I’m fine“, he assured me.
We compromised. Rather than running an unknown route through the city, we did familiar loops in the lighted park. I ran with Bill’s phone stuffed into my glove, ready to call for help at the slightest hint of pain. We were able to meet our friends for pizza after our pain-free run.
The update is that the kidney stone remains with Bill as I write this. He is not in pain but has the specter of pain hanging over his head and appointments with specialists on his calendar.
If we were having coffee, I would attempt to give a little technical assistance (for those bloggers who need it). In response to a recent post I wrote about blogging, several readers mentioned they do not know how to link comments they leave on others’ posts to their own webpage.
Linking comments to your webpage helps immensely if the blogger you are commenting to likes to respond to your comments, then visit your website to comment on one of your recent posts (like me). It makes it easier for people to find your blog.
This process will probably only work if your platform is WordPress.
Here goes:
- First, click on your avatar in the upper right-hand corner of your blog’s home page.
- This will open your profile. From here you can add and delete websites that should be included in your Gravatar profile. You want only current blogging sites and social media sites to be included here.
- Next, click on “Account Settings” under the “Profile” sidebar. Here you can type in the correct web address for your current blog site.
I hope this helps. Please contact me if you have trouble figuring it out.
Finally, if we were having coffee, I would report on the success of the recent sewing project I mentioned in an earlier post.
As I said before, I am not a crafty person, but I did manage to make six microwaveable rice bag heating pads, which I gave to family and friends for Christmas presents.
It was a lot of fun making them and giving them away. I loved the way they turned out, so I may have to look for more opportunities to use my trusty sewing machine.
Thanks for stopping by for coffee and conversation. I hope to see you again next month for our regular coffee date. What’s new in your corner of the world?
You can find the places I link up here.
Nice, clear instructions! I set up mine five + years ago when I started my blog so had no memory of how I did it. Now, if I ever want to add Facebook or any other social media platforms, I know that it’s easy to do. It’s frustrating when I would like to visit someone’s site (usually because their comment is interesting or their blog has an intriguing name) but I can’t get past the gravitar info. I hope other bloggers follow your instructions.
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I hope so too! It IS frustrating to not be able to find the website of a blogger who has commented on one of my posts.
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I hope Bill is feeling better soon.
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Thanks! He is feeling good, but the stone is still with him.
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Your husband sounds as stubborn as mine! I’m glad he’s better, for now.
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Thanks. He is pretty stubborn! 🙂
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It’s amazing that your husband could run after being in such pain.
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He is a little bit crazy! I was nervous. 😀
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Very nice heating pads! I have some herbal ones that I use all the time. Thinking positive thoughts for your Bill. I have heard those kidney stones can be very painful.
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I wish I would have put some herbs in them. What a great idea! Bill was in a lot of pain but is feeling good now. Stone is still with him, though.
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Laurie,
Thanks for the WordPress tip. I always appreciate learning how this blogging world works.
Great job on those rice heating pads. I love those but I have never thought of making my own.
I have been reflecting on my blog and how I want to use my voice in 2020. I haven’t made up my mind except that I am going to commit to a month at a time. I am thinking of picking a word for each month instead of a word for the year.
Hope your husband continues to feel better. What a tough guy.
Take good care.
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Hi IS a tough guy! He still has the stone, but thankfully, he’s not in pain at this point.
I like the idea of one word per month to focus on. A lot of times people (me included) barely remember their word of the year by August!
Happy New Year, Ali!
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Let me know if you choose a word for January. I am curious what inspires others.
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I am choosing “humility”. Or maybe it chose me! 🙂
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Beautiful. Looking forward to hearing about your experience.
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Do hope Bill is doing better, Laurie, and will be able to pass that kidney stone. So scary! We’ve been through the wringer with Danny’s previous heart issues, and know the relief of coming out on the other side with prolonged hopes for health and wellness.
If I were having coffee with you, I’d say that my holidays weren’t picture perfect, not even close, but the lessons learned have made me treasure my life and purpose even more.
Blessings in the new year!
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Learning lessons is not always easy, that’s for sure. Sorry your holidays were less than perfect. At least you learned some good gratitude from your troubles. Sending good thoughts and prayers your way, Martha!
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Hope Bill’s ‘crystal’ quickly passes or disintegrates. What a champ to feel well enough to take on any run at all! And you were the caring wife to have cell at the ready in case he needed help.
Thank you for the help with adding our blog addresses to our profiles. Somehow mine was done already! Pleasant surprise. But I know you helped lots of other bloggers.
Great job on crafting the rice heating pads. I need to get back to physical therapy as my leg is acting up again. They use something similar on my hip and lower back that is like a little slice of heaven. Maybe I should try my hand at making one for home!
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Bill is now in no pain, but the “crystal” still hasn’t passed. I used my rice bag this morning (I saved one for myself!). My lower back is giving me problems. They are easy to make!
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Ouch!! Praying he feels better soon!!
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I am praying the same thing! 🙂
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Hope Bill feels better. Thanks for the tutorial!
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Bill feels good right now, but still hasn’t passed the “crystal”!
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Poor hubby that’s painful! I had surgery for one that got stuck!
Love your heat packs Laurie!
Blessed new year to you my friend!
Jennifer
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Oh, no! I’m hoping Bill can avoid surgery! Blessed New Year to you too, Jennifer!
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Your husband is hilarious! I love his can-do attitude (even if it adds stress to your life, hahaha!)
Oh, and thanks for the linking instructions. I checked mine, and I think I am one of the culprits. I hope it is fixed now.
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Hi IS hilarious. You have no idea!!! 🙂
I am going to click on your link right now to check it out!
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As I was reading your post, I thought kidney stone! Yep. Ouch. I hope he gets it resolved quickly.
I wish I could do the link thing you posted but I blog on Blogger. Some WP folks have a comment luv plugin and that allows me to post my most recent blog post.
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Yep. Your diagnosis was correct! Bill is not in any pain, but he has not passed the stone yet.
I can click on the link in your comments and get to your blog without any problems, Wendy. Some people’s comments are linked to a defunct blog or maybe even not linked at all. It makes visiting their websites after they leave a comment on mine more difficult.
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Oh, my husband had kidney stones this summer. He went to the Dr in August, but the dx explained all the “stomach aches” he had for a few months. His was too big to “pass” on its own so he had the sonic blast treatment (as he calls it). That left him writhing on the sofa in pain for a few more days as all the pieces passed. Hopefully your husband caught his earlier and will have an easier time with it!
Love how your sewing project turned out!
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Bill’s stone has already left his kidney. It was getting stuck on the trip between kidney and bladder. His doc told him once it leaves the kidney they can’t use sound waves anymore to break it up. He is not in pain now, but he hasn’t passed it either. Ugh! I feel bad for your hubby too.
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I don’t sew, but I used to knit & crochet a lot (but in in recent years). I want to make eye pillows I can use in my yoga classes — your project came out beautifully! What a wonderful gift. As to putting herbs in them, you can also just use some essential oils on them, I would think.
Poor Bill. Kidney stones are horrible, or so I hear (gall stones a close second). I hope he’s able to pass it.
BTW, I did register for Revel Mt. Hood. Our plan is to actually stay at the race hotel (which we rarely do!), although we haven’t yet made the reservation. Hopefully I’ll actually get to go, the whole parent situation is always a problem now.
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I don’t know what eye pillows are. I will have to look them up. Next time I make some, I will have to make the rice bags smell good too. Some friends have already requested I make some for them.
Right now, Bill is not in pain, but he still hasn’t passed the stone yet. His next doctor’s visit isn’t until the 17th! These specialists get all booked up, I guess.
I registered for the race too. I think we are staying at the race hotel. I hope we can meet up there. Isn’t it funny that we don’t live too far apart, but could potentially meet 3000 miles away from home? Sending good thoughts to you and your parents. I know it isn’t easy.
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I hope we can meet up too! We may live within driving distance but it’d be a very long drive. I’m not sure we’ll even re t a cat while we’re there!
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Oh wow that is scary w your husband! I hear kidney stones are quite painful but good thing it was nothing more serious. Hope he is feeling better soon! Always appreciate your linking back to my site. 🙂 Happy new year to you! Thanks for joining for coffee today
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It WAS scary when we had to go to the ER. We didn’t know what it was. He’s feeling good now, but still hasn’t passed the stone, so that’s kind of hanging over his head. Thanks for the opportunity to share! 🙂
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I love the microwaveable rice bags that you made – what an awesome idea and gift!
I feel so bad for Bill! I’ve never had a kidney stone but I’ve heard how painful they can be.
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I have never had a kidney stone either, but it did seem very painful! I think I might make more rice bags. Some of my friends requested I make one for them. They were fun to make.
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Poor Bill! That sounds scary but hopefully he’ll be better soon. I love those microwavable heating pads, what a great idea for gifts!
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Bill feels good now but still hasn’t passed the stone. Poor guy! The rice bags were fun to make. I think I will do it again!
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Of course you have already understood the relationship between coffee and kidney stones. But I doubt it will help you as you’ve discovered you are married to an American male. “Oh, you had to cart me to the emergency room this morning? I thought I was dying? Sounds like a good day for a run!” Sounds like a keeper to me. What wimp lets a kidney stone keep you from running?
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Yes, I am married to an American male. I think a lot of runners would have the same response – “Oh, I’m not dead? Let’s go for a run.” Bill is definitely a keeper. He is not in pain now, but still hasn’t passed the stone, so he has that to look forward to…
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I’ve suffered through my own issues but never a kidney stone. Ugh.
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Hi Laurie, I hope your husband passes his ‘crystal’ painlessly, very soon. I’m having flashbacks to the Joey giving ‘birth’ to stone in one of the Friends episodes, very funny, but it did look painful!… Those microwavable rice bags are a lovely idea for a gift. The children had something similar when they were young, much safer than a hot water bottle.
Debs xx
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Hi Deb, I am hoping he passes it painlessly soon too. He is currently not in pain at all, but hasn’t passed the “crystal” yet.
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oh poor Bill! but can’t believe he went running later!! I guess it’s just waiting it out now, for it to pass.
love lose microwaveable heating pads! this is the only thing that makes me wish I actually had a microwave!
Happy New Year Laurie!
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Happy New Year, Renee! What??? You don’t have a microwave??? 🙂
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OUCH!!!!! I have never had a kidney stone, but I have heard many horror stories. I have given live birth, three times, twice with no pain meds, though. Does that count for anything? 😉 I hope Bill is feeling better!!
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My daughter-in-law’s mother, who also gave birth 3 times AND had kidney stones said the kidney stones were worse. Hmmm…Bill is feeling good right now but still hasn’t passed the stone so he has that hanging over his head.
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Sorry to hear about Bill! That is a creative idea for Christmas gifts. I am not crafty at all. Happy New Year!
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I am not usually crafty either, but the idea for these rice bags just came to me out of the blue! Bill is feeling good right now but still hasn’t passed the stone! 😦
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I’m in awe of your husband going on and living his life … while I sit here nursing a toothache. The furthest thing from my mind is heading out the door.
Once again, you guys inspire me! Happy new year, Laurie!
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Oh no! I am hoping your toothache is taken care of soon. Sending prayers and good wishes your way, Linda. Happy New Year!
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Your poor husband! Kidney stones are AWFUL from what i understand. Will he be able to pass them or will he need medical assistance?
Great tips about linking comments!
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He should be able to pass them but for now, his “crystal” is still with him. A friend (who is familiar with both) told him they are worse than going through labor. Ugh!
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What a great idea for gifts. I do sew.
Your husband is me. I would do that. I am running with a sore foot. Lol.
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Oh no! I am so sorry to hear your foot is still sore. Bill is feeling good, but still has the stone. It’s gotta come out sometime!
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Hope it does soon!!
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Just happened last night! Not very painful either!
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What an ordeal, yet Bill feels fine now – I would not want the advent of the kidney stone rearing its ugly head over my own head either … tell it to hurry before you go to Portugal! Otherwise you’d better hope you can translate quickly! I thought they tried to dissolve kidney stones with a laser – wherever did I hear that story? Maybe that is for stones and not crystals. Best to Bill and to you, a/k/a “Leadfoot Laurie” in the new year
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As a matter of fact, Bill passed the “crystal” last night with a minimum of pain, so no worries about when we go to Portugal. Whew! I think that’s the first time I have ever been called “Leadfoot”. Usually, it’s just the opposite! 🙂
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Well thank goodness for that! No worries now for Portugal. I drive like you Laurie – “Leadfoot” would never describe me either and especially this time of year, I am a white-knuckle driver when I have to go out in snow. I try to avoid snow if at all possible.
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You just described every driver in southeastern PA when it snows! 🙂
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Ohhh, kidney stones are the WORST. I’ve definitely heard from a lot of my patients that it’s worse than the pain from giving birth. I hope he’s able to pass it soon!!
I’m fairly certain I’ve linked my page to my comments, but I’m gonna check now just in case, haha.
That’s definitely an awesome sewing project! I need to try making those too–they’d definitely be useful!
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That’s what we heard too, however, Bill passed the stone last night (after a 3-hour run his doctor told him NOT to do!) with a minimum of pain. The pain when it moved from his kidney to his bladder was much worse.
Your page is linked to your comments, by the way. I have never had trouble finding you! 🙂
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Ahh, I’m so glad he passed it!
Ooo, thanks! I guess I did that sometime in the past and forgot that I did! :D..
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Big Hugs
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Big hugs are always welcome! 🙂
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It must be a bit if a worry for Bill, not having passed the stone, and knowing that an incident like the one he just endured my happen again at any time.
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Actually, Bill passed the stone last night with very little pain. Whew!
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Oh wow poor Bill! I understand kidney stones are extremely painful. I hope the worst of the pain is behind him. Super cute and functional gift idea!
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Bill just passed the “crystal” last night. Whew! It was not very painful, according to him.
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Hope Bill feels better soon!
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He just passed the stone last night with very little pain. Such a relief!
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Oh, thank God!
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Yikes – bummer for Bill and you! Those darn things can take a while to resolve. Pretty strong pain pills if he was able to run too!! WOW. I enjoyed reading your update. Happy New Year Laurie!!
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Well…Bill just passed the kidney stone last night with very little pain. Of course, this was after running a 3-hour race his doctor told him NOT to run! Happy New Year, Shelley.
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Yay, great news! Maybe exercise is the key for those who are struggling to pass their stones!
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Late to the party once again, and OH GOOD GRIEF BILL HAS A KIDNEY STONE!! So sorry to hear it, and now that it’s two days later than everybody else’s comments and your replies, I can only hope the worst is behind him. He’s a toughie, but that is a rough passage (pun intended).
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Well…you can be the first (non-family member) to know, Jan, but Bill passed the stone last night with almost no pain. Whew! Of course, he did it after a 3-hour race that his doctor told him not to do. Men!
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[…] find myself running mostly solo these days. As I described in an earlier post, my husband and running partner Bill is temporarily sidelined, instructed by his doctor to keep his […]
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