OUR DESTIN-Y

We ventured east with the Sigetys and found one of our new favorite vacation spots - DESTIN, FLORIDA! And Kim thought California beaches were nice? Check out that white sand, clear water, and beautiful sunset! We had a great time with John, Ellen and Hayley, but we sure missed you Joe and Jocelyn and Tessa. Hopefully next time we'll all be there together. We'll have to post more pictures of the whole family when we get them from Papa Sig. Our camera was broken for most of the trip and only started working on the last day when it was just John and I left on the beach. That's why we went a little camera happy here at the end. Can't wait to go back to the beach. Love it!

A Story of Kidneys, Catheters, and Hospital Gowns

Let's be honest, you all came to see pictures of me (John) in a hospital gown hooked up to an IV. Well, I'll certainly give you plenty of that, and I'll explain a little bit about everything that has happened these past two weeks since my surgery and why I would choose to have this surgery in the first place (note: see the end of this post for why in the world I would choose to have this surgery; I put it there because it doesn't involve pictures of me, which is what you clearly came to see).

It all started Sunday night, August 1, when I was supposed to drink a whole bottle of magnesium citrate to...well...clean out my system. Below is the picture of me drinking the pungent formula (not pictured: the result of my drinking magnesium citrate):


On August 2, Kim and I went to Tulane-Lakeside Hospital at 5:45 a.m. so a bunch of people in green outfits and hairnets could knock me out and cut me up. Here are a few pics of me pre-op:

Just put the gown on


Showing too much hairy leg...didn't know I could cover myself with a blanket


The five or six hours after that are quite a blur, partially because of the general anesthesia but principally because the only thing on TV was soap operas. But when I woke up, my beloved Kim was right there by my side...also present when I woke was a catheter. My first words to Kim? "I hate it, I hate it, I hate it!" I was of course referring to the catheter. Boo. Anyway, here are a few pics from after I woke up...and then fell back asleep:

It's hard to stay awake on this much anesthesia and painkillers


I threatened to smack Kim with my IV hand...I probably hallucinated that she was trying to take my drugs away or something


Video of me eating for the first time




Most flattering picture ever


Up and trying to walk around


I went home the next day, August 3:


During all this, there were some pretty intense moments where blood clots in my ureter caused some pretty intense pain. They eventually passed, and Kim was there the whole time. I know this was something she's never had to do before, but aside from torturing with the constant video and picture-taking, she was my rock. She was there for me in the middle of the night as I was crying out in pain and the nurse was taking forever to give me my drugs. I love you girl.

Background on why I had the surgery: in 2008 I discovered that there was a blockage in the junction where my right kidney and my ureter (a tube that takes urine from the kidney to the bladder) meet. Urine was still flowing through my kidney, but it would occasionally get backed up and cause quite a bit of flank pain. Although it wasn't life-threatening or even immediately kidney-threatening, my doctor here in New Orleans convinced me that it was better to get this surgery done now rather than later, and that he was the guy with the robotic surgery instruments and small built-for-surgery hands to do it. After much deliberation and insurance plan consultation, Kim and I decided that I should go ahead and go under the knife.