Mr and Mrs Awesome

We're driving home from visiting my cousin and his family. The kids and I stayed there for a whole week. It was a blast. Now we're on our way home. Gratton asked David how cars work, and how you make them go faster. David explained pistons and stuff, and asked if he understood. Gratton said yeah, I understand. Then he had his thinking face on for a while, and said- "Dad. Tell me more about engines." It's really cool how Gratton is so curious and wants to learn about everything.

We've been visiting my cousin Ryan, and his wife and family. It's been a good week; I've gotten lots of rest, and the kids have been having lots of fun with their cousins. Tyler and I playing magic. He's 12 and awesome. A snowgie I made for little Daisy. She wanted it to have a red bowtie.

I got my results back from the Dr's visit in Minnesota. The Dr said that the MRCP with secretin showed evidence of a stone in my bile duct. He said it likely wasn't causing all of my problems, but that it probably was the cause of my acute pancreatitis, and we need to remove it. When we had the appointment with him, we got the impression that he wasn't planning on finding anything on the MRCP, so I was a bit shocked that there's a stone. Especially since I had my gallbladder removed 5 years ago. I don't know if it's been there the whole time, or what. We're scheduled to go back to Minnesota on May 16th for an endoscopic ultrasound to confirm the stone, and then an in tandem ERCP to remove it. I'm a little nervous, but also excited and hoping this can help the constant pain.

I just saw Dr. Amateau, and it went well. He upped my Creon (pancreatic enzymes) dose by 50% and then put me on another new med too. He ordered an MRCP with secretin (to see my pancreas and ducts), and labs. I just got finished with the labs, and now we're waiting at the pharmacy for the new medicine. The nurses are setting up the MRCP, and the Dr said we should be able to get it done today. I'm hoping we can, since our flight leaves tomorrow morning. After he gets the tests done, he said he'll have a better idea of what to do next. So for now- Increase pancreatic enzymes, take new medicine for pancreas, and labs and imaging. Also I have to have my primary care Dr follow up with my blood sugar problems, and to have a stricter low fat diet. The paper I was given by the hospital when I got pancreatitis said that I didn't have to be on a low fat diet, if I was on pancreatic enzymes. I guess I need the enzymes and a low fat diet. If I have another flare up with elevated ...

We got to Minnesota safe and sound. I got really sick on the first plane ride, so they got me a wheel chair cause I was so weak.  That's the way to go though, because then we got to board the second plane first, and got the first row seats with leg room. The hotel is awesome and the city is really nice. I'm glad we chose this hotel because it's near everything, and then they also have a shuttle that will take you anywhere. So that saves tons of money, not needing taxi's. I haven't seen the doctor yet. I had scans scheduled for today, that he knew he wanted, so that he could read them at my appointment tomorrow. Since we came up from Idaho, he wanted to be able to get as much out of the appointment as possible. However,  at the last minute my insurance decided they wouldn't pay for it without talking to the doctor for a peer-to-peer consult. But the Doctor can't talk to them until after he's seen me. So today I'm just laying in bed sleeping. I w...