Hello, friends . . .

I will probably be dropping off the grid (so to speak) for a week or so - as I am going in for surgery on Tuesday morning.
 
God has such a great sense of timing AND of humor!!!
 
I went to my regular doctor in October for a med-refill check up. Happens twice a year. I asked him to look at a hernia I’ve had for several years - had been told to have it checked whenever it “began to bother” me.
 
He sent me to a surgeon - the Kenai Peninsula’s own Dr. McDreamy. He sent me for a CT scan.
 
Two days later (the day after Thanksgiving) I received a call that they would NOT be taking care of the hernia until I saw a Urologist (nowhere near a Dr. McDreamy, btw) because of something on my left kidney - a cyst - and a prominent “something/anomaly” on my right kidney.
 
Saw the urologist the following week and he sent me for an MRI - which was botched because they did not do a contrast scan AND the machine (fondly known as Trixie) broke down in the middle. He could not read the scan - the radiologist could not read the scan - sooooooo
 
Last Tuesday I had another scan - this time with the contrast and this time without Trixie up to her old tricks - and gorgeous pictures came back . . .
 
of the prominent cysts on the left kidney (nothing to worry about - they look normal and people in their 50s develop cysts often) - BUT, when I saw the urologist on Thursday he was very blunt - there is a tumor embedded IN the right kidney and so it (the tumor) cannot just be taken off - the kidney has to come out.
 
Off to the hospital I went for the pre-op blood work - only to be asked questions about which symptoms I’d had to make me go to the doctor and the resultant disbelief when I told them NONE - and shared that my God has a wondrous sense of humor and a great sense of timing.
 
By the by, Dr. McDreamy will assist the urologist and if at all possible will take care of the hernia at the same time. Yay!
 
So, I have a stack of books and one more knitting project to complete for Christmas standing by - and at least a week off work to relax and heal. I can take more time if I need it, but I am a “tough old bird” according to my friends so I hope to be back to work by the end of that first week.

Your thoughts and prayers are appreciated - for me and for the Ladybug who is also having surgery that morning. We asked for a family plan, but they laughed us out of the hospital. Okay, fine.

Oh - the timing thing? With the CT I met my deductible for the year, so I should not have to pay very much for this surgery - I think I’ve met my out of pocket expenses, too. Hopefully - Lord willing - this will all be covered.

And - the one thing I don’t like about all this is that they will, of course, be putting me under for the surgery - I don’t like the idea of that, but know that I will be in God’s hands during that time, too. I think it’s just that whole losing control thing that bothers me. It’s not like I have control over any of this anyway, so send me to Maui with the cabana pool boy, Raul and it’s all good. LOL

take care, everyone and give a hug to the one who’s closest to you.