Of sheep and surgery

Yesterday afternoon after schooling Larry, I sat with the sheep awhile. Everyone in the "ewe flock" but Annabelle and her twins crowded in for attention; that's Annabelle way off in the distance in the photo above. Sheep that come up for attention are ever so much sweeter than sheep that come up for treats. Someone recently referred to grain as "sheep crack" and that's a good description of how out-of-control they act in its presence!

Anyway, I snapped some photos and enjoyed my time with them immensely before ushering them back to the fold for the night. Rick and Brian got home with a part for Brian's go-kart, which Rick installed so Brian could drive it for a bit before bedtime. Brian had complained about a stomach ache throughout the day, but other than not having much appetite and occasionally (and briefly) lying down, he really didn't act "off." As he roared around on our bumpy gravel driveway with his go-kart, I was finally convinced his stomach didn't hurt all that bad!

As I was tucking him into bed last night, he complained of additional discomfort – in his right lower abdomen. Warning bells sounded in my brain, and I immediately contacted a friend whose daughter had an emergency appendectomy last month. My friend had mentioned at the time that thanks to educating her daughter about the particular pain of appendicitis, her daughter had self-diagnosed before her already infected organ ruptured. Now I sought education, and got it. Prompted to go back and re-check Brian, I found him already asleep. Rather than waking him, I called our insurance's RN help desk for advice. The nurse advised taking him in if he was still uncomfortable by morning, or if the pain woke him up in the night.

At 1:30 this morning, just two short hours after I'd gone to bed, Brian woke us up complaining of pain. We threw on clothes and drove to the ER; by 5:30 this morning he was in surgery for a very swollen but thankfully intact appendix. All went well, and we are back home again this evening. Brian will be sore for awhile; I predict he will get maximum mileage out of this experience. :-)

That's it for now from . . .