Friday, July 21, 2006

Rubbers


HA! Got your attention?



First of all, I'm plagiarizing Jeff from The Thing of the Moment, except that his ball is not "in color." When I saw it yesterday I said, "OH! I've got one of those!" (Thanks to Donica, Queen of Christmas-stocking gifts!)

Then I thought, if I took this ball apart, how many "rubbers" would there be? And could I put it back together again?



Okay, Curious Ginnie, yes! You can take it apart. So, how many rubber bands are there (the ball is/was 2-1/2 inches in diameter)? The person who comes up with the closest number, above or below, gets the Gold Star :)



And yes, you can put it back together again! Yaaaaay. How's that for having fun...or way too much time to play around! (But it's Friday!)

**********

Donica update: After urinalysis and blood work, the doctor here decided the problem was between a hernia and a kidney stone the Germany scans didn't pick up. She sent Donica to a surgeon specialist for a hernia check and his diagnosis is that she does NOT have a hernia but a strained groin muscle (from all the heavy suitcase lifting?). But if so, why did the acute pain come out of nowhere, not after anything strenuous?

That was Wednesday. Yesterday she had an IVP scan for the kidney stone and found out today it was negative. But the pain is still there. If it IS a strained muscle, it'll take 6 weeks to heal. But if the pain is not gone by Monday, her doctor wants to pursue further tests. But what? You can imagine how frustrating this is for us both, especially since so many people who have had their appendix out have said their lab results showed up nothing. So that option still lurks in the backs of our minds!

Thanks again for your mindfulness, which we both appreciate!

17 comments:

  1. ahhh.... Yes that is not good...

    Now you are so funny with the rubber band ball. I'm guessing 450...

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  2. My guess is 250 rubbers in that ball...

    Thanks to everyone for your get well wishes on my recovery!!

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  3. ET: No, not good at all. UGH.

    Thanks for your guess. I'll wait till there are a few more guesses before I say if you're hot or cold :)

    Donica: Ditto on what I said to ET on your guess.

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  4. Ugh, nothing is more frustrating than having serious pains and nothing explaining it. Good thots your way to the both of you.

    Love the colors in your rubbers, hee. I'll guess 275.

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  5. My thoughts and best wishes for a speedy solution sent your way.

    182? I'm probably under-guestimating... :)

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  6. 723 rubber bands is my guess.

    As for the appendix... does that not make you extremely sick very quickly? Every appendix case I've heard of never went far past 2-3 days without putting the patient in the hospital. Four at the most. Also, shouldn't there be an accompanying fever because of infection? And the doctor should've picked up signs of infection in her bloodwork. How'd that turn out? Anything especially high? It sounds like not because they're trying to diagnose a strained muscle... I realize these questions are very personal, just something to think over.

    I'm guessing from your description the pain originated in the lower abdomen. If this is the case, maybe she should be checked by a gynecologist just to be safe, if she hasn't already.

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  7. Somebody who needs good thoughts too!

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  8. Mad: I hate it when something is wrong and no one can find the problem! You actually become willing for it to be the worst just to get a diagnosis. Thanks for your thoughts.

    DW: Thank you much!

    Gustav: Thanks to you, as well.

    Lisa: It's a good thot (seeing a OB-GYN) but it's a moot issue because she's had a complete hysterectomy. The doctors would agree with you about the appendix infection but that's what I mean--several people have told us their infection was never high enough to show up but after exploration, they had to have the surgery. It's just a real mystery. And yes, the pain originated and still can be palpated in the lower right abdomen.

    Mei: Yes. Thanks.

    TO ALL: THANKS FOR YOUR RUBBER-BAND GUESSES. IF I HAD SAID YOU COULDN'T GO OVER THE NUMBER, DW IS THE CLOSEST. BUT SINCE I ALLOWED GOING OVER, DONICA IS THE CLOSEST (and No, she didn't cheat). I'LL WAIT TILL I DO MY NEXT POST BEFORE I TELL THE NUMBER :)

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  9. Okay, so I got more of a hint than the others, because I was a late reader (was too tired after work last evening even to start up my computer!). I'll say 230.
    I sure hope the docs find out what's wrong with Donica. One feels so helpless in a situation like this.

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  10. That rubberband ball was fascinating. And you must have too much time on your hands. I'll guess 233. :)

    I hope Donica is doing better and that the doctors figure out what's going on. I whispered a prayer for both of you two.

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  11. CS: You're right--you have more of a hint but Donica is still the closest :)

    Tim: You're closer than CS :) So that means each consecutive person SHOULD get closer, at least to Donica :)

    And again, thanks for your thoughts and prayers for Donica. I'll tell you why later but we are increasingly convinced it is NOT a strained groin muscle. She's thinking it's a small kidney stone the scans aren't picking up.

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  12. OK, CS, YOU are now the closest :) So I might as well say the correct number is 245. Donica gets the Gold Star for the closest number with the fewest hints, of course, but I'll at least give you the Silver Star for trying again and getting even closer!

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  13. YAY. This is just like being back in first grade! I'm a kid again! A silver star: YESSSS! :-)

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  14. I'll guess 245.

    Am I close?

    HA! Just messing with you. Guess I was a little late.

    So frustrating about Donica. We're sending all our best flames and wishes. We miss you!!!!

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  15. Hey! I was going to make a guess. I was thinking about 300, so I would have lost out on the star. Are you collecting more rubbers to add to your collection? We could bring you several from Ireland?

    Hope you are feeling much better Donica!!!

    Love,

    Don

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  16. CS: I LOVE the kid in you! I would give you gold and silver stars all the time for any reasons I could think up :)

    Ruth: You DID mess with me! HA. Well, after CS, I couldn't quite see knit-picking one rubber at a time :)

    Yes, it IS frustrating about Donica, even after adding my new post's update. I think she's sorta resigned to living with it because what else can they do? However, she may call her doctor again tomorrow to say there's NO WAY this can be a strained groin muscle! So what is it?

    Mr. Fab: You're close, too, but no cigar. Or are you messing with me as well! If we could snap our fingers every time we need you to lift something, believe me, we would!

    Don: Awww. It's the thought that counts (ha). Are your Irish rubbers different colors? If so, I'd gladly add them to my ball. Are they actually FROM Ireland or did you take them with you and they now have Irish ions in them :)

    Donica is getting a bit sheepish about everyone still talking about her but I told her it's because WE all care! DUH!

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