You all are very sweet. I got nothing but love for you guys and gals. Whatever this is, though, I doubt it's life threatening. The pain might intensify with waiting but I can't find an urgent care that takes my insurance and paying money today when treatment tomorrow is free... well, tomorrow sounds like the better option.

Nicole, why do you think it's a kidney infection?

I'm just guessing it's something to do with my kidneys since the pain is primarily on my right side, toward the back, above the hip and just below the rib cage. Also the added fun of dreading having to empty my bladder. I don't have chills or nausea, though. Not sure if I have a fever.

eta:

(And don't EVEN tell me you don't own a thermometer....)

Um... I don't.

I finished the external radiation a week ago Friday, will be done with internal on 6/16, then I start my last four rounds of chemo - that'll take me through the end of August (they're scheduled three weeks apart). But, half way there and still piratey, you know?

Jen, are the last four rounds internal or external?

While it was a bummer that the girls lost early today, it got us home early and I get to veg out some.

Did they get disqualified from any tournaments due to the losses?

Man, SF is *such* my ideal city, except the parking hassles are Dante's 7th ring o' hell.

Not at Deb's house. It's only really a pain when I get back from one of the schoolday commutes and can't find anything for 40 minutes. That's rare. A normal amount of grump will come from a 15 minute parking hunt. Generally I can swoop in and get something on the first pass, though.

(And don't EVEN tell me you don't own a thermometer....)

Um... I don't.

Sweetheart, I love you but -- if you're old enough to live on your own, you should have a thermometer. (That goes for all of you reading this.) A fever generally means an infection, and it's good to have all the data you can about what's going on in your body.

Nicole, if it hurts when you pee and your kidney is also hurting, you have a UTI that has traveled all the way to your kidneys and need AB's as soon as is humanly possible. I get the insurance thing--if you feel you have to wait until tomorrow, than you do--but in the meantime drink a ton of water and cranberry juice. If you're really desperate, you can use Uristat to at least help with the pee-pain; just keep in mind that it can interfere with the urinalysis they'll do tomorrow.

I get chronic UTI's, but a few months ago was my first encounter with a kidney infection. It was horrific, and I was sick as a dog for more than a week. Please just promise that you won't put it off past tomorrow.

NIcole, if it helps you figure things out, one of the symptoms I associate with kidney infections (as opposed to UTIs) is lower back pain. So if your back aches, I'd be thinking kidneys.

I dreamed that I had a baby. I mean, I dreamed about giving birth. And then I had no fucking clue what I was supposed to do with a baby. I mean, a BABY. Mine. I was terrified.

This probably doesn't matter since it was only a dream, but I kinda felt the very same way when I gave birth to Frances.

Jen, are the last four rounds internal or external?

The current radiation is internal (six doses, or whatever they call it, six different days) - TMI alert: think the yearly internal we all love so, only with different instruments. It's not especially any more uncomfortable than the yearly, though. The actual treatment takes about five minutes.

The four remaining chemo sessions are via IV, you know, into the veins with the poison. Takes about four hours. I take crocheting. And crosswords. No pain, other than the initial inserting of the IV needle, which I'm fine with.

Did they get disqualified from any tournaments due to the losses?

No. This tournament was a "freebee". They were playing up a level to challenge themselves. Next weekend is a "Hall of Fame" tournament (not sure what that means yet) and the next weekend is "Nor-Cal" which is the qualifier for Nationals (in Seattle in early August). The week after that is COLORADO which is basically a college showcase. The juniors on k-Bug's team will be in the spotlight and recruiters can approach them directly. If they are interested in any of the freshmen or sophomores, they have to go through the coach. I don't expect much attention for K-Bug this year, but hopefully she will be ready for next year.

All that said - doctor - FIRST thing tomorrow. You must be 1000% healthy by the time I get out there.

Right on! A's win on Rich Harden's return! (Though he only went 4, and Halsey got the win for going 5 innings). DJ homered too. They're 4-1 since Kendall homered and the one loss was 2-1 to Santana.

Emmett's grumping about going to play baseball so late on a Sunday. For us it's not as simple as tossing on a uniform fifteen minutes before warmups. This means we'll be gone from the house from 3:45 until 8 (or 9:30 if we go to our friend's house). It's a longish outing.

Last game of the regular season, then our triple-A tournament (double elim) starts on Tuesday.

I'd be grumping, too, if I were Emmett. But I hope the game goes well anyway.