I heard from the transplant team that I have been accepted as a living kidney donor for my mother. So, the procedure will be scheduled in the fall, possibly September '09 as I graduate from my master's program in August and I just want to wait till I finish that way it is one less thing to worry about. If by chance my mom needs the surgery sooner then by all means I would agree to the procedure.
I'm excited and I know I have a lot of planning to do to get everything in order with the kids and making it so Darren doesn't have to take that much time off work because I don't think we would be able to financially make it if he has to take six weeks off to care for me and the kids. I've been diligent about exercising and getting healthier that way my recovery will (hopefully) be quick, the transplant coordinator said that recovery can be anywhere from three to six weeks, so I'm hoping for the three, but will plan for six.
I have thought about "what if" my mom rejects my kidney and if that happens well, at least I did what I could and if I did nothing and something happened to my mom, there would always be the thought that I could have done something and didn't....so I know that the possibility exists that it won't work, but I also know that the same possibility exists for it to work and that is what I will focus on.
Any way, I wanted to share my big news - I'll post more closer to the procedure date so those who read this can keep me in their thoughts!
Blessed Be!
"Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile." - Albert Einstein
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Witnessing History
Yes, if you are not living in a cloud you know that today was the inauguation day for President Obama and although I did not vote for him, I am moved and proud and only hope that he holds true to what he says.
I may not agree with his plans for this country, but he is giving people hope as well as bringing people together and you have to be proud for that. I also know that this man is going to be facing probably one of his toughest times, as the world is holding some high expectations of him and is this really fair, would we be holding these high standards of someone else. Only time will tell if he holds true and really is the Hope and Change we have been waiting for, but today I celebrate the moment and can appreciate the greatness of this moment.
I may not agree with his plans for this country, but he is giving people hope as well as bringing people together and you have to be proud for that. I also know that this man is going to be facing probably one of his toughest times, as the world is holding some high expectations of him and is this really fair, would we be holding these high standards of someone else. Only time will tell if he holds true and really is the Hope and Change we have been waiting for, but today I celebrate the moment and can appreciate the greatness of this moment.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Reconnecting shouldn't be so hard....
I broke down and spilled my guts to my hubby that I was starting to think our relationship was heading for trouble...I knew he would either think the same or think I was crazy. And although he doesn't think it is in TROUBLE, he did mention that it is awkward when we go on "dates" which is like every three or four months, which I don't even know how that happened, but I do. I simply let it become okay that we didn't go out because typically it is my parents who watch the kids and I feel bad asking them all the time, so we didn't go out unless it was something big.
And last month we went out for a date night and although we had fun, the awkwardness was pretty thick and I wanted to cry afterward - I couldn't believe that we had gotten to this point, that we allowed it to happen, but I don't think either one of us realized it because we enjoy spending time with our kids, so we would do fun activities with them and I think somehow I accepted that we didn't really need date nights and when we did go out, we were typically with friends or we went to a movie, so again, it didn't seem awkward - until we went out alone and it wasn't a movie. I had no idea what to talk about because we didn't want to talk about the kids and since I'm a stay at home mom....what else can I talk about?! It was pretty sad and so I try to think back when we were young and dating, but it seems so long ago and distant. I know we held hands more often, we kissed more often, we joked more often, and we were silly way too often.
So we talked and I cried - I think it was a big wake up call for the two of us and he said he will try harder and I will too. I think sometimes as parents it is easy to allow it to happen and then you realize that you've lost the relationship that you once had with your significant other and it is hard reconnecting. I'm definitely not as young as I once was and now I have cellulite in places that I didn't have before kids and as much as I try to exercise it isn't going away...errr!
And I know that he loves as I do for him, which is why we are going to try and have regular date nights, kiss more often, hold hands when we are out, and add a little more silliness to our relationship because we don't want to lose each other and nothing worth fighting for comes easy. Now, I need to line up a sitter.....
"All of us are born with the need to share our lives with someone.
During the years
the fulfillment of this need can be the cause
of constant concern and occasional pain.
For it can't be fulfilled by one person
reaching,
but only when two are willing
to meet halfway." - Javan
And last month we went out for a date night and although we had fun, the awkwardness was pretty thick and I wanted to cry afterward - I couldn't believe that we had gotten to this point, that we allowed it to happen, but I don't think either one of us realized it because we enjoy spending time with our kids, so we would do fun activities with them and I think somehow I accepted that we didn't really need date nights and when we did go out, we were typically with friends or we went to a movie, so again, it didn't seem awkward - until we went out alone and it wasn't a movie. I had no idea what to talk about because we didn't want to talk about the kids and since I'm a stay at home mom....what else can I talk about?! It was pretty sad and so I try to think back when we were young and dating, but it seems so long ago and distant. I know we held hands more often, we kissed more often, we joked more often, and we were silly way too often.
So we talked and I cried - I think it was a big wake up call for the two of us and he said he will try harder and I will too. I think sometimes as parents it is easy to allow it to happen and then you realize that you've lost the relationship that you once had with your significant other and it is hard reconnecting. I'm definitely not as young as I once was and now I have cellulite in places that I didn't have before kids and as much as I try to exercise it isn't going away...errr!
And I know that he loves as I do for him, which is why we are going to try and have regular date nights, kiss more often, hold hands when we are out, and add a little more silliness to our relationship because we don't want to lose each other and nothing worth fighting for comes easy. Now, I need to line up a sitter.....
"All of us are born with the need to share our lives with someone.
During the years
the fulfillment of this need can be the cause
of constant concern and occasional pain.
For it can't be fulfilled by one person
reaching,
but only when two are willing
to meet halfway." - Javan
Friday, January 2, 2009
Happy New Year
It's official, it is definitely a new year, new beginnings as we reflect on the happenings of the past year. I look forward to 2009 with many things already in the works: an upcoming birth, weddings, graduation, preschool, and my big 3-0 (oh, boy, is it really so), so I am trying my best to get fit this year. I'm not concerned about weight, because in the past I have focused my attention on losing weight and then I always end up getting mad and throwing in the towel, so this year, my focus is simply getting fit, mainly because if we proceed with the kidney transplant, the better shape my body is in from eating better and staying fit, I figure my recovery will be a bit better.
So here is to 2009, may it be filled with joy, laughter, and prosperity and little loss.
"Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true."~Alfred, Lord Tennyson,
Monday, December 29, 2008
Testing Updates
Okay, so we met with the a couple of the doctors regarding the kidney transplant and I am indeed a possible match for my mom. Hubby came with me so he could ask any questions that he had and I was glad that he was there with me. So needless to say I can donate my kidney, the next step I believe is that they will meet with a committee to decide if it is still in the best interest of my mom and myself and then they will let me know. I did say I wanted to wait till I finished my master's program. The only thing I worry about is the recovery for myself and my mom. My hubby will need to take time off work to watch the kids since I will not be allowed to do any lifting of any sort for three to five weeks and I'm not sure if he has enough time built up to take off and so any time off that he takes that isn't vacation or sick leave will have to be unpaid, which I don't think we can afford that, so if we can arrange help for the time that he can't take off then we will be okay. My dad has offered, but he will be taking care of my mom, so I'm not sure how that will work. I know that if the committee says yes and we proceed, I'm sure will we'll get it worked out, it is just trying to figure it all out now that is a bit stressful.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Merry Christmas
It is Christmas Eve and I've just finished cleaning the house getting ready for tomorrow. The kids are enjoying a snack and soon we will start making some sugar cookies for Santa, this is probably the first year the kids really understand, for the whole month of December I started using a nice/naughty checklist and every time they were naughty or nice they got a check mark. We counted our check marks and afterward Sweetpea exclaimed, "yeah, I get presents!" She had 17 nice marks to her 12 naughty marks and Bubba has 17 nice to 11 naughty marks. I don't know what to do now as the naughty/nice checklist was working great....I may have to think of a way of somehow continuing the list....think, think, think.
I'm looking forward to tonight, we have no plans, but I think we will read some Christmas stories, drink hot coco, and play some games with the kids. As a child we would watch old home Christmas videos, which were always fun and embarrassing and it seems that as a child Christmas always had this special magical glow on Christmas Eve with the anticipation of Santa and his tiny reindeer and the older I got the glow became dimmer and dimmer, so I have to say I have a renewed sense of Christmas spirit since having the kids, it feels like the magic of Christmas is back from when I was a child and I look forward to my children experiencing that magic and joy the season brings. And since having kids, it has also made me appreciate the season and want to give back, so we did purchase some items for the less fortunate. It really is true that the more you give the more you receive, in every sense of the word. It is definitely a trait I want my kids to learn and appreciate.
Anyway, I want to take this moment to wish everyone a wonderful holiday, may it be joyous, filled with laughter, good food, and the ones you love!
"Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful." ~Norman Vincent Peale
"I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play, And wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!"~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
I'm looking forward to tonight, we have no plans, but I think we will read some Christmas stories, drink hot coco, and play some games with the kids. As a child we would watch old home Christmas videos, which were always fun and embarrassing and it seems that as a child Christmas always had this special magical glow on Christmas Eve with the anticipation of Santa and his tiny reindeer and the older I got the glow became dimmer and dimmer, so I have to say I have a renewed sense of Christmas spirit since having the kids, it feels like the magic of Christmas is back from when I was a child and I look forward to my children experiencing that magic and joy the season brings. And since having kids, it has also made me appreciate the season and want to give back, so we did purchase some items for the less fortunate. It really is true that the more you give the more you receive, in every sense of the word. It is definitely a trait I want my kids to learn and appreciate.
Anyway, I want to take this moment to wish everyone a wonderful holiday, may it be joyous, filled with laughter, good food, and the ones you love!
"Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful." ~Norman Vincent Peale
"I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play, And wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!"~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Monday, December 22, 2008
Where Dreams Come True....
Well we have come back from our spur of the moment trip to Florida, we were gone about a week. We went to Daytona Beach, St. Augustine, and Orlando - it was a busy time, but the kids really enjoyed it. They loved the beach and couldn't wait to put their feet in the water, we built a sand castle and just had fun at the beach chasing each other. The weather was wonderful, couldn't have asked for better weather.We went to St. Augustine, drank from the fountain of youth and I finally found the spanish bakery that we would go to as a child and of course, it was closed by the time I reached it, errr. I was so dissappointed.
Then on to Orlando and the kids were in their glory...I was concerned that the kids might be a bit young for it, but they both were so excited. Bubba got to meet and greet with some characters from Disney Playhouse and he really enjoyed the Muppets 3D at Hollywood Studios. Sweet Pea went to Bibbity Boppity Boutique and had her hair and make-up done, Grammy purchased a princess dress to add to the expeirence and watching the whole experience and her expressions were priceless, she doesn't get to wear nailpolish or get to play with makeup, so this was a real treat for her and the Fairy Godmother in Training thought she was a hoot, we then waited in line for an hour so she could meet the princesses and again seeing my little sweet pea light up was worth the wait, she got to take a picture with all three of them and got to spend a few minutes with each individually and together, it was great. This was my first time at the parks with my kids and it really made me appreciate the magic that surrounds the whole experience because Olivia really believed that pixie dust was being sprinkled in her hair and she really believes that she got to meet the princessess - the innocence of childhood, a wonderful thing.
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