Hello World!

I can't believe its been four months since I last posted on my blog. I promise I haven't given up on it but these last few months have been rather difficult for me. I haven't felt like doing much, even reading or sitting at the computer to do anything. I am finally feeling better so here is the latest from my neck of the woods.

If you have been reading my blog you know that for the last six months or so I haven't felt very well. I would have periods where I felt fine but for the most part I wasn't feeling like doing anything. Things came to a head in January when I was admitted to the hospital for dehydration and acute kidney failure. I thought that perhaps my kidney would kick back in after being re hydrated but that wasn't the case. After a kidney biopsy it was determined that my transplant, which I've had for 12 1/2 years had finally started to fail. This was something that we knew would eventually occur but of course took everyone by surprise although I had feeling that was what was wrong for a few months.

Being on the kidney failure diet isn't something I would recommend even though I've lost weight, not being able to eat really, really is the worst. If I would eat, most likely I would be bowing to the porcelain god before long.

After visiting with Dr. Stingo (my kidney doctor) it was determined that I should start dialysis as soon as possible. I saw him on a Tuesday and on Friday that week I was at the dialysis access center getting a central line so I could start dialysis. I started hemodialysis on February 9th and I think I am finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. I am starting to feel a little more like myself than I have in about 6 weeks or more.

If you would like more information on kidney failure, dialysis or transplants please visit kidney.org which is the National Kidney Foundation's website. They have lots of information on anything related to kidneys.

Although I am not happy with this recent turn of events I know that everything will be all right. The Lord is aware of me and my situation and will bless me even during this difficult trial. I am so blessed to have family and friends who support me. Even more, I would not be able to do this without the support of my wonderful parents. This is stressful for them as well and yet they manage to love and support me. I love them more than I can truly say in mere words. I appreciate all they do for me.

In other news, Margaret went back to work so we are tending my little niece Little L. She is the cutest EVER and Mom and I are having a great time watching over her. I am sure that Margaret is glad that she knows Little L is somewhere with two people who love her as much as she does.

I guess that is all the news to tell right now. Love to you all.

The earth isn't flat.....

..so I haven't fallen off the edge of it.

I've had kind of interesting fall so far so its been WAY too long since I last blogged. I appreciate my sweet cousin Mike for commenting on the fake blog I accidentally posted. Because I'm a dork.

Being Sick
Isn't really fun. I hadn't felt well for a while and my appetite was really poor. I had several incidents of MRSA on my skin since August and had been on antibiotics. I was supposed to see my nephrologist (the GREAT Dr. S!) during the first week of August but had to cancel because of insurance issues. The earliest appointment I could get was the last week of September. Then it got bumped to the first week of October. In the meantime, was tired, nauseated, vomiting and all sorts of other fun stuff. I knew something was wrong and I actually couldn't wait until I got to see my doctor again. Once I did see him, it was apparent that I definitely needed his advice. My creatnin (which tells how well your kidneys are functioning) was at a 3.2. I usually run around a 1.9 so it was obvious this was part of the reason I was feeling so bad. We were afraid that possibly it was a chronic rejection or my previous kidney disease returning. Dr. S had a feeling it was the previous antibiotic I was on for the MRSA. He told me to stay home from work for a week and rest. Having just started a job I was a little nervous about this but knew that it was the best thing I could do for me. When I was younger I just would go and go but now that I am older (and a little bit wiser) I knew it was the best thing to do. Thankfully my boss was very, very understanding. After some rest and some more meds (and less meds) I am happy to report that as of today my creatnin is down to 1.7 which is GREAT for me. Thank you to all my friends and family for your prayers and concern the past few weeks. They have really helped me. I love you all.

A new job
Thankfully I still have a job even though I had a rough spot earlier in the month. It is going along and I still learning the things that I need to do. It seems to evolve as the days go on. I am feeling more comfortable with my duties and those that I work with. I enjoy going every day and its different every day which is great.

Baby showers
My sister, Frau Bailey, is expecting their first child the first week of December so I have given one baby shower with one on the way this Saturday the 7th. The first shower was for family and it went really well. Margaret and Ben and baby Bailey got a lot of nice gifts. I gave her some things for the tub and a SPA for the baby. Seriously. It is so fun! Can't wait to see him or her in it. Getting clean. Hopefully, the friend shower this weekend will go as well. We are having an open house style and Mar will open presents 3 times during the shower. We are also having a cupcake bar..where guests will be able to decorate their own cupcake. If anyone out there has any ideas for toppings I am all ears.

Well, I guess that is about it for now. Love to you all.

Still breathing...

In and out in and out..

Yes, I am still here, still alive and still breathing. Even though sometimes when I breathe I have to cough and that isn't so fun. I am still dealing with some very nasty bronchitis and hacking up a lung. The inhaler helps but yesterday was the straw that broke the camel's back.

I was supposed to go to Birmingham (read: Alabama) tonight (Wednesday) to stay for Thursday and Friday for a conference for work. I felt so bad yesterday that I was stressed out and crying about it at work. I didn't have any information about the conference (like what time to be where on Thursday morning) and I had just barely gotten the name of the hotel. I called my boss and told him I didn't think I could drive myself 2 and half hours there feeling so badly. He was completely fine with it and I decided to stay home Thursday and Friday because I had coverage at work. Hopefully this will give me a head start in getting better.

Wish me luck!

To the Dr again...

I started having another cough about a week ago and I decided not to go to the dr until I got a fever. Well, I shouldn't have said anything because I woke up yesterday with a fever. It was almost 101 so I decided I should probably go to the dr so I did. I couldn't go yesterday because it was Memorial Day so I went today. Diagnosis is bronchitis again. This time I got an inhaler so that will probably help because I've had recurrent bronchitis before and an inhaler helped then.

I got to see my regular dr so I think that helped.

Finally Feeling Better

I am finally feeling better. On Saturday it will be 2 weeks since I started antibiotics. Once in a while I will cough again but I am definately on the mend. And just in time to go to KC in two weeks. Actually 13 days and I am WAY excited. It will be a fun trip because I get to go see Wicked for the 3rd time. LOVE IT!

Another visit to Urgent Care

The cough is still hanging on but I feel a bit better this week than I did last weekend especially. Last Saturday I spent 4 hours asleep in bed instead of watching conference. Thankfully, I can read all of the talks online now and will get the new issue of the Ensign soon.

Friday my right ear started to hurt. This is the ear that I have had 11 sets of tubes, one major ear reconstruction (read: new eardrum) and a hole in said ear drum. So when it hurts I don't mess around.

Saturday after work I went to the urgent care at Kaiser. I was only there for and hour and 45 minutes including the pharmacy so it wasn't too bad. I have, guess what, an ear infection. And I'm flying to SLC on Monday. THANKFULLY I got some antibiotics so maybe I will feel better.

Part of my conversation with the dr didn't make me feel any better however.

Dr: When you're in the airplane, your eardrum might explode but its really nothing to worry about. It will heal itself in 1-2 weeks but if that happens be sure to come back and see us.

Definitely I am worried about that. I guess I'll be chewing LOTS of gum.

I get to teach Gospel Doctrine today and for some reason I am nervous. What's up with that?

Vindication!

I went back to the urgent care last night and I do have some type of bronchitis but its still hard to tell what it is. Especially since I have this on again off again low grade fever. I stayed home today..hopefully that was a good decision and I think I am feeling better today than I have in a few days. I got some nice narcotics to help me sleep and not wake up coughing every 2 hours. Instead I just woke up every 4 hours. Fun times. I haven't been at Seminary for the last 2 days and I miss the children very much. I am looking forward to going back tomorrow. :-)