Battle wounds

Check out Cassie's blog for a picture of mine and Tim's incisions. Just a warning: this is not for the faint of heart.

www.thedaysofcassie.blogspot.com

I'm home, and I feel so LOVED!!

I am home! (I don't know why this is underlining, and I can't figure out how to make it stop oh well) I just wanted to write a quick thank you to everyone who has kept Tim and I and our families in their prayers. I know they have been heard and answered. I am doing really well. It is so nice to be home!

This has been so emotional for me, much more than I had thought it would. But it has been emotional in a good way. I have been so touched by the expressions of love that I have felt this past week. I feel SO SO loved! I think I might just be one of the luckiest people on this earth. I have the best circle of support anyone could ever ask for. I have the best husband, the most fantastic best friend, the cutest and most amazing kids, a wonderful family, and great friends. I feel so blessed. Thank you to everyone.

I will post again later when I have a little more energy, but for now just know how grateful I am for all of you. Thank you and I love you.

This is what I got to come home to. I really do have the best kids! Also thanks to Kaycee and Emily who helped watch my kids while I was in the hospital, and who I am sure orchestrated the sign project. It meant the world to me , you have no idea!! Love you guys.

I was in tears as we drove up the drive way seeing the signs the kids have made for me. I loved it.

We almost needed another vehicle to fit all the flowers in to take home from the hospital. They filled my entire kitchen table. They were beautiful! I FEEL SO LOVED!!!

Feeling Better

Kim is doig much better. They took her off of the IV Pain meds yesterday afternoon and last night she got rid of the IV.

She is adjusting to the Loritabs ad they are making her a little bit sick to her stomach.

She got to take a shower last night which made her feel a lot better.

She can now sit up and get up by herself. she went for a walk or two yesterday all by herself.

She really wants to come home today. I think that she just wants out of the hospital, but we will wait and see.

I would like her to be on solid foods before the let her go. I woul rather err on the side of caution than brig her home to early.

Kim wants to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers.

The Road to Recovery

I thought that I would update everyone on Kim's condition.

She is doing extremely well. She was up and walking 4 different times. Her nurse told her that most donors only get up 2 maybe 3 times the day after surgery. The last 2 times she got up, she did not feel sick to her stomach. The doctor was in this morning and told her that she was doing great. She was a star patient.

Tim is also doing very well. His creatinine levels were 6.5 before the surgery, the normal level in a healthy person is 0.7 - 1.2. As of this moring, his lefel had dropped to 1.7. Kim's kidney is really helping Tim.

We think that she will be coming home Monday afternoon or Tuesday morning. Thank you to everyone that has helped with the kids, thought about or prayed for Kim and for everything else that has been done for us. A special thanks to Jen for keeping Kim's cndition updated. Kim is very blessed to have a friend like Jen, who is more like a sister than a friend.

The kids and I could not be more proud of Kim. She has done something that most people, me included would probably not do, and she never wavered in her desire to help. She has shown our family a great example and I feel that our lives have already been blessed by the Lord, and our testimonies have grown stronger. She scared me to death, but she reminded me how amazing she is.

I told her yesterday that I think that I have gotten spoiled. The amazing things that she does for us and the incredible person that she is day after day just seems commonplace. It is the norm, and I forget that not everyone is as lucky as I am to have her. A situation likes this reminds of how truly special that she is, and I love her more today than I ever have.

We love you Kim. Get well soon.

love,

Brian

Doing well

I went to see Kim tonight and she is doing really well...in pain, but good. All of her vitals are great. We even stopped by to see Tim and he looked even better than Kim. I have a feeling that she will be a little more sore tomorrow, but her other kidney is functioning great. So no complications. I am so proud to call her my best friend! What an amazing woman!! Have a great night!

Hospital Info

I've had a comment for the address of the hospital. It is: 5121 S. Cottonwood Street Murray, UT If you need any more info, you can leave a comment!! Thanks for looking.

Update

Kim is now in her room at the new IHC hospital. She told me yesterday that she would love visitors (or at least a phone call). She is in room #1026. It sounds like Tim is doing well also and the kidney immediately started to function, so all is well! Thanks again for all your prayers and thoughts, they are truly appreciated!

Done!

Kim is out of surgery and everything went very well! It seems like it took longer than expected but I think that is just because I have been pacing my house. When the Dr. talked to Brian he said that Kim was awake and that she wanted him to tell Brian that she was ok because she knew that he was VERY worried!! So...she will be moving to her room within an hour and I know she told me that she would love visitors. I will let everyone know when she is safe in her room. Jordan and I are going to see her tonight and I will give updates as I talk with her. I want to say thank you on her behalf for your prayers. We know that they helped!! Breathe a sigh of relief...

In Surgery

Becky just called and said that Kim was just taken into surgery. She said they are scheduled to begin at 7:30, but the nurse said they are always late. They also said that they will be giving updates throughout the surgery, so when they call me I will post new info. But as for now Becky says Kim is doing fine (I didn't ask how Brian was doing) and I can't wait to hear that everything is done and all is well!! I will keep you updated!

We need your prayers!

Okay, so I have never been very good at expressing my feelings in words. So I am not going to try now. But tomorrow is going to be a HUGE day for me and my family. Tomorrow I donate my kidney to my good friend's husband. I am scared to death about the actual surgery, but I feel peace in my heart because I know this is what I am supposed to do. I pray that everything goes well and that both Tim and I will have a VERY speedy recovery. I would like to ask all of you to please keep us in your thoughts and prayers at this time. We really NEED them. Thank you to everyone who has offered help and support. This has not been an easy decision, but one that I can only hope will be rewarding to all involved. I know that my family and I will be blessed greatly. In fact a member of the transplant team told me yesterday that there is already a place in heaven reserved just for me! I hope she is right.

My best friend Jenn is going to be updating my blog throughout the day tomorrow so everyone knows how the surgery went and what the progress is. So check back tomorrow to see how we are doing. But in the meantime please please PRAY for us. Again thank you to everyone for your words of kindness and support. I LOVE YOU!!

I have found that among it's other benefits,

giving liberates the soul of the giver.

--Maya Angelou

Taylor's Bandaid Obsession

Taylor Loves band aids. She is obsessed with them. Anytime she gets hurt not matter how minor, a band aid always makes it feel better. On Saturday she went up to my bathroom to get some nail polish for me to paint her nails. When she came down this is what she looked like. She said she had a headache and needed a band aid to make it feel better. "I like your big band aids, mom" she told me. I couldn't stop laughing long enough to tell her those are not band aids! :)

This is another picture to display her love of band aids. I think she had at least five band aids on each cheek. That girl makes me laugh!

Trevon's shiner!

Last week Trevon was jumping on the trampoline with Grandma Becky and Jackson. The boys took a funny bounce and bonked heads (or should I say faces) pretty hard. Trevon's face got the worst of it.

This was taken the next day.

After a few days it turned pretty black, but now it is much better. Trevon is sad the bruise is going away he thinks it is really cool.

My mom felt horrible since it was her bounce that caused the bonk. Brian likes to tease her and told her that she wasn't allowed to jump anymore because the new rule was you have to under 70 to jump on the tramp. Ha ha, he thinks he is so funny!

Jumping off the diving board

This is the boys' new favorite thing to do at the swimming pool. It took Jackson a few days to get up the courage to do it, but once he did, he hasn't stopped. They just love to jump off the diving board.

It is funny to watch Jackson because he does this fast walk all the way off the board, he doesn't stop. I will have to get a video of it next time to post.

Fourth of July Party

On the fourth of July we went to my in laws house to have a fun water party with cousins and friends. The kids had a blast and so did the adults watching the kids have so much fun.

Nice face Trev!

Duke is Bryce and Kella's chocolate lab. He is so funny! He loves to play with the kids, and when he got hot and tired he would take a little break either in one of the kiddie pools or on the slip n slide. The kids got a kick out of it.

There is Duke chillin in the pool.

Little Katie decided to join Duke for a swim.

Waiting in line for the slip n slide.

We had a great time and ate some great food. Thanks to Grandma Jo and Papa for letting us bombard their house. What a fun day!

Swimming at Grandma's Pool

The kids love to swim at Grandma Becky's neighborhood pool. Here are a few pics from a few weeks ago when my sister and nephew were visiting.

Taylor and aunt Robin

My sweet Hubby

Last night I was feeling lousy. I was totally nauseous with an upset tummy. ( I probably ate too much at our fantastic fourth of July BBQ) I went into the bathroom to puke, and in comes my sweet hubby to hold my hair back for me as I hurl in the toilet. He stayed the whole time with me until he was sure I was feeling better. That meant the world to me. I don't know if I would have done the same had it been him. I love you, and thank you!

PS. I'm all better now! It must have been something I ate.