No words were needed

      Well we did! It's over! Although no words were needed then, people sure want to hear the words now. As you can see in Vicki's last post we both showed up for the big day! I secretly think many doubted I would. I wasn't nervous at all, I was actually super excited. With the delay in the transplant, I was MORE than ready to get the party started!

      

 

I tuned out when the dr's were telling us to show up with no make up on! I secretly thought if I wore full make up I might wake up with like a tiny bit on and not be so scary.... HEHEHE! (didn't know they vaseline your eyes shut!)

My sexy chocolate Justin had different emotions than I did but ya gotta give him props for knowing... There was no talking me out of this. He knew better. My favorite part was when they gave him a name tag with my name on it so everyone would know whom he belonged to. Yep, thats right! He belongs with ME!

Before I knew it we were ready to go! My cute sister surprised me and showed up at the butt crack of dawn to cheer me on.... Man... I love her!

           

Not a lot of words were said.... There really weren't a lot needed. Life lesson #343 in this experience, Actions really do speak louder than words!

Not going to lie, the first few days were rough! Lots of pain, sick to my stomach and I was pretty much OUT OF IT! I look like a nursing home patient in this picture but this is one of my besties braiding my hair right after surgery. I don't remember too much about the first few days but what I do remember is how much love I felt from everyone!

We didn't need to say much but what we did say connected us in a way that many never get to! Of course we were great friends prior to surgery but at this point we were more like sisters. My kidney liked Vicki's cute little body and started working right away! My body wasn't sure what the heck I had done to it but adjusted quickly enough to let me go visit my sweet friend. 

This was the part.... the no words part....

When I woke up from the surgery that sexy chocolate I mentioned earlier... well he was starring at me. No words were needed. I remembered the look he was giving me! I had seen it 4 other times before! 1st on my wedding day then with each child I bore of his. The look he gave me said it all. The feelings of anxiousness, fear, uncertainty - it was all gone! There was nothing but peace and a strong spirit was present! I could read Justin's face and I knew how he felt. .... No words were needed.

Then when I Vicki walked into my room with that grin from ear to ear... HELLO that made me cry! You should have seen this chic! She looked like she had won the lottery! Duh! I don't even think she walked in my room, I think she skipped! 

No words were needed... Her smile said it all.

Lastly, I have to mention Vicki's sweet kids. Darren brought them all in my room and told me they wanted to say something to me but they were shy. I laughed and was in so much pain I couldn't really say much to him let alone the 3 little angels before me. The 2 little ones mumbled a thank you under their breaths while Darren continued to express their gratitude. I cut him off and said, you guys don't need to say anything! I already know. No words are needed. You could see the gratitude in all of their faces but Faith's eyes spoke volumes while her mouth said nothing. Tears fled from her beautiful eyes as she tried not to look at me. It was yet another moment in this incredible experience where I thought about the fact no words needed to be spoken. I felt her soul and mine connect and knew that this little muffin was forever grateful and I pray she felt my sincere love for her and my hopes for her bright future with HER own mom to be right by her side for years to come! No illness, no set backs... her NEW AND IMPROVED MOM!

Miracles

The big day finally arrived (again).  This time it was a go.  We had to be at the hospital at 5:15 am.  I was up at 2:00.  The day couldn't start soon enough!

Decked out it our twiner sweats from Angi and our matching t-shirts we couldn't wait for it all to begin! We got our blood drawn, IV s started and Corinne was on her way! I had to wait about 90 minutes after she left for it to be my turn. You would think I would be scared or nervous, but I wasn't.  All I felt was peace and excitement!

Corinne's cute little kidney came out of her without any problems.  It was inserted into me and began working immediately! Truly a match made in heaven!  I woke up with a catheter bag full of urine!!! And much, much more to come! It could not have gone any better.  All those prayers from friends and family really paid off. First day post-op we were already visiting each other's rooms!  A true miracle indeed!

There are no coincidences!

There were movies, pizza and tissues Monday night instead of blessings, sleep and bowel preps. I wallowed in my sorrows and snuggled my kids while trying to find peace with this minor set back. I did my best to ignore the "what if's" playing in my head! I wanted to just stay in bed Tuesday and be angry. Instead, once again friends came to my rescue! 

My cute friend Heather took me to lunch and the temple!

Just before leaving for the temple my friend Amy called and said that her dad had a pretty neat story to share with me. Amy's dad is my adoptive father whom I genuinely love with all my heart and would call for anything I ever needed so again, NO COINCIDENCE this story would happen to him! He is a baseball coach and had just finished giving a private lesson to a young man and asked him after the lesson, "what are you going to do now, go get a bite to eat?" This young man quickly reported he would not be eating because he was fasting for a young boy in his ward that was dying. You see the boy needed a liver transplant and one had just became available! He was having a transplant ASAP... yep you guessed it... at the SAME HOSPITAL, BY OUR SAME TRANSPLANT TEAM! Suddenly, it all made since and I dropped to my knees to offer a prayer for this young man and sick boy! I may or may not have thrown in a few I AM SOOOO SORRY I  was angry comments too! It all makes sense now. Oh and don't you worry, I have cleaned out 3 fridges, hit two of my kids soccer games and cleaned like a pregnant nesting lady! Vicki... well Vicki is a freaking rock and she didn't skip a beat! She just went with the flow! Okay... here is to May 2nd ( I hope) unless of course some precious boy can get a liver instead :)

Mentally Ready!

Well, everything was done! My bag was packed, carpool lists arranged, meals scheduled and toes beautified! I was 100% mentally ready! In fact I will admit I was excited! I got the call from Myra, our transplant coordinator telling me to arrive at 5:00am Tuesday morning! You betcha, I'll be there! 

Then it hit.... the second call was YOU HAVE BEEN DELAYED! 

This completely threw me off! Totally off my rocker! There were tears! Big alligator tears, fear creeped its way in and everything that seemed so right suddenly felt so wrong! We were told there was a liver transplant that needed to happen now. To be honest I had mean thoughts and had to research why a liver transplant overruled a kidney transplant..... OKAY OKAY.... I get it but seriously I WAS mentally ready and now I am mentally a mess!!! 

My friends spoiled me! It was about 15 minutes after I left the salon that I found out... we were postponed!

Celebrating life party!

      With the transplant scheduled for April 29th, we decided to surround ourselves with family and friends! Word traveled fast and we quickly had over 100 peeps gathered together just to celebrate life. It was so great to see so many supporters and I loved meeting Vicki's family! I did not expect to cry but couldn't hold back the tears when Vicki's mom hugged me and just kept repeating, "Thank you so much for saving my little girl! Thank you! Thank you, thank you!!" Yep... I cried. I decided right then and there that moment would forever be captured in my heart! I will take that moment to the grave with me! It was so sacred and special to me! No words needed to be spoken, I could feel the love and gratitude by her embrace. What an honor it is to be in this position!

      Here are a few pictures from the party.  Sad we didn't get a family photo of each of our families. We waited for all guests to leave and then we prayed together. What an incredible experience and validation of God's hands in two peoples lives. I do not believe in coincidences and truly believe our paths crossed years ago to set us both up for this event! 

Vicki's husband Darren enjoying some friend time

Me and my bestie Angi

My mom and her husband. So sad I don't have a picture of Vicki's mom!

The mother in laws - THEY ARE AMAZING - definitely in- laws and not out- laws hehe

Me and Vicki! Seriously could she be any prettier? She doesn't even look sick!

Me and my best friend since stinking birth, Traci! Love her

This is my twin, Nicole! She is dreamy! (okay we aren't really twins but I hate that I look older than her so I say we are twins! She is also my bestie!)

This is Vicki, Darcy and myself. Darcy is in my new neighborhood and has known Vicki and her mom for years!