6 Week Party

Hard to believe 6 weeks has past.  Both of us are doing great! We had a fun family get together with a little Cafe Rio! It is still hard for me to wrap my head around this whole thing. I have another person's kidney inside of me keeping me alive. How amazing is that! The Harryman family is so wonderful and selfless! I love these guys and we always ave a great time together! I look forward to the many more adventures we will share. 

      

Our sweet hubbies, us, binder shredding!

Did I mention we can officially drive and we don't have to wear abdominal binders anymore!  Happy day!

I might be crazy...

Today is my sweet daughter's 14th birthday.  It doesn't even seem possible! What a great day we had today. I went for a 1 mile walk today.  Took Faith, her bestie Abby, and Kaylee to lunch, to a movie, to get shave ice, and a ton of shopping.  Then I came home and cook 2 different dinners. A year ago this never would have happened! I got me thinking.  I am actually grateful for the things I have been through in the past year.

Darren holding a 3 day old Faithie.  She weighs 4 pounds here!

4 year old Faith

Faith this year

I know it sounds crazy. Having my kidneys taken out was pretty rotten.  Doing dialysis for 2 months was extremely difficult. Getting a new kidney, as wonderful as that is, wasn't easy.  But guess what? It makes up who I am. It is sort of a badge of honor. As I look at the myriad of scars across my body I feel like a warrior.  I earned each of these scars.  I proved how strong I am. Look at what I went through and kept a positive attitude.  And now I am a new person feeling great, having energy, and ready to conquer the world. So many people have been affected by this trial.  I think most everyone has come through it a better person.  I know I have!  These trials are certainly not things I would have chosen to do, but I am grateful for them.

Corinne visiting me at dialysis

 As much as I dreaded having to do dialysis I am so glad I did.  I understand so many things now that I never did before (it didn't hurt that I was the favorite of many of the staff and patients). I have empathy for my mother and what she goes through.  It made me even more grateful for this gift of life I received.  I will not waste it.  I am going to do great things!

One month!

Corinne and I looking healthy again 5 weeks post transplant

Tomorrow will be one month since transplant! I am doing so amazing! I can't remember the last time I felt this good!  I think my kidney function is better than is has been in about 9 years! Corinne gave me an amazing gift that has adapted incredibly well in my body (even without Diet Doctor Pepper)!  We had breakfast together a few days ago and took a picture, but Corinne didn't like it so we will have to try again soon.  I want to put some pictures on here of some of the great supporters we had on surgery day.  None of this would have been possible without them! 

My mom, me, and my Aunt that donated a kidney to my mom 20 years ago!

The love of my life

Our good friend Amy

My cute kiddos

And you can't forget all of us!