1 year since Transplant

      It's been 1 whole year since Rhett's transplant. Thanks to his sister Shantelle, Rhett was only on dialysis for 1yr. She was very loving and willing to work fast threw the process to see if she was a match to be his donor. She was better then we could have hoped for. She needed 6 out of 12 antigens to be a match, she was 9.
       It wasn't to bad for me in the waiting room during surgery. The lord had blessed me with the feeling that everything was going to be alright, and I had Rhett's parents and Shantell's husband LaVell with me. Like we were guessing it took Shantelle a little longer to come out of anesthesia. She is such a small person (and short hee hee) They both looked really pale afterwards, but after a day or two the color came back slowly. Rhett was in ICU for 4 days.We expected 2, but his kidney was pushing out too much fluid. He needed to keep a little in so the kidney wouldn't dehydrate, also his toxin level was still a little off. Shantelle was able to leave after 3 days. Boy was she a marathon walker! They want you up and walking laps around the nurses station to get your circulation going. Shantelle was really working it so that she would be ready to leave ASAP. When not walking they had to wear these cuffs on there legs that helped massage them and keep the circulation going.

As you can see from the 1st picture Rhett started off with 4 bags of IV fluid. They really wanted to get

that fluid pushing threw that kidney at first. Good thing for that catheter. The nurse was emptying it every hour the first two days. Then they started slowing down on how much fluid they gave him. As you can see on the 2nd picture they still left his dialysis catheter in his chest just incase the kidney didn't work and he needed to get back on dialysis. 

    I couldn't stay over night at in the ICU so I slept at the University Guest House with his parents. I was happy when they finally moved him out of there and was able to stay with him. His parents left that same day. I knew exactly when Rhett was starting to feel more like his old shelf, he asked for his laptop. LOL! And when the wire gave out on the laptop he had me go down to the van and bring up is deck top computer, yes you heard me right, his desk top. ha ha  How funny I must have looked carrying that thing in, but it made Rhett feel better and from being so bored.

   We also did some sleeping. I also took Rhett out a couple of times a day to walk around. We had to be careful where we went because Rhett's immune system was way down with his anti-rejection meds on the very high dose. I had to sanitize my hands every time I came in or out of the room, by every patients door was a hand sanatizer. The Dr. slowly reduced the meds and still is to this day. Rhett has blood tests done every 2 weeks so the Dr. can see if any adjustments need to be made. Poor Rhett kept getting told that he might be out the next day for a couple of days in a row. He was anxious to get out. And get the catheter (from below) out. It was getting painful, and annoying. We were told that most hospital stays were 5 to 7 days. Rhett ended up being their 10 days. His kidney was working a little to well and pushing too much fluid out. And his toxin level was up a little in the morning but fine later that evening. Boy was he glad when he got the OK to leave and got both of those catheters out. He was thinking he would be nervous if a girl came to take the one out from below, but he was so desperate to get that thing out he didn't care. He just wanted it out.

   During this time our kids stayed with a few different friends of mine. Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! It helped make us less worried about them and able to focus on Rhett and Shantelle. When Rhett's parents when back to I.F. Rhett's mom stayed at our place with the kids and got our house cleaned up and ready for Rhett. When Rhett got out of the hospital we stayed in Salt Lake at the University Guest House for another week and a half so that we would be close to the hospital for his 2 times a week blood test and check-ups. 

   My wonderful parents came up with our kids for a one night stay so that we could see our kids that we missed so much.

Hailey's 1st grade class made Get Well cards for Rhett that I had to display in the room. They were so cute. (A month after transplant Rhett took cookies to the kids to say thank you and explained a little about his transplant)

   Oh yeah! We also spent Thanksgiving at the hospital. Not much fun, but we had a special Thanksgiving the week before surgery and Rhett's dad gave both Rhett and Shantelle a blessing. What a wonderful experience. Everyone could feel the spirit in that room. We came home in time for Christmas. Most of our Christmas shopping was done in Salt Lake. Rhett was suppose to try and stay out of public, but that was near impossible for me to get him to do. He was so antsy.   

   I'm very Thankful to my Heavenly Father that we found out about Rhett's kidney failure when we did. (18% function, dialysis starts at 15%) I'm thankful for the strength that he gave me, and the wonderful ward members who helped and prayed for us, and family and friends that where there for us. That Rhett only suffered a micro stroke. That Shantelle was very willing to be his donor, and that surgery went well for both of them. This was sure a learning time and trial for us but with the lords help we made it threw the worst of it. Thank You to everyone who helped us and/or prayed for us, we felt your love and support.

P.S. Since it took me so long to write this it's now the day after the 1 year mark. lol. November 20th will always be an important day in my book.

- NKOTB & BSB Tour 2011 --

YouTube - NKOTB & BSB Tour 2011 -- NKOTBSB (Confirmed)

Woohoo!! I wanna see this!

Good Sunday Lesson, Bad Evening

       It's been hard for me to get to church this past year. It's not that I don't want to go. It's the people. They aren't mean or rude. It's me. Since things calmed down after Rhett's transplant (almost a year ago!! Nov. 20th 2009) I have had a set back with my Bipolar. I have been doing so well for many years. I guess the stress of the surprize you kidneys are failing, (18% function) the problems with the dialysis catheter  in is belly moving out of place a couple of times, Rhett's "mini stroke", ( Dr. is not positive what really happened, just that he had mind confusion) the process of finding a donor ( Thanks Shantelle ) and the actual transplant with the many trips back to Utah for check-ups ( we are finally at every 6 months for that now) must have done me in. I have problems with big crowds, I get jumpy and easily irritated at the grocery store, or any other store. If a kid is crying and the parents can't calm them down or don't try to, it is like nails scraping a chalkboard. I have a harder time with my own children and the being really loud, or all over the place, wont listen and stop. My family has heard me let out a big scream of frustration and start crying or run and hide many times the past few months. I hate having them see me like this. My kids will definitely think they have a wacko for a mom. In April or was it May? I finally went to see a phyciatrist to see about me needing a change in meds or needing more. He was surprized that I was only on 1 pill. The next few weeks were hell'is. One pill made my heart race and dizzy. Another more suicidal. When I was feeling that last one I couldn't get a hold of the Dr. He works at 3 offices. The receptionist told me, after the 3rd day of waiting for him to call me back, that I should go to the hospital. I almost went. My parents and Will helped me decide that that would be worse for me because they would take me off all my meds and wait until it was out of my system and then slowly add them back to see which one was for me. I would go insane if I didn't have my Paxil. I already felt like I was starting to go off the deep end. I couldn't sleep very well or very much, I was shaking uncontrollably. The only thing that helped me threw the day was to go over to my mom's house. It was quieter and the feel of having my mom close by. I would get tired after a while of being over there and then would be able to take a nap. ( I believe it was because I was able to get my body to relax from stress and the shaking) I gave up on that Dr. and went to another one who helped me out that day that I called and she has been great. We found ( after another few trys) a medicine that dose make me feel a bit better. I do have a side effect of shaky hands, but it's not quite as bad now that we cut the dose in half. Beside I would get shaky anytime I felt anxious, or nervous anyways.
    
     After a few Sundays of my anxiety, and illnesses getting in the way, we made it to church today. I'm determent to get my kids to church so they can know the truth and build a testimony like I have. Especially with Hailey turing 8 in April and getting babtized. The kids where good at Sacrament Meeting. Nathan held onto a stuffed dalmatian dog for most of the time, then he was in Rhett's lap making him read all the books I brought. Hailey sat quietly and played with two Little Pet Shop dolls. Keigan was on the floor playing with his cars (no surprize their)  or in his seat leaning on me cuddling. He also asked every 5 mins how long until it was over.
      I missed half of Sunday School because I was sitting with Nathan in the Nursery. By the way, it is a little weird going to church with your in-laws, and sister-in-law, but it is also nice. I know I have someone to sit with, and someone to go to R.S. activity's with. R.S. was very spiritual for most of us. Me, more ways then one. We talked about how the spirit has prompted us into doing things. My sister-in-law Deneece mentioned how the spirit prompted her and Josh to adopt six kids. Another lady mentioned how she was working and her husband was going to school and they had a two year old. She didn't want to have another kid yet, but she kept getting a feeling that their was another spirit that wanted to be there, and now. Now that child is 3 and she know that he was that spirit. I had been watching and playing with a little girl that is around 8 or 9 months old. She had the cutest smile. I looked back at that girl after that lady was done talking and started to cry. I felt I have a child I need to bring here. Maby

     Later in the evening it became difficult to be in control of myself. The kids where in my way everywhere I went, even the bathroom. Not stopping the ruff housing after I told them to stop many times, and then hearing Keigan crying from the top of his lungs because he banged his knee against the couch, which wouldn't have happened if he had listened. Keigan wouldn't go to bed and kept rousing Nathan up. Then Keigan kept talking while I was trying to read to Nathan, then Nathan wouldn't stay in is bed and was fighting me. I finally gave up and went to Rhett and told him he better deal with them before I do something bad. That's when I start doubting me being a mother. Am I really meant to be a mother? I want to be one, but with my mental problems am I good one? It makes me wonder if I should really have another one. I feel that there is another spirit. I was told in a blessing given to me by my dad before conceiving Nathan about their being future CHILDREN.(which as you know means more then one) I'm afraid of being a bad mom. Of not doing right by them. I pray often for strength to be the mother that each one needs me to be for them. That and making sure to be on top of my medicine is all I can think of doing to be what they need. This has to be one of my trials that the lord has for me. I know that he trusts these children with me. I just need to learn to trust in him more that he know what he is doing, and that I can do it. I love these children with all my heart and would do anything for them. I thank you Lord for giving them to me.

Grrrr. I'm so computer dumb!

Ok, I'm not that great with computers.I'm still trying to figure out this Blogg thing. I think I may have figured out how you guys add pictures  into your posts finally.

Yeah! I got it some what. I took this picture from my cell phone. That was while I could hold my hands still long enough to get a decent picture. Now because of my meds my hands shake too much.

Hmm??? Looks like my next task is to figure out how to turn them. If only Rhett could sit with me long enought. lol! We'll its a start. And you can see how cute my kids are. :)

Story of My Life

Facebook | Videos Posted by Fans of Backstreet Boys: Oct 10, 2010 9:24am

New Hobby and Starting a Fire

          I have just started a new hobby. Making Hair Bows. It started with an IEP meeting with Hailey's teachers, councilor, speech therapist, and principal. Her teacher that helps her with comprehension mentioned how Hailey likes having her mention how nice her hair looks. That got me thinking " I wish I knew how to do more cute things to her hair". So I went to the one place I thought I could learn some stuff and quickly, the Internet. Boy did I find some fun stuff. It also meant I needed to learn how to french braid. I'm not great at it but getting better. I will have to post some of the fun hair things I have done, like how I twisted and braided her hair into a heart shape on the back of her head. (It turned out SO cute!) Looking at all these cute bows that the mother would finish her daughters hair with where so cute I wanted some. I first off started looking at buying them, then I found instructions on how to make them and saw that it wasn't quite as hard as I thought it would be.
           I had a ball at the craft store and wished I had more money to buy even more. I found out that it still is a little tricky and that it's going to take practice but Hailey loves them and that is the most important thing, and the feeling of accomplishment. With my new problem of my shaky hands ( side effect from one of my new bipolar meds) It can get nerve racking trying to use the glue gun in small places, but I'm doing alright, I wont let that stop me.
           This being a new month, with a new paycheck, I couldn't wait to go buy more ribbon and accents and stuff. I found ribbon stiffener that I knew was something I would need especially since I now had the supplies to make the korkscrew bows. I got to work that night making a bow that the colors would be brown and pink. The base bow was brown with pink and white flowers, then I mixed brown and a pink with brown and white flowers korkscrew ribbons on top of that, next was a small pink bow with a brown strip that went around the middle. I sprayed the bow with the stiffener and as the instruction mentioned to dry it faster I put it in the microwave to dry it faster. 5 sec into it MY BOW BURST INTO FLAMES!!!! I forgot that my base bow had wire in it, to help keep it's shape. *Slaps Forehead* Yes, I ended up having to make a new bow and that time I used the blow dryer instead. That's one mistake I will never make again.

The best of the 90's

POW!!! Just got slammed with memories of the past. How, in a way things were easier then. No BILLS!, No worrying about what your kids are doing, going to be, health problems. ext;

Back then it was school (bleck) flirting with boys, driving for the first time.

My favorite memories where driving " The Earl Mobile" with Natalie and Jessica, going to Subway for our Veggie Delights. Driving by boys houses that we liked, with the music blaring, bopping our heads to the music like we were so cool. Sleepovers! Can't forget the sleepovers. Going to Island Park to my parents cabin and playing at the abandon ski hill, or Mr. Pee Tree ( hee hee, Nat gets that one) My parents even let Natalie come to work with me at their store ( Earl's Wireless-closed Dec.2001 after 59yrs.) We would clean the parking lot with a hose and broom and some how get all wet. We also didn't mind the guys honking at us as they drove by. And of course THE SLUSH PUPPIES! I would sneak some for Natalie and Jessica to some of there Marching Band Games. ;) And don't forget the boy drama. Some bad and some good. I ended up having more boyfriends then I thought I would ever have. I accually had two of them talk about wanting to marry me. But alas it wasen't ment to be. When I met Rhett though, I felt like I was getting hit over the head, and the Lord telling me"IT"S HIM!!! HE'S THE ONE"

Here is the best clip that I could find that had the most songs that I liked from the 90's. They are missing Savage Garden, Westlife, and BBMack, and that song "Blue". The song "I knew I Loved You before I Met You" by Savage Garden is Rhett and My song. Cuz we started falling in love with each other over the internet, before we ever met in person.

YouTube - Backstreet Boys - Helpless When She Smiles

YouTube - Backstreet Boys - Helpless When She Smiles

My most recent favorite song by the Backstreet Boys

Best of 90's Pop Video