I'm Still Here!

It's amazing how time flies when you're living life. I should have been blogging all the things I have been up to since my last post in June. I am still having ups and downs from transplant, but it's nothing major. It's little things like mild rejection and fluid around my lungs, but nothing to get too concerned about at this point. I had a great summer with my family. I have a friend who had a baby and a niece that had a baby. I am loving spending time with my nephews that I adore and now I have two more babies to love! It is just so amazing to be able to do things now that I couldn't do before. Simple joys like visiting people instead of them having to visit me because I didn't have enough breath to leave home. Or being able to shop without having to sit down to rest and being able to go to church again. This is the time of year when people reflect on the year and what we are thankful for. I am thankful to My Lord God for his merciful love for me and my family. I know without Him I would not be here today.
Since I am behind on my blogging, here is a summary of what's been happening since my last post:
Back in July me and my baby sister, Melissa, went to Duke for my checkup. We had a great time touring around. We went to Duke Chapel and Duke Gardens. It was pretty hot when we went to the gardens so we didn't stay too long, but it was fun. It was Melissa's first time to fly and she was pretty nervous on the flight to NC, but coming home she was like a pro.
The end of August I lost my beloved Doberman, Diamond. She would have been 12 in April '12. She lived a long and happy life. I still miss her, but I know she is chasing cats over the rainbow bridge. I don't have any animals now. There is a beagle that showed up at our house a few months ago. He is the family pet. I live next door to my parents so he belongs to all of us.  The man that owned him said we could keep him and so far Smokey likes it here cause he hasn't left yet.
I sold Avon for almost ten years before I got sick and had to leave for Duke. I started selling again back in September. It's more fun this time because I feel good!
Thanksgiving was great. We had a big family dinner at my parent's house with most of my family there. Now it's time to gear up for Christmas. Last year I was still in NC for Thanksgiving and we got home a couple weeks before Christmas. It's nice to be home this year. I'm feeling the holiday cheer this year. Last year, not so much. I was just happy to be home. I didn't do any shopping last year so this year I plan to make up for that.
So, that is a little of what I've been doing. Just living life to the fullest!
Post again soon.................

Fun Fun Weekend!

I had the best week last week and the best weekend! Monday through Thursday of last week I was busy helping my mom get some "Spring Cleaning" done. Even though it is long past Spring I finally felt good enough to be motivated to help declutter some junk and washing and wiping the dust bunnies off of things. After helping at my parent's house I would go back to my house and continue with the Spring cleaning. I am trying to keep my house on auto-pilot by keeping things put away, washed up, and dusted, etc. Don't be alarmed, I am wearing a mask during the dusty times. After feeling like I accomplished good things in the cleaning dept. I was ready for the weekend!

My baby sister Melissa came down for the weekend with her two boys(my babies, Joey(2), and Andy(4mo.) It was great because my sister got to meet up with some of her high school friends and their babies. The next night we took Joey to our annual hometown carnival called Bay Fest. Joey had a great time riding the rides and dancing to the live bands that played. The weather was hot and sticky, but we had a blast. I told my sister we needed to make going to Bay Fest with the kids something we do every year. It was so much fun watching Joey enjoying himself. Unfortunately the fun came to an end on Sunday afternoon when she got packed up and headed home. It was a great time with wonderful memories.

Adjusting To Me.....

I was thinking the other day how I used to blog quite frequently before my transplant and during my recovery. Now that I'm home and living life I feel like I don't have any interesting news to report. Then I realized, me living life is news! If I had not gotten a lung transplant I would not be here today to have a life to enjoy.

Now that the weather is heating up it is time to start thinking about flip flops, capris, shorts, and cute little summer shirts. I love Summer. It is my favorite season. On one of these warm days, I went to my closet to find something summery to wear and I realized just how much weight I have gained! I know part of it is from medications, but the rest is from eating! My head still thinks I can eat like I used to which included eating ANYTHING I wanted without gaining weight. That was due to my body working so hard to breathe that I was burning some serious calories. Not anymore. I'm thinking of starting Weight Watchers. I barely have anything to wear in my wardrobe. There is good news from all of this: I get to go shopping! New summer clothes will go great with my super short pixie. The hair is another story. Keep reading....

Back in January I was taking some meds that caused my liver function to decline to the point that I was put in the hospital (I'm sure there is a blog entry about it). These meds also caused my hair to start thinning to the point that I bought a wig. The wig worked great. People thought it was my hair, unless I chose to tell them the truth. During the cooler winter/spring months it was nice, but now that it is warm the wig has been retired. I had my head shaved back in Feb. and it is growing back nice and even. It is a pretty brunette color and right now it is barely long enough to call a pixie. The timing of my natural hair growing back is perfect with the changing seasons. I've always wanted to try a pixie haircut but was too afraid to go that short. Now I'm in love! It is super easy to style and I'm all about simple styling now days. I'll post some pics later.

I have always had a tan for summer but due to some of the meds I take now I can no longer get a tan from the sun or a tanning bed. The meds increase the chance for someone to get cancer, namely skin cancer. I have been researching sunless tanning products. I've used them in the past to spray my feet and hands after tanning in a tanning bed. It worked well for a small area like that, but to spray it all over, yuk! It's sticky, I feel dirty, and it rubs off on my clothes.

These are just a few things I am making adjustments to but it is small sacrifices compared to my new life I am enjoying. I know I will continue to get to know the new me and I will wake up each morning knowing just how blessed I am.

Happy Birthday To Me!

I'm 9 months old today!!! I am so blessed to be alive and able to enjoy my life again. God Is So Great! Please continue to pray for me and my donor's family. Save A Life. Become An Organ Donor. :)

What A Day!

We were supposed to fly out to Durham today for a checkup on Thursday. After getting up at 6am, which I don't do unless I have to, and getting to the airport by 9am to get checked in etc., our flight got delayed. No problem, so we'll be there a little later than planned. Our flight was supposed to leave at 10:49am. It got pushed back to 11:34, then 12:29, then it was cancelled altogether due to aircraft maintenance. Turned out to be a mechanical failure. Thank you airline for cancelling our flight I would hate for the plane to have mechanical failure while we were in the air. So we get the opportunity to change flights without being penalized with a change fee of $150 per ticket only there are no more flights available today. Oh wait, there was one more flight leaving at 6:49pm, but there was only one seat available. Was I supposed to ride in Philip's lap? Anyway, I spent the rest of the afternoon cancelling airline tickets, rental car (which cost a $50 cancellation fee), hotel, and re-scheduling doctor's appts. Pain in the buttocks :) Once I got everything cancelled and rescheduled I got home and took a nice long nap. Maybe next time it will go as planned, we'll see.

Bring On The Sunshine!

I know I haven't been blogging like I should, but I have been too busy spending time with my two babies, Joey and Andy. I have pretty much been camped out at my sis' house since Andy was born back in February. I am living life just as I pictured it, playing with Joey in the backyard, holding sweet baby Andy, walking the doggie, and helping out around the house/shopping. I have enjoyed a great deal just being with my sis. We have always been close, but after I got so sick we were only able to spend time together by phone unless she came down to my house or to the hospital. It is wonderful to be able to spend time with her at her house for a change.

I have returned home since I started this entry and I am missing my babies. I go back to Duke this Thursday so me and Philip will be flying out on Weds. I am praying I get a good report and able to come back on Friday. I'm going to check on my friend Kerry while I'm there. She is STILL in the hospital, but I think she is finally headed in the right direction.

I heard from my friend Jessica N. that she got a good report with no rejection in her new lungs and she doesn't have to have a bronch for 1yr. Awesome! She has had a lot of stomach problems since her transplant so hopefully she is on the mend.

I went to see my CF doc that I have been seeing since I was a baby. She was sooo excited I came to see her. I told her when I left for Duke that I would be back too see her, but she said most people that have tx never come back.

I went back to church today. I haven't been to church since before transplant. I was waiting for the weather to warm up because I knew people would want to hug and shake my hand and with it being flu season I didn't think it was a good idea. It felt great to hug or shake hands with friends today and let them know how much I appreciated their many prayers they prayed for me. Our pastor made an announcement at the beginning of church about having me back and what miracles God gives. Then he asked everyone to applaud my return. It's a good thing I don't get embarrassed anymore because there was no way to be inconspicuous.;) It felt good knowing everyone cares so much. After church we went to Long's Fish Camp. It was soooo good. The last time we went I was on the medication that made everything taste terrible and because of my liver problem I was nauseated along with the distasteful food. Today I made up for it and it was wonderful! Afterward, we came home and took a nap, then went walking. It has been a great day. I still miss my babies and my sis, but I'll be back up there with them soon.

I am so glad it is Springtime! I love this time of year. I have had Spring fever and am ready for it to get warm and stay that way. Bring the Sunshine because that is the way I feel inside. Bright and Shiny! Love To All!

Yes! I'm Living Life

I have a lot to catch up on since my last post. I've been helping my baby sister for the past couple weeks. She had her second baby on February 9th. Andy weighed 6 lbs 10oz and was 20 1/2 in. long. She also has a two year old sweet baby boy, Joey. He is my heart and now I have two babies to fill my heart with joy. This is one of the many things I've wanted to do since I've had my transplant is to be able to spend time with my baby and now I have two babies to spend time with and spoil. It feels great to be able to play in their backyard pushing Joey around on his tricycle and in his swing. My middle name is Louise so he calls me Aunt Lu. It is so sweet to hear him call my name. I'll be going home this weekend to give my sis a chance to see how things go without a third hand, lol. I know she'll be fine, I'm just not looking forward to leaving. I've had the best time with my babies and spending time with my sis.

I am still doing great since my last appointment at Duke. I'm still loving food again, maybe too much ;). I'm getting strong again and feeling better than I can ever remember feeling. The weather has been wonderful the past week. It has been in the mid to upper 70's and I have spring fever! Last year all I had planned was hospital stays and trying to survive from one day to the next till I got a transplant and this year I can plan on fun things to do again.

Also since my last post, my friend Kerry got her call on February 3rd for her new lungs, liver, and pancreas! What blessings God gives us! Kerry is doing great. She has had a few setbacks, but that is to be expected. I can't wait to see her at the end of March when I go back to Duke for my 9 month bronch. Awesome! Time flies because it will be eight months on March 1st since my transplant. I have been truly blessed and am thankful to God everday for my breath of life. Please keep me and all of my transplant friends in your prayers. Save a life. Become and Organ Donor.