An Update on LIFE

Right now, at this very moment I am supposed to be kicked back in a beach chair, toes in the sand, warm Florida sunshine on my skin, cold Coke in my hand listening to the sound of the waves crashing in.  I was to spend a glorious weekend on the beautiful beaches of my HOME in the Gulf with my best girls from Tallahassee.  Panama City, to be exact.  In a beautiful condo.  Complete with junk food, girl talk, shopping, beach lounging, laughter and most of all relaxation.  It would have been my first vacation since prior to being put on the transplant list.  But, I am not in Florida and I am definitely not on vacation.  I am at home in Tennessee sitting on my couch feeling kind of sorry for myself.  I've had this trip planned for months.  I've SO been looking forward to it.  However, earlier this week I had some pretty serious complications come up with my health which have now caused my doctors to forbid me from traveling--Especially 10 hours away.  So yesterday instead of cruising down to Florida I was traveling to my true second home---Vanderbilt.  I spent the entire day there and returned home late last night.    

This has pretty much been the pattern of our lives here lately.  In and out of the hospital.  One bump in the road after another.  I can't seem to catch a break.  I try REALLY hard not to complain or get discouraged but it's frustrating to say the very least.  It affects everyone, not just me.  Kyndall especially has been showing signs lately of frustration, sadness and discontentment with our situation.  The child who is normally very laid back and easy going is having a hard time being away from her Mama so much.  And it goes without saying that her Mama feels the same way.  Uggh.  I've now had five hospital re-admissions in the six months since my transplant.  That's kinda crazy.  Each one seems to get more and more serious, with the most recent one being for a severe rejection episode in which things were very touch and go for a few days.  I will eventually go back and add all of the details to my transplant journey blog posts, but for now all that matters is that I've spent way too much time on the 7th floor of the critical care tower at Vanderbilt!  I'm thinking they owe me my own wing or something.  Gosh knows we've paid for it!

We have definitely had some really fun things going on lately, which thankfully always outweigh the bad!  We made it home for Easter, yay!  We have spent time with sweet friends, enjoyed some great family time and taken on a few new things like piano lessons!  My life is definitely far from pitiful.  I am so blessed and happy and thankful.  So much more than I could ever express in words.  

It's been a very long time since I emptied the pictures from my phone onto the blog so that's how I'm going to document the past few months in a nut shell.  Some of these are totally random and silly but they're what I want to remember about this season of our lives.  So, here you go---my first photo dump of 2015 before I clear off my phone.  Get ready, it's a LOT!  Much has happened, my friends!

In mid January I was re-admitted for two weeks due to a nasty CMV infection.  That was a TON of fun---NOT.  CMV can totally wipe a person out, and that it did.  I am still trying to find my energy.

We spent the entire night in Vanderbilt's  ER.  I fell asleep, and apparently Matthew entertained himself through the night by taking selfies.  I found this picture several days later.....

Obligatory picture next to my sign.  I have quite a collection now!

In order to release me after the two weeks, they had to put in a PICC line so that I could continue IV antibiotics at home.  Again, TONS of fun!  This picture was taken on the day my PICC line finally came out.  I posted it on Facebook and it got over 400 "likes"!  You people are so funny!  Who knew a bloody picc line would gain so much attention?!  I was more than happy to say goodbye to that thing.

It really does seem like every single time I plan something fun, I end up in the hospital.  Way back in the fall when I was still in Nashville recovering from my transplant, my sweet friend Joy Greene told me of her plans to host a Joytime Event in January in which she wanted me and my family to be her special guests.  Mike Weaver of Big Daddy Weave was to be there and my entire family was driving up to be a part of that special night.  I had been looking forward to it for MONTHS.  As fate would have it, I was put in the hospital with this CMV infection and completely missed it.  My family went, but I couldn't.  I was heartbroken and still am.  However, Joy being the sweet and thoughtful friend that she is, made special arrangements for me to be a VIP guest at one of Big Daddy Weave's upcoming concerts in Memphis.  Matthew and I went and it was wonderful.  So grateful for friends who constantly lift me up with sweet acts of kindness.

My PICC line had to tag along too.  

We were treated to a meet and greet before the show started!  

My precious friend Angela was there with her family

Mike Weaver of BDW!

I almost forgot!  Remember the Joytime event that I missed?  It was held at Angela's barn and she arranged a little surprise video for me from Mike himself!  She sent it to me just before the event started as I was sitting in my hospital bed desperately wishing I was in Jackson with my family.  I'm telling you, I have the BEST friends!!

Oh!  And....my sweet, sweet Bible study sisters sent me this picture as they were missing me on Wednesday nights when we normally gathered.  This group of women right here represent everything to me.  They are my greatest cheerleaders, prayer warriors and some of the most wise women I have ever known.  Thankful for each and every one of them and the way God carefully placed them in my life!  

My friend Bethany gave me this t-shirt.  I love wearing it, but especially when I'm in the hospital!  

While I was hanging out at Vandy, Kyndall was hanging out in Tallahassee with my parents and my in-laws.  My friends Betsy and Laura arranged a great little surprise for me when they set up this mini photo shoot of Kyndall just in time for Valentine's Day!  They sent me the pictures in the hospital by way of Facebook and it absolutely made my day!  Here are just a few of my favs.....

How can you look at this series and NOT smile?? 

I was finally released after two torturous weeks on the transplant floor.  The first order of business was having my friend Anna work her magic and chop my hair off!  

I made it out in time for Valentine's Day and we did a little celebrating around our house.  

A sweet treat from our friend Mrs. Mitzi

Ridiculous!

My two loves on Valentine's Day

Matthew arranged a little surprise getaway for just the two of us overnight.  It was very sweet and just what we needed after a grueling two weeks.

These flowers were waiting in our room

And this chocolate, which as you can see I enjoyed while sitting in bed.  Relaxation was the goal on this trip!

Kyndall and I like to make cupcakes just for fun sometimes

Multi-tasking Mama!

How cute is my nephew??

I have a sweet friend back home in Tallahassee who I have known since my childhood.  As it turns out, she is now in need of a new liver as well.  What are the chances?!  She proudly wears my bracelet, along with one of her own.  I do the same and pray for her as often as I see her name on my wrist.  Love you, G!  Your miracle is coming!

Tiny dancers--the cutest!

I was invited to a super fun party called "My Favorite Things".  The concept is simple---You choose something that you love, bring three of them wrapped up and you leave with three new favorite things that someone else loves.  You can set the limit on the amount.  Our limit was $7.  So I spent a total of $21 and came home with three different things that I now love too!  Of course there was food first.....

A few of my girls

Just a couple weeks ago my friend Jaim'e who I met while living in Charleston ran in her first big race and she did it in my honor!  It was one of the most humbling things anyone has ever done for me, especially considering it was the Race for Life!  So proud of you, Jaim'e and so incredibly honored that you ran with me in mind!

Enjoying a frozen treat with Grammy while in Tallahassee

Cheesing before dance class

We love Miss Olivia who takes such good care of the kiddos on Wednesday nights at church

This one makes me laugh every single time I see it.  My Grandma and my Mom came up for a visit a few months ago.  My Mom brought her dog Albert and of course we have two dogs--Cameron and Huckabee.  My Grandma is NOT a lapdog kind of person.  Really, not even an animal person.  Yet, these silly dogs just seem to gravitate to her.  Look at them perched all over her and notice the look on her face!  Hilarious!

Random, but my sister made this side-by-side of me and my nephew.  I see his Aunt Sissy in him for sure!  Proud Aunt moment!

New PJs from Aunt Kelly

When Mama hasn't been to the grocery store in a while, you get treated to breakfast at IHOP!

She is obsessed with these little dog purses.  She has several now, but this was her first one, which she named Betsy.  I think that's funny since one of my BFFs is named Betsy.

And here's a video of her talking about Betsy.....

Out to dinner one night

She and her Daddy picked these out for me on a random trip to the grocery store.  I love sweet surprises!

Enjoying her new My Little Pony sheets.  The fact that they are obnoxious and don't match her bedding drives this perfectionist, OCD mommy crazy but she loves them and I suppose that's all that really matters!

So, I finally did this.  I wrote my donor family and turned the letter over to the transplant social worker, who will in turn deliver it to the family.  I have no idea whether or not I will get a response.  More than likely I will not, or so I've been told.  However, that isn't stopping me from rushing to the mailbox each day just to check.  I really hope someday I will have the closure I need, which I feel would come in the form of knowing who my donor was.  Were they a male or female?  Where did my surgeon fly that night?  How old is this liver?  What happened to my donor?  So many unanswered questions.  For whatever reason, most recipients do not hear back from their donor families.  Some do, but most do not.  That's a hard pill for me to swallow.

Driving home from Nashville that night God painted me the most beautiful sunset.  It's as if He was letting me know He recognized my tangled and messy mix of emotions the day I turned that letter over.  He is so faithful in that way.

Kyndall seems to be quite the artist and really does show some pretty impressive talent for a 4 year old.  I'm always amazed at the details she puts into her drawings.  These are puppy dogs, but notice they have things like eyelids, whiskers, even little finger nails.  

On this day, we just NEEDED a birthday cake milkshake from Steak 'N Shake.  It was one of those days.

Every now and then I get these weird cravings for totally random things.  One particular afternoon I was craving a giant glass of fresh squeezed lemonade from Chick-Fil-A.  I asked Matthew if he would run by and get me a cup of it on his way home from work.  He went over and beyond and got me an entire gallon!  What a guy!  

At night, these two love to play the hunting game on Kyndall's ipad.  Matthew completely eats it up because he's so happy that she seems to show an interest in his beloved hobby.  

A sweet surprise on my dash one morning.  Miss America (for whatever reason) has always been his nickname for me.

I live for these moments!

I love to watch her sleep

In the entire Cracker Barrel, this is what my child picks out as a treat---chocolate money.  Oh me.

On our way to school!  We are definitely not morning girls, but she was especially chipper on this day.

She had a case of the giggles!  She was talking about my liver, which she often does out of the blue, but it turned into a silly fest!

Our local newspaper puts out a monthly health magazine and my story was featured in the issue dedicated to National Donate Life month.  I was very honored!

It's official, we are finally making good on our promise and taking our girl to DISNEY!  We aren't going until the fall when it's much cooler and I am hopefully much stronger, but we are excited to finally fulfill her wish!

In February my friend Ashlie got married and Matthew and I brought home this super fun tambourine wedding favor and gave it to Kyndall.  She played with it for days and days!

Ready for church

A cake pop and a crafting--Her idea of Heaven

Teeny tiny ballerinas, Target and Coke Icees--These are a few of my favorite things!

She can officially write her name!

Dance class with Mrs. Kim--And Kennedy helped out!  Kyndall thinks Kennedy hung the moon.

She requested Panera for dinner after dance that night.  Who is this kid??  

She could eat her own body weight in their broccoli and cheese soup, which is baffling to me since she is by far the pickiest eater I have ever known.

See.....we are NOT morning girls!  The "Princess" was more like an angry bear this day!

We had a couple of snow days!  It started out like this.....

And by the next morning it was like this!

This little one was ready to PLAY!

Since the roads were pretty messy, Daddy shut down operations at Southeastern and stayed home with us to play!

Remember that Wednesday night Bible study I was a part of with all those wonderful ladies?  Well this is my study book.  Kyndall sees me reading it and making notes in it all through the week.  She brought it to me one night and asked if we could have Bible study together.  How sweet, right?

Sweet until I started flipping through it and found THIS.  Little stinker.

With all that snow, we had to make snow cream.  And what's the best (aka least messy) way to eat snow cream??  In the bathtub!  

Looking around the neighborhood, you could definitely tell who had enjoyed the snow and who had not!  This is our yard....

And this is the neighbor's yard!  Perfectly untouched!

One can only stand the snow for so long before you start to go a little stir crazy.  So after a few days of being trapped at home, Kyndall and I ventured out and slid (literally) our way down to Perkins for lunch.  I'm from Florida.  I do not drive in snow.  What an adventure!

It was weird to see scenes like this around the parking lots.  There was so much snow!

A package from Grammy!

Our friend Cam had his birthday party at the skating rink and Kyndall had a blast!

After the party we went to lunch with Angela and Kaylee.  Kaylee is so sweet to Kyndall.  They made this in the photo booth at Sparky's.

Kyndall had her 6 month check up and as always, she got a glowing review from Dr. Glenn and Mrs. Brooke!  Makes this hygienist mama so happy!

After the dentist, we took lunch to Daddy at work

Later that night after church, Stacie and I took the kids to Dairy Queen for a treat.  How cute are these two together?

In March I had my six month follow up with my liver doctor.  At that time I was doing really well and got a great report.  I was excited!  Kyndall tagged along that day and did great considering it was a long, full day with lot of waiting.  

SIX months!  Half a year!

She charmed every nurse, doctor and resident in that hospital that day

All that charming makes a girl tired.  Passed out on the way back to Jackson.

Happy six months to my "Grace"!!!

Spotted in Jackson!  At the Motel 6.  Definitely questionable.

I got super duper addicted to these little babies during the Easter holiday.  I'm talking about mad cravings for them.  I actually talked to my dietitian who said I may have had a slight magnesium deficiency that caused me to crave them!



Knowing that, you can imagine my excitement when I woke up one morning and found this surprise from Matthew in my bathroom!  He's the best!



Kyndall and I had a girls night out with our friends Mrs. Rebecca and Micah



She did pretty good with staying interested in the movie---something I was nervous about since it wasn't animated.  She did lean over and ask me "is this almost over?" at one point.  Cinderella hadn't even gone to the ball yet.  Oh geez.



This next event was definitely picture worthy!  Kyndall Anne Hughes, who does not eat meat ate a burger!  I knew nobody would believe me without a picture for proof!



We've enjoyed a few warm days outside

This girl loves a good sugary cupcake.  She get it from her mama.

Have you discovered Younique brand mascara yet??  It's unbelievable!  I'm hooked!



It doesn't take much to make her happy.  A soft pretzel and a sprite at the mall after dance class will do the trick.



Green milk on St. Patrick's Day made her giggle

SO excited for her very first day of piano lessons!

Apparently there's something called "National Sibling Day"??  News to me.  Anyway, I dug up these little gems of me and my baby sis.....

Can I just tell you how much I despised my Mother for giving me this haircut??  I was called a boy more than once.

How funny is this??

My cute-as-can-be nephew!!  I could just squeeze him!

A few sweet friends back home in Tallahassee arranged a little Premier Jewelry party in my honor.  The necklace they featured was the Matthew 17:20 necklace.  

"...If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain 'move from here to there' and it will move.  Nothing will be impossible for you."  

There's even a little mustard seed inside of the flower on the left.  It's perfect and I was overwhelmed by how many people purchased the necklace in my honor.  I received one as well and I wear it almost daily.  

Everyone should be so lucky as to have this lady as their friend.  When God made Joy Greene He gave her a heaping dose of the gift of encouragement and she freely shares it with everyone around her.  She also has a great sense of humor and can ALWAYS make me smile----even when I'm sitting in a hospital feeling sorry for myself.  That's when she sends me texts with pictures like these, telling me she's cheering me on and praying for me.  Joy texted me every. single. morning during my recent hospital stays, just to check in and see how my night was, what my labs looked like for the day, what the doctors were saying, etc.  Knowing I would be hearing from her each day gave me something to look forward to and lifted my spirits more than she probably even realized.  I love my Joy!

I don't get to see her as often as I'd like now that she lives in NC, but when I do, it's always a sweet reunion

Skyping with Kyndall during one of my hospital stays.  It's not the same as seeing her in person, but it's better than nothing I guess.

My goal in life:

Making some pretty sand art---Thanks, Georgeanna!

I have hair total hair envy over my 4 year old's lovely locks

I may be slightly obsessed

This next picture disturbed me a a little.  Kyndall drew it at school.  When I asked her to explain it to me she said it was a picture of our little 5 pound dog, Huckabee, being picked up by a hawk in the backyard.  Ummm....???

She's 4.5 years old but we have never once let her sleep in the bed with us.  It's just been one of those rules we weren't willing to break or habits we weren't willing to start.  A couple weeks ago, Matthew was out of town so I asked her if she wanted to sleep with me.  I loved waking up to this......

Back at her favorite place again, Panera.  

Matthew surprised me with another year's worth of printed, hard copy books of my blog!!  I'm now printed all the way through 2012.  This is so special to me because my blog is my memory book for our family.  I spend hours and hours pouring the details of our lives into it.  Having these memories in print to someday pass down to Kyndall is so important to me.  This was a great surprise!  My husband is a keeper for sure.

Easter morning at my in-laws' house before church

The weather has been so wonderful lately that we've spent a lot of time outside

Looking a hot mess, but having fun!

A sweet card from my friend Julie was just what I needed on this particular day.  I love God's perfect timing and I love my thoughtful friends.

We had a "spa day" and I attempted to put Jamberry wraps on Kyndall's teeny tiny little fingernails.  For this perfectionist, OCD, Type A mama, this proved to be very stressful.  Not only was it time consuming, and stress inducing but within an hour the darn wraps were peeling off!  I could have cried.  Oh well, she was proud of them while they lasted.  (P.S. I am in no way dogging Jamberry or anyone who sells it!  I'm sure this was some sort of operator error!)

I was treated to a pedicure

One of K's new favorite things to do is pick out a treat at the gas station whenever I have to fill up.  It's kind of a pain and probably not a very healthy habit, but it makes her day so we do it.  Did I mention she's the world's most indecisive child??  What should take 5 minutes usually turns into a 20 minute stand off as she tries to choose what she wants.  On this day, she went for the chocolate.

This girl literally stops and smells the roses!  She's a free spirit and I love the fact that she appreciates the little things in life.

We had homemade pizza night and Kyndall was in charge of making dinner

Sanitation in this pizza kitchen was questionable at best, as there was a whole lot of finger lickin' and taste testing going on!

All of these pictures are of a random collection of Kyndall's most recent trip to the Grandparents' house, when I was admitted for 11 days just prior to Easter.  She spent time in Florida with my parents and in Georgia with Matthew's parents and they were very sweet to keep me updated with at least one picture a day.  As you can see, she was not lacking for fun!

My sister is a radiology tech at Radiology Associates of Tallahassee.  Kelly did a scan on my Mom and Kyndall tagged along and helped Aunt Kelly do her job.

Being in the hospital just prior to Easter made it impossible for me to get Kyndall a new Easter dress.  My Mom took her shopping and they picked this one.  Mom sent me a picture to get my approval and of course I loved it. 

Modeling her new clothes from Grammy

I also asked my Mom if she would please get K's hair trimmed.  She took her to see our Mary, who also gave her this super cool braid!  I thinks she made my Mom leave it in for several days!

Enjoying her favorite--a banana sandwich, poolside.  What a life!

Kyndall and her buddy M at the Springtime Tallahassee parade

You can't go to the parade without getting cotton candy!

Kyndall and Wyatt---sweet, sweet cousins!

GO NOLES!!

When I see pictures like the one above, I have to think like this.....

The braid lives on.....

We were recently invited to a surprise 50th birthday party for our sweet friend Mitzi.  She has the best personality---Look at her dancing her way up the driveway as she realized what was going on!  Love her!

Mrs. Debbie gave a fabulous rendition of the happy birthday song.....

A few of my favorite Englewood girls

I sure do love this lady!

Kyndall had me a nervous wreck the whole time as she navigated her way through a very crowded back yard full of people on this tricycle.  I just knew someone was going to end up with broken, crushed toes!  Thankfully everyone escaped unscathed!

Sweet Megan was there and it was so good to see her too!

See why I was nervous?!  Evil Knievel coming through!

While Kyndall was with my in-laws she saw the movie "Home".  She's now on a mission to collect all of the McDonald's toys.  Nonie sent her this one in the mail and she was so excited!

 I randomly came across this picture the other day.  It made me happy and sad all at the same time.  She's growing up too fast!

Our poor Huckabee had quite the experience at the vet recently.  I knew his teeth were in awful shape, but I had no idea that he would need TWENTY FOUR of them removed!!  (Or that it would cost me $510!!)  I'm a bad doggy hygienist Mama and I admit it!  Poor guy.  Here he is looking pretty pitiful just two days after having all his little teeth pulled.

Sweet gift from a special friend.  Love this reminder!

My sassy girl

Now that I'm on a ton of extra medications due to my rejection episode, I'm back to using my gi-normous pill box.  I'm officially an old lady.

We love Vanderbilt!

More beautiful weather calls for crafting outside! (In her "cape", of course)

And Skyping with the Grandparents outside too!

Our dinner guest who is finally willing to sit at the table with us, rather that at the counter.  For so long she couldn't reach the table but now she can with a little boost from a pillow.  Exciting times around our house.

Spoiled, lazy little dogs

Some battles are just not worth fighting.  This hot mess is one of them.  Everything that means anything to her HAS to be taped on her bedroom door.  I just have to turn my head.  Ugh.

Did I mention how much we are loving this weather??

We may not let her sleep in between us, but we do let her join us on Saturday mornings for a few snuggles

My friend Shannon sent me this picture.  It's a candle she lit at the Grotto at Notre Dame when she was there a couple weeks ago.  At that time I was still in the hospital and she lit this candle as a prayer offering on my behalf.  I seriously have the most thoughtful friends in the world.

My pretty girl 

So much sass!!

After a long day of errands, I made good on a promise to let her pick out a cake ball at Honey's Baby Cakes.  This is one of our favorite Mommy/Kyndall things to do.

She usually chooses strawberry, but this day she chose chocolate

My tiny ballerina

The real Kyndall

We love Mrs. Kim!

Practicing for the big recital in June!

Another food picture worth documenting.  Scarfing down a bologna sandwich.  Again, for the girl who refuses to eat meat, this is a BIG deal!  Pretty sad when you get excited over your child consuming bologna.

Playing Go Fish with Mommy

I. LOVE. THIS.  I need to stamp it on my forehead.

Another Saturday morning snuggle

Followed by a chef Kyndall preparing muffins for breakfast

How beautiful is this?  This Mama gave her baby girl a portion of her liver and now they share matching scars.  Can you even imagine?

Cowgirl Kyndall

I'm pretty obsessed with the Timehop app.  I love looking at it each day and being reminded of sweet memories from years past.  Here are a few of my recent favorites that have shown up.....

This was at Disney Live when she was only about a year old.  I hope she has just as great of a reaction when we take her to Magic Kingdom in a few months!

Another sweet friend who lives in South Carolina sent me a picture of her church bulletin on Easter Sunday.  She and her family had an Easter lily placed in my honor.  How sweet!

Ya know, just having breakfast with my stuffed liver after a nice night of cuddling together.  Totally normal, right?

A friend sent me this.  LOVE.

This past week was rough.  Really rough.  I wasn't sure where I would end up this weekend---Admitted to the hospital again or at home with my family.  But either way I felt this need to spend some extra quality time with my girl.  So, Thursday morning I surprised her with a Mommy and Kyndall day.  I didn't send her to pre-school, but rather treated her to a day full of whatever she wanted.  

We started out with some playtime at home, followed by a picnic at the park.  It was a GORGEOUS day.  I asked her if she wanted to get McDonald's and take it to the park or pack a lunch.  She chose to pack a lunch.  So, we did.

She requested that we take her tricycle, so we did....

We spotted the tiniest little turtle!  We pointed him back towards the water and "rescued" him, as she says.

Next on our girls day agenda was some shopping for a very special gift for a very special friend.  I knew that I would be seeing my friend "Hope" at Vanderbilt the next day and I wanted to pick out something to give her, especially from me and Kyndall. She's been readmitted due to an infection (been there, done that!) so please keep her in your prayers.

We had fun browsing one of my favorite local boutiques and came away with this most perfect necklace for our precious friend.

Next she requested that we go to Wal-Mart and browse the craft aisle.  So, we did.  She chose several new craft projects, one of which she made especially for "Hope".  She is so thoughtful, and has the most tender heart for others.  She couldn't wait to give "Hope" everything she had created.  We ended our day with some play time outside as the sun went down, followed by bath and bedtime.  It was a really good day and I'm so glad I spent it with her.  She was beaming as she told Matthew about having a "Mommy day".

Friday morning Kyndall and I set off to Vanderbilt pretty early.  I wanted to get there in time to see Hope before my own appointment.  Unfortunately, on my way over to Nashville she texted me and told me she was running a high fever and that the transplant team had told her I should not come anywhere near her, for my own sake.  I was crushed.  I hadn't seen her since they took her away the morning of her transplant and I was aching to lay eyes on her.  Against what was probably wise, I went up and saw her anyway.  She was walking laps around the unit when I spotted her.  She immediately started crying the sweetest tears and if I could have hugged her tightly I would have.  Instead, I kept my distance but walked with her as we talked.  I didn't even go into her room.  We just walked and talked for a while.  She looks SO good!  I am so proud of how well she's doing.  Our surgeon said she's doing great and as long as they can get this infection under control she's going to be just fine.  I didn't want to say goodbye, but I had to get over to my own appointment.

After I was seen, I decided to make a stop by the transplant floor and say hello to a few of my sweet nurses.  I wanted them to meet Kyndall too.  Sadly, I am pretty well known on the 7th floor!  Even the patient transporters and the cleaning crew recognize me now.  That's not really a GOOD thing....Ha!

People ask me how I get her to cooperate for so many pictures.  It's because I let her do one like this each time.  Crazy girl.

Holding up 7 fingers because Grace the liver is now seven months old!  Hard to believe!

The girl can't resist M&Ms.  She's her mother's child.  She used her own money.

Mrs. April is one of my favorite nurses and takes such good care of me each time I'm admitted.  She patiently let Kyndall wrap her arm in hot pink coban, as an entourage of nurses watched. Kyndall said "when I grow up I want to be a nurse too!  I want to take care of people like you do."  The nurses thought this was just the sweetest thing ever.  Who knows?  Maybe she'll go to medical school!

After I was finished at the hospital I met up with my friend Jessica whom I haven't seen since the week of my transplant! It's been way too long!  Last time I saw her, this little guy was still in her belly.  It was so good to catch up and finally meet the handsome Mr. Finn!

Hate, hate hate my puffy prednisone cheeks, but love that all 3 of us happened to match so perfectly!  

On the way home to Jackson we stopped for gas and we had our usual snack buying routine.  White powered donuts was her treat of choice this time.  What gave it away??

It was a LONG day.  We pulled into the driveway around 10:30 pm and Matthew carried her inside where she went straight to bed, clothes and all!

 I'm bummed that I'm not at the beach with my friends right now, but relieved that they didn't try to keep me at the hospital.  I really wasn't sure what to expect yesterday.  We spent the day outside, where I tried my best not to feel sorry for myself and all the fun I was missing out on.  

Kyndall painted a new bird house

Last Sunday afternoon something tragic happened in our small, tight-knit community which shook everyone to the core.  Eighth grade twin brothers drowned in a local pond, leaving our town of 4,000 people absolutely at a loss for words.  These boys were well known and well loved.  The entire town has been in a state of mourning all week long.  However, in the midst of unimaginable grief our residents have rallied together to show the love of Jesus to this family in the form of monetary donations, meals, cards, etc.  One of the sweetest and most moving things that was done to show support was the display of these orange and blue bows all around town.  Every light post, business, church, mailbox and storefront is adorned with a blue and orange bow, which is representative of the school colors in Medina.  The money from the sales of the bows goes directly to the Collier family, which makes it even more moving when you look around and see so many bows on display.  We picked ours up and proudly hung it on our mailbox.  We didn't know these boys but as a mother I just simply cannot even imagine how devastating this must be.  Kyndall had a lot of tough questions and I did my best to make it a teachable moment for her.  I told her straight up what happened to the boys, not sugar coating it at all.  We talked about them going to Heaven and she said "now they're safe, Mommy because nothing can hurt you in Heaven."  She gets it.  

Totally unprompted in any way by me, she came home and decided she wanted to make a card for the boys' mama.  She had me give her an envelope so that we can mail it.  In the envelope she included some of her very own Easter prize egg money.  When I asked her why she was giving the money she said "because their Mommy is probably so sad that she can't even go to work.  She's going to need money."  Yep, she definitely gets it.  Maybe I'm doing something right after all.  There is no doubt my sweet girl has a heart for people.  She is so sensitive to the needs of others and I hope she is always that way.  I hope the evil ways of this world never squelch that compassion or harden her to the point that she loses her innocent ways.  

The envelope for Mrs. Collier

I love that you can drive through our small town and still see something like this on the local school sign 

This is the entrance to the neighborhood where the boys lived

Today was the funeral.  Yesterday's visitation was scheduled to last from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m.  Obviously, these boys were very loved and many people wanted to pay their respects.  

I found a ton of videos on my phone that I've decided to share.  These are just random moments when I decided to pick up my phone and capture something I thought was cute at the time.  I'm so glad I did.  Each one makes me smile!

I know I shared this one a while back but I came across it again and couldn't help but re-post it.  This was from Kyndall's 4th birthday party.  I was three days post transplant and my surgeon agreed to let Mom drive me back to Jackson for a few hours and surprise Kyndall (and everyone!) with an appearance at her party.  Nobody knew until I walked in.  By far one of the best moments of my life!!!

Whew......that's it!  I can now clear my phone for another six months until I fill it up with more memories.  

We have a busy couple of months ahead of us.  Some really exciting things are happening and I just hope I can stay well enough to enjoy them.  Next weekend Matthew is taking me away on a surprise trip for our 7th wedding anniversary.  Seven years already?!  I can't believe it!  I'm excited to find out what he has planned!  Kyndall will be staying behind with a friend so it will be a nice break for the two of us.

The next weekend I'm (fingers crossed!!) heading down to the beach with my Englewood girls!  I'm especially excited because my BFF Glory is flying in from Texas to go with us!  I haven't seen her since she came to help take care of me the week after my transplant and that wasn't exactly what I'd consider quality BFF time!  Far from it actually!! I can't wait to see her.  I miss her more than I could have eve imagined.

I'm also planning a trip to Kentucky to be there when my friend Morgan selflessly gives another friend one of her kidneys.  I have to work out a few more details but I am doing everything in my power to get myself there.  How could I miss something like this?  That reminds me!  I was recently chosen to be an ambassador for Tennessee Donor Services!  I have to complete some training but I'm excited to be able to put my new passion to good use!

We are heading to NC for a little mini vacation in mid June and I'm excited about that!  Our last family vacation was in the summer of 2012!  It's been too long.

I'm sure the summer will bring lots of trips home to Tallahassee, which will be nice.  We will definitely be going home more and more as I feel better.  I've been on a leash for way too long!!

As I said, we're also making plans for Disney and a few other exciting things in between so we have much to look forward to!  My life is full and I am blessed!

One final thought.....April is National Donate Life Month.  Are you an organ donor?  If not, would you prayerfully consider it?  It is so important and so critical to those of us in need.  Someday, it could be you in need.  I never in my wildest dreams thought I would ever need someone else's liver.  In fact, I am ashamed to say I was never even a registered organ donor until it affected me personally.  It's just not something anyone really wants to think about.  But it's oh so important!!  Please, please consider registering.  Ask me how!