Easter 2015

As much as it drives my OCD self crazy, for the sake of staying up to date with our family happenings, I'm interrupting my on going transplant posts to throw in a few more recent memories I want to share.  There's a LOT more to my transplant story and I will return to it as time permits.  I certainly don't want to lose a single moment of that journey.

For as long as I can remember, every year on Easter our entire family has gathered at my Grandparents' house in Two Egg, FL for a post-church cook out and egg hunt.  It's just something we've always done and probably my favorite family tradition of all.  I am the oldest of 5 cousins and at 32, I still get excited over hunting for the prize egg!  It's even more fun now that most of us have kiddos of our own and we can share the traditions with them.....but we're not dare letting go completely!  We want in on the fun too!

This year was extra special for a few reasons.  First of all, I had to miss out on this event last year because I was hospitalized after nearly bleeding to death at the Dairy Queen....remember that adventure?  So for that reason alone I was really looking forward to getting back into the tradition this year.  Wouldn't ya know, a little over a week before Easter of this year I was hospitalized AGAIN, this time for a severe episode of rejection with my new liver.  I was admitted for 11 days and wasn't sure whether they would release me in time to make it home for the holiday or if they would even grant me permission to travel.  Thankfully, I was out just in time and with the promise of staying in close contact with my transplant team and "taking it easy", I was allowed to make the 10 hour trip home!  This made my heart so happy!

During my time in the hospital Kyndall spent two weeks with my parents and Matthew's parents so by the time we arrived Good Friday night, I was more than ready to see her and she was beside herself to have our little family back together.  It was a sweet, sweet reunion.  Of all the things I hate about the complications I've had over the last six months since transplant, being away from her is by far what I dislike the most.  It never gets easier and the guilt only gets worse.

My mother-in-law sent me these pictures of her the day we were traveling 

The caption she sent with this one said "Just sitting here waiting on Mommy".  If I could've squeezed her through the phone I would have at that moment!

Another reason I was holding out so much hope to make it home for Easter was to not miss out on the 3rd annual "Tallahassee friends" egg hunt and picnic.  My high school friends and I started this a few years back and it's one of my most favorite traditions that we've ever began.  It's simple---cute kiddos, a big egg hunt, some good food, and sweet fellowship with my friends and their families.  Saturday morning we gathered at Kim's and had a great time as usual.

(Thanks for letting me steal a few pictures, Betsy!  I was totally off my game this day---didn't even have my camera!)

Missing a couple this year, but these are a few of my Tallahassee girls and I love them to pieces!

We spent Saturday afternoon with Matthew's parents just relaxing and enjoying some down time.  I ended up falling asleep on the couch most of the day because I was/am just so worn down.  I'm so thankful for family who willingly allows me do what I need to do and not feel guilty about it.  One of these days I'm going to be running circles around them, but for now I am most grateful for their understanding and patience.

I did manage to pull myself together long enough to enjoy a dinner out that night at one of our favorite hometown restaurants.  I never pass up an opportunity to EAT!  

Sunday morning Kyndall awoke to find that the bunny had visited while she slept.......(Thanks, Nonie for saving the day with this one!  Again, I was totally off my game this year with nothing prepared.)

Big thanks also to my Mom who was in charge of finding Kyndall the perfect Easter dress, shoes, socks, etc. Being in the hospital the week before a big holiday makes for a team effort!

We went to church with Matthew's parents and Kyndall asked to drop some money in the offering plate.  She even filled out her own envelope, complete with her name....

After church we made a quick stop back by Matthew's parents' house to pack up our things and then we were off to Two Egg for the big family gathering!

How CUTE is my nephew, Wyatt??

Excited to dye eggs and play with her cousins

I love that even my in-laws come to our family traditions

This is what it's all about---the entire family gathered up under the shade of the carport shooting the breeze and just enjoying each other's company.  Barefoot kiddos running around, hamburgers on the grill, junk food a plenty and the anticipation of the big hunt on everyone's mind.  These are the memories I will treasure in my heart forever!  This is the good life.

One of the eggs I dyed

Sweet brothers!

The patriarch of the family, Grandma!

For at least 30 years we have done this together!  It never gets old!

Football for the boys while the girls dye the eggs

These two spent hours swinging and giggling together.  Best medicine I could have asked for!  Nothing makes my heart feel more full than moments like these.

Born just six days apart, these two cousins are quite the pair when they're together!

We let the "little kids" do their egg hunt first.....

I can't even look at this picture without laughing.  I have about 8 more just like it.  Two out of three kids with their hands over their faces, swatting the gnats.  Gotta love Florida!

Grandma is very generous with her prize eggs!  Kyndall came away with $16!

Lastly, it was time for the "big kid" egg hunt.  Normally we are shewed indoors, the blinds are drawn closed and you're forbidden from even going to the bathroom for fear you will cheat and look out the window!  A ton of eggs are hidden, with a few prize eggs full of cash money.  This year we cut to the chase.  Let's get real----we only care about the cash.  So, only ONE egg was hidden and it contained a crisp $20 bill inside.  We didn't even bother carrying our cute little baskets.  We were on a mission to find that ONE egg!

My uncle was in charge of choosing the hiding place so we automatically knew it was going to be nearly impossible.  After a while he finally started giving out hints.  They were subtle hints, but we were happy to have them.  Finally, he said something that triggered a thought in Katie's mind and I literally watched her walk straight to the spot and pick the egg up from it's hiding place!  I had searched all around it but that hint was all she needed to seal the deal!

This is a sight worth documenting!  My super picky child eating a hard boiled egg!  I almost fell out in absolute shock!

A few family pictures before we wrapped up the afternoon

Davis/Basford/Mitchell Family

I wish I had known my little stinker was making this obnoxious hand gesture in EVERY picture from this series!!  I guess that's a 4 year old for you.

The Hughes/Kirkland/Thomas Family

My parents with Kyndall (4 yrs) and Wyatt (9 months)

Hughes/Kirklands/Thomas with Grandma

The 3 Hughes

Aside from the return of my reptile eyes and bruised arms from IV sticks, I love this picture of me and Wy!  I don't get to see him very often so moments like these are very special to me.

Got a few cute shots of the cousins together

She loves playing on the swing set, which was mine when I was her age

I've been missing Granddaddy an awful lot lately, so this morning on our way home Matthew let me stop by for a few minutes.  

We left Florida mid-morning (none of us could seem to get out of bed this morning!) and made it home around dinner time.  Kyndall is such a trooper on the long car ride.  She plays on her ipad, colors/draws, plays with her stuffed animals, eats lots of snacks and watches movies.  I suppose the fact that we've been traveling long distances since she was 6 weeks old just makes her good at it.  About two hours before we made it back to Jackson things got really quiet and I looked back to see the sweetest sight.  This is how a lady falls asleep gracefully in the car.  She slept all the way home, waking up just as we pulled in the driveway.  

Now it's back to the real world.  After two weeks "off", we are jumping back into work, pre-school, dance, piano, church activities doctors appointments, errands and all of the other commitments we have.  I'm not sure I'm ready, but ready or not here it comes.  Hopefully in the next few days I will find a renewed sense of energy to get me through until I'm 100% again.  I know one thing for sure and that's how very thankful I am to be sitting here reflecting on the sweet memories that were made this weekend.  It was a quick trip and I wish we could have seen more people and done more things but I am just happy to have been there at all!!  

I hope your Easter was as special as ours was!