successful surgery

I do apologize for the delay... i haven't had my computer with me. I'll get to the point = surgery was successful and both mom and Josh are doing great. Josh had a rough day yesterday, but feeling much better today. Mom has been feeling good as well. the color is back in her face and her new kidney is working away. we are so happy and feel so blessed to have seen all of this transpire. the doctors think Josh may be able to go home tomorrow. I'll post pictures soon. I've taken them, just not downloaded them. thanks for all the thoughts and prayers. things are going so well here.

fortunes.

Tonight we had dinner at PF Changs (so tasty) with my parents and my brother Kendall. Josh and mom's fortunes were hmmm. appropriate. amazing.cool.

on the eve of transplant.

We are down in Salt Lake for the transplant surgery. We arrived Sunday afternoon where Josh and mom did their final blood cross match which came back great. Mom also had to have a chest Xray and an EKG. We then enjoyed a nice dinner out with mom, Johnny and Kaley (josh's brother and wife) at Good Wood Barbeque. (yum.) Me and Josh and mom then came back to the hotel where we enjoyed a movie together (The Ultimate Gift). Today mom had her last dialysis (yeah!!) and we had our meeting with the surgical team. We discussed the surgical process, risks, hospital stay etc. Josh and mom also received their "bowel clean-out" formulas! Josh's expected release date is Friday or Saturday, mom's is Sunday. They did inform us that Josh's kidney will be larger than what mom technically needs, so it should give her great function. We are now saying she is going to have a supercharged kidney!! As the night comes to a close and I stop long enough to really digest all that has taken place I feel so blessed. On this night, the eve of transplant I am filled with lots of different emotions.
1.excited that my mom is getting this chance to improve her life. It has been hard seeing her health so rapidly decline.
2. thankful that my husband is so caring and generous.
3. blessed that they are a match.
4. anxious to see them both come out of surgery and hear the good report.
5. loved for all the support we have received from family and friends. (a special thanks to my cousins for keeping my kids all week so i could devote all my attention to the patients- you are the best!!)

friends.

Friends. i love the fact that when you have a real friend, you can be apart for long periods of time, but when you see each other again its always good. not awkward. and you kind of just pick up where you left off. i love it. I went to college with Beverly (ISU) and we became fast friends our 2 years together there. i then moved to south dakota and she remained in pocatello. over the years we've emailed and she even came for a visit to sioux falls once. we also would usually see each other when i would come to idaho for vacations. anyway, on Presidents Day she and her 4 boys came up to visit. it was fun to catch up and see her kids. it was great to see that we are that kind of friends. not awkward. just picking up where we left off however many years ago.

video links.

some people have expressed an interest in some videos we've found on a nephrectomy and kidney transplantation. here are the links. sorry you will have to cut and paste, i'm being lazy and can't get the hyperlink thingy to work :)

Here is the surgery from youtube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siNLfrP9PHk



These are all very short (2 minute) video clips about dialysis and donation

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvshNz80uZE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2RCc9q1wF4&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OocAWejZ0-Q&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOhKoqyNstA&feature=related

A day at the salon.

Josh and Mom wanted to be sure the surgeons found them attractive so they spent the day at the salon getting pretty. haircuts. color. gossip. It's all good.

kidneys.

for those of you wondering what a kidney with polycystic kidney disease looks like. lovely wouldn't you say?