3 Things to Share....

What a perfect way to explain everything going on in my life....let's start off with a list.

1. I have decided to leave my job at JCPenneys. It was a difficult choice, and still working on our new budget, but worth it.  At the time I started this job, Mark was unemployed and in kidney failure. It served its purpose, but it also kept me from doing and being my best. With the extra time, I am able to enjoy weekends with time to focus on taking care of myself. I know I am doing a better job at school as well (see #3).

2. Mayo Clinic Celebration: Last weekend, Mark and I attended a Kidney Transplant Reunion. Mark's donor, Tori, could not make it, but it was a great day to reflect on the amazing gift Mark has recieved. It also made me once again get the "itch" to begin my quest for working with caregivers. I am not sure I have expressed my desire for making this happen to anyone, but I feel I have a mission in my life to change and help others who have been a caregiver similar to myself.

3. Mentoring Group: With the extra time, I have been beginning a mentoring program (along with my team members). I am extremely proud of our team's accomplishments and what it will be doing for the students for my classroom.

In the season of thankfulness, I would like to list a few things I am thankful for:
1. Mark
2. My family
3. My neighbors
4. My health and Mark's
5. A roof over my head
6. Making a difference in the students in my classroom
7. Great coworkers
8. Coffee
9. Modern day medicine
10. The experiences I have been through

Hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving!

Uneventful...

You must all be able to tell that I live a "normal, uneventful" life these days---and sometimes (just about all the time) am happy with that! Even though I have not had exciting events happen in my life lately, there are still so many things to be thankful for.

My road to being healthy and lose weight is still seeing progress. I have lost 15 pounds so far and feel so healthy! It is such a great feeling! Not really sure why I did not do this sooner.

School has been crazy. Having struggles with the group I have now, with lack of motivation as a whole. The group of teachers I am working with have come together and we are hoping to make some changes to get these students ready for the next level.

In just a few weeks, we will be having our annual Halloween on Hidalgo! I am super excited and this always is a great time. Nothing better than sitting outside, eating chilli, and handing out candy to the kids in costumes (maybe even scaring a few).

Mark and I are also going to be attending an event at Mayo in November to celebrate life. Those individuals and the donor familys are invited to a luncheon to celebrate the event!

I am also participating in a Mud Run with Miranda (neighbor) and Rosie (friend). This is bound to be a great time...messy time...and just plan awesome!

I have one more week until my Fall Break! I do not plan on doing much, except working out and relaxing at home. ***Anyone want to come visit??? :)

Until next time!

Month 1

So far....5 lbs.

I have been getting back in the habit of working out 4-6 times each week and eating healthy! I can already feel the difference, but still have a long way to go!

A New Year...a new challenge....

It sure has been a while since I have blogged on here. After a stressful few years where I focused on everything else except myself I am dedicating the next year to me! That is right! I want to become a healthier and stronger person (not to mention look hot in a swimsuit)!

I have started doing a few little things, like giving up my tutoring job that I had two nights a week. I absolutely loved this job, and it paid well for the time I put in each week. However, I have realized I need more time for myself. I have also started going to the gym -- Lifetime Fitness-- and have begun working out as much as I can throughout the week. While this is easy to do with the schedule of my summer, I hope this can be accomplished once the hustle and bustle of the school year begins. I figure if I put my goal and plan on here I cannot just let it go...I have made the commitment to myself as well as my loyal blog readers.

My goal on my golden birthday come next March is to be at a weight where I can go into the store and buy one of those shirts that seems to cling to every curve on your body and LOOK great wearing it! This is quite a lofty goal for me right now, but I am determined to do it and I know I will do it! It will take a lot of hard work, and probably a few less margaritas and beers with the neighbors...but I have to do it for me!

So for those loyal blog readers anyeone want to take the challenge with me? A bit of a competition among us all? Any takers?

#2

My life has settled down quite a bit....it is a bit strange feeling in a awesome happy, glad sort of way! For a good couple years Mark and I lived from one moment to the next. The moments brought on so many emotions -- at times all we could do was hold each other in our arms and cry and others we saw saw the silver lining. I still remember when Mark was in the hospital and they thought he had a heart attack and had to do a dangerous test, which included using a dye, that could put Mark into renal failure. Once the test was completed, they could not find any damage!  It seems that now we are so busy with this whole going to work and coming home that our "crazy, emotional, scary, angry, frustrated, sad" moments have seemed to stop. We are blessed, and I feel these moments were brought to our lives for a reason and it would not have happened if we could not handle it.

A few moments that have happened recently:

1. This past weekend we had a Celebration of Life party. Tori was able to come as well as a lot of friends. Half way through the party Mark came into the house just emotional. After the signature move of Mark wiping away the tears, he had shown me a pin Tori had given him. Mark was overome with emotion--and then asked me to give a speech to everyone outside. So I came out and once again stated our forever gratefullness towards Tori -- and then explained to everyone that Mark now has an excuse for crying all the time, after all he does have a "girl's" kidney in him!

#2:

After meeting with another couple who is starting the process of finding a kidney for her husband, the Alonso Mourning book "Resilience" was brought up in conversation. I received the book and read through this. One moment that echoed so loudly for me was about poop. That is correct--I said it....poop! I remember so vividly the days following the transplant waiting and hoping and secretly listening behind the bathroom door to hear it! Just as Alonso explained in his book, he was so elated to finally do the #2 in the hospital that it came with many hoorays when it finally happened. I mean, how many people can say that his mother in law and wife were cheering him on to take a #2! And when it finally happened we clapped our hands as if Mark as a two year old learning to be potty trained!



Latest Update...

Mark is doing amazingly well! I was able to go to his latest doctor's appointment and all is well. His blood pressure was still slightly higher, so there was some slight modification in his meds. This has been the case in the last month and a half. Each week the doctors analyze Mark's numbers and adjust his meds to make the perfect concoction. Eventually, the doctors would like to modify his blood pressure medicines to more kidney friendly meds.

In other news, in just a few weeks we are having a "celebration of life" party. One of the small gestures that cannot come even close to telling Tori how thankful we are of her gracious gift.

Thoughts and prayers...

This past week Mark and I were able to meet with another couple who are just beginning the journey to find a kidney. I met Cheryl at the kidney walk back in December and connected online. On that December day, I felt connected with everyone that was there. While I felt alone in this journey, I knew that day that everyone knew the craziness of FSGS can be for a family.

Just over a month ago I found out that Cheryl's husband has reached the point where he needs to move forward with the search for a kidney. Since the beginning of the journey, I always knew that I needed to be a supporter to others who are going through this process. So after hearing about Chris, I needed to reach out. So this past week we came together with Cheryl and Chris.

Wow, we had so much in common and after 4 plus hours of talking I feel like we were able to help. While they are still starting this journey, I hope I can help ease the stress of the process.

Please keep Chris in your thoughts...as you have all done for Mark in the past.