The Srp Life...

Memories of Mom- 50 years!

2011-11-01T04:17:00.000-07:00

Happy 50th Birthday Mom!

Growing up, our house was a home because of her.

She practiced patience, demonstrated devotion, expected respect,

diligently disciplinedand loved unconditionally.

She taught us about Jesus and helped us memorize Bible verses.

She always got dressed up for weekly weekend date nights with my dad, without kids.

She lives in the moment and doesn't worry.

She is a mama bear.

She quotes the phrase, "Jesus was never in a hurry" and I quote back,

"But Jesus was never late either"

She makes a mean raspberry walnut cake.

She gives without knowing, but knows it's all God's anyways.

She has earned jewels for her crown.

She is... my mom!

Looking back

2011-10-25T02:50:00.000-07:00

This blog is so much overdue... years people.

Our transplant went perfectly (December 16, 2009) and today my mom and I are both heathy as ever! Conrad and I first thank Jesus, our healer and giver of perfect peace, and each of you who prayed us through.

Isaiah 46:4
"Even to your old age and gray hairs I am He, I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you."

Life's tough sometimes... I, in all my human-ness, want things to be a certain way, my way:
I want to know what to expect, so I can prepare myself.
I want to plan, so I can be ready.
I want to be in control...that's just the old sin nature "self".

Proverbs 19:21
Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails.

Isaish 55:8-9
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.

James 4:13-15
Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”

These verses speak straight to my heart because I so didn't want to need a kidney transplant. That wasn't part of my plan. I wanted, actaully demanded old-school, supernatural, bible time, Lazarus-get-up-and-walk kind of healing.

AND I BELIEVED IT COULD HAPPEN!

Matthew 17:20

He replied, "... I tell you the truth, 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 was no lacking faith on my part people. In fact, I had so much faith, supernatural healing wasn't even an option- it was a given. I had a list (thank you C.B.) 29 verses long that engulfed me... taped to my fridge, my bathroom mirror, in my car, in my calendar, in my work binder. I had and still have a dry erase board in my office of healing verses from Joel Osteen's website... I'm sure by now they are permanantly etched into the white board... I'm good with that. The point is... my miracle was in the works... a work in progress, and I was ok with waiting for "His perfect healing time" to come over me.

It was Novemeber, 2009. I was working as a new nurse and loving my job. Conrad was preparing to start law school. I had a routine checkup with my nephrologist... kidneys were doing bad. (ok... whatev... ) Went back the next week and kidneys were still bad... even a little worse. So bad, my body couldn't sustain life unless some intervention was done... dialysis, transplant or supernatural healing.

TRANSPLANT DAY- December 16, 2009

I never doubted God's hand and plan in my life. I didn't question His decision. I just didn't get my supernatural healing experience that I wanted. People, hear me out. God didn't forget to heal me, this wasn't a test. This was God working out my story the way He saw fit.

I was out from work for 7 weeks. It was a night at the hospital a few weeks back into work- God spoke to my heart that night so clearly, in the kindedst, sensitive, most gentle way. I had two teenage girl patients... both had just received kidney transplants... I was their nurse. I spent my night at their bedsides with them and their familes- telling my story, answering questions, showing my scar, talking about true identity (a big concern for teenage girls with scars and prednisone.) Jesus so tightly held my heart and let me know "this is why you were transplanted, you can do MY will greater because of what I have carried you though."

As for my supernatural healing, I've got that too. In fact, I already had it... That night I sat on my parents bed at 6 years old and asked Jesus to come into my heart and be Lord and ruler of my life... I got my supernatural healing. Heaven, the hope of what's to come, that's supernatural people.

PSALM 91

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord,

“He is my refuge and my fortress,my God, in whom I trust.”
Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,but it will not come near you.
You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.
If you make the Most High your dwelling—
even the Lord, who is my refuge—
then no harm will befall you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;

they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
You will tread upon the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
“Because he loves me," says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
He will call upon me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,I will deliver him and honor him.
With long life will I satisfy himand show him my salvation.”

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

2009-12-22T09:56:00.000-08:00

ROMANS 8:11 " The Spirit of life is making your body alive..."

Friends! I was discharged home from the hospital last night at 5:30pm. On our way home Conrad and I stopped by my parents house and had dinner and some family time. It was so nice to shower in my shower and sleep in my bed and snuggle up next to my honey!

The transplant thus far has been a huge success and we are just praising the great God who we serve, for every gift and blessing is coming down from Heaven! I will continue to be follow closely and labs drawn several times a week to make sure everything continues to go as it should!

I wish words could describe the amount of love we have felt from all of you and our sweet Jesus. He is such a faithful God and has truly carried us through once more. Conrad and I wish you all a Merry Christmas filled with joy, laughter and family and yummy food! We love you all!

Mom Goes Home From Hospital Today!

2009-12-19T17:08:00.000-08:00

Today, Saturday was another wonderful day of recovery for mom and I. My mom was cleared from the hospital and went home today! My dad took her home around lunch time today and she was able to get some yummy food for lunch!

I have another renal ultrasound tomorrow morning to look at the new kidney and its blood flow. So far everything has looked really good and we are praying and expecting things to look good on this test in the morning also. If all looks good I can have the foley (urinary catheter) out tomorrow. I should go home tomorrow evening or Monday morning! Praise Jesus!

I have been cleared to eat whatever I want so I have been eating starbursts, chocolate chip cookies and all kinds of goodies that people are sending up to the hospital! Sweet Conrad has been taking requests and bringing me food up to the hospital!

The plan of as right now is that when I am discharged from the hospital Conrad and I will go and stay at my parents house for a few days, probably at least through Christmas. I can't drive for several weeks and don't want to just be stuck at home. My mom and I will send Mere and the guy to HEB for us and I plan to do some cooking and baking Christmas treats when I get home!

You all who follow our blog know what a journey our families have been on. Conrad and I have only been married about 6 months and have already been through alot together as a couple. We are excited to see what plans God has for us this next year as Conrad starts law school and I continue to work in San Antonio.

We are blessed beyond measure, living in the moment and truly feeling the love and prayers from all our friends and family! Truly a King came in the form of baby some 2000 years ago. This year, more than any other I am on my knees praising Him for the gift of His son, sweet Jesus. Ours prayers are that you and yours may experience that same love this Christmas Season!

POST-OP DAY 1

2009-12-17T15:34:00.000-08:00

Today has been a great day of recovery for my mom and I. I woke up this morning, had breakfast (yummy Chick-Fil-A mini bites), went for walk around the ICU and have been up for most of the day. My mom has had a little more pain than I have and she had a bad reaction from the anesthesia post-operatively so she wasn't quite feeling as good as me.
I had my first renal ultrasound yesterday evening when I got back to the ICU. This is how they check the new kidney and it's blood flow in and out of the kidney. Everything looked great. My labs have already improved greatly and praise Jesus the new kidney started working when I was still on the OR table before I was closed.
Another praise is that we thought I might have to stay in ICU for several days ~not me though! They moved me out of ICU and to the reglar floor today at 11:00 am this morning! Crazy, not even 24 hours in ICU!
Right now we are trying to regulate my Prograf level in my blood. Prograf is one of the new meds I will take for anti-rejection. Also, I had another renal ultrasound this morning and the kidney looked good but there was a small build up of blood around the new kidney (hematoma). The docs are not too concerned but just want to keep an eye on it. Please pray that it goes away and doesn't get any bigger!
Mark Jr was up here with mom and I this morning and Mere was here this afternoon. Conrad has been here al day. My dad hasn't been feeling good himself so he has stayed home today because he has been running a fever. Mere took him to ER last night because he felt so bad, but today he is doing better just resting at home. Tinkerbell is keeping him company:)
I hope to be out of the hospital next Monday or Tuesday if things continue to go as well as they have been. Bless you all for your love, support, prayers, cards and kind words! You are the hands and feet of Jesus and we are overwhelmed by the work He is doing in our lives. Thanks for playing a special part!

Melissa and Brenda are doing great!

2009-12-17T11:10:00.001-08:00

I talked to Conrad earlier this morning and he sounded great! He has a great sense of relief and excitement in his voice. He told me Melissa was doing great. He said everything is going just as they hope right now. Melissa ate breakfast this morning, TOOK A WALK (wow!) this morning, and was sleeping when I talked to him. They are going to do another sonogram this afternoon to check on everything, but he said they are planning to move her out of ICU this evening! Good good news!!

Brenda is also recovering well and should be going home in the next few days. He said no visitors still but to please tell everyone how grateful they are for the support and prayers...they felt it!

Conrad has his laptop at the hospital and when Melissa wakes up, he said he was going to get on the blog and show her all the comments from people...so comment away - she will get them.

Kidney is in and working!!

2009-12-16T12:41:00.000-08:00

I just talked to Conrad and he said the kidney is in and working! Praise God! It began producing urine right away! Thanks be to God! Melissa will be moved to ICU recovery soon and Brenda is doing well! Please pray against rejection and infection!

Update on Brenda...

2009-12-16T11:58:00.001-08:00

Brenda is out of surgery and everything went well! She is in recovery...

Melissa is in surgery still - will let you know as soon as we hear how she is.

Pray for Conrad and Mark. For peace - as they sit in this hard place of just being able to wait for this healthy outcome to unfold...

Surgery Update

2009-12-16T08:56:00.000-08:00

This is Courtney (Melissa's friend) and I will be posting for the next few days to update everyone on what is the latest with Brenda and Melissa!

I just talked to Conrad and he said the surgery has been bumped up an hour so everyone is being prepped right this minute for surgery. Please pray!

TRANSPLANT TOMORROW!

2009-12-15T19:30:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to give everyone the last minute details of tomorrow...

I actually didn't have to spend the night in the hospital tonight which is really nice because I am home with my hubby one more night! The plan is that mom and I both will get to the hospital about 9:30am tomorrow morning. Mom's surgery will start at 12 noon and mine at 12:30. This time is just an estimate because the surgeons have another case before ours.

A little bit about the procedure...

My mom will be taken back into the operating room first. I will be taken back about 30 minutes after that. The time from when the surgeon cuts the kidney out of my mom to the time they put the kidney inside me is between 13 and 15 minutes! WOW! When my mom is waking up from anesthesia, this is about the time the new kidney inside me should be working and making its own pee! What an emotional moment!

The doctors and nurses have stressed the importance of me not having visitors because I will be extremely immune-comprised! However, I can have all he prayers and love coming my way and they can't stop that! I know heaven is being bombarded with prayers on our behalf, and we are feeling His love, comfort peace, joy and cheer at this amazing time in life!

Update on my Transplant!

2009-12-14T22:00:00.000-08:00

I will be admitted to the hospital tomorrow (Tuesday). We will see the transplant nephrologist tomorrow morning in the clinic at 10:00 am, then grab lunch and be back at the hospital by 1:00pm to be admitted. I will spend tomorrow and tomorrow night in the medical-renal unit. My mom will be admitted to the hospital around 5:00am on Wednesday morning. After the surgery, I will go to the ICU and mom will go back to the medical-renal unit and be in the same room I spent the night in. I will be in ICU for several days and when she goes home, I will be able to go to her room back on the Medical-Renal unit where I spent that 1st night in the hospital. My mom will have to be in the hospital for several days and I will hopefully be out in about a week. (We both hope to be home for Christmas!)We don't have an exact time for the surgery yet, but I will try to post again tomorrow when we know the exact time so you all can be praying!