I feel a party coming on...

I've been an online purchasing queen today...  It's almost July!  Birthday month!  

Will turns one on July 14th.  I can't wait. We're throwing him a party.  Can you tell what the theme will be?!

Sock monkeys!  My parties usually consist of two basic things and nothing more: food and guests. 

This time, I'm getting out of my comfort zone and tackling details.  I ordered special straws for Pete's sake!  I'm even going to attempt making bunting... pray for me.

Bittersweet Goodbyes

Remember the feeling when you first moved away from home and wondered if there was any way you could handle it all without your Mama?

I'm 18 all over again today.  

After a month of taking care of me and my family in every way possible, my sweet Mama is finally going home. 

Home and Healing

I've been home from the hospital for a week.  There have certainly been some miserable moments, but overall, I'm doing really well.  I came home super bloated, with lots of rashes from tape and from being in bed for 5 days, and in a fair amount of pain.  I stayed off the narcotics because they make me feel sick more than they relieve pain.

For the first week or so after surgery, my eyes had a really hard time focusing.  My last post took a long time to type on the ipad.  But Grant has been so sweet, and has read to me so that I could relax and forget about feeling icky.  We have been reading Heaven Is Here by Stephanie Nielson, author of Nieniedialogues.com, and it has been the perfect book to read during recovery.  Stephanie was in a horrible plane crash in 2008 and was burned on 80% of her body.  She talks about her miraculous recovery and the power of faith, love, and family in helping her heal.

Her strength, perspective, and attitude is so encouraging.  Every breath is a blessing, and every day is an opportunity, regardless of who we are and whatever battle we are fighting.  The Lord knows me and my struggles.  He understands every feeling I am having even though I can't seem to sort through them myself.

Baby Will's face has never been cuter, his skin has never been softer, and his little giggles have never made me happier.  And I will never be so glad to have a healthy, working body, as when I get to pick him up in just five more weeks (five?! oh man...).

I am grateful that every day has been a little bit better than the last.  Today, I finally felt like I had a really good day. (Probably the reason I am now blogging again).  I drove my own car (yay-first time!) to my first follow up appointment with Dr. Bell.  He is very pleased about how I am healing and feeling.  We talked about the diagnoses and about recovery times (6 weeks to carry more than 10-15lbs., 3 months to run/do sit-ups etc.).  And he congratulated me on being cancer free.  "You cured yourself.  You found it."

It feels good.  And I'm looking forward to some even better cancer-free days ahead.

Update

Hello from sky ridge hospital!  Surgery went well- they got the tumor out along as my right kidney but we won't know anything about it for another week. Dr Bell told my family that he would be surprised if the tumor was benign. There was a lot of blood flow to it. As for me, sans tumor, I'm doing pretty well. Showed up at five thirty, got checked in, changed into gown, got an IV and then my family came back.  Ythey gave me Versed before the epidural. Good stuff. :) then my family left and they did the epidural. I think they let them come back again but idon't remember much. I remember going to the OR and seeing dr bell and meeting everyone. Then they put the mask on and I was out.  When I woke up I was in a lot of pain. Apparently the epidural was too high and only came down to the top of the incision. They let Grant come back and I cried, but it was really painful to cry. They gave me lidocaine and asked Grant to leave. Then they redid my epidural after some more versed. That took forever but I felt way better once it was working. Then I was in recovery for another hour or two ( who knows). My parents came to visit at some point.  Then I was wheeled up to my room on the 6th floor. Since then I've been mostly sleeping. I have only been coherent occasionally- sleeping most of the time.  I have an epidural, oxygen tube, catheter, IV line (two before they took the bad one out,) blow up things on my legs, and they recently gave me an anti-nausea patch that is stuck behind my ear.  I feel pain free, but I'm super groggy and fairly lightheaded. I've sat up twice basically. My blood pressure is really low because of the epidural, so they gave me a bag of fluids and are keeping watch over that. And my throat really hurts from being intubated. I'm on an ice chips diet but should get some broth in the morning. But in general I'm in here by myself sleeping. Way more down time than when Will was born.  Well my eyes are starting to droop so I best be done here. Feeling pretty good- thanks for the kind thoughts and prayers.

She Lives

Kelsey is on her way to a full recovery. The doc said the surgery went really well. He took her right kidney and the tumor (didn't have to take any ribs). She is feeling pretty good all things considered. For now, the game plan is lots and lots of sleep.

Thank you all for the prayers and outpouring of support and love.
-Grant

Prep Day

Today is prep day.  My mom & I ran 4 miles this morning, (a distance PR for yours truly), took G's car to get the oil changed, I'm getting a haircut, picking my dad up at the airport, and we've got lots of cleaning and picking up to do.  I'm also packing all sorts of bags: my hospital bag, Will's clothes bag, Will's food bag, Will's toy bag...

It's very strange to be planning for 6 weeks of recovery when I feel completely normal right now.  While I may be feeling fine after a week or two, I still won't be able to pick up a gallon of milk (let alone the Willister) for at least six weeks.

Our families, friends, and our church have been amazing about offering to help.

Will is staying with his Mumsie & Grumsie while I'm in the hospital (Thanks M&G!)   Mumsie & Aunt Lauren will have him two times for at least a few days each, my friend Emily & Logan are coming for a few days, and Will is even taking a trip to California to hang out with his cousins, Kate & Gwen.  How do you thank someone for playing "mom" for you?! (I have recently purchased some really cute notes to write 'thank-yous' on, but somehow, that doesn't seem to be enough...)

Tomorrow is surgery day.  I have to be there at 5:30AM, surgery starts at 7:30AM and should last 2-3 hours.  I'll be on an walking epidural for about 3 days, and will probably stay in the hospital for 4-5 days.  I've asked Grant to post when I'm out of surgery, and then I'll be updating from the hospital as well.

Thank you so much for all your thoughts, prayers, and kind notes.  Grant and I talked a lot last night about everything and we both feel at peace.  The Lord knows what we're going through and will be with us through everything.  And it will be okay.  (As long as they'll let me eat lots of raspberry sorbet...)

First Annual 5Kidney Run

This morning we ran our first 5Kidney.  5 kidneys is the total number of kidneys that me (1), my mom (1), and my nana (3) will have as of next Thursday!

Yesterday marked 6 weeks for my mom's kidney donation.  She was excited to get back out and run.  It was her first race ever!

I started running a month or two ago.  The farthest I have run without stopping before today was about 2.5 miles.  I refused to push Will in the stroller and try to finish a 5K without stopping.  Grantie was a good sport and offered to push him instead.