Tidy Brown Wren, bringing order to your nest

 I'm so glad that red is my favorite color - and that shades of green can be found all around my house.  Why?  Because for the first few weeks of December, that was all that decorated my house.  Touches of red and green with one half-lit Christmas tree standing halfway between the family room and the dining room.   It's been such a crazy busy summer, fall, and now winter that I barely had time to clean my house let alone decorate for Christmas.  And decorating for Christmas is something I love to do.  I managed to find about 20 minutes a day for a whole week and finally got some decorations set out around the house.   Like I said before, the red and green colors I already had in our home really came in handy - all I had to do was add to it.   Ready for a tour before I have to take everything down this weekend? Here is the front porch.  My son found the old firetruck and refurbished it.  It is perfect to hold some ...

This past summer, Hubs and I went on a wonderful hike .  I promised you I would write about the MedicAlert bracelet I wore while hiking.          It is important that I have medical information available at all times in case of an emergency.  I researched different types of medical alert companies and felt that Medic Alert was the best organization for me and my family. I like that they are a nonprofit organization and  I can update my information at any time.   If something were to happen to me while I was running errands, emergency personnel could look on my bracelet and find out the 3 most important medical issues I have (I'm allergic to sulfa drugs, I've had a kidney transplant, and I am immune suppressed).  There is also a toll free number for them to call to find out what medications I am taking, who my doctors are, and who to contact in case of an emergency.    I am always wearing one of m...

Almost 14 months ago, I had a kidney transplant that changed my life.  The new kidney, donated by my friend Cathy, started working before the doctors had a chance to close me back up.  During the surgery, however, some nerve damage occurred and I was not able to feel or move my right leg from my ankle to my hip.  I had to walk with a cane and fell several times a day - not a good combination while recovering from abdominal surgery. While working through physical therapy and learning to live with the medication that is a permanent part of my life (immuno-suppressants to help my body not reject my new kidney) I set a goal of climbing my favorite mountain - Old Rag Mountain .  This challenging route is part hike, part rock scramble, and part brain challenge.    After finishing physical therapy, I continued to exercise to strengthen my muscles.  Over the past 6 months, I have continued to gain some feeling in my leg.  Now there is o...

Saturday was a beautiful day for the annual National Kidney Foundation "Kidney Walk".  I was proud to show off my new kidney by walking in the 5K walk with my donor Cathy! Last year, Cathy did the walk by herself.  In fact, she participated in the walk the day before she donated one of her kidneys to me.  We dragged our hubbies along and had a great time.  There isn't a day that goes by that I don't marvel at how selfless Cathy was with her gift, how God has healed my body, and how blessed I truely am. A big Thank you goes out to all of you who sponsored me. Our area raised over $45,000 so far for research and education. Whoot! The National Kidney Foundation still has their walk site set up and will accept donations for this walk until the end of June.

March is National Kidney Month and kidneys are near and dear to me. Yup, I love kidneys - I have three of them.  One that was a gift from a friend last year and two that are sitting helplessly in my body, unable to function.  My kidney disease was inherited.  If a parent has the disease, then each of their children has a 50% chance of getting the disease - pretty high statistics.  Unfortunately, there is no test to see if you have the disease and it doesn't usually show up until you've already had children.  Bummer, I know.  My dad had a kidney transplant in 1971 and remained healthy for 30 years until he died of cancer.  One of my half-sisters (we have the same dad) died in her mid 30's after two transplants.  She left 3 children behind.  I had my transplant last year (April 2011) and I feel like a new person .  Thanks, Cathy, for my new kidney! In honor of National Kidney Month, I'd like to encourage everyone to ...

I feel like a new woman, and in a very real sense, I am. Last Monday, April 11th, I had a living donor kidney transplant. My donor and I arrived at The Medical College of Virginia, in Richmond, VA at 5:30 AM for an appointment that would change both of our lives forever. This hospital is a 2 hour drive from our home.  We left Hampton Roads after dinner and stayed overnight at a Hotel to be closer to the hospital.  My donor, Cathy, delayed the trip as she was walking in the National Kidney Foundation "Kidney Walk " on Sunday to raise money for that foundation.   (She's amazing). Here is a picture of Cathy visiting me in my hospital room 48 hours after the transplant (they wouldn't let us room together - bummer).  She had to trek down the hallway, dragging her IV pole with her.  Her Hubs calls this photo "the kidney reunion".  LOL    Alert:  This is the ONLY time you will ever see me without makeup on....

I've been nesting a lot recently. Cleaning out closets, cabinets, and drawers. Washing windows, scrubbing floors, polishing furniture. Rearranging furniture, swapping out accessories, fluffing pillows. Hugging people, saying "I love you", and rejoicing in God's blessing. Why? Because 2 weeks from today, I'll be getting a second chance at life. You could call it a "New Birth".  I'll be getting the gift of a new kidney from a dear friend.  In two weeks, at this same hour, we will both be in side-by-side operating rooms.  My friend will be in the "giving" room and I'll be in the "receiving" room.  Her generous gift will allow me to live a more normal life.  I will no  longer sleep for hours at a time.  I will be able to run after my grandchildren.  I will be able to sing praise songs and clap my hands at the same time without being exhausted.  When my surgeon asked the two of us if we had any concerns about the surge...

Because I write some of my blog posts ahead of time and schedule them to publish, you had no idea that I was driving up to Richmond, VA today to visit Medical College of Virginia/Virginia Commonwealth University to meet with a transplant team.  You were not aware that I was being poked and prodded and evaluated to see if I'm healthy enough for a kidney transplant soon.  You couldn't see the tears in my eyes as my hubby went to the lab to have 15 vials of blood drawn to see if he is potential donor for me. I didn't want to share that with you because. . . well, I don't know why.  Because it's personal?  Because it's not pretty, and organized, and crafty.  It's not gardening, or cooking, or cleaning.  But then, tonight, as I sat down and thought of all that occurred today, I realized that if I can show you my silverware drawer and my laundry detergent then I can certainly share something as real as my pain.  Many of you have been so gracio...

I have to admit, I was a bit apprehensive to share yesterday's post .  "What will my readers think?" Well, so many of you emailed me and said the sweetest things.  Thank you. When it's all said and done, though, what God thinks is most important to me.  And yesterday He told me that I am. . .                      Yes, I am.  I'm in good hands.

As April draws to a close, I would be remiss if I didn't bring up something near and dear to my heart.  Organ donation.  It's a very personal thing for me and has affected my family several times over.  I have personally seen how a living kidney transplant breathes life into a weakened body.  How it brings color back into the skin.  How it gives someone hope for tomorrow.  My father and sister both had kidney transplants in their 20s.  My dad received a kidney from his brother when transplants were still new and being improved.  He had that kidney for 31 years when cancer took him - not kidney disease.  My sister had two transplants.  One from her mother and after that one failed, one from our step-mother.  Sadly, my sister died at age 35, leaving 3 children behind.  Now it gets really personal.  The disease that both my dad and sister had is inheirited.  I have it too.  I wasn't diagnosed until I was 45....