Update

So.....

What a wild ride this has been, since the beginning of October.  I was looking back at my "Year in Review" thingy that has popped up on Facebook this week.  We've done some amazing, exciting things.

Since my diagnosis in October, we've changed directions, and have been in limbo a bit, not knowing what direction we'd be headed.  We've had a tentative plan, and that plan to get settled down is taking shape.  We should be in our new house and settled within a week or two.  We'll be ready to welcome Jordan and Abby and Jackson, and soon little baby Avery, to the area in the new year

And we have some answers.

The biopsy showed that my kidneys have decided to throw in the towel.  Ka-put.  They're done.  So that means more changes.  I'll get a more permanent dialysis port, called a fistula, inserted in my arm.  This will mean no more tubes hanging from my collar bone, which will be good.  Full showers!!

It also means, since I am in otherwise pretty good health, that I will go on a transplant list. There are a lot of hoops to jump through to get to the transplant stage, things I have to do to be ready.  It's not a quick process, and there has to be a kidney available.  Not a pretty thought, but a necessary one.  And until then, I'll have a better port to receive dialysis, although it takes several weeks for the new port to heal and be ready to use.

It's a lot to take in.  I've been emotional.  I've done my crying.  I'm ready to tackle this.  I'll keep doing what I can do to stay healthy physically and mentally.  I'll take all the thoughts and prayers and support I can get.  I'll lean on Brad and my boy and all of my family and y'all when I need to.

It's not the answer I wanted, but it's out of my hands.  Eyes forward, looking out the windshield, not the rear-view mirror.

Bring it on.

Furniture shopping

We spent the day trying to chase down some furniture deals.  Missed out on a couple of things I really wanted, but there will be more.  We did end up with a couch and a rocking chair, that happen to match.  The chair has a dark green leather seat, and the couch is black leather with dark green cushions.  The couch is super soft and comfy... can't wait to try it out on naps.

We have the table we got yesterday dismantled and stashed behind our recliners.  We stowed away our regular kitchen chairs and put the new ones from yesterday at the table.  I'm not really sure where the bench is... not a lot of places to hide it!!  The rocking chair is getting wedged in a corner for now.

Couch cushions

The couch cushions are inside, also stashed behind the recliners.  The main body of the couch is tarped in the back of the truck.  Sure hope closing on the house comes early...  yeah right!!

Time to relax.  If we can find room!! (Normal people would just get a storage building...)

A Bit of Excitement

Well, we took the plunge and bought a house.  Hope to be in it by Christmas.  Now to replace everything we sold or gave away a year and a half ago!!  Actually, not everything, because we got rid of a lot of boxes of nothing!!!  It would be good to not clutter things up with useless stuff again!

Now that we've actually walked through the house and gotten the sizes of the rooms in our heads, we have started acting on some good deals from the local buy, sell, and trade sites.  We don't need to fill every single room at this point, but a couch and a couple of chairs, kitchen table, and a bed would be nice.

We found a super cool kitchen table and two chairs for a great price yesterday, and when we went to pick it up, the gal said, "I forgot to mention that there is a bench that goes with it too... want it as well?"  So we got that.  Brad also picked up some tools from a guy sorting through his dad's things, and we have a headboard to go look at later.  A good start!

Plus a leaf extension.

We stopped at a place called Bricktown Brewery for lunch.  Brad got the turkey pot pie, which was amazing looking, and I found a pizza with spinach, artichokes, chicken... and no tomato sauce!  It came with an amazing honey-pepper dipping sauce for the crust.  We'll be going back, for sure!!

Last night was my first visit to my new (sort of) dialysis clinic.  I say "sort of" because my "regular" facility is being remodeled, and for the time being, I have to go to another town where they are doubling up on patients, and running a longer schedule each day.  By the first of the year, the remodeled (closer) location should be opened again.

I met my new kidney doctor last night when he made his rounds.  We talked through my brief history, and he's going to check out my records that Dr Biswas sent from Arizona, and get me scheduled for a kidney biopsy as soon as possible to check out how things are.  This will help us see if there's any chance of kidney function returning.  I told him, whatever the answer is, it will be good to know.

Family Thanksgiving

We had a wonderful family gathering at my sister Wendy and her husband David's house.  30+ of us there, 4 generations.  All of my siblings and our kids and THEIR kids, and Mom, plus Wyatt cousins Patty and Jim, and Paul and Scott.  Three 3-year olds, an 8-year old, and a 9-month old.  Nice enough weather for us to spread out outside some, and plenty of room (and food!!!) inside.

The two Mommas-to-be come March.  Well, baby #2 mommas-to-be.  Guess who's having a boy, and who's having a girl??!! 😄 Afghans made by Great-Grandma Wyatt.

Everyone is focused on the KU/K-State game

Jim, cousins Patty and Paul, and Scott.

Some of the kids, with their kids... Kendall, Asher, Cody, Jordan, Jackson, with Grace and Ethan in front

All of the grandkids, in chronological order... they hate it when we make them line up this way.

Aaron, Candace, Tiffany, Kendall, Jordan, Sonnie, Kristen, McLain, and Mallory

The kids with their spouses/significant others.  Hey Cody... who are you hiding behind??

Jordan and Abby

And me!

Littles playing in the backyard

Jordan, Abby, and Jackson

Todd is teaching Jackson about tree sap

Jackson was about done with pictures by this time.

Wyatt cousins and spouses.... minus Doug, because he hadn't arrived yet.

Wyatt cousins.  Wendy, Doug, Paul, me, Patty, Karen

And Momma Wyatt in the middle

"Wichita Wyatts", even though Paul and Scott don't live there. 

Walker bunch.  Little Mackenzie made it into this pic.  She thought she needed a nap most of the rest of the day.

Ooh, and super-cool necklace my mom got me for my birthday.  She knows how much I love sand dollars!

Ready to Head Farther East

We finished up what we could today on the kitchen redo.  Jordan and Abby have a few things left to do, like hang the cabinet doors, and attach the hardware and a few end pieces, but they can handle that with just the two of them.  I know Abby is ready to get the kitchen back in order!

A sink!

It's important to get the water hooked up again.

Upper cabinets

Trying out the backsplash

Jackson was doing his own measurements

Thanksgiving dinner was yummy!  Jordan fried the turkey... oh my!!!  Was it ever good!  Abby made green beans, dressing, rolls, and apple pie, and I contributed the mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce.

I got to celebrate my birthday a day early, since we're all headed to the KC area tomorrow.  New birthday boots from the redneck, and the world's softest throw blanket and a coloring book and pencils from the Piha bunch.  The coloring book is already put in my bag that I carry with me to dialysis each day.  Brad and I will hit the road to KC as soon as I get finished tomorrow morning.