Transplant evaluation

Today I went in for a transplant orientation, evaluation etc. Scott and I left for Portland around 10 am. I stopped for lunch at McDonald's on Congress St. and then on to the Dr. office on West St.

We had a short class on transplant as an option for treatment for End Stage Renal Disease. The class was designed as though we knew nothing about transplant, or anything else about kidney disease. It was almost true of the other couple in the class with us. She was worried about the weight she might gain. I guess some people would rather be dead than fat. I said I was 110 lbs before I started all this. I thought her eyes were going to bug out of her head! We laughed, but she was kind of a ditz.

After the power point on transplant, we got a power point on the risks and joys of being a living donor. It was really interesting. Both Scott and the other guy are potential donors.

When the classes were through, we waited for a few minutes for Doctor Parker and Doctor Whiting to see me. They said the same thing they always say, hi, how are you, lose some weight, see you in a couple of months. We set a weight goal and they made a list of tests and evaluations for getting on the transplant list.

I need to lose about 15 kilograms. I also need to get have an annual, a mamogram, and EKG and a stress test. I have these all scheduled in April.

Overall, it looks like I will be on the NE transplant waiting list in a few months. They are going to list me as inactive until I lose the weight, but at least I will be getting time credits.

After the Drs. I had 17 viles of blood drawn, luckily they could access my fistula! Lastly I saw the social worker. She already had my life story so it was a quick update instead of the lengthy visit it would be if I were new.

Once we were done, Scott and I headed over to Old Country Buffet. Yummy yummy! We got home around 7 pm and collected Taylor from my Mother's. Busy but good day and hopfully I will be on the list soon.

Busy Day!

We had a busy day today.

Ashleigh qualified for the state S.M.A.R.T. Karate championship. A day long tournament and banquet for the top four in each division of karate. Ashleigh only qualified in fighting, she didn't actually compete much last year.

Unfortunately she did not win, she would have had second, but they only acknowledge first, because this is the championship.

I had to leave the family at the tournament. I had to go and eat, I had to be at work at 1. At least I had the foresight to reschedule my private classes for a little earlier in the day. I had lunch at McDonald's and then went straight to work. Classes were fine, as usual, and I got done at 3, instead of starting at 3 as I normally would.

I drove back to Waterville, and then took a short nap in my car. I went back into the Alfond to find the banquet just letting out and my family shooting hoops in the gym. We all stuck around and played a little basketball. The girls loved jumping into the gymnastics foam pit. Scott got stcuk in the foam. We were among the last to leave the center.

After a quick stop off at the Mister Paperback, we headed home.

Valentines for Veterans

Valentines for Veterans was a success. Several troops met together to make valentines cards for local veterans. We invited a couple of local vets to come and talk with the girls as they created their cards. We had several styles for the girls to choose from and some chose to do their own thing. FUN. My troop met early and provided the flag ceremony. I spent most of the afternoon looking for and making red sashes and white gloves.

FYI, the American Legion in Augusta does not possess a Maine flag. So our ceremony only had an American flag. It was still well done and made me proud. My girls all had fun, except Amanda who fell ill early on and went home with her Mom after the flag ceremony, poor girl had had a busy day.

All those helping out wore their tie-dyes shirts and everyone liked them, next time I think I need to mix more soda ash into the pre-soak, as the shirts lost a lot of their color when they were washed. OH Well! Live and learn!

New Steps!

Out of the blue, the company I bought the steps from called this morning. I was resting after getting the kids on the bus, around 7:30 am. I received a call - the men would be here to install our new concrete steps at about 9:30 am. AAAAAAAAAAAA...

I had breakfast plans and decided to go ahead with them, I would be back by 9:30. I had breakfast with Linda at Full Court and then headed back home.

I was back before 9:30 and I came home to find that I already had no front steps and huge truck on the front lawn. I was stuck outside and so I watched from the car as they finished the installation.

The whole thing was done by 11 am and I love having real steps in front of the house. It is a little weird though, we had almost the same steps twenty years ago! Now we need a milk box and to paint the house orange! (yes, in 1973, the house was orange!)

Rejection :(

Dialysis today was difficult. I took my medications a little late. I also gained too much weight since my last dialysis. I really do have a drinking problem. I was not sleeping on the machine and did not sleep well last night. I was getting a bit ansy and so I took my medication with about an hour left. It worked. My blood pressure was fine before I came off, after my needles were pulled, it dropped. I had a pressure of 68/34 and was feeling it. I fell asleep as well. A was moved and just vegitated in the chair for over an hour. Finally, I left the center and drove home. I crashed until my husband (who gets home around 5) says "Are you working tonight?" OOOOPS I got to work by 5:50, plenty of time. I had a class scheduled for 6 PM. No one showed. I am starting to take it personally.
My 7:30 class did attract one owner and her little brindle pitbull. Very nice dog, nice girl, both have great potential. They listened and it was a great class. I look forward to more classes with this particular team, I think they will be fun to train. I came home a little late after keeping Jess company while she fixed a leak in the fish department. She opened a filter and found a Sea Anenome living on the filter. Poor little thing was in terrible condition, all beat up, but alive. She put it back in the water and fed him a gold fish.

I came home and worked on my missing English assignments. I am still up, not good.

Rainy days and Mondays...

The church sermon on Sunday was about how meaning can shape memories. How we, as a society, have decided that Fridays are great and Mondays suck. According to Rev. Don, scientific research shows that people are no happier on Fridays than on Mondays. It is simply our perception that creates the illusion of Mondays being bad.

Having said all that, Mondays suck.

Actually today was a good day. I went over to Laura's today and we tie-dyed T-shirts for the Valentines event. It was very fun. We used the spiral pattern on all the shirts and mostly pink and red dye. It was a lot of trial and error as far as how to do each step of the process. Laura is going to finish up with the shirts.

I headed home to meet Taylor off the bus. I was exhuasted and my legs are extremely sore!

Last night our furnace decided to stop working. I had a guy from DeadRiver come to fix the furnace and he kept asking me to check the hot water. I must have run up and down the basement steps 8 or more times. I can barely walk today. Nice guy though, we will be changing oil companies. Winthrop Oil did not care that we had no heat, they wanted cash last night, or no help. DeadRiver (not yet their customer) came right over and fixed the problem (AIR) which should have been bled out of the system when Winthrop Oil supposedly serviced the furnace a few short months ago and DeadRiver agreed to bill us later.

Anyway... Taylor and I were planning to go to Ashleigh's game, but when we went to leave, the car would not start. I apparently left the key turned forward. (did I mention that Mondays suck?) Oh Well. Scott came home and picked up Ashleigh. We had Chop Suey for supper. Scott jump started my car and I am staying off my legs the rest of the night.

Baptism

I actually went to church this morning. It is the celebration of the baptism of Christ. All those baptized were invited to come down and remember our own baptism. It was nice, and made me feel very guilty that my children have not been baptized. I figure this spring I will talk to them about the prospect of having a baptism.

There is about 4 new inches of snow on the ground. The girls and I went to Mia Lina's for lunch after church. Work was cancelled, so I just stayed home and stayed warm.

We had pork tenders and stuffing for supper, it was quite yummy.