Marty got released from the hospital today. He is making good progress and they are very pleased, they think it is better for him to be out of the hospital. We do have to stay close for the next month to two months, so we have moved into a apartment on the Stanford campus.
It is a cute little one bedroom apartment, the smallest place we have ever lived. Unfortunately, the kids cannot be with us and are staying home with my mom for now.
Marty continues to improve daily, his creatnine is almost normal now at 1.6. His blood sugar was 220 last night but 120 all day today. He lost another pound putting him down 21 pounds so far. He even asked if he could go to the grocery store with me and they okay'd that. So he drove one of the electric carts around while I shopped.
We are both tired and I have a feeling, this is going to be the best nights sleep that we have gotten in two years!
People are asking how to send us stuff, please email me for the address. Also on my last blog about Paypal, I made a mistake it is jmtimms2@hotmail.com
A modern day Pollyanna waxing poetic about her life.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
book bound
I have been fielding this question a lot, "Will you write the donor family a letter?" of course we will and we were already given the okay to do that. Five years ago when I started this blog, I had no idea what it would become. I just liked the idea of blogging and it turned into so much more.
It turned into a journal of grief when losing my grandparents and then it ballooned into something more when Marty was diagnosed. I started blogging and sharing our journey mainly to keep friends and family updated. Then it became carthartic to write it all down. Also it has become a memorial stone for this journey through the desert and valley of sickness.
A couple of years ago, Andrea blogged about blurb a company that will bind your blog into a book. I knew immediately what the plan of action would be. I will have the blogs on Marty's journey bound into a book, one for us and one for the donor family. I want to be able to share our long journey and also the thousands of people praying for so many years for them.
We were already told we can write the donor family a letter. I am going to give it time. They need time to heal and grieve, maybe once the dust settles it will be welcome. I hope they know how much we prayed for their child and for them. How much they are a part of our lives now and how grateful we are to them.
I also want a book, where I can go back and see the great lessons we have learned and how we have grown. I want to never forget or be jaded about this time in our lives. That way we can share with others who we meet along the way. I also don't know where the book ends just yet.
It turned into a journal of grief when losing my grandparents and then it ballooned into something more when Marty was diagnosed. I started blogging and sharing our journey mainly to keep friends and family updated. Then it became carthartic to write it all down. Also it has become a memorial stone for this journey through the desert and valley of sickness.
A couple of years ago, Andrea blogged about blurb a company that will bind your blog into a book. I knew immediately what the plan of action would be. I will have the blogs on Marty's journey bound into a book, one for us and one for the donor family. I want to be able to share our long journey and also the thousands of people praying for so many years for them.
We were already told we can write the donor family a letter. I am going to give it time. They need time to heal and grieve, maybe once the dust settles it will be welcome. I hope they know how much we prayed for their child and for them. How much they are a part of our lives now and how grateful we are to them.
I also want a book, where I can go back and see the great lessons we have learned and how we have grown. I want to never forget or be jaded about this time in our lives. That way we can share with others who we meet along the way. I also don't know where the book ends just yet.
Monday, January 17, 2011
One more day
Marty is tired of this place. That is a sign he is feeling much better, he is ready to hit the road. We asked to go to a hotel for the night but the doctor said no. So one more night here for him. I am going to stay with him since his roomate Mike is going home today. I think that will help him out some.
His labs are fabulous. He did have to have three units of insulin yesterday but compared to sixty units a day pre-surgery this is great. They won't be doing that today though, Dr.Busque wants to see what it will do. His phosphorus is almost too low, which is so funny because pre-surgery it was too high. He has lost twenty pounds in less than a week, signs the kidney is working great! His creatnine was 2.9 yesterday and 1.8 today.
We saw the kids yesterday and they are headed back today. Conner is trying to run the house and I am telling him to let Grandma do that. We have had so many come forward to help with them. Right now, the best place is at home where they can be in their own environment. A few people have offered to drive them up here and that is so wonderful, that helps lessen the separation for all of us.
Everything couldn't be going better! We are blown away by the progress in such a short amount of time. We are also blown away by the love and support. Keep praying the prayers are being answered right and left.
His labs are fabulous. He did have to have three units of insulin yesterday but compared to sixty units a day pre-surgery this is great. They won't be doing that today though, Dr.Busque wants to see what it will do. His phosphorus is almost too low, which is so funny because pre-surgery it was too high. He has lost twenty pounds in less than a week, signs the kidney is working great! His creatnine was 2.9 yesterday and 1.8 today.
We saw the kids yesterday and they are headed back today. Conner is trying to run the house and I am telling him to let Grandma do that. We have had so many come forward to help with them. Right now, the best place is at home where they can be in their own environment. A few people have offered to drive them up here and that is so wonderful, that helps lessen the separation for all of us.
Everything couldn't be going better! We are blown away by the progress in such a short amount of time. We are also blown away by the love and support. Keep praying the prayers are being answered right and left.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Pictures speak louder than words
At Rissa and Daniel's wedding in October
What a difference four days after surgery
My host family
I have been staying with Dave, Stacey, Ashley and Arya. Stacey's parents go to our church and introduced us to each other. I had always worried where I would stay when Marty was in the hospital. There is NO place for family in this hospital and my family and friends are hundreds of miles away. Stacey offered a year ago and that has been the plan since.
They have been so gracious and kind. Truly a wonderful place to stay. Stacey and Dave have both fixed me meals, Arya and Ashley have kept me entertained and distracted.
Last night they had a baby sitter and Arya stayed up waiting for me. I ended up having to go lay with her because she wouldn't go to sleep. She is a very sharp witted three year old, you can get nothing past her. I started singing to a praise song playing in the background and she told me, " You aren't good at singing either!" because earlier in the day she wanted me to color her a picture and I couldn't do it right. I told her that I am not good at drawing either. So then I told her things that I am good at and how we all have different gifts and talents. I almost cried when she looked at me and said, " Our God is so big."
They also are huge Disney fans with a ton of Disneyana in their home. So it is a bit like being in my old job looking at the pictures on the walls.
The kids might be able to come stay with them at night and with us during the day in a couple of weeks. They have graciously offered to do that.
Our family and friends are so thankful to know, we are with people who care! I cannot thank them enough for making me so comfortable.
They have been so gracious and kind. Truly a wonderful place to stay. Stacey and Dave have both fixed me meals, Arya and Ashley have kept me entertained and distracted.
Last night they had a baby sitter and Arya stayed up waiting for me. I ended up having to go lay with her because she wouldn't go to sleep. She is a very sharp witted three year old, you can get nothing past her. I started singing to a praise song playing in the background and she told me, " You aren't good at singing either!" because earlier in the day she wanted me to color her a picture and I couldn't do it right. I told her that I am not good at drawing either. So then I told her things that I am good at and how we all have different gifts and talents. I almost cried when she looked at me and said, " Our God is so big."
They also are huge Disney fans with a ton of Disneyana in their home. So it is a bit like being in my old job looking at the pictures on the walls.
The kids might be able to come stay with them at night and with us during the day in a couple of weeks. They have graciously offered to do that.
Our family and friends are so thankful to know, we are with people who care! I cannot thank them enough for making me so comfortable.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
No eye has seen.
1 Corinthians 2:9
9 However, as it is written:
“What no eye has seen,
what no ear has heard,
and what no human mind has conceived”—
the things God has prepared for those who love him—
This verse perfectly describes what has happened. We could have never imagined things turning out this great. No complications, Marty is doing great.
When I got here this morning his blood sugar was 115, they took the catheter out and he is walking back and forth to the bathroom on his own. He ate a regular lunch, his first real food since Tuesday. I helped him get cleaned up and he is currently taking a nap.
We have been amazed by everything and real are walking on air right now. We get to see the kids tomorrow and Monday. We really miss them and I cannot wait for them to see their daddy! We all left so fast, I didn't even get to kiss them goodbye, so I am excited to hug and love on them.
We are so greatful for all the messages, phone calls, FB messages and texts. We are more than greatful for the prayer and that is what is carrying us through and God is taking care of us.
Funny story, Conner called almost the entire church on the day of the surgery. He was nervous and wanted to help out. He only has a 200 minute plan and the end of the day, he called to say he used 1000 minutes. We laughed, how could we be mad? I called the cell phone company today and it wasn't the case at all, I used a thousand minutes which is fine since we are unlimited. We did up Conner's plan just in case but he didn't go over at all.
We are so blessed, I cannot say it enough!
Friday, January 14, 2011
"How can we help?"
I have been getting this question a lot and so many have come forward wanting to help. We are so thankful to everyone in Visalia taking care of our kids and keeping our home running. We are so thankful to Dave and Stacey for opening their home to us.
We will be moving into the H.O.M.E apartments here on the grounds. The condo wasn't available to us and we will have to live here for the month.
Then month two we will be traveling back and forth once a week and month three every other week.
People have asked how to send money or help financially. There are two ways to do this, one is send money via Paypal to jmtimms2@hotmail.com
or
Donate to the benevolent fund at Parkside Chapel Visalia
Parkside Chapel
3200 E Walnut Ave.
Visalia, CA 93292
We aren't going to deny people the chance to help. Everyone has been waiting with us, as much as this is our joy, it is your joy too. Everyone wants to take part and we are absolutely overwhelmed by the outpouring of love. Anything over and above our needs here at Stanford will be donated to the benevolent fund at Parkside to help other families in need. God just is taking care of us in amazing ways.
In fact, these two ladies that I have met wanted to bless our family. I have been praying for them and telling them of our story. They just walked up to me and handed me 80 dollars out of the blue. They wanted to buy my meals.
Every need is being met and we lack nothing. I know this is just a answer to the prayers of many thousand people. We are so blessed beyond measure.
We will be moving into the H.O.M.E apartments here on the grounds. The condo wasn't available to us and we will have to live here for the month.
Then month two we will be traveling back and forth once a week and month three every other week.
People have asked how to send money or help financially. There are two ways to do this, one is send money via Paypal to jmtimms2@hotmail.com
or
Donate to the benevolent fund at Parkside Chapel Visalia
Parkside Chapel
3200 E Walnut Ave.
Visalia, CA 93292
We aren't going to deny people the chance to help. Everyone has been waiting with us, as much as this is our joy, it is your joy too. Everyone wants to take part and we are absolutely overwhelmed by the outpouring of love. Anything over and above our needs here at Stanford will be donated to the benevolent fund at Parkside to help other families in need. God just is taking care of us in amazing ways.
In fact, these two ladies that I have met wanted to bless our family. I have been praying for them and telling them of our story. They just walked up to me and handed me 80 dollars out of the blue. They wanted to buy my meals.
Every need is being met and we lack nothing. I know this is just a answer to the prayers of many thousand people. We are so blessed beyond measure.
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