Kidney Party Weekend!

This is a very special weekend for me, for those of you who don't know our story.  My sister Carol was diagnosed with Lupus, an auto immune disorder, when she was 16.  Her body attacked itself for 9 long years, and she almost died multiple times.  After attacks on nearly every major body system, the lupus attacked her kidneys in 1991 and they failed.  We knew about transplants and that the best chance for a working kidney was from a  sibling or close relative.  We were all tested.  During the long wait for the tests to return, Carol had to endure dialysis for hours several times a week.  The dialysis would make her weak and nauseous but it kept her alive.

Unfortunately, Greg and I were trying to have a 2nd baby while we were waiting for the tests, and on the day we learned we were a match, we also learned we were pregnant with Jared.  So Carol endured more waiting and dialysis, while I carried and delivered Jared.  But we had learned that I was a "perfect" six-antigen match for Carol--the best you could get, and that my kidney was healthy as a horse, in fact, both were.

Doctors assured us that the other kidney would increase in both size and capacity to cover the load of the donated one, and that I was just as much at risk for kidney disease or failure later in life with one as with two.  I was also assured that I would still be able to have another baby (as evidenced by Danica) later.

Two months after Jared was born
, the amazing transplant team at Sierra Medical in El Paso wheeled us into adjoining rooms.  They knocked me out, flipped me onto my side and sliced an 8 inch incision into my side.  They had to partially remove a rib to reach the kidney.  The kidney was then rushed to her bed next door (she only got a tiny incision near her bikini line because they leave the old ones in) and doctors came out and hugged our family when the kidney immediately started making pee!

Although we were challenged multiple times by potential rejection, we continued to pray and have faith and eventually it settled in for the long haul.  Her lupus seemed to give up at that point and she never had another major flare up.

All this happened 20 years ago, on August 4, 1993.  Since then, Carol gave birth to a son, sent him to
heaven a month later, married her wonderful husband, who came with her 2nd son, Rene, went to college and obtained a nursing degree, and bought the beautiful home in the foothills of the Franklin Mountains where we will gather with friends and family and celebrate together this Saturday.  We are wearing white to represent her new life and green ribbons which are the color of Organ Donor Awareness.

Please continue to pray for her health, and that of all kidney patients.  And consider becoming a living donor.  I am LIVING PROOF that you can lead a healthy, full life with only one kidney.  As of today, there are over 118,000 people waiting for an organ transplant.  Of those, 96,000 are waiting for a kidney.  I'm sure there are more than 96,000 Americans who would be willing to share theirs and donate the gift of LIFE to someone.  Contact http://www.kidney.org/transplantation/livingdonors/ to find out more.

Viva Fiesta

Well, another Fiesta has come and almost gone. For those not from San Antonio, Fiesta is a week long celebration of San Antonio history, culture, and art. It's a collection of parties and events ranging from multi-million dollar televised parades to neighborhood parties to art shows to grand-scale concert events. We do it all-- starting the first weekend with Oysterbake, a huge celebration on the campus of St. Mary's University and winding it up the last weekend with King William's Fair, a "colorful" fair in one of San Antonio's oldest historic neighborhoods. Throughout, we dress up in colorful Fiesta-wear, don colorful beads, medals, hats, and sashes, and stuff ourself with traditional carnival food from fajitas to roasted corn to frozen lemonades and strawberry shortcake. We drink LOTS of cold beer and frozen margaritas and "Viva Fiesta!" is a common greeting among all.

One of my favorite events is NIOSA, a four day food-fest in the original Villa de San Antonio, established in the 1700s for Spanish settlers. We tackle NIOSA with a battle plan-- starting with getting off work early to hit the gate at 5:30, being one of the first line to get a "Maria's Tortilla," and people watching among some of Fiesta's craziest, most colorful revelers. We weave our way through the various sections, each named and decorated for San Antonio's original culture groups-- from Froggy Bottom with old R&B playing and "Bongo Bobs" (grilled steak shish-ka-bobs) to the French Quarter with its French-Louisiana blend of zydeco music and shrimp po-boys. Jared went with us for the first time this year, and he enjoyed the whole experience and the food!

Two of my other favorites is King William's Fair and the Fiesta Arts Fair, which feature some truly creative artists creating hand-crafted goods. I picked up a beautiful art print for Acacia with the "Tree of Life," representing her new tattoo, and a beautiful set of beaded cross jewelry in Fiesta colors to wear during Fiesta week at work.

We also hosted our first ever official Fiesta party, "Pachanga," and had about 30 guests at our home for frozen Blue Margaritas and grilled fajitas. Absolutely can't wait until next year's shindig-- will start planning next week as soon as this year's Fiesta wraps up.

Here's a link to the official Fiesta website-- http://www.fiesta-sa.org/

Weekend Warrior

As I enter another weekend I wanted to blog about my plans, in the hopes that this "added accountability" will keep me motivated as I tackle recreating my home. My father and sister are visiting next week, so this is the full weekend I have to work on my home. I still have a table full of Christmas (I collected it from all our rooms so I could start wrapping and putting in boxes all at one time). I've got to get the bedrooms ready for guests. I've got to get new pillows. I've got to clean out the refrigerator in anticipation of cooking for a crowd. I've got to shampoo a few spots the dogs have become too "familiar" with, if you know what I mean. AND I've got lots of grading to do as the grading period comes to an end.

But I also need to mentally prepare myself for their visit-- I know since we've been going through such a rough time as a family, everyone seems to approach me with both pity and oft-unsolicited advice, and it just seems to make me feel more depressed. I really need to get myself to where I can keep myself on an even keel. I hope I can find some time to squeeze in some walking this weekend too-- it seems to keep my mood up.

Why Recreate?

The name of this blog is Recreating Home... not like in recreation, but as in re- create, create anew, re-fresh. The past few years have been difficult. One major crisis after another, losing my mother to cancer, losing my mother in law to cancer, marriage issues, health issues, sanity issues.

As the year's progressed, I have fallen farther and farther from what is okay for me regarding my home, my body, and my life. For most of my years, I've felt great with what I have and how I look. I felt I had a beautiful home, beautifully decorated, and loved to entertain in it. I felt great about the friendships I had. Although I've always had a "large build," I felt sexy and in command at my weight of about 160.

But as struggles and tragedies piled up, I found myself "underwater"-- drowning in my depression and overwhelmed by my responsibilities. This year, I am determined to HEAL. In the process, I am determined to regain control of my home, my life, and my body. This will chronicle my journey.