So it seems like the past two weeks there has been kidney transplants everywhere we look. Ok maybe not everywhere but to two different people in our families! Its been so amazing to see the Lord's hand in each of their stories! First of all on the 11th of January Bryan's sister Jenny gave her kidney to her husband Lane. Its very rare that a husband and wife have a perfect match kidney! They both are doing very well and recovering fast!
Then today my brother Aaron finally got his KIDNEY! I am so extremely happy for him and his wife! This will be a life changing event in their life! For almost four years he has been on dialysis and has had one complication after another! On Friday he got a call that there was a possible match for him, so he headed down to SLC. Everything matched and surgery was set for Saturday morning. Well, his surgery got bumped. The transplant team had a liver transplant to do before him, but that took longer than expected and since the surgeon needed to sleep they pushed it back to Sunday morning. Then there was one more hick up in the plan...Aarons levels were to high! So they had to do one last dialysis treatment to bring the levels in check. About 1:00 pm Aaron was wheeled in to the OR. By 5:00 the kidney was in and pink and healthy! I had to laugh when I got a text from my mom saying that Aaron was producing urine! I have never been so happy to hear about PEE! :) By 6:30ish he was back in his room and instantly grabbing for the remote to watch the big NFL game!
It seems like the past three days was a roller-coaster. One second excited for the kidney, sad and scared when plans changed and overwhelmed with graduated when it was over! I know that the Lord has been in control and has spared Aaron many times! I know that my family will forever be thankful for the gift that he received from his doner. I hope that the family who is suffering their loss at this time can find comfort and peace.
Sunday, January 20, 2013
Saturday, January 5, 2013
Lucky 13!
Well a new year is here again! 2013 CRAZY! I am bound and determined to make 2013 a great year! While most people are superstitious about the number 13, I am not! 13 has been my number for day one! I was born on Friday the 13! A lot of people joke and say "Oh that's why you have the bad "Avery" luck, 13 is unlucky!" Yes some can say being born with a heart defect and the life time of hospitals and doctors and when things can go wrong, they do, would be about as unlucky as you can get. Well I don't believe that one bit! That over view of my life only skims the surface and does not describe my life one bit. I am the LUCKIEST person I know. I have been blessed SO much in my life! So I am going to steal an idea form my sister and list some of my highlights form 2012.
1. My little family! I love my family so much. Bryan has to be the best thing that has ever happened to me! 2012 has taught us a lot. I feel like our relationship has grown so much this past year. Bryan has been by my side always supportive and loving. He went from having to be my personal nurse, to being a wonderful daddy to 3 foster kids in addition to Kirianna in what seemed to be overnight. I can never put into words how much I love him and how much I appreciate him. He makes me want to be a better person and more like him.! Also my little KK. She isn't so little anymore. Kirianna is growing up so fast, she in nine now going on 17. :) She also amazes me so much. She has been such a good big sister to her foster siblings. She has loved them and wanted to help them from day one. Let me just tell ya, this girl is going to do great things when she grows up. She is so talented and has a loving heart just like her daddy!
2. Foster Care. The last six months of 2012 was nothing like i thought they would be like at the beginning of last year. Who would have thought that we would have a house full of kids! NOT me! I did not think we would get a placement so fast and so many of them :)! Oh but how grateful I am that Heavenly Father knows exactly what each of his children need. I have loved being a foster mommy. These little kids have taught me so much. They taught me how to love people with out question. No matter who they meet or come in contact with they show kindness and love. They have also taught me how to just have fun. I now see how the little things mean so much! Yes this journey has some times when it has been hard. I would lie if i said its all been smooth sailing. There has been tears shed, anger expressed and pure exhaustion but it has all been worth it! So many times i get asked this question "So have you got attached to the kids yet? You know the longer you have them the harder it will be?" and my personal favorite "Isn't it hard to love someone elses child?" At times these questions anger me but now they actually sadden me. Obviously the people who ask these questions do not get it. Oh course i am attached! I think I was attached from day one. How can you care for someone a child none the less everyday and not grow to love them! But here is my personal Mandy Dutton view. It does not take a blood relation to form love! I do not have to carry a baby inside me for nine months to make me a mom. I do not have to say that my child looks like me to make that child mine. I am a mom. I have struggled a lot with this "mom" thing and I truly think the Lord has humbled me and let my heart soften so I could see what he sees. He sees me as a Mother and it is up to me to be the best one that I can be. I just hope I can become what He wants me to be.
3: My Extended Family: I have said it and will always say it, I have the BEST family EVER! I have had to turn to our extended families alot this year. They have been my nurses they first part of the year and babysitters that last part of the year! I am grateful we have a great support system to help us along our way! My sister is always there to help and the kids just love Aunt T-rex. She gives me a grown up to talk to when I need it! :) Also my Sister in laws are always there to give me a good laugh and have fun with. I honestly am so happy I love my in laws...or this whole eternity thing would seem very long :) I am just going to put this out there...The children Bryan and I are blessed with will have such a amazing family to turn to! The Avery-Dutton family combo will have to be the best for kids to grow up in!
Well I do have so many more blessings to count, but not enough time to type them all! But stay tuned for highlights of the Best Year Ever! 2013! So much to look forward too...
1. My little family! I love my family so much. Bryan has to be the best thing that has ever happened to me! 2012 has taught us a lot. I feel like our relationship has grown so much this past year. Bryan has been by my side always supportive and loving. He went from having to be my personal nurse, to being a wonderful daddy to 3 foster kids in addition to Kirianna in what seemed to be overnight. I can never put into words how much I love him and how much I appreciate him. He makes me want to be a better person and more like him.! Also my little KK. She isn't so little anymore. Kirianna is growing up so fast, she in nine now going on 17. :) She also amazes me so much. She has been such a good big sister to her foster siblings. She has loved them and wanted to help them from day one. Let me just tell ya, this girl is going to do great things when she grows up. She is so talented and has a loving heart just like her daddy!
2. Foster Care. The last six months of 2012 was nothing like i thought they would be like at the beginning of last year. Who would have thought that we would have a house full of kids! NOT me! I did not think we would get a placement so fast and so many of them :)! Oh but how grateful I am that Heavenly Father knows exactly what each of his children need. I have loved being a foster mommy. These little kids have taught me so much. They taught me how to love people with out question. No matter who they meet or come in contact with they show kindness and love. They have also taught me how to just have fun. I now see how the little things mean so much! Yes this journey has some times when it has been hard. I would lie if i said its all been smooth sailing. There has been tears shed, anger expressed and pure exhaustion but it has all been worth it! So many times i get asked this question "So have you got attached to the kids yet? You know the longer you have them the harder it will be?" and my personal favorite "Isn't it hard to love someone elses child?" At times these questions anger me but now they actually sadden me. Obviously the people who ask these questions do not get it. Oh course i am attached! I think I was attached from day one. How can you care for someone a child none the less everyday and not grow to love them! But here is my personal Mandy Dutton view. It does not take a blood relation to form love! I do not have to carry a baby inside me for nine months to make me a mom. I do not have to say that my child looks like me to make that child mine. I am a mom. I have struggled a lot with this "mom" thing and I truly think the Lord has humbled me and let my heart soften so I could see what he sees. He sees me as a Mother and it is up to me to be the best one that I can be. I just hope I can become what He wants me to be.
3: My Extended Family: I have said it and will always say it, I have the BEST family EVER! I have had to turn to our extended families alot this year. They have been my nurses they first part of the year and babysitters that last part of the year! I am grateful we have a great support system to help us along our way! My sister is always there to help and the kids just love Aunt T-rex. She gives me a grown up to talk to when I need it! :) Also my Sister in laws are always there to give me a good laugh and have fun with. I honestly am so happy I love my in laws...or this whole eternity thing would seem very long :) I am just going to put this out there...The children Bryan and I are blessed with will have such a amazing family to turn to! The Avery-Dutton family combo will have to be the best for kids to grow up in!
Well I do have so many more blessings to count, but not enough time to type them all! But stay tuned for highlights of the Best Year Ever! 2013! So much to look forward too...
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