False alarm transplant call during the beach trip - Oops forgot to mention it!

Hey!

I can't believe that I forgot to mention the most exciting thing of all during my beach trip. I got my false alarm transplant call. We had only been there for 10 minutes. It was late, 1:30 in the morning on thursday, and Becky called me on my cell phone. She told me that the surgeons may be going to look at some lungs for me. But, that she was hesitant about the lungs b/c a lot of folks had already passed on the lungs and that the donor had a questionable history with smoking and other things. Long story short...They didn't go look at the lungs so I didn't have to turn around and make another hours long trip to Chapel Hill from the beach. Thank God! B/c I was sooo tired from the car ride there anyway. All I wanted to do was lay down and go to sleep. But it was very exciting to get the call. I asked her when she called if she felt like I would be getting THE call soon and she told me yes! Needless to say, I called everyone I am close to and told them all about my false alarm call. Maybe next time it will be the real thing! :) I can't believe I forgot to write that in my last post!

I'll write again soon!

Home from the beach!

Hey Y'all!

I'm back from the beach! And I'm as red as a lobster who's been boiling in a pot on the stove! I got sooooo sunburnt. I only went out on the beach 2 days b/c I was so burnt, I refused to step foot on the sand again! We didn't do much while we were there. Just hung out, hit the beach and went shopping a little bit. We ended up going out to eat a couple times for dinner. The first place was a seafood place (Uggh gross) so I ended up getting chicken fingers that were okay. The salad was good. The 2nd place was supposed to be really good. The motzarella sticks were decent, but my fries were cold as hell and the bread was a little hard on my sammich. Charm said her food was horrible. So we were all a bit disapointed with that place.

In order to get into the place we stayed in, there was like 2 sections of 8 stairs. So, needless to say, I definitely got my pulmonary rehab while I was there at the beach. The last time I walked up the stairs, my bad knee started screaming at me that this would be the LAST time she was climbing any stairs for a long time. Luckily, we were leaving the next day so I just didn't leave the house anymore until I walked down to go to the car to leave for home. :) Also, I had forgotten how difficult it could be to walk on sand! The neighbor had a golf cart, so he drove me to the beach entrance and dropped me off and picked me back up each time. That was super nice of him. Other wise my mom would have had to drive me across the street and find somewhere to park.

But, now we're home. My skin is still on fire slightly and now itching like crazy. I still look like a lobster. I hope this redness dies down and turns into a tan. The pool opens this weekend, so I'm super excited. I'm ready to go swimming. We noticed on our way into the neighborhood that they had already filled it full of water. Yay!

Well, I'm falling asleep, so I think I'm going to take a nap before dinner. Talk at ya later!

Life's a beach...or it will be soon!

Hey y'all!

Today has been pretty slow and boring. Nothing interesting going on to report. I've just been sitting around bored as hell, playing on myspace and facebook. Ughh. I have no life. I wish I'd get my call soon! I'm getting so impatient!

We've been working on getting packed for the beach and all that. Mom is driving me crazy about the o2 plans. I've been on the phone 1000 times with the o2 people so far b/c she won't get off my back about it. Grrr! She can be so frustrating to deal with sometimes! She is making me not even want to go anymore. :-(

Luke was able to sneak and call me last night so that made my day, or should I say, night :) I swear, lung disease or no lung disease, I never would have been able to survive being in the ARMY. Sleeping on the ground in a sleeping bag in 40 degree weather? I Don't think so. People yelling at you and telling you what to do all the time? I think not. Not this chick! I enjoy the finer things in life...like clean toilets and showers, piping hot extra cheese pizza whenever I want, privacy and cable t.v. I really don't know how he's endured all these years as a soldier.

Anywho's...I gotta go set the table for dinner. Mac & Cheese and pigs in a blanket...MMMM! "Get in my bellyyyyy!"

P.S. I added a few more pics to the slide show. Enjoy.

Bikins and Moo-Moos oh my!

Hello my loyal followers!

I hope every one is having a good Monday. (Booooo Mondays!) I began my Monday off with the gift of a sleep episode, courtesy of the Sleep Episode Monster. Woo hoo! Nothing like a sleep episode to start off your week. Actually, I had one yesterday as well. Which couldn't have come at a worse time b/c I had promised my Mom that I would go with her to church. I forced myself to get out of bed even though I could barely stay awake and slowly got dressed. By the time we got there, I thought I had a pretty good chance of being able to make it through church but I was mistaken. I couldn't stay awake for anything! So half way through church I asked Mom if she could take me home b/c I was just embarrasing myself falling asleep in the pew. Luke says that I must have been possessed by a sleep demon to have not been able to stay awake in church. I guess that demon can join the rest of the ones possessing my mind and body. haha :)

After church yesterday Mom took me shopping, yay! Since we're going to the beach late Wed. night she said that I needed some more pairs of shorts since only two of mine still fit me. And she said she'd get me a swimsuit also. I was afraid that I might not fit in my bikini's since I've become such a lardass. I had planned on getting a cute one piece, like maybe a monokini, but unfortunately Lexington blows when it comes to having a lot of choices when you are shopping for ANYTHING. So all the one pieces that we could find were made for 40 year olds and above. And although I'm not proud of my weight gain as of late, I'm no where near ready for one of those moo moo's! :) SO, I ended up buying a bikini instead. Which I really didn't want to do but it was either that or a moo-moo suit. Oh well. It will only be for a few days. I have all summer to get a cute one piece.

Mom also bought me a pair of shorts, some capris, a skirt and about 3 or 4 tops. :) I'm super psyched! AND...I bought myself 4 new pairs of shoes. Don't fret, they were all on sale. :) So now, I'm all ready for the beach. I just wish the weather was going to be better than the forecast predicts. Oh well. Such is life.

Victoria and I made a pact that we will both walk on the treadmill every day. I will walk for 10 minutes a day and she will walk for 12 minutes. It has taken every ounce of self discipline that I can muster to actually follow through with this hellacious pact. But, with help from Luke's verbal kick in the ass to get me going, I've actualy done it! I've walked on the treadmill 3 days in a row and my legs are rebelling. Hopefully the more I keep doing it, the less pain I will feel.

I'm going to be so bored the next few days until I go to the beach b/c Luke has been kidnapped by the Army and forced into some sort of field training. I'm not sure what kind of training, but I'm relatively sure that it involves shooting guns and/or blowing shit up. But, now I won't be able to talk to him until he gets back. :-( BOOOOOO! So, I may end up blogging more the next few days. We'll see.

Anyways, time for me to eat my pizza. Jealous? HAHA. :)

As the O2 Tank Turns.....

What's up Y'all. *sigh*

I'm finally home from "The Thrill" (Chapel Hill - transplant clinic) and I am so freakin' tired!!!!!! I had to get up at 7 A.M. so we could leave by 8:00 and I couldn't sleep very well all night. I kept tossing and turning. So, I was already tired when I started my day. It took me like 45 mins. to find something to wear. Okay - maybe I spent 15-20 of those mins. talking to Luke {my new man} but, hey - who's keeping tabs? I know I'm not! Anywho's, everything I put on had some reason why I couldn't wear it. Being either too warm or too short or too revealing (thanks Boob Fairy!) or too thin, making my bra too noticible. Getting dressed turned into a war in itself. Finally we left the house at 10 past 8:00.

Because we were running a little late, we were rushing to get there in time. Well, everything was going fine until Mom decided she wanted to waste a chunk of cash by getting a speeding ticket. I was like, "gahhhhh mom!" The cop was a total jackass. Mommy tried explaining that she was just trying to get me to the hospital (pan over to the poor helpless oxygen girl in the passenger seat). I even gave him my best "AHh! My lungs!!!" pained face but it STILL didn't affect him. He still wrote my Mom a speeding ticket. It was turning out to be such a wonderful start to the day!

As Mom steered me wrecklessly into transplant clinic via the World's Most Uncomfortable Wheelchair, I was immediately intercepted by Kristen. (transplant team Physical therapist) She informed me that she was taking me (by force if necessary) to do a 6 min. walk. I pouted but to no avail. She was out for blood and wouldn't take no for an answer.

After my 6 min. walk was completed, I finally was taken to a room where my vitals were taken. My blood pressure was high (140/90) but the nurse said it was probably because I just finished the 6 min. walk. I hope she's right! Damn these cold hearted lungs!!!!

Then............I stepped on the scales. When the numbers had finally ceased their flashing and I saw the end result....I went blind with rage. "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! WHY ME!!!"   I had gained MORE weight!!! Now, instead of the 115 lbs from my previous weigh in, I was 117. I was so pissed off, I wanted to set fire to the scales. The only thing that probably stopped me was that I don't own a lighter and that I probably would have caught on fire myself.

After that depressing display of my lardassness, I was taken to my room to be stabbed in the arm and drained of my blood. At least it was only 3 vials worth this time, as opposed to the 10 or more they took the last time I was there. By this time it was like 1 pm or so. I hadn't eaten since I inhaled a honey bun in the car on the way up there this morning and I was hungry. After the blood letting, I was once again whisked away to the Torture Room, otherwise known as the PFT room. My FEV1 has gone up 1 point from 18 to 19. So, I guess that is good? Even though 19 isn't anything to write home to Momma about.

After I settled back into my room, I spent about 45 minutes talking to and texting Luke while waiting for the Dr. She eventually came in and everything went smoothly from there. Everything checked out okay and I don't need to get my oil changed again for another 3 months. :) Although, she did tell me that my white count was slightly elevated which could indicate the beginnings of an infection. So, she gave me a prescription for an oral antibiotic (Cipro) just to be cautious and went on her merry little way.

Before we left, we saw Becky, the other coordinator (My coordinator, Ken, wasn't there) and she shared some interesting information with me. What is this info you ask? Stay tuned and you will find out in the next episode of As the O2 Tank Turns!

..................................SIKE!!!!!!!! Just kidding! I had you fooled!! Admit it!!! You were pouting, weren't you!!? :)...................................

Becky told me that they are having 3 to 4 offers of lungs for ME per week now. Cool, huh? :) She said that felt like I would be getting my transplant soon. Which, on one hand is super exciting..but on the other hand, I don't want to get too excited or put too much stock in her prediction b/c they have told me that before months ago. Plus, I waited over 3 years the first time, before going off the list.  So, who knows! But it is definitely nice to know that I'm on the radar!

Also, I'm happy b/c she told me that I can go over to see Vickie's house and hang out, as long as I don't go when I'm feeling sick and that I don't get all in his face or hug up to him. :) YAY!!!!!!! I'm not banned anymore!!! WOO HOO!!! Mom and I were supposed to have lunch with Garran and Vickie today after clinic. Garran had clinic this morning also. But, we ended up not getting to do lunch. :-( But at least I got to see them at clinic in passing. G-man looked great and so full of energy. He even proudly showed me where he had his G-tube removed. YAY for Garran!!!

Okay, thats all I have to report about my clinic visit. I'm tired as hell so I'm going to stop here before I ramble on for another hour. I have more texting to do. :)

I'm off like a prom dress!!!!

Transplant clinic tomorrow.

What's up Y'all.

It's been a while since I've posted but there hasn't been much to talk about. Same old, same old. It's 1:45 a.m. right now and I'm about to call it a night. Especially since I have to get up in a little over 5 hours. Tomorrow I have a transplant clinic appointment in Chapel Hill. I'm sure there will be something to report on afterwords, there usually is at least. So, I'll update tomorrow afternoon when I get home. I'm looking forward to seeing Vicki, Chris and the kids and having lunch with them! It's been a while.

Until tomorrow!