le sigh…

MyDaddy is in the hospital again.

He had a fistulogram with angioplasty yesterday.

He went home after the procedure and got sick.

He had a high fever,

shortness of breath,

and he was hallucinating.

He went to the hospital in an ambulance.

He has an infection and they promptly admitted him.

So while we’re in the emergency room,

waiting for them to transfer him to his room,

Ba.y.l.o.r Transplant Services called.

They had a kidney for him……

A KIDNEY THAT HE DESPERATELY NEEDS!!!

A kidney that he had to refuse because he’s admitted to a hospital with an infection.

I swear,

it never ends!

le sigh……

Today is a new day….

 The Tchoupitoulas has been gone for a year.

We still miss him.

I think I’m going to miss him forever!

We find ourselves talking about him frequently.

He was put to sleep on Friday, July 17, 2009.

A close friend of mine is Buddhist.

She believes that The Tchoupitoulas had to go in order for a baby to come into our lives.

Ironically,

on Saturday,

July 17, 2010.

Shug & I were in New Orleans with plans to meet a birth mother about adopting her baby.

The meeting never took place,

but the lines of communication were opened up again on Sunday.

So there is still hope that we can proceed with our plans to adopt.

A seven month old beautiful baby girl.

Somehow,

someway,

throughout this process,

we’ve been excitedly calm.

So keep  the prayers,

chants,

and pleas coming our way.

Because,

today is a new day!

I’m back!

Hey y'all!!

Goodness,

I don’t even know where to start.

I felt like I needed to step away for a moment.

I was in a funk and didn’t really have much to say.

But,

I’m all better now.

Thank God!

I guess I’ll start with the month of May.

It was a trying month.

MyDaddy had two surgeries.

Dialysis is slowly starting to wear him down.

He continues to have a positive attitude,

but realistically he NEEDS a kidney transplant.

He celebrated his 67th birthday on May 28th.

Unfortunately Shug & I weren’t able to celebrate with my parents.

Because on May 29th,

Shug’s Grandmother passed away.

We were by her side when she passed.

Shug’s family surrounded her bedside.

We prayed and sang her favorite gospel songs.

She had a peaceful smile on her face,

and one single tear in her right eye.

And she quietly slipped away.

It may sound crazy,

but it was the most beautiful experience that I have ever had.

She died the way she lived her life,

with grace and dignity.

Her funeral was another amazing experience.

Her family sent her home to Glory in style.

I thank God for the five years that I knew her.

My life is better is for it!

And Grandma’s death has brought us a blessing.

I’m not ready to share just yet.

But just keep me & Shug in your prayers,

chants,

and pleas to the universe.

After Grandma’s funeral,

the rest of June passed by uneventfully….

I think?!?!

And now it’s the middle of July.

I find myself cautiously full of hope.

So,

that ‘s it for now.

I just wanted to let y’all know………..

I’m back!!

I had a wonderful weekend!

Saturday morning I walked with MyMama in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Fort Worth, TX.

We walked in honor of MyAunt Marcella B. Pittman.

We also walked in honor of MyMama who is a seven-year breast cancer survivor.

MyMama in her Super Survivor Cape.

And MyDearFriend who was recently diagnosed with Stage Four breast cancer.

We had a wonderful day.

It was emotional,

but it was so beautiful to see that sea of pink.

There were survivors EVERYWHERE!

We’ll walk again next year,

hopefully with a team of supporters

Sunday morning,

Shug & I woke up early.

We prayed and then we went to MyParents.

Shug & MyDaddy boiled 68 lbs of crawfish.

MyBigBrother and cousin came over,

and we devoured all of them except for about 10 lbs!

They were delicious!!

So there it is,

I had a wonderful weekend!

Once again….

The donor kidney wasn’t good enough to transfer.

Of course we’re disappointed,

but we’re still optimistic.

Thanks so much for the prayers,

hopefully we’ll need them again soon.

I’m sad & my feelings are hurt….

The view from my office last Friday.

Without going into much detail.

My Bigger Brother and his daughter have hurt my feelings.

He continually compares her to me,

as if I’m the worst person in the world.

I’m not.

It’s a sad, sad situation.

I’m sad & my feelings are hurt…..

My Fabulous Mama *UPDATED*

MyMama - All dressed up for an awards ceremony in 2006

MyBigger Brother & MyMama - Cozumel, Mexico December 2009

MyMama & MyDaddy - Christmas 2008

66 and effortlessly fabulous.

She is a breast cancer survivor.

December 9, 2009 marked her sixth year cancer free.

On Saturday morning she found a lump about the size of a nickel in her right breast.

The same breast that her cancer was in before.

Because she is effortlessly fabulous,

she’s taking this in stride.

She called her oncologist right after she found the lump.

She’s being scheduled for an ultrasound & mammogram.

She is in good spirits,

concerned but not afraid.

She does BSE (breast self exams) every time she showers.

THIS is something new.

Something that basically popped up overnight.

MyBrothers & I are falling apart.

We’ve been able to handle MyDaddy’s renal cancer and subsequent renal failure for the past 11 years.

But  MyMama?!?!

She has always been in good health.

Even when she had her lumpectomy and radiation.

She was still the picture of good health.

This is scary!

We’re walking on faith.

If you pray,

please pray for MyMama.

If you chant,

please chant for MyMama.

However you worship, pray, praise……

Whatever you do!

Please keep MyMama in your thoughts and prayers.

My Fabulous Mama!

*UPDATE*

PRAISE GOD & BABY JESUS!

IT’S A FATTY CYST.

IT WILL BE MONITORED,

BUT SHE IS FINE!

WHEW!!

MY FABULOUS MAMA!!

I’ve got nothing y’all….

Seriously ya’ll,

I’ve got NOTHING!!!

Life is moving along,

we’re doing well.

Seeing the devastation in Haiti is heartbreaking.

We would love to adopt  a Haitian orphan.

We may seriously look into it.

We found out that my co-worker isn’t a tissue match with MyDaddy.

We were so disappointed;

but my poor co-worker was and still is absolutely heartbroken.

He really wanted to help.

Prayerfully MyDaddy will get his kidney this year.

 So other than regular day-to-day stuff,

that’s about it.

Told you,

I’ve got nothing y’all……

Picture Post cuz still don’t feel like writing…

December 18th - Me & Shug dancing my company Holiday Party.

December 27th - our first full day on our family cruise to Mexico.

 

December 28th - Our ship in port in Progesso, Yucatan Mexico

December 28th - MyMama & MyDaddy. We went on a family cruise to celebrate MyParents 45th anniversary.

December 28th - Shug enjoying an adult beverage. He's so silly!

December 29th - The lovely Gulf of Mexico in Cozumel, Mexico.

December 29th - Shug & I at Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville in Cozumel, Mexico.

Still don’t feel like writing…..

MyMama isn’t going to be able to donate a kidney to MyDaddy.

She is devastated.

Her kidney function wouldn’t be at a healthy level if she donates.

A co-worker of mine has offered to donate.

He faxed his paperwork yesterday.

Isn’t that amazingly wonderful?

Thanksgiving was nice,

but no one was in the mood for turkey.

We ate gumbo and cornbread dressing.

We’ve decided to volunteer next year.

I see my  doctor on Monday,

I’ve decided to tell her that we are no longer trying to conceive.

She’ll probably put my on hbp medication.

Which is fine,

my uterus and ovaries are useless.

My annual is on Thursday.

I’ll probably make my doctor cry again.

There’s more,

but I’m still not in the mood to write.

This blog is depressing as hell!