Thanks for returning. Carrie and I just returned from La Quinta after a few days of relaxation with friends. We wanted to take Kevin but he respectfully declined, citing a full schedule of obligations and social commitments, most of which I think were made up on the spur of the moment. I don’t understand today’s youth. It seems like when I was 24 years old, I wanted to spend all my time with my parents. Amazing to me that we found him in good health even without my pampering. We will return to UCLA on Monday for his checkup but all is going well at home. I had a good time playing tennis but was outvoted on three consecutive nights on TV selection. At least I am caught up on American Idol. Love to you all.

If you bothered to read Carrie’s post, you sort of know how the day went yesterday. Instead of being in La Quinta for some tennis and fun, I was at the hospital from 5:40am to 6:30pm. I did get outside for about 30 seconds to make a patient exchange with my neighbor in the hospital parking lot. I have logged more hours in the hospital this past month than House. I will be briefer than Carrie. As each doctor asked her what brings her to the ER today, she would carefully explain that the post operative fluid between her epithelial layer and stomach muscles has seemed to move higher, pushing on her diaphragm and also causing pressure on the nerve endings which are already sensitive due to the healing process taking place in her abdomen. After reviewing the tests and consultation with 6 highly educated physicians over the course of 7 hours, the urologist came in and informed Carrie that “You need to poop.” You can imagine the relief and joy I felt at that moment. I have alerted the Eisenhower Medical Center in Palm Springs that we will be in the area so they can have a full medical team standing by should this condition arise during our trip. Thanks for your prayers.

This is Carrie, I’m posting for Jeff today as he’s a little weary from the extra long day he had yesterday.   First, the good news:   Kevin’s creatinine level is down again to 1.4 as a result of adjusting one of his medications.  Kevin went to the movies yesterday afternoon with my close friend of 30 years and her daughter.   Jeff and I were supposed to be on our way to La Quinta, but instead…..spent another eight hours in the E.R.    I woke up yesterday in even greater discomfort and increased swelling, which was now pushing up on my diaphragm making it harder to breathe.   My doctor told me to go to the ER at UCLA to be evaluated.  Thankfully my neighbor offered to drive me all that way and he was able to bring Kevin home when we arrived.  Jeff was so happy about spending yet another day at the ER.   All smiles.   NOT!    Two ultra sounds, another CT Scan (had one last week), six vials of blood and a few other goodies all provided the great diagnosis that I am in good shape.   I’m too embarrassed to tell you what the underlying cause was.   And I’m horrified that Jeff will blog about it.   He may  however, end up telling you about a conversation I THOUGHT I had with my nurse after she hooked me up to the I.V., (thanks to my  not so great hearing.)  (Yes, I was even wearing my aids).   Those of you who have spent time with me, know that I am guilty of responding to what I think I hear, and not what was actually said.   Being the kind, sensitive man that Jeff is, he immediately corrected my error and restated what the nurse said.   My face was now beet red and the nurse tried not to show her amusement and politely left the room.     However, when she returned a few minutes later to find me doubled over on my bed still laughing, Jeff helped her ease into the fun with one of his dry comments.   I must admit, it was the highlight of the day, seeing her laugh like that.   The way God uses Jeff in my life is unending.   And, the material I provide him on a daily basis to write about has me awake at night.   I’ve already threatened him that he is NOT allowed to go into details here as to what my final diagnosis was.  Oh the Lord has a sense of humor!!   I’m convinced of this.   Why else would He create someone like Jeff?

Sorry that I have not posted for awhile, it has been a very busy weekend. I spent Saturday watching West Virginia basketball and making my Netflix selections for the coming week.  Today I tried to call a few friends but apparently they all have caller ID. Kevin and I will be back at UCLA early tomorrow and hope to have better results on his lab work. It is such a pleasure to see him free from dialysis and on a mostly normal diet. We appreciate your continued prayers for his stamina and weight and look forward to good news tomorrow. It is difficult to express my appreciation for all this support.

I wanted to get a post out today but having a difficulty coming up with something interesting. I know what you are thinking, it has never stopped me before. Well, there is a little news. Kevin and I set a clinic record by making it door to door in only 5 hours. His lab numbers were a little off yesterday but the doctors think it is likely due to one of his medications being too high. Many adjustments during this period, so we’ll check again on Monday. Carrie has asked me to update you on her stomach. How can I update you on a subject I have carefully avoided for weeks, this must be some kind of test. Apparently she has shared with many of you that she is dealing with a little swelling in her stomach that she finds both uncomfortable and unattractive. For the record, I will not confirm nor deny her assessment. Each morning she looks in the mirror with such hope and I know what question is coming next. “Does it look smaller to you?” I have always prided myself in honesty, and knowing this is a sensitive issue, I respond by something like “What would you like for dinner tonight?” If this doesn’t work and I am pressed further, I try “Smaller than what?”  or “I’m pretty sure it’s not bigger.” This week, not satisfied by my encouragement, she returned to UCLA and her surgeon ordered a scan to determine the cause. Last night he called with good news, no hernia, just fluid which should go away in 6 to 8 weeks. He said if she did not want to wait, she could come in and he would aspirate the fluid. I offered to drive her in this morning but she is going to decide later.

I know that I have mentioned this before, but Kevin has once again advised me that readership is down on his blog. I feel like an “American Idol” contestant begging for votes to get me into the next round, but I could use a little help here. I know several of you have been very loyal, and I don’t think it is just because we are related. OK, what I am thinking here, and this is just one idea, is that if a few of you would commit to logging on to this site 100 times each day, Kevin would see this rise in activity and I might have job security for a little while. If that seems like too much, how about 50, or at least 25. I’m pretty sure this is how Chris beat Adam Lambert last season. If you aren’t willing to support this effort, don’t worry about it and keep watching TV. It’s not like I don’t have better things to do with my time. Well, maybe I don’t, but I’m sure I can find something. Oh, I almost forgot, Kevin and Carrie are doing fine.

I sense that my nursing days are nearing an end. Kevin is starting to become annoyed when I wake him to take his temperature, blood pressure, and give him his pills and something to eat. I try to take Carrie’s temperature without waking her but it’s almost impossible so now she is getting frustrated too. Tomorrow I will try it orally and see if it makes any difference. I see now why you don’t have the same nurse day after day in the hospital as you will begin to take them for granted, no matter what a great job they do. There are other subtle signs too, such as comments like “Get out of here and leave me alone!” and “Why don’t you go visit your brother for a month or so?” Has it only been three weeks since I was so popular and in demand?  Yes, but what an incredible three weeks this has been. Thank God for my nursing career being so short.

I sensed this was going to be a good day when Kevin was actually ready to depart on time. We arrived at the UCLA lab and after a short wait, we were on our way to the surgical center. All went smoothly with the all too familiar preparations for surgery, other than difficulty getting an IV in, and I watched him wheeled away once more. I will never get used to that. He was choosing the flavor of his anesthesia gas when I last saw him (he chose apple). In less than an hour, his transplant surgeon arrived in the waiting room to say that all went well and his morning lab work was also good. I learned my lesson after the transplant, so this time waited for the nurse to let me know that he was ready to receive visitors. He looked pretty good, even in a hair net. We are all home now, celebrating the removal of the last medical devices and an all natural Kevin, if you don’t count a used kidney and some new scars to add to his collection. Tomorrow will make it three weeks since surgery and we all feel truly blessed. Having so many of you share the journey with us has made a huge difference.

I am about to wake Kevin up for our trip to UCLA. Besides his usual checkup, he will be having his dialysis catheter removed after six months of service. This will be done under anesthesia and they will remove a stent at the same time. Another step toward normalcy. Carrie and Kevin continue to heal well but struggle with fatigue and lack of stamina. At least they pretend to when any work needs to be done around here. This will be short, aren’t you glad, but I will try to write an update after our hospital visit today. Thanks again for supporting us in so many ways.

Friday was a good day. Carrie had her first follow up with her surgeons and they don’t need to see her again unless she has more organs to donate. Kevin’s doctors also pleased and he will begin once a week visits if all goes well next week. That will be good for both of us for several reasons. We seem to have settled into a routine of arriving at UCLA before 6am, at which time, I wake Kevin up and point him toward the lab. After his blood draw, I take him to breakfast, which is usually eggs, potatoes, fruit, a side of this or that, and the most expensive drink he can find on the menu. It takes several hours before we finish with his doctors so we have to stop at the snack bar to get him supplies for the ride home. Then I pay the outrageous parking fee of $11 and soon we’re back on the freeway. At some point during the drive, Kevin will announce his lunch selection which I then pick up to bring home. I have already spent $50 and I haven’t even fed Carrie yet, and you know that’s not cheap. I’m not complaining but the pre-transplant renal diet was a lot easier on the budget. I would tell you more about my life but Carrie continues to point out that this is Kevin’s blog, not mine. Maybe I can sneak something in my next post. Hope you all have a good weekend, we are doing great here.