Mom Won the Lottery....

My mom last April was going to the doctor and trying to figure out why she had no energy and her anemia was getting worse. We learned that she was Stage 4 Kidney Failure. I was so mad. How could her doctor not know this from all her doctor appointments? We were told that she could be starting dialysis as soon as 18 months. She started dialysis last summer in July. She also started all the doctor appointments to get approved to be put on the transplant list due to the stage of her kidney failure. She was approved and received the letter for confirmation that she was on the kidney donor list on November 1, 2010. We were called on December 16th at 12:30 a.m. and told there was a possible match for a kidney. We were told on December 17th at 3:00 p.m. that it was a match. She was wheeled back to surgery at 8:00 p.m. that same night and her surgery was successful at 1:30 a.m. on December 18th. WOW what a whirlwind!! Such a blessing from God!!!

My sister in law and I were lying on the couch in the waiting area last night talking. We were wondering how this would change her life. We have seen amazing changes in my mom this last 9 months. We went to Canton as a family in May and she was so tired and had no energy. We had to get her a motorized wheelchair to get around. We went to Canton again after a family reunion in October and she was walking around so fast we were having a hard time keeping up with her. She has had so much more energy just from the dialysis that we have felt blessed. We pray that the anti-rejection medication works so well for her new kidney. We pray that her body will heal. We pray that God will use her life in extraordinary ways because of this wonderful gift.

So as you can imagine, we were shocked that we got the phone call that there was a possible match for mom. I was the one that received the initial call from Baylor as she was going through everything. It was a 52 year old male that had a history of diabetes and hypertension but his kidney functioning appeared to be fine. We were told that they were going to biopsy the kidney to ensure it was appropriate to put in mom. We were also told that mom’s antibodies were extremely hard and would make it difficult for a negative cross match. BTW – Negative cross match is what we wanted. It took over 24 hours for us to know something. This was one of my longest 24 hours of my life. So the odds were against us and we tried not to be too hopeful because we knew it was a long shot.

We were in the ICU when mom got out of surgery and the surgeon told us it was like mom won the lottery. He said that this was truly amazing. He said that if this kidney didn’t come around when it did then there was a high likelihood that mom would have never received a new kidney. WOW! He told mom this again this morning and I was speechless.

God truly received glory last night and my faith increased. My faith has come up short frequently the last few years since my dad died, but to see something like this well I can’t help to have tears in my eyes and be grateful! I was never really close to my mom until my dad passed away and the last three years have been a time that I have been able to grow closer to her and develop our relationship. God has given me more time with her. :) God is giving more time to my mom to be with her family.

But even though we have tears of joy there are tears of sorrow. There was someone that passed away and a family that lost their loved one. I empathize with them as I know how difficult it is to lose a loved one. We don’t know if he was single, married, widowed, divorced, but we do know that he had loved ones. I pray that God brings them comfort. He extended the life of many last night as he donated all of his organs. He is a hero!

New Car Already Scratched Up! :-/

So I bought a new/used car in November and it is already scratched up before my first car payment was due! Urgh!!! It was not a good day yesterday. We decided as a family that we were going to get up early and take Lacey to get her picture taken with North Park Santa. We got to IHOP and ate and then we went to NP at 9:00 a.m. We got a number and we were thinking we would wait for a couple of hours. Our number was # 128 which means come back around 3:30 p.m. WHAT??? Let me say that I may not be a good mom b/c I thought that was absolutely ridiculous to come back! BUT I am a great aunt so I drove back up to NP and met my sister in law. My brother and mom had plans that afternoon so they didn't get to experience this craziness! My sister in law calls me in a panic and tells me that she couldn't park straight (she was in my brother's car and not use to the size) so I was walking all over the parking lot trying to find her. She was like 2 inches from hitting the car beside her. I was able to pull the car out and park it straight. We then went in and got a pic with Santa. BTW we were wondering -- what happens to Santa when a kid pees on them??? You know that it has happened! Does he have extra Santa pants?

So I walked them out to the car and helped her get Lacey in the car and started walking to mine. I saw this car trying to pull in beside mine and he completely clipped it and scrapped it. Not only did he do it once he did it twice!!! AS I WAS WATCHING! I have my hands up in the air and the guy continues to try to get in. Look dude if you hit the same car twice I think it is time for you to think you are not going to fit in that space. (Before I went into NP, I was secretly happy when I parked b/c I didn't think anyone could park on that side of me.) So I went up to their window and said you just hit my car... Their response. No I didn't. Dum dum! So I told him that we need to exchange information and he agreed but if you know how crazy it gets at North Park you would think I was a saint. I told the guy if you just pull back some I will pull out and you can have my parking spot and we can exchange information. He thanked me and as I got in my car, he drove off! Dum dum on me! So brillant me got out in my flip flops and started chasing him in the North Park parking lot. I caught him! So I started gripping at him for driving off and he was telling me no I wasn't trying to drive off. Idiot! He said let me park and we can exchange information. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me! I wasn't going to fall for that again. So I told him no that I would take one of his passengers. That guy was annoying as all get out. He was trying to convince me that the scratches on my car were old like months. I told him that my car was a month old, that I would have noticed the scratches on my car before I bought the car! Moron! So he gives me his friend's name and phone number. They said it was a rental car and give me some paperwork where I wrote the information down. Then the driver comes over and gives me a different name and a different phone number. I am SMART! I didn't believe them. So I asked him to call my number so I can ensure I get a correct number. He said he didn't have his license or a copy of his insurance to provide to me. WHATEVER! Then they ran off and said we will call you at 6:30 with all their insurance information (guess what -- they didn't). Urgh! So I went looking for the car and the rental stuff didn't match the car that hit me. So I got scammed!

My insurance company is on top of it. I like that my insurance adjustor is a woman and she is hacked at how the guys treat me. She said that she couldn't wait until she finds him and then sends a letter that they will be suing him! Love it. Lets hope justice will be served! Need to go up to the police station to file a report. I am hoping that they consider it a hit and run and the guy goes away for LIFE in prison! Just saying!

I know that I have called these guys every name in the book. They probably are very nice people outside of hitting peoples cars and then trying to drive off. Until next time!

Andi

3 women, 2 guns, 1 bruise, 0 people shot!

Marissa, my favorite vegetarian who is a proud member of PETA, convinced me and Misty to go skeet shooting. I always felt this was an oxymoron. Vegetarian and Gun Owner. I loved that she rocked the guns!


I didn’t grow up with guns. So I just don’t get into things like this, but I enjoyed today. I think it is because I am competitive and want to be great at everything I do. Well God showed me humility today! But at least I shot about 5 of the skeet! I think I said pull about 15 times. I have this bruise on my shoulder from the kick of the 12 gauge!!! I can see the noise of a shotgun can scare away a robber!!!

Misty did as good as I did!!! We all enjoyed ourselves! Marissa schooled us not just in how to shoot the guns, but also in shooting the skeets! Show off!!! ;-)

There were a million shot gun shells on the ground at the range! I was glad we didn’t have to clean up after ourselves but we messed with Texas big time! There was litter everywhere!

We felt the need to go get something to hydrate us after we were sweating like crazy out there. You would think good they are getting some water to re-hydrate themselves. Well Marissa did, but Misty and I wanted something cool to drink so we went to Fuzzy Taco! We love the Fuzzy Driver, but the one near TCU doesn’t have a liquor license and they make theirs with a wine. I don’t like wine so I wasn’t impressed. Misty likes wine and she wasn’t impressed either!

Marissa and I - Yep, my make-up sweated off and now I have great mascara rings around my eyes! Boo!!! :(

Misty, Me and Marissa AKA Tater, Bandi and Maritza

The girls are great and we are planning a trip to go tubing soon! Hopefully to celebrate LBJ’s birthday on Friday. :)

Andi

Yee Haw!!!! Country Themed Weekend!

YEE HAW!!! Wow! I didn't plan it like that, but my whole weekend was like I was a country girl! For those that don't know, I grew up in Mesquite. Some make fun of Mesquite and Skeeterland!!! But it still holds a special place in my heart. I still remember places being fields instead of shopping or whatever! I still remember in one of my first college classes someone asked where I was from and I said Mesquite and they seriously asked if I owned a horse? Really?!? Anyways, when I was younger it was a good place to live. Now well sometimes I get kinda scarred! So I took my mom to the Mesquite Championship Rodeo!!! I know, you are wondering if I wore wranglers, boots, chaps and spurs! No they were in the cleaners. Instead I wore a blue jean skirt. Closest I could get to country!

My brother and sister-in-law decided to come with my mom and I. I was kinda surprised and then when we walked in I felt bad for my sis n law. I smelled tons of cow poooo so I figured if she was 9 months pregnant it would be worse, but she was a trooper! I also ran into another old Mesquite friend and fellow Aggies! Melvin and Allison Thathiah. There daughter Tayrn was also there! I think I want her to ride the sheep next year and rock it for 8 seconds!!! :) I thought it was funny that we are at the rodeo and a song is playing on the PA system. Whoop there is Whoop there is! It is like instead of country dancing during breaks we are going to do the bump and grind... Just odd!

I took a bunch of pictures of the cowboys in their wranglers for all the girls, but well my computer said my blackberry was trying to give it a virus and refused to download the pictures??? No telling!

Well Saturday.....

My friend Kimberly is an attorney in Dallas and was invited to a party at the House of Blues and Radney Foster was playing. The party was pretty much all attorneys or those that work in law firms. We were expecting some pretty cute men, but we were sad that wasn't the case! :( Not to say there wasn't any there.... Just didn't see them from our area. We did enjoy the people watching! It was very very interesting watching everyone! I wish I could change careers and just study people's interactions and talk about it. Well I kinda do that now huh??? Anyways, we were bummed that the band came on late but there was this other band there before hand that was OK but they played random music. We had some yummy El Fenix before hand. So see more country...

Yee Haw!!!! Again no boots.... You know I only own my lace up ropers from when I was in the 8th grade. Shae if you are reading this... we so rocked them in our 8th grade BBB pictures in our country wear! yea, we were retarded! Those pictures should never be shared with anyone EVER!!! Well back to the topic at hand. I had a great time with Kimberly and catching up with one another!

Sunday....

My friend, Susan, came into Dallas from NYC for a weekend trip. Everytime I think of her in NYC, I think of the Pace Picante commercial, NEW YORK CITY get a rope! But no! I love Susan and love her stories of all the fun and great things she does each and every week!!! We both heard about this place called La Grange in Deep Ellum in Dallas that had spiked snowcones, or the fancy way of saying it Snowcones with Spirits. I had cocunut with rum. It was super good and refreshing. It was like 150 degrees in Dallas on Sunday!! (slight exaggeration) Anyways, the Bachelor girls all got together!!! Me, Susan, Worley, Michelle, and Brooke!!! Awww.... we had such a good time with each other and talking and sharing! Love them!!! And they crack me up that they love trashy reality TV like the Bachelor Pad. Seriously, I am praying for them right now. ;-) La Grange had a country theme to it. We had fancy queso, quesodillas and asparagus. This is KOUNTRY for Dallas right?!?

I just want to share to all those that are reading this blog.... If you have had too many spiked snowcones, do not I repeat do not put a scarf around your head and pee in your pants. Because well the guy that we saw did just that! Then I was stupid and tried to have a conversation with him b/c I got caught staring at him. Should have thought, he is drunk, he doesn't care if I am staring, I don't need to be friendly and talk to him.

Seriously, I was looking for a piece of hay all weekend to chew on the side of my mouth the entire time. Yee haw!

Adios! Until next time! The girls told me I need to do better about this blog so I will at least do another one soon. Considering last one was in February. But go to the February contact and see snow! This might make you feel cooler in this dang heat of Texas! Smiles to all!

Andi

Winter Wonderland in Dallas - February 2010

HOLY COW!!! I am sitting semi watching television and just staring at the snow fall outside. Seriously, I live in Dallas!!! It is snowing!!! Not just sleeting but SNOWING!!! Facebook friends are saying that we have had about 7 -8 inches of snow. I love going out on my balcony and staring at the downtown buildings. Well this morning the snow was so heavy that I couldn't even see the buildings. I didn't even find it that cold this morning when I was out in it. This afternoon I figured I needed to go to the grocery store to get some staples if everything freezes tomorrow. So I bought chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream and cookies. Healthy I know! Well I wanted to get some starter logs to start a fire tonight and tomorrow, but Walmart was out! Boo!!! It was fun driving around this afternoon watching the panic on people's face. Roxy rode with me around town and she was running all around the car looking at the snow. But she is a DIVA! She does not want her paws touching the snow. I took her out to go to the restroom and she looked at me like I was crazy. She asked me to pick her up and I wouldn't. She went to this area that had such pretty snow and peed. No more pretty snow, just yellow snow. Stay away from the yellow snow. Just saying. I swear she looked at me and then winked! I stole a pic from a friend tonight and posted it as my FB profie pic! Hahaha! Girl Power! Enjoy the pics!!!

The Morning When I Woke Up

The Evening When I was Going to Bed

Roxy making the snow yellow!

The trees!!!

Girl Power!!!

I also learned something today. My friend, Shae, has lived in many places where it snows frequently. I was telling her that I was pulling into my driveway and I was slipping under the snow. She told me that I could drive in 1st or 2nd gear. I believe we also learn at least one useful thing each day! :)

Until Next Time!

Andi

GUESS WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

The theme will be....

Spaghetti sauce rocks!!!

How does she fit in????

Family.....

The Answer is!!!!!!! I am going to be an AUNT!!!!!!!!! Aunt Andi has a good ring to it!!!!!! My brother and sister in law are pregnant and due August 30th!!! They told us on Christmas! It was cool they bought John Deer baby socks and wrapped them up as a present to tell us! I knew that they were trying but it happened pretty quickly!!! I am super pumped for them and super excited to have a baby in our family!!!! They had their first sonogram at the beginning of January and the two grandmother's got to come see the baby. They went a few weeks ago for another appointment and the doctor surprised them with a another sonogram. The baby has grown to 2 1/2 centimeters and was wriggling around with arms and legs!! Super duper cool!!!! So if you see me at the grocery store and I have diapers in my cart, don't start staring at my belly!!! It's not me!!!! :)



Until next time!!!!



Andi

Shae came for a visit

I love it when friends come for a visit. My best friend, Shae, came for a surprise visit for Christmas! The kiddos didn't get to come this time so I am planning a trip to Virginia soon to see them. Shae spent the weekend at my house and we went out a few times. Fun times! We went to the local bar down the street from my house on Christmas night and had a few drinks, caught up on how the day with the family was, and flirted with a cute cop! :) The next day we went shopping for some goodies at Crate and Barrell and Gap. We had a yummy meal at Chuy's! That evening we went to the MAT and then Kinkie's for dancing. Hold on, I know that you are wondering "When did Andi start to dance?" Well that is a good question. It takes a few drinks to get me dancing. We met new friends and met up with some old friends. We had a good time.

Sunday well we layed on the couch and was lazy. Had a great time with her during her visit!!! There are more pics on facebook, but we refrained from posting pics that we took that we didn't remember the next day. Just use your imagination!!! Ha!!!! :)

Au revoir!

Andi

Do you find this as scary as I do????

Just saying!

Adios!

Andi

Catch Up Time!!!!

I think it is strange that I am catching up on a brand new blog??? Well I wanted to catch you up on my shenanigans over the holidays... A friend of mine Susan came in from NYC for a visit. We always try to have some good girl time so we went over to her sister's house and baked cookies. We then decorated them. I enjoy baking and find it relaxing and fun. Decorating though??? Well lets just say not so good at it. They made fun of mine all night long. See pic:

Would you like to place an order for your first grader? They will think you are a French chef -- I am certain!!! :)

Well then Susan and I decided to participate in the Jingle Bell Run in Dallas before Christmas. I love going to the gym and I love going to weight classes, but I hate cardio! I am trying to enjoy it though and I am trying to push myself to do more cardio so I went. Susan had pity on me so we ran and walked some. Thank you Susan!!! Marathon is on my bucket list though. The people there were interesting all dressed up. We wore our jingle bells on our shoes. That is all the wild and crazy we did. The jingling got on my nerves greatly throughout the night!!! Bah Hum Bug?? We didn't get to take a pic of this but there was a person dressed up like a reindeer that had rollars on the back end it was funny!! There were two guys dressed up and obviously they were confident in their sexuality! I love guys that just have fun and are goofy!!! See below. We then went over to the Anatole for an after party. I found it pretty ironic that we just exercised and then they served beer and pizza! Ha! The pizza was the greasiest that I have ever eaten. Next year maybe I will wear a fun hat???

Adios Amigos!

Andi