I recently went through a bit of a bachelorette period. Travis was out of town for ten days! He was in Toronto for work and then went across the pond to Ireland for a golf trip with the boys. Nine of them left us ladies behind. I know, rude on their part! Actually, I am happy for them, they had a tremendous trip of a lifetime.

While he was gone I went to lunch with Mom, spent the holiday weekend by going to some dear friends’ house for a barbeque, went out with girlfriends at night, and ate whatever I wanted for dinner!

Good times with: Kimmy, Megan, Kathy, Dana, Sammy, Aimee, Julie, Heather, Annie, and me.

Dana was out of town at a wedding so my niece, Lauren, and her girlfriend Laura, also stayed with me for two days. We went to the Science Museum of Minnesota and I took them out for a nice dinner.

me, Laura, & Lauren

Honey had fun while her daddy was gone too. She spent time with her younger cousin, Katie, a two and a half month old Yorkie. She also reunited with her sister, Piper, for the second time. They spent hours rolling in the grass playing together. They finally took a minute to lay down together.

Katie & Honey

Honey & Piper

Pooped out puppies!

Lauren just wrapped up another year of dance. She is a great dancer and looks so mature. All of the family that attended were very proud of her. She did a fantastic job! Since I drive her one day every week to dance, Dana bought me a matching jacket embroidered with “dance mom”. We wore them the night of the recital. I love being her “other” mother!

Lauren is front and center

Acting like “dance mom’s”

Also while Travis was gone, we celebrated my mother’s 75th birthday! My mom is half Irish and half Scottish. I know, YIKES! Travis sent her the best gift ever from Ireland. He had one of the Irish bands sing happy birthday to her and texted her the video.

Mom’s 75th! John, me, dad, mom

Recently, LifeSource hosted an open house to see their new facility. The new building brings a new future for organ, eye, and tissue donation. They are going to be recovering tissue on site at the new facility. Instead of waiting for an operating room at busy hospitals, they will now be able to bring a donor to their new building that accommodates this process. It was a beautiful morning for the flag raising ceremony.Health update. Last Sunday, for the first time, I experienced a twenty four hour stomach flu, or food poising, not sure which. It wasn’t fun! I was sick every hour on the hour throughout the night. Travis was so sweet taking garbage bags outside after every episode. I called my transplant coordinator in the morning to notify them of my overnight. I was told if I couldn’t keep my medication down in the afternoon, I would have to head to the hospital. It is very important not to miss my anti-rejection medication. If my stomach wouldn’t allow me to keep my meds down, I would have had to receive them through an I.V. Luckily, that wasn’t the case, they stayed in my belly. Although I spent all day in bed on Monday, Tuesday I was back to myself.

This coming Tuesday, I will be adding a new type of doctor to my health team. I’m meeting with a nephrologist. I have been spilling protein in my urine. That may be a sign of some kidney issues. Many things can cause kidney problems, medications can be one them. I will fill you in when I know more.