Testing Day!

Today was testing day.  Started with a pulmonary function test which checked my lungs for strength.

Super attractive. 

Then, I had an ECHO done on my heart.  They had to put an IV in my arm to make sure my heart didn't have any holes or strange leakage.  Yay!!!  No heart holes.

We left the IV in for my MRI as they had to do it with and without contrast.  The MRI was very long, almost 2 hours.  

Next stop was a chest X-ray.

And then we ended the day with the largest blood draw of my life.  34 vials of blood!

I was famished so we walked to our dinner at Giardanos pizza.  Mmmm so good.

Tomorrow, I rest.

Pretesting Week

I'm in Chicago, at the Marriott Residence Inn (my home away from home for the next 2 months).

Pretesting Week begins tomorrow with a very busy day.

9:30 - Pulmonary Function Test

10:45 - 2D Echo

Lunch

1:30 - MRI of my spine

Then a Chest X Ray and lots of Blood work.

We are doing all of these tests to make sure my body can handle the stress of the transplant.  I'm expecting to pass with flying colors.  :)

Last Night Home with the Boys

Last night home with the boys has been rough. Cuddling Daniel before bed, my heart aches for the times I'm going to miss. As I said goodnight to David, he started crying and said he didn't want me to go to Chicago. I hugged him and reminded him that mommy needs to get better and going to Chicago will get me better. These little boys. My heart. This is the hard part.

2 more sleeps until Chicago.

One week...

One week until this journey begins.  So many feelings: fear, sadness, excitement, anticipation, anxiety.

Leaving the boys will be the hardest thing I ever do.  It isn't meant for the mom to disappear for days, in this case weeks.

I know that the end goal will be worth all the lost time.  It will still hurt though.  My heart already aches for them and the hugs I will miss.

One week!!!

Waiting...

Now, we wait.  I just finished one of last few IVIG treatments I hope to ever have.  The pain that goes with this disease and treatment regimen is not easy.  Jesse just worked on multiple charlie horses throughout my body that all came on at the same time.  Painful doesn't even describe it well.

He put the number of days until each event happens on our refrigerator tonight.

The reality of our path is very real as we continue to make preparations for this life changing procedure.

Insurance Approval!!!

It happened.  All of the doors that seemed impossibly shut, have all opened.  I am going to get my life back!

I remember thinking at the beginning of this process that if all the doors kept opening, that I'd keep walking through them.  

I'm still in shock.

Now we have to figure out the timing of everything.  I'll be there for 4 weeks for the first part.  Home for about 2 weeks, then back again for about 3 weeks.  The thought of being away from Jesse and the boys for that long causes some major anxiety. I know this is necessary and I'll do it, but it won't be easy.

Gratitude

I'm thankful.  Friends and family have given to us well.  Going to Chicago and getting the transplant, is actually going to happen.  We won't have to move, we will be able to survive this!  Grateful.