Hello friends!
I am most embarrassed that it has been 2 months since my last blog, so let me catch you up~

First of all, I moved out of my parents house a couple months ago- it was the right thing to do for me as that is how I live my life as a single person. Although some people may disagree, I am responsible for myself and need to do what is best. This has kept me extremely busy the past month or so-going through my stuff and yes, purging things. I believe I have moved 4-6 times in the past 2-3 years and haven’t really taken the time to go through everything. I have enjoyed it( I say this tongue in cheek) as one knows going through boxes and containers of stuff is very tedious and time consuming. It is rather amusing and also somewhat interesting to reflect on stuff that I have saved for whatever reason back then…

I continue to babysit Nicholas a few times a week- he is now talking in full sentences…he loves to ask, “what are you doing?” He is so smart, too! Every time I go into the bathroom, he says dialysis? He knows usually when I do go into the bathroom its to do my dialysis. He has also started the tantrums…

I am also still spending time with “the great guy”and his boys. For Valentines- I took them to the Monster Jam Truck Show- it was pretty cool! Quite loud- I had to wear earplugs plus the headphones, ha! In addition to seeing monster trucks, I have broadened my tester one and learned how to shoot. The first time, I did not hit the ceiling once– I actually impressed “the great guy” with my shooting abilities (which has attracted him more to me;) I have to say, I really enjoy it, too! Girls (ladies)- ask your man to take you shooting- you’ll be surprised how much fun it is! Wednesday nights at The Bullet Hole, its free for women! Of course, it does help that one of you owns a gun.

I have turned another year older- yep, it is hard to believe! People still guess my age several years younger than I actually am- its entertaining (for me). “The great guy” threw me a surprise birthday party on about a days notice! He was very clever in asking me for a list of people close to me. It was a wonderful birthday party and I have to say I was quite impressed with the turnout and my friends were equally impressed!

I am very blessed with the people I continue to meet and have met in the past several months or less…I have gotten my car fixed for maybe an eighth of what it could have been thanks to great friends! I have to give special thanks and recognition to Run Rite Automotive in Mission Kansas. Please take your vehicles to Greg at Run Rite, 913.432.2800- don’t forget to mention my name!

I have also been given quite the opportunity to show my creative fashion talents in a room at the Symphony Designer Show- house thanks to one of my dearest friends, Karen Mills. I am so excited about this and have met some great people along the way… please stop in to see my work and of course the rest of the talented artists’ work at this house in May! In addition to the show-house, I am really pursuing my fashion/image consulting business and was greatly blessed with a complimentary quarter size page ad through Must Read KC. Please visit the wonderful talents again of my dear friend, Angela Siems (who created my kidney donor flier) at mustreadkc.com. I have been reading a book learning more about being an Image/Fashion Consultant and I have to say, this is definitely my calling in life- I am meant to help people in this area (actually several areas)! I am tickled pink about moving forward with this and eager to see how God manifests himself through me- this is what he created me for!

I have recently been challenged and highly encouraged to start a foundation named after my Carmen’s Runway to a Kidney. This is based on my event planning experiences, my outgoingness and love for people, and of course my personal trials and journey for this particular cause. I have been asked to do a massive event entailing a fashion show (my personal favorite), a concert or 2 with my great connections with bands, and a silent auction. Thinking about it overwhelms me…I know I can get a ton of help through my friends as well as local businesses based on my tenacity and personal drive… trying to accomplish it in a couple months, might be a little bit of a stretch…

That about sums up the “fun stuff” that has happened lately….now for the medical updates-

I have had the fibrin clots a few more times…I guess its quite normal to deal with, the more I do my dialysis. As long as I don’t get an infection or the ‘big P” as I call it, I will be perfectly content with dealing with these fibrin clots. I had to start another drug to help lower my Phosphorus. I have to take (2) pills every time I enjoy a meal as this binds the good phosphorus and eliminates the bad…I generally remember about half way through my meal to take this…hopefully it has helped me these past few weeks- we’ll find out soon based on my labs… . In addition to my kidney craziness, I had some massive chest pain the night before my birthday that I couldn’t get rid of. The ol Tums would not even do the trick! I slept with my heating pad on my chest the entire night just to be able to get some decent sleep. I thought this may have been an allergic reaction to this new drug I started taking as the 2nd side effect listed was chest pain- so I called the clinic the next day to ask.. the nurse had to check with the nephrologist and call me back. Later in the day, I received a call and to my surprise, they didn’t think it had to do with the new drug and I needed to see my Primary Care Physician. I was just there the week before seeing her for an annual physical! I should start getting paid for how often I see Doctors! So, my wonderful PCP fit me into her schedule right away- turns out that my hiatal hernia is acting up again and I have to alter my diet and lifestyle some more…not to mention, add another pill to take. I am now up to 12, yes, 12 pills a day, ugh! I had to buy one of those stupid pill boxes to remind myself as I have skipped a few times…

I am doing well overall and have had several comments or compliments from you all that I look great, my coloring is back in my face and it doesn’t even look like I am sick. Well, thank you kindly, I still get tired easily and still have my really bad days of being lethargic and staying in bed… Speaking of- this entire week was a very low energy week.

To give you the update of where things stand in progressing with the transplant- I am still working on dental clearance. There was a hiccup in the last couple of weeks that slowed things down a little…they should be back on track. Its all a process and taking one step at a time… Meanwhile, I am now starting to mentor others as they have been recently diagnosed with their kidney diseases and needed to go on dialysis. It is really inspiring and also helps reassure me as I am encouraging others that things are going to be okay. Thus, the suggestion of starting my own foundation…

I want to leave you with this challenge as am currently acting on it based on a new series my pastor started at church. You have been given One Month to Live- how will you change the current things in your life to live a life of no regrets? You can buy the book called One Month to Live- I highly rec commend it!

Well, I believe that has summarized things in a nutshell. Again, my apologizes for the delay.

Thanks for the support, love, and prayers! Please comment or share any great ideas you may have too!