-Transplant Post-Op Day #8-

Hello everyone!! All you loyal Blog readers, loyal prayer warriors, and loyal people who I have never met but in one way or another have been led to pray for our situation, I thank you.

I have literally been sitting in front of the computer for over ten minutes trying to figure out how to start this thing. It's not as though I have no thought or feelings, it's a matter of expressing them in a way that could be understood. I just have to sit back and marvel at this grand yet very intricate tapestry God has created and called Nate's Life. I can imagine stepping back, looking at the whole thing and then, and only then, seeing the whole picture. Yet, He sees it the whole time and still manages to make sure that those small intricate pieces align just how He intended it to be.

I am so excited to tell you that today is the eight day since the transplant! I really can't believe it. This past week has definitely been one of adjustment for everyone. It's kind of weird being told by your doctor, that even if you are feeling good, you still need to take it easy. "No strenuous activity. No heavy lifting (over 5 pounds). No straining of abdominal muscles." Do they realize that everything you do strains your abdominals, unless of course you want to be walking around like a zombie? They want me to call and report any abnormalities. What does that mean exactly? Uh oh, I put my right sock on before my left, is that a sign that the kidney is infected? I am obviously joking a little, but the precautions that they have us taking are for a reason and I am very thankful that they are so thorough, even down to the ounce of urine output.

I am keeping what the transplant team calls a Renal Transplant Daily Log. This is my little notebook where I record everything, my weights, temperatures, blood pressures/pulses, how much I drink, how much I let go, and when and how much medication I take. This is all in one day. Through this process I have really learned the importance of what happened last Saturday. It is one thing for the transplant team to tell you what is going to happen during and after the transplant, but to actually be on the other side is allowing me to understand first hand what they were talking about. I don't know if any of you have seen The Village, but there is a scene in which Ivy Walker must travel through a forbidden haunted forest in order to seek much needed help. The thing that makes it difficult is that she is blind and her guides have left her due to fear. Thankfully, I am not blind and my help have not ditched me, but I feel as though I have just entered into an unknown forest filled with questions, fears, and experiences yet to be had. But similar to Ivy Walker, who had incredible hope, I too have a hope and a confidence that I will make it through the forest and to that which I seek, a life directed towards God's Glory.

He is really the one that deserves everything. All praise, all thanks, all Glory. I have been really encouraged by reading the comments that you have posted. It shows me that a technology like this Blog can be used as a collection plate filled by praises and glory to be given directly back to God. I can't express how thankful I am that I am called one of His children. I am sure that most of you that read the Blog don't know most of the people commenting, ha I don't half the people commenting. But I just wanted to point out that God's hands are reaching all across the globe. There are people reading this from Ukraine, England, Denmark, Haiti, Japan, Canada, Uruguay, and I am sure more. This fact blows my mind. Not only do you read the Blog but you pray. I think this is a huge factor in why my dad and I are recovering the way that we are.

So after a medication allergy early this week, I have felt really well. It is hard to sit and do nothing when I am feeling this way, but doctors orders right. Since coming home from the hospital, I have had labs every day but today. It was nice to be able to sleep in a little considering my mom and I have been leaving our house around six-thirty to drive up to the Hospital. The reason it has been everyday is because they are trying to find a balance with my medication. Hopefully this will happen soon so that we can cut back on the amount of visits.

So I invite you to do something with me. Look at your life right now. You may not be going through a kidney transplant or another serious medical crises, but there are things happening. God is hand-sewing all of those little intricate pieces in your tapestry. You may not see or more likely know what He is doing, but you can have confidence that He Is In Control. He is the only one that is standing back and looking at the big picture that He is busy creating called "_____________'s Life".