The Tale of Two Kidneys....

It all started at 3:30 am on Wednesday morning....ever try waking up two 5yr. olds that early???...NOT FUN!!! We arrived at the hospital at 5:00 & "Big Daddy" was taken to the back at approximately 5:30 for some paperwork, bloodwork, etc. We were than allowed to go back & see him for a few moments prior to his trip to pre-op. He of course at this time was calm & I was the one who was nervous! The girls weren't exactly sure what to think, but by the expressions on their faces I could tell they were scared. By 6:40 they came for Pete to take him for pre-op, so the girls & I went into the waiting room where we waited and waited and waited and waited. Meanwhile, my MIL was with Aunt Babe (the receipient) of the kidney. She said they came for Aunt Babe around 7:00, so she too came down to the waiting room where we continued to wait and wait and wait some more!!! Finally at about 12:20 I was called to the back where Dr. Tan informed me that the surgery was a success & that "Big Daddy" did excellent! He said that the kidney was GREAT size, color, & condition....that Pete was doing well, that only 2 tbsp. of blood was lost, & other than being a little groggy & sore, he was still "peeing like a racehorse," & once "Big Daddy" was out of recovery & in a room they would notify me so we could go visit him. Dr. Tan also informed me that Aunt Babe was still in surgery, that things were going good, but it would be approximately another 2 hours, before we heard anything from Dr. Shapiro. So I proceeded back to the waiting room, gave my MIL the details and continued to wait and wait and wait some more. Finally at about 3:30 I got tired of waiting and asked the status of my "Big Daddy" & Aunt Babe. I was then informed that Aunt Babe was still in surgery & she would be a little bit longer, but that things were going well. "Big Daddy was in room 1242 & had been for about an hour!!! (so much for telling me) The girls & I then left my MIL to continue the "waiting game" as we were anxious to go up to see "Big Daddy." Upon arrival to room 1242 we found "Big Daddy" asleep with a couple of IV's attached, which totally "freaked-out" the girls. It took about 5 minutes to get them to understand that the tubes hanging from "Big Daddy" were there to help him with his "owie." They both finally had me lift them up so they could give him a kiss. By 4:15 my MIL shows up finally with the news of Aunt Babe. Again everything went GREAT!!! The kidney started working as SOON as Dr. Shapiro "put it in." Aunt Babe was doing fine, she too was "peeing like a racehorse," which of course is an EXCELLENT sign!!! They actually thought Aunt Babe, might have to go to ICU due to her diabetes, but her levels were good, so she too got to come up to a room....just down the hall from Pete, 1254.
What a difference between Aunt Babe & "Big Daddy." When I walked down to check on Aunt Babe, she looked GREAT!!! She was wide awake, talking & very alert to her surroundings....where "Big Daddy" was asleep, not very co-harrant, & pretty much looked like "poo-poo."
So thank you one & all for your well wishes & prayers!!! The surgery was a success & both are doing GREAT!!!

TwilightZone....

Have you ever gone somewhere & felt as if you just stepped into a "time-warp?" That's how I felt when we arrived at "Big Daddy's" hometown....Kittanning Pennsylvania. I mean, he told me it was "smalltown," but honestly I didn't realize just how small!!! He literally drove me thru the streets (I use the term loosely) and I saw pretty much all of Kittanning in less 5 minutes!!! As driving thru the town, I felt as if I was going to see "Gomer Pyle" come running out yelling, "CITIZENS ARREST....CITIZENS ARREST." I kid you not, this little town of Kittanning which "Big Daddy" grew up in, is just like that of Mayberry!!! Don't get me wrong, it's BEAUTIFUL scenery, but the buildings are the same ones that were here (with the exception of a couple & a few name changes) 20 years ago when "Big Daddy" left home for the Marines!!! Other than that, the girls are excited about being here in "Kippsburgh."