Well with some of the exciting "coverage" we will be getting with the " House 4 Hope" and thankfully Anything For A Friend organization. I decided I didn't want too much of the "little animals" online. So this blog will stay the same and updated the same but a little more family/personal. Cody's blog will be updates on the fundraisers and anything exciting but so will this blog. So just to warn ya they will be a lot alike! So expect repetitiveness.!
http://change4cody.com
March 21, 2011
March 14, 2011
I sit here thinking about what can I write that has happened recently. Honestly our lifes are wild and crazy which is the way we like it and alot has happened really. But I reflect back not too long ago when our first born came to our family. I just had the opportunity to sit down with him tonight and have a long serious chat, one that really I don't believe I would have stopped for if I didn't have an issue to address. I realized how fast time can slip you by that you have your baby turning 5! Yea just a few days ago he turned 5, breaks my heart that he is that big, he is like a little man. He came walking down the stairs the next day telling me:
"Mom, I really feel so much bigger now that I am five!
I always reply with: "I know! Now you are a full hand full."
And honest to truthness he tries to act like he is bigger, sometimes you have to do a double take to make sure he was the one that said it. He's one that in this dark hour helps the light shine through. I have been asked so many times then I can count if I knew what my future held with Cody that we would still have had our boys when we did, "Isn't it harder? Wouldn't you have waited?" The honest truth is NO! I remember when Cody was sick and on his worst days with UC. Having Hutton's smiling face and laughter around is what pushed us through. (Honestly one of Hutton's favorite memories of his Dad was "sneaking" a milkshake up to his hospital room.) Yes we had a rough road and that was not to stop us, if we were blessed to have his health back and the ability to have more smiling little faces we wanted it to work out. Sure enough we have Huston, a little spitfire of a kid but also the apple of our eyes. And again we get asked: "If you had known?"
NOPE!
Would not change a thing. Yea would be easier but everything happens for a reason. They chose us. They knew what they would be coming to before they took the slide from heaven. I am just grateful for the trust that my Heavenly Father has in Cody and I to take 2 of his favorites so that they can teach us many things and know that we have a big reason to fight.
Cody and I recently read a book "Untill My Heart Stops" written by Paul Cardall, recent heart transplant recipient, song writter, and musician. His goal or moto he started with was "Living For Eden" Eden was his daughter. We all have reasons to fight of coarse alot of us choose our kids. But one thing that he kept expressing was how he was blessed to be able to have the experience he did. (He was born with a heart disease and was not expected to live a week, thru multiple surguries through his teens and then to the point where in 2009 he was told he would not survive without a transplant, but with this transplant he needed a very special heart one that could work with his anatomy of his heart since he had so many different types of surgeries it needed to be just right) He continued to state he was blessed to have the opportunity to be where he was each day.
I kept thinking one of these chapters is going to be negative it has to be! Can you honestly say that you are blessed to be sick?
I can't speak for Cody but, after many weeks of thinking about it, yea you can think you are blessed to be sick. I look around and see what I have: materially, spiritually, physically and eternally. Yea I am blessed I have 2 boys that really are the light in our dark tunnels some days. I have a roof over my head that my husband gave me, my health to get all 4 of us through this, friends and family near and far, and the knowledge that I know that it is all going to work out the way it is supposed to.
Honestly didn't know what this post was going to be like just felt like I needed to express! There is so much more that can be expressed on a Computer while your family is asleep and you can think by yourself in silence. Love You All.
"Mom, I really feel so much bigger now that I am five!
I always reply with: "I know! Now you are a full hand full."
And honest to truthness he tries to act like he is bigger, sometimes you have to do a double take to make sure he was the one that said it. He's one that in this dark hour helps the light shine through. I have been asked so many times then I can count if I knew what my future held with Cody that we would still have had our boys when we did, "Isn't it harder? Wouldn't you have waited?" The honest truth is NO! I remember when Cody was sick and on his worst days with UC. Having Hutton's smiling face and laughter around is what pushed us through. (Honestly one of Hutton's favorite memories of his Dad was "sneaking" a milkshake up to his hospital room.) Yes we had a rough road and that was not to stop us, if we were blessed to have his health back and the ability to have more smiling little faces we wanted it to work out. Sure enough we have Huston, a little spitfire of a kid but also the apple of our eyes. And again we get asked: "If you had known?"
NOPE!
Would not change a thing. Yea would be easier but everything happens for a reason. They chose us. They knew what they would be coming to before they took the slide from heaven. I am just grateful for the trust that my Heavenly Father has in Cody and I to take 2 of his favorites so that they can teach us many things and know that we have a big reason to fight.
Cody and I recently read a book "Untill My Heart Stops" written by Paul Cardall, recent heart transplant recipient, song writter, and musician. His goal or moto he started with was "Living For Eden" Eden was his daughter. We all have reasons to fight of coarse alot of us choose our kids. But one thing that he kept expressing was how he was blessed to be able to have the experience he did. (He was born with a heart disease and was not expected to live a week, thru multiple surguries through his teens and then to the point where in 2009 he was told he would not survive without a transplant, but with this transplant he needed a very special heart one that could work with his anatomy of his heart since he had so many different types of surgeries it needed to be just right) He continued to state he was blessed to have the opportunity to be where he was each day.
I kept thinking one of these chapters is going to be negative it has to be! Can you honestly say that you are blessed to be sick?
I can't speak for Cody but, after many weeks of thinking about it, yea you can think you are blessed to be sick. I look around and see what I have: materially, spiritually, physically and eternally. Yea I am blessed I have 2 boys that really are the light in our dark tunnels some days. I have a roof over my head that my husband gave me, my health to get all 4 of us through this, friends and family near and far, and the knowledge that I know that it is all going to work out the way it is supposed to.
Honestly didn't know what this post was going to be like just felt like I needed to express! There is so much more that can be expressed on a Computer while your family is asleep and you can think by yourself in silence. Love You All.
March 4, 2011
One-Third of the Thirds
Well we were fortunate to get a letter from the Transplant office yesterday that is confirming our listing on the Liver Transplant list. One other detail they mentioned was they advised us we are in the top one-third of the list. So we are not near the bottom we are near the top and working our way up.
We do not need to go back till May where we need to get more labs done and a office visit with the doctors for a check-up. From the labs and the check-up we will be able to see if we need to be higher on the list. But by those labs will also tell how "sick" Cody is. So we were excited to get that letter yesterday.
We do not need to go back till May where we need to get more labs done and a office visit with the doctors for a check-up. From the labs and the check-up we will be able to see if we need to be higher on the list. But by those labs will also tell how "sick" Cody is. So we were excited to get that letter yesterday.
February 27, 2011
THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!
Well honestly can't say it enough! tonight we got a very little knock on our door and Cody opens the door to find a pile of FOOD. Honestly as tall as our kids. No name was given so I sure hope they know how much we appreciate it. Really I would like to know who it was so that I could give them a big ol' bear hug. But I understand that they want to stay anonymous fine by me, but just so they know they are so verry verry appreciated. I now know that my kids will NOT go hungry.
One thing we know for sure is after this is over and life gets back to normal is that the only way we can pay back everyone is by just doing the same to others as they have done to us. We know we will have the opportunity to help many others to come(not that we wish it upon anyone but we will be able to help many others in our travels.) We have known since we were told that Cody needed a Liver Transplant that what we learn from this is something that will help many many others in one way or an other. Each day we take a step at a time and learn what we need to so we can grow from this experience.
Thanks so very much to everyone just for your prayers. They are felt and we appreciate them so much!
Thanks so much Luv ya all....A
One thing we know for sure is after this is over and life gets back to normal is that the only way we can pay back everyone is by just doing the same to others as they have done to us. We know we will have the opportunity to help many others to come(not that we wish it upon anyone but we will be able to help many others in our travels.) We have known since we were told that Cody needed a Liver Transplant that what we learn from this is something that will help many many others in one way or an other. Each day we take a step at a time and learn what we need to so we can grow from this experience.
Thanks so very much to everyone just for your prayers. They are felt and we appreciate them so much!
Thanks so much Luv ya all....A
February 26, 2011
Officially Official
Well on Tuesday February 22, 2011 at about 6:00 pm we became official! We are now on the list and can now start the real wait. We still have the last procedure on Monday with Dr. Sandhu that luckily will not have to give us any bad news like he did last time cause honestly what else could go wrong? Well I better watch what I say? But I am more prepared this time..
They told us to expect 6 - 12 months time wise unless Cody continues to stay feeling good, then obviously longer but I think where as bad as it is inside and how good he is still feeling it will be good... but honestly 12 months is not that long. We have done the "sick" thing alot longer so we can do it.
Well fundraiser planning has gotten underway and have bounced many ideas around. We have thoughts of doing a 5K, Dinners and other small things along the way, but my Dad had a wild idea that when I heard it thought wow that might be too hard! It is building a home, finding others to help donate time, materials, and or money. Yea I was thinking that is alot of work and time and money. So a few days later Dad and Chris chat and throw some ideas and Chris not only has he ran with it but tackled it! He has gotten Ogden City (Mayor Godfrey) involved to help us actually help with the property. With Ogden involved we might be able to get more publicity out of all this and be able to raise more money. So yea it is still alot of work but with CFOlsen Homes behind us we are going to be able to do this. So stay tuned for more details on the house.
We have had alot happen this last week and it seems like life wont slow down! But just a few weeks ago I thought I was getting board, well I spoke too soon! gotta love it!
They told us to expect 6 - 12 months time wise unless Cody continues to stay feeling good, then obviously longer but I think where as bad as it is inside and how good he is still feeling it will be good... but honestly 12 months is not that long. We have done the "sick" thing alot longer so we can do it.
Well fundraiser planning has gotten underway and have bounced many ideas around. We have thoughts of doing a 5K, Dinners and other small things along the way, but my Dad had a wild idea that when I heard it thought wow that might be too hard! It is building a home, finding others to help donate time, materials, and or money. Yea I was thinking that is alot of work and time and money. So a few days later Dad and Chris chat and throw some ideas and Chris not only has he ran with it but tackled it! He has gotten Ogden City (Mayor Godfrey) involved to help us actually help with the property. With Ogden involved we might be able to get more publicity out of all this and be able to raise more money. So yea it is still alot of work but with CFOlsen Homes behind us we are going to be able to do this. So stay tuned for more details on the house.
We have had alot happen this last week and it seems like life wont slow down! But just a few weeks ago I thought I was getting board, well I spoke too soon! gotta love it!
February 18, 2011
Approval Needed? What?
Well it is a Lazy Friday morning and we are still wiping the sleep from our eyes, when we get an unexpected phone call from the transplant office-Lori. Lori explained that the Doctor's in the office were all "talking behind our backs" yesterday. They were discussing Cody's diagnosis, they all decided that Cody is one that will need to be on the list now and not wait till gets worse. We were told that not until the tests were all done that any decision would be made, our last appointment is on February 28th. They understood that appointment is still needed but felt they needed to get Cody on the list. We really don't know all the details but we wonder what they saw in all those tests that maybe it was severe enough that he needed to be on the list. We were advised in the beginning that there are 2 different stages the pre-liver failure, and the actual liver transplant stage. Depending how it is you could still see the same doctors but they treat you to try and better the liver. Liver transplant stage is there is nothing left to do besides the actual transplant.
So after that phone call we were shocked and were not expecting it at all made the day a real good one. Is that how it will be when we actually get the call to get the liver? All I know is thinking about that actually gives me the chills!
So next step: Now that have the Doctors approval now we need to convince our insurance that has paid for many many things in our past(so many you would think they had our policy number memorized!) So with that in mind we wait again. As odd as it sounds our insurance has an Organ Transplant as an "ELECTIVE" surgery, because we all elect to live!! I can see if we wanted to get some fancy implants or some lipo done but REALLY? But granted one more blessing came thru and now they have approved us by the end of the day! And we are well on our way to getting better!
It is crazy to think about all the many blessings that we have in this hard time. We know that we need them but honestly they just keep coming and coming, not only to us personally but to our family too. We all know that someone really does love us to give us that chance to accept these blessings.
So now we have 10 days to "get listed" I really don't know what that means but pretty much from 10 days to accept the request for the liver and to be willing to wait. So on Tuesday February 22nd we are going back down to meet with the doctors/office again and talk more about what we have ahead of us. I have also heard you do have to sign your 1st-4th born away with all the paperwork but really it will be worth it(not the no 1st-4th born, the actual liver!) It really will be.
So unless something else exciting happens let you know how Tuesday goes.
Luv ya! A
So after that phone call we were shocked and were not expecting it at all made the day a real good one. Is that how it will be when we actually get the call to get the liver? All I know is thinking about that actually gives me the chills!
So next step: Now that have the Doctors approval now we need to convince our insurance that has paid for many many things in our past(so many you would think they had our policy number memorized!) So with that in mind we wait again. As odd as it sounds our insurance has an Organ Transplant as an "ELECTIVE" surgery, because we all elect to live!! I can see if we wanted to get some fancy implants or some lipo done but REALLY? But granted one more blessing came thru and now they have approved us by the end of the day! And we are well on our way to getting better!
It is crazy to think about all the many blessings that we have in this hard time. We know that we need them but honestly they just keep coming and coming, not only to us personally but to our family too. We all know that someone really does love us to give us that chance to accept these blessings.
So now we have 10 days to "get listed" I really don't know what that means but pretty much from 10 days to accept the request for the liver and to be willing to wait. So on Tuesday February 22nd we are going back down to meet with the doctors/office again and talk more about what we have ahead of us. I have also heard you do have to sign your 1st-4th born away with all the paperwork but really it will be worth it(not the no 1st-4th born, the actual liver!) It really will be.
So unless something else exciting happens let you know how Tuesday goes.
Luv ya! A
February 16, 2011
Waiting Me Crazy
Well we are still waiting all tests not done, will be on 02/28/11 but till then...waiting. We should get used to it but I am afraid of what the waiting entails...I have nothing to do. Yea sounds odd for somebody working overtime at work and 2 boys and a husband with a life changing medical condition. I have too much time to think so, I am starting something that I kinda don't like doing, asking for money.
We are going to start planning fundraisers.
No use sitting around, lets do some good, keep us busy and proactive. Cody does feel better with something to do each day. So we have had many wonderful people offer to help us out, given us ideas. We are really blessed to have the family and friends that we do that are willing to help us out. And to the many/few that read this blog any ideas will be gladly accepted we have time and want to make the most of what we have.
On a little funnier note I have to add a story about those crazy animals Hutton and Huston. Well I am moving my office home and I decided to work in Huston's room since I always eventually wanted them together anyways so I did it last weekend.
Night 1: They played a few hours and then got punished to stay in their own beds(Huston is still in his crib)
Night 2: Another few hours of playing and then finally asleep...YES!!!! I go in to do my "MOMMY CHECK" and Huston is not in his bed! I wonder if he fell asleep while playing, nope. Him and Hutton are cuddled together on the bottom bunk, Hutton's arm around Huston and their heads together. That is when you know:
Brothers by chance...Friends by choice
Love them to death so cute I wish I got a picture of it. So far so good down to about an hour of playing and then to bed.
Love them to death and love all you...
We are going to start planning fundraisers.
No use sitting around, lets do some good, keep us busy and proactive. Cody does feel better with something to do each day. So we have had many wonderful people offer to help us out, given us ideas. We are really blessed to have the family and friends that we do that are willing to help us out. And to the many/few that read this blog any ideas will be gladly accepted we have time and want to make the most of what we have.
On a little funnier note I have to add a story about those crazy animals Hutton and Huston. Well I am moving my office home and I decided to work in Huston's room since I always eventually wanted them together anyways so I did it last weekend.
Night 1: They played a few hours and then got punished to stay in their own beds(Huston is still in his crib)
Night 2: Another few hours of playing and then finally asleep...YES!!!! I go in to do my "MOMMY CHECK" and Huston is not in his bed! I wonder if he fell asleep while playing, nope. Him and Hutton are cuddled together on the bottom bunk, Hutton's arm around Huston and their heads together. That is when you know:
Brothers by chance...Friends by choice
Love them to death so cute I wish I got a picture of it. So far so good down to about an hour of playing and then to bed.
Love them to death and love all you...
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