The last couple of weeks have been pretty good for me. I was having some residual pain over the incision, but it was mostly just the nerves reorganizing themselves - it wasn't so much as pain, but feeling like I had a rash or burn. That sensation has faded and I feel really great. I have some swelling in my abdomen still, which makes my work pants a little uncomfortable. And my energy level is still pretty low - walking around the block gets me pretty winded. I'm hopeful that I can soon start regular exercise and that will help not only the energy level, but also help get rid of the swelling.
This past weekend, Brian and I took the kids to our annual Lake Weekend with Brian's college friends. We've gone the last six years and it is always a fun weekend. This year was of course significant for me, for several reasons. First and foremost, this weekend was what I've been looking forward to since my transplant. I knew it would take time to heal and I knew that six weeks after my transplant I would be feeling good. I just kept saying to myself, I feel awful now, but when Lake Weekend gets here, I'll feel great. And I did. We had so much fun, even though I didn't go out on the boat. My skin is pretty sensitive to the sun and being out in the heat for just a few minutes exhausts me. So I got to stay in, relax, read and play with all the babies that have started to join us. Did I mention that our friend Brian fashioned a kidney skiing out of rice krispie treats? 
Sunset at the Lake
So for those of you that don't know, today was my first day back at work. I have been sooo ready to go back to work - excited to see my stellar co-workers and start using my brain again. Six weeks of resting, healing and watching mind-numbing daytime television may have caused my brain to be put on pause. I'm ready to recharge and start my new "normal." A normal life that includes me feeling great and not having to deal with dialysis. Work went well. I feel pretty out of the loop...in the six weeks I was gone, our department moved locations, we hired 5 or 6 new people and got our second batch of summer interns. So I'm feeling pretty disconnected, but hopefully I can get right back into the swing of things.
Tomorrow is my first clinic appointment at Barnes. All my labs have been good, so I'm looking forward to a nice, easy appointment. I get labs once a week instead of twice and soon, it will go down to every other week and then monthly. I honestly keep waiting for someone to say "just kidding" and that I have to go back to a life with dialysis. I am so hopeful that this kidney lasts me long enough to "forget" what a life on dialysis is life.
Love and Kidneys,
Emily
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