Mom's 45th / Kidney Transplant

Hello again- It's Kelsey! I hope you all are doing well!  I think the summer weather is slowly coming back to us! We are so excited! Well, shall we jump on in this? 

I believe we left off where Mom was going to go to Cleveland. Mom and Dad went up there on April 25th to be admitted on the 26th. Dad came home and stayed with us kids and did some things around the shop while Mom was in the hospital. Mom had the stoma reversal on April 29th- and that went very smooth, which we are grateful for. Mom got released from the hospital on May 4th. Dad and us kids decided we would surprise her and have us kids come with to pick her up. She was surprised we were so happy to be together as a family again. Recovery has gone great, She is still tender in some spots, but she's doing good. 

When she got home we started dialysis again in Peoria, but instead of Dad going he asked if I would be interested in going to help Mom, I said "YES!"  I loved doing dialysis with Mom! I have learned so so so much. We've had days when the machine doesn't send off any alarms, but then there ways days when it wouldn't stop alarming us! So on the days there was no alarms I would tell Dad- " Well, who is the best helper now?? I had no alarms today!". We can just keep the days that we did have alarms, a secret. 

About the Kidney transplant, She will be having it on June 3rd. Only a few days left! Mom and Dad will be leaving on June 2nd to Madison, Wisconsin. Who is Mom's donor? It's her very own Mother! This is a very neat process that they have been able to share together. They are both a little nervous, but they both remind each other that God is with them and He will not leave them nor forsake them. 

We are not sure exactly how long the transplant will take or how long recovery will be but I will do another update about that next week hopefully. 

Another thing happened this past week, my Mom's 45th birthday! So skip back a week ago, Dad and us kids talked and decided that we wanted to do a drive by parade for Mom, but we wanted something a little different to make it extra special, so Dad made the suggestion that we have people that come to donate their kidney bean(s)! We got busy getting the invites, staying up late after Mom went to bed, getting contacts off Mom's phone without her knowing ( boy, was that a job! ), and keeping it a secret. That was a hard one for Kailey, she always wants to tell you about a surprise or a secret! haha. People brought gifts, cards, signs and balloons also. The police even showed up and blocked traffic! (We gave them a heads up because we had so many people coming :) We didn't spoil the surprise and everything went as planned! She has NO idea and loved every moment of it and was so so so happy to see all the love and support. 

So now, I'm introducing my wonderful Mother to you all so she can say some things. Mama, take it away-

Thank you, Kels.  My heart is overwhelmed with the love and support I was shown this past week. I realize that some were not able to come and some were not invited by accident, and we are sorry about that. I am thankful that all that was done for my birthday, to make it extra special. 

I have been feeling extra worn out with doing the dialysis. I only have one more day (Monday) of dialysis left. I'm ready for this next chapter to be started. God is my author and He's writing my story. Thank you for all of your prayers for this coming week. I really do appreciate it. 

Don't forget to show and spread kindness! Please keep remembering to social distancing for people like me. I hope that I don't sound prideful when I say that, but I truly want us all to be careful and stay healthy. 

Love and Prayers

- Jamie

It's me again, Kelsey. 

Another thing I wanted to say was Happy Mother's Day! I know it's passed, but I wanted to say that I'm so very thankful for my beautiful Mother. I love my Mom with my whole heart and I'm so thankful she's mine! I truly do appreciate my Mom. She means the world to me and I love her! Also, Happy Mother's Day to all the Mother's out there! I hope you all had a great day!  

Okay, now that I'm tearing up I am gonna close this update up. I will keep you all posted on the transplant and recovery. We appreciate all of the prayers and we pray that each of you are doing good as well.  

I am going to leave you with a Bible verse that I read this past week, 

"The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe."

 - Proverbs 29:25

Keep being safe! Love n Prayers!! 

- Kelsey 

                                                                        

          Dad took this picture and then showed

                                               it to Mom and that's when she saw us kids 

                                                               in the background.

                                                          Our home almost 5 years ago. 

                                                      A lot of memories were made here!

 

                                                                    

                                                                        Cleveland, OH

                                                                      

Mother's Day Weekend 2020

Mom's Birthday! Thank you to ALL who came!

Another Transplant. Another Miracle.

Hey! This is Kelsey filling in for my Mom. I'm going to be helping her out more often, but, she is not helping me with it today. So let's go ahead and get started! It's been a crazy couple of weeks!

On April 6th, Dad and Mom started training on home dialysis four days per week down in Peoria. They were there all day learning about dialysis. Their choice of words on how they felt was that their brains were "mush". I think they are smarter than they think! The training went on for 3 weeks, but, as they were going on week 3, the doctor in Cleveland called with some exciting news. He said that Mom needs the kidney transplant ASAP and then continued to tell her that she needed to be there (Cleveland) on the 26th to start the process. They will do the closing of the stoma and then let it heal for 3 or more weeks and then she will go to Wisconsin for the kidney transplant. We are so excited!

As of Sunday, Mom was admitted to Cleveland Clinic in preparation for surgery on Wednesday, April 29th. This surgery and admission to the hospital was especially hard for Mom because, no one could go with her with the COVID-19 going around but, we all know the one God who NEVER leaves us alone! He's been Faithful everyday, and He will be Faithful ALL the way!

I trust that you all are staying in your homes, and I encourage you to continue to do so! If you do go out, keep your distance, respect other people. You may not know their story. I know we may think we are strong and healthy or "how it won't ever get to us". Are we really all that proud? Do you really want to risk someones life just for your pleasure? I ask, PLEASE stay home. What is there to do you ask? Take a walk with your family, go on a bike ride, workout, clean your house, organize, tell your kids stories of your childhood, read a book, call up an old friend, re-learn some things, write a letter to someone, ect. Live in the moment. We will look back in a few months and think, "Wow, where did time go?! I could've gotten a lot more stuff done!" 

I encourage you all to pray, pray for our World, our Country, our President, our Leaders, Our Governors, our Mayors, our family's, our next generation, and lastly but most importantly yourself! We need God during these trying times. I know the God that I serve is able to keep us and protect us but, we must learn to TRUST Him. 

So I leave you with one of my favorite Bible verses. 

"Be still and know that I am God:" -Psalms 46:10

Be safe! Love and prayers! 

-Kelsey 

 Easter Sunday 2020

We took a walk down Main St. as a family

Taking a ride!

Some pie and a good time for Mom and Dad's Proposal Anniversary

Long Time Coming!

Hello again to all of my Family and Friends!! It has been a while since I've last posted. I hope everyone is doing well and is staying healthy. Well, let's jump right into this! 

Since I've last posted there has been a lot happening. I have gone into kidney failure and have had to start dialysis. I started dialysis in September of 2019. I have to go 3 days a week, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. The dialysis center I go to is in Spring Valley.  I do hemodialysis so I have a port in my neck into my chest. I feel rough afterwards a lot of the time, so I rest most of the day.  I look forward to my "off" days since I feel better and have more energy! I am needing a kidney transplant now, and Cleveland said I was able to do it closer to home. I looked into doing it at Peoria, but was told by the surgeon that I was considered a high risk patient, so they gave me two options they felt were best to try. I went with University of Madison Wisconsin hospital.  Shane and I really liked the facility and the Coordinator, Team, and Transplant Doctors. I am looking to have my stoma taking down and my intestines reconnected at Cleveland, but with the coronavirus going around, it's postponed for right now.  The transplant stuff is all on hold until I have the surgery done.  

The kids are staying busy now days!

Kelsey has finished school and is working at the shop full time for Shane. She works at the front counter and then also cleans the interior of vehicles. Kelsey also just got her braces taken off in March.She has anxiously been waiting for them to come off. In 2019 she was able to buy the Camry from us. She does a good job at taking care of it! Kelsey also got the chance to go to Colorado with a group from church for a youth conference this past year.  It was her first time to fly.  Let me include that this girl is afraid of heights, but God helped her and she was able to enjoy it! She's ready to go back again this summer.

Kailey is in 10th grade and is a busy young lady! She has been babysitting all day Monday, Wednesday and Fridays and then on Thursday she works with a close friend of ours from church. They make homemade wooden signs.  They also do custom signs to however you would like it to say. You can visit their page on Facebook, it's called Once Upon A Craft. She also got her drivers licence on her birthday last October.  She enjoys driving here, there, and everywhere.  Whenever there is an errand to be done she is quick to offer.  She is becoming quite to cook in the kitchen. She really enjoys it, and so do we!

Matthew is in his first year of high school. He has been focusing on his school, and is doing a great job! He loves going to the shop and helping Shane out anytime he can. He has been working there at times during closing hours and on the weekend. Also, he has started to play the drums at church since last year and he loves it! He has been "playing" the drums since he was probably 7 or 8 years old. He is doing a great job! Matthew will getting his permit in June. Yikes! When did that all happen!  Gulp!  He got in braces off  last year and his smile looks great! 

The shop has been busy the past few months! In December they did a price change and it is going smoothly so far! We have 6 employees. We have been so blessed and God has been so good! If you would like to set up an appointment or have any questions about what they do you can message them on Facebook, email, or call them! 
Email: shineshopofprinceton@gmail.com
Phone Number: 815-872-4301

God has blessed me and my family! I am so very very thankful!  May the peace of God cover your homes today, and each day!!!  Thankful for the hope we have in Him! Love you all!

Thank you for all the love and prayers! 

- Jamie

Valentine's Banquet 2020

Kelsey's Senior Picture

Kailey 

June 2019

Matthew playing his drum set at home

Kelsey in Colorado

Kailey and Matthew

Fall Fest 2019

Christmas Day 2019

The kids

The kids in August of 2019

Supper at the shop 

March 2020

Fall of 2019

Mother's Day 2019

Easter 2019

Christmas Day 2019

January 2020

Kailey working on some projects for 

Once Upon A Craft

Behind the scenes at the 

Shine Shop!

Matthew and Shane 

Christmas Day 2019

Happy 2018

Here we are in 2018 already! I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and praying  that 2018 will be a great year! There's much to be thankful for already starting the New Year off.  I woke up January 1with a fever, sore throat, body aches, and a major headache.  I was miserable and by the time Shane came home from the shop, he made a call to Cleveland Clinic.  They wanted me checked out by a doctor at the ER, so I got myself ready and we went.  We were there about 6 hours. There was labs drawn, an influenza test, IV fluids, and a bag of antibiotics. The instructions were for me to call my doctor in the next morning and schedule an appointment with him in the afternoon.  I ended up seeing him in the afternoon and had another nose swab for the influenza.  It came back negative, but he said you can still have it even though the test is negative.  With all my symptoms and the way I was feeling, I was admitted to the hospital to keep an eye on things. Thankfully I as able to go home within 2 days.  I'm feeling lots better,  still just trying to get my energy back.  I was praying that no one else in my family would get it, and thank the Lord for his protection, they did not get it. 

The kids had a fun time enjoying the snow.  They have gone sledding, shoveled at our house and the neighbors, made forts and had snow ball fights.  They have even enjoyed having a bowl of homemade snow cream. Right now the snow has melted quite a bit, but today the temperature has dropped and Mr. Winter has come again.  I did enjoy the warmth while it was here though.  

School has begun again for the kids.  That means back to routine again, but it's coming along.  I was ready to get back into routine, just not sure if they were;). We've set some goals for this year and it's fun to see us all working toward them, whether it's reading the Bible through, praying more, studying harder, and the list goes on.  Our Pastor has a quote he shares"the biggest room we live in is the room for improvement".

Shane's keeping busy with the shop. God is so good and has blessed us.  For the month of January, he's running a Wash and Wax special for $50.00.  That includes a hand wash, dry, vacuume, glass cleaned, tires cleaned and dressed, and a coat of wax.  A great deal!   Just wanted to throw it out there in case someone wants to take advantage of this special.  

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend. Thanks for the love and prayers.  

Love, 

Jamie

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas!

What a busy time of the year.  The lights and decorations are up. The smell of baking in the air.  A few cookies were made. Shopping is about done. Enjoying listening to Christmas music.  The kids had their Christmas program for Sunday School and did a good job.  Looking forward to our Christmas Eve Service at 10 am.  The girls are singing in the choir.  Would love to have you join us.  Let's not, in the hustle and bustle, forget the true meaning.  What a gift He gave to us.  He came to live as man and take our sins away by dying on a cross.  His birth was supernatural and miraculous.  Don't miss the wonder of it all.  

I had a very special time with a very precious family.  I was able to meet my Donor Family.  I had an appointment in Cleveland and we took a different route so we could see them. We met them for lunch at Olive Garden. There were many emotions that day!  What a sweet family they are and very dear to my heart. His Mom, brother, sister, and her two children were there. I'm looking forward to seeing them again!  I can't wait!  Words can't express my gratitude to them for the decision they made for Gabe during a tragic time. 

The girls are getting over strep throat. Thankfully the rest of us didn't get it.  Lots of prayers, Lysol, and quarantining them.  It's hard not taking care of them like you want to, but know it's best so you don't get it. They had high temps of 102.2 and the other was 101.9. Thankfully they are on the mend.  

Matthew and Kelsey have braces.  They just got them on in December.  The first couple days it took a lot of getting used to. Lots of soup, applesauce, pudding, and Tylenol.  The second day of having them was their youth progressive dinner.  That was not fun, but at least there was something at each house for them to have.  Kailey is needing them also but trying to work it out with insurance.  

Shane's business is going well.  With the Peru shop closed, it gives him the chance to fully focus on Princeton's.  He has been doing a few more new things and trying some new products.  To God be all the glory for what He is doing.  If you live in the area, stop in and give him a try! You can't beat a car wash, vacuum, Windows inside and out, and tires dressed for $20.00. 

I wish you all a wonderful Christmas. Enjoy spending time with your family and friends, making  memories and treasuring those of the past, eating some homemade goodies and then again some more. Celebrate the season of Christmas, but don't forget the true meaning.   No matter what gifts you get or give, He gave the greatest gift to you. 

My precious Donors Family ❤️

Matthew fishing at the end of November!

From our Family to Yours-MERRY CHRISTMAS