What I am Thankful For - Happy Thanksgiving!

Hello and Happy Thanksgiving!

With the Turkey in the oven and a few quiet moments in my house before the family rush, I actually had a moment to update my blog. I decided to start out with what I am thankful for this since it is "Thanksgiving."

I am thankful that my recent follow-up with the Nephrologist only revealed low sodium and potassium in the lab work. I don't recall if she explained the low potassium other than to say she was mailing me a potassium diet. She did say that the low sodium is caused by the PKD though. For some people with a Kidney Diseases, the kidney sends out mixed signals to the brain that limit your absorption of salt. Since I don't absorb salt properly, my blood was pretty low in sodium and she prescribed sodium bicarb pills to take daily. We will be redoing my lab work in February to see if that is working so while most people are to avoid salt, I am actually taking a sodium pill. Other than that, the kidney function was doing pretty well.

I am thankful that Amanda is doing well right now. She just had her annual ultrasound and lab work done on Tuesday, 11/24. Rather than just the annual renal ultrasound, they ordered a full abdominal ultrasound. I hope to get the results of that on Monday, but the tech did tell her that the cysts had not grown that much since last year, so that is good news. She will be meeting with her Nephrologist on December 2, so I will post a follow-up on how that goes after the appointment.

I am thankful that my son Michael has fully recovered from his skull fracture without surgery. He did wear a neck brace for a while, but that has now been removed. He is now showing me protective head gear to wear while playing soccer and begging to return as soon as possible...ah youth! I told him that while he was physically healed, I was not emotionally healed and to give me a little more time.

I am thankful that not only did I find a new job this year in an economy that is laying off rather than hiring, my new employer was also very understanding, amazing, and supportive while Michael was in the hospital. Not only did they pay me for part of time I was off even though I was still within my first 90 days and not eligible, staff members that barely new me came to visit us and sent care packages of food while he was still in ICU.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving!