6 Days to Go

I believe. I believe. And with the pixie dust of prayer, this is going to happen and it's going to go well.
In 7 days I will wake up with a new kidney. It almost feels like I'm having a baby. In 7 days, I will have this new life that I will need to nurture and protect. Chris (the pre-transplant coordinator assigned to Josh and I) told me that I won't feel better right away. She said it usually takes a couple of weeks. However, my friend Kris that had a transplant last summer called me the day after her transplant and told me how wonderful she felt. I guess it all depends on the patient. I don't care if I wake up feeling better or it takes two weeks - just so I feel better.
We got our pre-surgery orders today. Josh listed everything in his blog for the pre-surgery. I also got my "transplant Bible" (as Chris calls it) that tells me a little abou the drugs I will be placed on and how often I'll have to go to Clinic. The book also says I can't drive for 4 weeks - I'm not sure if waiting that long is really necessary or if it's just the Clinic's way to get me to start walking (because heaven knows I can't stay in the house for 4 weeks!).
I can't be around crowds for 3 months - so basically until 2011. And, of course, I need to stay away from sick people. I'll be on lots of drugs - at least at first. The good news is that they are going to TRY to keep me off of steroids. This is really good news to me because the list of things that can happen when you're on steroids are not things I want to deal with (like growing hair everywhere except your head, acne, etc.).
I'll probably get released from the hospital on Friday or Saturday. Then I'll need to return to the Clinic at the Transplant Center on Monday and Thursday the first and second weeks, then once a week for weeks 3-6. After that, I'll go about once a month until 6 months. Then they turn me back over to my regular nephrologist and I only have to go to the Clinic every couple of months. I'll need to see my regular nephrologist at least once a month for a year or two, then things will space out.
It's a little overwhelming right now, but I know this is what is supposed to happen in my life right now so I'm good with it. I'll do what I have to in order to take care of my new "baby".
Goodnight!