Getting Big!

Miss Cholula is four weeks old

Learning to walk

Gets along with her brothers

Getting cuter every day!

Who could argue with this sweet face?

Weighing in at 1.3 lbs.

"Cholula"

New Arrival

Richard and I  have a new puppy coming into our home the end of March. Little "Cholula" was born on January 22, 2013 and is growing fast! We met her at just two days old, weighing in at just 5 ounces. Hard to imagine that isn't it? She most likely will weigh at least 2 lbs or less when we bring her home. 

We have been talking of a new member to add to our home and now we are ready. It was ever so devastating to lose our little "Miss Ellen" it has taken us some time to recover.  

Miss "Cholula" at two weeks old.

"Cholula" was born just one day before Ellen would have turned six.

I will post new photos as I receive them.

Sad News

                                                                         Our Little Miss Ellen

After a tragic near drowning accident while in the care of Ellen's sitter, Ellen lost her life.

We are so sad and devastated over this and are trying to find a way to get through this. 

Every little thing she did we miss. It will be a long time before we "get it" Richard and I are in shock  and so sad without her. She was such a big part of our lives and went everywhere with us. Unless it was a long trip of course. We even smuggled her into hotels! 

Ellen I know Doggie Heaven is fun with no rules and lots of treats. 

RIP Miss Ellen

1/23/07

9/23/12

Longest Five Days

This has been the longest five days ever!

I can now finally say my brother Dudley will be receiving his Liver Transplant on the morning of September 4th!

Couldn't think of a better gift to give him for his 59th Birthday coming up on September 12th.

I say this after much prayer from so many loved ones, family, friends even people we do not know.

I have not met my brothers team, he speaks highly of them. Knowing how NYPH works I know they are too!

My team is ever so amazing and there for me from start to finish and beyond.From the start it has been months of paperwork and testing that I can finally say we received the YES!

I know he will feel better and it will be a challenge for me to recuperate however this whole entire journey has already been ever so amazing.

The Live Liver Donor Program at NYPH/Columbia is a program I was not aware of. I was so shocked they could do such a transplant. I have known about the kidney transplant, we all have two of those right?

I shall continue this blog along this incredible journey.

Thank you to all that have written, text, called and just have been here for me (us) for all of these months.

With much appreciation and love,

God is Good

Life is Good

Patience

"My Brother My Team"

It has been a long day

How long?

If I asked myself that question just two or three hours ago my answer would have been ever so negative.

It's been a longer day for each and every one of my ever so awesome

Team Members

It's been an even longer day for my brother.

Every day is long for him.

Who am I to complain or feel like I had a tiring day?

I am an impatient person that " Likes her Ducks in a Row"

Today I was not handed the entire line up of my ducks.

There is just one missing,just one.

I know in my heart and with my entire soul my last duck will be in line by Monday.

I am going to sleep in peace tonight.

I will enjoy my family this weekend.

I will be "Waiting" for that phone call patiently.

The Countdown Begins

The Waiting

If you know me you won't be to surprised that I am anxious! You will be surprised that it is a

"good feeling" this time anyway...

As I am in a strange hotel all by myself anxiously awaiting for sleep time so my wake up time will be here fast. :)

Tomorrow August 24th is my pre-op day! A full schedule of tests and meetings with my ever so spectacular "Liver Donor Team"

Each and every person on this team plays an important role for this entire life changing event,coming up in just over a week.

My team consists of

Living Donor Coordinator

Transplant Coordinator

Social Worker

Financial Coordinator

Psychiatrist

Hepatolgist

Surgeon

Independent Dr.

Each member of my team has already made me feel comfortable. I know I am able and have called on them for advice. I know I am in the best care with all of them.

What an awesome program and journey so far,haven't even done the surgery yet!:)

With this I shall say I talked with my brother today. He is working (yep) said he needs to be sure his office is good to go until his return after surgery. He is a strong man, maybe not physically at the moment,that will be back soon!

I am so ready,willing and able to help him get back to work!!

To be continued...

Love and More

For My Brother with Love

With lots of testing for my brother Dudley he was finally placed on the Liver transplant list. This could take years to happen. Once a patient has been approved for the list a "living donor "can then step up and apply to donate a little more than half of their liver to the recipient.
I was not aware that this sort of transplant was available! It didn't take long to call the Liver Donor Team which i did do in late May. I heard back and before I knew it I was scheduled for lots of tests and blood work for myself. All of which needed to be in NYC. I heard back from the team of doctors in less than a week that the committee had determined I was able to donate for my brother.
The surgery was scheduled for early August but did not happen due to complications Dudley was having with his kidneys. His kidney doctors would not release him for the surgery until they did a biopsy of his kidneys. A week of waiting for results ( long week) he was cleared to go ahead with the liver transplant.
Dudley has and continued to be a model patient for the duration of his illness. He really should get patient of the year! :)
On September 4th we are scheduled for surgeries, my brother will have a great chance at living a normal life for years to come!
Surgeries will both be at Columbia University Medical Hospital. 622 W. 168th St NY, NY

Would so appreciate thoughts and prayers for the anxious feelings now that it is so close. The surgeries which are long Dudley's 8 hours, mine will be about 6 hours. Also for fast healing after the surgeries.
Last, but not least please pray for our caregivers as it is not an easy task to take on. :)
My dear friend Mary Jane will be with me for my surgery and after for two weeks. She went with me to all of my evaluation process and tests. A true testament of what a friend is. I am ever so grateful!

Dudley has had his wife Terri by his side the entire time. She has been a saving grace for him spending nights in his hospital room,then care at home waiting for the big day. He has also been blessed to have my niece Mary come out from California to relieve Terri for a bit.

My Richard along with both of my daughters have given me their blessing,not without worry but they completely understand.

I also have so many close,dear friends that have been praying and helping me to stay calm. I love them so much. ( you know who you are)

I will blog along the way of this incredible journey.

Much love,

Pam

Life Changes Everything

Life Changes in the Awalt Family

Life changes happen and are always for a good reason. Most of the time we all are unaware of why something happens but when the reason shows up we sure know it! Here are a few of them for our family. Richard and I have finally figured out why we purchased such a large home. =) Don't get me wrong we love having the extra rooms and bathrooms for visitors from California and such! Keep the visits coming!

I have learned to love all of the four beautiful seasons here. Each with its own beauty. I love looking forward to the next season each time. Winter, when the trees are finally bare from their beautiful colors and the snow falls. When March approaches and we are tired of the cold, comes the beautiful spring flowers popping up everywhere! Life is good!

The life changes for our youngest daughter since our move have been rather amazing. She has grown in so many ways. Samantha fell in love and is married to a wonderful man. She is now Mrs. Bo Carvalho. They have made a very nice home for themselves in Arroyo Grande. Samantha and Bo work for the SLO county school district with special needs children and love the work they do. Can't ask for anything more for your child. We see her several times a year and cherish that time ever so much. Our daughter Anni and her husband James along with our two grandsons, Emerick and Louis lived in a nearby town in the basement apartment with James' family. They had made the decision to live there to save money to purchase their first home. At 4:30 the morning after Memorial Day the entire home was engulfed in flames. The entire family got out just in time only to lose everything they owned and their pets. We are ever so thankful that our kids and grandsons are with us today. They have been living with us ever since and we love it. It has been difficult to watch them as they try and put back together their home and still struggle to feel "safe". Emerick is having a difficult time with adjusting and not being afraid. He talks of the "Sire" pretty much daily and worries about our home and the same thing happening. James and Anni do a wonderful job with him reassuring him daily.

They have been ever so humbled by the generosity of family, friends and people they have never met. The outpour of help from the communities from the East to the West is beyond words. ALL of the help is beyond words, they as we are are ever so blessed and thankful for each and every one of you!

We are ever so happy for James and Anni as they are now in escrow on their own home in Stewartstown, PA. It is a lovely home that sits on an acre and a half. It will be wonderful to watch them continue to heal and see the boys playing outside in their own yard, full of "new toys".

When bad things happen there is always sunshine to look forward to!

Six Months?

We have had a busy six months and no blogging?

Well, as soon as I load my photos onto my computer we will have a new blog of our fabulous 30th Anniversary Cruise Trip to the Western Caribbean.

Stay tuned.

Vero Beach, Florida

Click here to view this photo book larger

Getting Ready for the Holiday

Christmas is Approaching

This is a week of anticipation of the upcoming holiday of Christmas.

We have seen Santa Claus and Oh What Fun we had!

Family gathering around the Christmas Tree soon

With the fireplace all a glow.

We will all be together for the Holiday

My favorite time for sure.

With Richard off of work for a bit and Samantha on her way.

Anni and James and Emerick too

This Holiday I am looking so forward to making more memories to share.

Grammy and PaPa

with Emerick waiting to sit on Santa's lap.

Photograhs

I don't like my picture taken

Emerick doesn't like it either

Anni is a professional photographer

She gave me a sitting for my birthday

This is the best result from two people that are not the best models.

Sorry Anni Oh. You are an amazing photographer!

Photo courtesy of AnniOhPhotos.com

A Very Long Time

Do I Still Have Any Blog Followers out there?

It has been since last summer since I have blogged!

It was when Samantha and Peter were here in July.

Wondering if I will keep this blog alive or not.

I love my life here in Maryland!

So much that I have forgotten to blog!

Thinking about changing it to a journal rather than a blog.

Any suggestions will be taken into consideration.

and appreciated. =)

Meanwhile, Emerick is Two!!!

On and On

Memphis to Knoxville and Home

Richard's Mom and Dad lived in the " Secret City" near Knoxville which is where the Atomic Bomb was made. There was a museum, we bought some books and a DVD to do some more research on the city. We will be returning there in the future.

We had an amazing 45 day trip across the United States. Saw many beautiful cities, wonderful friends along the way. Needless to say on our way home we were more than anxious to get back.

Our last day on the road began at 3:30 AM in Knoxville Tenn. and we arrived home at 12:30 PM.

No mishaps, car trouble and only one day of a heavy rain storm in nasty weather.

Life is Good<3

Martin Luther King Memories

As we left Memphis we went by The Lorraine Hotel where Martin Luther King was assassinated. Very humbling.

Graceland..Two nights in Memphis...Night Life on Bealle St.

Several Route 66 Stops..Almost Ghost Town Like

W

One Week to Get Home

We left the Central Coast after a good two week visit with Samantha, friends and lots of golf for Richard.

First stop was in Laguna Beach to see brother Greg, Sabra, Blake and Dean. Good visit.

Drove to Winslow Arizona and stayed at the La Posada Hotel. Hopefully you are able to read the plaque..the place was beautiful as you can see in the photos.

California to Maryland and In Between

Lagging in Blogging

Must be due to all of the fun

I promise to upload my photos

As soon as we are done.

Since Las Vegas we have been in California for two weeks.

Heading east toward home with stops along the way.

Home by the 6th of July...

This Lil Guy has grown a ton...

So now it is time to head home for some fun.

Vegas to California

Our visit to Las Vegas was wonderful. We were married there 29 years ago and to celebrate a month early was amazing. We have raised two beautiful daughters and have many fond memories of vacations at the Hard Rock Hotel. So we stayed there for two nights.

The pool has expanded and so has the Hotel

But there are still so many memories there.

Went to two wonderful shows at The Mirage

Terry Fator, the winner of America's Got Talent

And the Beatles " Love" Cirque du Soleil Show

Both were amazing.

We are now in California enjoying our Samantha Jane.

Stay tuned.