Reflecting over 1 year....

It's hard for me to even put into words the journey I have been on since I got that call on June 8, 2008. I got that call around 9:00 pm to tell me that they had a possible match, new lungs for me. I went into surgery around 7:00 am and 9 hours later for the first time I no longer had CF lungs. From that moment it has been quite a journey of ups and downs and as I have read over all that was written on my blog during that time, I'm just amazed again at where the Lord has brought me. Your words of encouragement, prayers, cards, meals and love over this past year have been a blessing beyond words for us. Since it's difficult to put into words all the emotions of this year I thought I would just share some videos and pictures so that you can PRAISE the Lord with us as we celebrate 1 YEAR!


My journey & recovery with new lungs.....

Seeing Mama after surgery from Emily Mulkey on Vimeo.

Taking my first laps from Emily Mulkey on Vimeo.

Ringing the Bell from Emily Mulkey on Vimeo.

These are pictures of some of the wonderful opportunities I have been able to do and be apart of with my new lungs!

This are some verses that I wrote down during my time of waiting and recovery and how the Lord spoke peace to me through them.

"Before they call I will answer, while they are still speaking I will hear". Isa. 65:24
(I know the Lord was speaking to his people here in Isaiah but in 2007/2008 those words gave me hope that even before the transplant coordinator called me He had already put in motion His perfect plan. He had already answered before I ever picked up the phone)

"You restored me to health and let me live. Surely it was for my benefit that I suffered such anguish". Isa. 38:17
(There was a reason I waited a year for these lungs and went through some difficult times and though I hate to suffer I am thankful for what I have learned and only pray I come out not only with healthy lungs but a changed daughter of the Lord. He never wants my suffering to be in vain, thank you, Lord!)

"The God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were. Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him..........21) being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised". Romans 4:17-21
(At times it felt like we were running out of time but this verse kept coming back to me that when it seemed like there was no hope for Abraham and his wife to have a child because of their age that he just continued to put his hope in the Lord and believe He could do anything! That sometimes the things we consider dead or hopeless are the very things God brings to life and brings hope when there is none to be found. My husband continued to share this very thing with me when I felt like I just couldn't do it anymore)

It has not been an easy road and continues to be a daily balancing act to keep my body healthy and try to find solutions for the many side effects from the drugs. I have to take it one day at a time and just be thankful for every moment I have. I know this is a long post but I wanted to share some thoughts over the past year and to say THANK YOU again for your love, support & prayers!

Family Pictures

These are some family pictures we took the end of April by the very talented Abbie (Thanks Abbie!). As I have mentioned before I love having family pictures but I always dread taking them because it usually is stressful. However, Faith behaved so well and was very smiley, it was a joy to do, & Maggie didn't do too bad either! Hope you enjoy them!

Health Update~
After I came home, I continued to be very nauseated and could not eat (I lost about 12 pds, which is bad for me). So, the doctors switched one of my anti-rejection meds that I thought was causing all the trouble and put me on a different one. Since Monday, Praise the Lord I have not been sick and been very hungry! Food tastes so good again! I am still having trouble getting my blood level at the right place. I am having to do the blood thinner shots, which I give myself in my stomach and blood thinner pills for the blood clots. I continue to struggle with a cough at night but over all I'm feeling stronger and better. Thank you again for the many prayers.

Back in TX

Well I was discharged around noon yesterday and we left for TX right away. It was a long 18 hour trip home as I was coughing and nauseated the whole time. Faith did well until the evening when she continued to tell us she was "stuck", stuck that is in her car seat. =) My mother in-law, Mitzi helped out with Faith all week and was a huge help to me on the ride home. I have the most loving and caring mother in-law. What a blessing she is in my life! I was disappointed that I just did not have the strength to make it to the CF walk this morning however I'm thankful for the family that went out to walk and for those who supported us financially. THANK YOU!!!

I still could use your prayers as I am very weak, nauseated and feel pretty beaten up. It is wonderful to be home though. Towards the end of my week the doctors found that I had several blood clots in my neck and so they had to remove the PICC line that was put in 2 days before. I am now on blood thinners and will be for a couple of months. Hope you and your families have had a good week and would love to get updates on you as well! Love ya....

3 MORE DAYS!

We have 3 more days till our big Cystic Fibrosis walk on Saturday. I am praying that I will be able to go home so I can attend this event. I haven't been able to do the CF walks for a couple of years now and so I'm very excited about it. Some of you have already donated as well as signed up to be a walker that day and I can't THANK YOU enough for your generosity and support! I set the goal for my team to raise $3,000.00 and so far we have raised $225.00. I have not had a lot of time to do all the promoting for this walk like I would have wanted too so I thank you for want you have given. I know it's been a difficult time for people financially but this is a battle we could not win without your help. Below is my story and the web page site were you can donate and see the progress we are making. THANK YOU again for your love and support!

*Our CF shirts for the walk this year say,

"Take a deep breath and think of someone who can't".

Hopes or dreams were not much of a reality for people with Cystic Fibrosis when I was born, yet today not only are hopes and dreams coming true there are miracles! When I was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis at the age of 3 months old, the hope that I would ever live very long or have a normal life were small. Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a devastating genetic disease that affects tens of thousands of children and young adults in the United States.
Though my journey with CF has been quite a battle to fight, I am thankful for the life I have and the many blessings I have been given. I have had the wonderful blessing of being a wife to an amazing man and in 2006 we found out we would be expecting our miracle baby. Faith, who is now 2 1/2 yrs. old is healthy, beautiful, fun and a joy to our family!
In 2007 I was put on the transplant list due to my failing lungs. My lung function at the time was 16 to 18%. It was a difficult year as I waited for some healthy lungs, but on June 8, 2008 I was given that miracle. A family that didn't even know me gave me a second chance at life. THANK YOU!!! I no longer have CF in my lungs yet I will always deal with the other issues that go along with CF (pancreas, sinus...etc). My journey with CF, and now as a transplant patient has been a rough road and I could not have done it without the amazing support of my family and friends. Over the years you all have given so much to us and we could never say thank you enough.
There has been great steps in furthering the quality of life for those with CF, yet there is STILL so much to be done. Until we hear the words "Cure Found" our mission is not done! Please consider making a gift that will be used efficiently and effectively, as nearly 90 cents of every dollar of revenue raised is available for investment in vital CF programs to support research, care and education.
Making a donation is easy and secure! Just click the "Click to Donate" button on this page to go to make a donation that will be credited to my team. Any amount you can donate is greatly appreciated!
If you would also like to come out and be apart of the GREAT STRIDES walk with us, the walk will take place on Saturday, May 16th at LCU starting at 8:30 AM.
Thank you for supporting the mission of the CF Foundation and GREAT STRIDES!
Many Blessings, Emily Mulkey

Quick Update~

Sorry this post is so long but wanted to give you an update. My ultrasound of my stomach came back good yet I am still dealing with nausea and keeping things down. They are trying to figure out which medicine is causing this and maybe we can change some of them. Lord willing we will be going home in a couple of days. I continue to thank the Lord for His mercy toward me because I surely don't deserve it. I'm thankful the Lord's compassion and grace is stronger then His anger and that He is patient in teaching me the same lessons over and over again.

"He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love. He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities under foot". Micah 7:18-19

Tuesday update

I'm sorry I haven't given an update in a couple of days but I was pretty sick yesterday dealing with nausea and throwing up. Like I said before I've been struggling with nausea for quite some time now and so they are trying to find the answer to that. They did an ultrasound of my stomach but we don't know the results of that. However, it looks like there is no rejection. I'm so thankful for the Lord's mercy and grace. They still believe that it is some type of pneumonia. Hopefully we will be able to go home in a couple of days. Thank you for your prayers. Your encouragement and support have lifted us up again and again.

This verse has been continually running through my head and gives me great encouragement to keep pressing on not just physically but in every area of my life.

And let us not become weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
Galatians 6:9

Happy Mother's Day

I realize this holiday brings tears of joy and tears of sorrow for some of you as you might have lost your mother or are becoming a brand new mom this year. Whatever your relationship is with your mother one thing is for sure and that is she has left a forever mark in your life. Now as a mama of Faith I continue to be amazed at what a huge yet wonderful gift, service God has given me to do. It is not always an easy road to become the mother you want to be but I am beginning to learn that it is through my failures that I can teach her more about the Lord, life and herself then when I am "doing everything right". Motherhood is not just a journey to teach your child about life lessons but it becomes a journey you take with your Savior. A journey in which you begin to see how you respond and act in the same way to your Heavenly Father as your child does you. A road in which you learn to love, forgive, cry, laugh, extend grace, test patience and become a student all over again.

Love you, Mom!

Mothers & Daughters

Taking care of me once again in the hospital and celebrating the miracle of new lungs

Love my Nannie

I am thankful for the mother I have and the love and joy she has brought to my life. She has not had an easy job raising me with all of my health issues (and maybe some stubbornness along the way) but I have never once heard her complain. The countless hours she did over the years in helping with my breathing treatments, giving me my CPT (percussion), keeping up with all of my meds, the many doctors visits and hospital stays as well as staying up with me throughout the night due to coughing so much. Not only did she take care of me physically but her love for the Lord and her leadership in teaching her children about the Lord gave me a spiritual seed to grow. We are good friends....well we refer to each other most of the time as sisters and I'm forever thankful for all that she is and all that she has done for me. I LOVE YOU MOM!!!

Update~
I got to Birmingham around midnight and they took another x-ray and the doctor felt that it is probably pneumonia instead of rejection. However, they will still do a bronch probably today to check everything. We continue to pray that it is not rejection and that these meds clear up whatever infection I have. Please pray that I do well with the bronch as I always seem to struggle with it. (Hopefully NO more shots in my rear this time in the recovery room....see older post Crazy Lady on the Loose!) Thank you so much for your prayers, it means so much to us. Jason, Faith and Mimi (Jason's mom) arrived here this afternoon. They drove the 18 hour drive through the night and so we thank you for lifting them up in your prayers.

My Grandma sent me this and I thought it was so funny and so true! Hope you enjoy reading it and laugh at some of the funny things we do as moms.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO ALL YOU GREAT MOMS!

~Lessons you learn from your mom~

1. My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE. "If you're going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning."

2. My mother taught me RELIGION. "You better pray that will come out of the carpet."

3. My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL . "If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock you into the middle of next week!"

4. My mother taught me LOGIC . " Because I said so, that's why."

5. My mother taught me MORE LOGIC. "If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you're not going to the store with me."

6. My mother taught me FORESIGHT. "Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you're in an accident ."

7. My mother taught me IRONY. "Keep crying, and I'll give you something to cry about."

8. My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS. "Shut your mouth and eat your supper."

9. My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM . "Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!"

10. My mother taught me about STAMINA. "You'll sit there until all that spinach is gone."

11. My mother taught me about WEATHER. "This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it."

12. My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY. "If I told you once, I've told you a million times. Don't exaggerate!"

13. My mother taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE . "I brought you into this world, and I can take you out."

14. My mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION. "Stop acting like your father!"

15. My mother taught me about ENVY. "There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don't have wonderful parents like you do."

16. My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION. "Just wait until we get home."

17. My mother taught me about RECEIVING . "You are going to get it when you get home!"

18. My mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE . "If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they are going to get stuck that way."

19. My mother taught me ESP. "Put your sweater on; don't you think I know when you are cold?"

20. My mother taught me HUMOR. "When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don't come running to me."

21. My mother taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT. "If you don't eat your vegetables, you'll never grow up."

22. My mother taught me GENETICS. "You're just like your father."

23. My mother taught me about my ROOTS . "Shut that door behind you. Do you think you were born in a barn?"

24. My mother taught me WISDOM. "When you get to be my age, you'll understand."

25. And my favorite: My mother taught me about JUSTICE. "One day you'll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you.

"Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed" Proverbs 31:25-28

Headed to Birmingham

My x-ray from yesterday and today showed a possible pneumonia and I was coughing some blood up this morning. However all the test that they have done have come back negative so my transplant team wants me to be transported to Birmingham to check for rejection. They don't feel that pneumonia can set in that quickly. We just want to be on the safe side and make sure we are not missing anything. Jason and Faith will either drive or fly out as soon as we know when I will be leaving.

I really can't share what all is going on in my heart right now but I've been praying and asking for the same thing that the man in Mark 9:24 asked of Jesus.

Jesus says, "Everything is possible for him who believes."
Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" Mark 9:23-24

Health update

Well I spent most of the day in the ER yesterday. I've been struggling with nausea for several weeks now and I woke up running a high fever on Thursday and feeling very drained. Come to find out I was severely dehydrated (this was caused by a number of things that I've been battling with) and probably have a viral infection. I stayed in the hospital last night and have been receiving fluids and some antibiotics. My oxygen has been low too so they put me on some oxygen for right now. I'm not sure how long I'll be in here but I feel like the fluids are helping some.

I could use your prayers right now as I feel very emotionally drained. Jason and I were talking this morning about this past year, and although we have had some wonderful times it has also been a very long and difficult one. I guess I'm just feeling a little beat up and defeated at the moment. Thank you for your prayers for us.

Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." 2 Cor. 12:8-9

Maggie dressed in her Best!

What's cuter then a Bulldog? A Bulldog in a DRESS! Yep, Maggie had her first experience (as well as ours) competing in a dog pageant. Last weekend was the "Posh Pooch Pageant" and anyone could enter and it was just a fun activity for the whole family. I had no idea what I was going to dress her in but Jason was set on finding something girlie and frilly (if you can imagine Jason wanting that!) My next dilemma was if our almost 5 month old puppy would fit into anything. Let's just say Bulldogs are NOT known for their thin and lean look. =) However, I did find a beautiful dress that fit her good but not for long. She was quite an eye catcher and to top it off her pink bow on the rear was great because she has a nice waddle and so she had a great shake!

Don't let the face deceive you, she really had a good time =)

She did very well though, she was the second runner up. =) Very proud of her. All in all it was a fun day and we'll be back next year with more frills and maybe beads!

This is the dog she lost too =(

Strange Happenings...& the Ins & Outs of the week!

Well I guess I can start with the strange happenings around our house. First of all in the middle of April we had a huge hail storm that left our streets looking like a raging icy river and quarter size hail covered the lawn. I haven't seen a storm like that in a while and Faith was fascinated with all the ice!


Hail Storm! from Emily Mulkey on Vimeo.

Hail covered the lawn

Our second strange sighting is what has been strolling around in the baby stroller at our house. DINOSAURS! Faith has had a growing obsession with dinosaurs and the other day I decided that she would probably like having a model one for herself. We went to TOYS R US and she was thrilled to pick one out and as we waited in the check out line to purchase it, a lady in front of us looked over and said," Does she like dinosaurs?" I said," yes, she loves them!" The lady laughed and said," how strange." Hey.....some girls stroll babies in their strollers and other girls stroll dinosaurs. I'm pretty sure right now she would rather have a dinosaur party then a princess party. =)

Here are some ins and outs of our week~

Faith got a new sandbox and she is not the only one that is enjoying it!

We went to Chucke-Cheese last week and all Faith wanted to do was sit in this car and hug the dog


Emily T. came down for a couple of days to see her family and so I got to hop over and spend sometime with her and her sweet baby, Savannah! Faith loved baby Savvy


Sometimes you just got to rest those jowls

Faith headed to the circus this week and had a good time watching the elephants and tigers!
Oh My!

At our Ranching Heritage Center here they had a kids fun day and Faith got to do want she loves.....ride those horses with cousin, Jane! Yee Haw