Down This Path Called Breast Cancer

3-years cancer free!

2011-09-12T12:24:00.000-05:00

It has been 3 years today that I underwent a bilateral mastectomy to remove both my breasts that had cancer. Where has the time gone! I blogged about my journey (and what a journey it was) from start to finish and have not updated it in a long time. Where am I now? Healthwise, I am in great health. I continue to run and this past summer even entered my first triathlon (next year I am going to do two!) I just went for my 6 month check, got the green light go and will be back in another 6 months. While some scars have faded away, some remain, but my memory of what I went through is still very vivid in my mind. During that time I had reconnected with old friends, found out who my true friends were and made new friends thru the cancer world. I continue to hold these people near and dear to my heart and thank my lucky stars for my health, children and loved ones. There are many days I don't even think about cancer or that I even had cancer. It never defined me as a person and never will. It was a fork in the road, a life lesson and life altering for me. I am now single, work full time, have a daughter away at college, a son who is a junior in high school, two cats (one who is crazzzy!) and a cute little house that I love! My life is pretty ordinary! I run most days with a pink hat on and proudly say I am a survivor! In two weeks I will join thousands on the Milwaukee Lakefront as we run/walk for the Susan Komen Race for the Cure. No doubt I will shed a few tears as I run, knowing that I am a survivor, thinking of those who lost the battle and those who daily will get the news that they too will travel the cancer road. Three years ago, I was overwhelmed, scared, uncertain and felt like my life was in limbo. Today, I am healthy, live in the moment, have no regrets, don't look too far into the future and am in a great place in my life right now! I wouldn't change a thing!Be strong and stay positive!Love to all!Gail

August 2010 Update!

2010-08-26T16:06:00.008-05:00

It has been a long time since I updated this blog. I wanted to post something new as so much time has passed and there are still people who come to visit my blog pages.
I am almost a 2-year survivor and my life has changed so much in the past year's time. I just turned 50 and competed in my first 5K race as a relay in a triathlon. Never in a million years did I ever think I would be running at my age, but with the inspiration of my friend Cathy who runs marathons and competes in triathlons I did it! And I was thrilled with my time of 30.08 minutes. I am almost at the end of a divorce and will be moving to my new home within a month. I have a great circle of friends and the greatest kids ever who have supported me and cheered me on. I am looking ahead to the future with a huge smile on my face. I believe in myself again after a long time of feeling like a failure in my life and marriage. Me getting cancer made me re-evaluate my life and what I wanted and needed for myself. As I have said before "life is too short" Don't waste a minute of it!

February 2010

2010-02-19T08:58:00.001-06:00

Susan Komen Walk 2009

2009-09-28T20:17:00.002-05:00

This past Sunday I participated in the Susan Komen Race for the Cure 5K walk/run in Milwaukee with some sister survivors and friends. Last year at this time I had just undergone some surgery and could not walk. This year I was not going to miss it!

One Year Cancer Free!

2009-09-12T07:09:00.000-05:00

One year ago I underwent a 7 hour surgery to remove both my breasts that were filled with cancer.

Today I am cancer free!

Today I will celebrate!!!

One year ago today

2009-07-23T07:42:00.001-05:00

One year ago today I was diagnosed with breast cancer! It is hard for me to believe that a whole year has gone by. I clearly remember how overwhelming it is when you first learn you have cancer and you are not in control of the situation. Doctors, surgeons,appointments, biopsies, oncologists, surgery or no surgery?, lumpectomy or mastectomy? and chemotherapy. I have gone through 4 surgeries in the past year, 6 chemo treatments, two of which failed, countless visits to Hotel Froedert, my oncologist and plastic surgeon and weeks of feeling like crap. At the time I had thought time had stood still. I was bald, boobless and feeling pretty ugly. Now it seems somewhat long ago.

Today my health is excellent, probably better than before. I walk, run and have just started biking again. I exercise almost daily! I have lost almost 15 pounds in the past year. I have boobs! I have hair again! My next surgery will be in October when the soft tissue expanders are removed and the real implants are put in.
My days are now filled with work, family, exercise and staying healthy and fighting my now curly hair! And I love it!

My life has changed but for the better. I can truly say that "life is short" don't waste a minute of it. I wouldn't wish this path in the road for anyone. It takes a toll on you both physically and emotionally. You will either play the cards you are dealt with and move on or let cancer overtake you and beat you up. This journey has taught me about true friendship, love and support,hope and faith, patience and motivation.

I believe I am a better person because of having had cancer!

Vacation

2009-06-22T10:10:00.004-05:00

Things have been a bit quiet here on my blog. I am taking some time off and now am headed on vacation until the beginning of July. I am looking forward to some fun and sun!

Thoughts for the Day!

2009-06-18T07:30:00.001-05:00

Clink on the link below and enjoy!

www.thejoymovie.com

Update

2009-06-10T17:14:00.005-05:00

The above photos are my amateur attempt with a macro lens on my Canon Rebel. My brother was in town for several days and he brought along some lenses for me to try.
I loved the 400 mm zoom lens, although it is huge and heavy. I will have to save some pennies but would love to have one in the future.

All is well with me......

I have......
planted some flowers
attended some baseball games
gone to lunch with friends
gone to dinner with friends
bought more flowers to replace the flowers that drowned
replanted flowers that got drowned from the rain
had my boob filled
tried on my swimsuit with my new boobs :)
pondered what to do with my wavvvyyyyy hair
updated my resume and cover letter (yes looking for a full time job other than our business)
cursed this bad weather in Wisconsin
started counting down the days until Florida
laughed hysterically at my dog laying in my lounge chair outside
and....... every day.... thanked my lucky stars that I am healthy!

Roxie

2009-05-31T08:34:00.001-05:00

My dog is crazy! Pictures say a thousand words...........

Photos/Photography

2009-05-28T08:16:00.003-05:00

Well the time has come for me to finally start reading my Canon Rebel instruction manual. I have had the camera for a year and never really sat down and looked at all the options available on this camera. I have been using automatic everything for the past year and think I need to try my hand at manual photography. I am investigating a zoom lens right now.
My brother has been an inspiration to me as he takes some awesome photos of which I have posted on my blog before. Below are two of his most recent photos taken with a macro lens. Very cool!

Oriental Pasta Salad

2009-05-27T07:42:00.001-05:00

8 oz. vermicelli
4 (half) grilled chicken breasts
2 carrots, julienned
2 scallions,sliced
peapods
1/2 pepper (red,yellow,orange or green)

dressing:
1 tsp. ginger
1/2 c. soy sauce
1 Tbs. red wine vinegar
1/3 c. sesame oil
1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes
2 Tbs. toasted sesame seeds
1 Tbs. sugar

Grill chicken. Cool and shred.
Prepare and drain noodles.
Toast seeds and add remaining dressing ingredients. Stir or whisk.
Combine chicken and noodles,carrots,scallions, pepper and pea pods. Add dressing and refrigerate overnight.

Bristo Chicken Salad

2009-05-26T08:22:00.006-05:00

Hello! I have been negligent in updating my blog recently. Guess I needed a few days off or I just really had nothing to say. haha
I am feeling great, my hair is growing (and back to my old color thanks to my fabulous hairdresser Kim) and slowly my arm is getting its range of motion back. I have to be diligent in the physical therapy exercises due to the removal of the muscle from my back. My back still gets "tired" by the end of the day. I have been going wigless since my hair was dyed. I do wear baseball caps but I have not put the wig on for several weeks now. The whole wig scene was getting old. I may even be brave enough to post a pic of myself on the blog this week with my new look.

With the long Memorial Day weekend I had some time to cook, which I like to do when I have the time. I made 2 salads that I absolutely love. I hate lunch! I just hate finding something to eat for lunch, but salads always interest me and the recipe below is one of my favorites. I will post the other salad recipe tomorrow.

2 cups cooked penne pasta
1 package (4 oz) crumbled feta cheese
1/2 c. fat free Italian dressing
1.3 c. lightly packed fresh basil cut into strips
1/4 c. chopped red onion
1/4 c. chopped sun dried tomatoes
grape tomatoes halved
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts grilled or broiled cut into thin slices

Toss all ingredients together except cheese. Top salad with cheese but do not mix in until serving.
Serve warm or chilled
Makes 4 sevings
290 calories
9 g fat
4 g fiber
6 WW points per serving

Quote of the Day!

2009-05-19T10:36:00.000-05:00

There is only one person who could ever make you happy, and that person is you.
~David Burns, Intimate Connections~

Reduce your risk of breast cancer

2009-05-16T06:46:00.002-05:00

Click here to view a slideshow of 5 ways to reduce your chances of getting breast cancer. Take charge of your life now!

2009-05-14T07:35:00.002-05:00

Enjoy the Ride

click on the link above.

Two Weeks Postop Update!

2009-05-13T10:30:00.003-05:00

Yesterday I was 2 weeks postop from my lat flap reconstruction surgery. My drains and bandages have all been removed and I am healing well! After looking at the 15 inch incision running across my back after the bandages came off I now know why my back has been bothering me. I have a tight burning sensation in that area of my incision. I was able to go walking yesterday, so that made me feel much better. I am still on a 10 pound weight restriction and advised "not to do anything crazy" (did he refer to me swinging a golf club perhaps!) I will go back to see Dr. Hijjawi in three weeks to begin filling the new boob! Now that is progress!

Funny for the Day!

2009-05-12T07:21:00.003-05:00

Just to let you know I'm thinking of you today.

No matter what situations life throws at you...

No matter how long and treacherous your journey may seem..

Remember ~~ there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

thanks to my friend Connie for making me smile!

Mothers Day

2009-05-10T08:10:00.002-05:00

Happy Mothers Day!

Jess

2009-05-09T08:54:00.008-05:00

Today's post is totally not related to me but one of my nieces. Jess lives in Nasheville with her husband, Mathew Turner, and ADORABLE baby Elias. She is an avid blogger and is Southwest Airlines Mommy blogger. Please check out her first blog about traveling with a baby. Aren't they adorable???? Don't forget to scroll down about halfway, click on the link and see her video.
http://www.blogsouthwest.com/blog/how-not-go-nuts-while-flying-with-a-peanut

Go to her blog and see how you can win four 4 tickets through Southwest Airlines. Nice!

Great job Jess, I am proud of you!!!! xxoo

Quote of the Day

2009-05-08T12:43:00.000-05:00

Do not go where the path may lead,
go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Random poll

2009-05-07T10:16:00.003-05:00

42 things.
1. Do you like blue cheese? Hate it! Love feta though.

2. Have you ever smoked? Ummm....

3. Do you own a gun? Yes..

4. What flavor of Kool Aid was your favorite? Anything red.

5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments? Hahaha NO!

6. What do you think of hot dogs? Love them! With yellow mustard, catsup and relish. I can eat two in one sitting.

7. Favorite Christmas movie? Holiday Inn.

8.Favorite thing to drink in the morning? Coffee with hazelnut or french vanilla creamer.

9. Can you do pushups? No not currrently.

10. Favorite piece of jewelry? Diamond earrings.

11. Favorite hobby? golf, photography, blogging,reading.

12. Do you have A.D.D.? No, but I have brain farts.

13. What is one trait you hate about yourself? The around the waist middle age thing going on. It's better since I lost some weight.

14. Middle name? Marie.

15. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment? Beautiful day, hate being here at work, vacation.

16. Name 3 drinks: pomegranite martini, lemonade, Blue Moon

17. Current Worry: Finances.

18. Current hate right now? Men.

19. One of your favorite places to be? Anywhere near the water.

20. How did you bring in the New Year? I was in bed at midnight.

21. Where would you like to go? Anywhere warm

22. Name three people who might complete this. ?

23. Do you own slippers? No, does slipper socks count.

24. What shirt are you wearing? Black.

25. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets? I am not sure.

26. Can you whistle? No.

27. Favorite color? Red

28. Would you be a pirate? Sure.

29. What songs do you sing in the AM? None. I am not a morning person.

30. Favorite girl's name? Natalie.

31 Favorite boy's name? Billy.

32. What's in your pocket right now? Tylenol

33. Last thing that made you laugh? A text from someone.

34. What vehicle do you drive? Jeep Liberty.

35. Worst injury you have ever had? Never been injured.

36. Do you love where you live? Love my house, hate the weather.

3 7. How many TV's do you have in your house? 5

38. Who is your loudest friend? Hmmm. Not sure.

39. Do you have any pets? Yes – 1 cat and a dog.

40.Does someone have a crush on you? Ha! I wish!

41. What is your favorite book? Memoirs of a Geisha.

42. Do you collect anything? Dust in my house.

Day Seven Arizona

2009-05-05T06:37:00.001-05:00

Sadly, this was our last day in Arizona. We had a late flight out so we just layed around the house today. I was up early and went for my daily 3 mile walk, came back, got my swim suit on and headed out to the pool for some reading. I wanted to bask in every spare minute of sun I had for I knew I was headed back to crappy Wisconsin.
Here is the gorgeous house we would be leaving soon.

The flight was uneventful, we grabbed our luggage (thank you Midwest we had no lost bags) and headed over to pick up our pup. She was beyond thrilled to see us, although she had a great time with her two sets of babysitters while we were gone. It was a long day. Why is traveling so tiring?
I so looked forward to a vacation after the last 6 months, and I enjoyed every minute I was there (except the damn car ride to Sedona). Back to reality slaps you hard in the face the day after a vacation and this was no exception. The weather was horrible, I was back and work,had no food in the house and laundry piled high. Get the picture?? My next trip is coming soon. Yep! Another trip.... and this time to Florida with my best friend Cathy at the end of June for a week. We are escaping the world of children, husbands and responsibilities of life to enjoy some time to ourselves. I can't wait! There is nothing better than a girls only vacation.

Boob update

2009-05-04T14:37:00.003-05:00

I had an appointment with Dr. Hijjawi this morning and everything looks great. Three of my four drains have been removed. Whooohooooo! The other one may come out later this week depending on the fluid output. And.... in about three weeks we can start expanding! YES!!! There is light at the end of the tunnel!

Day Six Arizona

2009-05-04T08:28:00.015-05:00

Today we headed to Sedona again for the Pink Jeep Tour. The road to sedona heads north through the mountains and it is snakey and the speed limit is 75 and it winds through the mountains and I have a fear of heights while traveling on this snaky windy road at 75 mph.

This sign makes me feel much better!!!!! John thought he was in the Indy 500 and several times I had to tell him to PLEASE SLOW DOWN, YOU ARE MAKING ME NERVOUS!

The pink jeeps are open air, the windshields even are moveable and come down. Each jeep holds up to 9 passengers. Our guide was Cindy and she had traveled this route for the past 11 years, thank goodness.

As we got off the beaten path we headed up... you are kidding me right? That is the way we are going????? She assured us it was the ONLY way to see Sedona.
The mountains and views are breathtaking. Pictures do not even do them justice.

The tour takes about 2 hours total, traveling the rocks and making several stops along the way. Cindy was very knowledgeable about the native trees and plants and you could tell she had great fun being a guide. The trail ended and now we headed down.......and I will tell you our jeep was vertical!!!!!! I wanted to jump out to get a photo but that was not possible,so you will just have to believe me and see that Natalie is hanging on as we go down.

We ended up in downtown Sedona where we had lunch and I got a few pics of the mountains from the city.

We headed home after lunch down the windy, snakey mountainous road again. I think I will just close my eyes for the ride.

Day Five Arizona

2009-05-01T20:07:00.008-05:00

Today we headed west to the Sunridge Canyon Golf Course in Fountain Hills. This was a desert golf course and we felt like we were in the desert. It was 100 degrees today with a slight breeze, and I mean slight. Our tee time was at 1 pm, of course the hottest part of the day. We actually did not mind the weather. It really did not feel as if it was that hot out. The course is carved out of a canyon with lots of cactus, native desert plants, elevated greens and tees and lots of trouble if your shot goes astray. This was my second favorite golf course. The course was very challenging, beautiful and fun. It seemed as if we were the only ones on this course today and when I asked the caddy who cleaned my clubs where everyone was he said "maam it's a little too hot for the regulars to come out today." Although our GPS system in our golf cart alerted us to the $39.00 replay special (who in their right mind would play again when it was 100 degrees) we opted to head home to the pool. And that is exactly what I did. I headed out for a swim to cool down and have a few cocktails by the pool before dinner.

Tomorrow..... the Pink Jeep Tour in Sedona.

It was so hot I went bald today!

Update!

2009-05-01T08:24:00.013-05:00

TGIF! I slept in my bed last night! I didn't think I could but it was manageable and I slept well. I am feeling good today and I think I may not need any pain meds.
I have nothing planned today except to work on my 365 Project and take a nap.
So far so good.... and the boob looks great! I am thrilled!

I will post an Arizona trip report later today but will leave you with these photos of my gorgeous daughter on prom day!

I have boobs!

2009-04-30T13:21:00.005-05:00

Surgery went well, and I now have a set of boobs,although not evenly matched yet but in time they will be. Surgery took about 3 1/2 hours on Tuesday morning and I opted to come home last night after being cleared by Dr. John. For those of you who know of my journey I am not too fond of hospitals and have not had the best experience thus far, so my plan was to stay for as short a time as possible. Everyone knows you never get any rest in a hospital. Because of my "flap" surgery I was to be checked on every 2 hours,,,,, and that means round the clock. So for the first night I had someone poking me in the chest every two hours. I felt well enough and my pain was under control to head home and spend the night in my recliner on Wednesday.

My care in the hospital was wonderful! I loved all my little nurses. They were a young group of ladies who are very dedicated to the nursing profession and worked very hard for their patients. They took great care of me.

Now Dr. John on the other hand is AMAZING! I was pleasantly shocked when I took a peek under my gown after surgery and saw what he had done. Really, I can not tell you what he can do considering what he had to work with on me. And if I think it looks good now after one day of surgery it can only look better in the weeks to come. He truly has a gift for plastic surgery!!!

The one thing I was not expecting from this surgery is the pain. I had a thoracic spinal when I had my mastectomy and was pretty much numb from the neck to waist my whole hospital stay. Unfortunately I did not have that this time. Besides being cut in the front I also was cut in the back to get the skin graft and I have been in pain, I won't lie. Morphine in the hospital did not seem to do much so I then tried oral Vicodin and that seems to help. I am able to get around the house pretty well, but getting up and down is a bit difficult. I currently have 4 drains coming out of my side and back, hopefully 2 of those will come out on Monday when I go to see him.
They actually aren't as bad as the other drains I had from the first surgery, as these are not near my armpit this time and seem to stay out of the way.

So for now, I am doing pretty much nothing but resting! (well I did do a few loads of wash) Thankfully Roxie has been a little dream today and is not getting into too much trouble.

I will continue my Arizona trip tomorrow and give you an update on my recovery.

Home from Hotel Froedert

2009-04-30T08:16:00.001-05:00

I am home and doing well! I will update after breakfast of coffee and Vicodin!

short break

2009-04-27T13:26:00.001-05:00

I will be taking a short break from my blog and trip report as I am having surgery tomorrow and will be in the hospital for at least one, maybe two days. I will post when I am home and recuperating!

Day Four Arizona!

2009-04-26T07:35:00.016-05:00

Today we headed north about an hour and 15 minutes to Sedona to the Sedona Golf Club. Sedona is known for its beautiful red mountains. We had a great day of golfing with breathtaking views of the mountains. The temperature in Phoenix was about 89 and the temp in Sedona was about 75, perfect for golfing! This was my favorite golf course that we played while we were out there.

Natalie lounged by the pool and relaxed all day! She was in heaven.

Day Three Arizona

2009-04-25T14:28:00.003-05:00

Day Two Arizona

2009-04-23T19:17:00.013-05:00

Today was our first golf day. We headed southwest to Carefree, Arizona, to the Trilogy Golf Club of Vistancia. The day was cool according to Arizona standard, only about 69 and very windy. This was my least favorite golf club because it wasn't that scenic and probably because I didn't play very well. I hadn't hit a golf ball since August and was not sure how I would be swinging a club after having major surgery not that long ago. Well I have no upper body strength anymore, that was determined early on, but I actually could swing the club pretty good. I had some really good shots and some really bad shots! Oh my! All in all, a fun day!

While we golfed, Natalie found her spot at the pool for the day!

Did I tell you I loved this house? It was so nice. Large and spacious, new furnishings, tall ceilings, lots of windows and great decorating. One of the highlights was a cinema room with a 100 inch TV screen, surround sound and a great comfy couch. It was great watching movies in here at night. I finally got to see Slumdog Millionaire which I had bought before we left. Unfortunately I fell asleep a few times and missed the darn ending. I had to rewatch the ending the next morning. All the fresh air must have tired me out.

Day One Arizona!

2009-04-23T11:19:00.008-05:00

Finally! The day I have been waiting for. Getting out of Wisconsin and visiting some warm country with sunshine. We left Milwaukee fairly early and with the 2 hour time difference landed in Phoenix at 10 am! We had the whole day ahead of us! Yahoooo! After getting our luggage we hopped a shuttle bus to get to the car rental facility. After a short 10 minute ride we arrived at this absolutely huge building housed with only car rentals. It was amazing how many cars were at this place. And of course it was amazing how long it took to get through the line and actually get a car. No mini vans were left so we settled for a Ford Explorer which we actually liked and it had plenty of room for 4 suitcases and three sets of golf clubs.
I had purchased a Garmin GPS for John for his birthday and had pre-programmed our home address beforehand so all we had to do was plug it in and go! We arrived at our destination in about 30 minutes. I found this house on vrbo.com. It is located in Anthem, Arizona, about 30 minutes north of Phoenix. Anthem is a small town but very nice. There is pretty much everything here that you would need. Starbucks, Blockbuster, McDonalds,and of course the Anthem Outlet Mall.
This was our beautiful house for the week! The photos on vrbo.com do not do the house justice. I was impressed!

It was very windy and a little chilly (69 degrees) so we headed to the grocery store and stocked up on some food for the week, unpacked and enjoyed the house for the rest of the day. The house was on a private golf course and our backyard overlooked one of the fairways and the mountains in the distance.

I was looking forward to some warm weather..... and that was headed our way.
Tomorrow...... our first day of golf! Now that should be interesting!

Vacation

2009-04-14T09:11:00.002-05:00

"I'm leaving.... on a jet plane... don't know when I'll be back again......."

Sun.
Warm weather.
Pool.
Desert.
Mountains.
Golf.
Sightseeing.
Cocktails.
Food.
Family time.
Relaxation.
Fun.

Be back soon! And I will have plenty of photos to share!

Happy Easter!

2009-04-12T08:26:00.000-05:00

Latissimus Dorsi Flap

2009-04-09T17:32:00.002-05:00

I met with my plastic surgeon, Dr. Hijjawi, yesterday to discuss my upcoming surgery on April 28th. The surgery itself should take about 3 hours with a 1-2 night stay in the hospital (you can bet I will be opting for a 1 day stay! LOL). I will probably have 3 drains on that side that will stay in for approximately 2 weeks. Ughhhhh! Not looking forward to the drains quite honestly, but I made it through the last time and whatever I have to do to get myself a set of boobs I will do! Below is some information regarding the kind of surgery that I am having. I have lost so much breast tissue that he has no other option but to remove some skin from my back to create the right size boob, thus the reason for the dorsi flap procedure.

Latissimus Dorsi Flap

The latissimus dorsi (LD) flap is a standard method for breast reconstruction that was first utilized in the 1970’s. The LD flap is most commonly combined with a tissue expander or implant, to give the surgeon additional options and more control over the aesthetic appearance of the reconstructed breast. This flap provides a source of soft tissue that can help create a more natural looking breast shape as compared to an implant alone. Occasionally, for a thin patient with a small breast volume, the LD flap can be used alone as the primary reconstruction without the need for an implant.
Latissimus Dorsi Flap Reconstruction

Latissimus Dorsi Flap Reconstruction

Many surgeons will resort to the use of an LD flap as a backup option if a patient has wound healing problems or soft tissue failure in the setting of an implant. The LD flap can also be used as a salvage procedure for patients who have had previous radiation, and are not candidates for other autogeneous procedures. A large open wound on the chest wall is also an indication for an LD flap in patients that need chest wall reconstruction alone, without creation of a breast shape.

The thoracodorsal artery is the primary source of blood supply to the LD flap. At the time of breast reconstruction, the muscle flap, with or without attached skin, is elevated off of the back and brought around to the front of the chest wall. The main vessels remain attached to the body to ensure proper blood supply to the flap. The LD flap provides soft tissue to allow complete coverage of an underlying implant.

The length of surgery for LD flap breast reconstruction is typically two to three hours, and requires one to three post-operative days in the hospital. The initial recovery time is two to three weeks. Depending on the patient, the scar from the LD flap donor site on the back can be placed diagonally or horizontally. A horizontal scar can usually be concealed under a bra strap. Patients generally have no major long-term physical limitations from taking the latissimus muscle. Activities of daily living and most exercise can be resumed without significant loss of proficiency.

Secondary procedures after an LD flap reconstruction can be done in about three months. These may include expander implant exchange, adjustment procedures to improve breast symmetry, and nipple areola reconstruction. As with any type of reconstruction, if chemotherapy is needed, any additional surgery must await completion of treatment. Such additional procedures are typically done as outpatient surgery with a rapid recovery.

You are an ideal candidate for LD flap reconstruction if you:

* are thin with a small breast volume
* have excess tissue laterally and upward across the midback
* have had previous radiation and are having an implant reconstruction
* are not a candidate for other autogeneous procedures
* are having a partial breast reconstruction in order to correct a lumpectomy defect
* have thin skin that requires extra coverage for an implant
* desire a more natural appearance than that of an implant alone
* are having immediate or delayed reconstruction

You are not an ideal candidate for LD flap reconstruction if you:

* do not wish to have additional scarring to a part of the body other than the breasts
* have had previous chest-wall surgery such as a thoracotomy
* participate in extreme competitive sports such as mountain climbing, skiing, and swimming

Funny Photo

2009-04-08T07:25:00.001-05:00

2009-04-07T15:08:00.007-05:00

I have started reading this book upon the recommedation of Netherfieldmom and highly recommend it to anyone who is a cancer survivor and those who are not. It is written by a dedicated doctor and scientist who was faced with a brain tumor. This book combines memoir with a clear explanation of what makes cancer cells thrive and what inhibits them, and describes both conventional and alternative ways to slow and prevent cancer. "Cancer cells lie dormant in all of us-and we all must care for the "terrain" in which they exist." This is information you won't get from your doctor! Some of the information he presents I was aware of as I have done quite a bit of researching on my own (yippppee I am up to 8 supplements now! LOL Suzanne Sommers here I come) and some of the information was eye opening for me! Get the book, you won't be disappointed. Living a lifestyle that inhibits cancer from returning is my goal. Take charge of your health now before you are faced with cancer like I was!

Love to all and still walking in this damn cold weather,
Gail
ps 8 days until vacation but who's counting!!

Spring!

2009-04-05T09:33:00.005-05:00

Spring is here! It is official when the pussywillows pop and the pair of mallard ducks that visit our little creek come back. Today we are expecting 2-4 inches of snow! HONESTLY!

So..... I am off for a walk before the snow flies.

I leave you today with a picture of my little naughty dog! Pure sweet naughtiness!

2009-04-02T19:19:00.004-05:00

I was searching for Easter candy at Pick N Save on Thursday and the candy display just happened to be set up in front of an elderly lady who was setting up her table to give out samples. I was looking at a Lindt chocolate bunny and she said "how much are those, anyways?" I said " I am not sure. I don't see a price." We searched and found a sticker below the box of bunnies that said $3.99. " I have grandchildren " she said. " I will have to buy them some of those." Normally I would have gone on with my shopping but for some reason I felt compelled to talk to this women. She proceeded to tell me about her life as she set up her little table to give out samples of applesauce. She placed the tablecloth over the table and taped it in place and set up her little stand for the day. She lost her husband 35 years ago and spent her life volunteering for the Florentine Opera and Elmbrook Hospital while always having a full time job until she retired. Within the last 5 years she has had cancer twice and spent a good deal of time sitting at home feeling sorry for herself because she had cancer, until one day she decided to do something about it. She went out and got a job again. She works 2 days a week and then she has to "rest" she said. "My kids think I am crazy" she said, but "it was the best thing I could have done for myself." We continued on our conversation talking about the price of choocolate and how she remembered buying chocolate creme eggs at Quality Candy when they were only 39 cents a piece. Now they are $1.39 she told me. She smiled and laughed and said "well now that you know my whole life story, I hope you have a wonderful day!" I have been thinking of her all day. She touched my heart. It was if I was meant to meet her today and hear her story. As I have said before you never know what other paths people have traveled. You will find them in the most unlikely places.

don't you know I have cancer

2009-04-02T08:35:00.005-05:00

I think back and remember my thoughts when I first diagnosed and weeks after that before I really had a plan. The world seemed to continue as normal, yet I didn't. Time all of sudden stood still.

I saw the guy running down the road on his daily jog..... "how can he be running... don't you know that I have cancer."

Some friends called us and asked us to dinner......"how can we do that... don't you know I have cancer."

The mom in the store was yelling at her little son who was crying....."why are you doing that.... don't you know that I have cancer."

My husband leaves for work......"work? Don't you know that I have cancer."

My kids are going out on Saturday night, can you pick me up at 11? "Yes, but don't you know that I have cancer?"

I see some friends laughing in the store......"how can you be laughing.... don't you know that I have cancer?"

I see the lady fixing her beautiful brown hair in the rearview mirror as she sits at the stoplight. "hair?.... don't you know that I have cancer?"

I sit in the house one night alone while my family carries on their daily activities....."don't you know that I have cancer."

"How can everyone and everything continue on as normal when I have cancer. My life has stopped right at this moment."

Little daily things that I always took for granted or never even really thought about had new meaning.....and they still do.

Time has moved forward. And so have I!

Thought for the Day

2009-04-01T19:19:00.001-05:00

You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing which you think you cannot do.
- Eleanor Roosevelt-

Roasted Asparagus

2009-03-31T17:35:00.005-05:00

Spring means asparagus and although the weather is anything but spring-like here in WI asparagus is plentiful in the stores right now. I love to roast asparagus and it is the only way I do it now. You can either roast it in whole spears or cut it up into smaller pieces.

Roasted Asparagus
1 bunch of asparagus.
large cookie sheet or jelly roll pan
Salt
Pam Spray
Butter and Balsamic vinegar
Place the asparagus in one layer on your cookie sheet or jelly roll pan. Lightly spray with Pam spray and salt the asparagus. Roast in the oven at 375 degrees for approximately 20 minutes or until desired tenderness is reached. Melt and cook a small amount of butter (approximately 1 tablespoons) on the stovetop until browned. Remove from burner and add balsamic vinegar (eyeball the amount-approximately 2 teaspoons) Pour over asparagus and serve.

2009-03-29T14:37:00.002-05:00

Just last week I was sitting outside in this chair basking in the sun. Today, this!

Vitamins,supplements and food, oh my!

2009-03-27T13:33:00.011-05:00

There is a wealth of information out there for us regarding health and well being. But information is conflicting in some cases. Drink wine, don't drink wine, eat this, don't eat this, get sunshine, don't get sunshine. It can be overwhelming! Just when you think that drinking red wine is good for your heart,they will tell you that it may increase your risk of breast cancer. Sheesh! My motto is everything in moderation. Am I now a vegetarian and a complete health food fanatic? Absolutely not! Have I changed my eating habits. Hmmmmm.... honestly yes and no. I will still indulge in junk food, especially chips (doritos, potato chips, cheez-its and tortilla chips)but maybe not as frequently as before (I do believe that additives in food is related to the increase in all cancers)and I may pick up organic fruits now where before I did not (I also believe pesticides contribute to cancer increase). I definitely read labels and look for soy in products (this is a no no for me)and always try to eat yogurt with granola and flax seed in it daily as well as drinking green tea daily. I do think before I eat, usually LOL One thing I have really changed in my path to being healthy is vitamins and supplements. I NEVER have taken any kind of vitamins before. I have bought them and they just sit in the cupboard. I am terrible at taking pills on a regular basis. I have blogged about my recent days of the week pill container and it does work for me! Right now I am taking tamoxifen, a multivitamin, vitamin C, vitamin B, COQ10 and calcium,mag and zinc. That is a lot for someone who has never taken any! I have just added to that list turmeric and vitamin D. I am waiting for these supplements to come in the mail as I just ordered them. I had read about turmeric being a natural anti-cancer fighter while going through treatment but when my friend Connie brought it up to me the other day and then my brother sent me an email regarding turmeric I decided it may be for me. Turmeric also helps with inflammation associated with arthritis and I do have some arthritis in my upper back. While eating lunch last week with a friend she mentioned she may start taking vitamin D herself, that she had just read somewhere that us northern folks don't get enough sunshine. Below is some information regarding both turmeric and vitamin D. While I would rather bask in the sunshine and feel the warmth of the sun on my face, living in the north we don't get a whole lot of sun in the winter. Pill popping is the way to go!

That all being said, I leave you today drinking a glass of red wine and munching on an organic apple! Enjoy the weekend (and get some sunshine!)

Love to all,
Gail

~~~~~~~
Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is the yellow spice most familiar in Indian curries and found in American prepared mustard. People whose diets are rich in turmeric have lower rates of breast cancer as well as prostate, lung and colon cancers, and recent research at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston suggests that curcumin, an active component in turmeric, may help prevent the spread of breast cancer. In studies of mice, researchers found that curcumin helped stop the metastasis of breast cancer cells to the lung. Human studies following up on this finding are now in progress.

Breast cancer mortality rates in the U.S. vary according to the geographic region so that the highest rates are in the northeast and urban areas, and lowest rates in the south and rural areas. This is explained by the variation in sunlight and the subsequent vitamin D production. According to William B. Grant's analysis, breast cancer risk could be cut in half by sufficient vitamin D levels - or in other words, by sufficient sun exposure.

Kisses

2009-03-26T08:16:00.005-05:00

This picture was worthy of my picture of the day for my 365 Day Photo Project and I also had to post it on my blog. This is the cutest picture ever and the story behind it makes it even better. My MIL is not an animal lover. She "likes" animals but could live without them. For those of you who know her you know that to be very true! LOL My husband and siblings never had any pets while they were growing up. Pets weren't allowed in the house. Sunday she came over for dinner,and I caught this photo of the dog kissing her, or was SHE kissing the dog! Omg! This was the funniest thing ever! First time ever she has kissed an animal!! (my family will appreciate this photo and get a good laugh).

Dog Story

2009-03-24T09:19:00.006-05:00

I found this in my mailbox this morning and had to post. Hope this makes you smile!
Thanks Cathy!
~~~~~~~~

An older, tired-looking dog wandered into my yard.
I could tell from his collar and well-fed belly that he had a home and was well taken care of.

He calmly came over to me, I gave him a few pats on his head;
he then followed me into my house, slowly walked down the
hall, curled up in the corner and fell asleep.

An hour later, he went to the door, and I let him out.
The next day he was back, greeted me in my yard, walked inside and resumed his spot in the hall and again slept for about an hour.
This continued off and on for several weeks.
Curious I pinned a note to his collar: 'I would like to find out who the owner of this wonderful sweet dog is and ask if you are aware that almost every afternoon your dog comes to my house for a nap.'
The next day he arrived for his nap, with a different note pinned to his collar:
'He lives in a home with 6 children, 2 under the age of 3 - he's trying to catch up on his sleep.
Can I come with him tomorrow?'

Goals and motivation

2009-03-23T19:28:00.006-05:00

I have a few goals this year and one of them is to get back into the exercise routine. I faithfully did Jazzericise for many years until I went back to work full time and then my exercise regimen was shot to hell. I hate the treadmill, absolutely hate it. I would rather be forced to eat liver and wild duck than get on the treadmill. I have been walking outdoors up until September when I went through surgery and then chemo and well, the exercise just hasn't been a priority. Now that I am feeling great I started walking again and have walked for the past week and half every day,rain or shine. My motivation? Summer (Shorts,tank tops and swim suits) and the proven fact that exercise just makes for a healthier person overall. (not to mention 2 vacations this summer that require lounging by the pool in a swim suit)I can procrastinate and I have found the best thing for me to do is exercise first thing in the morning. I put my walking gear on first thing in the morning before I do anything. Then I have no excuse not to go! It works for me. Only in Wisconsin can you fully appreciate March weather when you walk outdoors. In the past week and a half, I have worn a light sweatshirt, no sweatshirt, long sleeves, short sleeves, thermal running coat, winter coat, mittens, no mittens, scarf,no scarf and long pants with tights and without. Sun, no sun, wind,no wind, rain (or was that snowflakes today) or no rain, I prefer to walk outdoors despite the weather!

Dinner tonight was a new recipe that was absolutely delicious. Chicken Stroganoff with a huge salad. We loved it.
Check it out http://fullbellies.blogspot.com/2006/06/chicken-stroganoff.html

Cooking slump

2009-03-20T09:15:00.008-05:00

I have been in a cooking slump lately. I am not sure why, but I needed some inspiration for some new recipes so I did some blog searching and found some great new food blogs that I have posted on the right under the link column. Check them out. They have great photos with all the recipes which make them even more appealing to try.

I made this recipe this week when we were pressed for time. The original recipe was a WW recipe that I tweaked a bit and added more veggies. The sauce in this recipe is great. Be sure to double it in proportion. I used broccoli, carrots and water chestnuts tonight.

Chicken Stir Fry
3/4 c. canned chicken broth,reduced sodium (I use Roundys organic chicken broth)
2 Tbs cornstarch
2 Tbs sugar
2 Tbs low sodium soy sauce
1 Tbs white wine vinegar
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
2 tsp peanut oil (I use canola with a splash of sesame oil. I don't keep peanut oil on hand)
2 medium scallions (optional)
2 medium garlic cloves,minced
1 pound boneless,skinless chicken breasts cut into 2 inch pieces (I use more chicken that what the recipe calls for)
Broccoli, carrots, mushrooms, bean sprouts, water chestnuts. (Add any or all)
rice
Whisk together broth,cornstarch,sugar,soy sauce,vinegar and ginger (I double this portion).Set aside. Heat oil in work or large skillet. Add scallions,garlic and pepper and cook for 2 minutes. Add chicken and cook until brown. Add vegetables and cook until semi soft. Add reserved sauce and simmer until sauce thickens and chicken is cooked through.
Serve chicken over rice.

Today I did some baking and made this recipe for Poppyseed Bread that I have had for years. This makes 2 loaves. Great to keep one and give one away.

Poppyseed Bread
1-18 oz package of yellow cake mix
1 small package of instant coconut cream pudding
4 beaten eggs
1 c. hot water
1 tsp grated orange rind
1/2 c. cooking oil
1/4 c. poppy seeds
Mix all ingredients together and beat for 4 minutes on medium speed
Bake at 350 degrees for 40-50 minutes.
Makes 2 loaves.

Elephant Ear Washer

2009-03-19T21:57:00.006-05:00

After looking at the title of this blog post you must think I am losing it. An elephant ear washer you say. What the heck is that? After a trip to the walk-in clinic today I learned something new. No, it was not me who needed the services of the walk-in clinic. It was my son. For several days he has been complaining his ear is plugged and he can't hear out of it. We tried the over the counter ear wax removal drops but to no avail. They did not help and he is so annoyed he can not hear. I myself have had this problem once before and I know how annoying it is to have that plugged feeling in your ear. So off we trotted to the walk-in clinic today to hopefully clear up his ear problem. After determining he had a huge amount of wax build up his ears ("he has tiny ear canals" they said, "makes him prone to wax build up") the nurse came in to flush them out. The Elephant Ear Washer is this spray bottle gadget that flushes water into your ear canal to loosen wax. I had this done to one of my ears a few years ago. The feeling of the water being "sprayed" into your ear is quite strange, but is not painful. We left with two clean ears and a prescription for some antibiotic drops (ear infection on one side). "Come back in 2-3 weeks if you need another flush" they said (one of his ears still had a some wax in it they could not get out) I wondered if I could buy this gadget on the internet and of course you can (can't you buy everything on the internet). I may invest in this $30 ear washer and save myself a $200 visit to the walk in clinic if it happens again.

Inspiration

2009-03-13T08:26:00.002-05:00

Getting Over It!

2009-03-12T13:23:00.005-05:00

Does anyone ever "get over it?" I mean does any breast cancer survivor ever really get over it and move on? The question comes to my mind as an early cancer survivor just released from my hospital haven and now going on in the real world. I read so many times on the Susan Komen message boards about women who have had so many health issues related to BC(breast cancer) that prevent them from getting over it. Most people don't realize that with cancer comes a whole lot of other issues. Not only scars from surgery, hair loss and the obvious but other issues that sometimes remain with a person for the rest of their lives. Bone and joint pain, diabetes, insomnia, gastrointestinal problems, teeth and gum damage, hot flashes, depression, sexual dysfunction, and loss of self esteem. I read about these issues daily and after reading yet another sad story about another woman facing these realities, I am so thankful that I AM able to move on and get over it. I am really very lucky and thankful that I have no side effects (as of right now) that limit my daily activities of life. Aside from my physical scars and baldness I feel pretty much the way I did before I was diagnosed, except for some hot flashes (and I can live with that). I really truly believe that I have recovered physically and mentally in excellent shape due to the fact that I was very healthy before I headed into the BC world and my positive attitude. I had some bad, bad days, don't get me wrong, but I had more good days than bad and if I did have a bad day I kicked myself in the ass and got back on the bandwagon. I was not going to let cancer beat me, no way! I met with a friend the other day and she asked me "is it sometimes hard to believe that you actually had to go through all of that?" and the answer is "yes" It is hard to believe that six months of my life were on hold until I got through treatment, yet at the time the days seemed long and never ending. Do I think about cancer every day? I think because I am bald and I see myself in the mirror first thing in the morning I am reminded of my cancer, but I really tend to not dwell on it. I ran into a mom at a recent swim meet who had no idea what had gone on in my life over the past few months and she commented on how cute my hair was. I just smiled and said "thanks" I actually did not really feel like going into the whole story. Being a pretty private person, sometimes I would just rather not tell my story. I don't want breast cancer to define me as a person. I am the same person I was before cancer, with just a little more kindness in my heart.

2009-03-11T14:10:00.004-05:00

We have another plate licker in the family!

Tamoxifen

2009-03-10T14:43:00.005-05:00

I am free and clear with my oncologist for 3 months. I am now currently taking Tamoxifen for the next 5 years. What you ask is tamoxifen? My particular breast cancer is estrogen postive and progesterone negative, meaning the cancer is fueled by estrogen and taking tamoxifen will reduce the risk of cancer coming back. Unfortunately I am joining the ranks of the pill takers, those who have to put their pills in those little plastic containers that are labeled with the days of the week. I am also taking some vitamin supplements along with the tamoxifen and because I am terrible at taking pills, I need to have them all divided up for the week to remind me to take them on a regular basis. Now if only I remember to fill up the little pill container. LOL
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tamoxifen information from chemocare.com

Drug type: Tamoxifen is a hormone therapy. This medication is classified as an "anti-estrogen." (For more detail, see "How this drug works" section below).

What this drug is used for:

* Tamoxifen may be given as adjuvant therapy (treatment after successful surgery) in women or men with lymph node negative or lymph node positive breast cancer. Cancers with positive estrogen and progesterone receptors are more likely to benefit from tamoxifen. Tamoxifen reduces the risk of getting breast cancer in the opposite breast.
* Tamoxifen may be prescribed in metastatic (cancer that has spread) breast cancer in both women and men.
* Tamoxifen may be prescribed in women with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) who have completed surgery and radiation therapy. Tamoxifen may reduce the risk of invasive breast cancer. Risks and benefits of tamoxifen therapy should be discussed
in
this setting.
* Tamoxifen may be prescribed for women at high risk of breast cancer to reduce the incidence of developing breast cancer. Risks and benefits of tamoxifen therapy should be discussed in this setting.
* Tamoxifen may also be prescribed for treatment of ovarian cancer.
Note: If a drug has been approved for one use, physicians may elect to use this same drug for other problems if they believe it may be helpful.

Long overdue blog post

2009-03-04T20:31:00.005-06:00

Hello! I haven't been blogging lately. Between puppy parenting,working and getting back into daily life routines, I just have not had time. My life is nothing but boring every day affairs. Sleep, work, potty train, make dinner, do wash, clean up dog pee, watch American Idol. LOL

To update you on a few things......
Roxy the puppy is doing really well. She is sleeping through the night since day one. There was even a Sunday she let us sleep until 8 am. Pure Heaven! The potty training on the other hand is not the best. She is just not getting it! I scrubbed the kitchen floor the other day. That alone was hard enough. Try to clean the floor with a mop while a dog is attacking the pole of your mop and dancing around on the floor. It was cheap entertainment for the dog but took me twice as long to do the floor as it normally does. I left the kitchen to put the mop away and in that 30 second time frame the dog crapped on the floor and proceeded to dance in it and then run around the kitchen. Nice!!!!! I knew at that point we were not making any headway on the potty training and we might be in for a long haul.

This dog loves to retrieve! I found this great little pheasant that she loves to retrieve. She has boundless energy and will always bring something back that is thrown.

The dog and the cat do not like each other. I should rephrase that and say the cat does not like the dog. The dog actually is quite confused as to what exactly the cat is. She is intrigued by the cat and would like to become friends but the cat would rather hiss and run away at this point. It took Macie about a year to get used to Sunny. This too may be a long haul

Who could resist a face like this??

As for me....
I am starting Tamoxifen this week, my eyelashes are growing back (I can now use mascara again. Yippeee!) and my hair is nonexistent. But I am not complaining! Life is good!

Deal of the Week

2009-02-27T08:09:00.002-06:00

Upon getting my new camera and now taking photos galore I am always looking for a great deal on photo processing. Walgreens runs specials all the time. Last week I got 20 photos for FREE! This week the special is 50 photos for $5. I love that you can upload all your photos,order them and pay for them when you get to the store. And they are fast! Go to Walgreens.com and check it out.

Did you..................

2009-02-25T08:57:00.003-06:00

exercise today? Did you run, walk, snowshoe, spin? If not, get out and do it! Your heart and mind will be grateful! I walked 2 miles outside. What did you do?

Puppy pics and more surgery

2009-02-24T17:58:00.003-06:00

This is almost as much work as having a newborn baby. This dog has been amazing. She sleeps through the night without a noise from her. Sunny whined for months in the crate at night. I think the difference may be that we have the dog in the crate with us at night versus out in the kitchen all alone. She only whimpers for a few minutes, decides its not worth the effort and lays down and goes to sleep. We didn't hear from her until 6:15 this morning and that is the time that John gets up normally.
She is also already running to the door when she needs to go out and has learned how to climb the deck stairs already. Going down is a different story. She has a little Remington retriever dummy that we have been using in the house and she really likes to retrieve and bring back already. She has discovered the thrill of snow and likes to run in the yard through the snow. She is very sweet and lovable.

I had a visit with my plastic surgeon last week and I decided to schedule my surgery after we get back from Arizona. The surgery is a little more complex than what I had thought it would be and if I have it in March I won't be able to swing a golf club while on vacation. I will have surgery on April 28th after we get back. The surgery will be a 3 hour surgery with an overnight stay. I have lost a lot of original skin and because of this he needs to take some skin from my back to fill it in so he has enough room to put the expander back in. I was hoping to avoid having to take skin from my back but there really is no other way to do it. I will probably be done with all of this the end of summer. I was so hoping to look super great in that new bikini I bought for the summer!

Roxy!

2009-02-22T07:43:00.005-06:00

Yesterday was a big day for us! We were able to bring home our new puppy. We were up early and out the door by 8:30 in the snowstorm to go pick her out. We were able to choose between 2 puppies. The day we picked up Sunny I saw a red fox lab that the breeder had at the time and I remarked that the next dog we were going to get would be a fox red. I love their color. They are so pretty! John took less than 5 minutes to pick out "the one." The deciding factors were her color and her quickness in attacking a dead bird. Hahahaha Really, the latter is true. She was really quick to pounce on the dead bird that John put out in front of her. I barely had to time to look at both of them and he had already decided. It was kind of funny. She slept all the way in the kids laps and had an extrememly busy day as about 15 people came over during the course of the day to see her. She slept pretty much during the day which had me a little worried we were in for a long night. We decided this time our dog was going to be crate trained the right way and the breeders said they had great luck with keeping the puppies in the same room as them while sleeping at night. We had a little crate we used and within 10-15 minutes of going to bed, the dog actually layed down and slept the entire night until 7 am this morning. I think it was a fluke! We never heard a peep from her. I was amazed. She was fired up and ready to go this morning, much more lively than yesterday. I think she was stressed and traumatized yesterday being taken from her litter mates. The funnniest thing she has done so far is finding her reflection in the dishwasher and thinking it is a puppy mate. She starts to bark when she sees herself. It is quite humorous! She is a cutie and we haven't laughed so hard in a long time with her antics. Stay tuned........
p.s. the cat is not liking the dog thus far!

Cancer in a box

2009-02-17T11:04:00.004-06:00

I put my cancer world in a box today. It is filled with all the tbings that I have encountered thus far in this path. Cards,notes, messages, gifts, books, my chemo journal, my "courage" stone from my SIL (it came with me to every treatment and doctors visit) and my "fearless" necklace from my niece (I wore it every day during my treatment, never once did I take it off), items from my "sisters" that I will pass on to another woman I may meet undergoing breast cancer and the last thing to go in the box will be my wig and scarves. This was not a fork in the road that I would have chosen, but it chose me. This little detour in my life is now over.

It took me 10 days to fully recover from this chemo treatment, far longer than the other three treatments. I can say I was crabby and irritable and thanking god I didn't have to go through any more! It was not fun! I still think it really has not hit me that I can now carry on with my life, although I do have some reconstructive surgery coming up this year.

Have I changed through all of this? I would like to hope so. I now really don't sweat the small stuff. Things that really sent me over the edge before, I just kind of take it in stride. I find myself not getting as mad as I used to about everyday little things that ticked me off (messy bedrooms, crazy drivers, my unorganized household)and I do find myself being kinder to people in general(opening a door for a mom with a stroller full of kids, reaching for some yogurt in the grocery store for the little old lady who can't reach that high or even saying a kind word to the crabby lady checking me out at the grocery store). You never know what path they are going down or what burden they bear. Someone else is always in a worse off situation than myself. I have been able to accept help from friends and family (and this one was hard for me) and have found the true meaning of friendship. For the past 6 months the cancer world has been a part of my life. I am glad to be able to now say GOODBYE!

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!

2009-02-14T07:53:00.001-06:00

Baked Chicken Reuben

2009-02-13T10:43:00.005-06:00

I love sauerkraut! As a kid I remember my grandparents, Fern and Otto, actually making it in their basement (they were German)and the whole house reeked of cabbage. My grandmother would put it up in glass mason jars and store it downstairs in their cellar. Homemade kraut was delicious right out of the container! This recipe is really really old. I have had it forever and haven't made it in a long time. Even if you don't like sauerkraut, try it, it is really delicious. This is super simple to make although requires some ingredients you may not have on hand all the time such as the kraut.

Baked Chicken Reuben
4 chicken breasts (I use both boneless and bone in for this recipe)
salt and pepper to taste
1-16 oz can of sauerkraut, drained and squeezed out (I like Franks Bavarian Sweet kraut with caraway)
4 slices of swiss cheese (I used reduced fat slices)
1/4-1/2 c. of Thousand Island dressing (I use more than this)
Place chicken in greased baking dish. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Top with kraut and then a slice of cheese. Pour dressing over all. Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees until chicken is done. Boneless shouldn't take more than 30 minutes, bone in approximately 45 minutes. If I use the bone-in chicken I place the sauerkraut under the chicken then top with cheese and dressing, boneless I place the sauerkraut on top of the chicken,then cheese and dressing.

Book Club Night

2009-02-11T08:05:00.005-06:00

Did I tell you I love my book club ladies? Well I do, and I hardly ever miss a monthly meeting with them. (We missed you Margaret!)These ladies have been a great support to me during my treatment and I love them dearly. We actually do talk about the books we read (I know you are wondering that)and usually very seriously. But the best part of the evening (well, at least I think it is the best part of the evening) is the "social hour" with good food, wine and fun conversation, catching up on each other's lives in the past month. Some of these ladies I only see on a monthly basis so the conversation usually never ends when we get together. I was feeling well enough to venture out and showed up at Linda's with a bottle of champagne to celebrate my chemo graduation. My friend Linda has her own little cooking business (she makes enchiladas) so tonight we feasted on her black bean and spinach enchiladas and for dessert we had a great fruit tart with champagne. I was out way too late last night and am feeling a little tired this morning. Linda and I HAD to see the next episode of The Housewives of Orange County, so I stayed after the group left and watched it with her. If you haven't seen this show you must tune in sometime. It is quite entertaining!

Another New Layout

2009-02-08T11:03:00.004-06:00

I know, I know, you are probably saying "she changed her layout AGAIN!"
Maybe it is the weather or something (having a heatwave here in WI) or maybe a new chapter in my life now that toxic drugs are over with, but I felt the need to change the layout. The other one looked "dark" and my dark days are over.
The weather has been absolutely gorgeous out! Well, gorgeous for Wisconsin in February. We had a high of about 50 yesterday and today it should reach 40 degrees. Now when the weather turns that warm in February people come out hibernation here! Honestly, people we haven't seen all winter are out and about in the neighborhood. One of our neighbors had his motorcycle out! I have been feeling a little queasy but managed to get out for a walk again. The fresh air felt great and I didn't even have a winter coat on. Almost all of our snow has melted. Is spring here? Nahhh, just a little teasing to make us forget how we hate living in Wisconsin at this time of the year! Enjoy the weekend!!!!

I have to tell you this funny stuff that is going on in the house. John is getting pretty pumped for the arrival of his new hunting partner,Roxy. He bought a set of videos off the internet about dog handing,training, retrieval,etc. Along with the video came a huge binder of reading information also. He vows this dog will be trained "the right way" Don't get me wrong Sunny was a great hunter, she just didn't listen unless she wanted to. LOL She should have been a little more disciplined. Along with the videos he came home with a huge bottle of Nature's Miracle (the spray that is supposed to get rid of urine smell) and two little canvas dummies for training purposes. And so at night we are being subjected to these training videos which are so incredibly boring that both John and I fell asleep last night watching them. The woman who is the host of the video is about 80 years old and has the most boring voice. Little did he know the video was made in 1995. Oh well, I am sure that the information is still useful. Natalie just shakes her head and laughs!

2009-02-05T09:45:00.001-06:00

I love to laugh and I needed a good laugh today because I am feeling kind of crappy. I saw this on my niece's blog and had to steal it from her. This is hilarious!

I am a chemo graduate!!!!

2009-02-04T17:36:00.004-06:00

I AM DONE!!!!!!!! DONE, DONE,DONE!!!!!!!
I can't even tell you exactly how I feel right now. It hit me when I was walking in the parking lot to my car and then I started crying. I made it! With all the setbacks and delays I made it through the treatments. I am extremely happy, not happy, ecstatic that I am done. I told the nurse today that I should be drinking champagne during my treatment. It was a roller coaster of a ride that's all I can say. I dreaded chemo from the time I knew I had to have it.

What is next for me? I meet with my plastic surgeon in a few weeks to discuss surgery and we will go from there. I have in my own mind what I would like to do, so I need to see if we are on the same page as far as how soon I can have surgery.
I would like to have my expander surgery as soon as possible, before we go to Arizona. I have another vacation planned in June (and that is another post in itself) and I would like to be almost done or done with expansion by then. That again will depend on my white count as to when we can go ahead with surgery.

I am holding off on popping the champagne cork at this time and will have to settle for an anti-nausea pill and a bottle of water! But maybe next week, I will be toasting to myself that I made it this far and the climb is all uphill at this point.

Green Tea

2009-02-03T08:07:00.006-06:00

I am a coffee drinker! I have grown to like certain teas but don't drink them very often. 3-4 cups of green tea a day is recommended as a natural anti-cancer fighter. I found this pomegranate green tea at World Market. They carry the Republic of Tea brands and have quite a large selection. While it is not quite as good as a pomegranate martini it is pretty tasty!
~~~~~~~~
Green tea is high in the antioxidant EGCG (epigallocatechin-3- gallate) which helps prevent the body’s cells from becoming damaged and prematurely aged. Studies have suggested that the combination of green tea and EGCG may also be beneficial by providing protection against certain types of cancers, including breast cancer.

2009-02-01T20:01:00.004-06:00

Sunday I ran six miles! LOL Not really but I wish I could. My exercise regimen has been shot to hell since my cancer diagnosis. I am not using it as an excuse but I just have let it slide for the past several months. Sunday was a gorgeous sunny day and not too cold out so I decided it was time. I dusted off my Reeboks,grabbed my son's IPod, took my hair off and headed out the door. While I didn't run 6 miles or even 3 I did my usual neighborhood walk of almost 2 miles. It was nice to get some fresh air and get the legs working again. Swimsuit season is fast approaching, so that is my incentive. I need a svelte body to go along with these great new boobs that are coming soon!

I am planning on fitting in another powerwalk this morning along with grocery shopping, laundry and of course my transcription job (and maybe a little break in there to watch the Y&R.)
Happy Monday!!

Zuppe Italiano

2009-01-31T18:06:00.005-06:00

My friend Cathy recently dropped off a batch of yummy Sausage Tortellini soup her personal chef made (that would be her husband) and it prompted me to dig out this old recipe for a soup I make that is very, very similar. I love the flavor of this soup. It is very filling and goes a long way.

Zuppe Italiano
1-1/2-2 pounds of Italian sausage (I use one package of Johnsonville Sweet Sausage).
olive oil, if needed
2 medium onions, chopped (I use one)
2 cloves garlic, minced (I use one)
5 c. Beef Stock (or vegetable)
3-1/2 to 4 c. chopped tomatoes (I use the two largest cans of petite diced tomatoes)
1-1/2 c. of dry red wine
3/4 tsp. dried basil
1/2 tsp. dried oregano
1 medium green pepper, chopped (I use red or yellow)
2 c. shell or bow-tied noodles (or one package of frozen tortellini)
salt and pepper to taste
parmesan cheese for garnish

Prick the sausages with a fork and place in a saucepan. Cover with water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes. Remove the sausages,cool, remove casing and slice into 1/4" pieces. Saute in large pot. Remove when browned leaving 3 Tbs of fat in the pan (add olive oil if necessary). Add onion and garlic and saute 5 minutes. Add tomatoes,stock,wine,herbs and reserved sausages. Simmer for 25 minutes. Add peppers, zucchini and noodles. Cook for 25 minutes longer. Season with salt and pepper. Serve with grated cheese.

Dinner with my Sisters

2009-01-28T07:54:00.006-06:00

Last night I met up with my "sisters" Connie and Sara. While we have emailed, texted and chatted on the phone lately we hadn't found the time to get together for dinner. It was nice to talk in person as well as eating yummy food. This was my first time to Stir Crazy. We opted to order off the menu instead of having our food woked by the chefs. We all decided we wanted to be waited on for dinner instead of having to make our own food. Connie and I ordered the Almond Crusted Curry Chicken and Sara had a Beef Double Noodle Bowl. We also shared an order of potstickers. The food was great, although the chicken was a little spicy which didn't help us out with all of our hot flashes during the night. Imagine sitting at a table with 3 ladies who are asking "is it hot in here or is it because of the flaming woks that is seems hot in here?" LOL It must have been the flaming woks! It was great to see these ladies as they have given me much support during my journey! They are both lucky enough to be able to say "been there, done that" and I am closely following in their shoes.

A few people have asked me which puppy is ours in the puppy photos or how do we know which one will be ours. There is an actual science to puppy picking. We don't actually know until the day we go to pick our puppy (Roxey) up which one will be ours. We have 5th pick of the 6 female pups. By the time we get to the breeders only 2 will be left and we are able to pick from those 2 pups which one we would like. Doug and Pattie Kennedy are pretty well known for there puppies and most of them are spoken for before the pups are born and sometimes even before they are bred.
This is a great time to get a puppy as she will be able to hunt this fall already, which is why John was glad we at least had our name in for a puppy from this litter. Thankfully she had enough pups for us to get one. It is kind of ironic as this is the exact time we got Sunny 9 years ago. She was out hunting ducks her first fall when she was 9 months old. John's brother Rick just recently mentioned to me he remembers the first time they took her hunting! Great memories!!!

My next chemo is scheduled for next Wednesday!!!!!

2009-01-27T15:33:00.003-06:00

Over the course of the past 6 months I have met quite a few breast cancer survivors in person, on the internet and through my blog. One of the people I recently met is linked to my family but not of my immediate family. Lynn was diagnosed with breast cancer about one month after me. She has had a journey that I don't even know all the details of, but in the course of her 40 young years had had over 50 surgeries and has even had a kidney transplant. Lynn had the same plastic surgeon as me. We had talked on the phone, exchanged Christmas cards and she even came to visit me in the hospital when I was last in. She herself was also in just recovering from a mastectomy when I was in. This past weekend Lynn ended up in the hospital with a urinary tract infection and has died from complications from her hospitalization. She leaves behind a husband of only several years and a 16 year old son. Please say a prayer for Lynn and her family!

She is the first person I have known with breast cancer that has died,although she didn't die from breast cancer.

Life is short,cherish every moment and never take anything for granted!

Puppies!!!!

2009-01-25T12:09:00.013-06:00

We were out the door early today to go and visit the puppies at the breeders (Water Dog Specialties) Doug and Pattie Kennedy are the owners, and we got our dog Sunny through them 9 years ago. They specifically breed hunting dogs, both water and land. The Kennedy's breed Labradors. These puppies are fox red labs. Their coloring is a reddish color, similar to a golden retriever. Doug said the coloring of the puppies will change and they will get darker in color. They are beautiful dogs. The puppies are now 4 weeks old and just starting to eat dog food along with mom's milk. February 21st is the day the puppies will go out to new homes. Mom, Rhea, had 10 puppies in all, 6 females and 4 males. They are sooooo adorable!!

Honey Dijon Ranch Chicken

2009-01-24T11:47:00.003-06:00

I am a pretty good cook, I will admit it. Over the past several months we have gotten so many delicious meals I haven't had to cook too much. I am getting back into the swing of things now that no one is knocking at my door anymore. hahaha
I am adding a new section on my blog that will include my favorite recipes.
Tonight I am grilling honey dijon ranch chicken breasts. This is my absolute favorite way to make chicken on the grill and is the most requested recipe from Natalie for chicken. I love this recipe because it contains items I always have on had and it is fast and easy. There are 2 ways to enjoy this chicken. Grill it and use on a sandwich, which we do most often, or slice it and put it over angel hair pasta. It is also great in a salad the day after. Enjoy!!!

Honey Dijon Ranch Chicken
4 boneless chicken breasts
1/3 c. orange juice
1/3 c. vegetable oil
2 Tablespoons dijon mustard
2 Tablespoons of honey
1 envelope of ranch dressing (I only use 1/2 envelope)
Mix ingredients together and marinate chicken for several hours. Grill.
*I have already marinated the chicken for only 30 minutes and the flavor is still great!

Money!

2009-01-23T14:39:00.007-06:00

Today I went to my favorite coffee spot, Caribou Coffee, to get a cup of coffee before heading over to get my oil changed in my car. I got a dollar bill for change and on the bill was a stamp that said "track me at wheresgeorge.com"
Ok.. any website intrigues me, so once I got home I logged on to this website to see what it was all about. If you enter a little bit of information about any kind of bill you can see just exactly where the bill has been and how long it took to get into your hands. This is what it said about my bill. " This bill has traveled 282 Miles in 173 Days, 13 Hrs, 48 Mins at an average of 1.6 Miles per day. It is now 282 Miles from its starting location." This bill was from Minnesota. Once you register the bill, and it leaves your hands you can see where the bill ends up. I don't think I will track this bill daily once it leaves my hand but it was kind of fun to see where my bill came from!

SUN!

2009-01-21T10:13:00.004-06:00

I am excited! (and feeling good btw!) One of my New Years resolutions was to go on a a family vacation this year. With my health crisis, I strongly feel that a family vacation is in order. Natalie will be off to college in a few years and life is too short not to enjoy! (these were the arguments I used on the husband hahaha He finally caved in and sees my point I think) Despite the crappy economy and our medical bills, we are headed to Arizona for spring break. I have not been to Arizona in years and loved it when we were there last on a golfing vacation. I am using my medical transcription fund to get us there. And... I got a REALLY good deal on airfare!! I have been watching air fares for a few months, go up, go down, go up, go down. If you don't check them every day you may be missing out! In a matter of a few hours the price of a ticket (orbitz.com) went from $316 to $244 back up to $308 and even flight times disappeared and reappeared. I just happened to be checking AGAIN when I saw the $244 price and jumped on it(and that is for a nonstop flight, taxes included). I found a house (vrbo.com) in Cave Creek outside of Phoenix that looks great and perfect for our needs. Our needs being something with an inground pool(girls request), a decent TV( boys request), 3 bedrooms (kids hate to share) and out of the city (a must!) We aren't that picky. LOL It is something to look forward to help me get through this dreary January!

Funny for the Day!

2009-01-20T08:29:00.000-06:00

WOMAN'S PERFECT BREAKFAST

She's sitting at the table with her gourmet coffee.

Her son is on the cover of the Wheaties box.

Her daughter is on the cover of Business Week.

Her boyfriend is on the cover of Playgirl.

And her husband is on the back of the milk carton.

Post chemo update

2009-01-18T11:15:00.003-06:00

I hated being nauseous when I was pregnant,and I really was not even that sick. Well, chemo nauseau is worse! Even with the two meds my doc prescribed I have been sickish since Friday. I have another prescription for something else which I may try. I am feeling a bit better today. Yesterday I actually did nothing. I mean nothing. It was an effort to get myself dressed and moved to a chair. Besides the icky feeling in my stomach and the horrible taste in my mouth I am freezing cold, and then I am burning hot. Yes, the hot flashes have begun! Ughhhhh!

My beauty routine is getting easier by the day. I now have half of my eyelashes so putting mascara on the few eyelashes I have takes no time at all. Waaaaaaaaa! It really is quite ridiculous looking! I will continue to put mascara on my eyelashes even if I only have 3 left. LOL John said he didn't even notice. Welll... that's a man for you. They never notice anything.

Happy Sunday!

2009-01-14T12:57:00.003-06:00

I know you are all on the edge of your seats waiting to hear from me and I bet some of you have been on my blog more than once checking on me. :)

Welllllll.......to start the day off I headed out in the snow and very cold temps in the dark only to "crawl" to the hospital with all the other cars out at that time of the day. Well... because of the snow and slippery conditions I think that the hired help was late getting in. I even made it in before the receptionist in the lab was there. Not quite the routine start that I usually have. Got checked in and waited until they called my name. One stick..... ack.... no good! Couldn't get a blood return.... crap! The lab tech puts a warm compress on my arm in hopes that some big fat vein will appear. ("Have you drank a lot of water?" she says. "It helps to hydrate your veins." What the heck, I am barely awake and breathing at 7 am with only a half a cup of coffee choked down on the ride in. ) She calls for her partner to give it a try. I knew this would be a success as I had this tech last week and she is GOOD! She got an IV line with no problem. I am sent on my way over to the day hospital. When I arrived to my dismay the other 2 people that had their labs drawn are still sitting in the waiting room. Not a good sign when the people ahead of you are still sitting and waiting. I head to the desk to check in. The receptionist here says "Hi Gail, back for another try this week?" Wow! She remembered who I am and that means that I have been there way too much if she now recognized me. LOL I plant my butt in a chair furthest away from the floor to ceiling windows that make up the entire outside wall of this building and they are no longer heating because of the budget cuts(that's a joke but could be true haha). The time is 8:05 am. Time passes, my hands and feet are no frozen solid and I get up to walk around and get my circulation going. The receptionist is talking to a co-worker about how cold it is. I mention that I feel like an ice cube and she runs to get me a warm blanket. Love those warm blankets! At 9:20 I hear my name. A nurse is headed my way with papers in her hand. "Is it a go?" I ask. "Yes" she says. YES!!!! YES!!! YES!!!!
I want to do cartwheels in the waiting room and give the nurse a hug I am so happy. I feel like I am on cloud nine heading in to get my toxic drug treatment. Now tell me if that isn't crazy I don't know what is!!!!!! All of a sudden I had 3 text messages from various friends wondering what is going on, one of them was "please tell me you are having chemo right now!" (one my "sisters" checking in on me.)My treatment was quick and painless. I left the day hospital at 11:30 and headed over to see my friend Connie at Small Stones who was working. She was almost excited as me that I was able to have chemo. (us "sisters" have this common bond. We understand each other like no one else. One of the blessings I have found in this journey--"sisters.") I stopped for lunch (I won't say what is was. I was ravenous having not eaten breakfast. It wasn't the most healthy but I will blame that on the steroids making me so hungry). Nap time for me! I am feeling great now! Just incredibly thankful and happy that I was able to get through another chapter.
ONE MORE TO GO!!!!! WHOOHOOOO! YIPPPEEEE!!!!!! Stay tuned for more updates. Thank you for all your prayers and good wishes!

Crazzzzyyyyy!

2009-01-13T15:08:00.004-06:00

"What is wrong with me?" "Why do I feel like this?" "I'm going crazzzzy now!"

These are the words from a song called Disturbia that I like to listen to, not because of the words but because of the upbeat music. I actually have to smile when I hear those words because sometimes I am going crazy during all of this. LOL

January 12th was my 4-month anniversary! My surgery anniversary. Since my diagnosis I have been to a hospital/dr's office 30 times, been in the hospital 11 days and have had 3 surgeries. I have seen over 35 different doctors both in and out of the hospital (that includes residents and interns), I have had 2 of 4 chemo treatments, 2 treatments were discontinued because of an allergy to the chemo drugs, 2 treatments were canceled due to low white blood cell counts. My bill from the hospital for my physician charges is 10 pages long. I get at least 2-3 mailings from my insurance company daily. I have made friends with the pharmacist at Target who knows me by name. My hair has fallen out, grown back some and fallen out again. I have not shaved my legs or arms in over 2 months. I love my recliner. My eyelashes are falling out. I have tried more drugs in the past 4 months than in my whole lifetime. I have to carry a yearly pocket planner now. I have my doctors numbers programmed into my cell phone. I haven't gone to get my hair cut in months. I look forward to the mocha coffee from the coffee dispenser at the Breast Care Clinic. I now only have to wash my hair/wig every other week. I have had more needle sticks than I can count. I can now find my way around the clinical cancer center without asking. Some of the nurses at the day hospital know me by name. I have yet to wear a bra since my surgery. My head gets cold at night. I have had more stitches than I care to think about. I have 2 more surgeries to look forward to until my reconstruction is complete. I have cried, I have laughed and I have screamed!!! Crazy you say! Ahhhhhh yes, some days I can say I am!

2009-01-12T17:31:00.002-06:00

My Project 365 kit arrived on Friday. The above photo is the photo I snapped today on my way to work. I sort of feel like I am on that train track going on and on and on. I think this project will get me to be more creative in my picture taking. So far I have been keeping up on a daily basis. Some days I don't think I have anything to take a photo of but then something comes to me. I am enjoying doing this so far. It is a nice distraction for me!

We are expecting some snow tonight with below zero weather coming up later this week. My kids are planning on a "cold day" from school. I laughed when I heard this from my daughter but then my son came home from school and said the same thing. The teachers are talking about having a day off of school because of the cold. Honestly! They have more days off from school than I have ever seen. Keep them in school with less time off and they will get out before June. LOL

Two more days (but who is counting) until my lab work!

TGIF!!!!!

2009-01-09T13:44:00.008-06:00

Once again, I am overwhelmed with kind words of sympathy and encouragement from friends, family,lurkers to my blog and strangers with the loss of our dog! It has been a tough week for our family. I have been so torn up about losing Sunny that it has been difficult for me to talk about her without crying and I am teary as I write this. I thank you all for being there for me once again.

When I started this blog it was to keep my family and friends informed about what was going on with my life during breast cancer treatment. Over the last few months my blog has found its way across the U.S. to computers of people I will probably never meet, some of those who I share a common bond, going through cancer treatment. My blog has actually been viewed in 41 states, some of which I am sure were random blog surfing. Never did I imagine that I would be the source of encouragement or hope or even inspiration to someone else going through what I am going through right now. Starting the blog to keep my own mental sanity has turned out to be so much more than I ever imagined.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
On a lighter note,,,,,,, or is this a lighter note,,,,,,,

I am staring to lose some eyelashes! I love my eyelashes!!!!! Let's hope that they all don't disappear!

funk

2009-01-08T14:13:00.002-06:00

The last two days have been pretty emotional for me. The day after Sunny died I had to be at the hospital by 7 am for another blood test to see if my white blood cell count had improved from 700 the week before. They needed to be 1500 to be able to get chemo that day. I waited until 7:35 before they even called my name. The nurse had trouble getting a vein this time (this is the first time this has happened) so 2 sticks later they finally got blood samples. By the time I went to the day hospital it was 8 am. Then finally at 9 am I got the word that my white cells were only up to 900 this week. Go home and come back next week for another try. Great! Just what I wanted to hear after dragging my butt out of bed and getting little sleep the night before because I am so sad about Sunny. I came home to an empty house and cried. My Sunny was not at the door to greet me this time. And she was not there to lay next to my computer as I did my transcription work in the afternoon. I managed to endure the day, climbed into bed at 9 pm to read, texted my friend Cathy at 10ish for a few good laughs and finally the Benadryl I took put me to sleep.
I worked this morning and am now home doing my transcription work. I hope this funk is gone by tomorrow!

2009-01-07T09:59:00.006-06:00

Sunny
January 1, 2000-January 6,2009

My heart is so filled with sadness over the loss of our beloved Sunny. The only comfort I have is that she is no longer in any pain
There will never be another Sunny.

New Project

2009-01-06T13:00:00.004-06:00

After visiting my nieces blog who is a very avid scrapbooker, I was intrigued by a new scrapbooking kit that was soon to be coming out on January 1st. Am I a scrapbooker? No, not at all, but the concept behind this kit sounded so easy that I thought I would give it a try because I DO take a lot of photos, especially now with my new camera. What is the kit? Take a photo every day for the next year, organize them in this kit with all the supplies they include and after one year you have a one-year photo journey. Can I do that? I am not sure, but I am going to give it a try. Jess, you will be proud of me if I succeed. LOL I went to this website and with all the hype and promotion it was difficult to get through and order. I placed an order, it did not look quite right, and then this week got a confirmation that I indeed would be getting one of the kits. The website crashed due to an overload of scrapbook junkies who were trying to get their hands on one of these kits. I guess I will be very lucky if one arrives at my door! So for now, while waiting, I am taking one picture a day and will wait to see if the kit arrives.

Tommorrow, bright and early, and I mean early (labs at 7 am, what was I thinking??!!) I am headed to Hotel Froedert for another blood test. Please say a prayer that my white blood counts are up so I can get the treatment!!

"Stuff"

2009-01-04T20:25:00.004-06:00

There is something about January every year that makes me start to reorganize and throw out. I think it starts with putting the Christmas decorations back up in the attic. We have lived in our house for 14 years so you can imagine how much "stuff" we have collected in that time. Today I spent part of the day in the attic, reorganizing and throwing out. Some parts of the attic have not been touched in years, while other "stuff" has been sorted through from time to time. Several things brought a smile to my face...... the little white gloves that Natalie wore when she made her first communion..... the little paper mache mask that Billy made when he was in grade school..... ice skates that were practically brand new that Natalie "had to have"......Christmas sketches that Billy made when he was little (he went through a phase where he liked to draw)....the red rocking horse that Aunt Sandy bought for Natalie when she was very little....the Brio train table that Grandpa Bill made for Billy to put his train track on..... matching rocking chairs with the kids names on them. Amidst the empty boxes and junk there were lots of memories and lots of "stuff" that was just too important to part with. I think I will keep this "stuff" for many years. If it brings a smile to your face it is just too important to part with.

New Year

2009-01-03T15:27:00.000-06:00

"This is a time for reflection as well as celebration.

As you look back on the past year and all that has taken place in your life,

Remember each experience for the good that has come of it
and for the knowledge you have gained.

Remember the efforts you have made and the goals you have reached.

Remember the love you have shared and the happiness you have brought.

Remember the laughter, the joy, the hard work, and the tears.

And as you reflect on the past year, also be thinking of the new one to come.

Because most importantly, this is a time of new beginnings
and the celebration of life."

Let's Just start the New Year out right!

2009-01-02T11:13:00.002-06:00

Well, I am back at home already. I could not have chemo! My blood count was too low even after all the Neupogen injections I had. My basic WBC count was borderline and when the break down came through from the lab my neutrophils were only 700 and needed to be 1000 to be able to have chemo. Needless to say, I am frustrated and little angry! I am so tired of delays. I have to go back on Wednesday for another blood test and hopefully the counts will be up. So stay tuned next week.........
Ughhhhhhhh!

2009-01-01T18:05:00.002-06:00

Happy 2009!
John and I ventured out last night for the first time in several years. We went to some friends' house for dinner. We were home by 11:50 and in bed by midnight. I think I am getting old!

Another year ahead. I can honestly say that 2008 was probably the worst year of my life and I am positive that I will have a healthy 2009. I will have 2 major upcoming surgeries this year (replacement of my lost soft tissue expander and then the final implant swap)and 2 smaller surgeries, nipple reconstruction and tattooing. Yes, I said tattoing. I have always secretly wanted a tattoo (please don't tell my mother, she would be mortified), but really never wanted one on one of my boobs. LOL My plastic surgeon said he does not want to start anything until I was feeling really good after my last chemo (which will be the end of January). Tomorrow I start the year out with a bang and go for chemo #3.

I ran into an old friend today that I have not seen in several years. We chatted for quite awhile. It seemed like we had never lost touch. Both of our lives have changed dramatically in the past several years. I know that what I have gone through has changed me as a person. After talking with her, I knew that she had also changed as a person because of her past experiences. Yet as friends, it was still the same old, same old. You can pick up where you left off. That is what is so great about friends! It honestly made my day to run into her and share our lives for a few minutes (well actually it was about 30-40 minutes LOL)

I have a short update on Sunny. As you can see from the above photo she has been able to get around outside in the yard now that all the snow has melted! She has really sort of perked up now that she is able to get out more. She loves to run the boundary of the yard and smell the scents outside. She is still walking only on 3 legs and I doubt she will ever use her bad leg again. She seems to be doing okay right now. She is getting thin so we are spoiling her rotten with all kinds of good food to try and keep some weight on her. She loves tater tot casserole!

We got a call from our breeder that the puppies we have been waiting for were born on Saturday! The dog had 6 females and 4 males so we will have a choice of 2 females to pick from (we are 5th pick for females). We are going out to see them next weekend. Now we need to think about puppy proofing the house. We are all excited to get a new pup in the house, but we are arguing about the name. Natalie does not particularly like the name we are considering. John said that Natalie has no say in the name what so ever because she has never picked up a pile of poop from the yard from Sunny. LOL We will see who wins this argument.

I hope that all of you have a happy and healthy 2009!!!!

Movies,movies, movies

2008-12-29T10:33:00.003-06:00

As I sat in my chair last night I realized I have seen 4 movies in the past 2 weeks, two on DVD and two in the theater. Upon the recommendation of my 14 year old we rented Dark Knight and Step Brothers. I honestly can't give you a review of Dark Knight because I fell asleep about half way through (maybe even before the half way mark) and woke up at the end. According to my husband it was long and kind of boring! As for Step Brothers if you want to see a stupid funny movie and are not offended by foul language and talk about body parts this movie was pretty funny in parts, but very stupid in others (maybe why my son loved it and said it was hilarious, it is a movie for kids actually).

On Christmas Day, as tradition for the past several years, our family went to see a movie. We chose the Curious Incident of Benjamin Button. Two thumbs down from the kids "long and boring" from the daughter and "this movie sucks" from the son. John and I found it to be pretty good, although it was way too long (we felt it could have been shorter). If you are looking for an action packed keep you on your seat movie this is not for you. This is the chronological story of a man born old who becomes younger as the movies goes on. It is his life story. I would recommend it if you would like to see something different.

John and I went to see Doubt with Meryl Streep yesterday. I love Meryl Streep. I thnk she is great actress. We both loved the movie. Great acting! Again, this is not an action packed movie but the story of a nun and priest in a tightly run Catholic school. I would highly recommend this one!
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*I am feeling great as of a now. I only had a one-week period after the chemo where I just felt lousy, but was back to normal after that. My next chemo is Friday morning. What a way to start the New Year. My hair has actually started to grow back. I think because of the 2 treatments that really didn't work my hair started growing and as of now what I have has not fallen out since the last chemo. Kind of weird. I am not sure if the 1/4" stubble will fall out or what. If you can believe this my hair is WHITE! I think some dye may be in order after all this is over. YIKES!
Happy Monday!

Christmas memories

2008-12-27T11:54:00.021-06:00

The weather was a little uncooperative this year!

Everyone had fun looking for the pickle on the tree!

Everyone dined on prime rib!

Of course, we couldn't forget the annual family photo.

Love was in the air!

We have come to expect the unexpected!

And laughter and good times were had by all! Merry Christmas 2008

2008-12-24T09:13:00.001-06:00

Merry Christmas!!!!!!

Round Robin

2008-12-21T11:34:00.004-06:00

Last night was our yearly "round robin" dinner party that I always look forward to. I was a little worried that I might not be able to make it this year due to my chemo dates and how I would be feeling but it all worked out. We are a group of 7 couples that have been doing this dinner party for over 15 years. We used to do the traditional round robin where you go to one house for appetizers, one house for dinner and one house for desserts but over the years we have become old and are actually down to 1 or 2 houses. The best part of the evening is when the ladies get together and exchange gifts. These are some of the funnest "girl" gifts ever and this year was no exception!!!! I always come home with some fun things that I just would not buy myself but would love to have. Good drinks (champagne for me this year! whooohoooo!) good food and good friends to celebrate the holiday season. It doesn't get any better than that!

Snow Day!

2008-12-20T08:43:00.005-06:00

For those of you who wish you were here or for those of you who haven't had enough this was the scene Friday morning after Mother Nature decided to drop 13 inches of snow in our yard in a matter of about 7 hours. I ventured out to get my nails done around 11:30 and roads were in good shape. Son went sledding, daughter went to to a movie and hubbie painted my kitchen for me. I love 3 day weekends!

Bing!!!!!

2008-12-18T12:28:00.001-06:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vPfOjAw5Z0

One of my favorite holiday movies!

I'm a Grinch on this one!

2008-12-17T12:33:00.002-06:00

One of my biggest holiday gripes is the radio! I can not stand any radio station in our area during the holiday season because they subject us to the cruddiest holiday music ever. Don't get me wrong I love Bing and I love Nat but why must we listen to "I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus", Elvis Presley singing "I'll have a blue Christmas without you" (that just makes me want to vomit) and Jingle Bell Rock when there are so many great songs by CURRENT artists. And as for WMYX playing Christmas music even before Thanksgiving, well... that is unAmerican and I refuse to listen to that station at all. I have my CD player loaded up with my own music and I will listen to Amy Grant and Manheim Steamroller to get me in the holiday spirit.
As for the radio stations... BAH HUMBUG!!!

2008-12-16T08:51:00.003-06:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_4qwVLqt9Q

As a blogger there are some days that I don't actually have anything to write about or I think that you don't want to constantly read about my day to day living with my breast cancer treatment. It is usually on those days that something is in my email box that prompts me to post because it is so worthwhile to me and I feel it is worth sharing. That is the case today. I found this in my email box, opened it, watched it, cried and had to post. Thank you Ann for sending it my way!

My post today is simply put ....
Thank you to all the women I know! You have all made a difference in my life!!
I love you all!

Update-Weekend

2008-12-14T15:39:00.003-06:00

Just a quick update to let you all know that I am feeling good! The only complaint I have is that I am tired and a bit nauseous if I don't keep taking the anti-nausea meds. I finished decorating the house, sent out my second batch of Christmas cards, made some candy, caught up on wash and cleaning and slept in both on Saturday and Sunday and napped both days as well. I got a lot done! Yayyyy! Billy's migraine was short lived. Thank goodness he didn't have some bug or something. Natalie's pink eye is pretty bad. It prevented her from working this weekend and swimming in a swim meet she was signed up for. Her eyes look better today, but looking at them makes MY eyes water. They are still pretty red and swollen. Poor thing! Sunny is still limping, no change with her.
As you can see, my cat Macie had to nap as well this weekend. This is her new sleeping spot as of the last two days. Isn't she sweet!!

Just a typical Friday!

2008-12-12T13:26:00.003-06:00

Woke up this morning tired. Probably because I woke up in the middle of the night for 2 hours, maybe from the steroid. I am not sure. Grabbed my morning coffee and was feeling a bit of a headache. Downed two ibuprofen and my anti nausea meds and got ready for work. I am running late today. Thank goodness the hair only takes about 30 seconds to get it in order. LOLOL Daughter comes down "look at my eyes" Looks like pink eye to me. Darn! I search thru the medicines thinking I have some eye drops from before. Of course I can not find then. Off to school she goes. Head to work(get there at 9:15) and get a call at 10:30, son is in the nurses room not feeling well. Head back home, pick him up from school, drop him at home (he heads to bed with a bad migraine) Hop back in the car, get a call from the daugher "my eyes are worse, the school nurse says it's pink eye" Ok, bring yourself home I say. Now at 3:00 I am headed to the clinic with her for some eye drops. I am now back at work with my stomach in my throat not because I am nauseaus but because the husband decides that he is going to go on top of our strip mall roof and get the ice out of the gutters. I am always so nervous when he is up there that he will slip and fall and then who will make my morning coffee!!!! I think I need a nap! TGIF!

YIPPPEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!

2008-12-11T14:40:00.003-06:00

Today was my chemotherapy with the new drug Adriamycin/Cytoxan. I arrived at the hospital at 8:15 for blood work and headed up to the cardiac department for the echocardiogram. I was taken in at 9:10 and was out of there within 45 minutes. (the echocardiogram had to be done before they would give me the Adriamycin. They wanted to make sure my heart was okay before proceeding and to get a baseline test in case I developed problems from the drug down the road). I also had an appointment with the nurse at the Breast Care Center, why I am not sure because I sat there for almost 2 hours before they had the results of the echo. I was pissed off that I had to wait that long for results of a test. I can't believe they couldn't get a doc to take a look at the study when they knew I was waiting for treatment. Finally at 12 noon I went to the day hospital for the infusion. I had a great nurse, Abbie, who remembered me from the time I had a reaction the first time. She had helped with my care that time. She hooked me up to my premeds which consisted of Zofran for nausea and a steroid. That took about 15 minutes. What is different with Adriamycin is it has to be hand injected by a nurse. She had two 50 mL syringes filled with a nice red liquid that she hand injected over 15 minutes. Adriamycin is very hard on the veins, so she was really careful about making sure the line was open as she injected. She frequently checked to make sure she could get a blood return. Over and done with that! On to the Cytoxan which is in a bag. That took an hour. Flush and done!!!!!!! NO REACTION!!!!!!
IT WORKED!!!!! HALFWAY THROUGH CHEMO TREATMENTS. ONLY 2 MORE TO GO!!!!!!
Now that is progress!!!!!!!!!! I sat in my nice lounge chair in the sun with a nice view of the pond and read my book the entire time. It sounds just like a spa doesn't it!!!???? NOT!!!
I will wait and see how the side effects hit me this weekend. But for now, I am soooo glad that I finally made it through a treatment.
Tonight... I am planning on going out to dinner with my book club ladies.