Race for the Cure!

I got up early on Saturday morning with Kristi Myers to catch a bus from Ames to Des Moines to walk in the Susan G Komen Race for the Cure.  While I didn't "race", I did walk three miles which is a GIGANTIC feat for me.  I was tired as hell, but I made it!!  And what a great turn out!  Hopefully one day we will never hear of anyone dying from breast cancer.  I know it's a huge wish, but hopefully it will happen one day.  I sure hope it does in my lifetime.  Here we are after the 3 mile marker....I was a happy (and sore) camper!!  Thank you to all my Cycos for a Cure teammates...it was a fun day!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

My little pirate!!  So cute, I just want to squeeze her.  She's not dangerous since she still has her pacifier...I am sure she wouldn't make you walk the plank!

3 Month Check up next week

Sorry, had to post that picture of those heel/horse shoes....is that not the most disturbing photo you have ever seen????? 

Next week is my 3 month post breast cancer check up.  While I am going into it with a good attitude, I have just a small part of myself that is a bit scared.  Hoping all with still be just fine and I am sure it will be.  I just know that I would not be normal if I wasn't looking over my shoulder a little bit!

Tomorrow Kristi Myers and I are going to walk in the Susan G Komen Race for Cure in Des Moines.  I know I will NOT be racing.  I will barely be walking, but I am going to do my best.  I am excited to see a bunch of survivors.  We are taking a bus from Ames so that should be fun!  Our team name is "Cyco's for the Cure" which features Cyclones on the t-shirt.  Since I am a Hawkeye fan, it will be a bit disturbing wearing a cyclone but it's for a good cause.

Thanks to Paige for getting me this coffee cup -- hilarious!

WTF??????

The new nipple......

***Warning....nipple talk, don't let your kids read ***

I was trying to decide whether to have them make me a new nipple for my mastectomy breast that has been redone with an implant.  I went back and forth as I kind of wanted them to look closer to twins (my breasts) but yet I guess I really didn't care one way or the other.  I can't feel anything anyway on my right breast, so did it really matter???  Yesterday I went to the plastic surgeon and he convinced me to have the nipple put on. (I think it's because they will miss me too much if I am not in their care anymore....at least that is what I tell myself)  This is how the nipple thing works (which I just learned yesterday):  They make you the ring around the nipple and construct a nipple.  It will not be as "sticking out" as my other nipple for lack of a better description but they will build it up a bit. Now the material they use to do this, I am not sure yet.  If it's cadaver skin I am running for the hills.  I don't want dead person nipple.  I have to assume it's from some synthetic skin thing they have.  I am so not medical can you tell??  Anyway,  The have to give me a local shot in the breast ***ouch*** and then they will proceed.  I can drive myself to and from the procedure.  I have to wear gauze with a hole cut out...so the nipple can breathe??  LOL!  I just made that part up, I am not sure why.  After 3 months I can have the tatoo applied which means basically just coloring it in to look like a real nipple.  I am having the procedure done on December 17th.  I needed a break from the doctors for a while so we scheduled it for a couple months.  Getting more and more back to the old Laurie...uh oh!

HAPPY 2ND BIRTHDAY HADLEY!

My little schmoopy turned 2 on Saturday. She had a great day!  Grandma Sandy and Grandpa Bill brought her pics of the horses and she went wild over them!  She loved all the clothes and dolls from Grandma Judy and Grandpa Al too and all the other gifts that her great Aunt and Uncle Sandy and Arlin, and Aunt Lisa and Aunt Marc and all her cousins. Cousin Jennifer and her boys got her a "I wear pink for my mommy shirt"  I about cried!  Grandpa Dean brought her a t-shirt from his hunt in Argentina.  Aunt Christy made her a pumpkin cake and cupcakes and her and Uncle Jon gave her books and candy called Boogers....I am sure she will have fun with those!  Uncle Tim got her a fuzzy bear back pack.  Hattie and her family bought her books and coloring books! They all showered her with gifts and she was just beside herself!!!  It was really cute.  Scott and Stacy Peden got her a radio flyer tricycle and it's PINK!!  So cute.  And her friends the Kubiks from Kansas sent her PJ's and a Happy Birthday Book.  It was such a great day and Hadley thanks everyone for coming and their fun gifts!!  And she got lots of cards in the mail and knows to watch for cards in the mail at her birthday now!  Thank you everyone!

October is Boobie Month!!

Breast cancer awareness month...October!!!  Go get a mammogram, please.  My cancer would not have been detected so early (or maybe not until it was too late...yikes!) if I would not have had my first mammogram.  So please it's very important to go get checked. 

I have to admit, I use to love pink.  But since my diagnosis I have been surrounded by so much pink it's like Pepto Bismol puked all over me.  So for October, I will embrace the pink ribbon and all it's pinkness, but after that I am going straight to Christmas colors!  LOL!!

Bucket List!!!!

I have a lot of things I would like to do in my lifetime but I am settling right now for the little things.  No pain (LOL!), having hair, shopping for new bras, wearing jeans that are not meant for clown people.....  Ah, the little things like eyelashes and eyebrows!!  Those are my mini bucket list items.  I have a lot of plans in the next few weeks also.  Hadley's birthday party, shopping weekend, visit in KC with Carey, Jason and Kyley, and Mike and I are going to go to Vegas again in December....I know...twice in 1 year, I must be special....or stupid..one or the other.  I want to stay away from that damn Sex and the City slot machine, but I know I will have to play it a few times....love it!!  So here are a few things I want to accomplish in the next year:

Cancer Free!!
Exercising Regularly
Going out to eat with my hubby once a month as "date night"
Getting back into my wedding dress!!!  HA!
Looking like the pictures I post on facebook from 5 years ago!  HA HA!!
Playing with my kids and watching them grow
Going to an Iowa Football game with Palmer
Taking a family vacation
Trapshooting a few times
Golfing a few times
Family photo

I don't require much, but these things WOULD make me happy and I will cross them off as I go along.  I am definitely getting back to my old self.....might I just say "Whew"......!