My 3 year Birthday!!!

No, it's not really my birthday.  But 3 years ago today I found out I had breast cancer.  So it is KIND of a re-birth when I am getting closer to that 5 year mark!!!  I had a stomach virus last week (horrid, won't give details to spare everyone) and this week I had a bacterial virus that knocked me out.  Talk about fatigue!!  I was reminded of the past chemo days and that is not something I wanted to re-live.  But I am happy to report that I am about 98.9% feeling tip top!!!  Thankful that I work for my family and could take some days off to rest and just try to get better.  On the down side I am in panic mode for Christmas!!  I literally only have 1/3 of my shopping done!!!  But my husband is taking me tomorrow without the kids and hopefully we can get a lot done.  Going shopping with my husband is like going hunting with the DNR, but hey...beggars cannot be choosers!

I don't get headaches....I give them.

I forgot to mention at my last oncologist appointment Dr Yoda asked me if I had any abnormal pains, back, kidney, head ache?  I told him, "I don't get headaches, I give them."  He chuckled (which is rare, he doesn't get my humor) and asked me what I did for a living.  I told him I sold ammunition and reloading supplies. He was surprised by that and said, "oh, I thought you were a lawyer!"  In the words of Pretty Woman, the movie....do I have that sharp, useless look about me that he would think I am a lawyer???  Stranger things have happened.

Good as Gold!

Got my 3 month check up last Monday and I was as good as gold!  Well since the price of gold always fluctuates, let's just say I am better than gold this time!  Like cancer, things do fluctuate so I take it one day at a time and am thankful for good check ups.  I now have a check-up every 6 months which is huge in the cancer world!  I did get a flu shot while I was there and I am not going to lie....they put me in the chemo room to get my shot and it was like deja vu....and I was not so sure I was not going to have a slight panic attack.  The same sights and smells...people getting chemo or blood transfusions or dialysis.  All that came back and smacked me in the face.  The same nurses that I once relied on to take care of me were there and asking how I was doing.  Thank goodness the flu shot did not last long or I would have been a mess. Pretty sure that is why it scares the CRAP out of me that I might one day have to do it again.  God willing, I won't need to and being positive and praying are my go-to's on any given day.  So each day I get closer to that 5 year mark and breath a little better and hold tight to my family and friends.  Live and love each day to the fullest my friends!

Happy 4th Birthday to our little princess Hadley.  She was so excited to get Baby Alive (now she can change it's dirty diaper and she is excited about this????)  I am sure that will not last long!!  And she also got her very own princess bike with training wheels.  She was already riding it around the house and has totally figured out the brakes.  I am sure I will be wiping up tread marks on my hardwood floor...but hey, they are only little once right???  We are having a birthday party for her tonight since yesterday was her b-day and she had tumbling last night.  Did I mention she loves tumbling and practices on her bed before bedtime?  Good thing we didn't spring for that super awesome expensive mattress and we chose one that we she can bounce all over for a fraction of the price!

Palmer has been sick on and off for a good 8-10 weeks now and has missed quite a bit of school. When he came home last Thursday sick again and missing all the fun Homecoming activities I knew something was wrong.  We took him to the see the doctor on Friday and he had a blood test.  On Monday  we got the results and the poor kid has mono.  So that ends his football season and he is out of school and all activities for this week.  He can't even go to his sister's birthday party.  He has to rest completely and take in lots of fluids.  When you get mono your spleen is enlarged so it's a bit dangerous to be in sports.  And the fatigue wipes you out so he needs plenty of rest and TLC.....which won't be a problem for me --- if he lets me!

Hadley......*sigh*

Hadley 3-4 year old preschool 2014

My crazy life....preschooler and 8th grader

As promised here are pics from the "firsts" this year. Palmer on the first day of 8th grade and Hadley on her first day of preschool. So far so good, but Hadley is kind of having a hard time adjusting....I know, can you believe it? Miss Social! But she is not quite use to the large amounts of kids her age and I think she probably is not use to getting most of the attention so she is struggling to fit in. I am sure as she gets to know all her new classmates that she will be just fine, but this transition phase is killing me! It's hard to see her well up with tears because she has so much anxiety about going and then after I pick her up from the day she had the time of her life! Kids....I will never understand them. But sure am glad I have them! Also, Miss Hadley starting tumbling classes on Monday nights. She LOVES it. Palmer will be getting his football pictures taken here soon also so I will post when I have them. In the mean time since I am going to the Cy-Hawk game on Saturday...GO HAWKEYES!!!

Back to school time! Oh and I nailed another check up....

I can't believe the summer has flown by so fast!!! Being in a boot cast for a month did not help but I am probably packing most of my summer into these last few weeks. Palmer will start the 8th grade and Hadley gets to go to pre-school! Palmer said he is excited to go back to school, but then that excitement ends after the first week. I totally get him on that!! Hadley is just excited because now she gets to go with the other kids to school when last year they left and she had to stay behind as she wasn't old enough yet. She could have cared less about which backpack she wanted....she ended up picking the one that had the free lunch box!!! Yup, my kid...total foodie!! My check up with Dr. Yoda, my oncologist went well. I told him I wasn't sleeping well and he said (and I quote) "are you worried about something?" Umm....well let's see. Uh, I don't know...maybe cancer coming back????? I know....duh!!!

Boobie Squish...check! Boot cast Removal...check!

Got my mammies grammed last week and everything is A-ok!!! Always breathe a sigh of relief after that check up. And the week before last I got my boot cast off from chipping a bone in my foot!! Yay me!! I have a slight limp yet, as my foot gets stiff if I am not walking on it constantly, but otherwise it's seems to be fine. I would like to say I have a super duper cool story of how I broke my very first bone, but I don't. I slipped on my daughter's spilled mac and cheese on our hardwood floors. There I've said it. I am a klutz and need to pay more attention. My body is larger and slower....it does not have the same reaction time it use to. Curse you age!! My son Palmer comes home soon!! I cannot wait to see him. He sent me a pic of himself (well his shoes) on a scale and it read much more than I had thought it would. For those of you who do not know Palmer....he is normally 80 lbs soaking wet. Well if he didn't put quarters in his pockets or someone else wasn't standing on the back of the scale then I would say he is growing, A LOT!! He says it pays to be lazy and I don't doubt that!!! Couldn't be because Grandma Diane feeds him constantly could it?? I think he might have just had a growth spurt, so I am excited to see how tall he is!!! Pics to come later!!

A Little Dark Cloud follows me around sometimes!

Ever since I had Hadley (which I was a perfectly healthy, 40 years old, easy preganancy) and then a beautiful baby girl to love on and make our family complete....then BAM!! My thyroid failed. I got breast cancer. Mastectomy, chemo, skin cancer....etc, etc. Well a few more things have popped up. I have a cyst on my ovary (not cancerous) and I chipped a bone in my foot. Urghh!! The little dark cloud that follows me every few months needs to LEAVE! But, alas....I am still fairly healthy. I have a roof over my head, family and friends that love me and a paying job. Which is a lot more than other people have in their life. So I am going to try to make lemonade out of the lemons that have been thrown my way, but damn it is difficult when that lemon is a black cat, broken mirror and opened umbrella in the house! I don't think I have walked under any ladders lately but knowing me, I probably did! Here are some random photos that I thought I would post. I am missing the pool horribly with this darn boot cast so I am hoping to get it off so that Hadley and I can get a few dips in here and there. Also, missing my son who is in Alabama with his dad. The summer is flying by...so everyone try to enjoy it!!

Sorry for neglecting you Blog!!!

I have been lazy with my blog lately! So here is more information about my life...so far cancer FREE!! This month I went in for my 3 month cancer check up and told the oncologist about my VERY sore right arm (elbow, wrist, shoulder) So as all good oncologists do, he ordered a bone scan and MRI, cuz they just basically have to. Any pain could mean the cancer has returned. He didn't think that was the case and he was right. I just have arthritis. Curse you volleyball years!!! So all is well so far...well, except for my aching shoulder and arm....pouring coffee sucks. And that is sad. But I will live! (pun intended) My dermatology appt went well also. Of course they took off more moles. The mole patrol lady always finds something to cut off me. But I love my dermatologist and she is leaving. Actually she left. I was her last patient, so I feel special. But all moles came back negatory on skin cancer...bonus! So that is the current update. Actually life has been pretty boring lately, but with all that has happened in the past couple of years, I will take boring for a while. :)

Another Birthday!

Well, I have spent 44 years on this earth.  And what a ride it has been!!  From being a painfully shy (yes I said painfully shy) pre-schooler to an obnoxious 6th grader (ask Mr. Bergman) to a humbled mother and wife, I must say I have a pretty good life!  I am happy to strut my 44 year old self and have another go at 44 more years, or maybe longer if God wants it that way!  I am going to spend the evening with my kids and hubby tonight, in my jammies and with a cold adult beverage.  That's my idea of celebrating and I am pretty satisfied with that.  My birthday cake today consisted of pink snowballs....my favorite, but my body will soon reject them I am sure!  LOL  --- keep fighting everyday cuz getting older is only getting better everyone.  Look how far I  have come! Yay me!

Toes in the water...toes in the sand....

I went to see my bestie where she now LIVES! The Grand Cayman Islands! I had such a great time and they were wonderful hosts and hostesses. I got to swim in the ocean...eat a ton of great food, go for a boat ride in the ocean and swim to a local bar/restaurant and I got to lounge by their beautiful pool and stay in their beautiful house....I feel so blessed. Thank you Carey, Jason and Kyley for a great vacation....Lord knows I needed one! And you probably needed one after I left!!! here are some more great pics - it's GORGEOUS there!

Stu Pettigrew RIP my friend.....

It's taken me a while to post about this. I had a dear friend who was killed in an auto accident on Feb 1st. What a shock it has been. While the family has been strong for those of us in shock and disbelief, I know they are grieving privately and miss him so much. Stu was only 52 years old and had so much life to live. I have gone through the stages of grieving...shock, anger, sadness. It really puts things in perspective coming from someone who fought hard to stay on this earth with surgeries and chemo. It can all be gone in a milli-second. I wish he would have had the chance to fight, but sadly, he has been taken away from us....much too soon. I have known the Pettigrews for many years and just a few years ago had gotten to really know them and loved going out to eat and socialize with them. Stu was one of a kind and his love for life and his beautiful wife Marsha and daughter Mandy and son Brent was like no other. Sometime I would have to roll my eyes at the sheer love he had for Marsha and the kids, but I realize now he had something so special that I was most likely jealous and in awe of it. The humor that Stu brought to any table was amazing. My cheeks would hurt from laughing and my eyes would have tears rolling down them...he was that hilarious. I will always remember his zest for life and hope to live my life just as he did.....with no regrets. With that in mind, I wrote a poem for Stu, and I read it at his funeral. Here it is: Stu, you were taken from us way too soon. Not too long ago you were plucking your guitar, singing a Ted Nugent tune. Your love for your family set you far apart. You had a boisterous personality, and a REALLY big heart. You loved to ride your Harley, with Marsha on the back. Our cheeks would hurt from laughing with the jokes that you would crack. You were lactose intolerant….and everyone knew. We laughed out loud at those hilarious stories you would construe. From flambongos, to football, golf, bowling and riding. We hung on all your words with the tales you were describing. Your legacy will continue, your family will be your story. They will make sure memories of you will be “Stu in all his glory” Stu’s last words to Marsha were “I love you” And her’s to him, “I love you too” I am glad she got to hear those words, even if she already knew. I don’t think I could write a love story quite that profound. Because you see, I witnessed it every time they came around. Stu is in heaven looking down on his family and friends. I know he is praying for Greg to heal. Greg would be upset he is missing your life celebration, cuz let’s face it Stu, YOU were quite a big deal. So let’s rejoice in the life that Stu has built, wife, children and grands. Cuz the mold was broken when Stu was made, there will never be a better man. God Bless the Pettigrew family.

HAPPY 13TH BIRTHDAY PALMER (FEB 7TH)

Happy Birthday to my son, NOW A TEENAGER, Palmer Drum! You are the kindest, loving, humorous most caring teenager I know. And Mike and Hadley and I love you so very much. It is such an honor being your mom. (until you mouth off...LOL!) Happy 13th Birthday Palmer! You are a blessing from above! (And you were such a darling 7 year old!

Breathing Under Water

No, I am not really breathing under water, nor am I near any body of water...but this congestion, cold thing I have has me feeling like people are talking to me from under a lake. I have gone through a whole roll of toilet paper (cuz that's how the Bright's roll when we have a cold) and now my nose is super chafed (and you know how much I hate that word, "chafed") sore and impossible to get anything out of. I am miserable, but I am here at work and everyone around me is re-coiling in discomfort everytime I come near them. Talk about feeling like crap! I should stay home but I have been sick so many times this year that I feel like the little hypochondriac that called in sick too many times. Not that I really haven't been sick, but the point is.....do I stay home and have everyone cover my butt yet again? Or do I risk exposure...I chose exposure cuz everyone's going to get it at some time right? I am such a great co-worker.

3 Month Cancer check up.....still kickin'!!!!!!!!!

Yes another 3 month check up has come and gone and each time I am nervous as HELL!! I try to remain calm but let's face it, I would not be human if I didn't not freak out a little!! I am hating this weather! Normally, I am kind of a winter person...I have to admit. I like the clothing, the stylish boots, the scarves. But I hate the cold, bitter, bitter cold. I am ok with just cold. So God, if you could fix this as well as cure cancer...I would LOVE that!