Palmer's First Hawkeye Game!

Palmer went to his first Iowa Hawkeye game at Kinnick Stadium! We took the Hawkeye Express Train, ate lots of junk food and cheered the Iowa Hawkeyes on to a victory!!  Thank goodness they won, we made a great memory!  Luckily we got to sit in the end zone that had the large jumbo tron screen that provided just the right amount of shade and we didn't have to swelter in the hot sun and humidity.  We are trying to talk my sister into some tickets this weekend, for the Iowa/Iowa State game (big match up!) but I am not so sure I just don't want to sit my butt in front of the television and drink some beer and eat some snacks. I get a little crabby at the games when I am there in person and tend to have a big mouth and sore loser attitude....I know, ME??? ha ha, yes it's true! So maybe I better just stay home!

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes!!!!

Good news! My mole patrol on my first two removed moles came back outstanding, no atypical cells....so a big whew (wipe my hand across my forehead). The wounds are still healing for the removal but otherwise I am going to be ok on those. I have 3 more to remove and get checked out, so not completely done...I know, it never ends!!! Thought I would take a stroll down memory lane and see the changes this chick has made throughout the past year and a half....enjoy the laugh, I did! Laurie you are sexy bald chick!

Before treatment Feb '12



A few weeks into chemo May '12







Wig and scarf June '12





Turban Head Aug '13









Hawkeye Beret and Wig Nov '12



Wig and crochet head band, loved it!
Jan '13



My hair, GROWING April '13



My REAL hair July '13

Mole Patrol

At my last appointment, Dr. Yoda said I should get a few moles checked out. So he referred me to a dermatologist and on Monday I went and had them looked at...well, at least that is what I thought I was doing, just having them looked at. She found 5 of them!! Nothing to be worried about but some were "of concern to the dermis" so they numbed me up and scapled them off...guess where??? My boob!! Can that part of my body NOT be left alone for one minute????? Since I had 5 they had to break them up into 2 different appointments because insurance doesn't like it when you do them all at once. What??? That is so stupid. But I complied, and I feel better that they will be biopsied and I can see if I have melanoma or not. Dr. Yoda assured me they were not life threatening so I am not stressing about it at this time. I guess my sunbathing goddess days of baby oil and iodine have finally caught up to me. Curses.

My baby is in Junior High!!

I can't believe Palmer is already a 7th grader! He was very excited to start school this year and play on the Jr. High Football team. He looked so handsome, and TAN this morning!! I loved looking at all the kids first day of school pictures on Facebook. We have a great community of great kids and I am so glad Palmer is a part of it. Maybe sleepy head Hadley can get up a bit early and I will get a picture of her with her brother. They love each other right now...hope that lasts a while longer!!!

Blood work Awesome!

Great news on my post chemo/cancer blood work (have to go every 3 months), all was good this time around. Always sweat a few bullets when I have to go in for it and my blood pressure was slightly elevated this time....wonder why??? LOL - but all is good. Not much else to report. I have to see the dermatologist at the end of August. I have a mole or something on my face, right below my eye and it keeps crusting up and I pick at it so of course it bleeds, so that worried me. Dr. Yoda wasn't too concerned about the one on my face as he was the cluster of them on my stomach that were odd looking. He reassured me that none were life threatening but that the dermatologist should biopsy them. I said oh so you want me to go in for a little "mole patrol" - Dr Yoda doesn't get slang, or humor for that matter but his nurse laughed pretty hard.

KC Girls Weekend.....Woo Hoo!

Carey Kubik and I finally got to get together and see each other this weekend. She is one of my besties so I was really looking forward to it.  What a great weekend! We had so much fun together. Our love of shopping and beer always makes for a great time.  We went to Zona Rosa district in KC, MO and it is such a neat place.  We had lunch at Aubuelo's,  a favorite Mexican cantina that we both enjoy.  We ended our time that evening singing karaoke at a dive bar!  Not much has changed for these 2 pals, although we missed our children pretty badly, and I am pretty sure they missed us!!  But congrats to Carey for her first time away from Kyley. She did great and I am so happy I was the recipient of her first time away.  Love you Carey!

Another mammogram - ugghh

Had my 6 month mammogram yesterday and it went well.  I do have to come back and get the right breast (the mastectomy breast) looked at as there is a hard lump on top of it.  I can't feel anything so I didn't really know it was  there.  The breast surgeon thinks it is from fatty necrosis.  In other words, the scar tissue from the skin dying over and over again as it tried to heal itself from chemo.  If I had any words of advice for anyone having to make decisions on this very subject, I personally would have had my reconstruction done AFTER chemo.  I made my decision based on these 2 things:   my size (which was a DD) and the fact that I had a 1 year old at home.  Healing from one surgery and not being lopsided when I walked made sense for me at the time.  But it never really healed while I was doing chemo and it was slightly painful with the holes and dead skin.  I know TMI, but I am trying to make a good point here.  And now since I have the scar tissue from the bad healing, I have to have more mammograms cuz scar tissue looks very much like a tumor!!!  So that is my advice for the day.....hope it helps anyone out there that is unfortunately faced with the same decisions.

On a lighter note, Palmer comes home in about a week!!!  So excited to see him!  Pics of him to come when he gets home!

Here is Hadley this weekend.  She is cuddling up to her "Stacy".  She loves dancing with her!

July 5th will be 1 year POST chemo!!!

I can't believe it's almost been a year since I took my last chemo.  So far (knock on wood, my head) all my blood tests have checked out swell.  So has my last mammogram.  I get another mammo at the end of this month.  I was suppose to go last month but we had such terrential rains that I got flooded in at Ackley where I work, so I couldn't make my mammo appt.  So that gives me an extra month to sweat it out!! LOL   I am sure all will be fine.

1 year Post chemo and I am still chubby!  LOL --  I have no desire to exercise but I am really feeling the need to get out and walk, no excuses.  So as soon as my work-aholic hubby gets home from working in the evenings, I am just going to go walk on the highway and get in 30 min a night...I have to if I am going to feel better and get those lazy, achey joints moving again. 

Palmer is in AL with his dad and having a great time.  He did admit on the phone yesterday that he was a smidge homesick.  That made me feel bittersweet.  I miss him like crazy!  He is my entertainment most of the time, him and Hadley.  They are funny kids, wonder where they get that from?

Palmer said he is going to watch fireworks on the beach in AL....lucky duck!  I am hoping to take Hadley to some fireworks tomorrow night.  If I can stay up past 9:00 that is!!   Yes, I am lame!  And loving every minute of it!!

Breaking some Clays!!

Here is Palmer shooting and breaking a clay target at the Iowa State Shoot on Sunday June 2nd.  So proud of my son to be able to accomplish things like that and he has such a fun time doing it.  Way to go Palmer!!

Mani/Pedi's and the ZOO!

Well Hadley had her first manicure and pedicure and she LOVED it!  It was so cute to watch her stick her feet in the water to soak, even if she had to scoot to the end of her chair to do it!!  It will be fun to get to do that with her from time to time and to get my feet and nails pampered.  My feet would look like Fred Flinstone if I didn't maintain them....blah!

Hadley's cousins and grandma and Aunt Lisa went with us too!

What a great girl day at the spa!!

This past weekend we went to the zoo with our friends Carey, Jason and Kyley Kubik from KS.  The kids had a ball!!  But we only had one day to see everything and that zoo is huge!!  Hadley and I and Palmer got to see the African Safari from the sky lift..Palmer had to ride by himself of course....I was sweaty Betty up there worried that Hadley might fall but she didn't seem to be scared at all and really enjoyed herself.  She shouted at all the people coming by us on the other side of the sky lift..."Those rhinos are stinky and they have stinky big poop." Which they did, I wasn't letting her lie at least?????

We went to eat at Joe's Crab Shack afterwards and Kyley and Hadley danced to every line dance song they had....what a couple of shake your arms and butt girls we have!  It was ADORABLE to say the least! They also went swimming the next day.  I didn't get any pics of that as I didn't want to get my phone wet.  Maybe Carey will send me some...**hint** **hint**

WE loved it and miss them already

Another Post Cancer Check up....nailed it!!!

Yesterday I had my blood work and appointment at the Cancer Center for my 3 month check up (I missed my last 3 month because I thought i was every six months and no one called to set up an appointment.....something my cancer doc was not very happy about.  But I did check out great.  Dr. Yoda said my blood counts were perfect....yes I said perfect.  Can't feel any better about that!!  He also said I looked like a model with my hair all grown out and not looking severely bloated and overweight from the steroids.  I am sure anything was an improvement for me but when he said I looked like a model and that I should be modeling.....WELL, I just couldn't help but blush and want him to go on and on about it!!  Now I know he probably says that to many paitents to boost their self esteem, but I like to pretend that he ONLY said it to me! 

May snow....may rain...may be sunny.....IT IS MAY.

I can hardly believe the snow.....in May. 

In 1994 (now I sound like my DAD!).....In 1994 I got snowed in at Albert Lea, MN on May 7th.  That sucked.  I was traveling for the company I worked for and had a dress on in the snowy crap.  Had to go to walmart and get some sweatpants, socks and tennis shoes.  Then spent the night in a hotel room by myself.  Probably cost me more than I made that day.  (yes, I made very little back then but I was still a rock star, just a poor one.) 

I have my 6 month check up on Monday May 6th.  I hope they give me a clean bill of health.  I am not going to lie...I WILL ALWAYS freak out a little about these checks ups and hold my breath until they say all is well.  Who wouldn't with breast cancer history.  But I feel good and believe in my health so far.  My counts will be good!!

Needing some prayers.....

My uncle (my mom's brother) is in Stage 4 lung cancer and has now had hospice called in.  It's not looking good at all and I could use a huge round of prayers sent to him.  He's a wonderful uncle, father, grandfather, husband, brother and I will miss him dearly if he leaves this earth.  So please, pray for everyone to be strong and pray for him to find peace in the end.  I pray for his family to find comfort when they can and are able to.  I love my uncle and will never forget the times I spent with him.  Diamond in the rough....but an ornery one at that.

Looking towards the future....

We had such a gorgeous day on Monday that Palmer went and shot his shotgun and Hadley ran around and swung on her swing and went down her slide.  I think we are going to get her a sandbox....she loves to get dirty, much like myself when I was little.  I was just a little dirtball!  Now, I really don't want to have to hose her off but you gotta do what you gotta do right?  Now it's rainy and suppose to snow tonight.  Luckily it won't stick but we are still suppose to have some nasty cooler weather.  I miss Monday already (never thought I would say that about a Monday!)

Here is a picture of Hadley on that beautiful day of fun "outsideyness"

On another note, I got my tatoo!!  I didn't feel a thing really.  It's kind of bruised but really does add to the looks of a new breast.  They DEFINITELY are fraternal twins now....they don't look anything alike, but at least I am here to tell you that.

Relay for Life 2013

Here are our T-shirts for our team this year.  Team Laurie and Kristi....this year our theme is:  Bringing Back the Rack!  If you would like to order a t-shirt, they will be $15.....all profit from these shirts will be donated to Relay for Life.  Please help us also by joining our team and walking.  The Relay is June 7th at the Iowa Falls High School track. From 11am to 11pm....it was a great turn out last year and we hope to beat our fundraising total!  Let me or Kristi Myers know what size you will need!

HAPPY EASTER!

Happy Easter to everyone!   Here is a picture of Palmer and Hadley and their cousins:  Alivia, Kienzle, Carlie and Carl Hoodjer.  They are all so cute.  I didn't get to go to Grandma Sandy's Easter hunt....I have it bad in my lower back right now.  I picked up Hadley and my legs about buckled.  It really is a bitch getting old!!!  So right now I smell like Ben Gay and have taken my Aleve.  Hopefully it feels better soon.  I made it to work (of course) and have been sitting here hunched over at my desk.   I am probably going to have to do some stretching when I get home.  Yuck.

Hadley and Palmer got a lot of candy this season.  I am going to have to ration it as Hadley, like her mama, would eat chocolate all day.  I asked Palmer what the meaning of Easter was he he said it was the day Jesus rose from the dead to protect us from our sins.  I will accept that answer!

Palmer started trapshooting and he loves it!! He shot 13 of 25 --- twice!!  So I was pretty proud of him for his 1st time....photos to come!!

QUIT SNOWING!!!

Quit snowing, it's spring for Pete's sake.....that is all I have to say.

 Getting a haircut and highlight tomorrow at my one of my bestie's new place the be beautiful salon.  Can't wait!! Will post pics! Chow for now.

Happy Birthday to ME!!!

Wow, what a difference a year makes!  Last year I was in my bed fighting off the effects of wanting to puke my guts out (not from a hangover, although it felt like one) from chemo.  I had just started to lose my hair and I felt like crap.  I feel really great today, although a year older and hopefully wiser.  Thanks for all the birthday wishes so far!  Love it!

Happy belated birthday to my sister Christy whose b-day was March 9th.  She didn't get to celebrate too hard since she is preggers.  My daughter, Hadley, asked me this morning if she could hold Christy's baby.....that was an "awwww" moment.

Why my 2 year old freaks out......

I posted these on facebook, but they are too funny not to share with my blog followers.  I got the idea from a blog I read of a father whose three year old would freak out at random things and I laughed so hard I cried.  So I made up my own list for Hadley's little tantrum items...and here they are:

Things take too long to cook.

Someone ate her food that she said was “yucky”

Her brother is moving one of her toys.

The movie that she begged to watch is too scary.

She didn’t get to turn off the tv.

She’s not allowed in the dishwasher.

She grabbed the dog and then he licked her

She didn’t get to turn on the vacuum.

She’s scared of the vacuum.

The black olive split when she put it on her finger

When she doesn't get to turn on the light herself

When she doesn't get to let the water run out of the tub.

When her brother looks at her.

When her brother doesn't look at her.

When her sock is slightly off the center seam by exactly 1mm.

When we don't give her the right sippy cup.

When her sleeves are "not right" in her coat.

When she jumps off the couch, but we weren't looking

When her pajamas are too itchy.

Oh Hadley!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my cousin Jennifer!

More Photogs.........

We had a family birthday party for Palmer about a month ago....yes I am really on the ball on posting photos.....Here are a couple from the party.  Mike and his mom....they look a lot alike don't they!!!

And here is one of Palmer and Hadley, pretending to like each other (j/k they like each other most of the time!)  I think Hadley was just ready for her cupcake.  And Justin Bieber .....errr I mean Palmer was cheesing it up for the cameras.