I **heart** you........

This was just too cute not to share!!  They really do get along very well and Hadley is crushed if Palmer is upset (and he uses that to his advantage I might add) but she is getting old enough to stand her ground to him.  That stubborness from her dad's side is coming out :)

 

                                                          Don't mess with me Palmer

TGIF.........

It is Friday, and I am happy about that.  It has been a long week.  We are very busy at work and it is really kicking my butt, I have to admit.  I haven't been feeling the greatest either lately....not cancer icky (since I am supposedly rid of that crap) but the crud that everyone is getting.  I haven't missed work though so I must not feel incredibly awful yet.  Just feel like someone took a jack-hammer to my head and nose.....and my stomach and other end are bit delicate right now.  I have managed to stay hydrated though so I don't think I will succumb to it...yet.  Better knock on wood....remember I am a jinx!!!  Just hope my kids don't get it....so far so good!  knock on wood again...double knock. 

I want to give a shout out a day early to my dearest friend Paige who is having a birthday tomorrow.  Happy Birthday Paige.  Paige and I went to Cancun for her 30th birthday (which was just last year right?  **wink wink**)  No, it's been a few years but we had such a blast.  I have never had so much fun on such few hours of sleep and had so much sand up my A$$, and salt water in my eyes...but oh was it fun!!!  It was my first snorkeling experience and it was so beautiful....I still have pictures from it and I may just post them!!!  LOL!

Please continue to pray for Kay Ryan's dad....he really needs it.  God Bless!!

Crazy, busy!!!

It's been busy, busy....swamped, not enough time in the day, busy.  Work has been a zoo.  It makes the day ZOOM by but I am so pooped when I get home my poor children have to be my gophers.....I don't think they mind (at least that is what I tell myself).  AS you can see I have eye bags, on my eye bags.....urgh!  But busy is a good thing these days...especially with this economy and new taxes....urgh.

Here is a pic of Stacy and I on her 29th *wink* *wink* birthday!  We all went bowling and had a great time.  I won't tell you who won. (me) But it was a hard fought battle.  Palmer and the other kids were hilarious.  It's funny to watch kids bowl.  Some good entertainment. 

On a more serious note, I need everyone to pray for Kay Ryan's dad.  He is in the hospital with leukemia and has had to take chemo.  We are praying for you!  Also pray for Stacy's mom who is in Stage IV breast cancer.  She is one tough lady and I hope she continues her current progress.  You go Sharon!!!

Here's to a NEW Year and a NEW me!!!

Can you believe it's already 2013??  I have my 25th class reunion this summer.  I can't believe I graduated from high school almost 25 years ago.  I have to admit, at 42 3/4 years old, I am starting feel a bit old.  Not that 42-43 years old is old....but I am feeling my youth really starting to slip away!!!  I have held onto it for so long that now I might have to admit, I will never be the sexy sex pot that I really never was in my 20's!!!  LOL

Today I go in so Dr. Awesome can look at my stitches on my new nipple.  I think he will take them out today....and by gosh, that blobbity blob that looked so icky when he first cut it and stitched it up...now actually looks like a nipple!  It's amazing!

I have decided not make any New Year's resolutions.  I never stick to them anyway.  I am just going to take one day at a time and enjoy myself and my family and friends.   So here is to a prosperous New Year...cancer free!

A Reason for the Season.......Happy Holidays!

 

Happy Birthday to Jesus Christ...(well belated, it was yesterday) but I don't think JC would mind a shout out the day after either.....after all, he was BORN yesterday!  I wonder if he is happy about how huge his whole bday has gotten???  Or if he's a bit embarrassed by all the attention?  I am sure for some people he wants them to calm it down a bit....ya, I am talking to you all you "blow up plastic" manger decorators!  And he probably is saying, tone it down on the shopping and spoiling your kids.  I was born this day so you could enjoy your families, friends, and faith....... not give all your kids an Ipad!!!  Well I have to admit, I am one of those spoilers and I really need to remember the reason for the season and that is faith and hope and happiness...Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday Jesus!!

20 Years Ago......

20 years ago today I graduated from Iowa State University. Which is so ironic, since I am a Hawkeye fan!!  LOL  --- but I did graduate in 1992 on Dec 19th with a Bachelor of Science degree.  It doesn't seem like 20 years but it does seem like it's been a while since I was involved in the college scene.  Loved it when I was there but glad I am done with it!!  I will just have to live vicariously through my kids' college experiences now!  Here are pics of me then and now:

Can you guess which are which??? LMAO!!!

Heavy heart....

I have had a heavy heart all weekend.  The shootings in CT of innocent children and teachers has me just sickened.  I can't even imagine what they are going through, and I really don't even want to imagine it.  When I see their little faces it makes me want to sob with what could have been for them.  I take a look at my own children and I am so glad to have them with me all the time and to be able to hug them and tell them how much I love them.  I am not sure why people do such evil things, it's confusing and horrible.  I hope the parents can find some way to deal with the pain they are going through.  I am not sure what I would do or how I would handle it and hopefully I never will have to.

On Sunday, Dec. 16th I celebrated (yes celebrated) 1 year since my diagnosis.  On that day 1 year ago I seriously thought my life was over!  Or at least it would never be the same again and not in a good way.  I can say that reflecting on the past year, I am so thankful for modern medicine and for the love and support of friends and family.  I was crying on this day 1 year ago, and this year I am happy.....happy to be ALIVE and kicking and to be able to torture those who need it!!! 

Yesterday I got my nipple reconstructed.  It was a surprise how quick and easy it was.  He basically just took and cut a criss cross then sewed it into one big blob of a circle to make the nipple.  Easy peasy!!!  I didn't feel a thing since I can't feel anything anyway on that side.  But it looks NASTY!!  It's so gross!  It takes 3 months to heal, then I can get the areola tatooed on and he will most likely color the nipple in also.  I asked him about dead person nipple...not only did he laugh about it, he said there is a procedure where they do that and it costs twice as much and it is not nearly as successful!  How ironic!  Glad I don't have dead person nipple....only my own!!

What happens in Vegas....

Stays in Vegas...yes I am talking about my money.  It's still in Vegas.  Curse you, you FUN slots!!!  I had a ton of fun with my hubby and we got to see the National Finals Rodeo in person!!!!  I think Mike was in Heaven!  It was pretty cool and I am so glad we went.  Had a ton of fun with Seth and Beth and Anna and Alex.  Great people to travel with and be in Vegas with. 

I got to wear my cowboy hat....I felt like such a cowgirl with my 5 lb sparkly diamond belt and flannel shirt.  I got my belt at a 2nd hand store for $10....they were selling them in Vegas for $90!!!  And mine is soooo much cooler, at least I think so.

Here are some pics of Mike and I at the rodeo.  My face is not really that fat, it's the angle of the camera.  **cough, cough** (throat clearing sound). 

Holy Mammogram!

Took me two hours to get a mammogram yesterday (they were quite busy) but after a couple of looks from the radiologist and one scary ultrasound from my breast surgeon, he said he was very happy....so that makes me very happy!  I am in the clear for my left breast, what a relief!!!

We just got back from a weekend away in KC with our friends the Kubiks.  Carey, Jason and Kyley were so much fun to hang with.  The girls loved each other and Palmer really entertained Hadley and Kyley.  We kept telling Kyley that Palmer was Justin Bieber and she would giggle and get all embarrassed...adorable.  Hadley enjoyed trying to hug Kyley and Hadley especially loved the pool!!  We miss seeing them as they moved away to Wichita, KS a few years ago, but we still keep in touch all the time and try to see each other at least once a year.  With my chemo treatments we had to postpone their visits many times as I was either sick, or they were sick...and I was not much for visitors this year, but now I am ready to see everyone!!!

No News is Good News??

I had my x-ray done on my back last Wednesday and have not received any info (good or bad) about it so I am going to go with everything is ok!  No news is good news in my book.  I figured if there was something wrong they would have surely called me by now.  At least that is what I am telling myself.

I finally had my hair trimmed (thanks Kristi Myers) and am starting to wear the pixie cut with lots of goop in it to keep those curls from going haywire!!  Yes, I said curls, lots of them.  When I don't "style" my hair it looks like Pauly D from Jersey Shore....kind of that "cup or bowl" style that looks like part cactus.  Yuck.  So I use this product called "surf hair".  It's far from looking like surf hair, but it does keep it in a more stylish manner.  I am going to highlight it tonight!!  Wish me luck! 

Palmer came back from Disney World.  If only I would have had my camera ready at the airport.  When Hadley saw Palmer she yelled his name and ran to him for the biggest brother/sister hug I have ever seen....priceless.  They are so cute....yes I am one of THOSE parents...it's makes me want to puke too.   Palmer also gave Hadley a Tangled brush and crown, since she likes that movie so well.  It was really sweet of him to think of her and she wore the crown around for a while then decided that her stuffed animals needed to wear it, so she put it on them. I have such good kids...so lucky.

I can't believe it's almost Thanksgiving!!!!

Despite all the crap that went down for me this past year, it really seems to have FLOWN by lately!  I took Palmer to the airport on Saturday so he could visit his dad and his family for Thanksgiving.  They are at Disney World right now as we speak!!  Lucky duck. 

I will get my x-ray this week on my back ribs so at least that will be done.  I am beyond sick of doctors...(no offense to my doctors) but seriously....I am sick of you.  I still have my mammo and nipple surgery to think about....yuck.  I will always have a bit of fear getting a mammo now....I think that's fair to admit.  Who wouldn't???

My friend Kristi Myers and fellow BC survivor had shoulder surgery this past week.  I hate to even complain about my small little things that I have to get done as I am sure that was painful!!  Hope you are feeling better Kristi!

On a humorous note....someone better buy Hostess cuz I really don't want to live in a world without Twinkies!  But as long as there is still bacon....

Weight loss....part 2

Well, I am almost half way to my weight loss goal, I have lost 23 lbs so far.  I am trying to get to a 50 lbs weight loss but one day at a time, I love food wayyyyy too much to be there in just a few weeks!!  So I am hoping that by early summer (swimsuit season) that I can be at my goal!!  I feel so much better and have a lot more energy.  And my clothes fit, that is such a bonus!

Had my 3 month check up yesterday and all was great with my vitals and blood work.  I am full of nutrients so far!! Yay!!  I have to go get an xray next week as I have a sore spot on my left side near my back rib.  I have had that sore spot since chemo ended but thought it was just from surgeries, but I still have it, so to be safe they are going to check out the bone.  I am sure it's just arthritis....like everything else on my body!!! 

My baby boy Palmer leaves to go see his dad for Thanksgiving and go to Disney World....what a lucky duck!!!  I will miss him.  I am looking forward to some R&R during Thanksgiving.  I am not even going to look at a mall......I am not a Black Friday shopper at all. 

We went to a wedding this weekend.  Congratulations Brittany and Brady Myers!! It was so fun.  Here is a picture of Hadley in her wedding attire:

Still waiting for my 3 month check up

They cancelled my 3 month check up that was suppose to be Nov 1st as Dr. Singh had something he had to do at the hospital and someone accidentally scheduled my appt at the same time.  So they moved me to Nov. 12th.  I am not stressing out about it so far.  I feel good, so hopefully that is a great sign!!  I have been trying to figure out all the times that I have gone to the dr. for tax purposes....yay for medical mileage!!!  Thank goodness for this blog...it's like a written video tape of my appointments and it was so nice to be able to look something up so easy.  And who said it wasn't a GOOD thing that I am an over-sharer?!

More pictures!!

Here is Palmer in his Auburn gear.  He is an Auburn fanatic!  I would say he is a pretty good fan since they are not very good this year, he is very loyal, good or bad!!  Kind of like me and the Iowa Hawkeyes...curses that they are so bad this year too!!

And here is Miss Hadley goofing off at Grandma and Grandpa's house right before Halloween.  She didn't wear them for very long as there were tootsie rolls that needed to eaten by her, as well as all the other candy in Grandma's house.  Can we say sugar high??

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!