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.

Snowpocalypse........

We are having a ton of snow lately.  This is why I don't recommend getting pregnant in the spring...you take the chance of having a blizzard baby.  Don't laugh, Palmer was a blizzard baby.  By the time we got to the hospital, had Palmer, then left the hospital Wed thru Friday, they had closed I-35 and we had to spend the night at a hotel in Ames with a brand new baby that had just been circumsized.  My hormones were through the roof and I had a collicky baby, in a hotel room, with brand new parents who did not know what the hell they were doing....yes I cried most of the night.  We came home on a Saturday to snow drifts in the ditch that were at least 18 feet tall...not joking.  I felt like we were being swallowed by a snow tunnel all the way home.  And yes I cried all the way home as Palmer hated his car seat (and never got over that as a baby) and screamed all the way home.  But I had such good friends and neighbors who cleaned my house and my driveway out and got it all ready for us when we came home.....yes, that's the silver lining.  But stay away from your spouses in the Spring.....if you don't want  a Blizzard Baby.

Aunt Laurie!!!!!

Since my sister announced on Facebook that she was pregnant, I figured it was safe to post it to my blog.  I have been DYINNNNNGGGGGG to tell people too!!  I am so excited and cannot wait.  She is having quite a bit of morning sickness so I don't envy her there....I never really had it.  But I am so glad that we get to welcome a new baby in our family around Sept 24th or so of this year.  Hadley will have a playmate to boss around!!!

Tatoo......

Last Thursday I picked out colors, (well I didn't pick them out, Dr. Awesome the plastic surgeon did) to try to match my other areola.  How embarrassing!!  It was weird.  I guess they pick about 3 different colors and order them and mix them and then he tatoos it on...takes about 30 minutes.  My appointment is set for April 4th.  Other than maintenance to the oncologist and yearly mammograms, come April 4th I am officially done with cancer....done...so done.  Thank you Lord!!!

Here is a pic of me in my new wig.  I know everyone is dying to ask, why are you still wearing a wig, isn't your hair growing in??  The answer to that is yes, my hair is growing in and is frizzy and horribly curly, and well...ugly.  So I wear the wig cuz I have to have hair....I wouldn't be ME without a full head of hair and yes that includes wigs and hairpieces.  I shoud have been born in the 50's and 60's where wigs were worn all the time.  Oh well.....

Here is also a picture of Palmer from his tournament on Saturday.  They got first place and he got a medal....so cute!

Happy Birthday Palmer Drum!!!

Happy Birthday to my favorite 12 year old ever!!!  Palmer is 12 years old today and he seems so grown up!!  He asked for clothes and a cooling, memory foam pillow!  He has basketball practice tonight so I am going to surprise him with some crab rangoons....he loves those things.  It's nice that he is so low maintenance....(at times!!)

Here is a picture of Palmer on his 12th birthday....and one when he was 3 years old.  I am dying here as he is sooooooo cute!!

My daddy.........

Today would have been my Dad's 73rd birthday.  He's been gone over 10 years.  It just doesn't seem that long ago. He would be really proud of our family.  Everyone graduated from college and is doing pretty well.  I know he would love all the "additions" to the family after his death.  Mike, Hadley, Jon (my bro-in-law).  I think Hadley would have probably gotten under his skin as she does so many people!  In a good way though!  LOL!  He loved Palmer but only got to spend about a year with him and thought the world of Nikki and Christopher my niece and nephew.  I wish he could have been around to enjoy them a little longer.  So Happy Birthday dad....smoke a cigar and have a shot of Black Velvet for me...oh and give God a high five for keeping me around for a few more years!

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!!