not sure why...

....these didn't post with yesterday's entry. Here they are.... again.

Went to my plastic surgeon yesterday and he says "no" to rads for 2 weeks. I need to heal a little bit more. Had to cancel all my activities with the rad onc for the week and reschedule for 2 weeks. Boo. I want to get this going so it can be over with. So done with it all.

Wild West days and I don't have time

Cait loved this goat
really loved him
cowgirl
baby goat

Cait's school had Wild West Day last week. Cait, Nanny and I had a great time! Lots of farm animals to pet and even a wagon ride (which I did NOT like...too bumpy).

I have decided that Spring is not really a good time for me to do rads. Too much going on. Think the cancer would agree not to come back if I didn't start until, say, Fall? That would really work better for me. sigh.

These 3 have something in common...

John (5), Owen (2 1/2), and Cait (a couple of hours old)

Our last 3 kids were all born 2 days past their due dates, all born on a Sunday, and all weighed 7lbs 12oz. How weird is that?
And no, I was never induced, never had my membranes swept, or my water broke.....that's just how it worked out! Kinda cool!

bye Nanny!

popping bubbles
gardening with Nanny
John unloaded the mulch
Even Daisy loved playing with Nanny

Bill's Mom left yesterday. She was here for 10 days and we loved every minute of it. My stamina is getting better and better. Its raining hard today so a quiet day inside will be nice.

radiation station here we come

Met with our rad onc today. Very nice guy...kinda tiny, but nice. I start rads May 3rd and get to go 5 days a week for 6 1/2 weeks. Lucky me.

Another thing......next week I have 4, yes 4, doctors appointments. I don't even like going to the Dr so 4 times seems so excessive. We never go to the Dr. Uggh. One of my appt is with the plastic surgeon and I am going to make him give me a date for my exchange surgery. I know it won't be until end of Oct/beg of Nov but I want something to look forward to. Something that says this is almost over. A little light at the end of the tunnel. How sad that I am looking forward to more surgery.

Explanation

I haven't 'updated' in quite some time. I find I am very tired and don't have a lot of extra physical or emotional energy. I have decided to funnel all that I have into healing and then my family. For once I have to put 'me' first. The surgery took a lot out of me....so much harder than birthing a baby! I have had a good appt with my plastic surgeon (he's so kind an understanding), my breast surgeon (I love her), and next week we will meet with the rad onc. So, things are moving, just slowly. The kids are doing amazing. My MIL is here and that is a wonderful thing. So, I'm here just trying to get back to normal....whatever that is. Hey, I hear I had major surgery....huh, maybe that's why it's taking me so darn long to recover! Just to clarify....I hate cancer.

Drains, I do NOT miss you

I got my drains out yesterday!!!! Woo hoo! I hated those damn things with a passion. I am so much more comfortable now and showering is much easier. I cannot wait to shave my armpits and wear deodorant again....it's the little things! The drains were tubes that stick out of your body under your arms to drain out any fluid. The tubing was long and would hang down below your waist. You have to pin the suction bulbs at the end to your shirt so as not to literally pull on the part sticking out of your body. Gross, I know, and that's why they are so hated. Getting them pulled wasn't the most pleasant experience but it is quick. We meet with the plastic surgeon on the 14th and get clearance from him to begin radiation. All reconstruction plans are put on hold until radiation is done. We are expecting 6 wks of rads but won't know for sure until we meet with the radiation oncologist. Moving forward and happy for it.

bubbles!

John and Zach spent the night with Grandma and Grandpa last night so the rest of us stayed home and played with bubbles! Feeling better and better each day. I think once these darn drains come out I'll be like a new person! Auntie/Sister comes tomorrow!!!!!!

Easter and birthday!

Our boys put this together!
drains anyone?
here's our princess
Thank you Cathy Vitek!

Yesterday was so beautiful! The sun was out and it was warm, finally! We spent most of the day in the backyard playing (well, I watched). Bill and I went to our extra freezer to pick out my birthday dinner and found someone had sent a lemon tart! The boys put every candle they could get their hands on in that tart! Despite my drains I had a pretty good birthday. Not exactly the way I had envisioned celebrating my 40th but we made the best of it. Hoping to get these damn drains out in the next few days.

Poor Cait woke up in the middle of the night throwing up. No idea why but she still doesn't feel well this morning and did throw up again. Please, please don't let this run through the house.

I had such a great visit with Lori Puckett! She and McKenna came and helped so very much. They left early Sunday morning to join the rest of their family in Florida for Easter. Lori and McKenna were such a huge help. Thank you!!!

Today the boys are playing in the backyard, Bill is working in the yard and Cait and I are on the couch. Not a bad day. Glad for spring break and nice weather.

Happy Birthday Dad/Grandpa!

Happy b-day Dad!! Hope you have a good day...with my kids! Grandma and Grandpa are taking all the kids to see Curious George at the Fox! I think everyone will have fun.

Today I feel better! Finally! My friend Lori Puckett and her daughter McKenna are here to help out for a few days and it is so good to see them. We would normally be camping with their family this week and we are wishing we were sitting around a fire. Lori has been such a huge help. I am just so tired these days and feel like I'm constantly taking a nap.

We have our first appt with the radiation oncologist and the medical oncologist set up for April 20th. The nurse said they typically start radiation 6 wks after surgery. Ready to get all this behind us. I am tired of dealing with cancer. So grateful not to have to do chemo though. Really ready to get these drains out. My output is steadily declining so I am hopeful to have them out early next week. Fingers crossed. I hate these drains.

Pathology Report Is In

First off, thanks to Dr Jennifer Amerson, Kathy's surgeon, who keeps incredible hours.  We got called at 9:43 pm last night with the results and, I believe, can be seen as glass half-full or half-empty:  we prefer half-full.

The nodes were clear, the left breast tissue showed no signs of cancer activity.  On the right-side, what MRI'd as a 1 cm lesion, on removal, turned out to be 6.5 cm.  That's pretty large, especially considering Kathy's size.  While the surgeon believes she got clear margins, at its smallest, the margin was only 1 mm.  Yes, millimeter.  That's not a lot of cushion between the cancer and the rest of the body, so we're being advised to have the area radiated.  We are also pursuing a second opinion on the pathology reports.

Like you, we have a lot of question.  Please add yours to the comments section.  We'll post answers as we get them.