World wind of appointments...

They don't tell you all the appointments you will then have to attend. MRI is first and that is what I got on my 48th birthday.  It wasn't too bad. Just hearing them tell you if you move we will have to restart the test and then might be later today or maybe next week...I was still for the whole time.  By the way there are no earplugs or earphones you listen to the thumping and pounding the whole time.  It wasn't that bad and over before you know i, if you close your eyes like I do.

Next you meet with the surgeon and Dr. Wilkey in Daytona Beach, Fl is amazing.  She was so thorough with her explanation and answered every question I had written down in my pink cancer notebook. We were hoping for a lumpectomy but there was the genetic testing and what happens if it is in my lymph nodes? All the uncertain means you take precautions and meet with everyone you MIGHT need to have on your team to fight cancer.

Then there is the radiation oncologist meeting and he was super nice and helpful. Dr. Factor explained it would be a routine once we found out about the tumor and what it contained.  Almost equated it to a bad sunburn but to make sure the area was taken care of and kill any remaining cells where the tumor was in my body.

Then the plastic surgeon in case of a mastectomy, which we needed to wait to hear back from the genetic test.  At one point during the reconstructive talk I had to have him stop because it was not a breast enhancement procedure it is a reconstructive where they go in and add a little each time until the achieved result. Oh my goodness women who go through this have to be the strongest women of all time.  I could barely talk about it without tearing up.

Then there is the medical oncologist meeting, Dr. Chew. I of course said all my doctors are not thinking I will have to go through chemotherapy so this meeting was merely a formality.  He was pleasant and our children are in band together.  We will wait for testing the Oncotype-DX of the tumor but everything will be fine.

The whole month of October it was one meeting after another but I have to give it to Florida Health Care the appointments were planned and moving right along to prepare for a lumpectomy the first week of November.  I had all of the prerequisites in place so we could tackle this breast cancer and come out on the other side.  Family was informed and questions were asked and we felt like we were as prepared as anyone could be facing the circumstances.

A little Disney magic...

So Dr. lets us collect ourselves and then meets us in the office.  We get a pink notebook where we are to write down all of our questions.  Where do I even start? Next step is an MRI so we can locate the exact location of the tumor. We need more information: how big, what stage, is it in the lymph nodes, how do we collect all this information?  I am trusting these doctors and I have faith there is a reason for all this, what can it be?

We leave with our heads spinning and Kaile is texting and Carson and how am I going to tell them?  We say we will talk about it when we get to the house and they know. It was a quiet ride home and we will face it all head on.  We will go to the doctor appointments, listen to the advice, and come out on the other end a stronger family.  We tell the kids and Kaile goes WIDE right, from 0 to 80, and there is nothing I can do as her mom to comfort her through this news. Carson is hearing the news but is he listening? I want to go to Disney. I know it sounds crazy but we got the news and really what am I going to do sit around and cry all day or worse reading on the internet? No I want to go to Disney World Hollywood Studios.  I want to ride my favorite rides. I want to walk with my family. I want to feel that Disney Magic. We get in the car and drive over and it is a quiet ride.  We get there and ride Toy Story Mania. I lose of course and the thoughts of cancer are there but I just can't explain it. I needed this time away with the ones I love the most.  We ate at Sci-Fi Theater and it was great! Luckily we got to sit in the car and watch old black and white movies while eating cheeseburgers and drink milkshakes. We spend the day at Hollywood Studios and then back home.  I tell them this was not how they wanted to spend their day but Thank you because it was how I needed to spend my day.  I love my family and for them I would do anything.  We will get through this together as a family.

Valentine's Day 2013

Well the week did not go exactly as planned.  I had to get to Nebraska for my grandma's funeral.  She was a lovely lady so full of energy and a glimmer in her eye.  My kids thought the world of her and I am so glad they got to know her even with living so many miles away.  This is one of my favorite pictures of grandma with Kaile and Carson at the beach.  She loved coming her to get away from all that snow in Nebraska. When I got back guess what I was met with the biggest hugs from my firsties and parents.  There were cards and even flowers!  Thank you all so much for thinking of us during this hard time.
Valentine's Day was put on hold until I got back.  We got to share our February family projects while stuffing them with valentines and treats.  Check out how creative these firsties are!

Tubing Fun

I have so many postings to make and need to get right on it.  I have to say this past Christmas goes down in the record books.  I know this is my class blog but I am taking a moment to let you into my other world.  I grew up in Homestead, Florida the oldest of 3 with a dad in the Air Force for 22 years. My dad retired and went to work for the local Ford dealership.  My mother IS the hardest working person in the world and I love her for it.  This Christmas my parents got all of us together in Maggie Valley for a ski trip of a lifetime.  The house was amazing! We skied and went tubing and enjoyed every minute of it.  The best was my mom tubing! She was so nervous but after a few runs she was confident enough to go by herself.  My brothers brought their families and we had family dinner night each night with a different family cooking.  I loved it and we made some fabulous memories.  Enjoy the movie trailer.  I have to share one of my favorite pictures of the whole trip.  I just love my hubby.  Isn't it a great picture. He's a cutie!