Rabies and Winos

We ventured out last weekend to the Austin Batfest...was interesting...apparently the bat colony under the bridge is being monitored for rabies. Quite a few have tested positive recently. Bridges, toddler, rabies, hot sun...at least there was wine!!

Speaking of wine...had the best time (maybe a little bit too much) on a fun wine tour with a group of my girls. We had soooo much fun!!! There may or may not have been some very unlady like wine tasting behavior like booty shaking on the bus and popping champagne bottles (oh, and some napping on the bus too! haha). Wine tasting in our 30's is much more low key than we pulled off 10  years ago, BUT we were definitely the fun girls on the ride no matter our age. And, of course, everyone was jealous of the snack bags I packed for my crew. I love my friends. And snacks.

Excited to see you Sunday!!
Love
Jenn

Random odds and ends

The sweatier and happier this guy is, the more exhausted and crazy this lady on the other side of the camera is looking!!! We are living it up and enjoying every single second outside that we can. You can find Austin running around a South Austin park and me sitting on the bench smiling, stretching and staring at the trees (and if it's after 4 pm, I'm probably yawning too) at least once a day. I really really really think outside time is so important for kids (all of us really!) Ever heard of a 'forest bathing' prescription?! I'd take that over chemo any day! From my own experience, being stuck inside for so long weighed on me heavily. I am feeling SO MUCH BETTER and I attribute a ton of that to being able to get out and get some sun, dirt and wind on my skin. Aaaaaah!! Get outside people!! Even if it's on a patio with a frozen adult beverage :)
http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/medical_examiner/2014/07/doctors_prescribing_outdoors_time_nature_is_good_for_you.html)

Plus, I CANNOT get enough of our guy's sweaty curly hair and flushed face. I just love it. The dirt rings around my bath tub are totally worth it.
 
I've mentioned that several years ago I participated in the Susan G Komen 60 mile 3 day walk in memory of our awesome friend's mama, Marla Jo. It was an amazing experience. I wouldn't have been able to have this experience without some very generous donations from many of you (the donation price tag for participants is minimum $2300/each)!

Our team's feet after day 1! Mine were like raw hamburger meat for at least a week after! haha.

A buddy of ours is going to be participating in this walk soon and is working on collecting donations to meet her goal. Every few dollars helps! And it's tax deductible :) Click below and send her some love!

http://www.the3day.org/site/TR/2014/DallasFortWorthEvent2014?px=7319481&pg=personal&fr_id=1861

I had my first post-chemo check-up with Dr. Jim this week that really was just a check up and no major immediate health issues involved. Yay! We discussed a few things. Tamoxifen has been okay. Nothing major to note. He is going to be back in touch with me after consulting with another colleague and my surgeon about a lumpectomy on my left breast. We will probably first do some imaging (mammogram and MRI) then make a decision on where to go with this next...I'll alternate between seeing him and my radiation oncologist every 6 weeks from here on out...unless, of course, my crazy lady ways get me in there for any other reason. ha!

I've started physical therapy. I have some minor lymph fluid swelling in spots around my right side surgery/radiation area. We are working to lessen these and keep my system running at full capacity after the big blow it's taken this year! The lymphatic system is a critical player in keeping your body healthy. We were a bit shocked to get my labs back this week with continued low white blood cell counts even though I am so far out from chemo treatment. I have to keep on top of doing all I can do to keep my system up and running able to fight off infections...especially with the fall/winter season ahead!

I'm also consulting with a massage therapist who specializes in lymphatic system care. I was very fortunate to be able to visit her often during chemo treatment for anxiety and stress relief. She has some interesting info on her site:
http://www.tworoadsmassagetherapy.com/lymphatic-system

I also have to tell you about the best run-in with a brand new dad in the baby aisle. He asked if I could help him find 'grape water' (heehee...he meant 'gripe water') for his 3 day old baby. I showed him where it was and asked him what was going on, maybe I could help. He was so sweet. Worried because of pooping and crying and sleeping. I assured him that his description was pretty much about right for what a 3 day old baby should be doing, but call his pediatrician, that's why they are there. Don't be afraid to ask questions, our pediatrician always told me that it's the new parents who aren't asking questions that they are more worried about. Haha. He was so relieved. It was awesome. Brought me back 3 years ago when we brought Austin home. Trying not to be too sappy about Austin's 3rd birthday approaching. Baby years are gone just like that! I've heard from most parents that the time just goes too fast, but I'm feeling really pissed about this last year. I feel like I got cheated out of 2 with my kid. I am trying to be grateful because I definitely know that our kid went completely unscathed by this last crazy year thanks to all of our blessings. I also know many mamas who were taken much sooner and not able to be present for their kids on earth at all. Dang it. Focus, focus, focus on the blessings. Be thankful. Ugh. Sometimes I just want to complain just a little...haha...ok...I'm done now. Thank you God for our amazing life.

Win the day...outside for part of it, I hope!!
Love
Jenn

Port removal...check!

Had my port removed this week. Some surgeons have these procedures done as an outpatient surgery. Dr. Bob does them right in his office with a local anesthetic. So I was numbed and awake during the procedure. Not a big deal. Was woozy and sore the day of, but am now just a bit sore and nothing else to note. It sounds silly, but I am so nervous to say that this was the final step in my cancer treatment because every countdown and every time I thought I was nearing whatever I thought the 'end' of something was, something else popped up and the path I thought I was on changed direction. This was no exception. Dr. Bob threw me a curve ball at this appointment and mentioned that he is recommending that I consider having a lumpectomy on the lump in my left breast that was biopsied and benign. This means another surgery! I'm putting a bookmark here for the next few weeks and will have a chat with Dr. Jim to discuss the risks and benefits and come up with a plan from there...

The other truth of it is that I am nowhere near 'done' with cancer treatment or treating the effects that the treatment has had on my body! I take a cancer treatment pill every morning (probably for the next 10 years!). I'm going to be seeing an oncologist every 6 weeks for the next 5 years. There are also the PT, ob-gyn, allergist, optometrist, dentist, and a slew of other random specialists that all make up the team that is working to get me back up and running (well, I'm taking it easy on the running for a while! haha). And don't even get me started on the emotional side of things. My hormones are whacky and honestly, I feel a little PTSD...like someone who's been through a short traumatic war, survived (with one booby cut off and then burnt to a freaking crisp) and then all of a sudden, things are supposed to be just as they were before (with the underlying fear that I have very little control over whether or not it will happen all over again!)...very strange. People are still light-footed around me because I look like a chemo patient with my short hair. I'm sure this will all be even stranger for me when I am back to looking like a 'normal' person. The world just keeps on spinning. Things don't stop happening just because I had a very scary disease. BUT, I came out on the other end of this experience a totally different person. I definitely am taking my own time to smell the dang roses and enjoy every precious minute. That means letting some stuff go. Our dishes and laundry are COMPLETELY out of hand. If I'm feeling good, I'm not wasting a second on hanging up clothes. I'm sure I look like a total weirdo. Laughing at my kid screaming in the grocery store. Staring at the sky. wearing whatever wrinkled shirt I can find in the pile. Don't care. I am LOVING LIFE right now. I'm feeling good. Getting out there and doing fun things with our family and friends. Celebrating!! And needless to say, I am still very thankful for your daily prayers. It really means a lot to us. Not to mention, I still obviously need them! haha. I thank God for YOU every dang day.

Speaking of celebrating...congrats to my sweet friend Regina and her new husband, Mike!! Had a blast this weekend relaxing (I even laid by a pool for my first time in over a year...with a fancy glass of champagne!!) and enjoying time with friends. Check out my hair!! It's back and it's not gray this time! How strange. I still have a few grays sprinkled in, but it came back mostly dark brown. Had my first post-chemo haircut for the wedding. I think this stylist did a much better job with my side burns! haha. And my eyebrows are definitely filling back in too. Woohoo! Yall know how much I've missed my eyebrows :)

CUTEST couple ever (and definitely host a sweeet party)!!!

Soooo many things to be thankful for and soooo many reasons to CELEBRATE!!! Just had my final meeting with the party coordinator at Pecan Grove and CANNOT WAIT FOR LABOR DAY WEEKEND!! So excited to see all of you (and eat bbq and shake my booty to one of my favorite local bands!) It's going to be a good ol' time. For those of you with small kiddos...no stress...I don't care if they are on the tables or under them or even wearing pants...as long as they are not in the fire pit or swimming in the creek! This is a real true family celebration where we want everyone to feel at home and do their own dang thing :) We are going to have the best, most relaxing and fun evening. And for those of you without kids, there are plenty of places you can hide away from our crazy munchkins. Just don't feed them or make eye contact and you should be okay. hahaha.

Win the Day!
Port-less, eyebrow-ful and very very THANKFUL Jenn

The view from here...

This is an all too familiar view for me (p.s. I have on shorts! Haha!). Waiting on a dang doctor's table. This is how I spent my Saturday afternoon. The newest challenge...an injured ankle. Dang it.

I've been running (more like a funny fast mall walk with a bounce) for the past few weeks and it started with a little ache last weekend, but I kept powering through each day until finally, this weekend, I was doing a funny limp around the house and the dang thing was swollen. Shoot! Had some X-rays done and it's just Achilles tendinitis. No big deal. But I'm pissed. It's another reminder that my body has been through the wringer and I'm not going to be picking up where I left off in October last year.

I can't explain to you the feeling I had recently when I made it to the top of the hill by our house for the first time with our kiddo. I have wanted to walk Austin to the park there so many times in the last 10 months, but I couldn't physically do it. Some days I couldn't even drive us there. Austin was cheering from the stroller 'go mommy, go!' And I funny fast mall walk bounced us there. I cried. I was so damn proud of us for making it. That mile to the park with my kid was a BIG accomplishment for me. I haven't had the feeling you get when you work hard and your body can do something it couldn't do a week ago in a long time. I am getting stronger every dang day. You would really crack up if you saw this 'hill' I'm talking about and the pace we were traveling. I get lapped by senior citizens with fanny packs (p.s. no offense. there are some very fit senior citizens out there. haha). Seriously. I have been so excited to be able to get my butt up everyday and push that stroller as far and fast as I can go and all of a sudden, my body said, hold on there lady...what in the heck are you thinking?! Where are you going? I'm shutting this operation down. Slow down. Relax. You are there already! Ankle throbbing, swollen. DANG IT!

So, this afternoon when Austin wanted to go to the park, what do you think the stubborn control freak told her husband who suggested we drive instead of take the stroller?? Yup. I hobbled my throbbing ankle back up the damn hill with the jogging stroller and got my kid to the park (and then I sat on the bench for an hour! ha!) When will I learn?! A special 'I'm sorry' to poor Jonathon...he might have gotten the brunt of my 'I am woman, hear me roar' rant...and I'm sure he still would've picked us up if I called for a ride home, but I am waaay to stubborn for that kind of move...we made it home. And now THIS is my view from here. hahaha.

It made me think of several years ago when I walked the Susan G Komen 3 day 60 mile walk in honor of my bestie KC's amazing mama who lost a 15+ year battle with breast cancer. KC had a stress fracture that flared up pretty much at about mile 3, but she walked every darn step of the remaining 57 miles without a peep. Her mom couldn't walk the walk, so KC did. Every painful step couldn't compare to her mom's battle. I get it now. I just feel like I need to get my ass out there and do my dang thing. Every single step. With my kid cheering me on. If I want to get to the top of the hill, I'm going to do it. I will not accept that I need to slow down. I'm going to get better. Every. Dang. Day. I just had my booby cut off. A swollen ankle does not scare me!! But maybe icing it is a little bit scary. Eeeeek!!! sooooo cold!!!!!

Get out there friends. Win the day...and keep your ringers on...I might need a ride home from the park tomorrow!

Love
Jenn