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