I feel lucky to be Alive!

I have been trying to come up with something to write in a book they place out in the patient radiation area to be written in, on your last day of treatments. Something that will encourage other patients.

As I sit back and think about how all of this began over a year ago, I just can't believe that it is almost over. Oh, don't get me wrong, I will still be on hormonal treatments for the rest of my life and I have a lot of testing that will still have to be run over the next five years but the surgeries, Chemo, and Radiation treatments are almost done.

My life has changed so much! I know longer take my life for grated. A man (Barry Crandall) that used to be our Assistant Pastor would always say these words. "I am just happy to have air". I now know what he means. I no longer take things "like air" for grated.

This statement has been said to me or about my illness over and over again. "None of us know if we walk out the door today that it won't be our last". This statement is very true and I've used it many times myself but when you are going through cancer treatments, or any trial, things are much clearer, it hits much closer to home! I'm not going to live forever and I do have a life threatening disease. I'll be honest, if you haven't been through it, you really don't know how scary it is. When I write my departing comments in that book, I want it to be from my heart. How I got through each day of treatments and didn't lose my faith in God. I want to write how important it is to stay around positive uplifting people. People that really care about how you must be feeling.

I still have a few days and many hours to think about this. I feel so blessed to be alive and have another chance at living, breathing and being thankful for everything I have.

I'm feeling great again Today!

I feel so good! I just got done working-out for an hour. I can't believe it. Radiation went really well.

3 TREATMENTs and I'm done!!!

Another update on My Treatments

I have so much to share but I don't know where to begin.

For starters, I only have 5 more radiation treatments to go. Yea!!! In know, I said I would be done on Monday January 26th but I called in cold on Friday. I know what you all are thinking. This woman does a motor route 365 days a year and -20 keeps her from getting her treatment! I want to be done by January 30th, my youngest boy's 12th birthday. When I found out I was going to be done Monday the 26th, I thought I would stay home with my kids on Friday. The schools were closed because of the weather.

The next exciting thing that is going on is, they are only doing treatment on one area now, instead of three. I'm in and out of the hospital in no time. Today, I was done at 8:10 a.m. my treatment was at 8:00 a.m. To cool huh!

Lastly, I'm feeling great! I'm getting my energy back already.

I'll know more about what I'll have to do next Tuesday. I have to sit down with the nurse and go over the Doctor's plans for the next year. I'll write more soon!

Thanks for praying!

Updated picture and great new about my Radiation treatments

I am so excited today! I found out I only have 7 more treatments instead of 11. Yea!! I'll be all done on January 26th, 2009.

I'm doing pretty good this week. I am really red where they are doing my treatments but that should go away soon. The next seven treatments will be done where Suzanne (My surgeon) removed the tumor.

If your going through radiation treatments, my suggestion to you would be, get lots of sleep, take naps, drink plenty of water, think moisture, moisture, moisture, on your radiated area: such as "Aveeno Baby Fragrance free Daily Moisture Lotion", make sure you try and stay away from people that are sick. I have picked up illnesses that I normally don't get and I am a person that doesn't get sick very easily.

Now what you all have been waiting for!! An updated picture of my hair. LOL! My eye lashes and eye brows have all grown back as well.

January 15th, 2009

Back curls
Top of my head
Back view
Last but not least, this is me! As you can see from this picture the spots that are being radiated are very red.

Radiation treatment Number 18

I hate to admit this to anyone but I'm really getting tired. I talked to the radiation techs today, as to why I am getting so tired. They said it was like doing aerobic. They are killing the cancer cells and my body is working over-time trying to make new cells. I still can't believe that I stayed in bed all day yesterday. If you know me, you know that never happens. We didn't even get to take the kids to a movie because mom was to tired. : { I know this will be over before I know it.

My second week of Radiation

I have just finished my second week of Radiation treatments. I think I'm doing pretty good. The first week was pretty bad! I had a really hard time laying on the metal table with my right arm down at my side. The chemo has left my joints in my arms very stiff and sore. I am in so much pain that I was moving a few centimeters while they were trying to get the x-rays prefect. My cancer is in my left breast plus it had attacked a bit of tissue. My Radiologist said we had to make sure there were no mistakes so my heart was not damaged during radiation.

After the fourth very long day on the table. I finally told them that my right arm was killing me and I believe that is the reason I was moving those few centimeters. We finally found a comfortable position for my arm and a clear shot of the tattoo on my right side. The tattoos were put on my body to make sure I am lined up correctly on the table.

Right now I'm feeling good! Plus no burn marks yet.

My hair is growing back everyday. I see a short, hip hair cut in my near future.

Update on Faith and Hope

The girls are doing well. Faith is approaching 8 lbs and Hope is likely over 7 lbs now. We still struggle at times getting them to eat what we "think" they should eat. Hope still has something with her eyes that we have been referred to a retina specialist for. The blood vessels in her eyes have grown almost all the way out, but there is some sort of tissue or something that may be blocking completion. Apparently everything looks fine where vision takes place, but the ophthalmologist wants us to see the specialist. It may require nothing, but it also could require some sort of laser surgery. She also suffers from acid reflux, but the prevacid she is on seems to be helping. Other than that things seem to be going pretty well. Hope smiles once in a while at us and I think Faith might have a little (but not as often or as big).

I finally have Ethan's new room done and am starting on Mackenzie's and Caylee's new room (Ethan's old one). Then I'll undertake the twins new room (the older girls' old room). We had a good Thanksgiving and are gearing up for Christmas.

Thank you for your continuing prayers and support.

Prayer request(s):
1) Please pray for Hope's eyes

2) Continue to pray for the long term development, etc for Faith and Hope

3) Continue to pray for us as a family (adjusting still, getting rest, etc.)

4) Whatever else God lays on your hearts...


Merry Christmas!!!
Jason and family...