Football Frenzy

What a great weekend...football and more football amid all the holiday activities. It was too cool watching the Maryville Spoofhounds on TV as they dominated both sides of the ball and won a State Championship! The ending to the Northwest Bearcat Football game was nearly too much to handle...the Bearcats blocked an extra point attempt with 6 seconds on the clock to win the quarterfinal game 21-20. I am thrilled to get a chance to see the Bearcats play in Maryville under the lights on Saturday night in the Semi-final game. Dan received 8-Man Coach of the Year Honors from the KAAN Radio Station at the annual KAAN All-Star banquet tonight. He accompanied 3 seniors that made the 2009 KAAN All-Star team. You Gotta Love Football Season...it doesn't get much better than this!

And here we are...the eve of another chemo treatment. Jeez, the weeks fly by so fast! I can count the remaining chemo treatments on one hand...only 5 left. I am super excited for Christmas this year because if we stay on schedule, my last chemo will be the 28th of December. Needless to say, I have been listening to Christmas music for weeks and today, the girls helped me put up our Christmas decorations. As my sister noted, this is the earliest I have ever decorated for Christmas.

To any of you that dread the Monday morning work day (just like I used to every Monday)...be thankful!! My alternative is not much fun. I cannot wait to be able to go to work on Monday mornings.

TOO Much to be Thankful for...

Happy Thanksgiving to each and everyone of you! Hope you are able to enjoy the holiday with family and friends. Even though this day has always provided a solid reminder to me to be thankful, this year is more special than ever. Thanks to ALL OF YOU for your continued support and prayers!

Round 11 was a huge success. Dr. AJ shared with me that my levels were at bare minimums and he offered to take a week off from chemo due to the holiday. But, I really did not even consider it. I am so thankful that we have been able to keep on schedule this long and I continue to do the best I can to rest and take care of myself in preparation for my chemo Mondays.

Please take some time to truly reflect on this wonderful opportunity we have been given...LIFE! Share your blessings with those around you! Hugs & Kisses! Happy Turkey Day!

Round 10 Chemo - KO

YAHOO!!!! Half-way done with Taxol!!! I'M SO EXCITED AND I JUST CAN'T HIDE IT!!! Only 6 Taxol treatments left and I am still throwing punches! I was able to take a long nap this afternoon and I feel great tonight...first time I have actually cooked supper on chemo night. The Taxol treatments have been much easier to battle than the first 4 AC treatments. And it still seems to be working and doing it's job.

My sister sent cinnamon rolls with me to chemo today for me to share. One of my chemo buddies said he was scared to eat one in fear that he would get punched with my pink boxing gloves. I tried to convince him he was safe, but he just laughed and shook his head.

I talked to the nurse navigator in Omaha last week and we scheduled an appointment for January 5th for a consult prior to surgery. She indicated that surgery is typically within 2-3 weeks of the consult. The decision for lumpectomy vs. mastectomy will probably be made at the consult appointment. I am already starting my list of questions for the surgeon.

Thanks so much for the prayers! I sit here with tears streaming down my face. I sense victory and it simply feels so good. I am so grateful for the continuous support and prayers.

Heartbroken, but PROUD

Oh...so close! It was well into the 4th quarter before Mound City could have been comfortable with the thought of winning the semifinal game. The Bulldogs fought hard and played to the very end! But, they played a talented, disciplined football team and came up short...32-7. I am SO PROUD to be a Stanberry Bulldog Football Fan! The guys had an awesome season and have so much to be proud of! They were IN IT TO WIN IT! They can proudly hold their head high. The tradition lives on.

I am so fortunate to be feeling so good. Last night at the game was one of the best nights I have had since chemo started on August 17th. Other than the menopausal hot flashes that caused me to shed my coat and hat, I felt great. OK...it may have been in combination with my frantic cheers for the Bulldogs. But, I have been without head gear/cover for a couple weeks due to the hot flashes. Some people have not recognized me and many make comments about me being bald with Dan. I'm sure I make some uncomfortable, but do not intend to do so. I shopped at the mall this week without anything on my head and a little girl yelled at her Mommy, "Hey, that lady does not have hair!" Her Mommy calmly reassured her it was OK, and some people do not have hair. The little girl immediately began combing her fingers through her own long, golden locks and with the most priceless look on her face, said, "NO HAIR?!?!?" It was too cute!

Awaiting Victory

Finally!!! The eve of the State Football Semifinal game between the Stanberry Bulldogs and the Mound City Panthers is here. Seems like it has been a longer week than normal! I am so excited the guys are still playing football and very proud they are 1 of 4 teams left in the 8-man division in Missouri. I am anticipating a night of successes and victories tomorrow night. The football season has definitely been a great distraction for me and given me the opportunity to concentrate on something fun that I love! Go Bulldogs! You will always be #1 in my heart!

Round 9 Chemo - KO

More good news today...almost half way done with Taxol, my levels were the best they have been in weeks, I am healthy, and I feel great! We did discuss surgery a little today and Dr. AJ informed me it will be Dr. Silva's (Surgical Oncologist in Omaha) final call, but the surgeons typically wait 2 weeks after the final taxol treatment to allow the body and system to recover and rebuild all the necessary levels prior to surgery.

I am starting to freak out about my eyebrows, my eyelashes, and my complexion. I am really feeling like a cancer victim. Thank goodness I had the thick, bushy eyebrows and eyelashes to begin with because they are getting very thin and I am missing sections of each. Last week I started wearing some cover and blush to give my face some life. Wish I knew what I was doing...I have probably only worn make-up a handful of times in my entire life!

People continue to remind me of prayers and support for my family and me! Again...THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

My BABY is 1

We have a Birthday Boy in the house today...Bo is 1. His first mission this morning was to pull every puzzle off the shelf and the big sisters immediately told me that I could not tell him "NO" because it is Bo's special day. And...that is exactly how the entire day went! We had too much fun! Thought I should share pictures of Bo's first birthday...

Still in the box or backward...Bo did not care...he was happy as could be on his new fire truck...

The girls were trying very hard to keep Bo out of the cake so we could get a picture of the 3 of them, but Bo was determined to get to that cake...




And he succeeded!!!

Great News!

Prayers are working...keep them coming! We received great news today! Dr. AJ completed a breast exam and was VERY, VERY EXCITED! He exclaimed, "YES! This is what we've been waiting for!" He confirmed that the cluster is much, much, smaller. It is much, much, much, more mobile and no longer hardened. He told us several times how excited he is! He said we are going to stick with the original plan and finish the Taxol treatments and then prepare for surgery. I am 1/3 done with the Taxol...4 down and 8 to go. Hey, that means only 8 weeks until Christmas! And I heard that my favorite radio station is playing Christmas music already...yeah for Star 102.

Today is the best I have felt in about 10 days. So, hope that "virus" is finally out of my system. My immunity and bacteria fighting levels are very low, so Dr. AJ advised me to be VERY SMART! He is an advocate of sanitizer and instructed me that I can not use it too much for myself and my family. We talked about masks and he advised that if I feel like I need to wear a mask, I should probably choose not to be in that environment instead. I simply need to keep my hands free of germs and my hands away from my eyes, mouth and nose. Cheers to a germ-free winter! KO Germs and USE SANITIZER!

Spooktacular Halloween

Hope everyone enjoyed a safe Halloween. My kids enjoyed the tricks and treats...

We had a little skeleton, a unicorn princess, and Malia originally decided to be a ghost. The night before the costume party at school, she changed her mind and chose to be Freddy Holtman...a local Dad and mechanic that is notorious for his beard and bib overalls. The girls love visiting with Freddy at the local MFA.