Follow Up Doctor Visit

I went to the doctor for a check up. He asked if I wanted to do my blood work before I came in so he could discuss the results with him. I said it would be no problem, I could do it. Thirty minutes into my drive to his office I remembered I about the blood work. When I got there, they asked about it, and then took a blood sample. I did remember to use the numbing cream so when the nurse flushed my port it would not hurt. When the doctor came in he gently asked if I wanted to try to do my blood work before, or just wait and have them do it at the office. I would have to wait longer for some of the results, since they only can do some tests at his office. I opted to just have them take the blood sample there.

My doctor said everything looks great. I showed him the lymphedema, and he wrote me a referral to the specialist. He seems pretty optimistic about my recovery and long term survival rate. I did follow up visits last time I had cancer, and everything always looked great until it came back. It is hard to think about the future or plan too far ahead. Luckily I have lots of good things to think about right now – my dear family and friends, energy to play, enjoying the warm weather, doing my hair, listening to others, tasting food, painting my fingernails, and so on.

Getting ready for Camp Kesem BYU

On the camper information forms for Camp Kesem BYU it said they would have parents' meeting at the end of June and the packing list would come in May. Every single day during the month of May my kids would ask me if the packing list from Camp Kesem had come yet. Could they remember to practice the piano or put their dirty dish in the dishwasher, NO, but asking about the Camp Kesem packing list they always remembered.

Then my mom would ask me if it came too. She wanted to make sure the kids had everything they needed for camp. The list did not come in May. So we decided they could have sent it in May and it could come in the first week of June. Still they were asking every single day if the packing list had come. The second week of June L, in addition to asking about the packing list, started asking me to email them. So I did. A week later we had not received an email back, so L began her campaign of me needing to call them. So I did. They assured me we would receive it soon.

A few weeks after our conversation we were overjoyed to see an email with the packing list as an attachment. Before seeing the list I was not worried because we have been camping before so I though my children would be prepared. They are mostly ready, but L and C do not own the ten pairs of socks each that is on the list. Plus many of L's socks are knee highs, which she is not sure she wants to wear camping. I guess we run on the lighter side of clothes, and just do laundry more often. We will soon rectify the sock problem, and get the rest of the items ready for the kids to take.

Rhinestone Tank Top

Last summer I was pregnant and did not want to buy a maternity swimsuit. Instead I bought a black tank top with rhinestones on it and wore it over my old swimsuit.

This summer I did not want to buy a mastectomy swimsuit and water proof forms to put in it so I brought out the black tank top. I even added bright pink shorts with it.

My hair has come back. It is now short and curly. The combination of short curly hair, rhinestone tank top, and bright shorts reminded me of something. It took a few times of wearing that outfit before I realized who I looked like.


I had a laugh at myself. When I showed my kids his picture and asked if they thought I looked like him, it really bothered them.

I have tried wearing tank tops without rhinestones and I think I will look for a rash guard next time I am in town.

Real Age vs Chemo Age vs Wii Sports Age

First my real age is 34. I am glad for all my 34 years. I often have problems with people thinking I am younger than I am. Even when I was chemo sick and bald wearing a scarf, which I thought made me look older.

I was talking with my husband about how every year of chemotherapy treatments ages you 10 years. Here is one article about it. We were discussing how my chemo age is now 54 and since women live longer than men, my husband and I might die around the same time. Maybe at this moment you are thinking "Wow - fun times at their house." On Tuesday the other YW leaders and I were chatting about this and I said, "I have become a cougar in the course of my marriage. My husband married a young wife who is now much older than him." He does not seem to mind.

My kids heard the age discussion and suggested we try the Wii sports age test. I thought I would get a much older age, as I rarely play the Wii, I have a bad arm, I am old, I am easily distracted and so on. I did poorly on most of the skills tests, but very well on the bowling section (my nephew who thinks he is the undisputed champion will have to watch out). My Wii sports age is also 54. Now I am a believer in the validity of that test. So my new course of action is to stop seeing my doctor and just keep taking that test until I can get my Wii sports age down to 34 or whatever actual age I happen to be at the time. I think it will really work out well, or not.

A New Look

There is a saying about "What Cancer Cannot Do." Having been through chemotherapy twice I thought I had seen every interpretation possible of it. My mom's relative linked me to a new one. I like this one and made me think of this familiar saying in a new way. I thought I would share a slightly altered version of what she posted.


Cancer is so limited.
Nay, in all these things we more than conquerors through Him that loved us.

It cannot cripple love, it cannot alter hope.
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities,

It cannot corrode faith, it cannot destroy peace,
nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

It cannot kill friendship, it cannot suppress memories,
Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature,

It cannot silence courage, it cannot invade the soul.
shall be able to separate us from the love of God

It cannot steal eternal life, it cannot conquer the spirit.
which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:37-39

Moments That Matter Most

It was nice of the church to make a new Mormon Message video that goes along with what I have been feeling this week and especially today. As anyone who has lost someone close knows those moments distill sweeter with the passage of time.





This morning I heard "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" and it reminded me of when Rachel and I drove to the airport to drop off my mom. As we were traveling the twisty mountain road we heard this song and Rachel said, "Did you burn a cd with party music on it." I told her, "No, radio stations are just that awesome around here." Then we just sang along with the windows down, and Rachel asking me what the abbreviations on the road signs meant. We went through three counties to get to the airport.

My Mental Health Professional

A few months ago I was tired of being tired. Baby was still not sleeping through the night and my husband was incredibly busy at work. Right after chemo I would walk oh so slowly with different friends a few times a week. When it was too cold, which it often was, I would walk on the treadmill. Then I did a modified Couch to 5k program on it the last 9 weeks of school. On alternate days I would still walk either at baseball games/practice or with friends. It helped me deal with the stress and I think it helped me face the day with more energy. Also it is something good for my body, which I so appreciate (my body that is).

You can see a few things in the picture. I lost my mp3 player so my husband gave me his. I would exercise when Baby would take a nap, instead of do the laundry or the other thousand things I could of done. I put her baby monitor on the treadmill and she slept through almost every time I exercised. L's comment one time when she saw me after I exercised was, "I thought only lumberjacks sweat that much!" Where she is seeing sweaty lumberjacks I do not know. I also would never wear a scarf while exercising. I like to think it helped my hair grow back thicker.

I am still tired but it not as bad as it was before and I know that it will get better.