Plastic Surgeon Follow-Up

I dropped the boys off at their grandma's house on my way to the dr's this morning. When I walked into the office, I saw my friend Elizabeth and her mom sitting in the waiting room! I was glad to be able to chat with them for a few minutes. Elizabeth just shaved her head yesterday and seeing her looking so cute in her bandana sure brought back memories. The whole hair thing is tough for us women. Hair is such a part of our identity. I am soooo glad to have hair again, but it is at this really awkward stage and I don't know what to do with it.

Cut it really short? Or let it grow some more? Hmmm...

Anyway, Dr. Boll said I'm healing nicely. She also said I've been doing a good job wrapping/dressing my wounds. I didn't tell her that I am, after all, a nurse. But she seemed pleased with the healing process and the appearance of the "girls" thus far. I have to keep dressing them for another week.

I'm getting used to the new me, though....same bra size....just fuller...TMI :)

I go back in again in 2 weeks and she will give me the names of who to call to have the tattooing done. (They tattoo the areola to give it more color. The tattooing will also cover up my scars!)

I'm still working on getting my energy and strength back. Dr. Boll said the anesthesia stays in your body for weeks after, so what I've been feeling is normal. My body has also been through a lot this past year, so it's no surprise that I'm not bouncing back as quickly as I'd like.

MeRrY ChRiStMaS!!

I can't believe another year has almost come and gone already. It seems the older I get, the faster time flies by. It makes me sad to see how fast my boys are growing up :(

So much has happened in this past year and I have had many opportunities to reflect on my life. Last Christmas, I didn't know if it would be the last one I would be spending with Curt and our boys. How extremely grateful I am for my Father in Heaven giving me one more year of life! I constantly pray to be given many MANY more years, but I also have a strong belief in accepting whatever His will may be.

There have been so many "angels" in my life...who have made an impact on our family. Never before, have I felt so much love from my Father in Heaven, my Savior, my family, friends, neighbors, members of our community, and even complete strangers. Our lives were completely changed last year when I was diagnosed. It has changed for the better without a doubt.

I just want all those out there who actually read this thing to know how grateful I am for each of you and your encouraging words, prayers, etc. during this past year and I hope you and your families have a wonderful Christmas!

Thankgoodness For Family!

When I slowly shuffled out of my bedroom this morning, I discovered the kids running wild around the house and Curt laying on the couch. Curt then informs me that he's sick...as in he threw up all night. Now what?...I thought. Curt's parents are in Utah until tomorrow sometime and I really shouldn't be doing much yet. So my way of solving the problem was to crawl back into my bed and take a nap! Just because I can :)

A couple of hours later, Curt pokes his head into the bedroom and says that Alayna came to help with the kids. Sweet relief! Alayna to the rescue!

Even though my house looks like a bomb went off, I am relieved to know that the kids aren't fending for themselves and that they're having fun with their Aunt Alayna.

T-I-M-B-E-R!!!

I started to get a little woozy when Dr. Boll took the TIGHT ace wrap off of me. I don't know if it was seeing "the girls" all bruised and swollen...or if the pain just got to me. I decided that I needed to sit down in the chair and as she was pulling out the first drain....I PASSED OUT! It was the strangest thing and I felt like the biggest wimp. Curt said I was convulsing a little, but he kept his cool and remained calm.

I got a little lecture about not taking it easy at home (I guess wrapping Christmas presents @ 2 am isn't taking it easy?). So I've basically been in my bed since I got home from that appointment. Curt's sister Alayna stopped by last night and I also got a visit from my friend Angie, who also brought dinner for our family. ALSO...the reason why I'm able to post this from my bed is because my sweet hubby gave me my Christmas present early! So I can now use my LAPTOP!!! Isn't he the greatest?

I go see Dr. Boll again on the 29th, so I get to keep these lovely "protectors" on my nipps for 10 more days. The pain/soreness can be best described as the engorgement you get when your milk comes in. Not very pleasant.

It's Twins!

The surgery went well! It lasted about 5 1/2 hours...mainly because my plastic surgeon said she's "a perfectionist". That's A-OK with me!

I haven't been able to see the results yet because I am tightly wrapped with an ace bandage, but I am sure "the girls" look good or at the very least, are an improvement of what they looked like before.

I am pretty sore, but am getting along great. I have 2 drains this time and my personal nurse drains them for me. He's a pro at this!

I have a follow-up appointment this afternoon with Dr. Boll and I should be able to see what everything looks like then.

2nd Reconstructive Surgery

Tomorrow is the day!

I check in @ 5:30am for my 7:30 surgery. Dr. Boll says it might take around 3 hours...maybe more depending on how things look when she gets in there. It basically all depends on the condition of my chest muscle and tissue.

I have been looking forward to this day for a long time and am anxious to see what the "girls" end up looking like!

Tag...I'm It

I got tagged by Colista!

1. Do you like wrapping paper or gift bags?

I do like wrapping paper, but gift bags are so much easier.

2. Real tree or Artificial?

always real when I was growing up, but we've done artificial for the past 5 or 6 years now.

3. When do you put up the tree?

usually the day after Thanksgiving

4. When do you take the tree down?

around New Year's or a few days after Christmas.

5. Do you like eggnog?

I can only handle a little at a time.

6. Favorite gift received as a child?

my doll that was so real looking! Now my niece Abby has it.

7. Hardest person to buy for?

my father-in-law

8. Easiest person to buy for?

my boys

9. Do you have a nativity scene?

yes

10. Mail or email Christmas cards?

I'm so lame. I haven't done Christmas cards AT ALL for a few years now.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?

I can't think of one

12. Favorite Christmas Movie?

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?

November-ish

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?

no. Wedding gifts...yes!

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?

candy and chocolate (that pretty much applies to all year round!)

16. Lights on the tree?

Of course! Ours are white.

17. Favorite Christmas song?

Silent Night
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?

Stay home

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer?

Yep

20. Angel on the tree top or a star?

usually had an angel when I was growing up. Now we have a big bow on top.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?

Jammies from the pajama elf on Christmas Eve...everything else in the morning

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year?

crowds of rude shoppers

23. Favorite ornament theme or color?

when my kids are grown, then I will think about having a perfectly decorated tree. Our tree is becomming bare because Jake keeps breaking all of the ornaments.

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner?

I love me some ham, REAL mashed potatoes, rolls...mmm

25. What do you want for Christmas this year?

Nothing much.....just a laptop!

One Year Ago...

It was actually one year ago yesterday, that I got the phone call from my surgeon Dr. Schuster. I was caught totally off guard and couldn't wrap my brain around the fact that I HAD CANCER.

Me. Cancer.

I was pretty freaked out, to say the least. I was scared of the unknown...not knowing if the cancer had spread anywhere else....not knowing how much more time I would have to be a mother to my boys....scared to death of having to go through chemo after seeing my mom and sister get so sick from it...thinking that if I died, Luke would be the only one of my sons who would remember me. Broke. My. Heart.

So many thoughts flooded my mind. My main concern was for my little boys. Luke, who knew that his Noma and Aunt Carrie had died from cancer...Ty, who had no clue what was going on... and my baby Jake, who was only 14 months old at the time. I couldn't hold my baby (or any of my boys) for 6 weeks after my surgery. That was tough, but thank goodness, it was only temporary.

I am so blessed to be surrounded by so many good people in my life. People from my ward (church), my friends, neighbors....everyone pitched in and took such good care of me and my family. I can honestly say that my cancer journey has taught me so much. I have seen charity at its finest. So much has been done for me and my family. I can't even begin to name each and every act of kindness and I couldn't possibly thank people enough.

This experience has been life altering.....but in a good way. I wouldn't wish cancer on anyone, but at the same time, I don't know how else I would have become the person I am today. Each experience or trial in my life has taught me something. This one is no different. I had to search for the "positive's" some days, especially the days when I felt like poo.

It makes me happy and extremely grateful to be sitting here, enjoying my family, ONE YEAR LATER! I would be lying if I said I don't worry from time to time....wondering how long it will be before the cancer comes back. My hope is to be able to raise our boys and to grow old with my Curty (that's what my mom liked to call him).