...And We're OFF!!!

This morning we are flying to Ft. Lauderdale and will be boarding the Crown Princess tomorrow! We can't wait to sail the Caribbean!!!

My appt. went well yesterday. Dr. Kellogg said my blood work is good...my anemia is just barely below the normal range. He wants me to get another heart scan at the end of the month just to make sure everything is still ok in that area. Yesterday, I realized that my left side (I label it that so that I don't have to keep typing "breast"....so when I say "left side", you'll know what I mean--wink wink) is indeed INFECTED! It was still so sore, even when I would move my left arm. I also started to notice that there was redness and it was hot to the touch. That would explain why I've felt so crummy these past few days. So I took out the last of the stitches and started taking my Rx of Augmentin. I am feeling a wee bit better today, I think.

Quick Update...

This morning I woke up to discover that my stitches are, once again, pulling apart. I have had a lot of pain and tenderness on my left side. It might be because she didn't numb me (!!) before she put in the second set of stitches?? I don't know. I am trying not to get frustrated and upset by this. I just have to keep reminding myself (with Curt's help) that I have so much to be grateful for....and I would much rather deal with this than to have to deal with cancer again. Curt and I made the executive decision to open this wound up and to let it heal that way. So, I took out all but 3 of the stitches and have started packing it with gauze again. HOPEFULLY it will heal before too terribly long.

I go in to see Dr. Kellogg (oncologist) this morning and will get my Herceptin afterwards. After today, I will only have 2 more!! My dad is going with me today while Debbie stays home with the boys.

I'll update soon...

Just As I Suspected...

I saw Dr. Boll. She was not surprised that the stitches were popping and that I'm not healing. She wasn't happy about it and felt like a "big meanie" to have to tell me to stay out of the ocean. She said she wanted me to be able to have fun and enjoy myself on the cruise. She put in some new stitches and gave me a prescription for an antibiotic just in case it becomes infected while on the cruise. If it gets infected, she says the best way to let it heal is to take out the stitches and open it up. Then I would have to pack it again, like I was before. So I get to load my suitcase with all of the supplies for that, just in case.

I am getting really excited to go, despite all of this garbage with my stitches. It will be so much fun to hang out with Curt's family, get a little R & R, and lay out on the beach! I'm also looking forward to seeing my dad and Debbie! They will be arriving tomorrow some time and will be staying with the boys while we're gone. The boys are excited!

Nervous Nelly

I have been nervous the past couple of days because....

my stitches are pulling apart and the spot is starting to open again.

I have an appt. with Dr. Boll in about an hour, but I am not expecting

any miracles. Looks like I'm just gonna have to deal with this stupid

crap while on the cruise. It will also mean that I will not be able to get

into the ocean.

S.U.C.K.S.

I'll update later when I get home.

9 Stitches Later...

Dr. Boll stitched up the hole in my left breast today. It actually looks really good and I am very happy with the results so far! She said we have to keep our fingers crossed that it will heal well. You just never know...when you are dealing with radiated tissue.

The procedure went really well. She injected some numbing stuff and I couldn't even really feel the needle going in. Most of that area on my breast is still numb anyway. She cut a cresent-shape area around the hole, and then stitched it closed. Once this is healed, I will have the tattooing done and things should look more normal.

I have a follow up appointment with Dr. Boll in one week. She wants to make sure it looks ok before we leave on our cruise (yippee!!).

Lazy Days

(A day at the park with my boys.)

(Jake was not wanting to hold still. Shocker!)

I have been so lazy lately (story of my life!). When I think about blogging, I tend to get really frustrated because it is so hard for me to organize my thoughts. Even though it's been around 8 months since I finished chemo, I still feel like my brain cells are few and far between. So if I'm typing something...or having a conversation with you...and I'm not quite making sense, you'll know why :)

• First of all, I saw Dr. Boll (plastic surgeon) last week. She was happy that the tissue on the inside of my crater was turning more pink. It was really pale before and now is pinkish/redish. I told her that I was tired of dealing with it and didn't want to be a complainer, but I am going on a cruise in 2 1/2 weeks and I need that thing healed up by then. If the wound is still open, you see, I will not be able to go in the ocean and snorkel with everyone else. I DO NOT want to have to deal with wound care on my cruise and DEFINITELY do not want to miss out on anything because of it! So I talked Dr. Boll into sewing it up. She was hesitant because she doesn't want it to distort the look of my breast, and I can understand that....but I don't care at this point. It's never going to look like it did before the cancer anyway. So, in the meantime, I am still packing it/changing the dressing twice a day. She wants to give the tissue as much time as possible to heal before attempting to sew it up on the 25th.

Keep your fingers crossed!

• I also want to declare that I have THE BEST husband! He took not one...not two...but all THREE boys to the cabin last Thursday night through Sunday!! Although Saturday was Valentine's Day, Curt thought it would be a good V-Day gift to me....to have the weekend ALL TO MYSELF!! I love my boys (all 4 of 'em) soooo much. More than words can describe. But, a little time to myself was just what I needed. It was a fun and relaxing weekend, but I was anxious for all of my boys to come home!

• My last day of Herceptin is APRIL 17th!!! I have 3 left and am so looking forward to being done :)

Hair Photos

FYI....nap before Super Bowl game = bed head

.....sucky camera = blurry pictures