I Am Loved

This is what I found in my driveway when I came home from the hospital.  Thank you to the wonderful friends who left it.

Metasteses in the brain is very scary, right?  That is what we thought too.  Not that word isn't serious, but it is not brain cancer.  My cancer did not originate in the brain.  This is still breast cancer.  That information helped use breathe a little better.  I have multiple lesions.  I have not asked how many nor have I looked at my scans.  I do not know how many I have.  I do know there are more than 5.  I have been in tune with such things, and when they first told me, I immediately picture 15 to 20.  But it doesn't matter.  My radiologist, Dr. Mark McGlaughlin, pointed out very pointedly that they were all small.  More breathing.

I am on anti-inflammatories and will be for awhile.  I start radiation on Monday.  15 days minus weekends.  I cannot drive.  I am not on anti-seziure medicine, but that could change.  My mind is not working right.  I have typed several of these words more than once.  I am not walking particularly well all the time.  My vision gets spotty a lot.  And when the headaches come, they are bad.

But, I am doing pretty well considering.  There are still a lot of tears, but we are slowly coming out of the fog.  Plans are being made and we will let everyone know how they can help when we figure it out.

Thank you for reminding me that I am loved.

Third Times A Charm

As most of you know, my cancer is back and is in the brain. We are formulating a plan and are going to kick this cancer's backside once again. Right now all we need your prayers. We are going to need help again, and will let you know what that is.

I have already been crying on and off with everyone's sweet messages. Dust off the Fraggle Rocks. We're going to need them again.

Potty Training Boot Camp Take 2

When we potty trained our eldest son at 2 1/2 years old, we did the 3-day method.  Basically, you stay home for 3 days.  Seriously, you don't even leave to run to the grocery story.  Have lots of liquids for the child to drink so there are more opportunities for them to figure it out.  Commit to no more diapers or pull-ups. You stay home until they figure it out.  Here is a blog that explains it.  http://www.lucieslist.com/toddlerhood/the-two-day-method-potty-training/

We started on a Saturday, and by Tuesday, he was at school with underwear on and has NEVER had an accident there.  We never used pull-ups.  But there were quite a few accidents at night, but we handled them, and after about a month, we didn't have any more.

This is how it went for us. http://raiseyourheads.blogspot.com/2013/11/potty-training-day-1.html

I say all this knowing full well that we got luck with J.  We have with most things.  He has generally been an easy child.  And them came C.  We have been brought down a few notches.  Where I thought we had just done a great job with him, I now realize, it was J's nature.  

Tomorrow we start child number 2.  We are loaded up with apple juice (his favorite drink).  We have the adorable underwear.

We have skittles for rewards.  Along with little men (his favorite things right now).  And behind the door, I have some great big toys for when he goes stinky.  Because we all know that one takes a little longer.

The most important thing is not to have anything planned. Be with your child the whole day.  When I did this last time, I didn't eat much. I didn't clean much. Except loads of underwear that had been tee-teed on. I didn't get on my phone. I remember having a beer or two at the end of the night.

This time, things are going to be different. Harder. I have to prepare at least three meals each day. And that comes with tons of dishes. Taking all my supplements takes at least 5 minutes. Making my wheatgrass shots takes 15 minutes. And I won't have a beer to look forward to at the end of the night.

I've come to realize that we, as humans, rationalize with excuses. Whether they are legit excuses or just that - reasons to not do something. I could easily stop my diet for a day to do this. But that may lead to other days of not doing it. I could also not do it this way so it is easier on me. But I am not going to do either of those things.

I am going to get up and do this. I won't have the luxury of not eating, but will use this time to get C to help me cook. I won't have a beer waiting for me, but will have a wheatgrass shot. And I will toast to the fact that I am here to experience this with C. Because that is why I have fought so hard.

Wish me luck. C has always given us a run for our money. This should be interesting.