Our House

Hi! It has been a while. We are starting a new journey in our life now. I guess we got so used to craziness in our life this past year...we wanted to add some good craziness......We are starting to build a house! Fun!!! They are coming Tuesday to pour the foundation. I will post pictures of our progress as we move along on this journey. Enjoy!

Hello Followers!

Well we have all come to realize that I stink at this blog thing!!! I really meant to go on here Feb 17th to post that it was a year since my surgery! So....I will do it now.....I am now a year and almost a month cancer free! Better late than never posting.....Things have been going great....We are winding down the school year and I am trucking it along with the students. They are having a good time watching my hair grow. One student asked me one day what I thought it was going to look like as it kept growing...they are very observant....I might actually have to go get a haircut b/c it is getting a little bushy! Fun times!
I have now started physical therapy again...this time for my neck....I have been having some neck problems..not sure if it is from accident me and mama were in or if it is from everything I have been through.....basically I am slouching alot....which is causing my neck muscles to tense up...along with all the other tensions in my life! So...I have gone for two visits so far and gotten some stretches to do.....crazy that someone is paid to tell me to roll my shoulders and neck..but hey....if they get my neck better....so be it! hopefully i wont have to go long.....that is my goal!

I plan on having my next surgery this summer to remove my ovaries..don't have that scheduled yet....but know i want it done this summer so that worry is out of the way

JACKSON:
Jackson will take his first AR test Friday...He got to go MOnday to pick out a "real" library book to test on.....he has been able to just get whatever book but this time he had to actually get the book on his level...he is able to check out books that are kindergarten ninth month through first grade ninth month....we are so excited for him.....he is very ready to take this test....hope he does good on it.....he will have to read the test to himself on the computer...that worries me a little but i am sure he will be fine.....he is growing up......i will post a picture later of his spring school pics..he looks soooo big

All of our Texas family that hasn't seen him lately...you will be shocked when you see the picture...he looks like a little man! I better get all of those lunchroom kisses that I sneak by to get during the day.......before he tells me to stop.... :)

Jackson.....sight words

I have to brag, brag, brag.....Jackson told Mrs. Annis 12 new sight words yesterday. He is already on the fourth list of sight words also.....so he is rockin' those sight words!!! I can't wait for him to finished with them so he can move on to more reading! He did good on his report card too.....He either got a P for progressing or a M for meeting the standard. Way to go Jackson!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

I hope everyone had a great Christmas! I know I did! Christmas went so smoothly this year....funny how your perspective changes. Santa brought us everything we wanted!!! Especially me and Glenda being here with everyone! the best christmas present ever! Thank you everyone for all of your support and help throughout this crazy year that we have had....it has meant so much to our whole family.

I am so excited that my Ct Scan came back good...met with oncologist yesterday and he said everything looked good.....He said the spot that was there on my lung was there when they did the first ct scan and the spot on my stomach was looking like it was from where the plastic surgeon had taken skin from my stomach. Thank goodness! I go to have another on in a year!

Yesterday Glenda and I had an interview for a lake oconee magazine...we got to sit there together and tell our story....it was alot of fun..can't wait to see that article....it probably won't come out until April....We are famous :)

I hope everyone has a great new year! I know mine will be awesome!!!!

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I hope everyone got to eat lots of turkey and spend time with family. I love the holidays!!!

Monday I had my next surgery....I had my reconstructive surgery. I was so shocked that it was outpatient but was glad to be able to go home in the same day. I was in and out of there in no time. They took me back around 9 and I really can't remember what time I was headed home because I was so drugged up. I was even trying to eat crackers in the car and kept falling asleep while chewing. Billy had to keep waking me up and telling me to chew...after about 2 1/2 crackers I said it wasn't worth me getting chocked!

Recooperation has been going pretty good. I have really only hurt in my stomach area. My chest isn't even bothering me. Can't see my new boobies right now because they are all bandaged up :) Anything will be better than those tissue expanders! I am just so glad to have one more thing checked off on my list.

If you haven't seen me lately...my hair is coming back wavy. It is the funniest thing. My plastic surgeon told me Monday that he could give me some pointers on how to take care of it since he has curly hair :) I am just glad it is coming back! I have had so many people tell me I should keep the short do..so we will see.

Next up in this journey will be to have my ovaries removed...would love to have it done before the year is over but I think I will have to wait until summer break. I plan to call the doc next week to see what the recovery time is on that.

I already have three appointments scheduled the first week of Christmas break (CTscan, arthritis, oncologist,and maybe one more)...and I think you have to wait a month after this surgery to do anything...so looks like with my school year it will be easier to just plan that right at the beginning of the summer.

Well just wanted to give a quick update since I am about to go stir crazy being Lazy this week.....never thought I would say that I am tired of being lazy..but I am.....it is different when you are told to take it easy and not do anything!

hahahah...Have a great rest of your Thanksgiving day!

And as Jackson said today for his blessing "We are thankful that Mommy lost cancer"!!!

Well I am writing because I am struggling today with the fact that I can't have another child. It is very hard when your five year old says "maybe Mommy will have another baby". I know that sounds so simple to hear to most people but not to me. It is just so hard for me to know that I was going to start trying to have a second baby and then I found out I had cancer. For some reason today I am beating myself up that I waited so long to want to have another one...but I know everything happens for a reason. That is what Billy told me today..."There is a reason for all of this." But it definitely stinks! Yesterday we were just hanging out in the living room when Jackson said that and for some reason it has just stuck with me....I guess because I think about it all the time but for him to bring it up..it does sting a little. We discussed with him that I couldn't have another one but that maybe we could help out a baby that didn't have a home one day. So today please pray that I have strength to understand why things happened the way they did....I am so grateful that I have Jackson because he is the best kid! He told me today at the restaurant "Mommy I am a million times better because you are my Mommy".....man I love that child!

Pink Everywhere

Well today I went to the 3 day closing ceremonies. It was amazing to say the least. I really wish I would have participated more..next year I will. I was so proud of Penny and Jodie for walking for us. It means so much to me that they did this. I am also proud of Holli and Dana for walking. I am so impressed with Dana that she had the strength and energy to accomplish this after everything that she has gone through. My goal is to be ready next year to participate whether it be walking or working on the crew. I will be there. They raised 6 1/2 million dollars with the 3 day walk......I know that one day there will be life without cancer!!! You have to believe that things can change. I was so glad to have Jackson and Billy there with me to experience this.......

Hello Followers

Well...I am a horrible blogger...I have not written on here in forever. It has been a lot harder to get this done since I have been back to work. Life is crazy! Jackson is now playing soccer with the YMCA and he is doing pretty good. He is doing so much better than he did two years ago. He is really getting in there. They won one game and lost one game. The game they played Saturday..they won 7-0! He didn't score a goal yet. He is good at assisting and then the other player scores. It is so much fun watching him out there. He always looks over at us after a play is done and either gives a thumbs up or an arms out expression if he can't believe what just happened. I will post some pictures of his games.

I am doing good medically. Things have been calm lately. Thank goodness. Doctors appointments are pretty spread out. I have been having some trouble with my arthritis infusion not lasting the whole 8 weeks....so now they have me back on steroids until my next infusion...hopefully we can get that working again...b/c I hate being on a steriod. I will have my reconstructive surgery November 21st. I was planning to have it October during our break but I was concerned about not having enough recovery time. When I have it in November I will have the whole week to recover. I don't go to the oncologist again until December. In December I will have another CT scan mainly for mine and Billy's sanity. They usually don't do one this soon but he said we could if we wanted to. So of course we said yes! I am going to hold off on the "girl" surgeries.....I went to a new gyno and she said that she didn't recommend me having a hysterectomy but to have an ovarectomy..not sure the spelling......she said that I could do it laproscopacly (sp).....I think I will wait until the summer time though. With having such a high chance of ovarian cancer this will be a good thing to have done. With having this said.....I will not be able to have my own child again..which is heartbreaking to me since I was planning on that...but Billy and I have agreed that if we still want to have another one, we will adopt in a few years. I am just happy to have Jackson and for him to be healthy. I don't want to put myself at risk to have another and then have something happen to me.....

Well enough of that talk....

I am so happy to not have to wear a hat anymore....My class has been so great about it to. My hair is coming back in pretty fast. Excited to have my new little short do! :)

Great day

Went to the oncologist Monday and had a good visit. Set up to have new ct scan in December. He said it is not routine to do one so soon but if we wanted one for our peace of mind we could.....

I am not very happy with this new glove...don't think it works as good bc I don't think it fits right...might have to get it looked at bc I don't want to go backwards.....

We had the dove hunt today.....it was a great day.....family, food, friends, and a lot of bird shooting......we had a fun time catching up and hanging out with everyone.....it us always fun to watch! Jackson was so cute in all his camo and his bb gun....it was great watching all the kids playing.....

So excited for gland this week...tuesday is her last chemo....yay!!!!! Next step for both of us is to set up for new boobies!!! Yay for that too...

Thanks everyone for being here for us!!

Everything's falling into place

Well life is still crazy but everything seems to be falling into place. I have had a few weeks of craziness.....My arthritis came back with a vengence! The chemo actually helped my arthritis....never had any trouble the whole time with it.....and then about a month 1/2 later after ending chemo I started hurting really bad. I had alot of issues with my doctor getting back in touch with me...it came down to me doing ALOT of steroids to get it under control...then Tuesday I finally was able to get back on my rhemicade infusion that I used to do. It is the wonder drug for arthritis patients....it costs over 10,000 dollars but it is worth every penny...thanks united healthcare for paying most of that! Most of you know that mama and I were in a wreck last week....scary! I am still having trouble in the car because of that mustang hitting us. I am now very paranoid someone is not going to stop behind me..so I am holding my breath when a car comes up behind me. I didn't like that feeling of knowing that we were about to get hit and we couldn't do anything about it but hold on for the ride...and let me tell you it wasn't a fun ride! My neck is doing better. I was hurting for a few days but it has seemed to ease off. My right arm has a little twing every now and then from where I was holding on to the "oh shit" bar.....I think it will go away though..I was just glad my neck started getting better because I don't want to have problems due to this....already have enough going on as it is....this didn't help the situation....but it could have been so much worse! We are so thankful that none of us were hurt. I just knew when I saw that girl's car that she wasn't going to be getting out of it..and thank goodness she did.....
School is going good..I am getting into the rhythm of things...and I have a good class..they are a sweet class...a little talkative the last few days but I will just have to stay on them about that.....I think it is going to be a great year!
Jackson is doing great in kindergarten..he has a great teacher..Mrs. Annis...I made a really good choice for putting him in her class..he has already learned so much....so i am excited to see how much he does this year.....
Billy is doing good.....holding on for the ride while I take all these steroids...that has been fun for him..hahaha.......he brought me flowers the other day.....:)

well i will try to keep writing more.....i haven't been very good lately about updating...will post some pics soon

First Four days Down

Well I have survived the first four days of school. It is very different being back this year. A little more scattered and a little more tired! But I am getting through the days. Today around 10 it hit me how drained I was feeling. I think over time it will get better. I do feel like I am getting into the swing of things....the beginning of school is always crazy. I have a good group of kids and I really think they will be very understanding..hopefully..

I went today and go a second glove and sleeve. I have had to move up to compression class 2...which means they are tighter and will hopefully help the swelling stay down. My sleeve fit fine but my glove is being sent back because it was making my hand hurt and the fingers were too long on it. My lovely "transformer" arm is now gone and I hope I don't have to wear all that bandaging again any time soon. It made me feel 100 degrees hottter! I will just have to wear my old glove until the new one comes in. For now I have to wear the glove and sleeve for a while to make sure the swelling stays down...i don't think i will always have to wear it .....one day maybe it will be just for certain activities. I did get a lovely nightsleeve to wear at bedtime. It looks like an oven mitt all the way up to your shoulder with the fingers cut out of it..I will try to post a picture soon. Supposedly I will love the night sleeve....we will see...hahahah

Can I please move to the beach?

I just got reminded of how much I love the beach. We just got back from spending a week at Mexico beach. It was so nice to get away from my life of doctors and not do anything. Many days Billy woul have to come out to me and ask me if I was coming in yet....hahahaha. I just love the atmosphere of the beach. I love sitting, listening to the waves, and reading a book...ahhh so peaceful. Today was bam to reality.....long class for work. I can't believe I am going back to work nest Friday. Where did the summer go? I am very nervous about going back to work after being gone since February. Today wore me out and I just sat there in a class....how is my usual schedule going to drain me. I am sure once my body gets uses to the routine I will be fine. But I am not going to lie....sitting listening to all this work stuff was a little overwhelming. When the other teachers were diacussing stuff for this year I felt so out of the loop. I even felt out of place....I know that will go away when I get back in the groove. At least I hope. So my question again is....can I run away and hide at the beach? Lol



Also. ...tomorrow I start going to the lymphodema specialist to work with her on getting the swelling down on my hand...she said she will probably wrap my arm and also I will probably have to get a night garment to wear on my arm to sleep in. Good thing is I will get a massage on my arm all these days. That is how she will try to work the fluid back up my arm. Something like that. So say a prayer that she get this swelling under control bc I don't want to have to wear this sleeve and glove all the time.

Celebration

Well this part of my journey is almost over. I have about ten more minutes left of my last treatment. I am having to contain myself...I am about to jump out of my seat...if I weren't so tired and drained from the chemo and benedryl. I can't even explain how I feel right now......this day has finally come.....it has been a long eight treatments. It has been a roller coaster ride but it has been manageable. I definitely hope I don't have to go through this again and I wouldn't wish this upon anyone. My journey is still not over yet. I still have a summer full of doctors and I know it will not end then. I can have my reconstruction surgery six weeks after this last dose of chemo...well that puts me back at work...so looks like I will have to wait until a school.....I feel like the big part is over though

Went last week for genetic testing.....waiting on results of that and then will go from there...possibly another surgery in my future but have to wait on those results.....

I come back to the oncologist in three weeks and he will start me on the pill I have to Take for five years as a preventative.....I have been told this is a good thing...so bring it on.....

A little confused about ctscan info...oncologists said I would do more ctscans to keep a watch but the assistant we saw today said that I wouldn't...only if I was having problems...so I am going to put that down to ask doc........

Well enough rambling for now.........have a great day everyone

Oh Hair

Well....I had to cut my hair again today....It started falling out again after this last treatment.....I know it is crazy to have to cut it this close to being finished but oh well......I went shorter this time...After I cut it I told Jackson that I had to cut my hair and that it looked crazy....he said "yeah it does"....hahahah..thank goodness for the honestly of kids

I took Jackson swimming today with my friend Heather....this was my first time in water and in a bathing suit this summer....thank goodness for kmart special big girl bathing suit.......it felt so good to be in the water...it makes this crazy heat so much better....now i want a swimming pool.....might be venturing to the Y or to Glenda's in the near future! Jackson did much better in the water....maybe the swimming lessons will pay off..not swimming yet but so much more comfortable in the water...a work in progress

You will be very jealous of the next thing I am telling you: I am going tomorrow night to see New kids on the block.....oh brings back memories.....hahahah.....i know i know..you wish you were me right now.......i will sing some tunes in your honor while I am there....hahahahahah

There is a light at the end of the tunnel

My new saying is....there is a light at the end of the tunnel......because there is......I am about to finish up my next to last treatment....my last treatment is on june 27.......yay.......I can't wait for this nightmare to be over.....I know I still have to worry about scheduling my "new boobie" surgery but that will have to wait a little while since I will be going to work when school starts.....might be spending my Christmas break recovering........like Billy said...this is just a phase in my life and it will be over soon......

Still going to physical therapy twice a week.....should finish up at the beginning of July.....I'm a little worried because my right had has stayed swollen this week....I have been wearing my lovely glove but therapist said I didn't have to wear the sleeve all the time since my hand is what is swollen.......I go back july 5th to see if any swelling has gone down...we will see

Well not much to write.....will post some swim pics of Jackson soon

Taxal tuesday

Well I am sitting here getting my taxal chemo treatment. There is a light at the end of the tunnel.......this is my sixth treatment out of eight....yay....my last treatment is June 27....I can't wait to be finished. This has definitely been a journey...one I don't want to have to do again. They told me today that I didn't need to take the premed steroids like I have been doing..that is great seeing that they make me gain more weight than I already have.....and they make me swell.....the scale is not my friend these days....I limit my scale us to docs visits...hahahah....will deal with the weight when this is all over and I get some strength back.....

Took Jackson yesterday to game time to play on the water inflatables....if u take ur kids there hope they play on more than just one of them....we have to get this kid to not be so afraid of water in his face...he better hurry up because he is about to take swimming lesson...we will see how that goes

This summer is going to be a different summer.....it is so hot outside....and I feel like all these chemicals make me even hotter....will have to find a lot of indoor activities to do with Jackson this summer...if u have any ideas please share.....

Fighting off a little cold right now I got from jackson....he made it all year almost and was absent on the next to last day of school...got a sinus infection....and I think he gave me a cold out of it...we almost made it with no sickness

Not too much to say today....just glad to have another day and just making it day by day :). Thanks for all your support

This past week

And of course I am behind....so I will catch you up on my week.....Monday I started the new chemo treatment called taxol. One of the main side effects is joint/muscle pain...can't remember if joint muscle or bone...but aching......I have done pretty good this week.....still lost my taste buds but I didn't feel the yucky sick feeling I have felt with the other medicine. I started having aching on Wednesday I believe. Thank goodness for pain pills..I tried taking tylenol but it didn't help much so I started popping lortabs.......that helped. I can handle the aching a lot more than the yucky feeling I had with the other. Today is Sunday and I am still having some aching still in my legs...hopefully it will go away soon and I can have a good week.

Friday night was such a good night.....I got to participate in Morgan county's relay for life. This is such a great experience for anyone. If you have never been to one you should go next year. We had a team this year...Team Cofer.....thanks to my mom, Kristy Jenkins and anyone else that helped with our team for relay....the spray paint hair was a hit and nails too.....thanks to Kristy's daughter and nieces for helping.....we even had some zumba go on at our tent :).........Glenda and I participated in the survivor events.....they fed us some good food and gave us some goodies...and of course those of u that know Glenda know her good luck...she won two way radios......I won zip....hahahah...I thought surely I would be drawn for the blood pressure machine...darn......I then got up and said I was three months cancer free....yay......then we walked our long and slow survivor lap......this was emotional.....I probably would have been crying as me, Glenda, and Billy's dad walked our lap but I couldn't stop laughing at Billy being a photographer and chasing us around the track taking fifty million pictures.......photography is not his strong point........at 930 we all walked the silent luminary lap.....this is also so emotional.....thanks to those that purchased luminaries in honor of me and Glenda.....and thanks to my parents for the torch......this night was very special......I am so grateful for everyones support and love through all of this.......and thanks to Glenda for being my hat partner...I don't know about u but when this is all over we need to have a hat bonfire.....hahahah......


Oh yeah I forgot...when we were walking the survivor lap....we had Jackson as our cheering team...saying....go cancer team......he is so cute

We went to Baby Miller's baptism......she is so precious......and we were so excited to be a part of this special time......now she wasn't took excited about it all which made it all more fun.....once she got off that beautiful white dress and had some snack...she was all better......then we got to celebrate her first birthday....happy birthday miller...oh and Jackson was the best
dressed little man there.....he wore his suit ...and he was stylin.....he wouldn't even change out of it at the party.....no matter how red faced and hot he got...he kept that suit on.......he is a mess......

Well say a prayer for me because Thursday and Friday I am going to go to work for the last day of school and for post planning.....I was going back tomorrow for the week and then realized that wasn't smart...so I will go the last day......I pray that the students will be good to me that day and understand...I will keep my fingers crossed...maybe I should bring some bribing candy...hahahha

Bad at blogging

Well I am bad at blogging. I haven't written anything since last Tuesday. I even forgot to do Wordless Wednesday....so I will have to post a picture today anyway. This week was a good week. I actually started feeling pretty normal.....it helps to have a week that I feel good since it seems the weeks of chemo are kind of rough. This fourth treatments wasn't bad...I was glad it wasn't like the third treatment. I am assuming the meds they gave me to take that week actually worked. Tomorrow I have my fifth treatment and the chemo meds change tomorrow. I will be starting my first round of taxal. I am a little worried because it is new and I don't know how my body with react. The doctor said that usually it gives people aching bones. I can handle that hopefully since I have already experienced that somewhat with my arthritis....I am sure it will be different. I am up for the challenge though. I only have four more treatments and this madness will be over (at least with the chemo).....

I am still continuing with my physical therapy. I have been amazed at how much it has helped with my right arm. I went in there without being out to straighten my arm and now I can straighten and lift my arm up to my ear (slowly).....They are still working on the cord in my arm that is tight....I get some massage therapy when I go to help loosen that cord....don't be jealous..it is not a fun massage....it is uncomfortable but if it works hey....bring it on.

Busy week this week: Treatment, Plastic Surgeon, 2 days of physical therapy, Possible White blood count shot, Jackson's prek cookout, Morgan County Relay for Life, Baby Miller's Christining and first birthday.....whew...I am tired just typing it all

Please say a prayer that this new medicine causes minimal side effects (hopefully it will be better than other chemo) and that I don't have to take that white blood count shot (which I feel makes me feel worse).

Oh yeah....can't remember if I posted this last time or not....I am now getting to sport a glove and sleeve to help bring down swelling in my right hand.....so when you see me you can give a little chuckle...but I know what you are thinking....."why is she honoring Micheal Jackson"....hahahah

Half Way Point

So I have some good news....I am now half way finished with my chemo....Thank goodness. I have taken now all four treatments of the A/C chemo treatment...the A has a nickname of the "red devil"..if that tells you anything. I went today and got my white blood count shot...and the nurse said that they usually don't do it with the last four treatments....let's hope that is right....one less doctor's appointment. I hope that I have a better week this week than after my last treatment....so keep your fingers crossed...so far I don't feel too bad and last time by this point I could already feel that it was different. Maybe this new medicine they gave me to try Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday will work. I go back for my next Chemo treatment on May 16th...I will start the four rounds of taxal...It is supposed to affect my joints more than anything...surely I can handle joint pain since I have had arthritis since I was 15.....we will see....bring it on! :)

I have other good news....Jackson did good on his kindergarten test...so he will be going to kindergarten test....thank goodness!!!! I can't believe he is almost finished with PreK and moving on to the next level......

He is definitely a trip....I asked him if he wanted me to print Nannie and Gambuh mother's day cards or if he wanted to make them one.....These were his words to me " You can just print them because I am going to save my energy"....Lord help us...hahah.....

Be ready tomorrow is Wordless Wednesday.....I will post some more pics! Hope everyone is having a great week to start off.....and say a prayer for me that I have a better week this week than after my third treatment! Thanks to everyone that reads my blog......:)

Fairy tale Friday

Today was such a fun day. Jackson had a fairy tale ball today at school for pre-k. Such a cute and fun idea. The kids loved it. Jackson has been waiting all week for today. We even went and bought him a suit....black pinstripes....wow he was handsome. He was all decked out.....tie....pocket thing....black dress shoes....black dress socks....his perk prom as mrs walker called it. They decorated the lunchroom with fairy tale theme. They had a red carpet for them to walk in on and then they walked through an arch. When Mrs. Walker said "Prince Jackson"...there he went down the red carpet. He was so stinking cute. I do have to say we have a dancer on our hands. While we were standing in line they had the music playing. The other prek teacher was out dancing with a little girl and next thing you know...there is Jackson getting down by himself. He didn't care. He was going to town. It was the funniest thing. He had the attention of the people around him....we tried to get him to go back again but he wouldn't since no one else was out there...guess he realized everyone was watching him. Both classes later did the cha cha slide......he had been waiting on that dance. I am so glad that I was feeling good today to be able to enjoy this fun. I even wore my wig today....I was a little uncomfortable in it...but I did get a lot of compliments. I even got to visit my kids today...it was so good to see them and to be down there at my room. Didn't stay long with them....who knows what germs they have...hahahah.....they were funny asking me their names like I would have forgotten them...I won't ever forget them :)

I will try to post ball pictures...oh yeah....we have to work with Jackson because he had two girls ask him to dance and he wouldn't.....what was he thinking...hahhaah...guess trying to play hard to get