We Can Rebuild Her...We Have The Technology

T-3 Days till I have Breast Reconstruction using Diep Flap Surgery

So many feelings...

Joy! No more feeling like I have a plastic plate embedded in my chest (bye bye expanders)

OMG! I'm going to have a Tummy Tuck

Ugh...Surgery/Meds/feeling like crap, again

WHOA...8 hours of surgery followed by 2 days in ICU

Gag/YIPPEE...12 weeks out of work

I am very torn between feeling a bit like the Bride of Frankenstein 

and 

Jaime Sommers The Bionic Women

 I think I will lean more towards the Bionic Women...since she was smart AND pretty.

I also had my 15 month Gyn Oncology appointment which was all good.

In a way I feel like I see a light at the end of the tunnel, or perhaps the tunnel just got more light?

STOP...go directly to jail...do not pass go

Do not collect 200.00

Ahhhhh

What an interesting few months it has been.

First the jail part.

Well, I didn't actually go to jail.  But I was pulled over for blowing off a stop sign in the very small metropolis of Double Oak,  Texas.  Why was I in Double Oak?  Because I decided to take the long way home from the grocery store to see the miniature donkey farm.

Have you ever seen a little donkey?

SO cute.

Anyhow I got a nice 210.00 ticket for missing the stop sign near the little donkeys.  I've been told by others this is a common occurrence and they probably make a decent amount of money on that particular stop sign.  

My sister and I thought perhaps we could earn the money back by selling t shirts outside the courtroom (which FYI only meets the third Thursday of the month at 6pm) that read:

"I paid 210.00 to see a little ass in Double Oak Texas"

Now for the do not pass go....

Living life after cancer means being hypersensitive to any sign the cancer beast has returned.  Recently I started to experience urinary frequency and pain.  I tried to ignore it and hoped maybe it would go away.  But then realized...yes, this is one of *those* symptoms associated with my cancer.  So I went in for more testing.  

It's a really interesting day when finding out you have a UTI is great news...as it isn't cancer and I'm not neurotic.  

Now the 200.00...

I have been plugging along with filling my breast expanders.  I think I am close to where I want to eventually be.  I have an appointment with my plastic surgeon in a week to confirm and go over the details for surgery.

While I am happy about all of that, even though I feel like I have flotation devices embedded in my chest right now..

There is a great sadness on my horizon.

We placed my mother on hospice care 2 weeks ago.  She has fought a valiant battle against COPD for several years.  I can only hope and pray we can make her as comfortable as possible in the time she has left.

Adventures in plastic surgery part 2

Thankfully my surgery is over and I've healed well.  My plastic surgeon was even surprised it went as well as it has.  So yeah!

I'm still not enjoying life with expanders but I am getting used to it.  SO of course they expanded them a little more.  Muscle relaxants are my friends, now more than ever.  Especially at night.  Breast expander pre-op (courtesy of allergen).

But I only have one more expansion left and then will most likely have diep/siep flap reconstruction in the spring.

I went back to work this week.  It was rather eye opening.  Clearly napping and watching netflix the last 6 weeks has done a number on my stamina.  I was one hurting pup coming home that evening.  The next day was better.  I have to keep remembering this whole process is a marathon...not a sprint.


So for now I'm going to enjoy sunny 60 degree Dallas, and rest up for my next surgery.

Well I guess there's also work....3 older kids....but that's just regular life.

OH and one other item of good news I was accepted to present on BRCA including my story this summer at the National Convention of the Association of Woman's Health, Obstetrical and Neonatal Nursing (AWHONN) - my favorite professional organization.
So I have a little work to do on that project as well.  Honored and excited to be accepted to do so.