It's Been A While...

Hello family and friends. Happy Holidays! Happy New Year! Yes, it's been a while since I have visited my blog. The last time I was here it was last June. Since then, in July, my doctor decided to place me on a vacation from one of my chemo drugs. I did not argue with that and gladly accepted. However he did keep me on a maintenance chemo pill called Xeloda that seems to be keeping things stable. The regimen for these pills are one week on and one week off. I did have scans last week. They looked really good. No new areas were seen and nothing moved around or grew. It all stayed in place. My tumor markers were up a bit and of course Dr. Ibrahim was not bothered by it. Was I? Well...it concerned me a little, but I'm not stressing about it. When I see him again in June, I plan to have those numbers back down. God has truly blessed me. He has placed people in my path that is helping me and supporting me through all this. I read a lot of stories, some inspiring and some not so inspiring which keeps it real. I also read about new research being done, trials and new medicines being developed for advanced stage breast cancers. I started going to a Metastatic support group at M.D. Anderson and have met some courageous women. We share our stories and feelings with one another.

Yall pray for me some will power please. I love good food and love to cook and it's showing. Wait...maybe it's the steroid in the meds. I think I will use that as an excuse. LOL.

I'm looking forward to a few important life events happening this year. Graduations, my 50th birthday, ny niece Nicole is getting married soon, spring baseball season is here...right now it's track and softball season that's keeping me going and I'm happy I can go.

This month five years ago I received the news that I had Stage IV breast cancer. To God be the glory I'm living my life one day at a time. I've been pondering on a celebration, but to me each day I wake up is a celebration of life and I thank Him every morning when I open my eyes.

Love yall and thanks for all of the love and support.

The Week of June 10th 2014

This has been a blessed week for me. on Tuesday God blessed me to see my 49th birthday. I started the day thanking Him for another day and another year and for all my blessings. The day was good. I did just what I wanted to do...as little as possible. I spent time on the sofa with a good book I checked out from the library early that morning and later that evening my family and I went out to dinner. I felt like a celebrity because Ramsey kept taking pictures of all of us with his Iphone. He probably has a hundred photos of us on that phone. He takes the good and the bad pics...he just like snapping. He makes us all laugh. It's a joy having him visit us during the summer. Before we even go into the restaurant he takes about five family photo shots of us. And when I check his phone later he has one of the pics of Fred and I as his screensaver. I smiled at that. Okay, so before we go out to eat, Fred, Janee' and I have this discussion about the birthday songs that are sung at the restaurants. Well my darling husband hates all that attention and don't like all that singing and loud noise. So as we finish up dinner and pay for our food and as I am about to get up, here comes the crew with a dessert and a candle. They were clapping and singing loud right over his head. I laughed at him remembering what he had said. He is smiling really big. I had no idea they were gonna do that. Come to find out Asa got up to go the restroom and on her way she told our waiter about my birthday. Then found out Janee' had told him too while she was placing her order. I just missed all that. It really was a surprise to me. And the song they sang wasn't the typical birthday song...it was extra cute. I really enjoyed that evening with them.

So today is Friday and the day started out hectic. First of all I got up too late. I woke up at 8:15 thinking it was 6:00. Did my usual morning cookie baking and burned two batches and had to make some more. All in the midst of baking I am also multitasking by washing clothes, straightening this and that, trying to decide how and when my son is gonna get the other car today, making phone calls, gathering all my ingredients for ice cream sundaes I plan to have at my brother's retirement after party in Jasper, Asa was waiting on me to stop what I was doing so I could do her hair etc.,. etc.,. I then look at my cell phone and my sister text me and ask If I was still going with her at noon. I didn't answer right away because in the back of my mind I'm thinking there is no way I can go with her. Now she told me a week or so ago that she had signed us up to go this event. With my chemo brain I forget things pretty often. This I had forgot about and told her to remind me a few days before. So I got my cookies finished and packed up. By this time it was about 10:30 and I had decided to go. She said she will be at my house by 11:30. I said okay. So I leave the house at 11:00 to go deliver cookies. When I go in to deliver the cookies the people at the front desk wants to chat and I am steady checking the time. I finally leave and then I look at the gas needle and realize I need to put gas in the car for Fred so he won't have to worry about it when he gets the car. So I stop and put gas in the car. By this time it's 11:15. I needed to stop by the bank and make a deposit, but I knew I did not have the time, so I came home. I had on a wrinkled up Tshirt and some tight jeans. Yes I said tight because I have been eating a little too much lately. Oh I forgot to plug in I went for a walk in our new walking park yesterday. I'm going to try to keep that up and maybe my jeans will get loose again. I knew I couldn't wear what I had on because she told me she was wearing a skirt, so I figured I better throw on something a little better than what I had on too. So anyway I ran in the house and as soon as I get to my bedroom I get a text from her that she is outside. I text her back and said "ok" knowing that I was no where near ready. I got ready so fast, because the event started at 12 and I didn't want to make us late. Okay so she had to wait on me for about five minutes, but we made it just in time. We arrived at the place and went right in straight to the food line. On the way there I told her that I hope they had food because I didn't find time to eat that morning. So they did and the food was soooo good. The menu was this delicious pasta dish, lasagna, salad and bread.
The event was for National Cancer Survivors Day to celebrate life and honor cancer survivors of cancer. The event was great! I was so glad I decided to take the time out to go. It was refreshing, inspiring and encouraging. The speaker was a Stage four cancer survivor like myself. He is an eleven year survivor of kidney cancer and he really looks good for a 63 year old man. He is actually a trainer so he must have plenty of energy. After we ate and after the speaker finished we all went outside for a letting hope soar-balloon release. Thank you Shamarion for making sure I got there and for signing us up for this event along with encouraging me to come. That moment was right on time and the right time of day especially after my hectic morning. It just relaxed me to go into my hectic afternoon. Because when I got home my husband had gotten this raggedy trailer from the country to pull my son's car on. All the while I thought he was getting a nice one from Uhaul. But nope...guess he was waiting on me to do it and so I did. That took about an hour, Asa had to leave at 4:00, by the time I got home it was 3:30 just in time to do her hair and send her off. A mommy's job is never done, but I'm so happy to be one. This weekend I am closing my birthday week at home with family celebrating my brother's retirement. Can't wait to get there! Below is a picture of the cancer survivors and caregivers waiting to release our balloons. This was really a touching moment.

Update Time...Spring 2014

Today is May 6, 2014. The last time I updated my journey was on August 2013. Wow! Time travels so fast. Where does it go? Well really I have been dealing with hand and feet syndrome and so typing has really been a chore for me. This syndrome comes along with the chemotherapy I have been on (Xeloda and Ixempra). It's where your fingers are tender and sore to touch and so are your feet. They get all red and spongy in some spots, cracked and dry. Soft fluffy socks has been my friend lately and sometimes that's all I want to wear, even when I go places. Shoes are not very comfortable during those times. Along with that, I have also been dealing with neuropathy in the same areas. I recently started accupuncture to try to get some relief for that. I really can't tell if it's helping yet. I have only had four sessions and I will go for the fifth one tomorrow. Apparently you have to have several sessions before you can see results. Even though I have these complaints this particular chemotherapy has been keeping things stable. The last time I updated my journey I was just starting on these new drugs and they are keeping things in check. Even though they have their side effects, I am still grateful. Remember the progression on the liver I mentioned in the last post? Well it is stable and has been reduced in size. That was really good to hear.

April 3 was the last time I had a doctor's visit. March 31st were my last scans. They all came out well. My Numbers were not up or down and I didn't have any new issues. I was so happy to hear that news. So my doctor placed me on a chemo vacation for a while. First he took me off the chemo pills (Xeloda) for 3 weeks and reduced the time to take them from 2 weeks on and 1 week off to 1 week on and 1 week off. And he completely took me off the infusion (Ixempra) until I don't know when. We will see what the plan is when I see him in July. Yes I said July. I was doing so well he said not to come back for 3 months. So I will go in for more scans at the end of June and I will see him in July. Let's pray together that all will be well at that time.

I am truly enjoying the energy I have these days and enjoying my taste buds being back. Yes, and you can tell I'm enjoying eating I have even picked up a few pounds. It feels so good not to feel so bad. My hair is slowly growing back. I'm enjoying being able to do things and go places with the family. I do feel a bit out of shape though and trying to build my strength up by exercising. Thanks to mom who sent me her exercise bike. I try to ride it at least four times a week. With the weather being so beautiful I need to incorporate some outside walking...after I invest in some good walking shoes that don't hurt. I took my husband shoe shopping with me a few weeks ago. I bet I tried on ten pair of tennis shoes that evening. Have you ever see on TV where the shoe clerk is carrying a stack of shoe boxes for the customer to try on? Well that's the way my husband looked while helping me out. i had him weighted down with boxes and boxes. He was so patient. Needless to say I left the store without any shoes because none of them made my feet happy.

Thanks to all of you who continue to check on me, encourage me, send cards, flowers, food and most of all those that continue to pray for me. I have the best support system ever! And that's part of my healing and I have you all to thank for that.
I have a list of things I wanna do before summer is over, so if you try to contact me and I don't answer, I may be horseback riding, sailing, camping or maybe at an O'jays concert...LOL.

Love you much...until next time.

Update Time! Summer 2013

Hello!! Yes, I know it's been a while since I have visited and updated my blog. And I know you have been wondering how I am doing because I know you love me like that. Well, I had a round of testing in July and the CT scan revealed a lesion on my liver had increased in size. My doctor recommended a liver biopsy which was done as an MRI guided biopsy and the test came back showing some progression. Of course that brought about a change in my chemotherapy. New drugs were introduced. So as of today I am on 8 pills of Xeloda a day for two weeks and off 7 days and Ixempra which is given through an IV for 3 hours. This is still done every 3 weeks. And of course I get my healing juice delivered to me on a regular basis by my dear sister. The healing juice consist of lots of green healthy organic vegetables and delicious carrot juice. She delivers it and expects me to drink one of the little cute jars she so kindly package the juice in, every hour. One day she delivered 8 jars. So each hour I had a jar of juice to drink up until bedtime. It seem like those hours were coming every minute :o). The juice really gives me energy. It gives me so much pick me up to where I have even been getting in a little exercise this summer by doing some bike riding and doing some water aerobics when I feel like it. I really enjoy bike riding and plan to do more of that after my husband fix the flat tire. Not sure what's taking him so long.

I can't believe summer is almost over. It went so fast! We didn't go to Hawaii, Jamaica or anywhere like that. But, we got our pool up and running...it was a mess!! It look like Shrek and alligators lived in it. I have the best pool guy ever!! My husband! He got that pool so crystal clear and we couldn't wait to get in it. So we spent a lot of time in the back yard. And of course they had their share of movie watching. So now they are all back in school. I want to know when does the tears stop flowing?? Frederick left on Saturday headed back to Austin and I was all teary eyed once again watching him drive off. He forgot something and had to turn around and I was so glad to see him...like he was coming back to stay. I just got all teary eyed again when he drove off. When Monday morning came and Asa left to begin her Junior year, I got all teary eyed watching her leave. When the twins Alafia and Assata got all dressed and I dropped them off at school, I just shook my head and said, I don't have anymore babies. When Janee' got in her car I watched her drive off to school and yes, I got all teary eyed again even though she would be back in a few hours. That's just me! Before you know it, they will be grown and gone and I will miss them.

Ok, back to the new chemo...the new chemotherapy hits me right away, unlike the last chemo Kadcyla. But this one puts me on the couch a little longer. My dear friend Chris told me that when I'm feeling that way, the chemo is kicking those cancer cells to the curb. And I believe that is so true. My hair is growing back, but the doctor told me that it will all come out again. So we will see what happens. My head has a mind of it's own and it just might want to keep hair on it this time. This Friday will be my second round of the new chemo and I am looking forward to it because I want to get to those remission numbers. When the doctor told me they were changing my chemo again, I wanted to just quit and I mean quit. I was ready to stop it and just do my own thing. After a long conversation with my husband he convinced me to hang in there because I was to close to my numbers. And I agreed. I agreed to continue the fight. Even though I have achy feet along with the neuropathy and restless nights, I am still staying positive because I do know that this too shall pass.

Well, I am going to call it a night by drinking these last two jars of healing juice my sister made for me. Praying that it's restoring all those cells that need to be restored.


Goodnight!

Update!

Hi family and friends. Yes, it has been a while since I dropped in to post something along my journey. A lot has happened since I was here last. I have lost a few toenails along the way...now that took me by surprise. I actually cried when I looked down at my feet and they were missing in action. My acne and skin rashes are much better. The acne is leaving some not so cute marks. I will have to find me some kind of scar cream to cover those spots. I was blessed to see my 48th birthday on June 10th. And I am on a new chemo drug. My doctor recommended a new one because the other one stopped working so it was time for a change. I am now on a drug called Kadcyla (TDM1). So far it is working well. The side effects doesn't seem to be as harsh as the drug that I was on before. I seem to be tolerating this one fairly well. I do tend to run a low grade temperature along with some fatigue around the third day after I have received chemotherapy. I can see a little hair growing and my taste buds are much better. Don't know how good that is because I tend to eat a little more. My fingernails are looking better and my markers are back on the downward again. Praying this time I hit the remission mark.

It's summertime, it's hot and the kids are home in full force. Continued thanks to those of you who help by bringing food and goodies by to us. It sure does help out a lot. Fred is in Austin going to summer school and playing baseball with a summer league. Janee' is in summer school for both summer sessions. Asa just signed up for driver's ed. and she is also gearing up to teach swimming lessons to a couple of our church members children. Alafia, Assata and Ramsey are hanging out in the pool and playing video games. They need to get busy doing something else. Ramsey is our little extra six year old boy who loves to come spend time with us any chance he gets. He will be leaving us on the 15th of July. I think I want summer to slow down. I enjoy having the kids around. Fred is working with a few days off here and there.

Exercise is on my schedule. I really need to tone and I think that will help with the numbness in my feet and fingers.
The plan is to do water aerobics, walk and ride the bicycle once my husband air up the tires. Eating healthy is still on my list(sometimes I take a detour) but try to continue on path along with juicing...my goal is to totally be off chemo once I hit the remission mark. Keep on praying for me. Love yall!

Good News!

The Definition of tumor marker is a biochemical indicator of cancer presence: a substance in the blood or urine that indicates, either specifically or by its high level, the presence of a malignant tumor in the body.
I am so happy to report that my tumor went from 67.7 to 49.7. In October it was 147. God is soooo good.

Nails Gone!

Hi yall!

Well a couple of posts ago I mentioned my nails were looking not so pretty and I was having issues with them. Because chemotherapy is very drying to your tissues, your nails can become brittle and yellow. Dry nails will break and crack easily. This is all due to one of the meds I'm on called Taxotere or Docetaxel or Taxol. So to date I have lost the top half of my fingernails on two fingers and it doesn't look so cute. I think I need to go find me one of those back scratchers, because with these nails I can't scratch a good itch. From what I have read the fingernails will recover and so will the toenails, it will just take them a bit longer. But that's okay, this too shall pass. Right? Have a wonderful blessed day!

Spring Surprise!

On Saturday morning I was in the kitchen about to cook breakfast and heard a knock at the door. I went to the door and there stood my Ponderosa Family once again with a big surprise. They were here to beautify my yard!!! And to see this is the way their kids spend their time on spring break to help and bless others, were amazing. They were very hard at work. They cleaned flowerbeds, planted flowers, palm trees, and beautified two areas in the yard with a truck load of flowers! They even scheduled a professional lawn crew to come cut, edge and trim. They did a great job also. When I look out my kitchen window I see all these beautiful flowers and that puts a big smile on my face. Thanks so much to the Wyndham's, Reed's, Ransom's and the Schmidt's. Here is a photo of some of their beautiful hard work. Enjoy!

Results

Hi yall! Today is a great day! Thanks for praying for me.

This past Tuesday was a long day. Sham and I arrived at MDA at 11:00 for my 11:20 visit to see Dr. Ibrahim. They called us right on back, surprisingly not a long wait at all. Guess he was anxious to deliver my good report he had for me. First of all I have this awesome nurse name Kris. She's a sweetie and she always encourage me to bring along my good luck charm, my sister...Shamarion. Yes she has earned that title, LOL. Anyway...my tumor marker numbers were stable this time around still hanging around the 60's. The Dr said that's nothing to be alarmed about as long as the numbers don't shoot up by ten points. The CT scan came out really good. No new areas were seen and my liver is looking good also. They did see some healing of lesions on my sternum which is good to know. Who knows all the lesions on my bones may all be gone one day. Let's pray about that too. The echo-cardiogram looks normal which is a good thing. One of the meds Herceptin sometimes affects the heart. I have been on that since the beginning and so far my heart still looks normal and is functioning well. I have a couple of nails that act like they want to lift, but are hanging on. The nurse said they looked really good, but not to me. She said she has seen worse. My feet are cracky, my skin is just really dry these days and the cold weather is not helping either. Well when it was time for my chemo, we didn't get so lucky to get right in. The IV team was backed up and the beds were all full, so we had to wait for a while for a room. Oh, I almost forgot...my magnesium was a little low, so Dr I put in orders to administer magnesium along with my chemo. Magnesium numbers should range from 1.8 to 2.6, mine was a little low hanging around 1.6. It was a 2 hour drip added to the already 3 hours of chemo and that took us to around 7 p.m. and we were home at around 8 p.m.
It's really weird how after my chemo I am in speed mode. It's the premed steroid that they give me before the chemo starts to help with side affects. Well yesterday I spent all day in the kitchen. For some reason I miss being in the kitchen. I miss chopping and stirring and whipping up stuff. So when I'm feeling like it, I go for it. So yesterday I whipped up this mexican dip with refried beans, avacados, sour cream, olives and cheese. I made enchiladas from a recipe I ran across in a magazine, I made my husband a pot of pinto beans and sausage which he has been wanting for a while. I baked cookies for the kids dessert. I didn't take a nap all day. I actually stayed up and finished my income taxes and before you know it, it was 2:30 in the morning. So I turned off the tv and the computer took a long 30 minute shower got in bed and I'm guessing I fell asleep around 3:30. Today the steroid affect is almost gone. I'm feeling a little sluggish and not much of an appetite. Assata is at home sick again today and I'm trying to stay upbeat for her to care for her. Hopefully she will feel better on tomorrow and she can head back to school.

Oh, almost forgot this bit of info...I did ask the question how much longer will I be on chemo. Well the answer I got was, "we will not put a number or time, just keep watching things as we go, it's important to keep the numbers from going up." The goal is for the numbers to be 35 or below. However, with my breast cancer being a Stage IV, I could always be on some type of medication for maintenance, being that it is labeled as a chronic disease. So let's pray that away too prayer warriors.
Thanks again and I will write to you soon. I will try to do better with updates. I know I'm a little slow.
Keep the prayers coming. Love yall!

Coming up...round seven!

Hello everyone! Yes I know it's been a while. I've missed you! Round seven of chemotherpy is coming up on March 5. Echocardiogram, CT scan, xray, and blood work is scheduled for Friday March 1. Praying all scans produce good results. Since I last posted, my body has gone through a lot of changes. My hair is all gone, my nails are sensitive to touch and may be lifting soon and I may lose a couple...ouch! The doctor recommends soaking my nails in vinegar and water to help with the healing process...stinky!! My feet are darker and my toenails are looking funny and has this funny looking color. I'm expecting them to pop up and off too. So I will not be sporting sandals or flip flops anytime soon. Love my flip flops and will miss them dearly! I have lost 46 pounds which feels great to have off. Praying I'm able to maintain the pounds off when I'm all done. Some of you may be wondering when that will be. Well...me too. My tumor markers are still going downward according to the last vist. They started at 147 and they are now at 64. Dr Ibrahim say that our goal is to get to the thirties. So in a few days we will see where we are.

Before I go...I just have to say THANKS to those of you who have brought hot meals by, gifts, sent cards filled with encouraging words and funds to help us out as needed. And many thanks to my church family who watches over our children and encourage them when I'm not in attendance. Miss you all much! More thanks for the phone calls, emails and text messages of encouragement and visits that I receive from time to time. Thank God for family, friends, my church family and my neighborhood family. Love yall much and you are a blessing to us.

Gearing Up for Round Two

It's one week before my second round of chemotherapy and I'm fired up and ready to go! My energy level is up and I'm trying to get it all in.

Day Two After Chemo

Good morning friends and family!

Last night was good and I rested well. Today is going good. I'm experiencing a few hot flashes, but they are tolerable.

This morning, I got up and did my usual baking for my daily delivery and Frederick was the delivery guy for the day. Got the kids up and out. For breakfast I juiced a big glass of green juice and ate oatmeal, blueberries walnuts and cinnamon for breakfast. Yummy! I sure missed my butter and brown sugar LOL. Yep, I on a mission to cut out sugar.

Yesterday when I got home I found this package lying by my door. It was a book entitled Healing The Gerson Way. Thank you Gigi! So I'm about to curl up on the couch and read it. I truly think it's all about what we put into our bodies...even when that big fat juicy cheeseburger is calling your name...LOL. Veggie burgers are an option and you can make them taste just as good.

Until next time...

Day One of My New Treatment...Chemotherapy

It's been a long day. We arrived at MDA at 9:00 a.m. and didn't get a room until 12:30p.m. Sham & I sat in the lobby for a while sitting and talking. We even met a nice lady from Hillister, Texas...imagine that. Hillister is a little town near Jasper for those of you that don't know. She was there battling lung cancer and has been for six years. Also she mentioned she has had two other cancers and that she has been getting treated for cancer since 2003. Yikes...and we think we have it bad at times.

I had a very good and thorough nurse today. Her name was Jodi and she was awesome. When she stuck my veins I didn't feel a pinch. Yay! She took her time at everything and explained everything to the T.

My meds were administered in a time frame of 3 hours. The Pertuzamab which lasted about an hour was tolerated well. Then I was given a 15 min dose of Steroids to help counter act any reactions with the Taxotere (Taxol). Then I received a dose of Herceptin which I've been since beginning treatments for 30 minutes, then came the Taxotere. This is the one I had to fight through. I had minor reactions with this one, but nothing that I had to call in extra meds for. I was feeling a littly itch for a few minutes and at one point my throat was feeling like it wanted to close. Got through that fine and then my final dose was Zometa, which I've been taking all alone. It was for 15 minutes. In between all this I made about ten trips to the restroom, because I drank plenty of juice and water before I arrived.

My first day of Chemo was not so bad after all. I'm praying the days ahead are much of the same. I just finished a delicious organic salad and a discussion with my kids about my day. They have so many questions...and I answer all of them. So Assata just told me "it's time to go rest now mommy" so I'm on my way to a warm shower and then to bed.

A New Phase While On The Journey

The day is October 15, 2012 and I'm waiting patiently for Dr. Ibrahim to come in to see me and reveal the results of all my test taken the day before. He comes in and examines me and casually tells me that my cancer has spread to my liver. There are two small lesions on my liver. Not what I wanted to hear! I think I shed one tear maybe while Sham sat in the background with her tablet writing down every word he said. So it's time to change up things and get ready for a new treatment that's suppose to make me feel very bad. My new meds are a concoction of Taxol, Pertuzamub, continuing Herceptin & Zometa. It's my new "state of the art" plan as Dr. Ibrahim describes it and it takes about two hours to administer and I will go every three weeks. They scheduled me in four days for this treatment. I get home and realize all this stuff I have to do so I called them to change it to the 30th of October. So on tomorrow I will be taking chemo. I will try to update you all on how I feel each day.

After tonight I'm ready for the fight. Tonight A prayer conference call was held in my honor, so for now at this moment I'm all prayed up. It was so uplifting to hear all the voices on the line. The feeling was great! It was so very touching to be able to sit and listen alone with my husband and the kids to my brothers, sisters, cousins, aunts, nieces, nephews & friends praying, singing & encouraging me and my family. All of this was done in the name of love and I felt it. I couldn't help but shed a few tears throughout the whole thing. So I am going to bed right now with a smile on my face and a good feeling in my heart.
Good night!

Graduation Time and Birthday...Happy Birthday To Me!!!

Wow...time travels way to fast. That's why we should enjoy each and every moment of the day. Take time for ourselves, our family and our friends (I need to do this too). June has come and gone. I turned another year younger and I was so happy and I am so blessed to see another year. God has truly blessed me and my health. I feel great! I celebrated my birthday by eating a really good piece of cheesecake from LeMadeline's that my family surprised me with. I make so much buttercream cake, until I didn't want that. I most definitely was craving a delicous cheesecake. I woke up that morning and thanked God for allowing me to live to see another day and another year.


Frederick's graduation was also on my birthday, on a Sunday morning, at 10:00a.m. in the Woodlands. What a day it was. I'm glad it was in the morning while it was cool. When we left around noonish it was getting pretty warm. We celebrated his graduation the day prior with a brunch for a few of his friends and family members. We really had a great time eating moms homemade biscuits, Denise's homemade overnight french toast casserole, gmama's grits, eggs, bacon sausage, waffles with all the toppings, fruit & more. We were all so full. Then later on I brought ought the chicken salad & crackers with spinach dip for the late arrivals. Oh soo good. If you don't know by now...I love feeding folk. I was such a proud mom that day seeing my son walk across that stage. Now he's on to bigger and better things. I can't believe that we will have two children in college. The children are really growing fast, after while Asa will be graduating then Alafia and Assata. And it's my prayer that I see them through it ALL and beyond.

Happy Mother's Day to Me!

It was two years ago in March that I was diagnosed with Stage IV breast cancer. Here I am today feeling so blessed that I'm feeling good. Real good. I'm fat and feeling fine. Cooked mother's day dinner for some very important people in my life today. The kids served us and I intended it to be that way because we as mom's are always on our feet doing for others. It's very seldom we get waited on and catered to. It felt great. Today was a start of a new tradition. I haven't told my kids that though. LOL The menu consisted of, Kenny's bbq brisket, stuffed turkey tenderloin, fresh zucchini and squash, fresh green beans, potato salad, macaroni and cheese, luby's rolls and fruit salad (my fav made with cool whip). For dessert we had, butter cream cupcakes, german chocolate cupcakes, and little lemon pies. Oh sooo good. Today was an awesome day! Today was another day that I was able to see and share with my family. That's why I say..."happy mother's day to me! It was truly a happy day.

Blessings are For Real!

Today is the end of November. Wow these months are going by so fast and we will soon be at the end of the year and rolling into a new year. I have been so blessed by the people in my life my circle or whatever you wanna call it. November has been a real exciting month. To start off with my son Frederick plays for the Westfield Mustangs. By now high school football season would normally be over. But, they are still playing and playing and playing. Yes, they are in the playoffs. I'm so excited for them. I have really learned a lot about football in the past few weeks and I anxiously await until the next game which is this Saturday. It's exciting watching him and his teammates on the field make things happen. I hope they go all the way so we can be sitting in the Texas stadium in Dallas watching them. He even have a little traveling crew following the team around. We tailgate, cheer and have a whole lot of fun and eat good food.

Also this month, a few people in my life who is dear to me has made me smile and has blessed me in many ways. You know how they say you should surround yourself with positive people? Well I really try to do that and you know...when you meet someone who's real, there this little person inside you that helps you see the genuine in them and you connect with them right off and you just can't resist getting to know them a little better. Well one of these people came by my home last night and brought me an invite to a gathering she's having and the invite just made me smile and I'm still smiling. My neighbor also came by with a card and encouraging words for me and my family. My neighbor & friend around the corner is there for me when I need her to grab the kids when I'm running late on treatment days. My family is always there for whatever and whenever. And my prayer warriors oh so thank you so much for praying for me and my health. I'm so grateful for the many many blessings I have in my life and you all are my blessings. Love you much!

Excuse Me!

Please excuse me if I'm not using correct wording or proper grammar in my writing. My brain is a little cloudy these days. If that makes sense. Maybe it's the meds. I'm just blameing everything on these meds huh? Oh well.

Veins! Where are you?

Yesterday was treatment day. For those of you that don't know, I am on Zometa, Zoladex Injection and Herceptin and a daily dose of Femara. Well...yesterday I had an eleven o'clock appointment. First bloodwork and then off to the treatment center. Well the blood work went pretty quick and then I went to the treatment center. I was really glad to get to the center at this time, because it was during lunch hours. Not sure if I told you all or not, but they feed us pretty good during treatments. They come take our order and deliver it to us in jiffy. Well, I was starving because all I had for breakfast was a cookie. I had a headache and when the lady took my vitals she said my blood pressure was high. I think it was because I was hungry. So at about 12:45 I was finally called back. I can usually tell by looking at the nurse if they know what they are doing or not. When you get the ones that ask you what meds you are getting today and how often...that's just too many questions for someone who has all those answers in the palm of their hand. So I knew I was in for a long haul. I already knew she wasn't going to get me on one stick for my IV and I was right. She stuck me soooo hard with the smallest needle there is in my hand. It really hurt and for those of you who know me...I have a very high pain tollerance, but that really hurt and I let her know. She then move to the other arm and no luck there. Well I wait about 30 minutes until she had to get someone from the IV team in. Oh let me back up...they usually numb my abdomen for the injection right when I get there and I had to remind her about that. Another sign that it was going to be a long afternoon. Then I had to remind her that I was waiting on lunch which they finally brought but I couldn't eat until they got the IV flowing. Well the lady came in from the IV team and she stuck me once and no go. My veins were truly hiding and not cooperating. Then she finally found one on my forearm. It was a little uncomfortable, but I was so glad they got my meds flowing. By this time it was about two o'clock and all I could think of was that I should have been gone at least an hour ago. So what should have been and hour and fortyfive minute visit turned into about five hours. I had to call my good ole buddy Denise to get the twins from school because we wouldn't be back in time. Thank goodness she was available. After they got me hooked up I finally ate. That turkey sandwhich was soooo good.
Then while I was getting my first treatment she comes in and tell me I have to get Herceptin today also. And of course I questioned it because it wasn't on my schedule I look at everyday. So I asked her to call the doctor to confirm and she did and she was right so that took up some extra time. But, my blood pressure kept climbing for some reason. Well they did tell me the Herceptin makes it rise a bit. But once I got food, and an IV, I calmed down and I think that helped it go down, but I did have to take something for my headach when I got home. Oh and one more thing. I'm outside waiting on my husband to pick me up for twenty minutes. He riding around waiting on me to call after I already text him and told him I was OMW (for those of you don't know text lingo this means on my way). Well he didn't understand that I was on my way down at that moment. Honestly I don't know what he thought. I just had to wait for him to pick me up longer than I should have. Anyway I am blessed that all went fine and I finished and came home chilled on the couch and went to sleep and slept and went to the restroom about a hundred times that evening. Oh and one more thing. I called mom to tell her all this and she told me the real reason they couldn't find my veins. Her answer was because I have a little more meat surrounding my veins these days. Well mom...Thanks I got it. I'm bout to work on that. She made me laugh!

Feeling Fallish Outside

I am so loving this fall like weather. These morning temperatures are amazing. Thank God! Now I am ready to plan a camping trip.