*** Good News***

I recieved the results of the final biopsy they took of my lymph nods. They are free from cancer.
I have a Dr appointment on Friday with a medical oncolgist to determine my chemo treatments.

Scott is taking me shopping today! We are going to get schools supplies, shoes and maybe some clothes. I have time off I might as well take advantage of it! I did request that we take a wheel chair tho. Not cuz I cant walk but I need an armrest for my arm! I hurts to hang straight so as Long as I am sitting I do pretty good. we shall see!

4 Days into Recovery

I felt pretty good after my shower yesterday. MY underarm side is still numb and Dr says it could be for a couple months. YUK! So my ambidextrious skills are not so good. My shirts are stained with dribbles from salad dressing. That seems to be what I dribble the most. I tried to fix my own lunch and dropped the cottage cheese; of course the lid fell off and rolled across the floor leaving a trail. I cannot bend over and pick anything up so I call for Heather "cleanup!" I requested a new med from the dr. that would help me sleep at night. Its crazy I got one yesterday and read the list of side effects and decided I would suffer. (Hallucinations, weight gain, dry mouth,ect. discontinue use immidiately if you experience voices ect. wow. I say NO thank you!) So I am going back to good ole Tylenol#3. I realy am starting to feel better tonight. I asked the RS not to bring any more meals. We really are doing fine food wise. I had the most yummy lasagna tonight and the best Lemon/walnut dessert yesterday. Um!

3 Days Later

So this is where I vent! I am tired of laying around looking at the ceiling (which by the way needs repaired). I am ready to move on but my body says NO. I can't sleep, eat to much, feel like crap and need to take a shower. Everyone is afraid to help me. But I will have one before I go to bed tonight.
I have made another list of realistic things I can do this week from my bed. I have called a couple repairmen to come give estimates on things that need done around here. Hopefully my ceiling and roof which were damaged from the storm the other day can get repaired. My roof needs a few new shingles, and the attic needs more insulation blown in while they are at it so...give me a phonebook please:(
My doctors have called and checked on me. I am getting a different med to help me sleep at night. I thought I woulod be feel ing better than I am:(
On the bright side everyone is making sure our family is fed. Thanks!

Mom's Update by Heather

Mom came home from surgery last night around 8pm. She is doing alright! Well, that is of course with the help of pain pills, aka Vicodin, that unfortunately doesn't make her drowsy. She doesn't look to be in too much pain quite yet, she is taking medicine for that, and is being pampered my Daddy and me, and Scott ...when the latter two aren't available. Daddy has cut her straw short so it would fit in her mouth from the glass, and she's got all her pills close enough for her to pop whenever she sees fit. I slept out on the couch so Dad and I can take turns checking on her. First check was at 2/2:30 am for her pain pills. She's not sleeping much and needs help easing around in the laz-E-boy recliner. All around, she needs to keep her left side immobile (of course she is left handed...maybe this will encourage her to become a normal righty like the rest of us).
Thanks to all who have her in your prayers, and kept the florists in business. Now our house looks like a mortuary...and She loves it.

So Many Friends!

I want to take a moment and thanks everyone for their loving care and words of encouragement. Starting with my daughter in law who set up this blogspot for me. I loved having them come visit this past week, and bringing 2 of my grandkids they are so adorable and they love ice cream. Cousins who helped clean my house before they arrived, sisters who have offered to cut their hair to make a wig and others who offered to style it for me, friends have loaned books, taken me to doctors appointments, and just let me know they care. Offers of meals to be brought in (I have a real problem with this one cuz I rarely cook when I am at home anyways. Ask Scott about that one if ya dont believe me. I mean look at him...the kid nearly starves on his dads cooking!) But seriously, I am greatful for having dear friends, family and parents who care about me and I know that in the end I WILL Survive and you can ALL walk with me next year in the Race for the Cure...and I will be there. In a pink shirt!

Mary's TO DO List

It's amazing how many things you realize you need to do when you think you are going to be down for 2 weeks. (hee hee I will be up and running in 5-7) OK lets get realistic.

Clean bedroom
Buy sports bra (needed for compression after surgery)
Decide on wig or turban head
Lose 10 pounds
Make Scotts quilt
Repaint kitchen, dining room, front (that will never happen!)
Buy new PJ's
Clean carpets
update blog
polish toenails
check out library books (someone offered to loan me the Twilght series?) Melissa?

2nd Opinion--Monday July 21, 2008

I decided to go ahead and keep my appointment for a 2nd opininon even tho I had pretty much decided I was using Dr. Bourquard. My 2nd op. gave the same scenerio as the first and I felt like I am on the right track. If my cancer was rare or unusual or in advanced stages I would consider taking it to the Huntman Clinic but I feel that Boise has some really good DR.s and 3 centers that specialize in cancer.

At my last appointment my dear husband told me I was pretty harsh and snappy. I guess I was ): BUT--I DONT HAVE TIME FOR THIS. I didn't sign up for it...I dont want it... I dont need it...and I want it taken care of yesterday. I wish that I could be like my 4 year old grandson Cade. Then I could close my eyes and pretend it wasn't there.
But it is.
So I made a list of things to do before Friday.

My Story begins June 13th, 2008

I want to write about how my story of breast cancer began. On June 13th (Friday to be exact...) Don and I ventured to Eagle for Eagle Fun Days about 8 pm. This is a rare oppurtunity for us to go anywhere together on a Friday night. (besides work).

While driving down the road I happened to mention to him that I had been having some minor pains/sensations in my chest/heart region. The best way I can describe these pains would be to say a poke or pinch that startles you and is over almost before it starts. I was getting some pains about 5 or 6 in a 10 minute period, several times a day. I told Don about them and wondered if maybe they were mini aniurisms or maybe I was going to have a ministroke or heart attack. I was mostly joking about it and pointed to a spot on my chest and informed him that they are always in the same place and maybe my heart was skipping a beat. (Since I gained back the 15 pounds I struggled to lose last year when my "family" had a biggest looser contest, I was wondering if my heart was just pumping to hard.) I continued to get these sensations the next day and decided to tell Heather about it too so that if I died of heart failure that someone could report I had some warnings. Now I think the tumor was dividing and pushing on a nerve causing the pain. When I report this to the doctor they look at me like I am crazy because everyone knows that cancer is painless. (hummmmm) But they took an EKG reading to determine how healthy my heart is and it is fine! I have heard that everyones cancer is different so there ya go! Nine days later on a Sunday evening I detected a lump in the very spot I had pointed out.

So if you are still reading this you have probably gathered that I am uneducated in medical terminology but learning fast.

Surgery Date Set

After several Dr appointments, Chest Xrays, EKG and an MRI I am finally scheduled to go in for a breast conserving lumpectomy on Friday July 25th at 1 pm. The surgery will take place at St. Als and will be done out patient. I should come home that night providing there are no complications.