Coconut Toasting Continues...

The boob squisher!

So I finished my 8 HDR Accuboost treatments (aka boob squishers). This was the treatment that put me in a mammogram-type device (aka torture device) and did spot radiation. The good part of those was that I didn't get any skin irritation or burning from it and really didn't feel any fatigue. 

2 of my awesome technicians
and my new "home" for the
next 25 treatments

Last week I started the regular radiation treatments and I will have 25 of these. Once again, I just have to say that the people working in radiation, from my wonderful Dr. Yashar to the incredible technicians, are the nicest people you could ask for. They go above and beyond to make you feel welcome and so well taken care of. Since everyone goes every day you start seeing familiar faces in the waiting area. You make eye contact and even get a head nod or even a hello now and then. The really cool thing is that when you do your last treatment they read this cute little poem thats on the wall and you get to ring this big bell, then everyone applauds. My last day is going to be on March 18th if everything stays on track.

Research and Decisions Continued

I am still busy doing research trying to find the correct doctor for a second opinion. It takes a lot of time and now that I am back to work, it is a bit challenging. I made an agreement with myself that I will not get on the computer for research in the evenings. I am fond of sleeping so I am trying to not do things in the evening that disrupts that! ;o) My motto is "Don't let your worries about tomorrow keep you from enjoying your today!" AMEN!!!

Blessings and Surprises!

Adolfo and Eva

SURPRISE!

Each and every day I find so many blessings but there are certainly some that truly stand out! One of those happened last Monday. Kendall kidnapped me and took me to an undisclosed destination. When I walked in I was surprised to find 6 of my beautiful girls from Mexico. Not many of them have visas to cross the border so the rest of them wrote beautiful letters to me. The girls were standing there with matching shirts on with my face on them, I can't say I have ever seen my face on a shirt before! I was completely blown away (okay, and a little embarrassed) but little did I know there was more to come...Adolfo (our wonderful host) cooked for 2 days to prepare a wonderful meal for us. After the letters were translated to me and we feasted on our yummy food I was taken into the family room to watch a beautiful slide show the girls had made as a tribute to me. They explained that I had taught them to have dreams and goals, to believe in themselves and to know that anything is possible. They also said that I taught them to give to others and they wanted to do the same. They made the shirts and about 25 women went to different schools and gave free haircuts to the children. They did this in my name to honor me. Needless to say, I was completely speechless and touched beyond words. I still can't believe this really happened and I just keep thinking I am going to wake up and it was all just a dream. My heart swelled so large that I thought it was going to explode. I am honored and touched by these incredible women...I am truly blessed to have them in my lives. They are certainly mi familia! 

Even Kendall and I were given shirts and of course my sweet
Julianne arranged this whole thing!

My wonderful Group 5 aka "5er Breathing Dragons"

More Blessings 

Serving with Kendall and Christian
makes it all the better. SO proud of them!

Confirmation retreat was incredible, seeing these kids grow during these 2 years is like watching a beautiful flower bloom. It is such a blessing to be a part of this journey with them!

Holding Heather and Mike's beautiful little Sloane
made my heart sing! Welcome to the world!

I am being brave here...this is what I look like without
my wig. I am trying to not get too attached to it since
it will all fall out again if I do more chemo. Can you
believe how gray I am!?!?

Toasting the Coconuts...

The booby smasher...at least
I get a nice new robe!

My sweet Rachel

Although radiation got postponed to this week instead of last it has officially started! The doctor decided that due to my triple negative breast cancer that it would be safer to really go after any possible cancer cells in an aggressive way. I am having HDR Accuboost for the first 8 treatments and then the remaining 25 will be "regular" radiation. This HDR thing is sooooo much fun! They put you in a contraption much like a mammogram machine. Then they snap in these little metal discs on each side and hook those up to a machine that the radiation comes from. I get to sit there with my tender, post surgery, breast (the biozorb thing that is in there really hurts when it gets squished too) for about 20 minutes!!! They do up and down one time then alternate with side to side squishing. The good news is that after about 5 minutes you start to go numb. What the heck does one do sitting there for that long? I am still trying to figure out what to do with my arms and legs not to mention my head. I am pretty much staring into a corner so I try to find different ways to entertain my mind. No coloring books for this one lol!!!

My technician Rachel is a real sweetie and plays whatever music I want during it. So far we did the 60s/70s and yesterday was the Beatles, not too bad. Everyone in the radiation department is beyond nice, and I love Dr Yashar as well. This part of journey seems to be the best yet since they are all so wonderful. 

Living Life

Joe took me to go see none other than....Donny Osmond at the Balboa. Yes, I was a huge D.O. fan growing up. I had wall to wall posters of him and his brothers all over my room and took a lot of crap for it from many of my friends! (you know who you are!) It was so much fun and he looks and sang amazing! My crush has reemerged! Joe was a trooper to take me and it was a fun blast to the past for sure! I think Joe even looks a little like Donny!

Still pretty darn cute!

I will be going back to work a little starting Feb 15. It is hard since I have radiation right in the middle of the day. I miss the girls at the salon and it will be great to be with them again!

I have had some fun times out with friends from lunches, the zoo, and even had breakfast today with my favorite priest, Father Jacob. He is doing great and it was wonderful to see him. He will be officiating Kendall and Christian's wedding! Thank you to all of my friends that have been encouraging me to get out, I have enjoyed every moment with you all!

Blessings

The blessing of learning patience has been the one I am receiving lately. I am anxious to make the big decision of more chemo or not and learning to trust that God will bring that answer in His time has been challenging. I do much better in the morning and early day time with it. I wake up feeling so positive and faith-filled but as the day goes on I start to disconnect and shut down. It's kind of like the "sun downers" old folks get I guess...not that I am an old folk YET!! I was praying this morning kind of "apologizing" to God about shutting down. I do it to the people around me and I also do it to Him. Then I read my Jesus Calling for today and I thought I would share that with you:

"Bring me your weakness and receive My Peace. Accept yourself and your circumstances just as they are, remembering that I am sovereign over everything. Do not wear yourself out with analyzing and planning. Instead let thankfulness and trust be your guides through this day; they will keep you close to Me..."

I will do my best to turn toward Him even more when I least feel up to it, I will bring him my weakness.

Fun day at the zoo learning how to us
my camera!

Wendy sitting in the kid's chairs
waiting for me at radiation