Radiation Oncologist Follow-Up Appointment

Yesterday I had my follow up appointment with my radiation oncologist. I cant believe its been 2 1/2 weeks since I finished my radiation.  There wasn't much to this appointment. He just looked at my wrist and the skin to see how its healing. He also checked out the function of my wrist and hand. The skin looks good and things feel pretty good. I get some weird, tingling feelings every once in awhile...I told the Dr. about it and he didn't seem concerned. I think its just the effects of radiation.
My Dr. put in the order for my full body PET/CT scan for early March. If its done any earlier my wrist can "light up" from inflammation due to radiation. So we have to wait the couple months so we don't get a false positive when it comes to the results. That scan will be the baseline scan and we'll go from there.
Please keep praying for us.....that the cancer stays away :)

Family Christmas Dinner

Last Wednesday we had a Christmas dinner with my family...just the 6 of us. We made a whole lot of yummy seafood :) It was nice to spend the night together. Im so thankful for my family. What a blessing they are!

all the seafood before dad put it on the bbq!

 Love my family!

I'll be back with our Christmas Eve celebrations as well as Christmas day and the day after :)

Merry Christmas

from our family

to yours....

This is our Christmas card this year. Sorry for the glare I took the pictures with my camera. 

We hope you have a very  Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year!

Work Christmas Parties

We went to both of Nathan's Holiday parties for his work this weekend. They were Friday and Saturday night.  The party Saturday night was at the Double Tree Hotel, so we just got a room there for the night. It was a lot of fun. We ate, danced, visited with his coworkers and Nathan even won a raffle prize :)

I didn't take my little camera so I only have one picture from Nathan's Blackberry and a picture Nathan took of me with the big camera before we left the hotel room.

 Getting ready at the room :)

Last Day of Radiation-Part III

OhMyGoodness...if I wasn't overwhelmed and appreciative enough for the party Nathan threw for me he gave me a sweet card & present too that night! I was so excited to open the gift...ending radiation is/was huge for the two of us so I knew the gift would be great and symbolic. And boy was it. He gave me a diamond right hand ring...and it is SO BEAUTIFUL!!!!! Its one ring with 5 bands which is how many years we've been together :)  Im a lucky girl to have such a sweet & giving hubby!

Thank you again babe! You're the best!!!

Last Day of Radiation-Part II

On Friday after my last day of radiation my mom and I went out to lunch while Nathan went back to work. After lunch I went home to rest because I was super tired and we were going to go out to dinner with my family that night when Nathan got off work.

Jack and I relaxing before dinner that night

My brother Josh picked me up so we wouldn't have 2 cars out at my parents since the restaurant is close to their house and Nathan's work but when I walked into my parents I was greeted by my closest family members and loved ones. Nathan hadn't worked that day he was at Mom & Dads all day setting things up for a surprise party! 
I was so surprised and touched by it. It meant so much that my closest loved ones were there to celebrate with me. It was very intimate and perfect for one of the biggest milestones in my life.

The beautiful cake my hubby designed and had made for me.

I dont have pictures with all the guests because I didn't pull out my camera until later on in the night and some had already gone home. My Aunt Susan took a lot of pictures but I haven't gotten those yet.

My Uncle Ramon & Aunt Lisa

Aunt Susan & Grandma

 Cousin Cynthia

 Sweet Cousin Alexis

 Hubby, Dad, Cousin & Uncles

 Sweetest Momma

 Aunt Lucille

My Brother Brandon

Sweet little message

The whole night was perfect.  Nathan, my Mom & Dad all spoke and said a prayer before we ate.  It was very sweet and I was in tears. Im so blessed to have the best people in my life. 

Thank you Nathan, Mom & Dad for putting so much work into my party and for making it so special and to everyone who came you have been the best support system I could ask for. Thank you for loving me and for celebrating with me. 

I'll be back tomorrow to show you the special gift my hubby got me to celebrate the end of radiation :)

Last Day of Radiation-Part I

After thinking about it..I decided to break my last day of radiation into 3 posts. It was an amazing day and they're is too much to fit in one post. 

Friday was my last day. I picked up my mom on my way and Nathan met us there because he had to work.  They ran a little behind so we took a few pictures before we/I  went in.

I brought the radiation team a tray of cookies because they have been super nice

to me the whole time. It made all of this easier.

 Going in one last time...I wanted to take a picture of how wide

the door is so ya'll can see...Super high radiation area! 

 Lining up one last time

 This was after I was done :) So excited about it. This is the radiation machine

Its huge!!!

I'll be back tomorrow to let you know about the surprise my hubby and family did for me.

One More Radiation Treatment Left :)

OhMyGoodness....I cant even believe I get to type that as the title of this blog post. Im so overwhelmed with happiness. One more left...can you believe it?

I'll be back tomorrow to let you know how it goes...I'm a crying mess already so Im sure it will be a super emotional day tomorrow!

Its Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas

I love, love, love Christmas. Its such a beautiful time of year! This year is extra special for us because of all the gifts the Lord has given us especially the chance of life that could have easily been taken away if things had not happened like they did. The malignant tumor was not given enough time to spread the cancer throughout my body! Its the greatest gift I've been given. I don't know what the future holds when it comes to my cancer but this year I can be thankful for what has happened. I'm truly blessed for the great plan the Lord has for me :)

Our sweet little Jack under the tree

Little Sneak Peek of the front of our house

Proud Sister

I am so proud of my two younger brothers! They have both taken huge steps forward in their careers and I couldnt be more proud.

B is the Internet Sales Manager for a Ford Dealership. He's always super busy

at work and is doing great at it :)

J has finished EMT school and just got a job for an ambulance company!!!!! Im so excited for him

and his new adventures!!!

I'm a Very Happy Girl!

I'm still living on a cloud after my CT results! I'm so giddy and happy! We went out to one of my favorite restaurants, Joe's Crab Shack, on Saturday night with family! It wasn't necessarily to celebrate my good results but Nathan & I treated it that way anyway! Pure bliss!

And I only have one week left of radiation...OhMyGoodness....Im one happy girl!

Dont get me wrong...I still have my moments where I get emotional...but I am so so blessed!

Before Dinner...

at Joes Crab Shack

Amazed Again at the Lords Grace

I got my Chest CT Scan results back today and they are great! The little nodule is still there but its gotten smaller and there are no new nodules or anything else. My lungs are clear :) My Radiation Oncologist said the little nodule could be anything..like scar tissue from something else.  We are so relieved!!!! Thank you for all the prayers and support. The good Lord is hearing us and answering them like I could never imagine. Praise Him!!!!!

So until my next scan in another 3 months (and we'll start praying those results are good too)....CHEERS!!!

32 treatments down...only 5 to go :)

Chest CT Scan

Tomorrow at 8am is my CT Scan of my chest! I'll be having the test done at the hospital.  Please pray the results come back good and my lungs are clear! I really appreciate the prayers & support.

My Nana...thats my Grandma :)....is taking me tomorrow. Im thankful because having someone with me makes these tests more comforting!

Psalm 143:8 

Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,

for I have put my trust in you. 

Show me the way I should go, 

for to you I entrust my life

Update....

I only have 8 radiation treatments left :) It really has gone by so fast...though I thought it was going to crawl by. After Im done with radiation I have to wait 2 months and then have a PET/CT Scan so that they have a baseline to go off.

With that being said if we wait until then to have a scan done it will  be about 5 1/2 months since my last scan and since I had that little spec in my right lung on that scan we cant wait that long because although they/we think its not of concern we don't want any surprises. Im have a CT Scan of just my chest on Thursday at 8am. Please pray for us and for good results because as always when it comes to the tests I'm a bit nervous yet still confident in Gods plan. Thank you!

Thanksgiving 2010

We went camping over the long Thanksgiving weekend in our trailer to Parker, Arizona. It was a really nice weekend away. We had a campfire every night and relaxed.  My Uncle Israel deep fried the turkeys and they were they best I've ever had. 

My love and I hanging out in our trailer

Half of the Thanksgiving Crew

We rode dirt bikes out there. This is me on the kids quad :)

 My super handsome hubby!

 My funniest and cutest cousin Travis!

We hung out by the campfire

and Jack had such a fun time too!

 Jack sleeping with Daddy :)

 We had a great time with family...so thankful for all the special people in my life. Im blessed!

This Thanksgiving I'm Thankful For.....

This Amazing Man....

Nathan has been my rock.my lover.my best friend.This past year has definintely rocked our boat a bit but not our marriage or love for each other. Nathan has been so strong and just there for me. He amazes me everyday in everything he does....Im so lucky to call him MY husband and wake up to him every morning...Im sooo blessed.

Our Angel Baby that is in heaven

This is one of the hardest things for me to talk about especially on the blog but I've tried to be so honest on this blog the whole time and I couldn't tell you what I was thankful for without mentioning our Angel Baby that literally saved my life. Our baby was here for such a short time to save my life and then went back up to heaven. Nathan and I are eternally grateful and cant wait to meet he/she one day in heaven :) It makes my heart very happy thinking about him/her. Very Thankful!!!!  

My Family

I cant say enough of the support and love from my parents and brothers. This year would have been so much harder if it wasn't for them. Im so so so so thankful for them.

Momma J

She's been there for both Nathan and I. She lets us just talk when we need to talk and talks to us when we just want to listen. Im very thankful for her love and support.

My Faith
Where would I be without the love and grace of the Lord. Im amazed daily at his peace and comfort. Prayer is amazing and I'd hate to walk this journey and battle without his love and guidance. I just wouldnt be able to do it. Im thankful we are saved!


My Cancer....
***Sorry about the graphic picture but this blog is me and this is my reality.***

This was taken the day of my surgery when the tumor was taken out. At the time we had no idea it was cancer but my life changed a week later. This news was devastating but I knew Id get through it..with my faith and love from others I'd put this in my past. Although Im still in that battle Im at a good place and feel like Im on my way to recovery. But cancer has taught me to love deeper, appreciate more, pray harder, forgive easier and those are things that will never be taken away from me. Im forever thankful for that.

Lastly, Im thankful for you...If you're reading Im thankful, if you're praying Im even more thankful. The support and prayers from family, friends and people I don't know brightens my day and makes this journey so much easier. I appreciate it more than ya'll will ever know. I pray and hope no one ever has to go through this journey but the only way you'd know my deep appreciation for the love, support and prayers is if you did walk in my shoes for a day. Thank you so much!

Radiation Burn

Well after 25 treatments its pretty clear I've got a burn from the radiation :(  It started a little over a week ago  and gets a little redder everyday. Today was my last treatment of the big range (which is basically what you see that is red), Tomorrow starts the smaller range or target area (which is whats outlined in sharpie). I'll do that for more 12 treatments then I'm done :) I didn't meet with the doctor today because he was in a conference but I'll meet with him tomorrow and talk to him about the redness. Its also starting to swell a little bit at the base of my hand so I'll talk to him about that also. Please pray that the swelling goes down..I can deal with the burn and the pain from that but the swelling is not good at all. Please pray its just from irritation and not fluid retention.  I get four days off from radiation because we are going camping at the river...it'll be nice and it will give my arm a break...thanks for the prayers!!!!

Lunch Date

Nathan's Mom and I met up with my mom and some other friends today at Olive Garden for lunch. Super yummy! I have some updates about radiation and pictures of my poor little hand that is turning super red. I'll post those later!