6:00 pm update

So far, so good, we got home about 4:30. She's resting now. Thanks for checking on her

Things went well

Jan's surgery is over, doc said things went well and expects a quick recovery. More later

Just trying to make it to Thursday..

Update: the antibiotics and MucinexD are doing their job...I am feeling a lot better tonight...should be all systems go for tomorrow. They called and moved me up an hour so surgery should be at 10....she said it should take about an hour and then its just a matter of how long it takes me to come out of anesthesia...that's usually a long process.....thanks for the prayers!!!

8:37 pm - I just heard about Stan Mason passing away after a 3 year battle with cancer....my prayers go out to Lissa and their entire family during this very sad time...my heart breaks for all of them....

It's been a long week already....after a perfect weekend I started getting sick on Monday....as the day went on my throat was killing me, I started coughing, my face hurt from clogged sinuses, my ears started aching and I started getting aches all over...it just seemed to come on so fast! After Jillian's soccer game I went straight to the Urgent Care clinic thinking I would get an antibiotic for a sinus infection and be on my way. Unfortunately, the doc there had other plans...he said he thought I was getting the flu and said go home and rest...I told him about surgery on Thursday and he said "maybe you will need to cancel...just wait and see". Last night was miserable....I couldn't take anything for the pain because the anesthesiologist doesn't want you to take any tylenol or anything like that for several days b4 surgery because it can cause bleeding issues during surgery. I called my ENT first thing this morning but their first available appt was at 3:30 today...I spent most of the day napping and just feeling like crap. When I finally got in to see Dr. L. he said it was a sinus infection and gave me an antibiotic...he said that it should hopefully clear things up b4 surgery on Thursday. Hopefully, I will be able to get back to work tomorrow and be better for surgery at 11 on Thursday...this is certainly not how I thought this week would go....

If surgery is a go on Thursday Bret will post something once it's over....if it gets delayed I will post an update....

Prayers going out to JD and family this week....another round of chemo is history!

Back from the beach...back to the real world....

Wow – what a vacation…I just don’t think it could have been a more perfect girl’s getaway! We went down to Venice, Fl for 4 nights. The weather was perfect…low 80s and no humidity. Since Spring Break was over there were no crowds…it was kind of like having a private beach and the pool was never crowded.

Venice is “famous” for having the highest concentration of fossilized sharks teeth on the beach….it was interesting to see people walking along with their “sifting baskets” all looking for teeth…Beth and Penny were pretty good at finding them…I lacked the patience to stay out there and keep sifting but they were kind enough to share!! On Saturday we attended the Shark Tooth Festival….a shark lover’s paradise…I was more into the other crafts and of course FESTIVAL FOOD!!!

We didn’t spend all our time lying in the sun…by the way; did you know they now make sunscreen with a spf of 80??? I am happy to report that it works well…you all know how well I tan…NOT!! It was fun to get out and explore the area. We ate at some great restaurants and found a few of those hidden away little dives that have great food, awesome frozen girlie drinks and of course, a wonderful view.

We didn’t have a schedule…I think it was the most relaxed I have felt in a VERY long time. The sights and sounds definitely help….beautiful sunsets, turquoise blue water, dolphins swimming by, palm trees gently swaying in the breeze, falling asleep to the sound of the ocean thru my open window, morning coffee (ok, so I drink Pop…gotta get that caffeine some way) or evening cocktails and appetizers on our balcony overlooking the ocean and pool.

Most of the people we were around in Venice were retirees….we were definitely the young chicks (that was a nice change) in the crowd!! Beth and I met some nice ladies at lunch on Thursday that just happened to be from neighboring Loveland, OH. They were able to give us some tips on activities in the area. It’s just fun to meet new people like that…we met some very nice people in the different shops and restaurants we visited. Lots of the ladies there are very much into the “bling”! I have never seen so many hats, shoes or just clothes in general with sequins, beads or metallic fabrics. Beth and I had fun on our first day trying on all types of sun hats to find the perfect one for each of us…later in the week I felt like I was really starting to “fit in” when I got my sun visor with gold trim….I kept finding myself being drawn to “the bling” so maybe that’s a sign that I will be down there “in my later years” fitted from head to toe in sequins and beads!!

Going back to Florida and walking on the beach brought back memories….the last time I was on the beach in Florida (July ’07) was right before I was diagnosed….it was during that trip that I felt the pain in the right breast for the first time…I remember walking along the water’s edge and just thinking that there was no way it could be cancer. I was by myself that evening and for some reason I can clearly remember all the things that went thru my mind…..on one hand I was not too concerned but on the other hand I just had this nagging feeling that something in my life was really going to change…I guess we all know how that story went….

Anyway….this weekend was so much fun and full of a lot of laughs…I have many great memories to cherish…I am so thankful that we were able to take this trip. I bought a t-shirt that says “I love the nights I can’t remember with the friends I can’t forget” – my new favorite!!

It was a nice chance to get away before surgery next week….I do my pre-surgery testing tomorrow morning – just ready to get it over with and behind me!

Thanks for checking in....I hope everyone has a good week!!!

A Fun Family Weekend!!!!

What an awesome weekend!! We went to Vermilion to be with my family...we spent one night at Kalahari Waterpark Resort....my niece, Amanda, works there so she was able to make our visit perfect! We had a great guest room and a wonderful cabana inside the waterpark. We all had so much fun playing all day and being together. This hotel is really unbelievable....from the waterpark, to the game room and all the special activities there was never a dull moment. On Sunday we went to a yummy lunch with Vicki, Todd, Em, my Mom and Dad. I wish I had more pics of everyone to post but too many of them turned out very fuzzy in the waterpark...BUMMER! I hope everyone had a nice holiday!!

I am so thankful to be able to spend time with my family like this...

Prayers going out to JD and family this week!!!

Countdown to surgery #6

Six surgeries in 19 months...UGH!! Cancer is certainly a loonnggg journey. I met with Dr. B last week and after going over my "ovary issues" he said it was time for them to come out. He said that my symptoms could be a couple of differnt issues..it is obvious that the Lupron injections that I have been getting will not keep these little buggers shut down. I could be having symptoms of coming out of chemopause, it could be trouble caused by the tamoxifen which does have a slight risk of causing ovarian (or uterine..can't remember) cancer or signs of other trouble with the ovaries. Breast cancer and ovarian cancer can be linked together but since I tested negative on the genetic test there was not an immediate need to remove the ovaries. We have talked a couple times about taking them out but since I was not having any problems he and the ob/gyn felt that it wasn't necessary. He said he would call my ob/gyn and let her know that he wanted me to have surgery....it was not something we should put off any longer. Other than that, my visit with him was good...no other issues!

I met with the ob/gyn on Friday. Surgery is set up for April 30th. It is called a Bi-lateral laparoscopic oophorectomy...It is outpatient but I have to have general anesthesia....I asked for other options like maybe an epidural but she said she is not able to do that...it's kind of interesting why not....when the surgery begins they fill your abdomen with gas to give her a clearer view with the camera she uses. Once the abdomen is expanded it actually pushes your stomach up against your lungs....this could potentially cause breathing issues so she needs the patient fully sedated with a breathing tube. You all know how much I HATE general anesthesia but this sounds like a pretty good reason to go with it. The surgery is laporascopic so I should only be off work 2 weeks. She makes an incision in the belly button and two other small incisions in the abdomen. From what I have read of other patients experiences with this surgery it is pretty simple....the main complaint is horrible pain for a few days after the surgery in the shoulder blade area...this is caused by the gas that remains in the body. I guess it kind of pushes higher up into the body and causes the pain in the shoulder blades....

This surgery will put me into permanent menopause....they say the first few weeks will be pretty rough because it's kind of like slamming into a brick wall with the hormones going crazy...poor Bret, huh?? The hot flashes could get worse or just stay the same...that is something that seems to differ with everyone. The good thing is the ovaries will be gone so that will definetely stop them from producing estrogen which feeds my type of cancer.

So enough about surgeries....let's talk about something good. Our weekend was perfect! Bob, Cheryl and Paige came over on Saturday from Crawfordsville. We had a perfect visit with them...the weather was so great so we were able to be outside all day and even ended the evening with s'mores over an open fire. We hated to see them leave on Sunday but not long after that my Mom and Dad stopped by for a quick overnight visit. We had another perfect day of just being outside and enjoying the spring weather. We had a cookout and then Mom and I just hung out on the porch and watched the storms move in and listened to the rain falling....I hated to see the weekend end...we love having company....hint, hint to everyone!! COME FOR A VISIT - King's Island opens this month and there are lots of fun things to do in Cinci!!