PHASE 2

The next few weeks will involve lots of check ups to see if I am ready for my reconstructive surgery.  Everything looked great so surgery was scheduled and done.

You have lots of appointments before the surgery.  I had 2 in one day...#3 was the reconstructive surgery.  It was a rough one as I woke up that morning with a headache and it never went away until after I went home.  Outpatient surgery too...ugh!  But all went well and I felt pretty good!  No more expanders!!!!  

 Bradley was with me on this day.  Emily was on a mission, Joe was at BYUI and Sam stayed behind to help Grandma Jean with my kids.

This is the bra they sent me home with which is supposed to shape the breast better.  I have to wear it for 4 weeks.  Maybe longer.  

Hysterectomy

 Feeling great pre surgery!  I had most of my family there (Sam had to stay at school).  Ready to go!!! 

Post surgery is a different story. It was an outpatient procedure so they waited for the anesthesia to wear off before they sent me home.  From the looks of this photo, it hadn't worn off yet!! 

bills and boob fills

This is a weekly occurrence in our mailbox. Bills, bills, bills...

 This is my pre op appointment where I learned that I have shingles.  It is on my pelvic area, just the left side and a little around my back.  I thought I was having a reaction to essential oils?!  I was so nervous about getting the go ahead for my hysterectomy but I guess everything is fine and the surgery stays scheduled!  Phew!

 My last fill up was today and I think it looks pretty good.  Now we sit and wait for 8 more weeks until I can get these blasted plastic expanders removed.  They are so uncomfortable.

February

Brad is so good to me.  Even though I said "don't spend any $$ on Valentines this year, we need to save."  He still pulled through and went shopping at Wholefoods for me!  Ha!  He knows me well and  wrapped up all kinds of goodies for me, including my favorite , spring rolls which I ate straight away. 

Was feeling a little lousy this morning for my fill up...trying to manage to crack a smile.  

Working a full day at The Emporium is not easy while I am going through this reconstruction because I seem to tire much easier.  Hence, this photo of me chugging my "Spark".  It's a pick me up.  

Wait? Life doesn't end when you have been told you have cancer?

So admidst all the medical/cancer crap was the wonderful, amazing and spectacular Superbowl 50 game where the Broncos BEAT the Panthers!!  We celebrated at the downtown Superbowl Parade.  What a day!  Magical.  Forgot about my cancer for the day!

A typical day...not so typical

I feel blessed regardless of the daily ups and downs that go along with cancer.   It is truly incredible what modern medicine can do during the reconstruction stage!  Today's appointment felt pretty good! Then I worked late tonight at The Emporium for an Alzheimer's benefit and my boss assigned me to be the bartender so I could sit down all night which was very thoughtful.  I woke up at 2:15 am IN PAIN from the procedure to find my husband awake too.  (Poor guy never seems to get a good nights sleep #stupidGVHD). So, we raided his drugs for a good pain killer for me.  Hey!  The perks of both of us having cancer!!! I got a kick out of these unlikely photos of drugs, booze, medical instruments and hospital gowns. Not typical for a nice LDS gal.  

These are the instruments they use for my "fill ups" 

It takes only about 10 minutes and then I am done.  Looking pretty normal now.  Amazing. 

Worked that night...made it through just fine. 

 

Just a few of Brad's drugs.  Drugs, drugs and more drugs. 

Reconstruction and treatment

My bulbs and my flat chest.  This was my appointment to get the bulbs removed.  A quick snip and tug and they were out.  So glad to be rid of my "christmas bulbs", which I lovingly named them because I had to lug them around the whole holiday season.

Feeling pretty good and enjoying family at our annual Christmas baking party that Meagan graciously hosted for us this year. 

Picked up my first dose of Tamoxifen.  This tiny pill will be taken for 5 years and will combat any other cancer that tries to surface!!

The expanders are in and now the fill ups begin.  Amazing process only it feels like I have a 2 x 4 board in my chest.  Hard as a rock.  Sleeping is a challenge, lifting is discouraged and range of motion is limited.  And we are moving back into our house this month.  This could take awhile for me to get us settled in.

I am still sleepy, I guess it is because my body is still healing and working hard to do that!  I need to slow down!! 

Recovery at Nanny's

I'm giving a thumbs up here and it's a selfie but I do not remember much of this day after surgery.  It took me quite awhile to come out of the anesthesia.  Anyway, looking good with no makeup and a tube in my nose!!

We are familiar with the plate presentations at St. Joe's hospital from Brad's say there.  They are lovely and here is my breakfast, pretty flower included! 

Night night.  I get to go home tomorrow!! 

My old "girls" are gone and underneath these bandages you will find a clean incision across the center of both and they are concave.

A selfie...I am obviously still loopy from the pain killers...

Treats, flowers and sweet messages were delivered.

Oh sweet Olivia and the sign my little nephews and niece made for me.  Love it. 

My mastectomy was Dec 9 so don't forget I had to get Christmas up before it all happened.  Here's another selfie of me and our humble tree. 

My little Samantha joined me as I recover and she was suffering from another one of her headaches.  I love this girl and will let her crawl in bed with me any day. 

This is my "Nana's blanket that was delivered to me by my Aunt Mary from California.  My dad brought it to me and when I opened it I smelled it (because Nanny was an Avon lady and she had a wonderful smell).  Sure enough, I smelled my Nana and started to cry.  She's been gone a long time but I feel her presense with me sometimes. 

One of my favorite photos of my recovery.  I was grateful to be at Nanny's while I recovered for many reasons.  This is one of them, the visits from family were frequent and Olivia made my day on this particular day. 

Once I was able to get out and about I went to the temple grounds and took a nice look.  It brings me peace being there so this made me happy.