I'm almost finished with my first trimester of school!! Since I wrote last, I have finished another one of my books, call the Gregg Reference Manual, and made a 97 in it! I'm working on intro to filing this week and hope to get it finished up. December 18 will be my last day and then have a long Christmas break. I will start my 2nd trimester on Jan. 5, 2009!

I went to my surgeon last week for my check-up, but just got pushed back out the door. Well, not really. My dr was on-call and was called to a surgery at the same time my appointment was. So I had to reschedule for this week. I could have demanded him give me my appointment, but I am not that kind of person, and figured that the person on the operating table probably needed him a little bit more than I did at the time! Besides, they should be moved in their new office this week, and I wanted to see that! After all, I do need to see where I will be working when I get finished with school, right?!?! LOL!

Physically I am doing fine, I wish I could say the same for the mental part. Nothing major, but I do have a lot on my mind. Back a few months ago, I met a lady that I had a lot in common with. She was only a few yrs older than me, a mother and wife like me, and she teaches kindergarten (I don't). She had also went through treatment for breast cancer, actually, almost the same time I did. I recently found out that her cancer has returned and she will be starting treatments again. Her name is Christine, would you please remember her in your prayers that she make it through this round of treatments just as successful and strongly as she did the last time. Another friend of mine emailed me about a week ago and told me that a close friend of hers had just lost her battle with breast cancer, and that family has been in my prayers, as well. For obvious reasons, those things have been weighing very heavy on my heart. One last thing that I can't seem to stop thinking about, one of my dad's neighbors had a really bad accident this past week. I grew up with the Lawson's living close by. He's in pretty bad shape, from what I've been told, and is in intensive care. So, again, keep this family in your prayers! I truly believe in the power of prayer, and just because something doesn't go the way you asked for it to, doesn't meant that the prayer wasn't answered. God knows what we need, far better than we think we do!

Lots of stuff has happened since the last post. For one, the Race For the Cure came and went, and it was successful! I did walk, along with several friends and family members. I raised a little over $600, but can't remember the exact amount without looking. It was a great day and I got some great pics, but I will have to share those another time, they aren't on my laptop. The weather was really nice, not too cool nor too warm!

Then Halloween rolled around, and that's kinda a special day to me. Last Halloween was the day I had my last chemo treatment! So I have been out of chemo for a year! I have been feeling great, too! My check-ups have all been good. I've recently had my check-ups with my oncologist and my radiologist. Nothing but good reports! I was actually suppose to have my check-up with my surgeon, but I totally forgot it! Had to reschedule, and it's coming up next week! I always look forward to that one, love the girls in the office, and not to mention he's my most favorite dr ever! Of course, I know I have to be his favorite patient! (ok, so probably not, but it doesn't hurt to dream a little, right!?!?) Anyway, I won't forget this appointment, I hope!

School. You may wonder how school is going. Well, it's still going great. I have finished my math course ending it with a 97 average. I have also been able to put my English book away, with a 97 average in that one too! Then there is also my electronic calculating course that I have completed, but can't recall what my grade was on that one, but I'm pretty sure it was in the 90's as well. Dec. 19 will be the last day of my first trimester! Only two more to go after that and I will have my diploma and be able to get me a job! In case I have failed to mention it before, I love my classmates and have made several really good friends!

Hmmmm, what else? Oh yea, Ethan got glasses! Like mother, like son! Thankfully he doesn't have to wear them all the time, just when he's reading or doing any kind of school work or coloring, stuff like that. He looks so cute in them! He picked out some gold frames and said he picked those cause they matched his skin, lol! We're also getting him a little bit of counseling, he has had a hard time coping since Doug's aunt passed away. But we are on the road to recovery, so I have high hopes!

I got to do something that was really up my alley recently. The owner of the scrapbook store in Kingsport was going to be out of town for the weekend, and she doesn't have anybody that works for her on a regular basis, so I got to work at the store for two days. I had a lot of fun and I hope she lets me do it again soon! I also taught my first class there, too! It was a lot of fun and I have another one coming up in a couple of weeks. I will have to show you pics of those projects too! I'll have to get my camera software downloaded on this computer before I can share pics.

I'm looking forward to Thanksgiving, I'll get to see most of my family. We always get together at my dad's, and his brothers and sisters come, as well as my grandma! Sad enough, this is usually the only time I see some of them. So I always look forward to it and try to get lots of pictures! I love my family! Oh, and after we eat, Doug and I will be headed to the Smokies for a camping weekend, ALONE! We plan on getting a lot of our Christmas shopping done then. The kids will be staying with my in-laws. I'm so excited to get a few days away! Plus it will be the first camping trip that I will have a laptop to take with me! (I know, big deal, but I'm still excited!)

Ok, well, I do need to feed my children and maybe do a little homework, so...
Hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving!

Raising Some Funds!

What started out as just asking permission to ask my classmates for donations towards my Susan G. Komen race fund, ended up being a full blown celebration! I would have been happy just getting a few donations from my class and maybe some of the other classes, but I am overjoyed with what I ended up with! One of the other instructors at the school (TN Technology Center, Hawkins County Branch) volunteered to do a hot dog sale and had the idea to do a cake walk. Then our class decided to throw in some baked goods for a bake sale. The turnout was great, and when it was all over with, we had raised a whopping $276.00! I'm tickled PINK! (pun definitely intended!) Plus, my teacher and a couple of classmates have signed up to walk with me! Looks like it will be another successful year!

In Memory Of....

I'd like to take a moment to remember my husband's aunt, Fern Snapp. She was a very special lady and adored her family, especially my husband and our children. Doug and Fern had a special relationship and he knew he could always count on her. It was an unexpected passing, so it has been exceptionally hard on all of us. I still can't believe she's gone, although I know that she is in a better place and one day we'll be with her again. She was a lot like me in that she hid from the camera whenever possible, but I did manage to get this shot of her and Doug just a few weeks ago at a family reunion. Fern, we love you and miss you terribly!

I would like to thank a few special people for their donations. My sweet aunt Barbara, thank you, and it's ok that you can't walk. My great friend, Tonya Brewer, it will be just as fun this year as it was last year! Another great friend, Michelle Oxrider, love ya! A scrappy friend all the way in California, Diana, thanks, you're a sweetheart! And my teacher, Mrs. Combs, I'm tickled that you will be walking with me!

For anyone else that would like to sign up to walk, or make a donation, click on the "Race For A Cure" link at the right of the page. Make a donation under my name, Kristi Snapp, or sign up to walk with my team, Kristi's Krusade. The race will be on October 26, at 3:00 p.m. at the park across from DB High School. I'm hoping to get 10 members on my team, but so far there is only 2 signed up. So come on, sign up, I know there are at least 10 people that love me, right?

School is going great! I will take the final for English sometime this week, and then will be finished with that!! I've made some really good friends, as well!

That Time Of Year Again!

Yep, time for the Susan G. Komen race in Kingsport this year! I'm a little late getting my team and page set up this year. Last year I joined a team created my one of the dr. offices I go to, but this year they aren't doing it, so I created my own team! I named it Kristi's Krusade and you can click on that and it will take you right to the team page where you can sign up, donate, see how close I am to my goal, etc. Last year I had enough friends and family walk with me to have my own team, so I hope I can say the same for this year as well! Let's just hope that it is not as hot as it was last year! It should not be 92 degrees in October like it was last year!! I'm really excited about it! I know this year to take pictures and to take a bottle of water with me on the actual walk! Anyway, I'd be really greatful if you could walk with me, or even just make a donation! Any amount, no matter how small will be so very appreciated!

After 10+ years!

I have finally went back to school! Yep! I'm taking business systems technology classes at the Tn Technology Center. I'm hoping to work in a medical office, maybe an oncology office. So far I really like it. Our main subjects are keyboarding, math, and english/grammer. Now, most of the the women in the class are dreading the math part, but I actually enjoy math, so that's not what I'm concerned with. Keyboarding is gonna be my biggest challenge. Why? Well, I didn't take it in high school, which I have regretted so many times, so, therefore I never learned to type the "correct" way. I am a self-taught typer, and don't use the correct fingers on the correct keys, but I don't chicken peck either! So breaking my old habits and starting over is a big hurdle!! But I will do it! As a matter of fact, writing here is a great practice! I surprised myself one evening when I was working in my math book and I actually didn't want to quit!! Getting up early is another thing, ugh! I have never been a morning person, but I am having to be one now! My classes are from 7:30-2:10 and I have to get ready in time to get the kids dressed and to my mother-in-law. Now I know that there are women that have done this for years and are very good at it, but when you're not use to it, well, you are just not use to it! Anyway, back to the class, it is "learn at your own pace", so our instructor pretty much handed us our books and a syllabus, and said have at it, and she goes to her office. Granted, she will help us at any time me need it, but we are on out own. This is foreign to me, I like structure! I am proud to say, however, that I am ahead of schedule! I plan on taking my first math test Monday! I'm also taking the opportunity to shed a few pounds. See, where the school is, there is nothing close to get for lunch, so I have to take something. There is a fridge in the room that we can use, so I have been taking bottled water to have during the day. So I figure, since I can't just sit and eat whenever I want, and WHATever I want, I would eat what I have available, so if I only take good things with me then that is all I have! We'll see if I can keep it up! Oh, want to see the pic of me on my first day of school?? Too bad, you're gonna see it anyway!

WOW! I knew it had been a while since I updated, but didn't realize it had been 2 months!! Well, a lot has been going on, mostly just summer fun stuff! We got to go camping a couple of weeks ago, with Samantha and her family, and had a blast, as usual! I did have my gallbladder taken out on the 1st day of July, and have fully recovered from that. Has it taken care of the nausea? Not 100%. There have been a couple queasy days since then, but no where near as bad. I went in for my 3month check up with my oncologist (cancer dr) a couple of weeks ago and ended up in the ER!! Only me, I know! Well, it turned out to be nothing, but she sent me there because my blood pressure was up and my heart rate was really high. But I felt just fine! Anyway, both came down on their own, so they sent me home after about 4hrs! There is good news tho, my dr that I was so upset cause the office was closing, ended up staying with the "company" and is working in the office in Johnson City. It was really weird, cause I knew it was time for my check up, and I still hadn't made my appointment with the new dr, for some reason, I just could not make myself do it! Well, it was just a day or two later that I got a voice mail saying that Kelley was working in the JC office and that I had an appointment coming up! So I was really happy to see her, even if she did send me to the ER, lol! She did tell me, however, that it was still in the "trial" period and she wasn't sure if she would stay or not, so we'll see! I would show you a recent pic of my hair, but I don't have a good one. We'll see if I can get one, maybe! But it really doesn't look much different from the last pic I posted, of me and my dr. It's still curly and still thick! It would be down to my shoulders, if it were straight, but it's still bout half way down my neck. I'm leaving you with a pic of the twins. This was their second day of second grade!

Ya know, I just realized I didn't say WHY I was getting a CT scan in the last post, lol. Well, for the past 2 yrs or so, I've been having spells of nausea, at least once a month, sometimes more. When I got the cancer diagnosis, I just assumed that was the reason, but then after all treatments were over, the nausea came back, and maybe a little worse. Ok, I know it was worse cause I was actually vomiting and couldn't keep anything down. So I mention this to my oncologist, not really sure if I needed to be worried about it or not. And that's what the scans were ordered for. The stomach ultrasound showed that I have gallstones! It also showed that there were some suspicious spots on my liver. Probably nothing more than fatty cysts, but still need to checked out closer. After all, the liver is a common place for the cancer to reoccur. And so there was a MRI ordered, but thankfully it showed nothing to be concerned about!!!!! Ok, back to the gallstones. There is one good thing coming out of it, I get to go back to my surgeon, the good looking one! Had a consult with him last week and will be having it taken out June 30th. It will be a same day surgery and I should be coming home that day as long as everything goes as planned and there are no complications, and I don't expect there to be any. According to what I have read and what others have told me, I will probably be sore a couple of days, but nothing really horrible. I've been through worse, right?
After that appointment, I had to go see Kelley, my onc. They just found out that their office will be closing! Honestly, this really makes me mad! My first onc already left a while back, and I felt really, I don't know, almost scared I guess. I mean they have treated me since the beginning of this nasty beast, I don't want to have to see someone else. But I continued seeing Kelley, she's the nurse practitioner in the office and she's wonderful. But now she's not even going to be there, no one is! I know it's not their fault and not their decision. My security blanket has been taken away from me, THEY were my security blanket, they, along with the grace of God, are the ones that made me better. There, I got that off my chest, maybe I'll start feeling better about it. Here is a pic Doug took of me and Kelley.

Yea, I'm still around! I just don't feel like I have anything to talk about. I did have some check-ups recently. Had one with my surgeon, and he said everything looked fine. One with my radiologist, said everything looked good to him. And a little funny about the two of them... well I've been having quite a bit of tightness in my left arm, where the node dissection was AND the radiation. So when I brought it up at my appointments, they both pointed fingers at the other one, lol! Radiologist says it's from surgery, and surgeon says it's from radiation! Ugh, MEN!!! So when I have my check up with my oncologist, SHE says it's from both, lol!!! Which I totally agree with! They all recommended physical therapy, but with gas prices rising like they are, I passed! I did promise to consider it if the tightness got any worse. But I just don't think it is bad enough for therapy, and one of them showed me some easy exercises I can do myself at home to help with it. I can already tell a difference too. I was scheduled for a ct scan a couple of weeks ago, but insurance decided they didn't want to pay for it until I had a stomach ultrasound and chest x-rays. Those were set up for last Friday, but no one thought to mention it to me that I couldn't eat before hand, and of course I had ate, so they couldn't do it! It was rescheduled for yesterday, and I made sure I didn't eat anything! Guess it will be a few days before I hear anything from them.
We have been on a couple camping trips. We went to Fall Creek Falls state park back around the middle of May. My good friend Samantha and her family joined us, and we had a great time! I did get my freshly healed foot to hurting a little bit, but it was worth it cause I got some great pics! Here are a couple...


Then the wknd following that, which was Memorial Day wknd, we camped in Pigeon Forge with Kim and Billy. The weather was gorgeous and we were able to get in the pool. Well, kinda! The water was soooo cold, and I only got in to my waist, but the kids toughed it out! It was a lot of fun!
We'll be planning another trip in July sometime. But for now, the camper is set up in the backyard and we can camp whenever we want, lol!

I just wanted to take a moment to remember a friend of mine that past away on Sunday, Mother's Day. If you went to school with me, you may remember Shelli Stapleton, she married Jason Pridemore and had a little boy, Dawson, who is now 2.5.
Shelli passed away Sunday after an extended illness. Me, her, and Tonya were really good buddies early in high school. Lots of memories have been flowing through my mind the past couple of days, of the three of us. Shelli had wrote me a letter and called me after she found out I was diagnosed with cancer. Now I can only cherish that memory. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

So here it is, one year and one week after I was diagnosed with the dreaded words, breast cancer. It has been hard. Hard not to think about how I felt that day, that very second that the words came out of my dr.'s mouth. But I have to remind myself how much the Lord has blessed me with and how much I have to be thankful for! So here is a few thoughts I've had this week....
A year ago, I never knew I would be stronger than I ever thought I could be.
A year ago, I never knew I would have more faith in God than I ever imagined possible.
A year ago, I never knew I could be as brave as I have been.
A year ago, I never knew I would learn as much as I have.
A year ago, I never knew such a life changing happening would show me who my real friends were.
A year ago, I didn't even know if I would be here telling my story.

It's hard to believe that this journey started just over a year ago! It was the 18th when I found the lump, had an GYN appt the 21st, a mammogram the 22nd and a biopsy the 28th. Then, it was hard to think about where I would be in a year or what would be going on. But here it is, and things are getting back to normal, whatever that may be. Besides this cast on my broken foot, argh! Which, by the way had NOT started to heal as of last Wednesday's x-rays, and I have a new cast. Well, I really don't have much to say this morning. It has just been on my mind, a lot, lately that the one year mark is creeping up on me. April 4th, was the day I was officially diagnosed.

There's ya a hair update! It doesn't really look much longer than the last pic I shared with ya, but it is, it's just super curly! Was it curly before I lost it, you ask? Yes, it was when I was little, and as I grew up it was just lots of body, or I could get the look of curly with a little water, lol! I think I need to trim the bangs a little, looking at that pic I realize they are shaggy looking! Oh, and it's sooo thick, too! God blesses me in so many ways! I still dream of it being long tho, lol!
Now, update on the foot. Nothing new to report, really. But I will tell you that I HATE this cast! All I have been through in the past year, surgery, chemo, rads, this cast has been the worst! Ok, the only thing worse was my hair coming out. I think it's pretty safe to say that I didn't complain about a whole lot while dealing with the cancer, but I WILL complain about this! It's terrible! I can't sleep if my feet are hot, and this thing makes me feel like I have pants on, so I'm not sleeping good. The palms of my hands, and my left leg, are so sore from doing all the work. I can't go anywhere cause it is my right foot, so no driving. My washer and dryer are in the basement, so I have to rely on Doug for getting my clothes. (I know there will a few thinking "what's so bad about that", but believe me, I would rather dress myself!!) I am missing almost all of the twins soccer games, even missed Autumn scoring her first goal!! Can't carry myself anything to drink from one room to another. Really frustrating!! I have an appointment this Wednesday, and they are suppose to take it off and do x-rays. Now, he didn't say that they would put another cast on, and when I asked he just grinned. But I have decided, while doing a lot of reading on the "jone's fracture", that they probably WILL put another back on. We'll see, I suppose. I'm almost tempted to tell him just leave it off, if it doesn't heal right then oh well, I don't want another cast! But I know that would be irresponsible of me. Well, I guess that's all for now!

Several people have asked about the job, I didn't get it, but I will keep trying. Now, on to the foot. I have what they call a Jone's fracture, and it is now in a pretty pink cast up to my knee! I have to go back on the 19th, and they will cut off the cast, do more x-rays to see if it has started to heal, and more than likely, put on another cast. If the break is not healing properly, there is a good possibility of surgery, ugh! Evidently, there is poor blood circulation in that area of the foot, causing it to not heal right. I was curious about the comment the ER dr made about my bones being more brittle from chemo, so I emailed my oncologist. Not only did I get a response, but I also got a phone call with an appointment for a bone density test. Hmm, maybe I should have just kept my mouth shut, lol!

You will never guess what happened to me!!!

I broke my freakin foot!! Can you believe this crap? Well, believe it, it's true! The twins had a soccer game Friday night, and I twisted my foot coming down off the bleachers! I didn't go to the er that night but decided to Saturday since I wasn't able to put any weight on it. Long story short, they did xrays, it is broken, and I will have to see an orthopedic surgeon. I should hear something in the morning about who and when that will be. And, that, my friends, is all I am writing tonight. I will fill you in on the details later!

New Update, FINALLY!

I guess that's what some of you are saying? Well, think of it this way, no news is good news! And I do have good news. Had my surgical check up recently, and things looked fine. Dr. Holt says he will see me in 3 months and that would be the "1 year" mark! WHAT?!?!?! Yep, it has almost been a year since my mastectomy! It's hard for me to believe, so much has happened within the last year! But anyway, I'm alive and healthy, so what do I have to complain about? Nothing! It was great seeing him, and the office staff, as always! They have to rank #1 on my list of medical offices, and believe me, I have visited more than my share this past year!
More good news, I had my 3 month check up at the oncologist office. About a month ago, I got a letter in the mail informing me that my oncologist was leaving that particular office. Did NOT make me happy, but at least the nurse practitioner was still there, so that made it ok. And I seen her, love her to pieces! It was great seeing all of them, especially my chemo nurses! They were all commenting on my hair and telling how great I looked, what girl doesn't like that, lol!! But anyway, back to the subject, my report was a good one. She told me that my blood work looked amazing, like someone that had never had cancer, so that was good. My physical exam was good, as well. We chatted a little, which was really nice, and she told me that I would have blood work and check ups with her every 3 months for the next FIVE years! WOW! I didn't realize it would be that long, but still am thankful for it. That way if anything were to come up, hopefully it would show up on my blood work and something could be done before it got bad.
Some more, possibly, good news, I had an interview this past week! I thought it was for the receptionist position in the office where I got my radiation, but it may turn out to be either in the ER or outpatient admitting. But that would be ok too! I told my radiation oncologist, on a couple occasions, that I wanted that position, because they hadn't had anyone in their front office the whole time I had been going there, and had been like that for a while. I assumed he never took me seriously, but he must have because at the beginning of the week I got a call from the lady in charge of radiology at the hospital saying that they were hiring for that position and Dr. Blom (my dr) had given them my name and said that I was interested. WOW! That was a surprise within itself! But anyway, long story short, I had my interview yesterday, Friday. I'm not sure I did great, but I gave it my all. After all, this WAS my first job interview in 4 yrs! The lady told me that they were approved to hire for a position, but they had not decided where it would be yet. And that if anyone already employed with them wanted the office recept. position, they would have first dibs on it, and I understand that. If I were to get the job and it was in the ER, it would be 12hr shifts, so many on and so many off, and working every other wknd. If it was for outpatient, it would be m-f, days, and only working a wknd about every 6wks. She has more interviews scheduled next week and hope to have made a decision by next Friday. So I just have to wait and see.
OK, so this is neither good or bad news, just something I thought I would share. I have been having this dream, over and over, at least once a week. It really depresses me, but I try not to let it get me down too bad. In the dream, my hair is longer and I can actually pull it back in a ponytail. I know, I know, it will get there soon. And I also know that I should just be thankful that it's growing back as well and as fast as it is, and I am, really! But I have always had long hair, almost all my life, and I just want to be able to feel my hair moving when I move my head! But this last time I had this dream, it was so REAL! I was even thinking about how happy everyone would be when I posted on my blog that I had reached a milestone and was able to pull my hair back, lol! And I kept telling myself that it was real and that it wasn't a dream anymore, then I woke up. BLAH! Oh well, one day!
I bet you would like to know about the burns? That part is doing great too! There is still a small area that is a little raw and achy, but nothing I can't handle now! It itches HORRIBLY!!! But at least that is a sign of healing! I don't have any pics, but will see if I can get some later. Thanks for all the prayers, well wishes and comments, they are all appreciated from the bottom of my heart!

I'm ready for some relief!!!

When will it come? At this point I feel like I am constantly praying for strength to deal with these burns. They are a far cry from the bad sunburn I was told it would be like. Good news is that Friday, Feb. 1st was my last treatment!! YAY!! But as of today, the 5th, the bad places aren't looking any better! The past several days has been horrible, especially the pain! It literally brings tears to my eyes to put on, or take off, a shirt! I am so ready for these places to heal up! I have taken a few more pics, just so you can see what it looks like. In the bottom pic, you can see the new blisters that have come up the past couple of days, up toward the top on the right side. And also in that pic, there are a few black spots, that is not dirty spots, that is dried blood. I have an appointment tomorrow for the radiologist to look at the blisters. I'm guessing they are normal, but want to be on the safe side.

A little worse.

I guess it has to get worse before it gets better? Well it certainly has! It's extremely painful! The pic on the bottom shows what happened to me Friday evening! I put a bandage on it so my bra wouldn't rub it so bad, cause I was going to the funeral home, well that's what happened when I took the bandage off, it took a few layers of skin with it! OUCH!!! Anyway, today at treatment, they gave me a prescription for a little pain relief. I will be so glad when this heals up!!!!

It's happening. Radiation is taking it's toll on me! I've noticed a remarkable difference in my energy level, I'm just really tired. That's just showed up within the last few days. And the visual effects are here as well! Well, here, I'll just show ya...


The top one is right in the crease of my neck and has been very painful, but it's actually feeling some better today. The other pic is under my arm, imagine where your breast is, then just straight on around, that's where it is. It is hurting pretty bad too, and I still don't have much feeling from the mastectomy in that area! I can only imagine how bad it would hurt if I DID have full feeling there! They had me get some stuff from the pharmacy, called Domeboro Soak. It's over the counter stuff, but you still have to ask for it. It's aluminum acetate powder in little packets, then I have to dissolve it in a quart of water, soak a rag in it, and lay it on those bad spots for 20mins, 4-5 times a day. It seems to really be helping my neck, and I'm sure it's helping under the arm too, I just can't tell it yet. And the blue marks in the second pic, that is markings with a paint pen for them to do my "boost" rads next week. That means that they will only give me radiation right in the area that is marked, where the cancer was, and not all over the chest and underarm area. If nothing comes up, next Friday will be my last treatment!! I think a celebration is in order, lol!
On another note, sad news! I got a call a couple of nights ago from a friend's husband. Samantha and I were best friends in high school, kinda lost touch during college, but have become close again in the past year. I love her like a sister! Well, a week or so before Thanksgiving, I think it was, I talked to her and she told me her dad found out he had cancer and that it had metastasized in other places. So the call I got from her husband was to let me know that he had passed away. I feel so horrible for her, my heart is aching! We will be going to the funeral home tonight, so I pray I can keep it together for her! I also pray that God is comforting her and her family during this time of grieving.
More prayers are going out to my sweet cousin, Delana. She's a couple of years younger than me and just went through a back surgery yesterday. If I'm not mistaken, this is her 2nd one, and might possible be the 3rd, I'm not real sure. I'm looking forward to her getting back home with her family and getting better!
Ok, well I have to go "soak" again! Til next time....

WE HAVE SNOW!!

Finally we have enough snow to make everything white! Still not as much as I would like to have, but we some, none the less! The kids are out of school and are really excited to see the white stuff, so I'll have to let them get out in it here in a little bit! I read a photography tip about taking pics in the snow, so I'm eager to try it out, I'll share the pics when I get some! While I'm here, treatments are still going ok. I'm really red from them, under my arm and on the left side of my chest and neck. It's getting tender where my arm rubs it. Yesterday was #21, so I have 12 more to go, not bad!

Hair update...

Well it was back in the summer when I came off the chemo that made my hair fall out and it started growing while on the Taxol. Here is what it looks like now. It's at the stage that it curls out over my ears and drives me nuts! But that's ok, at least I know it is growing! Man alive, it is THICK too! The radiation tech asked me today if it was coming back different than what it was before, but it really is not. I had thick hair before with a lot of body, and it's coming back in thick and curly. The color is pretty much the same, just with a lot more gray in it. I still long for my hair, pun intended, lol! Anyway, here ya go...

Long overdue update

I'm sorry if you have been checking in on me, only to find that I STILL hadn't updated. I don't know what it is with me, I guess I just don't feel like anything important has happened that anyone would be interested in. Radiation is going fine. Today was lucky treatment #13, only 20 more to go, lol! I still can't tell any difference in anything other than a little redness on my chest and under my left arm. They gave me some ointment that consists of petroleum, mineral oil, paraffin, and lanolin alcohol. Reminds me of vasoline, only in a more solid form. Every time I have a treatment, they make dots on me with a blue sharpie marker, and the first time they didn't tell me that it would ruin my clothes and I got it all over my bra! So then I asked for some alcohol moisture wipe thingies and she gave me two, and that didn't do anything but make a mess and wasn't near enough to get all 10 marks off. What the ???? I can't be ruining everything I wear, and I sure ain't gonna wear worn out clothes that don't matter to the Dr's office, ya know? Well, I came up with a solution that works well for me! Got me a ziploc baggie, added some cotton balls, and poured in some alcohol, and there ya go! All the alcohol swabs I need! I just gotta be sure to keep them in my purse or they don't do any good, lol! I just wonder if they have figured out at the office where all those little blue cotton balls are coming from!!!
I hope everyone had a great Christmas, we sure did! We spent one night in the Smokies with my inlaws and came home Christmas Eve evening. And on Christmas morning we went down to spend with Dad and Arlene, and a delicious big breakfast! New Years was ok too, didn't do anything too special. Kim and Billy came down, we were suppose to play cards or something, but ended up just watching re-runs of CSI. The kids have really enjoyed their time off, but I'm so ready for them to go back! They were suppose to go back yesterday, but we had a little dusting of snow and they called schools off til Monday, UGH!! I guess that is a lot of the reason why I haven't updated here in a while, I've been too busy with them!
Let me vent on my resume, or lack thereof, rather. I have never had one before, and hadn't worked since being pregnant with my now 3yr old, so memory of previous jobs is wearing thin. So last spring, before this cancer thing reared it's ugly head, I decided I would like to go back to work. All the adds I read was asking for a resume to be sent in rather than filling out an application, what I was use to way back when! Ok, so I need a resume, shouldn't be too bad, WRONG!!! I always knew not getting a college degree was a bad thing, and this was the time it was gonna prove it! Ugh it was so frustrating trying to put that thing together, one, I didn't have much education past high school, just a couple years of college that wasn't going to help much, and another thing was trying to remember dates of jobs that I have had, double UGH!!! Anyway, to make a long story short, my resume, to say the least, embarrasses me! But I'm using it anyway since I'm now looking for a job. Making ends meet was doable before my endless appointments, but now it's getting harder and harder. Not to mention that we had started an addition on our house that has not had any progress in a very long time! There are five of us, and our house has two bedrooms and one bathroom, can you say CRAMPED! Don't read this wrong and think I'm looking for sympathy, I'm not. Just explaining how much a job would be nice. I can see how this subject can open up a whole can of worms, and everyone is entitled to their own opinions. I'm just gonna leave it at that :) Until next time, whenever that will be, hehe!