I have a lot of catching up to do. Let's see.... where do I begin? I guess first of all I should let everyone know that my breast biopsy came back negative for cancer and I have recovered from the procedure. I do have a really nice scar to show for it though. I guess there will be no nude photo shoot in my future. (not that there would have been one any way :) On the 24th I had the surgery to remove the skin cancer from my forehead. OMG!!! When they took me back to the room to remove the bandage and talk with the doctor about the repair work, I was in for the shock of my life. Did I mention, that this place on my forehead was about the size of a pencil eraser? When they held the mirror for me to see, I couldn't do anything but cry. I looked like I had a bullet hole about the size of a nickle in my head. 25 stitches later, I am cancer free. Thank the Lord. March 25th was my #1W's 12th Birthday. Please put our family on your daily prayer list. March 28th was my 41st birthday. Mouse and I went out for a great meal and he gave me a Wii Fit. I LOVE IT!!! We are in the throws of baseball season. It is one of my favorite past times. Both of my boys are playing and as busy as we are, I love attending the games as well as the practices. I will close with the latest story that #3W shared with his class today. Mouse put a steak knife in my purse at the restaurant the other knife. #3W found it this morning and asked where it came from. I told him it was an extra one and that daddy put it in my purse. I get a call from my sister in law today. She is #3W's teacher. Apparently he told his class today that his daddy stole a knife and that I had it in my car. Before I received the call from her, he and I were sitting in the car and he asked me why daddy stole the knife. I told him that daddy didn't steal the knife and proceeded to repeat the story I had told him this morning. He stands up and put his hand on his hips and said "You mean to tell me, I told all the kids in my class that for nothing?!?" I know you think there is no way to top that but it gets better. Mouse comes home and gets on to him for telling stories at school. Mouse tells him that momma and daddy don't steal and he pulls out his wallet and shows it to him. "I have enough money to buy a knife if I want one. I don't have to steal one and don't go to school tomorrow and talk about me showing you my wallet, ok?" Hold onto your seat, the response is priceless. "OK daddy, I won't. I know why too. Cause you might have stole it!"

March 25, 2009

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PRISS!!! Seems like it was just yesterday that you came to brighten our world. We have enjoyed the last 11 years of great memories and are looking forward to many, many more. WE LOVE YOU POOKIE ROO!!!!!

Dead woMan Walking

Did you ever watch the movie Dead Man Walking with Sean Penn? He was a criminal who had been sentenced to death. The movie centered around his last few days on death row and the famous scene of the "Dead Man Walking." It was an awesome movie. I don't like Sean Penn but the story was great and he was great in it. I felt like Sean Penn today. I had my surgery on Friday and have waited 5, incredibly long days for the biopsy results. Yesterday was horrible. Even though I have been through this before, I was just as scared as the last time. Maybe even more scared if that is possible. I woke up about 3:30am and never went back to sleep. All I could think about was how the doctor would break the news to me. I didn't want to walk in that room and be suprised by anything he said. Every scenario I could possibly imagine played out in my mind. I had felt all morning like this doctors appointment was going to be similar to going before a judge and being handed a death sentence. I met Mouse in front of the doctor's office and couldn't even look at him. I was going to walk in their strong and without fear but I knew if I looked at him, he would see right through my flimsy facade. I expected a long wait but was suprised with hearing my name being called immediately upon signing in. You know what I was thinking, " They have been waiting on me." I felt like my legs were made of lead with sand bags tied to my feet. I was a DEAD woMAN WALKING!! I undressed and we waited on the judge, I mean doctor. He walked in and said the words I was desperate to hear (but didn't dare hope for), "Everything is Good. NO CANCER. I could barely breathe. For the first time, I looked over at Mouse. He was in tears. Maybe we were both in the same place when we walked into that doctors office. It is so crazy how our lives just plod along the same way, day after day and week after week and then you get a word that your life might not be exactly as you had been planning it to be. Everything you have been counting on and everything you have been expecting, STOPS while you wait on words from a stranger. Someone who knows absolutely nothing about you or your family or your life and you know nothing about him except that he holds your life in his hands. At the end of the day, I am so grateful for the beautiful words from this stranger.

She Took My Breath Away

I had been struggling with making arrangements for the W's on Friday morning when I have my biopsy. I knew it would probably be easier for me to have them spend the night with family or friends so I would be assured they got to school on time and that no one had to wake up at the crack of dawn to be at my house and get them ready. But I also knew how concerned they were about me and I didn't want them to be with someone else on Thursday night when they wanted to be at home with me and Mouse. I thought about it so much my head hurt and I finally decided to just ask them what they wanted to do. So, on the the way to school Monday morning I asked them if they wanted me to make arrangements for them to spend the night off on Thursday night or stay at home with us. I explained that their daddy and I would be leaving very early on Friday morning and we could have grammy come to our house to get them off to school or they could go to a friends home on Thursday night. The boys didn't really seem to care. Their only concern was where they would be staying if they chose to spend the night off. But my daughter, the one who gives me the most grief, the whiner, the selfish one, shocked me with her response. She said, "What would be the easiest for you momma?" She took my breath away. I am crying now just remembering her sweet words. I know, we hope and pray that we are raising children who will be productive and successful adults. We also hope that somewhere along the way they learn to be caring and thoughtful individuals as well. I have witnessed a few such moments with the W's. An opportunity to share a toy or a kind word for friend but the moments seem few and far between especially when dealing with each other. I hope they happen more often when I am not around to hear. I was so proud of her and thankful for her caring heart. It gives me hope that we are doing something right.

Date Night Bunko

Saturday night, Mouse and I hosted Couples Bunko for my Bunko group. This is the 3rd such event we have held at our house and I believe this one was the best. Since I had February but missed Valentine's Day by a week, the Theme was Date Night Bunko with a few Valentine decorations thrown in. All the regulars were in attendance except for A and W (We missed ya'll) but did have a great couple to sub. I love hosting Bunko. My favorite part is deciding on the theme and buying the gifts. (No wonder I bought a party planning business!) I hope everyone enjoyed themselves as much as Mouse and I enjoyed having you in our home. And to the winner's, I hope you are enjoying your gifts.

Here We Go Again

In 2006, I got the biggest scare of my life. My Ob/Gyn sent me to have a mammogram since I had reached the "over 35 mark." Around our house, we laughed about getting older and starting all those doctors appointments. All that laughter turned to tears quickly, when they saw something suspicious on the pictures. I had to have more pictures taken and eventually a biopsy before it was determined that everything was fine. What they had found were calcifications, and they were not the cancerous type. The whole process took about 4 weeks but seemed like a lifetime. I was scared, probably more scared than I have ever been in my life and was so relieved to find out that everything was fine and has been fine since then, until now... In January, I went for my annual mammogram (see previous post). A week later, I received that dreaded phone call again. They saw something on the x-rays that they didn't like and wanted me to come in for more pictures. I went on Wednesday, had the pictures taken and spoke with the Radiologist. It was like de-ja-vu'. Calcifications....Biopsy....Options....6 months....Surgery. I had really hoped that I wouldn't hear those words again but here they were. I shared with this doctor that there were no options for me, I didn't want to wait at all. I wanted the biopsy as soon as possible and he was glad to hear it. My doctor called me on Friday to share the referral they had made for me with a surgeon and that he would see me on Monday morning. I sat down with the W's and told them the child's version of what was happening. #1W remembered from 2006 but the boys didn't. They are confused and worried about their momma but I reassured them that everything will be OK. What else do you say?
So here we are, Mouse and I met with the surgeon this morning and I am scheduled to have the biopsy on Friday, February 27. And let me say, I am just as scared as I was the last time. We are praying for good news and we ask that you pray for the same. We'll keep you posted...

The Other Hornet

#2W is playing basketball for the recreation department this year. Guess what his team's name is? The Hornets :) This is a much more competitve league than those he has played for in the past. I was concerned that he might shy away from these more aggressive players and possibly be intimidated with this level of play. We have been so proud of how he has hung with these bigger and more aggressive players. He has learned to hang so well that he had 4 fouls before half time in his last game. I guess I didn't have anything to worry about.