Plenty of honey in my pot!

Pooh and his friends in the Hundred Acre Wood have had many adventures. Adventures where there always seems to be a problem to solve.

For example, when Pooh needed honey, he disguised himself as a Little Black Rain Cloud with the help of Christopher Robin to reach the bee hive high in the tree.  Then there was the time Pooh thought Christopher Robin was captured by a Backson.  His buddy Rabbit decided they should try to trap the Backson, so everyone worked together to set the trap, but when Pooh and his friends fell into the trap they had set,  Piglet, in his own special way, found a way to get they out.

While these are only two examples, there is a common theme throughout all of Pooh's adventures...friends are always there to help you solve your problems and celebrate with you when the answers are found.

As I have said before, I can really relate to Pooh.  Obviously, having cancer is my current dilemma but it's my friends and family who make getting through it manageable.  This weekend, I had the honor of gathering with many of these special people at the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Nashville.  What an amazing day, all made possible by a team my daughter, Amanda, and family friend, Lisa. started a couple months ago.  When the first email went out, I never imagined the response we would have.  There were 46 registered warriors for Team Evil Lumps and Woozles with just over $1500 raised in donations. That to me is unbelievable!

On Saturday, we gathered at the event to celebrate.  I was overwhelmed by the kindness displayed to me.  I saw friends new and old from every aspect of my life.  It was an amazing blend of support that made me feel so special and loved, offering much encouragement for the journey still ahead.

I am not sure I can ever say thank you enough.  But what I can share is how much the support and participation in this event meant.  I looked forward to this day for so long and now hold onto the memories made.  I hope we can make this a yearly tradition while the search for a cure for breast cancer continues.

Pooh once said, 

"A day without a friend is like a pot without a single drop of honey."  

I think you can tell by this picture...there is plenty of honey in my pot! Thanks for being part of Team Evil Lumps and Woozles!

Tiggers probably don't like chemo

Tiggers like everything except honey, haycorns, and thistles.  (And I bet Tiggers don't like chemo either!)  

Well, 10 days post treatment I can look back and say that chemo is no joke.  I mean I did pretty well but chemo is some serious stuff.  For those of you new to the process, here's how it works...2 bags of IV meds to help nausea followed by the bags of chemo drugs.  Chemo Drugs so toxic that the nurse wears a special gown and gloves prior to administering and drapes the work space in a cloth in case there are any drops.  What the heck?

Chemo Treatment 1

I did have a rough day Thursday after treatment. I had some nausea, a horrible headache and overall felt very tired. The fatigue continued Friday and Saturday along with some extreme joint pain in my hips. BUT each day has gotten better.

I am scheduled for treatment #2 on Thursday, October 30 and hope I can continue to effectively manage all the possible side effects.  Only time will tell!

Time to Blast It!

"Good idea! We'll dynamite it.  Save time!" said Gopher
"What's the charge?" asked Owl
"The charge? Oh, about 7 sticks of dynamite."


While this was Gopher's suggestion to get Pooh dislodged from Rabbit's door, it seems to also apply to chemotherapy.  However, my cancer will be blasted with 8 treatments instead of 7 sticks.  The first starts on this Thursday, October 15.


As I shared earlier, my chemo regimen will consist of 4 cycles of Adriamycin, aka the "Red Devil", along with Cytoxin, given every 2 weeks followed by another 4 cycles of Taxol, also given every two weeks.  Numerous side effects are possible...fatigue, nausea, and hair loss to name a few.  While I can't control any of these, I am learning all that I can to help manage them. I have talked with a nutritionist and gotten some good insight and also decided to go ahead and get a pre-treatment haircut.   Here are the before and after pictures.  What do you think?

My stylist, Heather, at the Pearl Salon in Madison did an amazing job and I am so appreciative of the time she took making sure I really wanted my hair this short. 


This is a  big week, I ask that you please continue to pray for me and my family.  AND, know that I look forward to seeing you at the Race for the Cure on Saturday, October 25 supporting Team Evil Lumps and Woozles!

It's October...smell the flowers

It's hard to believe that it's been 2 1/2 months since being diagnosed with cancer.  And while there is still so much that lays ahead, I have to look back and celebrate where we are today, particularly a lumpectomy site free from visible cancer.  Already in the books, a clinical trial, 2 surgeries, many consultations and lots of tests.  There has been quite a bit to think about, too.  Cancer is an emotional journey.  I cry. I laugh, I cry some more,  But through it all, I am reminded that it's OK and it will continue to be OK.

"Weeds are flowers too once you get to know them."  --Eeyore

While I may never get used to or like saying I HAVE CANCER, I have begun to appreciate the fact that it can change you in positive ways.  For me, the immediate change is just slowing down or smelling the flowers and enjoying the simple things I wrote about previously.  It's also been an opportunity to appreciate those around me on a much deeper level.

Today we enter October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and I anticipate the new challenges ahead...the start of chemo being the biggest.  Recently, the anxiety of starting treatment is what I am having trouble dealing with because I have no idea what to expect. While I am starting to view cancer as a small flower, chemo is still a big ugly weed in my mind!  I currently feel really good physically and simply struggle with the thought of making myself sick (potentially really sick) just to get healthy.  Maybe when we ring in 2015, I will begin to appreciate chemo. (Sounds like I just made a New Year's Resolution!)

Now for one more update..."Team Evil Lumps and Woozles" is gearing up for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure on October 25.  We had an amazing response for tshirt orders and have seen several donations made to our team page.  My family and I are grateful for your support, especially as I am prepare to start treatment. We hope to see many of you on Race Day...as we celebrate together and raise Breast Cancer Awareness.

Until then, I challenge you to slow down long enough to see the flowers blooming around you!