The Family Business

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Embracing the Baldness

Friends and Neighbors threw me a hat party JUST IN TIME! I have wonderful neighbors!

Here is Chemo Infusion #2, for some reason, this one went better than #1. The infusion went better, but I was tired for longer. Thank goodness for wonderful nausea meds, which makes this all DO-able. Now if they can just give me a little pep, but they assure me tiredness is part of the PLAN, so REST! Okay, nap time!

Port Surgery is successful and let's get ready to go!

Hey, if you've ever been through Chemo, you'll be glad you're going bald! It really helps cut the night sweats! WooHoo! I'm 1/2 way through treatments and really looking forward to Christmas! :)

Thursday, August 12, 2010

BALD IS BEAUTIFUL - I fight like a girl!

Jan 2010 - Yearly Mammogram, said they saw something odd, will "watch", come back in 6 months. DONE

June 2010 - Mammo, Ultrasound then Biopsy (quietness on the tech's faces told me EVERYTHING) DONE

June 18th, 2010 - Got "the call" DONE

Path = Possible IDC spots (calcifications) and one IDC Invasive Ductal Carcincoma -Low Grade DONE

end of June BRACA- Negative for Braca 1, Negative for Braca 2 DONE

Surgery - Double Bi-lateral Mastectomy with expanders for later reconstruction option DONE. . . . s

Pathology - 5 TOTAL, 3 IDC spots, and 2 IDC Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, one low grade, one high grade. Stage 2A DONE

Aug 12th, first meeting with Breast Cancer Survivors Group - Look Good, Feel Better DONE

Aug 15th, Shave head bald (maybe with a little faux hawk) in evening with Kat.

Aug 16th, Surgery - Portacath for ChemoPort
Aug 16th, Massive Grand Mal at 10:30pm, fancy ride in Red "bus", got home at 3:30AM

Aug 17th, don't remember much of that day.

August 18th, rocking date with Kat, so much fun, I'm afraid to tell ya. Let's just say we got the royal treatment. :)

Aug 19th, 4 rounds of Taxotere, & Cytoxin 21 weeks apart Hair to fall out approximately on day 11-17.

Then Radiation

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Dolly Pasquale - Second to NONE! Happy B-day!

My Birthday Girl!!!

Kathryn with "her baby", Lizzie

Best Friends Forever!

Kathryn loves her big brother!

Lizzie and Kathryn "modeling"

This is a blog tribute to my "Dolly" on her 25th Birthday! My sister's nickname from my grandmother was "Doll" and I nicknamed my first daughter "Dolly" in that memory. Kat, today is your special day and you're a quarter a century! Look at how far you've come! You've accomplished more in your short life than I have in twice the years! It's so odd to realize that I'm twice as old as you. I never figured that out before now! Dad and I were so lucky to have you all to ourselves for the first time ever, since you were born! Thank you for spending the weekend with us in Yellowstone! It was a BLAST. :) To our second born, but never second best, we love you so much! Happy 1/4 Century honey! Keep living every day to the fullest and always keep ONE foot on the trail! Hello Life! Hello DOLLY! Happy Birthday! P.S. There is a rule in Yellowstone that you're not suppose to get off the trail. Guess she was born to be WILD by NATURE. :)

Thursday, June 24, 2010

PINK vs. RED

I don't remember ever really liking the color pink, as I really prefer red, but I think PINK is starting to grow on me. I was diagnosed yesterday with Grade 1 - Invasive Ductal Carcinoma. I am surrounded by loving friends and my children to support me as I jump on the train and "Race for the Cure". Women, please get your mammograms ON TIME. It will have saved my life and it could save yours. Please forgive the lack of posts. I really don't want it to be about cancer. I have so much more going on in my life which is POSITIVE. On a side note, my wonderful daughter Kathryn surprised me yesterday and came and painted my nails RED and gave me a little red tube of lipstick which has become somewhat of a pacifier for me. I didn't know I was hanging on to it so tightly until I saw the little indentation marks on my hand! I think I'm not going to fight the pink, I think I'll embrace the pink too, and fight cancer instead. Remember ladies, Cancer is a word - not a "sentence". :)

Sunday, May 9, 2010

No Empty Chairs

President Ezra Taft Benson said "God intended the family to be eternal. With all my soul, I testify to the truth of that declaration. May he bless us to strengthen our homes and the lives of each family member so that in due time we can report to our Heavenly Father in His celestial home that we are all there--father, mother, sister, brother, all who hold each other dear. Each chair is filled. We are all back home."

Today, Kat and Travis came for BBQ Luncheon, and we were able to talk to our son, Spencer on the phone and our missionary daughter in London England Mission! Today, there were no empty chairs, and that felt so good. It was a perfect Mother's Day. Thanks everyone!

Saturday, May 1, 2010

The GRADUATE! MAGNA CUM LAUDE!

Kat wanted Red Lobster for her Graduation Luncheon! Grandpa Dave and Grandma Nelda, and Carolene Cook and Mom (me) and Dad (Mark) and Travis all came to celebrate the graduation!

We're all seated and excited for Graduation to start! Cousin Melissa joined us and so did Paul (Kat's father in law!)

The Deaf Studies Students before graduating, in the tunnel waiting to walk down the aisle!

We're so proud of her to be going after her life-long dream of graduating with her Bachelor's with HONORS. She's also Nationally Certified at ADVANCED level. WooHoo!

The Cooks (in laws) were also there to congratulate the graduate! So glad they could join us too!

Cousin Melissa came for the graduation.

Yeah, we got a picture with all of us with Dad. Whew! :)

Just look at her! Beauty & Brains, she has it all. She got it from her Dad! We love you Kathryn! We are so very happy for you!

All Graduated! They are DONE! Awesome group of friends!

Friday, April 30, 2010

Tulip Festival!!!!

My wonderful visiting teachers (my friends) and Melissa and I went to the Tulip Festival at Thanksgiving Point. I had NO idea how huge it was and really rivals anything in California. It's tons of beautiful wide walking trails and amazing flowers. I hear it's beautiful ANY time of year! Wow, is all I can say!

The wind was blowing and I couldn't get my hair to stay still! Oh, and is that lipstick on my teeth? Yikes.... ha ha

There you go. One single moment of time that my hair will calm down.
Oops, time for a color touch up. Yes, I earned every one of those gray hairs! :)

Saturday, April 24, 2010

"Pimp my Ride" Happy Independence Day

I think today was the first time I went to the grocery store all by myself in over 16 years without needing a ride. I could carry 4 grocery bags, and a bag of pharmaceuticals, and my purse! WooHoo! UTA told me that I need to get out more, and the electric wheelchair would help me not get so tired and dizzy especially with carrying stuff. They took the time to show me how to attach groceries and let me tell ya, I was soooo happy (although embarassed to be in a wheelchair) but I didn't inconvenience anyone. So that made it all worth it.