Post Surgery Appt #1 (breast surgeon)

When leaving for dr's appt, I had no idea what my day would hold.

I sensed something when I entered the office & the staff, normally chipper, looked at me almost sympathetically.
Hmmm...

Then, before removing 2 of 4 of my drains, Dr Snell comes in w/ the path report.  She tells me, "I have good news & bad news... the bad news is the pathology report showed a cancerous tumor in your left breast.  The good news is that you had a mastectomy."
I don't think I even heard much after cancerous tumor....
I'm certain my jaw dropped open & I don't forget hearing my mom gasp.
I didn't cry.  Just felt such thankfulness.  My elective surgery saved me.  Without finding it, it would've continued to grow.   Because in March, the MRI didn't find it....just a few mos before that.  And nine mos before, the mammogram didn't find it.

My mind didn't think about much more than that, between the phone calls & reading.  Telling Jeff, I thought he'd fall apart.... instead, he comforted me, while *I* fell apart.

My new normal isn't anything but normal.

Going Home

After a visit from Dr. Snell (breast surgeon) & Dr. Olivea (Plastics), I was released.

Then home, to find a new normal for the next few weeks.

The Morning After

The puking. The trouble peeing. The sharp twinges where my boobs used to be.

But none of it worse than dying of cancer.

Mastectomy Day

6/25/2012....
Not likely a day I'll ever forget.  Sensitive for most, emotional for many.  I'm just so on speed mode to do this that I can't say I'm sad.
Everything goes swimmingly.  Other than some post-surgery barfing, it's smooth.
Jeff & my mom join me before surgery & are waiting when I'm finished.  Pastor Scott prays w/ us before surgery & visits me the following day.

GOD IS GOOD.

Boobectomy

I finally got a date for the PBM (prophylactic bi-lateral mastectomy).  Monday after next.  I'm more relieved than scared.  And people tell me how brave I am, but I think I'd be brave NOT TO do it.

Perry Points

This is what we call PERRY POINTS... alternately titled, BRIBERY DISGUISED AS A CHORE CHART.

How do they earn them?:
By doing (each of) the following:
-making bed
-taking vitamins/medicine
-getting dressed
-brushing teeth
-practicing piano
-cleaning out the car (this must be done each time we come home from somewhere & includes them getting everything in the car that is theirs -- from toys to trash)
-NOT fighting
-putting away shoes (when getting home)
-cleaning up 'mess' (clearing spot from meals, picking up toys when done w/ activity)
and DOUBLE points for -memorizing/reciting new bible verse

But here's the trick (for long lasting habit forming) --- these must be done WITHOUT my reminders.  This way they're really forcing themselves to make it a real part of their day.

We sit down before bedtime & tally 'points'.  This is our time to reflect on the day's events & evaluate if we tried our hardest.

Attributes can be changed & analyzed at anytime.  The point is to manage behavior & once it's managed, it's time to zero in on something else that needs to be manipulated.  For us, the above habits/behaviors were needing to be worked on.

We used to do separate charts, but since our prizes (field trips) are done TOGETHER, that didn't make sense.  Plus, this kinda encourages camaraderie (rather than competition, which ends up=fights).

What do they earn?  FIELD TRIPS; which are a HUGE part of our family life anyway... so why not reward them with something that won't be too big of a spend for us.
When we started this Perry Points thing, the kids brainstormed a list of places they want to go, things they want to do. 
Our list includes:
ice skating
water park
zoo
bounce-u
city garden--->Gus pretzels
magic house
science center
drive in
elephant rock --->johnson shut ins
roller skating
bowling
roller skating
mini golf
etc.

I used to pretend that they were choosing an activity from a hat.. I'd pretend to cut all the above activities into strips & let him or her "randomly" 'pick one' from that hat... when all reality, I was actually picking the one thing that would work for us (obviously am not going to pick elephant rock when daddy's not available) & write it on every strip.  You say sneaky, I say smart. ;)




When we first started doing this, I made cute little charts on the computer... but since we starting putting their charts together, I just grab a big piece of cardboard, or something that needs to be recycled.  I also used to do stickers, now just a fancy letter (or something they can't mimic).

Good luck!

One Year Ago

One year ago, Flynn danced at her recital... only Nana couldn't come watch.  Nana was recovering from her surgery & was facing a long road.  Other surgeries. Chemo. Radiation.  We were sad & it looked pretty gloom.

Now, look at Nana.  Her strength & bravery pushed her through the toughest year & now she's here with us for lots & lots of years.