SGK & Disney Vacation

Hello again.... I have to apologize... I was reading over my blog yesterday and last year I told you we were going to Disney on vacation but never updated about it or the SGK Race...  I don't know why unless it is because we moved not long after we got back.  I guess I should of blogged from Disney.  Well, now I have it on my phone so the next vacation I will. 

Susan G Komen Race for the Cure - San Antonio, April 30, 2011

We had an awesome time at the walk and in San Antonio.  It is an amazing event.  We will go to one every year....  Thank you to everyone who came to walk with us.

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Now our vacation September 17-24, 2011

We drove to Disney World...  We stopped in Mobile Alabama at Battleship Memorial Park.  It was so neat.  We took a tour of the battleship USS Alabama and the submarine USS Drum.  If anyone is ever that way I recommend stopping.  We continued on our way and spent the night in Destin Florida.  The sand there is amazing.  It feels like powdered sugar and is so white.  I wish we could of spent more time playing on the beach.  The next day we were off to Orlando... We stayed one night at the Nickelodeon Suites Resort.  The pool there was awesome. The kids could of played there for hours.  We went to the character breakfast and ate with Dora, Diego, Pablo (Backyardigans) & Sponge Bob.  Then we were off to Disney.  It is only a few miles down the road so it didn't take long.  We got to our hotel, Disney All Star Movie Resort, and their computer was down so they couldn't check us in but were able to give us tickets to go to the park.  We started at Disney's Animal Kingdom.  We had a great time there.  We saw the parade and the Lion King show which was awesome!!! That is where we did all the character pictures in case we couldn't find them at the other parks.  We saw Donald, Goofy, Minnie & Micky.  We headed back to our hotel where they were able to check Anne in but not us.  It was just one of those things.  They tried and had to redo the reservation and redo and redo...... Anyway they said they have this happen once in a while but not to the extent it happened to us.  Finally after a few hours we were checked in.  The only thing I thought was kind of something was they never offered us anything for the inconvenience.  Oh well..... That was behind us and the next day we went to Magic Kingdom to Cinderella's Castle for the Character Breakfast.  Lindsi loved it... Logan and Brian not so much but they were there. We saw Cinderella, Snow White, Aurora (Sleeping Beauty), Ariel and Belle.   We rode some rides and then Logan became a pirate.  Lindsi was supposed to but she changed her mind.  Logan went to The Pirate's League and got a complete makeover.  He really liked that. We saw the parade and headed back to our hotel to get in the pool.  The next day we went to Disney's Hollywood Studios.  We did the character breakfast at Hollywood & Vine.  We saw Agent Oso, Leo & June (Einsteins) and Handy Manny. We rode the toy story ride which was great.  After that Lindsi & I stood in line to meet Woody & Buzz.  Logan wanted to see them he just didn't want to stand in line for an hour.  We went to see Beauty and the Beast.  The show was great but it was hot.... After that we went to the hotel to swim.  They were having a contest out at the pool throwing water balloons.  Logan wanted to do it so we did.  We tied for 1st place.  Logan & I make a great team.  It started raining so we missed the fireworks show.  We will have to go back I guess...  That night Logan got his real chesty cough.  When we left Disney the next day we were going to Georgia but changed our plans because we needed to get him home.  We drove 13 hours the first day and stayed in Jackson Mississippi.  We made it home the next day after dark.  We got him home and started breathing treatments and took him to the Dr on Monday.  At least he didn't get sick until the end.  We can't wait to go back.  Lindsi and I really want to go at Christmas when it is all decorated.  We love Christmas.  I think that is it.  Here are a few pictures.  We took a little over 300 so I can't post them all. 

Destin

Happy New Year!!!!!!

Hello everyone, I have so much to tell.  In my last post I promised to fill you in and just haven't had time.  Logan and Lindsi both have glasses.  Logan has astigmatism in one eye.  They made the glasses lens on the good eye strong to blur it so he would have to see with the bad eye.  Well we went back for his 3 month check up and the good eye had just adjusted it self so he wasn't seeing any better.  They sent home drops for the good eye to dilate it.  So we put one drop in every day to keep it dilated which makes it blurry so he has to use the other eye.  He sees the eye Dr in a few weeks to see if it is working.  Lindsi's muscles strain in her eyes like mine.  They put some really strong glasses on her. The hope is since she is so young that as her eyes grow they will fix and when she is a teenager she won't have to wear glasses anymore. They said at her 3 month checkup that she is doing good.  They are loving school.  They still don't like to get up so early but once they are awake they are ready to go.  They got sick right before school was out and didn't get well until new year's.  Lindsi had a double ear infection and wheezing.  Logan's lungs were crackling and he had bronchitis.  They both had an awful cough and were doing breathing treatments.  Christmas Logan was running fever and then one day he threw up for several hours.  So much fun.... Anyway 3 trips to the Dr and a slew of meds, they are well!!!! 

Now on to me and Brian, I had a shot of Zoladex in August and another one in November.  The hope was it would put me in menopause and drop my estradiol levels.  Well, I am in menopause and the cysts are gone but.... My estrogen levels aren't as low as they should be.  They aren't over 2000 like before but they should be less than 25 and they are 40.  I am going to get the shot one more time in February and then I will have a total hysterectomy the end of May.  The shot costs $3000 every 3 months and my part is $500 which is horrible but we needed to do it.  So I was wavering back and forth on what to do.  Well, my body decided for me.  Save the money and have the surgery.  Since I had a hormone positive tumor I really don't need to much estrogen.  I will meet with my GYN in March to get everything ready for surgery.  If they decide I need to do it sooner I will but the hope is the week after the kids get out of school.  I will have to stay in the hospital at least one night since he will do a total hysterectomy.  Other than that everything looks good. Like I said the cysts are gone and my blood is staying within what is a new normal for me.  My white count is low but not to bad. 

We sold our house in October are now camping at Sue's old house.  Most everything we own went to storage until we get a new house.  It is so nice living close to town.  The kids get to sleep a bit later which makes them happier.  We haven't been able to find a house so we are going to buy land and build.  Hopefully we will get everything finalized in January so they can start the building process.  Our hope is to have a house by July or August at the latest.  It would be nice if it was done by the kids birthday and we could have a birthday(moving) party.  We could say we are having a birthday party and oh be sure to wear old clothes and bring a pickup.  Haha.......  Anyway, everything is working out well. 

Now I have sad news, a few weeks ago Gus choked on a bone he drug up from somewhere and Brian had to shoot him.  Then tonight Du got hit by a car.  I was sad about Gus but more so about Du.  We have had him 12 years.  Gus was 11 months old.  We still have our sweet Sophie.  I know I called her a big pain in the behind before but she is sweet now.

One more thing and I will go. Brian and I will celebrate our 20 year anniversary on January 25th. It has been an amazing 20 years. I am looking forward to the next 50.......... I almost forgot, I got the most amazing present from my husband and kids for my birthday & Christmas. It is a pair of fat baby boots (see picture).  I love them........

1st day of School & Oncologist

1st Day of Preschool August 23, 2011

The kids started to school this week.  They are going on the T days.  Tuesday & Thursday from 7:45 to 12:00.  They are really enjoying it. Logan was most excited about doing science.  I don't think anything exciting has happened yet though.  If it has they forgot to tell me.  They don't like getting up at 6:30 but who really does.  Brian would love to get up then.  That would mean he got to sleep in. 

I saw the oncologist today.  She said I am doing good.  Clear scans and no troubles other than the cysts.  She talked to the GYN oncologist about my estradiol levels and showed them the sono of my ovaries and uterus. They handle uterine cancer and ovarian cancer and they said they didn't see any cause for concern.  So we now have a plan.....  I started taking the tamoxifen again tonight because I really need to be on something to block the estrogen receptors.  Monday I go get a shot to put me in menopause.  Her hope is that once my ovaries are completely shut down that the cysts will just go away and my estrogen levels will level out.  I will go back in 3 months and get another shot and blood work.  I can't remember for sure what the name of the shot is.  I forgot to write it down.  I will find out on Monday.  So for now NO surgery which is fine with me if the cysts go away.  I have another sono scheduled for November too. 

I will post again on Monday.  I will let you know what we find out about the kids eyes.  Have a great weekend!!

Scans & Other

I heard from the nurse yesterday and my scans were clear.  I knew deep down they would be but there is always that little doubt bug that tries to creep in.  I am so excited.  Six more months.  I will see the oncologist on the 25th and we will see what my next step is since I am off the tamoxifen and need something to block the estrogen receptors.

Logan lost another tooth.  It was the other bottom front.  I swear the first one is never going to come back in.  And the top two are starting to get loose.  He may be one of those kids with 4 teeth missing at once.

We finally got our itinerary planned for our Disney trip.  We now know where we will be every night and the hotels are booked.  I am excited about that too.  It is getting close.  Sept 16th will be here before we know it.

Kids, Tests & Appts

My new favorite quote:

"Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add color to my sunset sky."


Wow, I have started to write on here several times and life happened.  Since my last post the kids turned 5.  Logan lost his first tooth and has a 6 year molar coming in.  Now he has 3 more teeth loose.  His next tooth is going to come out any day.  I can't believe they start preschool in 20 days.  Class is from 7:45 to 12:00 Tuesday's & Thursday's.  They are getting excited.  They took swim lessons in June.  Logan is a fish in the water.  Lindsi not so much but she is getting better every time we go swimming.  We took them for their 5 year check up nearly a month ago now.  The L's now have an eye appt scheduled on Aug 29th.  Lindsi's eye sight is 20/40 which isn't bad but Logan, one eye was 20/40 and the other was 20/100.  Their Dr thinks we should have it checked. 

Now on to me.  Lets see, I have been having constant cysts on my ovaries.  I get a sonogram every few months.  In May they checked my Estradiol levels and they were over 2100.  The dr was concerned they should not be that high.  They stopped my tamoxifen for 10 days and checked again and my levels were 106, which is normal.  So I went back on the tamox.  I went last week and had a sono and blood test.  I saw my GYN today and the cysts are still there and my estradiol levels were back up to 1247.  I called the oncologist and they took me off the tamoxifen.  I have an appointment to see her on Aug 25th to see what we need to do.  I need the medicine so we will have to find another.  The only problem is they will have to put me completely into menopause.  There is talk of a complete hysterectomy.   I will keep you updated.  I had a Bone Scan, CAT Scan and Blood Work on Monday.  I am waiting on the results.  I will post as soon as I know.  

We have some new pets.  I am not sure if we had Gus when I last posted.  He is our new puppy.  We got a new kitten Sophie in June.  They are in a race as to who is the bigger PIB (pain in the behind).  Gus likes to trench after moles and eat water hoses and Sophie likes to wake up in the middle of the night and wants to play.  They are a great addition to the family.  If we have Sophie as long as we had Hobbes the kids will be 20.  Wow, 20. 

We are taking a driving vacation in September.  Our final destination is Disney World.  We will stop and see things along the way.  We will be gone 10 days and can't wait. 

I guess that is all for now.  I know this is long but I had so much to say.  I am really going to have to get on here more. 

Enjoy the last few weeks before school starts.  I will post again as soon as I have news.

Two Years!!!

I am a little late posting, Feb 20 was two years. I would of posted sooner but I have had sick kids for what seems like 2 weeks. I am glad I don't have much to post anymore. I saw my GYN on the 24th and had a sono of my ovaries. He said they are looking more normal than they have in a long time. I have a few spots but the cysts that were so bad aren't anymore. He won't do another sono unless I start having pain or trouble again. He will see what my CAT scan shows in July. My GYN & Oncologist say I am healthy!!! I know they are doing everything in their power to keep me that way.

Oncology Appointment

I saw the oncologist yesterday and my scans were clear. I am so glad. I was really kind of concerned because of the bone pain. I did find out that I have been medically aged 10 years. So my body thinks I am 48. That and the tamoxifen are causing the pain in my bones and joints. She thinks I am doing very good and will scan me again in 6 months. I see her again in August for my 6 month check up.

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Don't forget, we will be in San Antonio April 30th for the Race for the Cure. If anyone wants to join us. It is such an amazing event.