Surgery Update

The surgery went very well today. I'm feeling pretty good and I'm not in much pain. I've just been sleeping since we got home. My Mom arrived last night to stay with Ella today. My Dad will be arriving shortly and they will stay with us until Tuesday. Grandpa Wayne will be in on Tuesday to stay for 3 weeks. We are so blessed to have amazing family. Thanks to all of you for your prayers today. There will be more to come and I promise it will not take me a month to update our blog!

I didn't forget......

I know many of you think I forgot about my blog. Well, I haven't at all but chasing around a little girl changes everything! Ella decided last week she would start walking and she was off! I'm so glad she held up her end of our deal to start walking after I finish chemo. Walking definitely takes motherhood to a different level! Joel took this picture of her picking flowers which is one of her new favorite things to do. She also likes to collect rocks.


We had a wonderful Easter and we were able to spend some time with my family in Augusta. Ella went to her first Easter egg hunt and did super. She found one egg! I don't think she cared a bit though. We jumped on the moonwalk and slid down a huge slide several times (I had a blast too)!

Everything with me is going awesome! I feel amazing. My energy is back and several people have told me the sparkle is back in my eyes. I appreciate everyday so much more and I am so grateful to feel good. I'm continuing to receive my Herceptin infusions every two weeks and I've started taking Tamoxifen. I am feeling no side effects from either one. I am so privileged that I continue to meet amazing cancer survivors. Just this week a young women came up to me at Walmart and asked "Do you have cancer?" Turns out, she also had breast cancer and has finished her chemo and is now receiving radiation. She receives her treatment at SCOA also. She told me about a meeting the next day for women who were receiving Herceptin. I stopped by after my infusion and met 2 other young women with breast cancer. We all had similar stories, similar surgeries, similar treatment and they are all moms too! They were so fun and upbeat. I can't wait to see what God is going to do with this! My hair has also started growing. I actually have a hairline!

I would like to ask for your prayers one more time. On Friday morning (April 4th), I will be having the second reconstructive surgery. This is the surgery where I get my permanent implants. YEAH!!!!!!! I can't wait for the tissue expanders to be gone. My surgery is at 7:00AM and should last about 2 hours. It will be an outpatient procedure so I should be home about lunch time. I thought this point would take forever to get to and here I am now. I can't believe it. God is so faithful! I will try to have Joel or Candice post a message after my surgery tomorrow. Thanks for your support and prayers!

Better and Stronger

I am feeling so much better. I had a rough time for several days. I picked up that stomach virus going around but I couldn't shake it. Joel and Ella both had it for about 24 hours but I had it for 4 days. After my last chemo I did very well. My mom was here to help and I was able to get tons of rest. By Sunday afternoon I was starting to feel very bad. On Monday Joel went to work and I laid on the floor all day. Thank goodness I have a wonderful child who plays on her own. By the time Joel got home I was done and crying. He said "Call your mom and go to bed!" Once again Mom rescued us and came back up and stayed until Thursday. Your a life-saver Mom!!!

We are now all well and I've started to feel somewhat normal. The metallic taste is gone and food actually tastes good again. My energy is back and I'm ready to take on the world. Well, maybe not that but I feel pretty good! I am still receiving my weekly Herceptin but I will go to every 2 weeks after next week.

My next surgery is scheduled for April 4th and I am so ready. After about 2 weeks of recovery, I will be able to return to work. I will be restricted on doing certain things like carrying Ella on my hip, doing laundry, vacuuming, and lifting. Dr. Haines said he would add anything else I didn't want to do! I will have to be careful for 6 weeks after surgery because one wrong move can cause a separation of my muscle. Yikes!!

Thank you for all your prayers the past 2 weeks. I thought I would share how absolutely adorable our daughter is. Just press the play button. I hope you enjoy!

Please Pray

I (Candice) received a call from Lisa today. She was at the doctor getting fluids and it appears that she has a virus of sorts in addition to her chemo sickness. That’s a WHOLE week of being sick. She wants you to know that she’s okay, but isn’t feeling well at all. Please keep Lisa in your prayers.

More to come soon.

It's OVER!!!!

Just wanted to let you all know we made it!!! I couldn't have done it without all the prayers and support from so many of you. We all went through this together. Now, we head into the last few days I'll have to feel bad and then it's really over! I thought you might want to celebrate with me and hear the "Last Chemo Day Song" sung by the amazing nurses at SCOA. Thank you for your prayers the next few days. God bless.