My Doctor Speaks

I am still pretty hot about these new breast cancer screening recommendations, as you can imagine. As a breast cancer survivor, and one that was considered low-risk at the time of diagnosis, this feels like a slap in the face to me. I feel like they are overlooking women who are considered low-risk and basically sending the message that our lives aren’t worth it. Not worth the screening, not worth the testing…all to save some bucks?? I am angry, offended, and disappointed that the task force made these recommendations.

I don’t know how many of you listen to XM radio, but if I am in the car during the Gayle King show that’s what I’m listening to. Well this morning she was talking, of course, about these new breast cancer screening recommendations and was taking calls for people to weigh in. I have NEVER done this before, but I totally picked up the phone and GOT THROUGH! I spoke with Gayle’s producers and was on the line to talk to her and…they ran out of time!! Ahhhhhhh! Darn it! And I was all ready, too! Fired up, can you imagine?! LOL

Anyway, another lovely lady is weighing in on the topic, my breast dr, Dr. Julie Margenthaler. She was interviewed by the NBC affiliate in St. Louis yesterday and you can view her interview here.

Have a good Wednesday, friends!

xoxo

Bad Advice

Hi friends! Today feels like a Monday for me. The kids were out of school yesterday for fall break, aka deer season (yes, believe it), and went back today so it really does feel like Monday. After a long, and busy!, weekend I rrreeaalllyyy wanted to pull the covers back over my head at 530am when the alarm started blaring, but alas, I did not. I am motivated by several things at this VERY EARLY hour: my love of this peaceful time of day (it’s my fave), hot coffee, Bible devotion time, and the sunrise. The day just holds so much promise when you are up before the sun. And I.love.it. And these things are what keep me getting up at 530am.

After getting the kids off to school, I came home and busted out 6 miles on the TM. I am amazed, and excited, to see my speed + endurance increase simultaneously since finishing treatment and starting on the BP med. Guess things are getting back to normal. Yay!

I wanted to share with you today, some rather interesting new guidelines put forth by U.S. Preventive Services Task Force that made headlines yesterday. Every news outlet is covering it, but you can read CNN's report here. This task force is now releasing new guidelines for women and mammography. Here's the differences:

NOW

• Routine mammograms should begin at the age of 40.
• Women should get mammograms yearly.
• Monthly breast self exams.

NEW (they are saying none of these apply to those who are high-risk = family history)

• Mammograms should start at age 50.
• If the screening is negative, a women may be able to wait 2 years in between mammograms.
• No need for monthly breast self exams.

WHAT?!?! I am so outraged at this report that I can hardly stand it. I was watching the news last night when the report came on and was practically yelling at the tv! I could not believe what I was hearing!! Part of their reasoning is because there are many false positives that occur between the ages of 40-49 in diagnostic mammography...um, well, what about the lives that it DOES save?? Seems to me they are saying that "yeah, it does save some lives, but they aren't worth it." You've got to be kidding me. 15% of women in their 40s detect breast cancer through mammography. Is this task force saying these lives aren't worth it?? The best thing we have in the fight against breast cancer is early detection. MAMMOGRAMS AND BSEs save lives and are a big part of that!

I am so disappointed in this new report. It makes me so sad that some women out there will hear this and think that it is ok to not get their mammos until 50 and not worry about BSEs and because of this, breast cancer will go undetected. Do you know what damage breast cancer can do in that amount of time?? I let mine go for a year and a half and had lymph node involvement by the time I was diagnosed...and I was one of the lucky ones. With my age and receptors, I am lucky that it hadn't spread to other areas of my body. I can't imagine that they would even put this report out there. I can bet you money, sadly, that the death rate for breast cancer, which has been on the decline in the last several years, will slowly be on the rise if this report is allowed to stand. After years of pushing and pushing and getting the message out for early detection, it seems we have just went backwards about 20 years in our mission.

Before this report came out yesterday, I was of the belief that we were headed in the other direction. Where younger and more women were getting screened, and new (and better) imaging tests like the breast MRI would slowly replace the mammogram. I am just disheartened. Apparently so is the American Cancer Society, who doesn't agree with this new report at all. And neither do the physicians that I have seen interviewed on the various news shows. Which leads me to wonder how on earth this task force came up with such bogus suggestions?? Is it insurance companies? Political? Who knows. But I hope it isn't leading backwards down the road that was just paved with the hard work of those fighting for early detection and screening.

So for all you gals out there...go with the current guidelines recommended by the American Cancer Society:

• Yearly mammograms beginning at the age of 40, unless you have a family history of breast cancer. If so, take the age at which that family member was diagnosed and subtract 10 years to get the age that you should begin getting screened.
• Do monthly breast self exams. This is how I found my lump. I was only 29 when I felt it...there was no yearly mammogram in the plans for me. It was just what I felt and had to go from there.
• Talk to your doctor.

< stepping down off soapbox now;-) >

xoxo

Precious Bundle

Hello friends!  It’s been a couple of days, I know, but I have a very good excuse.  In fact, the BEST excuse in the world!  I had another precious nephew arrive early Friday morning!!!

Caleb Jaxon was born at 1248am to Layne and Brett, and big brother Ethan!  He arrived weighing in at 8lbs. 13 oz and 20” long.  Everybody is doing great!  Ethan loves his baby brother and everybody is adjusting to having another precious boy in the house. 

 

  Yeah, I’m a little proud, can ya tell?!  He is soooo sweet!

Ethan meeting Caleb for the first time…awwwwe;-)

Ethan making sure everybody is being quiet!

My sister, Layne, and her boys!  How precious are they?!

What a beautiful blessing little Caleb is.

 

The rest of the weekend was spent doing some shopping.  We were gone for a total of 3 days and my parents and other sister, Jessica, and I took advantage of every minute.  We shopped and ate, and ate and shopped;-)  The BEST way to spend a long weekend, in my opinion.  I hope y’all had a great one, too!  Love~

xoxo

“Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him.”  Psalm 127:3

Thank A Vet

Papa and his brothers

Happy Veterans Day everyone! Are you enjoying a day off from work today, or no? I know some places are open, some aren't. I know I won't have to do my usual errand-running today because of the banks and post office being closed. I'm not complaining:-)



But let's not forget the real reason today is special. Today is the day set aside to honor our military Veterans. So whether they are actively serving in our US military, or have served in the past, please take a moment to thank a Veteran today. Maybe hug his/her neck! They so greatly deserve it, and so much more.

My special vet is my Papa, my mom's dad, who served in World War II. He fought in Normandy on D-Day and drove a U-boat onto Utah Beach on June 6, 1944. He talked about it occasionally throughout the years, and he and my Nana went back to Utah Beach on the 50th anniversary of D-Day in 1994. Here is a pic of them and then the back of picture where Nana wrote on it:

They came to visit right after their trip and they brought us all shirts from Germany and France. Here's the pic of all of us grandchildren with our Nana and Papa:


L-R: Papa, Layne, Kevin, Jessica, Kathleen, Matthew, Erica (ME!), Nana

I had no idea how much digging out these pics would affect me today! I am just overwhelmed with gratitude and thankfulness for our freedom and those who unselfishly serve our nation. And it makes me miss my grandparents, too! Papa passed away on August 12, 1996, and Nana on December 12, 2007. There is no one that loves you more unconditionally than your grandparents and I miss their hugs and all the fun stuff we used to do together. So I'll just say this, if your Nana or Papa are still with us, give them an extra hug today ;-)

So lightening the mood, I had a fabulous run this morning! Katie went back to school today (Hallelujah!) so I headed outside for a beautiful morning run. Here's my stats:

Distance: 6.46 miles

Time: 56:31

Pace: 8:44 minute/mile

See what I'm talking about with my mileage and time lately?? Woohoo!! I'm lovin it!

Have a great Veterans Day, all!

xoxo

Skippin Out Early!

GOOD MORNING SUNSHINES! Ahhhh, today is going well.

I got up at the usual 530am, had my java and Jesus time and then hit the treadmill for a 5.5 mile run. I have been SO energized lately! I don't know if it is due to the blood pressure medicine, the fact that Herceptin treatments are over, or what...but I am LOVIN IT! My afternoon slump is gone and runs have been faster and higher mileage. I hit 46 miles last week...can't remember the last time it was that high. It's been awhile. SO good to be feeling good!

Today I am picking the boys up early from school because Tyler has an orthodontist appt in PB. AND I may or may not be going a little earlier than necessary so we can go eat lunch first ;-) Katie is on her last day of Tamiflu so she is still at home. She goes back to school tomorrow. Lemme tell ya, this girl NEEDS school! She is bouncing off the walls at home right now! I am so glad that she is better and her flu symptoms never got as severe as some. Michelle believes that her having the first 1/2 of her H1N1 shot gave her some protection from the severity of it. So all that lingers now is the occasional cough, no biggie. Thanks for all the prayers for the little princess!

I am busy planning two different parties and getting invitations out this week: Katie's 6th Birthday party, and my sister Jessica's baby shower. Could we BE any busier?! I wouldn't have it any other way:-)

I am gonna get off here for now. It's almost time for Katie and I to get the boys, and I still need dinner ideas so I have to browse some recipes for a minute before we leave. Hmmmmm, what to fix? Have a terrific Tuesday, lovlies!

xoxo

Treadmill Half-Marathon

Happy Sunday morning friends!

I am happy to report that Katie seems to be doing better today *crossing fingers!* We didn't have to get up in the middle of the night for fever medicine and as of now, she has barely a low-grade temp. She DOES, however, have an awful cough :-( The little princess slept until 1030am, guess she needed her beauty sleep ;-) I'm praying she continues to improve today!

Since we couldn't go to church today, I scheduled myself a half-marathon on the treadmill this morning. Yep 13.1 miles on the ol' 'mill...finished in 2 hrs. 3 mins. and 9 seconds. Yippee!! It felt great to run so long this morning. We have absolutely glorious weather right now, so it's a shame that I couldn't do it outside but what can ya do...it was great anyway!

I thought I may put in a movie or watch some shows online during my run this morning, but I never had to. I plugged in my iPhone and played some oldies over and over and over again. Funny how new music makes the miles go faster, and can put some spring in your step! Here's what I played this morning:

• Here Comes the Sun - The Beatles
• This Will Be (An Everlasting Love) - Natalie Cole
• Let's Get Together - Hayley Mills
• L-O-V-E - Nat King Cole
• There She Goes - The La's
• Jack and Diane - John Mellencamp
• Hurts So Good - John Mellencamp
• R.O.C.K. In The U.S.A. - John Mellencamp

Don't judge ;-) Do you recognize the link between the first 5 songs?

The Parent Trap!

I love love love the older version, I remember watching it as a kid, and I will watch Lindsey Lohan's 1998 version anytime. In fact, that's what Katie and I were watching last night when I was making my playlist for this morning. I love the songs and they certainly kept me moving this morning! As far as the last 3 go, well, I heard "Jack & Diane" on the radio the other day and it reminded me of high school and so that led me to download some other faves. BTW, you runners out there, "R.O.C.K. In The U.S.A." has a great running beat and I must have replayed that song alone a million times!

So it's been a great start to the day! I hope yours is looking as beautiful wherever you are! God Bless!

xoxo

Daily Reminder

I admit, I totally got this idea after seeing it on Jenna's blog, in the background of one of her pics. But it touched my heart and thought it may touch some of yours as well.

I wrote Luke 8:48 on a blank notecard and taped it to my bathroom mirror so that I could see these beautiful words first thing every morning: "...Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace." The verse you choose may be different, but for me this is a p.e.r.f.e.c.t daily reminder that God has healed me and wants me to trust Him and go in peace. It is such a great thing to read first thing every morning and periodically throughout the day. Just the kind of reminder I need.

So for any of you who need a daily reminder that you are loved, cherished, forgiven, healed, or whatever your needs may be, I invite you to choose a verse that speaks to your heart and put it somewhere where you will see it daily.

xoxo

Sickly Weekend

DIAGNOSIS:
So the flu bug has officially hit our house :-( Katie tested positive for Type A flu yesterday morning. I was so disappointed because 1)I don't like her to be sick (duh), and 2)We took every precaution and have been SO careful to keep us healthy. A little over a month ago we all had the seasonal flu shot, and then about 3 weeks ago we had our H1N1 flu shots. But, despite our proactive approach, Katie has caught the bug anyway. And apparently so has most of both Kindergarten classes at school...poor babies. Katie is one of a couple that have tested positive for Type A flu. Needless to say, the "ickies" has hit the elementary.

CURRENT STATUS:
Katie is doing pretty well, considering. She has run a fever of 99.5-101 since she woke up on Thursday morning but it is pretty well managed by rotating Tylenol and Motrin. More props goes to the Motrin end...why oh why can't Tylenol work as well as Motrin?! Darn it. When she is fresh off a dose she is playing, cheering, asking to go to school, and being her usual bouncy self. When her fever starts to come back up and she is due for another dose she is puny and tired. She also has a cough and snotty nose.

TREATMENT:
So along with rotating the Tylenol and Motrin every 3-4 hours, as needed, we are also doing breathing treatments with a nebulizer twice a day. This is strictly precautionary; it keeps her airways open and lungs clear so that hopefully nothing pneumonia-like will set up. Katie is also on Tamiflu twice a day to help with her symptoms. And we have cough medicine to give her at bedtime so she can sleep without coughing. NOTE: She doesn't like any of this and vocalizes it very well.

So we are just relaxing here at home for the time being. Katie won't be cleared to go back to school until she is finished with the Tamiflu, which will be Wednesday. She is very upset that she can't go to school, or anywhere for that matter. I am saying plenty of get better prayers for Katie and the rest of the sick little ones. I would appreciate any y'all could send our way as well :-)

On another note, I have been watching Food Network all morning and I think I have stumbled onto something delicious to make for dinner from 5 Ingredient Fix:

Creamed Corn
Blackened Catfish

Have a great Saturday, friends ;-)

xoxo

Playing Catch-Up

Ya know, I really hope that this blogging once-a-week thing is not gonna be the norm forever!  Every time I think about sitting down and writing a post, I am bombarded with many other things that need to be done: laundry, dinners, housework, office work, and the list could go on and on…unfortunately ;-)

But for the last week, here has been our life:

HALLOWEEN 09 TOO MUCH RAIN=FLOODING AT OUR CABIN!  YIKES!!CHURCH HAYRIDE AND BONFIRE SCHOOL HALLOWEEN PARTY   Yesterday Tiffany and I made a trip to STL to get our ports flushed since it has been 5 weeks since last treatment.  All went well, and I thought I was going to be an aunt again before the day was done because my sister Layne called and thought she was in labor…false alarm!  So no baby yesterday, but soon.  :-)  Oh, and an OMGosh moment with my BP yesterday, 124/82!!!  That, folks, is an all-time low for me in STL!  Guess the BP med is working!  Yay!

We are having family pics taken tomorrow, much to all my boys’ chagrin.  They are really balking this time and I have no patience for it, really.  You would think after the last year we have had that a family picture would NOT be so out of the question!  But no, being men and boys that they are, they are really complaining.  They better be careful, or it will be mother-daughter pics. ;-)

AND Katie woke up with a cough and a 101.4 fever this morning.  She feels fine and was disappointed that she couldn’t go to school.  But her class of 19 only has 9 today, so something is going around…unfortunately most of it is flu :-(  I am praying that the seasonal flu shot AND the H1N1 shots that we all got are going to kick in and she won’t get any worse. 

I hope that everyone is having a great week and I also hope that it won’t BE a week before my next post!  Later, friends!

xoxo

PS~ Something I’m working on: “Do everything without complaining or arguing,” Philippians 2:14

The Date is Set

Hello, friends! Happy Thursday to ya! ;-)

We have rain, rain, and more rain here. Yuck. Seems like we have had a lot of it lately. I'm so happy to have gotten two runs in outside this week! This morning I was back on my ol' friend TM for 5 quick miles.

About 3 miles into my run, my dr's office called and told me they had a surgery date for me if it works for me. So it looks like Wednesday, Dec. 9 will be my bye-bye girlie-parts day! There is really NO time in the next two months to have it done, so I had made up my mind that whatever date they called me with, I was gonna go with. Nevermind the fact that my sister's baby shower (that I am hosting at my house, nonetheless) is on Saturday the 12th! Oh geez. What have I done?? But I have already informed my mom that she may have to prop me up in a chair and do all the work that day. I will only be 3 days post-op. Should.be.interesting. I can picture myself propped up in my lazy chair with sunglasses on, lookin like Bernie cause I am too sore, tired, and all jacked-up on pain meds to care! Goodness. I hope not! I know I won't be running around doing much, but I hope I at least feel like getting out of bed and putting on makeup. Oh you KNOW I will! I would do anything for my sisters. And my nephew, who is to be named Brayden, BTW! Thanks, Jess for letting us in on the little guy's name. As for my other pregnant sister, Layne, we STILL don't know what she and Brett are naming their little bundle of joy...and she is due in like, 3 weeks! Hmmmmm..... I like Eric. I'm just sayin.

So I'm off to enjoy the rest of this rainy day. I have worked on Katie's class' Halloween treat bags today...tomorrow is the big class party day, ya know. And now a load of laundry beckons me from the dryer. It's so chilly and rainy out, I would probably be comfortable just climbing in all the warm, soft, fluffy clothes and hanging out. Crazy, but sounds kinda good right?!

Have a good afternoon, all!

xoxo

“Journey”

I finally figured out how to post my video that I played last Thursday night at our ladies night at church.  I hope it works here so y’all can see it.  It captures our journey throughout this past year and Casting Crowns song “Praise You In This Storm” is the perfect fit for what we went through.  God is who He says He is and can do what He says He can do no matter what, no matter where, no matter how. 

xoxo