DAY 3 POST-OP--OH HAPPY DAY :)

What an emotional day this has been...Wayne and I went to my followup appointment with the plastic surgeon's nurse at 1:15.  The pain pump was taken out and the dressings were taken off and new padding was put in my huge sports bra (that is so attractive I might add!)  We saw everything and it was all good with no signs of infection or swelling.  I was so happy because my right shoulder tends to hurt more and I was worried something might be wrong.  She said it was because the placement of my drain was more anterior than the left.  It's also the side that I had the lymph node biopsy on last Wednesday and I am right handed. I guess there are alot of reasons. Nothing to worry about!  I don't have to wear my anti-embolism stockings anymore...YEA!   We left there and I went to see my nurse navigator, Terri, at the Women's Breast Center at St Elizabeth Medical Center and show her I made it through Monday.  She was not working the day of my surgery.  She has helped me from the first minute I was given my diagnosis--when I was like a "deer caught in the headlights".  She made appointments for me immediately and made herself available to me via email or phonecall throughout the last four months. She emailed me the day after surgery and always greets me with a big smile and a warm hug--I have always felt so comforted by her presence.  She was asking me if I was happy with everything and I was telling her about my doctor visit.  Dr Guenther, my oncological surgeon, came out with my clean pathology report and gave it to me and said "You're clean as a whistle---just what we thought...I want you to have this".  He gave me a big "SIDE HUG" (the only kind of hug I can do these days).   The last time I saw him was in the operating room and I felt like I was putting my life in his hands.  It was an emotional moment for me...and I am getting tearful as I am writing this! Four months of anticipation of getting through the surgery, the recovery and thinking things might not be as they thought!  It was what I have laid in bed at night thinking about when I couldn't distract myself like I could during the day.  THIS IS A HAPPY DAY!  Poor Wayne...we went out to eat at Panera afterwards and I just kept blubbering up!  He said this is how he felt after surgery when the doctors talked to him, my parents and my sister...I guess I wasn't there to hear it and seeing it in black and white holding it in my hands...there just isn't anything like it!  PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW THAT THERE WERE NO SURPRISES...I feel so much better than I thought I would after surgery...I seriously have to make myself lay down and rest...I have been sleeping well at night and the pain meds have been working...speaking of, it is time for more...so I must go!  Next Thursday is the appointment to get my drains out and also a followup with Dr Guenther, my oncological surgeon.  I just love that man but I wouldn't want his job for any amount of money in the world!  Every woman I have come in contact with that have had this surgery have told me that the anticipation of the surgery is much worse than the surgery itself and I would have to agree! THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR PRAYERS...

PLEASE PRAY FOR MY FRIEND, JACKIE!

I want to ask you to please pray for my friend, Jackie. She was admitted for her third stem cell transplant on Tuesday.   She has multiple myeloma and she will stay in the hospital for three weeks.  She is not receiving visitors for two weeks due to being hit hard with chemotherapy.  We met by living across the street from each other in our old neighborhood.  I ran the FLYING PIG MARATHON raising money in her honor for blood cancers with TEAM IN TRAINING in 2008.  Her son, Ben, is running the PIG this year in her honor. She is such a fighter and her spirit has always inspired me! She knows what she needs to do and she just does it.  She kept telling me the day before surgery--"Jennifer, just don't overthink it!"  Little did I know when we were moving into our houses the same time about twenty years ago, we would be fighting cancer together.  She really needs our prayers during this time-- GOD GIVE HER THE PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL STRENGTH SHE NEEDS TO GET THROUGH THIS AND LET HER CANCER COUNTS GO DOWN TO ZERO.  WE KNOW YOU ARE ABLE TO DO INFINITELY MORE THAN WE DARE TO ASK OR HOPE FOR!

SURGERY IS OVER AND I AM CANCER-FREE

Surgery is over and lasted 3 hours and 45 minutes--I am in my room and doing good--Thank you so much for your prayers I could feel them! I was calm and ready once I got to the hospital-I didn't take Valuim before hand :). I am laying here listening to my IPOD on my first dose of morphine to help me rest.  I am  the one watching Wayne sleep at 2:30 in the morning.  I guess I had the five hour nap today!  HaHa
One thought that helped me get  through the day is that many people would love to switch places with me knowing  that they would go to bed that night cancer-free with a four hour surgery.  The day has arrived that I  have been waiting four months for!  THIS IS THE DAY THAT THE LORD HAS MADE, LET US REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT!!!

ALL CLEAR!!

I got the results today from the lymph node biopsy and it was all clear--no signs of cancer were found!  I am so relieved that there are no surprises--thank you God for that answer to prayer!  I won't need to go through radiation or chemotherapy. 

DIGGING OUT FROM THE SNOW IN A UNIQUE WAY...

Kids are back to school today for the first time this week!  Thanks to the bulldozers that came down our street.  It was the first time I have ever seen bulldozers getting rid of snow. 

I am still doing great from the lymph node biopsy yesterday.  I am only taking Tylenol and using ice packs.  I am not allowed to drive but I really don't feel any pain when moving my arm.  Again, thank you for your prayers.  

LYMPH NODE BIOPSY...DONE

All done and home finally!  I got my lymph node biopsy about 1:00 today.  We will get the results on Friday but the doctor said "It doesn't look scary and he is 95% sure it will be clear!"  So we are focusing on that unless we hear differently on Friday.  I have an ice-pack in my armpit and feeling pretty good...I didn't take the Valium before surgery to help me relax because I didn't want to be more out of it than I had to be. I had to get benadryl/hydrocortisone in my IV because I am allergic to sulfa and that helped me relax a bit!  I  couldn't wait to put makeup on my face, lotion on my hands, contacs in my eyes and food in my mouth so I would feel like a real person...pretzels never tasted so good! I like to think of today as a practice run for Monday--I will be going to the same place, talking with the same people and thinking "I have been here before."  Hopefully that will add a sense of calmness and ease to the day!  I was so relieved it was over when I woke up :) :)  Thank you so much for your prayers.  I knew they were there because I could feel them!

PREADMISSION TESTING...DONE!

This is a picture of the path we have to shovel for our dachshund, "Maddie" so she can go outside.  Wayne wants to try putting her in the snow where it covers her completely and see what she does. I won't let him...We have had 22 inches of snow in the last 10 days!  I know other people have had even more than that!  I ventured out with Wayne following me part of the way in about 15 inches of snow today to get to the hospital to make sure that all papers were signed and to give them my paperwork. Surprisingly enough, the main roads were pretty clear...they must have been working on them all night. Guess what?  There was no wait  :)

GETTING THROUGH ALL THE APPOINTMENTS...EXPERIENCING BLESSINGS ALONG THE WAY

Well, this past week was filled with going to appointments, working, telling alot of people at work about my surgery and my time off, snow days (a true gift from God!), rescheduling appts and kids activities, getting kids where they need to be or arranging for someone else to do it because I wasn't able to...
I have gotten OK'd for my lymph node biopsy and a double mastectomy with reconstruction from my family doctor.  Wayne and I went to a pre-op appointment with the plastic surgeon, viewed all the "wonderful" photographs that were taken of me on the last visit (I know why I don't go topless on a beach!) ...all the prescriptions that I am going to need after surgery are filled and all my permission slips are signed.  I have Percocet, antibiotic and a muscle relaxer...I should be all set, don't you think?? My past experience with Percocet wasn't all that great...it tends to make me mean...and MAY have contributed to the demise of my first marriage...the jury is still out on that one! HA  Just pray for Wayne...he is taking off two weeks of work to help me out after surgery...he may be asking to go back after one week off....it may be more than what he signed up for.  He has been so supportive and helpful without me asking for anything...he has been there for everything...I couldn't ask for anything more!

Seriously, I have been experiencing so many blessings along this journey...I know God is putting people and things in my life because He knows just what I need...I like to have alot of information when I am going through something...I question alot of things ( probably too much!)...I believe God knows me more than I know myself...He is the one who created me...

I am going to keep adding to my list of blessings as I am going through this...hoping that it keeps me on the positive path!  These are in no specific order...just as they came to my mind...( don't feel like you have to read any of this...it is just me regurgitating my thoughts ....I won't be offended in the least!)

1. Support from Laura Beth's place of employment---Chick Fil A--they are providing a meal for us the day after surgery....I don't really know them...such an unexpected surprise!
2. Calmness and peace I have about my decision...calm and peaceful are not words that I would use to describe myself even though I try to be...so I know this is a result of so many prayers!
3. My LOVELY LADIES online support group....I was asked to be in a group of 6 ladies online from all over the US that are going through breast cancer at all different stages...It has been so helpful with all the "details" of recovery.  It all started with meeting Traci Clancy in a waiting room about 10 years ago with our sons taking OT in Blue Ash and running into her again in the plastic surgeon's waiting room. When we are all done with everything, we are all going to meet for a weekend.  That is our hope! 
4. My friend Kari...setting up meals for our family after surgery with an online calendar....so sweet of her...
5. Never-ending support of my parents...in caring for us....being there to be extra hands with my kids and being supportive of my decisions regarding surgery
6. Love and support of Wayne...thankful that the Post Office has let him off for every MD appointment without giving him a hard time and his willingness to be off two weeks after surgery...as I mentioned before...that is yet to be determined...HA
7. All the women that God has brought my way to talk me through this and encourage me....Shannon, Traci, Gina, Tracy, Pam and Mary...they have all been there before--they are all healed and going on with their lives living in a more abundant way....some of these people I didn't even know before.
8. My work...not having to worry about not getting paid for my time off...and knowing I can have more if I need it....so thankful my work is flexible!  My girlfriends at work have a way of keeping things real for me...making me laugh at the unlaughable...they have seen me at my lowest point and loved me through it!
9. Glad I am able to go to some of the top doctors in the area...I was in the waiting room this week and the office staff came out and told a lady that they didn't accept her insurance and she would have to go somewhere else....she was so upset....didn't really think about this blessing until that moment!  I am going to tell them before they put me to sleep  "Show me some of your best work!"
10. THANKFUL EVERY DAY that I am dealing with non-invasive cancer...hopefully the lymph node biopsy will confirm that this week...
11. All the cards,emails and flowers that people have sent me....but most of all the prayers I feel as I am going through this...I feel so humbled...
12. My friend Jackie--she is an inspiration to me.  Going through her 3rd stem-cell transplant at the same time I am going through this...what I am going through is nothing compared to what she has and is continuing to go through...I want her fighting spirit!
13. My Bible Study...Experiencing God....He knows just what I need...my relationship with God has been strengthened..I have come to know Him more intimately through this experience.

It is difficult when you grow up in a family where you minister to others all the time to put yourself in a place where you are ministered to....it doesn't feel comfortable...I feel like I am so much better on the other side...

I am going to end with verses that have encouraged me this week...I found them through my Bible Study Experiencing God...I hope they encourage you too!

Ps 73:26--My health my fail, my spirit grow weak but God remains my strength forever.

Eph 3:20---Now glory be to God, by His mighty power at work within us-He is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope for

Check out my new addition....Inspiring Links!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!
 Love on the ones you love :)

BE A MISSIONARY AT HOME!

We have been working with a ministry every Monday night that helps local people that are in need--LIFELINE MINISTRIES.  Over the past year the number has increased tremendously and the funding has decreased because of the economy...They are feeding anywhere between 80-100 families per week.  I encourage you to click on the title of my post and find out what they are all about.  It is amazing that these people are right at our back door. There are so many ways to be a missionary at home--keeping our eyes and our hearts open when our lives are busy and we have schedules to meet is half of the battle. I truly believe busyness is one of Satan's biggest tactics to make you unaware of the need for Jesus in people around you...and it usually works, doesn't it??