a bit of inspiration

Oh No, Not The Red Box!

2014-02-27T13:47:00.001-05:00

Clutter, clutter, clutter…we all have it but what to do with it? I seem to collect my mail, children’s school papers, and receipts into a pile. My pile grows and grows until it is about to collapse. At that point I finally take the time to sort my pile into three categories: urgent, important, and need to take care of at some point.

The urgent and important usually get handled in a timely manner but the ‘need to take care of at some point’ pile goes to the RED STORAGE BOX! Everyone in my family knows if anything makes it to the storage box it most likely will not surface for a good six months at least.

So how do we avoid the RED box? Set aside 10 minutes everyday to sort mail, children’s school papers, and misc papers. Commit to at least once a week to handle the entire pile…avoid the RED box!

Visit our website at www.coastal-designs.com

2014-02-27T13:14:00.001-05:00

“When you do the common things in life in an uncommon way, you will command the attention of the world.”

—	- George Washington Carver

So What Is It?

2013-04-26T23:22:00.000-04:00

One random day you get your wake up call...what would you do now that death is staring you in the face? Do you wallow in self pity, do you get the 'why me' syndrome, or do you decide to truly live each and every day?

If you chose the later, than you have chosen a 'Rockin Life'. Everyone has an expiration date and when you get the cancer verdict, your reminded every day (usually multiple times a day) that life is precious.

Your Rocking Life is what you make it. For me it's about releasing the fear of living and having awesome experiences, it's about true self acceptance and knowing "I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and doggone it, people like me" (Stuart Smalley, SNL), its a true joy, about loving with my whole heart, learning to be compassionate, and to remember to just breath.

What's your Rockin Life?

Ugh...I'm So Vain

2013-04-22T16:33:00.000-04:00

Had labs done today and counts are low which means I'm very susceptible to infection. We're flying tomorrow so Dr. K (Oncologist) says I have to wear a mask.

A MASK! And hide my pretty smile?! BFF, L, said I need to go Fifty Shades on that mask. That would really make people talk.

All I can think is "hashtag:bird flu"

We'll make sure and post pictures of me rockin' the mask.

Roadmap to Houston

2013-04-21T16:46:00.003-04:00

We are Houston bound on Tuesday for a whirlwind day of tests and appointments at MD Anderson on Wednesday. It feels a bit like going home heading back to Houston.

We have four goals we are hoping to achieve at MD Anderson: 1. get a second opinion (always a good idea and why not go to the #1 cancer hospital in the country) 2. see if the tumors have shrunk from the chemo treatments, 3. see if there are any "new and fancy" (per my oncologist) drugs we should be trying and 4. explore surgery options.

How I'm Rockin Life in Houston...I MUST go to 'my' chinese restaurant and eat as much hot and sour soup as I can manage. Been craving it for months! Spring of course brings the bluebonnets so we'll be scouring the area for the best bluebonnets...watch for pictures of Cayden. And finally, I must, must, must find some live Texas music! Who has time for doctors and appointments?!

Finally Blogging

2013-04-21T16:35:00.000-04:00

What's the saying...the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

Well, I have had good intentions to start blogging right after getting diagnosed. Guess I'm finally getting to it. I have a lot to say it's just taking the time to actually say it.

My timelines will be messed up for awhile as I want to keep you current but also recap some previous epiphanies.

First of all, I need to thank all the wonderful, supportive people in my life. My husband is the only one I'll call out at this time...let me just say, this cancer journey would be much more difficult without his love, patience, compassion and support.

I love you all and am so blessed to have each of you in my life!

Wake Up Call

2013-04-21T16:13:00.001-04:00

I have cancer…what a wake up call that is!

To be more specific I have Stage IV Metastatic Colorectal Cancer (MCRC). Who knew?!

What a whirl wind in a just a few weeks! Here's how it all began...

Just before Christmas I thought I had the flu as I had flu like symptoms and I didn’t have an appetite. I got sick every time I ate and my abdomen was tender. Cayden had had similar symptoms so I chalked it up to sick kids. Then it happened again a week later. I knew my energy was low and my stomach hurt but I put it all aside thinking I was being a hypochondriac.

We got through the holidays and my stomach pain was not getting any better. So on January 30th I went to see our family doctor, Dr. M. (Of course, I had to wait until Will was out of town…just to add a little more drama to the situation.)

January 30th

A 2:00 doctor appointment immediately led me to a complete blood workup and ultrasound that afternoon. After talking with the Nurse Practioner, we were going down the path of possible gallstones causing the pain and lack of appetite.

6:00 pm – News from the doctor’s office that the radiologist found “shadowing” on the ultrasound around my liver and wanted me to go for a CT scan the next day.

Will is still clueless that I’ve even had a doctor appointment and I’m starting to panic that something really could be wrong.

January 31st

I went to the hospital for the CT scan, talked to Will and he finally dragged it out of me that there was something going on. Doctor’s office called….getting results in the office on Friday morning at 9am! Being called into the Dr. M’s office is a bit like going to the principal’s office…it’s rarely good news!

Meanwhile, Will's is stuck in Oklahoma. He and Greg moved heaven and earth to be back home by Friday morning. They had a little help as the tailwinds were so strong the jet was going 750 mph! Without that extra push, they would have missed their connecting flight.

February 1st

Dr. M informs us that they see “something” in the liver but they don’t know what it is…could be anything from an infection to cancer. Next step, Liver Biopsy first thing Monday morning. Yikes!

We spent the entire weekend being positive and hoping for the best.

February 4th

Will and I arrive at the hospital at 8:30am for the liver biopsy. We are nervous but remain positive. Will has to leave the room during the procedure. It’s times like these I’m thankful I have a high tolerance for pain. The radiologist took three different biopsies…big red flag for me.

And now we wait for results…long week! We get a call Wednesday afternoon from Dr. M’s office. He wants to see us first thing in the morning…oh boy!

February 7th

Dr. M sits us down and apologizes’ for having to deliver the news…I have Stage IV colon cancer that has metastasized to my liver (pst....there is no stage V). My liver has multiple lesions which is causing the liver to expand causing the pain. Felt like a punch in the gut!

The rest of the day was like drinking out of a fire hydrant. Dr. M gave us as much information as he could and then called the Oncologist he recommended and got us an appointment for noon that same day. More overwhelming news about the cancer and the treatment options!

The following week was going to be spent meeting with doctors and doing more tests and procedures so we could be ready to start Chemo the following week.

We are blessed with a great doctor…from the first appointment to diagnosis was a week and one day. There was no messing around.

February 12th

PET scan…interesting experience. I needed extra Xanax for this one! Results came back and the cancer was limited to the colon and the liver…good news, it hadn’t yet made it to my lungs.

February 13th

Had surgery to get my port put in…more good drugs!

February 14th

Brain MRI (more Xanax) and Colonoscopy (more drugs) both scheduled for today…Happy Valentine’s Day. My sweet husband brought me the most beautiful flower arrangement to the hospital…what a great man!

Brain MRI results came back as good news, all was clear. Colonoscopy confirmed that the tumor did originate in the colon so now the Oncologist knows exactly what Chemo Agents to treat it with. After a week of all these drugs, I was feeling quite good by Thursday evening!

Both Will and I will do our best to keep this up to date as much as possible. It'll be an easier way to get information to our family and friends all at once.

Thanks in advance for all your good thoughts, well wishes and help during this journey. We'll be pulling out on the other side before too long!! Our spirits are high and we've got great doctors working with us.

“We’ve got this!”