It ain't all about the...Ta-Ta's!

Navy Graduation Day

2012-03-22T15:11:00.003-07:00

My Son is now a US Navy Sailor!

This was a on the wall by the Field Museum in Chicago

and we had Clay stand by it and thought it was perfect!

Graduation day with a prayer for the Navy men...that was an awesome moment to see all the soldiers with their head down for the prayer!

Graduation Day 3/16/2012- This is Claytons Div 807

Proud momma hugging her Sailor after graduation....is he not BEAMING!

Clayton & Kayla duplicating the WWII Kiss!

Camille & Clayton after Graduation

Kayla & Clayton after Graduation

Clayton and Kayla having fun in Chicago by the Navy Pier in Chicago

New Sailors Camille & Kayla

Kayla & Clayton at the Sears Tower in Chicago

Kayla & Clayton on Graduation Day!


Camille & Clayton at the Sears Tower in Chicago

Camille & Kayla looking BEAUTIFUL!

Clayton & Kayla going down the green river in Chicago on St. Patricks day

Clayton & Kayla having fun by the Navy Pier in Chicago

Kayla & Camille having fun trying to picture the deer in the background

Kayla & Camille looking scared by a foggy road

Kayla & Camille having too much fun on the scary foggy road!

Clayton & Camille being silly

Camille at the Sears Tower in Chicago

Clayton & Kayla by the Navy Pier in Chicago

Kayla & Camille going down a slide in Chicago

Camille & Clayton at the train station in Chicago

This is how crowded Chicago is on St. Patricks Day on... EVERY STREET!!!!

This was by the Field Museum in Chicago

WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU CLAYTON!
Congratulations!

Rough few weeks & new Ta tas!

2012-02-29T21:12:00.000-08:00

It's been rough couple week! I guess I am feeling the uglies!

I wish I could write that I am more positive but it's difficult when you look in the mirror and I can't recognize myself! I am all done with chemo, and I am happy about that! I am just waiting for it all to be out of my system! I did end up getting the nuelesta shot, but only in half a dose. Because I broke out in hives last time! So this week, I am having/feeling the uglies...I am puffy, tired and I am sick of my wig!!!

So I had a dr. Appointment this past week and as I was getting ready and noticed I still had my eye lashes and was thankful for that, so I decided to put on some mascara (not something I wear on a regular basis.) got my self all ready, put on my wig that I am sick of already! Got to the dr's appointment and the first thing the nurse said was how are you? and "you look tired":( I knew I looked puffy, but was hoping it was just something only I could see! So basically it's been a rough week,... wanting to stay in bed till all my symptoms go away or maybe till my hair grows back!!!!!! I know that seems extreme, but when you lose your hair you almost seem entitled to whine a bit!!!!....maybe wine would help? Who knows?...well not till the chemo is out of my system....grrrr!!!!

I have one more surgery, and that is for the new Ta tas...and I am so ready for them and ready for all of this to be over! It's probably a good thing I am not drinking, cause I would probably be a lot more honest in my feelings!

Well, on to a different subject...I miss my son who is at boot camp for the Navy and he is more than half done...yeah! Only two more weeks!!!

I watched a really good movie the other night that some of you may have heard of and I have seen it before, but it really hit home since Clay is now in the navy. It's called "Men Of Honor" with Robert Deniro and Cuba Gooding,Jr. It is based on a true story of a African American sailor named Carl Brashear. This man faced all kinds of prejudice and would never except anyone telling him he could not do something! It's incredibly sad that this kind of prejudice went on and I am so glad that our society is way past this kind of discrimination! I wished my son had watched this movie before he left, because I want him to know, that some things may not be easy but if you want it bad enough...it is possible! That is what inspired me from this movie! If you have not watched this movie or you need inspiration...watch it, you will love it! I also loved the theme song ..."Win" by Brian McKnight

My whining was for the last few weeks.. I think it was because this last round of chemo knocked me on my bum, and my last fill in my expanders was rough, kinda felt like I was caring around bricks on my chest!

But this last week "Monday 27th" . I finally got my new Ta tas, they seem smaller than what I thought which is probably a good thing. (I know dad....la la la) I'm still wrapped like a mummy, so I won't know till later?..so now on onto the healing thing!!!!
LET THE HEALING BEGIN!

YEAH...It will be nice to getting back to normal!

Valentine Ideas!

2012-02-03T14:15:00.000-08:00

Just a few Ideas for VALENTINES DAY!

Pink chocolate chip cookies

Cute cupcakes

Valentine popcorn

Love this idea

Cute decor

Key lime hearts

Cute way to hand out your valentines for the kids

Fruit with dip

Toasted marshmallow covered strawberries

Cheesecake strawberries

Cute decor & yummy treats

French toast valentines

Cereal box holder for valentines

Cinnamon Rolls

Raspberry cheesecake

Check these out on my PINTEREST BOARD (Susan Wulf)

My Heart Breaks!

2012-02-01T01:27:00.000-08:00

My HEART BREAKS today!

I have been feeling sorry for myself because my son left for boot camp and I am feeling the growing pains of my children growing up. My toenails are turning black and blue from the chemo and will probably lose a couple :( ....dealing with hives and trying to figure out why? And dealing with being BALD!!!! OKAY I SAID IT...I hate it! But, I am glad I dealt with the cancer...but the side effects just plain SUCK!!!!

But,...this is not why my heart breaks... well, it does cause my son is gone. But my heart breaks because I know there are other family member dealing with things that are much bigger! My sister-in-law Charlotte's mother past away last week and my heart goes out to her and her family and also I know they worry about their son in Guam! My grandfather has been dealing with Cancer and is ready for hospice and his wife is no longer with him and I know he has been dealing with that. And I know that my mother carries a lot of worry for him. And now another family member my nephew Zach is dealing with health issues and the unknown of the health issues. And new parents (my nephew Ryan & niece Julee) worrying about their newborn son. And another family member (Randy & Sue) that worry about their son John on his own in Colorado for the first time. And my parents, I know there are things that they just don't mention cause they don't want their family to worry because I know they worry enough about the whole family!
And I am sure there is more with the family that I don't know about?

I love my family...and when they hurt... I hurt!

My Cancer is gone! Now I deal with the side effects. I have my last chemo treatment today and I am happy about that! Thru all this I know I can only control so much...My Dr's, my treatment, appointments and how I will handle all of it!

But right now I hold my family up to God and pray that he would comfort and heal and carry them thru all this!

Reaction to Hives

2012-01-28T12:35:00.000-08:00

I did the test...and it's not the Neosporin and it's not El Pollo Loco! Yeah!!! So I guess my hives was a reaction to the Nuelesta shot or just a reaction to Chemo and/or my white blood cell count. Who knows? I doubt it was stress, because I've been gone thru much more stress in the past!

Anyhow I am thankful that right now I don't have HIVES!!!

Hives

2012-01-26T15:08:00.000-08:00

song-chasing pavements

Hives! Yikes!
I can't even post a picture of some of the hives I found on google...so gross!

Clayton left on Tuesday and Thursday I started getting HIVES and huge stomach pains! Not sure why, it was definitely a mystery? Finally had time to relax and not worry and I end up with hives?

Was it the stress of everything? Was I more worried about my son than I thought? Was it because of the chemo?

I ended up in emergency Thursday evening and they gave me morphine (thank god for that, wish I could take that home) and some Benedryl which I had already taken at home.

They did a Cat scan and could not find anything wrong. But they did do blood work and found that my white blood cell count was over 34 thousand. The emergency Dr. thought that was really high and thought that was why I was having hives. So the only thing we could think of was that I was having a reaction to a shot my chemo Dr gives the day after chemo called Nuelesta.

It helps boost your bone marrow and your white cell count. So the emergency Dr. sent me home because there was not much they could do.

So Friday morning I saw the chemo Dr (his assistant and he said if I was going to have a reaction it would be a week later. Which was exactly to the day. But of course he thought it was just stress!!!! So he prescribed Prednisone which seem to make it worse and then back in the emergency I went. They gave me that shot they give you when you are allergic to bees which gave some comfort. My thinking was if you can't get rid of these hives, then please give me something to knock me out till they pass!!!!

The emergency Dr. prescribed Hydroxyzine which worked...YEAH! I did have hives for four days and by Sunday found relief!!!

Question? What caused the hives? Well, chemo lowers your resistance to germs and infection.

Last night (Wednesday) I did the same thing I did the night I got hives. I put some new neosporin on my boo boos and

had El Pollo Loco for dinner (salad, taquito,and a chicken leg)

Yum!

and then couple hours later started getting itchy? I've had El Pollo Loco for dinner before and nothing has happened. Of course I'm going to rule out the food:) So it either has to be the neosporin or the shot of Nuelasta?

I will do a test tonight and try the neosporin and see what happens? Pray I don't get the itchies!!! Or actually maybe I do want them...cause I really like El Pollo Loco!

So who knows why, but tonight I will get some answers I will try the neosporin and if nothing happens tomorrow I will have El Pollo Loco and if nothing happens, my guess it was a reaction to the

shot.

Oh... by the way this is what my bathroom counter looks like! How do old people keep track of all their meds? :) I've actually done really well thru this whole process (besides losing the hair thing) and hopefully this will be the worst of it!

What is Neulasta?

Neulasta (pegfilgrastim) is a colony stimulating factor. It is a man-made form of a protein (amino acid) that stimulates the bone marrow and promotes the growth of white blood cells called neutrophils in your body. White blood cells help your body fight against infection.

Neulasta is used to prevent neutropenia, a lack of certain white blood cells caused by receiving chemotherapy.

Neulasta may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome when using Neulasta:

Bone or joint pain; constipation; muscle pain.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur when using Neulasta:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; dizziness; fast heartbeat; increased sweating; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue; unusual hoarseness); fast breathing; fever; left-sided shoulder tip pain; left-sided upper stomach pain; a lump, swelling, or bruising at the injection site; severe or persistent bone, chest, joint, or stomach pain; shortness of breath; swelling of the hands, feet, arms, or legs; wheezing.

Boot Camp for Clay

2012-01-25T13:32:00.000-08:00

Song- You raised me up

Well,... a week ago I lost possession of my SON! (As his recruiter would say!)

My son is now at BOOT CAMP for the NAVY! He has been waiting all year for this!

He wants to be part of the SWCC program which stands for "Special Warfare Combatant-Craft Crewman" Navy also calls them "the quiet Professionals" They are the warriors of the sea. Their missions are covert. Their strikes are ferocious. And their forces are elite! All SWCCs thrive on adrenaline and determination!

Their purpose: unconventional warfare from the world's waterways, including insertion and extraction of Navy SEALS.

What 23 year old would not want to do this?
Well this is what my son wants to do...he qualified for the program, now he just has to get thru boot camp and then onto training for SWCC!

Clayton has always thrived on adrenaline since he was a young boy wanting to be a Ninja turtle with his cousin, to jumping out of planes...and now the Navy!

Clayton and his cousin Kevin

Clay rock climbing

Clay just having fun

Clay sky diving

I am very proud of my son and his decision to do this and starting this new chapter in his life!

Of course as a mother I will always worry! And since my son has been in boot camp I have decided that is all I do or have done is...WORRY about my children. Now that he is gone, I can't worry when, and where he is going and or when he will be home! I can't believe how much time I spent doing that? Now my mind does not know what to do? I can only worry so much cause I have no idea what he is doing?

So now I will have to fill my time and my mind with something else!..... Maybe I will go paint his room:)

Clayton live life to the fullest and enjoy everything life has to offer, stand strong and trust in God in everything you do and be more than you ever thought you could be!

I love you Clay...hurry home!

Going away party for Clay for Navy

2012-01-19T06:07:00.000-08:00

Song-My Wish

Wow....its been a long couple of weeks!

My son has been getting ready to ship out for the Navy, so... I have been basically a wreck! Can't even talk about it,...it makes me cry. He has been waiting all year for this!
Planning a going away party,...stressing,.....then on top of all that still dealing with Chemo:/ Then the Navy changed his shipping out date a week early! I know my son has been anxious to get things going, but com'n give a mom a break!

So I planned a party, got the invitations sent out, started the shopping and cooking, took time out for a chemo treatment (thanks Cindy), rested a day and then started again the next day. Thanks Cindy for the pics, that is one thing I always forget!!!!!!!!!!

Clayton almost 24 yrs (Feb)

His Party was a success!!! It was not a surprise, because there was no way I could pull that off while he was living with me.

This was his initial sign in a year ago

Thank you to all the friends and family that showed up to give him a great send off!

Thank you Camille (my daughter) for helping when your momma did not feel well. And thank you to Clay, Kayla & Camille for blowing up all those balloons and letting momma rest. Just to have you in the same room ....was a party for me!
And thank you to Mark & David for pulling a poker tournament for him and helping with that. I know nothing about Poker and could never have pulled that together. Thanks Tony (Sardella) for your help with all the Pizza! They LOVED IT!

And thank you to everyone that stayed late (3am) and had a great time, I know Clay loved it and he had a great time and will never forget it!!!!

And for those that could not make it, we were sorry you could not come....you missed a great time and a great hug, from a great kid! :) WE WILL MISS YOU CLAY! Enjoy this new chapter in your life!

Here are some pics from the party:

Cousin LOVE- Clay, Lisa, Zach, Dane,Jett, & Teda

Clayton with grandma & grandpa Hoffner

Deklan & David

Dane & Jett loving the balloons!

Perfect hairbrush

2011-12-30T22:30:00.000-08:00

My new HAIR BRUSH!

For those of you dealing with cancer, I found the perfect hairbrush until those final little hairs come out which I thought was pretty creative.

Soon my head will be as soft as a babies bum....And I love little baby bums :) Well, at least I am hoping it will get that soft (not loving the bristle head thing) I may need a new lotion to keep it soft.

I thought about putting a tattoo on my head (don't worry mom & dad) but then I thought what if my hair does not grow back in those spots? So the thought has passed. But this one cracked me up...

I was thinking of wearing these as hats...how cute are they?!!!

Tensley 9 months old

Tegan when she was a baby

Strong Enough!

2011-12-28T22:44:00.000-08:00

I will never complain about my hair again! Bad hair day or hot day! Some things you never appreciate till they are gone,...and my hair was one of them!

I do love that fact that I am cooler without my hair, but I still can't get used to the fact that it is GONE!!!!

My HEAD FEELS LIKE A BRILLO PAD!!!!

I am not a HAT person, never have been!!! Even in high school when we had to wear a baseball hat for Softball, I did not like it! Maybe I will get used to it? I doubt it!

Who knows? But for right now...it is what it is!!!!

Funny you look at some celebrities that shave their heads, remember these women do this cause they get paid a lot of money to do it (I would to for the money they make!)

She did it cause she was completely stressed out!!!

And you noticed all of these women have grown their hair back!!!

But I can tell you any women who has been diagnosed with breast cancer or any kind of cancer does not choose to lose their hair or would even want too.

Yes... there are some women that do shave their head but, I can't imagine any woman that is going through cancer would shave her head and KEEP it that way? Maybe there are and I have not met them yet. I have a lot to learn.

Right now the only good thing I can think about losing my hair is I get to start over on what color I would want it to be or if I would even want to color it....we will see :) Maybe this is forcing me to get over myself and not care what people think....hopefully I can slowly move in that direction!

Lord help me to be STRONG ENOUGH!

I know this has nothing to do with hair...but I loved it!
& need to memorize it!!!!!

Recovery-More Surgery-Chemo

2011-12-27T03:26:00.000-08:00

Well, it's been a while since I have blogged. It's been two weeks since my Dr fixed my flat tire :) and I have also had one more round of chemo since then (2 total so far). My first surgery (mastectomy) went really well! Afterward I felt like I could get up and go shopping.

Oh...., but this last surgery (to fix my flat tire) I felt as though someone had run me over with a Mac truck and of course I tossed my cookies right after. And I was really good about not drinking or eating anything the night before!!!!! Oh and I get to wear those nice drains again!!!!! Those are a lot of FUN!!!

My surgery was about 3 hours long and I had also had one round of chemo about 2 weeks earlier and they said that might have something to do with why I did not do so well. My family also made a new rule if you have to stay overnight someone is going to stay with you!

I had a rough time during the night, I also heard it could have been from the anaesthesia, anyway to make a long story short, my nurse kept saying she was going to call my Dr to see if she could change my pain meds and that stressed me out even more cause its bad enough you feel like a pain to your nurses, but now I was getting ready to be a pain to my doctor (that I love) and the last thing I thought he needed was to have someone wake him with a stupid question!!!!! By that point I was in tears and felt I had made my nurses upset with me with things like....when can I take my pain/nausea pill? is there a volume on this blood pressure machine? I knew my nurses were busy, but when a new one came in I thought YEP....I've made them mad and they have had enough of me.....so of course i lost it with the TEARS!!!! And I thought that nurses like for you to get up and go to the bathroom, just to get things going in your body?

I thought this one was cute, but mine did not look like this!!!!

Nope not my nurses... If I said I had to go to the bathroom, they brought the toilet and put it right in the middle of the room (next to my bed) but it felt like the middle of the room!!!!!.....and they waited till I was done!!! I might as well have stood naked in the middle of the room cause that was how I felt!!!! So I also thought I got the lazy nurses for the evening???? who knows, I blame the anesthesia!!!!

How do men can stand next to each other and go like its no big deal!

Two days after my surgery my hair started to come out in huge clumps. That picture only shows 1/4 of it.
I really thought I was going to get past this cause I have really thick hair! Nope, that was not in Gods design. So I had a little hair shaving party,... if that is what you want to call it.

This is what Bo Derek looks like with no make up! Lol :)

I put a ton of braids in it because I was going to cut them off and give them to my nephew and nieces, since they thought it was so COOL that aunt Susie was going to lose her hair. My sister and her husband came over, daughter and son were there and Kelley was there. I had my glass of wine all ready and honestly when your sad the last thing you need is wine, there is not a whole lot that can make you feel better, so that did not help much. I let my son do the shaving since I have always done his hair, and usually we butt heads a little when it comes to his hair cause he always wants me to just buzz it off and I like to keep a little more than he wants. So I thought I would let him shave me. So before my shave we had to cut off my Bo Derek braids, I would love to say I looked like her, (well back in the OLD, OLD , OLD days maybe I did) or thought I did :) Maybe In my DREAMS!!!!

I could not do Locks of Love cause you have to have virgin hair!

So this picture is for my son who did not know who Bo Derek is! My son buzzed my hair into a Mohawk, of course I had to see what that would look like just for fun. I would post them, but I just can't laugh at myself that much!!!!

Maybe when my hair grows back and I toss enough cookies (just kidding) I will look like Bo!!!! I know I will have to do it the old fashion way!!!! Grrrr....nothing is ever easy!!!!

Ps. Only 2 more Chemo treatments...Yeah! More on that later.

Crafty Ideas to Pass the time away

2011-12-12T01:29:00.000-08:00

Song-Daydream

I'm having surgery today and I can't sleep again!!!

My surgery is at 4:00pm to fix my leaky Expander or as I would call it...my flat tire :/

So to pass the time till I get sleepy I was on Pinterest and thought I would share some cute things I saw. When I downloaded them I thought they would have more descriptions...but I think you will get the idea.

When I do each one I will post with a how to on each. In the mean time enjoy the cute ideas : )

The socks on her legs are from adult knee highs socks...cute idea!

This piggy bank is made from plastic bottle, newspaper, Egg carton for the nose and feet and glue. The nice thing about this bank is you actually have to cut it open to get into it!!!!

What a cute idea from an OLD SWEATER! You could probably add a hat too! Easy!!!

Don't know what to do with those old Kleenex boxes...I thought this was funny!

I can see my grand daughter having fun with these!

What a great idea...they said add a sheet and your little house is all ready!

I may have to go to Home Depot! The things you can do with PVC PIPES!

I think these pillows are the new in thing...this one is made from an old PROM DRESS.

This bed was made from a door...cute idea!

I thought this looked like a great idea...if your good with wood working.

Cindy I can totally see this in your playroom!! : )

Oh...how I wish I was this organized!!!

These should keep you busy for awhile!

Have fun!

I'm going to sleep now, gotta get some zzzzzzzzzzzzzz!

Can't sleep...day before surgery!

2011-12-11T03:57:00.000-08:00

Song- Love, Love, Love

Its the day before my surgery....and its 4:00 in the morning, woke up and can't go back to sleep.
You would think I would get up and do something productive like clean my house or do some laundry, nope...that can wait till another day ; )

Just some fun things to look at that I liked:

Doesn't this make you want to go SHOPPING?

Cute HEADBOARD, maybe I will make it or buy it someday!

Love this HEADBOARD for teenagers or toddlers! Write reminder notes or just their ABC's.

Just for fun, cause I thought they were cute : )

I think my mom knows how to make this ....I bet!!! I need the tips..mom : )

I would like to make a large one to store toys in the livingroom.

Another cute idea for a HEADBOARD.

I think I shall get some rest now!

Funny how I was thinking mostly about HEADBOARDS...when I should have been sleeping?

Tissue Expanders

2011-12-08T04:16:00.000-08:00

Song-Into each life some rain must fall

Well, its 3:30 in the morning and I cant sleep. I think because I'm on so much medication they must all be conflicting???

The name of my blog...It ain't all about the Ta Ta's came up because I found out I had breast cancer, but I also wanted to let other people know, its about cancer,..yes, but its also about things I love and enjoy, like my family, crafting, cooking, decorating or cloud in the sky that looks like a rabbit (only my kids will get that.) And it not just about the Ta Ta's.

BUT....today it is about the Ta Ta's!

After my breast cancer surgery my doctor put in both my breast something called Tissue Expander's, these are to slowly stretch your skin until you get implants. Never in my life I thought I would get these, cause I never really thought about it? Pretty much cause I gave up on me....(long story!)

So each week I go in to see my plastic surgeon and he gives me a fill of saline solution in the expander, but the last couple times I have been noticing that one breast seem to be getting bigger than the other. I thought okay, as long in the end the final product...the new Ta Ta's look good. Because this is all new to me!
So the last time I went he filled one side with one syringe and the other with two because I told him one seemed bigger. So this last week I look down on my chest and I would say, yep I'm still lop sided, thinking something is just not right?

So I had my appointment today for a fill, and he said right away I must have a leak and usually this happens to about 1% of patients, its possible the expander did not close like it should or its possible he may have poked it when he did the fill?

First let me tell you how much respect I have for this doctor for being completely honest with me! I love the fact that it could have been any of those things and he did not have too much pride/ego to say its possible he may have done it.

He could have easily said these things just happen when you put something foreign in your body!!!

Was I disappointed to have another surgery before my final surgery?....yes. Do I have any regrets on doing a mastectomy? Absolutely not! Do I still love my DOCTOR?.....even more so, because he was so honest with me!!!!

Don't get me wrong this did bum me out earlier, I was thinking this crap just follows me around! :(

So right now I'm getting over a cold and trying to stay positive, thinking that this just goes with the territory!

Okay done with the self pity...time to move on and put on my big girl panties and realize this too shall pass and tomorrow is a new day!!!!

Holiday Festivities & Melt down

2011-12-06T14:30:00.000-08:00

How cute are these cupcakes! add some red Cinnamon candies and its Xmas!

Song- Celebrate Me Home

Can't sleep so I thought I would post. this past weekend was so nice,... but busy.

Our community had their holiday festivities... snow for the little kids, smores, cookies, sleigh rides, pictures with Santa, singing and beautiful lights in all the trees...I love where I live!!!! We were so busy I forgot about the boutique and I LOVE SHOPPING!!!

And bonus it was cold outside so it actually felt like Christmas!! My two nieces and their husbands and kids came out it was good to see them,... I hope they had fun!
I know the kids probably did and heard they got a little snow in the pants for some good fun....way to go with those snow balls kids!!!!

Here is a few pics of the weekend:

Pat, Tegan, Santa, Tensley & Camille

Dane making a snow angel

Jett having fun in snow

Tegan having fun with daddy...look at those smiles!!!! love it!

Tegan on a pony ride

Kayla & Clay....they were not there but it shows the pretty lights in the trees!

I love this pic...cause Tensley is posing for the pic already at 9 months old....just like her mommy!

Ps. Thanks for the nice pic Teda....I loved it!!!!! So sweet! Your a sweetheart!

Thank you Teda....your a sweetheart!!

Next day woke up with a COLD! ..uggg!! Thought I also needed to start doing some Xmas shopping even though I did not feel that great.

So as I was shopping, I thought I would pick up some hair ties.

Even though I have bought a million of them, they are like socks...you always seem to lose them! So as I hand the cashier my hair ties, I realized MY HAIR WILL PROBABLY BE GONE NEXT WEEK!

So here comes the melt down!!!!

Thank goodness the cashier understood, because her mother had breast cancer. So she was very understanding to my little melt down!

It was not the only thing I was buying for my hair,..

..so would you call that a BLOND MOMENT OR CHEMO BRAIN?

I think I will end my day with one of my favorite Christmas movies...:)

Christmas wrap ideas

2011-12-02T10:52:00.000-08:00

Song- Baby, It's cold outside

Thinking about the holidays and found these cute wrappers for gifts or goodies and thought they were cute idea...From www.foofqueens.com Enjoy the cute Ideas!

Pics from first Chemo day!

2011-12-01T20:59:00.000-08:00

Here are few pics from my first chemo day-

Song that goes with this post: (Three little birds)

So far not so bad!

My sister will think of anything to take a picture of!

Just something your don't want to see in a CHEMO ROOM!!!...What??

My cute comfy Chemo shoes! : )

Because I think of my Family:

daughter, grandchildren, nieces, sister, and sister-in-laws and my sweet ole mom!

DO YOUR TA TA CHECKS!!!

First Chemo day

2011-11-30T21:27:00.000-08:00

Song that goes with this post- (Stand by You)

(Turn your music on sis!)

Had my first day of chemo today...was not so bad today! My sister took me and we ended up giggling the whole time cause we were looking at stuff on www.pinterest.com on the humor section...FUNNY STUFF!

This one cracked me up!!!!

You had me laughing so much I had to keep from peeing my pants, but that's not unusual when the two of us get the giggles!!!

I have three more chemo treatments and hopefully they will all be like my first!

I have to go in for a shot in the morning to boost my bone marrow (something like that!) So far feel good, hopefully the same for tomorrow!

Thanks Cindy for being there for me today...Love ya sis!

Happy Birthday Dad!

2011-11-29T22:36:00.000-08:00

This is a change from Breast Cancer...this is for all the men we love in our life!!!!I want my Father around for a long time..especially since I've had cancer on my mind lately!

Happy Birthday today dad..I love you!!!! Thinking of you today! (turn the music on dad!)Song that goes with post-(My Fathers Eyes)

Ps. including my grandfather who also had a birthday this week & has been affected by this disease! Thinking of you!

Healthy Down There: Help Your Man Have a Healthy Prostate

A number of recent studies have documented what women have known for a long time: Men hate to go to the doctor; they are less likely than women to seek out alternative health approaches for their conditions, and they are much less apt to take preventive health measures than their female counterparts.Prostate issues are ubiquitous in men older than 50. The current medical model emphasizes a PSA test, often followed by invasive diagnostic tests that can leave a man impotent or incontinent. No wonder men avoid the doctor’s office!PSA tests are not accurate. They predict cancer correctly only two percent of the time. As many as a quarter of those with active prostate cancer will have normal PSA levels. Older men are particularly vulnerable to misdiagnosis or overtreatment, as their PSA levels are higher normally.Prostate problems can be the bane of midlife and older men. Help your favorite man ease urinary tract problems (LUTS) and prevent—and even counter—prostate cancer with these simple, natural tips.
If his PSA reading is high…Blue light therapy calms the prostate and lowers PSA.

Consuming one ounce of ground, cooked flax seeds daily for a month has been shown to reduce PSA levels by one-third.
A low-fat diet can normalize PSA readings within 30 days.
Consuming the carotene lycopene three-four times a week—in the form of cooked tomatoes, frozen watermelon, and pasteurized pink grapefruit juice (but not from raw foods)—reduces PSA levels.
Drinking eight ounces of pomegranate juice daily lowered PSA levels up to 85 percent in 30 percent of men who drank it.
Eating two servings of soy foods daily for three months can lower your PSA by 14 percent.
If these remedies fail, try four weeks of antibiotics; this restores normal PSA levels in half of those with elevated levels.

If he is diagnosed with BPH (benign prostate hyperplasia)…Lying on a slant board with your legs up and your head down is often the simplest and most successful treatment for men with BPH.

Homeopathic remedies can lessen urinary tract symptoms, including urgency, frequency, dribbling, and reduced flow.
Eating a handful of pumpkin seeds daily reduces urinary problems and protects against prostate cancer too.
Drinking one-two quarts of isoflavone-rich red clover (Trifolium pratense) infusion a week can reduce prostate swelling and pain.

If he is diagnosed with prostatitis…

Corn silk (Zea mays) tea is a gentle but powerful anti-inflammatory for the bladder and prostate.
Tincture of flowering cleavers (Galium aparine) is specific against swelling in the prostate or testicles.
Consider using one or more of these herbs to help: horsetail tea, saw palmetto tincture, rye pollen capsules, or nettle root tincture.
A dropperful of couch grass (Argopyron repens) tincture several times a day is a favorite remedy in Germany to reduce pain and stress in the prostate.
Infusion of buchu (Barosma betulina) is said by herbalists to heal all chronic complaints of the genitourinary tract.
Quercetin significantly improved the quality of life for two-thirds of those with prostatitis who took it daily.
Reiki can help counter prostate pain, as can homeopathic remedies such as Pulsatilla or Sulphur.
To help him prevent prostate cancer…
He should eat more of these healing foods:
- Cabbage family plants; four servings a week reduces risk by 50 percent.
- Garlic and onions; three cloves of garlic, or two onions, a day reduces risk by 50 percent.
- Fatty fish such as sardines, salmon, anchovies, and halibut; two servings a week reduces risk by 50 percent.
- Avocados boost absorption of anticancer carotenes from your diet; aim for one or more a week.
- Lentils and red clover infusion are two of the many hormonally active foods that lower the risk of breast and prostate cancer.
- Brazil nuts and sunflower seeds supply lots of the anticancer mineral selenium.
- Applesauce is tastier than onion skins; both are sources of the anticancer nutrient quercetin.
You’ll find lots more tips, tricks, and recipes for keeping your guy healthy “down there” in my new book by the same name.
Susun S. Weed is a best-selling author and a leading herbal medicine expert. Her new book, “Down There: Sexual and Reproductive Health, the Wise Woman Way” (Ash Tree Publishing, $29.95), presents integrative, alternative, and conventional treatment options for both men’s and women’s reproductive health.
- This is from another blog (http://www.crazysexylife.com/) and I thought it was a great info for men!

Chemo in two days!

2011-11-28T12:53:00.000-08:00

Song that goes with this post- (Make my life a prayer to you) & (Healing in your hands)

Well, in two days I start CHEMO...Can't seem to get my mind off of it!!!!!

I have struggled with many things in my life,...making speeches in high school, my Divorce...etc!

Losing my hair to CHEMO...i can deal with (as long as it grows back!)

But,..CHEMO scares the crap out of me!!!!

Here are some helpful tips on dealing with CHEMO! If you know more let me know!

1. Eat small meals.
2. Drink lots of water
3. Suck on hard candy during chemo
4. Find a good moisturizer because my face with be very dry
5. Rinse with warm salt water, in case I get sores in my mouth
6. Chapstick
7. Use nailtiques on finger and toe nails
8. Use lotion or baby oil on my head in case I lose my hair
9. Carry barf bags...just in case
10. Write things down in case I get chemo brain....I'm in so much trouble if I get that :/
11. Walk
12. Eat crackers first thing in morning for nausea
13. Get plenty of rest
14. Learn to say no
15. Oh...shave head before hair falls out, because it will plug your shower drain
16. Surround yourself with things you love (I added that!)

Oh...I hope I don't get this!

Plenty of REST!

Should help your nails from Yellowing

How cute...Hello Kitty Barf Bag! Did you know they even make designer Barf Bags?

Walking supposed to be good for you : )

Plenty of WATER... to flush that CHEMO

Just for FUN!!!

This might help every once in a while!!!!

Surround yourself with things you LOVE!!!

I shall do my BEST!!!!

Because it looked GOOD!!! I can't help myself!

This to shall pass!!!

Red Rover on Thanksgiving

2011-11-27T23:39:00.000-08:00

Song that goes with this post- (What a wonderful life)

Here are the pics from Thanksgiving with the kids playing "Red Rover, Red Rover" and more special moments.:)

cousin picnic on Thanks giving...how fun!

Jett & Great grandpa (Cindy & Phils grandchild)

great grand children and many more missing!!!!

cousins love...love this pic!

Tegan & Teda

(Alan & Judy son and daughter in law) Kevin & Kristen and my grand baby Tensley (9mo)

Clayton & his girlfriend Kayla

Charlotte & my little Bro Dale

Kyle home for the holidays...leaving soon for Guam! (keep in prayers)

Mike and his new grand baby...Lanie, newest member of Hoffner gang!

(6wk) Laney & Beth

Great Thanksgiving Day!

2011-11-24T20:39:00.000-08:00

Today was Thanksgiving and what a good day it was! Thank you Randy & Sue for opening your home and making our day special! We Love you!

And Mom & Dad for all those years you did this, every day Cindy & I are always asking ...how did they do it? Must have been LOVE that carried you thru it all or it or it was GOD that carried you !!!! You should be put on a pedestal...our hearts are so full of LOVE for you!! So THANKFUL!

Today was so cute, normally the family gets together to eat our Thanksgiving feast! Then the older ones like my siblings and older nephews and nieces will play volleyball. But this year was different, for some reason everyone from the toddlers to great great grandpa played ..."RED ROVER, RED ROVER" It was so cute to watch! When I get a picture I will post it!

5 year old DANE

It was so cute yesterday, I ran into my great nephew DANE and he said...are you Aunt Susie? And I said yes, I am. He said...is your hair going to fall out? And I said yes, honey it is and then he said the perfect thing, he said .....COOL!!!! His answer was so simple, so easy and so awesome.!

Definitely takes the tears away! Kids have a way of making things so simple and carefree! Love you sweet Dane,...you make me SMILE! And you have the best brothers & sister...you are such a LUCKY DUCK!

This is what I hope I will look like....she has great eyes!

Two brothers & a big sister....your a lucky Duck Dane!

Thank you Clay, Camille, Pat, and my little angel grand babies Tegan & Tensley & Kelley and mom & dad and the rest of my family for making our Thanksgiving so special!

Ps. It was good to see my LITTLE Bro and his family from Tucson!
Love you guys, and missed you Tyler :)
(you missed my big hug & smooch...on your cheek of course...love ya!)

Our Thoughts & Prayers are with you KYLE when you leave for Guam..BE SAFE!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-23T22:58:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving

to my four members ; ) & my family & friends!

Thankful for my Children Clayton, Camille & Pat, My grandchildren Tegan & Tensley. Thankful for Kelley and all your support and all you do!
Thankful for all of my family! Love you all!

THANKFUL I caught my CANCER early!

Know that things can ALWAYS be WORSE! Trying to stay POSITIVE!

LOVE THIS!!!!

Chemo Meds

2011-11-21T13:41:00.000-08:00

I start chemo the week after Thanksgiving. From what I understand I will be on all kinds of medicine, some to counter act the side effects.

The chemo medicine I will be on is called Cytoxan & Taxotere.

So being on CHEMO med I will have all kinds of side effects!

Loss of hair, nausea, diarrhea, mouth sores, tingling in hands & feet (which if you don't watch this, it may become permanent loss of function.....WHAT?), Possible loss of nails or toenails, bone & muscle pain. stomach and possible liver problems and possible heart and bladder problems.

My treatments will be every three weeks for four treatments. And in between the treatments they will be checking my blood count to make sure my white blood cell count does not go down, cause if it does if effects my bone marrow and I can get infections easier!!!!

So I can tell you this ain't gonna be easy for me!!!...I am one of those patients that tells you if I am going to pass out,..... I REALLY MEAN IT!

This is what I look like when I pass out...I wish I looked that good!:)...actually I think this would be my niece Sarah!

I passed out after I got my ears pierced, I think it was when my mother was cleaning my ears or when she was putting my earring's on and I said I don't feel well....well that was the last thing I remember and down I went! That was in the old days when you would freeze your ear with ice and then use a potato to help, I think my Aunt Jan helped if I can remember right.

I have passed out a couple times just from nurses taking blood, so I am trying to think positive and say this is NOT GOING TO EFFECT ME!

Looks painful...right?

It kinda funny, went to the doctor about a year ago and he put me on some cholesterol medicine and I told him I think its making my middle toe nail fall off and same with the other foot. He said NO! I knew it was not a fungus (but I am not a Dr, so what do I know?) I knew it was something internal because it was on both my feet and on the same toes (seemed like common sense to me!)

. So he put me on some other kind of medicine and I started to have heart pains and I know this is dumb, but I went off of it! I can't complain too much cause this is the same doctor that put me on xanax for my female anxiety!!! I am still here and my toenails started to grow back!!!

My sister also said her cholesterol levels were about the same as mine and she was not on medicine the only thing she did was go on hormone medicine to change her hormone levels and guess what.....her cholesterol went down....SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT WOMEN & DOCTORS!!!!!

I think her methods on Cancer make sense, just nervous to try them.
But on the Hormone parts in her book make complete sense!

So losing a couple toe nails is nothing compared to what I might face with CHEMO! Yeah, can hardly wait! But, I do know when ever you think you got it bad, it can..... ALWAYS BE WORSE!!!!!

Healthy Thinking

2011-11-19T16:12:00.000-08:00

This is what family is about!

In my family (Hoffners) sports have always been easy, but exercise forget about it (and I'm not talking about the in-laws, cause some of them do exercise!) I come from a very competitive family maybe its because there were so many of us kids (six.) But the one thing I know, I can't think of anyone in my family that likes to exercise.....not one!!!!!

I'm the chubby one on top in the middle

I remember in high school being in Softball, Volleyball and (Basketball -one year, way too much running, plus I think I sat the bench in that sport a little more than of course I deserved!)

I think this was me back in the day:)

We had to run laps...forget about it, did I care if I was one of the last (not dead last, of course!)...NO, I HATED RUNNING!!! I only cared If I did my position well and played and did not sit the bench and thankfully nobody in my family did (except in basketball), even though we hated exercise.

Sprints was a little different cause it was kinda like you were racing so that made the exercise kinda like a sport. So that is what I need!!! I am not self motivated to just wake up in the morning and run or walk 5-10 miles (I just don't get that love?) (runners please explain?)!!! Exercise when you were 20 yrs old was much easier, still did not like it, but its was easier when you know you want to look good for your boyfriend or an excuse just to exercise with him!

My sister & I used to wake up at 5:30 am and go walking and talk and laugh, and that did not seem like exercise! Cindy would you just move by me!

This should be my sister & I :)

I do know CANCER does not discriminate, it touches the old, young (which is so wrong,) fatties and the ones that are healthy that watch what they eat and exercise!!! But when you get cancer you start thinking hmmm?.... maybe I should do something different....BUT WHAT?? ?.....even the skinny healthy people are getting cancer?

So my first start is..... fruit smoothies in the morning with lots of blueberries you know those cancer fighting fruits! Trust me this is a change for me, I much prefer bacon & eggs, or pancakes, or just a sweet donut!

My next step is walking, but I am waiting for my stitches to heal ( I know it's an excuse) but I hate to SWEAT, I MEAN I REALLY ...I HATE TO SWEAT!!!! My normal temperature in my home is 70 degrees or less, yes, I pay for it (Thank you APS & Uncle Jerry :)!!!! So It being winter,...if that's what you want to call it in Phoenix?

Hopefully exercise will be much easier while it's cool as long as CHEMO does not kick me on my butt!