Double Mastectomy with lymph node dissection on L side
I don't have any pictures of the last few weeks. The surgery went really well, actually better than expected. The doctors were able to perform a skin and nipple sparing mastectomy. This was exciting because I didn't know what I would see when I woke up from anesthesia. They send everything to pathology and if there is any chance they see any cancer cells under the nipple they remove them. We received the best results ever! My pathology came back with a full response from the chemotherapy! There wasn't any sign of cancer anywhere. They could see where the chemotherapy killed and shrunk the cancer but no living tumors anywhere! We are so thrilled!!
My healing has been slow. I came home from the hospital with 3 drains. One week later they took out one, just on Thursday they took out one more. I still have one drain and it is a pain. With the drain in I can't raise my arm higher than 90*. It is still draining quite a lot so it might be awhile before I get it removed. The longest they will let it stay in is 4 weeks. At least I know I will get it out by March 7th. I can't lift, push or pull anything for 6 weeks so I have a ways to go.
I started physical therapy yesterday. The girls who is helping me, Sara O.T., is awesome!! To start radiation I have to be able to hold my arms above my head for 45 min. Right now I cant get my hands above 90* so I have some work to do. She gave me some great exercises to work on and called Ella in to be my assistant. She is a great helper. I am lucky to have her!
Now, in regards to radiation. I will need radiation. We have decided to do the Proton beam radiation. This seems to have less dose risk to my heart. I have chosen to do a study. The study has two arms. One arm is 3 weeks with a slightly higher dose daily or 5 weeks at the standard dose. We will find out when I go for simulation on March 21st which arm I will have. I will then start radiation the first week of April.
We feel very blessed with everything that has happened this month. Thank you for all the prayers, fasting, support, and love in our behalf. I have had many friends stop by to visit which has helped me a lot! Especially because I have been home bound so much. My mom has been here since surgery and we don't know what we would have done without her! Also, many meals have been brought our way which has been so helpful. 💕
Saturday, February 25, 2017
Thursday, February 2, 2017
Calvin-Star student January 2017
Calvin -Star student award
We received an email from the principle that Calvin was receiving a positive behavior award in the January assembly. We weren't supposed to say anything to him because it was surprise. We were so proud of him! He received an award for being tolerant. I will post what his teacher said on the award certificate. He was so excited! He has really done a great job with adjusting to kindergarten this year. He is in an all day Spanish immersion class. His teacher is Senorita Bjick and she is wonderful. They have done a lot of fun projects and Calvin has learned a lot.
We received an email from the principle that Calvin was receiving a positive behavior award in the January assembly. We weren't supposed to say anything to him because it was surprise. We were so proud of him! He received an award for being tolerant. I will post what his teacher said on the award certificate. He was so excited! He has really done a great job with adjusting to kindergarten this year. He is in an all day Spanish immersion class. His teacher is Senorita Bjick and she is wonderful. They have done a lot of fun projects and Calvin has learned a lot.
A couple months ago Calvin mentioned that he is ready to wear a suit to church. We happened to be at Target and they had a suit that fit him. He loves it! Loves wearing his tie. It is so funny because before this I could not get him to wear a tie. This kid keeps us hopping and we love it!
Arizona 2017- Emily
Arizona 2017- Emily
I was able to go to Arizona this past weekend to visit my dad and Sherri. It was so nice to be in the sun and warmer weather. They live in a beautiful community in Gold Canyon. It was such a great break. It was also nice to see where they live so I can now picture it all in my mind. Arizona ended up having a cold spell while I was there. 30's at night and 50's during the day. It was sunny every day though!! That is really what I needed.
I was able to go to Arizona this past weekend to visit my dad and Sherri. It was so nice to be in the sun and warmer weather. They live in a beautiful community in Gold Canyon. It was such a great break. It was also nice to see where they live so I can now picture it all in my mind. Arizona ended up having a cold spell while I was there. 30's at night and 50's during the day. It was sunny every day though!! That is really what I needed.
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| Helping with the yard work. ;-) It was so nice to just be outside. The bougainvillea in Arizona are beautiful! |
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| A nice walk along the old King Ranch road. |
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| View of the Superstition mountain range |
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| We went to the Bryce Thompson Arboretum for the day. It was beautiful and fun to see all the amazing variety of dessert plants. |
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| The river was quite high. They had just had a couple days of rain. |
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| Dad and Sher invited all the family over for dinner. Dan, Rachel, Me, Dad, Johnny, Tom, Sherri. Delores Robertson was there but taking the picture. |
Breast Cancer update #7- Final Chemotherapy #6
Last Chemotherapy January 3rd, 2017
Let me just tell you that I am so happy, relieved, overjoyed, ecstatic, and did I say excited about finishing chemotherapy. I did not want to go for that last chemo but now I am done and can put that behind me. I did have a decrease in my last Carboplatin dose. My neutrophils were really low so Dr. Goetz decided to decrease my dose to AUC of 5 rather than 6. He wanted to make sure my blood counts would rebound before surgery. My dad and Sherri came on January 2nd and stayed with us for the week. My dad made 5 loaves of brown bread, yum! All I eat the week after chemo is baked potatoes, sweet potatoes, Total cereal, and my dads brown bread with avocado. Thanks Dad!! I didn't get as sick with this treatment and I seemed to recover pretty quickly. The only thing that is taking awhile is the neuropathies in my fingers and toes. Hopefully they will resolve as well.
Next is surgery. I will have surgery on February 7th. Double Mastectomy with Lymph node dissection. Dr. Jakubs is my breast surgeon and Dr. Tran is my plastic surgeon. I am not super excited but I am eager to get this behind me as well.
Let me just tell you that I am so happy, relieved, overjoyed, ecstatic, and did I say excited about finishing chemotherapy. I did not want to go for that last chemo but now I am done and can put that behind me. I did have a decrease in my last Carboplatin dose. My neutrophils were really low so Dr. Goetz decided to decrease my dose to AUC of 5 rather than 6. He wanted to make sure my blood counts would rebound before surgery. My dad and Sherri came on January 2nd and stayed with us for the week. My dad made 5 loaves of brown bread, yum! All I eat the week after chemo is baked potatoes, sweet potatoes, Total cereal, and my dads brown bread with avocado. Thanks Dad!! I didn't get as sick with this treatment and I seemed to recover pretty quickly. The only thing that is taking awhile is the neuropathies in my fingers and toes. Hopefully they will resolve as well.
Next is surgery. I will have surgery on February 7th. Double Mastectomy with Lymph node dissection. Dr. Jakubs is my breast surgeon and Dr. Tran is my plastic surgeon. I am not super excited but I am eager to get this behind me as well.
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| For Christmas we gave all our dads a book titled "All About Grandpas". It is a compilation of pictures and questions we asked our dads. It is a great history for our kids of their amazing heritage. Here is Calvin and Liza reading Opa's book with him. |
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| Yummy brown bread. The same recipe my grandma Robertson used to make. It is such a healthy and hearty bread. |
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| Reading with my buddy. I have to say that through all of this I have had a lot more time to snuggle and read with my kiddos. |
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| Flowers delivered from the Lamb family for finishing my last chemo. They were so pretty! |
Wednesday, February 1, 2017
Lego Land 2017
Lego Land 2016- JG and Calvin
JG has been taking each of the kids with him to a conference this year. Because Calvin is a little too young to sit in the back of his meeting reading, JG decided to take him on a trip of their own. They decided Lego Land, big surprise, I know. :-) They had such a great time. Of course, Calvin came home with many lego sets. Calvin told me they woke up every morning, bought a soda, and watched a movie.
JG has been taking each of the kids with him to a conference this year. Because Calvin is a little too young to sit in the back of his meeting reading, JG decided to take him on a trip of their own. They decided Lego Land, big surprise, I know. :-) They had such a great time. Of course, Calvin came home with many lego sets. Calvin told me they woke up every morning, bought a soda, and watched a movie.
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| On the plane headed to Florida Lego Land |
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| Their room had a scavenger hunt he had to solve to find some legos. |
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| First time Calvin eating a hot dog with a bun. |
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| JG's glasses he made out of Legos |
Christmas 2016
Christmas 2016
We were able to have a wonderful Christmas together as a family. The kids have always slept in the same room on Christmas Eve. Last year they woke up at 4:30! This year we told them if they woke up before 6:30 we would have to break the tradition of sleeping in the same room. They did it! They got up at exactly 6:30. It was so nice because Christmas fell on a Sunday this year. We opened presents and stockings before going to a 10:00 sacrament service. I loved that we could more easily focus on the Savior and His ministry. The music and talks were amazing. I also loved that we were able to take the Sacrament. It was a special day. When we came home from church we spent the rest of the day with the missionaries. They spent time calling their families while we played games in the basement. We had a yummy dinner and spent the rest of the evening playing Ticket to Ride with the sisters.
A couple days after Christmas we decided to go visit our friends, the Towe's, in Sioux Falls, SD. We have all missed them so much since they moved from Rochester. We are so glad they live close enough for a short visit. We had a such a great time!
We were able to have a wonderful Christmas together as a family. The kids have always slept in the same room on Christmas Eve. Last year they woke up at 4:30! This year we told them if they woke up before 6:30 we would have to break the tradition of sleeping in the same room. They did it! They got up at exactly 6:30. It was so nice because Christmas fell on a Sunday this year. We opened presents and stockings before going to a 10:00 sacrament service. I loved that we could more easily focus on the Savior and His ministry. The music and talks were amazing. I also loved that we were able to take the Sacrament. It was a special day. When we came home from church we spent the rest of the day with the missionaries. They spent time calling their families while we played games in the basement. We had a yummy dinner and spent the rest of the evening playing Ticket to Ride with the sisters.
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| Eliza got the tablet she wanted! |
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| Clara got the boots she wanted! |
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| Calvin received a soft blanket from grandma, and of course Legos! |
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| JG and I got the reindeer we have always wanted! :-) |
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| Ella received a week long volleyball camp at BYU this summer. She started crying. It was really sweet. |
A couple days after Christmas we decided to go visit our friends, the Towe's, in Sioux Falls, SD. We have all missed them so much since they moved from Rochester. We are so glad they live close enough for a short visit. We had a such a great time!
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| Clara and Haley |
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| Callie and Eliza |
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| Danyelle and I |
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| Ella and Eliza |
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| Fun times at the Towes Poor JG got a horrible cold the day we were leaving. :-( |
Christmas Eve 2016
Christmas Eve 2016
We were able to have a great Christmas break! I was feeling good and JG ended up getting the whole week of Christmas off.
For Christmas Eve Mimi, Papa, Susette, Kristopher, and James came over for soup and to reenact the Christmas story. It was a memorable night. My favorite part was when James, dressed as a Shepard, couldn't find his sheep. He was always moving. The only picture I have is the back of his head. It was nice to be with family and feel the spirit of Christ while reading the scriptures. The children did a great job acting their parts while papa read in Luke 2.
We were able to have a great Christmas break! I was feeling good and JG ended up getting the whole week of Christmas off.
For Christmas Eve Mimi, Papa, Susette, Kristopher, and James came over for soup and to reenact the Christmas story. It was a memorable night. My favorite part was when James, dressed as a Shepard, couldn't find his sheep. He was always moving. The only picture I have is the back of his head. It was nice to be with family and feel the spirit of Christ while reading the scriptures. The children did a great job acting their parts while papa read in Luke 2.
Papa reading Luke 2
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| Clara and Calvin acting while Papa read Luke 2 |
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| Calvin (Joseph) |
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| Eliza (Angel) |
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| James (shepard) |
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| Mimi, Susette and Kristopher opening their christmas eve present. |
Saturday, December 17, 2016
Breast Cancer update #6- chemotherapy #5
Chemotherapy #5- December 6, 2016
I really did not want to go to this past chemotherapy. I now know too well what the aftermath is. My WBC, platelet, and hemoglobin were low prior to receiving chemotherapy. I also had an infection on my foot that almost delayed my treatment but the doctors decided to put me on antibiotics and continue with the chemo. I was so relieved. My foot was fine, it quickly got better with the antibiotics. I was also having increasing shortness of breath. I had an echo done and my heart looks great. Shortness of breath is probably just related to my decreased hemoglobin. I feel tired after this round and I have constant nose bleeds. I feel the business of the holidays also has me feeling tired but aren't we all?
I have my last chemotherapy scheduled for January 3rd and bilateral mastectomy with lymph node dissection scheduled for February 7th.
I was asked to give a talk at our Relief Society dinner about angels. I felt blessed to be able ponder and think about angels, heavenly angels and earthly angels. I have been blessed by so many angels in my life especially over the last couple months. So many have reached out to our family. We have received countless prayers, texts, phone calls, flowers, cards, meals, visits, hugs, and much more......
We have been richly blessed. Thank you!!! We feel we get great strength and comfort from the love we have received and the love of our Heavenly Father.
Sorry, I don't have many pictures this time around.
I really did not want to go to this past chemotherapy. I now know too well what the aftermath is. My WBC, platelet, and hemoglobin were low prior to receiving chemotherapy. I also had an infection on my foot that almost delayed my treatment but the doctors decided to put me on antibiotics and continue with the chemo. I was so relieved. My foot was fine, it quickly got better with the antibiotics. I was also having increasing shortness of breath. I had an echo done and my heart looks great. Shortness of breath is probably just related to my decreased hemoglobin. I feel tired after this round and I have constant nose bleeds. I feel the business of the holidays also has me feeling tired but aren't we all?
I have my last chemotherapy scheduled for January 3rd and bilateral mastectomy with lymph node dissection scheduled for February 7th.
I was asked to give a talk at our Relief Society dinner about angels. I felt blessed to be able ponder and think about angels, heavenly angels and earthly angels. I have been blessed by so many angels in my life especially over the last couple months. So many have reached out to our family. We have received countless prayers, texts, phone calls, flowers, cards, meals, visits, hugs, and much more......
We have been richly blessed. Thank you!!! We feel we get great strength and comfort from the love we have received and the love of our Heavenly Father.
Sorry, I don't have many pictures this time around.
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| Calvin trying to break the piñata at our ward Christmas party |
Wednesday, November 30, 2016
Breast Cancer update #5- Chemotherapy #4
Chemotherapy #4- November 15, 2016
This post will have more pictures than usual. My sister Sarah came to help me after this chemotherapy. It was so great to have her here and she was SOOOO helpful.
I have been so blessed by my family! I haven't had a treatment yet that someone hasn't come to help me and my family. It has made it possible for my kids to be able to continue in their activities and keep up with their school work. Thank you!!
This round was really hard! I received the same chemotherapies as last time. Perjeta, Herceptin, Abraxane, and Carboplatin. The first 24 hours weren't bad. I had round 4 on a Tuesday, Thursday morning I woke up vomiting. This hadn't happened since the first chemo. I was on every possible anti nausea/vomiting med but they weren't touching it. Thank goodness I was prescribed a sublingual Zofran that helped. I didn't get out of bed the entire day except to go to the bathroom. I don't even know what happened with my kids that day. Thank goodness Sarah was here to take good care of them and get them where they needed to be. Friday was better and I could at least get out of bed without vomiting. It is amazing that once I start feeling better and get food in my stomach I get better pretty fast. Sarah left the next Tuesday and by then I was feeling pretty good. We actually were able to go shopping the Monday before she left. :-)
We were able to go to Oma and Opa's house for Thanksgiving. Ben and Holly along with Holly's mom, Pat, were there. Christy and Aama were there to celebrate, too. I have so much to be thankful for this year. It seems my prayers go on and on about how grateful I am for so many amazing people in my life and the life of my family. We are truly blessed to understand God's Plan and be a part of it. Even though this time in my journey is tough, I can see so many blessings. I know there are many that are struggling in different ways than I am and this is always on my mind. We all have trials and struggles, maybe at different times in our lives, but we will definitely have them. I hope and pray as those around me need help, love, prayers, hugs, cards, meals, phone calls, texts, etc.... that I can offer those in return for all the amazing acts of service I have received. I have seen the work of God's hands in my life but never the way I have the last few months. I am truly humbled by the unselfish acts of so many in our behalf.
My mom is coming today. Yeah! I am still dealing with some residual side effects like annoying bloody noses, peripheral neuropathy in my fingers and toes, and a nagging cough. These will most likely be gone by next Tuesday. Just in time to start over again. JG has been out of town this week in Chicago at a Radiology meeting. He has seen many of his friends from all over the world. I can tell through our phone conversations how much he enjoys reconnecting with all these amazing people.
We met with the NP that schedules surgery last week. It looks like double mastectomy, lymph node dissection will be scheduled for the first week of February. My bone marrow just needs to rebound after my last round of chemo. I am hoping to go somewhere warm for a couple days in the week before surgery. Here's to hoping!
This post will have more pictures than usual. My sister Sarah came to help me after this chemotherapy. It was so great to have her here and she was SOOOO helpful.
I have been so blessed by my family! I haven't had a treatment yet that someone hasn't come to help me and my family. It has made it possible for my kids to be able to continue in their activities and keep up with their school work. Thank you!!
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| Sarah and I waiting to get called back for chemo. |
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| Awaiting the dreaded IV |
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| My sister Linda and niece Holly sent me these socks. I love them! I am for sure wearing them for the next cycle too. I do have to be brave because it is not easy to get myself to these appointments but I know it is what I need to do. Don't get me wrong, I am very grateful for these drugs, just not the side effects. |
This round was really hard! I received the same chemotherapies as last time. Perjeta, Herceptin, Abraxane, and Carboplatin. The first 24 hours weren't bad. I had round 4 on a Tuesday, Thursday morning I woke up vomiting. This hadn't happened since the first chemo. I was on every possible anti nausea/vomiting med but they weren't touching it. Thank goodness I was prescribed a sublingual Zofran that helped. I didn't get out of bed the entire day except to go to the bathroom. I don't even know what happened with my kids that day. Thank goodness Sarah was here to take good care of them and get them where they needed to be. Friday was better and I could at least get out of bed without vomiting. It is amazing that once I start feeling better and get food in my stomach I get better pretty fast. Sarah left the next Tuesday and by then I was feeling pretty good. We actually were able to go shopping the Monday before she left. :-)
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| Precious picture Sarah captured of Calvin. He is always kissing and rubbing my head. Love him! |
While we were in Iowa for thanksgiving my brother Ben decided he wanted to shave his head to look like mine. I told him it wasn't necessary but he insisted. The kids were so excited because he let them do it! ;-) He looks good!
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| Clara's turn |
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| Calvin's turn |
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| Twin noggins |
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Left-Right. Clara, Emily, Holly, Oma, Pat, and Eliza, at the farm. |
My mom is coming today. Yeah! I am still dealing with some residual side effects like annoying bloody noses, peripheral neuropathy in my fingers and toes, and a nagging cough. These will most likely be gone by next Tuesday. Just in time to start over again. JG has been out of town this week in Chicago at a Radiology meeting. He has seen many of his friends from all over the world. I can tell through our phone conversations how much he enjoys reconnecting with all these amazing people.
We met with the NP that schedules surgery last week. It looks like double mastectomy, lymph node dissection will be scheduled for the first week of February. My bone marrow just needs to rebound after my last round of chemo. I am hoping to go somewhere warm for a couple days in the week before surgery. Here's to hoping!
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Ya Ya
She fits perfectly!