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.
 |
| Helping with the yard work. ;-) It was so nice to just be outside. The bougainvillea in Arizona are beautiful! |
 |
| A nice walk along the old King Ranch road. |
 |
| View of the Superstition mountain range |
 |
| We went to the Bryce Thompson Arboretum for the day. It was beautiful and fun to see all the amazing variety of dessert plants. |
 |
| The river was quite high. They had just had a couple days of rain. |
 |
| 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.
 |
| 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. |
 |
| Yummy brown bread. The same recipe my grandma Robertson used to make. It is such a healthy and hearty bread. |
 |
| 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. |
 |
| 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.
 |
| On the plane headed to Florida Lego Land |
 |
| Their room had a scavenger hunt he had to solve to find some legos. |
 |
| First time Calvin eating a hot dog with a bun. |
 |
| 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.
 |
| Eliza got the tablet she wanted! |
 |
| Clara got the boots she wanted! |
 |
| Calvin received a soft blanket from grandma, and of course Legos! |
 |
| JG and I got the reindeer we have always wanted! :-) |
 |
| 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!
 |
| Clara and Haley |
 |
| Callie and Eliza |
 |
| Danyelle and I |
 |
| Ella and Eliza |
 |
| 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
 |
| Clara and Calvin acting while Papa read Luke 2 |
 |
| Calvin (Joseph) |
 |
| Eliza (Angel) |
 |
| James (shepard) |
 |
| Mimi, Susette and Kristopher opening their christmas eve present. |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Ya Ya
She fits perfectly!