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Today Zoey — dressed in shorts, a long-sleeved shirt, tutu, and butterfly wings — woke up her dad in the early hours to ask for help getting her black shoes on. “I have to look posh today for the wedding.  They are going to kick me out of the wedding if I don’t look posh!”  Happy Anniversary to Ron!  Ha!!!  Ian also belted out the… Read more: Happy Anniversary

The next couple months will be yet another adventure.  I am anxious to check 2020 off of the Crazy list, and start fresh with a new year! This Friday, October 30th, I’m having my port removed (the little access device they put in by my collar bone to use for my Chemo treatments)  Yay!!  No more cancer, no more foreign object in my chest. (Ha!… Read more: The End of the Year

Lately, I am filling my days with my beautiful children.  Even though Zoey’s school is all in person this year, we have chosen to keep her home for the time being because of health risks for our family. (Hi, COVID.  You are not welcome here.)  If there is a family who is still isolating, we are that family.  I really wish that Zoey could attend… Read more: My Children

At the follow-up appointment, after my surgery, the breast surgeon stated that she wasn’t sure whether or not I would need radiation. The issue was the swollen lymph node felt after my cancer diagnosis, and the subsequent unsuccessful biopsy (hello hot mess) of that lymph node.  All that meant there was no way to know whether the lymph node contained cancer prior to the start… Read more: Radiation

Three years to the day my sister, Amy, beat breast cancer.  How is it possible that I just received this phone call…  I just received a phone call from my breast surgeon.  “Melissa, I wanted to call you with the news.  I didn’t want you to have to wait all weekend.”  The suspense… My heart… Ahhhh!!!  What is it!?!?! “Melissa, you had a complete pathological… Read more: Good News

I was a bit high from the meds, happy as a lark when my surgery was over. The nurse said “You are doing amazing!” Ron said, “the plastic surgeon was pleased and already able to put some saline in the expanders.” I was simply relieved. You know that feeling of fear that something might happen to you when you are under anesthesia and no longer… Read more: Thank You!

The first surgery of the day… Tuesday morning I will be having a double mastectomy with reconstruction. This is one step of many on my way to healing. It is the longest surgery yet. I will not be able to pick up anything over 10 lbs for 6 weeks, have drains (tubes with bulbs at the ends) most likely for at least 4 weeks, walk… Read more: Surgery

“Tired” is my daily existence lately, but last night I gave my constantly-teething peanut some Tylenol and for the first time in a long while we got some sleep. Phew! If you haven’t heard from me it is because exhaustion has set in. Just because I am tired doesn’t mean things are terrible. My oncologist tells me that I am doing well. Still, I feel… Read more: Almost There…

I think my hair is starting to grow back. I am bald with the odd short hairs that never quite fell out and the newly present fuzz… not really visible yet from afar. I need to shave my legs… yep it’s happening! When I was a baby I had hardly any hair. My nickname was “Peaches” for the fuzz on my head. So now I… Read more: Just Call Me Peaches

There are two ways to look at advancing years in life (aka birthdays): You can view them with dread or celebrate them with joy.  When I turned thirty, I actually cried. I did not want to get older. It seems silly, but I was scared. My family history has made getting older a challenge. You see my fun-loving Aunt got cancer at 39, an uplifting… Read more: Happy Birthday, Peaches!

I am happy to report that I went 24 hours without taking Tylenol!  My temp stayed fairly normal for most of the day yesterday then climbed last night to 100.2, but went back down to 99.7. I ended up taking Tylenol just so that I could sleep without worrying that my temperature would get out of control. I still have some symptoms, but the fever… Read more: Mother’s Day

Jeremiah 29:11 popped into my head this morning: “For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” It has been a rough week.  Ever since Covid 19 started being in the news, while there were only a few cases in the United States, I have been worried about… Read more: The Plans I Have For You

Chocolate pie and roast…yes please.   The rules of no red meat can go out the window this week.  This is a celebration of love people.  It’s our Anniversary week.  Ron and I got married 6 years ago.  We have not had the easiest start, and yet, we are incredibly strong together.  I love you, Ron.  This week is also Holy Week.  I thank Jesus… Read more: Holy Week

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. — 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 In November of 2016 I decided to finally get genetic testing. It took months to get in. I was planning on becoming pregnant, but wanted to make sure that I was healthy first. I decided to have genetic testing… Read more: Backstory

…maybe I am. I am going to war. I felt like I was in a movie as the razor made swipe after swipe…The battle lines are drawn and I can’t help but smile. There is something extremely funny about looking at a head that has been blonde for so long that I didn’t even realize how brown my hair was. Thank you for another positive,… Read more: I’m In the Army Now

I feel good, though apparently I am getting a bit menopausal…The hot flashes and night sweats are divine. The days following treatment are a wreck of sorts: nausea, dry heaving, extreme tiredness…a haze. Thank goodness for the relief of rest, recuperation, and a week off. I went to Beautiful You yesterday and if anyone deserves funding, an award, recognition it is this place. I had… Read more: Beautiful

Leap over it, singing all the way. Biopsy number 7??? of breasts…I have lost count. I found a lump before Christmas…It is small…I thought it could have been a clogged milk duct, but it didn’t go away…Cautious, unwilling to risk it to the high risk breast clinic I went. “Yes,” the nurse practitioner said, “I feel it too. I am so glad that you came… Read more: When another hurdle is in the way…