Roman

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Roman enjoyed a track camp this month.  He really loves to run!  He was also SO excited to get a medal and a ribbon.  This is what he said when we got home from the last day..."I am so happy!" 

So for me, it doesn't get much better than that!

Roman went on his first sleepover today.  He was so excited! 

We are so lucky to have such good friends.

Fair Time

I am going to try and catch up on some things we have done this summer.  First of all, the fair.  We all were able to go together, and that felt amazing.  It seemed like so long since we had done anything all together!  Meg had entered some photos in the photography section.  Roman had entered a Lego creation.  It was their first time entering anything.  Meg won 1st prize in the humorous section and 3rd place in the black and white section.  Great job Meg!

Darryl and Roman went on Sinbad.  Roman was just tall enough to go on it.  It was a little scary for me to watch him up there.  Boy those rides seem rickety, but Roman didn't seem to notice.  He loved it!

Feeling good post surgery...is that a hair on my head?

Hello everyone!  I am feeling good after surgery!  I took a few days to sleep and relax.  The day of the surgery, we got home around 2:00.  I slept from 4:30 until 9:30 the next morning.  I was very sleepy!  My experience at the hospital was very good.  I had an awesome operating room nurse, who helped me relax and made the experience very easy.  In the recovery room I was next to a young highschool girl who had just had her tonsils taken out.  I could hear her talking and coughing, as I was drifting in and out of consciousness.  I will go back to the surgeon next week some time to check on the incision and then wait a few more weeks before starting six weeks of radiation.  Two down (chemo, surgery) ONE to go (radiation) !!  I can do this!!

At exactly one month since my last round of chemo, I am starting to see tiny little hairs on my head!!!  YAHOO!!  I was afraid I was going to be one of those patients that their hair doesn't grow back! 

We are off to a few yard sales this morning and then to Sutherlin to see mom and dad. 

P.S.  Thank you Nancy and Don for the shampoo and conditioner!  What a wonderful gift when my hair is just starting to come back in.  Thank you!!

Surgery today....

Just wanted to let you all know that Kristen had her sugery this morning.  Heard from Darryl that she is out of surgery and in recovery and doing well.  The surgeon said Kristen did great and that the surgery went well.  I will post more as I know more but I'm sure Kristen will let you all know a little more detail in a day or two when she's feeling up to it.   Thank you all for your thoughts and prays! 

Can I touch your head??

Yesterday while going through a drive-thru, as I went to pay the nice-lady, she looks at me and says, "can I touch your head?"  I was so shocked and surprised, I started laughing and said, sure!  She leans out the window and rubs my bald head.  "It's fuzzy" she says, then she gives me the receipt.
 
Well, that was a first!  I have now had my head rubbed by a total stranger! 

Saying goodbye to grandma and grandpa Myler

Dean and Kathie are heading to Mackay, Idaho to build their dream home.  We will miss them!

Surgery rescheduled

We have rescheduled the surgery for next Wednesday, the 22nd.  Darryl's back is bad right now, so we are letting him rest it and get feeling better before we do the surgery.  He has been such a support to me and has taken care of so many things.  I don't want to do this surgery without him.  Another week will also give my body more time to get feeling better each day.  It is incredible how long it takes your body to bounce back.  I am amazed at how many people go through cancer treatment each and every day.  Oh, the things that you put your body through, in hopes to one day not have cancer and return to your "normal" life. 

Surgery

The lumpectomy surgery is scheduled for this Wednesday at 8:30 at Sacred Heart in Eugene.  Three or four weeks after that is when I will need to start radiation.  We discussed doing/not doing radiation with the surgeon and he says that doing radiation cuts your chance of the cancer coming back in half.  So that seems like it is worth it to us!  Radiation treatment will take six weeks.  It looks like by the end of October I should be done with everything and on my way to feeling better.. 
  Side note...my nails are starting to die and lift up.  Funny, they were fine this whole time and then about a week or so ago they started going bad.  I thought I might get away with not having my nails fall off, but it looks like it is going to happen.  I am also gaining weight, what the heck?!?!  I think my body is all out of whack and doesn't know what is going on.  My eyes are constantly watering still. So it seems that the chemo is still having some effects on me.  It is definately not out of your system after two weeks. 
  Our oncologist, Dr. O'Neil, retired July 31st, so we are switching over to Dr. Williams.  He is in the same building, same office really.  We have not met him yet, but feel like it will be an easy transition.  We have heard only good things about him. 
  Love to you all.
 

A little summer fun

Meg during the UCC volleyball camp.  She had so much fun and was very sore at the end of the week!  Ahh..I remember those days of aching muscles....

We got a pool and the kids could not wait to get in, even though it wasn't quite full yet.

Roman made a fort under the table and decided it would be AMAZING to sleep in it. 

That is all for now.  I have not been able to get many pictures this summer.  We hope to be able to do some fun things over the next few weeks, before surgery.  Love to you all!

Notes from the kids

I love you mom, you kicked cancer's BUTT !!!!-Roman

I'm so proud of you, and what you have done. You are an example to all of us. You are the best mom in the whole world. I love you so much. You are so pretty with and without hair! Stay strong. xoxo--Meg

Surprise....no more chemo!!!

At our oncologist appointment yesterday we got some AMAZING news!  The doctor felt that I did not need to do the 6th and final round of chemotherapy!  The reason behind this was because how small the tumor had gone down with the first four rounds and also the chemo was getting harder and harder for my body to take.  This last round seemed to be harder than the previous ones.  Sooooo....on to surgery.  I will be doing a lumpectomy.  I don't have the date scheduled yet, but hope to do it within the next two weeks.  Not sure if I will do radiation after that or not?  We still need to talk to the surgeon. 
 I am so excited to finish that chapter of this journey.  Thank you all for the meals, cards, texts, emails, thoughts, prayers, gifts, etc.  That poison....I mean chemo...is pretty tough stuff.  I needed all of the encouragement that I could get.  THANK YOU! 
  Anyone remember this???