And Tonight We Will Say...

Peace Out 2008!! 

Look Who Came Back!

Can you see it??? Here's a close up. Maybe that will help:

Yeah, my rash is back, and I have no idea why this time. It started out yesterday as a little splotch across my cheek and then last night it was full blown down my chest. Yippee. 

I think I'm going to name my rash one of these days, seeing as we are becoming close acquaintances. Is that too weird? In other news, 

here are some more pictures from Christmas for your viewing pleasure.

This is the fern that was on the oak tree that was cut down on Christmas Eve. Here it looks pretty dead and gone. BUT, add some rain over night and voila':

The dead fern perked up! It was so pretty on Christmas morning 

because the big ol jumble of chopped up oak tree was very green and covered in fern!

Here's a picture of the fern in black and white - 

because I know you all have always wondered what fern looks like in black and white! 

Okay, that's all I've got for now. 

Family Introductions - Merry Christmas Style

This of course is Warner. Enough said. You all know about him.

This is Ruekie. He's awesome.

This is Edgar. He's really a Shetland Pony disguised as a German Shepherd.

This is my dad. The picture is blurry because he has super powers. 

He has super sonic speed and won't slow down for pictures. 

This is my mom. She's a lap dog person. Me on the other hand, 

I like my dogs to be the size of a Shetland Pony. 

This is my brother. He only has one eye because he wanted to be a pirate back when he was in highschool. We try not to make fun of him for it though.

This is my grandmother. She's pocket sized. 

This is Warner's dad. I think he thinks I'm weird. 

No, I don't think, I know he thinks I'm weird. 

This is Warner's mom. She's part of a gypsy rock band. 

Check out her awesome head-banging skills. 

This is Warner's sister. She's (almost) 15 so there's nothing more to say about that. 

Oh, and she likes cat food.

This is Warner's Aunt Lily, her cousin Margaret, and Warner's Grammy. I can't think of anything witty to put here as a caption though. So just enjoy the picture.

And of course this is me. Because your day wouldn't be complete without seeing a picture of the wonky smile! It's pretty tragic! 

More Christmas pictures to come later!

Merry Christmas!

Families have been visited and all the presents are open. We have made it back to our apartment and are looking forward to a good nights sleep. I may go shopping with my parents tomorrow or I may just sleep all day. We will see what their plans are! Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas!!! I'll post some pictures soon!

My Cancer Posse

Ha, I really don't have a posse, and I really don't know enough people with cancer to actually form a posse, but a girl can dream, can't she? I would definitely be in an Old West, gun slingin' type of posse. Can you just picture it?? But ANYWAY, I do have a new friend that is also 23 and has oral cancer. And guess what?? She is having her surgery today - which means, by the time she reads this, she will hopefully be cancer free! So, kick butt today Shaylynn!

In other news we will be heading up to Auburn soon and spending a few days there with family before heading back to spend some time with my family. OH, and PAULA is hooooome!!! 

Turns Out, I'm NOT The Celebrity In The Family

So today, I became a big girl and went to my first doctor's appointment all by myself since this whole ordeal began (except for my endocrinologist appointments). And you know what?!!? EVERYONE asked me where Warner was - so much for me being the super-star. I told them that I decided I was a big girl and didn't need him at every appointment. So, now I'm flying solo, kind of. I brought Dr. Pou and Mell Christmas cards and they went all girly emotional on me - at least Mell did, which makes me feel special! Anyway, so it was a good appointment, I have some slight swelling in my larynx but that is normal and is probably from me having a cold. The first thing Dr. Pou did when she got in my room was pull out my chart and start rattling off all my weights from past visits. Yeah, I'm down another four pounds. I told her what my endocrinologist said and that they make fun of me for eating all the time at work. She just doesn't want me to waste away. I only had one resident come in and look at me this time and I've moved on to two months in between visits - which is only an extra 2 weeks, so not that big of a deal. I had blood work done for my endocrinologist by some nurse who was all business. She didn't say a word to me when I tried to talk to her, then she jabbed my arm with the needle, patched me up, and in the most grinch-iest tone said "Happy Holidays." I left wondering what had just happened!

Dr. Pou sprayed both sides of my nose today before she scoped me. I had mentioned to her that I had a stuffy nose from my cold so she told me the spray would help unstop it. Well, the spray worked wonderfully (except for making my nose and sinuses numb) until about noon and at that point I started sneezing every few minutes and projectiling boogers everywhere and blowing out massive amounts of boogers! So that has been fun. Aren't you guys glad that you are reading this and finding out about my boogers?

So, that's about it in my world. Oh, does anyone have any good tips for getting red liquid cough medicine out of carpet? Edgar knocked over a bottle on the coffee table that apparently was not closed all the way and yeah, our carpet is still a little pink...

Reason # 367,916,748,352 Not To Take Me Out In Public

Me: OOOOOHHh...LOOK! It's SAMPRAS! 

Warner: Huh?

Me: It's Pete Sampras! 

Warner: Where?

Me: There! It's stinkin P.E.T.E.S.A.M.P.R.A.S.  !!!!!!

This little conversation took place today as Warner and I were driving on to LSU's campus to go watch the Pete Sampras vs. James Blake match. As we were pulling in to the parking lot, there were a bunch of people walking from the outdoor courts to the arena where the match was going to be played. During this point in time, I was people watching and I see this guy walking with a tennis racket. Me, being the judgmental person that I sometimes can be, think to myself, who's the MORON with the tennis racket. Well, then my little outburst from above took place. And yeah, the MORON with the tennis racket was PETE SAMPRAS. I called Sampras a moron. Not to his face, and only in my head, and in the safe confines in the car. After my outburst I told Warner that I was just wondering who the "moron with the tennis racket" was and when I realized it was Pete Sampras so it obviously was okay for him to be carrying a tennis racket if he wants to. I mean, he could take his racket to the grocery store or the flower shop if he so chooses and no one could tell him that he can't because he's Pete Sampras. 

I think he has the most recognizable serve ever. Check out the form! It's amazing! 

Watching him play makes me REALLY want to get out and play again.

So, as we were walking in to the arena, JAMES BLAKE was walking in front of us going in to the arena. So, OF COURSE, I look at Warner and say in my loud whisper voice (yes, that one Paula) LOOK IT'S JAMES BLAKE but I'm pretty sure he didn't hear me. When we got to the top of the stairs in to the arena these ladies were bending over the railing and yelling down to James Blake and waving at him. It was really funny and I'm pretty sure he heard them because they had huge grins on their faces!

This was at the start of the 3rd set. Sampras was feeling the fatigue and was goofing off here and hobbling around and stretching like an old man. 

They were pretty funny the whole match goofing off back and forth.

There was also a wheelchair tennis exhibition match 

I'm pretty sure those guys could have kicked my butt!

So, in case you were wondering - Pete Sampras won! I might post more pictures online later.

Walkin In A Winter Wonderland...

It snowed...in LOUISIANA! and it snowed a lot!

The following is the chaos that ensues when you put Ruekie and Edgar in the snow!

We had another stranger danger moment. When we got out to the field, Edgar did NOT like the snowmen and was barking like crazy at them! Once we let them off the leashes to run they both ran straight to the snowmen to check them out!

It took me 20 minutes to Edgar back in the house this morning after letting him run in the snow for the first time ever. I would get him in the house and he would dart back out before I could close the door. He  would go stand by my car and stare at me and then he would just start running and sliding everywhere.

Jingle Bells Batman Smells...

And it's beginning to look a lot like...



SNOW!!!!!!!!!



I'll put up pictures at lunch!

Gollie Gee...Tim Tebow Is Such A Swell Guy

So, in order to be fair to Ruekie and because I know most of you never saw him as a puppy here you go:

Wasn't he so cute??? And he still is! Today I did some shopping and I'm ALMOST finished. Warner got home from work at 5:30 this morning after working a super duper ridiculously long shift. He then "slept" for about 4 hours and went back to work after going out to lunch with me. He kept getting phone calls while he was trying to sleep this morning and the mutts kept wanting to play and were dropping toys on the bed by his face. When he was leaving the site, his alarm was going off at it's normal time for him to get up! They are having issues at work and are trying to figure out what is causing the problem. As far as I know they still don't know what is wrong so he may have another late night tonight and he might have to go back in tomorrow. I feel bad for him because he is missing some awesome football games tonight. Especially the whupping that Mizzou is going to get tonight by OU. Right Anne? Yeah, I knew you would agree, I won't tell Andy though. Your secret is safe with me. 

So, after the people above us moved out, I didn't think it would be possible to get someone louder than them, but man, these people are hiding a herd of elephants up there. It's a couple of guys and I'm pretty sure they are construction workers and they are LOUD! 

I'm still pretty sick. It's mostly just coughing up a lot of nasty stuff and a stuffy nose. So, it's not strep. I'm just worried about it turning into a sinus infection or something worse. But oh well, I'll survive. I'm going to go eat some more cookies that I baked earlier! 

Seriously

When did this:

and this:

and this:

turn into this:

ACK! He's so big! And those ears!!!! I miss how they used to cross. The pictures of his ears still kill me!!! Not much is going on around here tonight, Warner is working late and I am at home hanging out with the dogs. I started back to work on Monday and it has been pretty uneventful so far. I'm just learning about what I'm going to be doing. I started getting sick yesterday - I'm not sure if it's what Warner had or not because he started off with a sore throat for a while and then developed a cough and I got everything all at once. Everyone in the office is sick as well so it could be something I picked up there. So, that's pretty much all that is going on. I'm almost done Christmas shopping, I only have a couple more things to buy and I'll be done! 

Oh Christmas Tree

So here's my theory: if you are going to get a fake tree, you have to go all out. So, this year, we bought a red pre - lit ridiculously fake looking tree for Christmas - and decorated it with Razorback ornaments. Here are some more shots: 

Warner kindly reminded me today that it was not December 1 yet and I told him that it did not matter because it was after Thanksgiving and that was all that counts! So, I sat on the couch painting the ornaments this evening and then we decorated! We even have presents under the tree already! Yippee! 

Here's a picture, just because my brother Charlie is awesome! He took pictures of us while we were in Texas and they turned out great! I'm only showing you guys one for now though! I'll show off the rest at Christmas or something.  

Don't we look like Gap models or something? I'm totally working that scarf! Haha. So, if you ever need pictures done or anything like that, I know a guy. This picture was taken out at my grandfather's farm. We took pictures there and at the park in town. 

We decided against camping on the way home because Warner has a cough and we really just wanted to get home (not to mention there were several good football games on tv today). So, we will just have to try out our new tent another day! 

Mom and I went to Walmart yesterday morning and it was crazy! I've never been one for shopping the day after Thanksgiving. We didn't get there to stand in line, but we did go at about 6:30 and they were completely sold out of almost everything we wanted. We heard from people that there was a line throughout the store for electronics so there would have been little hope anyway of us getting what we wanted from there! I did manage to score a few cheap movies and that was really about it. I did go to the outlet mall this evening and man oh man there were a ton of sales. I picked up a few things and I think I am officially done buying smaller clothes (at least for the season). I wanted a pair of brown pants and Banana Republic had 50% off their entire store so I was sucked in! So, moral of the story? Skip Walmart the day after Thanksgiving and go to the outlet mall two days after!

Phew

All I'm going to say is:

WOO PIG SOOIE!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Official Diagnosis

Symptomatic Neurogenic Orthostatic Hypotension (NOH). They don't teach you how to spell those kind of words in kindergarden. I went and saw my endocrinologist today and he handed me a piece of paper about clinical trials and pointed to those words and said, "That's what you've got." As for the clinical trial, I don't know if I'll be doing it, and I'm not sure I even qualify since I've been hit by the book in cancer treatments. My BP was low today at the check-up and my pulse of course was high, but the good news was it remained fairly unchanged when I changed from sitting to standing. So, my meds were upped and we're going from there.

We are heading out tomorrow to go to my grandmother's for Thanksgiving. I'm ready for some turkey and stuffing!!! 

Random Fact about me: I will drive 30+ minutes to Whole Foods for Veggie Chips and Apples. 

1997 All Over Again

Sorry, I kind of went all Jr. High School girl on you guys yesterday but Mrs. Robin got it right - it was my "one month anniversary" (or whatever you want to call it) of officially being in remission! Ha, I definitely feel like a teenager again. You know, when you celebrate because you have been dating for a total of 36 minutes and it's a huge milestone in your life and he better get you flowers or else he won't ever see 37 minutes. Yeah. I never did that actually. Seriously. I'm not the random anniversary type. I have my wedding anniversary on July 29th and we got engaged on January 17 and that's about it. But now I get to celebrate October 22 as being when I was officially put into remission. Which is awesome, so you're going to have to deal with it! Okay, that's all I've got for now.

Question Of The Day

Does anybody know what today was???? 

(yeah, we're getting interactive here)

Just An Update

The good news is, my reaction is probably not because of the medicine. Well, it might be because of the medicine but not that I'm allergic to them, since the reaction is only in the radiated areas. 

This time I'm feeling kind of bleh and I have a super headache (I'm dizzy too, but that's nothing new) two symptoms I didn't have before. Oh, and I have a fever So, I'm going to start taking some Claritin and see if that clears it up. If it does, I can go back on the first medication. My endocrinologist has never seen anyone allergic to either of the medications that I have reacted to so hopefully it's not that, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was. If this nonsense doesn't go away I'll have to call my radiation oncologist and get his input!

ARg! And No, It's Not Talk Like A Pirate Day

Reaction #2 and a new haircut! Yippee!

Rock, Paper, Scissors, Lizard, Spock

So, I don't have any medical news, I know, lame, right? I can't help it, I would be a whole lot less interesting if I didn't get cancer, and seriously, I don't think anyone would read the blog - I wouldn't even have a blog. I mean, I've gotten way fewer comments since I was put in remission. See, cancer has a sort of entertainment factor to it! I'm okay with fewer comments. I'd rather be in remission than going through treatment any day. Although I was telling someone the other day that I think cancer might be a lot like having a baby - I've never had a baby so I can only assume. I look back on it and it doesn't seem so bad, as a whole. I can think of times when I was miserable, but those don't pop into my mind right away. 

Anyway. I started Christmas shopping today, yeah I cringed at the thought of doing so as well. But, since I'm going back to work on December 1, I decided I needed to get my shopping done early. So, don't judge me! I also stumbled upon shoe heaven while I was out shopping. Seriously, DSW Shoes is INSANE. I'm going back. Soon.

My mother - in - law was in town the past few days. We went shopping with my mom one day and we ate beignets another. Now, she is back home, hopefully enjoying her new Kirby vacuum cleaner / carpet shampooer! She bought the dogs a new toy while she was here, and Edgar does not let it out of his site. It's the one in the picture at the top! Many wars have already been fought over this little orange guy! 

So I lied, I do have a little medical news - see, I'm making it worth your while to read my whole blog! I'm not allergic to the new medication. It isn't working 100% though. So, while I can definitely tell in the mornings when I haven't taken it yet, I still get lightheaded every now and then throughout the day. 

In other news, I think I'm going to go through my closet some and start packing up some clothes that don't fit anymore and save them for a rainy day. When I look in the mirror I don't feel like I've lost any weight really, but then I put on my clothes, and well, yep, I have - and I'm eating like a horse! I guess it just means more shopping for me! HA. I think Warner would disagree. Speaking of Warner, I need to convince him to write a blog post soon. Maybe he'll be more interesting than me. 

A Little Less Red

You guys are all way more concerned about my health than I am. I'm going to be fine. I talked to my doctor on Monday and he really wasn't too concerned. I told him I stopped taking the meds and was taking benadryl and that was good enough with him. I'm pretty sure the swelling in my neck and under my chin were because of my lack of lymph nodes. I'm just going to have to work harder now to get the swelling back down. I'll start a new medication when I get back home from Paula's house. I wanted to wait until my reaction had gone down some so I would be able to know if I was allergic to the next medicine when I started taking it. The redness and itching have gone down a little bit today so enough about that. 

I went to the Birmingham zoo today with my friend Shane and his wife Shauna showed up for a little bit. It definitely wasn't the Audubon zoo and there were no elephants! However, there was a baby giraffe, a very feisty white tiger, and very pink flamingos so it was fun. Paula and I went up to The Vulcan which is a statue in Birmingham, apparently the largest iron statue cast in the US. You can take an elevator (or stairs if you are insane) to the top of the platform and look out over the city. We went once during the day and then we went back at night to see the lights. Tomorrow I'll be heading back home to see my husband and my puppies, who, hopefully, have missed me dearly.