Thumbs and Ba Bas

Hannah Beth has always loved her thumb. Aiden loves him some pacifiers. He
calls each one by his special name, "Ba Ba". Sometimes one isn't enough, so he
uses two. Oh, if his mouth could only fit 3 at a time! That would truly be heaven
on earth for him! Ray and I are so thankful for these two little rascals!

Aiden loves to offer his pacifier to you until you take it, then his whole world

crumbles around him...We have no idea how we will break this one. Hannah Beth

is 10 months old in these pictures. The only problem with her thumb sucking is

the amount of money we will be shelling out to correct her mouth. YIKES!

Race for the Cure

Dear Friends and Family,

On November 1st, I will be walking in the Race for the Cure to support the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Would you please consider donating to this cause.

Research is near and dear to my heart. I was diagnosed with Stage 2b, Her2+ breast cancer. The Her2+ part of the diagnosis means that the cancer would metastasize aggressively. In my own language, Her2+ is a crazy mad mamma jamma that creates cancerous tumors all over the body. This will not happen to me because of my prayer warriors, chemotherapy, mastectomy, radiation and HERCEPTIN treatments!

Just 5 years ago, the drug, Herceptin was approved. Due to brave women enduring trial studies, Herceptin proved to destroy the Her2+ protein. Herceptin destroys the Her2+ protein on the inside and outside.

I will continue to have Herceptin infusions every 3 weeks for a year. I call it my "glory juice". I believe with all my heart that your donation will truly help researchers find more "glory juice" for other types of breast cancer. You are helping to save lives. THANK YOU!

On October 20th, Dr. Fain told Mom and I that my CT scans showed I was cancer free. I only have 33 weeks of radiation and three more surgeries ahead of me. So many of you have helped me personally. Thank you! Dr. Fain also placed my name on a list for a trial study on a new drug. I'm so excited that I may be able to help others in the future in more ways than one. Thank you for taking the time to read this even if you can't donate today.


Love,

Alicia
(AKA Lisa, Warrior Princess)

Hannah Beth is proud of her fingerpaint masterpiece on my bald head.


Click here to visit my personal page.

http://www.info-komen.org/site/TR/RacefortheCure/AUS_AustinAffiliate?px=5903073&pg=personal&fr_id=1240&et=NhD2x4-7rmlpsDY0iHbd1Q..&s_tafId=52440

Click here to view the team page for Rivet's Racershttp://www.info-komen.org/site/TR/RacefortheCure/AUS_AustinAffiliate?team_id=119412&pg=team&fr_id=1240&et=8OdoG6ZsVu4BbNJCZpBbrg..&s_tafId=52440

Go to www.komenaustin.org

Clean CT's

Yesterday, Dr. Fain told Mom and I that my CT's were clean. This means that the scans of my chest, abdomen and pelvis revealed no signs of cancer cells. Hooray! Due to the size of the lump they removed on March 28th of this year, I will still have to undergo radiation.

All seven lymph nodes that were removed were cancer free. There was only .6 cm of cancer in the breast tissue that was removed. Yes, I have officially made it through poison and slash. Next step...burn! It's all good...just part of this little journey that God has been walking me through. He is so good! He deserves all the Glory!

I can't wait to get through the next 3 surgeries.

P.S. Please don't be offended if I take a picture of your chest. I am booby shopping. LOL!~

Butterfly Kisses

Tonight, Aiden and I gave each other butterfly kisses! What a gift to have enough eyelashes grown back to be able to do that.

Don't know which made me happier; having the eyelashes to kiss Aiden with or giggling with him as we butterfly kissed!

Won't ever take precious butterfly kisses for granted again.

I love me some checklists!

Oh yeah, baby! I love me some checklists! Those of you who know me know that I love to be able to mark off my little achievements. It's amazing what can make a simple little person like me so happy!

My goals have changed in the last six months. They used to start with cleaning a specific room in the house top to bottom, painting a room, pay bills. You know...fun stuff! Oh how this little thing called cancer can change your daily goals. During chemotherapy my list usually consisted of:

• get up
• take my drugs and supplements
• do anything and everything to not throw up
• try to do something productive for at least an hour or two before sleeping until the next day, or night, or week

Three weeks prior to the mastectomy for an entire week my checklist looked something like this:

• shower as fast as I possibly can before Aiden wakes up
• cry in the shower (My personal pity party lasted a week in the shower, when the shower was over, the party was over!)
• ask the Lord, "What will you have me do today? May I be used somehow for You? What are Your desires, Jesus?" (Praise God, this has lasted more than a week!)
• dress Hannah Beth and make her as happy as possible so she won't have a meltdown
• carry Aiden down with his lovey and silky
• take Hannah Beth to school
• be at school to pick HB up by 2:15
• make dinner and sweep while Aiden takes his nap
• Vacuum with Aiden
• contribute to the gross national product (I worked a couple of nights before surgery at my fun times job at Eddie Bauer Outlet...Shout Out for my EB Buddies! I just love y'all!)
• Sleep...for the Love of God...please let me sleep

You see, I was still very fatigued even 2 weeks out of chemotherapy. That stuff is crazy! If I was able to carry Aiden down the stairs in my arms without getting vertigo, I had accomplished a major goal! Making dinner was a struggle, but I sure wasn't going to tell anybody that!

Today marks the 11th day after my mastectomy. I waisted tons of energy worrying about the scars, the drainage tubes. "WHATEVER! It's seriously no big deal, what a stinking baby!" I thought to myself. Then I realized that these fears were very real. My Jesus is even more real than those fears. His perfect love cast out all those fears. So many saints were on there knees in prayer for me. God heard their prayers and answered them quickly. I am so okay with the loss of my 'girls', thanks be to the Most High God!

Today my checklist looked like this:

• Search the Lord's heart as to how I can help my mother today
• create a checklist with her to make sure her goals are accomplished
• find materials to create a thank you gift for all my praying buddies and helpers
• take as little pain meds as possible
• do as much physical work as I can without hurting my body
• rest as needed
• Join Rivet's Racers and beat the pants off my family members in donations to Race for the Cure (for Nov 1st)
• start my die with a t that is supposed to change my life and cause this weight to 'melt off'

My goals were mostly accomplished today. I miss my children. Tomorrow I shall hold Aiden and Hannah Beth in my arms and kiss them until they scream, "Mommy is the Greatest!" I will dress up for my husband and hope that he sees a change in me for the better!

My only checklist for now is to lay like broccoli on the recliner, watching the boob tube with Mom until I fall asleep...

Superior Creme Horn Dance

Mother did the superior dance today in Dr. Staebel's office with Dad, Dr. Staebel and me as her audience! As we were chatting about the 7 clean lymph nodes, I told Dr. Staebel that Mom did her Superior dance while I performed my creme horn dance in celebration of the wonderful news the night before. There is no shame in performing any kind of dance when you get good news like that! Mom proudly danced right there in the tiny examination room. It was awesome.

The best part of hearing the good news is seeing the relief on Mom's face. Just six months ago, Dr. Scissorhands removed 4 lymph nodes which all were riddled with cancer. It is great to know that prayer and the chemotherapy worked. Hooray! That was worth the 20 weeks of poison therapy. It killed the cancer. Dr. Scissorhands told me that the breast tissue had a "tiny" amount of cancer in it, but that was to be expected.

It's a good thing that I love Dr. Staebel, whom from now on will be affectionately named Da Vinci, because he will be putting me back together again until December 23rd. We get to see Dr. Scissorhands next week. Radiation will commence on October 26th. (Oh, by the way, I swear I do NOT have multiple personalities...when I say 'we' that means my besty, Mom, and every single one of you that has lifted us up in prayer. You go into those offices with us. THANK YOU!)

Let me write out my thoughts and some of my goals right now:

1. Heal from surgery enough to support my Orange Kitten in his Autism Walk on October 11th.
2. Eat, breathe and sleep the anti-cancer diet...(This means more asparagus and less creme horns!)
3. Lose 50 pounds in the next 6 months.
4. Complete 6 1/2 weeks of radiation with minimal side effects.
5. Enjoy the crazy hairstyles I'll be sporting as my hair grows back.
6. Trust in the Lord instead of trippin' out on silly little things like having drains and recovery time.
7. Stand firm on the Word as my expanders are filled each week.
8. Write thank you notes in better timing than I am currently doing.
9. Earn as many or more donations for the Komen Austin Race for the Cure than my family members.
10. Go on a real live date with Ray where we both get dressed up and use our $30 gift certificate to La Margarita.

The Lord is gently and graciously teaching me to put my trust in Him. I'm learning to hear His voice again. He's teaching me the truth of Phillipians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with THANKSGIVING, make your requests known to God. He has showered peace and grace over me to walk through this season in my life. I am just falling in love with my Jesus all over again. It is amazing!

this little thing called cancer has been a divine delay for me to learn how to trust in Him completely. I am so very thankful for the gifts and blessings the Lord has bestowed upon my family and me. Here are just a tiny few of the incredible lessons and blessings He's taught me.

1. I've learned what a treasure my besty (Mom) is to me.
2. My father in heaven has drawn me closer and allowed me to crawl up into His loving arms.
3. I've always known that I have had an exceptional childhood. Growing up with both parents (Well, Linda is my stepmother, but she has been my mother!), 2 brothers and 2 sisters is fun! Because of tltcc, my brothers, brothers from another mother, sisters, nieces and nephew have had excuses to come spend time with us! AWESOME! Have I mentioned how cool and fun my family is?
4. Raymond and I are learning how to recieve gifts from others. I can't wait until I can give back!
5. I've never had a doubt about my Dad's love for me. tltcc has allowed me to spend more time with him, which has only reaffirmed our love for eachother. There is nothing like a Father's love. Truly, it is a gift within itself!
6. I've learned that when I have a need, I need only to go to my Abba Father and ask. He will answer it. He will not only answer it, but He will do it quickly and bless me beyond my needs.
7. The women I've met in infusion and through Pink Ribbon Cowgirls are absolutely beautiful and strong! I can only hope an pray that I can encourage them as they have encouraged me!
8. The Lord has layed my name upon several intercessors hearts. Thank you, Saints for battling for me in prayer!

Wow, it is 12:20 AM on a Friday night. I'm exhausted, yet I keep typing. Dad is playing his shooting game on his XBox 360 as I have been laying my heart on this blog. It's kind of funny. Much love and hugs to all of you whom have helped my family and me through this season in our lives. Time for mi mis. Mom and Dad are taking me to visit my sweet children tomorrow. I'm so excited!