Crack!

I found a new crack it is called Late Night Snack by Ben & Jerry's. Holyleecow! This stuff is freakin amazing! I have NO plans to share my pint of ice cream with anyone. Please run to the nearest store and get a pint. You will thank me after you finish your 7th pint in a week. =)

Hurry up & wait!

Tuesday night became my new reality. I haven't admitted to myself that I REALLY have MTC. Deep down the reality of it hasn't sunk in except when I had certain conversations with my doctor. I believed  rhere was going to be a miracle and all the spots would be gone. In Febuary when I had my ct scan they found 7 spots on my lungs. Another person read the scan and said the last person had over read the scans. The spots could be blood vessels and that's what I believed for 5.5 months.

My hopes were up and I said lots of prayers this scan would be completely clear. I pushed the doctors to scan my body this round. We needed a baseline and I also didn't want anything missed. Turns out my gut was telling me to be proactive for a reason. 

I received a confirmation there are definately 7 spots on my lung and 1 spot on my liver. Other tissue they need to monitor too. The good news is my thyroid tissue is completely gone and no lymph nods in my neck. 

Constantly there are new plans. The newest plan is to have additional scans in 3 months. If anything grows or changes then I will have biopsies. Right now the spots are all so small it would almost be impossible to do a biopsy. 

I spent Tuesday night buried in bed, Wednesday was a haze and Thursday was back to normal. The truth is I have a rare cancer that grows very slowly. 

I feel lucky that I've found an oncologist that gets it. My conversations with him are very real & raw about an ugly disease. I have researched, harassed,  pushed and annoyed my doctors to make sure everyone is listening to me. I feel I have a good team assembled. Now my team has to stay up to par or I will start voting people right off lol. 

6 months ago

Six months ago today Art and I woke up before the chickens to head to the hospital. I was more nervous for Art and my family then for me. I knew I would be fine but the next 10 hours would drag on for my family. 

Here I am at 4am getting ready to leave for the hospital. 

I didn't realize how much my life was about to change. Things I had never had to think about would now become a burden. I remember walking into the hospital almost care free. I thought once recovery was over and after the radio active iodine I wouldn't have anymore cancer thoughts. 

 Updating my journal

The past 6 months I've learned more about Medullary Thyroid Cancer, ct scans, blood levels, spots on my insides and other various cancer terms than I thought I would ever have to know. I also have learned how I need to handle getting rough news. It's ok to cry, scream and get angry, BUT those things need to get out and then move on. I have to take everything in before I can share it with my family. Once I absorb it all then I can remind everyone of positive parts. 

There are lots of people who live years with Medullary Thyroid Cancer. The majority of the doctors will tell you something else will kill you before MTC. It's rare that MTC will be the thing to take you down as long as you are monitoring your health. This is why I need to understand MTC the best I can because I'm my best advocate. 

I walked into the hospital on January 18 a cancer patient and out a survivor! The 6 month mark is very sweet!!! 

Stable

The meaning of words take on a whole new meaning with cancer. The word stable to me use to mean where Jesus was born or place to keep horses. Now the word is very comforting to hear when I get reports from the doctor. 

As I was writing this post I found such comfort in the fact Jesus was born in a stable. He is always there for us and brings us comfort when we need it. He was born in a stable not the Ritz Carlton. Now He is living in the best place Heaven. He came to us in the lowest place but waits for us in the highest place. 

I've had to learn to really trust God through my cancer trial. This trial isn't over. It will be a life long trial. I can get through it though even when the reports come back unstable because I have put my trust in the stable one! 

Wordless Wednesday

Happy Sunday!

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Philippians 4:13

2018 Goals

Here are my goals for 2018!

• celebrate 10 years of marriage
• celebrate 5 years of cancer free
• celebrate Art turning 50
• celebrating Amber & Marcus 5th wedding anniversary
• all with our twin boys age 2-4 & a 5yr old Kaleb

Bart Happenings

Just another day on Bart! I am soooo happy Bart is back up and running! I really hope Bart gets a contract in place within the next 30 days, so we don't have to suffer through another strike. 

I really don't know what is wrong with people to think it is safe to be riding a bike through the Bart station. Oblivious!

Wordless Wednesday

Last Week in Pictures!

Skillet Chicken Enchilada

Emily Bites had a recipe on her blog recently for Chicken Enchilada Skillet. The pictures looked really yummy. I decided to make some adjustments to it, so it is gluten free and sugar free. This recipe is also HCG phase 3 approved. Here is my alteration to the recipe. 

Chicken Enchilada Skillet

Source: adapted from Emily Bites

Ingredients:

1 teaspoon canola oil

1 small onion, chopped

3 garlic cloves - love my Pampered Chef garlic press!

3 tablespoons chili powder

½ teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons cumin

2 teaspoons sugar

15 oz can tomato sauce - I used my homemade sauce from last year

½ cup water

3 cups shredded cooked chicken - I used chicken thighs because that is what I had in the freezer

½ - 1 (4 oz) can chopped green chiles

1.5 cupes shredded sharp cheddar cheese

2 scallions, chopped

Directions:

1. Saute onions until soft, add garlic, spices and saute. Add the tomato sauce and water, stir and reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer for 5 minutes to thicken.

2. Add the shredded chicken to the sauce and stir together. Simmer for 5 minutes.

3. Turn the heat on the sauce mixture to low. Add the green chiles and about 1/2 the cheese to the chicken mixture and stir together until well combined and coated. Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top and place the lid onto the pan. Leave the lid on for 1-2 minutes until the cheese has melted. Remove from heat and sprinkle the diced scallions over top for garnish.

Happy Sunday!

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.  

(Philippians 4:8 KJV)

This Crazy Busy Life!

Boy life has been crazy lately!

• Bart descided to strike due to their union contract which made it a nightmare for 400,000 people each day trying to get to work. This week I have gotten up at 4am, drove to the ferry and took it across the bay. Thankfully there was a holiday in the mix and I was able to recover partially one day. Bart is claiming to be up and running by 3pm today. I sure miss my friend Bart!!!!

• I am helping with another department at work for the next couple weeks. I am trying to get everything organized and running properly, which is a HUGE task. I have been working 10-12 hour days.

• Dealing with MTC, crazy commute hours and extra work hours is a major challenge at the moment. I am trying to keep everything running, but some areas are failing. The blog has been put on the back burner for right now. I told my mom I would make a website for her new store and I haven't even been able to start it. I hope to be back on track the week of the 15th.

Wordless Wednesday

Bart Strike

Well the Bart strike happened. I was convinced it wouldn't happen. my opinion changed on Saturday when I heard the union side walked away from the bargaining table. The deadline for the new contract was the end of the day Sunday. 

I negotiated my first union contract this year, so as a pro I find the union actions unacceptable!  You do not walk away in the middle of negotiations. Around 400,000 people take Bart every day. Now these people are forced to find other ways to work. 

I took the Ferry bright & early this morning. I was out of bed at 430 arriving at the Ferry at 530am.  I was worried the parking lot would be packed. I parked in the front row. There were around 40-50 people in line and another 40 people got on the ferry once I was on. 

I am not looking forward to a 4:30 wake up until Bart gets their acts together. 

People lined up for the Ferry. 

The news was interviewing! Where is my mom because she would have been in front of that camera! 

Lazy Sunday

Last Sunday Art was down and out the entire day with a sore back. He spent most of Saturday working on the front yard. He felt comfortable laying on the hard floor. Sammy wasn't too thrilled he had to share his fly chasing space with Art. lol

All American Hunk

The little man came to visit Grandpa and Mimi last Saturday. He was so happy and was giggling away most of the day. He has realized when he comes to Grandpa and Mimi house nap time shouldn't happened because there is way too much excitement going on. 

I need to make him a tshirt that says Mimi is the best, but this one will do for now. =)

He lets these glasses stay on his face for about 10 seconds then he is grabbing at them. He gets very excited when I put sunglasses on him. His arms start flying around, kicking his feet and then he grabs them. 

Kaleb is now 6 months old. He is starting to sit up, ticklish, laughs, rolls all over, eats food, babbles, first tooth has poked in and tries to sing. He was singing to the tv on Saturday. It was SUPER cute! Typical little kid he likes to do things until I pull out the phone to record him. lol

OOTD: Last Week

Sweater: Nordstrom Rack

White Shirt: Thrift Store

Pants: Marshalls

Shoes: Gap

Scarf: Loft

Earrings: Target

Cardigan: NY & CO

Tshirt: J Crew Factor

Pants: Old Navy

Shoes: Bass

Tshirt: Old Navy

Pants: Target

Shoes: Bass

Cardigan: NY & CO

Tank: Banana Republic

Jeans: Old Navy

Shoes: Target

Tshirt & Jacket: Target

Skirt: NY & CO

Necklace: a gift from Art for Christmas - I think he bought it on Amazon

I have seen the necklace at J Crew recently. 

Bart Happenings

It is not wise to fall asleep on the Bart train because your picture could end up on the blog!

Wordless Wednesday