Christmas Letter

Merry Christmas! Some of you will have found this post as followers of my blog and others will have found this post from our Christmas card. I thought I would do a Christmas letter through my blog to be more green, save paper and updated some of you on what has been going on with us. Some of you may know I have a blog and others might just have found out. 2013 has been one of the most eventful years for us. 

One week before Christmas 2012 Art and I became grandparents to little Kaleb. He has been one of the bright spots in our lives. We watch Kaleb every other Saturday while his parents work. We have a blast with him and have enjoyed watching him grow. It is pretty normal for him to be dressed up in some type of outfit or mask while Mimi snaps 100 pictures. 

January brought some unexpected news. We found out I had a rare form of thyroid cancer Medullary Thyroid Cancer. I was scheduled for a surgery to remove my thyroid which was so large it was pressing on my wind pipe. Unfortunately there is no cure for MTC. The best is for a clear surgery to remove all lymph nods, thyroid and any other cancer in the body. Blood tests will be done every 3 months, CT scans will be done if the blood tests show the cancer is growing and I will be under a doctor care possibly for the rest of my life. I keep my blog updated on what is going on currently with my cancer normally after each test. 

You read the more on my journey below:

overview of surgery

cancer update

8 months after surgery

Just Another Day Fighting Cancer

In April Art and I celebrated 5 years of marriage. We went on an Alaskan cruise to celebrate in August. It was one of the most amazing vacations we have been on. I highly recommend going to Alaska. We really needed a vacation, a time to relax, sleep, enjoy ourselves and just disconnect from the world. It was all of those things. We didn't have cell service for 6 days. I couldn't work even if I had wanted too.  Do not wait to go to Alaska until you are old. =) There is sooooo much to see and do that you need to go possibly every 5 years. 

Amber and Marcus got married on May 18. We all went to Tahoe for their wedding. It was the perfect day to join 2 families together. 

The summer we spent a lot of time with our grandson, finishing a couple house projects, Alaska, and I spent lots of time resting. It is amazing how one surgery can throw your body into such exhaustion. In October I had another health issue with the start of possibly MS. I am one of the lucky 1400 people in 2013 to have Transverse Myelitis. My mom was gracious enough to come to California for 3 weeks to take care of me. I honestly don't know what I would have done without my mom coming to take care of me this year. I am so grateful she is able to help me.

The next couple weeks will be very exciting around here. Kaleb is starting to walk, we will celebrate his first birthday and enjoy watching him open Christmas presents this year. 

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!!!!

Happy 33 Years to Me!!!!

Today I celebrate turning another year older. This birthday is completely different than the past 33. When I got to be about 28 I started to dread birthdays. I love my birthday, but it was the fact I was getting another year older. When I turned 30 I cried for weeks. The thought of being sooooo old was horrific to me. Then to top it off my grandma sent my aunt & cousin to decorate my yard.  One of the hardest thing to deal with is as I got older was another year older without a baby. Every year I wish the next birthday brings a baby. Each year comes without a baby. 

I still don't know how in the world I can be so old. I ask my dad occasionally if it bothers him I am so old. How in the world can my parents have such an old kid? They aren't much older than I am. I feel like I am a young kid until I hear rap music and wonder what is wrong with the kids these days & their music choices. Or I hear kids talking about the latest show on MTV. Oh boy I don't even know what MTV has on these days. Then there are the times I feel very young when I wear my grandma tshirts.  I love the reactions of other people. The double takes when I say this is my grandson. =)

This year is completely different. I am happy to be 33. In January I heard some of the hardest words....life expectancy is about 60%. WHAT!!!! My life expectancy is 100% not 60%. How could someone say such ridiculous things to me. My world was turned upside down during the age of 32. Cancer changed my life. It took a toll on me for months. Chasing doctors around, feeling like garbage, a big red scar that wasn't healing right, my hormones were a ruckus, weight fluctuation, new spots on my lungs & liver, blood test after blood test, CT scans. I mean really how is this happening to me?  

Then I heard the words "your cancer is stable". While those words were very encouraging to my family & friends they were horrible for me to hear. I spent 2 days crying. I didn't want to hear "stable". I wanted to hear it is gone, you have no sign of cancer left in your body....however, I won't ever hear those words. I didn't have time to be in a pity party for very long because my feet started going numb. Then I was diagnosed with TM and possibly MS. This is going to sound insane, but I think this could have been one of the best blessings. It snapped me out of my pity party and I honestly was SO happy to think my cancer is "stable". 

Health wise age 32 was a ruckus. I learned so much during this year. The Bible became real to me, felt God grace, prayer really works and I have learned I am even tougher than I thought. I haven't ever been a patient person. As a cancer patient you have to learn patience rather quickly as you wait for CT scan results, blood tests, and on doctors who are on their own time schedule. I also learned God has other plans when you plan out of all 2013. A year older and gray hair aren't really that scary to me anymore...wait a minute who am I kidding gray hair is still terrifying to me! Stay away grays! lol

Today I celebrate 33 years of life and I plan to celebrate at least another 56 years! 

OOTD

My OOTD have been lacking since I have been recovering at home. I am lucky to do my hair each day. I usually get dressed, but I just don't want to do my hair. Thank goodness for baby powder! I have been trying to wear comfy clothes that I can take an afternoon nap in. I can't seem to break my afternoon naps. If I don't take them I am cranky and if I take them I am up until midnight. Or maybe the staying up to midnight is the coffee and espresso beans!

Above I was sporting 5 day hair. I had spent 2 days in the ER. The last thing I wanted to do was come home, wash my hair and deal with all that nonsense. I honestly HATE washing my hair. It is such a chore. My boss and I joke it takes a village to handle our hair. lol

Sweater: Nordstrom Rack

Boyfriend Jeans: Old Navy

Shoes: Sperry's

Necklace: Charming Charlies

Another honest fact - I only took this picture with the boots. I had to get them off as soon as the picture was over. I can't seem to wear heels since my whole food numbing issues. 

Sweater: Loft

Skirt: Gap

Shoes: Some online site

Tights: Target

Necklace: Ebay

Sweater: Nordstrom Rack

Camo Pants: Gap

Shoes: Bass

Necklace: Jane.com

Tank: Old Navy

Cardigan: J Crew Factor

Sknnies: Gap

Shoes: Sperry's

26 days of Thankfulness - Day 26 - Z

Today I am thankful for:

Z

Zebras

Zachary's

Zoo

26 days of Thankfulness - Day 25 - Y

Today I am thankful for:

Y

Youth

Yuppies

Yummy Food

26 days of Thankfulness - Day 24 - X

Today I am thankful for:

X

X-Ray's

XXXII Years of Life

26 days of Thankfulness - Day 23 - W

Today I am thankful for:

W

Water

Winter

Warmth

26 days of Thankfulness - Day 22 - V

Today I am thankful for:

V

Vacations

Visitors

My Wish List

Here are the items that are on my wish list at this time. I have a birthday coming up next week and Christmas is right around the corner. Below are a few items on my wish list.

1. 

TORTOISE GLAM BRACELET

2.  

Starbucks Double Wall Ceramic Mug - Alice+Olivia

3.  

Essie Gel Nail Polish 

4.

Women's Merona® Meg Chunky Heel Pumps - Leopard

5. 

Wishbone Necklace

Pinspiration

What would I do without Pinspiration? Sometimes at night I will lay in bed, look at Pinterest, find an outfit and recreate it the next day. A lot of times that is about the only way I can get dressed the next day. 

Striped shirt: Gap

Jacket: Thrift

Capris: Old Navy

Shoes: Lucky

26 days of Thankfulness - Day 21 - U

Today I am thankful for:

U

USA

Umbrella

26 days of Thankfulness - Day 20 - T

Today I am thankful for:

T

Thanksgiving

Target

Technology

Thunderstorms

Quick Pit Stop at Hacker Way

The Facebook headquarters are on Art drive to work every day. A couple weeks ago we had to run some errands on that side of the bay, so we stopped by Facebook. After we stopped to take some pictures a whole bunch of tourist showed up. lol

I snapped a couple picture of mom and then asked her to take some of me. I went to look at the pictures she had taken only to see she hadn't pushed the button to take a picture. She kept pushing the button to go back to the main screen on my phone. Good thing I looked right away or I wouldn't have a picture of myself with the Facebook thumb! How cute is the Halloween thumb and the address? 1 Hacker Way! lol

26 days of Thankfulness - Day 19 - S

What I am thankful for today:

S

Sister
Stepdaughter

Son-in-law

Sammy

Sunlight

26 days of Thankfulness - Day 18 - R

Today I am thankful for:

R

Reindeer

Rainbows

Redemption

26 days of Thankfulness - Day 17 - Q

Today I am thankful for:

Q

Quiteness

Quiche

Cousins

I decided to go to Pennsylvania with my mom to visit my aunt, uncle, cousins & grandparents for Thanksgiving. I'm so excited. I haven't seen my grandpa in about 10 years & I haven't seen my grandma since my wedding. 

I called my cousin Laura & her girls to tell them I was coming. Claire screamed YAY!!! Into the phone. She was so excited cousin water bottle is coming for a visit. Emma (3) got on the phone to tell me she prays for me every day and she had a dolphin tooth brush. I went from teary to laughing. The mind of a 3 year old lol

Claire told my aunt numerous times the days following Cousin Water Bottle is coming lol  The nickname Water Bottle happened in Sept 2012 when I asked Claire what is my name - a 4 year old response "what water bottle?". That nickname does fit me since I drink a ton of water. 

I can't wait to see the little ladies and take lots of pictures of them! 

26 days of Thankfulness - Day 16 - P

Today I am thankful for:

P

Post's

Prayer
Pastor
Parents

• Physicians

26 days of Thankfulness - Day 15 - O

Today I am thankful for:

O

Oxygen
Ovens
Outdoors

Pinspiration

I love purple skinnies with a cream sweater and leopard. Every girl needs to add some leopard to their outfits! I used the Pinterest picture as my inspiration to recreate the outfit. I didn't think a scarf would go with a cowl neck sweater, so I threw on leopard shoes. 

Sweater & Pants: Old Navy

Shoes: Bass

26 days of Thankfulness - Day 14 - N

Today I am thankful for:

N

North Dakota
Neurologists
Nurses
NFL
Neighbors

26 days of Thankfulness - Day 13 - M

Today I am thankful for:

M

Mom

Mother in law

Make up

Mercy

26 days of Thankfulness - Day 12 - L

Today I am thankful for:

L

Lacey

Life

Laughter

Leopard print :)

New Necklaces

Recently I bought 2 necklaces from Jane.com. I really love Jane for great necklaces. They are reasonable, fashionable and great knockoffs. 

I bought both of the necklaces for less than $20 including shipping. 

26 days of Thankfulness - Day 11 - K

Today I am thankful for:

K

Kaleb

Kindness

26 days of Thankfulness - Day 10 - J

Today I am thankful for:

J

Jesus

Justice

Jewelry

26 days of Thankfulness - Day 9 - I

Today I am thankful for:

I

Ice cream

Insurance

26 days of Thankfulness - Day 8 - H

Today I am thankful for:

H

Husband

Health

Pinspiration

I participate in a style & fashion board almost on a daily basis. Lately my outfits have been lacking, since I am in pjs a good portion of the day. lol  On Tuesday we post an inspirational picture from Pinterest and then our take on the outfit. I liked the red and white of the Pinterest picture, but I need a little more color. I put my gingham shirt under my doggie sweater. I wish the white sweater wasn't so see threw. 

I didn't save the pin to my Pinterest board, so I can't link back to it. Sorry! I have been saving the pictures on my phone, so I can recreate the outfit. 

Shirt, Sweater, & Pants: Old Navy

Shoes: Bass

Prankster

On Halloween Eve I walked into the family room. I screamed! There is an owl right by the back door. I went running to the door to shut it before the owl flew into the house. I kept thinking how in the world are we going to get a wild owl out of our house. When I got up close to it I realized it was fake, on a stand and no wild owl would have stuck around while I screamed. lol 

Art is up to his old pranks again!