introducing the latest member of the team...

Dr. Shende!! Everyone needs a thoracic surgeon, right?? You never know when something in the thorax will start acting up... So we are all set to meet with her at Magee on Monday afternoon. From what I understand, there is no question of biopsy at this point, only surgery. And no need to speculate on dates about that just yet, because from my past experience (all less than a month of it...) what one specialist speculates about another ("I'm not sure that you'll even need chemo", "they should be able to get you in right away"...) is not always, exactly the case. We'll just wait and see... because, what else do we have to do?? Well, I'm glad that you asked... at this very moment there is FINALLY a painter in our house covering up the all of the nail pops that were repaired just about SIX weeks ago! And hopefully some other contractors will be right on his heels to finish up the rest of the "one year" review... So what am I going to be doing while all of this craziness is happening? (besides driving Grandma crazy... we crashed in on her around 8:15 because it was quickly apparent that painting and three small children were not a good combination...) I am off for the first facial of my life!? (with a quick side trip to Whole Foods for some more bulgur - seriously - and a look at what they have to offer for ginger tablets. I read a really interesting article on their power to quell the nausea of chemo and I'm nervous about that... thanks Grandpa Hawn!). It should make for a very relaxing afternoon (for me... sorry Grandma!!! Here's hoping that everyone takes a veeerrrrryyyyyy long nap...).

One other note of good news... I am free of BRCA gene mutations!! Hooray for my other breast and for Neely (not to mention the many other members of our extended family who would've needed to be notified and tested...). Yay for some good news. We are very hopeful that this, as well as the rib situation being nailed down to surgery, will finally get the breast surgery on the books. I think that everyone on that end has been waiting to find out what would happen with this rib before proceeding with their parts. We'll probably give it until Monday before we push on that at all. Because, again, I'm not really sure what the rib surgery will involve and what kind of recovery I will need in order to be ready for the next procedure... yikes... I'm starting to really think about the fact that I have never had any surgery before and thinking that I'm not really going to like it...

I'd also like to say another HUGE thank you to all of the wonderful friends and family who continue to shower us with love and affection in the form of pictures, notecards, COOKIES (and a lot of them!! wow!!) and beautiful breast cancer bracelets, bangles and charms - what an awesome idea. We are so blessed by your cards, emails, calls and prayers. It is truly sustaining us from day to day. We have good moments and very difficult days but we are being buoyed along by the way that you all have answered the call to reach out to the Lord on our behalf. It is stunning and humbling and such a beautiful blessing...