Big House Big Heart...

We ran in the Big House Big Heart runs today and had a blast. Michele and Alex ran the 1 mile run with Bob, while I struggled through the 5k with my brother Adam, some of his friends, Robin, Lindsay, and about 10,000 of our closest friends.



The race was very cool and finishes on the 50 yard line of Michigan Stadium. There was also a huge team from The Wellness Center there doing a fundraiser that we were officially a part of. Tons of people and a beautiful day. Good time had by all... and we all survived!

What's yours is mine...

Alex keeps getting good reports from daycare about how good she is at sharing. She has a little click of friends that roll around together all day and play, play, play. All the people there say that she is happy to let others play with her toys and will just hand them over. How nice is that?

Of course, she also has a tendency to impose that sharing spirit on others, whether they like it or not... as she does here with her cousin Max.

I guess somebody has to teach people how to share.

Feel your boobies...

Nine months ago today I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. Wow, it seems like way more time has passed than 9 months. Pregnancy was a breeze compared to the last 9 months!!! Since I am cancer free and healthy, I do need to reiterate the importance of having caught my cancer early. At 31, I did not think that I needed to worry about breast exams. Sure, my doctors would ask if I did breast exams regularly and I would admit that I did not. They would always reply that it was a good thing to do. I agreed and said to myself, I really need to remember to do that. Luckily for me, my tumor ached- most don't. So in Mid-November last year, I did a breast exam because I had some soreness in my right breast. There it was, a good size lump that ended up as Stage II cancer. If it had not been found, I wouldn't have had a mammogram for 9 more years. All the while, the cancer would have hung out and most likely spread. I know I am a survivor because I caught it early. The type of cancer I had was aggressive and would have found a way to grow. So my advice to everyone- regardless of age or family history- touch your boobies. If you don't know how to perform a self breast exam-this should help - Breast self exam -You could be saving your life!!!

Done...

Well, that's it folks... Michele just finished her last radiation session. She has completed all of the heavy lifting of this BC treatment and has only to endure some easier to handle, more spread out procedures. It's been less than a year... if you can believe that... and now it's basically over.

Even I, her most adamant supporter and president of the Ann Arbor chapter of her fan club, could never have imagined how strong, tough, and spirited Michele would be through all of this bullsh*t. Chemo. Surgery. Radiation. Not to mention dealing with new baby and frightened new papa. I dare anyone to tell Michele that there is anything in the world that she can't do if she puts her mind to it.

I love you Michele... and I'm very proud of you.

Irresistible force paradox...

There are forces in this universe that are difficult to resist (not impossible to resist, mind you, because if there is such a thing as an irresistible force then no object is immovable, and vice versa... leading to an untenable paradox... but I digress). These forces affect us everyday. Gravity is one that Alex is learning quickly with help from her food and toys. The draw I feel to have a cool beer on a warm day. The need to yawn just because I just typed "yawn". The undeniable power of a free t-shirt. Just try to resist...

The latest force dragging Alex helplessly around the house is the desire, ney the need, to play with shoes.
Our house is cluttered with toys... you can barely navigate the maze without stubbing a toy or impaling your foot on a Weeble (the damn things never fall down!). But Alex will crawl past every book, ball, & bauble to get at any carelessly discarded footwear.
We usually let her enjoy herself until she starts to eat them... which takes all of 20 seconds. So, if you are pondering about a present to get the little scavenger, skip it... just come over to visit and take off your shoes. She'll be ex tactic.

Finishing up

Wes was right...I really was not up to writing these past few weeks. The radiation has made me feel quite fatigued. I knew that was going to happen, but it has been challenging juggling treatment, work, motherhood and sanity. I really believe that lack of sleep makes you question everything. Now I can't really say that I have had a lack of sleep- I do about 8 hours a night- but I am clearly not getting enough. I say that because I can just sleep multiple times a day, no problem. This sleep is deep too, like the kind where you dream and wake up not remembering even going to sleep. So I say all this because for the last two weeks I really felt like I would not be able to make it through. I was just annoyed that I had to continue to go to treatment, mad at myself for not eating well, mad at myself for not working out, and pretty much just felt like a failure with no hope. I know...not right. Anyway, that is how I felt. So I talked to the social worker at radiation. She is really pleasant and easy to talk to. So she reminded me that not everyone continues to work during treatment and not everyone has such a positive attitude about the cancer treatment in general. All this was not news to me but it is nice that someone out of my support system tells me that because she doesn't have to. So that discussion made me feel better but not great. Then on Wednesday, I decided I couldn't handle work. I just needed to rest. So I stayed home and took a sick day. During the day I slept, watched a cheesy movie, and picked up the living room. It was the best day ever!!! Alex was at school and Wes was at work, so I didn't worry about anyone but me. It was awesome. I slept an additional 4 hours that day and by the end of the day, I felt like my old self. Like my sanity had returned. Now getting through the last day of treatment- Wednesday is within reach. I know I can make it and get back to a normal routine. I look forward to it!!!

Early to bed...

This morning Alex and I got up early enough that we played, ate O's, threw O's on the floor, played, ate breakfast, took a bath, and did a bunch of this...

...all before Michele got up at a not-so-sleeping-in 6:30am. I love that I can see myself in her demeanor at times, but I hope she doesn't inherit my insane waking up early traits. Hopefully she will learn to enjoy sleeping in and getting the extra zzz's.