"Pirate Day"...... or not.....

As I am on my way home from Publix (probably at 3:30), I get a call from Brad telling me that it was NOT "Dress Like a Pirate Day" at school today and that when he dropped the kids off at school, Georgia was the ONLY kid dressed like a pirate! So I ask, "Well did you take her home and change her clothes." Brad's response: Uhh, no. My Response: UUUHHHH NOOOO???? OMG!!!

I was going to take my groceries home before picking up my herd, but I had to change my plans to save any further embarrassment on ourselves (as parents that OBVIOUSLY don't read the notes that get sent home by the teachers) and our poor daughter --- who looked like a freaking pirate all day long! Haha!!! Just another day of parenting in the world of 3 under 3!!! A big thanks to G's teacher--who put normal clothes on her after Brad left :o)

A Dad's Point of View: Bath-time

This is Brad's version of bath-time in our house. I was in class so I couldn't help, nor did I know what exactly what was going on behind that door....haha! Enjoy!!!

"Let me tell you a little story. 7:30 bath time. Jenny is in class and I am on my own. I declare war and round up my subjects. Georgia is crying " NOOOOO," I pick up Drew, who is just in a diaper and sticky from dinner. Logan runs off leaving trails of rice that are falling out of his diaper. I put drew down in the bathroom turn on shower, get Logan. Order Georgia out of her clothes and take off Logan's diaper. Now I need to stop here cause this is were I start to loose the fight. Have you ever taken off a diaper with out thinking about why the diaper is there in the first place? Yea....4lbs of poo in a 2lb diaper. I got Logan in one hand, and poo in the other, I'm looking for wipes and now Drew is playing in the toilet, I'm yelling at Drew with little effect, I find wipes, put Logan Down, now Georgia is stuck in her shirt and falling down crying. Close toilet lid, take off diaper #2.  Lessons learned 0. Now I got Drew in one hand, poo in the other. I'm coaching Georgia out of the death trap she has made of her shirt, all I can see of her is her chin and two elbows, now Logan has peed on the floor and the scale, With Drew clean, I wipe up the pee and throw the scale in the sink. I get Georgia, then Drew, and then Logan into the shower. No sooner I start taking off my socks Georgia has pumped her hands full of shampoo and is wiping her brothers heads, faces, and eye balls with soap. I now have two screaming, naked, slippery midgets trying to get out of the shower. At this point I know I lost, I am doing anything and everything I can to gain control." 

So funny!!!! I included a picture of Brad's "subjects" aka-- our children :-)

Good Catch

I’m sure that you have heard that expression, “Good Catch” before. If not then you probably live under a rock. Anyways, I was about to get treated for thyroid cancer this week by a doctor out of Martin Memorial. Short version of what happened this week----I talked with someone whose experience with thyroid cancer treatment was not all that great through local hospitals. He suggested getting a second opinion from M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Orlando before going through the treatment. So Wednesday came and I canceled all my appointments with Martin Memorial for this week and I told them I would reschedule. I was supposed to go and get thyrogen shots on Wednesday and Thursday of this week and I was supposed to have taken the radioactive iodine I-131 this afternoon, which I did not do---Thankfully!

I left work on Wednesday to take care of all the appointment making and canceling. I ended up at M.D. Anderson this morning. I called them Wednesday and told them I wanted to see someone this week, and they called me back yesterday (Thursday) and told me to come in today at 10:00am. We were on the road by 8:00, and arrived in Orlando at 10:00.

We walked in to the Nuclear Medicine department and had about a 5 minute wait, then a nurse came and got me. She took my vitals then sent me back to the waiting room. The I had about a 10 minute wait and a guy came and got me and took me into a dimmed room with 3 desks in it that had a bunch of computer screens on them. And in there was the Nuclear Medicine doctor. He asked me questions for 10-15 minutes, and then reviewed all of my pathology reports with me from Dr. Richards (my awesome ENT). I could tell that he had reviewed my file before I got there because he had stuff underlined and highlighted everywhere. After he was done with that he showed me how staging is done with thyroid cancer and said that I am considered stage 1 at this point.

So after an hour and a half of talking with this guy, Brad and I both had a much better understanding of what exactly the radioactive iodine will do and what I need to do between now and when I actually take the radioactive iodine. The first thing that I have to do is stop taking my medication (not looking forward to that!!!) so that my TSH level elevate over 30 (right now mine are 3.5), then once I hit 30 or above I will return to M.D. Anderson to take a radioactive pill, a.k.a. I-123, to get ready for a body scan which is done 24 hours after taking the I-123, then the doctor reviews my scan and determines how high of a dose of radioactive iodine is needed to kill my cancer, then I return to M.D. Anderson again for my radioactive iodine dose of I-131. After 10 days I will return to M.D. Anderson for a second scan.

The doctor told us that using thyrogen has been proven to make the absorption of the I-131 less effective and he advised not using it. He also told us that depending on the dose of I-131, I may be able to come home during treatment and he explained why in detail and we both feel better about that now. The doctor told me to continue eating a low iodine diet and he gave me a cookbook to use. I have a really good feeling about getting a second opinion and I am glad that I didn’t go through with the thyrogen injections like I wanted to. The idea of being hypothyroid again just makes me cringe but if that is what I need to do, then I am going to do it. I am just glad that I talked with Brad’s friend this week before I made a mistake with my treatment.

I do have to say that the option to use thyrogen was truly just an option. The doctors around here were not pushing it, in fact, Dr. Richards (my awesome ENT) told me that the drug is controversial, but I told her that I wanted it anyways because I couldn’t function without my thyroid medication (stupid right??!!). So I certainly don’t want to give the impression that doctors were pushing me to get it, because they weren’t. I just wasn’t making a very informed decision, but I am now. It was truly a “good catch.”

A quick update~

I am one week post-op here in this photo and I went to the ENT this morning to have my stitches clipped and for the pathology reports on my lymph nodes. I had a feeling that the results were not going to be good, only because I had a goiter for so long and I have suspected a thyroid problem for at least 4 years. My lymph nodes did come back with cancer in them, which totally sucks.

Dr. Richards, the ENT, is confident that a round of radioactive iodine will get rid of all of my cancer, which is good and something to remind myself of every time I think, “Oh my God, I have cancer.” Dr. Richards also said that the type of thyroid cancer that I have has a 90+% cure rate. She also said that I am young and healthy so that also improves the odds. Papillary cancer is not aggressive and is very slow to grow and spread, it is also the most common type of thyroid cancer, which I am hoping is a good thing for my outcome. 

I have an appointment next week to meet with an Oncologist in Stuart, so I will know more information then. I  am hoping that I can be clear of all of this by the summer so I can relax and play with my kids. If I didn't have kids I think I would still be freaked out about having cancer, but its different when you have 3 little kids to take care of. They are the best part of my life by far and the thought of not being around for them is just the saddest thing. But with the optimism of Dr. Richards, I am hoping that this is just a little hiccup in my summer plans. Until next time.....

Trust your Gut!!!

Cancer. It’s a word that no one wants to hear. A couple weeks ago I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. It has been an interesting adventure to say the least. I feel like I haven’t really had time to process the whole thing yet, which honestly is probably a good thing. So here is my timeline of events----about a month ago I saw the ENT about a lump in my throat (swollen thyroid---aka Goiter), she sent me for blood work and an ultrasound with follow up in a week, next appointment I had a Fine Needle Aspiration done (they stick a needle into your goiter about 6 times to get samples of the tissue) with follow up in a week, then at follow up from my FNA we scheduled surgery.  I had surgery on Wednesday April 18, I had my drain removed on Thursday, and today I just have to have my calcium levels checked. The doctor removed my entire thyroid, as well as a few lymph nodes. Pathology will be back in about a week on those. I am praying that they come back negative. I have to have a neck scan done to see if there is any signs of cancer anywhere else (not sure when this will take place). I also have to complete a radioactive iodine treatment sometime in the next 6-8 weeks. I will be spending a weekend at a hotel for this since I have to be away from my kids, well all kids actually, while I am radioactive.

I had a feeling that I had something going on that was more than what met the eye. The trick is finding a physician who listens to your symptoms and show compassion for what you are going through. Here are some of the symptoms that I was having:

• Fatigue---- even if I just slept 8 hours
• Weakness in legs
• Difficulty losing weight
• Coarse, dry hair and dry skin
• Hair loss
• Sensitivity to cold
• Constipation
• Depression
• Irritability
• Memory loss
• Abnormal menstrual cycles----like every other week
• Decreased libido
• Ear aches that were not from infections
• Goiter
• Difficulty swallowing
• Panic attacks

Just to name a few. Anyways, I was seeing a family physician who was treating some of these symptoms as if it were unrelated to one another. I had a hunch that something else was going on so I tried to make an appointment for an endocrinologist, but you need a physician to refer you to get an appointment. So I went to the ENT instead, and I am happy that it ended up this way honestly. Who better to remove neck cancer than an ENT. Anyways, the moral of this story is ALWAYS TRUST YOUR GUT!!!!! No one knows you better than YOU! If you have a goiter and want to see a good doctor let me know and I will give you the name of my surgeon.

Vaccinations---

Well up until about a month ago, Brad and I were anti vaccines. What changed??? Well I met a mom who told me that her daughter got meningitis so bad that she is permanently severely disabled and just today learned of a boy who is suspected to have whooping cough. Both of these kids are right here in our town. So, am I officially scared into believing that vaccines are what is best----uh, YEAH!!!! Do I still question this whole vaccine thing---how could I not???!!!! I have been reading about vaccines and which ones are recommended and which ones are required for about 2 months now. For one, there are many more vaccines that the CDC recommends than are required for entry into a Florida school. You can find a complete list of required ones at the Florida Department of Health website. The CDC website has the recommended vaccines with a proposed schedule. The ones that are required for entry into a Florida school are: Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis vaccine; Polio vaccine; Measles, Mumps, Rubella vaccine; Hepatitis B vaccine; and Varicella vaccine. My kids have not had any shots yet, but they will be getting them in the near future. I am not exactly thrilled about this, and neither is Brad. The things we considered are: where we live, the fact that our kids go to daycare, and the fact that I work at a high school with a student population of about 1,800. These things influenced the way we looked at this topic for sure. NOW, if I were a stay at home mom and my kids were with me all the time and I was going to home school my kids, I would probably stand firm behind the anti-vaccination mentality that I so strongly support. But reality is, I work, Brad works, the kids have to go to school. I can't afford to quite my job, nor do I want to---I LOVE working in the schools, I just don't want to bring something home to my kids that could have been prevented entirely by something as simple as a vaccine.

The Avalon Affect---Chakra Alignment???? I think so.....

If you have been reading my blog, you know that I am a mother of 3 children (a 2yo girl, and twin 9 mo boys), I work at the high school in town as one of the ESE Program Specialist's there, I am a grad student at Florida State AND this semester I started clinicals, SO in addition to all that I do I am now a graduate student clinician 2 days a week AFTER work. I am BUSY BUSY BUSY and TIRE TIRED TIRED! So Basically, with this being said, I am not, will not, can not----- even possibly drum up an ounce of time to do anything that isn't going to benefit me or my family in anyway......You follow me I am sure. BUT wait!!! Today I absolutely made an exception for the sake of your health.....keep reading..... My friend, who we call "Marco" has been talking about these "light things" a.k.a. the Avalon Effect for a few months......and I am not into anything like this so while he has been talking about it I have been like "yeah yeah yeah yeah...." you know the type right?? Well yesterday I went to the dentist (Dr. Schwerer---who is FANTASTIC by the way) and I had a couple fillings replaced. Well while Dr. Schwerer was fixing my fillings he mentioned that the one looked pretty deep and may require a root canal---not excited at this point! So when I left I was instructed to take some Advil because the work that was done was more extensive than we all originally thought and he thought that I may be sore after my Novocain wore off. Well my mouth is pretty sore today, and I didn't eat last night, because my mouth was numb and I seriously looked like a stroke patient who was suffering from paralysis on the left side of my mouth so there was no chewing going on here...haha! Ok getting to the point....all day today I am sore again and I really don't want to call Dr. Schwerer up and ask him to do a root canal yet....haha...its been a day...seriously! I am not that big of a wuss....am I...never mind don't answer that....haha. So Marco stops into Brad's office, where I go everyday after work to switch cars and to remind Brad how exhausted I am, and he asked me how everything was going and I told him of my throbbing mouth and I asked him about those "light things", Marco says "well I have them in the car, do you have 30 minutes? If so then I will hook you up to them and lets see if we can alleviate some of that discomfort". As I am "drinking" my lunch---remember I am not eating because its looking like a root canal is in my near future---- I of course say YES!!! Which is the whole reason behind me making time to blog tonight..

Seriously, I am STOKED about these lights so much that I have talked to Marco 3 times tonight about them and have sweet talked my way into borrowing one of his sets to use again tomorrow. Here is what I noticed right away---at least a 50% reduction in my tooth discomfort, I feel like I just drank a "large iced coffee, with cream and sugar" from Dunkin Donuts---basically I have a crap load of energy which NEVER EVER EVER happens for me because I burn the candle at both ends every single day, AND I am always cold, and today my hands and feet are the same (or at least feel the same) temperature as every other part of my body. I noticed these 3 things from just 30 minutes and I really feel like my Chakras have been realigned.... I am all about this light therapy now. I want to buy one BAD!!!!!! SO, if you have read my blog this far down you are probably asking yourself some questions about this amazing light therapy. When I talked to Marco--the last time tonight--he told me that there is a meeting coming up on February 11th that anyone can come to, and he said that everyone that comes gets a free treatment with the lights. I am going for sure. I already told him that. You can come too, bring a friend or 5, and lets all learn more about this. I do not know how much they cost exactly because there are different packages, so it just depends on what you want to get. There is financing available for those with credit. This is seriously going to be the next big thing....I swear. I am not into promoting products AT ALL, and here I am so excited to share this with people that I am freaking blogging about it....what a nut case I am. Love it though. Anyways, if anyone is interested in getting in on some of this jazz tomorrow I will have the lights at my house and I would be happy to have you over to try them.......it is worth it. Takes 30 minutes....if you are interested message me, text me, call me....whatever! If you can't stop by tomorrow, come to the meeting on February 11th. Its at the Hampton Inns and Suites in Stuart. 1150 NW Federal Highway (its north of the Roosevelt Bridge about a 1/4 mile). Call 772-519-1555 to talk to Marc, tell him Jenny told you about the lights and ask ask ask your questions, set up a meeting with Marc and get in on the lights....