Just put on a little lipstick...

Dr. Law sent me the results of my latest vitamin D level today and I am in the normal range (42.4)! He wants me to continue my calcium and vitamin D daily, and have a recheck in 6 months to make sure I stay in range. The chemo was rough on my bones, so it's important they keep and eye on these levels. Thank you God for good results!

My mom loved Erma Bombeck. I remember us sitting around the table and mom reading Erma's column to us. Erma helped women learn to laugh at themselves and at all those crazy moments life has to offer. She reminded us not to take ourselves too seriously and to stop and smell the roses. One of my favorite books she wrote is " Motherhood: the second oldest profession ". Here is a poem she wrote when she was battling kidney cancer. You may have seen it a thousand times, but it is a great reminder. One of my girlfriends from high school emailed it to me today. Thanks Sherry! IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER - by Erma Bombeck I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day. I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage. I would have talked less and listened more. I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or the sofa fad...

Lately I have been letting the stress at work really get to me and I know this isn't healthy. I have to remind myself I can only do so much and I have to set limits. This will be much easier said than done. There are so many people I work with that seem to have no work-life balance. They rush to work, rush home to take their kids to ball games, rush through homework, put them to bed and then hop on their laptops and work until after midnight. I am not sure they even realize how much they are missing. If this is what it takes to be successful in the corporate world then I am not sure I want to sign up. I am a hard worker during work hours, but I think you have to draw the line somewhere and have a personal life. I have never heard of anyone on their deathbed that said "I wish I had spent more time at the office". Every morning I remind myself to Let go and let God show me where I need to go and what I need to do to keep my life balanced.

One year ago this week I got my 12 th (and last) chemo treatment. In some ways it does not seem like a whole year has gone by. Then I stop and think about it, and realize a lot has happened since that time. I went back to work full time, had my reconstructive surgery and my hair grew back. There are still have a few lingering side effects I'm dealing with, but they are not anything to complain about. I remind myself every day to be thankful and not take life for granted. I appreciate your continued prayers and support.

I have two friends that will be having biopsies in the next few days. I am hoping and praying that their results come back negative. I do not want anyone else to have to experience what I did last year. I was having lunch with one of them and she was talking about her first experience with wearing the paper shirt for the exam. My friend is pretty modest and was talking about how uncomfortable that was for her. I guess I had chosen to forget all about those early days when you are exposed over and over again for tests, biopsies, etc... I grew up with two sisters, so I never was overly modest to begin with. After a year of showing my chest to multiple doctors, nurses and radiology personnel, it doesn't even phase me anymore to take off my shirt or discuss my man-made chest with others. At my appointment last week I even discussed my nipples with the receptionist-- I guess most people would say my modesty is officially gone after that. : )

Today began week 6 of the wellness pilot. I have to admit, with all the stress last week I did not exactly stay on track with my eating. I did however get in my cardio and weights. I overindulged myself with comfort food and I could really tell when I went to my workout session this afternoon. Mitch introduced us to 4 new exercises (with weights) and even though my chest area is still pretty numb, I could tell I was giving my upper body a good workout. My plan is to resume food journaling tomorrow and get back on track with my food intake. It's so easy to say " hey I'm stressed, I DESERVE a snickers ".

It was a peaceful rainy weekend. Our yard is full of green, happy, and tall grass. My neglected outdoor plants are also loving all this rain. I slept in on Saturday and then worked on a few projects that are due by the end of the month. Sunday brought an inspiring message at church and lunch with great friends. Good weekend overall.

"Love ever, Hurt never" ~House of Blues

This has been a very long and stressful week. Monday I was off site at a training and I began to receive text messages from people at the office. Every time we had a break I checked my messages. The decision had been made to reduce our workforce by 26% - by the end of the day 74 people had been laid off. The rest of the week has been about reorganizing those of us who are left. I lost my supervisor and some of my best friends to the layoffs. This economy scares me, there are way too many people out of work. I am hoping and praying all of those affected find a job they love very quickly.

Sherry did a great job of getting us all to Henderson this weekend to celebrate Dad's 74 th birthday. We are all going in ten different directions so this was a big feat to get us all there at one time. Saturday we enjoyed lunch at Bells Drive In. Bells is our local diner that has won best burger in America more than once. It's not the healthiest place to eat, but it is delicious! Saturday evening we had a birthday dinner of Jack's BBQ with all the fixins '. Sherry made a delicious spice cake with caramel icing and Dad had birthday cupcakes for the little ones. Today there was a potluck lunch at church, so we stayed for that as well. The ladies of the Henderson church have always thrown a great potluck. The food was fabulous, and the dessert table overflowing. I had hoped to go visit with some friends while I was home, but I will just have to make another trip. I ran out of time. Happy Birthday Dad!

Well I was born in a small town And I live in a small town Probably die in a small town Oh, those small communities All my friends are so small town My parents live in the same small town My job is so small town Provides little opportunity Educated in a small town Taught the fear of Jesus in a small town Used to daydream in that small town Another boring romantic thats me But Ive seen it all in a small town Had myself a ball in a small town Married an l.a. doll and brought her to this small town Now shes small town just like me No I cannot forget where it is that I come from I cannot forget the people who love me Yeah, I can be myself here in this small town And people let me be just what I want to be Got nothing against a big town Still hayseed enough to say - Look whos in the big town But my bed is in a small town Oh, and thats good enough for me Well I was born in a small town And I can breathe in a small town Gonna die in this small town And thats probably where theyll bury ...

Lisa, Chadd, Chassi and I went to see Wicked the musical on Friday night at TPAC . It was a fabulous story about what happened in Oz, before Dorothy showed up on the scene. The show was awesome and we had a wonderful time.

I saw Dr. Wagstrom (plastic surgeon) today. She is very pleased with my progress and how my surgery has turned out. I have healed very well and my scars are fading more each month. I was to have my tattoos touched up today, but the nurse that does that was overbooked, so I will have to go back another day to get that done.  Dr. Wagstrom and her staff were featured in the summer issue of Nashville's best for  Health and Wellness . I knew I had fabulous people taking care of me, and this article and recognition just confirms it even more.  http://www.whoswhomagazines.com/BackIssuesDetailsCover.asp?StoryId=680&IssueId=38 Lisa and Jenni went with me to the appointment, and then we had a nice lunch at Which Wich and then shopped at Trader Joe s . It makes me thankful not only for my family, and my health, but for our freedom - especially on this day September 11th. It is so easy to take things for granted, living here in America. I think I need to stop and write out my grateful li...

This week I only worked Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and that was plenty. They were all meeting filled days with lots to do. Tomorrow morning I have a follow up with my plastic surgeon, Dr. Wagstrom at Centennial. It's time for my 6 month check up, and also for a bit of touch ups on my medical tattoos. Then tomorrow night it's on to see Wicked at TPAC with Lisa, Chadd and Chassi . Instead of going to work, rushing to my appointment over lunch, then back to work and quickly home to change - I decided to take the whole day off!

It was a nice peaceful labor day weekend. Most of the 3 day weekend I took it easy and got in some much needed rest. Busy work weeks and stress still can completely exhaust me. Sunday night we had a couple of work friends over to grill out and relax. Monday night Josh and his crew came over for dinner and an outdoor movie. I had gotten a movie projector for my birthday, and we had not had the chance to try it out. We hooked the projector to our portable DVD p layer and hung a white shower curtain on the pergola to make a screen. We watched The Little Mermaid and had popcorn. Anna Belle and Morgan loved it! The photos came out a bit blurry, but you can see the make-shift screen. ~ Jenni will be coming home this weekend and I can't wait to see her. We talk on the phone every day or so, but it is not the same as seeing her face. I think watching the Little Mermaid made me miss her even more. She used to watch that movie daily when she was little. ~ Thank you to my friend Amy for the...

"There's no reason to become alarmed, and we hope you'll enjoy the rest of your flight. By the way, is there anyone on board who knows how to fly a plane?" - Airplane "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it." - Ferris Bueller I think I need to pull one of these movies out - I could use some fun lightweight entertainment.

I try my hardest to leave work stuff at work and not let stress get to me. I know it is not good for me physically to be stressed, but it is quite a challenge right now to remain unaffected. I truly believe in the company I work for and the mission that we have. However the economy is bad and I realize that when businesses have to start cutting benefits, wellness programs are some of the first to go. So...the rumors of layoffs have begun and the stress level rises each day. Lately the bathrooms seem to be a hot-bed of nausea and crying jags. I hope upper management realizes how hard it is to focus when everyone is fearing for their jobs on a daily basis. I hope they make their decisions wisely and quickly so we can all just move on with our jobs, or find something new. My goal is to turn it all over to God and just know that whatever happens-- it will be for the best and I will be just fine.

I just completed week 4 of the wellness pilot and I've lost 3 lbs and definitely gained some strength. The body comp analysis did show an increase in lean muscle mass also. I am up to using 10 lb weights for my rows, squats and on the bench. All this strength training is continuing to wake up those nerve endings in my chest area that have been numb for over a year now. That is not very comfortable, but in the long run I'm sure I will be glad. The weather has been so great lately I have had a nice time doing my cardio in the park. I am also getting used to planning out my meals and staying within my calorie range.