Merry Holiday...

Well, we've had a long week. After getting snowed in on Saturday, we made damned sure that we would be on Capitol Hill to get my new boobies on Monday. Cue Jef. Jef came and saved us. He made his way up to Queen Anne where we were staying with Robin and Noel. We left Silas in their capable hands and headed to a hotel next to the hospital. We had champagne and watched a whole lot of trashy TV. Woke up at 5:00am and walked to Swedish. I was the only patient that made it in to surgery that day for my plastic surgeon. She was a super-trooper: walked for an hour in the snow to make it to the hospital and perform my surgery. What a bad-azz.
The girls look just fine. A bit swollen and many bruises. But, I already love them as they are smaller and much less hard than those damned expanders.
Christmas was spent convolescing here at Chez Schumacher. We went upstairs with T and built a fire and drank too much wine.
Santa brought Silas some really great toys. A Kitchen, a huge "Goodnight Moon" puzzle, t-shirts, a first-aid kit (I pray he ends up a doctor), a baseball pinball machine, etc. He's been such a great guy while Mama heals. I've not been able to pick him up ... kills me. But, we've done much cuddling.
Nonnie (my Mama) has her surgery on Monday the 29th. Please send your love and prayers. She's having a hysterectomy.
We head back to South Carolina on the 31st. We are thrilled beyond belief. It's gonna be a ball. Uncle Josh is another fishing tournament. So, we get to see him in his fancy bass boat ... and we get to ride in it. Good luck Uncle Josh!
On a different note: Please keep Janet Elkins and her family in your heart and prayers. Janet was a fellow breast cancer survivor who lost her courageous battle on Christmas eve. She was a wonderful woman with great wit and a huge heart. Please, please hold her close.
God's speed, sweet girl.
xoxo
Anna

And, so it begins...

Mr. Silas is sick. He was fine in the morning. After his nap, he woke up with rosy cheeks. I assumed he was over-dressed for his nap. After spending the evening with Marco and Heather over here for a play-date and dinner, he started to cough.
So, now he's in the bedroom with a ball of toilet paper (to blow his nose "by myself") and coughing away.
Of course, this tends to happen before OR after each of my surgeries or treatments. I don't think he's old enough to create some psycho-symatic sickness. It's just the "luck" of the draw. I think we're all aware of my track record with that. Judging by his ability to find the sharpest corner in a 3 mile radius upon which to maim himself, I think that he's inherited my "luck" gene. Oh Holy Hannah. Can't we be left to deal with ONE gimp in the family?! Bless his heart. I'm beginning to believe that he IS a Mama's boy.
xoxo
Anna
p.s. sending a shout-out to Jen (onbreastleft) tonight. Hoping your nipples are feeling and looking fantastic.

Jen's visit...

Well, Silas and I got to spend a wonderful morning with a dear friend from The YSC. her name is Jen or "onebreastleft" as many of us know her. I got to meet her in April after her reconstructive surgery. She's back up, from Idaho, getting the finishing touches: tattoos on her newly created nipples. It's the end of this recon process for her. I'm so excited. Jen and her Mama treated Silas to a huge chocolate chip cookie. He bounced off the walls the entire time we visited. At one point we disappeared to the restroom to compare and feel each other's boobs. This is the norm in our world. Thanks Jen for thinking of us while you were here. Thanks for letting me feel you up. Good times.
We are supposed to get another wave of snow tonight. It's still cold, cold, cold. I moved my car up to the top of the hill that starts our cul-de-sac. I do NOT want to miss another day of work. I'm slammed tomorrow and Thursday ... AND Saturday. Cannot afford to have Mother Nature change my plans. This means, she just might.
My surgery is less than a week away. Trying to get the house in order and cleaned up so we won't have to worry about it before we head back to South Carolina. Good luck with that, Anna. Things don't, typically, go as planned in my world. It's become a running joke. At least it's made me more flexible.
Hope everyone is well, this chilly Tuesday.
xoxo
Anna

Great night...

It's snowing in Seattle. I love it! It's gorgeous. It's quiet. It's white.
We spent the evening in Georgetown at an art-walk, of sorts. It's an amazing building where artists (painters, sculptors, metal workers, etc.) rent studios and do their deal. Several of our pals have studios there. So, we often go to support. Tonight was special, as I had posed for Sandi some months ago. She is a dear friend of mine from years ago. Met her through Kevin, and she and I have become tight. I've ended up being her model for many of her pieces over the years. Some time after my diagnoses, she wanted to begin a new work: an Amazon warrior. I was sending her pics of myself throughout my whole reconstructive process, as she was living in Japan for the past 2 years. We finished up the pics/sittings several months ago. What you see here is the final piece. It's amazing. One man that walked into her studio tonight said, "That is distressing." He was referring to my face. That seemed to be the general response. I asked him "why?" He said, "she looks terrifying. She's ANGRY!" I said, "Well, she's pointing the arrow at breast cancer. Her face reflects her journey and her future. She's not gonna lose." He got it. The face is like a shield.
There were many other paintings there that folks were really interested in. One of which is included in the blog and one that I posed for years ago. The back to you, the mirror reflecting my face. It was a part of a series called the Seven Deadly Sins. That pic is "Vanity." I, actually, own "Lust." Kevin and I posed for it.
In any case, it was a great night of beautiful art ... and gorgeous snow.
xoxo
Anna

I have the plague ...

Great. I woke up yesterday morning with what felt like a scene from the movie Alien. What was going on inside my body was horrific. The only thing worse was when it made its way out. I'll spare you more details. Only that it lasted the better part of the day. Thank god for left-over chemo meds. Those expensive anti-nausea pills do pay of, even if they are expensive ...and seriously expired.
Silas had to leave daycare early. We thought he was better. But, Kevin got a call that while playing and having a great time, he unexpectedly threw up everywhere. Man, we Schumachers go all out. So, he and I convalesced all evening on the pull-out. We spent the night there to spare Kevin from the plague. My house, now, smells like Lysol. I had to put the little rat that I rescued from Gusty out in the greenhouse, as I thought her already labored breathing might cease. I know, I know I save vermin. Get over it. Silas asked where I was putting her (Twee, as we call her). I told him to get some "fresh air." Honestly, we'll be lucky if the poor thing keeps breathing for a few more hours. But, we're trying.
I have my pre-op appointment with my plastic surgeon today. I'm excited. Just hope neither Silas nor I puke on her. Bless her heart. December 22nd is the day! Count down!
xoxo
Anna

Is it really December 7th?!

I cannot believe that it's already December 7th. I remember a time where my life must have been moving in slow motion, as my summers lasted for years and my school year lasted for decades. Now, life flies by us so quickly that the seasons seem to meld into one another. It's, sort of, like having a plate of food with peas and potatoes. You end up eating them both, but don't know which one you started with or which one you ended up with, as you ate both at the same time without noticing. I sound like Forest Gump.
In any case, the weather here is lovely. It's that typical moody, rainy Seattle weather that I've always loved. I've never really complained about the weather here ... unless it involves wind. I hate a nasty wind ... unless it involves a tornado or a hurricane. If those 2 are the case, game on. Otherwise, it's a nuisance.
Silas is just starting to feel better after a weekend of puking and the runs. I won't apologize for the graphic details. If you're an avid reader, you're use to it. If not, find another blog or go to the beginning. He spent the better part of Friday evening, Saturday, and early Sunday morning unloading from both ends. I think he's on the mend now. The guy is such a trooper. He doesn't even whimper when he spends hours doing this. He just goes about it as it's another task. Such a dreamy boy. It makes it that much harder to see him go through it.
I would love it if everyone reading would spend a moment to keep a few friends of mine in your hearts and prayers. I've got several girlfriends who are metastatic that need some strong vibes and prayers right now: Holly, Julie, Janet, Elizabeth, Kristin, and Kristy. These ladies are bold and strong and fighting a great fight. They MUST and WILL fight the beast and win. It would just mean the world to me if you took a moment to pray/meditate/be silent for them. Two other beautiful women and their families need your love too. Christine and Jenn have both recently lost their fight with breast cancer. They were with family and passed peacefully. They were both such lovely women and so supportive of the rest of us fighting this nasty disease. Please hold their families close to your heart tonight. Thanks in advance.
Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend and has an even better week to come.
xoxo
Anna

I think that I've already posted some of these pics. They are just a few I stumbled across tonight.
One is of Kevin after he played a show with Hell's Bells. At the time, I didn't know how big they would soon become. I remember seeing an episode of The Simple Life with Nicole Ritchie and Paris Hilton. Don't judge me ... I was on chemo and in need of mind candy. In any case, Paris Hilton was wearing a Hell's Bells t-shirt. It hit home. They are a great band. An all-female ACDC cover band. You have NO clue how talented those ladies are. Do check them out.
The others are of some of my family. Cannot tell you how fun and crazy they are. We'll be heading home on New Year's Eve. We've already been invited to go to a Monster Truck Rally. I AM SO EXCITED to report on that. Beer, monster trucks, a camera and my family. It's gonna be a ball.
Until then, I'm gonna be working lots. I'm taking on some Saturdays, as my books need to be filled. Trying to fit people in.
I have my exchange surgery on December 22nd. I know I've said it before. But, it's only 3 weeks away now. It'll be so great to not hurt people when I hug them due to these hard expanders.
Okay, off for now. Please hold Jenn and her loved-ones in your thoughts and prayers tonight. They've been through so much.
xoxo
Anna

RIP

Love and prayers go out tonight to Jenn Tracz and her family in Atlanta. Another young woman gone WAY too soon. God's speed, dear Jenn. Please look down on us and inspire us with your wit and laughter. You are truly missed. Rest in peace ... or in party ... whatever you choose.
xoxo
Anna