Kindness matters. Love Matters

I was walking to get my kids two days ago and saw this middle school girl playing volleyball by herself. I waved and said hello.  On my walk back with the kids in tow, she was riding bikes with her dad and siblings.  She came up to me and handed me a note she wrote. The envelope said "Hope"  inside said "Hope" had a ribbon drawn and told me to "Keep Fighting"  So sweet!

Well last night we are eating dinner and a car pulls up and two people knock on the door. It was the sweet girl and her mother. Her mom just battled breast cancer last year.  She was diagnosed Jan 2015. She shared with me her story and told me to let her know if we needed anything. She was happy to help!  She even wrote down my surgery date so she could bring us food.

Small act of kindness goes such a long way. Her daughter didn't have to write that note and she didn't have to come by. She apparently came by the same night her daughter gave me the note but we were already in bed. She wanted me to know I was not alone. There are kind people all over. It makes my heart happy, she has taught her daughter to be so kind. I hope my boys will be kind too as they grow up. They are so sweet now, can only hope that continues. I think if I keep showing kindness to others, they will continue to emulate it!

Love and Kindness matters!

Please be kind to one another!  You never know what kind a day someone else is having, and how you can make a huge difference with just a smile!

Love
Jamie
#fightinglikeagirl #wegotthis #loveandkindessmatter

Long overdue post

I am so sorry it has taken me so long to write another post. I have been focusing on the kids and staying away from any electronics at night. Still no excuse.

Since my last post I have had my Herceptin only infusion. I handled that really well. Just tired, very tired but very few other side effects!  

I have a PET scan scheduled for the 3rd of November.  It is long overdue. I should have had one before beginning chemo but was nursing and refused. I have this nagging feeling something is wrong. Hoping I am wrong!  I have really been focusing on living my life to the fullest, keeping stress and negativity away from me and just being nice to others!  I could focus on the cancer and worry about it coming back. it is never far from my mind, especially since I still feel the tumor.  But worrying, will not help me. Everyone dies at some point and I could be hit by  a car as easily as I could die from cancer. So my mission is to create a ton of amazing memories with those I love, so that if anything ever happens, they will have those to remember and they will know I love them!

I am so thankful to my friends who continue to surround me with love and support!  Some days are easier than others.  At the moment I made the mistake to watch "Last Days" which is an amazingly inspiring show on CW that shows lives of those that are dying but are living their life to the fullest!  As I watch it, my two year old climbs on my back and gives me tons of kisses!  Oh my sweet boy!  I know I have already done such an amazing job with him. I am blessed to be able to continue to be his mama and have him not affected by this bump in my road!

Today I challenge each of you, to take a moment to breath, and enjoy your day. Try not to let others stress affect you. Try to make everyone you come in contact with smile. Do something nice for someone else for no other reason that it makes you feel good!   We all have bumps in our road, it is how we face them that determines our character and how it affects us and those around us.  Be the light that shines in the face of darkness!  Smile and be happy!  You are alive and it could always be worse!

Much love!

#fightinglikeagirl #wegotthis #bekind #livelifetothefullest

Good weekend!

This weekend was a good weekend. I didn't feel good but, we laid low and I rested. I binged watched tv and played with the kids from the bed or couch, well mainly the baby, as my oldest left me most of the weekend. Though when he was home he was snuggled up tight!  Love my baby/toddler snuggles!  It was nice.  He wanted just to snuggle and baby loves to snuggle and play in bed so it was a nice quiet weekend!  I even made it out for grocery shopping, which I rarely do.

I am still exhausted, like bone, tired, exhaustion, but better than last week! Still plagued with tummy issues and nausea, but better. The fog seems to be lifting, and I am able to think more clearly!  Even with me feeling yucky last week, I had a really good week at work, which makes me happy!  Definitely have an amazing boss!  I am loving the toddler snuggles and kisses!  Life is good!

Thanks for all my calls, texts, emails, etc!  appreciate you guys taking your time to think about me!

Hope everyone is having a great week!

#fightinglikeagirl #wegotthis #uphillswing

Thankful

Some of you were concerned that yesterday's post was not as positive as my usual ones. It wasn't intended that way. It was intended to be  very real and expressed what I am going through. Such raw emotion hits every day. And the chemo side effects are not pretty but cancer is not pretty.  Do not worry,  even when I feel bad and am expressing what I am going through or feeling,  I  am still very thankful and looking at the bright side, as there is always a bright side!

I am thankful that even though I do not feel good still, that I  know it could be worse.
I am thankful that it is me enduring these treatments and not my small children.
I am thankful that I have an amazing boss and co-workers!
I am thankful that people ask what they can do to make me feel better, even if nothing can be done.
I am thankful for my sister who is my rock and my strength when I do not feel I can do anymore.
I am thankful I have indoor plumbing, especially at night!
I am thankful to have a sweet toddler who wakes me up with kisses and snuggles.
I am thankful to have a baby who loves to smile and gives out giggles freely!
I am thankful for parents who love me and are always there for me.
I am thankful for in laws who love me like their own.
I am thankful for my Granny, who is one tough Matriarch! She makes me smile and shows me where my stubbornness comes from!
I am thankful I have insurance, so that I have choices in fighting cancer.
I am thankful I am able to push through this exhaustion and retain a semblance of a normal life.
I am thankful my body has tolerated chemo and is reacting positively to it.
I am thankful for ooey gooey cheese sticks, as they taste amazing at the moment.
I am thankful I can see the light at the end of the long tunnel.
I am thankful for Herceptin, as it makes being HER2+ not the death sentence it once was.
I am thankful, we caught my cancer when we did. Stage 3 seems like a cake walk next to Stage 4.
I am thankful for an amazing team of doctors, who listen to me and actually care about me.
I am thankful for my chemo nurses who brighten my day when I see them!
I am thankful to be able to reconnect with long lost friends. I was missing a piece of my heart without them and am so glad they are back in my life!
I am thankful to hear stories of why people love me or the impact I made on their lives!  Makes me smile a lot!
I am thankful people drive out of their way just to see me!
I am thankful for all the gifts, presents, hugs etc!  I am not used to being on the receiving end, and much rather be the giver, but am SOOO thankful at the moment to all the kind hearts that are out there. My faith in humanity has been restored when I think of you and all you have done for me!
I am thankful for my years of being a volunteer and am looking forward to being able to volunteer again and have little ones tag along too!
I am thankful I will have a future watching  my babies grow up!
I am thankful for the light that surrounds me even in dark times.
I am thankful for my sweet nieces who make me laugh, draw me pictures, rub my back and are amazing girls!
I am thankful for a brother in law that loves my kids like his own!
I am thankful I am alive!
I am thankful we are not in the path of Hurricane Matthew :D

I could keep going, but you get the picture! I am so thankful! All of you are a huge part of that gratitude!

THANK YOU for all your support and love!

I want to hear from you!  What are some things you are thankful for?


XOXO
#fightinglikeagirl
#wegotthis
#thankful

Post Chemo #6 update

Hi everyone!

I am still  feeling pretty rough!  It feels as though I am looking  and swimming through a sea of water. I feel very bloated (though I do not  look it per sis), my tummy doesn't like me so much, I am  nauseated, my entire body aches still. I still do not have a fever which is great, but my poor body is like, "Listen woman, first you get pregnant, than you make me spit out a 10lb 5.3 oz baby sideways with no drugs, then you make me start chemo before I have recovered from labor. really? Really, this is how you want to play this?"  so it is winning today. Today I am feeling the exhaustion of this past years abuse on my poor body. Just touching me makes me hurt from my muscles being so tight and sore.  I feel like I need a massive massage that would go on for a half a day. It even is hard to turn my head (and no I don't think I have meningitis but the thought has crossed my mind). My nose is running, my glands are swollen, coughing, I feel very heavy,  you name it and I probably feel it today.

Today is one of those days, I do not feel strong at all! I feel very weak, which makes my eyes leak, as I write that. I long to feel normal, even though at this point I am not even sure what that feels like.   My baby is almost 6 months old  and I feel like I gave birth last week, instead of being fully recovered, like I should feel.  When I say I am exhausted, I am just done. I am not sure how I am pushing through at this point. I literally laid in bed with the boys last night, as Jax watched tv, and Cass played, I closed my eyes and drifted off into a light sleep (don't worry daddy was home with us, no kids harmed in my sleeping). It was one of those moments where I couldn't keep my eyes open.  No matter what I did, short of putting toothpicks on my eyelids, were those eyes staying open.   Thankfully at the moment I have my eyes open and am trying to get as much done as possible so that I can rest later. But they are super heavy this morning too!  It is almost as if i used all my energy getting the kids ready for their day.

I am so thankful for a supportive boss, co-workers, friends and family! Many of you have offered to take this all away from me. As appealing as that thought it, I would never wish this on anyone. I will endure this and get through this, especially with all this support I have!  BEST VILLAGE EVER!  Thank you all for everything!

Have an amazing day and cheers to me feeling better quickly!
#fightinglikeagirl #wegotthis #sicknessbegone #exhaustionbegone #normalpleasecomeback

Post Chemo #6

I had my last TCHP cocktail on Friday.  It was a doozie. I am definitely super nauseated, exhausted  and just over all blah!  Thankful for a boss that understands and my village who surrounds me daily.

I had my sweet angel show up to clean my house, brought me goodies and will be bringing me food today. I had my mother in law swing by with more food. I had my college bestie drive like 9 hours in one day just to come hang out with me and bring me goodies!  I definitely am lucky!  No complaints in that department.

Thank you you to all who keep sending me emails, texts, calls, presents, cards, hugs, good vibes, prayers, etc!  You all ROCK!  I am so thankful!  I am sorry the thank you cards are not getting out like they should, but know you are appreciated! I am so grateful!

Much love!

#fightinglikeagirl
#wegotthis