The countdown is on...

...only a few more sleeps until radiation. I am quite anxious to get going with it. It'll be a long 6 weeks, but will be over before I know it!

I am recovered from surgery, and back to doing life as I always do. Super excited as I went out today without my hat for the first time. I took it with me (of course), but I didn't put it on - and it was cool to feel the wind and the back of my fluffy lined coat on my head. Oh, the things we take for granted!

Things are a bit crazy with our business picking up, and all my appointments, but thanks to our friends and family, we have lots of help. Oliver purchased a small dump truck so we will add "dump truck/delivery services" to our menu. If you or anyone you know is looking for landscaping, general yard maintenance, and/or delivery of soil, mulch, sand - visit us at www.mullenbroslandscaping.ca.

Now that I've got that plug in.... :)

Keira woke up with her first fever today, so that was kind of sad to see. She is a trooper and while she isn't feeling 100%, she was in pretty good spirits overall. Aidan is pretty sick too so we hope our munchkins are back to good soon!

Anyways, just a quick update today, and I'll write more after my first rounds of radiation treatment (I start on March 24th!).

Bye for now,
Kelly

Back to good...and on to the next!

Long time no "talk"!  Sorry it has taken so long to write, but I thought I would wait until today as we met with the radiation oncologist in Abbotsford this morning to discuss the next phase of my treatment.

As it stands today, I have recovered quite nicely from my latest surgery.  I continue to receive Herceptin, which is an antibody used to treat a unique form of breast cancer cell I carried, and it is administered by IV every 3 weeks until October.  I am still seeing my naturopath every 2 weeks for IV Vitamin C injections, and I continue with my cocktail of vitamins and supplements - all with the goal to prevent reoccurrence.

The plan as we understand it from our meeting today is to start radiation on March 24th (Thursday) and I will need to go for 28 radiotherapy sessions - that is every business day until May 4th.  I had  CT scan today, and the technicians tattooed my chest to pinpoint where the radiotherapy will target.

Once radiation is complete, I will be back in to see the plastic surgeon to carry on with the reconstruction process - and then my oncologist will be prescribing Tamoxifen, another drug which helps block breast cancer cell growth.  I'm told I will be taking this drug for up to 5 years :(

I can honestly say that today I am feeling pretty overwhelmed with everything.  I'm not sure what it is about today that has me feeling this way - but it is what it is.  I will be happy when this phase of the process is over - and soon after that we will be honoring the first anniversary of my diagnosis (May 11th - time sure flies!).  I am happy that my hair has started to grow back.  It's coming in a bit darker and I am now comfortable not wearing my hats, in fact I much prefer to go without but it is still just too cold!

..and on to the light of our lives - Keira Faith is now 7 1/2 months, and as of yesterday, weighs 19lbs 2oz. She is just a little monkey - rolling over now, squirming around and chatting up a storm.  She had her first PJ party this past weekend with her BFF Anna Marie - and is saying her first word..."HI".  She is pretty clever and just loves everyone.  No teeth yet, but they are trying - and she is loving her solid foods.  She is a great eater and still an amazing sleeper.  We are so blessed to have such a great baby!

I got this eating thing in the bag!

My cuzies

My big brother loves to read to me!

Chillin'

...mmm...beer!

Hanging with my BFF, Anna Marie

Bouncy bouncy

Oliver and I are still working on growing the business - and we are now offering small dump truck services.  Check out our website at www.mullenbroslandscaping.ca!  Slow and steady wins the race - and, while we have had a few snow contracts, we are getting busier with lawn contracts now as we head into the spring so that is exciting.

I am happy to say, with the help of some very generous people in my life, I am up to $550 towards my $2000 fundraising goal for the Weekend to End Women's Cancers.  Click here to check out my webpage and I'd love to have some company on my 2 day walk!

Anyways, I hope you are all doing well and we hope to see you all soon.

Love ya!
~O, K, A, K

Recovering

Hello my friends and family..

Just wanted to send a quick update out to let you all know that I am home after my surgery, and recovering amazingly well. 

I went in early Monday morning, was in surgery around 9am and back up to my room (which I lucked out to have one to myself) by around 2pm.  I had a rough first night with nausea and trying to manage the pain, so I did stay for two nights to make sure I was ready to make it at home - and that was the best thing I could have done.  Thanks to my parents, my friends, and my amazing man, I had a lot of company so the time went by quickly.

I came home yesterday, and thanks to my Mom and Oliver, I am getting lots of rest and spending my time recovering with my little one.  I don't think things could go any smoother :)

Anyways, I will send another update and some recent photos soon, but wanted to let you know how things have been going since my last blog entry.

Take care, and talk soon.
~Kelly

The Calm before the Storm

It's really happening - I'm going in for surgery (again!) tomorrow at 6:15am.

Not only is that an awful time of day to be up and at 'em, but I feel a lot more anxious about this one. There are a few reasons for that - one being this one feels more "elective".  I don't HAVE to do this from a medical standpoint, but I have to do this from a recovery standpoint.  The other, more pressing reason, is I don't know when I will be able to lift my little one.  I'm told "several weeks" and that my range of motion will be quite restricted. That makes me very sad, but having said that, I know my body heals well, and I just don't have time to be down and out so - I plan to be back to good in no time.  I just won't have it any other way :)

I will be sure to have Oliver send out a text to those we have on our contact list by phone, and an email as soon after as possible to the rest of you so you all know how things are going.

I have officially registered for the 2-day 60km Shoppers Drug Mart Weekend to End Women's Cancers walk.  This takes place in August and if you or anyone you know is interested in joining me, or donating to my fundraising goal of $2,000, please click on the following link: Kelly's Personal Page.

This walk will mean a lot to me, and will happen just around the time that I am back to normal, so thank you for your support (and I promise I won't ask for any other donations this year :)).

...and little miss Keira.  She is growing like a weed.  I stood on the scale with her just after I wrote last time, and she weighed about 18.5lbs.  That was a few weeks back now.  Oliver will be taking her for her 6 month shots on Feb 8th so he will get the official weight then... She did go through a bit of a cold a few days ago, but she seems to be on the other side of that now.  Let's just say, she is a very healthy and happy girl.  I have entered her in the Virgin Radio "Cutest Kid" contest so please click on the following link: Keira Faith is the "Cutest Kid" between February 12th and February 17th to vote.

I'll send out another update closer to the voting time so you can all go in and place your vote (or enter your kids age 0-5).

Anyways, enough said, talk soon and take care of yourselves.

Love Kelly

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to you all!  Wow, can't believe it has been nearly a month since my last blog entry.  Where does the time go?

Since I wrote we have had a wonderful Christmas - baby got spoiled, as did I!  We decided to bite the bullet and move on New Years Eve, so we could spend our first day of the new year in the new house.  It's good to start fresh - so we worked our butts off to get things in and it was great.  Keira didn't make it past 9pm, but Aidan, Oliver, and I banged pots and pans at midnight.  We learned that very few of our neighbors get involved in that tradition :)

As for me, I did experience some fatigue and numbing/tingling in my hands and feet after the last round of treatment, but my first round of herceptin only treatment was on January 11th and all seems to be going great.  My hair is still working its way back, but still sporting my hats.  It sure is cold without hair, even when it's warm outside.  I miss my long WARM hair! I've been pretty tired overall lately but with the baby, holidays, treatment, the move, and trying to get the business off the ground, it's not much of a surprise.  Unfortunately, Mother Nature doesn't want to deliver the snow so we are stressing out a bit - but doing our best to keep positive.  It'll come....someday :)

I received a call on Tuesday from the Abbotsford hospital to go in for a pre-admission appointment next Wednesday to prep for surgery on February 7th.  I am not really looking forward to the pain aspect - or the fact holding my little one will be very tough for a while - but I know I will heal and it will be behind me before I know it.

Keira is 6 months old today - and growing like a weed.  She is now eating rice cereal and we have tried carrots, bananas, and apples.  She is pretty cute when we try something new out, and so far she has taken it all without any fuss. We haven't had her weighed since December 6th so I'm guessing she is close to 20lbs. She has her next shots on Feb 8th so if not before, we will for sure know what she weighs then.  I know my arms are getting a good workout :)

Well, we hope you are all enjoying the unseasonably warm weather (I say with gritted teeth).  Have a wonderful day and enjoy your weekend - it is supposed to be dry and we may even see the sun.

Bye for now!
Love Kelly, Oliver, Aidan, & Keira

Gramma got me a nice head piece!

Mmmm, my first cereal

All our amazing presents :)

Oh, I could get used to this freedom thing

So fashionable - thanks Aunty Nina!

I've had cereal and carrots and milk..yet I'm still awake

Let it snow...where's the snow..oh no!

I am excited to say I had my last round of "heavy" treatments yesterday...and I am doing great.  I had Oliver come and take a picture of me lounging in the oncology ward, watching movies and "taking it all in"!  So now I continue to go every 3 weeks for the "Herceptin" drug to treat my unique HER2 cancer gene.  These sessions will be about 90 minutes tops - and I have been taking that drug for 4 cycles now so I know that I don't have any reactions to it.

Me in my chair, always #3, with the Tranquility Garden behind!

We met with the plastic surgeon on December 16th and I am happy to say that I am going for surgery to remove my right breast, and have my expanders implanted on both sides on February 7th in the new Abbotsford hospital.  I will have one overnight stay, and I know it will be a bit tough with the baby after the surgery, but I have a lot of help so we will make it through.  Once I am recovered from that, the plan is to start radiation in early March.  I have to go to the Abbotsford Cancer Agency every day, 5 days a week for about 5-6 weeks (between 25 and 28 radiation treatments).  The sessions are only about 10 minutes long, but then there is the prep to get ready before and after so I figure it will take about an hour a day.  After that, then the plastic surgeon will start to "pump me up" to get ready for the implants (who knew I would every have them!!).  I guess this is one of the perks of breast cancer - a new pair :)

We have also officially started our new business venture - well, we are ready to start as soon as the snow decides to arrive.  Mullen Bros Landscaping & Snow removal at your service!  That has been a fun, and sometimes harry, experience so far, but we are super excited to get that going.  Now we are just out pounding the pavement getting customer contacts.  If you know anyone in the Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows, Port Coquitlam, Langley area looking for our services, please pass on our contact number 778.242.1844. Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

Look at this beauty - 9ft Plow, 8ft Salter - OH MY!

And..we have the keys to our new place.  Our official moving date is January 15th and our new address will be 10891 249th Street, Maple Ridge, BC, V2W 1Z7.  We are in the middle of painting and moving things over slowly.  We just wish we were in the new house now as our current home is closing in on us for all the "stuff".  Soon enough we will have all the space we could dream of.

..and last but certainly not least - little miss Keira is just growing like a weed.  I figure she is at least 16lbs 5oz by now - and she is just a delight.  She is still sleeping through the night.  She went on her first train (the West Coast Express Xmas Train), and rode the Seabus for the first time - and Daddy gave her her first taste of real food - ICE CREAM!  Mommy wasn't thrilled with that choice, but it was pretty cute to see her lick the ice cream off the cone and realize what there is more to life than Enfamil A+ from a bottle.  We picked up some rice cereal yesterday so that is the next step for our little pumpkin.

No, I'm not a snowman - or am I?

I am thrilled to nearly be done with my Christmas shopping.  Oliver and I are headed out tonight to pick up some last minute things.  Once that is done, I can relax and get into the Christmas spirit.

For those who celebrate, we wish you all a very Merry Christmas.  For everyone, happy holidays to you and may 2011 bring you peace, health, happiness - and love!  Thank you for being there for me during the last 7 months - it has sure been a ride, and I am grateful for all the lovely people I have in my life.

Until next year!
Love Kelly, Oliver, Aidan and baby Keira

Ho Ho Ho...

Wow, I can't believe how fast the time goes.  It was almost 3 weeks ago that I wrote my last entry.  Feels like just yesterday.

Things have been going great.  I had my 7th round of treatment on November 30th.  I had some numbing/tingling again, and felt a bit more tired than last time this past weekend - but I am feeling great now.  My hair is growing back fast and furious - it feels so weird now to have the peach fuzz.  Just one round of the heavy stuff left (Dec 21st) and then I drop down to the one drug, Herceptin, every 3 weeks for the next 9 months.  We meet with the plastic surgeon in less than two weeks so looking forward to getting the plan for that and the radiation all squared away.

Me and my beautiful girl!

The Family!

We have been busy bees since I wrote last.  We have decided to start our own business (Snow Removal and Landscaping) so that has kept us hopping getting the equipment, insurance, and all that fun stuff going so we can be ready for the snow we are expecting to get this year.  I never thought I would wish for snow but now we say "BRING IT ON!!"  (sorry for all of you that have to commute in it!). If you or anyone you know needs snow removal services in the Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows, Port Coquitlam area - residential, strata or commercial - let me know!

On top of that, we have decided to move into a bigger home.  We have 2.5 acres, and 2 stories of living area...we can't wait!  We have the keys already and will gradually move with the hopes to be settled in the first part of the new year!

Baby Keira

..and as for our little munchkin, we had our first picture with Santa at the BCAA company Xmas party this weekend.  She did great - only a little bit of a "beard" tug!  We went for our 4 month shots today, and she did fantastic - hardly any tears.  She is a trooper just like her mother.  She now weighs 15lbs 5oz - preemie...whatever! She is getting quite the little personality - and we are excited to say she is sleeping through the night!  We are truly blessed with an amazing little one, so happy and chatty - pretty low maintenance (for the most part).  Now if she could just learn to keep her diaper explosions to a minimum.

My first Santa sighting!

What's next? Naturopath for Vitamin C and Iscador "Mistletoe" injection tomorrow.  Plastic Surgeon Dec 16th. Chemo Dec 21st.  Moving snow and moving house throughout December.  Enjoying every minute of the Christmas season with my friends and family!

If I don't get a chance to write again, Happy Holidays to each and every one of you.  I know it can be a hectic time, but remember to stop and enjoy the moment - it'll be over before we know it!  Ho Ho Ho!