Happy Friday!

TGIF! I'm so glad it's Friday, this week has dragged on! I blame the weather! I'm so glad it's back to summer today instead of January-type weather.

I've realized that all the leg pain I've been having is from exercising. I used to run on our treadmill before all of this cancer stuff, but since my leg still isn't strong enough to run again, I've been walking as fast as I can at about an 8-10% incline. I think it's just too much impact. SO, if anyone wants a practically brand-new treadmill, I have ours for sale! We want to buy an elliptical instead. The doctor said I need to be doing no-impact exercises, so I think that would be the best thing to get. Call me if you're interested!!

Joe's going to Edgewood for the weekend. YAY! Hahahaha, just kidding. I'm just looking forward to having a girls day with my sister and mom tomorrow. Not that I couldn't do that if he wasn't going, I just don't have to feel guilty for being gone all day now! It's funny how I feel bad leaving him, but he doesn't even think twice about going mountain biking or skiing all day. Or weekend. :) So tomorrow is going to be filled with shopping, baby shower planning and other really important mother-daughter stuff. Should be fun!

Hope everyone has a good weekend!

Zach & Libby

On the morning of August 9, Zach Waddle and his girlfriend Libby were hit by a drunk driver while walking. I went to school with Zach and Joe worked with Libby's sister, Emily at CAS. We found out about the horrible news on Sunday morning. Ever since, I've just felt totally heartsick. I really feel like my heart is hurting. That probably sounds weird, but it's so true. That's the best way to describe how I feel. Everytime I think about them, it's all I can do to stay composed. Zach and Libby had a little baby boy, Mason, who turns 1 next week. I can't even imagine what Zach and Libby's families are going through and what life will be like for Mason without his mom and dad. No one should have to experience anything like this. And to think it all happened because of a stupid drunk driver makes me SO mad. It's so stupid! My heart is aching for their families......how do people find the strength to overcome such a horrible tragedy?

http://masonsfuture.org/

It's a....

GIRL! I'm going to have a niece in just a few more months! Kim and George surprised us last Thursday with the news. We are all so excited! It definitely seems more real know that we know it's a "her" instead of just an "it." Let the shopping begin! :)

I had a doctors appointment with Dr. Kim on Friday. He said my leg is swollen, but he seems to think it's radiation related. Hopefully that's all it is! I've been having some pain, so it freaks me out that it's also swollen. I tell myself it's the bone trying to heal, but as the pain gets worse, I get more worried. I've also been extremely fatigued lately. More so than I ever was going through chemo/radiation. I hate it! Being tired all of the time is miserable! Especially when nothing I do helps. Usually exercising will give me energy but lately it just knocks me out even more. My last blood test showed I was slightly anemic, so maybe that's what it is? We'll see what my next blood test says. My next appointment is the big one. My first PET/CT scan. I'm dreading that more than anything right now. Not only is it extremely nerve wracking waiting for the results, having to have an IV and lay in the tube for hours isn't exactly fun. I guess I just have to face the fact that tests like this will be a part of my life from here on out!

It's been another busy weekend. Joe and I went to Portland yesterday and had dinner at The Melting Pot. It was so much fun! We got home around 10:30 and then we walked for Relay for Life from 1-3 AM this morning. It was a lot of fun! We were exhausted before we went, but when we got home we were wide awake so we were up until around 4. We walked with Jenny on Cowlitz Title's team. It's definitely something I'll do again next year! And next year I'll have hair. Yay! Speaking of hair, it's coming back fast and furious. It's super dark, super thick...I even have to use a towel to dry it off after the shower. I'm making progress!

Hope everyone is having a good weekend!

Dinner at The Melting Pot!

Relay for Life! At 2:00 AM...

Last night we went for dinner with my dads brothers granddaughter, Emily. She is in Longview visiting her grandma and come to find out, she was recently diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma. She's only 19! We had no idea this was going on with her because my dad's brother died a long time ago and we don't really keep in touch with them. Anyway, it was so interesting to talk to her and here her story. She had just started her freshman year of college when she was diagnosed so she had to quit. Now that treatments over, she's staring again this fall.

Anyway, we never really thought cancer ran in our family, but I'm beginning to think it does! My dads mom died of leukemia, my dads sisters grandson died of leukemia and I have non-Hodgkin's lymphoma....all blood cancers. I wonder if this all comes from my Grandma Vincent?