BRCA: The Great Nipple Debate

In the past two days, I've seen my OB, the Breast Specialist, and the Plastic Surgeon. Oh my!

Hysterectomy: 

Yesterday morning, I saw my OB for my final check-up (8 weeks after surgery). Woohoo! All of my internal stitches are gone and I was released to normal activity. Sort of. I was told to be "conservative" on my lifting, and to "take it easy." I could return to Boot camp, soccer, and running, but I'm not suppose to overdo it. My doctor said that I will get tired easily so I need to listen to my body. All that being said, I went to Boot camp this morning (at 5:30am) and I'm pooped. I'm not sure if it's because I got up early, I haven't worked out in 8 weeks, I'm getting over a sinus & ear infection, or the fact that I had body parts removed. So, I'll play it safe and go with all of the above. I guess that's what the doctor means by "don't overdo it." Lesson learned.

Double Mastectomy: 

Yesterday afternoon, my husband and I met with the Breast Specialist for my Pre-op appointment. There was only one question that I really wanted an answer to. The Great Nipple Debate. Keep them or don't keep them?

About two months ago, we met with the Plastic Surgeon for the first time and he said to remove the nipples to eliminate all chances of developing breast cancer. It made sense. Then shortly after that appointment, we met with the Breast Specialist for the first time and she said that I could keep them because the cancer risk would be very small. So, we settled on keeping them. Until, a few weeks ago when the Plastic Surgeon's office called to schedule my Pre-op appointment and they questioned my decision to keep the nipples. And so the Great Nipple Debate began.

Thankfully, yesterday afternoon, the Breast Specialist settled the debate. I told myself prior to this appointment that I wanted a clear direction to go, without any doubts. I decided that if my remaining chances to get cancer in the nipple area was 10% or more then I would remove them, but anything less was an answered prayer that they were safe to keep. Her answer ... a less than 1% chance of developing cancer if I keep the nipples. The Debate is over. They're staying! 

The ONLY thing that would change this is if the removed breast tissue near the nipple area comes back with pre-cancerous or cancerous cells that were not detected with the Mammogram, Ultrasound, or MRI. As far as I'm concerned, this will not be the case. 

If you're wondering why I'm being so open about the nipple issue, I'll tell you. 

#1) I decided from day 1 to be very open about this journey. 

#2) My girls will read this someday and I don't want to forget the decisions that I had to make that they may also face in the future.

#3) Inquiring minds want to know. Trust me, my girlfriends are just as curious about all this as I am. 

#4) I want to encourage others who are facing the same decisions or will be facing the same decisions. It's always nice to relate to someone when you're going through a hard time.

#5) The word nipple lost all modesty the day I nursed my first child, which was quickly followed my nursing two more children.

Breast Reconstruction:

Today, we met with the Plastic Surgeon for my Pre-op appointment. Here's what we know.

• He didn't disagree with my decision to keep the nipples, but he did share with me his concerns. The biggest risk was that as my expanders are filled, the nipples may not align properly. I'm willing to take that risk to look somewhat normal when all of this is over. So, if you feel so led, please pray that everything lines up correctly over the next few months. Seriously, do it!
• John 16:23-24 - "...Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name...Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete."
• Once I get in the operating room, I will have to sit or stand as lines are drawn on my chest to guide the doctors during surgery. He assured me that they will give me an IV and something to calm my nerves as soon as I enter the room in case I get the sudden urge to run (those were my words not the doctors - ha). The prep and drawing process will take around 45 minutes, and then anesthesia will come in. The entire surgery will take around 3 hours.
• Once the breast tissue is removed by the Breast Specialist, the Plastic Surgeon will insert the expander and something else (we can't remember the name of it) that will set at the base of the expander to keep it in place. The port on the expander will be at the top, and this is the place that will be accessed to fill them with saline.
• I will stay overnight at the hospital.
• I may have little to no pain, lots of pain, or pain on one side and not the other. The last option would be weird.
• I will have at least two drains on each side that will stay for 10-14 days. These drains will be sown into my skin so they don't move, which totally grosses me out. Never mind the fact that my breasts are being removed.
• We will go back 3 days after surgery to have the dressing removed and we'll be taught how to care for the drains, stitches, etc. 
• My doctor isn't concerned about the surgery, he's concerned about me resting during recovery. Because I'm young, in shape, and have young kids, he can't stress enough that I'm not to do anything for 4-6 weeks to allow myself to heal properly. I think I can be still ... as long as they put me in a straight jacket. 
• After the 4-6 weeks, I will start the expansion process. I can go once a week, once every two weeks, whatever I choose. I guess it will depend on the discomfort level that I feel after each fill. The purpose of the expanders is to slowly stretch my skin and pec muscles to support the implants later on.
• We'll decide the breast size once the fills are going in. Depending on any left over breast tissue, pec muscle size (the right could be bigger since I'm right handed), etc. the expanders and later implants could end up being different sizes. 
• Once the final size is determined, they will fill the expanders 10-15% larger and that will sit for 6 weeks before the final surgery to remove the expanders and insert the implants. 
• I should be able to return to "somewhat" normal activity as the expanders are being filled even though they're not as sturdy as the implants will be. I will have to be cautious at workouts and soccer if I choose to return to those before the entire process is complete.
• This will take 3-6 months to complete, and we start in two weeks. Let's do this!

If your head is spinning after reading all of that, then welcome to my world. It's been a lot to take in since we first found out that I was BRCA2 positive in January. I've learned a lot about myself and my character, and I fully trust that God will never give me more than I can handle. I can't thank my family and friends enough for the love and support that they have shown me. This journey, my journey, it has become our journey. We will prevail.

Proverbs 19:21 - "Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the Lord's plans that prevail."

Proverbs 24:5 - "The wise prevail through great power, and those who have knowledge muster their strength."

You can read my entire BRCA journey here by starting with the bottom post.

And I Quote ... (Part 3)

Here are more hilarious quote from our kiddo's...

Bailey, Age 5:

• "Lou's gonna stay in her PJ's all day, and Mom's gonna stay in her HomeJ's."
• "My cough is getting a little fizz in it."
• "I heard that in myself's brain."
• "I really did have a booger in my ear."
• "I've got back eyes. They went all the way to the back of my head and I saw her do it!"
• "God and Jesus are kind of the same person except with different hair."
• "Don't call me a goobertooter cuz I don't toot. I just goober."
• "I didn't tell you to go. I told you to get your face out of here."
• After spilling Goldfish in the floorboard of the car, "Don't worry mom and dad. There's only about 40 pieces down there."
• While driving on the highway past a dead deer, "I just saw a dead kangaroo."
• "You need to wash these socks twice! They look like they have two layers of dirt on them, but it smells like five layers."
• "Lou started it. I ended it. Parker middled it."
• "Running makes me toot a lot."
• After waking up with allergy symptoms, "There's hair in my throat."
• "Can you pull out my ponytail? Be careful. My hair is tired."
• To Lou, "Did you pee pee before the shower? Me too. Pee pee buddies!"
• "It smells like lawn mower breath out here."

Lou, Age 3-4:

• "Franky-Style" - aka Frankenstein
• "Pokipone" - aka Pine cone
• "When we trick or treat at church next year, can we just drive your car? Or, maybe we'll ride a donkey."
• "All this screaming and laughing is making my booby hurt."
• "Don't leave the water running in the sink. It could run out of batteries."
• "I think that moth landed on the wall to poop."
• "Gravo! Gravo!" Followed by Bailey saying, "It's Bravno!"
• Random comment while riding in the car, "I think Jesus is taking a shower, just like Pops."
• "If this baby doll plays with my belly button one more time, I'm throwing it out of my bed."
• "I know how to unlock doors cuz I speak Spanish."
• Random back to back comments while riding in the car, "Your front windshield is dirty. Somebody had hot fries again."

Parker, Age 1-2:

• "The booger is gone. It's in my mouth."
• "Let's go out in the backyardin!"

Of course, if you knew the context in which these comments were made, they would be even funnier, but I hope that you still enjoyed them. We are blessed to spend life with these awesome, crazy girls!

BRCA: Embracing the Journey

Next week I have three doctors appointments. My 8 week check up for my hysterectomy, pre-op with the Breast Specialist, and pre-op with the Plastic Surgeon. I hope to get released by my OB to resume normal activity so that I can enjoy some workouts before my next surgery in a few weeks. I also hope to get the Great Nipple Debate settled once and for all. At first I was told that I couldn't keep my nipples because of the risk of cancer developing there later in life, then I was told by another doctor that I could keep them, so I settled on keeping them. Now, the first doctor is saying no again so I'm praying that we have a definitive answer by this time next week. Seriously, what 34 year old has daily thoughts about whether to keep her nipples or not?! Speaking of odd thoughts, I realized yesterday that I only have my boobies for 24 more days. Now there's a statement that you don't hear often!

Another strange statement for me to hear is how brave I am. I've seen many family members and close friends deal with cancer and I feel lucky blessed to have found out my fate ahead of time so that I can do something about it. Meaning, I don't have cancer. I don't have to fight this terrible disease and then have these surgeries. In all honesty, I feel like I get to take the easy way out because I get to beat cancer before it even gets to me. Does that make me brave? Maybe. I just feel like I'm making the best decision for me and my family when faced with my odds.

I'm currently reading The Resolution for Women by Priscilla Shirer (there's also The Resolution for Men which I can only assume is just as good as this one). I highly recommend this book to any woman in any part of life. The purpose of this book is to help you realign your daily decisions in a way that glorify God and fulfill who He created you to be. Last week, I read a part that really hit home. I highlighted it and I've read it again several times since then. I would like to share this section with you because it helps me to define what I'm going through with the BRCA gene. It's also a great section to help YOU in just about anything you may be facing.

     "For even though you can't be humanly responsible for everything you see, and even though God would never place the burden of the whole world on your shoulders, He is placing THIS circumstance there. And in prayer He may be saying to you that one small part of its solution is staring you in the face when you step up to the bathroom mirror in the morning.

     Listen, I totally understand why you - why I - would rather look away. I understand our tendency to feel like someone else will surely take care of this. It's always easier and more comfortable to pull back and disengage, to find something more pleasant to dwell on. Much like the biblical prophet Habakkuk, you and I can feel like turning to the heavens when we see things happening we don't want to see or know about, and ask, 'Why do you force me to look?' (v1:3). 

     Seems like a God who loves us so fiercely wouldn't mind giving us a break from all this. Seems like with all we're required to shoulder in our own lives, with our own schedule and all our demanding circumstances, He'd give us a pass to look away, to ignore, to disregard. Right?

     Then His answer to Habakkuk's question may surprise you. For after forcing the prophet to sit back and watch the suffering of his own beloved people, here's what God said to him.

     'Look! Observe! Be astonished! Wonder! Because I am doing something in your days - you would not believe if you were told (v5).'

     In other words, seeing is believing. If God didn't show you, your heart would not be moved. If He simply TOLD you what His plans were or how He was going to use you to solve them, you wouldn't be able to grasp the full depth and height of the problem or what the touch of His supernatural care, kindness, and wisdom could accomplish through you. If He allowed you to turn your face away and remain unaware of the situation, you'd never know the outworking of compassion the Spirit of God is inviting and empowering you to experience. 

     So He's decided to show you - to let you SEE the chaos, the devastation, the damage, the ruin, the waste, the loss - preparing you to envision how stunning His work can be, even through the likes of ordinary people like you and me. 

     So don't stop looking. Don't turn your eyes away. What you're seeing, He has orchestrated for you to see. In His sovereign plan for your life, He is calling you, wooing you, compelling you to get involved.

     Look. Again. Until what takes your breath away is not the gravity of the problem but the power of God to heal it - one touch, one person at a time."

Amen!

Clean Eating: April & May Results

If you can relate to any of the following items, then please consider going through Arbonne's 30 Day Clean Eating Challenge with my team. I lead a team each month, starting on the 1st of the month, with all of the tools to make healthy changes for life. You are given a 4 week menu, a private Facebook support page, access to a nutritionist, access to others who have successfully completed the program, and products to help you succeed. You choose the products that will help you; therefore, the program can fit into ANY budget.

Can you relate to these symptoms of an unbalanced diet?

• Low energy
• Poor eating habits
• Excess weight
• Depression / Anxiety
• Disturbed sleep
• Mood swings
• Slow digestion / Stomach issues after eating
• Constipation
• Slow metabolism
• Joint pain
• Aching muscles

If you said yes to one or more of these (as most people do) then please contact me so that I can talk with you about the program. My heart is in helping others break away from their old habits and live life to the fullest. My eating habits drastically changed after going through this program in January, and I haven't looked back. I followed the program to a T in January and I had great results. Since that time, I've followed the program's 80/10/10 rule meaning I eat clean 80% of the time, eat what I want 10% of the time, and go all out 10% of the time. I've lost weight maintaining the 80/10/10 rule, I sleep better, and I'm more alert than I was before changing my diet with the help of Arbonne's vegan based nutrition products. Vegan, as in the cleanest form of protein available. Not Vegan, as in this is a vegan program. You do eat grass fed beef and poultry throughout the 30 days. I've seen great improvements in my workouts, running, and overall health especially in the way my body as healed after having surgery in mid April.

April Team Results:

• Those that reported weight, lost at total of 48 pounds with the highest female losing 21 pounds (6.09%) and the highest male losing 15 pounds (7.63%)! 
• Those that reported inches, lost a total of 15.5" inches with the highest inches lost going to a male at 8.75"!

May Team Results: 

• Unfortunately, I don't have stats to report for May since I was two weeks out from major surgery and I was focused on healing ... instead of nagging people for their stats. Ha! I know that my team came out with better eating habits and a renewed vision of a healthy life, which far outweighs weight and inches lost.

April & May Testimonials: 

• "The program really does work. I have made the shakes with only water and I like the taste. I am not eating / snacking on chips, chocolate, etc which has really helped. I am much more aware of what is going in my mouth."
• "I made it a month and I really feel so good about what I have done. What I have eaten has filled me up. I'm so proud because I'm not near as tired as was, and when I sit down my eyes don't shut within 10 minutes."

Product Testimonials:

• "I'm a protein powder 'snob' and I've tried pretty much everything, and nothing tastes as good as the Vanilla vegan protein!"
• "Arbonne's protein powder is the bomb. No one else's even comes close."

Are you ready for a change? Contact me at morrison25@cox.net. I'm here to help! You can also see more results and testimonials here.

Being Obedient

$20. That's what God put on my heart to give to a friend this weekend. We've only seen each other a few  times since high school, but the magic of Facebook has kept us in touch. She's been posting lately about adopting a daughter from China to fulfill the family that she already has. Earlier this week, she posted that she would be having a garage sale this weekend to raise money for the adoption. I knew right away that God was calling me to give. He specifically told me to give her $20 at her garage sale today. This message was in the back of my mind all week, but I didn't talk to my husband about it until this morning. Without hesitation, he agreed. We have an awesome understanding of supporting each other when God calls us to do something out of the ordinary.

Shortly after talking to my husband, we stopped to get some cash and mapped the way to my friends house that just happened to be in the neighborhood right behind ours. How convenient is that?! There were quite a few cars around the house because it was a neighborhood garage sale so we parked a few doors down. Oddly enough, we parked right next to a wooden headboard and foot board that would be great to make a bed for Parker. We had casually been looking for these pieces for a few months with the intention of restoring them when we found exactly what we were looking for. My husband jumped out to ask the guy how much for the bed and he said $5. Seriously?! Deal! We bought the pieces, put them in the truck, and I walked a few doors down to my friends house. I chatted with her for a bit, gave her some money, and told her that God led me to bless her. We gave her more than $20 because it just felt right. She was so grateful. I told her that we were blessed in return to make this trip because we bought a bed for Parker across the street for $5. She said that the bed was hers! They didn't have room to put it out so her neighbor was selling it for her. Wow! God is truly amazing! He led us to give money in support of her adoption, and in turn we were blessed with the bed that we had been looking for! And, by us buying the bed, another $5 was given to my friend for the adoption!

So, to pay this awesomeness forward, we are now passing Parker's crib and mattress on to a friend that needs it. We've been blessed to see God's hand move like this before, and we know it won't be the last time. It's amazing to see these moments play out when you're obedient to the call!

2 Corinthians 2:9 - "Another reason I wrote to you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything."

Product Review: This Before & After Shocked Me!

Our middle daughter, Lou, is 4 years old. A few months ago she cut off 9 inches of her hair to donate it to Locks of Love in honor of her amazing cousin, Ashleigh, who was (she's now cancer free as of 3 weeks ago, Praise the Lord!) battling Lymphoma. Before her haircut, Lou's hair was thin and stringy, which is exactly how my hair looks when I try to grow it out. It just hangs lifeless. So sad.

As Lou was getting her haircut, we realized that she actually has really thick hair like her dad. Who knew?! She left the salon with the most perfect haircut for her personality. It was short, and it fit her to a T. Soon after the cut, I realized how wild her hair gets if not fixed properly (aka brushed and blow dried) before going to bed. But let's be honest, who is going to blow dry their 4 year old daughters hair every night?! Not me. So, I fixed it on occasion, but 90% of the time she went all natural ... wild and crazy.

So, when Arbonne announced a new all natural hair serum last month, I knew that I had to test it out. I tried it on my thin hair this morning and it really took care of my fly-aways that never want to lay flat. Since I liked my results, I put it on Lou's damp hair after her bath tonight. I used one pump (about a pea size amount), rubbed it in my hands and then I rubbed my hands over her head a few times. One pump didn't feel like enough, but I wanted to see how it would work by following the "one pump" directions. I dried her hair and I was shocked! The below pics are what her hair looked like before her bath (her normal everyday look), and what it looked like after I dried her hair with the serum. I'm a believer!!!

The hair Serum is on the right and their new Hairspray is on the left. I bought the hairspray as well, but I haven't tried it yet. I assume it will be just as great as the serum, and every other all natural product that Arbonne makes. If you want to try out either of these products, or any other Arbonne product, let me know! You won't be disappointed!