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I wanted to take a moment and just update everyone on the latest with me and my friend Cancer. LOL

I have my final treatment this Thursday - YEAH! Almost a year and a half later, I am finally going to be finished with my treatment plans...thank god! I do have two more surgeries to go, but those are the good one's - I get my boobs done. And I can't wait - expanding my chest has been the most painful experience out of everything I have gone through, including the surgeries. We did my last fill on Friday, and between the pain and the blood, Duke decided enough was enough and that we were done. So I get to schedule my implant surgery now, but the caveat is that Duke is probably going to need surgery on his knee (we think he tore his miniscus in his left knee, the one that he had ACL surgery on just over 2 years ago). Since he is now going through OHSU, I figured we could have surgery together, but then Gannon would need to learn how to drive himself to school and back...

I'm starting my physical therapy on the arm that had the lymph nodes removed as yes, I waited until it started to hurt though I should have done it a year ago. It is interesting because I have two separate pain issues with my arm - one is from what they call the "cord" or "rope", the leftover lymph vessel that is in my arm that is now collecting scar tissue, so it is attaching itself to my muscle or something in my arm since it is useless with the associated lymph nodes removed. But last Friday at my appointment, my PT was actually able to "pop" or dislodge a part of the vessel from whatever it was attached to and I totally feel a difference as the pain is completely gone in my upper arm. Now we are just working out the part between my elbow and wrist, which prior to going to PT, I couldn't even extend my arm without feeling pain, but now you really have to pull on my arm to make it hurt, so I guess PT does work. The second issue is the pain from my expansions on my chest - the pulling of my pec muscles are killing me both on my chest and in my arm. Kind of like if you had been lifting weights for 24 hours straight and your arm is sore... I actually like going to PT now as it is kind of like getting a massage, though paid for by insurance...

Both Duke and I have gone through all my narcotics for our respective pain - vicodin, oxycontin, tylenol-3...so far nothing is working other than Advil, which is only taking the edge off. The other stuff just makes us sleepy...

THEN Gannon came down with a bad ear infection last week, which freaked me out because he had failed one of his hearing tests on his 4th birthday and I had just said to Duke that Gannon never gets ear infections - then he gets one! Fortunately, we think his hearing is fine in the ear that failed the test - Duke stuck his finger into the good ear and whispered something into Gannon's "bad" ear to test his hearing. Unfortunately, Gannon thought it was a game and would laugh instead of answering the questions Duke was asking, so we still aren't sure if our son is defective or not.

So we are one happy family - medicated family that is!

I also wanted to take a moment to remind myself and all of you how precious life is and how we need to really stop and appreciate everything we have, especially our families. Despite the current economic situation, I think it is important that we never let our sight pass over what is really important, and that is our health and our families. I am writing this today because I found out over the weekend that one of Gannon's friend's at daycare's aunt passed away over the weekend from breast cancer - she was only 39 years old and left behind children under the age of 5. I can't begin to describe the emotions I felt when I heard this, as I will be 39 this year myself and that it could have been me, and still can be, though I will fight this cancer to the end. I am so appreciative that I have been given the chance to continue to live, albeit for how long, I don't know, though I hope to a ripe old age, and I am comforted in knowing that I have done everything possible within my means to lower my risk of the cancer returning. It's been a rough road for Duke and I, but I can't thank our families and friends enough for their continued support and encouragement in our fight against this. I am so thankful that Gannon has come through as a total trooper - he may not fully understand all that has been going on, and Duke and I have worked very hard to make sure that this experience has not traumatized him. Our biggest hope is that Gannon will learn personal strength and the importance of family as he continues to grow and develop into a great young man that we are and will be very proud of.

People, don't waste your time on the petty stuff - it isn't worth it. Life goes by so quickly, and changes just as fast. It is hard to get lost in the future and the past, but we need to focus on the present and make sure that we have our eyes opened to everything around us. To die with regrets I believe is the worst possible way and both Duke and I are working hard to make sure that we are focused and sure about everything that we do and in how we raise our son.

Cancer sucks, but at the same time, it has provided Duke and I a whole new perspective to life that we were missing before and though I wouldn't wish this onto anyone, I do hope that people can learn through hearing our story and experience to appreciate a bit of life a little more each day. No matter what though, family is the most important - don't miss that chance to talk to someone and live to regret it once they are no longer there.

I am trying to not be morbid here or call up on my own death, but the news of that aunt passing away at 39 really hit me hard as she was only just diagnosed last September. I realize there are thousands of survivors out there, and that is uplifting to say the least when I meet one of them, but at the same time, it is heartbreaking to hear of one lost to the battle. I'm still in the game so no worries...

Be well, healthy and happy to all of you. Value life and what it brings to you, value your family for what they are, and take care of yourselves.

 During the holiday season, we spent the time with me recovering from surgery, spending Christmas with my parents, and then visiting with my brother and his wife and my nephew...

Oh, and here we are on Christmas morning - my parents got Gannon that giant ride on Triceretops and I think we played with it more than Gannon did...

His very first set of left-handed golf clubs thanks to Grampy!

The Grinch...

 So I had started to get my sh*t together and catch up on the posting and I thought I had posted Thanksgiving 2008, but I didn't.  Damn medication...

Anyway, here are the pics from November for the record... LOL

What we did every Sunday...watch NFL football...4 games at a time...

Gannon was starting to get the concept of playing games and following the rules, so he pulled out this Monkey in a Tree game my mom got him a year ago (he only wanted it for the monkeys) and he got on this kick where he wanted to play EVERY minute of the day!  So I figured if all Duke was doing was just sitting there watching the games, he can jump a few monkeys into the tree while he was at it!

Our son also shows no fear - though I do!  Here we have Gannon leaping off Duke's workshelf onto his mini-trampoline and landing on a dog bed...all the while pretending to be Peter Pan and thinking he can fly.  Parents of the Year, we will not be...

Then Duke's 2nd cousins stopped by on their way down to visit their dad, Duke's cousin Dale...Gabby & Shandell...

Then Thanksgiving (this is called speed blogging...)

Gannon got another game called feed the kitty that he roped Uncle Sean and Aunt Whitney into playing with him - then a puzzle with Uncle Nick!

And CONGRATULATIONS to Sean & Whitney - they are expecting a baby boy in June! 

The Ham...the one on the stove that is!

I've actually been on Guitar Hero tour and not going through breast cancer treatment...and no the drums are not plugged in, so Gannon just beats away!

Nick showing his battle wounds from the flag football game earlier in the day...

 Duke and his dad discussing the merits of mashed potatoes...

Hello TURKEY!

Speed blogging continuing, Jerry, Britt and baby Corbin stopped by the weekend after Christmas (yes, I am now on Christmas) to visit and see how I was doing after my 5th surgery...so of course I had to sign Jerry up to join the tour...

 Gannon joins the band as the lead singer...

We take our tours very seriously...

Then we lost our money playing poker...

Another one of Gannon's games - Dr. Seuss...which is actually a fun game!

Okay more pics to post...dump...

Our little guy just turned 4 years old today - can you believe it???  I haven't had plants that have lasted as long...

So what did he get for his birthday?  3 shots at the doctor's office...nice...

We did throw a small party for him on Sunday, so I will get pictures up soon -

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR FAVORITE LITTLE GUY!   WE LOVE YOU!

 Wow after having been to the Singapore zoo god only knows how many times, I am now starting to appreciate the experience more and more so, as I took Gannon to the Oregon Zoo in November sometime and damned if I barely saw any animals really worth seeing!  Okay, so I got to see the new baby elephant, but c'mon people...anyway, Gannon had a good time and it was good exercise for me since the walk around the zoo was pretty intense. 

Yes, they have a gopher exhibit at the zoo...definitely wouldn't find that one in Singapore...

And that was it...pretty impressive no? LOL

Closing the week off from hunting we got to visit with Grandparents' Lan and have dinner then visit with Jerry, Britt and cousin Corbin.

Boy, he really likes to get naked...and he loves Gussie the dog!

Then once we arrvied back home to Portland, Duke started the pumpkin carving project...Gannon of course picked out the design...

Then on a Saturday, I took Gannon to our local Haggen's grocery store to do some Halloween activities - I've always seen their signs for such things, but have never partaken in any of them as I usually forget, but this time I remembered!  Though Gannon was the only kid there in his costume, he had a great time and I had about 3 carmel apples (Gannon loves apples but didn't like them wrapped in carmel - must take after his dad as I would eat broccoli wrapped in carmel!)

Making spider cookies - Gannon found a new candy he likes, Red Hots!

Then Duke and I went to my office to do our annual trick-or-treating rounds - Gannon totally made out with TONS of candy.  He didn't quite get the "just take one" concept when everyone was telling him to take as much as he wanted.  So that took some conforming later that night when Duke took Gannon out...oh and Duke won best costume at his office as the post-era medicated & bloated Elvis...love my man!

Getting ready to head out!

And no, he didn't have a sugar crash (remember he's not that kind of kid!), and yes, I took all the good candy and Duke took all the so-so candy to his office.  Gannon really didn't notice or care...fortunately he is not a candy kind of kid...and YES, he still wears his costume when we let him...he loves it!  I couldn't believe he would actually wear the mask but he did!

Another weekend, I took Gannon to a friend I met during our Gymboree days son's birthday - her son is identical to Gannon in regards to energy, personality, and so it was good to get them together again.  And NO, he didn't crash aftewards either.

And this is how we have been spending the past Sunday's during football season...

And playing games with Gannon - he is really into them now that he understands some of the concepts.  But I tell you after playing 5 monkeys on the bed 100 times, it is worth investing another $25 into buying another game!

Some videos of Gannon...golfing!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvLDLZpra00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJzYBomn9Qw

Not sure how to get these videos to play on the site without having to link to them...working on that!

 As you all know, my parents and I with Gannon flew into Portland, went straight to surgery, then got snowed in, so my parents were literally stuck here with us past their anticipated date of leaving to head back home to Tri-Cities.  So after Christmas (pictures later), my brother and his wife, along with my baby nephew drove down from Seattle to visit and then take my parents home with them.

Later that day, Gannon crashed on the couch (finally!) and somehow crawled in his sleep over to Cleo to use her for his pillow.

Okay, just realized I didn't have all my photos loaded...so hang tight!

Sherri, Aric & Brayden came over to celebrate New Year's Eve with us...