~FIRST DAY of FULL DAY KINDERGARTEN~

~MY SWEET BABY MADDI~

~Pictured above, FIRST DAY of FULL DAY KINDERGARTEN~

MY HOW WE'VE GROWN FROM LAST YEAR at Alternative 1/2 day Kindergarten, I don't know who is having more fun this year, Me or Maddi!!! SHE LOVES SCHOOL!!! Although I have been sleeping this entire week, I know that once chemo is over (I am 1/2 way done) I should start to have more energy and feel like a real person again. I cannot WAIT for those days....somewhere around the New Year I am hoping and praying for!!! Have a GREAT WEEKEND EVERYONE!!!
Love and Hugs, Amy

~Last years picture of the FIRST DAY of Alternative 1/2 day Kindergarten~

~We've BEEN ASKED to go to the LIVESTRONG PRESIDENTIAL CANCER FORUM

I AM SOOOOO HONORED and HUMBLED as I received a phone call TODAY from Dr. Ghosh, my Oncologist, who asked if Bob and I would go with him to THE LIVESTRONG PRESIDENTIAL CANCER FORUM to meet Lance Armstrong and be part of the forum!!!! WOW!!! This might be my calling.....Please pray I am well enough to go!!!! BOB IS MY MEDICAL ADVOCATE and he and Dr. Ghosh talk their medical terms and in turn, Bob explains it all to me in laymen terms. THANK YOU BOB!!! You are my ROCK!!!

Hugs and Love to all of you, Amy (who has been sleeping 18 to 20 hours a day, as this last chemo treatment has really thrown me for a loop)

SIX CANDIDATES CONFIRMED FOR THE LIVESTRONG® PRESIDENTIAL CANCER FORUM; MSNBC BROADCAST ELEVATES CANCER DIALOGUE TO THE NATIONAL STAGE MSNBC'S Chris Matthews will co-moderate with Lance Armstrong; Iowa state elected officials to host - The Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF) announced today that the LIVESTRONG Presidential Cancer Forum, a two-day event featuring 2008 presidential hopefuls from the Democratic and Republican parties in Cedar Rapids next month will be co-moderated by Lance Armstrong and Chris Matthews of MSNBC. The forum provides candidates with an opportunity to detail their respective policy plans for fighting cancer, a disease that kills nearly 1,500 Americans every day.
"Cancer is non-partisan. It's the number one killer of Americans under 85," said Armstrong, founder and chairman of the LAF. "Each of the confirmed participants is demonstrating the importance of a national cancer policy in his or her platform. We greatly appreciate their commitment and invite all remaining candidates to attend."
As of today, and in alphabetical order, the following Democratic candidates have confirmed their attendance: Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, Senator John Edwards and Governor Bill Richardson; and the following Republicans have confirmed their attendance: Senator Sam Brownback, Governor Mike Huckabee and Governor Tommy Thompson.
In addition to the participant confirmations, MSNBC will be broadcasting the Forum. Each afternoon following the forum, MSNBC's "Hardball with Chris Matthews" will feature candidate interviews and comments, and on tonight's program Armstrong will discuss the forum and cancer-related issues with Matthews.
"The Presidential Cancer Forum is a critical step for the Lance Armstrong Foundation toward making cancer a national priority," said Doug Ulman, president of the LAF. "MSNBC will help elevate our nation's focus on cancer by shining a spotlight on an issue that takes far too many lives."
The Democratic candidates' forum will be held on Monday, August 27; Republican candidates will convene the following day, August 28. Both discussions will take place at U.S. Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa from 10 A.M. until noon CDT. Tickets for the forum are available, at no cost, at www.livestrong.org/forum.
Senator Charles Grassley, Republican of Iowa, and Iowa Governor Chet Culver, a Democrat, will provide welcoming remarks for the Republicans and Democrats, respectively, and comment on the future of cancer-related public policy.
"The LIVESTRONG Presidential Cancer Forum will be an excellent chance not only for Iowans, but for people across the country, to learn more from the candidates about their efforts to fight this devastating disease," said Sen. Grassley. "Most of us have a personal story about the impact cancer has had in our lives, whether through our loved ones' struggles or our own. We have the opportunity to bring this disease to the forefront of the policy debate."
"Iowa is proud of its history as a bellwether in each presidential election season -- and we are equally proud to be hosting this discussion," said Gov. Culver. "We've all seen the yellow wristbands and witnessed Lance's tireless advocacy on this critical issue. Now, with the help of his leadership, the LAF is hosting the LIVESTRONG Presidential Cancer Forum as a vehicle for us to see just where the presidential contenders stand on cancer issues ranging from funding for research, to survivorship services as well the hope to one day find a cure."
The LIVESTRONG Presidential Cancer Forum stems from a commitment by Armstrong and the foundation that bears his name to build and mobilize a LIVESTRONG Army that unites citizens, government officials and cancer organizations across the country to make cancer a national priority.
"The dream is that we get rid of this disease forever," Armstrong said. "The '08 elections and the LIVESTRONG Presidential Cancer Forum give all Americans an opportunity to ask the candidates 'What's your plan? And where does cancer fit into your policies?'"

Details for the event are as follows:

LIVESTRONG Presidential Cancer Forum:

Hosted by the Lance Armstrong Foundation

Democratic Candidate Forum, Monday August 27, 2007

Republican Candidate Forum, Tuesday August 28, 2007

U.S. Cellular Center, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

~SCHOOL STARTS THIS WEEK~

SCHOOL IS STARTING THIS WEEK....YIPPY SKIPPY!!!!

SCHOOL STARTS THIS WEEK and for the first time in my life, I AM EXCITED!!! I used to cry when the kids had to go back to school because I loved the summer with no schedules, no practices, no games and no homework. BUT.....this will be the first time in 6 and a half years that I will have all the kids in school. I AM BESIDE MYSELF to think I will have full days to myself to get stuff done that I have always wanted to get done. Just to be able to run to the store without someone tagging along will be soooo much fun!!! Please don't think I am a bad mom for feeling this way, I just never had my kids in daycare, pre-school, or to a babysitters since they were born and this is a new freedom I am looking forward to!!!!

I am still fighting my mouth sores, nothing is working and it's getting hard to swallow. I go to the doctors tomorrow to get more blood work done and get my red blood cell shot (that one is only $5000.00....LOL a mere $1000.00 less than the white blood/bone marrow shot that I have the day after chemo). And if this shot doesn't work, then I will have to have a blood transfusion. PLEASE PRAY they don't blow out any veins (it finally happened at my last chemo treatment and IT HURT. And pray this shot WORKS....I am scared to death to have a blood transfusion)

I finally felt good enough yesterday to go get Maddi's school clothes, yet it wore me out. So, I am taking this week off from the blog. The big girls start school tomorrow, Maddi has her dry-run on the bus tomorrow, then a half-day on Tuesday and then full days start on Wednesday. And Nick and Alex start school on Wednesday. Needless to say, I will be busy with all of them and need to take the break. Here to a FABULOUS NEW WEEK to all of you.

ALL MY LOVE, Amy

~FEELING BETTER***YEAH~

YIPPY SKIPPY!!!!
I AM FEELING BETTER

I have been drinking enough water to start my own lake, taking anti-biotics along with all my other medication and I got 8 and a 1/2 hours of uninterrupted sleep last night. YEAH!!! My fever has broke and even though I still have my mouth sores (those usually go away 5 days before I go back for my next chemo treatment) I am HAPPY!!!

I am off to the sofa to drift off to sleep while watching a movie and continue to get better.

HAPPY HAPPY WEDNESDAY EVERYONE!!!
THANK YOU THANK YOU for all your emails and posts!

~Amy~

~Emergency Visit to the Doc this Afternoon~

~READ AT YOUR OWN RISK......I AM VENTING!!!!~

~Yes, as Louie sings, "It's A Wonderful World.....I still think so, deep in my heart...but NOT RIGHT NOW~

It started early last night....I am Sick to my stomach, low grade temperature, my bones feel like I am getting the flu, nauseated, cold sweats, shakes, mouth sores going down my throat, diarrhea and now constipation. Not to mention my sternum is about to explode and I have a migraine the size of Texas!!!! NEED I SAY MORE????

Just got back from an Emergency visit from my Oncologist, my white blood cell count is taking another dive....down to 3.0 already, I am dehydrated and need anti-biotics. They wanted to keep me there but I said, NO, we have kids that need to be places and stuff that needs to be done. (it sucks that Mom is gone to Minnesota, my other help is out of town and right now all we have to run the kids is Bob, big kids are at work and ex's won't help either<---Don't even go there with me on this one!!!)

....YES I AM VENTING as I don't feel good and I am tired of all this crap....You know, when you don't feel good, things just seem to be magnified and worst than they really are...I just wish for one day, someone could trade places with me and see how many times I have SMACKED A FRICKIN' SMILEY FACE on myself and said, "I'm okay, let's keep going". I am so sick and tired of feeling like crap more days than not and trying to push how MAD AS HELL I REALLY AM about this whole cancer thing back into some deep dark buried box I think is buried in the backyard, that I WANT TO SPIT, SCREAM or PUNCH SOMEONE!!!

THERE, I said it, No Grace here.....just right out said it.....I think it sucks too that IN LESS THAN A YEAR, I have had to deal with cancer, with both My Dad and now ME.....IT'S A BUNCH OF CRAP and I am P.O'ed!!!

SOOOOO.....they agreed to let me come home, DRINK TONS OF WATER, take the anti-biotics here at home and go to bed. I have the next 12 hours to get myself better or I am going to end up in the hospital.

And, well, I am JUST MAD AS HELL RIGHT NOW!!!
Hotter than a Hornet~Amy

~CHEMO REALLY SUCKS~

~THIS ROUND OF CHEMO SUCKS BIG TIME!!! My front tooth has a big chip in it, happened Wednesday evening...my teeth are just crumbling in front of me!!! I am tired as all get out, my mouth sores started Thursday afternoon already, Hot Flashes and Night Sweats are out of control and for the first time I feel nauseated and my sternum is killing me (where the bone marrow suppression is happening. I am NOT A HAPPY CAMPER!!!~

~Bitchy Amy~

~NICE MATTERS AWARD!

Because NICE MATTERS....and that's YOU!!!! I have been nominated by several "AWESOME Gals" for the Nice Matters Award!!! THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!
Now it is my turn to award the NICE MATTERS AWARD to some of my favorite gals....well, my NICE MATTERS AWARD goes to YOU!!!
YES, YOU!!!
You all know who you are.....Every single one of YOU that have written the most uplifting, inspirational emails and blog notes to me. To Every single one of YOU who have sent me cards, gifts, hats, chocolates, flowers, tea, jewelry, purses, cookies, meals, soaps, handmade pretties and just stopped by to give me a hug, and have stopped what they were doing to pray with me and for me and my family.....To my Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Emery and his sweet nurse, Bethany, you rock my friend. To Dr. Ghosh, my Oncologist and my own personal oncology nurse, Lanette, who is on call for me 24/7 and has a heart of gold, not to mention all those gals in the chemo room that always have a smile on their face and are full of laughter, to my surgeon, my pathologist, the girls from my radiologist (who first found my cancer) and the nurses on 5th floor at St. Luke's, to the girls at the St. Luke's Women's Health, you know who you are, Holly and Kimberly!!! oh, the list goes on and on....I am working on my thank you notes, so please bear with me. I am hand writing to each and every one of you so thanks for waiting on me!!!!

THIS AWARD IS FOR YOU!!!!

BECAUSE YOU MATTER TO ME!!!
I love all of you and yes, it's 5am in the morning Iowa time and I have not slept for 24 hours.....I go to chemotherapy at 11:30 am.....I'm just scared and I don't want to go....I would rather be reading YOUR BLOGS or just eating popcorn (with real butter of course) and watching a good movie!!!
All my Love, Amy

~More Hats for Amy~ 2nd Post Today

GORGEOUS HAND PAINTED PINK ROSE HAT from RHEA ROSES

SO NEAT and SO FUN!!! I am wearing this one to my doctors appointment today....The earrings are from my Dear Sweet Friend Anna from California....PINK FRESH WATER PEARLS!!!! OH SO PRETTY!!!!

I am wearing white capris with a pink undershirt and bluejean sleeveless shirt over it....and of course, the hat, earrings and pink rhinestone sandels.

HERE'S LOOKING AT YOU KID!!!

THANKS SO MUCH RHEA!!! WHAT TALENT YOU HAVE and I can't wait to bid on some of your PRETTY ROSES!!!! Hugs to you and THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!
~Amy~

(PS.....I had a CHEMOBRAIN accident when I originally posted this on my blog!!! Rhea, I am so sorry I confused you with another Rhea on e-bay and I had the wrong link. I have it figured out now and please forgive me for the mess up....Amy)

~8 WEEKS POST OP~NEW PHOTOS~DR. Appt. TODAY~

~HAPPY MONDAY~

I just love this picture of Bob, Alex and Me taken before my hair fell out!!!

Can you believe it..... IT'S ONLY BEEN 8 WEEKS POST OP!!!! WOW WEE!!! I'm doing great!!! My sores in my mouth are GONE and I have my appointment today with my plastic surgeon for a check up and possibly another fill in my expander's. They are already at 420cc each and I'm LOVING IT!!! I am not sure if I will go any bigger and I am anxious to talk it over with my plastic surgeon today. I am impressed how much the scars heal so quickly and are so thin. I have about 600 stitches on the inside that are now starting to dissolve. Sometimes they will poke out of my skin and I have to pull them out because they are annoying. LOL....Here's to another GREAT appointment today!!!!

THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS and if you get a chance, take a look at the new photos of how wonderful I am healing. Click here and please be advised that these are ACTUAL PHOTOS and they are to be viewed at your own discretion.

~Hats for Amy mystery hat solved~

~MYSTERY HAT SOLVED~I love RHINESTONES, especially Vintage Ones....How was she to know???? And Yo-Yo's are another BIG Collection of mine!!!! TOO DARN CUTE!!!

This Darling Hat was from Ele at A BIT OF PINK HEAVEN.....WOW IS THAT WOMAN TALENTED!!!! You have to see her blog and see the GORGEOUS Altered Art Paper Dolls and other treasures she makes. THANK YOU SO MUCH ELE!!! You are now one of my FAVORITE BLOGS to read!!!! Hugs, ~Amy~

~LOVE THOSE FIREFIGHTERS & Hats for Amy~

EARLY THIS MORNING BOB WAS INVOLVED WITH PUTTING OUT SEVERAL "SUSPICIOUS" HOUSE FIRES.....HE HELPED 2 PEOPLE OUT OF A SECOND STORY HOUSE ESCAPE....I AM SO PROUD OF HIM AND THE OTHER GUYS THAT SO SELFISHLY RISK THEIR LIVES TO SAVE OTHERS. Below are just a few photos of past fires that Bob has helped put out. Our OLD CAPITAL in Iowa City was ablaze from some construction workers and Bob was even on CNN for climbing to the top and cutting a hole in the dome to let some fire escape. THESE GUYS AMAZE ME!!!! I LOVE THOSE FIREFIGHTERS!!!!

THAT'S MY FIREFIGHTER LIEUTENANT.....BOB!!!! LOVE YOU HONEY!!!! ~Amy~

CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT THIS MORNINGS FIRE......http://www.gazetteonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070804/NEWS/70804014/1002/NEWS

AND HERE IS HAT SCARF from BECCA of BlueBird and Roses...MADE from some of her FAVORITE FABRIC. She made me two and I have worn the heck out of them. By the way, I change my hats several times a day depending on how hot or cold I am, one minute I might be in a scarf, the next minute in a ball cap, then the next minute in a stocking cap. I AM LOVING THIS!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH GIRLS!!! I will try to get at least one picture a day of all these AWESOME HATS for AMY!!!! LOVE ALL OF EM and there is no way I can ever repay all of you!!! LOVE YOU BUNCHES, Amy

~Bald~Blue~Chemobrain~and Hats For Amy~

"> ~HERE I AM BALD and BLUE....this picture was taken today, August 2nd 2007.

~HATS FOR AMY....I LOOK FABULOUS IN HATS..BALD IS NOT ME!!!~

GO TEXAS A&M...THANK YOU MARY from Crash n Smash...She also sent some YUMMY TEA and my most FAVORITE candy I love to eat during chemo...HOW DID YOU KNOW???? and they are all gone....YUMMY!!! They are called Bob's Striped Mints!!!! THANK YOU THANK YOU MARY!!!

GO TEXAS LONGHORNS....THANK YOU FROM MARY at CRASH n SMASH well, Bob has nabbed this hat from me. He LOVES it and he was feeling a bit left out so I guess I could share...LOL.....Thanks again Mary so much....WE LOVE THE HATS and all the goodies!!!!

THIS ONE IS TOTALLY CUTE....I've already worn it a few times and I will get a close up of it soon. THIS IS WHERE MY CHEMO BRAIN COMES IN......The girls have helped me open all of these "Hats for Amy" boxes and well, this one was put into a box with someone elses and I cannot for the life of me remember who sent it so, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE HELP ME HERE.....It has 3 adorable yo-yos with a sweet vintage rhinestone pin on it....I JUST LOVE IT!!! Any help would be appreciated!!!! Thank you in advance!!!

~CHEMOBRAIN~

Yes, that is what they call this short term memory loss. I am so glad there is a real name for it!!! I found that out on the cancer website. So here is what is happening, I am mixing up numbers, I forgot Nick's name the other day, I sleep 20 minutes to 5 hours at a time....ANY TIME OF DAY!!!! I am starting to get my days and nights mixed up and I can't remember who I have e-mailed and what I e-mailed to them. OH, and I picked up 8 different glasses and coffee cups this morning as I set my water down and forget where I put it. THAT IS NOT LIKE ME!!!! And last but not least....I am going thru menopause....induced by the chemotherapy....YIPPY SKIPPY!!! That to me is a BONUS!!!! So there you have it.....lots to write about today and now I need a nap. I think I am emotionally and physically wiped out!!!
Hugs to all of you and I love ya bunches....~Amy~

~AND THE WINNERS ARE~

AND THE WINNERS ARE....

~JUDY and BECCA~BLUEBIRD ROSE~

Thanks so much everyone for playing.....

I went to the doctors this morning and my red blood cell count and my hemoglobin was low...so I had to have the shot. I came home and went to bed and just woke up a short time ago. No blood transfusion as hopefully this shot will work, my MUGA heart test will be in August and so far so good!!!! YIPPY SKIPPY!!!!

Bob's Sister invited us for dinner tonight so as soon as I get back I will answer all of your emails and update the sold items on the website.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR PLAYING.....Amy

~MONDAY'S GIVEAWAY~

~MONDAY'S GIVEAWAY~

It's been soooo long since I have been able to "pay it forward" and so, in honor that I finished the website and listing all 75 new treasures on it, most of them being UNDER $10.00

I will be giving away TWO $10.00 gift certificates to www.FourSistersInACottage.com

Just post a comment here on this blog entry and at 5pm Central Standard Time Zone I will draw 2 names for the gift certificates.

It's 1:45 am here in Iowa and I slept most of today away. I have my oncologist appointment tomorrow to check my blood work, see if I need any more shots, blood transfusions and my MUGA Heart Test. WISH ME LUCK and I will post the winners tomorrow night at 5pm CST!!!!

HAPPY HAPPY JOY JOY MONDAY to all of you, Amy

~DID YOU SEE THAT TRUCK?~

DID YOU SEE THAT TRUCK????

The TRUCK THAT HIT ME???? LOL!!!!

WOW....the medication they gave me is not only taking the pain away but it puts me to sleep!!! I have no idea where the last day and a half went and I am already to go back to bed. I am on a liquid diet because not only is it painful to my mouth but it hurts my teeth to chew. I can't talk much and my lips and corners of my mouth have a constant coating of Burt's Bee's Lip Balm on them.

I do have a confession, pretty much since my last chemo.....I have been burning both ends of the candle and now I am paying for it. I have been driving, doing laundry, going to Wal-mart and stuff like that, (Bob and I took the kids fishing Monday and I LOVED IT) and well, I'M NOT SUPPOSE TO BE doing that after chemo. (I thought the doctor said keep up like normal but like both Bob and Kristi said to me, normal to you is not normal to everyone else)

SO.....Amy is going to be a good girl and listen to everyone around me and if I can make it thru this weekend and get to the doctors at 8am Monday Morning to have blood work done and see where my levels are at, I will be in good shape. Until then, I am off the computer (BUT MY EMAIL IS WORKING....YEAH) and will be back when I find out what the doctor says on Monday.
Hard to keep a good girl down....especially this one.....I just don't want to miss anything.

Have a FUN WEEKEND FOR ME!!!! Hugs, Amy

~MORE MEDICINE~

Well, my mouth is getting so bad that it is making me shake with pain. The $150.00 medicine rinse I got yesterday is making it worst. It doesn't help that my teeth are trashed due to the fact that I took dylatin for so many years when I had epilepsy as a child so the rinse is making my teeth hurt to the bone. So, off to Walgreen's I go to get even more medicine for my mouth. I am at my low point of my blood count and energy (10 to 14 days post chemo) so this is also a big reason why my mouth is giving me fits. At least I am not running a temp like last time.

BUT STILL....CHEMO SUCKS!!! And that's all I have to say about that!!!!
~Amy~

~IN THE DARK~

I can't believe it but my e-mail is NOT WORKING....it was just fine this morning and now all I get is the Yellow Triangle with the question mark in it from MSN Mail. I have a call into Qwest right now, my internet service provider so we will see what the deal is.
CRAZY CRAZY and BOY DO I FEEL in the DARK!!! It's not fun and I have done everything on my end to try to fix it.
Maybe someone above is telling me to CHILL OUT for awhile.....LOL
Hugs to all of you and HAPPY FRIDAY!!!
~Amy~

~What I DIDN'T KNOW about CHEMO & BREAST CANCER~

Not necessarily in this order but just as they come to mind.....LOL

1. That the steroids make me have a 15 pound weight swing. Maddi wants a BABY BROTHER......LOL and asks me "Are you SURE you aren't pregnant?"


2. That the sores in my mouth make me want to not only pull my teeth out (the pain is in my jaw line too) but also have put huge cuts in my tongue making it impossible to taste anything. The sides of my mouth feel like ground hamburger too. OUCH!!! It's very painful. And my lips have a constant slather of Burt's Bees LIP BALM on them. Maybe I will finally find that diet plan I have been working on....Enter Chemo, let it screw up your mouth, teeth and taste buds so much so that all you will want is COLD ICE WATER.....CALORIE FREE TOO!!!! LOL



3. Every day I think I will feel better than the last, but it's not happening. Right now, I feel like I am getting the flu. My bones are aching and my head is cold and pounding. I have the chills and I just want to go back to bed.



4. Chemo can make you have short term memory loss. THIS IS ONE OF THE WORST FOR ME as I am not as sharp as I was just 2 months ago. I lose my place on the keyboard and forget where I was going or what I was going to do. IT IS DRIVING ME CRAZY. I can't remember who I have talked to on the phone, written to or told what to....ARGGGG!!!! I tried to write it down but then I either forget what I was going to write down or I lose my list.



5. That riding in the car or driving can make me car sick.



6. That I never loved ice cold water as much as I do right now (it freezes my tongue and mouth so the sores don't hurt so much) I am also chewing ice like crazy, meaning, my iron count is way down AGAIN. I have that checked on Friday and might have to have another shot for that too.

7. That losing your hair on your head makes you so cold at night and even during the day. Now I understand why my Dad didn't want to cut his "COMB OVER"......LOL



8. Not only did I lose the hair on my head but on my legs, under arms, private areas and now my nose hair and eye lashes are falling out. Not to mention my eyebrows are thinning out and I am losing the hair on my arms.....WEIRD HUH????

9. That going thru menopause in the same amount of time I have to go thru chemo makes me have hot flashes and cold sweats, all within minutes of each other. BOY IS THIS A STRANGE THING TO ME!!!! And a bit funny too because one minute I have layers of clothes on and the next minute I am taking a cold shower to cool down!!!!

10. That I have what they refer to as phantom pain around the area of my nipples on my breasts, even tho they cut them off and are not there. I keep thinking they are itching.....SHOWERS take me about 5 minutes because I don't have to shave, shampoo, or condition my hair. THIS PART I COULD GET USED TO!!!!

11. That my right armpit is still numb from them taking out my lymph nodes yet it itches and I can't feel anything if I try to scratch.

12. I have now been on over 20 prescribed medications (this doesn't even include the chemotherapy drugs) all from the side effect of the chemo and to the tune of over $1100.00 in RX Bills. That one shot the day after chemo costs $6000.00!!!! THAT STILL SHOCKS ME!!! And I have no idea how much the shot is going to be on Friday to get my RED BLOOD cell count up and I am ANEMIC so that should help that too (with the side effect of heart attack or stroke.....OH GREAT) I REALLY SIGNED UP FOR THIS???? Did you slip something into my soda or my food before I said okay, lets do it!!!!????

13. I am 3 months AHEAD of my reconstructive surgery and I can BURN MY BRAS!!! I will never have to wear one again because they used all the skin to reconstruct and there will be none there to sag. NOW THAT IS TOTALLY COOL......I might have a bra-burning party with my girlfriends!!! WANNA COME ALONG???? Or I can give away my pretty chic Victoria Secret ones.....NAH....JUST BURN EM I SAY!!!!

14. That wigs, hats and jewelry look TOTALLY UPTOWN GIRL to me and make me feel like a different person wearing them. (THANK YOU GIRLS for ALL THOSE AWESOME HATS) I never wear makeup...no one has ever showed me how, so I am what I am.....

15. That light headedness is a sign that your white blood cell count might be headed down and that you need to chill out and make sure you don't have a temp over 100.5 or you have to stay in the hospital for at least 3 days in hopes you don't catch anything else or you might die. WAKE UP CALL FOR AMY!!!!

16. That being QUARANTINED to your house means just THAT....no sneaking down to the gas station to buy milk or a loaf or bread....it means STAY IN YOUR HOUSE!!!!! LOL (yup, I broke that rule a couple times) and NO VISITORS, which to me is really hard when you have 6 kids and most of them drive and bring friends along to "hang out".

17. My fingernails have never been so long and strong ever before in my whole entire life. Kinda crazy too!!!

18. That the BONE MARROW SUPPRESSION is worst for me right on my sternum. So much so that it drops me to my knees crying because it feels like someone hit me several times with a baseball bat. IT'S FROM THE $6000.00 SHOT.....

This concludes all that I know right now.....the screen is moving in front of me and it's midnight already. I will be working on the website tomorrow so hopefully you will get a look see....I will try to post some pictures here on the blog for you to see....
Goodnight Everyone....SLEEP GOOD.....Hugs and Love, Amy

~WELCOME BECKY from SWEET COTTAGE DREAMS

SWEET COTTAGE DREAMS by BECKY

Welcome to BLOG LAND Becky......I'm not sure how Becky and I found each other, I just know that when I saw the pictures of her home, I saw something in EVERY ROOM that either I had, have or my Mom has......GREAT MINDS THINK ALIKE!!! And she has been featured as Cottage of the Month for July so check out her new blog and welcome her as I know she will become one of your favorite blogs to read to....OH.....AND CHECK OUT HER PILLOWS......SHE sent me 2 of the MOST GORGEOUS PILLOWS I HAVE......THAT GIRL REALLY KNOWS HOW TO SEW and she is an AWESOME SELLER ON e-Bay too!!!
WELCOME BECKY......THESE GALS ARE INCREDIBLE!!!! YOU WILL HAVE A BLAST!!!
~Amy~

(PS.....I am not doing so good right now....I have been trying to work on the website but keep becoming overwhelmed and tired. I just woke up from a 4 hour nap with my teeth and jaw feeling like they were going to fall out. CHEMO SUCKS with all these side effects and I am ready to go back to bed.....AT LEAST I AM NOT IN THE HOSPITAL like I was last chemo at this time....and hey, at least I am alive to complain right???? .....but it still sucks...and I have gained 15 pounds from the steroids...YUCK!!!!)

~A VERY SPECIAL THANK YOU TO MARY ROSE~

I wanted to let everyone know that as I found out about the "HATS FOR AMY" not only was it Becca who started the ball rolling but ALSO MARY ROSE from ISABELLASCLOSET . Mary, you have been the MOST INCREDIBLE FRIEND anyone could ever have. Your constant concern, prayers, laughter and genuine love for me has made me want to be more like YOU!!! Even though we have never met face to face, I feel that our friendship was meant to be. YOU WILL FOREVER HAVE A SPOT IN MY HEART!!! I love you girlfriend and no words can express how happy I am that God put you in my life and that you are part of my world!!!! YOU MEAN THE WORLD TO ME!!! BIG HUGS TO YOU!!!! ~Amy~

~WOW WEE~ HATS FOR AMY~

~HATS FOR AMY~

~THANK YOU BECCA Of Bluebirds & Roses~

I cannot even begin to tell you how overwhelmed I am by the support and giving hearts of you gals out there....NEVER in my WILDEST DREAMS could I have imagined the OUT POUR of LOVE from all of you!!!

My mail lady pulls up in her postal vehicle with more boxes from YOU!!!!

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU BECCA for getting the ball rolling on HATS FOR AMY as I never knew what was going on until I talked with Mary today.

I received my first hat from Niki from Nostalgia at the Stone House and when I saw the hang tag on it that Becca designed (at that time I didn't know it) I thought that maybe Niki might be making hats and donating a portion to Breast Cancer Research. I HAD NO IDEA!!!! WHAT FUN THIS HAS BEEN!!!

As soon as I feel better (I am weak, tired, nauseated and crying a lot these past few days....I think the whole cancer thing is overwhelming me and making me mad that I can't do the things I want to do) I will post pictures of me in all of these FABULOUS AWESOME HATS!!!!

WHAT AN OVERWHELMING FEELING and YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT A GODSEND they have been. I am SOOOO COLD and SHIVERING all the time now that all my hair is gone that even in this heat of Iowa summertime, I still need to wear a hat. I even sleep in them!!!

HUGS AND LOTS AND LOTS OF LOVE to ALL OF YOU!!!
FOREVER GRATEFUL.....Amy