I’ve been sleeping on the recliner.  JoJo barks at the mailman, passersby and other dogs in the street.  So it’s really, really odd that our minivan got broken into last night, and I didn’t wake up, and Jojo didn’t bark.  

JoJo barked this morning when I was making coffee.  I looked out the window and a woman was approaching our porch.  She works in the house across the street and had gone out to her car to find her stuff inside thrown everywhere.  Then she began to look around and saw that our van doors were open too. 

We called the cops, but Chris and I went through it all.  They  didn’t take anything, as far as we can tell.  I bet they were hugely disappointed in the variety of sippy cups and Veggie Tales DVD’s.  Our DVD player is hard wired, so they couldn’t grab that.  They opened the glove box but didn’t take anything.  The cop said a lot of times they are only looking for iPods, GPS, portable DVD players, and other electronics. Apparently it happened a few more times down the street.   It was all vehicles that had been unlocked.  Which is weird, because we try sooo hard to remember to lock it.  I guess it was just a really bad night not to remember…

Anyways, lesson learned.  Check, check and double check.  Lock, check, check again.  And never leave anything valuable in your car or van.  Now we know!

Simly unpredictable in this house.  The girls are currently playing with their Mermaid Barbies in the bathroom sink full of water.  Yep.  I’m positive the bathroom is soaked and I just have to be okay with that. 

My friend Kim came over the other day to clean our house.  What a blessing!  She cleaned the bathroom, swept the floors, organized stuff in the girls’ rooms, dusted, vacuumed, and even cleaned the playroom! 

This last Wednesday and Friday, we had teacher training at my Mother’s Day Out.  It was soooo nice to get out of the house, for one thing.  And second, when I walked in, everyone was so excited to see me!  I felt so loved!  I was treated to a comfy rocking chair and blanket and a tiara!  haha I love those girls!

Last night, Chris took us out to On the Border.  Brooke and Matthew came too, and we enjoyed talking about Brooke’s new teaching job and Matthew’s recent trip to NYC.  Then we went to Target and to get ice cream at Braums.  Good times.  The girls had so much fun and I really enjoyed my time with my precious family. 

I am still in *some* pain but every day it gets better.  I’m taking Tylenol in the daytime and Oxycodone at night.  But I’m getting there!   

Everyone enjoy your three day weekend!

Today with the help of many family and friends, I got my skin grafts!

My dad came over early this morning to help Gracie get dressed for school and then he took her to school as well, in his big red truck, which was a real treat to Miss Gracie.  It’s loud and I *think* she likes a big entrance! 

My cousin Angie came over to watch Trinity and although Trinity cried when I left, not 5 minutes later, Angie texted me to tell me that the two of them were playing “Dora” in the playroom.  And when Gracie came home from school, the girls were treated to new toys and a lunch at McDonalds. Thank you, Angie!  All is well.

My dad drove me to the hospital while I cried quietly.  I asked Daddy to let me cry, I felt like I had needed to all morning.  The weekend was really tough, and I felt like I couldn’t do it anymore.  I’ve been strong and courageous and optimistic for two.whole.years.  And honestly I’m just very tired.  I needed the good cry.  Usually that doesn’t last long but it turns out I cried on and off for two hours.  We arrived at the hospital pre-op at 8:20 and I cried (and vomited) till 10:20 when they wheeled me back.  My head was pounding. It was a relief to be laying on the operatory table and to see the oxygen mask coming down onto my face. 

I woke up and wasn’t in pain but very sleepy and starving!  So they gave me some apple juice and crackers.  Once I ate and had peed, the nurse came in with a wheelchair and wheeled me out to the valet, where Daddy was waiting to take me home.  We stopped by Sonic so I could have a chicken sandwich and a cherry limeade.  Then we came home and I slept until just now!  

Tomorrow I’m treating it like a normal day.  Pray I don’t hurt!

Gracie is officially a kindergartener!  What a big day for her. And for me, too!  (No, I didn’t cry, and neither did she!) From the moment we walked into the school this morning, Little Miss Popular was greeted by her friends, older kids and teachers and staff.  Everyone knows who Gracie is…surprise!  And like a good Mom-arazzi I took some pictures.  So you’ll get something besides a boring cancer update from me!  Yay!

The first two are of Gracie on Meet your Teacher day.  The others are first day of school, and that last one is showing you that Gracie can now tie her shoes!  My big girl!

And in other news, I have to have another surgery on Monday.  It’s outpatient, just a skin graft.  But still it’s just another roadblock to normalcy and honestly I’m getting tired.  Just pray that it’s less pain and inconvenience than I expect it to be.

I saw Dr Bajaj again today and she said I look great for only being out of surgery 2 weeks.  She’s very happy with my progress.  And she took out my boob stitches.  No more stitches on me at all! Good stuff! 

The bad news is that there are some areas (one on the top of each breast) that have not properly fused.  The problem happens when there’s just not enough stretchable skin, in my case, because of all the radiation damage.  We were afraid this might happen.  I have some gaping areas that are not closing, so Dr will need to  do some skin grafts.  It sucks, but what else can I do?  It will be outpatient at St Anthony’s and I’ll be home that day.  It is a minor setback but to someone who is ready to just get back and into life, it seems like a big deal. 

I’m about to have a visit from three of my most favorite people of all time.  Chris is bringing the girls to see me, and I can’t wait to give them all hugs and kisses!  I’m so ready to be back to real life!