Tag: Breast

Quack, Tweet, DUCK!

With the warmth of the Spring upon us,tis the season for little birdie love. We have birds nests in everywhere.   For the most part not a problem.  The girls and I are keeping an eye on a cute little group of babies that the mother kindly put low enough for us to peek on.  She does not seem to mind our interest as we do not do anything other than peek and say “how cute!”

Now, across the street is a totally different story!  The neighbors seem to have a rather cranky new mother.  Every time they so much as dare to walk out the front door of the house the bird goes into attack mode.  If we stand out on our own lawn for more than a few minutes it will fly across and swoop down at our heads as if a little fighter pilot .  With each passing day it seems to get worse…we are all finding it very hard to live in peace with this flying little soul.  I have never seen anything like it.  We can not even figure out where the nest is so it is not like she is really defending anything.  Hopefully the family will be moving on soon!

Last weekend the girls, dog and I were sitting out by the pool enjoying a fire when we IMG_2308heard “quacking”. This is not totally unusual so we did not think too much of it until it seemed to be getting closer and louder.  Suddenly 4 ducks landed in the pool.  In the six years that we have had the pool NEVER have I seen that!  The girls and I all screamed at the same time “DUCKS” (as if they were unaware what they were).  I am sure we were a real sight jumping around screaming at these 4 little ducks . This did not seem to faze them in the least.  I yelled at the dog to get the ducks out of the pool.  Honestly she seemed as shock as we were at the sudden invasion from the sky. Once she started to head into the water the ducks wisely moved on.

I feel like we should be wearing helmets.  Hitchcock would love it!

 

My Upcoming Surgery and Surgical Team

So on July 2 I need to arrive at Cooper University Hospital by 5am for a scheduled 7 am surgery.  The Bilateral Prophylactic Mastectomy and DIEP Flap Reconstruction  is said to last between 10-14 hours.  I am told I will possibly then spend a few days in ICU followed by a few more in normal recovery.  Dr. Umur Atabek is the  surgeon performing the actual mastectomy.He is same surgeon who has performed each of the biopsy surgeries dating back to 1994.  The reconstruction will be performed by Dr. Yuan Y. Liu and assisted by Dr. Joseph Tamburrino.

I guess I should be jotting down some questions about what after looks like.  Rehab? How long before I can drive…sounds funny I am about to remove a large (and they are rather large) part of my body and all I can think about is when I can drive.  I am not a patient person.  I do not like to ask for help.  The recovery could be an interesting time for me.  Guess we will take it day by day like everything else.

Today I am grateful for:

  • Madison’s stomach ache this morning being nothing more than I minor belly ache
  • 4 ducks who landed in our pool last night (it was a sight to be seen!)
  • Hearing I love you Mommy from both as I put them to bed

Party planning not a future career move!

I hate planning parties.  Who do you invite? Did you get everyone?  Who does not talk to this or that one. Version 4 of the seating chart to begin shortly. Supposed to be a celebration for my daughter for Making her First Holy communion instead becomes a series of tracking down RSVPs and drama.  Add to it my non practicing religious side  and it makes for a somewhat stressful few weeks leading to the event.

Then we have the prophylactic Mastectomy.  I am one of  two dozen plus cousins on my mother’s side where  she was the oldest of 9 children.  Add the husband’s family and some friends, you can end up with a cast of thousands some of which know all about the surgery and have from the beginning other who did not have a clue.  Now I am challenged with trying to get everyone on the same page prior to 5/19 so that the topic of conversation at every table is not my boobs! In the end, I just hope it is a good time for all.  Open bar and DJ for the kids..what else do you need right?  Should be a good time!

I have a mother’s day tea at Madison’s school Wednesday.  She is so excited.  Funny how something so minor in my mind can mean so much to a 5-year-old.  I also had a hair appointment for the same time (to have my natural color put back into my hair :-))but had to move that a few hours. SO I will go to the tea than right to the salon making me very late to pick her up.  Because of that Madison will now take a small nap at the Pre-K.  Now, Madi has not taken a nap for me for months.  I normally pick her up right after lunch. She thinks it is so cool to nap there.  She has already picked out a blanket and special stuffed friend to take with her that day.  Amazing how little minds work!  We will see if she still finds it so fun when I pick her up.

Today’s list:

  • I am grateful for a much-needed chiropractor visit this morning!
  • Megan’s first attempt at playing catcher in her softball game being a success
  • The super hug I get from Madison when I pick her up from school
  • Hearing “I love you mommy” from both as I put them to bed…nothing better than this!