Here Kitty, Kitty

After months of harassing their dad, the kids finally wore him down and he brought home a kitty a few weeks ago. So, we add a cat to the menagerie of animals that currently reside here. To convince their dad that they needed a kitten, they put all their stuffed animal cats on his side of our bed one evening. Then, they taped pictures of kittens on his steering wheel in his truck. Shelby changed his wallpaper on his phone to, you guessed it, a kitty. She also recorded a song on his phone about cats!

We were going to get a kitten from our local shelter. I stopped in there one day after we got home from Colorado to find no kittens and just a few cats. After a few dead ends, a flyer left on a car at Dan's work led us to our cat.

He's fitting into our family nicely. Samson is a bit jealous but he's very gentle with Boots. Boots loves to play with Samson's legs, attacking him while he's laying down. He just doesn't like it when Samson looks at him. No eye contact please. He spits and hisses and arches his back in the air. Like he could do anything if Samson decided to eat him.

We call him TT in the mornings. TT stands for Tiny Terrorist. He's very playful first thing and he attacks anything that moves. I hear the kids screams and laughter as he gets their toes from underneath their beds. I've forgotten how much fun it is to watch a kitten play.

Save the Tah Tahs Auction

This past week, I had the pleasure of modeling items for a breast cancer auction. I use the term modeling very loosely. It was kind of like being one of Bob Barker's Beauties on the Price is Right. Minus the beauty part. There were six breast cancer survivors that took turns showing the auction items to those bidding.

I was in the car on the way over to the auction when it registered that I had forgotten my boobs. I realized that they are like accessories now. Let's see... I've got my purse, my cell phone, a cute pair of earrings on, and oh yeah, better grab my tah tahs, too. Maybe I should put a sticky note on the back door that says, "Got Yer Boobs?".

Dan came with me (one of three men there) and three of my friends. There were decadent desserts, amazing appetizers, and so many cool, pink items. It was a fun time.

I thought I had some pictures but my photographer must have been snoozing on the job. The local paper was there and she was taking pics so if one makes the paper I will post it here later.

Plastic Surgery Here I Come

I was at the doctor's office yesterday morning for a post-radiation check up. My doctor was asking me about my plans for reconstruction. I regaled them with the tale of my first visit to a plastic surgeon's office that took place back in the spring. I think you will get a kick out of it, too.

I was going through chemotherapy at the time of my appointment. My surgeon wanted some information from the plastic surgeon so I went in to have a consultation about my breast reconstruction before my mastectomy.

I walked into the waiting room of the office and this place was plush. Large floral arrangements, beautiful furniture and paintings filled the space. Two nice looking receptionists sat behind desks.

I was called back to an exam room. I was told to take off all my clothes and put on a gown. The nurse walked in. On her shirt was a tag that said, "Ask me about my eyelashes". I looked up to her eyelashes and she had the biggest, longest eyelashes I've ever seen on a person. She looked like Bambi..the deer. I was surprised that she could even keep her eyes open. Her face was beautiful, no wrinkles on that forehead. Her lips were in a permanent pucker, very Angelina Jolie looking. A nice, straight nose topped off the whole deal. And she was tan. In the middle of winter in Minnesota.

So, here I am in all my glory. Bald...very plump...pasty skin and she asks me to take off my gown. I'm standing there butt naked in front of Barbie. She whips out a Polaroid and asks me to pose in several different positions. I bet she took at least thirty pictures. Of my bald, chunky monkey, naked, had 4 babies, body. I was thinking, "Sweet Jesus just take me now"!

It only gets better. In walks Ken... I mean my doctor. This man is gorgeous and tan and in a tailored, pinstriped suit with a purple tie. Let me remind you that I am still naked.. and rotund and feeling nasty. He asks me to turn around. Really, you need to see all the junk in my trunk???

After discussing my options for new boobs, I am allowed to get dressed again. I was so ready to get out of fairy tale land.

I've had one doctor's opinion and I need to get a few more. You can see why I'm not jumping for joy at the prospect of seeing another plastic surgeon. I know it was all necessary and I am super glad that we have plastic surgeons.

There are so many things about my cancer journey that I just have to laugh about. This is one of them.

Uhh, Mom, I Have Something To Tell You...

Macy just came to me and said, "Uhh, Mom, I have something to tell you." In my mind, I'm thinking, "Hmm, wonder what is about to come out of her mouth". I can never tell what is coming...

Macy says, "Awhile ago, I wanted to make you proud so I decided to clean Levi's toilet. I used the kitchen brush to clean his toilet and then I put it back in the sink and I didn't tell anyone about it until now"...

"Macy, how long ago was this?"
"Ummm, I think I was seven."

She doesn't really have a grip on the time thing so I continue with the questioning.

"Was it this year?"
"I can't remember."
"Was it yesterday?"
"No, it was awhile ago."

So here's where I'm not proud to say that I lose it a bit. I ask her how she could think it would be OK to take something from the sink that we clean dishes and water bottles with and use it to clean the toilet and then put it back without telling anyone. I tell her that we've all been drinking poo poo water out of our water bottles for how long?

She gets big tears in her eyes and I gather her close and tell her I'm sorry for yelling at her. I tell her there is nothing we can do about it now and that I'm grateful for her telling the truth. I tell her that years from now we will all look back on this and laugh hard (Actually, Shelby and I have laughed hard already).

I'm thinking to myself that I do put the brush in the dishwasher to sanitize it once in awhile and I buy a new one occasionally and throw the old one away. So, I have no idea how long we used the poo poo brush. We can't really do anything about it now, can we?

Real life. You just can't make this stuff up!

F is for Football

Levi has been playing football. They have a 3rd and 4th grade tackle football team here. Actually, they have four. Anyway, he's been playing for the past five weeks. His father is helping to coach the team. What fun it's been to watch the two of them.

If you know Dan very well, you know that he played football from a little boy up until he graduated from high school. He was an offensive lineman (all conference) and he planned on playing in college and, hopefully, in the NFL. He was being pursued by Nebraska Cornhuskers and had interest in Oklahoma also. I remember that Nebraska was sending him 40 reasons to come and play with them. He got a letter from them each week with a new reason. After having quite a few knee surgeries and having a hard time walking at age 18 he made the decision to quit football. Word got out about his knee surgeries and the scouts quit calling.

He still misses ball. I think every fall he wistfully watches the players out on the field and wonders, what if. Who knows...maybe he and I wouldn't have stayed together with him in another state for college. Only God knows.

Anyway, I digress. It's been super fun to have Levi play ball and I think Dan has enjoyed the coaching aspect. I always thought he would be good at that.


Levi's team has won every game that they have played. Here's me on the sidelines: "GET THEM, KILL THEM, MAKE 'EM PAY!". Then a bolt of reality hits and I remember that this is 3RD and 4TH grade football, not high school, college or the NFL. Simmer down woman! :)

His last football game is this Saturday. Here are some pictures. I thought I shot some video but can't find it so these will have to suffice.