We recently had a sock monkey custom made for Linda’s baby shower. It was adorable. Linda and Phillip had decided to do their baby’s room in pirates, and we thought that a pirate sock monkey would be perfect.
If you are ever in the market for a one of a kind gift, please visit this shop. She makes the cutest things.
Tanner is really just an amazing little boy….
I am very lucky to have him to call me mommy…
Today was pretty ordinary. I can’t think of anything spectacular to blog about, but I did make the decision to blog EVERYDAY. So, I ask that you please bear with me….
I have opted to write a little bit about thyroid cancer and the effects of not having a thyroid. As some of you know, I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2002. I was a young, single mother living hundreds of miles away from any of my family–and I had cancer. The thought of it scared me to death, and when the doctor said the word “cancer” to me I wanted nothing more than to hide in the arms of someone who cared. Later I was to find out that thyroid cancer–specifically papillary thyroid cancer–is the kind of cancer that you want to have if you have to have cancer. It has a very good prognosis for anyone who is diagnosed as young as I was.
So, I had surgeries–2 to be exact–to complete a total thyroidectomy. I underwent several rounds of radioactive iodine therapy to ensure that I had no thyroid cells left in my body. I had body scan after body scan after body scan to ensure that I was well after my surgeries and treatments.
What is a thyroid anyway? Did I really even need one? I didn’t even know that I had a thyroid prior to finding out that I had cancer in mine. The thyroid is actually an endocrine gland that regulates how the body burns energy. The thyroid regulates the metabolism, blood pressure, and body temperature. I did, in fact, need one.
I quickly found out how much I needed one after having my thyroid removed. Not having a thyroid is much more difficult than having thyroid cancer. (I wasn’t even aware that I had cancer when I was diagnosed. I had gone to the ear doctor for a totally unrelated ear infection.) Not having a thyroid is trying to say the least. I have to take medication everyday–at the same time–for the rest of my life. Sure, I can skip a day–but skipping a day or two of thyroid medication usually leaves me unable to function. You see, hypothyroidism (the name for the condition associated with not having enough thyroid hormone in your system) is complete hell.
The basic symptoms of hypothyroidism are: fatigue, weakness, weight gain, dry hair, dry skin, hair loss, cold intolerance, muscle cramps, depression, irritability, memory loss, hoarse voice, and headaches. And those are just a few of the symptoms. One might say to me at this point, “Just don’t forget your medication, and you won’t have any of those symptoms.” Easy enough. I could just be very responsible and never miss a dose of my medicine, and I really try to do that. However, the real kicker of the whole situation is that the doctors actually take me OFF my medication prior to doing a body scan. I have had to quit taking my meds for weeks at a time, and then I have to suffer for several more weeks as my body tries to get back to normal.
It is difficult and trying and exhausting and it is something that I would not wish for anyone, but still I feel lucky. For all my bitching and moaning, I feel lucky to be alive. I could have been diagnosed with something much, much worse. I am still here, and I am blessed. I have a beautiful little boy, a boyfriend that I love, the best family ever, and amazing friends.
Below is a picture which shows my thyroidectomy scar right below my neck….
Below are some links to some of my favorite artists. The list, of course, is not all inclusive. There are many, many more artists that I love, but it is a start!
Pictures of pretty food make me happy!
i’m going to go make some cookies! yummy!
2. He is an amazing kisser
3. He is the smartest person I know
4. He is hilariously funny
5. He’s the best with Tanner
6. He doesn’t mind my computer obsession
7. He babies me…but only when I really need it
8. He never smells bad
9. His smile makes me melt
10. He always thinks of me before himself
11. He lets me wear his clothes
12. He lets me fall asleep on him when we are watching movies
13. He puts the toilet seat down almost always
14. He takes out the trash without me asking
15. He values my wit
16. He makes me feel pretty and special
17. He helps me to be a better person
18. I learn from him almost everyday
19. He doesn’t expect perfection
20. He likes to go out to eat
The list could go on and on….but those are 20 reasons why I love him…
So, there is this certain person that I cannot stand. In fact, I don’t like this person–not even a little bit. This person also claims to not like me–at all–not even a little bit. We established the fact that we cannot stand to be around each other. My question is, then why does this person seem to come to outskirts every single weekend? I see this person nearly every time that I go out there. And this person KNOWS that Stephen and I will be there. So if this person cannot stand me and cannot stand to be around me, why does this person continue to hang out at places that we hang out? Outskirts is certainly not the only bar in Wichita Falls, and this person claims to not even like country music. So, WTF? I am going to tell this person to get a life and quit going where they know that we will be.
It is 7am on Sunday morning, and I am awake. Stephen was asked to drive Blaine and Keith to the Dallas airport so that they can make it Salt Lake City for work. After much discussion, Stephen decided to bring Jon along. So, Jon, Keith, Stephen, and Blaine are all on their way to the airport. I sent Stephen off with a tuperware container full of cinnamon rolls and a thermos full of coffee. I imagine that he is going to be exhausted because we had stayed up until nearly 1:30am. He is a good person. I don’t think that there is a thing on this earth that he would not do for his cousins–or family. I admire that in him.
I hurt my leg about a week ago. Well, it was my knee really. I had started jogging on a regular basis, and apparently my knee could not stand up to me pounding the pavement. I have been limping around for the majority of the week. It is finally starting to feel a little better. I am hoping that I will be jogging again in about a week.
Stephen and Tanner have been playing video games for the majority of their days. Halo 3 has become all consuming in our household. We have a variety of characters that rotate in and out of our house throughout the week playing video games with the 2 of them. I enjoy the traffic in the house–and the company.
I will be traveling to Atlanta again in february. I will actually be there over valentine’s day. Even though I don’t buy into the whole romantic mumbo-jumbo bs that comes along with valentine’s day, I am a little sad that I won’t be spending it with my honey. I am excited though about being in Atlanta again. I love it there. I am hoping to spend more time in the city than I did when I was there in December.
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