Tomorrow @ 10

I got my call today and am due in for surgery at 10am.

I would love to blog about my day... but packing my kiddos stuff for tomorrow, scrubbing the toilets, tub and finishing this last load of laundry takes priority in my mind.

Kalee asked if I had to go in for another PET scan when I told her she was going over to Mrs. Susans tomorrow. I told her no and that I was going in for surgery. She told me that I need to inform the Doctor to take his time because she loves going over to Sydney's house. See why I don't worry about them? Bear loves playing with Mason outside and feels comfortable over there too. I better keep my mouth shut before Susan catches on and starts selling day passes for her backyard exhibit.

I went to Bible Babes tonight...(if that name isn't funny enough the ladies that meet here for Bible study are called Girls Gone Godly). We are all a bunch of crazies! It was nice to be with my sisters in Christ and share my feelings of peace and comfort about tomorrow.

I really need to get off of here to do a few things and take my "surgical shower". I will update tomorrow after I get home.

Do not be afraid!

Light Me Up!

Do not be afraid!

First off, thanks EVERYONE for your prayers and support. Please feel free to comment and leave me your thoughts even if you were referred by someone...I dont e-bite.


This morning we got up early for my PET/CT scan. I reported to Nuclear Medicine which was weird in itself. You know, it's one of those clinics I pass by in a hurry on the way to my child's pediatric well baby check up... and don't think much about what they do or why those people are there. Until today, all kinds of different people sat around in that cold 3/4 in thick led wall clinic. Yes, I requested a butterfly needle....but they only had dragonfly's. ;) I had to get the information about breastfeeding since Bear is still a leach...pump (haven't done that in about 2 years) and dump for 24 hours following. Considering he's putting his own money in the soda machine, that shouldn't be to much of a problem. ;) I sent Max off with the kids to the food court once I found out it was a 2 hour study. They brought me back to another room and started the saline solution for the IV. A few minutes later the guy put a palm size metal device in his hand and shot the radioactive sugar into my IV. The sugar clings to the cancer cells and the PET portion of the scan shows where they are gathering and they overlay that with the regular CT to show where in the body it's located. Technology is amazing...but God is amazinger! (Nay- it's a word...in my dictionary of a brain) After he pumped a bag of saline and a shot of radioactive material, he handed be a big gulp with a cheap tasting nasty off brand of tampico juice to make me glow more.... because I wasn't radioactive enough. I'll tell ya though, I had absolutely no problem downing that no-pulp fake orange glo...because I knew where they would stick it otherwise, and I wasn't having that! Ut-uh! Keep that crap out...I mean...no pun intended. Following the delicious beverage, I got to lay in paradise with a blanket straight out of the warmer (the radioactive sugar made me freeze) and pray for about a half an hour while I was gliding through the tube several times. Boy, that 30 minutes goes by quick when your in prayer! Finally the "study" was complete and I walked out to the waiting room to find out Max tied the kids legs together in the main hallway and had them use teamwork to walk. That would have been a funny sight for most, but soooo normal for us. Sigh. Is that his homeschooling lesson on "teamwork"?

As we left the parking garage proud of not loosing the car, I called Wayne and Susan (also homeschoolers) so they could meet us at the Air and Space Museum. This month military gets in free so you KNOW we took advantage of that! We had a nice afternoon full of science lessons. That is one of the 5 places I would love to get family passes to... you know, instead of 300 toys for Christmas. ;) We did take pics but for some reason I can't find Max's USB thingie to take them off his camera. When he gets home from Men's Group I'll ask.

I believe in prayer! Yesterday one of the Elders in our Church arranged with all the other Elders and Deacons to come over this evening to annoint me with oil and pray. They did. I had 9 men in my living room laying hands on me tonight. What an amazing group of Elders/Deacons we have...what an amazing Church family....what an amazing GOD we serve!

Tomorrow I find out a definite on what time my surgery is Thursday (should be mid morning-ish). I will post it.

I trust God and His plans.

Do not be afraid! :)

Here's What's Happenin'- I'm Spillin' It All

As a friend told me a couple weeks ago..."if the Navy gave frequent flyer miles Max would be maxed out." and it's true. Once again he flew back early...at least this time it wasn't on a helo and the wall didn't fall off mid flight.


I got a call from the general surgeon Doctor Friday morning as I was getting ready to go teach my Parent Toddler class. He called to tell me that results have already come back with something "suspicious". He definitely wants to proceed with a full biopsy and wanted me to go in Monday morning at 8am to talk about the what's, how's and when's.

This morning we dropped the kids off with our good friends Wayne and Susan. Our kids love going to their house, what a Blessing that family is to us. We decided it was best to do it that way so we could ask questions and concentrate on what was being said. Here it is...I'm laying it out. Please do not be offended if I have not called you directly. My Mom Dad and Brother are probably the only ones I have contacted via phone. It's easier to do it this way and refer friends here so I don't feel like a broken record repeating myself.


So what did they say Averi?:
"Preliminary" results...and I quote "preliminary" are leaning the surgeons towards Hodgkin's Lymphoma Cancer.
"He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast trusting in the Lord." -Psalm 112:7 I was working on my Bible study last night and realized His timing is perfect. The chapter I studied embedded "Do not be afraid" in my mind. As I sat in front of the two Doctors with my husband by my side I kept reminding myself of last nights study that ministered directly to my heart. "The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." -Deuteronomy 31:8

I got more blood drawn, more x-ray's and had to go to admissions office(sounds like I'm going back to school). Tomorrow morning I go in for a PET. If His timing wasn't so perfect and Max didn't turn on the television this morning while I was getting dressed I would have no clue what that was. Fortunately God has a plan. I saw a few minutes of a documentary on radioactivity and in it was some info on PET. Thursday I'm scheduled for surgery. They are going into the largest lymph node to remove some tissue for more testing. Those results will take a good week from Thursday's surgery to come back because they may have to be overnighted to Washington. Max's first question..."are you knocking her out?" "Oh, yes!" said the resident. The Doctor also recommended we send an AmCross message to the ship letting them know what is going on. We talked about where he was in his orders and made us aware that depending on what the next set of biopsy results show, if chemo is the treatment necessary he would not be going out on deployment and things would be changing.

No deployment? Boy, I sure know how to keep my husband behind. Don't I?

I will keep posting as I hear more. For now, all I ask is you keep me in your prayers as tons of things run through my mind.

I love each and every one of you!

I Survived!

I went in yesterday for my fine needle aspiration. Fortunately a friend (from my other 2 life groups) went with me since Max is out, and another dear friend watched the kids. Can you believe that? Someone watched our children! Mark it on the calender. She told me she felt honored when I asked her to watch them. :) I dropped them off and our "Preacher Dude" met us there to pray before we headed out. I didn't know what to expect other then a needle was going to be inserted in my neck to draw from the large lump and it was going to be tested. I made it on time (unusual for me) and they called me back. The tech told me what they were going to do and showed me the nifty metal device that made the needle look 8 times larger then I'm sure it was. The Doctor came in and explained everything. I was so thankful he was patient. He asked if I had any questions. "Um, I'm going to be laying down, right? I wouldn't want to pass out on you." He made me as comfortable as possible knowing I was not going to be thrilled when i left the procedure room. The first time he got the "substance" in the tube was not so bad. Uncomfortable, but not bad. A few minutes later he dug in for a second time. Painful, but not screaming. By the third time that area was so tender (no medication) that I was shaking and probably whining like a baby. Painful, and Averi's pain tolerance for anything involving needles just flat out sucks!! I survived. I didn't pass out. A little sore but still kickin'. I wont get results for about two weeks. As I left the room I thanked him....then said "I can't believe I just thanked you for digging into my neck". At least he found the humor. My friend Janet (they let stay in the room) said I did good and she rewarded me with a smoothie. I have some great friends...they either think of me, pray for me, or buy me smoothies.

...too bad they didn't give me a cool Spider-man or Hannah Montana bandage to cover these 3 holes.

I smell like...

a little wet dog! We are "test driving" a miniature pincher AKA: Kalee's baby. She seems to be fitting well with the family so far. I NEVER imagined having a small dog...I'm just a big dog person but this one is so sweet. My kids came out of me weighing more then she does. Her name goes from "Lily-Ann" to "Little-Ann" or if Bear is calling her "Diddle-Dan". ;) Kalee insisted on giving her "baby" a bath. Now I stink!

She even enjoyed our hike on Saturday and tolerates Kalee dressing her up. :) Yes I said that.

I'll post pictures when she gets off my lap. I think this test drive confirms that waiting for her was well worth it.

Ok, the rest of the story...

I went in for my appointment with general surgery on Friday. Yes, 'inconclusive' results means they are going to look further into it. Literally! Haha. The general surgeon Doctor wants to take the least intrusive route first (Dr #4 wanted a full biopsy) because other problems can stem from cutting into lymph nodes. So... I am on 14 days of an antibiotic that I have never herd of...(which is amazing because of all my childhood ear infections) to rule out infection AND I'm scheduled for a FNA (needle biopsy) this week. The results will determine if they need to dig deeper...no pun intended. :) I have a followup in a little over two weeks from now so we will know more.

We always need to know more... I'm starting to dislike that phrase.


To answer some questions: I have several swollen lymph nodes in my neck (I feel 4 of them) ranging in size from a pea to almost a gulf ball, a 'spot' on my inner chest and a cyst on my thyroid. Only the large one is uncomfortable and is the one they are really looking into. No other lymph node occupied areas have lumps...which is a good sign... but still not a reason to let this blow away in the wind.

At first I was uneasy about everything, but obviously now I am not. Amazing what prayer does. ;)

Yes! I'm not crazy!

I got results from the CT scan mentioned in a previous blog and thought I'd share that I'm not crazy. Nope I'm not. So I'll give you the story.

Back in December I noticed a lump on the left side of my neck. Since I was diagnosed with large (orange sized) ovarian cysts in fall, I blew it off thinking "I'm just a cystie person". While in California for my brothers wedding I had my Mom feel it and she told me to get it checked out. Two days after returning to Virginia my good friend Erica called me in tears with devastating news that our friend Rachael passed away. She had been fighting a long battle of Melanoma cancer. Of coarse that phone call triggered me to call that morning to get an appointment. While scheduling the appointment I noticed a second lump on the opposite side of my neck. I got in the next day and the Dr. did a blood count. She said all was fine. Unfortunately I did not care for that particular Dr and for the first time in my life scheduled an appointment to ask for a second opinion. The second Dr. discovered a third lump and did another blood count, blood chemistry, PPD test and a chest X-ray. All can back fine. Ok, what was I to do? I was going to be reported as a psych patient if I became a bulldog and went to yet another Dr. for a third opinion. I sat tight. Only for about a week. Then I got Strep throat on Valentines Day. Before the Dr. even touched my neck I warned him about my now 3 lumps. He was shocked no one went further with investigation. He was in fact the Dr that put me in for the CT Scan. Yes, all this time I have seen different Dr's...so I realized it's my responsibility to be my own advocate. Yesterday morning Max got helo'd off the ship to the beach to be with me for my appointment (with a 4th Doctor). The CT test results are inconclusive BUT this Dr. is following my case so I no longer have to "be my own advocate".

That was just a long story telling you that I have lumps in my neck....