Kicking cancer's ass - day 4357 (12 YEARS)

 

Today marks twelve years since I heard the words "It's cancer".

Those two words changed my life in so many ways. Even now, years and years after cancer treatment and surgeries, there are a lot of days where I feel everything catch up to me: mentally, physically and emotionally. The load is heavy sometimes.
My friends tell me I have PTSD from everything I've gone through. I probably do. 

I wish I could be one of those people who "gets past it". Someone who gets healthy and never looks back. Just a blip on the radar. Cancer is invasive, though, and I don't just mean on a cellular level. There are so many scars (inside and out). There are medications and side effects, to this day. I have lymphedema (from having lymph nodes removed), which will never go away. There's always another test, another appointment. 

Next week I have to have my annual abdominal MRI for pancreatic cancer screening... the same test that triggered another round of tests, scans and biopsies last fall. The fear never goes away. Ever. Every bump, every mysterious symptom, every pain is suspicious. 

This is not a "woe is me" post, though. I'm not wallowing in all of the terrible things cancer is. Thankfully I am doing well. Trying to age gracefully ha ha 

My body will always look and feel way older than I am, chemo brain is real and menopause sucks (even all these years later). With all of that said, I am SO DAMN GRATEFUL to be here, living life, making so many amazing memories with my friends and family. My circle is small, but treasured.

It seems like there's always so much going on and I'm busier than ever. I will never complain about seizing the moment and making the most of every day, though! We've had a lot of changes in our little family over the past few months... new apartment, new home, new puppy, new school, new fiancee... it's hard to capture all of that in one post, so I'm just going to do a big photo dump from the spring and summer.

Our annual trip to Oklahoma City for the Womens College World Series was FANTASTIC. Not only was the weather perfect (aside from the tornado, but that's a story for
another day), but our favorites - Texas Longhorns - took home their first national championship! 

Kelsie even caught a foul ball! Only took 9 years of going... ha ha

One of my very favorite things to do is go to concerts. Hubby is not a fan, but thankfully Kels is the best concert buddy! She's always up for a show, learns the set lists and even designs our matching outfits. She's my little broke bestie and I wouldn't change a thing!

We had the best time at Post Malone/Jelly Roll and TWO NIGHTS of Morgan Wallen in Arizona. We even dragged Hubby to a show! Unfortunately it didn't turn him into a fellow MW superfan.

Dexter is still... Dexter. He's high maintenance and loud and gives us a health scare every now and then, but he's 13 going on 2 and loving life. Goose is 4 now, weighs more than Dexter and is the strangest cat I know. 

Speaking of pets... this little love is Kelsie's new best friend. Meet Zora. Both of my pets are terrified of her. 

She's the cutest little thing. I never mind puppy sitting!

We officially moved Kelsie out of her dorm in May, and she's not going back! She is transferring to Hardin Simmons in Abilene, and has an apartment with her friend Chloe. San Angelo wasn't the right fit for her. Hoping she finds her college home at HSU!

We had a fast and furious road trip to Arizona, but we packed in a lot. Two days in a fabulous condo, two nights of Morgan Wallen, a day trip to the Grand Canyon and some interesting stops on the way home. Over 2500 miles and 45+ hours of driving!

Sometimes it's so easy to get caught up in wife/mom/job duties and activities that I forget to nourish the part of me that needs to connect with my girls. I was so happy to spend a relaxing weekend with these wonderful friends... snacks, pjs, Netflix, and we capped it off with The Lion King.

Long lost friends!!!  I haven't seen Kim in over ten years, and I just happened to be at a conference an hour away from where she lives. We had a quick half day visit, but SO good to see her!

I've been a romance reader for decades, and I'm thrilled to work with some amazing authors (I'm a virtual personal assistant). I had the best time at RAGT and we were all honored to meet Lori Foster.

 

Another right place, right time friend visit... Shelley and her daughter Charlotte were in Dallas for volleyball. We made a weekend trip to Winstar to gamble and soak in some sun. 

New job at the country club!

I am BEYOND thrilled that my son finally (FINALLY) proposed to this sweet, beautiful girl. They celebrated their engagement with a trip to Vegas (and Wrestlemania), and then bought a house when they got back! 

July 4th getaway to the casino!

New furniture!

The two best things I ever did. 

Ice cream date with my hubby. 

Adulthood means being excited about new appliances!

Life is good. Every day is a gift. My cup runneth over. 🫶

Here's to many, many more years as a CANCER SURVIVOR!

Kicking cancer's ass - day 4241

 

I don't post political stuff on Facebook anymore out of respect for my family members and clients who are my political polar opposite. I don't want to hurt the people I care about, and I'm tired of being on the receiving end of hate, vitriol and endless arguments online. 
But my blog is mine... mine to pour my heart into, mine to complain to, mine to express my beliefs on. Read it, or don't. It's for me, not for you.

I borrowed this from a Facebook group, and it's exactly how I feel. If you are a Democrat, liberal and/or Trump hater, maybe read this as honest information instead of what you think is a delusional rant. Put your Trump Derangement Syndrome on halt for ten minutes and realize maybe there are people truly trying to fix our country. Maybe turn off MSNBC and The View and spend a few days scrolling through X. Mainstream media is owned by the Democrats, so if you only believe what you see on tv or on Facebook, you have your head buried in the sand. We are not the bad guys. MAGA! 

To all the "Hands Off" Protesters (Democrats): 

We are currently at a critical juncture with a national debt of $36.5 trillion, increasing by $2 trillion each year. This is a critical issue, and most experts are warning us that we have relatively few years left to take decisive action before America faces a financial crisis that would have catastrophic consequences for this country and the world. 

Amid all your protests, the burning of Teslas, and your petulant vitriol, one crucial element is glaringly missing: any plan to cut government spending. Instead, your goal appears to be to spend even more. 

We finally have leaders in President Trump and Elon Musk who are courageous enough to finally focus on sustainable spending practices that are critical to avoid risking our economic future. (And working for free, no less!) Time is of the essence—instead of being in the way, let’s act together before it’s too late. 

If not...

HANDS OFF - my tax dollars, which were not intended for your pet projects and the corrupt, virtue-signaling Socialists who spew the garbage you all take as gospel. It’s not a slush fund and a money laundering operation through left-wing NGO's to make politicians rich. 

HANDS OFF - my child at school. Teach them the basics of reading, writing, and arithmetic. They are not there to be indoctrinated into your Marxist ideologies. 

HANDS OFF - trying to force American women and girls to compete against biological men, and then adding insult to injury, forcing them to change and shower in front of them. Stop forcing your fu@ked up theories on the rest of us.

HANDS OFF -  all the property you destroy in the name of whatever cause you’re supporting that given week. Other people’s vehicles are not yours to destroy. Neither are statues or all the other s#it you light on fire. 

HANDS OFF -  our college campuses. Decent kids are there to learn. Free speech is protected. Violence, intimidation, and taking over buildings are not. By the way, if your cause is so just, take off the masks and show yourself. Cowards one and all. 

HANDS OFF -  our president, who was duly elected to clean up the mess y’all created. We sat by and watched as you supported a puppet who was practically dead. It damn near destroyed the nation. Financially, from a security standpoint, and morally. 

HANDS OFF -  to all the federal district judges. Your power does not supersede the executive branch. And, stop using Lawfare by going after your political opponents. 

HANDS OFF -  our ICE Agents, who are taking violent gang bangers out of our country and forcing people who want to come here to do so legally. It should be the only way. Period. End of story. 

HANDS OFF - our Free Speech rights. For years, you have used the process of cancelling people who simply wanted to express their own ideas. In your world, you think free speech can only be allowed if it agrees with your screwed up ideologies.

HANDS OFF - the American family. You have done everything possible to destabilize the concept of families because you believe that our ultimate allegiance should be to the government.

HANDS OFF - from imposing your Marxist views of Critical Race Theory (CRT) and the methods you’ve used to implement them through Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). Most Americans are compassionate individuals who believe in judging people based on their character rather than the color of their skin. 

These principles are what the vast majority of Americans voted for. 

You don’t like it, be like Rosie O'Donnell or Ellen DeGeneres and move to Europe, which is being taken over by radical Islam. 

So, to borrow your stupid little slogan…. Hands Off... 

Love, 

MAGA Country...