Dear Family and Friends,

I remember the day when I set up this blog for Jen.  It was an amazing outlet for Jen to share her journey with us because Jen had such a wonderful way of words.  She had the ability to be vulnerable and truthful like nobody else I know.  One day Zachary will read through this blog and realize the amazing Mother he had and how brave and courageous she was until her last breath.  There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about Jen and her journey. I get angry she had to go through all of this and lose her beautiful life. I then remember that Jen had a purpose in this world and it was to teach all of us how to live each day a bit better with less complaining, more laughter, and always cherish every MOMENT!  

I miss and love you Jen,  Heather (LITB)
 

Below is the information for Jen's Memorial in Houston:

The service and reception will be held on March 23, 2013 at 2pm at Lakeside Country Club. 

Dress: crisp or dressy casual

Location:

Lakeside Country Club

100 Wilcrest Drive

Houston, TX 77042

Tel: (281) 497-2222

http://www.lakesidecc.com/

Hotel: A group rate has been setup at the Hampton Inn.  The rate is $69 per night if booked by March 16.  If the block of rooms is full booked, the Hampton Inn will provide additional rooms at the group rate.  The link is http://hamptoninn.hilton.com/en/hp/groups/personalized/H/HOUWEHX-CFS-20130321/index.jhtml

The group code for the set of blocked rooms is: CFS

Disappearing Before My Own Eyes...(-30 lbs)

Searching for my way back to "Self"

So, after 2 weeks of NOT eating....Not even ice-chips would stay down, I got upgraded to an "All liquid Diet".  My first meal included a small cup of icechips with lemonade, chamomile tea, and some cherry Jello....Wait for it...I think it is going to stay down!  Hallelujah!  

Gamma Knife and Brain Radiation Tom.  It's all kind of surreal... this time everything about treatment knocked me to the floor and I can honestly say, "I was/am scared".  I still can't believe I'm having brain radiation, but we do what we do and we just keep swimming.  I believe....I do, surreal is more than an understatement.  Thank GOD for friends and family for without you, I would be lost.  

Feel a bit lost in this BIG WORLD lately...Fighting desperately to uncover the "Jen" I know is in there.  Let's Do this!

A Family's LOVE...an Unbreakable Bond...a Forever Connection! Silly is ALWAYS a HOME RUN!

1st Step: SURGERY = COMPLETED & A SUCCESS~

THANK YOU FIRST AND FOREMOST FOR AL THE PRAYERS!

OK my friends...Sorry to keep you waitng, I was so out of it when I got back to my room, not to mention all the docs coming in to check on me ;-)  BY THAT TIME, BEING OFF ZELBORAF FOR THAT LONG CAUSED MY HIP PAIN TO BE EXCRUCIATING ONCE AGAIN...NOT FUN!

So, surgery WENT TREMENDOUSLY WELL!  I know it wasn't a curative surgery, but it is nice that it was on the surface AND not too deep.  Now we wait for the biopsy and HOPE AND PRAY IT GROWS MORE FOR TIL.  It was designed to get the tumor to biopsy to check to see if some hormone markers on it?  I trust my doctors completely.  They do feel they got all the margins and that is great.  

Surgery went so WELL that they put me back on Zelboraf last night.  Even though the side effects for this drug are yucky for me, I do feel like the darn thing helps.  AFTER ONE DOSE, I'M ALREADY FEELING SOME MORE RELIEF ON THE LEFT SIDE OF MY HIP.  Pain was excruciating again before surgery and I'm proud to say TODAY, IT'S NOT.  

I MAY EVEN START BIOCHEMOTHERAPY TODAY SO PLEASE BARE WITH ME AS I WILL BE SICK, TIRED AND THE WHOLE BIT SO I MAY BE MIA FOR A WEEK OR SO.  JEFF AND MY MOM WILL BE TAG TEAMING ME AND Z SO WILL HAVE THEIR HANDS FULL TOO.  

We are back to an awesome rhythm at home too and that makes me happy as well.  Zachary continue to use his "feeling" bracelets he got at the hospital.  His "Momo" he has with him a lot, is the monkey he named and can think of mom when she is not around.  He continues to learn and LOVE the video about your mom or dad having cancer which is told by doctors and kids.  It really hits home with him.  I love it!  What I don't love is the fact that all that wonderful stuff isn't on all the cancer floors.  

I wouldn't have known about it if it weren't for my friend Nat that is a practicing psychologist.  She called MDA social worker line and inquired about so many things to make things easier for families.  Those packets and info. need more visibility because not everyone will do that and they are so wonderful I can't stress it enough and I encourage you to inquire and check on that kind of stuff at your care center/hospital.  It doens't hurt to ask, right?  All they can do is say no.

THANKS FOR THE SUPPORT ALWAYS.  LOVE YOU!  AS FOR MY BRAIN METS, I WILL DO STERIO ACTIVE BRAIN RADIATION AFTER IT IS ALL SAID AND DONE!  I BELIEVE AND TRUST IN MY DOCTORS, MY FAITH,  AND THEIR PLAN OF ATTACK THAT IS WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT! 

THAT IS THE UPDATE FOR NOW---LOVE YOU!