Elayne's Blog ~ RUNNING TO RECOVERY

Waiting...

2012-01-25T20:50:00.000-08:00

This morning at 10:00 I had my tests which lasted about 4 hours. My hubby waited patiently for me while I had 2 MRI's and a bone scan. Long, hard day. Waiting now for test results.

Image Reborn Foundation...just registered!

2012-01-23T17:32:00.000-08:00

Here is just a little information from their website. I hope I am chosen to go. It sounds like a wonderful experience with other survivors. An opportunity not many of us get. Fingers crossed!

"Our mission is to provide no-cost healing retreats to women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. The focus is on encouraging women to reclaim their sense of personal power and to strengthen them in their journey toward healing on all levels and living fully".

Image Reborn's Living Beyond Breast Cancer retreat program is designed and facilitated by a highly professional staff with backgrounds and experience in addressing the special concerns of women with breast cancer.
The retreats run weekend programs, and are conducted in the beautiful, peaceful mountain setting of Park City, Utah. Approximately ten guests can be accommodated at one time.
The Program includes:

Women's Support Group offering the opportunity for participants to share experiences, kindling courage and understanding, allowing them to rediscover a sense of personal power.
Education: Opportunity to visit in a small group setting with healthcare professionals regarding available treatment, including conventional and integrative approaches.
Nutrition: a positive and delicious approach to food.
Exercise: gentle movement and stretching specifically designed for women with breast cancer.
Journaling: instruction on how to utilize journaling to enhance life.
Massage Therapy: light professional massage for relaxation and pampering.
Rejuvenation Time: private time to allow for rest, contemplation, or whatever each individual desires.

http://www.imagerebornfoundation.org/index.php

PET scan results and more tests...

2012-01-22T20:42:00.000-08:00

My PET scan came back normal as did my lab work, so that is all good news! I did prepare for the scan as I mentioned in the previous post to help alleviate the pain and nausea from a migraine I was expecting.
I am happy to say it worked, I did not even have so much as a headache! My blood pressure was high during my visit but that usually happens to me. I did ask my Onc. about receiving a shot or IV meds in the future if another migraine hits during the scan. He said definitely!
He asked how I was feeling otherwise and I had to confess my neck has been hurting much more lately.(I have previously had radiation to the spine T1-3). We talked about the details of the pain and agreed we need to get to the bottom of it.
Later, I received an e-mail letting me know my tumor markers are also elevated. So, I will be having a bone scan and MRI of the cervical and thoracic spine on Wednesday.
It will be another long day with an expected 4 hours of just the testing alone. My hope and prayer is that this pain is from something other than cancer and I can get started on some kind of pain management and hopefully strengthening this area.
Your thoughts & prayers are once again appreciated.

"But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you."
Psalm 39:7

Uncharterd Waters

2012-01-17T15:18:00.000-08:00

Well, I did ask for prayer about the PET scan yesterday...I think you all prayed the machine away! It broke down overnight and all my tests and Dr. apt. were canceled. I am rescheduled for Thursday.

In the past, doing this test in particular has triggered severe migraines. In preparation for the impending event I wanted to try some proactive measures to see if they would help.

I began by asking questions from my medical team including my neurologist. For this test you are told no caffeine, sugar or exercise for 24 hours prior and nothing except water past midnight. Unfortunately, because I do drink coffee, this, combined with the lack of food triggers a rebound headache that turns into the migraine. So, here were some questions/ideas I asked about;

~ "what is the minimum amount of time I can eat and drink anything besides water prior to the scan. The answer was 4 hours. I plan to eat something light with a cup of unsweetened coffee 4.5 hours prior.

~ can I receive a shot or an iv for pain/ nausea IF I need it? The answer was no because it would be another charge for the infusion center and my insurance would be billed. OK, isn't that why I have insurance, so IF I get really sick while at the hospital I can be taken care of? As of now this option is out but I do plan to ask my Doc. about it tomorrow.

~can I take any medications before the tests to help with pain or nausea? The answer was yes. Now that I know I can eat a little something earlier I will take Advil and something to help with anxiety as well.

~ I thought maybe my neurologist may have other suggestions. He said I can also take phenergin ahead of time even if I am not nauseated. He asked for a report back to see how these preventative measures work out with the migraine so if in the future they have a patient in a similar situation they can suggest this if it works.

~ So, here I go into uncharted waters..let's hope and pray it works! I hope this information may be of help for someone else and welcome suggestions if you have been through something similar.

Will post again after tests and results. Thanks ahead of time for your thoughts and prayers.

Spending Friday's with my Nonna...by Liam

2012-01-15T10:30:00.000-08:00

My Nonna comes and picks me up every Friday from my Ya-Ya's house where I get to play all week! We sure have fun together.She makes silly faces and voices that make me laugh. I have just learned how to do that :)

We always take a walk or run in the jogging stroller. here I am getting ready to go!!!

This Friday we took our first trip to Wal Mart together. She banged her head 4 times, every time she put me in the car and got me out. I think she hurt her back and neck because I am getting so big now, and getting in and out of the car seat is quite tricky!
Next, she put me in the cart in my car seat and banged into a shelf, just a little bang but I am thinking she may not be a good cart driver! The cart somehow got stuck on part of the shelf and it was funny watching her try to get unstuck :)
She sure takes a long time to shop. How hard can it be to pick out my bottle? There are only 100 different kinds. Silly Nonna!
I was a good boy and slept through most of the shopping trip. I think she needed, I mean wanted to stop at Starbucks, but there was no way she was taking me out of the car for an extra stop. I think she just made coffee when we got home. But...I needed my new bottle so I am not sure she got to drink it.
She loves to feed me my bottle outside on the chair swing. It is blue, like my eyes. I always spit up on her clothes out there, I really can't help it. When we tried to go back in the house because it was getting cold her jacket zipper got caught on the swing. She was stuck AGAIN!
It was my Daddy's birthday so Nonna and I made him brownies! I was a big help :)

I think our favorite thing to do is bath time. She teaches kids to swim so I guess she is getting me ready. Always telling me to kick and how I am already a waterbaby! I wonder what we will do this summer when we get to the big bath tub..they all call it a pool. I just like getting her clothes all wet when I splash.

Then she rocks me in a special chair, it is the same one she rocked my daddy and uncles in.

We have so much fun..but boy, she wears me out!
I think my Nonna really loves me :) .....Liam

Tuesday's Tests

2012-01-11T18:30:00.000-08:00

OK, the PET scan and labs are set for Tuesday. This is a very difficult test for me as it triggers a migraine. Other than waiting for the results this is the worst part.
They instruct you not to have ( for 24 hrs) any sugar..not a problem..exercise...or caffeine...problem! Then no food after midnight. It is usually about 1 pm the next day before I can eat and get some coffee. Last time I was so sick from the migraine I had to lay in the car and wait it out for several hours while trying to hold down nausea and pain meds. Finally I was able to eat, drink and feel a bit better.
We always see my oncologist after that to go over the results. An exhausting day that I for one am NOT looking forward to, but would greatly appreciate prayers for both the migraine and test results.
Thanks in advance, will post results when I have them.

"Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us" ~ Hebrews 12:1

You can cancel your biopsy!

2012-01-05T11:05:00.000-08:00

Yes, I did have a biopsy of the chest wall scheduled for early next week which I have been able to cancel!!
A few spots were showing up that looked familiar. like the previous rash. I had my radiologist take a look. He had me schedule a biopsy 2 weeks out which I did. He wanted to see me again before the biopsy to see if he felt it was necessary. After checking it the other day, he feels I am ok to cancel!
He prescribed a lotion to apply to the radiated area and will see me again after my PET scan which will be some time here in January.
For now, I very happily called and canceled my appointment!

Liam on Christmas morning

Looking back at 2011

2012-01-01T22:08:00.000-08:00

2011~Looking Back

It is the first day of 2012. As I have looked back over the past year I am thankful for another year that God has given me.
2011 in Review~

1) We were fortunate to take 3 trips~ Chris and I spent a weekend at Lake Murray to celebrate Valentines day. We stayed in a cabin and did a lot of hiking. Officially together now for 30 years!
Took a fantastic and much needed trip to Kauai, Hawaii and a fall camping trip filled with biking, kayaking and rest.

2) This was another difficult year for me health wise.I had my 4th diagnosis with cancer.It had re-occurred to the chest wall as a local re-occurrence. Here I learned that breast cancer can come back in the form of a rash, which it did. Another biopsy, chemo and 25 more radiation treatments to the chest wall. This was the most severe burn and worst fatigue I have sustained so far. My other medications remain the same with many difficult side effects.
Trying to get some relief from headaches I began working with a neurologist and have been diagnosed with migraine disorder. Advil on a continual basis works well but not much luck otherwise.

3)We welcomed the addition of our newest daughter-in-law Stephanie who has relocated to Texas from England and married our oldest son Tim!
Our first grandson Liam was born in October and I am loving my "Nonna days" every Friday with him! Nikki and Kevin had both moms and Nikki's sister in the delivery room for his birth. Seeing his little body and hearing his first breathe and cry had to be one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had. And yes..I am head over heals in love with this boy!
And sadly, we said good-bye to my cousin Joyce, our friends son Ryan, my sons friend David and a family friend and fellow runner Agnes.

4)This was not a productive year with my running or any races. We did not climb a mountain or even host the annual Family and Friends Turkey Trot. All disappointing to me.
What we did accomplish! My friend Vicki and I hiked 12 miles. This was the day I learned (the hard way) one of the side effects of Tykerb affects the hands and feet and ended up with severely burned and blistered feet.
My daughter-in-law ran the Komen 5K. I had planned to run it but was just not ready.
Although I did not host the annual turkey trot, Chris and I did run our own 5k Thanksgiving morning and I had an unexpected PR!
Enjoyed many jet-skiing trips,with one on my birthday!
The most exciting activities this year by far were kayaking to hidden waterfalls, snorkeling beautiful oceans and exploring the "garden Island' of Kauai!

5) A few special events/ celebrations; Our youngest son Matthew was the graduate this year from UTD!
My friend Natasha and I attended our second Komen Brunch/ fashion show for survivors.
Chris and I had a blast get dressed up and seeing two concerts at The Myerson this year, Chicago and Manhiem Steamroller!
A surprise "black sock" birthday for my husbands 50th! All the kids joined us as we rented a house on the lake. Chris' friends and family all pitched in to give him 60 pairs of black socks! Fun times!

6)A year of changes~ Decided to pass the family boat on to our son Kevin. I know he, the other guys and his growing family will have so much fun creating new memories. I know uncle Jim would be happy with this choice :)
With the arrival of our first grandson, my husband refinished the family cradle that has been used by 9 Minich babies with Kevin being the first and his son Liam being the latest.
With the help of 13 other ladies, we made a beautiful cross-stich quilt that was finished the day before he was born and delivered at the hospital.
7) Around the house~
My garden did well in the Spring and quickly declined from there. I am considering a giant sand box for Liam now :)
We continue to remodel and completed the huge task of installing wood floors which we love! Traded in the big green family sectional couch for a new, smaller set better suited for "empty nester's". Due to several severe Texas storms we had a new roof put on the house as did most everyone in our city.
Lots of new paint and re-decorating.Decorated our room to bring the calm colors and feelings of the beach, my favorite place.

8) I am so thankful to continue training and teaching my 5k run groups, ladies boot camps, swim lessons,and personal training.I hope to continue growing these classes and having the opportunity to meet new people and share these passions with them.God blesses me with each of them and the strength to continue.
I enjoyed my first A-Z writers challenge so much I decided to start attending a monthly writers group and have submitted a few stories to magazines and writing contests which has been fun!
An at home video Bible study, Your Body, His Temple with a couple of friends was perfect during this time.
9) We had a wonderful Halloween taking Liam for his first trick or treat.Thanksgiving and Christmas with our family and friends filled our home again this year. This Christmas we had a big family sleepover with both of Liam's families; grandparents, aunts, uncles and of course his mommy and daddy. A sleepover with 12 adults and one baby was quite fun!

10) And lastly, my personal victories for 2011. Celebrated my 13 year cancerversary, 47th Birthday and 27th wedding anniversary! To date I am NED..no evidence of disease :)

I enter 2012 with Hope.... .HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

2011-12-22T17:26:00.000-08:00

Looking Back

2011-12-16T15:51:00.000-08:00

It's Friday, and there are eight more days until we begin the celebration of Christmas together. This year will be a bit different from the past. It will be my first Christmas as a "Nonna" (grandma). It will also be the first year we are having a family sleepover on Christmas Eve! Not just my kids and their families, Liam's other G-parents and their whole family!Yup, 13 of us having a slumber party! Twelve adults and one baby boy.
My last post was about "slowing down" and making some changes. So, am I up to all this? Honestly, I am not sure.But, boy am I looking forward to it!

At this time of year I tend to feel overwhelmed. The anxiety and fears sometimes get the best of me. Even with all that I am looking forward to. While writing this I decided to look back at what I wrote a year ago. Some of the feelings are the same, some have become easier to deal with. Realizing, this may just be ongoing and need a little "tweaking" from year to year.
http://elayneminich.blogspot.com/2010/12/all-wrapped-up-for-christmas.html

And then.....I read the next post http://elayneminich.blogspot.com/2010/12/every-time-i-think-it-cant-get-any.html and was reminded to have faith and to trust God in all of this. Weather it is about having the energy and stamina for the holiday celebrations or worrying about what next year will look like. None of it is in my hands.
By looking back at last year and seeing these same struggles I felt before, followed by the truth that He makes it so much better than I could ever imagine it to be, find myself once again, looking forward to Christmas 2011 and celebrating Him who makes all things possible!
"MERRY CHRISTMAS"! ~ elayne

Changing Perspectives

2011-12-09T09:25:00.000-08:00

It's been a while since my last post. In part I have just been busy, but I have also been working on "Changing Perspectives". I suppose we all reach points in our lives when we have to make some adjustments. This is one of those times. Put quite simply, we are tired!
I was speaking with a good friend and she said "you guys have not had time to rest or recover from the past 5 years. I have known this, but for some reason it was a "light bulb moment". Although our lives remain full and busy, we are trying to slow down and prioritize.We have recently made a few changes, some easy, some not.
After weighing the pros and cons I decided to discontinue teaching 5k classes through the Parks and Rec. dept. This was not an easy choice. I met some wonderful people and was able to share my love of running with them. I will continue to teach 5k classes on my own and hope to rejoin the community another time. For now, I am very thankful for the ladies I am training.
This next one wasn't actually planned. My laptop crashed so I have been limited to computer time. This gave me the opportunity to realize how much "white noise" I was dealing with. The internet has made it possible to keep in touch and connect with so many people and I love that! With that opportunity also comes maintaining so many relationships which can be a bit overwhelming.However, my blog has been a good outlet and I do plan to continue writing.I had stopped going to the Writers group and really miss that. My plan is to rejoin them in January.
I am still running, but nothing like before. I have struggled with that. The fatigue from this last round of treatment really nailed me. Building back up in all areas has been difficult, but I am feeling less of the fatigue now and running a bit more.
Each year I like to have at least one event that I participate in. We made the decision to cancel the Family and Friends annual Turkey trot this year...another hard choice. Chris and I did get up and run 3.1 miles that day, just by ourselves. I had a surprisingly great run!
Although I may not have run an "official" race this year I am content with conquering the Kayak/Hike trip we did in Hawaii! That was an adventure!
Now that I have my grandson in my life, he too has become a wonderful priority. I have been putting aside one day a week to spend time with him...and we are always open to babysitting :) He is good medicine!
So, here I am still after all these years trying to find the balance between a full, happy life with metastatic cancer and recognizing when to rest and give ourselves permission to take the time to heal and recover.

I'M GONNA LOVE YOU THROUGH IT...

2011-11-20T18:57:00.000-08:00

Finally received the "official" report from my CT scan. I am, once again dancing with Mr. NED....NO EVIDENCE OF DISEASE! Next test will be a PET scan in December.

Thank you to all my friends and family. Please watch and know how important all of you are to me. Especially the # 1 person fighting this with me...my hubby Chris ♥ My thanks and ♥ to all of you!

Swept off my feet...

2011-11-17T18:57:00.000-08:00

Yes, a little guy named Liam has swept me off my feet! I am having a blast being his Nonna and spending one day a week with him. He is now 6 weeks old and has kept us all on our toes.
While Chris and I were away on our Fall camping trip, Liam had to have an unexpected surgery for pyloric stenosis.

"In his Daddy's arms"

My daughter in law and son caught it early, he spent 2 nights in the hospital and was home in time for his first trick or treat :) He saw his surgeon today and is doing great! Besides an ear infection, all is well. His name means "Strong-Willed Warrior" and has been very fitting, he has been so strong through this.

The highlight of my week has become "Nonna Day"! My house has baby "stuff" in it once again and I bought diapers for the first time in 20 years! Last week Nikki brought the jogging stroller over saying "it will get more use here". I can't wait to take him for our first run together! Just love my time with Little Liam and being able to enjoy this part of my life as a grandparent!

Two weeks old!

2011-10-23T18:48:00.000-07:00

Time for my two week check up!

Watching my first baseball game with Daddy and Papa Chris!

Spending my first "Nonna days" with Liam.
He had his 2 week check up with the same pediatrician my kids all went to from birth. It was surreal bringing my grandson back to the same doctors office I used to bring the boys to.
We ended the day watching the Rangers with daddy and Papa Chris :) Loved every minute of it ♥

Do you "Think Pink"?

2011-10-22T21:08:00.000-07:00

I have found myself struggling with the month of October for the last few years. I wanted to write about how I felt regarding the "pink month" but was not quite sure how to put it into words as I have mixed emotions on this subject. I read this message from Dr. Susan Love for Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day on a friends blog. I believe she says it well for those of us who may not "Think Pink".

"By now you have noticed that it is October, and that a pink haze has settled on the land. The message of “early detection saves lives” has been broadcast on every form of media available. But there is a part of the breast cancer story that is less “feel good” and less frequently mentioned– woman living with metastatic breast cancer.

Have we gotten better at detecting breast cancer? Yes. Have we gotten better at treating this disease? Yes. But we haven’t gotten good enough. Despite doing everything that we now can, about 25 percent of the women who are diagnosed with and treated for early-stage breast cancer will later learn that they have metastatic disease. An additional 4 to 6 percent of all breast cancer cases will be in women whose initial diagnosis is stage IV, metastatic disease.

Right now, about 150,000 people in this country are living with metastatic breast cancer. At this stage, the cancer can be treated–and women can live for many years with stage IV disease– but it is not considered curable.
These women, as Roni Caryn Rabin wrote in the New York Times, “…are not [leading] pink-ribbon lives: They live from scan to scan, in three-month gulps, grappling with pain, fatigue, depression, crippling medical costs and debilitating side effects of treatment, hoping the current therapy will keep the disease at bay until the next breakthrough drug comes along, or at least until the family trip to Disney World.” Some will live for years; others won’t be so lucky. Elizabeth Edwards comes to mind.

October 13 is Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day, and I can’t tell you how important it is that there is at least one day in October that is dedicated to acknowledging that not everyone is cured and not every cancer is found early. We need to stop congratulating ourselves on our progress and start focusing on figuring out why these women have not benefited from all the money we have raised. Reach out today to someone you know that represents the other side of breast cancer, the one that is not so pink. We will not have accomplished this goal as long as one woman dies of this disease!"

CT scan results

2011-10-22T20:27:00.000-07:00

Thank you for the encouraging comments left on my last post. "I am a fan of hope". http://elayneminich.blogspot.com/2011/10/im-fan-of-hope.html I truly appreciate them.
This past week I received a preliminary email from my Oncology nurse stating that my scans looked fine, followed by a confirmation from my doctor.

I have not spoken to anyone or received a copy of the CT scan yet, so I don't have any details.

One of my concerns, other than everything being ok, is if there has been any damage or scarring to my lungs from the radiation. Still waiting to hear, but no noticeable problems.

As for how things are going now, I am feeling much better! My energy levels are getting back to pre-treatment levels. However, when I overdue it I pay for it :) I am not back to a regular running routine yet, but doing between 2-4 miles at least twice a week. I have such a long way to go!

These past 2 weeks I have been spending time getting to know and love on my grandson,Liam.

I'M A FAN OF HOPE!

2011-10-13T11:50:00.000-07:00

Today is Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day. Metastatic cancer is cancer that has spread from the primary site to other structures or organs, nearby or far away. There are 150,000+ women and men affected by metastatic breast cancer in the US. See More

By: LIVESTRONG

13 YEARS SURVIVING METASTATIC BREAST CANCER

Waiting on scan results

2011-10-12T20:05:00.000-07:00

Monday was my follow up CT scan. No official results yet, but I think they are ok. Waiting to talk with my doctor and get a copy of the results.

One week old today!!!

LIAM

After a long morning at the hospital ...this is exactly what I needed. Napping with my grandbaby boy :)

Nonna & Liam

4 days old!

2011-10-09T18:04:00.000-07:00

Here he is! I am a Nonna to this little peanut...Liam James :) After 13 hours in labor, my beautiful daughter(in-law) and son welcomed their first son and our first grandson. I was blessed to be in the delivery room and hear his first wonderful cry. I will write a separate post later on what it means to be a grandparent after 13 years of living with cancer. For now, I am just loving each and every moment with him :)

Going home!

Liam & me (Nonna)

Just a few minutes old

Liam James

False Alarm and other happenings.....

2011-10-03T20:52:00.000-07:00

False alarm Saturday night! We were all out eating dinner and Nikki began having consistant contractions. A call to her doctor and off we went to the hospital thinking it was time to meet our grandson! Four hours later, at 2 AM the anxious parents to be and family, were all sent home. No progress. It is now Monday night and Liam has not yet made his appearance. So...we wait.

Nonna and Papa Chris at the hospital

On the health news front; my energy is getting better each week. The radiation burn continues to be a slow and painful process. Having to be creative wearing light clothes on my skin then my regular clothes on top. My doctor did order a cream made of aquaphor and lydocaine, I believe. It too has helped. This has been my worst burn yet. It is very upsetting just to look at it.
Monday I will be having a CT scan to see how things are going. Prayers for clean test results are appreciated.
My tumor markers were down prior to treatment but still a little high.

Still teaching and training my classes. Running and walking a little bit. Nowhere near where I would like to be and I miss it. However, my daughter (in-law) Stephanie ran the Komen 5k Race for the Cure on Sept. 24th with a very good time!

Stephanie's birthday dinner with family & friends

Hopefully, my next post will be a picture of our Little Liam!

Feeling The Burn....

2011-09-23T07:22:00.000-07:00

No, not the kind of burn you feel from a great workout. This burn is from the radiation treatments. Each day my skin is turning more red/pink, cracked and worn. It is becoming very difficult to have any clothes touching my skin or lay on my side. If I hold some thing hot, like a cup of coffee near it I can feel the burn. No baths at all, shower is with cool water.

I have been doing some walking/running, but without a doubt the friction from the clothing and sweat make it much worse. :(

I had been using pure Aloe Vera but now have switched to a medication they gave me last year called Regenecare, HA

It is crazy how the radiation continues to work in your body well after treatments are finished. This is apparent as I see my skin getting worse each day. Hopefully soon, this will turn the other direction.
"breast cancer isn't always a pretty pink ribbon"

Just two more days....

2011-09-21T20:50:00.000-07:00

This Saturday is the first Denton, KOMEN RACE FOR THE CURE! I am not quite ready for this race but my daughter (in-law) Stephanie is! She is running, raising funds and awareness for breast cancer. She is close to her goal,please support her as she supports us! Thank u Steph!

Click on the link below for her personal web page...thank you!

Susan G. Komen for the Cure® North Texas Affiliate

northtexas.info-komen.org

Join me in the fight!

Elayne & Stephanie

My son's son....we are getting close to Liam's arrival!

2011-09-21T06:55:00.000-07:00

Oncologist, Radiologist & labs...

2011-09-19T20:10:00.000-07:00

Well, today I got both my doctors at the same time for my 2 week check up. It can be a bit intimidating with 3 guys ( hubby there too) in the room and we are all there to look at my chest. But... the good news is "it appears the rash is gone and the cancer cells are dead"! So, the chest looks good, albeit the burn is still pretty bad.

My radiologist seemed pleased. I told him the fatigue threw me for a loop this time and I have had a cough for a week ( concerned about my lungs). He said it will be about 8-10 more weeks to recover. However, "because I am young (LOL, I am about to be a grandma:) and active I should recover sooner".

The visit with my oncologist went like it usually does. I don't fit any mold and he is never quite sure what to do with me. Don't misunderstand that statement. We love Dr. A. and know he is doing everything he feels is best to keep me well and have a good quality of life. He told Chris and I "you two are living life and I want you to continue doing that"!

He is keeping me on my usual meds (Faslodex and Tykerb) for now. We have stopped the Lupron. I will be having a CT scan in 2 weeks and a PET scan in December to make sure there has been no further spread. Last set of scans were done in June and they were all clear.

First set of lab results today were all normal. Waiting on the tumor marker results.
So, all and all, things look good as of today. Some more labs and tests to check me out and hopefully I will be ok once again.

I still have a road to recovery in front of me, but each day is a bit better. Walked 3 miles last night with a half mile run at the end :)

Thank you everyone for everything..especially your prayers!

Feels like home!

2011-09-15T18:28:00.000-07:00

After 4 weeks of being out of commission from most everything, including exercise of any kind, I finally went for a 2 mile walk last night with Chris!

We were getting ready to go and I said " let me grab my shoes". I slipped them on my feet, stood up and said "oh, that feels good, feels like home" :)

The air is finally cooler here and it felt so good to be back out there! I came home just as I left, tired..but happy to have done it. This morning after teaching my class, two of the ladies from the group walked 2 more miles with me.
Back at home in my running shoes....

Supporting Stephanie

2011-09-12T18:57:00.000-07:00

Friends and Family~ I had planned to run the 2011 Komen Race For The Cure in Denton this year. Unfortunately, I will not be running since having just finished chemo/radiation for stage IV breast cancer.However, my daughter-in-law is running and fund-raising for this event! Please help support Stephanie Minich reach her goal of $100 at her personal Komen web page.Thank you in advance for your support to raise funds for breast cancer research.
elayne
http://northtexas.info-komen.org/site/TR/RacefortheCure/PNO_NorthTexasAffiliate?px=10482416&pg=personal&fr_id=2196

Elayne & Stephanie

My Grandbaby Boy is almost here!

2011-09-09T21:01:00.000-07:00

Give yourself a break!

2011-09-09T09:21:00.000-07:00

This was a conversation I had last night with my husband;
Me; Chris, I still feel so bad. I am so tired, still having many side effects, and can't do the things I want to do.

Chris; Well, how long did Dr. A. say it would take after treatment before you would begin to turn the corner?

Me; 2-4 weeks.

Chris; How long has it been?

Me; ummm...it will be a week tomorrow. I guess I need to give myself a break huh?

Chris; ya think?

End of Treatment!

2011-09-06T16:20:00.000-07:00

Friday was my last day of radiation and chemo after 20 straight days ( (weekends off)! I am feeling better as the day to day hits are no longer a part of my regime.
My skin is burned over a fairly large area, but no complications as of yet. I believe using pure aloe vera gel helps tremendously! As soon as my treatment was over I would apply it immediately and then once or twice more during the day. Continuing to do so.
The Xeloda (oral chemo) messed my stomach up, made my bones and joints hurt, caused insomnia and incredible fatigue, but all that too is improving.
During the last week of treatment I also had to have a Faslodex injection. Those also tend to cause insomnia and bone/joint pain for the first 2-3 days. Needless to say I am a mess with sleep patterns and fatigue right now.

Overall I think I faired well. Only had to cancel 2 of my 4 running groups and honestly I don't think anyone would have come with the terrible heat we had this summer. Dangerously hot for runners. Can't say I was too upset about that.
Otherwise, I was able to continue teaching my GroupFit and Personal training classes, taking just the very last week off. Teaching all four sessions of my "Little Swimmers" was, as always a joy!

Exercise and nutrition...well, that went well for the first 2 weeks and then downhill. I am anxious to run again and have been drinking lots of smoothies, and veggie juices as my stomach is still not back to "normal".

The Thank you List!!
There were so many people who brought us dinners. Thank you to everyone, it was and continues to be so much help! Also to my "drivers" Matt and Vicki..a big thank you for your company and keeping me from falling asleep or getting lost. Chemo brain big time! To Vince, who I spent 10 minutes with every day as he administered the radiation. It makes such a difference when your health care professionals are as kind,patient and respectful as Vince was. Then to all of you for your thoughts, prayers, cards, emails and FB messages!
I prayed before my last radiation that I would be healed and never have to return to this place.Before I took my last dose of chemo, Chris and I again prayed the same thing.
So glad it is over and pray it remains so. Follow up with both doctors in 2 weeks.

"Climbing Mount Brandon"

2011-09-04T19:57:00.000-07:00

My story "Climbing Mount Brandon" has been approved, accepted and entered into a writing contest on Amazing Travel Stories. I hope you get a chance to read it and hit the "Like" button if you like it :) You can also rate and leave a comment if you wish. Hopefully you will enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it!

http://www.amazingtravelstories.com/travel_stories/climbing-mount-brandon

Week 3 news

2011-08-26T17:29:00.000-07:00

Three weeks of treatment are now complete and I am definitely feeling it! Had a rough morning today, can tell it's Friday. Happy to have the weekend off!

I saw my radiologist on Tuesday. He said the rash ( re-occurrence)is looking good so far. My treatments were reduced from 13 more to 8 more! They will increase in intensity but.. I will be finished next Friday! Five more to go!

Driving home from treatment some guy ran into the back of my car. Chris had just had new bumpers put on my Pathfinder while we were in Hawaii. Fortunately, between the large bumper and trailer hitch, the damage was not to my car as far as I can tell. To make it worse, we had to stand on the side of the highway in 116 degrees! :(

As things are getting a bit harder I have asked for help with dinners. We have been so fortunate to have friends and family that have stepped in to help. Our son and daughter-law made an incredible vegetarian dinner for everyone and then yesterday, I spent a wonderful day with my daughter-in-law, Stephanie. She made 2 dinners to freeze while I took a nap :) Thank you so much Steph ♥ My youngest son Matt also helped out and made grilled steak and chicken, homemade mashed red potatoes and spinach salad! I could get used to this :)Not bad for having all sons :) During dinner, we all got to feel baby Liam kicking away. Nikki said he kicked a lot when his Nonnie (me:) felt his little feet!

Lastly, this was a post left on my blog by a lady named Vicki that really meant a lot to me. A great example of how the Lord works in our lives.

"Wow, you don't know how much that just inspired me! 13 years!! I just hit "next blog" on my blog and landed right here and am so happy I did. I am just 5 months into a stage IV bc diagnosis. Thanks for the big dose of optimism and healthy living I aspire to achieve :) "

Vicki~ I think we have a mutual blog friend, Kim.

13 YEAR Cancerversary!

2011-08-21T10:16:00.000-07:00

Well, I just realized today is Aug. 21. That means I am "officially" a 13 year (4x) cancer survivor!

Although every year is a milestone, I do wish I were not in treatment for this years "cancerversary". Week two of chemo and radiation are finished with an expected three more weeks to go.

Overall, physically I am doing ok. My skin, from the radiation is getting more and more burned with each day. As I have in the past I apply pure Aloe Vera several times a day including right after treatment. This seems to help a lot. I am sure I will have to move up to something stronger in the coming weeks. I have been able to drive out and back (45 min.) myself or my son Matt goes with me. Still ok here :)

The chemo (Xeloda) was a bit tougher week 2 as well. Some increasing side effects include; trouble with my stomach, lack of appetite, taste buds more sensitive, fatigue in the late afternoon/evenings, and joints hurting more now. Chris and I are planning to cook and freeze some dinners as I am too tired at that time of day to begin cooking. ( some of you have asked about helping with this, please e-mail or call me if you would like to bring a dinner we can freeze over the next 3-5 weeks).*

Emotionally, having to slow down with my classes, deal with the new side effects and confront the fight again has been hard. Probably time to see Dr. Kevin again :)

With all that said, here are the positives. Chris and I are getting up and running 3 miles in the mornings, 3x per week. I was able to finish out my summer teaching my "Little Swimmers". GroupFit and personal training continue on. I have missed the past 2 writers groups, but hope to go back in September and get more focused with some ideas I have.

Today we will be spending time with all our kids. Can't think of anywhere better to be on this "cancerversary"....well, maybe Kauai :)

Thanks for your thoughts and prayers.

Baby Shower for Liam

2011-08-16T20:08:00.000-07:00

We all celebrated the anxious arrival of our first grandson, Liam. My daughter-in-law had a beautiful baby shower last week. We are getting close and can not wait to meet him!

Nikki at 32 weeks!

The Liam Express

Liam with his Mommy, Grandma's and Great-Grandmothers!

Opening presents :)

The first week

2011-08-15T19:33:00.000-07:00

Just thought I would give an update on how things are going since beginning "Round 4". I am currently in day 6 and have one week under my belt!
I have been taking the chemo pills ( xeloda) twice a day and thankfully the side effects have been minimal so far! Because of the risk of hand/foot syndrome I am taking a few precautions. Chris and I are continuing to run, however 3 miles is my limit, 3-4 times per week. So far, no problems. I have also been able to continue teaching my "Little Swimmers" lessons and I am now wearing my water shoes so my feet don't rub on the bottom of the pool.
Chris and I feel it is so important to stay as strong and healthy as possible during treatment so on the 2 days during the week we don't run, he is lifting weights and I am concentrating on yoga and stretching.
I find this really helps to keep me calm and relaxed. One of my goals is to be able to use the relaxation techniques from yoga during radiation. As I wait for the machine to turn on my heart starts to race and my breathing speeds up. It is hard to control, so I will be working on that :)
The drive out for radiation is 45 minutes and the treatment takes 45 seconds. To pass the time and keep my mind occupied I am listening to an audio book "Three Weeks With My Brother" by Nicholas Sparks. There is a small farmers market on the way home that I hit once a week for peaches and other goodies.
I did decide to cancel 2 of my "5k Learn to Run Classes". It was a hard decision but we have been over 100 degrees since June with nearly no rain. The classes were to be held at night and I just did not think I could take that on during treatment. I am still teaching the above mentioned swim lessons, GroupFit and Personal training. At this point I do not plan to take on any more but am still training to run the Komen 5k in September , two weeks after treatment is finished.
Trying my best to stay busy, but not overdo it, relaxed, but not to a point of bordom, exercise to help with the fatigue and health but no marathons.....yet.
I will leave you with a very big THANK YOU for your thoughts, prayers, & messages! And a couple of my favorite pics from our Kauai trip.

Kayak Kauai

Run Kauai

Round 4....DING!

2011-08-07T19:43:00.000-07:00

Well Folks, round 4 begins tomorrow. I will enter into my fourth round of being in treatment of some kind.
After talking with Chris and my doctors,praying and seeking some more opinions, the consensus is that I do 5 weeks of radiation (M-F) in conjunction with an oral chemotherapy (xeloda).
The xeloda will be taken 2x a day, 5 pills each time. The radiation will be given once a day with weekends off for both treatments.
I will continue to stay on the Tykerb, which is 4 pills before bed and the faslodex injections.
Needless to say, Iam not looking forward to all this. We are praying that the side effects will be minimal or none and that I will be able to contiue teaching, training and doing my normal daily routine.
Most of all we are praying that God will keep me safe and that the treatments will do what they are intended to do and nothing more. We once again pray for healing.
Chris and I took 8 wonderful days and spent them in Hawaii on the Island of Kauai. It was a great time to get away, think, pray, relax and have fantastic adventures! I will post a slide-show later for those that are interested.
Thank you in advance for your thoughts and prayers~ elayne & chris

An Unexpected day...

2011-07-21T20:34:00.000-07:00

Today did not go anything like I thought it would and I can not say it went well.
I knew I was going to meet with the radiologist this morning. My understanding was to go talk about whether or not more radiation could be done to the chest area again. I had some questions ready to ask, thought I would come home, share with Chris and consider what to do.
Part one; I get in my car to leave and it is dead! It sputters a little and dies. I leave it half in the driveway, and covering the sidewalk. I jump into Matt's car, whose door does not open and you have to crawl across the seat to open the drivers door. Of course this happens the one day I decide to wear a skirt! Off to a great start..
Part two; After more than a year since I last walked through the doors to radiology, it was not a great feeling being back. Everyone is super nice but I really didn't want to see them again.
Now I am taken upstairs to have vitals checked, BP 155/100. Not good! Nurse gets me some water and has me take some medicine for anxiety. Next, the doctor comes up, has me change to the lovely gown and looks at my "rash" which is really the tumor. After we discuss when all this began, how it's changed, etc. he gets a sharpie, yup a marker and draws all over me. He is now marking where the radiation will be. It is a big area and I look something like Matt did when he was 3 and colored himself with markers. I know this is all a normal part of the procedure, I just wasn't mentally ready for it to happen today.
We talk some more, I try to ask the obvious question, "what happens if I get too much radiation". Some of the answer wasn't so bad, some was awful. He sends me downstairs to have more prep done so I will be ready to begin treatment. I am still in my lovely gown, my shirt is in my purse and I am on the elevator with strangers. Door opens to more people getting on, how embarrassing!
Then, there I am once again lying on that table, trying to hold it together while I am prepped for 25 more rounds of radiation. I am told they need a picture of me ( my face) for my file. I stood there thinking "Am I supposed to smile? Because I really don't want to. But I did.
Part Three;
I am asked if I take Xeloda along with my Tykerb. Xeloda is an oral chemotherapy usually taken with Tykerb. Also used to increase the effects of the radiation treatment, resulting in what one hopes are better results. I tell him no, I have not.He calls and speaks to my Onc. They think I have had it in the past but I know I have not. I don't think he trusted my memory. You don't forget if you have had chemo.
So, my two doctors decide the radiation combined with the chemo for 5 weeks is the best thing to do. Surprise....you are also starting chemo!! Ummm, Can I work, can I teach, can I be out in the sun/heat?? Answer, for a few more weeks. There goes the dagger right through my heart :(
Part 4;
So,I climb back in the car,call Chris and loose it. When I get home I try hard to keep my mind on my upcoming vacation. I go to the airline site to make sure I know all the rules and regulations for "carry on" bags. While there I run into this. Because I am a breast cancer survivor, I am advised to fill this out and present when I go through the screening procedure at the airport so I can be taken somewhere discreet if I have to have a "pat down" and they discover a prosthesis. "health condition, disability, medical device"! Ouch, those words stung!

Now, I realize these choices are mine to make and I will be thinking, researching, getting advice and most importantly praying for discernment.
Needless to say, this was an "unexpected day" in which I feel everything has just flipped upside down.

A very long day!

2011-07-19T19:37:00.000-07:00

Well, finally it is over! PET scan was this morning followed by an apt. with Dr. A. First things first, the test results were all clear! Prayers answered in a mighty way! This does not mean I have not had a re-occurrence, I have.It is located in the original cancer site and will require treatment.
The amazing part is that absolutely nothing showed up on ANY of the tests, including this area that was biopsied. So, there has been no further spread! !Dr.A told us over and over how "odd" and complicated my cancer has behaved, but that these are great results!
So, where we go from here? The standard protocol would now be chemotherapy. However, we all agree that the treatments I have done so far have worked very well. Usually when the cancer spreads to the bone it is 6 mo. to a year before it spreads further to the organs. It has been just about 4 years now for me.
Because of that he is keeping me on the protocol I have been doing and sending me to my radiologist Thursday morning to have him evaluate whether or not I am able to have more radiation to this particular area. This is now the next prayer request. We are hoping this will "shut down" this tumor along with the current meds I am on to prolong chemo, if I even choose to go that route at all.
I have, in the past responded well to radiation. Surgery is really not an option as they would have to remove the chest wall and then have skin grafts done using skin from other parts of my body. It MIGHT get it all and it might not. Dr. A does not feel it is worth the risks. I would say we agree since there is no way to know if it would even work.
Basically I am in "uncharted waters" and other than chemo being the standard protocol here everything else is an educated guess. Prayer for discernment here.
By the time I finished the PET my migraine was in full swing. I took 3 advil, imitrix nasal spray and a phenergen. I was so sick I could not eat or drink anything, including my coffee. I had to lay down in the car for about an hour and wait it out. Finally, it eased up and I was able to eat and drink. We had about a 2 hour wait from test to Dr. visit so this is how it was spent.
I felt good enough by the time we headed home to go to Yogurt story.That hit the spot:) I am tired and relieved to be done with this day. Prayerfully, I will be able to have radiation and it will "knock this one out". Then I can once again dance with Mr.NED ( No Evidence of Disease) until next time.

* Mr NED is a saying my friend Kim uses on her blog and I thought it was great! Thanks Kim!

Today & Tomorrow

2011-07-18T19:42:00.000-07:00

Well it is 9 PM and I have made it so far with my "no caffeine, sugar or exercise for 24 hrs" regiment. I did get to have my morning coffee thanks to my son Matt who did a Starbucks run for his deperate mama :). We had run out of coffee, today of all days!
The no sugar part is the easiest of all three. I did have one group class this morning and met with a new client tonight. No exercise for me but helped keep my mind elsewhere.
Tomorrow morning concludes the testing and then we meet with Dr.A to find out ALL the results. I have had my moments of anxiety but have found keeping busy really helps a lot.
We have continued to pray that these tests do not show any further spread than what we recently found out with the skin biopsy. Or better yet that they show no spread what so ever!
Your thoughts and prayers are appreciated as we face tomorrow. The morning will be difficult after fasting beginning tonight. This, combined with the lack of caffeine triggers my migraines. Then we pray for good results and discernment.

“With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Matthew 19:26

thank you in advance~elayne

Day 3 and Muga Scan results

2011-07-13T20:20:00.000-07:00

Today was the muga scan to check on my heart function. A few years ago after being put on a drug called Herceptin my IF ( Injection fraction) number dropped to 45 from a start of 58 before treatment ( which is considered fine). Due to the drop to 45 ( which was not ok) I had to stop the treatment on Herceptin.
This past January I was checked again and it was back up to 50, better! Today, as I laid on the table I was praying for a higher number, something over 50.
Within 30 seconds of that prayer I was told first test showed my IF # at 54! I smiled and said "Thank you Lord".
Then, the second test , as I was saying Thank you, it was 56! Inside I am smiling a big smile. Test 3...IF # 57!! One away from where I began before the treatment and damage to my heart!
This was good news today and I am very pleased with that number! Keep the prayers coming everyone!
Thank you all for allyour thoughts, prayers and words of encouragement.
elayne~

Days one and Two...

2011-07-12T22:18:00.000-07:00

Just a note on how things are going so far. I wish I had some results to share, but I do not have them yet.
Monday was a long day with a bone scan, chest x-ray and labs. After so many years of going through these tests you get pretty good at reading the technicians expressions and knowing what "lets just take a few more pictures" means.
I think I did a pretty good job at freaking myself out trying to do just that and was sure by the end that they "saw things". After all, the girl that did my chest xray did not make eye contact with me after she "checked the films" and the one that did my bone scan said "let's just take a few closer shots here for grins". OK, I know I am reading too much into this but in my nervousness I tend to do this. So, I wait for the real answers.
As always, my hubby was by my side and we went out for lunch and walked around an outdoor shopping area while we waited for me to glow! There is a 3 hr wait for the radiation to do it's thing before the bone scan.

Day two was today with a visit to my neurologist. Filled him in on what is going on, then discussed how things are going with my headaches (HA)/migraines.
Also, I had an "episode" about 2 weeks ago with severe dizziness. He said it sounded like vertigo and was probably the onset ( an aura) for a migraine. For that, I am to let him know if it happens again. For the HA and migraines he gave me some different meds to try and said to stay on the Advil ( works well for me) for the HA.
Tomorrow is day 3 of tests with a muga scan in the AM. Will write more when I know more. Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers.

Keeping the Peace

2011-07-10T19:52:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday I was in the middle of teaching my group Fit class and the phone rang. I just new it was going to be the results from the biopsy. When I answered and it was the doctor, not the nurse, I knew the outcome already. He didn't have to say a thing. He continued on to tell me the results; "consistent with metastatic carcinoma". In other words, a re-occurrence of the original breast cancer.

I had no idea that a rash could be a symptom of the cancer re-occurring.When the nurse saw it, she called the Onc. right away and sent me for a biopsy a few days later. I could tell from her expression and quickly getting me in for the biopsy that something looked wrong.

A few days later, Chris went with me and we felt pretty good about things after meeting the doctor as he said "I don't think you have anything to worry about". Also, I was applying hydrocortizone and it was going away.

Needless to say we were surprised by the results. My Onc. called me about an hour later and said to keep my already scheduled scans and appointment with him as they were.
So, here we are again.
Monday~ bone scan, chest x-ray and labs
Tuesday~ Neurologist to have my check-up on the migraines
Wednesday~ Muga scan ( to check my heart)
Following Tuesday(19th)~ PET scan and meet with Onc. to go over all results and where we go from here.

So that is where things are at on the medical side.I do want to share with you that I really am doing well. Don't get me wrong, I have my moments of fear and anxiety, but I do feel a peace and a calmness.
For all of you at FBC today Coach Copeland said it perfectly.
~Confidence ~Courage~ Commitment~
I am Confident that He is in control and I know He has been down this road with me many times before.
Because of this I have Courage to face each day,these tests and what I need to do knowing~
"With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26
Commitment;
If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31

Please join our family in prayer as we go through these next two weeks of testing, results and decisions. Specifically, we are praying that this re-occurrence is "localized" and there is no further spreading.
Thank you all in advance~elayne

Thank you!

2011-07-08T21:30:00.000-07:00

Wow! Thank you so much for all your prayers and encouragement! I can truly feel all your love and prayers along with a great sense of peace :)
elayne~

Biopsy Results

2011-07-07T11:12:00.000-07:00

My Biopsy results came back positive. Unfortunately, I have had another re-occurrence. I will be going through 2 weeks of testing and doctors apts. beginning on Monday. When all test results are in Chris and I will discuss with my doctor what the next steps will be. We are praying that this re-occurrence is "localized" and has not spread anywhere else. Your prayers on this are much appreciated.

According to Eric Winer, MD, chief scientific advisor to Susan G Komen for the Cure®, the treatment of metastatic breast cancer has evolved dramatically over the past 10 years, and will evolve even more in the next decade. "I look forward to a time when metastatic breast cancer will be entirely manageable with well tolerated therapy. It may be quite some time before we can cure metastatic disease, but women with metastatic breast cancer can expect to live far longer and far better in the years ahead than in the past. "

Nonna's Little Liam

2011-07-01T07:01:00.000-07:00

As my little grandson continues to grow big and strong I can't help but think about how all our lives will change once he is here. it has been a long time since our family has had a little one around and we just can't wait to meet him! Believe it or not, we can all see his Daddy in him already.

When you think about your Grandparents you always remember them by the fond grandparent name you called them, Grandma, Nana, Mimi, etc.I have never heard anyone refer to a grandparent by their first name, unless it was a part of the grandparent name. Therefore, I have thought long and hard about the name I would like my grandkids to call me and have chosen Nonna, which is Italian for Grandmother. So, here is a picture of Nonna's Little Liam!

Biopsy and The Gaylord Texan!

2011-06-29T11:42:00.000-07:00

We had lunch sitting in front of this sculpture and waterfall after the biopsy.

Thank you all for the prayers! The biopsy yesterday went fine, did not hurt at all :) Doctor took 2 samples and results will take a week or more. Your continued prayers while we wait for results are appreciated :)

Many of you suggested Chris and I go have a nice lunch after the biopsy yesterday. So, we chose The Gaylord Texan. Chris had never been so I thought this would be a nice place to go. Enjoy the pics!

Our table located right above the waterfall/pond.

Had to show Chris the giant guitar train track :)

We have already decided we are taking Liam here to see the trains when he is old enough to enjoy!

The landscaping in this place, inside and out is absolutely amazing!

Ended our time there with a late' watching this waterfall :) Good time after a stressful morning :)

Faslodex to Biopsy

2011-06-25T22:12:00.000-07:00

OK, friends and family. My doctors visit yesterday did not go so well. I went in for my monthly Faslodex injection and asked the nurse to take a look at a "rash" that had developed. I thought it was from a new swim suit I wore, but it has not gone away.It is in the same area of the original cancer, which is of course quite concerning.

My Onc. is having me have another biopsy Tuesday morning. I have been trying to hold off on this post, but Chris and I need the prayer support right now. I will post more when I know.

Thank you!

Six months at a time...

2011-06-20T22:07:00.000-07:00

It's that time again.The next round of scans are scheduled. Although they are still 3 weeks away it feels so very close. This time, before the tests, is always difficult as the anxiety begins to grow. Never knowing what to expect or how your life may change in a day. The hope, as it always has been is in the Lord and we ask for your prayer support over these next few weeks and through the testing.

The tests will be as follows;
July 11~ bone scan, labs and chest x-ray
July 13~ muga scan
July 19~ PET scan and visit with my oncologist to go over all test results

I had been feeling really good over the past 6 months. However, the past three weeks have been challenging. Starting with a sore throat, fever, terrible body aches, dizziness and nausea. A trip to Care Now showed no infection, but fluid on my ears.They put on an antibiotic just in case.

I have now learned that Augmentin is a dug I will never take again. On to two weeks of stomach issues resulting in my Onc. taking me off my Tykerb to give my stomach some relief. Not quite there yet.

Next side effects, the body aches and fever come back and an infection leading to pelvic pain and more medication.

So....you know what happens now...yup, a 16 hour long migraine! And nope, the Imitrix nasal spray does not work for me. Phone call to my neurologist, told to take phenergin right away to prevent vomiting and back on to 3 Advil every 3-4 hours for two more days.

As of today, I am feeling better energy wise, still having headaches but not another migraine. Stomach not quite back to normal, but seems to be getting better. My doctors know what is going on and I will be relieved to get past this six months and on to the next six months at a time!

Thank you in advance for your thoughts and prayers~elayne

Alice's Bucket List

2011-06-14T00:55:00.000-07:00

Today I ran into a very special blog written by a 15 year old girl, Alice. This young lady is wise beyond her years and is also living with a terminal cancer.Her mum suggested she write down a "wish list" or "Bucket list" on her blog to share with family and friends. Well, it has reached far beyond her inner circle and is touching many lives all over the world. To read her story click on her link.
http://alicepyne.blogspot.com/

Her blog and "bucket list" made me question a few things as I have had mixed emotions in this area.

1) If and when creating a bucket list is right for a person facing a terminal disease?
2) If you do create this list, should you share it?
3) Is it a sign of giving up, or acceptance of the possible inevitable?
4) Should everyone create their own "bucket list" as none of us know what tomorrow will bring?

I think in my own silent way I have been chipping away at this list, I have simply called it a "goals" list. Not because I have felt a need to do as much as possible in preparation for an end, but more out of wanting to live my life to the very fullest I possibly can. No matter how long or short the time I have is. After all, do any of us really know when God will call us home and have we done what He called us here to do?

27 Years with my Husband & Best Friend!

2011-06-10T06:21:00.000-07:00

Today Chris and I celebrate our 27th wedding anniversary! What a journey this has been. Starting out not much older than kids ourselves. Raising our 3 sons together, welcoming our daughters (in-law) into our little family and now anxiously awaiting our first Grandson, Liam James.
We have been through a lot for a couple and a family over these last 13 years. However I can't imagine us being any closer than we all are. At just 32 years old, I first found a lump, 34 when it was finally diagnosed as Stage 3 breast cancer, 43 when it returned as Stage 4 Mets. and now I am getting ready to turn 47. A long journey for all of us.
My husband and I prayed all the time that we would live to be grandparents together. We have big plans for them, most of which include the lake!
Now that time has gone by so quickly and we find ourselves entering this new place in life and in our relationship we now pray to be Great-Grandparents together.
My husband has been my best friend, my partner in crime with all the adventures we love to take and the man that has stood by me and taken such good care of me through so much. I am very much still in love with my hubby!
Happy Anniversary Chris

27 YEARS!!!!

Teaching & Training

2011-06-07T11:00:00.000-07:00

I love this time of year! My schedule gets very busy but I like it that way. I have started my "Little Swimmers" swim lessons again this year and am having a ball with them! The change to teaching kids and getting in the pools is always fun and welcome. Here is a slide-show of many of them.
Click link and scroll down.
http://elayne-foodforlife.blogspot.com/p/swimming-lessons_31.html

I train a wonderful group of Ladies in my "Group Fitness" classes and Personal Training. They work hard and are some tough women! Most of the classes are held outdoors, however we have been hit with extremely hot weather early in the season so we have all opted to move indoors to my home gym...much better! If you would like to see some of the fun things we do in our classes click link and scroll down to slide-show.
http://elayne-foodforlife.blogspot.com/p/outdoor-group-fitness-training.htm

And Finally, we are about half way through the evening 5k Run class. I have to admit, I am kind of dreading running in this heat tonight but....I guess I have to go as I am the teacher :) My husband Chris has been coming out and running with the group. He is one of my "subs" and has been co-teaching with me. Last week I was sick with a sore throat, nausea and dizziness. Went to the Dr. to be sure I was ok. Just had a lot of fluid built up in my ears and sinus.
I love what I do and Thank God everyday for the people he puts in my life and the ability to continue on!

Garden Days

2011-06-05T08:54:00.000-07:00

We have gone very quickly from Spring to Summer here. Everyone is taking cover indoors with the AC or at the lake and pools!
Early spring, Chris and I were able to get my garden planted and it has done very well so far! This is my 4th year trying to have a green thumb in the garden and I had been getting very discouraged with the amount of work vs. yield from the garden in the past. I enjoy planting, caring for and most of all, getting to eat the herbs and veggies that I know are free of harmful pesticides and sprays for my health as well as for my family.
We decided to give it one more season, asked lots of people what they do, and it all came down to manure and humus. We added both of these to the organic soil and.... success!

Onions, on the right, were harvested today. Lots of red onions now!

The Harvest!

He's not real, BUT..we do have a bunny that lives in the backyard. Chris wants to shoot him,I won't let him :)

Lots of tomatoes ripening, almost ready!

Rosemary, mint, basil, thyme,parsley,lemon balm for herbs this year!

The squash and zucchini plants are huge and producing lots!

Two weeks and a lot of catching up to do..

2011-05-27T14:22:00.000-07:00

Since this post was a draft back from Mothers Day, I guess I will begin here. Mothers Day this year began with a dozen red roses and coffee in the morning from my hubby. A perfect start to the day.
We headed off to church with my oldest son Tim and his fiancé' Stephanie. My middle son Kevin, and his wife Nikki surprised us by joining us at church. Meanwhile,my youngest son Matt stayed home and prepared everything for a BBQ and cleaned up the house. Not bad for a bunch of guys!

After we ate I had a few gifts to open up and I realized that they know me better than I thought and they pay attention to the little things you think are not noticed.
Matt gave me a basket with M&M's, crosswords, a coffee cup and bunny for my garden.
Kevin & Nikki gave me a purple butterfly, garden pad and purple gardening gloves.
Tim and Steph gave me a watermelon scented candle. Every gift was special and had meaning behind it.
I love spending time with my adult children and can not wait to enjoy so many adventures with my first little grandson, Liam James.
We usually go for a Run on Mothers Day to celebrate the beginning day we started running, which is now 4 years ago.However,as we sat out back visiting with our kids we realized a couple of things. The moments to run are many, the moments to sit and visit with your adult kids are precious and few.From our conversations with them we also realized we are still leading and teaching them, just in a different way now. As it has always been, it is a privilege to be their mom.

Writers Group

2011-05-11T19:00:00.000-07:00

Having recently participated in the A-Z Challenge, I realized how much I enjoyed the challenge of writing everyday. This prompted me to look into a local writing group and last night I went to a writers group for the first time!

It was a small group that meets at the library once a month. I enjoyed it very much and look forward to continuing on. I have absolutely no formal training as a "writer" but have been considering writing my story for quite some time. I had been thinking about a memoir, which was exactly what the group suggested.

Last night was a huge step for me. Although I teach and coach people everyday I have had a lot of trouble with new environments and meeting new people over these past 4 years. Dealing with more stress than one should has a funny way of knocking you off balance. You get back up again and brace for the next hit while praying that it will not come.This tends to shake a persons confidence. Even in the simplest of situations.

So, last night was really stepping out for me.Even one year ago I would not have been able to walk into that situation with any level of confidence.It feels good to be moving forward, even if it is just a little step.

Do you have a favorite blog post or story you may have read through the A-Z challenge or just on the blog? Would love your feedback!

Neurologist 2nd visit

2011-05-04T17:55:00.000-07:00

Today was my one month follow up visit to the neurologist. Over the past month the doctor had me take ibuprofin for 2 weeks (12 per day), then off for 2 weeks. I had to keep a "headache log" the whole time so he could see any patterns or concerns.

He and I were both quite happy with the outcome. The 2 weeks on the Advil, I had nearly no headaches and the 2 weeks following the headaches were mild and managable. No migraines in the past 5 weeks, so that was good news.

I askedabout having to have the lumbar puncture and he said if there was any spread to the meneges around the brain I would not have improved with the Advil, I would have continued to get worse.

So, bottom line, the Advil seemed to help and if the headaches begin to get worse I go back on for another 2 weeks and use the Imitrex nasal spray if I have a migraine again. See Dr. C again in 2 months for a follow up.

Thanks again my faithful friends and family for your thoughts and prayers. That's it for tonight as I have a headache and need to get some Advil..... :)

I Survived!

2011-05-03T15:47:00.000-07:00

Award given by author Elizabeth Mueller http://elizabethmueller.blogspot.com/

Z~ Zip

2011-04-30T18:50:00.000-07:00

This is the story of Zip. When I was a little girl my uncle Chicky owned a toy store. How cool is that? My parents took us to his store and he said "pick anything you want in the store"! I remember looking up and all around at the toys, bikes, everything! But then, I found Zip! Yup, out of the whole toy store I chose this stuffed animal with his hat, yellow shirt ( with his name on it), his red overalls, plastic white shoes and an arm that squeaked when you squeezed it. My Zip also held a banana.

Zip became my best friend. He went everywhere with me, bike rides, sledding, camping, climbing trees, everywhere!

A few years ago, my husband and I walked into Cracker Barrel and there he was, ZIP, sitting on a shelf! I was so excited, I told my husband "you have to go buy him for me"! I hadn't seen Zip since I was a little kid. I now have another Zip. He is not the true, authentic Zip of the 60's but it is fun to have a piece of my childhood and wonderful memories with my Zip :)

As this challenge has now come to an end, I have learned so much, made new blogger friends and created new memories! Thanks for allowing me to be a part of the challenge, sharing your blogs and stopping by mine with your encouraging words. I have signed up to for a writers workshop once a month and look forward to learning more and meeting up with all of you again at next years A~Z Challenge!

y~ Years ahead

2011-04-29T21:43:00.000-07:00

This week I have been reminded once again of how God has answered our prayers over these very difficult years. Thirteen years with cancer and the last four with it being considered "non-curable".
So, what does that mean for someone like me and my future years? How do I plan? How do I dream? What do I pray for? How do I remain hopeful?

I plan to be here as long as God chooses for me to be. I dream about short term goals and long term goals. It has taken me quite some time to have any comfort level at all about thinking into the future. I pray that God will continue to show me what His plans are for me, and my Hope is in Him,Yahweh.

He has once again answered our prayers and brought this little boy into my life. My first grandchild, who is right now growing big and strong in his mama's belly. Before I knew he was a boy, I dreamed about swimming with him. There were snakes in the canal where we swimming ( I am a swim instructor, so this job has already been assigned to me, yeah! :). I,in the dream was scared but he was brave and strong!

So, how do I think about the years to come? With hope, with faith and with joy as I consider how much more there is to do and how much more God wants me to do. I think about being a grandparent and all the wonderful and exciting things to do and teach to this brave and strong little boy!
My husband and I have prayed all these years to be grand-parents and Great grandparents. I pray that this is just the start of many years with all of my future grandchildren.

X~ Xiaobo, Liu Awarded the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize

2011-04-28T19:27:00.000-07:00

Liu Xiaobo (pronunciation: [ljǒʊ̯ ɕjɑ̀ʊ̯pɔ́]; born 28 December 1955) is a Chinese literary critic, writer, professor, and human rights activist who called for political reforms and the end of communist one-party rule in the People's Republic of China (PRC).^[1] He is currently incarcerated as a political prisoner in the PRC.
Mr. Liu has served from 2003 to 2007 as President of the Independent Chinese PEN Center, an organization funded by the National Endowment for Democracy,^[2] an organization almost entirely funded by the US Congress. He was also the President of NED-funded MinZhuZhongGuo ("Democratic China") Magazine since the mid-1990s. On 8 December 2008, Liu was detained in response to his participation with the Charter 08 manifesto. He was formally arrested on 23 June 2009, on suspicion of "inciting subversion of state power."^[3]^[4] He was tried on the same charges on 23 December 2009,^[5] and sentenced to eleven years' imprisonment and two years' deprivation of political rights on 25 December 2009.^[6]
During his 4th prison term, he was awarded the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize, for "his long and non-violent struggle for fundamental human rights in China."^[7]^[8]^[9]^[10] He is the first Chinese citizen to be awarded a Nobel Prize of any kind while residing in China.^[11] He is the fourth person to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize while in prison or detention, after Germany's Carl von Ossietzky (1935), the Soviet Union's Andrei Sakharov (1975), and Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi (1991). Liu is also the first person since Ossietzky to be denied the right to have a representative collect the Nobel prize for him.

W~ Well, What is it???

2011-04-27T21:14:00.000-07:00

Tonight we attended a "gender reveal" dinner party to find What our first grandchild would be.
Well, It's A Boy!! I can't wait to meet my Grandson!

V~Victory

2011-04-26T10:02:00.000-07:00

I have learned over these years of battling cancer that victories come in many ways.
They may be small victories like getting out of bed and taking a shower which the day before you were unable to do. Or perhaps being able to get up a few mornings a week to work. For many, going to work does not seem like a victory...until you can't do it anymore. Then it becomes a great victory.

Some are much larger victories, like surviving chemo, radiation, surgeries , on-going tests and endless treatments.
Perhaps it was the day I crossed the finish line at my first marathon...that was indeed a Victory!

Very wise counsel was given to me not long ago. "Celebrate the Victories, no matter how big or small they may seem". I try very hard to remember this advice, especially on the hard days when I may feel more defeated than victorious.

Deuteronomy 20:4
For the LORD your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory."

U- Understanding

2011-04-25T21:13:00.000-07:00

My friend has cancer~ by Elayne Minich (2008)
What do I do, how do I be a friend when my friend is living with cancer?

I decided to touch on this because I think this is a tough area for everyone. Just last week I sent an e-mail to a few friends after talking with my counselor and decided I needed to be specific about how they could help. Realizing that others don't know what you need if you don't ask. Many people can't or won't ask so I hope this puts a voice to those that need it. There are some do's & dont's here that I hope you find helpful. I realize that it is very difficult to know what to say or do so hopefully some of this will help you and your friend. After 10 years of living with cancer these are a few things that I have found helpful~

~ phone calls, cards, e-mails, comments on their blog, etc. Sometimes phone calls are too much, especially if your friend is going through treatments and does not feel well. If you are a caretaker, maybe encourage letting voice mail pick up the calls until the person feels up to returning them. Don't be discouraged if you don't hear back from them, it still means a lot.

~ going for a walk or run together if your friend is well enough. This is always a nice change and helped me both times. Getting outdoors and moving is very therapeutic however sometimes your friend may need encouragement to get out there.

~ Staying positive about your friends future. Talk about goals, plans, life. There are plenty of doubts regarding the future and talking about moving forward is very helpful.

~ talk about your life and family ( hopefully the positive things). Your friend wants the distraction of other people's lives. Not to dwell on theirs all the time.

~ No-one wants to be in this situation, and your friend definitely does not want to be perceived as "unable". If they are up to it give them opportunities to help you or others. This may be in a big or small way. Whatever they may be up to, use your discretion so they don't feel "obligated" if it is too much. Many people going through or that have been through cancer like to "speak" to groups or encourage others in any way that is helpful. If there is an opportunity, ask them.

~ Get together. Do the things you always did together. Go out for lunch, coffee, shopping etc. If your friend is not up to that just visit, talk, watch a movie together. Work on a project together ( photos, painting, family journals, etc). Especially during times that family members are away. Idle time is very difficult, so filling in some of that time is helpful.

~ Let your friend know you are praying for them. I can personally tell you I know when there is prayer being lifted up for me. Trust me-they know.

~ Let them know how you feel about them, that you love them and what they mean to you.
~ Have Fun! Laugh!

What to avoid~
~ Questions, questions, questions. It is very difficult for the person with cancer to continually be answering questions. Each time it brings the situation to the forefront of their minds and they have to then work very hard to "shake it".
It is understandable that you want to know what's going on and how your friend is "really" doing. I have been in the same position with many friends. If they have a blog or newsletter that is the best way to keep up with the details they want to share. Otherwise asking someone like their caretakers, or family would be a better alternative.

~ Don't ask them if they are going to die or how long they have to live. Yes, people do ask these questions. This is troubling enough with out having to answer that question. Remember, be positive and look forward with them. If they want to share that, they will.

~ please do not feel the need to tell your friend about everyone you know that has cancer and how horrible a time they had or that they did not make it. This really does not help. If the story does not have a happy ending it is not appropriate to share with your friend or their family members.

~ please avoid introducing your friend as "this is the one with cancer" or "cancer patient". Your friend is trying to live a normal life and their "normal" name works just fine :)

~ If your friend is in treatment, be encouraging about the beautiful person they are to you. Avoid focusing on what it may be doing to them physically. It is temporary. It is not helpful to your friend if you take one look at them and begin to cry or have a horrified look on your face. Just remember who that person is~ your friend.

Most people are affected by cancer in one way or another. I hope that sharing this is helpful to you and your friend should you ever be in this situation.

I know some of you are also survivors, family members, caretakers, etc. Your thoughts left in the "comments" section would be great to share on this subject from your own experiences.

T~ TIME IN A BOTTLE, JIM CROCE

2011-04-25T21:00:00.000-07:00

Just can't get this song out of my head today.I guess the Time spent at the lake this past weekend with my family just went by too fast.
T is for TIME...cherish it, enjoy it, savor it, love it, spend it!

S~ Socks and Surprises!!

2011-04-25T09:27:00.000-07:00

I have a few letters to catch up on with the A-Z challenge. Letters S & T will explain why I am behind.

This past weekend was spent with my family at the lake celebrating 2 Special birthdays. My husbands 50th and my youngest son's 21rst!

This is where SOCKS and SURPRISES comes in! My husband, Chris is always asking me ( before he heads off to bed) "do I have any black socks for tomorrow"? Well, sometimes I can answer yes and...well, mostly not. Either way, it is an on-going question here. One night I said "you are going to end up with 50 pairs of black socks for your birthday"! He said "good"!

It was now time to decide what to do for his 50th birthday. A surprise party, a big get-together with everyone, a vacation?? We talked about it and decided a weekend at the lake with the kids would be perfect. However, I really wanted him to know how much everyone loves and appreciates him. So, with the help of Many of his family and friends, we were able to collect and sneak bags full of black socks to the lake!

Saturday night, after a surprise fajitas dinner ( his favorite) that was catered in, us girls set all the gifts out for Chris to open. One by one he opened his presents! First one, black socks, he laughs, second one, black socks, he looks curious, and on and on till he reaches 60 pairs of BLACK SOCKS!! It was fun watching him open them up and reading who had sent each pair. He was defiantly surprised and we all got a good laugh! Thank you to everyone who was there in "Spirit" and helped make this a Black Sock Surprise Birthday!!

"I will never complain about anything ever again"!!~ Chris

R~ Running!

2011-04-21T10:34:00.000-07:00

Inspired To Run
By~ Elayne Minich

My journey as a runner began nearly four years ago when I, along with five other family members trained for and ran The Dallas Half Marathon in memory of our brother Jim, who just 7 months prior lost his short but heroic battle with leukemia.

While I was in training I decided to have a physical due to pain in my back that was getting worse. At that time I was a 9 year stage 3 breast cancer survivor, about to be hit with the news that the cancer had spread to my bones, stage 4. Now facing more treatments and very difficult decisions including whether or not to keep running. I did, and completed the Half Marathon, inspired the whole time by how hard Jim fought. That was what kept me going.

It did not take long before I decided to tackle a full marathon with my goal set on the Dallas White Rock marathon. Again, during training the cancer roared it's ugly face, this time spreading to the pectoral muscle. More treatments, surgeries and tough decisions combined with the loss of my father-in-law, mother-in-law and 18 year old nephew, all within a years time.

I have been fortunate to have support from my doctors, family and friends that fully supported my running and did everything to help me reach my goals.On December 5, 2009, I completed my first marathon with my husband and running partner by my side, and our kids cheering us on at the finish line!

Running has not only helped save my life and helped with the many healing processes, it has become my passion.

I decided to become a Personal Trainer and share this love with anyone that will run with me. I teach 5k and 10K run groups and boot-camps. The joy I have teaching and sharing my running experiences is what gets me up each day and keeps me going as I continue to fight for my life.

Queen Liliuokalani

2011-04-20T19:06:00.000-07:00

LILIUOKALANI: HAWAII'S LAST

QUEEN


Hawaii’s last sovereign queen was born on September 2, 1838 in Honolulu. According to Hawaiian tradition, she was adopted at birth by Abner Paki and his wife, Konia (a granddaughter of King Kamehameha I). Liliuokalani’s childhood years were spent studying and playing with Bernice Pauahi, the Pakis’ natural daughter. Liliuokalani received her education at the Royal School and became fluent in English. She was also a member of Kawaiahao Church, which was built under the direction of Hiram Bingham, the leader of the first group of missionaries to Hawaii in 1820. In 1862, she married John Owen Dominis, the son of an American sea captain. In 1874, Liliuokalani’s brother, David Kalakaua, was elected as Hawaii’s new king. One of his first acts was to name William Pitt Leleiohoku as his heir; just three years later, however, the crown prince died at the age of 23. Liliuokalani was now directly in line for the throne. Kalakaua himself died in January 1891 in San Francisco. On January 29, the USS Charleston was sighted off Diamond Head, its hull draped in black and the Hawaiian flag at half-staff. Suddenly, the Hawaiians knew: Their king was dead. Government ministers insisted that Liliuokalani immediately sign an oath to uphold the constitution that had been forced upon her brother. Under the constitution, Liliuokalani wielded little power. She formed a Cabinet three times, and each time it was rejected by the Legislature. She drafted a strongly royalist constitution, but no one supported it. Finally, on January 17, 1893, pro-American forces overthrew the government and proclaimed a provisionist government with Sanford B. Dole as president. Liliuokalani had no choice but to surrender her throne. She made a plea to the U.S. government for reinstatement, and a representative of President Grover Cleveland found the overthrow to be illegal. Dole, however, refused to accept the decision. The queen withdrew to her residence, Washington Place, and urged her supporters to be patient and avoid bloodshed. A fierce uprising was firmly squelched in January 1895, and although she denied playing a role in the attempted takeover, Liliuokalani was arrested and taken to a second-floor room at Iolani Palace. It would serve as her jail cell for nearly a year. During her confinement, the queen wrote one of Hawaii’s most beloved songs, "Aloha Oe" ("Farewell to Thee"). Liliuokalani was pardoned in October 1896. In her remaining years, the deposed queen fought for the restoration of the Hawaiian kingdom. She died in 1917 at age 79.

If you have made it this far there is a special reason I chose to write about Queen Liliuokalani.In 2005 we had an opportunity to spend the summer in Hawaii on the Island of Oahu while my husband worked on a job. Our apartment was on "Liliuokalani Ave". While there, we decided to learn about the history of Hawaii as well as the Queen whose name our street was named after. Several years later, after my second diagnosis my son Kevin and his wife Nikki brought me a little kitten to cheer me up. Needing to choose a name for her, we chose a strong name that brought "happy thoughts" and wonderful memories. This is our "Queen Liliuokalani" ( real name) who we just call LiLi.

P~ Personl Training

2011-04-19T11:33:00.000-07:00

This is a fun topic for me as it is my passion as well as my profession! Teaching and training people of all ages and levels is such a rewarding job.
From my "Little Swimmers" as young as 1 year all the way up to the women in my boot camps and running classes.
There are always success stories for each person as they conquer their own goals, fears, battles and victories. Be them large or small, they do it!
After nearly 30 years of teaching swimming and 7 years of training there are many success stories. Here are just a few recent ones.

Little 3 year old Sarah who accidentally fell in her home pool was able to swim back to the side and pull herself out after learning this skill in our swim class!

Vicki, started out as a student in our 5k learn to run class. In just several months she went on to complete her first half marathon!

Seeing the excitement on the runners faces as they cross the finish line at their first 5k!

Watching the "trickle down effect" as my clients teach and involve their family and friends!

I am so blessed to be able to work with and teach so many people of all ages and physical backgrounds. There are days, like my clients have, that are harder for me than others with many side effects to deal with. However I believe it helps keep me strong, healthy and committed as I continue to fight my own battles and reach my own personal goals.
P is for Personal Training~

Nature & Oasis

2011-04-18T06:48:00.000-07:00

Getting behind, need to cover N and O today! These are two of my favorite words and very important parts of my life.
I have always been in love with nature. Pretty much anything you can do outdoors I love. In these last four years this has become more important than ever as it provides for me a place of rest and healing.
What is your oasis? A question I was recently asked, and the answer is Nature, in all it's beauty, peace and wonder.
Sometimes it is just sitting outside in my backyard or planting my garden. It may be climbing a mountain to take in beauty that is so breathtaking you never want to leave. A midnight kayak ride under a full moon or watching the sunset at the end of a long day at the lake.

Biking through the woods in Oklahoma or running at a park in Prague, taking in all the sounds, smells and beauty! The snow stinging my face as we run through the falling snowflakes.

Walking along a beautful beach with your feet in the water. Swimming...anywhere. I love the feel of gliding through and being under water, I can spend hours and hours swimming and never tire of it.

Oasis~a place of peace, safety, or happiness in the midst of trouble or difficulty. In Nature is where I find my oasis, the places where I feel peace, comfort,rest & God.

M~ Minichs

2011-04-16T11:45:00.000-07:00

Meet My family~ The MINICHS!

Matthew Minich

Kevin & Nikki!

Timothy and Stephanie!

Chris & Elayne

M~ is for My family... The Minichs :)

L~ Life and Death in Shanghai

2011-04-15T08:38:00.000-07:00

Who do you think of when you think of a hero, someone you admire and would love to meet? One person that always comes to mind in Nien Cheng. A phenomenal women who stood for what she believed in under conditions that most men and women would have crumbled.

The book Life and Death in Shanghai written by Nien Cheng is one of my all time favorites. It was a required reading book in my oldest sons history class in high school. He suggested we read it. One by one the book has been passed around our family and on to friends. It has traveled from Texas to Hawaii to China and recently returned from Spain. It is well worn and I hope many more people will read her amazing story of strength, courage, and standing for what you believe in.

After reading this book, I was so inspired I decided to locate Nien Cheng and try to contact her. I was successful and wrote her a letter letting her know how much her life and courage inspired me. I also told her that two of my sons were able to travel to China after reading the book which added so much more meaning to their trip, especially as they stood on The great wall of China and visited Beijing.

I was thrilled when I received a letter back from her. At the time she was 91 years old, eloquent in her response and even sent me her e-mail address!
This is a women I would have loved to sit and have tea with and consider a hero. I am so thrilled to have this well worn book and her letter she so graciously took the time to write to me.

Life and Death in Shanghai~ a must read!

K is for Kim likes Kefir and.....

2011-04-13T21:16:00.000-07:00

Tonight I felt stumped with the letter K. Nothing sounded good. I decided to call on the FaceBook friends and asked what their favorite word, book, movie,place, etc. is that begins with the letter K? A few good suggestions, but I have to say Kim's answer was too good not to use..thanks Kim!

Kim likes Kefir and kabobs but not ketchup and looking through a kaleidoscope in Kalamazoo but stay away from kryptonite while watching Kite Runner in Kansas which only has Kangaroos in zoos where kerosene is not often used and karaoke is a...n ear killer and kit kat candy bars are popular and Kim recalls Katowice, Poland where there wasn't anyone Kayaking at the time and nobody had a Koran like they have in Kazakstan but don't play a kazoo while wearing Keds in the kennel with a kernal keepsake and making one long sentence is the key.

Thanks to the Kindness of some friends I didn't miss the letter K .

J is for Jim

2011-04-12T11:16:00.000-07:00

Today I would like to share a very special person with you, my brother-in-law Jim. There were so many special things about Jim's life that I can not list them all here. I will write about some of the most powerful ways Jim impacted my life and gave me strength and courage to face what was ahead.

Almost four years ago, we found out that at age 38 our brother had Leukemia. He was treated very quickly and aggresivly. This is where Jim became a hero to so many of us. He was so young and strong and fought with everything he had. Trial after trial he hung in there, when most people would not have been able to. In just 3 short months and one very courages battle, Jim went home to be with the Lord.

Jim taught us all how to love and give with everything we have. How to hold on and fight until God says "it's time". We witnessed suffering and miracles. We loved, laughed, cried and lost together.

Feeling so helpless we wanted to do something special to honor Jim's life. This was the beginning of "Team Ambo" and my start as a runner. Six of Jim's family members trained and ran the Dallas Half Marathon, including myself,my husband and son, Jim's wife, sister and brother-in-law. It was a bitter sweet race!

TEAM AMBO!

During training and only 4 months after we lost Jim I was diagnosed for the 2nd time with Stage 4 cancer. I don't think either my husband or I really ever considered not finishing what we had started. So, with the approval and support of my doctors I began treatment and continued training.

There were so many days that I had to pull from this experience with Jim. I would picture him in my mind when I was having trouble running and think about how strong he was and how hard he fought. "If Jim could go through what he endured I can do this"! We lost our sweet Jim on April 26, 2007 and finished the race in November of 2007.
In memory of our hero.. James Patrick Minich...Ambo!

J is for JIM

I~ INTENSE!

2011-04-11T12:30:00.000-07:00

Following up my post on "Home" comes the letter I for INTENSE! Spring has arrived in Texas and with it comes our spring storms.
We were woken up at 1 AM last night to the sounds of hail pounding against the glass and strong winds. The power was out and the only light we all had was from our cell phones. In this part of the country you have a designated spot to take cover in the case of tornadoes. This storm had all the makings of a tornado with the hail, winds that sound like a train coming, green skies and the outside moving around in all different directions.

We grabbed our cat, dog, pillows and blankets and headed for the pantry, our "shelter". The storm came and went quickly, but left our yard in shambles.
We all went outside to evaluate the damage. Several of the neighbors were outside as well. Fortunatly all the damage was to the yards. No homes or people were hurt that I am aware of.

Our backyard was hit the hardest. We lost 2 trees. The first one was planted for me on my first Mothers day when we moved in 13 years ago. This tree has always been special to me. It was not just my first Mothers day in our new house, it was also my first year with cancer. The tree has always represented life to me. As I sit here and write this I am looking outside at what is left of it. It is battered and torn but...still standing! Maybe a better way to look at it.

I also lost my wooden chair swing..also a Mothers day present from many years ago with so many special memories.

Our tree landing in several neighbors yards. I am sure they just love that!

The winds were so strong, the tops of the onions in the garden were torn right off. The yard smelled of onions when we were out there at 1 AM.

The second tree split right and half, crushing the swing.

I~ is for the Intense Texas spring storms! My daughter-in-law (to be) just left me a message with the word "INSANE"! I think that fits as well today.

H~ Home

2011-04-09T22:20:00.000-07:00

Spring 2011

Once again, I had a different topic I was going to write about today but as the day when on and my husband and I worked in our yard, I felt this was better suited for today.
Tomorrow marks the day we moved into our home 13 years ago. At the time, my youngest son was 7 with his 8th birthday just 2 weeks away! I remember setting out their Easter baskets in the kitchen for their first morning and Easter in our new home.
We have watched our kids grow up here, literally going from boys to men. As with any family, we have laughed, cried, celebrated and said good-bye during these past 13 years.
Home has been a place of love and comfort for me. Especially during the difficult times going through all the treatments, surgeries and challenging moments. It is a place of refuge where I feel warm, safe and loved.
There really is no place like HOME!

Winter 2011

G~ Grandparents

2011-04-08T20:39:00.000-07:00

My sons still talk about those special memories they had when they were younger with all of their grandparents.
From swimming at G&G Ski's house with all their cousins to sneaking more Dr. Peppers than they were supposed to have.
The funny times when G&G Ski would come over on Halloween to help us "haunt the house". Grandpa Ski even played along as a scary monster sitting under a tree and scaring the kids who dared to poke him to see if he was real.

Each summer the boys traveled to Tulsa to spend a week at G&G Minichs. These grandparents, sadly are no longer with us but the memories will be there forever.
Like G&G M. opening up a world of different experiences for them. From the musical "Oklahoma" to photographing the buffalo and visiting with a local artist. And who can forget "the camper ghost" with Grandpa M. or helping at meals on wheels with Grandma M.
.
We now find ourselves getting ready to take on this role of Grandparents to our first grandchild who will be here in October! We look forward to loving and creating new and special memories with each of our grandkids!

At age 34 I prayed God would let me raise my kids and be here till they were grown. At age 43, when my kids were all grown, I prayed I would be here to see them get married. At age 46, we have skipped right to praying to live to be 96 and be Great-Grandparents!

F~ Fatigue

2011-04-07T21:02:00.000-07:00

Fatigue~ not the topic I had planned to write about today. Unfortunately Fatigue is a very common and frustrating side effect that I ( and most survivors) have to live with.

It interferes with many parts of your life and the daily plans you may have, as it has done today. Sometimes you can feel it creeping up on you and other times it just hits you like a ton of bricks.

After I finished teaching my 5k class tonight I planned to go home and take it easy, as today has been one of those days that it has been "creeping" up on me. However, tonight was supposed to be a "run" night with my husband. So, I told him I was ready to go but it wasn't going to be pretty.

Off we went for a 3 mile run. Although I didn't feel good, I consider myself very Fortunate just to be out there running. Even if it isn't pretty :)

E~ is for Elisa & Nathan Bond

2011-04-06T21:40:00.000-07:00

Elisa & Nathan Bond are a young and loving couple with an adorable 18 month old daughter. I have been following their story of struggle, life and most of all, extraordinary love.

They were featured on The Today show this morning.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/42450455#42450455

Their strength and positive attitudes are exceptional. Please keep this beautiful family in your prayers. To visit Elisa's blog go to;

http://familybondingtime.blogspot.com/

D~ Determination

2011-04-05T15:31:00.000-07:00

There were many "D" words I wanted to use today, but I am going to go with DETERMINATION!
I chose this word on my way home this morning from teaching my Outdoor Fitness Group, basically a boot-camp. I could not help but think of how hard all my clients work. They do or try anything I ask of them. Including army- crawling through sand. Not their favorite :) Tonight I will be introducing a longer run with more hills to my 5k class. I am sure they will attack it with the same determination.

It is the essence of living a strong and healthy life as a survivor....yup, DETERMINATION!

C~Cancerversary!

2011-04-04T21:15:00.000-07:00

Cancerversary! I am not sure where I first heard someone use this term, but I decided I liked it! Your cancerversary is the anniversary of the day one becomes a survivor, which is from the moment you are told you have cancer. A day you will never forget and one which you will come to celebrate year after year.Some people make it a very special day, like a birthday, others simply acknowledge the day in smaller ways. I like to go for a run, a swim at the lake, things like that. Just enjoying the fact that I am healthy enough to do it.

I am happy to tell people which birthday I am celebrating or how many years I have been a survivor, as it means "I am still here"!
My next Cancerversary is August 21 and it will be 13 years!

Happy Cancerversary to all of you that will celebrate your special day of survivorship!

B ~ Blogging, should I or not?

2011-04-04T20:37:00.000-07:00

When I received the 2nd diagnosis nearly 4 years ago that the cancer had spread to my bones and was now considered Stage 4 metastatic cancer, I had many decisions to make. One of them being who do we tell and how do we tell everyone without having to say the words over and over again?

My first thought was "No WAY am I going to start a blog"! I guess I didn't want my life to be another sad story. After thinking about it and much consideration, I decided not only would it be a very helpful tool to let everyone know what was/is going on but a great way to seek support, ask for prayer requests and maybe even provide a little healing therapy for me.
It has turned into all of that and more, which i will save to write about in another post during this challenge.

April has brought a new challenge!

2011-04-04T20:01:00.000-07:00

What is the A to Z Challenge?

It’s blogging a letter of the alphabet every day the month of April (with Sundays off for good behavior.) It begins April First with the letter A and ends April 30 with the letter Z.

My first post for April is

A is for April ( don't worry I will get more creative as time goes on

I have entered this blogging challenge on day 4, so I have some catching up to do).April has brought a new and interesting challenge for those of us who love to blog. I have decided to take this challenge on in hopes that it will help me be more creative as I write about daily life as a person living with metastatic cancer.

2011 Komen Survivor brunch and fashion Show

2011-04-01T09:01:00.000-07:00

I spent a wonderful morning Saturday with my friend and sister survivor, Natasha at the 2011 Komen Survivor brunch and fashion show. I am not sure if we were wind blown,in a hurry to get our raffle tickets or simply needed more coffee in this picture. But, it was the start of a fun morning!

Elayne & Natasha

A highlight of the morning for us is getting our raffle tickets and picking from all the wonderful prizes! We always try to win the garage door opener, kind of as a joke ...this year Natasha won it!! We laughed so hard! I won a spa package from L'Occitane for my beat up feet :) Great stuff.

Natasha and I with our prizes!

It has been announced that this will be the first year Race For The Cure will be held in Denton, on Sept. 24th! The organization is now reaching 8 ( I believe) counties vs. the 3 it has been at for many years.
$800,000 was awarded in grant money to local organizations that are working for the cause. We watched a few survivor stories of how women and their families have been helped through Komen when there was no where else to turn.

They do a beautiful job of making all survivors feel special.From the elegant brunch to the recognition of all survivors. From those diagnosed just a few months ago, all the way to a 39 year survivor...who gives all of us hope!

I was the person at our table with the pink card..Longest Survivor :)

I ran into a special group of women who I call "The Lewisville Ladies".These were the women who mentored me from my support group back in 1998 when I was first diagnosed at 34 years old. It is always nice to spend some time celebrating survivorship with all these fellow survivors. A lovely morning brunch :)

While looking at the Komen website I found these pictures of Olympic Gold medal winner Nastia Liukin signing my race bib # after one of the races! Put on your running shoes and participate in one of the local 5k Komen Race for the Cure events...you will be helping many people!

Nastia Liukin signing my race bib!

Elayne with Nastia Liukin after the Komen race

Visit to the neurologist today

2011-03-30T21:00:00.000-07:00

Today I finally went to the neurologist. The appointment overall went well and I really liked him and his assistant.
The diagnosis was no surprise to me of Migraine Disorder. The part that surprised me was his concern of the cancer cells spreading through the spinal fluid to the meninges in the brain. I asked if that would have shown up on the MRI or PET scan, both of which were clean.He said no, not if it is in the beginning. I am trying not to be too worried about this, but I would be lying if I said we are not concerned.
My sister ( who is a nurse) knows this doctor well and said if he was really concerned he would have done tests or contacted my Onc. today. There is a possibility I may have to have the spinal fluid biopsied.
"DIAGNOSIS OF SPINAL FLUID METASTASES A lumbar puncture [Lumbar puncture, also called spinal tap, is the insertion of a hollow needle into the subarachnoid space of the lumbar spine to withdraw a sample of spinal fluid for examination in the laboratory. A local anesthetic is administered prior to the procedure.]"
After lots of paperwork and questions he decided he wants to "observe" me for a few weeks. I am to keep a headache journal daily. He is also having me take 12 Advil a day for inflammation, as I am waking up every morning with a headache. Three at every meal and before bedtime. I will do this and log how I am doing everyday for 2 weeks. He will then assess everything again. He also gave me a nasal spray to use when the migraines get really bad.
I know it sounds kind of scary, but I will say he has to be cautious and consider this given my history. I think that is a good sign of a good doctor. I told Chris on a scale of 1-10, I would say his level of concern (to me) seemed about a 3. There are also MANY reasons I may be having these headaches/migraines from my age, meds I take, stress, teeth grinding and more. So....it will be a few weeks of trying the Advil and journaling.
In the meantime prayers are always appreciated for both relief from the headaches and future results. Thanks all~

PPE..Who knew?

2011-03-21T23:07:00.000-07:00

I have been recently toying with the idea of running the Big D half marathon with a friend of mine. I had not been "officially" training but a few of us have been running/walking and adding the miles up.
So... I decided to go to one of our favorite places, the Greenbelt Corridor to walk and see how it would go. I had somehow hurt my shin, calf and ankle so I had no idea if or how far I would go. Tried running on it, but it still hurt. Walking however was fine, so off we went on the trail through the trees, open fields and enjoying the beautiful Texas spring day.
About 4 miles in I asked my friend, how much further do you want to go? Remember we have to walk back. She said to the half way point which was 6 miles one way. Feeling good, I said sure. All was great till about mile 10.
At this point my feet felt like they were burning and really starting to hurt. I did have new shoes but had been wearing them for about 3 weeks both running and walking. As many miles as I have covered I never felt anything like this. I seriously had trouble getting to the car and back into the house.
I sat down and began to take off my shoes...they were not coming off, not with out the feeling of ripping my feet off with them. Carefully, I took them off to find blisters over both my feet. First thing I did was soak them in ice water as they were burning and the cold water felt good.
As time went on and days passed they got worse and I could barley walk. They not only burned and stung, there was a deep throbbing and sharp shooting pains. Advil did help. But, I could not understand why it was this bad. On Saturday I gave in and let my husband "drain" the blisters. Again, the pain was so much worse than a regular blister. Just touching my foot hurt and I yelled and cried like a baby.
Today is Monday, 4 days later and I can finally put my feet down flat and walk. Have not been able to put shoes on yet. I had planned to go to the doctor this morning but I did feel improvement so I did not go.
Then...I remembered reading about a side effect from taking Tykerb.

Hand-Foot Syndrome

Other terms: Palmar-Plantar Erythrodysesthesia; PPE
Following administration of chemotherapy, small amounts of drug leak out of very small blood vessels called capillaries in the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. Exposure of your hands and feet to heat as well as friction on your palms and soles increases the amount of drug in the capillaries and increases the amount of drug leakage. This leakage of drug results in redness, tenderness, and possibly peeling of the palms and soles. The redness, also known as palmar-plantar erythema, looks like sunburn. The areas affected can become dry and peel, with numbness or tingling developing. Hand-foot syndrome can be uncomfortable and can interfere with your ability to carry out normal activities.

Avoid increased pressure on the soles of the feet or palms of hands.
No jogging, aerobics, power walking, jumping - avoid long days of walking.

For more info., prevention, care and advice on PPE click here;
http://www.chemocare.com/managing/handfoot_syndrome.asp

Tomorrow I go back to teaching my outdoor group fitness class. They will be in their running shoes..I will be in slippers. I will be letting my doctor know what happened to be sure this is from the medication. For now, as much as I hate reading all the possible side effects of each drug I have to take, I am glad I remembered this one.

Inspired To Run

2011-03-18T09:22:00.000-07:00

My journey as a runner began nearly four years ago after the loss my brother-in-law Jim. He lost his short but heroic battle with leukemia after just seven months.I, along with five other family members decided to train for and run The Dallas Half Marathon in memory of our hero Jim.

I myself would be running as a cancer survivor of 9 years. While in training I decided to have a physical due to worsening pain in my back. The results from further testing were unexpected. The cancer had spread to my bones and was now considered stage 4 metastatic breast cancer. Now facing more treatments and very difficult decisions. including, whether or not to keep running. I did and completed the Dallas Half Marathon. Thoughts of Jim in his heroic battle inspired me throughout the training and motivated me to complete the race.

Once I finished the half marathon I knew I wanted to complete a full marathon. While in High school I ran track and was introduced to the Dallas White Rock Marathon.It was a race I had contemplated doing since then.. The decision was made and training began. Again, the cancer roared it's ugly face. This time spreading to the pectoral muscle. More treatments, surgeries and tough decisions to be made. All this combined with the loss of several family members within a years time took it's toll. Running provided the physical and emotional outlet I desperately needed.

I have been fortunate to have support from my doctors, family and friends. They encourage my running and do everything to help me reach my goals.On December 5, 2009, I completed my first marathon with my husband and running partner by my side. A highlight during the race was seeing our kids cheering us on at the finish line!

Running has not only helped improve my life but has provided me with ,both physical and emotional healing, It has become my passion.

I decided to become a Personal Trainer and share this love with anyone that will run with me. I now teach 5k run groups and boot-camps. The joy I have teaching and sharing my running experiences is what gets me up each day and keeps me going as I continue to fight for my life.
By~ Elayne Minich

The right decision

2011-03-15T07:21:00.000-07:00

One of the hard parts of living with any kind of illness that is on-going are the side-effects. Whether they are from past surgeries and treatments or present treatments and medications, it causes day to day fatigue and problems.
With this comes the dilemma of never really knowing how you will feel day to day and week to week. Because of this I did decided to request exemption from jury duty, which was granted.
I went to bed Sunday night with a terrible headache and woke up at 6:30 AM with another horrible migraine.Spent all day very sick in bed, not able to hold anything down including medication for nausea and pain. My BP reached 168/100, which is common when I have these headaches. This would have been the morning I would have had to report for jury duty.
I do not know what is causing these migraines. I have said before I will be seeing a neurologist. Just have to get up the courage to get started with yet another doctor.
Today I am feeling better. Wiped out but better. Thanks to all of you for your prayers.

Please Vote for my picture!

2011-03-09T07:41:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone!
I entered a photo in a contest just for fun :) However, I worked VERY hard to get this picture by climbing Mount Brandon a 952 m (3123 ft) mountain on the Dingle peninsula in Ireland.
It is the highest of the unnamed central mountain range of the Dingle Peninsula and the 9th highest peak in Ireland.
It is a beautiful shot and I am trying to get in the top 10... I have a long way to go!
If you want to vote for my pic. just click on this link and hit vote...thanks!

http://baggagelabel.klm.com/Taggallery.aspx?image=97083&sms_ss=facebook&at_xt=4d769a556995cae2%2C0

What's in a name?

2011-03-06T21:02:00.000-08:00

This has been an important question for us as we are expecting our very first grand-baby! Of course there is the traditional Grandma and Grandpa but...we don't always like to do things the traditional way so we have been pondering this.
I realize as many of you have told me that we will be called whatever the baby calls us, but we can certainaly try to establish a name...right??

Do you pick a name easy for a baby/child to say? Or one you just want to be called? Maybe something to do with family heritage? One that is a version of your own name, like Grandpa Chris, or ..just make one up, like Grandma Opal!
My parents go by G&G Ski, a shortened version of their last name and easy for the boys to say when they were little. Chris's parents went by G&G Minich.

Here are some we have looked at and the one we are most leaning towards.
Mama and Grandpa Minich ( all the kids already call me mama Minich, (so it fits).
Nonnie or Nonna, which is Italian for Grandma but Chris does not like Nonno for grandpa.
In Scotland, they call their grandma either granny or nanna. Grandpa is granda (pronounced gran-da).
"Seanmhathair" is Irish for grandmother - . It literally means 'old mother' and is pronounced like this: shan- waw - her. WAY TO HARD!
In Yiddish, they say…
Grandpa = zeyde
Pronounced zey’∙deh
Grandma = bobe
Pronounced boh’∙beh / boo’∙beh
I’ve always heard it as bubbie or bubby( ah, don't think so :)

German is Oma and Opa. With baby Minich's last name and the easy pronunciation, Oma and Opa are growing on us and leading the way!

So, what do you think or like?Are you a Grandparent? What do you go by or what do you call your grandparents??

Super Bowl Sunday Surprise!

2011-02-18T21:18:00.000-08:00

It's official... we found out on Super Bowl Sunday that we are going to be first time Grandparents! That still sounds so weird to me even as I write it and I have had two weeks to absorb it :)
We are thrilled about baby Minich who we will get to meet in September. My middle son Kevin and our daughter-in-law Nikki are the proud and happy parents.

We are looking forward to the blessings God is bringing us this year with our youngest son graduating from college, our oldest son getting married, our newest daughter-in-law and now Baby Minich! God is so good :)
Prayers for Baby and mom throughout her pregnancy are appreciated!

My baby is going to be a daddy!

Our Kids...Timothy, Stephanie, Nikki, Kevin & Matthew

I could have done without seeing that!

2011-02-16T17:06:00.000-08:00

Today was my monthly Faslodex shot. This time when I went to the infusion room there was no-one at all there. Just me, nurse M ( who I think may like giving me my shots :) and this! Course mine was the big one. She opened the package, got the needle ready and then I noticed it, looking bigger than ever, or maybe I just never looked before. I laughed and said " oh, I really didn't need to see that"! The usual "stick" and I was on my way after getting to talk with M about gardening.Headaches and BP are ok once again. Told M about 'going vegetarian" and she said we will check with the next round of blood-work to make sure everything looks ok.

No stop at Starbucks today for my usual peppermint latte'. Had to hit Wal Mart instead :(

Going vegetarian, again!

2011-02-11T09:28:00.000-08:00

1. Why go Vegetarian?
This may be the question those of you who love meat are wondering. This is not a new experience for me. I have gone through periods of cutting meat out of my diet as far back as a pre-teen. The main reason being that I simply don't like meat, of any kind. I have never liked fish so that was not an issue. I gave up red meat when I was first diagnosed with cancer 12 years ago. Since then, I have gone through periods of eating red meat but only organic. Chicken and Turkey are the last two to give up. Also, with my cancer being estrogen + and my therapy being hormone therapy used to omit as much estrogen as possible from my body, I feel it is better not to add the additional animal estrogen's.

2.Cookbook for Christmas
Tim & Stephanie gave me a good, simple vegetarian cookbook. The recipes are pretty easy to follow. I have not had trouble finding the ingredients and it is filled with pictures so you can see what it is supposed to look like. I find it easier to cook vegetarian. No worries about not thawing meat from the freezer to prepare for the evening dinner.Just like planning your usual dinner menu, I look through the different chapters of the book or recipes I find on line to mix it up.

3. New Food experiences
So what is "seitan" anyways?? A challenge of the vegetarian diet is some of the new foods and terms you are introduced to. If I have no idea what the recipe is calling for I google it. If I don't think the local grocery store will have it, I just google "substitute" for..... Overall, we have enjoyed the new food experiences!

4.Nutritional concerns
Between ongoing treatment for cancer and being a runner I definitely have concerns about meeting my bodies nutritional needs, particularly with protein, iron and vitamin B12. I do take a daily multi-vitamin supplement and plan to add additional supplements as needed. I will let my doctor know about this change and continue to educate myself to keep myself healthy and well balanced.

5. Feeling Lighter
I find I do not have the heavier feeling when you eat meat based meals but may need to snack a bit more often. I try to eat a small meal/snack every 3 hours 4 to 5 times a day. Including a protein source each time such as eggs, beans, nuts, milk, etc.

6. Other Veggie People
I am fortunate that my husband/family does not mind the vegetarian meals. Several of our family members and friends are also "veggie people" so getting together is easy as I usually have an option for both groups of people, like a vegetarian lasagna and a meat lasagna. It is nice to have others around to share recipes and outcomes with!

Any suggestions/tips or favorite recipes are welcome in the comments section!

Super Bowl Sunday followed by Super Sick Monday

2011-02-09T08:17:00.000-08:00

Sunday was a great day spent with family and friends having dinner and watching the Super-bowl.Monday was a whole different story. I had a really rough day that began with another headache I could not get under control. Which led to 16 hours of nausea and vomiting. Chris ended up calling Dr. A at 10:30 PM. Dr. A asked if I had anything for nausea. Fortunately, I had some phenergin(sp?) at home and it worked. I was then able to sleep through the night. The past two days I continue to have the headache and fatigue, still don't feel well, but getting better.

This has been happening enough that we are noticing some patterns and one common trigger that we notice is; any time I have a very long, hard, day( working long hours without a break, having people over for a big get together, all day tests done at the hospital, etc.) it is almost always followed by what happened Monday, just not usually as bad. It seems to be the common link and I don't know if this is simply part of living with stage 4 cancer ( although everything seems to be ok right now from the recent testing, no evidence of disease) or if possibly there is something, unrelated to cancer going on? Dr.A had mentioned seeing a neurologist concerning the headaches.

Spoke with a few other people about what might be causing these headaches and "stress" is the key word that keeps coming up.

We have decided to "lay low" for a while and see if the headaches ease up. Keeping in mind I have already had a brain scan, which was normal and have explored nutritional triggers as well. As much as I love having everyone over and being busy with our "projects"

http://corinthminichs.blogspot.com/2011/01/this-old-houseunder-construction-again.html

It looks like some R&R is in order. Today I made reservations for a small get a way for Chris and I in the future.

If any of you, especially those that have been through cancer/treatments recognize this pattern I would be very interested to hear from you. What you experience and what you are doing to help minimize the headaches.
For today, enjoying the snow, fire and rest :)

To Best Fight Cancer, New Guidelines Urge Exercise - Cancer Information (Cancers, Symptoms, Treatment) on MedicineNet.com

2011-01-24T20:47:00.000-08:00

A great article on the benefits to exercise while fighting cancer. Just click on the link ( appears as the title, To best Fight cancer...) below.

To Best Fight Cancer, New Guidelines Urge Exercise - Cancer Information (Cancers, Symptoms, Treatment) on MedicineNet.com

Blogger Friendships

2011-01-22T21:49:00.000-08:00

I have been thinking about how well you can get to know someone, learn from them, laugh with them and cry with them...yet you have never even met them. I have several of these "blogger friendships" and we usually share one common bond, cancer.
These friends are an important part of this journey because they understand when others simply can not. Especially when you are, as I am, stage 4 metastatic breast cancer.
This brings me to one of those friends that just lost her fight early this morning. Her name is Daria from~
http://daria-livingwithcancer.blogspot.com/
Many of you know Daria through her blog, and I am sure you are feeling the sadness from the loss of this wonderful lady.
As hard as it is each time we loose someone else to cancer, I sure am glad to have shared part of the journey with each of them. Daria..you will be missed by many.

When do you want to do this again??

2011-01-12T23:04:00.000-08:00

Interesting question for my Onc. to ask at the end of our visit with him but it was a great question to answer! I said 6 more months? He said yes, I said will I ever be able to say 1 year till I have to come back? He said NO :)
Yes... all my tests were clear and I go back in another 6 months!

My lab results showed everything was good. They do 2 tumor marker tests, one was in normal range and the other was slightly elevated. Normal range is < 38, my # was 41. Dr. A said with all the tests coming back clear he is not concerned. I do feel a bit worried about this because this test 6 mo. ago was 27.

My muga scan was also in normal range at 50, which is considered "low end of Normal". Again, he is happy with that result and said I should continue with the Tykerb and training for an event if I want to. My original muga was 58 and I was hoping it would be higher, but as Dr. A said "normal is normal".

Same goes for the PET scan which is the "scariest" of all the tests as far as waiting for results. Nothing showed up, so that is good news :) It was a very long day with a very bad headache, but it is over and I am feeling better.
My BP was very high at the apt. 167/97. After a few days of tests and a visit to Starbucks before the apt. I guess it might be high. He does want me to track it several times a day for a couple of weeks and told us what to watch for with the upper( systolic) and lower ( diastolic) #'s. So I am monitoring that. It has continued to be elevated, with the exception of after my running.

We went in with a list of 12 questions, most regarding side effects, medications and dealing with the emotional side of things. Many of the side effects led him to wanting me to be checked by a neurologist as there may be some nerve problems from where the cancer was in my neck. He took time, as he always does to discuss the difficult emotional parts of all this for both Chris and I and our family. He helped me understand what other stage 4 cancer patients go through and assures me I am doing well.
So...for now, we stay the course! All meds stay the same with the exception of trying to take me off Lupron. So we will plan to stop this drug which keeps me in a medical menopause and hope it works! Otherwise, back on it.
This was a long post, but it was a lot to cover. Praying for the next 6 months to go well :) Thanks all~

Two down... one to go...and our night with Chicago!

2011-01-08T12:32:00.000-08:00

I had my faslodex and Lupron injections on Wednesday and have felt unusually good! The side effects I tend to have in the first few days have been minimal. So, that is great!
Yesterday was a long day starting with the muga scan. I do not have "official" results yet but it looks like it is ok. Will have to talk to the Dr. about getting back on the Tykerb. My feeling is that it will be a yes.
After the scan, I went for labs and they are checking for everything! Also have no results back from those either. Matt came with me and we spent the rest of the afternoon having lunch at Cheesecake Factory and shopping. He got a sweatshirt and I got a pair of black boots..both on clearance! I was glad to have him with me :)
Last scheduled test is the PET scan Monday morning. The hardest part of this test for me is the no caffeine or sugar ( the caffeine is the issue:) for 24 hours. No exercising either.
The weather forecast is calling for rain, snow and very cold temps. beginning tomorrow and into Monday. It is about an hour drive to the hospital so I REALLY hope we don't have to cancel. I want to get it over with and I really don't want to have to go 24 hrs. with no caffeine twice!
It is probably making sense why I received $75 in Starbucks gift cards for Christmas :)
Here are a couple of pics from Wed. night when Chris and I saw Chicago at the Myerson playing with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra! Great time strolling down memory lane! We are all a little older, bigger, grayer or bald. Instead of jeans, t shirts and funky styles of clothing it is now suits, dresses and a very classy symphony center.It is funny how music can take us all back 25-35 years ago in one simple evening. Great time!

We were not allowed to take pics, so this is with my cell before the show.

Elayne & Chris after the show

Elayne

Chris

I walked away humbled

2011-01-06T07:50:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I went to the infusion center to get my injections. Before I got to the room I was talking to the nurses in the hallway about the migraines. We decided to try a new prescription if or when they return. I was feeling pretty good as my headache had finally went away and I had a date night with my husband later that evening.
I stepped into the infusion center and it was more crowded than normal, which struck me right away. I sat down, waiting for my turn and heard the conversations all around me. One couple discussing ending chemo vs. quality of life because the husband is so sick and tired that he no longer has a quality of life.
Then a husband helping his tiny, frail wife in to a seat. The nurses talking about sending her to the emergency room. Looked to my left and the women all alone, hooked up to her chemo, asleep and looking so worn.
And then it hit me like a ton of bricks.... "headaches" really?? That's what I need help with? My heart hurt so bad for these people, I could not stop the tears from flowing. My heart ached for them because I know what they are going through, I have been there.
God, in the way only He can do it, reminded me yesterday that right now, today, He has given me life to live! At any point in time any one of us can be the person in the chair, maybe for the first time, maybe for the last. But right now, I am blessed with the life He has given me.
I told my nurse how I was feeling.She told me not to think that way. She said " you have your own battle, and this IS your reality". I appreciated her encouragement and must say I appreciated my date night with Chris more than ever! I most defiantly walked away humbled.

Some days it is just in the moments...

2011-01-05T08:37:00.000-08:00

I woke up this morning with OUT a headache and my heart racing!! Now....to enjoy this for the next 3 hours before my injections. Oh well, savoring the moment :)

Here we go...

2011-01-04T14:12:00.000-08:00

In Bold is the upcoming tests and days. For those of you that are interested in what all of it means ,the italicized descriptions are for your reading enjoyment :)

Wednesday~ Lupron & Faslodex injections
Lupron is a man-made form of a hormone that regulates many processes in the body. Leuprolide overstimulates the body's own production of certain hormones, which causes that production to shut down temporarily. It reduces the amount of testosterone in men or estrogen in women.
Faslodex, is used to treat hormone receptor positive breast cancer (breast cancer that depends on hormones such as estrogen to grow) in women who have experienced menopause (change of life; end of monthly menstrual periods) and whose breast cancer has worsened after they were treated with antiestrogen medications such as tamoxifen (Nolvadex). Fulvestrant is in a class of medications called estrogen receptor antagonists. It works by blocking the action of estrogen on cancer cells. This can slow or stop the growth of some breast tumors that need estrogen to grow.

Friday~ Muga scan and labs
MUGA scans are also used to evaluate heart function prior to and while receiving certain chemotherapies (e.g. doxorubicin (Adriamycin)) or immunotherapy (specifically, herceptin) that have a known effect on heart function.
A tumor marker is a substance found in the blood, urine, or body tissues that can be elevated in cancer, among other tissue types. There are many different tumor markers, each indicative of a particular disease process, and they are used in oncology to help detect the presence of cancer. An elevated level of a tumor marker can indicate cancer; however, there can also be other causes of the elevation.

Monday~ PET scan and apt. with my oncologist to go over everything.
PET can help physicians effectively pinpoint the source of cancer. This is possible because many cancer cells are highly metabolic and therefore synthesize the radioactive glucose (sugar) that is injected in the patient prior to the exam. The areas of high glucose uptake are dramatically displayed in the scan imagery, as opposed to the anatomical imagery of CT or MRI, which cannot detect active, viable tumors.

Thank you in advance everyone for your thoughts and prayers.

It's time again....

2011-01-03T08:07:00.000-08:00

After having a rough weekend with migraines and an elevated blood pressure of 152/106 and pain in my lower abdomen ( pelvic area) it is time for more tests :(

First one up is a muga scan to check my heart. The medicine Tykerb I take at night can effect the heart. I have also been having numbness and tingling in my left arm/hand. I decided to stop taking the Tykerb for a few days and that has gone away, however my BP was way too high yesterday. I have had an abnormal muga scan before when I was on Herceptin, which then had to be stopped. So, it is time to take a look at my heart again and see if the Tykerb is having the same effect. For now, they are having me remain off the Tykerb.

After that will be a PET scan, labs and visit with Dr. A to go over all the results. In the meantime I have my Faslodex AND Lupron shots on Wednesday. As of this morning my BP is remaining normal but I still have the headaches.
I have been doing some reading on migraines and am realizing in my case,there may be some food triggers that are setting them off. I will be omitting those foods from my diet and adding more of the foods that help. Fortunately, those foods where already part of my diet,so I will just increase them.

Gonna be a bumpy road....your prayers for all of this and the upcoming test results are greatly appreciated.

2010~ A Year in Review

2010-12-31T20:33:00.000-08:00

It is the last day of 2010 with only a few hours left till a New Year begins. As I have looked back over the past year I am overwhelmed by how much has happened in just 12 months. Some very good and some very difficult. I am thankful for the year that God has given me.
2010 in Review~

1) We were fortunate to take 3 trips~ Chris and I spent New Years at Lake Murray. We like to get a cabin, hike and plan for the New Year.
A camping trip with Matt, Kevin and Nikki over spring break. Started out with warm weather in shorts, woke up the next day to 6 inches of snow. Just one of the unexpected snow falls last year!
Our "trip of a lifetime" to Europe! We visited Prague, Ireland, Scotland, Belgium, Holland and England. What a great experience!

2) This was a more difficult year for me health wise.I had my 3rd diagnosis with cancer.It had spread to the pectoral muscle and a scare of uterine cancer, resulting in 3 more biopsy's, 2 more surgeries, 25 more radiation treatments, several new medications and lots of side effects. I finally gave in when I could no longer read and have glasses I need to wear nearly full time

3)We sadly and tragically lost two more very special family members. Chris's mom, Lois and our nephew Joey.

4)During radiation treatments my son Kevin ran a half marathon for me! I can't say I did not consider doing it with him but I stuck with some smaller races this year.Chris and I both placed first( in our age divisions:) in a small, local 10k. I had always wanted to organize a race, so on Thanksgiving along with 17 others we ran our first Annual Minich 5k Turkey Trot!
A few other Mountains we climbed... well literally, we climbed MT. Brandon, the 2nd highest mountain( 2775 ft.) in Ireland.Hiked Sir Arthur's seat, which overlooks beautiful Edinburgh, Scotland. And took a beautiful 26 mile bike ride from Brugge, Belgium to Holland.

5) A few special events/ celebrations.Went to my first Komen Brunch for survivors with my great friend and sister survivor, Natasha. While at the brunch I won 8 tickets to the Texas Rangers game which is how our family and the Weeks family spent Mothers day!Our daughter-in-law Nikki, was the graduate this year from UTD Suma Cum Lade! And finally, just last week we celebrated my dad's 75th BDay with a huge surprise party!
6) Our son Tim moved back home from Prague, engaged to our newest daughter-in-law to be Stephanie. She is from England where her family lives and she has recently moved to Texas. Another wonderful family addition, we are so happy she is here.
7) Around the house~ I decided to get some help this year and am so very thankful for Maria who comes every 2 weeks. Yay!
My garden was a bust and I don't know if I will continue it this spring/summer. We are working on some remodeling with the addition of wood floors ( currently being installed by Chris) and a new tile entry way which is done!

8)By having some help with the house I am able to continue training and teaching my 5k run groups,Ladies boot camps, swim lessons,and personal training. This year was a full and rewarding year getting to work with so many wonderful people and families!

9) A wonderful Halloween,Thanksgiving and Christmas with our kids, family and friends. Always reminded how special everyone and the time together is.

10) And lastly, my personal victories for 2010. Celebrated my 12 year cancerversary, 46th Birthday and 26th wedding anniversary!

I enter 2011 with cautious optimism.HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
"hopefulness and confidence about the future or successful outcome of something; a tendency to take a favorable or hopeful view."