The good the bad and the drains

Cancer free is fantastic but shit balls I am still hurting. It is crazy to be so elated with great news yet still have trouble doing push ups (hahahah kidding but I wonder how many thought no she didn't?). This entry is a hodge podge of thoughts, all this sitting on my ass (as it grows) watching Teen Mom has given me lots of opportunity to come up with ideas, reflections, complaints and a lot of gratitude.

I am slowly and methodically planning the Race for the Cure 2013, registration is October 1st so once that team is set up, watch out! I warned my girls at Komen that they may want one of the buildings set aside for Cure or Bust not the pavilion. I am looking for more responsibilities there as well. I want to get my story out so someone else can say early detection saved their life. A random person emailed me yesterday telling me my blog changed her outlook on breast cancer. It pushed her to get mammos set up for her and her 3 daughters even though there is no stupid dumb breast cancer in her family. That is what I am talking about!! I have been thinking about what can be done with the pictures Genevieve has taken (by the way here is her web link  http://www.genphotos.com/ please check out her work). I want women to look at me as I journey through the lumps and think, "I can beat this". I really want to start a support group, my background is psychology and lets face it I am always psycho analyzing people in my head. I want this to combo exercise and healthy eating and am happy to say I have enough people to turn to for help.

I am so sick of drains! Never have they been fun, except when I threaten the kids that I will make them drain them. They are gross, uncomfortable and just annoying. When they come out I will feel much better and have less to bitch about. It is a win win situation.

Putting myself aside this has been hard on my family. Now remember full blooded Italian here so by family I mean "mi familia" everyone. My dad and G-Deb want to help and have done a great job of carting kids around but staying away too. I am sure the 1st task is great for them the 2nd difficult. My dad brought his sweet  90+ Monsignor friend over yesterday to bless me. Or perform an exorcism, you decide. My sister is just waiting for me to give her a job to do, I have come up with some but none have made her feel useful. Looks like its time to get the toilet scrubber out. My brother!!!  What can I say, he is here every morning with bagels or donuts talking about when he changed my diapers. He can change my drains if he wants!! Tom has been Mr. Mom and has been so good at maintaining my level of anal retentiveness. He has conceded that he realizes just how much I do and I think it will stick. It has been a long week and we are both ready for Cape Cod. The boys just want normal. Julian told me "Momma I want the boys to go back to school", which in kids words is "WTF I want you all to myself". My cousins have been calling, emailing (like 50 a day from one person and you know who you are), texts and cards is crazy but makes me smile every time. But most of all getting inked! My cousin Rosie who has been there through all my ups and downs, similar to that of a roller coaster and her daughter who I have been there for through all her ups and downs similar to ME, both got inked!!! They may have been exempt from hair shaving.

My girlfriends, there are no words. The food and grocery shopping for us has been nourishing and delish. Let it be known there has not been a bad meal, we all know what a food snob  I am and these bitches have delivered! The support, coffee stops, tears and love have been what is getting me through this. That and friends who come over and insist on taking the garbage out, cleaning the counters and vacuuming. It's friends that are my sisters that leave me speechless, boy are they happy about that! Each one in their support has come to be a different friend. Which makes me turn to them for different needs. The bitch friend, the let me see your boobs and take a picture after you have been mutilated, the silver lining friend, the WTF can happen now friend, the 2am and I need to talk friend... you all know your part and believe me I love you all so much. Even my BFF in California has been so helpful. There is nothing like staying up till 2am talking, laughing, crying with someone that has known you a lifetime. Who you have helped through hard times and in her voice hear how much she feels like she is not helping. You do not have to be in my living room to help. That being said let us not forget the pity prizes, just saying woman just saying. Even a rock is calming to me, by that I mean semi precious stones embedded in a piece is jewelry. Or bedazzled shoes!!!

Genevieve came over last night to capture some family moments. As I sat there it wasn't just about the pictures. I have 4 boys who I know will look back on this and say "mom rocked" but my girlfriends girls are so important to me. When Nikki stopped over I saw in her girls' eyes relief. They knew I was alright but to see it was happy for them. It didn't stop them from trying on my shoes and eating my grub! I love them like they were my girls. I watched as the boys and their very good girlfriends sat and watched TV, they talked about being scared and crying over things, they sat together on the couch without being concerned about boy/girl crap...they were there for each other. I want my "daughters" to be proud of there 2nd Mommy and remember this as they grow into beautiful women to check their boobies!!!
Guess I wasn't so speechless after all.....

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really says it all, check the kids in the window

I love this pic, the beauty of friendship
and the ugly of breast cancer together and fighting and winning!

Tired but not even close to defeated

G