Sammy Boy

Dear my Sammy Boy,
WOW can not believe you are 11 today. Where did it go my big headed baby?? It seems like yesterday that you were born. Ben used to love to hold you with the Boppy and rub your hand now you two just want to smack each other with your hands! Yet I know you are the best of friends. This past year has been hard on my smiling Sammy. Some people say their kid always smiles but you have been smiling since birth. Even when I am screaming at you there is still a smile on your face. There is even one on that round beautiful face when your brothers are getting in trouble, I think that's your favorite time to smile on you little knucklehead!  You never miss a chance to make someone crack up which sometimes makes me want to crack your head! You have one of the kindest hearts I know always helping the underdog. You are my go with the flow kid and really always looks on the brighter side! Birds birds birds that is all I can say about that.
The night before my surgery you laid next to me sobbing, that was the hardest thing to watch. I hate that cancer took your smile away, really hate that. I know how worried you still are and I wish I could take that fear away. This was the one time you could not joke or smile and cancer sucks for taking that from you.

I know you drive me friggin nuts with your wise acre attitude (not sure where you get that from!) but I know in the long run you will be a more confident person because of it. I could not be any more prouder of the young man you are becoming. Except of course when you are tormenting Anthony which you have seem to do amazingly well. I know how happy you are to share a birthday with Beyonce I just wish for your sake she was as excited as you!

Thank you for always being there with your smile, I know it may seem I want to smack it off you but I secretly don’t. Remember I love you so much and you will always be my favorite (just don’t tell the others).

Your princess mother,
Mommy 

Jigglers anyone?

See it jiggle it, watch it jiggle… I know you are thinking what the hell is she talking about. I went to my plastic surgeon today discuss what we are doing about this implants that my body doesn’t seem to like. I asked about the DIEP and he had to jiggle my belly to see if it was big enough. For the first time in my life sucking it in was not an option. Come to find out that cancer gave me just enough to have this with the disclaimer of small boobs. I was not a candidate for this originally but cancer gave me some extra weight. So I am onto a LONG surgery followed by 5 days in the hospital 2 of which are ICU this is no joke and not at all what I ever thought I was going to do but my gut (blahahah get it) is telling this is right. Totally getting some killer shoes for this stay!! Why the hell do I want this?? Well, let me start by saying these implants are not right, puckering and up to my throat and moving to the pits. None of those things look very good. The PS will fix my scars that are so raised up you can see them through shirts. The keloids are bad and they suck!!  That is the first and actually easy reason. Now on to the bigger… I feel like a friggin alien!!! I have no idea whose body this is that I am living in. I could not feel more for lack of incorrect grammar “faker” than I do right now. I constantly am aware of these 2 fake things attached to me. They are like a science experiment that I didn’t mean to do. I skipped lab in HS so this is not what I signed up for. I hate how they look when I take my clothes off it is like I see my head but what the hell am I attached to. And if one more person tells me how great they look I will seriously punch them. When get out of the shower I cry, a lot. There is such an emotional part to this journey that can only be described if you went through it. No breast does not define a woman but they are part of us. Whether you choose to be flat and fabulous, implanted or flapped out they are a part of you. Society puts a lot of focus on breasts and because of that we put notions in our own head of how our body should be. I want my old body back but I know that is not a reality. So what I need right now is to have me, no silicone just me. Part of this is that I am far from a fake, I am who I am like me or move on. I almost feel like with them I am impersonating someone. No I am not on crack I am totally straight. These implants have taken me and made me self-conscience and I hate that. I can’t even begin to explain the reasons why I do not have enough time and I do not want to bore the hell out of you. Now I know if you are reading this and never had cancer let alone breast cancer you are thinking “can’t she just be happy she is alive?” I can yes I can, but that is not the issue here. Cancer changes you so much and while I will never be back to my old self I want to feel little like me. Is this decision for everyone? No it is for me. I have friends that LOVE their implants and are doing great with them, or are flat and completely happy . I need to be myself really me whether you like me or not I have to like me and right now I am not digging this body. So I will shop for some stilettos and shine my tiara and get ready for one big ass surgery or better yet one gutsy surgery!!

Love him or hate him

My dear sweet brother ...blahahahahahahahaha! My brother is the kind of person you turn to when you want the ultimate truth, when need help moving a body, when you need back up, when you need to be loved. He loves with his whole heart does things only because he wants to which means he loves you enough to do it.  His advice is always given even if you don't want to hear it. He gives his all to a relationship and expects you to do the same. He speaks his mind whether you want him to or not. And he has taught me how to do all that I just added my touch to it. He drives me nuts when he stops over at 7am but I don't want him to ever stop, ever. He won't read this cause he hates to see my chest, he used to change my diapers to its weird to him. He called every day, stopped by but still felt helpless. I saw the pain in his eyes while I went through everything. There was no body to move, he was just pissed at cancer. He never left my side through all this and was right were my kids needed by their side. He is the godfather to my son Sam and the perfect choice. I love my brother and would do all the above and more for him. I need him in my life and my kids. Happy birthday to the best back up a princess could have! 


 

Oh and happy birthday to my sweet god daughter Nicole. I love you  my little munchkin and really really look forward to your 21st birthday! You getting that tattoo means more to me than I think you will ever understand. I want you to never have to go through what I did, ever and for that I will always fight. I also don’t want you to get pregnant right now so use protection, just saying. Thanks for all you have done for me this year. Now be a good girl and shine my tiara!! 

Vacation all I ever wanted....

my man!!!

Yup that fanily

Jello is our staple

Sand in my toes, junk food in the bags, girl magazines ready, Patron in effect, J E L L O,  metal detector ready for action and NO DRAINS!! This is going to be a great vacation add the 3 bottles of "Cheezy Does It" and it will be amazing. Seriously last year was plain awful (singing a little Annie to this I hope). Sure we laughed a lot but I was in so much pain coming a week off my mastectomy. I couldn't help the way I normally do actually I do tend to take over. I was simply exhausted by the time we left the beach that it the only thing I could do was sit. Don't get me wrong I barked orders just fine but I am a doer. I mean poor Megan had to carry 50 pound sand bags and lets face she weighs 100 pounds wet! Rosie can barely handle the Jell-O shots without me and I was too tired to really help. Ok I will admit it we are "that family" on the beach you know the one. With the cabana, music, 6 coolers, 12 chairs, soccer net, enough food to feed the beach, and loud very loud. Last year though we were all a little more toned down, no really we were. We were waiting on my pathology report, waiting good times. My famil was so nice to me, helping me, not letting me do squat. I am pretty sure that will change this year and I am so happy to be back to normal. Whatever normal is! 

I can't wait for coconut ice cream at Sundae School, lobstah rolls from Arnold's, bone fire on the beach with our friends, bocce ball and getting my sun on! I know how exciting it is to go away, how you need it. But this year we REALLY need it. Not just from stupid dumb breast cancer but from stupid dumb heart attack too. I brought my dad to the Cape 15 years ago and we have been going ever since. Cape Cod is our happy place. Not just because its lovely but because some of our favorite people are there with us.  And this year we are adding my nephew too, boy is in for it. These are the  people that make me happy even when they are pissing me off, people that no matter what still treat me like a princess. Crap I hope I packed my tiara!

Hope, Live, Love



Coconut Ice Cream for the nuts!



My King

My side kick






Mid-Western BFF Birthday

Sometimes someone pops into your life and you have no idea what direction the relationship will have. Years ago I met Genevieve and I thought she is nice but I will be real friends. As time went on we got closer and closer sharing personal experiences and dark secrets (I think she once said she was a spy shhhhh). Funny how this loud mouth Italian became so close with this quiet Mid-Western girl. She was that friend that stood by me through this whole journey not  leaving me side. Even when there was blood, scars and drains. She healed heal me through her photos in a way that I do not think she even understands. She made me feel like I was going to be ok through those pictures. Those photos then inspired and empowered and encouraged and helped so many other woman. I don’t think Genevieve will ever understand the magnitude of these pictures and I hope she will never have to. I am not only so happy to have her as my friend, I am so proud that she is my BFF. Thanks “G” for everything you have done. I am so happy your parents decided to have sex and make you. Happy birthday to my Mid-Western BFF.

Mastectomyversary?

Here we go

Cancer is a funny thing. You have your DX anniversary, your cancer free anniversary, your first chemo, your last chemo, rads and any drug your started anniversary, your surgery anniversary and whatever hell else you make up. Some are easy and you barely notice them or they just make you smile. Then there are the ones that remind you of what really altered you. For me that is today.

Hugs not drugs, wait I need the drugs

I keep holding back tears yet I am not sure what I am crying for, The fact I am here and this year was tougher but made me tougher (as if I needed help). The fact that my body has changed so much it has made me a self-conscience freak (as if I needed to fly my freak flag more). Or is it the loss of body parts that I find myself for no other word, sad. Unless you lost a body part you cannot understand the feeling. I wish I had the fancy shamancy words to help those who have never experienced it but I don’t, I only have made up ones to drive Tom and Jennifer nuts. That is really the thing, there are not any right words it’s just a feeling. You are so happy that the part is gone because it tried to poison your body, but shit you are sad they are gone. Then you are thrilled to be alive yet pissed off that this is happening and you cannot control it. It is a roller coaster for sure. OMG that is it I am calling it the “viper” emotion. I am simply brilliant. Applause now please! I remember surgery day so well. Getting up after absolutely no sleep whatsoever, talking to Alissa all night long,  Sammy boy crying himself to sleep holding my hand, Meg half asleep telling me she loved me, MC pulling up to pick us up in the darkness of the morning, the ride there and the check in. Seeing my dad and how strong he was trying not cry (for those new to this show I had a no crying rule). This was major for my dad, major. My badass brother coming into the room hugging and running literally out the door because he was going to cry (he came back a little drunk and cried a little). G-Deb trying hard to not cry but sneaking out for coffee when I knew what she was doing. Genevieve snapping shots that I thought were funny yet not really understanding the impact of what these pictures were going to do to me. My sister showed up late which was perfect for 2 reasons, “that’s Lori” and there was no way she could do the no crying rule. MC, well there are no words none. She was right there not leaving me and joking the entire time just what I needed. Then there was Tom, fool ate a full breakfast right in front me the ass. He couldn’t look me in the eyes I knew why; he was so scared and didn’t want me to see. This was not just an in and out surgery and the uncertainty was intense. When we did look at each other just enough to understand. Then waking up. Drugged, in pain wondering what the hell you look like. The drains that no one can prepare you for what they feel, smell like. How you are so nervous yet the drugs make you so confuse those emotions. Walking for the first time, no memory yet I have pictures to prove I did. the nurses were great and I will never for them especially Emily. Funny how a stranger can give you so much love and care. Seeing my kids via FaceTime, loved that just loved it. They got to see I was ok and I was. Wondering what the hell was next and having no control over it. I can look back on this day and be proud for sure. It turned my life around. I feel like my journey has helped others so much and for that I will take 2 for the team. I can also be pissed that this journey has given me low self-esteem and broke my heart. I can be so happy that I am alive and beating up cancer (we all know the journey doesn’t end with the last “whatever”). I can be guilt ridden that I am alive when so many have taken wings. I can be empowered by their amazing courage too. I can be depressed that this journey has showed me so many amazing people that have lost their battle. I can also be overcome with sheer glee (yes I said glee now shut the front door) that I have made some of the best or breast friends of my life. This journey has taught me just who my friends are and how amazing the really are. It has brought my family even closer (almost to the scary creeper side) than I ever imagined. So how can I argue with that? Yet I still cry and really if you are reading this and have never experienced cancer at its finest you cannot get it. I am so happy yet I want to cry on this day like a big ol’ friggin baby. There is no doubt that we all experience cancer different but I will tell you this part is how it just is. I know so many survivors struggling with this and it sucks the big cancer stick. Stupid dumb breast cancer, ARGGGG!! Today will come and go and I will be fine. I will flip through these pictures and remember where I was, how far I have come and what is still down this long ass fucking bumpy road. Maybe I will cry, maybe I will smile or even laugh just a little. Whatever I do this is my journey and I will do it my way like or leave the page but don’t hate. I will do it in stilettos, a tiara and a pink boa (just for my militant friends)!

Stupid Dumb Breast Cancer: It just hit me you have breast cancer

I was all set to write a new post then I decided to read last year's one. So as I type I am crying. Yes I have come a LONGGGG way but to think about this time last year overwhelms me. The emotions, the anger, the fright comes all rushing back. When I say fright I mean like scared shit less could die not Freddy Kruger in the boiler room.  I will never forget that and I do not want to. I want to remember how I felt so I can help all those joining the club, this horrible loving supportive cancer club.

Last year this time I was stressing real stress as I prepared for surgery. I cannot believe it has been a year, it seems like yesterday…….

Stupid Dumb Breast Cancer: It just hit me you have breast cancer: Design by Margret Says my girlfriend who has been with me every step of the way, dumb ass DUH! You know when you need to be injected wit...