a baby and a brush cut

Today I basked in babyland....my friend Megan had baby Jamie 3 weeks ago, and oh is he perfect!  Megan and her hubby Brien seem to be on top of everything, but I was happy to be able to share one important nugget of advice re. how to diaper a baby boy and not end up with pee UP the outfit :)  Congrats to the great new parents!

Earlier this week, I got my first haircut for almost 2 years!  I had been contemplating getting one for a while now because the "wings" over my ears had been bothering me.  And my hair was all one length and I wanted some more shape.  Then, I saw an ad on my mothers group forum for a salon looking for hair models.  I felt like I didn't have a lot to lose (certainly not a lot of hair!), so I went for it!  I went to Tease Salon in Laurel Heights and had a great girl named Lena with her instructor Rick and a FREE cut!  It's so fulfilling to save money :)

So here's baby Jamie and the new 'do....

I also had a cervical and thoracic MRI this morning because I've been having excruciating back pain for the last several weeks.  It seems like one when problem seems to resolve itself, something else pops up! Anyway, my NP Stephany called this afternoon to say that the initial report didn't show anything that looked like Hodgkins (no masses, that is), which is good.  There may be a bulging disc but more info is needed from Radiology first.  So for now I'll just keep up with the pain meds and wait for more info....

There's a Doctor in the Hiz-ouse!!

My forever friend Sarah recently "graduated" by completing her residency in Pediatrics!  BIG accomplishment!  She is now on to a fellowship at New York Methodist Hospital and I know that she is going to be the coolest fella there!  I am very proud of Sarah and also of this card I made her :)

I was lucky that my mom doesn't want to store my stuff in their garage I had a couple of my high school yearbooks on hand in order to create the envelope liner.  Yup, that's Sarah circa 1997, smack in the middle!

Glamming Up the Garden State!

My dear friend Catherine and her family recently moved (back) to New Jersey, so I made her this little housewarming card.

Fire Trucks and Frustration

On Saturday, we were on our way to our beloved warehouse store (Costco), when we spotted a few fire trucks parked at the beach.  They were not obviously involved in any kind of emergency mission, so we pulled over and took Nicholas for his first up-close visit.  A friendly fireman even let him drive his hook 'n ladder!

oh?  bah!  (Nicholas' phone dialogue)

Call me Capn. Curly Head!

I just came home from the doctor, who reported (not surprisingly) that the biopsy results from Friday were pretty inconclusive.  They did see some inflammation, but they can't confirm that they got a good sample of the nodes to totally rule out Hodgkins.  Oh well, it was worth a try.  As far as next steps go.... Dr. A is communicating with a pulmonary surgeon about the possibility of performing a more precise biopsy (more of a surgical procedure) or possibly removing the nodes themselves.  Will provide updates as they develop!

I had a little lung biopsy today

I got a call from my NP this morning that those pesky nodules in my left lung have gotten a little larger (I had a CT scan yesterday). She and Dr. A wanted to go ahead and try to biopsy because the radiologist said he thought they could "get them" now just using a needle through the chest wall (vs a more major surgery discussed when they were smaller).  They wanted a biopsy to try to confirm whether it's truly an infection in my lungs (which wouldn't be odd given the immunosuppresant meds I've been on) or is it Hodgkins...

So in I went to UCSF Medical Center (not my original plans for this fine SF day!). The procedure itself was about an hour and a half and it was quite uncomfortable. It was difficult to actually get the needle to the nodes because the lungs are always moving as you breathe, and so are the nodules. So the goal is to get the patient to take consistent amounts of breath as they would on a CT Scan so they have a good "guess" where the nodes are. The docs had to make at least 5 or 6 attempts and may have gotten an okay sample at the very end.  Oh and I wasn't sedated a bit...wide awake for this!  Right off the bat, the pathologist didn't see cancer cells, but there is a lot more studying to be done. They also have to give the sample time to grow (which would happen in the case of an infection).  In the end, we may not have any more decisive answers but we'll wait and see!

Now this weekend, I need to lay low and not pick up anything heavy (Nicholas) so I don't blow up the little puncture from the needle in my lung.  I don't want a readmission from a collapsed lung!

On another note, I wanted to share this deal currently taking place at Athleta (thank you kerry for the alert)!

Let's Light the Night!

On Tuesday, September 17, 2013, Team Invictus will be participating in the Bay Area LLS Light the Night Walk.  Our team page is now active, so if you'd like to join us for the walk or support us by making a donation, please visit this page:  http://pages.lightthenight.org/gba/SanFran13/invictus

This year is particularly exciting for many reasons!

• Caitlin will not be receiving a stem cell transplant and will be able to participate!
• The walk originates at AT&T ballpark (home of the SF Giants) and a portion of the walk takes place on the field itself!
• Caitlin is a 2013 "honored hero" for this event, so our group will have a VIP tent and special attention!
• Nicholas will be an almost-two-year-old (omg!), so we'd like to plan a BIG CELEBRATION for him and for his whole family for persevering through these staggering last two years!!

Invictus

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

-William Ernest Henley

These shoes...

I smiled when I was "shutting down" the house tonight and heading to bed, for I looked down and spotted these little shoes waiting for tomorrow's adventures. Seemingly so small and serene, but really table-kicking, peanut-crushing, slide-climbing enablers!