2022 officially ended and I took every opportunity to celebrate. Celebrated with tears, with laugher, with stories, with advice, with learning, with CHEERS! And today, I got the all clear to start planning my final surgery, remove expanders and port. Peace out!

It’s been quite the whirlwind of a year and I have been so lucky to be surrounded by amazing friends and family. I thank you all. My ride or die neighbor squad surprised me with a night out celebration after I rang the bell.

I thought ending radiation would be be easy. Nope. Turns out after radiation, your skin actually gets worse before it gets better. My armpit was so tight that it felt like my skin was literally going to rip in half if I raised my arm too high. Then came the intense ‘sunburn itch.’ Good times. I was so nervous that my skin wouldn’t heal before we left for our vacation to Marco Island, FL. Luckily I preplanned and bought myself swim tops, because I couldn’t put on a tank top, let alone a tight bathing suit top that would dig into my armpit and the straps… don’t get me started on bathing suit straps. They’re tight for a reason, right? So your girls don’t fall out. How would I wear a backpack during traveling? How miserable will the flight be? All these things running through my head, and you know what? I didn’t have to worry about any of them. Literally a few days before we left, my rash and open sores healed and my mobility (with daily stretching) came back. Saddle up bitches, we’re going to Florida!

Sorry, I’m trying to write this blog in chronological order, but then memories pop into my head and I want to make sure to mention them. A couple nights before we left for Florida, my youngest son tells me that he wrote me a letter in school. Might want to grab a tissue for this one. As much has he drives me nuts, he is the most thoughtful boy and such a sweetheart.

All. The. Feels.

The much anticipated trip is now here. We’re headed to Marco Island, Florida. Here is the condo we stayed in. It was so perfect for our family of 5. I had the entire week, for the most part, organized and booked. It’s how I vacation.

Things included on my must do list:

• Tigertail Beach
• Food Must Haves: Lobster Tacos, Shrimp Tacos, Grouper Tacos, Mahi-Mahi Tacos, Lobster Roll, Stone Crab Tacos
• Pontoon Boat Rental
• “Food Boats” at Keewaydin Island
• Airboat Ride in The Everglades
• Ferry to Keywest and overnight stay in Keywest
• Cocktails

There was something that was supposed to be on the list, but got canceled. I hired an event company to setup a “dinner date” on South Beach Marco Island with steak and lobster to surprise Brian. The company had a sign made to welcome Brian and got our favorite wine ready. Thirty minutes before we were set to leave, a storm popped up with winds and cold weather. The event company had to cancel. It was the ONE THING I wanted to do for Brian. He’s been so amazing this entire year taking on all the stress and doing all the things I couldn’t. I wanted this for him. He had no idea. Once I got the call, I told him what I had planned and we were both bummed. We still went out for a dinner date and to a local bar to play pool (yes I won), but it wasn’t the sunset dinner I had been planning for since October. Maybe one day we’ll get to do that.

Marco Island was great though. Minus that one hiccup, we really had perfect weather every day. Rented a pontoon boat one day and made our way out to some islands so Evan could fish. Then made our way to the touristy island where food boats pull up. It was perfect. Our favorite restaurant/bar was basically on the grounds of our condo, Dolphin Tiki. We closed that bar twice (picture below). Brian, Evan and I took a ferry out to Keywest for the night. Rented a golf cart, because there was just no way we could walk to explore as much of the island as we were able to. Plus, the sun still seems to wipe me out if I’m exerting a lot of energy. Sounds like an excuse, I get it, it’s not. Saw beautiful sunsets in Keywest.

Except for Evan thinking he’s super adventurous and ordering an alligator taco (didn’t work out that well), the rest of the food we had was so delicious. I think my lobster roll at Stinkin’ Crabs in Keywest was my favorite. Close seconds were lobster tacos at Dolphin Tiki. Jesse enjoyed his pizza or chicken tenders at every meal.

We flew back home on Christmas Eve. No issues or delays, even with the polar vortex taking over the midwest. Christmas was wonderful.

Now my medical updates. Met with general surgeon and she is very happy with how I’m looking and feeling. She performed a breast exam, which all felt good, for her, not me. Let me tell you, a breast exam with expanders in… OUCH! I was sore all day. Sorry “girls”. She is ready to take my port out. I AM READY TO GET MY PORT OUT. Met with Oncologist. Bloodwork all looked good. My cancer/tumor markers were normal. Only minor concern was low on vitamin D. So, let’s go ahead and add that to my vitamins. The biggest bummer of my visit was the implant I got. It’s called Zoladex. It’s basically like the size of a grain of rice. It’s implanted under my skin, right next to my belly button. The purpose of Zoladex is to suppress my ovaries so they stop making estrogen. My cancer was estrogen feeding, so you can see why this is important. This procedure, coupled with my daily Tamoxifen pill, I’ll be sure to be in full blown menopause soon. Is it just me or is it hot in here? So exciting to learn that about me, I’m sure. So the bummer part though… I thought I was told I would be having this implant once a month for three months. NO. Things can’t be that easy. I actually have to have the implant every three months for at least 2 years. woo-hoo… 😖

Met with my plastic surgeon today, he’s the final say on next steps for getting these baseball feeling boobs out. Guess what ya’ll… I’m cleared for surgery! Next steps are his office contacting my general surgeons office so they can find a time that works for both, as they both need to be there. Plastic surgeon for the boobs, General surgeon for the port. As all the teenage boys would say, “LET’S GO!!!!”

So my journey continues and I thank you all for still following along. Since I’ve started this blog I’ve had so many people reach out that my writing has helped them. Whether it’s helped them to remember to schedule their mammogram, or ask more questions, or be prepared on what to expect if they’ve also received unfortunate news. The waiting and the unknown is the hardest part, I get it. Keep the conversations going about the importance of getting your mammograms. Grab a boob, grab a beer and cheers to a drama free 2023.

BTW, I HAVE HAIR!