Genetic Consultation Update

Thought that I would give an update on my genetic consultation that I had on Monday. Before Monday, I had a phone visit with the nurse and gave her my family history, which I'm sure she had writers cramp from all the relatives that unfortunately have had cancer. They wanted all that information before my appointment to look at the pedigree of what could be going on. They think that there is definitely a genetic cancer(s) occurring in my family, mainly on my mom's father's side because of all the cases and how young everyone has been when diagnosed. She also told us about the two most common genes that are associated with breast cancer. BRCA 1 and BRCA 2, these are the two genes that I'm getting tested for now. If you are a carrier of either one of these, your chances of a recurrence of breast cancer are higher then if you don't have the gene, you also have a higher chance of getting other cancers, especially ovarian cancer. The main reason why I wanted to get the genetic test done is to help decide on what surgeries may be best for me when the time comes. If I should get a full mastectomy or hysterectomy, etc. It will also benefit the boys and my brother to know if I'm a carrier because they also could be one too. I called my brother that night and told him that if I did test positive that it is suggested that he go and get yearly mammograms and do self breast exams every month. Of course my husband being the comedian that he is said try explaining that one at work. We have to make some humor out of the bad, right? I will have a follow up in January when the results come back. When I went to go give my blood for the test the lab technician said it was her lucky day because I was number 3 for having their blood drawn for that specific genetic test. I told her that we were the ones that were not so lucky to be having this done.

I will have a PET scan on Christmas Eve, so I hope that they will let me know by the next week on what the results will be. I am sure that there will be no tumors, but you never know with this sneaky disease. My tumor markers seem to be a good indication for me and that the chemo is working and the caner cells continue to disappear. I was suppose to have my next Herceptin chemo on New Years Eve, but my oncologist will be gone that day, so since I am only on Herceptin now, he said it would be fine to have it pushed back one week, so my next infusion will be the 7th of January.

I am posting a couple of pictures of the boys. Brock and I made a gingerbread house, of course Brock wanted to eat it as soon as it was finished. It was fun making and eating. Griffin had his 4 month checkup yesterday and he's as healthy as can be. He was not a happy camper with getting shots though. At least dad was the one holding him and not me, so you can guess who is not his favorite right now.







We are getting ready for Christmas and of course Brock is looking forward to what Santa will be bringing him this year. I'm looking forward to spending time with our families and just cherishing the moments that we will have. Merry Christmas to everyone!

One more note, I've decided that Stacie is no longer allowed to write on my blog anymore and I made sure to let Santa know that she was naughty and not to visit her this year. LOL.

Employee of the Year 2008!

One more post from me before Nicole revokes my permission to get on here:)

I know Nicole would never willingly share this but she deserves the recognition. At Saturday night's Christmas party for work she received the Employee of the Year award! She wasn't able to be there because of her nasty chemo side-effects but she did receive a standing ovation. She also receives a $500 bonus, extra day of vacation for the year, and a trip to Mexico over Valentine's Day! I don't think she felt she earned the honor at first because she thought anyone would do what she's been doing. But, no, not many people could have a baby, be diagnosed with cancer, return to work a week early, start chemo the next week and continue working throughout her treatment! There is no doubt that she is extraordinary and has every right to win this honor!!!! So, congratulations!

On a not so happy note, please remember Karlye in your prayers. There was a picture of Nicole and Karlye with their bald heads posted on this website a few months ago. She is my cousin's 6-year-old who has been battling Ewing's Sarcoma for the past few years. She spent all of October in the hospital undergoing a bone marrow transplant following a relapse of her cancer. A follow-up CT scan yesterday showed a lung tumor that has tripled in growth over the past 12 days. She has had an extremely difficult 3 months.
Her website again is www.caringbridge.org/visit/karlyedeutsch.

A Chapter in Treatment Is Done!

I'm back! It's Stacie doing an update with Nicole's permission.

Things have been going really well the past few weeks. The kids have, for the most part, been healthy. Griffin is now 4 months old and has already rolled over a few times. He is smiley and happy and he loves to sit back and observe everyone around him. The best part is that he is sleeping all night! This weekend, he slept almost 11 hours straight.

After going through a bit of an adjustment period, Brock is back to his old self. One of his new favorite activities is waking Griffin up from his naps! He knows more than any 3-year-old should know about many things. He's been busy helping his dad do things around the house.

Bryan is....Bryan! He's been working as much as possible. At home, he has several projects going on which occupy his downtime. This weekend he is putting in a few new bedroom windows. Hopefully that will take care of the drafts coming in! He is awesome with the boys and a great help to Nicole. Oh, and he did go pheasant hunting with Brad and Taylor a few weekend ago but they didn't come back with any birds. Ice fishing is being planned as I type.

Now for the birthday girl! Nicole had her 29th birthday on December 8th. I know she got a lot of birthday wishes on her facebook page which she set-up earlier this month. Overall, I am in awe of her patience and stamina! She was out there at 5am shopping on black Friday and kept going until 8 that night---with both boys! She has made it to work most days (even though she shouldn't have some of those days)! Her positive attitude is not an act. She is so thankful for life and everyone in her life. She is such a calm, patient and loving mother!

Here are the medical details. Nicole's tumor marker was down to 34.5 when she went in December 10th for her last chemo with the three medication combination. Beginning Thursday, she felt very drained. She spent most of the weekend in bed or lying on the couch. She did have nausea and vomiting this time. Thankfully, she will now only be on one chemo agent-Herceptin. She will get this every three weeks for the next year. Herceptin is supposed to have very few side-effects and they are very tolerable. Tomorrow she and Bryan meet with a genetic counselor to go over the family history of cancer and decide which genetic testing needs to be done for Nicole. On December 24th, she will have another PET scan. Be in prayer for no cancer to show up again this time! With falling tumor markers, I have nothing but faith this will happen.

We figure around Valentine's Day Nicole should be sporting a new crop of (very short) hair. I can't wait to see how it grows back! I'm guessing blond and wavy. Anyone else?

Keep praying for the cancer to stay away and for favorable results from the scan and genetic testing!

Happy Thanksgiving!

The Two Little Indians (sorry that you can't see their feathers in the back)



My Little Turkey


Our family has many reasons to be thankful this Thanksgiving compared to previous years. Like my mom has always said to me if you don't have your health you don't have nothing, which is very true. I'm so thankful for all my family and friends who have helped us deal with what we never saw coming 3 1/2 months ago. Life definitely means so much more now then it did then, which it should not come to getting a serious illness to make one realize that, not that I have always taken life for granted, but I just cherish it a little more now. I'm so thankful for modern medicine and what it has done for me to get rid of this cancer and I pray that it will stay away. I'm very blessed to have a family who has been there for us when we needed them to help out with the kids, housework, and just being there to listen and reassure that everything will get better, I'm just taking a little detour in my life right now. I'm also thankful for both Bryan and I to have employment at places that care and and appreciate all the support they have given us, that's including all of you at Coborn's in Milaca. I hope you all have had a great Thanksgiving and thank you to all who are reading this and all the support you have given our family in one way or another.

Unsuspected Thankfulness......

This is Nicole's Aunt Sandy reporting on the weekend.

Upon arriving at the Johnson home, Nicole and I engaged in a conversation about the surprising perks of having cancer. When a life threatening illness consumes every waking hour of thought and you go through the various stages of grief you begin to really open up your eyes and mind to those who surround you. She explained that she looks at people longer, making eye contact letting them know she really sees them for who they are. Also realizing that behind every face there may be unseen challenges in their lives, much like she is experiencing. She now takes time to notice the little things in life that we often overlook in our busy lives.

With chemo session #5 completed Nicole spent time this past weekend taking it easy, experiencing some nausea, upper back and neck pain, hotflashes, and fatigue. However she didn't spend as much time in the bedroom as she had with previous sessions. Her mom made sure she took her pain meds, anti nausea meds and other meds on schedule. Nicole's tumor marker test (which is the CEA-27.29) was 44.0, down from 61.9 last time. Wow at the time of diagnosis this level was 763!! The significance of Thanksgiving this year is truly realized by Nicole and all that love her.

Griffin is such a beautiful healthy boy and smiles easily. Brock carries on a conversation with you as if he were a 10 year old and his energy abounds. He readily and proudly displays his underwear designs, such as Diego and Spiderman. Potty training has been pretty much conquered, there was just a few set backs the last few months. Bryan is amazing, always catering to everyones needs and mixing in some welcomed humor.

Tom, Tangy, and Trayeton (Nicole's brother and his family) surprised us on Saturday afternoon. Grandma Linny enjoyed spending time with her 3 grandsons and celebrated the reunion of her family with some spectacular dance moves with Brock and Traeyton in the living room, what a sight!

All in all Nicole's treatment is on track. She has come a long way in a short amount of time battling this cancer and also has successfully hurdled a lot of the steps of acceptance when diagnosed with cancer. I think I'm safe to say how much we all admire Nicole's courage and attitude during this chapter in her life.
Aunt Sandy.

Nicole will post pictures that were taken this weekend when I send them to her.

Make Cancer Your.......

Well I have chemo #5 tomorrow. Can't wait to get these next two over with. It's just no fun when you start to feel good and then you have to start all over again. During this last week I have been kind of eating a lot, I told myself I'm going to enjoy food when I can. I just hope I can enjoy a Thanksgiving dinner and have an appetite and good taste buds, have to wait and see. Maybe we will have to celebrate a week later.

I will also have my bloodwork done tomorrow, and we will find out on Thursday what my tumor markers will be at. Let's pray that they are in the normal range and we can all celebrate!

If you are wondering about my title of my blog entry, I have to tell you the story about it and I hope none of you are offended. When my favorite uncle, Brian, (just a note he's all the nieces and nephews favorite uncle because at times he's just a kid himself and the winner of Best Anderson Kid for the last 5 years, I think), anyways when he found out about my diagnosis he called me said "Make Cancer Your Bitch", so I have taken his advice and making cancer my bitch. My aunt Sandy also bought me a hat that has this on it, so it has become one of my many mottos through this journey. You have to add humor and laughter to bad situations and in general to everyday life because I think it helps dealing with it.

I hope to update on Thursday with my results of my tests. And as always I appreciate all the comments, it's so nice hearing from all of you as you help me conquer this. I will try to get some recent pictures of the boys posted. Griffin is getting so big. He enjoys his big brother. It's so cute when Brock talks to Griffin, Griffin smiles and giggles, he will definitely be looking up to his older brother.

Genetic Consultation

Another week has flown by, where does the time go? I did end up staying home on Monday to rest for one more day, mother's orders. I agree though that I do need to take it easy and rest, so I won't have any set backs. I'm getting closer and closer to being done with my intense chemo treatments, only two more to go, then I will continue with the Herceptin until next August. I told Bryan that maybe for Valentines Day his wife may have some hair coming in, what a nice Valentines gift that would be for him. LOL.

I made an appointment that I thought I would never have to make this week. I will be having a genetic consultation in December. This will help in deciding what surgeries I will need done in the future. Such as having my ovaries taken out, or having a double mastectomy vs a lumpectomy. I'm sure I will not only get screened for the breast cancer genes, which is the BRCA 1 & BRCA 2, but also for other cancers, as unfortunately there seems to be a trend of cancer in my family on both sides. I joked with my mom when I received my forms that they wanted me to fill out with my family history. I have to include her aunts, uncles, grandparents, and cousins, and I told her that I only had 10 lines and I wasn't sure if that would be enough or not. It did state that an extra page could be submitted. Last year my mom was telling me about a gentleman that she met who had genetic testing done on himself because all of his family members have had cancer and I think most of them died at very early ages and he wanted to prevent it from happening to him. She suggested that I look into it at and she had a video about, I told her no thanks, I do not want to know my destiny, little did we know that the cancer was inside of me at the time.

I have my MUGA scan on Tuesday, so let's pray that my heart is still doing well, so I can continue with the Herceptin. I probably won't get my test result until my next appointment with the oncologist, which is on the 19th.

This is very long overdue, but I wanted to thank everyone that has donated to the benefit account. You are all so generous and thoughtful and we appreciate it more than words can say, it has helped out with medical bills that we did not anticipate to have, so thanks again to all of you.

It's a bird, it's a plane, it's.......

Brock as SUPERMAN and Griffin as a lion.



My Sweet Griffin


Feeling a little better today then yesterday. Still feel a little weak, achy and trying to gain back an appetite. Am I complaining too much? Smells are really getting to me this time around. I think that they bother me more now then when I was pregnant. Dairy Queen shakes seem to do the trick, not the healthiest, but they taste GOOD! Hoping to have enough strength to go to work tomorrow, but we will play it by ear.

My mom left this afternoon, she should have a good trip home with the weather being so nice. Brock and Griffin enjoyed their time with Grandma Linny. She took Brock to the park a couple of times this weekend to wear him out, but he still had energy to spare, imagine that. I sat outside with Griffin today for awhile to enjoy the fresh air, knowing these nice days won't stay around for long. Hope you all enjoy the pictures, included one with the boys and I that was taken a couple of weeks ago, we will try to get a better one sometime soon.

Happy Halloween!

I've been meaning to update a couple of days ago, but it's been a busy couple of days. I had my 4th chemo treatment on Wednesday. My blood work was great, but my blood pressure was a little low, so they ran a liter of fluid during my infusion. It was a long day on Wednesday due to the pharmacy going live on their new software program, so they were a couple of hours behind. Bryan and I were ready to go home by the end of the day. Stacie, Brad and Noah (Bryan's sister's husband and son) came to visit us for a little while on Wednesday and entertained us. Brock and Griffin went to Uncle Shawn and Aunt Erin's house for the day and enjoyed playing with their cousins. It is so nice that they live only a few miles from the clinic that I go to.

On Thursday, I had to get my Neulasta shot and my blood pressure was much better. My tumor marker was at 61.5 after 3 chemo treatments, so it continues to go down, which we keep praying for. I hope it is <38 next time.

I will be having a MUGA scan on the 11th of November. They need to monitor my heart function every 3 months due to the Herceptin that I am on, since it can be damaging to the heart. Praying that my heart remains strong and we can continue with the "miracle" drug Hercepitn, since this is what is helping with my excellent response to the treatments.

My mom came up for the weekend to help out and we took Brock out trick or treating. He had fun with his mom and Grandma Linny. I will post pictures later of both boys in their costumes. Hope you all had a HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Follow Up

Wow, can you believe it I've made it to work four days in a row! I think that I will be able to accomplish a 40 hour work week. I had my follow up appointment yesterday from my hospitalization. The doctor took a urine sample and everything was normal, so the antibiotics must have done the trick. I will have chemo #4 on Wednesday, the 29th. Hoping I'm feeling okay on Halloween, so I can go with Brock trick or treating. Grandma Linny (my mom) will be here to help out for that weekend. Just when I start to feel good again I will have to start over, but I am halfway done for the intense chemo drugs. Praying that the next 3 will be no different then the previous treatments and they continue to kill the cancer cells. I will get my tumor marker blood test done again on Wednesday, so I'm looking forward to seeing where that is reading at, maybe it will be in normal range or close to normal.

I got a kick out of Brock yesterday when I went to my appointment, he was asking if the doctor spoke like Donald Duck. On Tuesday I took Griffin to see the dermatologist (Dr. McCormick for all you Gaul Dermatology girls) to help with his dermatitis and he likes to talk to kids like Donald Duck. So now Brock must think that all the doctors can talk like Donald Duck, what a card he is.

I've been wearing my PINK "doo rag" the last couple of days at work, my wig is getting to be very itchy. I don't mind wearing it for a short period of time, but after awhile it gets annoying. I have been thinking about going to go get another wig with a different style and color. I have never colored my hair before, so maybe when it does come back I will be bold and start experimenting instead of being plain and boring. See cancer can change a person to do things that before I did not think much to do. Don't worry mom I won't get a tattoo quite yet. LOL!

A Couple of Cute Boys

Griffin at 2 months old

Griffin and Brock

Brock at 3-years-old

I watched the movie, Living Proof, last night and was amazed at how long it took to get Herceptin approved. It seemed like there were so many things against Dr. Slamon (the oncologist who did the research and developed the drug). There were times where the drug company funding the research tried to stop supporting Dr. Slamon. He was very persistent and close to 10 years after discovered, Herceptin became FDA approved in 1998. The end of the movie was the best part. Dr. Slamon was jogging around a track and as he ran by, the empty bleachers began filling with women clapping and cheering him on. I believe it was symbolic for the thousands of women he's saved over the past ten years.

Here's an excerpt from an interview with him on mylifetime.com which I found very hopeful:

How has this drug changed women’s lives since its introduction?
Since the introduction of the drug, it’s had a dramatic response for the women who respond to it. Not all women respond, but the ones who do seem to do very well, and we now have long-term survivors in this subtype, which we never had before. In Bob’s book and in the movie, they talk about a couple of patients who really did very well, who are out now 11 or 12 years with no evidence of the disease. So we think it’s been very effective. That’s gratifying.

Here is a link for more information about the movie:

http://www.mylifetime.com/on-tv/movies/living-proof

I did want to share a Brock story from ER last week. We were hanging out in Nicole's hospital room around 3am and the lab tech comes in to draw blood.

She looks at Nicole and says, "How are your veins?"

Brock, sitting directly across from the technician, quickly pipes in saying, "Our beans are dead because they didn't get enough water and it got too cold outside".

The lab tech stared at him completely confused until I explained that he thought she was asking how his beans, not veins, were.

She still didn't think it was as funny as we did!

Before we left he walked over to Nicole's IV and asked her why they had to give her milk through an IV.

He was quite the little party animal for that time of night, and he kept us entertained with storytelling and "exercising". That was his excuse for running around the hallways. We'd tell him to stop and he'd say "I'm just exercising!"

Nicole's plan was to return to work today which I'm assuming happened since I haven't heard otherwise. She was feeling quite a bit better yesterday.

Continue praying for no more infections and no more cancer!!

Back Home

Back home again, yeah!! I was discharged from the hospital this morning and it felt good to come home, although I have to admit I had a good hospital stay with wonderful care from all the staff and my student nurse from good ole SCSU was great. Keep up the good work Trisha!!

They are still thinking that I had a bladder infection and so far my blood cultures have been negative. They will continue to monitor them for the next couple of days. My blood work was okay today, my hemoglobin is the lowest it has been 9.2, but that could be due to having so much fluids pumped into me, so hoping that it will bounce back up. I feel good and not weak, so it isn't affecting me too bad.

Bryan did great with me gone and taking care of the boys. My mom came up on Wednesday night to help out, which we were thankful for that and happy to have her, but wish that it was under different circumstances of course.

I wanted to let everyone know about a movie that will be on Lifetime tomorrow night Saturday the 18th, at 8 pm. It's called Living Proof and it's about the oncologist who got the drug Herceptin, which is the chemo drug that I will be on for a year, on the market. Many say this is the miracle drug for many breast cancer survivors who are Her-2 positive. When I met with my oncologist the 2nd time, I asked him in regards to being Her-2 positive, which affects 1 out 3 women with breast cancer, if it was a good thing or bad because I knew having the Her-2 protein makes your breast cancer more aggressive then being negative. His response was 10 years ago I would have told you your prognosis is not good, but today with the drug Herceptin, your survival rate is 50% greater, so that was very promising to hear. So I'm looking forward to watching this movie and hope you will all tune in as well.

Thanks again for all the comments and cards I enjoy hearing from all of you and appreciate all the prayers. And in response to my Uncle Dave's comment, I wish I had been drinking Boone's, at least I would have a good excuse for getting sick in my car, but oh well. I don't think that you will get best kid this year because you admitted that you got sick in the car from drinking, naughty, naughty.

Unexpected Hospital Visit

Last night Nicole and I went to a class for women going through chemo. It taught them how to apply makeup and some neat things to do with hats and scarves. It was really fun.

On the way home, Nicole started vomiting. By 10pm she had a fever of 102 and felt very weak, shaky and continued to throw-up. I met them at Fairview ER in Princeton around midnight. They ran labs, did a chest x-ray and took a urine sample. By the time I left at 4:45am, her fever was up to 103. Her UA did show a bladder infection but her x-ray was clear and labs looked pretty good. They admitted her to continue IV antibiotics most likely until Friday. They took blood cultures and want to be sure they are negative before letting her leave.

The boys were with us too and I have some cute Brock stories to put on here but will have to do so later when I have more time. Pray for negative blood cultures and for her fever to subside. I'll update more later today.

Feeling Better

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

Sorry for the long break between posts but I guess that means things have finally settled down (and that's a good thing)! Nicole was able to work most of Thursday and Friday after receiving her third round of chemo. Side-effects hit her hard on Saturday and Sunday though. She spent most of the weekend sleeping. Bryan and Nicole both caught a nasty cold which added to her misery. She had a lot of fatigue and aches again this time but was also nauseated quite a bit Sunday. The anti-nausea medications worked well though.

Bryan's mom, Cheri, was up this time to help out and just left this afternoon. Nicole did stay home today also but she sounded more energetic this afternoon when I talked to her. She plans on returning to work tomorrow.

On Friday, Griffin and Brock had their check-ups at the doctor's. Everything went well. Griffin is up to 14 pounds. He continues to sleep for 4-5 hours at a time. Hopefully that will stretch out more soon!

Here is a cute photo of Griffin that many of you may have already seen. I think he's looking more like Nicole everytime I see him!

This is a photo from last weekend. Spencer Hospital had a breast cancer walk and Nicole's mother-in-law (Cheri) and mother (Linda) walked together.

Chemo Buddy

I am going to hijack Nicole's blog back for a quick post. Today was chemo day and I got to be Nicole's "chemo buddy"! I just have to say what a beautiful, well-organized facility Coburn Cancer Center is. The staff was so friendly and right there anytime the IV pump started beeping. We got settled in around 9:30am and were finished by 1:45pm. The time flew by as we enjoyed magazines, lunch and lots of intriguing conversation. Ok, maybe it wouldn't be all that intriguing to anyone else, but it sure was fun! Nicole also had a lot of people wondering where the baby was. Brock and Griffin stayed at daycare today since Nicole also had her postpartum check-up after chemo.

Once I was in the van on the way home, I was laughing to myself about Nicole and her wig. It is really a great wig and you honestly can't tell it's not her hair. By the end of her treatment I think it was starting to itch. So she would grab it by the edges and wiggle it around her scalp to scratch. I started thinking that would be hilarious to do out in public-people would definitely be taking second (and third) looks! I can be so easily amused sometimes.

Anyway, I was soooo excited to hear about Nicole's PET scan results! I was expecting shrinking tumors but to hear it was undetectable was nothing short of a miracle. It does happen in stage 4 but usually after many treatments and medication changes. For many, they can keep the tumors stable but will never see them completely gone. These results are the absolute best case scenario. I know your prayers were the impetus behind this great healing. Keep them up. He hears them all.

One last thing-if you're not sure who is posting what, check at the bottom of each entry and the "author of the day" will be listed.

Continued Drop in Tumor Markers

I had my appointment with the oncologist on Monday and he was very happy with my response to the chemotherapy that I'm receiving. We went over the first PET scan with the tumors that were lit up and then we went over the second scan and sure enough, they have all disappeared. It was nice to finally see the scans with my own two eyes. It's so amazing how your body can respond so quickly. I feel so fortunate that it is in my case because I read about many women where they chemo does not respond and they have to go to plan B. I am also thankful to have such an awesome oncologist who know what he is doing and is staying on top of everything.

I had my bloodwork done yesterday as well. My hemoglobin stayed about the same, so will have to try to get some iron in me. My ANC's and WBC stayed the same, but my platelets went way up in 320's, so I was happy about that. I was getting worried a couple of weeks ago when they kept going down and down and not going back up. I also had my tumor marker ran again. This will be done everytime before my next chemo and that was at 99.2, so it's still going down. YEAH!!! The normal range is <38.

I have my third chemo tomorrow and Stacie will be going with me, hopefully she won't be too bored. My mother-in-law, Cheri is coming up on Friday to help out for the weekend, expecting my bad day or days to be Saturday and Sunday, what a wonderful way to spend my weekend,hopefully it will be cold and rainy, so I won't miss out on a nice weekend. I will continue to have the Neulasta shot and that will be given to me on Thursday. The other good news that the oncologist gave me on Monday is that since I had a good response to that as well I will only need to go for my bloodwork on the day of my chemo, unless of course I have a concern. So I will only need to go to St. Cloud every three weeks instead of every week.

Back to work today and daycare for the boys. Brock is trying to get back into the normal routine again, but hopefully in another week or so it will get better. Griffin is sleeping much better throughout the night, he wakes up twice now and the second time is usually a hour before we need to get up to go to work, so Bryan and I are getting sleep at night in 4 to 5 hour periods, which is better then 2-3 hour periods. I can not believe how attentive he is at nearly two months. He's a smiley baby just as Brock was, that must mean that he likes us. Although Bryan thinks that he is more of a mommy's boy then a daddy's boy, but that's okay with me.

Thanks for all the recent comments and cards that I have been receiving in the mail. It's good to hear from some of you whom I have not talk to in a long time. I love hearing from you all and I feel bad that I can not respond to all of you individually, so at least with this I can tell you all at once that I appreciate your thoughtfulness.

Dramatic Changes

Dramatic changes is what I was told this morning by my oncologist's nurse. She said that the PET scan showed NO CANCER, all was gone! I asked if that was normal after two rounds of treatment and she said no not usually, they expect the tumors to shrink, but not to have it all GONE. She was baffled, so we will see if my oncologist is as well. She said that the treatment will probably still go as planned because we want to be cautious. Someone upstairs has been listening to all our prayers. Now it just needs to stay gone!

I had another good day at work and I felt great. Next week will be busy with bloodwork and my appointment with the oncologist on Monday. My 3rd round of chemo is on Wednesday. I'm sure I will get the Neulasta shot on Thursday and the boys have their check-ups on Friday, so very busy. Again thank you for all the prayers and support! We are definitely kickin' some cancer butt!!!!

Oh It's Good to be Back

I had an excellent day back at work and it was felt soooo good to be back. My office was decorated with pink balloons, streamers and a beautiful bouquet of flowers, thanks to my wonderful co-workers. Many came to visit to see how I was doing and glad to see me back, which made me happy. I just can't thank everyone enough for all the support you are all showing, it helps me so much.

Brock and Griffin also had an excellent day at daycare. Brock had no problems getting up to go. I was a little worried about him since he was getting so used to getting up later then normal, but he was excited to go back to Valerie's. All the kids were at the door when we arrived to welcome us back. When I came to pick up the boys Valerie commented on what a good baby Griffin was and she had no problems. A sigh of relief for me. Makes the transition back much easier.

I have my PET scan and a MRI on my kidney done tomorrow, so praying for good results. I think that we will definitely see the tumors going down in size with the results of the tumor markers from 2 weeks ago. My blood work was good on Monday. My platelets were up from last week, but my hemoglobin was down a bit, but nothing that a steak or hamburger can't fix. The Neulasta shot that I got to keep my ANC's up is working still, so thankful for that. Overall I'm feeling really good and looking forward to my next appointment with the oncologist on Monday to see how many of those nasty cancer cells we put to death! Enjoying all your comments and appreciate all the the prayers you are sending, I think they're working, so keep them coming.

No Hair Days

In line with my eternal sunshine philosophy, here are my top 5 reasons why "no hair" is the way to go:

5. Think of the money you'll save on hair care products-no shampoo, conditioner, gel, mouse, hairspray, and all that other funky stuff people put in their hair. Plus no cuts every 8 weeks.

4. You'll gain at least 20 minutes a day that you would otherwise spend shampooing, blow drying and styling your hair.

3. Your natural beauty will shine through.

2. With winter just around the corner, no need to worry about messing up your freshly styled hair with your stocking cap!

1. No more bad hair days!

Here is another one courtesy of my 14-year-old: A sleek, aerodynamic design.

Plus, Nicole knows that her hair will grow back (unlike some guys I know)!

Well, here it is-the long awaited photograph of Nicole's new hairstyle (courtesy of her oncologist & Bryan)! Sitting on her lap and sporting the same hip hairdo is Miss Karlye Deutsch.


Karlye is my cousin's daughter on my husband's side-are you following me? She needs lots of prayers also as she is embarking on the next step in her battle against Ewing's Sarcoma. She was diagnosed with cancer in her femur just over 3 years ago on her 3rd birthday. She had a recurrence in her lung this spring and finished more chemo. Monday morning she goes into the hospital for 4-6 weeks to undergo a bone marrow transplant. Her mother, Denise, keeps a great blog for her at www.caringbridge.org/visit/karlyedeutsch. Add the website to your favorites and pray her through the next few months!





We had a birthday party for my husband, Brad, on Saturday and had a chance to see Nicole & Bryan and the kids. When Karlye's family arrived, Nicole was wearing her wig. She took it off to show Karlye how her head looked the same. The look on Karlye's face was so precious. She kept sneaking glances and smiling! Later, she was surprised to see Nicole has a port under her skin just like hers.





Nicole looked great, and other than a runny nose from chemo, feels good. Brock had fun playing outside with his cousins, dad and Uncle Shawn. I got my Griffin fix for the week & took lots of pictures. Nicole has labs drawn tomorrow afternoon. Her PET scan and MRI are going to be this Thursday. She will meet with the oncologist the following Monday and review the results. Her next chemo is scheduled for Wednesday October 8th which is the week she was going to return to work. So, she is actually going to work this Wednesday and Friday. That will be a nice way to ease back into it and she won't feel so bad missing a day or two next week. I think Brock will love being back at daycare and Griffin will be in good hands.





Here are some more pictures from Saturday:

Uncle Shawn & Brock playing tennis-

Lab Results

Nicole's lab appointment was late yesterday afternoon so she didn't have results until today. Everything looked good! Her liver function test remained the same, probably because it is now within normal limits. Her ANC was 3.1. Her platelets have continued to drop but she was told that was to be expected. She was feeling achy and tired today but nothing too severe.

Believe it or not, Nicole's baby leave will be over in 2 weeks and she is planning on returning to work! I think she is looking forward to putting some "normalcy" back into her life. I just can't believe how quickly the past 6 weeks have gone!

Griffin's infection is almost completely healed. Nicole said he is getting much more attentive and likes watching his big brother. He is also smiling and laughing. I can't wait to see him this weekend-and take lots of pictures!

The follow-up PET scan and MRI will be in about 2 weeks. Continue to be in prayer for excellent results!

The Lord is Near

Nicole is feeling much better than last time I updated. On Friday, she even made her first "public appearance" with her newly bald head. She wore a hat to the park and while running a few errands with her mom and boys. It wasn't nearly as bad as she had anticipated! Linda left yesterday and I know Nicole loved having her help.

Poor little Griffin has been dealing with a skin infection that has gone into his ear. Bryan brought him in to the doctor's office on Thursday night and they put him on an antibiotic and ear drops. It sounds like the swelling and redness in his ear have gone down quite a bit so the medicine must be working. He is still up about every 3 hours at night but hopefully once his ear is completely healed, he will start sleeping for longer stretches.

Tomorrow is back to St.Cloud for weekly labs. I'll update when I hear the results from Nicole.

This is one of my favorite group of verses. I think it's a great reminder to all of us no matter what our circumstances.
Philipians 4:4-7
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus

Dropping tumor markers

As anticipated, today is the day the chemo side-effects hit the hardest. Nicole feels tired and sore. Her mom, Linda, is up until this weekend to help out. The hard part is getting Nicole to rest instead of getting up to help when the boys need something (hint, hint)!

Her scalp has been feeling weird and her hair has thinned, so Bryan shaved her head on Tuesday night. Brock said he was scared and wanted to stay in his room while they were using the clippers. Afterwards, he asked Nicole why she wanted to be a boy now. I guess in the eyes of a 3-year-old, hair is what makes the difference between boys and girls. Also, he thinks her wig is a Halloween costume!

Tumor marker is a substance found in blood and can be elevated when cancer is present in the body. The normal value should be below 30. Doctor's monitor the quantity of tumor marker to make sure treatment is working.
On August 21st Nicole's TM (tumor marker) was over 700. On Monday, it had gone down to the low 200's! That is a huge drop and shows how well this chemo is working. I was soooo excited to hear that!

Keep the prayers coming!

Where Two or Three Come Together...

Today was a long, busy day for Nicole and Bryan. She started out getting labs drawn this morning. The results were great! Her ANC went way up. Hemoglobin and liver function test stayed about the same. Her white blood count and platelets were also normal. They then met with the oncologist who was very surprised and pleased to see her ANC had gone up so much. He told them he wasn't even sure she'd be able to get chemo judging by last week's results. He discussed her PET scan results more with them. There are "more than 4" spots on her liver measuring about 1/2 inch each. The mass on her kidney didn't light-up during the PET scan which is a good thing. It could very well be a cyst but he wants to do an MRI on it in 3 weeks and will continue monitoring it. She also asked about a lumpectomy or mastectomy. He said they never used to do it with stage 4 but lately studies have shown it to be beneficial. Once she is in remission and stable for one year, he will do the surgery. Nicole and Bryan said he sounded positive and happy with her progress.

She was able to get her second chemo treatment following the appointment. Other than a 2 hour wait for the meds, that went well. Tomorrow afternoon she goes back to St.Cloud for an injection of Neulasta. Neulasta is used to help fight off infection in chemo patients. It boosts white blood cell production which helps prevent infection. The down side is the main side-effect which is body aches. Her next scan will be in 3 weeks. I am confident it will show that the chemo is working and her tumors are shrinking!

Thanks to Shawn & Erin for taking Brock again today! He is getting a lot of time to play with his 2-year-old cousin, Weston, but I know it isn't always easy to keep 2 toddlers from arguing over toys!

Keep praying for the chemo to do its job and for positive, peaceful thoughts to surround their family.

Matthew 18:19-20
"Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them"

You Made My Day

To all of my wonderful coworkers you are the best! What a great surprise! Of course I cried tears of happiness when I saw the picture. I am truly blessed to work for a company that is standing behind me, supporting and fighting with me. I'm looking forward to returning to work and seeing you all soon. You made my day!

Real Men Wear Pink

Nicole has such awesome coworkers! Here is a picture they took yesterday to show their support for her. Thanks for sending this, Tenille!

Bone Scan Results

Yesterday was Nicole's bone scan and MRI. They were looking for any evidence of cancer in the bones. Thankfully, the results came back today and everything looked great! That is awesome news!

Other than being tired, Nicole is doing well. On Monday she has labs, an oncology appointment and then her second chemo treatment. Bryan's taking the day off and Linda will be coming up later next week to help with the boys.

That's all for now. I just wanted to share the good news!

Here is picture of Bryan and Griffin from Labor Day weekend:

Do Not Let Your Hearts Be Troubled

Nicole is now the proud owner of a wig! Luckily she doesn't need it yet but she is set once she does. She also received a lot of tips about other ways to cover her head including how to make a turban out of a polo shirt.

Her labs were great again yesterday other than her ANC. It actually went down a little but they expect it to quickly begin rising soon. One of her liver tests was elevated last week but this week it dropped down by over 100 points into the normal range. I think that is such a positive sign! Tomorrow is her bone scan and lumbar MRI.

Emotionally, Nicole has been having some "down" days this week. Postpartum hormones add a whole other dimension. It's not constant but sneaks up on her throughout the day. She has every right to feel this way and I know it is part of the healing process, but it breaks my heart. It isn't fair that she has to worry about anything other than how many times she'll have to get up with Griffin tonight, or if Brock is adjusting to the big brother role. I know that as time passes it will get easier, but sometimes as we are standing in the thick of it, it's impossible to see. Continue to pray for peace, happiness, hope and clarity. Pray for Bryan as I'm sure he experiences much of the same feelings.

Nicole's Grandma H. sent her a prayer shawl made by some of her fellow church members. She was wearing it earlier today and Brock came up and sat on her lap. He asked if it made her feel better. She told him yes. He asked if he could wear it to make his bee sting feel better (he was stung on the foot last Friday). What a cutie!

John 14:27

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

~Jesus

Jiminy Cricket

Thankfully, there is nothing much to report healthwise tonight. Nicole is feeling good. The pain in her back and ribcage has improved quite a bit. She has labs again tomorrow morning. Wednesday is her bone scan and an MRI of her lower back. A week from tomorrow is her second chemo treatment as well as a follow-up visit with her oncologist.

Sandy, Todd and Paige Curry came up for the weekend and despite Nicole's warnings about the weather we all went out on the boat. Within 20 minutes of launching, it began to pour... and hail... and the wind came up. Lucky for us Nicole & Bryan's boat has a bimini top.

What is a bimini, you might ask?

Well, it's the proper name for the umbrella, awning thingy that you can pull over the boat to protect you from the rain and sun.

I just learned this Saturday so couldn't wait to use the word, bimini, in everyday conversation. By the way, it rhymes with jiminy, as in Jiminy Cricket;)

So, where was I? It was raining and we were huddling under the bimini. Claire and Paige C. hid in the pop-up bathroom stall. Griffin stayed perfectly warm and dry under a blanket in his car seat. The rest of us got a little wet & cold. We toughed it out and it ended up being a gorgeous, sunny day. At one point Lake Milacs was so calm it almost looked like glass. Paige N. caught the first fish. Bryan caught 2 little ones and Todd caught 1 or 2 also. I'm sure Paige C. would have caught one also but she had to use the Tigger fishing pole (poor Paige)!

Instead of frying fresh fish that night, Bryan pulled some out of his freezer. We had so much fun!

Here was the rain & hail:

Brock washing his hands: Bryan & me:
Todd & Nicole:

Paige N. & Nicole
Brock & Paige C.:
Cutie Griffin:

Bryan's big catch:
Bryan & Nicole:

The end of the day:

Keep the prayers coming!

Ultrasound Results

Just a quick update with Nicole's ultrasound results. Everything looked good with the exception of a mass on her right kidney. From what I've read, these are usually cysts and it is rare for breast cancer to metastasize to the kidney. The oncologist will talk more to Nicole at her next appointment but doesn't feel it's urgent. They are going to schedule a bone scan since it is more accurate than a PET scan at picking up activity in the bones. Her nurse thought the soreness she is experiencing could be from one of her chemo drugs which is know to cause muscle aches.

Brock was still running a fever today and has some sores on the roof of his mouth. He slept in until 9 which is unheard of for him! Hopefully he feels better in time for The Curry's who are visiting this weekend! He loves playing with Paige and she takes such good care of him.

Thanks again for all of your prayers and support!

Thank You

Hi everyone, I'm finally getting on here to write you all a message, first of all I want to thank my wonderful sister-in-law Stacie, although I'm going to claim her as my sister because she has all the qualities that I would want in a sister if I could choose one, for setting up this wonderful blog. This is such an awesome way to communicate and let everyone know what is going on. Her entries are much better then what I would write, so I will let her keep updating it, if she doesn't mind and I will chime in every now and then. I want to thank you all for the support, prayers, and love you are sending. I am so thankful to have such a wonderful family and friends that are standing by me to fight the greatest fight that I will ever have to face in my life. The comments that you all are posting are great and they encourage me everyday especially when I am having a down moment, which are getting fewer and fewer day by day.

Life seems to be getting back to normal in some ways. This week I have had more energy to do everyday housework and errands, but still getting some rest here and there, when the boys let me. Griffin is waking up about 3 times during the night, which I don't think is bad for being 3 weeks old. I am starting to get used to that again, it is funny how you forget about the little things when you have another baby, but they grow up so fast, so I am cherishing every moment of it. Brock is such a great big brother, he is always letting me know when Griffin is upset and helps me out when I need him, although he has his moments. Bryan continues to be the greatest husband a wife could ever have. He is so positive and I don't think that there is household task that he can't do. I know that he is overwhelmed at times, but he doesn't complain. Last, but not least I want to thank our parents for helping us out the last 3 weeks not only with the boys, but also for the support and conversations. We appreciate everything that everyone has done for us and keep the prayers coming.

Love Bryan, Nicole, Brock and Griffin

I am including a family picture of us that we had taken this weekend, it's not the greatest, but I wanted to get one last picture of us before I lose my hair, Bryan and I keep joking that we will soon look like the conehead family, minus the coneheads, we hope LOL!

He Will Be With You in Trouble

~Benefit Fund Update~
I have to apologize to anyone who may have tried to deposit money into the Wells Fargo account. Apparently you not only need the name, but also the number of the account! So here is the complete information. It is The Nicole Johnson Benefit Account. The account number is 2552966695.


Nicole's labs looked great yesterday other than a low ANC. When someone is on chemo they closely monitor the ANC (absolute neutrophil count) which is a part of our white blood count. It is an indicator of how the immune system is functioning. It's expected to drop down while on chemo but can make the person vulnerable to illness if it gets too low. They put her on an antibiotic to prevent any infection. Her liver function, hemoglobin and platelets all were normal which is awesome news.

They did check her for a kidney infection because of her back pain but it was normal. The pain seems to be under the ribcage sometimes too so this morning they did an ultrasound of her liver, pancreas, gallbladder and kidneys. Hopefully she'll hear results tomorrow so she can put her mind at ease. It may just be typical aches and pains from those nasty chemo meds but she wants to stay on top of it.

Griffin had his check-up this afternoon and Linda said he is doing well. He weighed ll pounds & some ounces (forgot the exact weight). He's eating the amount he should and looks healthy. Linda did say Brock started running a fever this evening so pray that he feels better tomorrow and that Nicole doesn't catch anything.

Keep the prayers coming and spread the word. The more people we have praying, the better! I'll update when she hears back on the ultrasound. Oh, and thanks so much for all of your comments!


Psalm 91

1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust."

3 Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare
and from the deadly pestilence.

4 He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

5 You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,

6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.

7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.

8 You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.

9 If you make the Most High your dwelling—
even the LORD, who is my refuge-

10 then no harm will befall you,
no disaster will come near your tent.

11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;

12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

13 You will tread upon the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

14 "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

15 He will call upon me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.

16 With long life will I satisfy him
and show him my salvation

A Little Update

Nicole, Bryan and the boys spent Labor Day weekend down in Iowa. It sounds like they had a good time and even got a little rest (thanks to Grandma Cheri for getting up with Griffin). Griffin was able to meet Grandma & Grandpa Johnson, Great-Grandma & Grandpa Griffin and other aunts, uncles and cousins. Nicole showed up at her Grandpa Griffin's birthday party and surprised her grandparents. It sounds like her grandma was VERY excited to see her!

She continues to feel fairly well other than some back pain. Tomorrow she'll have labs drawn to make sure her blood counts are not dipping too low. She has also been strongly "advised" to mention the back pain to the nurse;) Griffin has a check-up on Wednesday-I can't believe he's already 3 weeks old! Brock is doing well and I heard he even spent Saturday night alone with Grandma Linny!

I wanted to also thank everyone who has left comments. Nicole does read them daily and I know she appreciates your support!

Here are some pictures I took of Brock in his sprinkler the other day:

Smooth Sailing

Today is the third "post-chemo" day for Nicole. Those with experience have told her it would be the day she may feel the worst. She did feel very tired & drained today but Bryan was able to leave work early so she could rest. As of ten minutes ago, she was feeling much better.

Considering she is getting up every 2 hours all night long with Griffin, I think she's doing excellent! In Bryan's defense, he is more than willing to get up with the baby but sleeps right through his cries and Nicole doesn't wake him up-atleast that's what he claims;)

Nicole hair is still all there. I've offered several times to cut it into a mohawk and dye it purple-just for fun! I guess that's not her idea of fun though. Bryan shaved his head tonight to show his support.

On Tuesday Nicole went to visit her coworkers to let them know what is going on. She's always been such a dedicated worker and going back to work is very important to her. Of course, they were very supportive and I think it helped relieve some anxiety. I can tell from listening to her talk over the past several years that she loves her job and her coworkers.

At the request of several people, I've opened an account at Wells Fargo for Nicole. Any money donated will be used to help Nicole and Bryan with medical costs, fuel, bills, etc. If interested, you can stop by any Wells Fargo bank and make a deposit to The Nicole Johnson Benefit Account. I know it will be greatly appreciated!

Things are pretty quiet right now and that is a good thing! Keep the prayers coming!

Prosper

Chemo #1 is done. I spoke briefly with Bryan and he said it went fine. Nicole's mom and grandparents were up as well and are now on their way home. The liver biopsy did come back positive for cancer which is what the oncologist expected. The next appointment with him is in 3 weeks. After 2 or 3 chemo treatments (each being 3 weeks apart), she will have another scan to make sure it's working.

Bryan was joking that tonight will be only the second time they have been alone at the house without extra people since Griffin was born 15 days ago. What a great example of how loved and supported they are but it will be great for them to get back into somewhat of a "normal" routine!
Keep the prayers coming. God is still in the miracle business!

Here is a verse for today:

Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD,
"plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
plans to give you hope and a future."

(As a side note, prosper is defined as thrive, flourish or to be successful)

500 Laps?

Today was kind of a down day for Nicole. She said it all when she said "It isn't fair". It's a pretty sure bet that those words have been spoken by all of us this past week, repeatedly. She has every right to have days and thoughts like that but my hope for her is that they will be few and far between. Physically, she is feeling well-just a little sore from the liver biopsy.

The kids and I stopped over this evening. We ordered pizza and then watched a NASCAR race. I have to admit I've never really watched a race for more than a few minutes and was surprised to see that they drive around that track 500 times! And they televise the whole thing! Nicole said a woman from work believes guys watch NASCAR so they have an excuse to take a nap. I think I agree (no offense to the fans out there)!

Here are some cute pictures of Griffin from tonight.

Taylor, Claire, Brock & Bryan watching the race
The next update will probably be Monday evening so until then pray that chemo goes well and that the side-effects are tolerable. Pray also that this combination of drugs will be very effective at killing the cancer cells.

He Will Quiet You With His Love...

4 weeks ago Bryan & Nicole fulfilled one of their dreams and bought a boat. Not just any boat but a nice, big pontoon. One that was big enough for the whole extended family. We were all so excited and couldn't wait to spend the next day out on the lake fishing. The sun was shining, the toddlers were on their best behavior, and we even caught quite a few fish! Ok, they were little fish, but still fish. Nicole was miserably pregnant but our baby predictions kept her amused. My brothers, sister-in-laws, husband and myself felt like life couldn't get any better.


2 weeks later, the clouds started rolling in. The sky began rumbling. We prayed it would quickly blow over but, instead, it opened up and poured. Today I keep thinking back to that day and how carefree life was. I'm glad we had it.


But, this storm will pass.


I am counting on many more of those sunny days next summer. But next time I'm decorating the pontoon with balloons & banners. I'm making tons of cupcakes and we're having a victory celebration with Nicole as our guest of honor! I hope every one of her family members and friends will join her (although we'll have to take turns on the boat):)



Enough of my emotional rambling and on to the real update. Nicole had her liver biopsy this morning. It went well but she had to lie on her right side for over 3 hours straight afterwards which really sucked! Bryan's mom & stepdad are up for the weekend and Nicole's mom & grandma will be coming on Sunday (sorry if I missed anyone). Bryan & Nicole were soooo appreciative to learn that Bryan's coworkers have donated 5 weeks of vacation time for him to use and more may be coming. I know all the support they are receiving means so much-the phone calls, flowers, help with the boys and prayers. I've seen Nicole read the cards that have been sent and they always bring tears to her eyes.


Lastly, although I'm not a theologian, this verse has been playing in my head for the past few days:



Zephaniah 3:17

The LORD your God is with you,

he is mighty to save.

He will take great delight in you,

he will quiet you with his love,

he will rejoice over you with singing



The battle is on. Monday at 9 a.m. She is a fighter and she is going to beat this.

Results

Bryan & Nicole met with the oncologist today. The results weren't what we hoped for but not as bad as they could have been (if that makes sense). The cancer is stage 4. There are lymph nodes that are positive for cancer. It is also HER2 positive which will necessitate an additional chemo drug. There are spots on her liver which will be biopsied tomorrow morning. Chemo begins Monday morning and will be every 3 weeks.

Nicole is a strong, resiliant woman who is ready to face this challenge head on. There are so many medication options available and many woman are able to manage stage 4 breast cancer as a chronic disease. Continue to pray for strength and minimal side-effects from chemo.

Listen Up OB/GYN Docs!!

While doing a search on breast cancer during pregnancy I was surprised to read on at least 2 websites that it is the most common cancer diagnosed in pregnant women. It occurs in approximately 1 out of every 3000 pregnancies.

Most doctors only do a breast exam during the initial OB visit. Pregnant women need to be educated on this topic. There should be periodic breast exams-perhaps once per trimester. They should also be counseled on starting or continuing monthly self-exams and to report any changes. From brief conversations with Nicole, I know getting the word out on this is one of her goals and will be a future focus for her. So, if you are pregnant or know anyone who is, spread the word.


Today Nicole had her port-a-cath inserted while under sedation. It was done within 30 minutes and she is now sporting 2 super glued incisions! This afternoon she and Bryan met with someone who went over chemotherapy with them. She covered the different meds she may receive, the process, side effects and showed them where she will go for the infusions.

Tomorrow is a very important day. Nicole will first have a heart scan to make sure her heart is strong enough for certain chemo drugs. They will then meet again with the oncologist who will go over the MRI, lymph node biopsy and PET scan results. She should also find out when chemo will begin. Continue to pray like never before for negative MRI, scan & biopsy results!


Linda, Tom, Claire & I hung out with the boys today. There is nothing as sweet as snuggling with a newborn as you feed him a bottle! Linda & Tom headed back to Iowa this evening and we left for home but not before watching Brock finish off his ice cream cake from 2 weeks ago.

We also were able to sit outside and enjoy the cool breeze for awhile with Griffin. Here is a cute picture of Nicole & the baby (hope you don't mind, Nicole!).

Next time I have to get a picture of Bryan to put on here (just to make it fair)!

Test Anxiety

As I type this, Nicole and Bryan are at the cancer center half-way through the first day of testing. This morning was a PET scan and this afternoon is a lymph node biopsy. They don't expect to hear any results until Nicole's Thursday follow-up with the oncologist. Grandma Linny is home watching their boys and I'm sure Brock is loving every minute of it!

Pray that the cancer is localized and all these tests will come back clear. Waiting is the hardest part right now. We are all holding our breath until Thursday's appointment. Then she will know exactly what she's up against.

The Beginning...

On August 10th, our family rejoiced when Nicole gave birth to her second child. Weighing in at just under 11 pounds, Griffin Thomas joined his big brother, Brock, and Nicole earned the admiration of everyone!

Three days later Nicole underwent a breast biopsy and we all held our breath praying it was only an infection. On August 14th, Nicole and her entire family were blindsided with a diagnosis of breast cancer.

This coming week will be filled with scans, tests and appointments. Chemo will begin the following week. My goal is to update this website as much as possible & hopefully Nicole will also do so when she is ready.

More to come...