At the end of this coming week, I will know whether or not I have ovarian cancer. After 2 months and a lot of tests, my doctor feels like he has ruled out everything else he can think of that would be the cause of my symptoms. So the next step is to have exploratory surgery so that the doctor can physically go in and look around. Ovarian cancer can only be diagnosed by this method, as there is no definitive test to check for it.  Early stage ovarian cancer is very curable, but ovarian cancer is referred to as the silent killer. By the time ovarian cancer has symptoms, it is often too late to treat. There are 20,000 new cases of ovarian cancer each year, with almost 15,000 deaths.

I’m a young mother, business owner, and after years of bad relationships I married my prince charming. I have so much left in life that I want to do, that knowing I could have a cancer that may kill me has been a heavy burden while I wait for my surgery. I have shared this information with my family, my friends, my colleagues, and several of my clients, and now here on my blog for the world to see.

Several people have asked me how I can be so calm, and sound so positive when I tell them about what’s going on right now. Those that know me well, know I can be a drama queen! Don’t think I haven’t cried myself to sleep, or hugged my kids a little harder, or sat unable to work because of the worry. I’m certainly worried, I’m scared as hell. I feel like I have two choices right now. I can become a hermit and let the worry completely consume me, or I can get up and do what I need to do every day, and enjoy all that I can.

No matter what my diagnosis is next week, I will deal with it head on. I didn’t get to where I am by not fighting, and by not being a survivor. But more importantly, I did not get here without the love and support from my family and friends. What I have learned during these last few weeks is how blessed I truly am. I have an amazingly strong and loving husband. I have 4 beautiful children. I have an incredible family (both my own and the family I gained when I married Rob). But additionally – I have the love and support from so many of my colleagues and clients.

I have ran my own business for 10 years, and have met some of the most amazing people along this journey. Many of these people are not just clients or vendors, but have become friends over the years. I feel so lucky to have so many of these wonderful people praying and sending positive thoughts  my way during this wait. After speaking with a dear client yesterday, he reminded me that ‘love conquers all’. Thank God I have so much love in my life.

Okay – so almost 2 weeks ago I was in the ER having extreme abdominal pain. I left the ER being told I had a node on one of my ovaries, and a small hernia. Upon following up with the doctor 3 days later, she informed me that the CT result had been misread and that I had a large hernia with intestinal involvement, that I needed surgery, and fast.  I was told to not do any lifting, no stretching or straining, nothing that could cause the hernia to get worse. She also told me I was lucky they found it because I could have died. Talk about an emotional roller coaster ride!

So I started preparing for the surgery and recovery – as recovery was apparently the worst part of it – 6 weeks of nothing! I canceled a speaking engagement for November, Rob and I decided we’d not attend the Marine Corps Ball this year, and alot of other stuff.  I was very nervous about the surgery and recovery, and was very scared as most would be knowing they had to go under the knife.

Went to meet with my surgeon yesterday and we started talking about the procedure. Upon examining me he had a concerned look on his face. Of course I lie there thinking things are even worse. He asks me if it would be okay for me to wait there, while he walked next door to the hospital to review my CT scan himself. Sure I said, still thinking the worse.

He comes back 20 minutes later with a different strange look on his face, and then started apologizing to me. Apparently once I had the CT scan, the radiologist studies the scan and dictates notes into a recorder. Then, somebody transcribes those notes into the report. The report in which my doctor 3 days after ER visit informed me that a mistake had been made and sent me in a tail spin. The surgeon informed me that the transcriptionist made a mistake when she wrote up the report – that the radiologist had said “NO intestinal involvement”.  That I do in fact have a hernia, but it is very, very small. It is too small to even operate on. He apologized for the error from the hospital staff.

I sat there for a minute dazed and confused. Don’t get me wrong – I’m so glad I don’t need the open hernia surgery that had told me I needed, and I’m so glad I don’t have to spend 6 weeks in recovery. But I am pissed that such a mistake was made and for 2 weeks I walked around thinking that I had a big problem. I know I’m lucky that it was only something minor like this, but what about all the other mistakes made by the medical community? What if this doctor had not of looked at the CT scan himself, and actually figured this all out AFTER I had a 5″ gash across my stomach?

So, that’s the good news. The bad news is I do still have to go in for a couple of procedures. That small hernia doesn’t explain the extreme abdominal pain I’m still having, so I’m going to be going in for a biopsy of my cervix and one of the uterus wall lining. I will also be having a cauterization of my uterus.  I will have these procedures sometime in November, but they are minor compared to the hernia surgery I no longer need.  🙂

More to come as I know more.

When your 5 year old swallows it!

So Sunday night Kadence found a shiny new penny, and called her brother to her room to see it. At the last minute she decided to hide the penny, and put it in her mouth — accidentally swallowing it.  A trip to the ER later, we saw the pretty penny on xray sitting in her stomach. Thankfully it had not gotten stuck on the way down her throat.  Doc said she should pass the penny in 2-3 days, that all we fine. Worst case was that it would get lodged between her stomach and small intestine, but that was unlikely and in 35 years he himself had never seen that happen.

Monday began poop patrol for me.  Kadence and Damian both think it’s super funny to watch mom sift through poop looking for a penny, but for the life of me I don’t see the humor. No penny Monday. No penny Tuesday. No penny Wednesday. I started to think maybe I just missed it during my search and rescue attempts. So I took Kadence in this afternoon to see the doctor, who did an xray and sure enough, there is our penny – STUCK BETWEEN THE STOMACH AND SMALL INTESTINE.

So we have a referral to see the pediatric gastroenterologist either tomorrow or Friday. The doctor today is pretty certain that unless we get a miracle, Kadence is going to have to go to Children’s Hospital and have surgery to remove the penny. And apparently this isn’t the easiest surgery to have, so I’m praying for a miracle!

If you weren’t aware, Rob is away in Virginia. He’s been gone almost 3 weeks and have about 7 more to go. We certainly miss him, I miss him most during poop patrol.  🙂

We’ll be back with more info as we have it.

Take care.

We are on the road, heading to Sacramento to see grandma Jen and grandpa doug! 7-8 hour drive, this should be fun! Bianca turned three this last Monday and Addison turns two tomorrow!!

All our babies have their birthdays very close together – and they are all around the corner!

• Damian turns 7 on April 17th
• Kadence turns 5 on April 20th
• Bianca turns 3 on May 24th
• Addison turns 2 on May 29th

Can you believe it? I can’t believe my babies are getting so big.

We are having a birthday party for the big two on Saturday, April 17th. We will be having the party here on the base. We are hoping to have the party at the family housing center here on the base, which sits right next to the park. Waiting to find out if we can reserve the space. Otherwise, the party will be at the park right next door.

We’ll be grilling out, playing some games, and of course having some cake and ice cream!

We’d love to have you join us – 2pm on Saturday April 17th. Let me know if you can make it.