Category: regular

26 years ago on this day I made my entrance into the world. After 36 hours of reluctant cooperation I decided Superbowl Sunday would be my birthday. 

26 years? I’m closer to 30 than 20 now. Wow. Adult time.

What have I learned, achieved, and discovered in my 26 years?

– Family and true friends are the most important thing in the world. Well, after Jesus.

– I’ve won some big awards and championships, but not without learning the true value of dedication and hard work. 

– Life can change in the blink of an eye, so don’t get too comfortable.

– I became the first woman on my Mother’s side of the family graduate from a University.

– Be financially responsible, and live within your means.

– The right guys does exist, I promise. Never settle. 

– I landed a career in an industry I’ve dreamed about since high school. 

– Have medical insurance, because breaking your bionic ankle costs $200,000 +

We only get one shot at this thing called life, so slow down and enjoy the ride. It won’t always be smooth, pretty, and perfect. But it’s real. And everyday we get another chance to make the most of it. 

Thanks for those 36 hours Mom, happy labor anniversary day to you!

This week was all about news. I got news from the doctor on Monday about my lumps (…my lovely lady lumps…) sorry. I had to. I’ll stop now. 

Thursday was a big day. Epic. 15+ months in the making. 

I will spare you the details, since it’s Manfriend’s news, not mine to share. 

But I will tell you that the news was good, and by good I mean AWESOME.

No. We did not get engaged. Calm yourselves. 

For a long time I’ve felt that I was moving toward the future with this little (massive) dark cloud hanging over me. I didn’t know what the cloud was going to do, or when it decided it felt like unleashing a giant storm. I did my best to ignore the cloud, and go about my business…but sometimes, just as I thought I saw the sun shining through the cloud it would burst with a tremendous force. I got angry at the cloud. I didn’t understand why it was picking on me, didn’t it have anything better to do? Nope. It was going to be around for a long time. So, I grabbed an umbrella and some rain boots. 

Yesterday, I was able to finally see the sun. The clouds are breaking and I see a big rainbow up ahead. 

There might be some scattered showers up ahead, but I’ve got my umbrella and boots on standby. 

As some of you may know, I’ve had some health issues lately. Nothing serious, just more mysterious. 

A few months ago I got sick with what I thought to be a winter cold, and my glands on the left side of my throat swelled up to a giant size and hurt like a mo-fo.

After a few trips to the doctors, an ultrasound, full blood work, another trip to an ENT (ear, nose, and throat specialist), a CAT Scan, another trip back to the ENT, another ultrasound, and another trip to the ENT…I have news. But nothing that makes me warm and fuzzy. 

There are large lumps (I’m going to call them lumps because calling them a mass freaks me out) in/around/of my lymph-nodes on both sides of my neck. The largest is located on the right side of my neck, and is about 1 inch in size. 

The ENT would like to do a surgery to remove the largest lump, which will be sent in for a biopsy and then we’ll go from there. See, that’s news. But no warm/fuzzies. 

Some things I’ve learned:

– You have 90 lymph-nodes on either side of your neck

– There’s a chance it could be lymphoma or thyroid cancer (remain calm)

– Clean blood work, and normal WBC doesn’t mean you’re free of lymphoma

– I have clean blood work, and a normal WBC

– My surgery will take about 1.5 hours, and I will be under general anesthesia

– Googling Lymphoma is as helpful as it is scary

– I’m going to have a small and minor scar on my neck

– I’m considering a neck tattoo to enhance said scar

– Just kidding, Mom

– I trust and like my ENT

– Our stance is, we’re doing this “for peace of mind.”

Are you still calm? I am. 

Manfriend went with me to the doctor appointment yesterday where I got the news about the surgery. We were both 90% sure there would be an operation and a biopsy. 

So, I was prepared. I’m not thrilled for another surgery and scar, meh. I’m not thrilled to be under general anesthesia (I got super-duper sick for the first time ever after my last bionic ankle surgery). I’m not thrilled to have to wait for the biopsy results. 

But, I’m hopeful, optimistic, calm, peaceful, and just plain okay with everything. 

At this point, it does zero good to worry. Which is a totally new concept for me. I earned the Girl Scout Badge for Obsessive Worrying in 3rd grade.

So, everybody please remain calm. 

If you want something to worry about, worry about who’s going home on The Biggest Loser tonight!