A fat graft?! That's what he said, folks....

A few days ago I got a phone call from the Strides for Breast Cancer Association of Southwestern Indiana, asking me to speak on behalf of early detection and proactive treatment for breast cancer.  And how it affected me and my course of treatment.

I'm so, so, SO incredibly honored to be asked to do this, but I'm also A LOT nervous about having to speak in front of a group of people for 10 minutes.

I started working on writing my speech out a couple days ago, but I've found the process to be pretty emotional so far. 

It is always emotional letting yourself go back in time to a place that was a particularly painful (in every aspect of the word) point in your life.  But in the back of my mind, I also knew I had an important appointment coming up this week, and that always makes it fresh in the mind, as well.

So.....the appointment came and went today....and it was determined that I need another surgery.  A fat graft.

Ryan asked me what I had coming up in the next month or two and I told him the 3 day in ALT, and I couldn't afford to take any time off from training, nor did I feel I could jump back into that kind of strenuous training immediately following another surgery...so my pre-op appointment was scheduled about a week before leaving for ATL, and surgery will be right after I get home.

From what Ryan told me today, recovery from this procedure will be a lot easier than the exchange procedure.  I'll have substantial bruising on my abdomen and the transfer sites, but I won't have the incision and nerve issues I had after the mastectomy and exchange procedure.   So, for that, I'm thankful.

Chris and I were talking earlier about this upcoming procedure, and the fact that this will be NUMBER FIVE since July 2009, and to think about it in the terms of it is the equivalent of a surgery every 5 months....it seems a little surreal yet astonishing that the human body can endure all that it does and recover.

WOW, that was one, major run-on sentence.

But I'm very thankful this is a procedure that can be held off on until I walk ATL.  I saw the picture below, from the Boston 3-day of a little girl who was crying and it just re-iterated the importance of why each and every one of us have chosen to embark on the 3-day journey.

I cry every time I look at it. 

It's sends a more powerful message than any words any of us could ever say as to why this event is so important.

As far as training is concerned....I'm right on schedule and have been terrible about NOT logging into dailymile.  I have also raised all my money needed to walk.  E is currently doing a fundraiser....and if anyone was still planning to donate, please donate to her instead of me.  Thanks guys!

Well, I'm off to cook for my loves. 

(and speaking of loves....my current fav of the week:)



ps) Dave Barnes version is AMAZING too!!!

Pan Seared Chicken on Focaccia and Veggie Spirals with Spinach and Creamy Pesto Sauce

Whew....that is one LONG post title.

I'm back into a sewing/cooking phase.

It could be because it's hot as hades outside, so we're all hanging out inside ALL DAY LONG....

or it could be that insomnia has set in, in light of my upcoming appointment next week, and I'm trying to stay busy so that my mind doesn't go to a place of worry.

Whatever the reason, I've sewn both Breanna and Katie a dress with one of the fabrics we picked up at JoAnn's.  I've got two more fabrics so I need to find two more patterns for dresses/shirts for them.

Tried out some pleats.

Chris walked in the kitchen at 2 this morning and asked what I was doing.... like it's weird for me to be up making food at that time.  Happens all the time.  And for the record, I was cutting up avocado for his lunch for work.  He went to get in the shower, and I made him some toast and eggs.  When I went in the bathroom to tell him they were done, he asked me if I was okay.  I guess in the five years we've been together he has come to the realization that if I'm not sleeping, something is weighing on me.  I told him I was fine, and went back to sewing. 

Fast forward to lunch and I decided to make chicken sandwiches.

And I have some basil that desperately needed to be used, so I decided veggie pasta would be a nice compliment to a chicken sandwich.

Pesto (basil, pine nuts, Parmesan, s+p, olive oil)

Melt down about 2 Tbsp butter.  I know...really unhealthy, but so good.

Add in about 1 cup of half and half.  It's really good with whipping cream, but CALORIES....

Mix in pesto, and bring to a boil, then turn off heat and let thicken.

Add a little olive oil to a pan...some salt and pepper and crushed red pepper and then add in...

A few tsp of red wine vinegar.

Pomegranate is my new favorite!!!

Throw in some baby spinach and let wilt down.

This will only take about 2 minutes.

Cook your choice of pasta.

I use veggie spirals for everything.

Mix together the pasta, spinach, and a couple Tbsp's of the creamy pesto.

In the pan you cooked the spinach in, sear a couple chicken breasts.

Slice into thin strips.

Slice up some roasted red peppers.

Top chicken with some spinach and the roasted red peppers

Next I added some shredded cucumbers, carrots, and red cabbage.

And topped it off with a little shredded Italian cheese and about a tsp of the pesto sauce.

And viola...heaven on a plate!

Breanna-isms

I'm trying to jot down the funny things the kids say, as they say them.  Today, Breanna has been making Big A and I laugh all day.

After getting home from his orthodontist appointment, Big A asked me to cut his hair.  He goes and changes into some boxers, which apparently Breanna thought meant we were going swimming, because she started yelling, 'Wait for me!  Wait for me!  I gotta get my bay-ving suits.'

I was getting ready to clean the glass on the backdoor after Breanna had colored all over them.  She jumped in front of me and yelled, 'NO!  Don't wash off my lizard.  We have to save him for supper.'

As she was getting into the fabric bag, I told her to get out.  She responded, 'Oh come on Mom, it's for me anyways.'

After supper, Breanna asked for a snack.  I asked her if she wanted some apple sauce to which she replied, 'Yes, but it makes my stomach fart.'

At the nail salon, Breanna was looking at the nail polish hanging on the wall.  The cosmetologist asked her if she wanted her nails painted too, and she replied, 'Uh huh, because I'm big enough.'

I don't know where she gets this stuff, but she sure does keep the other five of us entertained with her witticisms and mispronunciations.