The Nipples have landed

So when I was thinking what to title this entry, I thought about missiles because when I came out of that operating room that is what they looked like. Apparently you have to make them longer than you really want them in the end because they naturally shrink down to a normal size after time. Well, ok, they have shrunk down some, but people definitely know I am coming and everyone thinks I am either cold or happy to see them! Sorry, I hope they continue to shrink down just a little bit more so I stop scaring all the kids. The nipple protectors are off, so careful with those hugs for awhile, there are still some sutures holding on in there and the last thing we need now is to bust a nipple off! So last I left you, the left one was abit concerning with a blackness to it. Well @ my followup Dr. Gil assured me that was just scabbing and to continue to keep it moist and it would be fine! I am happy to report the right one lost the last of its sutures and it looks fabulous. So you are probably saying I know she isn't going to post a picture of it, but what does it look like? well, take a look at yours and believe it or not, mine look exactly like that. It is amazing how real they look. So now my biggest challenge is to not pick the black scab on my left one. As Ms. Bev said, "you can pick your friends, you can pick your brain, but you cannot pick your left nipple!" I am a picker and a grinnner! (heehaw reference)

Here is an illustration of what they do to create the nipple for those of you who want to ask, but are afraid. There are actually several different techniques and each doctor has their favorite, but you get the idea (see there is a missile stage):

So, I get the next three months off to heal and then I go back in on October 9th for what Eric in the office has now dubbed "the tit tats" or as it is known in the medical community "areola tattoos". Now most people don't have to wait this long, but my Doctor does not have the tattoo machine in his office, so we have to go through one day surgery again and my insurance only allows one operation every three months. Isn't that special, lets make this girl wait alittle longer to feel whole again. I guess it gives me more time to become better acquainted with the new nipples.

July 4th holiday was exciting. Here is a picture of the kids lighting flares on the lake on July 3rd.

These pictures come after an hour in the ladies bathroom applying pressure to Rex's bleeding head! Yup, I was standing @ the club talking to friends when I see Rex walking towards me with what looks like blood dripping down the front of his face all over his clothes. I say, "rex, is that real?" cause at first it looked like maybe he was playing with friends and they put fake blood on him to scare me, but when he looked at me and started to cry I realized it was real, so I went into nurse mode. I put down the three drinks I was holding (I had just gone to bar to get drinks for three people, not me) without spilling a drop, ran to him, applied pressure and got him into the bathroom. Once I was able to clean away some of the blood I was able to see the horror scene in front of me was all from a half inch gash in his forehead. Apparently he was going out in his kayak and had just left the dock when a rock came flinging @ his head. (only inches from his eye, I might add) There were some kids skipping stones at the shore some 200 feet away and apparently one took a wacky turn into Rex's head. My boy, who hates blood, was able to apply pressure with one hand while he paddles kayak back to dock with one hand. then he was able to find a friend to watch the kayak while he found me. truely amazing he didn't flip over and drown, ok, maybe a bit dramatic, but it could have happened. Neighbor & good friend Doctor Mike was there within minutes to take over so I could go back to mom mode. Doc. Mike went to his office & got glue & stitch kit and came back to the ladies locker room. he was able to close it with just the glue which was a big relief to rex because the first thing he said to me was, "mom, I don't want stitches". Rex did awesome, Doctor Mike did awesome, & we went on to lighting flares like nothing ever happened.

2 days later Rex & Andy left for a week long boyscout camping trip. Here is one of my favorite pictures Andy got of Rex hiking in the Adirondacks.

Both my boys had a great time and can't wait to do it again next year. This is the same camp Andy use to go to every summer when he was a boy and he said it is still pretty much the same. What a great experience for father and son to share.

Ruby was home taking a theater camp and had a show at the end of it. The show was awesome and Ruby did great. Here she is afterwards getting flowers from her daddy.

So I think that brings us up to current day. O guess I should blog a little bit more frequently so these aren't so long. I will try harder next time to save you all from having to read such a long entry.

peace out

Sherie

New & Old Friends

These are my new "breast" friends!

So last weekend I went to Albany to meet 4 fabulous ladies I met through the internet that have been my support group through this whole breast cancer journey. All of us were at the new stages of being diagnosed with breast cancer last year when friends of friends, and even more friends, put us all together to navigate along this long and scary road. Half way through the journey in the midst of the January dull drums we decided we should all meet in June because most of us would be through the worst of it and it gave us yet another positive goal to reach for. So, here we all are, we made it! We are all alive. We all have new boobs which readily showed each other within five minutes of meeting each other. (we had been swapping photos back and forth all along, so it wasn't like we hadn't already seen it all) We all are thriving. OK, for those on tamoxifen, sometimes you don't feel like a thrivor and some of the ladies are still finishing up chemo. & reconstruction, but the worst is behind us and we are moving forward. we have left the breast cancer behind, but we have gained new friendships that can't ever be replaced. We drank, we ate, we flashed, we laughed, i don't think we cried, but some of us came close to peeing our pants! thank you ladies for all your love and support and guidance through a rough year!

These are my Old college friends from 20 years ago:

As I was going to be in Albany with the breast friends, I called up some old college friends and we had a bit of a reunion too. Can't believe it was 20 years ago that we were all in college. I brought 4 photo albums full of pictures from school. It seems we drank alot! It was great going through the pictures together because frnakly I didn't know who half the people in those photo albums were. Age, drunkiness at the time, not sure why, but it was fun recalling the "old" days.

Now the funny part about both these old and new friends is that one of my college friends lives within walking distance from one of the breast friends and their daughters are friends and they go to the same church, how crazy is that! They actually realized ond day over donuts at church that they both knew me.

So, It was a busy weekend and I was exhausted after returning on Sunday. Remember now, I am only 10 days post nipple reconstruction and suppose to be taking it easy. I continue to wear the nipple protector, but cut it down a bit so my Madonnaness wasn't so obvious. Of course one friend today said, if I wouldn't immediately say I had them on, she wouldn't have known, but the minute I say it, she feels the need to look down and see. I figure everyone can see it and they don't want to say anything, so If I get it out of the way right up front, it is all good. I guess I cuold just wear loose tops too, but honestly I don't have any and I don't not want to look my best when I go out! I have a follow up with Dr. Gil next Tuesday to see how the nipples are doing. I am concerned about the left one. It is discolored as compared to the right side. I called to inquire about that and Dr. Gil felt it was probably just bruised still from surgery. I hope that is it because I think the graft might not be taking on the tip, but what do I know, I am a Psych. Nurse. So I will use my Psych Nurse skills and remain positive until I hear otherwise.

I confronted Dr. Gil on what Ruby had discovered was one of his other more famous clients.I told him I knew due to HIPPA laws he couldn't confirm it, but Ruby, after reading " Sponge Bob goes to the Doctor" had discovered that Sponge Bob's doctor was also Dr. Gil!

I think Dr. Gil put the Patrick costume on to keep his identity hidden, but Ruby has exposed all!

Well, I am tiring again, that is still the one residual effect I have from all these surgeries, I get tired alot more than I use to. I am going to go be a good patient and rest!

Happy Fourth of July weekend all

Sherie