My Last Day of Work and Recap of Our Thanksgiving

Tommy's Dad and Nephews

Even though I wrote a small post yesterday, I feel as though it has been a lifetime since I last posted an addition, I guess because so much has happened. Yesterday I woke up with a horrific headache, stomach ache, and just feeling horrible. I had so many plans for yesterday to be extremely productive, from cleaning, doing laundry, and separating stuff in our house from what we want to take back home with us, and stuff we are going to be selling and giving to charity. However, those plans were just that, plans, and they were not meant for me to accomplish yesterday. It is very aggravating how often I feel the exact same way I did yesterday, exhausted beyond the point of repair.

Lavada, the Thanksgiving dinner host, and sister April.

I woke up at yesterday morning at 10:30am, which is rare, usually I wake up by 8:00/8:30am. I knew it was going to be an awful day due to the headache I awoke with, but I thought that maybe after a 10mg Percocet it might go away, so I took the pain pill and started some laundry. I then sat down on the couch to give the medication some time to kick in, but it didn't work. My headache just continued to get worse. By 1:30pm I knew I needed to lay back down and just go to bed, but the last thing I wanted was for my husband to come home to a mess in the kitchen so I cleaned the kitchen, and just as I finished he walked in the door early. He is so loving that he told me to stop and go to bed. He said the last thing that I needed to do when feeling this way is house work that can wait until later or the next day, but I knew that if I didn't do it he would, and he had to work yesterday, I didn't. Anyways I went to bed at around 2:00pm and didn't wake up again until 6:45. After that Jason and I watched 2 movies and we went to bed at 10pm. I was so exhausted and feeling yucky that I slept until 8:00am this morning.

I know, you all are probably thinking blah, blah, blah. No one really cares about moment by moment outlay of my day when I don't feel good, but it's good for me to keep track of for my doctors. Also I am reading Tom Brokaw's biography right now about him finding out he had multiple myeloma, and the past few years fighting it and one thing that, in my opinion, it is missing is, how he felt going through treatment. What was it like in his opinion, going through the tests, what did the treatments make him feel like during the extreme lows it put him through. Maybe it does go through that eventually, but so far I am into his second year of fighting and I have seen nothing about it, maybe that stuff is to come.

Kate and Tommy, the BEST neighbors EVER!

My splendid Vegan Oreo Cheesecake

Thanksgiving day was so much fun for Jason and I! We went with our neighbor's Kate and Tommy to Tomm'y sister's house. Her name is Lavada and she is so nice and funny! They had everything that a proper Thanksgiving dinner should have, which also included April's (Tommy's other sister) Vegetable Wellington, which was AMAZING!!! I am totally going to have to make it and add the recipe on here when I do. For Jason and I's contribution I made a vegan Oreo cheesecake, and it was amazing! The picture doesn't do it justice, even though it does look pretty amazing. I have added a link to the recipe, but if you don't have a food processor, don't bother. I don't have one, and I used my nuti-bullet and it took me FOREVER to make! There is so much that has to be processed down to a powder, and while it came out great it was a lot of work that I will never do again unless I have a food processor. Every one loved it though and they were all amazed that it was Vegan!!

http://namelymarly.com/cheesecake-factory-vegan-copycat-oreo-cheesecake/

I loved spending Thanksgiving with a family again! Everyone in Kate and Tommy's family were so welcoming and gracious! It really made me miss my family, but we were so blessed to have two wonderful friends who invited us to spend such a special holiday with them and their family. When we were leaving, Tommy's mom said "We have adopted you guys, you're now a part of the family", which means a lot! It was special to experience that kind of feeling, where strangers treat you just like family!

Mrs. Cheryl and I on my last day of work

My boss, Kathy and I on my last
day of work.

Today is my last day of work. It is kind of bitter sweet. I am sad to leave the great people that I have met working here. I am sad that I will not see my students who are currently enrolled graduate. I am sad that I am leaving a job the I know like the back of my hand to enter into a world of treatment I know nothing about. I am leaving the comfort zone of a job that I have been good at and excelled in for the past 4 years, and my future is completely up in the air. I hate feeling like I am in limbo. But, I have a feeling, a great, strong feeling that I am going to be lead to the future and greatness I am suppose to forefeel. like God is leading me on this path I am merely following. I guess we will all see where I end up together, you all will know as soon as I do.

Megan and I on my last day of work

I am erasing my name from the Rep
board.

I will be back home in Kansas City on December 8th. Once there I plan on making videos that I upload onto the blog as well. I am nervous, but also excited about what the future holds for Jason and I. I know that there will be a lot of hard times, but I also know that there will be a lot of memories made, and for that I am so thankful! I love you all, thank you for the continued support, and as always #Advocateforyourhealth

The Herbels, Jason and I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving like we did!

Day after Thanksgiving.

Jason and I had a wonderful Thanksgiving, which I will write about tomorrow along with posting pictures and a new recipe, but today I am feeling horrible. So I am going to rest. I have a horrible headache, which seems to be happening a lot lately, I have a sore throat, upset stomach and have been extremely nauseous. For those reasons this will be my only post today. I am getting so sick and tired of being sick and tired and this is just the beginning. Oh well, I will make it through it!
Today I am thankful for the great memories that were made yesterday! Jason and I had a wonderful time, which you will all see from the photos I post tomorrow! Much love, thank you for the support, and as always, #Advocateforyourhealth

Thanksgiving 2015 Eve

Happy Thanksgiving Eve everyone! Gosh I have so much to be thankful for! I am thankful for my husband, my family, my friends, waking up everyday to the cutest puppy dog EVER! I am so thankful for the education that I have been putting myself through, the great career experience I have, and the fact that I still have the abilities that I do, like walking, sharing my life, and being able to do things for myself. I am so thankful for Jason! He is willing to move back to Kansas City, away from the beach, for me, because he knows that is what I need. With all these things that I am thankful for, there are some things that I am sad about too.

Today is my last day working a full day, I will come back on Saturday for a half of day, but today is my last full day. It is somewhat bitter sweet I have been working for the company I am at for almost 4 years, I am good at my job, and I love so many things about my job, but right now I feel like I need to get control of my health. I have no idea what kind of treatment I will be going through once I get home, and I have no idea what I will feel like once that treatment starts. While I am doing all of this I am going to continue to work on my master's degree though. I feel like it will give me something to focus on, plus I am only one year away from being done.

On another note, there is something that I want to get onto the blog which is kind of hard to admit. So, I know my diagnosis, I know logically, as far as numbers go, why I have been diagnosed with multiple myeloma, and I know the symptoms that I have that have attributed to me seeking out further care, and it is easy for me to admit that I have multiple myeloma, but it is VERY hard to admit that I have that C word.

The American Cancer Society actually has a page dedicated to "the emotional impact of a cancer diagnosis". Within this page it states that after you are diagnosed with cancer, you may feel shock, disbelief, fear, anxiety, guilt, sadness, grief, depression, anger, and more. Each person may have some or all of these feelings, and each will handle them in a different way. For me, I know I am struggling with a little disbelief, maybe even a lot, as well as, anxiety, and guilt at this time.

The disbelief is obvious, how can I, at 33, be diagnosed with a cancer that is usually diagnosed in your 50s and 60s? How is it I have this rare type of blood cancer that usually affects men, later in life? After disbelief there is certainly guilt as well. I feel guilty about my diagnosis and how life changing it more than likely will be on my husband and I. We just got married on Sept 26, of this year, less that 3 months ago, and BAM, the big C word has already made that vow in sickness and health something that we have to adhere to, no time to enjoy married life, no time to discuss the future, all the sudden we have been jolted into an unsure future needing to take each day as it comes. For that I feel extremely guilty to my husband! This is the last diagnosis we expected to be hit with.

 

I often wonder now, what have I done to myself, and I wonder that A LOT! I mean sure, there is no doctor on this planet that knows why people get multiple myeloma. No hematologist out there understands why someone's blood starts producing a mutated protein, but still I wonder, was it the Diet Coke I drank every day? Was it the horrific products they call food at some places that I shoved into my body? Could it have been caused by the multitude of different medications I have been on since my back injuries? All of these questions now go through my mind on a daily basis.

I also wonder, how much more pain am I going to deal with in my life? A few back injuries, 5 spinal surgeries, migraines, testing that has caused me pain like a myelogram, and now this. I have no idea the kind of pain the big C word brings about, but I am almost certain that it is the most hellacious pain I will ever feel, which means it will be worse than my back injury, and I don't know how I will be able to take that, so on top of the other feelings I am SCARED! I assume that is normal, especially with a C word that has no cure. 



If anyone in my family is wondering about what to get
me for Christmas, here it is. You can find it on ETSY. LOL
UPDATE: Jason bought it for me today! Thanks Hubby!

Don't worry I am still staying positive and charging ahead at full force, I am just being honest about some of the feelings that are NOT so bright and happy that I have been dealing with. These are, from what I know, normal feelings, and I don't think I should ignore them, I think that I should embrace all the feelings that I have through this time, if even for a minute.


That is all for today, I have a lot to do today, cleaning up my desk, taking pictures with my coworkers to remember them, grocery store shopping so I can get some ingredients to make something yummy to take to Kate and Tommy's family for Thanksgiving tomorrow, and cooking dinner for Jason and I. Thank you so much for reading today, for the support, and as always, #Advocateforyourhealth

Retrieved from: http://www.moderncancerhospital.com/cancer/multiple-myeloma/

Today I had a little bit of a me day. I went and got a pedicure and my nails done (I got a burgundy ribbon on my ring fingernails, which is the ribbon color for multiple myeloma). I also did a little retail therapy, which was so nice. Jason is under the weather today, cough and stomachache. I wish there was something that I could do to make him feel better. I hate seeing him sick. As for me, it is still the usual, exhaustion that a nap or good night of sleep can't fix, weakness, and back pain. It's funny, I always just assumed that the back pain I was experiencing was due to my spinal fusion I had 7 years ago. I thought this pain was normal pain that everyone who had a double fusion to L4-S1 had. Once it started getting worse, again, I just thought, well I am getting older, and it is the normal pain that comes with osteoarthritis and having had a double lumbar spinal fusion. Through the research I am doing about my condition I am learning that may not be the case, the pain could be due to the multiple myeloma.

Retrieved from:
 http://ourinterruptedfairytale.com/2015/03/multiple-myeloma-awareness-month/

Some of you know that I have been trying to get into a clinical trial at KU Med. I believe there is a reason why God chose me to have this specific type of cancer, whether it was to help others in some way through this blog, or to help others by offering to be in a clinical trial, any way that I can turn this into a learning opportunity, or a blessing to someone else, that is what I want to do! I am still really hopeful that God will bless me with being accepted into it. It will also help me tremendously with being able to afford my treatments better.

Today I am grateful for my husband. He is supportive and knows that sometimes a girl just needs a pedicure. Thank you so much babe! I love you so much!!! I am grateful that today I was able to go on my own to get a pedicure. I am grateful that I was able to drive myself to the nail salon and then the mall to do some retail therapy! There are so many people out there that are too sick to do those things, things that people often take for granted. Today I am grateful that I was able to get in and out of my car without assistance.

Retrieved from: Pharmacy Times

Something BIG that I am grateful for, my bestie, Emily Myers is having her 4th son today! Yay for her! I know she is ready to get that baby boy out and greet him to the world. I am praying that everything goes smoothly for her, and that he comes without any complications. I am so excited to meet him once Jason and I get back home.

LOL.....so funny, Jason just said that Emily just posted that David Allen Coleman is here!!! Yay!!! Momma and baby are doing great!

Thank you for visiting the blog today everyone and checking in with me. Please leave a comment, let me know what you think of the blog! Goodnight everyone, thank you for the support, and as always #Advocateforyourhealth


 I found the below image on facebook. I don't know where it is from, but I found it important to put here!

My Maid of Honor, Amber Hepler,
My Bride'smaid, Michelle Stueve
(also my sister-in-law)
And me at my bridal shower in
Aug 2015

My bestie, Amber Helper and I

Hello everyone, happy Tuesday. There is quite a bit to blog about today, and I don't know what pictures to correlate with the post I am about to write, so they may just be random pictures of my nieces and nephews, or other members of my family, or me and my husband, or our dog Ruby. For today there are a few things that I have on my mind. First off, the reason why I didn't post another entry last night is because I felt super defeated! I got a call yesterday from the doctor's office, it was the person who is helping me get one of my medications for treatment, Revlimid, also known as

My brother, Brian and his youngest
child, Annabelle. Isn't she cute!!?!!

Lenalidomide. This medication is an oral cancer drug, but it is highly government regulated due to birth defects that were caused by it in pregnant women back in the 1950's. Anyways, they were calling to let me know that the medication was approved for me by my insurance. She asked me if anyone had talked to me about the cost of the medication, I told her that I had been told during a doctors appointment that it was $1400 a month (which is actually a 21 day supply, you take it 21 days and are off for 7 days, and then repeat). She said that I was given the wrong estimate, that the 21 day cost for Revlimid is actually $14,000. That's right, get back up into your chair, don't worry I will wait a minute........I did the same thing, she said $14,000 and I promise you my heart skipped a beat, all the air in my lungs went out, and I fell out of my chair. She went on to say that I am lucky because I have insurance, so I immediately feel better because I'm thinking, "oh well good, maybe insurance is going to help substantially".....hahahaha. She went on to say, with insurance covering it your cost will only be $3,282 a month for 21 pills. I literally laughed, out loud, directly into the phone, for a minute! I mean, how could anyone EVER afford ANYTHING even remotely close to that? I mean if it is between me being treated by paying that amount or dying, I guess we know who's funeral you will all be at next cause crap, that is impossible. I don't even make that a month and I have a pretty good job for a 33 year old. She then went on to say that I can get financial assistance from the multiple myeloma foundation, which I greatly appreciate, but unless I can get like all but $100 covered, it just isn't something I can afford. Needless to say, all of this information was a little overwhelming, discouraging, and mind blowing quite frankly. The sad thing is, what choice do people have? It's either take this drug or your cancer gets worse.....I don't know what I am going to do. For now, I am going to continue with the plans Jason and I have made, which is to move back to Kansas City into my Mom and Step-Dad's house, continue to work with KU Med to try to get into a clinical trial, and file for social security disability and Medicaid. I hope it all works out, I mean what other option is there other than for it to work out?

2nd best night ever, the night before
our wedding!

 

Our Ruby

Our Ruby again.

Today, I am grateful for our puppy, our fur-baby, Ruby. Every morning when I wake up she is there laying right by me. She loves to cuddle, and she loves Jason and I so much! I am so thankful that we found her and were able to rescue her! I am also grateful for Kerry Hepler, she is helping me with getting all the information together that is needed for the clinical trial at KU Med and she is helping me with getting in the specialist there to get the best care possible. When I talk to her she doesn't treat me like a patient, from the first conversation I had with her I felt like I was her friend. She is working very hard for me and advocating for me and I appreciate that more than I can say. It must be something in the name, it can't be a coincidence that my best friends last name is Hepler (Yes, I am talking about you Amber Hepler, my sista since 7th grade)!

 

This concludes today's post, I am going home now to rest, super tired, super weak in my arms, and lots of back pain today. Much love to you all, thank you for the support, and as always, #ADVOCATEFORYOURHEALTH

 

 

So, sorry there was no update from yesterday. I was super busy getting ready for a dinner party with our neighbors and cooking. It was my first time cooking a completely vegan meal, and I will say, it was freaking AWESOME!!! I had such a fun time going around to the different stores buying the ingredients, and I found it therapeutic.

I am sure all of you were wondering, what was on the menu.

First, as a side we had guacamole, which I bought pre-made from Ever'man's, with corn tortilla chips. Yummm!

As the main dish we had Vegan Enchilada Casserole. It was AMAZEBALLS! If you are willing to try a vegan meal to see if it is something you can start mixing into your diet I would highly recommend starting off with this meal.

So the first thing that I did when I got home was I started making my home-made vegan caramel dip for my caramel coconut oil brownies. Below is a link to the recipe, and I would actually recommend making this a day or 2 before you make the brownies.

http://www.wellplated.com/vegan-caramel-sauce/

After the caramel was made and cooled so that it could thicken, I made my brownies. They were so good that between Jason and I, and our wonderful neighbors, Kate and Tommy, there was only 1/4 of cake pan left. The recipe for the vegan brownies is below. Even though the recipe doesn't call to oil the dish before adding the mixture I would recommend it!

http://www.veganfamilyrecipes.com/2015/02/vegan-caramel-brownies.html

Once the brownies were done I turned up the oven and I opened my packets of butternut squash, pre-cut so I didn't have to do it. I purchased 3 bags and put them in a large bowl, added olive oil, garlic salt, and dill, mixed them all up in the bowl and then laid them out on a cookie sheet and placed them in the oven to roast. Now, I could have eaten this all by itself, it was AMAZEBALLS!!! for the oven I turned it up to 375 and left the butternut squash in there for 30 minutes.

While the butternut squash was roasting I had Jason cut up my red pepper, green pepper, and onion for the enchilada casserole. The recipe for this PERFECT dish is below. I highly recommend it. Not only did I love it, but our vegan neighbors did as well, and it was such a hit with my husband that he said he would have no problem going vegan if we ate like that every night! Please try it and see just how easy it is to love something with all vegetables and no meat or cheese (this did have vegan cheese and sour cream in it though).

http://juliasalbum.com/2014/11/black-bean-and-butternut-squash-enchilada-casserole-recipe/

As for yesterday, what was I grateful for? I was grateful for having the ability to go out and run around town to purchase the items needed to make this wonderful meal! I was grateful for the opportunity to share a great and healthy meal with the most wonderful couple we have met out here in Pensacola (I am still trying to find a way to fit them in my pocket when we move). I was grateful for my Grandma Gray and my Mother, because they are the women who taught me how to cook, how to read a recipe, how to understand what flavors are good together, how to know when there is just the right amount of seasoning in something. They are the reason I know how to bake as well, and while I may not do it often, it is something that was instilled in me throughout my life, and that's why, even though I have never made a vegan meal it came out so good, because they raised me in a kitchen and for that I will be forever grateful! Also, I am thankful and grateful for my husband, who helped me pull off the amazing dinner we had. He continued to ask if I needed help through the process and when I came to the point of needing a rest he jumped right in and cut up the veggies for me while I rested. Stay tuned for another update later tonight on my reflections from today, and what has made me grateful and thankful today, and as always #ADVOCATEFORYOURHEALTH.

So, this evening I am in quite a bit of pain. I have lower back pain to the point where I am honestly dreading getting up to go to the bathroom. I took Ruby to the vet and all the pulling and tugging on the leash though was a lot on me, and now, not only am I exhausted, but I am super sore. It was pretty cute though, she has never seen a cat before, until today! She didn't quite know what to make of it, especially when it hissed at her.

Right now, I feel like every muscle is tense all at the same time and there is nothing I can do to relax any of them. Because of that, Jason and I are just chilling at home, and I am catching up on some "Grey's Anatomy".

Now, for me it is sometimes hard to be completely honest because, honestly the last thing I want anyone to ever think is that I am some lame, punk ass, pouty whiney baby. But, I promised with this I would be honest about how I am feeling, and to a lot of people it may not make sense, but for me the only way to be honest is to say how I am feeling regardless on if I offend someone or not, so here it goes.......

I have been asked lately, "how are you doing", and normally, I am going to say, "I am doing okay", because, do you truly want to hear how I am doing? Usually not, you're just trying to be nice, and I am just trying to get around the weirdness of all of this. Sometimes, when someone asks, I tell them how I found out, but truly, no one wants to hear how I am doing. No one wants to continue to hear me say how exhausted I am, nor could they understand, unless they have been there, done that. No one wants to hear me say I am in so much pain I literally need to sit for a while, and even then I am still in pain. No one wants to hear how a table that I could pick up on my own just 4 months ago now feels like a thousand pounds with someone else helping me carry it. But, more importantly, I don't truly want to admit those things. On the other hand, if I am going to admit those things, where better to admit them but here?

Also, if you know someone suffering any kind of illness, not like the flu, cause you can catch that and I don't want you to get sick due to my advice, but visit them, make them laugh somehow, make them feel beautiful, and mean it, make them feel special somehow. These are the things that people closest to me have done for me. If you know someone who is sick, even with just the flu, drop off a box of Kleenex, some word searches, some flu meds, some orange juice, their favorite drink, anything, and ring the door bell, then run....let them wonder who it was who did this kind gesture for them. It will make their mind run through all the people it could be, and that will make them realize all the people they have in their life that love them, which is powerful. Send them a letter in the mail, it is something that they can keep and look back on when having a bad day, which is powerful too.

Today, I am thankful that I had this great day, yes I had pain, yes I am exhausted, but it could be worse. I am grateful that I got to take Ruby to the vet. She is able to get better, and Jason and I are able to provide her with a great home and a great life. I am grateful for all the wonderful people in my life, who love me without a doubt, and who care about me without question. I love you all!

So, before I hit post, this literally just happened. I just got my first ETSY sale from a complete stranger. YAY!!!!!! It was this "Silent Night" on canvas that I sold.


#advocateforyourhealth




I'm just going to leave this right here. Know more about a plasma cancer that can be caught through blood test at a very early stage, but usually isn't caught until.....well, look at that median age at diagnosis, and by then it is stage 3.

So, last night I forgot to write what I am grateful for, and I didn't sleep well, and it was the first thing I thought about today, which made me sad, so I am going to write it now. Last night we went to Downtown Pensacola for gallery night with our neighbors and friends, Kati and Tommy. Gallery night is pretty awesome, there are a lot of artist lined up with booths, and music playing, and just a really fun atmosphere for a wonderful night out with great people. I am so grateful that I have had the ability to experience that. Everyone there was happy, having a good time, and getting along with everyone else. I will say there was some GREAT people watching too! It was just an amazing time, and even though I was suffering through pain in my back (what else is new), I still had such a good time with my wonderful husband and our amazing new friends!

November 20, 2015 @ 9:03am

Okay so, before I start todays post, please know that I am fully aware how horrible my daily routine use to be, and I am fully aware of how my daily routine could have placed me in today's situation, or at least was a great contributor, with that being said, before Wednesday this was my daily routine:

1. Wake up in the morning and shower and get ready for work

2. Before work drive to the gas station and get a 44oz Diet Coke, as well as donuts or a muffin, and chips, and any other kind of CRAP you shouldn't eat

3. Go to work and sit there for a majority of the day.

4. In between sitting there, go outside for what I would call P.T. time, or puffy treat time (meaning I would go smoke a cigarette). This would happen about 4-5 times a day.

5. During lunch I would go home and watch a T.V. show that my husband hates, so not to expose him to the trash T.V. I sometimes like. (We all have our dirty secrets)

6.Once home from work I would sometimes cook, not often, for the most part I would grab food on the way home, which of course was never a healthy option. I would also smoke more cigarettes while home.

So all of this crap I did, turned my body and blood into CRAP! So, what can I do now to make sure that I am advocating for my health? Well I have stopped smoking cigarettes, and I am no longer going to be drinking Diet Coke, and of course I am changing how I eat, and what I decide is okay to put in my body.

Anyways, some things that I am trying:

I know that it is important for me, to still have a routine, so every day I am still going to the gas station for my breakfast and snacks, just making better decisions about what I purchase. Eventually this too will stop, but baby steps. Anyways, what is a good breakfast or snack from a gas station for someone who is wanting to make gradual life changes in their eating habits? Well I found some great ones. Now, don't get me wrong, I sure did see the Lunchables (you know the turkey and cheddar ones, yummmm) and I wanted to grab one, but it has cheese and meat (the two best things it has), so I turned my cheek and shunned that Lunchable. Instead of that pesky (yet yummy) Lunchable I got the following things:

1. Fritos, which is made of only corn, corn oil, and salt, is a great decision over other types of chips that have a bunch of preservatives and stuff that I can't even pronounce, let alone try to spell out for all of you.

2. A banana. I got the banana for two reasons, the first reason being I needed something sweet, and you have to have a little something wrong with you if you don't like a banana, secondly I have been waking up lately with pains in my calves so I am hoping the potassium would help that out.

3. Everyone who knows me knows well how much I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, me some cheese. Cheese is actually the one thing I am most sad about giving up, so will probably be one of the last things to fully go, but Cashews really do have once you get past the fact that you need to chew them up, they have a cheese type of taste, so score!! I will eat a bit of cashews everyday! Plus they are a great source of protein. Now I know there are nuts out there that would be better sources of protein than the cashew, but I like cashews the best, so that's what I boast about!

Also today was my first day Diet Coke free! Yay me!!!!!! So with that being sad, what did I treat myself with in place of my daily 44 ounce Diet Coke? Something nutritious and delicious!

 

That's right I tried a

 Naked: Green Machine Smoothie

 

And it was BOMB DIGS!!!! I feel like they shouldn't put the broccoli or the spinach on the bottle because it taste NOTHING like that, you really can taste the apple and pineapple so much more than anything else! Also, this one said Boosted so I thought, "Does that mean it will make me feel boosted, or does that mean it will boost my metabolism, or does it mean it will boost my immune system?" But then I decided, shoot I need all three of those so it doesn't really matter.

Ewww.....side note, please disregard my horrific nails....I need a manicure pronto!

These little bottles are packed yummy goodness, but also stuff that your body will love to eat up, and those two things are a great combination in my book. The only downside in my opinion would be the high carbohydrates and sugar content, but I figured it sure is a lot better than a package of donut, so why not.

OH, and super bonus for all you CA recyclers, you get a cash refund upon turning it in once your done drinking it. CHA-CHING!





Just look at all those great ingredients, not one processed junk magnet that I don't know how to spell or read, just a bunch of wholesome fruits and veggies that mankind has been consuming for forever!

Whatever you do though, don't forget to shake it up well, otherwise you could seriously taste a whole bunch of some veggie your not too keen on!

This is also SUPER important in my opinion as well. This product is verified not to have GMO's. You know what GMO's are don't you? GMO stands for Genetically Modified Organisms, which are organisms that have been modified and artificially made. So basically, GMO's are just like my cancerous blood. In laymen's terms, my blood and plasma is producing a mutation which is the cancer, and that is bad, but you're telling me that mutated food is okay for you to consume without causing poor outcomes. That would be like saying, oh your blood is producing this cancer, but you know what it's alright, keep on living, don't worry about it, act like it isn't even there, and you will live a long prosperous life. Yeah right, come on. So moral of the story today is STAY AWAY FROM GMOs!! And as always #ADVOCATEFORYOURHEALTH.

Love you all!

Thursday, November 19, 2015 10:30pm

Before I turn out the lights and lay down to read, because lets face it, I'm not sleeping much lately, even though I am exhausted, i wanted to give today's update. So, speaking of being exhausted, when I say exhausted it doesn't mean exhausted like take a nap, I mean exhausted in a different way that I can't explain. Anyways, today I woke up with a text from Jason that said "Babe, today is not the first day, just a new day, and I love you very much. Have a great day". This made me think, that he was right, it is a new day. A new day to make it a great day, with that being said, I am grateful for the amazing support, love, and prayer that I am still getting from him, my family, my friends, and even strangers. I spoke with Kerry, someone who works for KU Med clinical trials. She was so nice, uplifting, knowledgeable, and helpful. It made me believe in people who know how to treat a stranger, show empathy to a stranger, and just give understanding. I am grateful for places like KU Med, where technology and science is being developed, and research is being done to help further knowledge into different types of illnesses. I am grateful and thankful for my Mom, who is not only my Mom, but also my best friend. And on a lighter note I am grateful for little special moments where I know my prayers were heard. It's so funny how not every prayer may be answered, but others are. It truly makes me believe that everything happens for a reason, maybe this is my reason.....to use this forum to help others.


#ADVOCATEFORYOURHEALTH

 

VEGAN RECIPES 

 

As stated before I will be posting recipes that directly reflect the lifestyle change I will be making, and by making I mean SLLLOOOOOOWLY making. This is a lifestyle change and I fully understand that in order to make this stick I need to make this transition a slow process so I don't feel like I am missing out on anything. Anyways, first recipe is now posted. Stay tuned for more. Oh and I might add that I am a woman who loves meat, I mean I was raised on meat and potatoes, and some of the BEST Bar-B-Que you have ever had in your life (I am from KC, MO), but I know this is the change I need to make, so with that being said, if you are like me and love, meat, Bar-B-Que, CHEESE (hu, am I right or am I right, Cheese is AMAZE-BALLS), and all that stuff that is bad for you then the recipes I post on this blog are sure to be a hit in your eyes too! So try them out, enjoy, and most of all don't forget to, ADVOCATE FOR YOUR HEALTH!

 

VEGAN CHEESY GRITS

This recipe is already a favorite! Given to me by my wonderful neighbors Katie and Tommy, I love the cheese taste. I was amazed at how much it tasted like the cheesy grits I have grown to love, and I am sure you will love it too!

 

1 Cup Yellow Corn Grits

4 TBSP Earth Balance

1/2 Cup of Daiya Cheese

1 TBSP of Black Pepper

1 TBSP paprika

 

Simply cook your grits with water, or vegetable stock. Once they are cooked and the water or stock has been absorbed (they should have the consistency of mashed potatoes or mashed cauliflower) add the other ingredients and then enjoy.

 

What a super easy side dish, or even a main dish under a veggie burger.

 

#AdvocateForYourHealth

 

Welcome to the start of my first blog EVER! I plan on learning as I go, so while this may not be the most sophisticated blog, it is a work in progress, just like me!


 Before I get into my story, I have to share this. I have been married to a wonderful man since September 26, 2015, so we are NEWLY WEDS!!! The picture below is one of the pictures of us on our wedding day, and I am sure that through this blog you will get the chance to eventually meet all of the important people in my life, but he is the one who is going through this with me 24 hours a day 7 days a week right now. He is my supporter, my love, my husband, my future, and the man of my dreams.


 So, now that introductions are out of the way, and you know me a little better, here is my story.

        At 26 years old I had a back injury, which ended in 2 microdecompression surgeries and one double lumbar spinal fusion of L4-S1. Forward 5 years later and at 31 I had a double cervical anterior spinal fusion of C4-C6. In July 2014 Jason and I move to Pensacola, FL for a chance to experience beach life, and like most people I with my history of constant infections like bronchitis, back and neck problems, I got a primary care physician by September of that year.
       During September I got horrible bronchitis, again, and went and saw my primary care physician. During that appointment I let her know that my lower back pain was getting worse so she requested an X-Ray to check my previous surgery sight to make sure that my hardware didn't move. It was determined from those X-Rays everything was fine, but I needed to see a pain management doctor. Long story short, and another neck surgery later, I was sent to a rheumatologist to help me figure out why I was still experience bone pain in my back, my legs, my arms, and why my joints hurt.
       The rheumatologist was so great, and did a thorough exam, she said that she thought I had fibromyalgia, but to be safe she wanted to get a blood test done to be on the safe side and make sure it wasn't Lupus or Rheumatoid Arthritis.
       It was the best time waiting I had ever experienced. Usually waiting for blood results for diseases that affect your life so drastically you aren't able to focus on anything else, but luckily for me I had something extremely important to focus on, our wedding! Jason and I became man and wife on September 26th, 2015 and it was the best day of my life so far. The most important people in my life, (minus my brother, because he was blessed with a GREAT opportunity he couldn't pass up) were there, and it was beautiful, and I felt beautiful, and there was so much love and joy everywhere.

  The Tuesday we came back from our honeymoon in Disney World, I had an appointment with my rheumatologist to get my results. That's when things changed. She told me I didn't have Lupus or RA, but I was showing an M-spike in my protein, which meant I have monoclonal gammapathy. What? What the heck is that? Yeah, that was my reaction. She explained to me that it meant my blood was producing a kind of mutant protein. She said that she highly doubted I had multiple myeloma, but there were other blood tests I could get to make sure, so she requested another blood test that would test the heavy chains in plasma. That test came back showing that I had high IgA, and based on that result she referred me to a hematologist/oncologist.

   I meant my hematologist/oncologist on November 4, 2015. It was determined that due to my high IgA level, and my age, and that Jason and I had just got married, that I would have a bone marrow biopsy along with completing a 24 hour urine collection, which let me tell you the joy in that.....just kidding, that was of course gross because it has to stay cold the entire time I was collecting it. Anyways, On November 11th I went in for my bone marrow biopsy, which really was not that bad pain wise, but by now I was exhausted, still in pain and was feeling weaker daily.
      Finally Monday, November 16th at 9:00am I got a missed call. I called the phone number back and it was my hematologist/oncologist office saying that my doctor wanted to speak to me. My doctor got on the line and told me, "April we already got your bone marrow biopsy results back and there are a lot more plasma cells than we were anticipating, so we need you do complete a bone survey and schedule an appointment to meet with me soon after". So, I went in for my bone survey that day and was scheduled to meet with my hematologist/ oncologist the following Wednesday.

     This are where the daily updates start. Everyday there will be an update, some short, some long, but worth the time to read, learn, and see how the changes I am making in my life, including treatment are affecting me.

November 17, 2015

    So tonight there has been some reflection and deflection. I have reflected about my past, and deflected the possible outcomes of tomorrow. It is now time for me to rest my weary head, but first a
chance to project what my future can be. Regardless of the diagnosis I face tomorrow I have the opportunity for greatness. I have been through so much already that I know nothing can break me. I was put here for greatness, I was put here for more than what happens to me, I was put here to happen to the world. I'm 33 waiting for a doctors appointment tomorrow that may tell me I am 1% of 1%. If that happens then I will face it head on, with my husband, family and friends, take the path God has chosen for me, live through it, learn from it, and prosper because of it.

  Everyday I will have a reflection from here through my journey of either cancer, a complete lifestyle change, or both. I will say what I am grateful for everyday in that reflection. On this night, the night before the rest of my life, I am grateful that I was able to make dinner for my husband. Today I am grateful to know my worth, my strength, and my aptitude. Today I am grateful for being cancer free, and while this may be my last day to say I have never had cancer, it won't be the last day that I say I am cancer free.

November 18, 2015

     Today is the first day of the rest of my life. Today is the first day that I can not say I have never had cancer, but I have hope. Stage 1 Multiple Myeloma, so young for this diagnosis that my hematologist/oncologist, and his nurse didn't know that in order for me to get one of my medications I would need to submit to a pregnancy test, so tomorrow I will be going back to take care of that. I have no idea what the name of the medications are that I am going to be given because, to be honest, I am too exhausted right now to go get my paperwork I was given that says the name, but I will update you all with that tomorrow, 2 pills though, 2 pills for now and eventually a bone marrow transplant, but he said we have time for that and it can wait a while, which is awesome! I think that one big lesson I have already learned and that I will remind everyone all the time is ADVOCATE FOR YOUR OWN HEALTH! If you feel something is off with your body and something is not right, keep looking for a doctor who is willing to help you and if they don't respect your life, health, and humanity and blow you off, keep looking for a doctor who will go above and beyond to get to the bottom of what is going on! Advocate for your health because if it doesn't start with you, no one else will advocate for your health.

    Today I am grateful for having so many amazing people in my life, husband, family, friends, co-workers, people who have shown their support, are praying, and have sent kind words of inspiration to me. It truly is heart warming to feel the love and support, even though a majority of those people are half way across the country from us right now (as our family and friends mostly live in Kansas City). I am also grateful for modern medicine, it is what gave me the opportunity to be 33 and only at stage 1 instead of 40 and stage 3, that is a blessing and I am truly grateful for that. Lastly, for tonight I am grateful for the new lifestyle that I am learning about, and that slowly Jason and I will embark on to track what kind of changes it can make in me mentally, physically, and what changes it makes in my cancer. So please, be ready for updates, pictures, videos, and so much more!

1% of 1% because of diagnosis age......know your body and advocate for your health to have more of a fighting chance!!!















Related Links:

Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation
http://www.themmrf.org/

International Myeloma Foundation
https://myeloma.org/Main.action