Anyone still out there?

Today marks 20 months from the end of treatment.  Time flies when you're having fun!

I thought I would write a quick post to let you all know that I'm ok!  I haven't fallen off the face of the earth...well, maybe I did fall off the blogger face of the earth.  Ha!  The reason I don't post as much anymore if because I honestly am so busssyyyy!  I am probably 10 times as busy at work now than I used to be.  I guess that's a good thing right?  That means my company has more business than it used to, which equals out to more job security for me.  Yay!

The time of year has come again folks, yep it's scanny-scan time.  Oh joy.  I swear these come around SO fast...UGH!  My next scan is Friday, November 5th at 9:45 am.  If anyone still reads this, I would surely appreciate some prayers.  These do get easier as time continues to pass, but still - CT SCANS SUCK.  Plain and simple.   I am looking forward to getting this outta the way - praying for another squeaky clean scan!  This one is a biggie - it means I have been in remission 23 months.  Make it 24 months (2 Years) and the chance of relapse diminishes significantly.  HUGE MILESTONE PEOPLE!

I still feel fantastic, work out regularly, and just appreciate everything about life.  I do enjoy every second of it.   We stay really really busy during the fall, but we love it.  

We're headed to see the COCKS play the Vols in Columbia this weekend, so excited!  We are all going out for Halloween Saturday night too and dressing up.  It's going to be ridiculous amounts of fun.

GO COCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love to all,

Hi all!  Long time no blog!

I hope all of you are enjoying your summer.  I'm not sure if it's ever been this hot for so many consecutive days, but I'm pretty much ready for Fall.  And FOOTBALL!  It's just around the corner.  We cannot wait to watch the Gamecocks this year - we think it's gonna be a good year, but hey we say that every year don't we?  ;)  Ben and I tried to go to the pool on Sunday, and it was too hot to sit out there - you know it's bad when you can't even go to the pool.  I believe the heat index was 110 that day...what the heck?  Come on Fall, hurry up!

I want to let you all know about my nephew Phillips - he's had a tough month!  He broke both bones in his left leg right above his ankle on July 4th.  He's got a huge black cast on it that goes above the knee.  We pray for you every day Phillips!  We love you little man!  You're gonna be as good as new in no time.  We will do something fun to celebrate when you get that cast off!

Today marks 17 months since I finished treatment.  I can honestly say that I feel better than I've felt in years.  I'm not sure if that's because I work out more now, or if I my body is completely over the pounding it took from treatment.  My stress levels are so low all the time, and that has a positive impact on my health as well.  Ben asked me the other say "do you thank God every day for your job?" and I thought about it for a minute, and realize that I don't.  I need to start.  I really do have a great job that is not stressful at all, pays well, is 10 minutes from my home, and I design pretty things all day long.  It's nice to not have to worry about that part of my life, because I remember at one time that's all I worried about.  So, thank you God for my job!

I wanted to include in this post an excerpt from my friend Grace's "there is optimism in cancer" blog (you can see it on the right column).  She hit the nail on the head when describing the actuality of becoming a cancer survivor.  She is so awesome at putting thoughts into words!

"i think a lot of this recovery process, and becoming a survivor, is about acceptance. we do a lot of denial in our lives...from the initial denial that 'cancer won't happen to me' to the whole process of denying that this cancer could kill me, that i could have serious long term health issues from treatment, and my biggest denial...that cancer won't effect me negatively at some point.

now that i've started my journey as a survivor, i'm beginning to accept things as they are. i had cancer, i will live with uncertainty for the rest of my life, i had some pretty hardcore treatment, and i have some pretty serious emotional scars. i'm also learning to accept that it's not what has happened to you, or will happen to you, but how you handle it. we can't change the hand we're dealt, but we can control how we play it. it's about taking ownership of the things we do well, and the things that we struggle with. it's about facing our difficulties, looking them right in the eye and developing ways to overcome them...or at least to live civilly with them. it's about taking steps forward, despite fears telling us to stand still. and, it's about accepting that who we are now is different than we've ever been before...and embracing the new person we have become."

I just love her writing.  Grace - I hope you don't mind that I put that on here.  I had to.  It's brilliant.  I think of you often - you are an amazing person!  Thanks for being my friend.

So, I am nearing my 2 year D-Day.  September 2nd.  It was around this time 2 years ago I found the lump, and I instantly knew something was wrong.  I still wouldn't wish that feeling on my worst enemy.

Before my D-Day is a MAJOR milestone.  I am turning 30 years old on August 22nd.  Aggggghhhhhhhhhhhhh!  WHAT?  When did this happen?  I graduated college 8 years ago.  Time just disappears.  I will say goodbye to a decade that included the start of meaningful friendships, falling in love, graduating college, marriage, major decisions, buying a home, 4 jobs, a cancer diagnosis, and overall just 10 years of epic fun.  It was a whirlwind of crazy times.  I honestly look forward to my 30's - after a cancer diagnosis, you really appreciate birthdays.  They mean a lot more than they used to.

We are gearing up for Kristen's baby shower this weekend.  It's going to be such a fun time!  Ben and Matt's best friend Mike and his wife are flying in from Baltimore for it, and also Lauren Jones will be in town from Boston.  We will get to see a lot of family and friends.  Talk about a good time ahead!

Thanks for reading!  Love to all,

Congratulations to Ray Tanner and the USC baseball team for bringing home the first major National Championship to the Palmetto State!  We are so excited!!!!!!  GAME!  COCKS!  GAME!  COCKS!  GAME!  COCKS!

We can't believe they beat Clemson twice this past weekend to advance to the finals in the College World Series!  The fact that we beat Clemsux twice made it even better!!!  Cheer on the COCKS tonight as we play UCLA...

GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAME!  COOOOOOOOOOOOOCKS!

Check out this link as well - it will give you chills.

A Very Brave Fan Inspires Carolina

Love to all!

Summa summa summa tiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiime!  It's finally Summer folks, and Ben and I wanted to beach it up for a late anniversary trip.  We traveled to Hilton Head, SC last Thursday for a long weekend...we had an absolute blast!  We stayed in a long-time friend of the family's place in Sea Pines - thank you Tim and Lail!  Here are some pics! Check out those sunsets...


I'm sure you can tell by the pictures that we had soooooooooooo much fun!  We honestly didn't want to leave.  Ben and I contemplated all weekend how we could sell our house and just move down there...haha!

Hope you are all well...I am feeling fantastic these days!  On the 27th I will be 17 months out from the end of treatment.  Oh life after cancer is FUN!

ps...seriously Tim and Lail, can we buy your place?  ;)  Thanks again, we absolutely loved every second of our stay.

Love to all,

I don't know about you all - but the more I see on TV about BP, the madder I get.  There shouldn't be drilling if they don't know how to stop it immediately if something goes wrong.  I am devastated about what it's doing to wildlife.  I just looked at a few pictures and had to stop - I started crying at my desk.  I won't even post them on here because if you see them you will be upset. Want to help out with the clean up?  Donate the the National Wildlife Federation or text "WILDLIFE" to 20222 to donate $10 through the NWF.  The charge will appear on your next phone bill.

Also, purchase Dawn dish liquid - Dawn saves wildlife caught in oil spills.

Pray for the people who lost family members in the explosion and pray for those animals that are suffocating in oil.  It's just not fair.

4 years ago today I married the love of my life!  Time sure does fly when you're having fun!  We had a great wedding, oh if I could do it all over again I would.  We loved everything about it.  The honeymoon too, seriously we had way too much fun in the DR.  Thanks for being my rock Ben, you are always there for me and I appreciate everything you do for me.  We've been through a lot in 4 years, and we've proven that we can handle a cancer diagnosis and come out on the other side stronger than ever.  That alone can tear some people apart.  Through good times and bad - you're always by my side.  I love you more than you'll ever know!  Happy Anniversary sweetheart!



We're off to Baltimore in the morning for another one of Ben's best friends weddings - it's going to be a great time!  Ben and Matt are co best men - how cute is that?  Kristen and I absolutely love going up to Baltimore and seeing all of their old friends from high school, they are so much fun!  Fresh Maryland blue crab, here we come!

Hope you all have an awesome Memorial Day weekend, and remember to think about our service men and women on Monday...I am really hoping I see one at the airport so I can give them a hug.

Love to all!

DO THE CARLTON!  HAHA!  That's what I feel like doing right now!

I got the news around lunch today...my latest CT Scans are CLEAN!  That puts me a little closer to cure.  I've made it 17 months in remission, and 15 months from the end of treatment.

YAY!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you God!  Thanks for all of your prayers!  We are so blessed!

Love to all!!!!

MEEEEEEEEEEEE!  Next week is going to be a rough week at work, I have a CT scan next Friday, and our family is going through some hard times with sick members of extended family. So, who needs a laugh? I know you do! It's Friday people, let's laugh...

Gotta love some Wanda!!!!!!



Happy Friday Yall!  Hope all of the Mom's out there have a fantastic weekend!  Love you all!

Happy Monday! We woke up to 5 inches of rain this morning, and the storm that rolled through Atlanta kept me up for close to 2 hours last night. Talk about some serious thunder and lightning! Anyways, we had a really nice weekend. I completed my first 5k Saturday morning! We met Melanie and Matt over at their house at 7 am, and they surprised me with custom "Team Kerri" shirts. How thoughtful and awesome is that? Melanie is a graphic designer also, and she did the logo and then they ironed them on the shirts. They are so cute! The race started at 8 am in Brookhaven, and while it was not easy I made it! I could not run up the hills, but I ran the rest of the way. Ben and I finished 3.2 miles in 39 minutes...not too shabby. That's making 12 minute miles, which is alright with me. Matt finished in under 25 minutes, wow! He's fast! Mel and Matt were a few minutes behind Ben and I, and Mel did great...I'm sure that's not easy to do while pregnant. So - here's a picture of all of us, and also the Team Kerri logo Melanie designed.

Weekends...how much do I love thee?  Ben and I traveled to Charleston, SC this past weekend to visit my BF from college Kristie and go to my friend since high school Nicole's wedding.  It was a BLAST!  Here are a few pics!


Unfortunately it rained Saturday and we weren't able to go to the beach...oh well!  We made the best of it anyways!

I am slammed at work this week, and that's ultimately the reason why I don't blog as much as I used to.  WOW it's crazy around here now.  I guess that's a good sign?  Anyways, I saw this online yesterday...it's a link to the New York Times and it is titled "Life After Cancer"...so I decided to upload my picture and say a little something.  Check it out!

Life After Cancer

Hope you are all having a good week!  Love to all!

Heeeelllllllllloooooooooo everyone out there!  Well, everyone who still reads my blog!  I can't believe it's been a month since I've been on here.  I have been sick, busy, then sick again.  Ugh.  First of all, let me say I am so unbelievably excited warm weather has returned!  YAY!  Ben and I have been working hard on our yard, and it's looking pretty good!  All of my flowers are coming up, and the grass is getting greener...aaahhhhhhh I love this time of year.

I traveled to Toronto, Canada a few weeks back with work, and I must say it was less than exciting.  I'm not that fond of business travel.  And to top it off, I picked up a few nasty viruses along the way.  I ended up getting sick with a chest cold on the Friday before Easter, and couldn't make it to my in-laws house for Easter.  Bummer.  So for about a week there, my life was pretty miserable.  I had to work two days last week, then Ben and I headed home to Augusta to go to the Par 3 tournament at the Masters on Wednesday.  We had a great time!  The weather was beautiful (but the pollen was insane!), and it was nice to get to spend the day with Ben, my Dad and my Uncle Randy.  Augusta National is literally 10 times as beautiful in person as it is on TV, if you can imagine that. It's stunning, in every sense of the word.  We saw Phil practicing, and of course Tiger too - too bad we didn't see those planes...wow that person had some guts huh?  Thanks again Dad for taking us, we had a great time!




I woke up the next day and my throat was on FIRE and I could barely swallow.  I ended up having to go to a Prompt Care place and they said I had pharyngitis.  Lovely huh?  Oh my freaking vacation.  Can't I catch a break?  They gave me a Z pack and that knocked it right out.  I woke up the next day feeling like a new person.

I had a great time visiting my family in Augusta.  While I was there we went to watch my nephew Phillips ride his dirt bike - oh my goodness he is awesome!  He has a mohawk that sticks to his helmet - how hilarious is that?




Hope all of you are doing well - we've got another month of craziness, then hopefully a chill summer.  My scan is coming up in a month - please start praying for me now!

Love to all!

1. coloring (yes, grown-ups can do it, too)
2. crisp cotton sheets
3. soft skin
4. old family recipes
5. the first daffodils of spring
6. sleeping in
7. an exercise endorphin high
8. window boxes
9. a perfect cup of coffee
10. a genuine compliment (giving or receiving)
11. the way babies smell
12. a handwritten letter
13. waking up in a good mood...for no real reason
14. singing in the shower
15. finding a couple forgotten dollars in your pocket
16. doing something nice for your neighbor
17. a home cooked meal
18. laughing
19. movie theater popcorn
20. playing hookey
21. a bubble bath
22. swimming
23. an afternoon nap
24. street musicians
25. your favorite song
26. saying thank you
27. helping someone in need
28. old fashioned photo booths
29. fresh whipped cream
30. inspiring blogs
31. a glass of wine
32. rainy afternoons
33. the funny things kids say
34. a novel you can get lost in
35. finding the perfect piece of clothing...on sale
36. clean laundry
37. the wind in your hair
38. treating the person behind you at the drive-thru
39. sharing an umbrella
40. the smell of lavender
41. a long walk that clears your head
42. a bear hug
43. The Beatles
44. smiling at a stranger
45. eating with chopsticks (Chinese food optional)
46. butterflies
47. staying in your pj's all day
48. singing along to the radio and knowing all the words
49. fresh herbs
50. ordering in pizza
51. happy endings...even if they're fictional
52. flying a kite
53. puppies
54. root beer floats
55. holding open the door...
56. ...or having someone hold the door for you
57. fountain soda
58. white, fluffy towels
59. sunshine
60. spending an afternoon at a museum
61. really great advice
62. green lights all the way home
63. the sound of rain hitting the windows
64. sitting in a booth
65. holding hands
66. a great hair day with no effort
67. building a fort with your kids
68. when someone falls asleep with their head on your shoulder
69. fireflies
70. the perfect taco
71. geraniums on a windowsill
72. slow dancing
73. the smell of fresh-baked bread
74. cheesy, uplifting musicals
75. great stories
76. the smell of gasoline (???) not sure about this one?
77. the cold side of the pillow
78. love letters
79. old friends...
80. ...new friends
81. a pull-through parking space
82. a baguette -- crisp on the outside, airy on the inside
83. when a dog licks your hand
84. sitting at the counter at an old-fashioned diner
85. using your favorite dishes
86. reading your child a bedtime story
87. Girl Scout Cookies
88. flossing
89. kissing someone you love
90. the smell of onions and garlic cooking
91. hot chocolate
92. jumping in puddles
93. old photographs
94. birds hopping on the sidewalk
95. Ella Fitzgerald
96. a spoonful of peanut butter straight from the jar
97. your softest t-shirt
98. a new magazine in the mail
99. fireplaces
100. having exact change
101. bacon and pancakes cooking on Saturday morning

Well folks - the time has come - we bought a new car!  I had to say goodbye to my beloved 2000 Honda Passport on Monday, and say hello to an '07 Nissan Murano!  It's gorgeous!  I was sad to see my Honda go...I've had that car since I was 19.  When you have a car that long it becomes a part of you.  I even found a parking pass from when I was in college. *tear*  There are a LOT of good memories that took place in that car.  It took us to the 2001 Outback Bowl, took me from Columbia to North Augusta at least a thousand times, and from Columbia to Atlanta who knows how many times to visit Ben when we first started dating.  And I can't forget how many times I took it to Charleston!  So, I was sad to see it go.  But, there comes a time when you have to weigh the pros and cons of driving around a 10 year old car.  It was time.  So, folks - here she is, she's a beaut Clark, a BEAUT!

I am ecstatic that I can finally let the news out - I am going to be an Aunt again! Congratulations Kristen and Matt - what a lucky child - you will be the most amazing parents. We love you more than anything, and we cannot WAIT to meet our new niece/nephew. YAY!

I am a professional Aunt by now - 16 years of experience! So, this child will be spoiled rotten by me and by the rest of the Walker/Stephenson clan. Matt is my husband's twin brother, and for those of you who read this blog that don't know about us - Kristen has been one of my best friends for over 17 years.  There aren't many best friends out there who actually fall in love with twin brothers - it's an amazing story.

So happy for these two - wonder who this baby will look like?

Love you both very much :)

Tomorrow is my nephew's 11th birthday!  How are you already another year older?!?!?!?!  Eleven?  You are growing up TOO FAST my man!  We hope you have a fantastic birthday, and we love you very much! See you next weekend buddy!

On Saturday, it will be ONE YEAR since I finished all treatments.  This is my so-called first "cancerversary".  Hallelujah!  Thank you God!  Some of you may be confused and think I've celebrated my "one year" anniversary before this - but that was actually my one year in remission on Dec. 2.  So, I've got two big days that I can celebrate each year.  Which is fine by me!  I love celebrations, especially when they are about kicking some cancer booty!  

So, what's changed in a year?  Well, this time last year I was eating mashed potatoes and milk shakes, and I was battling a sore throat from radiation.  BLECH.  Yeah mashed taters and ice cream are good and all, but not really what a diet should solely consist of.  Lately I've been pretty focused on clean eating.  What's clean eating?  Well, my definition of it is that you are always alert about what you are putting into your body.  Check out Clean Eating Magazine - I LOVE this magazine!  I have been trying HARD to buy only organic meats, eggs, milk, and some vegetables.  I've also been trying to only eat whole grains.  I've been doing pretty darn good.  I am trying not to really eat as much meat anymore, but that's difficult when you have a carnivore for a husband.  ;)  Love you Ben, and don't be sorry about it - you're a guy for crying out loud.  That's what you love.  Why am I doing that?  Well my Mom gave me a book called "The Kind Diet" by Alicia Silverstone.  It's pretty tough to read, and it made me tear up a bit just because I am such an animal lover.  It's just awful what they do to animals that will be used for food these days, actually it's downright disgusting. If you read it, I bet you won't eat much meat anymore either.  I try to only buy meats that have the organic label, and there's certain ones that say "raised ethically" or "cage free".  The "Kind Diet" is pretty tough to follow though (it's Vegan, aka hardcore), so I'm trying my best to eat sensibly.  I can definitely feel a difference, especially in my digestive system.  Of course I let myself go crazy with food during the Holidays, but who doesn't???  If my Mama's dressing is in front of my face, you better bet your money I'm gonna eat it, and A LOT of it.  Gah that stuff should be illegal it's so flippin' good.  After the New Year, I got back into the gym (with the millions of other people, thank goodness they've fallen off the wagon and I can actually get a machine now!!!).  I have been going full force at least 3 times a week, every single week since then.  Ben has been running like a mad man too.  He can run 6 miles without stopping now - my goodness!  Way to go Ben!  I guess that's what 15+ years of intense soccer training will do for you.  His legs have no problem whatsoever running that far.  Hmmmm ME?  Not so much.  I'm not a runner by any means.  I stick to my elliptical machine and run/walk interval training.  So, we both are doing good with our food and exercise routines.

Other than that - I'm more mentally stable now.  Not like I was ever looney or anything, but if you can imagine going through cancer treatment...it's not the easiest thing on the mind!  I still have those thoughts that linger in the back of my mind about cancer, but they aren't as "loud" as they used to be.  Of course they ring loud and clear when a scan is on the horizon, and sure enough another one is just around the corner.  Scanxiety ahead...UGH.

Can yall start praying for me now?  Pretty please?

Hope all of you are having a fantastic week!  I can't believe it's almost March 1st...and you all know what that means?  Daylight savings and spring temps are on the way.  YAY!  Have a great weekend!!

Love to all,

I have just returned from a check up at my oncology office and everything looks fantastic!  My blood counts are perfect, and my thyroid levels are even perfect.  YAY!  I was pretty worried that I would have to go on thyroid medication there for a while, but I'm in the clear for now.  This is great news!  He prodded around in my neck and armpits, and didn't feel anything suspicious.  I told him that I already do that myself, and that I would know something way before he would.  ;)  Remember how I was really worried about the added radiation of CT Scans?  He said there is nothing to worry about.  The study that came out was for unnecessary CT scans that hospitals are doing now.  They are pretty much protocol, and he said that is what becomes dangerous.  He said CT scans show an unbelievable amount of radiation in babies, but not as much in adults.  He said because adults aren't growing anymore that it doesn't pose an increased risk of leukemia like it would in children.  It still makes me uneasy, but I won't require that many more scans so I'm sure I'll be fine.  He wants another CT scan on May 14th of the neck and chest, then I am hoping he'll push them back some more (once a year would be great!) but we'll cross that bridge when it gets here.

I wish I had my camera with me because I got some awesome pictures, but here is one from my blackberry of the beautiful snow we had on Friday night!  We got around 4 inches!  My parents and brother said they got almost 6"!  I hear Columbia, SC got around 8". That's insane!


I haven't seen anything as beautiful as the sky on Saturday morning in a while.  It was the most brilliant shade of blue, and it made the snow look like a scene out of a painting.  So, I've had my snow fix.  Time for warm weather...seriously, spring - quit playing around.  Hurry up!

Hope you are all having a great week.  I'm slammed at work, but that never seems to change anymore!  I guess that's a good thing!  Ben, Matt, Kristen and I are driving to the Noke this weekend to visit my sister-in-law Stephanie and her family.  Noke = Roanoke, Va.  They had some serious snow recently too, but it looks like we are in the clear for this weekend.  We haven't seen Steph, her husband Mike or our niece and nephew in so long...we're excited!

Thanks for the prayers everyone!  Thank you Ben for going with me today, love you sweetheart!

Love to all,

"Love is the condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own." -Robert Heinlein

I love Valentine's Day. Some people do not, but I personally do. If most of you haven't noticed by now there isn't a holiday that I don't enjoy. I love chocolate, champagne and most of all going out with my husband. We do something nice every single year. This year will be no different. We are going out to a nice dinner tomorrow night in downtown ATL.  I hear it offers the best seafood in town.  I can't wait!  Of course we had to make reservations over a week ago because in Atlanta you can forget it if you try to call the week of Valentine's day. Everything will be booked, it's insane in this town. That's why I laughed when I saw this online:


Hilarious!!  So true!  We actually are going at 8:30, not too bad.  Anyways, just wanted to say Happy Valentine's Day to you all.

They are calling for snow in Atlanta today...I will believe it when I see it!  I wish it would dump a few feet on us so we didn't have to go to work for a few days.  That would be so nice!  Our family and friends in Virginia and Maryland have been covered in snow for over a week.   It looks pretty, but I'm sure it's getting old by now.  So, we'll see what happens tonight!

I have my next follow up appointment on Tuesday at 11:45 am.  I already had blood work done yesterday so glad that's over with!  I'll let you all know how it goes!

Once again, HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

Sending love to all you!

This past weekend 10 of us went out for Nicole's bachelorette party!  It was a BLAST, and it was great to see everyone.  I am paying for it today, but times like that are worth it.  Here are some pics!

Hope you all had a great weekend!

Love to all,

This was posted on my forum yesterday - if this doesn't make you want to do something better with your life I don't know what will.  It has a few choice words that I apologize in advance about.

She's amazing.  This is motivation.  RIP Gabrielle Bouliane!


Gabrielle Bouliane (Austin Poetry Slam)

ELEVEN MONTHS.  Wow.  Who knew time could go by so quickly?  This time last year, I was just getting ready to get "beamed", aka radiation...Yikes!  Yes it was around this time last year I was at my wits end with chemo, and that chick was about to rip the hair out of my head making the radiation mask.  Oh my goodness I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy!  So, here I am - 11 months later.

I recently watched a presentation online that was very helpful and for the newly diagnosed I feel like it would be a fantastic resource.  The title was "Lymphoma in Your Teens, Twenties and Thirties: Coping After Treatment and Through Long Term Survivorship".  If you want to listen to it, click here.  The speaker is a long term survivor of Hodgkin's.  It spoke about how your life is before cancer, and how much it changes when you are diagnosed.  Here are two images from the presentation that really show how many things actually change in one's life:





That's a lot of new issues for someone to deal with, much less someone in their twenties.  It talked about how you are thrown into the world of hospitals, blood draws, scans, constant meetings with doctors, and how you are told where to be and when.  It really helped me realize how much time and effort went into my diagnosis and treatment.  It helped me realize that I am not alone in how I feel pretty much all the time.  It spoke about the 2 faces of cancer which is spot on:  1.  Celebration and Hope   2.  Uncertainty and Fear.  Well I feel like I am those 2 faces all the time.  I celebrate, but then I worry.  This is all just part of it.   I can't expect to move on and forget about the mind-blowing nightmare that happened 16 months ago.  It will take time...and I get that.  It seems as though each day that passes it gets a little easier.  But then I read about someone relapsing on my lymphoma forum, and it makes me extremely anxious.  I wonder if I should quit reading the forum, but then I realize that those people need encouragement and help just like I did, so I stay.  Anyways, I just thought I'd mention my thoughts...that's what this blog is for right?!  This time next month it will be one year since I finished treatment...YAY!  Can you believe it's almost February???  Crazy!

If any of you are wondering how I'm feeling these days I must say that I feel fabulous.  Ben and I both have been working out and eating right (most of the time!) and I feel like we are taking good care of ourselves.  We are both really looking forward to warmer weather so we can go exercise outside again!  I am still trying to lose my chemo weight...man it sticks like glue!  Or, it could be the fact that I am pushing 30...OMG did I really just say that?  AGGGHHHHHH!  Whatever, I'm curvier than I was before...Ben doesn't seem to mind at all and as long as he thinks I'm still smokin' hot that's all that matters right??!?!?!?!  ;)  My hair is looking good these days.  There are still a few of those scraggly hairs left on my head, but no one notices but me.  I think I might grow it long again - just because I can.  I hear a ponytail calling my name!

My next follow up is in February for blood work only.  Then, I am scheduled to have another scan in May.  Well, I'm not so sure about that.  Have any of you seen the news recently about the dangers of CT scans?  Turns out the give off A LOT more radiation than they originally thought.  That makes me SO angry.  How could they not know that from the beginning?  They are messing with peoples lives here, and that makes me furious!  I've had 5 total including my PET/CT's.  It's scary to think about.  There are many people out there who've had 50...even 100 scans.  I am very uncomfortable with that fact that I've had 5.  But, you have to think that it might be even more dangerous to not do scans.  So, I don't really know what to do.  We are going to talk to my oncologist about it in February.  I'll let you all know what we decide!

Hope you are all having a good week - and I don't know about yall but I am sooooooooo ready for spring!

Love to all,

Today is my niece's 16th Birthday...oh my goodness how time flies!  I remember when she was just a baby, and now she's driving...WOW.  She's a sweet, talented, beautiful young lady - and I just love her!

Lauren, I hope your day is fabulous...can't wait to celebrate in a few weeks!  I LOVE YOU!

Happy Friday everyone!


I wanted to post this.  I copied it from Fantabulously Frugal's website...and thought it was a great idea.  These people really need some help, and everyone has 5 or 10 bucks to spare.


1. Text "HAITI" to 90999 and donate $10 to the Red Cross.  This was set up by the U.S. State Department, so you know it's legit.  The $10 donation will be added to your next cell phone bill.

2. Text "Yele" to 501501 to donate $5 to Yele Haita, a charity set up by Wyclef Jean to help those people in his home country of Haiti.


3.  I can't do either of these because I have a company owned phone, so I donated through this website:
Doctors Without Borders



I hope all of you have a fantastic weekend!  Love to all,


Kerri

Gosh, I don't know what's going on but this is the second celebrity in 6 months to be diagnosed with Hodgkin's.  He is one of my favorite actors, and he was on my all-time favorite show Six Feet Under.  I literally cried when that show went off the air, it was so awesome!  I am hopeful that he will be as strong of a voice that Ethan Zohn has been.

Michael C. Hall has Cancer