HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY

Happy moments all around today!
*We have been waiting for a few weeks on the results of the BRCA 1 and 2.  The genetic counselor didn't even sit down before she told us they were NEGATIVE.  What a relief!  I wasn't ready to have my breasts sliced and diced.  I'm pretty sure that would have done me in for sure and I'm sure the good Lord new it too.  I posted this news on FB and my friend Linda saw it and brought me a shirt that said HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY.  Oh, we are so HAPPY!  They are now wanting to test me for Lynch Syndrome which if this is positive they say I have an 80% chance of getting colon cancer.  Personally I think my ovarian cancer was caused from a horrible case of endometriosis which I was diagnosed with when I was 20 and not a genetic disorder (endometriosis is genetic, I don't think the cancer is), even still they recommend that my sisters have their ovaries removed by the time they are my age.
*My parents, an aunt, cousin, and 2 siblings had bought plane tickets to visit me in Martha's Vineyard this Summer, since that is where I was suppose to be.  We mentioned this to Dr. Dan a few weeks ago and he said he could take care of that.  He passed this onto our wonderful social worker, who brought us an envelope with  full credits of all 6 tickets.  She worked wonders for us indeed.  She said all she told the airline worker was that I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and she helped us.  She must have taken pity on us or maybe she has been through what we are going through, however I'm sure this was a tender mercy indeed.  We were not just HAPPY about this, we were elated, because typically the airline we bought the tickets from won't budge no matter the exception.
*Dr. Dan let me vent at my appointment today about how I really am tired of this bump in my road.  He just smiles, listens to me and tells me he understands, but that I am doing exceptional.  He let me vent which made me HAPPY and gave me the strength to move onward.  He is an awesome doctor and always gives my mom and I a heartfelt hug at the end of our visit.  Seriously who does that?  I will be a much better, more compassionate provider come January for sure because of the amazing people who have treated me over this crazy journey.  You never know, I might even start hugging my patients.  When this journey began someone asked me if they thought I would like to work in oncology and I told them, "hell no" and I was serious.  I may change my mind when this is all said and done.
*During my rather painful IP chemo treatment today my cousin Alisha and her kids came for a visit.  It was so good to see them.  They are darling.  Thankfully they slowed the chemo down and the pain subsided a bit and I'm feeling much better tonight.  It made me HAPPY to see Alisha since it has been a few weeks.  She thought she needed a few camping trips, cause isn't that what everyone does during the Summer?  Makes me want to go camping and I'm not really a camping kind of person.  Ava's 7th birthday is today and she wanted to have lunch at the hospital.  Crazy girl!

*Our friends Nancy and Paula were out walking this morning on our way to chemo.  We sure love those women.  They makes us HAPPY and they are super funny.  It was nice to chat for a moment and make future girls night out dates.
*I got a letter in the mail from my friend Emma and the cutest drawing from her and her children that I will hang in my room.  They made me so HAPPY!  My favorite time of the day is when the mailman drops letters in the mail from people who love me.  These really make me HAPPY!
*When I came home from chemo today, someone had brought the most beautiful bouquet of zinnia's from their yard.  Flowers always make me HAPPY!
*Tenielle sent a bag of fresh tootsie rolls with Tony this past weekend.  I opened them yesterday.  They make my taste buds very HAPPY!  There is something about sinking my teeth into fresh tootsie rolls that make me so HAPPY.
*I still have my eyelashes and eyebrows.  For this I'm SOOO HAPPY.  I really hope they stay with me.
*I'm getting use to seeing myself without any hair.  It's not so bad, most of the time.  I'm HAPPY that I can get myself ready in 10 minutes instead of an hour.  It's not very comfortable to put my head under the shower faucet like it use to though.  Really tender for sure.  Hopefully I will get use to this.
*I walked to the stop sign tonight, it was rather painful but it made me HAPPY that I can walk; it wasn't far but I did it.  Summer evenings make me HAPPY.  I love that it cools off at night here during the Summer.
*My brother's family came over tonight for a visit.  They make me HAPPY.  They are so stinking cute, especially 3 year old Karston who kept laughing and saying, "Auntie Terah your funny."  I guess he thought it was funny that I kept making him sanitize is hands.
*I talked to Nick on the phone twice today.  It makes me HAPPY when he calls.
*I lost 10 pounds from Thursday to Today.  That made me very HAPPY.  How would it really be if  that happened on a regular basis.  Just glad the original weight gain was from all the fluids they pumped in me last week and not the steroids.  It's definitely not from eating I can assure you that.
*I am so HAPPY that it is harvest time!  I love all of the fresh cucumbers, melons, berries and tomatoes.  The corn on the cob is delicious, but I can only eat a bite of it because I don't digest it well.  I'm so HAPPY that I can finally eat fruit and vegetables.
*Favorite new quotes that make me HAPPY:
"Learn to be okay if your dreams are altered." A guest on the Katie Couric Show

"As we bear our little burdens, we are learning to be more like Christ, who bore all burdens.  As we make our small sacrifices, we are learning to emulate His great sacrifices.  As we pass through our Gethsemanes, we are learning to value and appreciate his."  Brad Wilcox

"Your Father in Heaven knows your name and knows your circumstance.  He hears your prayers.  He knows your hopes and dreams, including your fears and frustrations.  And he knows what you can become through faith in Him."  Jeffrey R. Holland

"Sometimes the road with the most uncertainty comes with the greatest rewards."  Sent to me from my friend and former co-worker Melissa

*Yes there are definitely things to be HAPPY about through this crazy journey that I started only 2 months ago.  I can see progress; little by little.  I know my progress is because of the many, many prayers of family and friends regardless of their denominations.  How grateful I am for each of you, your love, your prayers and your faith.  My dad blessed me last week and in his prayer he said, "I bless you that you will have faith in your prayers and faith in the prayers of those praying for you."  What peace and comfort that brought me and what beautiful words of wisdom that I surely needed at that time.  I'm definitely closer to my Savior and my Heavenly Father and for that I'm grateful.  There is so much to be Happy about my friends; look around you and you will find it, I promise.