Giving Thanks!

My Family
Many people have asked how my three precious children are doing during this huge change in all our lives. I have to say they sure are troopers! I was afraid once they saw my head shaved, the reality of it at would sink in and be extra tough on them. However, my kids are so resilient and they understand this is all part of what has to happen in the battle. It was a wise choice making this happen on Halloween. My daughter Maddie, who did not like it when my hair got cut above my shoulders a few months ago, was probably the most surprised. But she saw it, she took it in, she moved on...there was trick or treating to be had after all. Katie and Brody did just fine. What my kids gained in return, was the pet they've always wanted! My kids love to pet my baldy head. I think I'm gonna let them name it! Funny thing is that now they're learning about shedding. My hair is falling out in droves at this point so it's not going to be the soft pet-able fuzz buzz for long. Who knew we'd have pet care lessons tied into all this. Crazy that my kids' pet is slowly morphing from a cute and fuzzy short-hair to its current state as an unidentifiable mutt with mange eventually into one of those naked Sphynx cats or hairless Chihuahua's!

Scott is also handling this very well. He's been an amazing source of strength for me, and he's filling in where I need help on the days I'm not feeling so grand. It's a lot for anyone to take on, but he's doing it with grace and with strength, and I love him dearly for that.

So now it's time to give some SHOUT OUTS to others who deserve to be recognized!

Krista Krallman
I'll start off with one of my "breasties," Krista Krallman. She just got back from her one-year breast cancer survivor victory tour of the Bahamas. WOOT, WOOT!!!!!! I can't describe how important she is to me. She's the only one I know who has been through this breast cancer journey in similar fashion bringing a young family along for the ride. She has been expertly guiding me step-by-step, letting me know what to expect at every turn. The fear of the unknown is the worst, but I haven't had to deal with so much of that because Krista has been my light illuminating my path and chasing away much of the fear. I see how strong she is after making her way through her journey, and that gives me the strength to know that I can do it, too. When my kids were afraid and didn't know what breast cancer meant for mommy, I could point to a shining example of what can be. This made them feel immensely better. Last week, Krista accompanied me for a wig fitting at Cathy Halloran's Boutique in St. Elizabeth Hospital Crestview. Cathy is the most hilarious and outrageous breast cancer survivor you will ever meet. She started a non-profit organization called Chicks & Chucks to help breast cancer patients who can't help themselves. What a gift to have her in my life right now! If you need a good pee-your-pants kinda laugh, listen to the podcast on her website from a comedy show fundraiser she did a few years back at http://chicksandchucks.org. So, Krista, Cathy and I had a hooting good time at my wig fitting. Thank god Krista, the voice of reason, was there to talk me out of some catastrophic wig disasters. All I had to do was look at her face as I slapped those puppies on top of my noggin. Her expression spoke a thousand words! In the end, we found some good compromises. Nothing is ever going to look like my hair, but we did our best. This one did not make the cut:

Rock it out, Joan Jett!

Carrie Howell and Allison White
Carrie Howell pointed out to me on Facebook that I truly did forget one of the best moments of our head shaving trip on Halloween. This was the EPIC ROCK OUT to Katie Perry's ROAR on the way home. I'll let her describe it:

"I'm thinking Chemo Brain has already sunk in Heidi!!!!!  I read the updated blog and noticed you missed the BEST event of the WHOLE day - our ride home after the shave and "Roar" comes over the radio!  The three of us (with Allison White) sang/screamed that song soooo loud we were hoarse afterwards!  We had that car rockin' and rolling - literally with all our jumping and who-hollering!  It was a wonder the auto-windows still worked after all the rain coming in the car since we wanted to shout it out to the world what a warrior you are :)  Just maybe the wine had a little play in all our craziness, but still in my book, it rocked...and so do you!!  :)" -- Carrie Howell

Sorry about the new car, Brennan! Does it help if I tell you it was totally worth the jam session?!?! And here's the response from Allison White:

"THAT WAS AMAZING!!!! WE TOTALLY ROCKED, ROAR! WE SHOULD BE KATY'S BACKUP SINGERS!! LOVE YOU CRAZY LADIES!!!" -- Allison White

Here's my "breasties" before and after:

Allison White, Me with hair, Carrie Howell

Carrie Howell, Me sans hair, Allison White, Awesome Stylist Christy Honchell

Texas and Beyond
Now to all my beloved family and friends in Texas. I know we are miles and miles apart, but I feel your support and your strength every day. To my super besties Diane's Blair, Diane Sodolak, and Sarah Walls, thank you so much for all of the cards, gift cards, blankets, goodies, words of encouragement and love you have bestowed upon me and my family. Kristin Gleditsch Paetzel, what a beautiful care package you sent. Thank you from the bottom of my heart! I will always love and admire you!!! To all my lady family members, my fabulous mom Kathleen Slater, my loving mother-in-law Cecilia Slansky, my spectacular sister Heather Mayo, and my fun and wild sister-in-laws Connie Reichardt, Kelly Slater, and Amanda Cendalski, thank you so much for the chemo package! I was, by far, the best outfitted in the chemo ward yesterday!!! So much comfort in a box! Thank you, daddy, for the beautiful flowers and book. I feel your love and strength daily. As a cancer survivor, I know you have a deeper understanding of what I am facing. And to my crazy brother, Stefan, who shaved his head in solidarity, not that you don't shave it all the time, but I do appreciate the particular shaving dedicated to me! Love you, Bunky!!! To my awesome newphews Colten and Clay who wore pink while playing football in my honor, I love you and can't wait to give you a big hug. Oh, and I have to thank my friend Bev Fritsch's son Clayton for adding my name to his pink football towel and taking me into battle with him. How awesome is that!!! And, finally, to so many across the country who have sent such loving support through cards, flowers and Facebook posts, I can't thank you enough. I pull such strength from your words of encouragement. I hope you know how much I love and adore you all!!!

North Pointe Elementary
To all my super supportive friends at North Pointe elementary, I couldn't do this without you! What a loving family. I cannot tell you how comforting it is knowing you are looking out for my little ones during this difficult time. Not only are you supporting them, but you are lifting me as well! Akrivi Watson and Julie Stewart, you are two of my favorite people on the Earth! There are many others in the North Pointe Family I don't know quite as well yet, but do so appreciate your kind words and support. It keeps me strong to keep up the fight! Julie Stewart and Andrea Smith even started a Premier Jewelry Party in my honor on Facebook with the help of crazy jewelry lady Krysta Wright. Click here to check it out: Link to the Jewelry Party. If you have trouble or are not on Facebook, you can visit krystawright.mypremierdesigns.com or call Krysta at 859-653-8126 or email her at bzmomma@twc.com. The access code is NOV00.

Parlor Grove
I also want to recognize some amazing folks from Parlor Grove who have been bringing such comforting food to us: Lori Mazzaro, Lorraine Buck, the Wagstaff's, Krista Krallman and Kelly Bloom's beautiful mother Helen Craven, the Howells, the Whites, and Katie and Jim McGuire who brought over homemade Sicilian and pesto sauces along with chicken lasagnas! Yum, yum!!!

Carrie, Krista, Kelly, and Allison. I thank you so much for all the kid watching and running and bus duty! I simply do not know how I would navigate this without you!

One final and special shout out for today. This one goes to my neighbor and friend Jena Buck Buckeye who is a freshman at Ohio State. She stepped in for me when I needed her the most to fill in as Katie's Girls on the Run running buddy. She has already run in the North Pointe Elementary 5K with Katie and will run in the big Girls on the Run race in downtown Cincinnati next weekend! Jena shows such wisdom and caring for one so young. Your Emma angel has got to be beaming with pride to have such an awesome big sister. We love you, Jena!

Jena Buck and Katie