Thursday, December 31, 2009

The Traveling Necklace for a great cause!



Check this out when you have a minute .... and you can still participate, this necklace is traveling the world! Warm Hearts Around the World Contest by Ngan from Enve Designs. She is raising money for St. Judes Hospital for children's charities and donating money for every stop the necklace makes - you can read up on her blog. The necklace just made a stop here in Dallas PA, before it heads on to Bethlehem, on to Lynn from Unaodd Here's our picture wearing the necklace. This is me, Kelly (my neice) from Sweetnessjewelry and my youngest sister Jenn, from JennReese7. You can read about us on Ngan's blog.... and ALSO on Lillyella's blog on new years resolutions - which Ngan was a guest writer for. Very cute article! Thanks Ngan, you're a wonderful person!!!


Also, check out teamepe (etsyprojectembrace) and the money they've donated to the American Cancer Society... almost $6,000 - WOW! What a great group of people i never actually met!!!! (Well, i met 2 of the team members, but the whole bunch of others I know only from the computer!!) I wish i could meet them all some day!!!!!


A HEALTHY New Year to all my friends, new and old... and my family, too! laura XXXOOO

Saturday, December 26, 2009

Christmas card picture..... just a few days late!

Hope you all had a wonderful holiday! I'm thinking of being a little different and sending a New Years card - since i was a little late for Christmas! We had a great Christmas here at the Slocum house and Christmas cookies seem to be allowed on my new diet.............who knew??!! LOL
Oh... my beautiful and festive hat was made by Kristen from loveartworks.etsy.com! It was fabulous and comfortable...and very holiday, too! Thanks a whole bunch, Kristen!

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

What's going on?

Hi everybody! Thanks for all your well wishes, comments and prayers. So. I thought I'd give you an update. I'll try not to be boring....



1. Surgery ? No. The dr. wants to hold off till Feb. or March.

2. How did I manage not to have surgery? 10 days of ice chips at 2 different hospitals, (with an ambulance transport ride - when i totally felt fine - kinda funny.)

3. Weight Loss? yeah... like 2 pounds.... that's it for 10 days of ice chips. really.

4. Chemo? round 6 started last monday. Got out of the hospital ... JUST IN TIME - yay!

5. Weight Loss? yeah, a few pounds after i actually started eating. See, ......starvation diets don't work!

6. Low Residue Diet? That's the diet i'm now on til surgery - very low fiber - (totally how i DON'T eat. ) What happens is that i have scar tissue on my small intestines. A high fiber diet makes it kink and then nothing goes thru. You feel like you are dying. .....until you get to the hospital for pain medicine.

7. New favorite pain medicine: Delotid - more powerful than morphine! works wonders.

8. New favorite food: cheetos. most of the "good for you foods" will send me for trip 3 to the hospital.

9. information? just trying to get the word out. If anybody ever has questions- you can reach me thru my store. I'd be happy to help and answer any questions. I hope to help people get to their Dr. as soon as they possibly can if they suspect any problems.

10. Merry Christmas XXOO laura

Monday, November 30, 2009

Thanksgiving Hospital Stay


hi there, this is Jenn.
I just wanted to post a little pic of our little hospital dweller.
She is a trooper, let me say.
Kim (Kelly/Sweetness' mom) and I went to visit Laura last evening
and she looked great and was in good spirits too.

She will be having surgery within the next day or so,
which will hopefully relieve her pain and continuous vomiting.

Thank you so much for all of your love, support, prayers and thoughts!
We appreciate it more than you will ever know.



Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Hey thanks!

Thanks for voting for me - i had enough votes to make the member's choice gift guides: http://www.etsy.com/gift-guides/177. I appreciate that!!

So, I was pretty sick after round 5 of chemo - i threw up for 4 days straight. I'm still not 100% back on my feet yet, but doing much better. My dr. wants me to come for a 5th day from now on for extra IV fluids. (Like i don't spend enough time there...... LOL. )

And one more thing. My wonderful husband, who takes great care of me when i'm sick... and when i'm not, is turning 50 tomorrow, Nov. 5th. He's even more handsome than the day I married him. ~~~ Happy Birthday Bartt! ~~~

laura xxoo

Thursday, October 29, 2009

etsy voter

Hey, if you have an etsy account and have a minute - i could use some votes in the "voter" . I was nominated for my lauraslocumpainted candy corn magnets. http://www.etsy.com/voter_list.php?ref=voter&room_id=76

thanks, Laura

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Too Sexy

Hi, I finally have my slide show done! It took some time to get the song.... long story...., but I'm now ready for it! You'll see some items by a few favorite Etsians.... You'll have to watch close - some items were gifts and some purchases for Etsy Project Embrace! Most of the hats are by Jackie, MonarchDancer... (the brown one i wear in my picture)! The yellow one is from Bridget from BlueMoonRose and the black one at the end - with the Ginny felted flower, GinnyHubber is from my sister - Tattoo Tracey. The buttons sewn on are from Ginny of GinPins. I had some jewelry on - from Lynn of UnnaOdd and Cyd from Botanicalbird. I did have Amy's bracelet on - from adornbyamysingley - the "Laura" bracelet, but the slide show cut it off - but it is beautiful. We will pretend that we see it! .........and I have a little "buddy" with me at the end that's also wearing hats - he does have more hair than me, but I still love him!!!! :D

Oh, our lunch, from last week, was postponed - Lynn's daughter came down sick at the last minute (sad face), but we'll try to reschedule it again!


Tuesday, October 20, 2009

ACS money!

Hey there! I wanted to tell you that my church did a special collection for cancer research after I told my pastor about all you great Etsy people participating in Etsy Project Embrace and donating to the American Cancer Society! We collected $389.00 - I think that is cool. We have a few ladies in the congregation that are great people and cancer survivors - I think I'm the only one undergoing treatment at the present time. When i get it situated, i will be applying that money to the "team gifts"! That will put us over the $3000 mark - we are currently at $2993, pretty amazing that we raised that much money in about 3 months...... !!!! For more info, you can click on the links on the right of my page.

Jenn and I are headed for my dr. appt. tomorrow and we are taking baby Chase (because he is so good - he can go anywhere - as long as he can suck on his fingers!!) We are meeting with Lynn at 1:00 pm for lunch at the cafe in my building. If you want to come - let me know!! We'll be taking pictures. I also have my hat pictures taken and when i get some time - I'll be doing a slide show as well -.......... so STAY TUNED! Love you lots. laura

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Look who I met at chemo!


Lynn from Unaodd...from UnaOdd.etsy.com. She lives 10 minutes from where i do my chemo so she came to meet me and visit! It was so nice having her come!!!! Lynn had a very similar surgery as me, also in May, and she's lucky to escape chemo - Yay!!! Lynn is such a beautiful person and very talented. She's a mom to a first grader and a fourth grader and she took jewelry making in college,... and she paints, too! If you have never been to her shop, you need to see it! She's part of teamepe and she's officially the second Etsy person that i've personally met.......Kendra (teamzvonik and greenpost) being the first! I go for my next dr. appt on 10/21 and Jenn and I are going to meet Lynn for lunch! If you are in the Allentown PA area that day, you can come meet Lynn, too! She really made my day!


oh... and round 4 - a thing of the past! I start up again on 10/26, so i need to get myself up and running! love you guys. laura XXOO

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Etsy Project Embrace is an official team

Hi there!
We have an official Etsy team called Etsy Project Embrace.
You can find our Etsy Team on the Team Profiles page here:
Etsy Project Embrace Team
Please go there to find out more about it, or go to ETSY and the scroll down boxes to "all items", type in "teamepe" or and those items listed are for sale and a portion of their proceeds goes towards cancer research - to the American Cancer Society. This group has raised approx. $2,500 already, with no end in site! I'm so appreciative of each and every one of you who participates, purchases, and just checks in with me.
It is so uplifting!

A special thanks to Kristin of loveartworks.etsy.com for organizing the team to get Etsy "team status"... alot of time involved! Also to Kathi of kathiroussel.etsy.com and 5gardenias.etsy.com for creating a banner for the team and to Kim of slinkymalinkicat.etsy.com - whose idea this was in the first place and none of this would've ever happened without her! Also, two honorable mentions and fellow cancer survivors, Ginny of ginnyhuber.etsy.com, who keeps us all up to date on all the new EPE treasurys - pretty much daily - in the forum thread and Amy of adornbyamysingley.etsy.com, who took all our team info to Facebook and Twitter.
Speaking of the thread - we have a new forum thread where people write in all the time with new info and treasurys, to share stories, and help one another. I have a direct link to the right of this post as well as the direct link to the ACS team.

One more thing as you read this. We have never met. I have never met Kim, or Kristin, or Ginny, or Kathi, or Amy, and most of these people have not met one another - they live in different states and different countries........
ISN'T THAT JUST INCREDIBLE!
Thank you ALL! laura XXOO

Monday, September 14, 2009

SUPER GREAT NEWS!

My Doctor wrote two things on my chart today:
N.E.D. AND C.R...............
That means No Evidence of Disease - AND - COMPLETE REMISSION!
...........WOO HOO as Ames would say!
Of course i clapped my hands and said "Great, now i don't have to come to chemo"... and the reply was "UHHH, yes you do." Well, i tried! What's a little chemo between now and Feb. 2011. Nothing, right?!? As long as i have my family and friends cheering me on , i can do ANYTHING! Love you! laura xxoo

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Made out GOOD!

Hey there everybody!
I made out good for round 3 and almost over any side effects. I started taking estrogen 3 weeks ago. Both my Doctors reccomnended it and it cut down some on my "chemo brain" that i had terrible in the first 2 months. I even cleaned the tub and posted new listings over that weekend - Pretty good. I had my last treatement on Tuesday and was able to wash Alex's car on Wed. - which we were selling... Thursday i taught a "chair" aerobics class at a local nursing home - and i didn't even throw up this week or anything!! The steriods will keep me a little hyped for a few days with restless legs - but i'm back to sleeping good! And i also worked at Ochmans' (a local jewelry store whose owners are SO NICE that they let me make my own hours when i need too - .... like coming in at noon today instead of 10:00 - i LOVE THEM!) So, all is good! I'm hoping to make lots of jewelry to get ready for a big area Harvest Festival on the 20th and get alot done before i have to go back on the 28th.
Alex and Drew are doing great at school. I called Alex the other day and he had 2 MINUTES BEFORE THEY WERE PLAYING VIDEO GAMES! Gotta love it......... hahaha.

You guys are just so nice to check in with me!! Thank you for all your love and support. I'm getting ready to model New Fall Hat Looks and we'll do more pictures! I'm sure you'll be at the edge of your seats for that!! :D laura xxoo

Monday, August 31, 2009

HERE IT IS, End of August 09.... and you stayed tuned, didn't you???

Ok, hope you like my song selection - it's called "the Hamster Dance"- I used to play this for ice hockey tournaments - you'll be tapping your feet!

Also, my last pic with Alex by the tree - notice that i am wearing a new "artist series" locket by my friend, Cat, of polarity.etsy.com and the artist is Cyd, of botanicalbird.etsy.com, a cool painting of 2 flowers, and i have 3 other pics i can interchange!!!!

I had Cat do magnetic metal/cork boards for the kid's college rooms, with a bunch of magnets that are pics of their friends...... and of course, me!! (Ha ha) I don't want them to forget for one minute what i look like :D This is a great gift idea!! Enjoy! laura xxoo

Friday, August 28, 2009

new slide show coming soon!

Hey there! i have my blog manager working on my new slide show. Tattoo Tracey took me (like Driving Miss Daisy) to the beach to stay with Drew for a few days! We missed him this summer. I watched him give tennis lessons and play in some matches. I pretty much would've been happy to watch him pick blades of grass... :D.

So, we'll have the "empty-nest" come Sunday. We took Alex to college yesterday and Drew got home for a few days and he leaves tomorrow for his Jr. year.......... I'm feeling sorry for myself and I'm looking for sympathy, if you want to feel sorry for me, you can sign up here!...........................
love ya, laura xxoo

Sunday, August 16, 2009

CUTE AS A BUTTON











Hi ALL, I've been teaching aerobics classes since 1999, and was teaching at Misericordia University, in Dallas, PA since around 2004 (also at Shapes, Dallas and Greenbriar Nursing Home). I've met some wonderful people along the way and have a very special group of people that are dear friends at Misericordia that I wanted to tell you about. They are always there for me for love and support and also a very dedicated group of exercisers, I might add! They just got together to make a button shirt for me.....(and a button card, too). The bottons are "hugs and kisses", prayerfully placed with love by my exercise friends. (I just want to know if they missed their warmups since they were all sewing at class......??)
Now, I wore my button shirt on this past Wed. when a fellow instructor, Holly Daubert, drove me to my chemo appointment. I just had to show everybody my new shirt as well as a picture of my friends at a recent dinner we had! I'm happy to report that I was well enough on Friday to go to their class and actually exercise! It was so fun being with them.............Love you guys! Laura xxoo

PS: The fourth pic is of my chemo friend, Judy, that still has her "stinkin" hair after 3 months/treatments!! I lost my hair in 2 weeks. Judy knows i love her - i hope she can hang on to it as long as she can! I'll take a new pic of her in Sept., ........SO STAY TUNED!

Friday, August 14, 2009

Just For Fun

Hi! It's the blog manager, Jenn.
How are you today?
I came across this great video about Lucky the Fish on YouTube and wanted to share it with you. I hope you find it as adorable as I do.

Sunday, August 9, 2009

Fellow Etsians, Get your EPE Button

Kanokwalee of kanokwalee.etsy.com
was so nice to design us an EPE botton for our listings.
Get it here:


Thanks Kanokwalee!

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

oh... and good news. My CA 125 tumor marker for ovarian cancer is normal at 30 and under. Mine was 450 before surgery. It is 7.5 today......... YIPEE!
Hey there, it's Laura. My blog manager has the night off.

I had my first chemo today for the month. It's a long day, i left at 7:45 am and didn't get home till 6:15. I'll leave tomorrow at around 7:30 and be home probably later. My chemo tomorrow is like 8 1/2 hours !! I feel good now, just tired... but after tomorrow night, you may not "see" me for a little bit! So, I always get bendryl on the first day and the fourth day. I makes me so sleepy and i take a little pillow and some blankets.... then my legs get restless and I can't sleep anyway! I took my jewerly box today to make some things, but I forgot my wire -wrapping tool that is ALWAYS in there, so I didn't get too far with that. I mostly chatted with my various new chemo friends. I have a friend Judy that is getting a similar treatment to me, but is one month ahead. She's only 42 and her husband died last August and she lives about a half hour north of me and her whole family is in my area, that they have to do get her on treatment days and she has a similar drive to me. Yikes!! I really enjoy talking to her... but she STILL has her stinkin hair - she looks so cute! I thought for sure she'd be bald this treatment... I just had to bust her all day about it! I really enjoy that she's on my same schedule - because she and i are the youngest people by at least 10, 20 and 30 years! She usually crochets - but we both sat like blobs today. I go an extra day, so i'll miss her on Friday, but i'll see her tomorrow and next Wed. On Friday, I hope the one lady comes that talks non-stop...... i really hope she sits by me..... she knows my name and that'll be REAL FUN! Do you hear my sarcasm??

Love you all!! thanks for dropping by :) laura XXXOOO and sloppy wet kisses for all.......

Sunday, August 2, 2009

American Cancer Society

Hi everybody!
I have some ACS info to pass along!!
First of all, Jenn and I would like to thank all the wonderful people giving donations and also team gifts, those people whose names don't show up on our main page... The team gift total is $363.00- to the best of my knowledge, these are from sales in etsy shops. Our "total" total is $1,288.00 in just 2 weeks. That just 'FREAKIN' blows my mind! Aren't you just the best people in the whole world??!!! I want to thank everyone listed as part of the team, those on the MAIN PAGE , and also these people that are making donations that you can't see: Amy Barta - thepeachtree, Jill Fine - GlazedOver, - Melissa Fitzgerald - Melfitz, Monica Grover - MoonoverMaize, Ginny Huber - ginnyhuber, Kelly Jacobs -sweetnessjewelry, Kristin Love - loveartworks, Lynn Lunger - Unnaodd, Margaret McNatt ...this is Peggy - theBeadAerie, Janell Mooney - DancingMooney, Alayna Orozco - PianoBenchDesigns, Kanokwalee Pusitanun - kanokwalee, and Aija Sevele - AmaliaVersaci.
I know this list will grow as some people have told me they are waiting to make a lump donation - so we'll keep you updated!
Also, I spoke with a woman from ACS and told her that the site was confusing, that some people would prefer to pay via paypal, and that we'd like to see all people listed. Don't know where I'll get with that.......
BUT - this is our contact person. If you have any concerns or problems with anything concerning our team. You will call toll free 1-800-227-2345 and they will direct you. Ask for Tammy Heilman. Our team is called etsyprojectembrace. .... log in is etsyembrace. Her direct number - but it would be a toll call is: 1-717-533-6144.
If you intend to make a donation and have $25 from sales, you can just join the team first with that amount, or wait til you have $25..... That's a thought. It is not necessary to join the team, but the team donations ( which can be any amount), only show up as a lump sum with no names.
Any questions on the team, convo me or Jenn! lauraslocumpainted.etsy.com or jennreese7.etsy.com. You can also contact Kim at slinkymalinkicat.etsy.com , or Amy at thepeachtree.etsy.com, for questions on etsyprojectembrace.
Big hugs and kisses to you all! laura

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

After the final rose x 5, Wed/ July 29

Hey, this is Laura! I'm doing some of this post all by myself! My blog manager, Jenn, aka, Chris Harrison, aka the host of "the Bachelorette", has an inner ear infection or something, but she was able to put the slide show together! My friends from home have been coming over every Monday night to watch "the Bachelorette" with me, even during chemo! First it started with my friend Terri, who didn't have cable at her house and had started coming over to watch "the Biggest Loser" this spring. We would eat light popcorn and drink light beer and watch the people lose weight each week! So, when the new season of the Bachelorette was coming on, i suggested we start watching that. Then, my friends Karen and Sandy started to come, next, sisters Kim and Tracey started to come. We would all talk on commercials.. or.. sometimes during the show, then I had to turn up the volume on the tv.....and they'd have to wait till next commercial to resume their stories. For the final show, Jenn came over with baby Chase and a special guest, Laureen, another friend! I had decided to hold a rose ceremony at the end, much to their surprise. I had 5 roses and 6 girls. Terri was saying.... "pick me first"! In the end, I had to let Laureen go... since it was her first time coming, and i was not able to take her on my "home-town date".
This is way funnier if you actually have watched the show, but I hope you enjoy "the final rose x 5" . Thanks for dropping by and let us know who you think the next bachelor should be: I say Jake, ... but I like Reed, too! love you, laura xxoo

(PS, we really hated Ed's green "mankini" shorts.........)

Saturday, July 25, 2009

All Good Things Come to an End

Hi, this is Jenn, Laura's "blog manager" as she calls me.
Here are some pics from our last night together at the beach.

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

The (Almost) Bald and Beautiful 7/22/09

I so desperately tried to hold on to my hair until Jenn, John and the baby came to the beach by staying out of any strong breezes (which is difficult to do at the shore). But that night, the pressure was off and I lost most of it in the shower. My biggest concern was that I ran out of hot water 10 minutes before I was done pulling the hair out. Unfortunately, I have odd patches and tufts of hair still left. As you will see in the slideshow, my son Drew helped cut the leftover long strands of hair and then today I broke my razor trying to shave the rest for my "Kojak" moment. But hey, I still have my eyebrows.
Wish you were here,
laura xxoo

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Tattoo from the heart

My sister, Tracey had some ink done two weeks ago...
An Ovarian Cancer Teal Ribbon in memory of our mom,
Loretta, who passed five years ago, and in honor of me.

Etsy Project Embrace makes the FP!

WOW, this morning Etsy Project Embrace got some
Front Page Exposure.
I was so excited to see that.
A big thank you to Etsy and to Lynn of UnaOdd
Also, many thanks to the shop owners involved in
Etsy Project Embrace
I appreciate you more than you will ever know.
My hope is that this kind gesture brings you lots of sales
and other good things.



Thursday, July 9, 2009

Etsy Project Embrace

Thursday, 7/9/09:
I have to say i've been totally overwhelmed by your continuing support of my newly diagnosed cancer! I hope you always stay with me because I don't know if i could do it without all your love and support!

Chemo was long... nothing major on Monday, but what I'd like to say is "whoozy, floozy" head now for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday! I've been reading the Lance Armstrong book and he's racing in the tour de france, but when I'm nauseous or achy, i think of him, riding his bike up the hills! He was thru alot and I can do it too!.... with the exception that i have no interest in riding a bike like that!!
Thanks to all you guys who are participating ETSY Project Embrace: tag: etsyprojectembrace - I don't even know how to say thanks! Love you guys!

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Etsy Project Embrace

I believe that you must play the hand you’re dealt. Six weeks ago, I was diagnosed with stage 3 Ovarian Cancer. My mom died from the same. I am a huge believer in eating right, exercising, and getting regular checkups. I’ve done all those things, yet, I have cancer. WOW. That’s a life-changing situation, for sure. I just turned 46 …. (a very very young 46!) Strangely, I feel blessed. Most everyday of these 6 weeks, I’ve had a smile on my face. I’m going to play the hand I’ve been dealt in the best and most positive way I know how. I’m so fortunate my boys are older, they drive, they can do laundry and help around the house. There will always be some people in this world who have it better and some who have it worse. That’s just life.

I’ve been an Etsy addict since around this time last year, when I started doing treasuries. My sister Jenn, of jennreese7 and my niece Kelly, of SweetnessJewelry, are also crazy about Etsy. The one thing I’ve learned in the past year is that Etsy has made it a point to have their competing sellers be friends through promoting each other in the treasuries. That sounds kind of funny, but, on the quest to have the “coveted” FP, we create treasuries, we comment on other treasuries, we “convo” people all over the world to congratulate them on their successes, and we make friends. Aren’t we supposed to be competing for sales?? Well, maybe some things are just more important than sales. From the moment I had a diagnosis, while still in the hospital, my Etsy friends were first on the scene – building treasuries just for me, wishing me well, offering advice, sending gifts, and a few have gone so far as to donate proceeds to the American Cancer Society in my
honor!! Just to remind you………these are people ....I’VE NEVER MET! They have completely gone out of their way to be a friend or try to put a smile on my face. I now even talk to some of them on the phone! Now, I’m not talking 2 or 3 friends, I’m talking like 30 or 40! Some people just have checked my profile and offer words of encouragement! The first day that we learned about my chemo and all the ‘ins and outs’, the ‘goods and bads’, etc., my husband went online to search for support groups. He said to me that night, “I will never do that again, I was so depressed that I had to get off the computer” I said, in reply, “I don’t need support groups, I all need are my friends on Etsy”! They lift me up on a daily basis.

It is Sunday. Tomorrow morning, I will leave my house at 7:30 am for my first round of chemo. I will have an IV drip for about 6 hours and be home around 5:00 pm. I will do that again on Tuesday, then again on Wednesday. then again on the following Monday. I look forward to 8 months of that chemo schedule, followed by another year of some form of maintenance chemo.

There are 4 things I know for sure:
1. I am a Christian and I believe God has a plan for me.
2. I believe in myself to do the very best I can do and try to help others in the process by getting my story out there.
3. I have the most wonderful and supportive husband, family and friends.
4. Logging onto Etsy everyday and hearing from my friends will keep this smile on my face, not matter what I am going through.

If you would like to be a part of etsyprojectembrace you can donate the profits or percentage of profits from one or more listings to the American Cancer Society. Add the tag 'etsyprojectembrace' to the listing (or listings) and mention the project and reason for it in your listing description/s.

If you have any questions, or any ideas as to how you could help further then please feel free to convo kim at slinkymalinkicat, or Amy at ThePeachTree.

Thursday, July 2, 2009

To my Etsy Locket Friends

Thank you for being a part of my locket collaboration with Cat
It meant so much! Here are some photos that Jenn took of me while opening the package.

okay, so I know that I have bedhead!





Sunday, June 28, 2009

My stomach USED to be my best feature!

UPDATE SUNDAY JUNE 28:
I can say this surgery knocked me for a loop. I have 8 incisions - and have only been able to take Advil and Tylenol - I just throw up with the stronger stuff. The surgery took a little more thank 2 hours and the doctors says everything went well - the only problem with that my stomach looks like a road map! When it hurts - it just keeps changing positions!! So, I have 3 ports and 2 of them are quite close to the bra line - so I don't know how THAT'S all going to work. It's like i have 2 little "shadow" boobies...... ha ha! At least I only put on 6 pounds this time - much better than 24!! I go to the Dr. tomorrow afternoon and will find out my chemo schedule - which will probably start after the holiday weekend. So, I'll be in touch! you all are just SO AWESOME to check in with me - that's what keeps me going...................... xxoo


Thursday, June 18, 2009


To make my transition from having hair to having none a little more subtle, I got this cute little cut.

Monday, June 15, 2009

My family


This is my husband Bartt, my sons Drew and Alex and myself

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Baby Chase

I have a new nephew!
Chase Michael Robinson was born at 6/2/09 at 9:28am, 8lbs. 9 oz. 21 inches.




Monday, June 1, 2009

The Scoop, June 1

Ok, here's the scoop:

I just got back from the doctor and I have stage 3 ovarian cancer, it is the common form.... or preferred form of ovarian cancer... good ~ . It was the size of a grapefruit on my right ovary. The left side was the tumor on the colon, which was only on the surface, it did not invade the colon.... good~ They removed 32 lymph nodes and found one bad one, which was in a lower section - which it was good the upper ones were not involved.... pretty good~
I go next week to talk about my treatments. In 2 weeks, I'll have outpatient surgery for 3 port-a-caths, one in my chest in 2 in my abs. I'll start chemo the end of June and have it for 8 months, plus 12 months after of maintenance chemo. We'll learn all about that next week. I absolutely have an "angel" of a doctor and will always travel to the Lehigh Valley area (PA) at this point - a little over an hour away. He said my condition is serious, but that I have a positive attitude and that he thinks I'm going to do great.......so I expect to great, too. I'm thinking of selling advertising for my bald head.... since I won't be working for a bit...... ha ha. Let me know if you are interested.

Seriously, the only thing I've been upset about this entire time is the elephant legs I have, which i learned today is from a sluggish lymphatic drainage system and that I will continue to have this problem for awhile. My right leg hurts almost as much as my incision, and that wasn't something I was prepared for. I'm still up 20 pounds and my legs are so uncomfortable. Had I known, I could have been mentally prepared, but that's the only thing I've cried about thus far.

So, BIG NEWS!!! Jenn's water broke today and she's in the hospital. Please pray for her and John and a healthy baby boy ..... and maybe the least amount of pain possible ... if you want to throw that in! We are so excited about the new baby coming - and what fabulous timing!!

Need to go take a nap and get my piggy toes elevated..............Love you lots, Laura