The Dish on Lish

Alicia has had a busy week so far. On Monday she had three appointments to further investigate the possibly source of malignancy. She had a mammogram and pelvic ultrasound (due to the nature of the cancer cells appearing somewhat estrogen-y) and she met with an ENT specialist because of the swelling being isolated to her neck (cervical lymph nodes) and a small spot under her tongue that was noted on her PET scan from a couple weeks ago. Tuesday she had her chemo port put in and while she was in surgery they also took a biopsy from the location under her tongue. She has not received any results from this continued investigative work. They are also still waiting for those more detailed results of the initial biopsy that were sent to the lab in California.


As we get more information we will be sure to pass that on. Thanks to everyone for your continued positive thoughts!

A change in direction: Alicia's Cancer

For the next few weeks, maybe months, this blog is going to become an update on Alicia’s cancer and Bo’s continuing awesomeness. We all know how hard it is the first few weeks you have a baby home. That transition, and learning a new routine, is the focus in their home. To help her focus on her nuclear family and home I will be keeping her medical updates here.
Background: On March 26th it was discovered that the lymph nodes in Alicia’s neck were enlarged. Her OB/GYN recommended that they consult with additional doctors to discover the cause of the inflammation. This resulted in a CT scan, some blood work, and a couple days later a fine needle aspiration of the lymph node site. The doctors determined that the appropriate course of action was to induce labor and ensure that Bo was here and healthy before focusing on Alicia’s needs. Inducing began the morning of March 29th and upon realizing that Bo was breech, a c-section was performed. Bo weighed in at 7lbs 5oz, 19 inches long, and was in excellent health. The family was sent home on April 1st. April 3rd, Alicia had a surgical biopsy performed on the left lymph node; April 4th was a CT scan. On April 10th the results of the biopsy returned a rather vague result, Adenocarcinoma of Unknown Origin. This basically means that the cells tell them the cancer started in some type of fluid making cells, but they can’t tell where since there is not a mass/tumor/cluster to start from. Not satisfied with the plan of action laid out with the doctors here, and with the help of others, Alicia got an appointment at the Sarah Cannon Cancer Research Center in Nashville. So on Thursday, April 12th, she had an early morning PET scan in Columbia, followed by a very generously offered private flight to Nashville. While she was flying to Nashville, her biopsy was flying to Minnesota to the Mayo Clinic, and to a research center in California. The consultation in Nashville gave the following information: the cancer was spurred by the extremely high levels of estrogen in pregnancy, the doctor did not see anything concerning on the PET scan, the doctor did not believe that further testing would result in the ability to more successfully treat the cancer than what he already knew. The sample he had sent to California is being analyzed for a more specific DNA sequence, not just a pathology. This doctor also recommended that she receive all her treatment in Jeff City and sent his care plan to an oncologist here.
Alicia’s initial meeting with that oncologist was Monday, April 16. At that meeting it they found out the initial biopsy pathology was confirmed as Adenocarcinoma of Unknown Origin by the Mayo Clinic analysis. She will have a chemo port put in and will received 6 chemo treatments over an 18 week period and will then have surgery to remove the lymph nodes entirely. The surgery to insert the chemo port is currently scheduled for Tuesday, April 24.
I will post more information as it becomes available. If you have questions, please post them in the comments and if it is information I have I will reply, or I will ask Alicia when I can and get back to you.
Bo eats a lot, has an inconsistent schedule, doesn’t always sleep, poops a lot, cries very little, and is generally a perfect 2.5 week old.

Clark Griswold Syndrome

I don’t know when it happened. But the last few years my Clark Griswold Syndrome has really taken off. There is little awareness of this horrible affliction and even less help for it, but chances are you know someone who is affected. In case you are not familiar, the primary symptoms of CGS are setting extraordinary expectations for an event (usually family related) and becoming a bit off kilter when those expectations are not met. I’ve never taken a chainsaw to the newel post, but I have gone into long rants about my inability to form the perfect family moment. Of course since I never tell anyone of my high standards before the performance falls flat, those around me can hardly be blamed. This knowledge does not deter me from doing the same thing repeatedly.
I realized while daydreaming about our summer I am setting myself up for some epic CGS meltdowns. We’ll go swimming, we’ll go to Silver Dollar City, I’ll take Riley on a special shopping trip to St. Louis, and we’ll walk to the corner store for produce every day…it goes on and on. But none of my daydreams include me forgetting the sunscreen, bringing the “wrong” stuffed animal, screaming children, temper tantrums, or all the other mishaps that are bound to come along the way. None of the daydreams fail to meet my vision and expectations. And that is at the heart of CGS. Because what I think is going to happen, what I hope with all my heart will happen, it ain’t gonna happen.

Maybe I’ll tone down and get a handle on it this year. Or maybe this is the year I torch the Christmas tree.

February Fun

I don't know how we have gotten so lucky with the weather this winter. We had enough snow for a good sledding, one day, then it was gone. Now we are having spring weather!

Missouri is nothing if not unpredictable though.

We have had a lot of outside time lately.

This is a blessing with a very, ahem, active three year old with an even more active imagination.
And a very competitive five year old.



I need to practice with the blog some more and get a few more posts edited. I added a few new pictures to the bottom of the page layout. They aren't very good. But I want them there to remind myself that I need to practice with my camera. I need to work on getting some good pictures to capture our lives.



This isn't a real post. But I have couple in the works!

I'm back. I think.

I haven’t blogged in months, more like a year. Not that the date stamps didn’t make that obvious. But I have decided to change my approach. Instead of worrying about whether people will want to read what I write I am going to write whatever I want and leave the choice about reading it to whatever poor saps happen across this space. With that thrilling re-introduction I hope to have several posts up in the next few days. I said hope…

Products of Digestion (The Potty Training Chronicles)

I have found the reason for all of the road blocks on the path to being diaper free.

Its me.

I am not really ready to admit that Davis is going to be 3. That I should no longer see the bubble of butt waddling behind him. I don't want to talk about watching my youngest gain independence.

I need him to need me.

So I have shed (a very small) part of my attachment to his toddler-ness.

I am ready to admit that I now have 2 preschoolers.

Goodbye ultra absorbancy. Hello extra laundry!

We will get there. And preschool and I have set a date.

Fully potty trained by March 10.

I'll keep you posted!

11 Reasons I Hate kU

1. Even in middle and high school I recognized that the were rude, over proud, and unable to recruit for an sport requiring more than 6 athletes.

2. We have not thumped their mythical asses in Low-Rents since I was in high school.

3. They maintain a level of thuggish behavior that would be acceptable at no other institution, or in any other sport.

4. The Twins. It is hard for me to even watch them on the screen. I am overcome with a desire to strike out at them.

5. Our heart-and-soul basketball team, who strive to be good students and better people, get a fraction of the press attention that the hoodlums to the west receive.

6. Bill Self

7. Mythical bird.

8. Jayhawkers.

9. Crimson colored glasses.

10. They Exist.

11. I am a Missouri Tiger.

MIZ-