My Mom's Final Surgery is Scheduled / More Updates

It has been over a month since my last post.  I have been extremely busy and haven't found time to write.  My mom's final surgery is scheduled for January 30th.  She will have the expanders taken out and the implants will go in their place.  The first set of twins will be here before the end of the month! =) 

I have been celebrating since my final treatment.  Steve, Olivia and I celebrated on the 19th of December (my final treatment day) with my parents and our good friends, Travis, Michelle and their son Paxton.  I had so much adrenaline because I was so excited to be done.  We went to dinner at Mi Mi's Cafe and I had my first glass of wine since March.  I only had a few sips as it didn't taste that good to me but I still got to do a toast to ending my cancer treatment journey.

Back: Travis holding Paxton, Michelle, Me, Steve
Front: Olivia, My dad and mom

I spent some time with friends,

My friend Megan with Olivia
We try to go to lunch every other week.

Our friends, Jerid, Lyndsey, Haili and Lexi came over 2 days before Christmas.
We played ate dinner and played games all night...Wii Bowling was a hit!
Here is a picture of Olivia and Haili.


Getting Ready to celebrate Christmas at Papa's shed

My cousin Leah with her Grandma Laura and her daughter Leona.

Aunt Linde with baby Leona 

Surprise!  Mr. and Mrs. Claus paid us a visit!

Reading Christmas Stories

 Chad getting it all on video!

                                                                          Uncle Terry

                                                                Papa with Santa

                                                             Charlie with Santa

                                                All the kids with Mr and Mrs Claus

We spent Christmas Eve with my parents:

                                            Olivia opening a present from Nana and Papa

Papa just finished reading T'was the Night Before Christmas

                                                         Nana and Olivia

Christmas Morning we opened presents from Santa and headed to Remsen to spend Christmas with the Pottebaums!

I had quite a few more photos to post but my computer is so slow it would take me all day to upload.  =)

Steve and I spent New Year's Eve celebrating our 6 year wedding anniversary with very good friends.

I had my first event for the charity I started Auntie Em's Angels.  (http://www.auntieemsangels.com/) We raised over $6,000 from our first event and helped Brea Nelson and her family to help pay her medical bills.  Thank you to Brea who had a hand in catching my cancer before it reached stage 4 and which helped catch my mother's cancer before it spread to her lymph nodes.

I find out in March when I have my final surgery and will have body scans in February to keep a close watch to see if the chemo and radiation helped in fighting my cancer.

I can't thank you all for all your love and support...it has helped me continue to be strong, positive and to pay it forward to help other cancer patients in need. 

Party for Pottebaum - More Thank You's!

Stacy Nelson and Me

Crystal Crowley, Colin Hogan and Megan Misterek
I have known Colin and Megan since elementary school.

Kelly and Jeremy Robson
They just had twin boys in March...
doesn't Kelly look great?!

Kelly Robson and Gretchen Chace
I have known this ladies since Jr. High and we
are still great friends today!

Me, Crystal Crowley and Emily Gardels
Crystal and her husband donated food from their restaurant
HuHot Mongolian Grill and Crystal used her talents decorating the entire place!

One of my best friends Emily Gardels and her boyfriend Nick
flew in from Chicago.  Emily donated A LOT of
the auction items...she works at Macy's in Chicago
so she got some GOOD STUFF!

Gretchen and Jeff Chace...
They just had a baby Boy October 24!
Welcome to the world Jack Andrew =)

Megan Misterek and Mike Livesay

Me and Lori Armiger

 Thank you again for coming out to support us!  We are so fortunate to have such great friends!=)

Party #1 - Friday Night

Thank you to everyone who came out on Friday night to celebrate before my surgery and chemo start.  All of you I have known for over ten years the rest I have known for 20 years plus!  I love you all so much and I am so blessed to have you in my life!  After this year I think Nicki's idea of a vacation is a fantastic idea!  MEXICO HERE WE COME!!!!

From Left to Right: Laura, Sasha, Jody, Nicki, Me, Crystal, Gretchen, Kelly and Emily
I have known Crystal, Gretchen, Kelly and Emily since Junior High.
All of these ladies were my roomie at one point and time....well
minus Gretchen.  Gretchen and her husband are expecting a baby
in November.  CONGRATULATIONS!  I can't wait to meet him or her!
I met Laura, Sasha, Jody and Nicki in college. 
Sasha and I were roomies in college and I am proud to say
I introduced to her to her husband Matt many moons ago. ;)
Sasha and I have been good friends ever since.
Nicki, Laura and I went on a spring break or two together
and hung out a lot in college. GOOD TIMES! 
We still get together from time to time.
I got to know Jody through all of these ladies as they went to high school
together.  Jody just had a baby girl (Finley) 12 weeks ago.  CONGRATULATIONS!
Gretchen and Kelly - Thank  you for the adorable PJ's! 
Jody - Thank you for the Panera gift card - I hope you found your credit card! ;)

Megan and Me
I have known Megan since kindergarten...enough said! She
has definitely seen me at my best and worst.  It was great to
see you Megan!  I can't wait to meet your brand new puppy!!!!

Me and Heather

Me and Steve

Joe and me
I have known Joe since highschool.  He and his wife Rachel
are expecting their second child in June. CONGRATULATIONS!
IT'S A BOY!

Rob, Mike and Steve
Rob is Laura's husband and Mike is Nicki's husband...Steve is my husband.

Heather, me and Lindsay
I went to high school both of these lovely ladies! 
Heather and I were rommies in college.  Lindsay and I pulled
all nighters studying for our college Astronomy class my freshman year. 

Matt and Chris
I have known both these boys since high school. 
Ironically I introduced Matt to his wife Sasha who is a very
dear friend of mine from college.  Chris was in town from Chicago!
Chris and his wife Alison usually join me, Gardels and Crystal when we do
our annual trip to Chicago for a Cubs game. 
Thanks for coming!  It was great to see you =)