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. 

I'm Done!!! (with treatments)

After 33 treatments of radiation I am finished with all my cancer treatments! My spirits have been up, then down and now they are back up.  I have learned that when going through cancer treatment I had to get rid of all the toxins in my life.  In my case, it was one person I was surrounding myself with on a daily basis.  I know that now more then ever in order to be a cancer survivor I need only positive people in my life.  It took only this one negative person to suck the life out of me and no joke I could feel the pain in my body.  To snap out of my funk I decided to re-read my blog to remember all the good things that have happened this year.  I learned from myself and from all of you that I should only focus on the positive things in life and to distance myself from all negativity moving forward. 

How wonderful this year has been!  You have been there with me and my family from the beginning and we are extremely blessed with your love, friendship, gifts and donations to help get us through.  Today, I started to tear up on my drive to my treatment because I got my strength to fight my long battle from all of you.  Your encouraging words and prayers has helped more then you will ever know.  I hope in 5, 10, 15 plus years I can say that I am cancer free!  Olivia and I made a wish at the water fall at Midwest Cancer Center that I and nana (my mom) will be cancer free forever.

Olivia getting ready to make a wish!

My mother had her surgery to have her ovaries taken out two weeks ago from today.  This was to prevent ovarian cancer in the future.  She is recovering well and she came out with me today for lunch to celebrate.  Thank you for all that you do mom!  Love you!

As for me...I will have follow up appointments and body scans on a monthly basis.  My final surgery to get my implants for my ta ta's will be in 2-3 months.  My right hand is slowly healing but my index and middle fingers are still numb.  The burns from radiation are visible and will get worse in the next week or two.  The good news...my hair is coming back in and it is black!  My eyelashes and eyebrows are coming in and they are thick!

I want to do a few shout outs!

Steve and I went back to his home town of Remsen to celebrate his grandma's 100th birthday over the Thanksgiving holiday.  Her actual birthday was yesterday.  Happy Birthday Verena!

Congratulations to my cousin Leah and her husband Chad.  They had their baby girl Leona Lea on November 28th! 

Isn't she adorable?

I think I am going to have my first glass of wine in over 9 months and celebrate tonight with my husband Steve and daughter Olivia.  Cheers!

Chemo #11 & #12 / Thank you Party for Pottebaum / Cure for Cancer?

A CURE FOR CANCER!!! NANOTECHNOLOGY  Check this video out!  They are in the testing stages but at 100% for curing 40 types of cancer.  It starts talking about it 4 minutes and 40 seconds in to the presentation,

Chemo #11 - Thursday, September 8, 2011

My friend Emmy Reilly was so kind to take me to chemo this week.  I met Emmy through my husband Steve.  Steve was roommates with Chris who was best friends with Nolan who married Emmy.  We also get together to watch Husker football!  Thanks so much for taking time out of your day to drive and sit with me for chemo Emmy!  XOXO!

As always my friend Lyndsey stopped out to say hello. =)

Me and Emmy

Saturday, September 10, 2011 - Zoo with the Pottebaum's and Delperdangs.

We spent the day with Steve's parents, his brother Brian's family and his sister Judy's family.  We went back to their hotel to swim and eat dinner.  It was great to see you and catch up!

Cousins!
Back: Lexi and Haley
Front: Will, Olivia, Mya and Taya

Olivia, Mya and Taya looking cool in their shades!

Olivia and Steve throwing food to the fish.

Jessica and Taya
You can see Brian and Mya in the back ground

Chemo #12 - Thursday, September 15, 2011

Deb Bothof took me and Lyndsey Foster dropped me off.  Deb is always stopping by to check up on me and Lyndsey does the same with phone calls and stopping by to see me at all my chemos.  It means the world to me ladies that you would take so much of your time to check up on me.  Love you!

THANK YOU to Todd Glorvick for the generous gift card to HyVee and donation to the American Cancer Society!  Todd and I went to high school and college together.  Now that he lives in Minnesota we meet up in Chicago every year along with a few others to go to a cubs game and catch up. Thanks Todd!  Can't wait to celebrate my recovery next year! =)

Thank you - PARTY for Pottebaum

I met all these wonderful people through my husband Steve.  He met them while he was an athletic trainer for the Husker football team.

Jay Terry, Trevor Svoboda, Doak Ostergard, Chris McQuillan, Al Recker, Steve and Nolan Reilly.

Travis Havlovic, Me and Steve

Julie and Tim Reimer

Denise Havlovic, Michelle Havlovic, Nicole Zitek

Al and Sara Recker, Heather and Jay Terry

Michelle Havlovic, Me, Heather McQuillan, Stacy Nelson

Kevin Havlovic and Travis Havlovic



Lindsay Vodicka and Michelle Havlovick
Lindsay's husband Brent came too...I didn't get his picture =(

Thank you for coming out to support us!  We love you all!

Tata's Fun Ride

Ten years ago, I had never heard of the town Remsen Iowa, I couldn't of told you where it was or how many people live there.  When I met Steve (in November 2003) he brought me to Remsen for the first time in April of 2004.  He took me on the 5 minute tour and at the end I kept thinking wow this town is really small!  Where do you go shopping?  Our first stop (besides his parent's house) was Beer City.  Steve had talked this bar up so much I had to see it for myself.  Immediately, I felt right at home, belly up to the bar, and remember meeting two guys by the nicknames of Shorty and Weasel along with a dozen or so of Steve's friends.  We closed down the bar telling stories of Steve when he was younger.  I also learned on that trip Steve's nickname was "the Beave". =)  Now that I have been to Remsen and I am a Pottebaum I encounter people almost weekly who knows a Pottebaum, is a Pottebaum, lived in Remsen or grew up close by to Remsen.

Over the years I have gotten to know Steve's friends, family and the people of Remsen better.  They have been there for us when we got engaged, married and for the birth of our daughter Olivia.  When they found out I had cancer Team Beer City told us they were throwing a benefit with or without us! =) 

This past weekend I saw all the friends and family that have been there for Steve and me during the good times and now when times are a little tough.  I think I was in shock the whole weekend from the amount of support we received, it left me speechless.....which is hard to do!  70 people rode their bikes for me!  In the heat, wind, up hills, pushing themselves to keep going even when they were tired.  I do have to give a special shout out to Nick Harvey who rode most of the way with his daughter Anna on the back and Dave Fisch who had his sons on the back the ENTIRE 50 miles! 

I am not sure how to say thank you to those of you who made food, signs, t-shirts, donated your time, money, fixing up the bus, having bracelets, bandannas and coozies made, driving in from out of town,  booking the band, and advertising the event.  Thank you to Beer City for welcoming us in to your home.  Thank you to the bikers for sweating and enduring the wind.  Thank you to everyone who showed up to the party afterwards.  THANK YOU to Jeff and Kim Phillips, Jeff and Amy Schorg, Rob and Janel Schorg, Glen and Amy Roder, Corey and Abby Phillips for organizing this event.  How will I ever repay all of you for your kindness?

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT!!!!!

Driving in the car watching all the riders my sister-in-law Judy kept saying "Wow, Emily this is all for you!".  I kept taping with my video camera because I didn't want to miss a thing.  I am sorting through song choices and footage to hopefully produce a piece in the next couple of weeks. Finding time between watching my sister's kids, daughter and my next chemo session will make it tricky.  I am determined to have it finished by the end of the month.

If you have any pictures or songs you want me to listen to you can email me at emily.pottebaum@yahoo.com.  I can't use the pictures from facebook I need the photos sent to me in jpegs.

one...twO...THREE.....KNOCKOUT! (Chemo #3)

Oh what a week this has been!  I have been extremely, fatigued, nauseous and angry to write.  I thought if I give it a day or two so I could clear my head .

I will start from the beginning....

My index and middle finger have been completely numb since my first surgery in April.  When Dr. Grange put my chemo port in my right arm it hit a nerve knocking out feeling and movement.  This makes it extremely difficult to do everyday tasks I use to take for granted.  Writing, typing, opening jars, slicing food...you get the idea.  Let's just say I have adapted to my new life style.  Since then I can now crack eggs with my left hand, but that doesn't mean I don't want my right hand back!  I WANT my right hand back!

Since then I met with Dr. Tiedemann a hand surgeon with GIKK who then referred me to a neurologist Dr. Weber.  We need to find out if my nerve will come back on it's own or if I will need another surgery to repair it.

Thursday, June 16, 2011

12:00 p.m

I met with Dr. Weber a neurologist who did a series of tests which included electric shocks and needles going in and out of my arm and hand.  OUCH!  Let's just say when I left his office I didn't want to go back.  Dr. Weber said he would have my results at the end of the day and I would find out once I met with Dr. Tiedemann.

2:00 p.m.

Chemotherapy #3

My good friend Gretchen took me this time.  I have known Gretchen since junior high but we became much better friends the summer before we started high school.  We would enjoy long afternoons in her swimming pool, taco and pizza night when I would stay with her family when my parents were out of town.  Gretchen and I were also on junior varsity cheerleading our sophomore year in high school.  I paid it forward and trained Gretchen since I had one year under my belt.  In return Gretchen found us our new coach Jenna who was a former dance teamer.  She trained with us everyday for metros in which we placed first in our division and first place overall winning the entire competition which included varsity squads.  We were the #1 squad in the Omaha Metro area.  That was such a fun year! 

From there we went to college and when I met my husband Steve, we all found out Gretchen's family was related!  Steve and Gretchen are second cousins.  Gretchen's mom Nancy (Pottebaum) Ballard's dad and Steve's Grandpa are brothers!  It was funny because when I first started dating Steve I kept forgetting his last name so I would always call Gretchen and ask. When I did forget I would always say Steve's last name was Potterybarn.  =)

Gretchen is expecting baby #2 a Boy!

Our friend Lyndsey stopped by to hang out too!

Friday, June 17, 2011    

Happy 39th Anniversary to my parents! 

Happy Anniversary to Lyndsey and Jerid Foster!

1:00 p.m.  Get my nuelasta shot
3:00 p.m.  Get my ta ta's filled

4:00 p.m.  Down for the count

Saturday, Sunday and most of Monday I was sawing logs.  I could barely lift my head, eat or drink anything without dry heaving.

Tuesday, June 21 , 2011

I thought I was back for the week to spend with the kids.  Today we spent the entire day indoors because it was raining.

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Started getting sick with cough and sore throat.   Thank God my mom is on call she came to relieve me for the rest of the week so I don't get sick.  I called the nurses line at my oncologist and it took an entire day of me calling back at least 6 times to get an antibiotic.  LONG story here but lets just say the nurses line at my oncologist needs a lot of HELP! 

Thursday, June 24, 2011

12:20 PM

Met with Dr. Tiedemann to get my results for my hand.  Of course he said my median nerve in my right hand has a partial cut so I will need surgery.  UGH!  As he was talking about the procedure I was fighting back tears.  How in the heck am I going to be able to do chemo and have a surgery thrown in the mix.

4:30 PM  I was feeling awful so I went to my oncologist to get fluids and nausea medicine.  Dr. Thome' said I could have the surgery.  He would just administer a 1/3 of the dose on my 4th round. 

After sleeping on it I made the executive decision to not do chemotherapy next week.  There is no way my body is going to handle chemotherapy and surgery within hours of each other.  I am taking CONTROL.  My body...My decision!

I am also researching alternative treatments outside of chemo and radiation.  If you know of any doctors, books or websites to alternative treatments send them my way!

I know chemo is suppose to work but I hate feeling like crap.  I want to feel healthy and energetic like I use to! =)

Friday, June 24, 2011

Scheduled my hand surgery with Dr. Tiedemann for Friday, July 1, 2011.  I tried to cancel my chemotherapy with Dr. Thome's nurses and once again no one called me back.  So when I don't show up for my session next Thursday I might get their attention!

Please pray for my hand to come back and for a safe and successful surgery.

Don't forget!  Today is the last day you can vote for my friend Melissa G. to win $2500 to donate to Susan G. Koman! https://www.mkmakeovercontest.com  There are 9 Melissa G's so here is a picture of Melissa.  I couldn't get the one from the website to work...I am sure you all are smart enough to figure it out!  =)  I have known Melissa since high school.  We were on dance team my junior and senior year and were roomies in college my sophomore year.  Please support Melissa on her quest to win $2500 for Susan G. Komen! 

This is Melissa G!

Thank you to:

Jeff, Traci, Mia, Sam and Ava for the Papa Murphy's pizza, the adorable hat and sign!

John and Joan Allen for the delicious ribs and potato salad.

Sara Rogers for the delicious dinner!  Tomatoes with feta cheese and Chicken pitas!

Deb Bothof and Matt Edstrand for the organic produce and rice crispy treats.

My sister-in-law Jessica for the generous donation to Susan G. Komen of Iowa in my name.

Melissa Gregory for entering a contest to win $2500 to donate to Susan  G. Komen in my name!

My sister for watching Olivia Wednesday night.

My Mom for always watching the kids when I am to sick or weak.  Love you Momma!

Thank you to all our friends and family for all your love, support and prayers!

My 21st Birthday was much worse...Chemotherapy will be a breeze!

Sunday May 15, 2011

Our good friends Michelle and Travis baptized their son Paxton!
Olivia had to get in the photo...she thinks Travis is her boyfriend.

The week before my first chemotherapy session I wanted life to be back to normal as possible.  Avery and Addison have their dance recital on June 4th but had rehearsals this week.  Don't they look so cute?

Addison and Avery with the Auntie Em special
HAIR and MAKE UP!

Olivia wore her Dora ballerina outfit..she thinks she is going
to be in the dance recital ....to bad she will have to wait 2 more years. :)



Here are all the little munchkins!

Thursday May 19, 2011
1:45 p.m.
Midwest Cancer Center

Me and Steve

Steve took me to my first chemo treatment.  We met with my nurse navigator Nicole and Dr. Thome.  Then I was introduced to my nurses Ethel and Darcy.  Loved Them! They explained everything that was going in to my body and what effects it will have on me.

I watched Oprah and ironically it was about a mother who passed away from breast cancer.  She made hundreds of video tapes for her daughter to watch over the course of her life.  Ethel started tearing up and said "This will not be you!"  Duh!  I know that!  =)  Ethel is such a sweetheart.

After my first treatment I stopped off on Lillian street to say hello to some friends.

Nicki and Brea!

Brea - Thank you for my new plant!  It is out on my deck blooming beautifully! =)

I was expecting to relive the day after my 21st birthday after my first chemo treatment.  If you were with me that night I had a fantastic time but when midnight hit, so did my head...directly on to the table.  My friends hauled me off to go back home to recover.  Let's just say the next four days after my 21st birthday SUCKED.  I was hugging the porcelain God (aka toilet)  and could barely lift my head.

I did not experience anything close to my 21st birthday after my first chemotherapy treatment.  A little nausea and fatigue.  I have definitely felt worse....so I will get through my chemo treatments.  Ironically, today is my Birthday and I feel much better then I did on my 21st birthday. The only things that are sitting well with me are yogurt, cottage cheese, eggs, Chocolate Ensure, BLT's, frozen fruit sticks and apple juice.

Thank you to:

my husband Steve who took care of me and Olivia all weekend.  Steve has been there with me since the beginning and reminds me daily he will be there with me to the end.  Steve has been doing both our jobs and I have never once heard him complain.  It is extremely hard, but I try to model myself after Steve on a daily basis..he makes me want to be a better person.  I LOVE YOU MORE THEN WORDS CAN SAY! =)

my mother and father for helping out with the kids and my birthday present.  Mom, Thank you will never be enough for all the time you have generously donated to taking care of the kids.  Dad, Thank you for being the designated driver to and from events.  I LOVE YOU!!!

my aunt Patty for another generous cash donation...THANK YOU!

my mother and father-in-law for my birthday gift.

My God mother Linda and her husband Wendell Quist for the Carrabba's gift card.

Bruce and Betty Bode for the fabulous meals!  We all LOVED your spaghetti with meatballs.  It was so good our friend Travis joined us for dinner.

Dancing after dinner!

Kathi and Sabrina Scherzberg for the chicken casserole.  Steve loved it!  I didn't try it...only to save my stomach.  I had to stick to the Sierra Mist you brought.;)  It was nice meeting Sabrina. We need to get the girls together for a play date this summer.

Emily Gardels for the Pink Flamingo...(see below)

 

Ikaika is in Hawaii right now with Emily (Gardels) and her boyfriend Nick.

This is Ikaika the breast cancer flamingo. I found her in the dollar section at Target:) and thought it would be fun to send her around the country to different friends. I thought it would be something fun to do while Emily is going through treatment, so she knows we are all thinking about her! So, if Ikaika comes to you please take her out and do something fun with her. Take pictures, send them to Em or post them and then send Ikaika along to Emily's other friends and family. I chose the name Ikaika because it means Strength in Hawaiian. Love you EM!!!

How Fun!  Thanks Emily!  I can't wait to take Ikaika on a trip with me once I am done with my treatments.

Crystal - for bringing over chemo friendly food.  Love the rice with chicken broth. 

My aunt Patty and aunt Vicky for the lovely flowers

Ruth for the beautiful flowers for my birthday and my favorite cookies!

My aunt Linde and uncle Terry for the Barnes and Noble gift card and the chicken noodle soup. It is in the freezer ready for chemo #2.

Sasha for the adorable picture of me and my God daughter.

My cousin Leah, Chad and Charlie for the beautiful bracelet from the Chocolate Peacock.

Leah and I have celebrated our birthdays together since I was three years old.  Leah's birthday is May 22nd and mine is the 23rd.  Leah had a birthday party this weekend I had to miss.  Next year we will celebrate all night!  I would also like to congratulate Leah, Chad and Charlie as they will be adding to their family in November.  Yay!  Something else for me to look forward to!

LOVE YOU!