Support Systems

I have been completely overwhelmed with the amount of support and encouragement we've received the last few days! It is because of my many families that I have been able to remain upbeat and somewhat calm about the whole situation.
My Family- from aunts, uncles, and cousins both near and far I've had loads of offers for meals, babysitting and even to come stay with me and help change bandages! My Hamilton family has always been strong in the face of adversity and Sam's family (Sagers and Tidswells) has been the same, so getting us all together is a force to be reckoned with.
My Friend Family- The outpouring from our friends has been amazing! When Sam and I got married his friends and my friends became our friends which has lead to an abundance of love and people checking in on us. So many of you have become a part of our family, to the point of Ellie calling you aunt and uncle. We love and appreciate each and everyone of you and feel honored to call you our friends.
My Serrano Family- I feel like I've grown up with so many of you (I suppose technically I have seeing as I first subbed at Serrano almost 10 years ago!) Knowing that I can go to any of you for anything at any time is invaluable. Few people honestly love going to work each day, but I have to say as crazy as teaching can be, knowing that I work with the most amazing, kind, generous and authentic people makes those tough days so much easier. I love the fact that even though some of you have moved to other school sites or retired, you are still considered a part of our Serrano family.
My AVID Family- So four days after my diagnoses, I went down to La Quinta (with my Amazing Serrano AVID Team) for the AVID Site Team Conference for two days. All of the wonderful people I have met through being an AVID Coordinator the last few years were quick to offer any kind of support and help they could.
My Thirty-One Family- These girls are amazing! I have seen several of you out and about this week and it has only reaffirmed my decision to stick with selling Thirty-One. I know you all have my back and will help me in whatever ways you can.

To the rest of you reading, if we have never met, most likely you are part of one of my support system member's support system. Thank you for being there for them.

As we embark on this journey together, please know that I appreciate and value each and everyone of you and though I may lag behind on replying to e-mails, texts or voicemails, or even get behind on updating the Blog, I know that you are there, thinking of us and wishing us the best.

On the Road to Clarity

So we (Baby S and I) had our first appointment at Kaiser Fontana today. We met with the RN in the Breast Care Clinic to go over a ton of information, I brought my entourage which included both my parents, my mother-in-law and Sam (my hubby). It was a good thing I had so many extra sets of ears because I sure got a lot of information.
We know that I have Adenocarcinoma and it is Triple-negative. It will respond best to Chemo, my tumor is about 4.2 cm. (smaller than I originally thought). Staging is not an option right now because it requires radiation which is off limits as long as Baby Sager is in residence.
I found out about wigs, reconstruction, the port-catheter, support groups, disability, recovery, protheses, and got lots and lots of reading materials. Plus the nurse we met with is going to work on finding me a new OB who is interested/willing to take on my case, so I don't have to fire my old OB, she'll do it for me :)
I also now have an oncology appointment on Friday as well as a genetics appointment. The first is where will we find out exactly what course of treatment we will go down, the second I will find out if I carry the BRCA mutation or not (Angelina Jolie doesn't seem as crazy to me now).
The one thing that was clearer than anything today was what amazing co-workers I have! When I got to work today someone had copied my motto, laminated them and put them in all teacher's boxes. One thing I know I will not have to worry about is my students while I am out (Baby and I don't need any extra germs...and as most of us know middle schooler's don't have the best hygiene habits) as my fabulous Serrano team will ensure they are in good hands.

D-Day

The beginning of October, I noticed a small lump in my left breast that was tender to the touch, it was the same spot where I had mastitis while nursing Ellie three years ago, so thought it was related to that. I mentioned it to my OB at my October appointment anyway and he said he would order an ultrasound. After the appointment I got a call from the radiology department that my Dr. had put in for a mammogram and they don't do mammograms on pregnant women. So, they canceled the order and requested that he put in another, which he did...for another mammogram...I was finally able to get an ultrasound appointment on Tuesday, November 26th. After the ultrasound the Dr. who saw me ordered a biopsy of both the lump and the lymph nodes as well as a mammogram. Let me just say it is cruel enough to smash a pregnant woman's sensitive boobs for a mammogram but it is even worse to slice them and then do it.
I had been told that I would hear in about a week from a surgeon to go over my results... I got a call on Wednesday, asking if I could come in on Friday. Sam and I left Ellie with the grandparents and went to my appointment, thinking it was something related to the mastitis in 2010. When the surgeon came in he very calmly stated that the biopsy came back positive for cancer, in both the lump and the lymph node.  Sam and I looked at each other in shock, the Dr. then continued to outline the plan... As of right now I have two options for the surgery scheduled on the 13th of December
1) Have a modified radical mastectomy and insert a port-catheter for chemo
2) Just insert the port-catheter
All the research I have done says that 1 in every 1,000 pregnant women get cancer and that most Dr's will only ever see 1 maybe 2 cases in their entire career. So I have done lots of research and am prepared with case studies and journal articles if necessary. We still have not set an official course of treatment but from all the research Sam and I have done- which if you know us you know it has been extensive in the short time we have had- there are certain chemo drugs that will be safe for baby, I have already found a support group on Facebook with mama's who are pregnant and undergoing cancer treatments.
I have appointments scheduled for
- Breast Care Clinic Monday 12/2
- Pre-Op Monday 12/9
- Q & A with my surgeon 12/10
- Surgery 12/13
I will still be scheduling an appointment with Oncology sometime before the 13th.
Here are the things that we know as of right now
- I have triple-negative breast cancer which means that hormone therapy is not an option
- We will do everything possible to carry Baby Sager full term (at least 37 weeks)
- I have an amazing support system!
- This is going to be my motto

Not dead...yet

So it has been a year since my last post...no I didn't die, I was in grad school and teaching and being mom...I sit for my comps next week so Grad school will be done and with any luck we will be moving over the summer to a bigger place and I will once again have time and energy to update my little blog...until then here a picture of Ellie on her birthday!

What a year!!

Wow! This year has flown by, I can't believe that Ellie has onlybeen in our lives for one little year. I can't seem to remember life without her.

Over the last year we have discovered that Ellie is stubborn (just like EVERY other member of this family), she is adventurous (like her dad), she is independent (like her mom) and she is just so stinkin' adorable!!!

My favorite thing she does right now is that when you spin around with her she throws both arms back and squeals in delight. I often make myself dizzy just so I can hear that fabulous sound.

I am looking forward to what this upcoming year has to bring. The finishing of grad school for me, possibly a new job for Sam and a family trip to Hawaii. I hope to keep you all updated a little more often.

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!!!! and a very special HAPPY BIRTHDAY to a very special little girl!

No More 20-Somethings Here

This month was super busy! Ellie turned 6 months old, I competed in my first karate tournament, and Sam threw me a fabulous 30th birthday party! My friend Tiffany flew out from Portland sans kiddos and we had a great girls night out on Friday, then at my party Saturday my friend Natalie from Colorado showed up thanks to Sam's scheming. It was pretty amazing to think the last time we were all together was at our wedding 4 years ago, yet sitting on the couch talking it was almost as if it hadn't been more than a week. We also took Ellie to Disneyland for the first time. She absolutely loved Small World, she "sang" through the whole ride.

We finally figured out how to get Ellie to eat her food, after she had perfected the spoon block, the head block and keeping her lips locked while laughing, crying, and just about any other situation, I gave up and put the spoon down to have her pick it up and put it in her mouth. Needless to say, meal time is extremely messy as Ellie is still trying to get the spoon in her mouth before closing it.

The month ended with me cooking Thanksgiving Dinner for 14 up at Wayne and Kathy's and loving every second of it!!!

I am thankful for my beautiful family, and all my wonderful friends!

Yes, we are still alive!

So when I started this blog I thought, hey most of my friends with 2 kids blog on a somewhat regular basis, how hard can it be to keep up? I have now found the answer is extremely. Maybe it is because I am a working mom and most of said friends are lucky enough to not (though really I don't think it would make much difference) but I will often compose a new entry in the car on the way to or from work, the grocery store or picking Ellie up and then fail to actually type and post it when I get home. So here is a quick update of what has been going on in the Sager household.

October: Ellie had her first overnight with Nana and Grandpa (Sagers)while Sam and I went to a wedding where we had tons of fun. We spent time with family and enjoyed watching Ellie discover her toes, her voice and the joys of rolling/scooting. We attempted to feed her solids (video to come later). I walked my 3rd 1/2 Marathon. For Halloween she made an adorable little monkey while Sam and I attended a Halloween party as a bunch of grapes and a working box of wine.