Spring in Austin

Springtime in Austin!!! Meet some of my new friends that I saw on my training walk this morning. [There were so many that I couldn’t capture them all – at some point I have to keep walking!!]

– Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Update on Ali

Like I said – I’m sooooo behind on updating you guys.  Sorry…

Ali is doing WONDERFUL!!  She had her surgery on Monday, June 6, and came home from the hospital on Wednesday, June 8.  The car ride was brutal.  Over the past week she’s needed less and less pain medication.  It was good to see her up and walking around over the weekend.

Her drainage tubes were removed this Thursday, June 16, which makes mobility MUCH easier!  And, the best news of all – her pathology report came back in excellent shape!!!  We are so thankful!  She was also pretty excited that she was able to wash and dry her own hair yesterday.  🙂

Next steps – she goes back to her oncologist the week of the 27th and we’ll find out more about chemo treatments, etc.

Thank you for all of your thoughts and prayers!

Komen Race for the Cure in Plano

Boy, I’m falling behind!  Last Saturday, Dione and I participated in tke Komen Race for the Cure in Plano – along with 10,000 of our closest friends!  Here are some of the pictures from the race:

My bib.  🙂

Elsie the Borden cow even came out to support us!

I LOVE THIS!

Posing with Ali’s tulip

This tulip was so moving.

Loved this one.  So inspiring.

Ali’s tulip in Elizabeth’s garden

After race bellini’s at Bread Winners. No, we weren’t the only ones with this idea – the place was packed!

Ali’s Surgery

Me, Shalor, Ali, Shane and Mom at the hospital before surgery.

Ali underwent the 5-hour procedure on Monday for a double mastectomy.  Her surgeon, Dr. Allen, said that everything looked normal.  He removed four sentinel lymph nodes, but they did not appear to be cancerous – GREAT NEWS!  Her plastic surgeon, Dr. Ward, then started the process of reconstructive surgery.  All-in-all, Ali did great!  She is in a quite a bit of pain, but her spirits are still up.  I am so unbelieveably proud of her.

She just arrived home from the hospital this morning.  The car ride was extremely uncomfortable, but she is in bed now awaiting pain medication.  We have been blown away by the outpouring of love and support.  Thank you to everyone who came to the hospital just to sit with us – and play Apples to Apples.  🙂

Shalor was a trooper!  He had no idea what to expect when we got to the hospital Monday morning, but he has been so patient and strong. 

Just another demonstration of how my family ROCKS!

WOO HOO!

I have raised over $2,300 for my 3-Day walk!  I can officially participate!  I am so super excited!  My goal is to raise $5,000, which I know is completely attainable. 

Thank you to all of those who have donated.  I am completely humbled by and grateful for your generosity and support.

I am blessed!

Praying for my Cornhuskers

Mark left this morning for Nebraska.  His hometown of South Sioux City is experiencing major flooding from the Missouri River.  The Corps of Engineers is expected to announce today that they will have to open one of the dams north of town, which will flood the town even more.  Evacuations have already started for some neighborhoods.  Another major concern is that the sewage pump station will be under water and no longer able to function if the dam is opened. (My first reaction: EWWW!)  

I so badly wanted to go with him – to volunteer after a natural disaster is on my bucket list(which, I’ll have to post up here some day…).  But, Ali’s surgery is Monday, and there was no guarantee that they could get me to the airport on Sunday.  Crazy stuff.

So, we loaded up the truck last night (Thanks, Todd & Jackie!) and he’s heading to Beverly South Sioux.  Many prayers for the midwest.  First the Mississippi River floods, then the Joplin tornado – Mother Nature needs to take some Valium and give these poor people a break!

UPDATE 11:00am –

The Corps of Engineers have announced that they are opening the spillways at the Garrison Dam, for the first time in the dam’s history. The first spillway gates opened at 8 am June 1, 2011. Seven spillway gates opened to a height of 1 foot each. Additional openings of 7 gates will occur every 12 hours until all 28 are open by Thursday evening at 8 pm.