Mammo Experience- take 2

When the doctor entered the room with the technician, I tensed up waiting to hear his findings. I didn't think it was going to be good when two people walked in. Good news is, the cyst in my left breast hasn't grown in the past six months. The doctor told me that although it appeared to be benign, he wanted to watch it carefully.

The word "appears" brought the alarmist out in me. I have seen too many young woman my age affected by this horrible disease to be okay with waiting six months. "Appearing" to be benign isn't good enough for me and I refuse to sit around and wait for something that can easily be taken care of -grow and turn into something that won't be as easy to treat.

I scheduled an appointment for a biopsy. So far, I've been as pro active about this situation as I can- I'm not stopping now!

The doctor was actually surprised by my request, but also praised my  aggressive decision making. I'm doing this for my family, for my kids, for my grandmother who is watching me from heaven...and, for myself.

Hopefully the biopsy proves the doctor right.

Thank you all for your kind words and support. I will keep the updates coming.

Please be as active in your health as I am. You only get one shot at this crazy thing called life. Take care of it.

My mammogram experience

A little over a year ago, close to my 35th birthday, my gynecologist handed me a script for a mammogram. Besides the realization that I am of age to have this procedure performed, the annotation that came along with being handed that slip of paper scared the shit out of me. My grandmother had breast cancer and survived it. She was diagnosed after the age of 65 which benefits my chances of not getting it. I was anxiety ridden with the unknown. I hate pain (I have no idea how I handled childbirth- TWICE!) and had heard it is in fact painful or from those who like to sugarcoat (eh hem...mom), rather uncomfortable. I was also not happy about the no deodorant thing. So...I have to have my boobs squeezed in a manner that surely is inhuman, arms up, nervous- with no deodorant...in someones face. Wonderful.

You would think someone (surely a woman) would have come up with an alternative way besides a booby torture chamber to check for breast cancer by now. I was hoping the discovery would happen before my appointment.

So, I go for the mammo (since nobody came up with the alternative like I hoped!) ...and, it's painful- not gonna lie...but to get through it- I kept telling myself that breast cancer would be a lot more painful... I knew I had to do it. The technician was sweet and sympathetic to my grimaces. Some men I dated never got as far as she did with my boobs. She handles them to get them in the machine just so, tells me not to move and goes to press the button of hell to release the machine down on my breast. Holy shit mother of god there has to be a better way I'm going to pass out...and just when I'm cursing myself for being born female and think I cannot handle another second, the machine releases my breast. I was put into many odd positions to get the necessary angles- some worse than others.Some not so bad at all. Ready to beg for mercy- I was overjoyed when she said she had gotten enough films. I got dressed, threw on the deodorant I stored in my bag, and left. I was proud of myself for being pro active about my health and thrilled that it was OVER! Or...so I thought.

A week or so later, I get a call from the office. "We need more films. Don't be alarmed...it could be nothing...we see a spot on one of your breasts and we need more films to see what it is". I was devastated...not only by the dreadful idea that everything I feared can be happening...but by the fact that I thought I was done and wasn't. I was so nervous about going for the testing and now had to do it all over again. I was so upset. So, I brave the office once again. I was sweating and shaking until I found out I would only have a sonogram performed this time. I was soooo happy! Whew...a sonogram- I can handle. The female doctor had no bedside manner, definitely no daughters..and may have had her vagina removed at one time another. She was so rough and cold. "turn left, cold gel", " turn right, cold gel"....you'd think she was rolling out pizza dough. She couldn't be sure whether or not the cyst she was seeing had fluid in it or not and wanted me to do another mammo....or in her words "just stick a needle in it". Wow.

I decided to call my gynecologist to get some advice from her. I had been going to her for close to 12 years and she delivered both of my children. I value and trust her opinion and knew she would steer me in the right direction. She advised me to see a well known breast surgeon in the area. I went to see her and was so glad I did. She was so kind and patient and definitely knew her stuff.

I was sent for additional mammos. I know- horrible. She recommended a wonderful place, Complete Woman's Imaging . It was night and day from the first place. I am so happy to say to you- this time the mammo wasn't that bad. The machines were more high tech. The apparatus would come down to meet the position of my breast rather than me standing on my toes and to the left in a crazy position like in the first place. There were two technicians in the room and this made a world of difference in addition to the updated machinery. One handled the fondling, the other the machine. This process worked out so much better because the two woman worked hand in hand together and this benefited my experience so much than the first time with one person.They were like pilot and co-pilot, navigating through my boobs and machine- hand signals and all! I will say it was still uncomfortable (I am my mothers daughter!). Whenever your boobs are being squashed like a pancake - a little discomfort is gonna occur! I also had another sonogram of both breasts that day- THAT DIDN'T HURT!

Right before Thanksgiving, I was told that the cyst was benign but had to be watched. I cried in the office. I cried on the way home. I was so happy that my kids wouldn't have to see their mommy sick. So happy that for now, I will be able to watch them grow. To take them to school, the beach, to the park. Given your health, your life...are the best words you can ever hear someone say to you.



If you are of age and haven't done so...please go schedule a mammogram. Ask friends and family where they go and about their experience. Call your doctor. Get a recommendation of where to go- it can make a huge difference.
                                                                                                                                                                    It happens. Breast cancer effects many young woman. Look at Guiliana Rancic. I may not be an E! news correspondent in the public eye- but even if one of you schedule an appointment- I know I could be helping someone. Early detection can save your life.

I will post the update of today's appointment. Wish me luck and please say a prayer for me. Xoxo.

Chopped salad for your Memorial Day BBQ

Happy Memorial Day weekend everyone! If your thinking of what side dishes to make for your BBQ or bring to a BBQ you are going to- try this chopped      salad.

I swear I have never been much of a salad person. Ordering them out is one thing- they are always so much better than at home. My mom makes a great salad too...maybe I just like them better when I'm not making them!  That is until I started trying out different ingredients, mixing lettuces and experimenting with dressings.

I finally found my salad mojo and have to share it with you because its getting rave reviews from the home front and I cant stop eating it! Its so light and refreshing and perfect  for a summer BBQ.

I'm a Trader Joe's girl and find everything for my salads there. You can get everything with the exception of the dressing elsewhere. I buy the wild arugula and butter lettuce and add in tomato, goat cheese (which you can substitute if you dislike it), red seedless grapes, and cucumber. If I eat just the salad as a dinner, I add chicken to it. You can add or omit ingredients you like/dislike. I roll up the lettuce tightly and chop away. That's really all there is to it! The other add ins take a little longer. I have to try a chopper. The salad dressing from Trader Joe's is their Cilantro dressing. Honestly, anything would taste great with that on it! I have no idea why chopping up a salad makes it so much better- but I am eating salad more than I ever have, so who cares! The goat cheese, tomato and cucumber just go so well together and add even more flavor to the peppery arugula mixed with the sweet butter lettuce. If your not a salad person- try this. You don't have to chop it- I just prefer it that way.

The baby beets in the picture above are also from Trader Joe's. They are pre-steamed and peeled and ready to eat cold or hot. I just slice them up cold. They are soooo good as a side dish or chopped up in the salad.

I hope you try it & like it!

Have a great weekend!

What do kids like to eat?

I have two of them and I often find myself asking this question! One day they love something- the next, they don't. The days of me chopping fresh spinach into an egg omelet are long gone. When my kids ate that for breakfast, I felt like they were getting in such a healthy meal and I was so happy for the rest of the day! Now, I am going crazy getting them to eat healthily! If they see green- I may as well be showing them arsenic!

Happy Baby was a sponsor at Bloggy Boot Camp last week and they gave away some samples of their healthy, organic snacks along with some coupons for their kids meals. Max gobbled up the  happyyogis- organic freeze dried yogurt bites! I was so happy to be given an option other than pizza for my kiddies and knew I'd be getting the meals to try.

I went to my local Wild by Nature, an organic market. I knew they would carry Happy Bites-hand held organic meals. I was upset that the chicken bites were unavailable but was willing to give the mac & cheese bites a try along with the veggie tots. Both have hidden veggies which I'm all about. I have to get them in somehow- even if it involves some trickery! I taste-tested them both before giving them to the kids and they were both really good!

Chloe really liked the veggie tots which pleasantly surprised me. They taste like a potato croquette. The mac n cheese bites are yummy as well. Max preferred those over the veggie bites- but he doesn't really like mashed potatoes ( weirdo- I know!) so you cant go by him!

Wild by Nature ordered the chicken bites for us and should be in by the weekend. I will report back on my kid tested, mother approved hand held meal!

If your having the same food issues as I am- and losing your mind...try Happy Bites or some of the other great products Happy Baby has to offer for your baby, toddler or pre-schooler. I hope your lil ones will like them and that you'll have something healthy to add to your menu. Good luck and please let me know how it goes if you try any of the products from Happy Baby.

Colored denim

I'm baaaaaack!

My hiatus wasn't planned- the break was due to a broken keyboard...a la Chloe and Max! 

I am loving all the colors that denim has to offer this season! I have never had a problem spending way too much money on a pair of jeans until these gems came along! Not knowing how long they will be around, I was faced with the challenge of my unwillingness to spend my usual obscene amount on a pair. I passed on last seasons red and blue because of this problem. I was determined with the lighter versions. I went to Gap and tried a pair on...they didn't work out. Gap jeans never have fit me well. I wondered if going in knowing this clouded my decision prematurely so I attempted American Eagle with no luck there as well. The jeans bagged in all the wrong places and didn't fit in all the right.

Desperate for a pair, I ordered a pair of way too much for colored denim J Brand from Piperlime. It was against my will...I folded and I wasn't proud of myself. When they arrived and were tried on, it was love at first sight. They fit so well, were the perfect length...all of my views on overpaying for denim that will more than likely last one season- went out the window. In my mind, I began rationalizing my expensive purchase as I do- to make it OK. It is my birthday, I do need them for my upcoming weekend away, I haven't bought jeans in a while...and to hell with it- they really are cute! Once you go premium denim- there is no going back!

I packed my jeans for my Philadelphia trip. They were a perfect pairing for my slouchy blazer I planned on wearing with them. As much as I loved them, the new found frugal girl in me still wanted to try to find a pair for less. My colored jean mission continued on the streets of Philly. As I entered Zara, I was greeted by a table of colored denim from corals to blues....ahhhh- so pretty! I took in a few different sizes and colors and fell in love all over again in the dressing room. I was pleasantly surprised.They were good- I mean really good. So good in fact that I couldn't decide which color or how many I was going home with! Of course my rational was that I can get three pair for the amount I paid for the J Brand! The fit was amazing.

I did however leave with only one pair- basically the same color or as close as I was going to get to the J Brand. I will be making my way to Zara this week to buy another- or maybe even two!