Summer Daze

It's been a rather slow week here in the Hinman house. I am not complaining about this, since things are about to ramp up very soon. Next week we have several doctors appointments (including a pediatric dentist to deal with Stella and her thumb sucking...I'm sure that appointment will be joyful...), get togethers and so on. The public schools here have their first day of school on August 4. Holy crap, right?!?!? Yes, that seems early to me, even by Georgia standards. Luckily, my guys don't start until August 18, which gives us a few more weeks of summer! I feel like we've (mostly) made good use of this time off, between travelling, playing at the pool and park, and some good old fashioned time running around in the backyard. It's been a little more difficult to play in the yard the past week as it's stormed almost every afternoon.

Stella has been moved up to another level of swimming - we are so proud of her! She has really taken to the water, which is not surprising given that Steve swam competitively in high school and I was a lifeguard for most of my high school summers. And no, I don't particularly enjoy swimming for exercise (<--- such a dirty little word), I do enjoying treading water and soaking up some sun. Anyway, Stella has become quite the little fish and it's fun to watch her take such interest in it. That's also good, because I'm really not sure soccer is going to be her sport...

I'm also happy to tell you that Simon has really done well with the whole potty training event. I refer to potty training as an event because it does, in fact, take over your life. Be jealous of the delightful conversations Steve and I now have regarding the toilet, poop and so on ;). Simon is also really into riding his bike, which, incidentally, is Stella's old pink tricycle. Thankfully he doesn't seem to mind the color.

So, that's our life right now in a nutshell. The calm before the storm that is back to school, schedules and setting the alarm clock. It'll be here before we know it. YIKES!!!

Weather Geek

It's storming here, and given that the power is flickering, I think I'm on borrowed time with this blog update. So, should this little ditty appear unfinished, you know why! Hopefully my house will not be on fire simultaneously, but who really knows.

We spent a wonderful 4th of July in South Carolina with the Hinman side of the family. Hurricane Arthur paid a small visit, but thankfully we were driving to South Carolina the whole time he was letting loose. We made it just in time to take a late afternoon stroll on the beach and watch the fascinating clouds left behind. My children have become quite the little beach rats (yay, no complaints there!) so we spent the majority of the time soaking up some sand (or gallons of it in Simon's case) and surf. I'd like to say sun, but it didn't completely cooperate. Steve also managed to snap one of the boogie boards completely in half in the wild (it was pretty rough) surf. Have you ever seen that happen? I certainly haven't - it was pretty dramatic! Luckily he was fine and we all had a good laugh over it.

We've spent most of this week getting back into our groove. Lots of laundry, picking up and general errand running. I had treatment yesterday, not really much to report there. I do get a little tired of the looks I get sometimes in the chemo lounge. I'm not sure if it's because I'm significantly younger than everyone there or that I look completely healthy or maybe both. Oh, and I have also achieved VIP status with the nurses in the chemo lounge, which is awesome! But, as someone who has spent two and a half years there, it's nice to feel loved ;) and appreciated. Also, my darling children were fighting so loudly over a plastic stethoscope (we love all things medical up in this hizzy) on Wednesday, that I turned on the vacuum so I couldn't hear them. Isn't angry cleaning the best kind? I feel like it's so much more efficient and therapeutic!

Stella just informed me she turned on the lights. I looked up from typing and realized that's it dark outside... at 5pm. So, I'm going to sign off here and check the weather (as if it's not obvious it's going to do something dramatic outside). Pretty sure I'm right in the fact that this storm is escalating in the wrong direction. Batten down the hatches people, I think we're about to get quite the southern summer storm. I hope this mess clears out before the supermoon event tonight. Total weather geek, at your service!!

Pink & Ink

It's been an exciting day for me! Literally two years to the day (minus one), I am finished with surgeries and reconstruction!! This morning I had the "tata's tatted up". (Had to quote a dear friend on that little phrase!).   I may have to do a little touch up in a few months, but that's it! The tattooing itself was easy and very fast. I have a tattoo (for shame, says my mother), so I knew what to expect for the most part. I will say it was quite strange having "the gals" tattooed. I really have no sensation there, but could still feel the vibration from the needle, if that makes any sense? The clinician warned me that they would look terrible for a month or so (always neat to hear those words during a medical procedure) but that eventually (because all I have is time, people...) I should look great. Apparently she looked at my before photos and thinks that her ink will be a close match. That's cool, although I guess I just don't really care all that much? Steve was hoping I'd get something "awesome" for my tattoos, but, well, I do have to look at myself everyday and I'm not sure artwork, cartoons, symbols or otherwise are exactly what I'm going for in that area :).

In other news, I ripped off the proverbial band aid over the weekend and started potty training Simon. Really, is there anything a parent of a toddler dreads/ avoids more? I freely admit that I waited WAY too long with Stella, but I get to play the Cancer Card on that one. Plus, she is possibly the most stubborn child I have ever met, so there's that. Anyway, I am proud to say that Simon has done awesome!! For a temperamental, grumpy and opinionated guy that he can be, he has taken to potty training remarkably well. Fingers crossed it continues! I will share that potty training a boy is an adventure in accuracy. We'll just leave it at that!

I am happy to tell you that I have officially started my training for the Tour de Pink! FINALLY. I am on week two and I *think* things are going well. Who really knows, but I'm dragging my lazy butt onto the bike almost every day. I hope I can keep it up! We're headed to the Hinman Family Compound for the holiday weekend (yay for family and beach time!) and my goal is to get in at least one ride there. It's the perfect place to ride a bike and completely flat!! Happy 4th everyone!

Bits & Pieces

It's been awhile since I've updated! We've been busy getting our summer on and just returned from a trip up to Virginia to see my parents and their new home. We had a great time visiting and my parents have a beautiful new house! Their new community has an absolutely amazing pool (complete with a pirate ship that shoots all sorts of water sprayers) and we were lucky enough to play there almost every day. The kids were excellent in the car and had a blast playing with cousins and new friends! I do wish I had time to catch up with everyone while home. I'm sorry if I missed you this trip and hopefully we can connect the next time I'm home!


My ear infection has finally cleared up and I'm feeling good these days. I am excited to tell you that a few weeks ago I purchased my bike for the Tour de Pink. You might be curious as to how my training is going. I'll be sure to let you know as soon as I start...


Steve and I celebrated 8 years of wedded bliss (well, maybe I should say 8 years of adventures in chaos) on June 17. It's amazing how fast time is flying by. A house that needs constant attention, two kids, two dogs and several cars later, we're better than ever and looking forward to what the next 8 years will bring. I just had the most horrifying thought - in another 8 years, Stella will be 12 and Simon will be 10. We won't mention the ages of Steve and I at that point because I am not physically able to say that number. Yikes...


I had treatment yesterday and have my 3 month check-up with the oncologist on July 10. Fingers crossed that all is well. I am assuming this is the case, as I'm feeling fine. I am probably due for a PET scan at some point, but I won't know until I see my doctor.


Murphy just stole an entire bag of snack size M&M's and came tearing into the office. I guess it was the magic elves who left the pantry door open. AGAIN. She ate another one of Steve's leather shoes last night. I'm off on an M&M rescue and recovery (yeah, right) mission. Try not to be envious of my glamorous life...

Rekindled Romance

Yesterday I decided that I just couldn't take it anymore. After 9 days of not being able to hear out of my right ear at all and waking up with my left ear hurting, enough was enough. I was very hesitant to go to the doctor after my experience with Dr. DB last week. I really thought maybe I was making myself crazy. So, rather than call up Dr. DB to get an appointment (which is probably what I should have done, but I'm seriously done with him), I went to the urgent care affiliated with my hospital, which is close to where we live. I'm so glad I went. The doctor (who, by the way, was once of the nicest men I have ever met) took one look at my ear and said, "Damn, no wonder you feel bad!". Instant gratification right there, people. He said my ears were full of fluid and that my ear drum was bulging. The doc said that would explain why I can't hear out of my right ear. He prescribed more prednisone (yay) and an antibiotic. Woohoo, I'm rekindling my romance with steroids! This marks my fourth round of prednisone in three months, which isn't cool, but if it will help restore my hearing, I'm willing to do just about anything. It seems as though along with killing my cancer, chemo also killed any resistance I had to the allergens here in Atlanta. Neat, huh?


I just wanted to update, it's been a rough two weeks. Feeling lousy doesn't do much for my positive state of mind. I'm optimistic that the drugs will kick in soon and I can get on with enjoying my summer!

The Breakup

You know it was bound to happen at some point. All good things must come to an end. I've been absolutely spoiled by my wonderful medical team. Well, that fantasy world came to a screeching halt last Wednesday afternoon. While vacationing in the mountains for Memorial Day weekend, my allergies fired themselves up something fierce. By Tuesday I felt downright terrible and when I woke up on Wednesday I decided a trip to the doctor was in order. My ENT had told me that if I started having trouble with my sinuses again to see him first. I called and was able to schedule an appointment with him that afternoon. That morning, my ear had also started to throb and then became blocked so everything sounded muffled. That was definitely a new symptom, I rarely have trouble with my ears.


Have you ever felt so awful that you just cried? That's how bad I felt by the time I got to the doctor's office. Needless to say, when he walked in, I had tears running down my face even though I was trying to hold it together since the kids were with me. His first words to me were: "why are you crying?", not hello, how are you, sounds like you're feeling bad. And he didn't say it nicely, he said, "why are you crying" like I was some sort of moron for even being there. So, yes, the visit was already off to a bad start. So, I replied like any emotionally exhausted female would and said, "I just feel terrible, I'm in so much pain". Dr. DoucheBag (which is how I shall now refer to him) replied by saying, "well, ear pain shouldn't be enough to make you cry". At this point I just stared at him, at a loss for words (shocking, I know). He went on to say that we've gone over several times about this ear pain - I stopped him at that point and I said that I had never complained of ear pain to him. That shut him up for about 2 seconds before he continued on about how ear pain really isn't that bad. Oh okay, then I guess I can go ahead a register at the funny farm because I'm surely making all of this up. ASS! I so, so, so wish I'd been in the state of mind to make a really sarcastic comeback, but I was barely functioning at that point. What I should have said was, "Oh, right. See, here's the thing. I've birthed two children, had several major surgeries AND been hit by my own car where I was knocked unconscious and broke a few bones. We won't even mention the dislocated fingers. And you know what? I didn't cry during ANY of that. So don't tell me what pain is you FREAKING JERK!!!".


Wow, guess I'm still a little pissed. Anyway, Dr. DB concluded the visit by telling me that there was nothing wrong. I couldn't believe that given how bad a felt, that there was nothing seriously wrong. He must have felt slightly sorry for me, because he did give me a steroid/ vitamin B12 shot to help with the immediate symptoms. Nothing like a shot in the butt to round out my feeling of complete mortification. I will be breaking with up with Dr. DB. Here's to hoping I don't need an ENT anytime in the near future...


We had a wonderful trip to the Georgia Blue Ridge mountains. The weather mostly cooperated and we all have a great time. Some highlights from the trip included gem stone mining (very fun if you've never done that, the kids loved it!), dads and kids fishing, moms relaxing in the rocking chairs on the back deck overlooking the mountains and plenty of champagne to accompany us. We're looking forward to the next time we can head to the mountains!

Travelling Circus

Our trip to Sandestin was wonderful! Steve and I had a great time filled with sunsets, bonfires on the beach, good friends and of course, plenty of free flowing booze :). If you've never been to the Florida Panhandle (or Redneck Riviera as it's sometimes referred to), you are missing something special. The gulf coast is gorgeous and will not disappoint.


Coming back to reality has been a cold, hard smack in the face this week. It's been a double whammy because the kids finished up with school last week, so they've been home with me. ALL DAY, EVERYDAY. I am exhausted. Several times yesterday I found myself questioning how I had two kids home all the time while on chemo. Clearly if I can survive chemo with a newborn and a toddler, I can make it through this summer. But if this week is any indication, it's going to be a L-O-N-G summer. Not that I'm complaining (at least, not loudly), I love having them with me and we do have lots of fun. Now that Simon is mostly talking in sentences and Stella speaks with the mouth of a 25 year old, it's never quiet. I no longer have any personal thoughts because I am unable to turn off the endless chatter. Don't get me wrong, I love hearing both kids talk and laugh (but not scream, which they really seem to love doing) but it's not quiet. EVER. Luckily, we have lots of fun things to look forward to including trips to Virginia and South Carolina, swimming lessons and lots of pool time!


Thankfully, we are departing reality tomorrow. I'm not sure what I'll do when we're in town for longer than a week or two. We're heading to the North Georgia Mountains for some R & R with some good friends. We've rented a cabin and are looking forward to relaxing and being outdoors. Bring on the campfire, s'mores and wine!


I met with my plastic surgeon yesterday and was cleared for my last procedure, yay!!!! The last step is getting my tattoos (I had nipple reconstruction in April, then they tattoo the areolas - it's amazing how realistic they look). My tatt date is scheduled for July 1, which I find to be an incredibly ironic date. July 2 of 2012 was my first surgery and two years to the damn day, I will finally be finished with all of the reconstruction. I'll toast to that!!