BARBIE DOLL ARMS

HELLO BLOG READERS, FRIENDS, AND FAMILY...I'm back out of hiding!  Not really...just felt a little unmotivated and uninspired to blog in last few weeks, partly I'm sure with holidays being a little busier even though we kept things pretty simple and enjoyed time with family, including a one-night camping getaway at Silver River State Park about an hour from our home.  We've also found a new family fun night which we call "campfire movie" (don't laugh), where we sit on our small deck out back around a nice fire in our firebowl we love, bring the flat screen tv and dvd player outside and watch a movie favorite under the stars.  So far we've watched The Help, our old favorite The Edge with Anthony Hopkins, and Cowboys and Aliens (mom's least favorite, sorry guys!)  We find the best ones are the outdoor setting movies.  Its fun.    

NY 2011, Our 25th Anniversary

SOOOO, as an update, here's what's been going on in the Burns household.  Tyler, our oldest son is continuing his ministerial licensing classes called DSOM which he loves and he continues to lead the youth worship and manicure his little bonsai trees, a new hobby.  Cayler, started his culinary program today and spent a lot of time over the holidays enjoying mountain biking with Sami and Tyler on the Santos trails near Ocala.  Kenny's keeping up with work, playing a little tennis, as well as transporting me around to appts. and being my constant rock.

AS FAR AS MY HEALTH, unfortunately, Lymphedema is the issue of the day lately.  Despite all the surgeons efforts to avoid it and despite the 75% of women who never get it...I am dealing with some swelling in both upper arms that's not going away easily this time.  We all have a lymphatic system with small lymph nodes and vessels running throughout our bodies alongside our blood circulatory system.  It carries lymphatic fluid throughout which is what aids in repairing damages to our body like when you get a cut or burn, and fighting sickness in general.  It's also the transportation system that carries and spreads cancer cells from one part of your body to the next (metastasis).  During a mastectomy, many lymph nodes in the breasts and arms are removed leaving an interruption in the proper flow of your lymphatic system and in some cases lymphedema, or fluid accumulation in the arms.  Up until now, for me its been only a day here or there occasionally and Kenny would help with massaging up my arms and it would go away and feel better the next day.  THIS week, its hanging around for going on about 5 days now. Nothing real painful, just slightly uncomfortable in respect to what I've learned as my new "normal", but I'm just concerned about it getting worse or becoming MORE of a chronic problem if I don't handle it correctly.  SO...I'm contacting a lymphedema therapist today about my options.


WELL, THE DOORBELL RANG and my new lovely wardrobe addition just arrived...my lymphedema compression sleeves.  HOLY COW!!  I've put these tight banded sleeves on my arms which compress from my wrists to my armpits.  Besides causing me a slight bit of claustrophobia, they are EXTREMELY TIGHT AND UNCOMFORTABLE making my arms and hands ache.  I know I bought the right size and I'm sure they are supposed to be tight to work that fluid up the arms, but let me say again...HOLY COW!!  I didn't envision them being this tight.  No wonder they say so many women end up throwing them in a drawer and only wear them when they fly.  GEESH!  We were laughing the other day when Kenny said my bald head and make-up'd face looked like a barbie doll head where the kid has pulled all the hair out.  NOW, I HAVE BARBIE DOLL ARMS TOO WITH THESE FLESH COLORED SLEEVES MAKING MY ARMS LOOK PLASTIC AND HARD.  Another chapter in the saga, I guess Continuing to pray God will take this lymphedema away all together, but I know His ways are not always our ways.  

Thank you to many of you who have reached out to check on me and my family and for the many, new people each week who tell me they are praying for us, everyday even.  Its quite humbling and I feel undeserving of such commitment, but I know its God's arms extended..."GOD WITH FLESH", our friend use to say.  So I thank you.