Jammie's Journey

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Here we are…

Pray when you feel like worrying. Give thanks when you feel like complaining. Keep going when you feel like quitting.

Dave Willis

Here we go.

Dear Friends and Family,

Life has been a crazy roller coaster the last few months and there’s no easy way to say it…but on October 31, I was diagnosed with lung cancer (non-small cell). I have a 33 mm mass on my right lung, it’s on a lymph node and a few other small spots on my lungs… and there’s a tumor on my T8 vertebrae (the cause of most of my pain) so it’s considered Stage 4.

Stage 4. It sounds scary to be honest… however, it’s nothing but a meaningless number as far as I’m concerned. We CAN AND WILL blast this $#%! back to the infernos whether it’s stage 1-2-3 or 4…ALL the same!!

Now for some AWESOME news … additional testing (PET scan and brain MRI about two weeks ago) reported that it has NOT spread to other major organs. I’m truly and extremely thankful to God for those answered prayers!

Yet, honestly it still feels like a kick in the gut… I feel obligated to say that I’ve never smoked in my life and I’m still shocked. But we are dealing with it the best we can, trying to stay positive and counting our blessings. I have lots of blessings. First, it’s me and not my kids. I’ll take this burden 24/7 days a week 1,000 times over. And second, I have treatment options and TIME, a luxury and a blessing that some tragically never get (thinking of those suddenly lost to accidents, who never get to say goodbye). So truly, there is so much to be thankful for.

Thanks to Amber & Mike, my sweet neighbors and friends for the awesome ornament. Xo

THE PLAN – I started chemo on Monday, and I’m sincerely optimistic about the incredible treatment plan my doctor put together. It’s a powerful combination of two different kinds of chemotherapy, an immunotherapy, an autoimmunotherapy… and radiation as a back up. It’s an aggressive plan – she consulted with her mentor in Houston who is one of the leading lung cancer specialists in the US. I feel really blessed to have this level of care.

I’ll have chemo (5-6 hour infusion) once every 21 days, with 4-6 rounds depending on how it goes. If the chemo works to shrink the tumor on my vertebrae they may not have to do radiation at all.

Thanks Padgetts for the super soft inspirational Sherpa blankey … and to Mom and Shel for the comfy new outfit for my first chemo.

This week has been an epic battle with fatigue, one I have not won. I feel beyond tired. But so far I’ve been able to hold the nausea and other chemo side effects at bay for the most part, which is great. Back and chest pain have been my biggest physical challenges. I’m on some hefty painkillers … they make it hard to function. Hopefully those symptoms start to ease up as the chemo treatments progress. I’m super hopeful for that.

It’s been a REALLY long couple weeks/months waiting on all these tests, insurance approvals, more tests, biopsies, additional tests and lining out the treatment plan. And the holiday week did slow things down.

But I’m honestly sooooo grateful and happy to FINALLY get started on the fight!! I’m going to get through this… it may be a tough road ahead but I’m / we’re (FAMILY / TRIBE POWERED) much, much tougher!

More good news – I plan to live to be 85…so I’m not going anywhere. What I really need and would appreciate is if you could please we pray for us, especially my BOYS…we need your prayers and positive, healing thoughts and and good vibes only!! NEVER DOUBT even once that I’m going to get through this!! Xoxo

Sorry to share such news. This cancer is NO FUN, scary stuff BUT I’m a super tough Mama Bear with the love and strength of my friends and family and prayers to God behind me. I have way too much to do to let this slow me down for long.

I can’t thank my family and friends enough for EVERYTHING.

Brad. I can’t even say your name without tearing up. You are my rock, even when you feel like crumbling. Through every doctor’s appointment, every sleepless night, and the occasional meltdowns… when the minutes linger like hours and heavy as a stone, together we bear this weight as we wait and we will get through this as we’ve done everything for the last 20 years…together.

Mom and Michelle. Two parts of the Italian Triangle. Triangles are the strongest form, three equal foundations of support holding strong for each other. There’s a reason why my favorite number has always been three. Thank you for being there for me in every single way.

My boys. My reason. Why I fully plan on living to be 85, thank-you-very-much. My biggest concern through all of this. Please know, my friends & family, that we appreciate your love and support … Keith and Kennan will reach out if and when they want to talk. That said, they don’t seem to want to talk about it much right now, and for now, that’s perfectly ok. They are my world and I know they love me and are deeply worried. Brad and I will continue to help them process this as they are ready. For now, please keep them in your thoughts and prayers and help us keep things as normal as possible for them.

Beloved family and friends (who have become like family) who have been checking in on me with love and concern. From the simple texts that mean so much, to cards, letters and phone calls to bringing food, care packages, and sending flowers…sharing the burden and lightening the emotional load. You are a true blessing.

Angela has me covered with compression socks and a port pillow, so thoughtful.

Amazing friends Lisa & Rita – thanks for extending your superpowers!! ❤

Sunshine Bear keeping me company at chemo…one of the awesome sunshiny gifts from my Mom Squad care package thanks to Kati, Kelli, Candace & Krystal.

These handsome guys keeping watch over me during my infusions. Xoxo

My Aunt Tiny who’s been pitching in to help us keep up the house and laundry through this stressful time, what a generous heart and soul she is. My cousin Gary and Rachel who helped put up our Christmas decorations so we could have some Christmas cheer. Dad/Dee and fam with daily check ins even if it’s just to hear, “no news.” Work-family who have been supportive as I’ve gone to doctor’s appointments and muddled through the past few weeks, more than a bit overwhelmed.

I truly have so much to be thankful for. I’m completely humbled by the love and support of all of the awesome people in my life. xoxo

Sincere thanks, love and blessings to you all, always! xoxo

Take care & love,
Jammie

One Day at a Time…or so they say …

Update

Well friends, it’s been a rough week. I went in for a hip surgery last Wednesday expecting to get out the next day or two and I’m still in the hospital, waiting to be discharged.

The reason for my hip surgery is that the cancer has spread to my femur and hip and severely weakened it, so my oncologist wanted to have a metal rod implanted to prevent any further damage or catastrophe from walking around on a wrecked hip. I thought it would be an overnight or two stay but here I am a week later battling ongoing issues such as a high heart rate, low hemoglobin and other issues including blood clots in my ankle and lungs. It’s been scary and no fun but we’re taking it day by day, sometimes hour by hour.

The boys are doing ok. We are missing each other for sure but Brad and mom and Michelle are doing a great job holding them up.

Hopefully by Thursday or Friday I will be in a better place and get to go home.

I appreciate your prayers and well wishes… for myself and the family.

Mixed news…

Hello friends & family, I hope this finds you all doing well … happy & healthy!! I have not updated in a long time, my apologies… we’ve had a lot going on!

As a reminder, I started a clinical study trial drug last November, and had great preliminary results, up to a 40% reduction in the spots on my lungs as of last December.

The clinical trial treatments continue and I’m still having positive results with spots on my lungs….but unfortunately, the cancer has spread to several other areas of my body, including small spots on my brain, liver, spine and hip.

I recently received radiation and microablation (like radiation) on my liver and brain…I just found out last Friday about the spots on my spine and hip…so hopefully we can get those treatments lined up ASAP.

Luckily the spots are small, and my oncologist said dealing with these spots is like plucking weeds out of a garden. Just something we have to do.

Hopefully we can get the spinal and hip radiation lined up ASAP because honestly, the pain is overwhelming.

Any positive thoughts, prayers, good vibes you can send for successful radiation treatment and pain relief would be most appreciated!

We’re hanging in there and as always I’m super grateful for my family who give me so much love and support. Brad, my mom, Michelle and the rest of my amazing family have been my rocks in this difficult time.

Thank you to everyone who has sent cards, well wishes, and texts, etc., etc. to check in on me. I am not always the best at expressing my gratitude but please know how much it means to me that you continue to keep me in your thoughts and prayers!

Take care everyone and keep your chin up…

Love & blessings to you always,

Jammie

Super Happy News

I’m excited to report that my oncologist says my main tumor has shrunk approximately 40%! FORTY PERCENT! Wow. These are preliminary results and I should get a more in-depth report soon. But again. 40%!!!? ❤️🙏😭

Truly amazing news considering we are only in approximately the 7th week of treatment!

I’m truly thankful to God, and this news gives me great hope for the future. Thank you so much for your thoughts and prayers… your support has meant so much to me over the past year!

Please join me in a prayer of gratitude AND the happiest of happy dances!! Xo

Long Time, No Blog

Dear Friends and Family,

I know this is a long update…so if you are looking for the Cliff Notes version, here you go:

I’m doing OK, I’m on new (experimental) meds, and I’m getting CT/Chest and MRI/Brain scans TODAY (Thursday, December 10), so please pray! Hoping to get results back within the next week…

😊 As for the longer version…

It feels like forever since I updated my blog. When Covid-19 hit last March, I pulled back from writing and posting. I figured everyone had enough to deal with scrounging for TP and dodging human contact… so I’d just wait to post again until this “Corona thing” passed over.

Little did I know that the weeks would turn into months and the months would stretch toward a year. So much has happened … to all of us, I’m sure. What a crazy year it’s been.

To give you an update on my health …

First and foremost, I get scans today, on Thursday, December 10. I’d humbly appreciate your prayers and any good vibes sent my way for positive results!

I’ve been on a clinical trial at UC Health for the last several months and I’m super excited and anxious to find out how the new treatment is working!

So what is this clinical trial stuff all about? It’s kind of a long story….but basically, I’m a guniea pig!

I’m part of a test group taking a new drug…hopefully one that will not only work for me, but for many others in the future!

Why am I doing it?!? As a reminder, things seemed to be going well as of last February when scans showed that all of my tumors and spots were shrinking. Unfortunately, in June I starting having back pain again and in July, scans found the cancer had started growing again.

My oncologist decided the best course of action was to seek out a clinical trial …but in the meanwhile, while I underwent testing and waited to get approved, I went back on the “big guns” for a month (hence my hair loss), and also underwent radiation for spots on my spine and a new small spot they found on my brain.

According to my radiologist, the treatment did its job to zap the spot in my brain…and my back pain did get slightly better, so that was considered a success. Between us, radiation is NO JOKE, from having a full face-mold made to after effects including severe sore throat and heartburn from hell…but that’s a story for another day, I’m just glad that’s over.

After a loooong summer of waiting (and if you’re from Colorado, you know we were already living through a foreboding, char-skied, ashy and total funky summer) I was finally accepted into the clinical trial! Yay! Yay! Finally good news!!

I find it super amazing that a matching trial was open for me AND so close, tat the University of Colorado Hospital, in Aurora. The stars aligned for me on that one, all praise and thanks to God and to the collaboration of my radiologist, Dr. King and my oncologists Dr. Swink and Dr. Patil for making it happen.

As it turns out I have a unique cancer mutation. The chemo I was previously on did not work effectively on my cancer cells because the shape of the medicine, on a molecular level, did not match my cancer’s uniquely mutated receptors. The medication I’m taking now as part of the trial is genetically engineered and shaped to enter my cancer cell’s receptors more successfully. It’s both easy and mind-blowingly complicated to understand.

It’s been a journey…for six weeks Brad and I drove to Denver for weekly appointments that consisted of a full day (6:45am-8:30pm) of hourly blood and EKG tests followed by a short office visit the next day. We’d leave Grand Junction Wednesday afternoon and head back Friday late morning. I’m super thankful to my mom for taking care of the boys while we went through that.

Going forward, we still have to go to Denver, but just once every three weeks, and we’ll be gone just one night. It feels like a piece of cake in comparison!

And today…SCANS! The day we have been waiting for.

I truly appreciate you keeping me in your prayers as we hope and pray for good news. We should get results in about a week from today and I’ll keep you posted.

So what ELSE has been going on? We’ve been plenty busy…

Well, during a global pandemic, instead of hunkering down, we decided to pack up and sell our home of nearly 16 years and move to a bigger house just a mile north. Thank goodness we did…because further down the road, Brad was blessed with an exciting new job opportunity with Xcel Energy. The kicker is that it requires him to work from home (until Covid-19 blows over) so thank goodness for a little extra space! Between Brad working from home and the kids also doing remote learning on and off … we’d have been pretty cramped in the old house.

In other news, Keifer got his driver’s license in July. It is both exciting yet nerve-wracking being the mom of a new driver! He’s driving his Great-Grandpa Keith’s old truck, so that’s kinda special. This year he chose to forego football and wrestling and just focus on baseball and he’s looking at getting a job after winter semester is over. He is saving for his upcoming school trip to Costa Rica, hopefully still happening next March. (Please go away, Covid!!) He’s doing 100% remote learning which is rough on such a social kiddo…but he’s hanging in there. He misses First Pres youth group and Young Life…and can’t wait for life to get started again.

How I still see them when they drive off…

Kennan started middle school and got accepted into the Challenge Program at East Middle School…we are so proud of him! It’s definitely more work than he’s used to but he’s doing OK. He enjoyed almost a full season of football with the Grand Valley Rebels (thanks to Coach Webber and our other awesome coaches) until Covid finally shut us down just before our last big tournament. Bummer but better to have most of a season than none! He also shot his first buck this fall, and donated half of the harvest to “Farmers & Hunters Feeding the Hungry.” A very proud moment for Dad and Kennan alike!

Kennan was featured on the National FHFH Facebook page! Click here!!

Brad is settling into his new job like a champ. He’s going to do so well. I’m so proud of him and feel lucky to have such an incredible life partner. He holds me together in these rough times and reassures me that there truly is light at the end of the tunnel. Thank God for him, my mom and my sister. They are all my rocks.

And the best news yet…my sister and her family moved home from Florida and are here to stay. This makes my heart ABUNDANTLY happy. Words can’t even describe it…

2020 has had its challenges, but in so many ways, it has been a year full of blessings for our family.

So, I apologize for falling off the blog-spere for so long, but it’s been a busy year. Moving, settling into a new house, keeping up with the kids, catching up with my sister…not to mention meds that make me feel like Sleepy Dwarf. Thank you for your understanding.

I hope you are all doing GREAT and I sincerely thank each and every one for your ongoing kindness and well wishes.

If we don’t cross paths before… I wish you the Merriest Christmas and a New Year full of love and laughter!!

Be kind to each other, be kind to yourself!!

Love always,

Jammie

P.S. A special shout out to my mom, Sylvia for holding down the fort during our hard weeks and for always being there for me when my spirit needs a lift or my butt needs a kick. And yes, she is The Dog Whisperer!! They all like her best. She swears it’s not all about the doggie treats…

Progress report!

Dear Friends and Family,

I hope all is well and you’re enjoying these slightly longer days! It’s still chilly, but I can feel it…spring is on its way!

Great news – my back pain has improved so much recently that my oncology team decided to forego the radiation they had planned this week targeting the tumor on my T8 vertebrae. The goal of this radiation was pain relief- which they originally hoped would be solved via chemo. So the original plan is actually working and back on track! Yay!

In lieu of radiation, I jumped back into infusions on Monday (including two types of chemo, an immunotherapy and an autoimmune therapy).

This was four of six rounds…which means I’m officially OVER the hump.

I pretty much slept through the seven-hour infusion on Monday as the cocktail also includes a hefty dose of Benadryl that knocks me out. Thankfully it also includes several days of anti-nausea meds, so today I’m feeling tired but decent … OK, a bit exhausted but not nauseous, still a good thing.

More GOOD NEWS – I went almost eight hours today without taking any major pain meds for my back. A small miracle! The last hour or so stretched my limits; it hurt and I MAY have been getting a little grumpy. But I wanted to see how long I could go, and eight hours vs. four is a great improvement.

So good stuff! Not perfection, but progress…and like these chilly BUT slightly longer days, I’ll take it. 😉

Just 29 days til spring…but who’s counting??!?

Love and Blessings Always,
Jammie

P.S. My list of friends, family and blessings to be thankful for continues to grow. I’d like to expand on that in my next blog. But for now, the pain meds are kicking in so I’m heading to bed. Goodnight all! Zzz

Puppies & prayers …

Great news… ❤️

Results from my CT are in. I met with my oncologist this morning and she reports that the big spot on my lung has shrunk by several millimeters (it started out at 33mm). ❤️🙏

Also, several smaller nodules in my lung have started to shrink, along with the spot on my lymph node. Unfortunately, they did find an additional spot on my sternum they didn’t detect before (the probable cause of my chest pain) but she said it’s also responding favorably to chemo.

The spot on my vertebrae actually measured bigger, but she said it’s likely scar tissue from healing. I have a strong feeling my back is responding favorably to the chemo because my back feels so much better this week. Something is going right, I can feel it!

Looks like I ended on Track B (see previous blog). No sharks, just fuzzy puppies and warm blankets.

Celebrating with pics of Jovi’s pups from last spring…

Puppy pics are like potato chips…can you REALLY stop with just one??

Ok, last puppy pic. I love puppies, what can I say??

In fact I did go home after my appointment and immediately crash on my couch with my two fur babies and a comfy blanket. I set my timer for 20 minutes but woke up almost two hours later from a deep and peaceful nap. My mind and body were completely exhausted from the long wait this week.

Lots to be thankful for!! ❤️🙏

So what’s next?

My oncologist is going to consult again with my radiologist to see if they still want to go forward with radiation next week or go straight back into chemo.

The main goal for radiation was pain management. Her initial hope was that my back would respond well to chemo and we could avoid radiation.

So, again she’s going to consult with the radiologist and get back to me ASAP on the plan for next week. I may not know until Monday morning at 9 AM what the plan will be for the upcoming weeks.

I’m OK with this unknown. In fact I really appreciate that my doctor wants to consult with other professionals before going forward with a plan. That’s the kind of collaboration we need!

I’m so happy and grateful for this news.

Prayers and positive thoughts answered. ❤️

This is just one more step on a long journey… but I’m feeling really positive!

Again, I want to thank my mom and Brad for being with me at every appointment. You are my rocks! And thanks to friends and family for the ongoing love, prayer and positive thoughts. Your support and encouragement throughout this journey have been priceless. ❤️

Thanks again and have a fabulous weekend, everyone!

Love & Blessings Always,

Jammie ❤️😘

My special bracelets… the smaller one is from my sister-in-law Amy; the bigger one I got from Joan, Brad’s mom after she passed. She remains so very special to me. When I looked down the messages that caught my eye were keep calm and don’t worry. Very wise, that Grammy Jo.

And We Wait…

Dear Friends & Fam,

I hope everyone is doing great!!

Just a quick update – I had a CT Scan on Monday and I’m waiting to get the results back on Friday at a follow up appointment with my oncologist. This is the news we’ve been waiting for. Is the chemo working?

Having to wait a full week for news like this feels a little like riding a roller coaster that will either dump me out at the end of Track A – into a deep, dark pool of hungry shark infested waters, or Track B – into a pile of warm blankets surrounded by cute, fuzzy puppies. Yea, that may be a little dramatic but that’s how I feel.

In all reality, there is probably a Track C somewhere in the middle, but my imagination is taking me to extremes as I wait it out this week.

In other news, I start radiation on Monday, with ten days of treatments total. I’ve heard mixed reviews on how radiation affects people. My doctor says it should make me feel tired, and that’s about it.

But I have a few friends who’ve been through it and they say it’s no cake walk. Again, riding that roller coaster and not knowing what to expect… wheee!!

The key to getting through this week is to stay in the moment… don’t think about the news I may or may not get on Friday or what radiation will bring on Monday.

Can I speed up time? No. Can I change the results, whatever they may be? No. There is nothing I can do but worry… so let it go.

What I can do is focus on the good. My back pain is starting to let up and it’s amazing to not be in constant pain. That has to be a good sign for how my treatments are working! That makes it a great day!

I’ll deal with Friday on Friday, and Monday on Monday and when my mind starts to swim with the sharks, redirect it to prayers and puppies!

Have a great Wednesday everyone… I‘ll check in again this weekend. In the meantime, please send up prayers and good vibes for positive news! Thank you so much! Xoxo

Love & Blessings Always,

Jammie

Third Round Down!

Dear Friends & Fam,

I hope everyone is doing great and staying warm! My apologies for not checking in sooner… I do have some news to report…

My third round of chemo went smooth last Monday…the staff at St. Mary’s Cancer Center is so kind and the volunteers are awesome. I was also super lucky this time around to have my sister Michelle here from Florida watching over me. Six hours in the chair goes by fast when you’re napping under the vigilance of your big sister. 😇🥰😴

Since Monday, I’ve been extremely tired…but doing OK otherwise. No nausea to report (yay!!) but back pain (from the tumor on my T8 vertebrae) is still nagging at me, unfortunately…still making it difficult to get a good night’s sleep. 😒 Luckily I’ve trained for this (TWICE!) having babies keep me up all through the night. Babies were much more fun. ❤️😇

Aww, speaking of my bald little babies… ❤️😍

I have no news to report (yet) on how well chemo is working, but since I’ve been tolerating it fairly well, my doctor wants me to go all six rounds. Since I’ve done three already, that means I’m halfway done (more yay!!).

A scan is scheduled for the first week in February and we’re hoping and praying for positive news! Heartfelt thanks to those who have joined in the prayers and in sending out positive thoughts. Please keep them coming! 🙏❤️👍

Believe in the power of prayer and positive energy❣️❣️

In other news, I start radiation soon to target the tumor on my vertebrae; it’s being scheduled now. The plan is to undergo radiation ten days. Five days on, weekend, five more days. Let’s blast this tumor back to the infernos! I’m anxious to alleviate the back pain, and the doc is confident radiation will help, so let’s go!

As always, I’m so appreciative of all the love I’ve been receiving. Get well cards, letters and special packages… I’m truly grateful. For once the mailman is delivering something besides a load of bills and junk-mail and I look forward to getting the mail! 😆 If I haven’t touched base personally yet, I apologize…you’re on my list and definitely in my heart. ❤️📝

I’m grateful for little miracles. I’ve connected/reconnected with distant family, old friends, strengthened existing relationships, and even been blessed by complete strangers. A lot of good has come out of this difficult situation. Thanks to ALL for your love and concern and for making the journey so much more bearable, just by caring!

I have to mention my very special surprise visitor from Texas… one of my best friends from high school, Jen stopped in to see me. Loved seeing your face, sweet friend. ❤️❤️❤️ Xo

Thanks again to my sister Michelle for coming from Florida to spend the week with me and help out while Brad was out of town for work a few days. Such precious time. Thanks for everything, Sissy. I love you so much.

I hope everyone has an excellent weekend, stay warm and take care! Xoxo

Love & blessings always,
Jammie

This quote is relevant to us ALL – we all have our battles to fight…keep going!

Cheers to a BALD… I mean BOLD New Year!

Happiest (belated) New Year Wishes! I hope everyone had the most amazing holidays!

Despite everything going on (or maybe because of it) I had the best Christmas ever. I felt like we were wrapped in a magical bubble of happiness. Maybe it’s a result of not taking even the smallest joys for granted.

Ringing in the new year! Poor Kennan got Flu virus B…they put the rest of us on Tamiflu as a preventative and luckily I’m holding strong against the flu. And I’m happy to report he’s feeling pretty much all better now!

Kennan’s New Year’s Day vitamin C cocktail!

Happy 20th Anniversary dinner at WW Peppers. ❤️😍

On the treatment front – I had infusions on Monday the 30th and everything went smooth…just battling the exhaustion (and lack of focus) all week long, but otherwise, I’m doing OK.

Other symptoms include mild nausea, occasional headache (nothing too serious), and mouth sores….but at that rate, I’m really stretching for things to complain about!

Thanks to Dominic and Kim from
IQU for the awesome chemo day tote bag!! 😆👍

So what’s ahead for treatments?

I have labs and a checkup scheduled with my oncologist at the end of January. We will have more news to report at that time regarding how the cancer and my body is responding to chemo. It’s so hard to be patient but we have to give the meds time to do their work.

SO FAR, it’s a combination of waiting… and full steam ahead into 2020.

2020. Are you ready for a NEW Year, a NEW decade? I know I am.

2019 was the most challenging year of my life. I’m beyond ready to move forward…

On that note, I wish everyone an amazing and BALD… I mean BOLD New Year!

Did my hair fall out or did I shave it off?

The answer is YES.

I started losing my hair just two weeks into the first round of chemo…which means this chemo is powerful stuff and it’s DOING ITS JOB!!

If that means I lose my hair, so be it. Take it.

Every time I brushed my hair, big wads came out in my brush, and just kept coming. I was constantly shedding, and it got even worse when I shampooed.

That’s after one shower. It was too depressing to keep dealing with that BS. At that point..it had to go bye-bye-bye.

My goal was to keep my hair through Christmas so I could get some decent pictures. Luckily, I was able to do that, and even though it was thinning out at a rapid pace, it still looked basically OK.
But the day after Christmas, I began to strike an eerie resemblance to that stringy haired Gollum dude from Lord of the Rings.

I decided…NOPE, we’re done with this. I REFUSE to be sad every time I brush my hair.

Bye, bye bye!

Laugh or cry, right? It’s just hair.

We decided to have some fun with it instead. The Padgetts were in town visiting so on the 27th, we loaded up and went down to my mom’s salon.

Amy and the kids danced to “Bye, Bye, Bye!” while Mom shaved my head.

This is a special song for the McCloud/Padgett Fam. Aunt Amy has an exuberant and long abiding LOVE for N’Sync and the kids have been singing and dancing to that song since they were toddlers. So I had something to laugh about while Mom buzzed my hair. I think it was harder on my mom than it was on me, to be honest.

I’ve been having fun wearing fun and cozy hats and NOT doing my hair. Everyone should go bald at least once in their life. It’s kind of awesome. Thanks to Kenny, my sister Michelle, Amy, Angela, Dad & Dee and my mom for all the cool hats…you’ve definitely got me covered! And then some. 🎱❤️😘

So many cute hats, so little time! ❤️🧢
⏰

A few amazingly awesome people have asked if I’d like them to shave their head in support. No. I appreciate the offer, but please do not.

HOWEVER…. IF I lose my eyelashes…I admit I might freak out AND WE WILL ALL be going to get some big obnoxious (well, mildly obnoxious, at least) falsies installed … so be ready to join me for that!

I’m hoping that won’t happen. We’ll see, and we’ll deal if it does.

So BYE, BYE, BYE…

2019
My hair (for now!)
CANCER (soon!)

Here’s to an amazing and blessed 2020!! Full of health, healing, embracing every challenge and finding JOY!! Here’s to us ALL conquering 2020. ❤️🙏

Love and blessings always,

Jammie ❤️

xoxo

There must have been some magic in that old gym

Friday was Kennan’s very last OAE Christmas sing-along. It’s a simple tradition; the last hour before winter break, the entire school packs into the old gym (kindergarteners in the front to 5th graders in the back) and they all sing along to classic Christmas carols while their music teacher plays piano.

The kids are so happy and excited for Christmas break, full of innocence as they sing their hearts out. It’s joyful Christmas magic. I love it.

I haven’t missed one in 10 years, since Keith started as a first grader in 2010. Even in the Crazy Mall Days (when I used to be the marketing manager at Mesa Mall, for new friends who may not know that me), it was always a priority to be there for my kid’s school Christmas parties, including the sing-along.

Friday was bittersweet … every time I looked across the gym at Kennan and his friends laughing and goofing around in the back with the big fifth-graders, my face melted into tears. I had to leave the gym three times to regain my composure.

After the sing-along, we headed back to the classroom where the kids had about 10 minutes before last bell. Kennan and his friends started a spontaneous conga line around the classroom. Luckily, Kennan is blessed with an amazing teacher who knows how important it is to let kids be kids and when to have fun.

The atmosphere was pure joy amid a bit of chaos, kids living in the moment!

The years have flown by too fast.

I’m not ready for my baby to trade Frosty the Snowman for middle school winter dance parties… or in Keith’s case, no fun, just finals.

But life doesn’t give you that choice, does it? There’s no pause, no rewind.

Was Kennan sad? Heck no. He’s ready. Ready for new adventures and to dance his way through life. And that’s all that really matters.

I’ll catch up, I’m sure. Better to jump in the conga line than sit on the sidelines and cry. I’ll catch up, oh yea. But first, let’s sing Frosty the Snowman just one more time, for good measure.

Thumpity, thump, thump,
Thumpity, thump, thump
Over the years we go!