alas, an inadequate blogger.

Okay paco's.

Let's be honest I quit the study. 

I decided being a lab rat wasn't all too exciting. 

My relationship with oreos and nesquick was diminishing.

And as any prima would know, that isn't a good thing.

Adam started working back at RC Willey on the days he isn't covering the office at the apartments we manage.

We are so blessed that we have the opportunity to have this second (kind of third) job.

Needless to say, I quit being a lab rat because he was no longer available to cover my shifts in the office when I would be elsewhere being tested.

Yes I gained 5/7 pounds back.

Yes it has never tasted so good:)

I am embarking on a grand adventure in 5 days. 

Perhaps I'll post about it when I return, for it is a SURPRISE.

If you're craving some Christina&&Adam, i suppose you could follow me on instagram.

 chperez00.

Where my real life happens.

Until next time, PACO.

LAB RAT AT IT'S FINEST

Welcome to the new world!

I am so excited we are cancer free I can't even blog anymore!! 

HA.

But really.

Now what do I do.

This was my outlet to the world of Adam's crazy medical"ness" and now that it's all over..

<fingers already crossed for the next scan in May>

I don't have anything more exciting than the next fashion, cupcake making, tea drinking, mother of the perfect four, skinny and sewing blogger.

And so, I post about being a LAB RAT.

I signed up to do a glutamate weight loss study at UC Davis. 

Meeting with a dietician once a week AND getting paid to lose weight??

Why wouldn't I?

Well, because I only get to eat 1500 calories a day. 

Do-able. 

Most certainly.

But what about those wee hours of the night when a bag of chips and cheesecake are the only things on my mind! 

NOT ALLOWED.

To break it down I have about 40 appointments with these researchers over the course of 6 months. 

The first 9 weeks I am to lose 5-10% of my body weight.

Then the next week is testing galore. 

I believe I'm doing like 25 hours of tests that week.

Then it's research time.

For 4 weeks they give me all my meals and before each one I drink 4 oz of broth.

The broth is either MSG or just a salt broth. Double blind here folks.

Then more testing and I'm free.

Six months is a long time.

To being healthy and supporting scientists!!  

Also, I'm headed to Fresno tomorrow for some more haircuts, colors, and lashes.

LOVE my job:)

Below is a snap from my most recent shoot. 

Clearly obsessed with the ombre technique.

<CANNOT GET ENOUGH>

 

 

Faith precedes the miracle

WOAH MAMA.

I feel like I have been on an emotional roller coaster with no seat belt the passed 5 months.

Ecstatic for falling in love and being sealed to the most dreamy man.

Devastated to find out his wonderland body had some unfortunate friends; cancer.

Thrilled that the odds of him beating it were so high.

Upset that through the chemo treatments there was literally NOTHING I could do to help my darlin' feel any better.

Relieved to realize we were done with treatments!

Stomped on, to find new growths after we were sure he was all done.

COMPLETELY GRATEFUL, that our Heavenly Father made sure those new growths were nothing to worry about.

We met with the urologist today. 

He gave us the results from the PET scan.

The growths aren't big enough to operate on, but not small enough to forget about and blow over.

He said it's possible that they are just "scars" from the chemo.

We are following doctors orders and getting scans every 3 months to make sure they don't grow.

If they do, surgery it is. 

Open surgery that will cut across specific nerves that will lower our chances of having kids to "if we're lucky".

If we're lucky, WHATEVER. WE ARE SO LUCKY.

As a matter of fact, I can't stop thinking about how lucky we are.

Naturally, we had to celebrate our divorce from cancer.

Besides Costa Vida being the most delicious, it was the only thing we had a gift card for so, duh, we ate there.

I had to buy a new candle to add to my collection.

It's name is relief. 

I mean how could I pass that up really?

I am so full of gratitude for the countless blessings we have been given. 

Heavenly Father is so very aware of who we are and what we need.

Miracles are happening everyday.

Forecast say SUNNY??

If it's not the bright light that lets me see what's around me,

it's the warmth on my face.

Or perhaps it's the need for my skin to tan so people believe that before I was a Nelson, I was a Perez.

I love sunny days.

And I especially love sunny days on doctor appointment days.

For we all know, RAINY DAYS=BAD NEWS.

 Tomorrow at 9:30 am is our appointment with the urologist. 

Adam had a PET scan done a week ago.

Hopefully tomorrow we will find out our options.

Surgery? No surgery?

Regardless,

I had such a great time last week!

Valentines Day:)

Lots and Lots of hair and eyelash extension appointments:)

 To prove I can cut short hair:)

And my best friends wedding:)

Also Adam's hair has started to grow back!

 

This was this morning AFTER we buzzed it to get the longer "duck-like" blonde hairs off.

It's still a little sparse, but he is looking and feeling better than ever:)

NOW KEEP THOSE FINGERS CROSSED FOR THIS APPOINTMENT TOMORROW:)

"As your faith is strengthened you will find that there is no longer a need to have a sense of control, that things will flow as they will, and that you will flow with them, to your great delight and benefit."

 

 

OCTOBER 3, 2011 = FEBRUARY 13, 2012

The day Adam got diagnosed was October 3, 2011.

October 3, 2011 was a rainy day.

Much like today.

That's how I knew it wouldn't be good news.

The oncologist we have been seeing at least once a month for the past 5 months came into the room a little sheepish.

He asked Adam how he had been feeling and if he had any lasting side effects from chemo so far since it has been six weeks since Adam's last treatment.

He was curious about his back pain and if he always had back pain or if he noticed anything new.

I sat silently, ready to vomit from anxiety, in the corner just listening.

For today was scan result day.

The oncologist said this,

"You know Adam this is really wierd, alright?"

In my mind I'm thinking...FABULOUS. 

He continues to tell us that the tumors that were on the CT scan when he was first diagnosed back in October were still there and still the same size.

Then, the weird part, he said that he had 3 additional swollen lymph nodes on the back of his stomach by his spine that were not on the scan back in October.

Yes, new ones.

FABULOUS.

Adam did some blood work and there were no signs of cancer in his blood.

YAY, REMISSION, right??

We hope so! 

The oncologist talked with a urologist and the radiologist.

None of them knew why the lymph nodes were on this new scan but weren't on the one 5 months ago.

Because the blood work show's that there isn't any cancer, it's leading them to believe that these lymph nodes are benign.

Long story short,

Adam is getting another PET scan and then we are meeting with the surgeon to discuss our options.

They want to do surgery to take them out and test them to see what's going on because not one, not two, but THREE trained professionals don't have an explanation.

From what little information the oncologist told us, the surgery won't be very fun being so close to his spine and having the lymph nodes be so tedious to remove.

If he doesn't do surgery, they will grow and cause problems later on.

REGARDLESS,

I'm just as numb as October 3, 2011.

EEEEEE

Yesterday was scan day!

Okay so I bet you're all reading this to find out the results.

SO sorry.

Not yet.

and trust me I CAN HARDLY SLEEP AT NIGHT!

But it's been so strange lately. 

I think that when something like this happens you just suck it up and deal with it.

And now that things are starting to slow down, the numbness is wearing off and I'm actually feeling the stress of the trial.

(This could be because about a month ago I stopped taking my "zombie" anxiety pills where I didn't feel much anyways..)

Weird, however, since the cancer should be gone.

I just get all nervous Adam is going to disappear and never come back and I'll be 20 and a widow!

okay yes this probably is my anxiety.

I just love him and I'm so proud of him for his attitude through this whole thing.

He is feeling tons better everyday.

We exercise about 5 times a week.

A combination of running and walking 3 miles.

He jokes around with me again.

He flirts with me again.

He wants to go out and do things again.

It's the best to have him BACK!

Cheesy, romantic, NEWLYWEDS, HERE WE COME!

MONDAY

Monday was Adam's last day of his last cycle of chemotherapy.

We woke up and naturally, he wasn't feeling well.

I tried to excite him by reminding him, "It's the last one!"

Didn't seem to help.

Because you see for Adam, the day doesn't really come until about a week later.

When he can finally drive again, and when he does not feel like puking every step he takes, and not feel disoriented.

It's when he can feel his legs, when he doesn't forget how to swallow, and when he remembers there is hope in getting better.

When he can run up a flight of stairs without feeling exhausted and his food tastes good again without 2 tablespoons of salt.

When every muscle in his body doesn't ache and when the bruises go away, and his hair grows back.

That's the day we're excited for!

Monday, I was a wreck.

I cried when I had to drop him off for his hardest and final treatment because I had to go back to work.

I cried on the 30 min drive back to DAVIS because I couldn't be there. 

I cried when I got to drive back down there to see him.

 I think I cried because I it was so obvious that God was there helping us through everything.

It was a struggle neither of us could have done alone.

And perhaps that's why we found out about the cancer AFTER we got married.

Adam shared with me this fortune he received while eating lunch on Monday.

If that isn't a tender mercy from God, then I don't know what is.

"Where there is no struggle, there is no strength."

Adam has a body scan on FEBRUARY 6, 2012.

Keep those prayers going til we know he is clear:)

Time Off.

Here's the thing.

My favorite thing about the holidays is relaxing and taking "time off."

Ergo, the reason for no blogging.

I like to do it, but not as much as some people.

And some days it most certainly feels more like a chore.

This is clearly not a post of perfectly set up Christmas trees with neatly wrapped presents and pictures of hot apple cider.

That's great if that's what your life is really like..but mine? Nah.

Adam and I still had a fantastic Christmas:)

But no time for cute pictures with moving into our new apartment in Davis.

We LOVE Davis:)

It was a heaven sent job opportunity with a two bedroom one full bath apartment.

Right close to downtown but far enough away that we're not trampling over pedestrians.

How could we resist??

We have been busy moving and celebrating Christmas and starting a new job.

We are so blessed to end the year this way! 

With all things we have learned and all the perspectives that have changed over the past four months,

we are excited to start a new year:)

I decided an end of the year photo shoot will be necessary.

A new tradition I decided just now:)

Here are a few pictures from our very first New Years Eve shoot.

Thanks to my prima for the beautiful shots portraying our trail, our love, and our friendship.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!:)