Today is Monday evening at 11:03. I can't sleep again...I think it has something to do with the steroids that I get with chemo. Oh well, it gives me time to write on the blog. Today I had chemo #7. I have one more to go!!!! Then, I did something SOOOO fun. I got to try on expensive beautiful dresses. I am going to be in a fashion show on Sunday at the Universal Sheraton. They have sold over 500 tickets so far. It is going to be a blast. My experience was like the scene in "Pretty Woman" where she had a blast shopping for clothes. My mom and my friend Stephanie went with me and I hope they had fun too. They were really good about saying..."Really Valerie, I think Barbie wore that in some movie" and "that's not my favorite". It was fun and the outfit I ended up with is cranberry red and it is a lace top and skirt set that goes to the floor. It is way too tight, but I found out about spanx's. Once I squeezed my body into that undergarment, you would never know that I had 2 children. The tummy was much smaller. I really like those things.

The kids went away for the weekend with the grandparents. They went to camping at Carpinteria in their RV. The kids went bike riding, swimming, sandcastle building, and campsite trick-or-treating in their costumes. They had a wonderful time. While they were gone, I recovered from the bladder infection, Dion and I saw a movie and ate out a lot. It was quite nice.

The kids are doing great and looking forward to Halloween tomorrow. Our daughter is going to be an Angel and our son is going to be Anakin Skywalker. They carved their pumpkins today and they are soo cute. They are also going to be in a play. I signed them up for a children's theater program that is putting on their favorite play...Peter Pan. Their first rehearsal was last night and they had a BLAST. The play will be on in the middle January. I'll let everyone know when tickets go on sale.

Well, everything was going pretty good until Thursday night....12:00am I began to get cold...2:00am I realized I had a fever... 3:00am I was hugging the toilet bowl...4:00am coughing up a rainbow of lovely colors...4:30 Dion left for work and asked me if I was going to be alright...I said yes...5:30am called the Doc...6:15am He called me back and told me to go to the ER...6:50 my parents showed up. My mom got the kids ready for school and Dad took me to the Hospital. 7:10am I had my own private room. Long story short...I was there for 7 hours, lots of blood taken and other tests to find out that I had a bladder infection. I was given antibiotics through my port. I was told they were going to admit me, but then they changed their minds and let me go home. I took my meds today and feel much better. No fever, no nausea, no pretty rainbow colors (but still coughing). I feel much better today than yesterday. Thank you Henry Mayo Hospital AGAIN!!

Speaking at Crawford/Fleming Golf Tournament

I am still doing great!!! I survived camping with 13, 7 year old, girls and 4 adults. It was really fun and rewarding, but also tiring. I haven't been updating the blog because there is not much to talk about. I feel good and I am continuing to live my life as usual.


Giving a speech at the Crawford/Fleming Golf Charity Event

On Monday I gave a speech at a Tea about my experience. It really was horrible...I cried throughout the whole speech. I think it was because my mom, mother-in-law, sister, friends, doctors, and Dion were all there. I was so emotional that I was no inspiration to anyone. How do you talk to a group of people who have helped save your life. I couldn't have gotten through this without knowing everyone of them. I knew most of the people in the room and they had all given me support at some time or another. It was just really hard for me to get through the speech...but it's over...and on Monday night I went to a "Look good and feel better" class put on by the American cancer society. It is basically a make-up/wig/scarf class. You go and get at least $200 worth of free makeup that has been donated by all of the cosmetic companies. You then get a make-up lesson...Like how to draw in eyebrows once you lose them. It was really fun! The lady giving the class asked who wanted to be a model and I raised my hand. So, I was the model for the class. I asked her if I should take off my wig and she said to do whatever I felt comfortable with. So, I took off my wig and went bald. Not more that a minute passed and the rest of the class took off their wigs too. So we were a punch of bald chicks putting on makeup and having a great time!

On Tuesday, I had my chest expanded. I was given the option to put in 50 or 100 cc of saline and I chose to do 50. I chickened out, but next time I am doing 100 because I can not tell the difference and what is the point of driving 2 hours to get expanded and not even know that you did it.

Today, Wednesday, I was treated to lunch in the executive dining room at TCW, in Los Angeles, by my friend Judy. We had a blast!

Tomorrow, Thursday,...Laundry and cleaning the house. My daughter's room is a disaster. I don't know what hit it, but it must have been the dress up fairy.

Hello everyone!!! Today was Chemo number 6!!! I only have 2 more to go. So far I feel great!! I had my friend Monica drop me off this morning, My friend Kelly picked up our son from school and took him to Karate, My friend Shawna picked up our daughter from School and took her home for a playdate with her daughter. I slept for 3 to 4 hours during chemo. They give me Benedryl now and that stuff just knocks me out. The time goes by fast. Before I knew it, my parents were there to pick me up. I got home and I canceled all my "food" deliveries. I feel great, so I figured that I could make my own dinners, but my friend Mary wouldn't take no for an answer. She showed up with a quiche and an awesome casserole. I tell ya what...I have the best friends ever. There are a whole lot of friends that have helped me so much over the past couple of months and "Thank You" for all of your support. I am getting ready for Camporee. It was supposed to be last weekend, but the canceled it due to the rain. I just don't know why? I mean camping with 13 2nd graders in a lighting storm and in a tent...It sounded like so much fun....I'm just kidding...I am so glad they canceled it. We will go this weekend and have a blast. I think Dion will take our son to Disneyland on Saturday while I am away. Love you all-VAL

Today our local paper (The Signal) ran an article on "Breast Cancer: A Survivor's Story" that featured Valerie and her story. Today she also had an opportunity to share her story with the Board of Director's for Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital as well.

Seemed a little strange seeing her in the paper, our sons remark was "Hey that's Momma! Why is she in the newspaper?" Valerie is hopeful that telling her story will help someone else through their journey, or convince them to get checked out on a regular basis. Our son just wants to know "Hey, how did you do that?" The wonderful, innocent, curiosity and amazement of a small child, certainly one of the many things that keep us going!


Valerie with Wendy at "Bra's for a Cause" charity event

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month!

Good Morning! Today is Thursday, October 5th, 2006. This Taxol stuff is a "piece of cake" compared to the AC that I had for the first four treatments. I felt 100% on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday...until noon. Around noon yesterday I crashed, I never got sick, but just really tired. I slept from noon on Wednesday to 8:00 AM on Thursday and now I feel fine.

Valerie is very busy this month with many events that support the Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Health Foundation. She was asked by her doctor to be a spokesperson for Breast Cancer Awareness during the month of October, with that comes quite a few engagements that she agreed to participate in:

• October 2 - First speech to the Soroptimists International of Santa Clarita about the Breast Cancer Journey.
• October 8 - Bra's for a Cause charity fundraiser.
• October 9 - Picture for the local newspaper, then lunch with Stephanie and a new friend who is 25 and has breast cancer, 7PM go to a look good and feel good class.
• October 10 - Speak at Panera restaurant for local Breast Cancer Survivors 9-10:30AM then Girl Scouts in the afternoon.
• October 12 - Speak to the Board Members of the Henry Mayo Foundation.
• October 13-15 - I go to Girl Scout camporee with my daughter.
• October 16 - Chemo Treatment #6.
• October 18 - Meet the professionals who work at the Sheila R. Veloz Breast Imaging Center and MAYBE be an extra in a commercial for the Imaging Center.
• October 19 - Salt Creek Wine Tasting/Fundraiser.
• October 23 - Speaking at the Crawford/Fleming Breast Cancer Awareness Luncheon and Tea at Valencia Country Club.
• October 25 - Going to Lunch in Downtown LA with my friend Judy.
• October 30 - Chemo Treatment #7.
• November 5 - Phantom of the Opera Fashion Show at Sheraton Universal (Valerie has been asked to participate in the fashion show!).
  
  So, for those of you who want to know how I am doing...I am as busy as I always was. I couldn't do any of this without the support of Dion, my parents, family and friends. Everyone is helping me get through this and I thank you all. VAL (note from Dion, I again want to thank those that have provided meals, taken the kids after school, said words of encouragement and simply been great friends (and wonderful mother-in-laws!), thank you!) .

Chemo Treatment #5 was yesterday October 2, 2006 and I feel great. I was a little bit scared as they gave me a new drug called Taxol and I was worried about how I would feel, but I feel 100%. Dion's sister has had our kids the past 2 days...and they are loving it at her house. They are making cup cakes, staying up late, and having a party. I am off to a luncheon with other past breast cancer speakers of Henry Mayo Hospital. It should be quite inspiring to meet all of them and hear their stories. On October 10, the folks at Panera Bread in Valencia have invited all breast cancer survivors to breakfast around 9:00 AM, I will be giving my testimonial speech at around 9:30. Last time I gave it, I only cried twice. Wish me luck! VAL