Save the date!

Hello family and friends!

I'd like to invite you to join Team Shelly as we race (or walk!) for a breast cancer cure in the The Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure 5K on November 16, 2014 in Austin. We will wear coordinating Team Shelly t-shirts and walk together, unless you'd prefer to run.  Afterward, we will coordinate a fun celebratory get together, details TBD. 

Please join me for my first year as a Team Captain and my first year of MANY as a SURVIVOR raising funds to fight breast cancer!

Early bird registration only lasts until July 31st, so if you act quickly, you can save a little bit on the registration fee.  Please follow the link below to join my team and help us beat breast cancer!

http://austin.info-komen.org/site/TR/RacefortheCure/AUS_AustinAffiliate?team_id=304560&pg=team&fr_id=4557

With love,
Shelly Bain

Trucking along

The past two weeks have sped along.  I am getting into a predictable treatment schedule, leaving Austin midday on Monday, having treatments in Houston throughout the week, culminating in an early treatment on Friday so I can hightail it home.  Then soaking up my time with my family when I'm in Austin, filling up my cup with the funny things the kids say, the way their hair smells after their bath, kisses from the kids and dogs, my wonderful bed. Then: repeat.

It's funny because it feels like a very comfortable routine now, but then I think about it, and I've been keeping busy and doing new things, both in Houston and Austin.

Still eating my way through the Bayou City.  I've been to fabulous dinners with my in-laws, and in the picture below from two weeks ago, my new Cailfornia friend Andrea (also coming in weekly for treatment), my aunt Melissa and my mom.

I haven't taken many pictures at all.  But on top of the meals, I've also had the chance to meet with Allison, a survivor who lives in Oregon.  She has been a huge support since my diagnosis, emailing, mailing letters, commenting on the blog.  Her strength, faith and service to others are inspiring.  What a treat to meet her in person!  I might be able to drop in some photos of our visit soon.

The kids and I mainly lay low on my weekends home.  I miss them so when I'm gone, and Monday nights are always the hardest as I'm gearing up for the week away.  We did go to church this weekend, and Reese had a chance to play with some friends.  Kate keeps them occupied and happy during the weeks, so I don't worry about what they are doing, I just miss being around them.

I've also made a point to get some exercise.  I am experiencing some of the common radiation side effects: fatigue, especially in the afternoons.  Redness and minor skin irritation where I am receiving the radiation.  None of it has been overwhelming and I feel pretty darn good for having five weeks of radiation under my belt!  But exercise is always a good option, so I've walked in Memorial Park, around Rice University, and at my parents' ranch. In Houston, I went to a ballroom dancing lesson with Andrea--she's a competitive dancer!  It was definitely a different and fun experience.  In Austin, I've been to Pure Barre and Zumba classes.  It's all felt great.  What a relief to move normally again, two months after major surgery.

Yesterday, I returned to the gym for Zumba and to take the kids swimming.  I had not darkened the door there since before my diagnosis in early January. So it was a milestone of sorts for me, and I'm glad to have cleared that mental and physical hurdle.  Plus it's always fun to sport the "Victorian swimsuit" look in public!

I anticipate a "quick week," as my family's (minus David, who is busy working in Chicago this month) coming down for two nights at the end of the week.  Then next week is the LAST WEEK OF TREATMENT!  Hopefully, things will continue in the positive vein they have been going and my final leg of the cancer treatment triathlon will be complete!  Happy Monday, y'all!

Halfway week

Mom and I have made the trek back to Houston as I begin week 4 of radiation. Today marked my 14th treatment, which was a sort-of milestone. I'm halfway through the radiation of the entire left breast, and the final few treatments will be what they call a "boost," where they will focus radiation on the scars from the mastectomy and lymph node dissection. Similarl to the scar "boost," I'm winding down 12 radiation treatments focused directly on my drain scars. They focus on these areas to eradicate any possible stray cancer cells that might have been jostled around as a result of the surgery, either as the surgeon physically removed the cancerous tissue from the incision or if cancer "seeds" might have mingled with tissue, blood or fluid in the drain area. I'm thankful that my radiation oncologist is so thorough to cover these areas in addition to the entire breast area.  Her explanation really made so much sense and put my mind at ease that we are being as aggressive as possible.

My radiation side effects have been minimal, with some early signs of skin redness and fatigue starting to surface. After chemo and surgery, these symptoms have been very manageable. Honestly, one of the ongoing themes of 2014 for me is extreme fatigue--it's been a by-product of chemo, surgery, and to a lesser extent, radiation now. At least that's familiar territory!

We got together with Michelle & Lorne tonight for a wonderful dinner at Mockingbird Bistro. I am very much enjoying eating my way through Houston! So many fabulous restaurants! And such great memories have been--and continue to be--made as we gather together as different groupings of the larger Team Shelly.

In other less-medically-important news, many people have asked about the status of my hair. It has started to come in pretty fully, thank goodness! David actually shaved it twice so it is growing in evenly. I think I'll be ready to publicly sport the GI Jane 'do pretty soon, which may or may not directly correspond to the triple digit temperatures in Texas!

Also, my dear friend and dermatologist Stacia hooked me up with the magical potion Latisse for my lashes and brows! They completely fell out while I was recovering from surgery, so I'm thrilled to be able to wear mascara again. Look, y'all, lashes!!!

It was a whirlwind trip home this past weekend, but a fun time celebrating another milestone: Reese's 8th birthday. 

It's hard to believe I've been her mommy for eight years already. She's been an amazing blessing and is one of the lights of my life! Reese reminds me to savor each moment, smile as often as possible and find the humor in life. She is joy personified and truly embodies her name, which means "enthusiasm; ardent; fiery"!

I've been enjoying spending time in Houston, even though the circumstances that continue to bring me here recently aren't ideal. But going home on the weekends fills my cup and reminds me exactly what I'm fighting for--a long and healthy future with my loving and vibrant family. And on that note, I'm heading to bed to get ahead of the radiation fatigue...good night to you all!

Weeks 2 & 3

Things are moving along smoothly, both in Houston as my radiation treatments progress and in Austin on the home front.

The kids are having a ball with the amazing young woman we hired as a nanny for the summer, Kate.  I will get a picture of the kids with her soon, but she is full of fun activity ideas, entertaining outings, and even baking!  Check out the cute flip-flop cake she and Reese made last week!

We had a great 4th of July visit to the farm with some dear friends.  Of course I didn't take pictures because I am constantly forgetting to document what is happening!  I am very spoiled and used to having Lorne's fantastic photographs to use. I'm always realizing too late that I've neglected to take pictures.  Sigh....

This week, both kiddos attended camp at KidVentures and had a wonderful time. Here are a few shots they sent me of Weston.  I will add pics of Reese when I get them.

The kids are doing great, loving spending their days with Kate and family visitors, and David is having  all sorts of fun daddy time with them at night.  I think there have been bike riding outings, burgers for dinner and possibly even skipped baths.  As it should be in the summer!

I have been in Houston completing weeks 2 and 3 of radiation (well, almost...one more treatment to go this week). Before I left Austin earlier this week, I squeezed in a walk on the hike and bike trail.  I pulled into my parking spot and looked up at the column in front of my car to see this. I felt like it was a good sign and a nice way to start the week! 

On Monday, I made it in for my treatment and a follow up with my plastic surgeon.  It marked the six-week post-surgery point.  Let me tell you, I am THRILLED to be six weeks out from surgery!  Dr. C was very happy with how everything has healed.  He cleared me for pretty much any physical activity and deemed me "fully healed"! Yippee!

My parents joined me on Tuesday. We have had a good week, minus some dental scares that my mom had (root canal averted!).  Besides eating our way through Houston (highlights have been Underbelly, El Meson and Grace's), we also saw the movie "Chef" (highly recommend) and visited the MFAH.  At the museum, we saw Soto's Impenetrable piece.  It's a kinetic installation of 24,000 plastic tubes hanging from the ceiling in a huge space.  You are encouraged to walk through it.  Below, you can see me and dad on the second level in front of the installation, as well as me and mom actually inside the art!  Very cool.

Another highlight of the week was meeting another woman traveling to Houston for radiation treatment. We actually met in the hotel exercise room and got to chatting away about our experiences.  She's getting her radiation at Anderson and commutes back home to LA on the weekends.  She joined our family dinner tonight and it was a wonderful evening.  Of course I forgot to snap some pics.  Next time!

I'm gearing up for my 13th treatment tomorrow....then a weekend at home before I start all over again next week.  Hope everyone is staying cool and enjoying the summer! Xxoo