Faux Brick Backsplash

Phase one of our kitchen project is to get it feeling clean and less dated while we save our pennies for the kitchen renovation project we want to do next year.  This phase includes painting the cabinets, ripping out the plastic tile backsplash and installing a faux brick backsplash, switching up the lighting and freshening up the walls with a cool-warm gray.
We painted the cabinets.  I'm not going to go into extreme detail on that because there are so many tutorials out there.  To make a long story short, we cleaned them, lightly sanded them and painted them in a cabinet paint. Darker lowers, one shade lighter uppers.  So far they are holding up pretty decent.  We painted the inside edges and I've noticed that some of them are peeling, but it's not the end of the world.  *Make sure to keep all the hardware for each cabinet together, mixing them up can cause major headaches when trying to reattach them.* We labeled all of the bags and had coordinating letters from bag to cabinet.

The *faux brick* backsplash I've seen floating around on Pinterest.  I wanted something that was not going to be hugely labor intensive, relatively inexpensive, but would make a difference.


This did the trick.

I was a little nervous at this point, but figured "what the hell" and continued on.  Anything can be fixed with a little *lot* of caulk...

and a boat load of paint.

 

We had this light over our sink.

I wasn't a fan, so I found this one.

and ended with this:

Nursery Wall Decor

I bought these on Etsy, from here and am in love with them!

It was easy to put together once I figured it out.  The numbers on these types of pieces...

Coordinate with the same number on the larger pieces and slide in. 

After they are all in, viola!

and here they are above each of the boys' cribs.

They have a variety of awesome cardboard mounts in different colors.  Check them out!

Bathroom Shower Tile

So months and months and many more months ago, when I was pregnant I knew that before the boys arrived I would want to retile the bathroom.  We had this plastic surround that would always get grimy and gross, so I wanted something fresh and clean.  This is what we started with:

and after some tile, a little grout and a new shower head:

We bought the subway tile from Menards, got the tile for the niche, along with two preformed niches from The Tile Shop and bought the shower head set from Home Depot.  I'm in LOVE!

We did our usual thing and wrote inside the wall to mark the occasion and memory.

Once the walls were up we started tiling.  Getting the niche done first, followed by the subway tile.

Followed by grout.

We ended up with a decent size gap between the top piece of tile and the ceiling. 

Like the three little bears it was too small for tile, to big for grout so....

We added a piece of quarter round to the top, caulked and painted it the same color as the ceiling.

Just perfect.

We love the showerhead, but it didn't come with a handheld attachment so we bough this one and it works great for giving the boys and the dogs baths and matches great with the showerhead kit we bought..

With all of our other bathroom projects, we always wanted to do a niche to have a place to store all of our things, but when it came down to it we never did, thinking it would be too much work or too expensive.  It did cost a little more, and take a little extra time, but it was SO worth it.

I found this little guy at Steins last fall.  It is called an "air plant" and literally you do NOTHING to it.  Set it and forget it.  No water, no dirt, nothing.  I found the little pot at Steins too, plopped the plant inside and put it in our bathroom.  The steam from showers helps it and I have not watered it at all!  Maybe I've found a plant that I can actually keep alive.

Hysterectomy & PET Scan Results

About two months ago I had my total hysterectomy in hopes that by evicting my hormone producing lady parts + the others because they aren't really useful anyways, teamed up with Kadcyla, Xgeva, and Goserelin shot that it would knock the hell out of my cancer.  I was sad to lose them, but knowing that I had to do everything I could to stay around for a long time for Chad, Will, Sam and the third embryo is important.  Like all of my other surgeries, the anticipation was the worst part.  I went in, I woke up what felt like five minutes later and was wheeled back after having amazingly doped up conversations with the nurse and my surgeon.  Apparently I thought they were twins and mixed them up.  So a few hours later, after going to the bathroom, eating a little and taking a few naps, a tired Chad and a physically exhausted Emily were released!  I only had one small incision in my belly button, but holy cow I was NOT expecting to be as bloated and crampy feeling as I was, plus on top of things I couldn't lift more than 10 pounds for the next 8 WEEKS, and the boys were weighing in at 13 pounds. Crap.  Chad took off to help with the boys, changings, and all of that fun stuff that goes along with twins.  Being on pain meds I couldn't drive, so when Chad went back to work it was just me and the boys, hanging out, but I managed with short distances and changing them in the living room.  I had my good days followed by very sore days.  I guess I never learn that when I "start to feel good" to be gentle.  I was not expecting the amount of bloating that I had, not sure if it is because of the air they pump in, the fact that I was just a few months out from delivering the boys or the combination of both?  Probably a little bit of everything.  I'm trying to be gentle on my new body right now, but it is hard, but I just keep telling myself that I have had a lot happen over the past couple of months, followed by eating a bowl of ice cream.  Regardless I'm blessed.

I had my PET Scan last week and needless to say I was nervous.  I know that Kadcyla was working based on my numbers and my neck, but anyone would be nervous.  So I did not eat, got all juiced up and got my scan done.  I was so sad when I got home, seeing my babies and not being able to hold them till dinner.  That was rough, but I was hoping it would be worth it.

and it was.

Reading "Excellent treatment response" was amazing.

The day after I woke up to a phone call from the hospital and I knew it was either really good news or really bad news.  It was good.  My Oncologist knew I was nervous, and wanted to make my day.  She made my year.  After I got off the phone I cried, Chad cried.  It was so good.  Then I started calling and texting family and friends, but for some reason I still wasn't convinced.  With really good things and really bad things I keep thinking that this doesn't happen to me, they must have the wrong person.  I guess I have learned through all of this that I never get my hopes up until it is right in front of me.  After meeting with my Oncologist, I decided to have one more round of chemo for good measure and will not be on Arimidex until the end of time, but I'll take that.

We are truly blessed, and while I am completely aware that once you are Stage IV, you will always been Stage IV, never truly carefree, but with Li Fraumeni I was always going to be under all sorts of surveillance anyways, so that is what helps get me through my moments.  With my boys, my husband, the fur babies, amazing friends and family I keep on swimming! 

Hoping for a boring 2017, just watching all of the milestones that Will and Sam go through!


When times get stressful, I tend to go MIA from blogging, but if you're interested in seeing the day-to-day of a cancer fighting, twin raising, diy loving mom, follow me here!

*Update* + 35/36 Week Bump

So technically I should be in the middle of my c-section.  I'm either A. Multi tasking like a champ, fabulously writing this blog post, while delivering my boys, or B. The c-section was put off till Thursday because my OB wanted to give me two steroid injections to ensure the boys' lungs are developed enough.

While I wish it was option A, and that would be awesome, B it tis and I'm b-ok....a-ok with that.


So after a few days of calling doctors, making appointments, going to appointments, crying, laughing, crying some more and figuring things out here is the game plan:

I was supposed to deliver the boys this Wednesday, that got pushed back ONE day to Thursday because they want me to do two steroid injections to help their little lungs.  Apparently white baby boys do NOT do as well with the whole multi-tasking thing of breathing, and being out of the womb.  *that explains men and their multitasking.... :) *

I met with my oncologist who got the test results back stating that the new cancer is ER/PR+ (woo-hoo) and HER2+!!!  In the world of breast cancer this is probably one of the best things to hear, because treatment options are practically limitless!  I never thought I would be so happy to hear that.  My oncologist also said that because of a c-section and my inflamed uterus (sorry guys if that's TMI) that on a PET scan it will light up, so she wants to wait a little bit, let my body heal and we scheduled the scan for August 16th, with a followup with her on the 17th.  That scan will determine if the cells are still in those lymph nodes or if it has spread.  PLEASE send all sorts of prayers, light, sparkle, positive juju or whatever works for you to me that they have stayed within.

If they have behaved and stayed inside the lymph nodes, maybe a few rounds of chemo, or maybe just radiation to the area and monitoring it further, followed by jumping back on the Tamoxifen bandwagon. It all depends on those pesky little cancer cells.  I don't think I've been so happy to get back to taking a specific medication in my entire life.

Needless to say this is definitely a crazy time in our lives, welcoming our twin baby boys in just 24 hours and then dealing with this cancer.  I've had more downs then ups the last few days, but I'm staying as positive as I can because frankly I cannot change my current situation, I can only change my attitude.

Chad, myself and the family are going to take these next couple weeks to snuggle the newest additions then put our game faces on and beat this.

With that said, here is the last and final Bump Pic of me with my baby boys!!  

This pregnancy was amazing, I enjoyed every last minute of it, and felt like it went by at lightning speed.  I wish that this was something that I would be able to go through again, but Chad and I have made the very difficult decision that it is just too dangerous for me to carry that third embryo when we decide to go down that path.  We will more than likely be on the hunt for a surrogate and see if our third baby boy can be welcomed into the world with her help.  

How Far Along: 35/36 weeks!

Feeling: Besides my current situation, overall baby-wise I'm feeling great.  My energy is awesome, I have swelling in my legs and feet but it is not nearly as bad.

Weight: I've lost two pounds.

Cravings: Powdered donuts. Addicted.  Chocolate Milk.  Addicted.  Cupcakes. Addicted.  Anything sweet that gets in my way is gone.

Mae & June: Hot spots-1 Emily/Chad-0.  We've tried everything and it's still not working, so off to the vet Mae goes.

Sleep: I've only been sleeping about an hour or so, waking up, peeing, and trying to sleep, but I attribute the lack there of for the recent re-diagnosis of my breast cancer.

Energy:  TONS~ probably because it's crunch time.

Looking Forward To: MEETING MY BABY BOYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! While I'm SO scared to be a new mom, I welcome it with open arms!  

At my last ultrasound the boys were coming in at 5lbs 12 oz and 5lbs 11 oz, so by now they are way over 6 pounds each and I feel comfortable with that and the fact that we are delivering two weeks earlier then we planned.  Like I've said, I've learned to never seriously plan anything because life can pull the rug out from under you and it is all about how you recover.  Either gracefully or flat on your face.

Round Two

*DING DING*

Life is crazy sometimes.  One day you can be shopping for baby clothes, buying the last minute things you need before your little boys arrive, including some pretty sweet fox pants that they probably don't need, and the next day you can can the second worst phone call of your life.  I thought hearing the words, "Emily,  you have cancer" was bad enough the first round, but hearing the words, "Emily, the cells found are the same from the original breast cancer" by far surpasses the initial diagnosis. Recurrence.  Shit.  Apparently God must think I'm pretty tough because now I have to fight this again.

Rewind a few days ago I've been only able to sleep on my right side, it's the most comfortable being 35 weeks with twins and I woke up with a stiff neck, thinking I slept on it wrong, the area was a little swollen.  I had Chad feel around and nothing felt crazy, but me being the Li Fraumeni hypochondriac opted to contact my breast surgeon and get in.  She felt around and decided the "better safe then sorry" option and ordered an ultrasound, which led to a biopsy.

Like everything the anticipation was the worst part, the Radiologist was AMAZING with numbing up the area, and soon he was getting the samples he needed, followed by inserting a clip to mark the node.  The appointment wasn't very long, and I left with an ice pack and some steri-strips to keep things from bleeding too much.

That was Friday.

He said he'd call me today (Saturday) sometime with the results.  The first time around I got a call at 10:30AM with the shitty news, this time while I was nervous more time was passing, so I figured it was a good thing.  

Lesson learned.

I cried. Chad cried.  We called our moms and rounded up the family to come over.

I don't handle uncontrolled situations very well, and knowing that they can't really do anything until the boys make their arrival was scary, because we all know that the sooner it's taken care of the sooner I can move forward with my life.  I contacted my OB who moved up my c-section to this coming Wednesday.  So one good thing out of this is we get to meet our little monsters a few weeks earlier then we thought. 

From there I hope to have the lymph nodes removed, more than likely have a port put BACK in (damn), probably do a few rounds of chemo, rock a bald head for a while and do what I have to do, because besides having my family as my reason to fight, my sweet baby boys need their mom.

You know the crazy thing in all of this, they say dogs can sense cancer, labor and all sorts of things.  The hubs and I were under the impression that maybe they were predicting I was going to to into labor....I guess they maybe knew something else because this is how they have been the last week.  Every where I go, they go, they smother me, love me and won't leave me alone....I guess I know why now:

Please send lots of cancer kicking positive juju to myself because I do not intend on going anywhere anytime soon.  Besides, the boys need someone to embarrass the hell out of them when they are teenagers.

I'm going to have my moments, but like I always do I will pick myself up, dust myself off and do EVERYTHING I have to do.

29 Week Bump

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY! 

 

 

 

How Far Along: 29 weeks!

Feeling: Stuffed

Weight: I'm not even counting anymore... :)

Cravings: Chocolate milk and nachos

Mae & June: This week, every single morning, as soon as Mae notices that I'm awake she crawls, literally crawls, to me and has morning snuggles.  She is so affectionate while June on the other hand is very indifferent.

Sleep: Sleep is decent.  My belly is getting so big that when I roll over at night sometimes it feels like I'm pulling a muscle which wakes me  up.  I have learned to just take it slow when I do.

Energy: I have lots of energy, lots of stuff getting done.  It's almost like I have a second wind.  On another note the boys are completely crazy, they are bouncing, moving, shaking, and dancing CONSTANTLY.  It is definitely an amazing feeling.

Looking Forward To: Seeing my baby boys. <3

 

I have recently noticed the beginning of stretch marks... I figured I was not going to get out of this pregnancy without a few "battle scars", but I'm trying to keep them at bay with TONS and TONS of lotion.  I'm practically bathing in it.  I just think they are growing so fast that my skin cannot keep up.  Right now things are so sensitive, everything that touches my stomach hurts.  I had an ultrasound last Thursday and Baby A weighs 3 pounds 1 ounce and Baby B weighs 3 pounds 2 ounces which may explain the recent additions of stretch marks.  My little chunky monkeys, but I'm so happy they are growing and are healthy.  My OB is definitely happy with how things are progressing.

 

Any recommendations for stretch marks or keeping my stomach from being so sensitive?

Stenciling A Ceiling

When we moved into our house the ceiling in our guest bedroom had glow in the dark stars all over.  In my attempt to remove them, I also removed part of the ceiling.  Fabulous. 

I hate painting ceilings.  I think I would rather have dental work done then paint a ceiling.  Seriously.  Well regardless, I painted the ceiling.  Although I learned from previously painted ceilings, I still managed to miss parts.  So my way of attempting to add a little spice to the bedroom, ANNNDDD help with my inability to properly paint a ceiling, I added some color and a stencil and went to town.

We added this light, and are loving how this room is turning out!

I had no rhyme or reason as to where I placed the stencil, I just eyeballed it, overlapped a few for fun and when it felt done, I was done!  The stencil I got from Michaels Craft Store a while back and used it on this project and the paints I also used on the same project and  had some extra laying around in the basement from other projects, so really this project didn't cost me anything!

Although this project has been done for a while now, we are slowly getting things done and hopefully will be complete before the boys arrive!!