DC Temple Trip, Good News and Cakes!

Here are the 3 cakes that Jamie and I made for our Wilton cake class!  I learned so much, it was a great class!  Fondant is next up!  We made like 20 roses to get 5 decent ones for the last cake!

Happy Birthday Kelly!

We also took a vacation to go to the temple this weekend!  This quick vacation was much needed: spiritually and to just RELAX and be together!  We met Ani and some of the dental students there.  Bad weather makes for bad hair but it was still so fun!

This painting in the US Capital Building depicts, in my opinion, one of the most monumental moments in history: George Washington's resignation.  He was an amazing man!  Can you tell I felt stupid standing there in front of 4 very observant tours!

Amazing Afghan Kabob Restaurant!

Botanical Garden, I went picture happy here!  Here was my best shot!

The infamous Emancipation Hall:

I also finished this bad boy!  Busy week!

Now for the good news.  We had our second opinion Friday morning with another radiologist.  I liked this doctor SO MUCH MORE!  For starters . . . he was older than Devin and had had more than 10 patients in his life, but he was much nicer and more relatable.  Which, in these kinds of decisions means the world to me.  When you are way across the country and don't know anyone enough to trust a recommendation, this was big for me.  I have to be able to trust someone that I'm putting so much trust in.

He backed up what the first doctor said.  He didn't think that the benefits of radiation out weigh the costs and side effects.  Although I have 60-80 years to develope this cancer again, I also have 60-80 years to deal with the exponential side effects.   He gave me a 10% or lower chance that this cancer will come back.  I'LL TAKE IT though!  I didn't know how to handle all of this good news at once!

Well my surgeon was quick to call me again (which I love) and to talk about how I felt and what Dev and I wanted to do.  No brainer . . . no radiation!  So he has ordered a full head and neck MRI and if I am clean then, I'm in the clear!  There will be several check ups and CAT scans in the next year but after that it's pretty minimal.  It's amazing how fast this has come into my life and how fast it has left (hopefully)!  Now let me reassure you I will never be the same.  I'll never look at Brynlee or especially Devin the same.  My testimony will never be the same (now I look at my patriarchal blessing and I'm like . . . OHHH that's what that means!! Wish he could have just said . . . "Nicole you will be battling cancer at a young age so deal with it and help others along the way!)  And I'm so so so grateful to not have to worry about dying!  Sounds a little cheesy but that is what I'm been trying to mentally deal with.  For right now, I'm in the clear.  I'm not going to act like this didn't happen or that it can't happen again because that is life.  It's fragile.  It's not something to take lightly, advantage of or assume you own.  It isn't mine.  The only thing that is mine is my agency . . . to choose to be happy and "deal" or to suffer.  I hope I will be a little quicker to "deal" and be happy if there is a next time.  I know how to suffer now and I know how to "deal."  I love this man and child

and I have discovered that they are the reason I want to "deal."  And anything that the future holds will be worth it.

I know I keep saying this but Devin and I have been completely overwhelmed with the support.  Thank you so much for the emails, kind words and phone calls.  Although I was hesitant to talk at first, I'm fine now and will slowly try to get back to everyone.  For now, know how much we appreciate it and how much it was felt and needed . . . daily!

Here is my video for the week!

Untitled from Nicole Gneiting on Vimeo.