Answers to comments

First off I want to thank everyone for their kind comments and prayers for us. Janet I wish I had your email address. There is so much that I would love to tell you privately. Your question about more children is completely natural or at the very least a question that I would have asked me too. I am not sure what God's plan is for us. It may just include more children. If that were the case I would not be surprised and I would welcome them with an open heart. You are a very sweet person.

Becoming debt free is not an easy task but one that I am committed to in order to ensure our future. I have been following the Dave Ramsey method of debt management. It is hard but doable. I know that it seems like I do a lot of stuff but I save in other areas. For instance I am not big into fashion much of what I wear I have had for too many years (insert laughter and a big sigh from my family). I actually have a few of my original uniforms from 20 years ago that I still wear on occasion. Some of Anna's clothes are bought second hand. Many of the activities that we have done this past summer are ones that I got a deal on from Living Social or Groupon. I have learned to use coupons to make my money stretch. I stopped using credit cards years ago and got into the habit of using my debt card. I want to get back into the habit of using cash instead of my debt card now.

Julie W. I am SOOOO happy that your husband has a choice of job offers. This is a blessing. I could not be happier for you and your family. I knew it would happen.

Ms. Elaine, yes I have considered a mastectomy as well as removing my ovaries. I believe that within the next 5 years I will have both of these surgeries done but I am researching which doctors I want to have preform the surgery. There are many different types of mastectomies that I could have preformed and the type that I am looking to have done is called a DIEP flap. The short version of this is my skin and fat from my abdomen would be what the surgeon would use to reconstruct my breasts. This is not a very common way to do this but I would prefer to not have implants. I am glad you asked this question because having a mastectomy and removing my ovaries significantly reduces my chance of developing cancer by like 90%. Since I used some of my family medical leave already this year when I cut off my finger I am cautious to schedule any elective surgery that could have a complication that would require me to be out longer then the allotted leave that I have left. My family medical leave will be back up to 12 weeks in April of 2013. God willing that I am able to wait that is my first choice.

The subject of Gerard's face on the blog. Janet, I have talked to Gerard about you and your story. We think you are amazing. Actually everyone who has left a comment on the blog with their name we have talked about. Some how you all feel like family. When I told him about you wanting to see his picture he responded with "Why? We are all going to be on a cruise to together in a couple of months anyway. I will just meet everyone then in person." He is so silly. If I post a picture it will be only for a short time then I will remove the post. He is so shy. Believe me I ask him every chance I get if I can put his picture on the blog.