Gone

On Wednesday of last week my hair started to fall out. Over the past month I had it cut super short in 2 stages so that Lucy and I could get use to it. On Thursday it really started to fall out, think clog up the drain in the shower. So on Friday night after Lucy went to sleep I decided to take a shower. I thought I had prepared myself for losing my hair. I had said I would shave my head before it started to fall out too much, but I was to much of a chicken for that. I had to clean the drain out 4 times during that now ranked worst shower ever. When I got out and wiped the mirror clean of steam I was so completely unprepared for what I saw I came unglued. Marnie came in was a rock and helped me calm down.

A little later my friend Adrienne came over and brought her husbands clippers. Sitting in the middle of the kitchen with a sheet around my shoulders listening to the buzz and feeling the vibration on my head of the clippers I was reminded of being a little girl. My mom cut my hair in much the same fashion accept with scissors. I would squirm and wiggle and protested. I hated it, every second of it, the little hairs were itchy and sitting still for that long was near impossible for me. But this time I was dead still and in an odd way the hum of the clippers was a soothing transition to the next stage in this battle with cancer.

The clippers can only get close enough to leave a five o'clock shadow so last night Marnie and I finished the job by taking a razor to my head. Thank goodness my head has a pretty nice shape and no odd bumps.

I might post a picture at some point. I have to get use to this new look first.

Frightening

So last night Taylor Hicks won American Idol. I am needless to say delighted (see previous post). Finally the girl cookie cutter streak has been broken. But what is really frightening to me is that more people voted for American Idol than voted in the last presidential election. That is crazy and wrong, really really wrong. What does this say about our country?

A Confession

Hello, my name is Southern Girl and I am an American Idol junkie. It's true, I know this comes as no surprise to some of you, but might be quiet a shock to others (or not). Anyway, I love this show it is all that is wonderful and awful about this country rolled into one. I watch it every week religiously, in fact I look forward to it. Tuesday nights are it! Dinner has to be over by no later than 7:45 so that the dishes can be done and I can park my fine wide butt in front of the TV to watch every second. If your wondering about the wee one Marnie is on bedtime duty so I am guilt free to watch. Marnie pointed out to me last night that she also loves Tuesday night because it means that for at least an hour she can work uninterrupted and guilt free.

Last night were the semifinals. There is the unsurprising beautiful beauty queen type girl Katharine McPhee, who annoys me to no end. I hope I am afraid beyond hope that we don't have a repeat of last year when in my opinion Bo Bice was upset by a girl who's name I can't remember and who's talent was even more forgettable. But alas she, the unforgettable one, fit the mold of the American Idol and so does Katharine. Then there's the smooth tones of Elliott Yamin, a guy who I really like, he loves his mom and seems like a nice guy (you know you can really get a realistic view of these people from TV). But, he seems unremarkable to me. Last, but certainly not least is Taylor Hicks, a guy who from the beginning did not fit the mold of AI. He doesn't look the part at all, but he again in my opinion has a great voice and is unique. He as far as I can remember has never been in the bottom 2 or 3. Week after week he shows that he can sing really well, even on Barry Manalow week I think he did a good job. He has this Joe Cocker like voice that I love. And on top of it all he's from my home town of Birmingham Alabama.

So Taylor is my pick. I hope maybe beyond hope that the voting public sees this the same way I do. This reminds me a lot of how I felt about the last presidential election and we all know how that turned out.

Tune in tonight to see who is in the finals.

I Kinda Feel Like a Rock Star,

We not really a rock star, but it seems as though I have been included in a list of Mommy and Family Blogs on the Blogher site. If you click this here link, Mommy and Family Blogs | BlogHer [beta], and scroll down the list you'll see Souther Girl. Pretty Cool don't you think?

Happy Mothers Day!!!

I know I have said this over and over again, but I love being a mama. It is by far the best thing I have ever done in my life. She is a goof.

Here are her curls...

Pretty Good

I am not feeling as bad as I expected. I am happy to have Marnie's mom here for help and support. I am also happy I am not as check out of spending time with Lucy as I thought I would be. Again thanks everybody for the love and support.

What Are The Odds?

My mother and I would both have breast cancer at the same time? Well, who knows, but that seems to be what is unfolding. Her situation is very different from mine. Her lump is tiny (4mm). Really the smallest they can see on a mammogram. She will have to have a lumpectomy and maybe some radiation. Of course this is not good news , but if you are going to have breast cancer this is the way to go.

I am feeling pretty good. It seems today that I could go about 5 hours before I hit a wall of tired and a little nausea. A lot like being pregnant those first few months. They say tomorrow starts the rough stuff. We shall see, I will keep you posted.

Tomorrow

I start chemotherapy. I obviously have mixed feelings about this. On the one hand it is positive real progress to kicking cancers ass. On the other it means 18 or more weeks of fatigue, nausea, hair loss. Our friends that have had friends and family go through this keep telling us to not underestimate the amount of help we will need. We see this coming week as a way to see how things will go, for me, for Lucy, for Marnie. Then maybe we will have a better idea of what we will need. Already we have many friends and family that have come together to help us. Today they had a little gathering to talk about how they might help us and we were able to thank them for all they will do and have already done for us. I am awe struck at folks generosity and love.

Some how it all still seems so unreal. Never again will I have my simple ordinary life back. I am changed forever by cancer, some good, some bad. Hopefully one the other end mostly good.

4 days

and counting until chemotherapy.

LuLu

She was a very serious baby, very serious. Now she is a goofy, goofy toddler. I love watching her grow and change. I knew this would be fun, but I had no idea how much fun.