I am going to be a Hyster Sister

A what? A Hyster Sister. Go ahead check them out!!

I have not blogged in a while, quite honestly, I have not felt like it. I am down and I did not want to bring anyone else down. I am really guilty, most of the time, of wearing my emotions on my sleeve. However yesterday I was talking to my MIL, who btw is my biggest blogging fan, Hi Mom (waving), she said you really need to write about what is going on with you. There are other ladies who could benefit. So to keep from being selfish, here I go. Here she and I are, yes she is going to kill me, she hates her picture being taken. But she loves me, so she may spar me:

Just over a month ago I felt a lump on my left breast. I have fibrocystic breasts. This felt different. So I made an appointment and went in to my gyno. Since I have new insurance (which stinks btw), I went ahead and scheduled my pap smear too (I was not due until November). My lump she looked at right away and said, I am positive it is just a cyst (had a mammogram and it was), however as she is doing the pap, she says I think you have some fibroids on your ovaries and when she pushed down, ladies I thought I was going to come out of my skin. I went in the following week for an ultra sound and back to her office. Turns out I have 2 fibroids on my uterus each the size of a grapefruit. Ever since, they have been aggravated, the pain has been tremendous. I am on pain pills but they tend to make me sick. So right now I feel a bit useless.

I have surgery scheduled for September 22^nd. This is where the Hyster Sister comes in. I am having a hysterectomy. She is taking the uterus and cervix but going to try to leave the ovaries. They are doing an awesome procedure called the DiVinci Hysterectomy. My doctor, from all I have read, is an expert on it. It was named after DiVinci, who invited the first robot (news to me!!). It is actually done with a robot that the doctor is directing. There will be 4 one inch incisions. It basically crushes everything up and sucks it out. Because of the size of the fibroids, I cannot have it done vaginally.

I am not worried about the surgery itself, although it is a little scary being put under and of course, the thought of them cutting me. I get queasy when they draw blood or just the other day, my daughter severely sprained her ankle and chipped a bone in it and I had to sit down because I was getting all clammy and feeling nauseous looking at it. Then there is the being down for 6 weeks. Anyone who knows me, knows this will be a terrible task for me. However by getting it done now, I should be better for the holidays. I SO look forward to the holidays! That will be a whole other blog!!

So my downer part in all of this? I am so ticked at the amount of out of pocket we have. We have had insurance for many years, each year the insurance goes up so this year we got a new policy, heard great things about United. Well turns out, it stinks!! My out of pocket will be thousands. The hospital will take payments but I have to have my full copay when I go for my preop next week. I know this is important but I cannot help but to feel guilty. It has not been the greatest year for us and this just adds to it. However, I also know that God has his hand in this. How do I know this? Because had I not gotten the lump, I would have not went to the doctor early and found the fibroids. He is directing us.

There is my sad story and I am sticking to it. Not as bad as it could have been. I will try to keep everyone updated. I have a great support team and church to lean on. I already have a few meals lined up. I would not want Sweet Man to waste away without momma’s cookin’. Thank you to everyone who is helping out and please keep me in your prayers.

Now to the goodies. I made this cake for our life group. If you love pineapple and coconut, you will love this and I especially love the fact these really are things you could have in your cupboard and fridge ready to go.

Hawaiian Delight Cake

1 box Yellow Cake Mix

1 large package of Instant Vanilla Pudding

2 1/2 cups cold milk

2 tsp coconut extract

1 package 1/3 fat cream cheese, softened

1 16-20oz can of crushed pineapple (squeeze drained)

1 8oz container lite cool whip

2 cups flaked coconut toasted (see below)

Bake cake batter as directed in 2 13 x 13 (or 9) pans

 (should be about 350* for 15 minutes or until cake tester comes out clean)

Cake needs to cool completely

Beat milk pudding and extract until smooth. Add cream cheese, mix until no more lumps

Stir in Pineapple

and refrigerate until cake is cool.

Spread mixture over cakes in or out of pan, top with cool whip

slice and sprinkle with toasted coconut

Enjoy!!

For toasting coconut, bake at 300*

keep checking every 3 minutes and tossing

until a deep golden brown (should take 20 minutes or so)

Printable Diane's Hawaiian Delight Cake: Diane's Hawaiian Delight Cake

Peace and EnJOY!!!