If there’s one thing I’ve learned lately, it’s that life doesn’t slow down just because you’re healing, parenting, and adulting all at once. Between radiation treatments, budgeting spreadsheets, and trying to keep my two-year-old from riding the dog like a horse, it’s been… a season. But, as usual, I’m still here juggling it all — with caffeine in one hand and humor in the other.
☀️ Life Update: I Accidentally Became a Children’s Author
So picture this: it’s a few weeks before my partial mastectomy and reconstruction surgery. I’m frantically Googling, “How to explain to a toddler that Mommy can’t pick him up for a while without traumatizing him.”
You know what I found? Crickets.
Apparently, the publishing industry has books for everything — potty training, sharing toys, eating vegetables — but not for “Mommy just had surgery and can’t scoop you up like a sack of sugar right now.”
Cue me, sitting there frustrated, emotional, and half-numb from medical anxiety, thinking, Fine. I’ll write it myself.
And that’s how When Arms Have to Rest was born — out of sheer necessity, desperation, and probably a mild mental breakdown.
I found an amazing illustrator on Fiverr who turned my stick-figure vision into actual art (God bless her patience), and together we created something truly beautiful. The book helps young children understand why Mommy can’t lift them after surgery — and gives them sweet, creative ways to show love while waiting for her to heal.
It’s gentle, comforting, and toddler-approved (my two-year-old even made it through the whole thing without demanding Mickey Mouse).
And yes, I’m shamelessly plugging it here because, frankly, I’ve earned it.
👉 When Arms Have to Rest — Available on Amazon!
It still feels surreal seeing my name on a real book. Take that, 3 a.m. self-doubt and all those “someday I’ll write a book” moments.
💸 Money Moves: October Finance Update
Because even while juggling motherhood and medical drama, I’m still on a mission to kick debt’s butt — one sinking fund and sarcastic spreadsheet at a time.
Goal 1: Emergency Fund – $2,500 (Goal Reached!)
Originally, I set my emergency fund goal at $7,200. Then I realized that life, cancer, and childcare costs were laughing at me, so I pivoted and set a short-term goal of $2,500.
And guess what? Mission accomplished! 💃
My emergency fund is sitting there looking all smug in my savings account like, “Look at me, I’m responsible adult money!”
Once I’m debt-free, I’ll go back to building the full 3–6 months of living expenses, but for now, I’m happy knowing I can handle small curveballs without crying into my calculator.
Goal 2: Pay Off $27,000 in Debt – Goal Obliterated
Not only did I hit my $27K goal earlier this year — I’ve blown past it. As of the end of September, I’ve paid off $32,657.06.
That’s right, thirty-two thousand, six hundred, fifty-seven dollars and six cents of past mistakes, gone.
In September alone, I threw $2,218.12 at my debt. And yes, I celebrated by doing the I’m-getting-closer-to-being-debt-free scream (quietly, because my kids were sleeping).
Next up: a Rooms To Go store credit card.
(Yes, I financed furniture. No, I don’t recommend it. Learn from my poor life choices.)
That one’s down to $1,280.16 — so close I can taste it. However, my debt settlement program has other plans, and I have a $1,382.20 payment due this month on a personal loan that can’t wait. So that’ll come first.
Either way, I’m inching closer to my next “getting-closer-to-debt-free dance party” moment.
Goal 3: Sinking Funds – My Secret Weapon
Ah, sinking funds. The unsung heroes of my sanity.
A few months ago, they were fully funded. Now? They’re being lovingly used for exactly what they were meant for — fun, planned chaos.
🎃 Halloween: Costumes for both kids — purchased guilt-free. No last-minute Spirit Halloween meltdown this year, thank you very much.
🎂 Birthdays: My son turns 3 in November, and my daughter turns 11 in December — yes, back-to-back. Because God has a sense of humor.
My daughter requested a sleepover instead of a party this year. I’m praying to survive it with my sanity intact. (Send caffeine and earplugs).
To make it special, I planned a mommy-daughter weekend getaway — just the two of us thrifting and vintage shopping in Austin. I used her birthday sinking fund to book a hotel. Because if I’m going to have a tween sleepover in my house, I deserve a reward.
For my son, we’re heading to the coast! He’s getting a pirate ship cruise and an aquarium adventure in lieu of a big party. Everything’s already paid for thanks to his sinking fund — which feels like financial wizardry.
✨ New Sinking Funds:
- Work Certification Renewal ($250): Because grown-up life is just paying to prove you can still do your job.
- Eyebrow Microblading ($300): Yep, I said it. After losing my brows to chemo, I decided to treat myself. Found a local artist who gives cancer patients half-off. I’ve saved the money, and now I’m just waiting on oncologist clearance before I go from “Who’s that bald alien in the mirror?” to “Brows on point.”
- Children’s Book #2 ($562.32): Because once you cross “write a book” off the bucket list, apparently you become unstoppable. This one isn’t cancer-related — just a fun idea I’m excited to bring to life. Same illustrator, because she’s amazing and knows how to handle my 3 a.m. “Wait, what if we added a puppy?” texts.
☢️ Breast Cancer Update: Radiation, Day One (A Comedy of Errors)
So, I started radiation on October 2nd.
I arrived all chipper and optimistic, thinking, “This’ll be a quick zap and go, right?”
Wrong. So, so wrong.
No one warned me that I’d be lying half-naked on what I can only describe as a refrigerated slab, arms above my head like I’m auditioning for a wax museum exhibit called “Uncomfortable Mom.”
For an hour.
Apparently, they had to take “imaging” before treatment — which meant I just laid there shivering while they buzzed around clicking buttons. My back cramped. My teeth chattered. My inner monologue questioned every life decision I’d ever made.
Finally, a nurse said, “Okay, we have three minutes before we start treatment.”
Naturally, I took that as permission to move. I relaxed my arms for literally two seconds… and immediately got yelled at because — plot twist — treatment had already started.
Ma’am, how was I supposed to know the imaging machine is also the treatment machine? It’s not like it glows neon red and screams “Danger, radiation commencing!”
Anyway, she couldn’t reposition me, so she huffed, muttered something about “starting over,” and sent me to a dressing room to wait. I sat there crying for 30 minutes, angry, embarrassed, and wondering if I could quit radiation like a bad gym membership.
Thankfully, a different (much kinder) nurse came to get me, and we finished the treatment. The first nurse did apologize — twice — which I appreciated. But let’s just say it was not the empowering start I had envisioned.
Day 2, however, was a breeze. In and out in 20 minutes, no drama. They warned me I’ll have to do the full imaging once a week, so I’m mentally preparing myself with layers and low expectations.
🌈 Wrapping It Up: Progress, Pain, and Punchlines
So here I am — recovering, radiating (literally), mothering, writing, and budgeting my way through this wild season.
My life currently feels like one of those circus acts where someone’s spinning 14 plates at once — except the plates are labeled “radiation,” “toddler tantrums,” “debt,” and “coffee supply.”
But even through the chaos, there’s progress.
There’s laughter.
And there’s hope.
Because even when my arms have to rest — my spirit doesn’t.
Until next time,
– Your professional debt slaying, cancer fighting, eyebrow enthusiast, and writer of books no one asked for (but everyone needs)
Mission Mom
Leave a Reply