Not a Part of the Plan: October

October is quickly approaching. October is one of my favorite months. It is officially Fall; it is pumpkin season; it is the time of year of red and orange leaves; it is Oktoberfest; it is football; it is crisp mornings; it is afternoons of sun and clear skies.

However it means something else to me now too...it is Breast Cancer Awareness month. It is the month of pink ribbons; it is the month of breast cancer education; it is the month to remind friends, co-workers and family to get their mammograms; it is the month to highlight the importance of self breast exams; it is the month to love PINK!

I learned of my breast cancer in late August 2010 and October was right there to show support of me and the other 280,000 women that would be diagnosed within the year in the United States.

October gets me thinking. It reminds me of my journey to beating this disease. It reminds me of the ups and downs. It reminds me of my miracle baby and it reminds me of the journey I still have ahead of me. I will achieve my 5 year golden star in March 2016. But that is quite some ways down the road. I will be 35 turning 36; will have been a wife for 12 years and a mom for 5 years. It means around 1245 more pills and 20 more months of growing my hair out 5 more inches. (Unfortunately my hair is only growing about .5" a month but we end up trimming about .25" in order to keep it "styled.")

This October is no different. I will head back to Missouri Baptist Hospital for my mammogram and my annual appointment with my OBGYN. I will sit in the waiting room of the Breast Health Center with survivors and future survivors and reflect on the journey I have taken.

Relive my journey below with photos I have never posted before nor shared with anyone outside of family and very close friends. Here's to another fabulous October!

Love,
Jenna