Warning:  This is going to get personal.  Read at your own risk :)  We all have things happen to us that shape our lives, our priorities and our goals.  We go on living our lives and then something unexpected happens and we change courses a bit.  I was diagnosed with skin cancer in May of 2012.  When I first went in, I really wasn't worried and didn't think it was a big deal.  And neither did my doctor.  I first saw the PA at my dermatologist office and so he froze off the spot with nitrogen.  By August, I could tell that it wasn't going away, and so I made an appointment with my regular dermatologist.  When I went in, she looked at it and said 'I have never seen anything like this on someone your age'.  That is when you start to freak out a little bit!  At first she was worried it was an invasive cancer.  So she cut it out and then froze it again.  Off it went to pathology to get a biopsy.  The results came back as squamous cell carcinoma.  So the bad news is that it was cancer, and the good news is that it was not invasive.  So then I scheduled a follow-up for 3 months.  My follow-up appointment was last Friday.  When I went in the cancer had grown back.  So she cut the rest out and froze it again.  The next treatment step is to do a topical chemo type medication that stimulates your immune system to attack the cancer cells.  The good news is that caught in the early stages, squamous cell is very treatable.  We feel really positive about it, and are confident this is just a bump in the road.   

Isn't it interesting that when you start having issues related to your health that it changes your perspective on things??  I keep thinking 'I'm only 30 for heaven's sakes!'  Unfortunately, cancer definitely is in my genetics.  My dad and his 2 brothers have both had skin cancer.  My grandma has had non-hodgkin's lymphoma and skin cancer.   Both of my grandpa's parents died of leukemia.  So if you have bad genes then what do you do?  I recently watched the documentary 'Forks over Knives'.  It is all about how meat and dairy can 'trigger' cancer.  One of the researchers in the film wrote a book called the 'China Study' which further explores this theory.  Since last week I keep contemplating eating a more Whole Foods Plant Based diet.  We really aren't big meat eaters at our house anyway, but we do eat dairy.  I never in all my life have even considered eating a vegan lifestyle.  I'm still on the fence about completely cutting these things our of our diet, but like I said, my perspective has changed. 

One thing I strongly believe is that the food we eat does effect our health.  Research has confirmed that there is a strong protective effect of fruits and vegetables against certain types of cancer.  So my goal for 2013 is to eat at least 1/2 of all my food as fruits and veggies if not more.  Phew - its a hefty goal even for a person who eats a lot of fruits and veggies.   So this leads me to my next question - it is easy to make a goal, but how do you make sure you accomplish your goal?  

My husband and I read a book last year called 'No Excuses' by Brian Tracy.  Completely changed the way we think about goals.  He suggests the following method:

1) Everyday for 1 week, write down 10 goals you would like to accomplish.  Don't look at the previous day's goals.  Just write down the goals you think of when you are doing it for that day.

2) At the end of the week, the goals you have written down are the goals that you really want to accomplish.

3) Write each goal on a note card.

4) Below each goal, write 3 ways you will accomplish that goal. 

5) Review your goals weekly for the remainder of the year. 

We did this in the beginning of 2012, and although we didn't accomplish every goal we made - we can't believe what we did accomplish!  This method totally works and it is amazing what you can achieve.  I want to be around for my family for a very long time and so I am committed to a healthier lifestyle in 2013!  What about you??  

2012 Highlights: 

Took our kids to Disneyland for the first time

Ran my first marathon (with my 2 sister-in-laws)

Went to Puerto Rico and Kayaked in a Bio-luminescent Bay

 Grew a garden and picked lots and lots of fresh produce with my girls

Ran a Half-Marathon with Amy

Was a mom to these two little munchkins

And most exciting of all............

We are excited to have a new baby and add a new member to the Super Healthy Kids Family!  Happy New Years!