Hola hola, friends and blogosphere! I recently did a little question and answer sesh here on the ol’ bloggy blog for people who were new to reading the wacky waxing of Mama Brehm. I’m fresh off a weekend of running into a lot of familiar faces from back home… which was amazing. BUT. It also brought a LOT of common questions for those who have been following my journey. So, today, I bring you the second edition of Q & A with Mama Brehm full of questions I thought some of you, too, might have about this girl who blogs.
Whoa! Your hair is super curly! Is that a perm?
Nope! This is hairstyle is au naturelle and brought to you by the makers of Taxotere, Carboplatin, Perjetta, and Herceptin. Well, I mean, not really. And in case that was confusing, those were my chemo drugs;). But yes, my hair came back this curly and I like to call it my Billy Jean King hairdo. It’s super easy but I don’t at all attempt to pretend I have any control over how it lays or what it does. The color, however, has been freshened up by my girl Lynley at Indulgence Salon in Omaha {for all who have asked who does my hair}.
Soooo… like, um…
Yes. The cancer is all gone! Don’t be afraid to ask. Right now, I consider myself cancer-free. They did radiation as a further layer of prevention of recurrence. There is no guarantee it won’t come back. I know that. But I also know that no one knows why people like this mama get breast cancer in the first place sooooo… I just live each day as a healthy mama!
How are you feeling?
Mostly, I feel great!! I am starting to feel like my old self again, energy-wise. When I have a full or long day of activities and exercise, I feel more tired — like after Saturday when I did a run, marched in a parade playing a trombone, walked everywhere, sang in a talent show, and polka’d — but I mostly feel normal.
How old are your kiddos again?
The Oldest is 7. The Middlest is 5. The Youngest, is 2.5.
Does your family that just spent the week together really like each other as much as it seems?
Yes. My brother and sister are legit and they married legit peeps. My parents are a ton of fun. And my kids get along swimmingly with their cousins. So, if you see Staycation and think our family is weird for running together, laughing, spending a week together, we really like each other so it works.
Will your boobs always be so hard?
No! These are my expanders — space savers — and in December, I will get silicone implants. I can’t get saline because I have no breast tissue to hide any wrinkling that might happen. BUT… they will be this size. At least the size of Mr. Righty.
Do you make money blogging?
I do make money blogging at Her View From Home. I do not make any money currently from my personal blog and am trying to figure out how to do that while keeping the integrity of my writing purpose in tact. I am starting to get into the world of collaborating with brands and people and am really excited about that. I am also happy to say I have some new freelance work that is paid and I am hopeful to take on more clients. I will be speaking at a couple of events this fall and will not be paid for those. People always seem REALLY interested in the income situation. So, there you have it.
Why did you choose Nebraska Medicine?
One… it is in Omaha and they could take care of me without me having to commute. Second… my friends who are doctors and my referring GP all wanted me seen by the brains at the Med Center given my age, stage, and diagnosis.
Soooo… your 5 year old is off to school?
I haven’t blogged about this yet but will soon. The Middlest is being red-shirted this year. So although he turned 5 in June, we decided to send him next year. He will go to Pre-K this year!
What book is the 7 year old reading now?
The Hobbit. He and the hubs are about to finish it so we are on the hunt for our next read.
Do they know why you got breast cancer?
No. But if you figure it out, let me know. I’d love to share the info with young women so they won’t go through it.
Why did you switch to WordPress?
I decided I wanted to own my content without any question and I also wanted better SEO outcomes.
What’s your longterm goal with blogging?
I want to write a book, keep blogging, gain more freelance clients, and ultimately, I’d love to speak and spread awareness through my story.
I emailed you…
Yes. This is something I soooo need to get better at right now. Responding to correspondence. I need to get a handle on how to put more hours into the day so that I can mom and figure out the blogging/writing thing as well as the house stuff. I am fortunate to have had a Tuesday helper this summer so I can run errands, have doctors appointments, and, of course, write when possible, BUT it’s hard to balance when you don’t have set work hours and you are Mama 24/7.
If you were going to do any Olympic sport, what would it be and why?
Easy. Curling. NO question. Because brooms or whatever those are.
You have a lot of funny t-shirts, what’s with that?
It allllll started with my friend sending me Wonder Woman. And, a style was born. Talking tees is what I call them. I like wearing something funny. It’s just hilarious. And inspirational. And, when your friend makes t-shirts {look up Midnight Designs on Facebook} you can get just about anything on a tee. Saweeeet.
What does your husband think of your blogging?
What do I think of him being an Engineer? I support him because it’s what makes me happy. I would support him in anything. And he, as has been proven, would support me. He lets me be me. One of the many things for which I adore him.
Did you have boobs before?
No. I was basically concave post-nursing the third.
You seem to have a LOT of girlfriends. What’s up with that?
I have been fortunate to meet only incredible women. What can I say?
What was the hardest part of your cancer sitch?
Thinking I was going to die and leave behind my sons and my husband. And then, trying to be a mom while going through treatment. And then, surgery recovery. That part sucked.
What’s with your nipples?
I kept them. My docs recommended I have a nipple-sparing procedure. I talked with several oncologist about this choice and feel positive about it. However… My nipples are ALWAYS pointing out. ALWAYS. So, if you think I look turned on or cold, it’s just how the ladies lay. And if they offend you, please know that I am wondering if there might be a way to sand them down;).
Do you ever have a bad day?
Hell yes. Well. Actually. I don’t know that I’ve had a lot of bad days as of late but I have bad moments. I am also still on Lexapro so don’t go thinking I’m some hero who can manage all my emotions myself. I see an Onco-Psych about every 2-3 months. I take Lexapro daily and have since chemo started. I think it helps my anxiety greatly and sometimes wonder why I never went on it after I had my babies. I think it really could have helped me with the anxiety I had as an early mother.
So you can drink?
Yes. There is nothing that my docs said I couldn’t ever do again. This weekend I had a few beers on Thursday night and a sweet guy that I went to high school with bought me a drink and a shot. But normally, I wouldn’t have more than a drink or two if I do decide to drink socially. And, while I had a drink of wine or whiskey almost every night through chemo and rads, I do not do that every night these days because I am trying to really think about what I’m putting in my body and why.
How has your life changed this last year?
It is better than I could have imagined last year at this time. The cancer thing, blows ass. But the rest of it… it’s more than I deserve. I’m a blessed Mama, wife, and friend.
So, there’s some answers to the common questions I got over the weekend! If you have questions you’re just dying to know the answer to, flip it my way! I’d love to share the deets.
