I’ll start with the most important update. I had a great consultation with the general surgeon yesterday.

She had absolutely no cancer-related concerns and in fact, was entirely confident that she knew exactly what she was looking at and what needed to be done to fix it. Surprisingly, there are actually two issues involved.

First the “suspicious mass,” which much like I had hoped, appears to be scar tissue resulting from my c-section four years ago. It may be endometria that developed into scar tissue or it may be an actual suture – but either way, it’s not dangerous and it can be removed. So [insert Arnold Schwarzenegger accent here] it’s not a tumor.

The second issue is that the tissue where the mass is located didn’t heal well and I can definitely expect to start developing hernias if it remains untreated. So there is a reason why post-cesarean, I was always a little puffier (that’s the medical term) on one side than the other.

SO the surgery will not just involve removing a lump – it will be a hernia operation.

And then I felt a million years old and began investigating details for bingo night at the local community center…

I still have to schedule my surgery, but I assume it will take place in early March. I was told I could wait until a more convenient time, but I’d rather just get it over with. As much as I dread going under the knife, I’m kind of done with the suspicious mass and all the of drama it stirred up. Good riddance, I say.

Oh – and here is something funny about my surgeon. She’s a super model. Or – more accurately – she looks like one. I make all of these jokes about Grey’s Anatomy, but holy hell – I really do find myself living though Seattle Grace moments. First I hear risque staff banter while waiting for my MRI, and now I’m meeting with a surgeon straight out of central casting. Let’s hope that the parallels end there. I don’t want to be that character with the routine surgery who flat lines due to some bizarre complication, while the dude getting a head transplant in the adjoining OR is miraculously raised from the dead. I prefer that my procedures remain too boring for prime time, thank you very much.

And that’s that for the (sort of) health scare. It will all be fine. And I can now get back to the business of obsessing over far more mundane issues such as cellulite and crows feet. Or maybe not – now that I’ve been given some serious perspective on what is really important in life.

Oh who am I kidding, I’m already poking at arm flab and sighing at the muffin top that’s taken up permanent residence over my Lucky jeans.

The other update is that I have a new job. A part time job, I mean.

As you may know, I helped my parents set up a blog for their Key West based home decor shop. We started the Style Key West blog in January 2010, but the intention was always to use it for promoting a new online store. That online store has of yet to move beyond the concept stage, so a year later I thought I’d throw my virtual hat in the ring. I asked my parents if they’d let me do it.

And they said yes!

Aaaaand…now I just have to figure out how. Any advice or suggestions for vendors, platforms, web designers, general social networking dos and don’ts, etc. would be much appreciated. I’ve been thinking about it for a while, but I’m only just starting to do the research.

I have a pretty small operation going here at The Big Piece of Cake – so once [online store name to be determined] is up and running, I’ll be asking friends to help be spread the word. I’ll try not to be too annoying about it.

In the meantime? I’m going to have even more limited time for writing long posts. (And yes – all of my friends who complain about my long posts? The ones who are now smirking about this “disappointing” news? I’m giving you the finger.) But instead of taking an indefinite hiatus as I had previously planned, I’ve decided to go for brief daily posts. Just sound bytes, pictures…vignettes of each day. Just to stay in touch.

So I’ll end this – my last LONG post for a while – with a small piece of today’s happenings.

We had a milestone for the twins today: their very first Picture Day!

George could have cared less, but Eleanor approached the event with enough enthusiasm for two. She had a few ideas regarding wardrobe, and from what I could make out, she was trying to decide between her formal “Christmas dress” and an outfit involving a cute striped sweater coat.

This morning though, I was surprised to hear that she was in fact, planning to wear both as a combined ensemble. This would have looked cray-cray, and I suggested that she do either/or. Luckily, she ultimately agreed, and of course went with the more dressy (overdressed) option. We added a cardigan for warmth (the dress is sleeveless) and a headband. This is a Christmas picture showing the dress and hair accessory:

I told her to pick whatever shoes she wanted and she went with her “ruby slippers.” They wouldn’t have been my first choice…I would have suggested the silver mary janes – but it could have been worse (like light up Sketchers).

All of the fashion talk put me a little off my game and we completely missed Oliver’s bus pick up. So I had to drop him off before taking the twins to preschool. And the minute we were on our way out the door, Eleanor flung out an arm, dramatically announced that she FORGOT SOMETHING, and then raced upstairs demanding that we all wait for her.

I thought that she had to use the bathroom, but in fact, it was something far more critical. She needed to apply her “makeup.” This would be clear lip gloss, blush so pale you can’t tell she’s wearing any and some pats with a powder puff that makes her skin “sparkle.” After several minutes of primping she regally descended the stairs, sparkling like the newest member of the Cullen family. And we were on our way.

Pictures were taken up on arrival, and my daughter make a beeline for the bright light and blue backdrop. “All right, Mr. DeMille, I’m ready for my close-up” INDEED!

She’s now racing around the house in a costume half-super hero, half-Disney princess – demanding I call her Sparkle Cloud and claiming that she’ll rescue the world with rainbows.

I totally think she can.

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