BRCA1, BRCA2

I'm having "female" troubles. Sigh. The joy of being 40, female, and a cancer survivor. No worries, no cancer scares or anything, but as I met with my OB-GYN this week, we determined that we should test for BRCA1&2, the genetic markers for ovarian cancer to determine whether they should come out or not.

It's a much longer and more complicated story than that, but suffice it to say that I'm not having any more children, and at 40, you get tired of being female in some ways. I'm sure the women reading this will know what I mean.

Without going into too much detail, I'm ready to stop being capable of bearing children, and two of the options for that include hormones, which I cannot take. Hence the genetic testing. Having survived cancer, it makes me nervous to be looking for this kind of thing, even though I suspect there's nothing to tell, and even if the markers are there, removing the ovaries would take care of it. Which is actually a good thing, since ovarian cancer does not have a high survival rate.

Not sure why I'm blogging about this, other than it's been on my mind today because I met with my doctor this morning for the tests, and I'm really very bored at work today. I'd like to go home and just go to bed. I'm exhausted.

I'll keep you all posted if there's anything to be done. If not, you won't hear a peep and all is well.

I love it when my kids recommend books

Riley recommended "Walk Two Moons" a few years ago, and it is still one of my all-time favorites. It's a Newberry winner, and if you've not had a chance to read it, add it to your list.

Lennon just finished reading "Robin Hood" in his 4th-grade class, and he brought home a copy for me (he got permission from his teacher, don't worry). I promised myself a long time ago that if my children recommended a book, I would read it. No questions. I had to Finish "Life of Pi," but now I am happily engaged in the life of Robin, Little John, Maid Marian, and all the Merry Men. It's admittedly a little youthful, but I like that. And it's so much more detail than any of the films. (OK, I confess, I've only seen the Disney version, but you know what I mean.)

There's a fellow here at my work who has two children in college, one at Brown. One semester he made a committment to read the same books they were reading for their college courses. He was a busy fellow, but he came in with the most fascinating stories. I hope that I can do the same some day. I love to read, and it's even more pleasurable when you can share the experience with your children.

I also believe that my brother has a rule that if his children want to see a movie based on a book, they must first read the book. An excellent idea, and one I will have to implement. Um, if I can get my kids to cooperate this late in the game.

So what kids books have you read because of your children? Have you enjoyed them? do you think it's because the book was genuinely fun/great/worthwhile, or more because your kid asked you to read it? I find that a recommendation by my children carries a lot of weight with me. But maybe that's only because I'm so flattered they would include me.

TMI?

My son was in the restroom yesterday, and I needed him for something, so I asked if he was about done. He said (and he'll kill me for repeating this, hence no mention of names), "I'm just wiping." I told him that was too much information, and he responded, "Why? You used to wipe me."

You can't help but love logic like that.