HaysDays

I met two extraordinary women while working on a story for our Komen Special. Jauna French and Terri Coleman have a deep friendship - a love and support that shows through the smiles - and tears. You see, Terri was diagnosed on April first (yes - April Fool's Day!) with Stage 3 breast cancer. She has no famiy history of breast cancer - and found her lump during a breast self-exam.

Terri had a double mastectomy and is currently finishing up her chemo treatments - before she starts radiation. Terri says she has leaned on her faith, family, and friends to get through her surgery and treatment (her 5 brothers even showed up on the day of her surgery with their heads shaved to support Terri!!).

After the surgery - when she started chemo - Terri noticed her hair was starting to fall out, so she decided to have a "The Chemo is Working Party." She got her two children and all her friends and family together - and they shaved Terri's head!! They even brought out the shaving cream and razor on a silver platter.

Terri has a great attitude - and her friend Jauna French, does too! Jauna owns Heath Hair and Day Spa in Heath - east of Dallas. The salon held a cut-a-thon to raise money for Couture for Cancer - a company that provides real hair, custom wigs to people going through chemo - and the wigs are FREE!

The Heath Hair and Day Spa (www.heathair.com) raised more money than any other salon in the country to provide wigs to those in need. Thanks for all their hard work to Jauna and the salon team members!! Great job!

Jauna has been able to provide her friend, Terri, with custom wigs during her chemo - and Terri says those wigs have given she and her family a feeling of "normalcy" - something her children really appreciate.

And Jauna, we appreciate YOU and Terri - you are an inspriration to all of us!

Please get in touch with the folks at the Heath Hair and Day Spa for more info - if you are in need!!

I can't believe I have lost about 45 pounds since Lily Rae was born June 20th! Actually I can't believe I gained that much in the first place. Yep, I joined the 200 pound club (actually about 203!!) -  Guess I just enjoyed a lot of Blue Bell!!  :) 

What's really scary is when I look back to before Emmy - I gained more than 75 pounds over the two pregnancies!! I am NOT at all promoting a large weight gain during pregnancy - each person is different and my Dr. watched me and said everything was great. There was no gestational diabetes and the girls and I were perfectly healthy throughout the pregnancies. Now I just need to get back in shape to keep up with my babies!!

I am writing this post because I could use some help. I seem to be hovering around the 158 mark (at 5'8" that's not horrible, but I still need to lose). My pre-Emmy weight was 125 - not sure if I will get down that low or not. I am still nursing (yes, that's alot of info, but it's important because I have to keep a high calorie count, can't do some crazy diet, or exercise non-stop).

If any moms (or dads!) have some post-baby ideas for weight loss - let me know. Jeff and I just bought a two-seater jogging stroller and we LOVE it. We take the girls on walks/jogs around the neighborhood - and are going to use it in the upcoming Komen Race for the Cure on October 18th. (did you see the PSA yet featuring Emmy and Lily Rae??).

Baron James asked me how I lost the weight - and really, I have just been doing Mommy stuff  - carrying one, playing with the other... you know how that goes! But if you do have any tips - I would really appreciate you passing them on. Have a great day!!

PS -  I posted this under Faith because I pray every night for my children's health and safety. So I figure this is my health  - may as well post here!

Bye, everybody... for now!! Wednesday is my last night on the air for awhile. I am taking some time off for maternity leave - and wanted to say "Thanks" to everyone who has emailed and called with words of encouragement for the birth of Baby Lily Rae. I know there were clothing concerns ("Stop wearing patterns!!") - but for the most part this pregnancy has been great (no morning sickness - yahoo!) and so have my friends here at work - and the viewers.

Jeff, Cecily, Emmy and I are SO excited to meet this little baby. She is already more than 6 pounds and I am now officially the heaviest I have EVER been in my life. It looks like I will have about 70 pounds to lose - so when I get back (and I WILL be back!), I hope you have diet tricks, low cal recipes, and exercise ideas to get this 41 year old mom back in shape!!  :)

In the meantime, keep us in your prayers - and I am sure Steve Eagar will come by the hospital when Baby Lily Rae arrives - so he can share pictures with you! Have a Happy and Safe summer - and I will see you soon!!

It looks like Emmy will have a little sister this June! We are having another little girl - Jeff and I are so thrilled!! The baby girl is healthy and right on track for growth -and due near the end of June. Thanks to everyone for the emails - and keep the new baby in your prayers!!  :)

PS - Good thing our dog is a boy - because Jeff will now have 3 daughters - Cecily is almost 15 - and Emmy 10 months. Hmmm.. does this mean we need to go for another to try for a boy??    :)

...well, she will be this summer! Jeff and I are Blessed - and are expecting a new little bundle of joy! We are thrilled!! And for those of you wondering - there will be 14 months between the children. (I have already gotten calls about that!). At 41 years old - to have a second child come into my life - is amazing! Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers - that we have another healthy baby!

Oh, we find out the sex in late January - I'll keep you posted. This is a picture of the Baby at 12 weeks.

 Here's one of Emmy at 6 months!

And here's Emmy and I duing a shoot for "Dallas Child" magazine. An article is coming out in the January issue. You can read the artcile on line at...  http://www.dallaschild.com/showarticle.asp?artid=230a>

The Hopkins Family - Roger, Jonna, 11-year old Thomas and 6-year old Grant - have one Christmas wish this year. All they want is to be together again. November 6th - all four almost lost their lives when their home in Joshua went up in flames after a series of explosions. They each had to be taken by CareFlite to Parkland's Burn Unit. Since then, outstanding medical care - and lots of prayers - have kept the family going.

But they still need your prayers - and your good will. They lost everything in the fire. Not much more than scorched earth was left behind. In Thursday night's "Whatever Happened To" - we bring you an update on the Hopkins Family - after receiving this email: "Would it be possible to do an update on this family? They are in need of donations to replacing everything they ownd and to rebuild their house... They need a lot of help and I was hoping your viewing audience could help. We at Bell Helicopter raised $3500, but that hardly makes a dent. "

After reading that email, I contacted Jonna Hopkins' sister. She told me the boys are out of the hospital and staying with their grandparents. They are in rehab and hope to go back to school next month. Their dad, Roger, got out of the hospital this week. He will stay in temporary housing near Parkland - because his wife is still there. Jonna is, however, being moved from Parkland's Acute Burn Unit to the Rehab Hospital. She no longer needs a feeding tube - and she can walk - carefully and slowly - on her own. So each member of the Hopkins family is doing so much better and that is great news!

Please keep the family in your prayers - and check out their website when you can. www.hopkinsrelief.com They are in need of donations - clothing, household items, furniture. You can find out how to contact them - and exactly what they need - on their website. Thank you! And just maybe, Thomas and Grant's Christmas wish will come true!