Home Sweet Home...

Chloe and I are thrilled to be back at home. Alabama was good, but there is something to be said about being HOME! I picked up Chloe in Houston on the way back to San Antonio. Here are a few pics from our time in Houston.


I had Mohs surgery on my face last Tuesday. The procedure was much more involved than I was expecting. I thought I would be in and out in about an hour, but I ended up being at the hospital all day and left with a lot of stitches in my cheek. The doc cut out the cancer spot and then sent it to the lab to check the margins. He had to go back in one more time and cut out a little more tissue. I will spare you the graphic "mid-surgery" snapshot, but here are the results.

Surgery Results - 18 May 2010

I got the stitches out this week and am healing up well. The doctor who did the procedure specialized in "facial reconstruction." I never intended on having plastic surgery, but...I also did not intend on getting cancer on my face. Looking back, I am a little frustrated with myself that I waited so long to get this spot checked out. It started out like a pimple a few years ago and after numerous attempts to pop it, it scabbed over and eventually turned into a "mole." It was gradually growing during that period, but I did not realize how big it had gotten.

Basal Cell Carcinoma (Dec 2009)

If you want some advice...WEAR SUNSCREEN and get "growths" checked out! Enough about cancer...

After dinner, Chloe and I usually spend a few minutes just hanging out making faces at each other and talking. Here is a cute video of her during one of our post-dinner hangouts...

I hope her "crazy leg" kicking does not develop into a Restless Leg Syndrome diagnosis. Ha!

Until next time...

It must be genetic...

...this girl loves airplanes too.

May 2010...

Chloe and I have been in Montgomery, Alabama for the past five weeks. I have been attending Squadron Officer School (an Air Force Leadership School) at Maxwell Air Force Base. Chloe has been a trooper as we have had to adapt to and overcome the obstacles that go along with living in a hotel room...for over a month. This has been my first experience trying to balance the requirements of school work with taking care of a baby. Chloe made it relatively clear that she did not like me doing homework when she wanted to play!

Some of our best friends from Japan are here and watched Chloe during the day when I was at class. I am thankful that I was able to have her here with me.

We visited some friends down in Florida for two of the weekends that we were here. Chloe's first trip to the beach was on a day when there were tornado warnings and gale force winds, so we did not get to play in the water.

Destin, FL

Panama City, FL

Destin, FL
(second attempt at the beach)

Sara's sister flew out to Alabama this morning and picked up Chloe. She is going to spend the next few days in Houston as I finish up class. I will leave here on Friday and pick up Chloe on my way back to San Antonio.

A few weeks ago, I got a call from the dermatologist about my cheek growth. The results came back and it turns out that I have Basal Cell Carcinoma. The doctor told me that this is the most common type of skin cancer and is the "best type of cancer to have" because it does not spread. I am scheduled for a minor procedure next week where they will cut out the entire area. I am pretty young to have developed this type of cancer, but after the surgery, there is no further treatment required (besides sunscreen application each day). I was pretty surprised to learn that it was cancerous, but not overly concerned.

Here are some recent pics of the little lady...

Swinging at Maxwell AFB

Thanks for checking up on us.