Chemo Number Six: The Final Round... all great things must come to an end;) [and somehow I've managed to keep my sense of humor through it all!?... well, most of it:)]

Hello all! A quick update as I head to bed on the night before my last chemo treatment.  Woohoo!! :) There were many times along this path that I didn't think this day would ever get here - I am happy that it is upon me, though still dreading the few cruddy days to follow, and honestly a little scared as it feels like now we just walk away keeping our fingers crossed that it worked!?  But a week from today I'll be celebrating the true end of the chemo train, hopefully having been 'spat out ' for the last time and feeling confident!:)  Round five was more tolerable than rounds three and four which I'm attributing to the fact that we dropped to 80% of the initial dose.  (A statistically sound decrease as I'm still completing six rounds averaging more than 85% of the suggested dose, thus satisfying both me and my oncologist)  I'm assuming we'll do this again tomorrow, so I'm hopeful that this one won't be too awful! Strength, perseverance, and a couple more weeks of more medication daily than I've probably taken in the first 38 years of my life combined, and it will be behind me... whew!!:)

Life has been busy these last couple weeks with school years and dance season starting; a nice distraction and a source of fatigue both.  We have made it to the lake a couple times though, where nature and the ability to just relax have replenished some energy stores:) I will only be teaching part time for the first couple months this year, allowing me to balance 'real life' and getting the rest I need as I focus on recovery from chemo and then radiation treatments (not to mention surgery and the ongoing stress that comes with the diagnosis of breast cancer).  This was one of the more difficult decisions I've had to make, and really brought to light just how life changing this has all been... but I know it is what I need to do right now and in the end will allow me to gain that energy back that I so sorely miss.  Isis, on the other hand, is a full time middle schooler (crazy!) and dancer extraordinaire, busier than ever.  Maybe I'll see if I can squeeze a nap in for her on occasion;)

I continue to be overwhelmingly grateful for the vast amount of love and support that is all around me - from endless prayers and thoughts of positive energy and healing, to amazing home cooked meals, to errands being run, to help with yard work and cleaning, to wonderful visits from far away, to cards and messages and gifts, to incredibly generous financial support, to amazing hugs, conversations and words of support, to people walking and running and 'tri-ing' to raise money for breast cancer research, to the many offers that I've not even been able to take people up on... and I'm guessing that can't possibly cover everything.  And of course infinite love and gratitude to Mom and Papa for taking care of us every step of the way on so many levels.  We will get through this!! xoxo
I humbly thank each of you with every ounce of my being... peace and love and health and happiness.