Anticipating Bald

The past few days, even weeks, have brought much anticipation of the inevitable ... losing my hair!  Although I didn't think I would be bothered by baldness ... I am REALLY not looking forward to it ... not one bit ...

Already, my hair, all over my body, has started to thin ... and my eyelashes are slowly falling out.  There is just nothing fun about being a women and having little or no hair ...

Tonight, though, Scott and I spent some time talking with Maddie about my diagnosis. We haven't spent much time talking about it ... instead, we have put all of our efforts into keeping things as normal as possible.  But, since Maddie is dreading my baldness as much as I am, we thought it might be helpful to show her that I am not alone ... that this happens to LOTS of women ... one of which took her slick scalp all the way to the Grammy stage ...

Melissa Etheridge & Joss Stone

2005 Grammy Awards
(Melissa Etheridge @ 2 minutes, 30 seconds)

For me, and for Maddie, I think ... this video was reassuring ... even comforting.  I can only imagine the strength and courage it took for Melissa Etheridge to stand on that stage before millions of people ... possibly more bald than the day she was born ... 

Hopefully ... when that day comes for me ... I, too, will find the courage to sport my bald head ... to find pride in myself and what I am fighting for ... and to never be ashamed of who I am ... or what I look like, however difficult it may be ... 

Here's to embracing bald ... 

Traditions

This past weekend was FULL of special traditions ...

On Thursday, we celebrated Thanksgiving ... a family tradition, of course ... filling our bellies full of delicious food, enjoying perfect company, and giving thanks for the many, many blessings in our lives ...

Before the sun rose on Friday, at promptly 5:30 in the morning, I met my cousins, Jenny and Mary, for a day of shopping!  Joining in the Black Friday madness has been a tradition for us for several years ... and it is SO much FUN ...

Me, Mary, and Jenny ... ready to SHOP the day away!

Every year, we spend the day shopping and, more importantly, laughing ... and every year, we arrive home after nearly 16 hours ... GREAT times!

On Saturday, for the second year in a row, we participated in one of our many Redbud Terrace traditions ... The Couple's Olympics and Tailgate Extravaganza!   The day is filled with games, football, beer, and LOTS of fun!  This year, we ALMOST took the trophy ... second place for the second year in a row ...

We almost had it ... 

We live on such an amazing street ... with the VERY best neighbors!  Next year ... LOOK OUT ... I will be on top of my game and we WILL take 1st place ... and the trophy!

Finally, after a busy holiday weekend, we had a relaxing Sunday ... finishing it off with one last tradition ... we kicked off the Christmas season with The Polar Express and hot chocolate with the kiddos!  It was the perfect ending to a perfect weekend ...

Here's to the memories of such wonderful traditions ... and to MANY, MANY more in the years to come ...

Giving Thanks

It's Thanksgiving and today I have more to be thankful for than ever before ...

Cancer has changed my life ... in so many ways ... it has helped me recognize the many, many blessings in my life and for that, I will be forverer grateful ...

Today, as always, I am thankful for my wonderful family and friends ... but, this year, I am most thankful for my doctors and the amazing medicine that has already had such a positive effect on my tumor ... and continues to bring me closer to cancer-free ...

For me, rather than giving thanks once a year, I have found that I give thanks every day, for each day, and for the many blessings God has given me ...

Here's to giving thanks ... for everything ...

11,156

As I have said so many times before, I am truly humbled by the love and support I have been shown throughout this journey ... and, today, this number says it all ...

11,156 ...

This is the number of times my blog has been viewed, as of this moment.  It still amazes me that this very personal experience matters to so many people ... that I matter to so many people ...

So, as you can imagine ... 11,156, as insignificant as it may seem, is a HUGE motivator in my journey to SURVIVOR .... it is motivation to write, motivation to smile, motivation to push through this fight no matter how difficult it may be at times ... because my journey matters and, at this finish line, each and every one of my "followers" will have the opportunity to share in the overwhelming joy I will feel to finally be CANCER-FREE ...

It just doesn't get any better than that ...

Bitter Sweet

As this week comes to an end, I must admit ... I am more than thankful to finally be through my third round of treatment and to be feeling good for this VERY special day ...

Andrew is FIVE YEARS OLD today ... and, for me, it is bitter sweet ...

Of course, it has been so exciting to watch my little guy grow and change over the years, but I truly can't believe how quickly the time has passed.  It seems like only yesterday that I held him for the very first time ... only dreaming of the joy he would bring into my life ... and, now, it's already five years later ...

So, today ... I thank God for Andrew ... for bringing him into my life ... for the wonderful memories we've made ... and I pray for MANY more years of love and laughter with my buddy ...

Happy Birthday, Andrew ...

Sarah

Throughout this journey, I have been touched by the kindness of others ... I have had the privilege of meeting many wonderful people ... and I truly believe that God has placed some very special "angels" in my path ...

Most recently, I met Sarah ...

Sarah and I met for the first time during my second infusion ... she came into the lab and was seated next to me.  It was her first treatment ...

Immediately, I noticed how young she was ... of course, when you are diagnosed with a life-threatening disease, you feel like you are the ONLY one ... and, for me, when I meet someone around my age, I feel an instant connection ...

So, during that meeting, we talked ... Sarah is 39 years old and fighting triple-negative breast cancer ...

We shared a little about ourselves and our families, but didn't have the opportunity to talk much more, until yesterday ...

On the day of treatment, I always stop at the lab for my blood draw first ... and, much to my surprise, Scott and I ran into Sarah and her husband.  We started talking when Scott made a connection. While finishing some computer work at the Starbucks near our house, he saw Sarah ... just the day before ...

Of course, this sparked more conversation ... and, much to our surprise, we learned that they live in our neighborhood ... just another typical couple, raising young children, fighting cancer ...

If you have been reading my blog or have researched triple-negative breast cancer, you know that it is a much less common cancer ... and through this journey, I have been blessed to know a few women who are survivors ... and now, I have Sarah ...

I cannot thank God enough for bringing these "angels" into my life ... for helping me realize that I can FIGHT and WIN ... and that I am NOT alone ...

Here's to my neighbor ... and my newest friend ...

Three Down ... Five To Go

Yesterday was a VERY long day ...

We headed to Emory early, as always, and I was able to have my blood drawn and see Dr. O'Regan in a timely manner.  Once we got to the infusion lab, however, things came to a screeching halt ... it took well over an hour before I was called and then nearly another hour before my treatment actually began.  So, after a 5 1/2 hour infusion ... we left just in time for rush hour traffic ... YIPEE ... it made for an almost 12 hour day ...

Usually, I feel quite good after treatment ... and usually continue feeling pretty normal for a day or two after ... NOT this time.  On the way home, while hugging the bumper of the car in front of us, I felt extremely nauseous ... I really wasn't sure I was going to make it home ...

Luckily, we did ... and once I took my medication and a nice, hot shower ... I felt well enough to eat a little and enjoy my Corona ... now, there are ONLY 5 MORE LEFT ...

So, overall, the day was quite successful!  As always, I had several great visitors and once things got started, it went by rather quickly ...

One MORE step closer to CANCER-FREE ...

Round 3 ... DONE ...

Thank you all so very much for your kindness ... and, more importantly, your continued prayers ... I will never be able to thank you enough ...

Little Things

This past weekend, as I witnessed the exchange of beautiful wedding vows and enjoyed the celebration of two lives joined together in love ... I couldn't help but wonder if I will be there for my children ... to share the joyous moments in their lives ...

Will I be there for prom?  Graduation?  Will I stand with pride as Scott gives Maddie away?  Will I dance with my son on his wedding day?  Will I have the opportunity to meet my grandchildren?

It is difficult to think about the future ... and as I continue on this journey, I am constantly reminded that this is really happening ... cancer is now and always will be a part of my life ... of who I am ... and, it could take all of these precious moments from me ...

Of course, as real as it is for someone with cancer ... I realize that life is fragile for everyone.  There are absolutely no guarantees ... no matter what ...

So, as difficult as it is at times, I make every effort ... every day ... to cherish the little things ... and I hope and pray that you do, too ...

Here's to the little things ...

Kid-Free

Tonight, as I pack for a weekend away, I have decided to put my cancer aside ... relax ... and really enjoy some kid-free time with my wonderful husband ...

We are headed to St. Simons Island for my cousin's wedding ... and I am looking very forward to the happy occasion! For me, especially at this point in my life, I prefer to surround myself with things that bring me JOY ... and there is nothing like friends, family, and fun to bring a much needed smile to my face!

So ... BIG congrats to my cousin, Rachael, and her soon-to-be husband, Jay ... bring on the good times!

Here's to a wonderful weekend ... screw the cancer ...