I am SOOOOO Excited!

Tomorrow is my last chemo session!  Hurrah! 

Yesterday I was in for blood tests and to see doc Clemons (although he has dropped me and I now see his resident) and I couldn't wipe the stupid smile off of my face all day.  Yesterday was my last day at We Care and I took the lovely Beth a gorgeous blue potted hydrangea as a little thank you. 

While there is still a long road ahead, tomorrow marks the end of the second hurdle and I have a month off before beginning radition on May 7.  My goal for radiation is to walk to the hospital every day - and home again.  I have been warned however that the fatigue that goes with radiation is shocking, but if I get nothing else done, I'd like to get the walk in.  I have absolutely no muscle tone left.  While I've lost over 25 pounds since leaving work, I feel more out of shape than I've been in years.  Shockingly, sleeping does not tone muscles!  Who knew?

I met a lovely woman at the hospital yesterday named Christina.  She told me that she loved my smile.  We chatted for quite a while until she got called in to see her oncologist.  She's on her second last chemo session and was beautiful.  She is only 26, with two young boys and a finacée.  She opted for a full mastectomy and the pathology came back that her breast tissue was riddled with small cancer clusters that none of the tests showed before the surgery.  Food for thought.

I still have to take the neupogen after this last session.  I was hoping to avoid that but the indomitable Hazel put it into perspective:  "How rotten would it be if you got sick after the last chemo session b/c the white cells dropped and you didn't have any fun on your month off?".  Okay, fine, I'll stick myself some more - but only five this time.  Apparenlty my white counts have only been just inside the ordinary range. 

I spent today sleeping and making muffins for the staff at the chemo ward for tomorrow.  I made mini lemon and mini spice muffins with cream cheese icing.  Yum.  Sydny is actually taking the day off from school to go with me and I hope to see a number of you there around 12:30.  If I finish before that time I will wait until 12:30 to ring (and whoop and cheers and do my happy dance).  I'd love to go for lunch with any of you who can stay.  Logan was ill this week and so can't afford another day off of school.  Mom, Dad and Daphne are ringing in the Florida Panhandle and Mary is ringing in Victoria.  It's a continental event!

I was at the opening of Paule's photographic exhibit at 75 Bruyere.  The photos are stunning.  I told her that it amazed me how differently she and I saw the same or similar things.  That amazes me about all artists - how their brains interpret the ordinary into the extraordinary.  I should also add that her daughter is 25 and not 16 as I guessed!  Ah well, enjoy that while it lasts:)

Thanks to everyone who has been so supportive and loving through all of this and to those who have given me awesome care.  I feel very fortunate.