Femur MRI clear, but da chemo done come

So GREAT news about the femur. Looks fine, but they're putting it on the list of things to look at again in six months, along with my lungs and liver.

The chemo is very tolerable so far. Actually, I feel pretty fantastic, but a little headache is wanting to blossom soon so we are heading home for the day.

Sorry for the shorty-pants post, but well, I've got a doctor's note, people.

Deep thought for the day: Is it okay to play the cancer card on telemarketers? Please comment!

Also, if any of you are knitters, take a look at this and if it strikes your fancy, I'd LOVE one... in qiviut. HA! Little joke there. A darker royal blue would be good, or brown, or olive drab to match my eyes. Just looking for something a little fancy for church and snuggling in all the rest of the time.
 http://earthfaire.com/lace-puffs-smoke-ring-pattern-p-3272.html

Am I Really Ready for Anything?

Greg and I have talked and talked about what the future might bring. We are truly ready for anything, or so I thought.



Not that we think Greg is going anywhere, but we've done our wills, we've found guardians for the girls (thanks you guys!!), we've realigned our priorities, and organized our investments and retirement stuff. All our beneficiary designations are set to rights. All our cards are in order. We've talked to the girls about how sometimes mommies need to go to heaven when they have breast cancer and how God has a plan that we really have no input with. Ready! All bases covered! Right?

Maybe not.

The four of us planned on going to an evening of worship and singing last night at a local church. It was a fundraiser for a new non-profit directed at women who are transitioning out of prison. However, in the parking lot, the girls were arguing, everyone was tired. We almost cancelled and just went home. But at the last minute, which was really 20 minutes into the show, we decided unanimously to give it a try. It was a HUGE blessing! We were meant to be there, by which I mean I was meant to be there. What a God thing!

When a friend also in attendance asked about me I realized she didn't know about the cancer and chemo dance I've been doing; I replied with my standard, "We are ready for anything." She said, "Really? Are you ready for Him to heal you and save you? Are you ready to accept His gift of life? Are you ready to receive the blessings He pours out on you?"

Woah.

I don't think I was. I might still not be, but I am going to dig into the Word and try to prepare myself for the fact that I may plow through this and be fine on the other side. That I will be alive and blessed on the other side. Even though I don't deserve it, God may be planning on it, and I need to be ready to receive it as the awesome gift it is.

The very last song of the night was like a message just for me: "Greater things have yet to come, Greater things are yet to be done..." AMEN! Thank You Gracious Father.

PS: These pictures are from our Hawaii vacation in February. I love taking pictures of flowers and scenery and trees and stuff in case you couldn't tell. Hard to find anything that's not beautiful there.

Deep Thoughts from pre-chemoville

• Why have I had several very good hair days this week, right at the exact time I'm going to lose it all?
• I've been finding bright sides all over the place... don't cancer patients often lose lots of weight? Well, I've been banking on that, but my doc now tells me that due to some incredible advancements in anti-nausea meds, most chemo-ites actually gain weight. Super.
• This year, Greg and I did the AukeMan, which was so fun. This was about two weeks after I found my lump (which was really more of a huge growth that inhabited my whole right you-know-what). I'm thinking if I can get through the chemo crud and on to the surgery part and recovered from that, I may have a chance at doing the 2013 Aukeman! That's my goal at this point, but I'm not sure how realistic it is. We'll know more as we get going with the treatments.



AukeMan 2012: crossing the finish line with a final (and solitary) burst of speed!

Super Auke Dude blowing by everyone in the bike leg.

Huh. Guess I didn't have as many deep thoughts as I thought I did. Not much of a post, really.  Maybe I can redeem this with a recent picture? This was taken last night at the lodge where we've been living since late August.

On the plus side, I am feeling absolutely GREAT today! I usually (at least 4 or 5 days a week for the last 4+ years) have a terrible headache all day as well as sniffles and sinus congestion. Today, I am good. I had to take a 5-hour nap to achieve such heights, but I'm happy to have a nice evening to look forward to. Greg just got home with pizza. We've got some fun company tonight and great friends/roommates/hosts... What a blessed day!

Sick people need to be organized!

We have had about 7 gazillion appointments and/or consultations since last week. I'm trying hard to keep track of it all, but I'm a bit of a slouch so far on that. Here's the latest:

• WE'RE HOME! We got back to Juneau on Sunday and have been looking for a rental that will take a really big dog. Keta grew SO much in two weeks. Pictures later.
• The bone scan was pretty clear except for a small area on my upper left femur. I'm having an MRI this Friday to take a closer look, but the risk is small that there is any metastasis.
• The surgery for my port went well, but it is still pretty sore and the area needs to heal a bit more before we use it on...
• Wednesday of next week, which is my first day of chemo! On Tuesday, I have a general work-up to check my heart and blood levels, then if everything is AOK, we'll get the big guns on Wednesday.
• Therefore, if any of you are attached to my lovely locks, please say your fare-thee-wells now. It will all be leaving shortly.  But first...
• The girls and Greg are going to have a hair cutting party. I'm going to let the girls give me a style (?) of their choosing and then we'll just shave it all off after that instead of watching it come out in clumps later. And yes, we will take pictures. Not sure if we will share or not. :)
• Thursday of next week I get yet another injection to help build up the bone marrow that will be affected during the chemo.
• My treatments will be every other week so I should be relatively normal during the off week as I'm healing up for another treatment.
• I'm so looking forward to being strong and healthy again next spring/summer. I'm also looking forward to an introspective, productive winter season, doing a lot of reading and sleeping, and praying of course.
• We are so thankful to Our Amazing Lord God for, as Gwen put it in her blessing over dinner last night, "giving Mommy a type of cancer that is easy to treat." Amen, kiddo!

No other news right now, but thanks again for all your prayers and inquiries about helping. We can't think of anything yet, but we'll start making a list of ways you can help if you want to. Anyone want to fly up here and do laundry? :)