It is finished

It is finished, for the most part. Chemo done November 13, 2012.  Radiation completed January 23, 2013.  I will be totally done with all treatment in July 2013.

At my last radiation treatment, I got to ring the bell.  I never knew what that bell meant every day that I walked passed it.  But on Wednesday, I found out.  It represents  the end to the treatment but also a new beginning.  The plaque states: "Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.  Smile- this is one of those moments!"  The bell plaque says: Ring this bell three times well. Its toll to clearly say, My treatment's done, this course is run and I am on my way!
The girls at the radiation center (and guys!) are terrific!! They are so good at keeping this as normal as possible (if that is possible) by talking about their families, boy scouts, letting Erin come and watch twice and showing her the "ropes".

But I take celebration in the fact that I don't have to get up early in the morning every day (I am not a morning person!!) and that I am not feeling sick.  And the tiredness is slowly going away.  My armpit is healing and my hair is growing back!!
So the reminders this terribly cancer has given me that I see and experience everyday, is going, going, going soon to be gone!
I actually shaved my legs for the first time!!!  I like normal.  I want normal back and it is coming.

I praise God that he has gotten me through this ordeal to the other side. It has drawn me closer to him.  Sometimes it takes the storms to see what God can do for you.  HE has done amazing works in me and I know He will continue to do them.
So for those out there going through storms yourself (and you know who you are), I continue to pray for your health, strength, endurance and faith with God, He will take you through it to the other side.

1 Corinthians 14:15, "What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also."

Love to all,

AHHH, ALOE AND LIDOCAINE

Let me explain.  Well with radiation, comes burn.  Like a sunburn that burns all the time.  So comes the aloe. Now if your burn is in your armpit and your clothes, bra etc keeps rubbing it, then comes in the lidocaine in the aloe.  Yup that's what I said, in my armpit.  The bummer is that my clothes rub it and my skin wants to stick together.
So I walk around all day with my arm sticking out or my hand on my hip (like I got attitude!!) to keep it from rubbing and sticking together.  I look really cool.  And when I sleep, I sleep with my arm out or over my head.  And if I have to turn, you have to do this very carefully, because your shirt your sleeping in will get twisted and caught all up in your armpit and rub.  I bet you never knew all this happens when you sleep???Fun-times!

The good, positive to take away.......wait for it....wait for it....
I ONLY HAVE 7 MORE TREATMENTS!!!! Yes guys, WE MADE IT TO THE END!!!

Next Wednesday the 23rd is my last one.  I am so glad this is going to be done with!! I have already made plans for my "new" life outside of doctors office and visits and treatments. More to come with this in the future.

Thank you all for helping me pull through this.  I can't say it enough how much you mean to me. It has kept me sane and keeping me with a positive outlook on life.

Today's verse is awesome:
For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1

Love to all,

all things possible

The disciples asked Jesus, "who then can be saved?", But Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."  Matthew 19:25-26

I take heart and cherish this promise. All things are possible with God.
I am on day 18 of my radiation treatments.  I only have 12 more left.  It is starting to take a toil.  I am now feeling the fatigue as I was told.  It seems that half way through my day, I am
really tired. I don't like it.  I am now needing naps, like a little girl!! Well hopefully it won't be much worse.
I am also getting the skin side effects of radiation too.  The lotion they gave me is helping some.  The skin irritation could be alot worse.


So yesterday I must have been overly tired.  I didn't want get out of bed. Then I just got teary eyed because I felt like I was lazy. So I took my advice that I give Erin, and cried a little.  Sometimes a girl just has to cry a little.  So now I am better and feel better.  I got it all out of my system (at least for this week!).

My hair is growing back and I am so excited!! I can't wait for it to come in.  I think it will still take a while but I know it is coming back!!  And I have lost 3 of the 20 pounds that I gained from chemo!! Things are looking up for me.

Love to all,