For some reason this has been the hardest 'recovery' post chemo. By now I am usually feeling a little bit better, but I guess it's all starting to add up. It definitely helps knowing that this is the last one, but I think that will hit me a bit more on July 1st as that will be the first time I don't have to go back. Yeah! The kids are now done school and Rich has to head up to Manitoulin Island for work so we thought we would go with him. I'm hoping this little trip will be a nice diversion. We're going to stop by Michigan on the way home ( well thanks to a big lake in the way, it's quite a big drive..!) and visit friends for the weekend. Nothing involves camping so I think we shall manage just fine!
Our next big hurdle is the surgery on July 13th. We'll make sure to post something that day to let you know how things are going. We are praying for a successful surgery and a short recovery time! We hope everyone is enjoying their summer. Bye for now.

Last chemo session!

Today was very exciting as it was the last chemo session-wow! I feel very relieved to have finished this part, and I am looking forward to next week when I start to feel better again. I almost did not get the chemo today as my white blood cell count was too high and over their recommended cut off point. I wasn't expecting to hear that today because I have had no problems so far. But I think because it was my last session the doctor thought it would be OK to go ahead with the chemo ( I also tried to look very desperate to have this chemo done and over with!) Very happy to hear that it was a go ahead! I have been dealing with a cold and cough the past few days, so that may have something to do with it. The doctor did put me on antibiotics to deal with whatever my body is fighting. I was coughing so hard this afternoon, Rich thought if I kept eating I wouldn't be coughing! So here he is buying us ice cream to celebrate our last chemo.

It is a tradition in the chemo clinic to "ring the bell" when you are finished your treatment, everybody claps and the nurses give you a big hug to send you off. They have all been so great and definitely made the chemo process a bit easier. The doctors have also been wonderful. The one receptionist however needs a holiday (a very long holiday!)

We want to thank everyone for helping us through these past weeks, it has been a trying time but we have felt lifted up through it all.

The worst of the post-chemo days are over for this round and I'm already starting to feel a bit better. I never did develop any more cold symptoms, for which I am grateful-although Jocelyn now has a bad cold. There's always something! I forgot to take the nerve pain medication one night this weekend and I really noticed a difference in the leg pain department-electrical fireworks going on. It made me realize how well the medication is working and how hard chemo would be if there were no meds to manage the side effects.

Today I went to the public library (drove-not walked!) and handed the librarian my health card instead of my library card to check out my books. The scary part was that it was not the first time! I take out my health card so much now that it's always the first card I reach for. Oh well, it's a good thing librarians are very understanding.

Today was another long day at the chemo clinic. When we finally got into the chemo room, the only chair left was right underneath the TV (very hard for actually viewing the TV) and we were in a circle surrounded by 3 men- at least in the 70's- and fast asleep. And this was only 9:15 in the morning! This was certainly a lively crew. I have to admit I did think to myself- what the heck am I doing here? This just doesn't seem right. But we survived the day and Rich and I got lots of reading in.

A highlight of the week was meeting at a friend's house for coffee who is a breast cancer survivor. She invited 2 other ladies in their 30's who are also dealing with this crazy disease so it was really nice to share and support each other. One of the girls wrote a book about her experience and it is really great. It makes you laugh and cry, sometimes all at the same time. I also spoke on the phone with another girl who is starting a formal support group for younger women and that should start in about a month. I am looking forward to getting this chemo behind me. Only one more to go! I have had a sore throat and a bit of a cold for a week already, so please pray that I don't get any sicker- I am so close to being finished!