What a Year...

Hi Everyone!  It's me, Maggie!!  I know that I haven't posted in a while but I thought today would be an appropriate day to start blogging again.  Two days from today will be one year since those terrifying words were spoken to me, "You have cancer."  Looking back at that day, I didn't think I could survive the rest of that week but here we are almost a year later and I am still smiling and enjoying everything about life!!!

This morning, I met with my oncologist and got the results to my most recent set of scans,which were yesterday.  Those pesky little tumors are still stable, they haven't gotten any smaller but they haven't gotten any bigger.  I don't know about you, but that is a huge win in my book.  I was relieved when he came in and said it, it has been a rough couple of sleepless weeks for me.  Ambien and I have become close friends :).  Since everything is still stable and I have pretty much plateaued with the current chemo regiment, VAC/IE, it was decided today that I would put the last two cycles I have left on the back burner (we will have them in our back pocket in the future if needed) and move on to the next phase of treatment.  Next Thursday, December 3rd, I will be meeting with one of the surgical oncologists that works with a lot of patients that have cancer in the abdominal area to see about having more surgery to try and get rid of these pesky tumors along with the lymph nodes they are living on.  I hope this can happen one way or another as I would like to get these ticking time bombs out of me :).  I will also be starting on a new oral chemo pill, hopefully in three weeks.  My oncologist's office has to get all of the paperwork into the insurance company so they can review and hopefully approve payment for this new drug called Votrient.  I am actually excited to start this one because my hair will grow back, it's really cold already and I am sick of my head freezing all of the time.  Also, I want my nose hairs back!!!  Having a consistent runny nose for the last year has not been all sunshine and roses let me tell you!!  I have learned a lot about taking things for granted this year, but I for one will never take nose hairs for granted ever again :).

I know since I haven't updated in a long while a lot of amazing and fun things have happened in our world.  In August, Don, his parents, the kids and I were fortunate enough to take the most amazing trip to Disney World.  We had the opportunity to stay at the most wonderful hotel and resort, The Hilton Bonnet Creek.  Let me tell you, if you are ever in Orlando and need a place to stay, please, please choose this hotel.  It was amazing and they were so amazing to us and took great care of my family while we were there.  I can't say enough good things and they also have this pool!!!

If this doesn't make you want to stay there than I don't know what will.  Disney World was so amazing and we had so much fun, but I really new that this trip was for Liam and for me to see him so excited to meet Mickey Mouse and have the most fun that a 3 and half year could ever have in his life.

This was his very first character encounter, I mean come on, look at his face.  That is pure joy and I know I got a little teary eyed.  I can tell you that this face and smile is burned into my brain for the rest of my life.  Liam and Sadie got to meet a ton more characters through out the week!!

 This little video was at the Disney Junior Live show at Hollywood Studios, Liam loved it as it had Mickey, Doc McStuffins, Jake and Neverland Pirates and Sofia the First.  He had a blast.  

 Meeting Chef Minnie!!!

 Chef Goofy!!!

 Chef Donald!!!

 None other than Chef Mickey!!!!

 Chef Pluto!!!

 Chef Mickey, located at the Contemporary Resort was well worth the money, great food and each of the characters spend a good amount of time at each table with the kids for autographs and pictures. 

 It's a Small World Grandma!!!

Sadie wasn't too sure of all of the little singing statues in It's a Small World

 Rafiki!!!

 I might make myself look like an idiot, but I learned something about Chip & Dale at Disney.  The only way to tell the two apart is that Chip has a nose that looks like a chocolate chip, hence his name.  Never knew that, however as you can see this is Dale, we never did find Chip that day!!

 We went to Storytime with Belle and the only way that you could meet Belle and get your picture taken with her is if you volunteered to be in the little play they put on, so me being the mother of the year, made crying Liam be in the play :).  Since he was so scared, I got to be in the play and the picture as well!!!  Thanks for the tip Stef!! :)

 The Haunted Mansion, watch out for those hitchhikers at Disney!!!

 Family Picture at Chef Mickey, not bad for 7am!!

 Goofy at Hollywood Studios!!

 The whole family on Main Street, USA at the Magic Kingdom!!

 This was about as close as we got that whole day, it was like 100 degrees with 90% humidity!!!

Headed into the jungle!!!

We made such amazing memories that whole week and had so much fun, we wish we could go there all of the time but alas, we had to return to the real world.  I do have to say that it was nice for at least a week to act like a normal, non-cancer family.  

In September, there was an amazing event that the Sarcoma Clinic at The James Cancer hospital put on called Steps for Sarcoma.  This event is held annually to benefit the doctors and researchers that work everyday at The James Sarcoma Clinic to find cures for all sarcomas.  I was fortunate for this event, like every day of the last year to be surrounded by everyone who loves me, whether they were near or far.  I am proud to say that my group Maggie's Madhatters raised $3,860 for the event.  We went into the walk 100 people strong and really showed sarcoma that it can suck it!!! :).  To this day, I still get comments from doctors, nurses and even other patients about how impressed they were with our group.  While we didn't get a whole group picture (which I am totally bummed about), here are some pictures from that amazing day!!!

These are only a few of what I assume were a ton of pictures taken that day.  I am still overwhelmed that so many people took the time to support me on that day, from near and far.  It was an amazing day for me to see such love come together not only for me but supporting all the patients that are going through the same battle as I am.  I love each and everyone one of you more than anything in the world and I couldn't ask for a better family or a better group of friends who are all like family to me.  I fully expect to make this a yearly event and I hope that all of you will too!!  

I want to leave each one of you with this, I never thought this year would go quite as well as it has.  I have read horror stories about my particular type of cancer but I know that because I am surrounded by each and everyone of you, with your love and support I can fight this with all the strength I have in my body.  Here is to hoping that this next year goes as well as the last!! :)

All The Right Moves

Hi everyone!!  I know that I haven't updated in while but I felt that for myself I needed a break from the "cancer world".  So I decided to focus all of my time that I wasn't in treatment on my life and ignore the fact that I had cancer.  I know, easier said than done, but that last two months or so have been great.  I have spent some great time with my family and friends just enjoying and living life.  

I will start out by saying that at the beginning of June I had my first set scans since treatment has started and we have made small steps in the right direction.  The chemo is working and has shrunk two of the three tumors I have.  The third tumor has stayed stable and shows no growth.  YAY!!!  This was the best possible news that we could have hoped for, considering I was preparing myself to hear that the chemo wasn't working and that I had only three weeks to live.  I kept telling myself that if I was prepared and ready to hear that previous statement any news better than that would be amazing.  I know that sounds sick and twisted, but I cannot even begin to tell you some of the things that go through a cancer patient's head around scan time.  I am just happy that I can report to everyone that we are moving in the right direction in beating this nasty "c" word!!!

We have been able to do a lot of things as a family over these last two months.  It has been a great change of pace in our household, we don't really put to much off now a days.  If there is something going on that we want to do, we do it.  Liam got to meet his favorite character in the whole world (for the moment at least), Daniel Tiger.  I have never seen this kid so excited, he didn't want to stop hugging him.  I guess it was worth it that Sadie and I stood in line for an hour to be the first to meet him.

There have been lots of brother and sister bonding time as well.  Liam really likes being a big brother and he is paying a little more attention to his sister now that she is making noise and moving around a little.

We have also been super busy planning our first family trip to Disney World.  Don and I decided that it would be a perfect time to take Liam and show him all of the magic that Disney has to offer.  I now know why people plan these trips for years, there is so much to it.  Where to stay, eat, what parks to go to.  I can't tell you how much research I have done over the last few months.  It has definitely taken on a life of its own, but it will be well worth seeing the reaction that Liam has to visiting Mickey's house (as he is calling it).  We are so excited to go on this trip as a family and to have this experience with each other.  

As of last week, I have completed six of the 14 treatments that have been scheduled for me. I cannot believe we are coming up to the halfway mark already.  While it seems like it has taken forever to get to this point, it has also felt really quick.  I am happy to share that my doctor is very impressed with how I am handling the chemo, most people who do this regiment only last 6 or 8 cycles before they have to quit because of the toll it takes on the body.  I am clearly the exception to that rule because after six cycles I am actually feeling really great.  I will say that I still have terrible mouth sores and am way more fatigued that "before" cancer but other than that I am feeling really great.  I know that I am very lucky and that most people on this regiment cannot say that, please know that I do not take that for granted. I go in for my next three day treatment on July 20th, hopefully that will go quickly unlike last week did for me.  

I also want to share that The James Cancer Hospital Sarcoma Clinic that I am being treated at will be hosting the 6th Annual 2015 Steps for Sarcoma Walk/Run on Sunday, September 13, 2015.  I hold this event very near and dear to my heart, 100% of all funds raised will go directly to The James Sarcoma Clinic and research doctors that are treating me and who are trying to find a cure for all sarcoma cancers that effect so many adults and children all over the world.  If you would like to participate in the event and join our team, Maggie's Madhatters we would love to have you!!  For the event we ask that all participants wear their craziest hat to show support for Sarcoma Awareness!!  Please see the link the below for further information and to register.  

2015 Steps for Sarcoma Walk/Run Registration

**If you are coming in from out of town to participate in the run/walk please email me and let me know the names of all registrants so that we can pick up registration packets the week of - Email:  maggiesmadhatters2015@yahoo.com**

If you are unable to participate in the event please consider making a donation to this cause. I have setup up a team fundraising page for the event.  My team goal is to raise at least $1,000 with the hopes that we can exceed and blow past that number because Team Maggie's Madhatters Rock!!! 

Maggie's Madhatter's Fundraising Page
I thank everyone who takes the time to either participate or donate, your kindness means the world to me, Don, Liam and Sadie.  We love you all very much and don't know what we would do without each and everyone of you during this fight!!

On that note I leave you all with this:
  
“Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear.” – Ambrose Redmoon

I ran across this quote the other day and thought that it was very appropriate to apply it to what I have been going through these last eight months. Every day I have friends, family and even strangers tell me how brave and courageous I am fighting this cancer and how they couldn't even being to think how I deal with this everyday.  Well I will tell you, everyday, I wake up and put on a brave smile for my family, friends, those strangers of the world, even though I am terrified each and every day since my diagnosis. However, even though I have that fear and I had my dark days at the beginning of this I have consciously decided to live my life like each day like it will be the last.  Time is a gift, a gift that I like most people took for granted every waking day.  I know that life that isn't guaranteed for anyone, you can could be perfectly healthy, walk outside and get hit by a bus, but having the "c" word held over your head puts life and how you live it into perspective.  Before my diagnosis I know that I was always worried with what people thought of me and how people perceived me.  Thinking like that, I had a lot of self doubt about myself and the things I could do and accomplish.  I also know that I hid those thoughts and feelings well from most people in my life, in a way this cancer diagnosis has helped me a lot to get over these thoughts and feelings.  I don't dwell on what others think and feel about me, and I don't care if someone thinks I can do something or not.  I am here to live my life with the people that I love and that love me.  I know it will sound weird to a lot of people but in a way, cancer has made me a much stronger person than I was eight months ago.  I have a lot to be thankful for in my life and I have made promise to myself to live my "new" life to the best of my ability and in the most positive ways that I can.  

An Overwhelming Thank You!!

It has been just about six months now that we have been living in this "Cancer World". While, it feels like a million years already, it is still just a blip of time in my young life.  Over these whirlwind six months I cannot begin to even tell you how much support, prayers/thoughts, well wishes, kind words, help, gifts, meals, love and friendship we have received.  This means the world to me and my little family, I guess it really is true what they say, you don't really know the impact you have on other people until you are in a situation that you need their support and love.  We are so thankful and will continue to be thankful every day of our lives for all that you do.  With everything going on and how busy life is in the "Cancer World", I know that I haven't able to reach out to each person individually but please know that Don and I are incredibly indebted to each and everyone one of you.  

Before my third treatment we were able to have some pictures taken by a wonderful photographer here in Columbus.  She did a wonderful job and we are anxiously awaiting the final photos, she did give us a few as a sneak preview.  These came out great considering Liam did not want to cooperate at all that day, but such is life with a three year old. However, as you see below we are a pretty cute bunch and will cherish these photos for a long time to come.  

I have now officially completed three of 14 treatments with the fourth on the very near horizon.  I am still very lucky that the side affects haven't been too bad.  I did have a couple of days of feeling queasy but I feel great considering the toxic drugs that are coursing through my body :).  The two side affect that is getting me right now with no end in sight are the irritation in my mouth and the chemo brain.  I don't necessarily have open mouth sores but it feels like my mouth is continually scorched by hot coffee, which throws my taste off so much that eating is not really fun anymore.  However, it does give me an excuse to eat all of the popsicles, ice cream and smoothies I want :).  The chemo brain is the worst, I am college educated woman and most of the time now I feel like a complete idiot.  I forget what objects are called or forget what I am saying halfway through a sentence.  This is the best because then I just stand there with this dumb look on my face and all I want to do is laugh because it is so idiotic that me of all people is rendered speechless.  I had heard rumors from people about chemo brain but never did I imagine it would be this bad.  I am also doing my best to avoid infection, it has helped that it is getting warm and we are out of flu season.  
Giving a sneak peak to what is coming up in the next few months, after my fourth treatment cycle I will be going in for my first set of scans post treatment.  Now, I am both anxious and terrified by this.  Anxious, because I want to see how this chemo is affecting the disease with the hopes that it is doing its job and shrinking the three tumors that are in my body and also keeping and additional disease at bay and not letting anything else grow.  This is the ideal situation but I am also terrified because it is just as likely that the scans will not come back with the ideal situation.  With how complex and aggressive this cancer is I am so scared that the scans will show more growth which means the chemo is not working.  I know this is the worst case scenario, but I guess that is why they call it "scanxiety".  

In recent weeks, I have been fortunate to virtually meet a few adults and/or their caregivers who have DSRCT.  We adults who have this are a rare breed and very few and far between. I can't say that it excites me when someone comes out of the woodwork with this, but it gives me comfort to know that I am not the only one going through this.  While I know I have a ton of people who surround me and support me in this fight, most of the time it is isolating and lonely.  I feel that it is a huge task to ask someone who is not going through this cancer or any cancer really to relate with how you are feeling and what you are going through.  It really has helped me mentally to talk with others who have this because most of the time in the "real" world I feel like I am a person looking in from the outside. I just hope that I have helped them in their daily lives, even if it something small, like being the new friend who can relate to their feelings.  I know how I feel on a daily basis and if I can help someone else avoid those feelings then I have accomplished something.  Talking with these few people has shown me that I am not the only who puts on a brave face each and every day but in reality is terrified beyond belief.  It is comforting to know that there are others out there, because it is easy to feel like the only one while battling this cancer.   I really just wish there was an easy way to meet these people in person, but this disease is cruel and seems like it never wants to show up in the same place twice.  We are all spread out, all over the country and even Canada.  I guess being able to talk on Facebook is better than not being able to talk at all. 

As I look to the future, I plan on doing as much as I can to bring DSRCT into the spotlight.  I will be participating in an event this coming September that The New James Sarcoma Clinic puts on.  It is called Steps for Sarcoma, this is a walk/run that is taking place on on September 13th.  I am in the process of putting together a team and fundraising page for this.  All donations and proceeds go directly to the Sarcoma clinic at The James so that my doctors can find cures for sarcomas.  I know that the medical technology may not be available for my cure but if there is anything I can do to help people in the future I will do it and this is where I will start. 

A great song for a great fight!!
Fight Song by Rachel Platten

Cancer Is A Full Time Job

So my entire life now revolves around cancer and each day becomes a more in depth episode of of "TMI" on Maggie's daily symptoms and activities.  I have noticed that the conversations between me and my amazing husband get sexier and sexier with each passing day, how are my bowel movements, do I feel like I need to throw up, did I wake up with a hemorrhoid, etc., etc..  I know, right??  I am only 31 years old, I though these conversations with your significant other only happened when you are old, wrinkled and 90 but nope they happen when you have cancer.  I thought that having a baby and talking about baby poop all day made me have no shame, nope cancer definitely wins!!   I know that along with my wonderful husband and certain amazing friends and family members these conversations have come up to certain extents and I appreciate all of them as they listen contently while I bitch about the maladies that I encounter. Throughout these last five months I have really found an awesome support system and I love each and everyone of them dearly for it.  

My latest treatment last week went pretty good, I can't say that I love being cooped up in the hospital for 5 1/2 days.  Trust in me that it is no where near as exciting as a great five night, six day trip to the Bahamas you can win on The Price Is Right (I watch so much of The Price Is Right, in fact I watch it everyday) but the nursing staff and the doctors are amazing, they make sure that I am as comfortable as possible, even though it doesn't take much for that to happen right now and happy for that fact, just a pair of fuzzy socks and some comfy stretchy pants.  I don't yet need the massive pain killers or sleep aids that some need on the floor to live day to day, I am very lucky on that front and do not take that for granted.  Don and Sadie still gets to come up to the hospital each that I am there because he is still on paternity leave, he will be going back the middle of May.  I am not sure how I yet feel about that but I am sure it will be hard when the day comes when I am cooped up with no daily companion, but hey the man's gotta work!! 

Next up, the food, it isn't completely terrible but the variety is severely lacking through nutrition as they call it, one can only eat a chicken and cheese quesadilla so many times before you never want to see Mexican food again, just kidding, I could never hate Mexican food.  One of the good things about the food at The New James is that it is just like room service, you order and it gets delivered.  Three times a day I get to feel just like royalty when the very young (like 12 year old young) server brings it to me, it's like I am in the Dark Ages :).  One of the great things though about the James is that it has the only Au Bon Pain in I think the whole state and they have the best Peach Iced Tea, this is a luxury that I do indulge in on pretty much a daily basis.  I don't know what I am going to do when Don does go back to work, I may have to bribe one of the nurses to sneak down and get one for me each afternoon I am there.

Since getting released from my second treatment this past Saturday it has been going as good as it can be. The doctor/nurse decided to put me on a more strict anti-nausea medication regiment to get ahead of the nausea this time instead of waiting for it to happen.  Clearly, that did not work for me after the first round.  That is what I like about this new doctor, he doesn't pussyfoot around when something doesn't work, he moves forward to find something that will work.  I have had a few side effects with this last round of chemo, the main one being mouth sores, they are less than desirable and really not pleasant at all.  It pretty much feels like my entire mouth was scorched with boiling hot coffee and it hurts to brush my teeth because my gums hurt too.  With this happening, my entire sense of taste has been thrown off and almost everything tastes funny or not like it should.  This doesn't bode well for the appetite, food has really been set towards the back of my brain this week.  I really just eat things because I know I need to keep my strength up.  I know this doesn't seem like such a big deal but it just shows how much cancer rules my life.  I can even enjoy the food and drink that I have enjoyed for most of my life, I realize now how much I have taken great food and drink for granted.

There was another determination made by the doctor last week, it is one that I thought might be coming but until they actual said it I guess I could pretend that this all wasn't happening to a certain extent.  I am really sad to say that I will not be going back to work at the beginning of May like originally planned once my maternity leave is up.  After discussing with the doctor/nurse what my work environment is (hotel industry) they determined that the work environment would not be safe for my health or well-being at this time.  It has been decided that I will be out of work for the next year so that I can complete all of my chemo treatments and any additional that may be added on and also possible radiation and additional surgeries needed to get me back to good working order.  I know many of you must be thinking, "Alright, no work for a year that would be great!!".  I get it, no one actually wants to work but in my case I had finally found a great job at a great place with some of the greatest people I have ever met and now that has all been pulled out from under me.  It's not fair and I am sad and angry about it.  The last year and half had been the most fulfilling time in my career that I have ever had, I worked under and with some very talented people in the hospitality industry here in Columbus and had and was learning so much to further my career.  I am very appreciative that I was given the opportunity by two wonderful women who I look up to for so much in this industry, they gave me a great opportunity and I was able to expand my knowledge and talent working for them.  I was also able to make some really great friends, this is the sad part of not working. I will not get to see their faces on a daily basis and just have that every day contact that I learned to love so much!!  This is why I love these people so much!!!

So as I move forward in this journey I have a new full time job, Cancer and even more so BEATING Cancer! This next year I will focus on my treatments, this fight and Kicking Cancer Butt!!  I know it isn't the ideal way to spend a year of life, but this is the hand I have been dealt and I fully intend to make the most of it.  I will spend every day enjoying and loving my family, living each day to the best of my ability on that particular day and also paying it forward to others who may or may not be in the same situation or equally as crappy situation.  I will make the most of this and not take for granted the time that has been to me.  I know there are a lot of people who are in my situation who are not given the same opportunity, that being a chance to fight.  

I leave you with some words from an amazing song and amazing musician!


Well, I won't back down
No, I won't back down
You can stand me up at the gates of hell
But I won't back down

No, I'll stand my ground, won't be turned around
And I'll keep this world from draggin' me down
Gonna stand my ground and I won't back down

(I won't back down)
Hey baby, there ain't no easy way out
(I won't back down)
Hey, I will stand my ground and I won't back down

Well, I know what's right, I got just one life
In a world that keeps on pushin' me around
But I'll stand my ground and I won't back down

(I won't back down)
Hey baby, there ain't no easy way out
(I won't back down)
Hey, I will stand my ground
(I won't back down)
And I won't back down

(I won't back down)
Hey baby, there ain't no easy way out
(I won't back down)
Hey, I won't back down

(I won't back down)
Hey baby, there ain't no easy way out
(I won't back down)
Hey, I will stand my ground
(I won't back down)
And I won't back down
(I won't back down)
No, I won't back down


Songwriters: Lynne, Jeff / Petty, Tom

Everything All At Once

It has been about 2 months since my last post, but I assure you a ton has happened over this time.

First, we had the honor of welcoming Sadie Glenn Butler to our little family at 2:04pm on February 17, 2015.  She weighed in at 7lbs. 6ozs. and was 19 3/4" long.  Liam was super excited to meet his new little sister.  He is amazing with her.  

We were able to enjoy a few uninterrupted weeks with both of our kiddos before the world of cancer retook out lives.  My chemo treatments began on March 16th with a 3 day stay at The New James Cancer Hospital.  There were a lot of emotions that came along with these new treatments starting.  I was sad to have to be away from home and Don, Liam and Sadie for so much time.  I was scared about how I would react to these new chemo drugs and what they were going to do to me.  I was frustrated that this whole "cancer" thing was happening to me and that it was taking me away from my new little girl!!!  Not fair!!!

The first VAC treatment actually went pretty well while I was in the hospital.  Don and Sadie spent most of each day with me.  Liam is still going to his sitter's as planned, we are trying to keep day to day life as normal as possible for him.  He was excited to visit me in the evening, he especially like to ride the "alligator" (elevator) to come visit mommy.  He is too cute sometimes!!

I was released on Wednesday, April 18th at around 6pm.  I was able to get home and had a good day and half before the cancer side effects rears their ugly head.  Friday afternoon the nausea and vomiting began, this lasted for about a day and half before I had to make my first trip to the ER, I was subsequently admitted to the hospital to get some IV anti-nausea drugs and fluid for dehydration.  I was in for about 2 days and then released.  I was home for about a day and half before my body decided that is missed the hospital sooooo much.  I was getting into what they call the neutropenic time frame, this is the time in which my white blood cell counts will drop dramatically in response to the chemo treatments. During this time I am at a significant risk for infection and that is just what happened.  I came down with chills and a fever of 100.5 (this is the fever threshold for cancer patients).  I called into my doctor and was instructed to go directly to the ER because my white blood cell counts were most likely non-existent, which ended up being the case.  This earned me an extra 4 day stay in the hospital to get fluids and antibiotics to kill off whatever gave me the fever and chills.  Luckily, my white blood cell counts rebounded a little quicker than normal and I was able to go home that Saturday.  

I do want to take a moment and side track for a second.  During my unexpected stay I was able to connect with a good friend who unfortunately is going through her own fight with this ugly word we call cancer.  Since all of you have given me so much love and support, your thoughts and prayers over these last few months I would like to ask that you do the same for my friend Christy Selby.  She is a person I admire not only personally but professionally.  I was lucky enough to meet her early in my career as an event manager and work with her periodically over the last 4 years.  She is an amazing person and my most favorite meeting planner in the whole world :).  It is unfortunate that either of us have to fight with this terrible cancer but we are both super strong and fighters so I know that we are both going to battle and fight the best fight we can!  

Last week ended up being a really good week plus it was nice to be home with Don, Liam and Sadie for an extended period of time.  Hopefully I can have more good weeks than bad and stay out of the hospital as much as I can.  We were able to have a great Easter with my cousins here in Columbus this past Sunday because of my wonderful family.  They provided us the same food that they were going to be eating for Easter breakfast and since Easter breakfast is my favorite holiday meal it made the day so much better.  The kiddos, Liam and Vera had a great Easter egg hunt outside.  It was a beautiful spent outside for a good majority of the time.  I do wish we were able to go home but since my second treatment started the next day we didn't want to have to rush around to get back to Columbus.  

I think after everything above this now brings us to present day, I am currently at The New James going through my second of 14 treatments.  This round is the IE portion of the chemo.  I alternate between the VAC and the IE.  The IE treatment is much longer.  I am in for a total of 6 days for this one.  It is not going so bad, no significant side effects other than some heartburn and bloating from all of the fluids, I have gained 9lbs. in 3 days, not fair, but the doctors said that it would come off quickly once I was disconnected from the fluids.  The time is going by pretty quickly and I am able to sleep better this time around but I think it's because this cycle of chemo is making me a little more tired than that last.  The nurses and CPA are amazing and taking great are of me, Don, Liam and Sadie when they are here with me.  I can't say enough good things about The New James Cancer hospital other than it is a wonderful facility and that it is so close to home, I know many people here can't say the same but it has helped that I am not really that far from my family when they are not here with me.  

I promise to update way more often that the last two crazy months.  Now that we are in a decent routine (or as decent as it can be in this crappy situation) I feel like I have more time on my hands.

Like always, I leave you with this:

“You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have” – Cayla Mills

Oh and this, because I crack up every time I see it: