Tuba

Here he is! Noah was playing his heart out tonight with the pep band at the Frontier basketball game. Thankfully he doesn't have to bring the tuba home every night to practice. He is also playing after he got done running three miles at the winter running club. Over his shoulder playing trumpet is his best friend Wilson.

Chemo!!!

So the first batch of chemo was infused through my new port on January 22. My pills arrived several days later. I have to be honest...chemo sucked. I had the privilege of experiencing ALL the side effects plus a few extra. Lucky me!! I guess that which doesn't kill us makes us stronger right?

The plan right now is to have the infusion of the Oxyplatin every three weeks. It takes about 3 1/2 hours for the process. I will also be taking 4000 mg of Xeloda everyday for two weeks. Then I will have a week off from treatment. Repeat. For six months. Next treatment is scheduled for February 11.

Music

Sarabeth and her 2nd grade classmates sang their little hearts out at their winter concert on Tuesday night. Mr. Long continues to impress with his ability to produce amazing musical productions year after year. This years theme was "Seasons." He also incorporated the kids art work in a multimedia presentation while the kids sung. The photo of the sunset was one I took on the way home. Ties in well with the seasons theme, doesn't it?

Dance

We were dancing the night away last night at the Greeley Rec Center at the annual Daddy/Daughter dance. This was an extra special date last night for Sarabeth and I. Ever since my cancer diagnosis last summer, the dance was the spectrum through which Sarabeth judged my healing. At every stage, treatment, and surgery, she would ask how this would effect our trip to the dance. Would I still be able to go? Would I be healthy enough to dance? Would I have my bag at the dance? Would all the scars and stuff effect my ability to look nice and match her purple dress?

I am so thrilled to say that I made it to the dance with my beautiful daughter. Who's going to let a little cancer get in the way of that? We had our picture taken, had some snacks, visited with her friends and their dad, and spent two wonderful hours together.

Three Weeks

Tomorrow will be three weeks since my reconnection surgery in Denver. The recovery so far has been slow and rather frustrating. In several ways, it has been tougher then the recovery in October. I have been surprised at how painful and how long it has taken to get my lower GI tract working again. The suture site with the 15 staples has also been causing some trouble, with leakage and pain over the three weeks. Thankfully, I had them removed Friday, on what will hopefully be my final trip to see Dr. Sellers and PSL Hospital.

So, all that being said, I am finally starting to feel a little better today, just in time for the beginning of chemo treatment tomorrow morning. Lucky me! After not feeling well for almost a year now, I am gathering strength for the final 6 months of my treatment plan. I am hoping and praying for a rather uneventful 6 months of chemo. I know there are plenty of side effects that could occur, but hopefully they are minor or non-existent. Guess I'll know more by tomorrow evening. Thanks again for you're support.

Home

After three and a half days in the hospital, I was able to break out today and arrived home about 1230. After a kind of roller coaster of a stay, I'm so thankful to be all done with surgeries and hospitals for this part of my cancer journey. My body is bruised, scared, missing a few pieces, and shaved in some interesting patterns. But my spirit is strong and my determination unbroken. I really feel I have reached third base, even though those last 90 feet will take just as long to complete as the first three bases of this journey.

Two post-op appointments await me in the next couple weeks. One to check my port and one to remove my 15 staples. My body will also be relearning the art of pooping. That process could take the better part of six months. Then the chemo will begin at 830 AM on January 21. But no more hospitals!!! No more surgeries!! And the amazing ability to poop normally once again.

I hope you readers don't get tired of my thanking you, because I will never tire of being thankful. To those that stopped by, called, texted, emailed or Facebooked their well wishes, thanks. It's such an encouragement and strengthens me for the battle to know all of you out there are pulling for me.

Jen enjoyed some time on the iPad while I was healing. I left this hospital bed for the last time only to come home and find this waiting for me in my bed. I love being home finally!