Getting Stronger....

We have been celebrating a week with no doctor visits. This is a huge milestone for me. This is the first week in 27 weeks to not be in a Doctor's office having blood work, test, or chemo. WHOOO HOOOO! I do have to go next week but I believe I have begun the "every other week" routine as long as my blood work looks ok Monday.

I am feeling stronger everyday and can not wait to get to go to summer camp with my Young Life friends. I know that getting the opportunity to do normal summer things for me helps me feel like I am on the road to recovery. Michael and I are headed to Montgomery this weekend for a marathon wedding weekend. We have a rehearsal dinner Friday night, then two weddings Saturday (Congrats Steph and Jay and Trey and Kim). We are excited to get away and just enjoy feeling good enough to go!

On a side note...today is Drake's "GOTCHA DAY." I cant believe that I have had this puppy for 4 years although my dad claims to have kept him half his life....

The day I got him...

Today...

Drake has been so much fun!

hair.....

Well I cant quite get the nerve up to just shave my head but I did go and get my "cancer cut" today. This is the shortest I have had my hair since I was an infant. I had more hair as a three month old than I do now. This hair cut does a good job of disguising the holes of missing hair. You can still see my scalp in many places and I will eventually lose it all but at least this will give me a chance to transition. so....drum roll.....here it is....

As I am trying to come to grips with losing all of my hair, I went and tried on wigs this past week. I will share with you a few pictures from my experience. It was very surreal and I am not sure that I will go this route. I might be more of a hat and scarf type person but nonetheless here is some pics....

out, out, and away

My hair is officially falling out.  I am not sure if it is all going to fall out or not but I have begun to have bald spots.  This has probably been the hardest part of this whole journey (other than the initial shock of "you have cancer" and "your cancer has returned").  So, next time you might see me, I might be bald or have a hair cut that matches my husbands.  Each morning I get up and there is a ton of hair in my bed.  I have decided to quit brushing my hair altogether to see if it will slow the process.  It is absolutely amazing (or depressing) how much hair comes out if I run my hand through my hair.  People have asked if it is coming out in chunks..not mine...it comes out in sheets....And in case you did not know....Losing my hair has hurt.  My scalp has a constant pain.  It is much like if your hair was in a french braid real tight for way too long.  When you take it down that sensation is what I have constantly.  

I had REALLY THICK HAIR....not so much anymore.  This is a small portion of what has falling out in the last day or so.....

No chemo for now!

We are excited to say that I have no more chemo for now.  We met with the Oncologist on Monday and he has consulted with the "World's expert" in my type of  cancer and they are going with a wait and see mentality.  I have 0% of active cancer in me and so we are praying I am cancer free for good. I will be closely monitored each week for the next 6 months.  There is a 10% chance cancer could return and most likely it would within the first 6 months.  We are praying and would love for you to join us in this 6 month journey.  We are super excited that I will not have to endure any more chemo now.  I am still trying to recover from the first round but I feel so much better.  Thanks for all the emails, phone calls, and facebook messages.