Time is flying but at the same time seems like it is standing still....

Have you ever felt like that? I feel like this summer has flown by in some ways and other ways I feel like October will never get here. I have really enjoyed this summer and come to a few conclusions that I will share with you. These are very random thoughts but this is what has been on my mind these days.

1.) Work weeks should only be 4 days. I think that America needs to establish 4 day work weeks or institute much more vacation.

2.) Milk should not cost so much.

3.) Mobile needs a Publix

4.) There should be one nationally celebrated and recognized by all holiday every month!

that's my thoughts!

"Feeling Normal"

This past week has been an incredibly hard week as well as an amazing week wrapped in one. I got the opportunity to take some high school friends to a Young Life camp and I would say most had the best week of their summer. It was so much fun. I had mixed emotions going but also had an amazing week and it felt great getting to do "normal" summer activities to be. The day we left for camp was my due date. I believe that this day brought about emotions that I was not expecting but it was good to be occupied with all the details of going to camp. Going to camp really helped me begin to believe that I am on the road to recovery and I am beginning to believe that remission is coming.

I had blood work done this past Monday and met with the Oncologist and he believes that everything is looking good. My "counts" are where they need to be and we are moving forward and waiting on time to pass. I am now released to travel where ever I would like so Michael and I are going on vacation in August. I cant fly until October so it will be close by. We are still very excited. I have also no longer have to go get blood work every week! We will decrease our visits over the next few months so in the end we will only be going once a month. How exciting. I have only missed two Mondays since the beginning of the year so I think after 7 months of doing the same thing every Monday we will celebrate.

My hair has slowly stopped falling out....it still is a little. I look everyday for new growth and have not started that phase yet. I am so ready to not have to wear a hat to leave my house and that day is coming soon hopefully.

staying the same...

I went for blood work on Monday and happy to say that my results from my last blood work stayed the same....THIS IS GREAT NEWS! I have now passed the six week mark with no active cancer cells. Michael thinks this time has flown by, but to me I feel like it has dragged along. Only 4 1/2 more months and the Oncologist will officially declare remission. What a blessing that will be...

On a side note...we got the bill this week for my last week of chemo that I did. That week I went every day (Mon-Fri) and so we had a total of 5 sessions for that round. Well, thank God we have insurance because just the chemo drugs were close to $5,000 per day. Yes, you read that right. I about feel out of the the chair when I read the bill. That doesn't include everything else, that is simply the DRUGS! But it worked, so I thank GOD for expensive drugs.

I am headed to camp on Sunday. I am very excited to get this opportunity. This is the first trip that I have been released to go on and so that makes me feel like I am on the road to remission. I am very excited about our group. The girls going are mostly from my campaigner group (which is just my small group that has become a large group) and I have had them for two years. This time last year they were all in my wedding, so they are very special to me.

Hope you have a great 4th!

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.