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It's been awhile since I've written, so I thought I would post a little update as to how things are going. I'd love to write some profound piece of wisdom, but for right now, a little update will have to do.
The first major thing that happened since my last post was losing my hair. It came fast and furious, and even though I knew it was going to happen, it was a bit of a shock. I finally got so sick of finding hair everywhere, I bit the bullet and shaved my head. My hubby was ready to do it right away, but I had to get mentally ready for it. Ladies, it's like being pregnant. The idea of childbirth scares you until your body is so uncomfortable, you don't care how that baby comes out or who sees it. One day, my mind shifted so that I was ready to do it, and off the rest came!
Having no hormones and no hair brings challenges that I can only compare to what I've heard about flying a helicopter. When flying a helicopter, you have to coordinate your hands and feet so that you can steer the helicopter, keep it at a steady altitude, and keep it from spinning. Everything is in a very fine balance, and if one of those controls is off, it can throw you into a tailspin. That is how I can explain the sensation of having no hormones and a bald head. It's like a constant battle to keep from being hot and cold. A hot flash hits, and the zip-up sweatshirt comes off, along with my cap. Then my head gets freezing, and I have to try to balance out the temperature without throwing myself into another hot flash. It's pretty comical to sit on the couch with me. I have to adjust about every 5 minutes!
The second (and best) thing that happened since my last post, was the cruise the hubby and I got to take in mid-November. We had the cruise planned since last March, so when the news came that I would be going through chemo this fall, my only question was, "Can we still go on the cruise?" My wonderful chemo nurse planned my entire chemo around the cruise, so it would come when I would be feeling the strongest in my chemo cycle. We flew to Miami and partied in Key West before boarding the ship for a week through the Eastern Caribbean. It's the longest we have ever been away from the kids, and it was a much-needed break from everything we've been going through. We partied in the casino every night, we visited some amazing places, and met some new, amazing friends. Susie and Vicki - meeting you girls was one of the highlights of the trip!
Once we got back from the trip, my 3rd chemo was held up as my white blood cell count was too low to go ahead with chemo. (Hmmm.... could it be all the fun on the cruise?) The delay in chemo let me have a great Thanksgiving with family and friends, and the week off allowed my body to recover enough to go ahead with my 3rd chemo this last Monday. 3 down means I'm halfway done! Yahoo!
Thanks everyone for all your well wishes. I definitely feel all the love coming my way, and I am grateful for all of it.
