More than midway

Today I completed #11 out of 16 radiation treatments, plus had a second X-ray to make sure they are on target. So far, so good. This is a much less "invasive" therapy than the chemo. So far the side effects are a little bit tender skin and moderate fatigue. The end is in close range...

Okay, so hair is growing in. Which makes wearing the wig/liner like putting a nylon on a stubbly hairy leg. Not the most comfortable thing in the world. When I leave my half+ day of work and head out to my car (usually race out, since I'm almost always close to being late for my appt.), I kind of look both ways & whip that thing off my head & quickly replace it with a nice sporty hat. Instead of hat head, I am experiencing wig head, which is a red line all around the edge of where that liner sits. Oh well, it could be worse! Oh, the wig also squeezes my glasses against my head, so my vision is not always right on, either.

We are gearing up for back to school & back to normal life sometime soon! The radiation oncologist and the nurse practitioner both recommend easing back into full time. So, continue with 1/2 days the first week in Sept, then 3/4 the next week, and then full time after that. I'll see Dr. Bellairs again on Thursday and she'll formalize that plan.

The boys are getting kind of "antsy" and I think they are ready to get back into the learning routine. And they'll enjoy seeing more of their friends, too (but probably not that "no talking" part of the classroom!). They are hoping for excellent teachers, but it will be difficult to equal or top last years!

We are also planning on the MN State Fair next week (starts this Thursday already!). We have tickets to the Mark Schultz concert. If you are not familiar with him, he's a great Christian singer/story-teller. Kevin loves his songs and sings along often ("He's My Son" and "Letters from War" are two well-known ones, yes, that tend to make me cry!).

Mike and I went out to dinner at Ristorante' Luci last Saturday evening while my mom watched the boys. This was to celebrate the end of chemo!! I had to wait until my taste buds were back in action. I even enjoyed my first glass of wine - a nice Chianti - since my diagnosis. It was very nice - not at all like turpentine (the dietitian warned me it could taste that way during chemo).

Mike just took a fire call, so I better to find out what those boys are up to outside! Since it was close to 90 degrees today, I think water may be involved!

Thanks again to everyone for the continued positive thoughts & prayers! You all have helped me to keep on moving to the light at the end of the tunnel, which is finally in view! Blessings to you today & every day! :O)