Continuing Chemo and Christmas

I just had another chemo treatment today (which explains why I am awake at this hour) and I had a CT scan last week. The scan showed that the tumors are continuing to respond to treatment so I am continuing chemotherapy. I think I just had my 10^th round of chemo since June which is a lot, but since the side effects are relatively minimal and the results are encouraging, then it makes sense to continue this treatment.

I have just realized that I can't think very well at 1:15 a.m. after having chemo. The drugs keep me awake, but it doesn’t matter that I can’t sleep, because I can’t seem to spell or think either. For this reason I will make this entry short. I just wanted to wish you all a very merry Christmas and a year of God’s richest blessings. I also wanted to update you on the latest news of my cancer journey. Things are going well and I appreciate everyone who has encouraged me in so many different ways.

It seems that this is going to be a long journey and I wanted you to know that every prayer, note, email, card, meal, gift, phone call, etc has been so very helpful in keeping me strong.

Thank you.

Living

A few of you have recently started asking me what’s going on since I haven’t written in a while. I am sorry about that. I didn’t realize how long it has been since I last made an entry in my blog. I have thought about writing, but I just couldn’t think of anything worth writing.

I have been busy, but I didn’t think any of it was worthy of telling. What have I been doing? Living. I just realized that the things that I thought weren’t important enough to write about are the very things that make up life. It is so wonderful to be living, and even though I try not to take it for granted any more, I realize that I must or I wouldn’t have dismissed what I have been doing as unworthy of reporting.

I have been feeling well for the most part. The chemo treatments only make me feel badly for about 5 days out of the 21 day cycle. Even on the sick days I go on with my life. I have been laughing, shopping, visiting, listening, talking, cooking, praying, seeing, loving, learning, studying, reading, singing, reflecting, walking . . .

I am not doing anything earth shattering, just living my normal life which, when I think about it, at this point in my cancer journey, is a fantastic thing to say.

November has been a great month. I spent a beautiful weekend at the beach. The weather was perfect and I was surrounded by friends, food and fellowship. The following weekend I had my chemo treatment, but a friend had a surprise 50^th birthday party that night that I couldn’t miss. Attending this celebration refocused my attention on the importance of everyday happenings that make up life. The kids came home for a couple of weekends in November which was a great delight to this new empty-nester mom.

I have learned not to lie around and think about how lousy I feel after a chemo treatment. Instead I go out and do what I would normally would do and try to ignore the aches and nausea. It is real therapy to go on with life regardless of how you feel. It reminds me of the verse that says, “I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.” (Philippians 4:11).

I have a chemo treatment this morning in about 2 hours from now. If I don’t write again for a while, don’t worry about me. Just remember I am busy living.