We're gearing up to do the CIBC Run for the Cure this Sunday. Mark and I, Zachary and Zoe will be joined by a bunch of other families from school...thanks guys...you are awesome!! Please feel free to visit the site and make a donation to our cause....every little bit counts.

I have a foot update: feet are feeling waaaaay better lately. I stopped the painkiller because I just don't want to be on it all the time. But I also started taking vitamin B6. It has made an unbelievable difference...I don't know why they didn't suggest it at the hospital. No pain this past round.

My eyelashes are growing back!!! I think that's more exciting than my hair, which is now almost an inch long. But its very grey, so I'm planning to colour it soon...shoppers drug mart colour...hardly seems worth a visit to the salon!!

Also, Happy Birthday Jen...all the way down under! Sorry I didn't call you this morning, and now its the middle of the night for you...but I'm thinking of you!

Kids are back at school! I've had a great week. It was so nice to see all my school friends. I also went to the gym, and for a great bike ride today. A few people have told me this week that I look really good. I guess the effects of chemo are finally beginning to clear out of my system, and my life is returning to a new normal. I still can't believe this is my life...but for today at least, things are good.

Still looking for a nanny...

Shana Tova!

It's the last day of August, and the summer is winding down. I'm looking forward to Friday...we're going to my friends cottage. It's my childhood friend, at the lake where we shared many adventures and growing pains. It wouldn't be a summer without a visit to Sharbot Lake.

I'm on to a new stage of this journey, having started an oral chemo. I had great expectations, as the drug is generally well tolerated. But the doctors never tell you the worst case scenario...and I always seem to meet up with Murphy! My new complaint is redness, heat, swelling and extreme pain in my feet. Hence my visit to the blog...I can't walk today, and I have to complain to someone. My kids don't listen, or don't care, so I'm searching for a little blog therapy!!

I'm also searching for a new nanny. My last one was fabulous at maintaining my house, but she left for a full time job with benefits. Please ask around for me, and if you know of anyone looking, please let me know. Sore feet aren't helping...Mark came home tonight, and for the first time in months, had to do some cleaning up, and make dinner.

School starts next week, and I'll be happy to get back to a routine again. I desperately need some exercise (again-sore feet aren't helping!), and my meditation practice has fallen off the schedule. But at the same time, I feel like our lives are somewhat returning to normal. When I'm having fun with friends I'm able to momentarily forget about our crappy situation, and just enjoy what we have now. So many friends and family have helped get me to this point...it wouldn't have been possible without you all.

It's official...I'm finished this course of treatment, and moving on to something new. This time, an oral chemo. I'm so excited to grow hair again!!

I have to do a bunch of scans to finish off the trial, and as a baseline for the new treatment. And I'll get my bone drug infusion on Friday, and every six weeks thereafter. But then I should be fairly free to enjoy the rest of the summer.

The kids have had a great month at camp. And we had a great getaway to Blue Mountain. We're planning to visit a few cottages and relax for the month of August. Enjoy the rest of the summer!

I've been feeling really good lately...more positive, and thinking towards the future. I think the fact that I had an extra week between treatments has done me a lot of good. That said, I had chemo yesterday, which usually kicks me down a notch! I was a little disappointed to have such a beautiful weekend, and not be going up north somewhere. But I'm looking forward to a visit with my aunt this week. I'm missing my Dad a lot these days, but I always feel like I get a little piece of him when I see her.

The kids have had a great relaxing break the last two weeks, and are looking forward to camp starting Monday...so am I - I have so many projects I want to get done.

The summer is already seeming quiet...keep in touch!!

Monday I saw my doctor. It's good news...I am still responding well to the treatment. So she still wants to give me some more chemo. We'll do 2 more rounds, and then more scans to see. The idea is to get as much mileage out of this chemo as possible. It's hard not knowing the plan... I'm still working on going with the flow!!!

However, my infection hasn't gone away yet. I ended up having my port removed on Monday, which is great...it's been a problem for three months! But I'm back on antibiotics, and I was back at the ER again, because it started bleeding. I hope it's on the mend now!!!!

My chemo was also delayed as a result...so I'm now scheduled for July 2nd, and 25th. Sucks that it runs into our very short and precious summer, but what can I do?! I'm hoping to still get in some cottage visits in August.

The kids are home now, enjoying pyjama mornings, playdates and movies. So happy the summer's here!

It's been a crappy week. I had to go to the ER again on Wednesday night...I have an infection in my port, so I've been on antibiotics, which took three days to kick in. I've been feeling tired, achy, frustrated, sad and emotional this week. Chemo is building up in my system and making me a wreck. I don't know how much more I can take. I had my latest CT on Thursday, and will see my doctor a week monday. Then I'll know what's next, if there's more chemo to come.

The worst part is that I missed a party tonight!

Zachary's birthday was on Thursday...my baby is 8! I can't believe it. Zoe had her choir show this week. She was soooo cute. Their last day of school is on Thursday. We are all looking forward to some down time, and no morning rush!

I had chemo # 6 yesterday...bloodwork was back to normal. I'm still feeling ok, and am planning to go out for dinner tonight with friends. Monday and Tuesday will probably be my worst days. I go for my next CT on the 10th. Unfortunately, that's also Zachary's birthday, so I'll miss having dinner with him, but will bring a cake home to celebrate. I am scheduled for round 7 on the 25th.

The kids finish school on the 17th. I can't believe how old they are getting...how time flies! We will enjoy 2 weeks off before they start camp for the month of July, and then we will just do a few small getaways to cottages, and maybe Boston in August. It's difficult to make too many plans without knowing what my treatment plans are, and it will be nice to just have some down time with the kids.

I wanted to also thank everyone again for all the help and support. Kara and Jane have been generously taking the kids home to play and for dinner on my treatment days, and this has been such a big help...thank you both. The whole Crestwood community has been so good to us, and it just makes me feel so good about our decision to go there. The kids and the families have been so warm and kind...Thank you all again...I can't express enough how much it has meant to all of us. We also have great neighbours that have done so much to help, always checking in. I especially look forward to my dog walks my friend...fresh air, exercise for Ollie and I, and the best of conversations! Thank you.
Also, family and friends have been taking me to chemo, and scans. This has been a big help for Mark, so he doesn't miss so much work, and it gives me time with others, and them an opportunity to see what I'm going through (good or bad!) Thank you everyone.

Have a great Weekend.

I was supposed to have chemo last Friday. Unfortunately, my liver enzymes were way too high, and they wouldn't give it to me. I had a cold while in Florida and took lots of Tylenol Cold...turns out that throws my liver enzymes out of wack! They said it's no big deal since we know the cause. But this also screws up all the planning I've made around my treatments, and puts me one week further into the summer. I just want to be finished with this chemo, so I'm frustrated that this happened. Oh well!!! I'm working with it!!
Kids only have 3 more weeks of school. I can't believe it. My babies are getting so old! It will be a busy few weeks, and then we'll have 2 weeks off before camp starts. Looking forward to the summer.

Florida was nice and relaxing. We really did nothing but sit by the pool and read. I can't say I love Miami, but the weather was perfect, and the resort was beautiful. The ocean was amazingly warm too! I also had a great massage at the spa...heaven!
But as nice as it is to get away, it felt good to come home to my routine, and my people! We missed the kids, and kept thinking how they also would have loved the pool.

I'm getting ready for round 6 tomorrow. I have to say that I'm getting really sick of it!!!! But it looks like I may have a 7 and 8 too...I can still do up buttons!!! Lucky me!!