Cycle #2

Today I head back to Nashville to begin chemo #4, which officially starts my second cycle. In many ways it's easier this time because I know what to expect. It's also harder because I know what to expect, and believe me; despite the fact that I did better than expected, it's still not fun. I am hopeful that I'll manage this cycle as well as last time, but also trying to stay realistic as well.

My mom and dad went home Saturday, and I thought I was ready. I was ready for my mom to be able to go home to my dad (she's been here 5 out of the last 7 weeks) and I was ready to have some time with our family of 4, but I cried like a baby. There's something just so comforting about having your mom around, and it also struck me that despite the fact that it feels like forever, I'd only made it 2 weeks at that point. The thought of 5 months overwhelmed me. I quickly was able to return to only thinking of one day at a time, but it was a little bit of a breakdown.

Becky drove in yesterday, and I'm very happy to have her here for a couple of days. Rory is excited because Becky has promised to let her help cook, paint her toenails, and let her fix Becky's hair (I discovered this was a main reason she was so opposed to my not having hair LOL). We had a moment of crisis when Becky realized she'd forgotten at home the green nail polish she'd promised Rory, but maybe she'll be satisfied with the new blue polish I just bought. :)

Yesterday I sat and went through the cards I've received since my surgery. So many of you have sent not one or two, but several cards through these last 8 weeks. Tears streamed down my face as I read your encouraging words, and I just kept thinking how blessed I am to have friends like all of you. There just is no way to convey what it has meant to me.

And just as I was recovering from my weepiness from the cards, Brian came home from school with a package for me from his school family. It had 4 gifts inside to be opened with my next few chemo treatments, plus several notes. One of those notes had what has been my favorite scripture since a moment of personal spiritual crisis in college (crisis probably complete with high drama because it was college, after all). "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." John 16:33

And not only did they send gifts (which they have done regularly), but the faculty and staff had prayer for me after school (which they have also done regularly). I am seriously blessed.