Chemo is DONE

Would be better with my eyes open!

Well, almost.  I still have to deal with the side effects from this last round.  At least this time, when I have my down days, I'll know that it is for the last time.  That will be good.  Every day I will gain strength that won't be taken away next time.  I won't have to plan on going back in and get poked and dripped into again.  Praise God for giving me the strength to get through the last 18 weeks!

I had Eric take a few pictures of me this morning to document my last day.  I realized I hadn't posted a baldy picture yet, either.  Since my hair should start coming back in about 6-7weeks, why not show the world what I've looked like underneath?  I bare it all in words, why not bare some more in photgraphs?

Pink and Plaid warrior ready for battle

I wore my pink "survivor" shirt that I got at the Charger game in October.  I like it because it says "SURVIVOR" on the back.  Regardless of my fears about recurrence, I want to think of myself as a survivor.   I also wore my pink and plaid scarf.  Lookout chemo suite...the pink and plaid warrior is on her way for the last time!

Everything went very smoothly.  As always, the IV placement was the worst part. But it was over quickly.  I spent the time mastering today's level of  "Angry Birds Seasons" and reading a Vince Flynn book on my Kindle.  

My mom, dad and brother Jared came by at the end of the morning and we went to lunch at Mimi's Cafe to celebrate the end of chemo. On the way out of Kaiser I picked up my first supply of Tamoxifen.  I'll be able to start around Christmastime.  Great present, eh?  A 3 month supply cost me $30 out of pocket, so that isn't too bad. I don't know if that will go up next year when I am back at zero for my deductible.   Speaking of insurance, I got my 2011 renewal from Kaiser and our premiums are only going up by $36 per month. I was afraid it would be much worse.

There isn't really much more to say right now.  Just pray that these drugs coursing through my body seek out and destroy the enemy.  No prisoners, just casualties!  Thank you all for your support!

Bring it on!

The nurse removes my IV and it's over!