Cycle 7: Days 8 - 15

I have been feeling good for so many days it is hard to remember exactly on what day I had that "Yahoo!" feeling. It was either on the afternoon of the 7th or 8th day that I realized how much of my energy had returned. I know, I know ... (visualize here a BIG smile on my face) - that is the earliest ever!!

We had planned my brother's visit in case I needed to be taken care of while Randy was out of town on his hunting trip. Instead we got to enjoy each other's company and lots of good food - it was a perfect week. It did however turn out that I needed his help - to fix the washing machine! Here's a little tip...a rug with rubber backing that is peeling should not be put in the washing machine!

I was never a fan of bread pudding until our first cruise and I had Holland America's Bread Pudding with Vanilla Sauce. Recently I located Holland America's recipe and I tried it out while Holland was here. We both agreed that it was perfect! I have posted the recipe on my blog With Love, From Jan if you are interested in trying it out yourself.

Next Wednesday is the big one - my final Taxol infusion. Some people have asked me if I am going to do something to celebrate. I have some mixed feelings - while I am very, very happy to be done with Adriamycin, Cytoxin, and now Taxol I will continue to receive Herceptin every three weeks until August 2007. So, I will be done with the chemotherapy drugs that have made me feel so sick but the reality is that I will continue to receive chemotherapy every three weeks.

Continuing with Herceptin for so many months will be a constant reminder that I have had an aggressive cancer and I am still fighting to beat it. I do very much wish that cycle eight would be the last infusion. I have however determined to not allow this to become a negative for me but rather to use it as a positive. So, instead of feeling sorry for myself I am going to be grateful for the reminder I will have every three weeks of my many blessings. Considering how easy it is sometimes for us to forget the lessons we have learned I am one very blessed person to have this reminder!

That's some of my thoughts tonight. Oh yes, much to the delight of everyone who loves Randy's deer jerky he did get a deer on his trip.

Thank you for checking in on me and don't forget to count your many blessings today.

Here is a picture of Holland and I at Starbucks with Madison, Jackson and Connor before Madison's soccer game.