Cycle 3 is in full swing but I am officially halfway done with infusions for this regimen! 

Caleb got me started with day 1 but had to head home for some important meetings so my wonderful Momma came down to spend a little (or a lot of) time with me. This cycle the nausea came back but it wasn’t quite as bad as cycle 2; I was expecting it so I was prepared. My doctor added in one more nausea med which seemed to get me through. The fatigue was definitely harder to combat as it seems to be building with each cycle. But Mom was happy to nap alongside me during infusion! I’m absolutely a go-to-bed-early girl now and that was NEVER the case before this. Funny how little things change like that and catch me so off guard.

The more important part about infusion being done is that I’M HOME! Infusion finished Tuesday, I got my white cell count booster Wednesday, and we boarded a plane Thursday morning! The realization that I’m halfway done with this chemo didn’t even compare to the one I had when I heard the pilot say, “We’ll be landing in Albany in 20 minutes.” I had a very difficult time sitting still and not chattering my mother’s ear off while I waited ever so impatiently for those wheels to hit the ground. Thankfully we don’t live far from the airport. I don’t think Caleb knew what hit him when my very excited self got in the car.

I’ve never exited a car so fast in my life. My father-in-law said, “I didn’t think sick ladies could run that fast!” Ha! They can when their kids are at the other end. I squeezed those kids like I’d been gone for a week, which I was (if you’ve been following along). But, now, I get to be home for almost two full weeks!

It’s amazing how, despite dealing with this very big scary thing, all I can think about is being with the ones I love and enjoying the life I have. I was driving somewhere today and thought, “I don’t remember the early winter sunshine (strange statement for NY, I know) being so beautiful before.” It seems as if my mind has changed in ways I needed it to after processing this big diagnosis. I find it so much easier to appreciate things more, things that I may not have even noticed at all.

I still forget some days that I’m fighting for my life, but when I do realize it, I’m not as scared. I’m going to make it through this with the ones I love behind and beside me. You’ve all given me so much strength, support, and love that I will never truly be able to repay. But I hope that maybe we can all together learn to appreciate life just a little bit more, even if it’s just the sunshine some days.