Day full of Celebrations, Mixed Emotions, next.. Rest!

The long awaited day finally arrived, September 16th.  As I woke up yesterday morning and prepared myself to go for my last radiation treatment, so many emotions were going through my head. Happy beyond belief that I would no longer have to wake up and go to any more of these rough treatments, relieved that the toughest part of a journey I never imagined I would ever travel would soon be over, yet still concerned that we won't have any final results until December.  The latter will just have to be put as everything else has, in His Hands and with all of my warriors.  I have no doubt they will keep all thoughts and prayers coming my way until that day when we get the report that I am truly Cancer Free.  Today one thing is known, I DID SURVIVE THIS MUCH - I AM A SURVIVOR!

A Day full of Celebrations was my title because it was, September 15th was Brooke's 13th Birthday!  The sweet spirited child that she is, she didn't want a birthday party, just a brisket dinner with her family.  We had a dinner and then went to her open house, and were saving her present for the weekend so she could go to the mall and buy a pair of shoes she wanted.  When she walked home from school and saw all of the pink ribbons outside yesterday, I happened to be standing in the yard, she just ran up to me and we hugged and started crying, she told me "mom I got the best birthday present ever today because your done".  She's grown up more than she deserved this past year and was my rock at times that I felt like crumbling.  Just the other day, completely exhausted, I had gotten home from work and just fell fast asleep, she finally came in the bedroom with a bottle of water and said "mom you need to drink you have to keep hydrated and please take your blazer and shoes off".  As I followed her orders still half asleep and I told her I loved her, she covered me up and walked out of the room.  That my friends and family, happened several times.

Brooke's 13th Birthday!!!

Yesterday was also my mom and dad's 52nd Wedding Anniversary!  My mom has been here helping us and Papoe came to pick her up but it was a surprise as he rang the doorbell yesterday evening.  I must admit, Mimi was a little upset during the day, she felt that my dad had forgotten their special day and I had to keep the surprise in and just tell her I was sorry.  He hasn't lost his touch, even after 52 years, he called her on her cell and was telling her about his day and rang the doorbell to our house, I told her it was my sister at the door she walked up and was still talking to him and there he was! So adorable!!!  (I didn't even prep him on that one)  I told him "dad you were supposed to bring flowers", he said "there weren't any growing on the side of the road". Oh papoe!

Lupe & Tomas Gonzalez 52 years, 9/16/2011

Brian and I were able to go to dinner and share in another homecoming celebration for our some very special friends.  My co-worker Marsha Crook was able to bring her daughter home yesterday, Abbye Irons! Prayers have been answered all around.  Abbye has been fighting her battle with her Heart surgery but is on her way to recovery and we welcomed her home yesterday after several months in Houston.  It is Midland's turn to help her heal!  I am so blessed to be able to work directly with Marsha and also get to know her daughters and husband.  You always hear that your job is so much better if you like who you work with, well, I can't do much better than this!!

Marsha!

I will be taking the next two weeks off from work.  After talking to my Radiation Oncologist on Thursday and looking at my blood count, he asked me if there was any way I could take some time off.  The effects of radiation are cumulative and at this point physically I have reached the bottom and need to let my body heal as much as possible.  That burning that I had told you had not happened to me, well, it has now.  It was as if the last week was a super duper zapper of a week!  While I will miss seeing my offices and friends on a daily basis, rest is what I need.  My family will be taking great care of me and might even whisk me away to some cool weather place to enjoy some mountain peace, with beaches, waterfalls and rivers.

My family with Mimi! 

It's over! Time to let it go.....

Courage - Strength - Faith = Cancer Free

They had fun saying Mommy's finished, goodbye Cancer!

We may not have it all together, but together we have it all!

The celebrations still aren't over, believe it or not!  One more for the weekend, but we did them all in one day!  Brian's 41st birthday is Monday 9/19 and look at his present below!!  This is something he has always wanted and was one of those opportunities and another blessing that came about by one of our great friends.   No, it's not free! Just one of those, at the right place, at the right time moments... then Happy Birthday Brian!

Even though my treatments are over, my blog won't be.  I will still be updating you about our continued journeys every couple of weeks.  We will have a PET scan in December to determine whether all of this worked.  I still get herceptin treatments every 3 weeks until April and my reconstructive surgery is tentatively scheduled for next summer.  For now, the hardest part is OVER!  Time to heal and my 40th birthday is just around the corner.  Talk about a time and reason to celebrate.  October 24th!!!!  

I have said this before, but this would not have been as easy to do - even as difficult as it was, without all of your support, it was what made this journey less hectic!  We have all enjoyed every meal, the gift cards are still being used and are treasured items in our house.  Please know that not one single item went unnoticed or unappreciated during this time, from the paper plates to..the pink bands, flowers, gifts galore, t-shirts, crosses, flight gift cards, love offerings, brisket fundraiser, wig, candles, head scarves, pink bat, every single card, texts, voicemails, facebook posts, messages, blog messages, the visits, I could go on and on......everything has been printed and has been placed in my "happy box" for those times that aren't so happy and those times that we need to say "we are blessed" we were by you.  Now it is time to pay it forward. 

Until my next blog entry, I leave you with a million Thank you's, hugs from cyberworld and this quote that was left on my porch yesterday by a dear friend....

Sometimes He calms the storm

With a whispered "Peace be still-"

He can settle any sea

But it doesn't mean He will.

Sometimes He holds us close

And lets the wind and waves go wild..

Sometimes He Calms the storm,

And other times He calms His child.

written by Wood &Stokes