Monday, June 9, 2014

The new normal?

I had a PET scan in February of 2014 and the results were favorable. No evidence of disease! Isn't it cool that I didn't feel the need to talk about it until now?

I have been visiting Dr. Kubba's office once a month to have my port flushed and once every two months for a rituxan treatment. I only have two treatments left - one in a couple of weeks and another in August. I can't believe it's been two years on the rituxan maintenance regimen. I am nervous though about ending rituxan. I feel like a clock will starting running when treatment is over...

Monday, February 10, 2014

One year since my last scan.

That's very hard for me to get my head around. Somehow, just as we were told by other, more experienced folks, we have slipped back into (for the most part) our normal lives. Work during the week, run errands, work around the ranch or with the alpacas themselves on the weekend. Our lives are reaching a new normal in other ways too. The alpaca business continues to be slow so our phone only occasionally rings and most often for a visit with the grandchildren or to request some manure for a spring garden.

"New normal" is different from our life before cancer. We still work and do mostly the same things we did before "the big C." It's how we feel about life that that has changed. I'd say this about me... I anger more slowly, I appreciate our love for each other and the responsibilities we have accepted as they relate to our animals. We enjoy ourselves more than we did pre-cancer. We are closer than ever in our relationship. I am happier at work, excited as I explore more and different ways to engage my students and in some cases, drag them to success. Every new semester is a new opportunity to succeed. 

More soon, I'm falling asleep,