Hi there! I hope you all had a good week! Today I am here with a very happy update :) This week marked two months since I ended chemotherapy and I am very happy to report that I feel INCREDIBLE! Am I back to 100% of the old me? No. Am I feeling significantly better though? Absolutely. Not only am I feeling better, but I am starting to look like my former self again, which is a big morale booster!! Let's get to it:
Mentally/Emotionally/Spiritually
I cry happy tears all the dang time now. I'll be watching the kids play at a park, or snuggling Liam while we read a book, or listening to LG's imaginative play with her dolls, and all of a sudden I start tearing up. I cannot believe I almost lost this. When I got that call on February 8th that I had stage 4 cancer, my mind immediately went to "what if I die?" And I started spiraling, picturing all the parts of my children's lives I would miss out on. It is so easy to get caught in "autopilot" mode and just go through the motions of life without stopping to appreciate how truly beautiful the little things are. Not anymore.
Physically
- I have hair!!!!!!!!!! It's super super short and gray, but it's hair!
It is going to be a long time before it's long enough to be cute, so in the meantime, I bought another wig. Just like before, the pictures online were much different than how it looked when it arrived (why is this so hard?!?), but I ended up liking it so I kept it. It is much darker in person, I don't know why it is so light in pictures?
It’s different from my norm, but I really like it!
- I have eyebrows and eyelashes too! Check out those real brows and lashes!
Woohoo!
- I still experience muscle myalgia (pain) in my legs, but it is getting better. I used to need my Tramadol multiple times a day, but now I only take it three or four times a week.
- I am still nowhere near being able to run, but walking has gotten much easier. I used to feel like I had spaghetti noodle legs and concrete feet, and that is dissipating. Hopefully within the next month, I will be able to start running again.
- This is one I had forgotten to write about last month, but I have neuropathy. If you are unfamiliar, neuropathy is a loss of feeling, or a tingly feeling in your hands and feet. It is mostly in my fingertips, but has been improving significantly. I used to struggle with it a lot. It was hard to type, write, put on jewelry, open things like water bottles, etc. Now I am able to do most of those things again, although it is still harder than it was before.
I had another PET scan last week, and the results came back all clear. I loved getting this text message from my oncologist:
I am scheduled to get my port out next Friday, and I am looking forward to getting that over with. As Lily Grace put it this week, “Mommy, your port is the last thing. Once you’re done with that it’s really all over.” As far as I’m concerned, she’s right. Recovery might not be over, but the cancer chapter of my life sure is.
This post makes me so happy! You are beautiful and your wig is so pretty, too. Your brows look amazing! Would compression socks help at all? I just have heard they feel great on? You are simply amazing!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad things are going well.
ReplyDeleteSo happy to hear you are feeling like your old self again! Your wig looks amazing. I would never know you were wearing one unless you pointed it out! Hugs from San Antonio!
ReplyDeleteWhat a happy post!!! You look amazing Lauren! And hey, it's time to go darker for fall/winter, the wig is perfect!!
ReplyDeleteAwe, I love to read this!! Love the eye brows :)
ReplyDeleteYay, yay, yay! This is wonderful to read. Look at all that hair growing back.
ReplyDeleteThis makes me so happy for you! And Lily Grace is right, it is really all over! Now just living life with your babies!
ReplyDeleteWhat wonderful news, I am so happy for you!
ReplyDeleteI’m sooo happy to hear the great news! I’ve been following your blog the past 4 years now. Also a Charlotte mom. 🙂
ReplyDeleteThis is the best news I needed to hear today. Glad to hear that you are slowly feeling like you again. You look amazing (as always) and your glow of happiness is contagious
ReplyDeleteI loved reading this update. The text from your dr and Lily Grace's sweet words...priceless!
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