To Travel and Feel Fine in 2009!

So long...farwell 2008...I'm not gonna miss ya!

I know I haven't been to verbal lately...I'll try better this year. As most of you already know...I spent another bout in the hospital with another bowel obstruction around the middle of December. They did a CAT Scan and the tumor in my abdomen had enlarged a little...and Dr. D. said a little...which means a little...if it had grown alot...she'd say so. Regardless, she doesn't believe the Taxol/Cysplatin combo chemo cocktail is doing the trick. Time to do something different...now we are trying Doxil/Ceytoxan combo...only 5-7 hr. ordeal at the Dr.'s office vs. 30+ hour chemo hospital stay...so there's a positive. The more I'm in the hospital the sicker I feel...whenever I'm home...I don't consider it much. Life is going on...I'm still here and I'm here to play and stay for a while.

Right now, I'm about 75 pounds lighter and that helps. It hasn't been intentional and I'm trying to slow it down but I'm getting along better. Walking outside...working with resistance straps...little dumbell weights. Since the bowel blockage...I don't eat much bread or pasta...they recommend a high-protein, high-calorie diet...my stomach is smaller because I eat probably 1/3 to 1/2 as much right now.

I do thank everyone for the prayers and thoughts...I do want to ask you to continue praying for me...of course, we all want a cure...the right cocktail to get this crap under control again...but I also just need for you to pray that my strength stays strong so I can have fun with Zoey, family and friends in 2009!

2009 is going to be a year of travel and recovery. My goal for 2009 is to stay healthy and strong while traveling with family and friends...making memories of a lifetime.

First trip...Zoey has never been to a beach...so we are going to Tampa Bay, FL to see my friends The Heinly's from January 22nd - 26th. Nonstop roundtrip flight for $165...hello, can't NOT go...Mom's even joining us!

****I plan to Para-Sail over the Ocean...walk the beach...hunt for seashells...bury my kid in the sand and just be in the moment.****

Second trip...Easter in Connecticut...the Bird's & Davis plan on making this trip with us to see the Wickham's in their new New England world. I have been to Atlantic City but that's about all I've experienced in the Northeast.

****I'm not sure what we'll plan but we'll plan it together and that's all that matters.****

Third trip...we'll shoot for Alaska again this June/July...we still have a credit for the flights last year...just couldn't make it because we switched up chemo treatments and I had all those lung issues last June.

****I plan on 4 wheeling...fishing...sight-seeing...and hanging with the cousins.****

I know it's an aggressive plan...that's why I'll need your prayers for strength. I've planned dates around chemo treatments so I'll be on my good weeks. Keeping my sinuses clean is key...I'll travel like a bandit on planes with face masks and all..."baldheaded masked woman on board"...pull out the cancer card wherever possible.

So right in this moment...I'm feeling stronger and looking forward to reaching my goals!

Ask me again next week after chemo......