Happy, happy, joy, joy

I'm two thirds done with my radiation. I've had a bit of fatigue but it is smooth sailing compared to chemo fatigue. My right breast area is very itchy and I've scratched enough to open up the skin in places. I'm using some cortizone cream and I've been slathering the area with lotion. Hopefully, that will take care of it. Otherwise, the doctor said he would get me some cream that is used for severe burn victims. He did tell me it would probably get worse before we're done.

I go in for my herceptin treatment tomorrow. I will so glad to have that finished in December. It's been such a long journey... Today, I just want it all to be over with. I want my boobs back, my hair back, and a body that doesn't feel like it's 80 years old. I have been poked and prodded, stuck, pinched, and today they drew on me with a Sharpie. I'm sick of it all. Will I ever see "normal" again?

Cancer is stupid! Grrr, ya think I have a bad attitude today?

Radiation

Is it really mid August already? We have packed so much into our days... mostly outdoor stuff like the beach. We went tubing down the river last week with friends. We lazily drifted down the river for a few hours. It was a beautiful day!

I started radiation two Tuesdays ago. After the set up, it's been pretty simple.

I go in each day. I sit in the waiting room for about a minute before they call me back. I walk into the room and sign in and then I take off my shirt and necklace. I lay down on a table/board/hard thing that hurts my back. I turn my head to the left and up and I reach over my head with my arms to grab this handle. They align my tatoos with certain points.There are red lasers and and a round disk attached to an arm that rotates over my body and makes beeping noises. Looks like a small flying saucer. It's over in a few minutes and I am out the door until the next day. Then, I do it all over again.

Here's a picture of the new radiation machine that they put this year. This is the room I go to five days a week. I will be finished mid September after 31 treatments.

The doctor and nurses have been giving me heck about my tan. I'm suppose to be careful in my right breast area (or lack of breast area) with the sun. Darn, I guess I will stop going to the nude beach. I just refuse to stay out of the sun, though. Very little summer is left and I will enjoy every moment I can!

Dan and I enjoyed a day in Duluth and up the north shore while ALL 4 CHILDREN WERE AT CAMP. Yes, you read that right. The kids went to camp the same week. The little ones for 3 nights and Shelby for 5 nights. Anyway, we ate at a great restaurant and cruised along the shore of Lake Superior. We also enjoyed a bit of peace and quiet. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't want it that way for very long but it was nice for a few days! :)

Otherwise, I have been enjoying life. We hope to take the kiddos camping in the next week or two for the weekend. We are looking forward to our new school year. We all are anticipating a time without "treatments and sickness". It's coming soon! Yay!

One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple. Psalm 27:4