Hey everyone! I got chemo #8 today. That's Jill, as most of you know, she took me to chemo today, how cute are we! Everything went great! My port was a little ornery and required a little TLC from Angela to get the blood going but, all is well. I used atomic fireballs this time to mask the taste I get when I get flushed with saline....man are those things spicy. Definitely did the trick! I have scans on Monday so now's the time to start crossing those fingers and keeping them crossed. I'll know the results late next week. I see the doc again one week from today to review the scans. I'll let you all know how it works out. I'm really optimistic about it. I didn't get Starbucks this week, as you will note, even though my lovely friends gave me a Starbucks gift card. I was actually running a little late (I took the final for my grad class this morning) and went to the Corner Bakery instead because it was closer...quite a disappointment though, definitely won't make that mistake again! I bet that's why my port wouldn't work right away...it didn't know it was "go time" without the Starbucks!

Hi everyone....I did have chemo yesterday. Above is a pic of this week's fearless chemo team, my sis and her boyfriend. Her boyfriend was my DD (designated driver)! I saw the doctor and everything is running according to plan. My next treatment is on Dec 7th. A tighter window between treatments but it was a sacrifice that we made in order for me to enjoy Thanksgiving out in LA. I will be scheduling scans after that treatment. Yeah! I am excited. I feel like not knowing is far worse than knowing. My sister and her boyfriend are here until Thurs to help entertain me. Fun! Its nice to have the help when the chemo lands on a Monday like this. I know its harder for everyone else to be around because of work. I'll update you all again soon. I am sleepy and must lay down for my first nap of the day. Love you all.

Well, Thanksgiving in LA was great. The flights were not that bad at all. We did have a 90min delay in Minneapolis, but not too bad considering how awful the weather in Chicago was that day. It was so much fun seeing everyone. The top picture is of us and some good friends we got to catch up with. So great to see them both. The bottom picture is of the Mclarty children and the dreaded Christmas card picture. Yucky...we would have used one from the summer but, I hated all of them and I get veto power! We do look cute, I guess...I tried to vote that we didn't have to do one at all but my mother-in-law insisted. The whole weekend was one big food fest. Scott's grandma even made my fav, manicotti from scratch. Holy cow was it amazing. I don't think my weight will be down for this chemo at all. Chemo #7 tomorrow. My sis and her boyfriend are flying in tonight and are staying through the week. Tons of fun. One month until Christmas, let the countdown begin!

Well, I had a great day. Pic of the ladies from Northwestern Hosp...so much fun catching up! Doyle took me around the new unit! I can't believe how big it is. Hopefully all her cool tricks for remembering where everything is will work! I am very excited to start working a little. Get me out in the world a little bit. It was great to see everyone! I even ate in the new "restaurant" and had hot tea from the argo tea in the lobby. So cool! Thanks Doyle! In other news, Scott and I leave for LA tomorrow to spend the holiday with Scott's fam. Weather permitting! I hope that everyone has a safe and healthy Thanksgiving. Eat lots of yummy food!!!! My next chemo is on the Monday after Thanksgiving. I get to see the doc too so I will update you all on when my scans will be and we can all start crossing our fingers. My sis and her boyfriend are coming to sit with me! So fun. Love you all! Have a great turkey day!

I know, two pictures might be a little much but I couldn't resist. The top is my fearless chemo team. They look so intense...I thought it was funny. I guess the drugs make things a little funnier than they probably actually are. At the time, I thought is was hilarious. Chemo #6 was fine. Just about as uneventful as we all want it to be. My counts are doing great, thanks to my shot of Neulasta. So, that's a milestone, we are half of the way there! Thank goodness. We did go to Starbucks before as always and just in case any of you are there next time, remind me not to drink a grande Gingerbread Latte before chemo. Doesn't exactly settle the stomach!!! Live and learn. Thanks for all the thoughts, comments and prayers that I know are coming my way. Two more chemos and my oncologist will start ordering scans to see if everything is clearing up. Time to start crossing our fingers!!!! Can you all imagine the party I am going to throw when this is all over! It is going to be the awesomest awesome party ever. Well, I think that's enough blogging with drugs on board.

I love you all! Have a great weekend.

Hi guys...Sorry its been a bit since I updated the blog. I have been doing stuff, it's just I forgot my camera and a blog without pictures is just no fun. Above is Liz, my friend from work, we went to brunch today at a great brunch place Bongo Room in Wicker Park. It was very yummy!!! Definitely tasted better then my lunch excursion last week...I went to Hooters (I've never been before and I heard they have good wings)...let me be the one to announce this to everyone, the wings are not that great. Lesson learned. I walked all the way to lunch today(about 1.5miles), it was a bit of a walk, but if felt great! Which I take as a good sign of my energy level and (hopefully) means my weeks of being on the couch have not put me into horrible shape. I have chemo on friday, it will be #6. Only 6 more to go! It's crazy to think that when we all started this magical journey through chemoland that I was staring down 12 treatments. It really makes me think that there may be an end to all this fun after all!

Hi everyone...sorry so late to get the news out that last Friday chemo went smoothly. My old college roommates were there to lend a hand for this one. Thanks ladies! So, for those of you who are counting(I know I am) that's 5 down and 7 to go. We are definitely getting there. I also saw the doctor on Friday and got good news...no flu shot for me!!! Just everyone else who wants to have contact with me during flu season...ha, ha, ha! It made me really happy, I dread the flu shot, don't ask me why. So, doctor's orders everyone...go get your flu shots!