Oops....Guess i have been MIA

It's amazing that as soon as the chemo stops, i haven't. I have been so super busy. I have gone back to work, 20 hours a week. Starting slow for now and then after New Years i am going back 30 hours. Even though i am only working 20 hours with my commute it is 32. I feel like i haven't stopped going in the last week and a half between work and getting ready for Christmas. I am glad to be getting back to some normalcy, but i am still so tired and missing those naps i used to get. Everyday is getting better, a little more energy, a little more hair, and little more "me". My sense of humor is returning and i just all around feel better.

I still have so much to do to get ready for Christmas. Last weekend we did get the tree decorated and lights hung on the house. I need to take a picture so i can post it. Maybe tomorrow or Sunday i will get some pictures up. My Christmas tree doesn't have any presents under it, because i have not had the time or energy to start that yet. I really honestly haven't put a dent in my Christmas shopping yet. I feel bad, i have people that i need to get stuff in the mail to, so they get it before Christmas, but i am not sure that will happen. Their stuff may be a day or two late.

Joe and I went to my company Christmas Party this week and it was really nice. It was at Arden Hills Country Club in Sacramento. For those of you who haven't ever been there it is absolutely beautiful. It was alot of fun. We had an after party at the Midway in Ceres with some old friends.....Pam and Todd. I had a couple of drinks and it felt great to get out and enjoy myself again. I made sure to charge the battery in my camera so that i would actually get pictures (unlike Thanksgiving), and then i forgot my camera on the counter at home with my jewelry i planned on wearing that night. ChemoBrain.

I really need to do some more shopping and wrapping this weekend. I think i will put the kids to work helping me. In the past i haven't really let them do much wrapping or decorating because i was a bit of a perfectionist, but i have come to realize that their style is cute, their effort is priceless, and life is too short for perfect.

Tomorrow night is Sabrina's 30th Birthday Party and i am looking forward to getting together with that clan. It has been a long time since we have all hung out. I think i should go put my camera in my purse now, so i actually get pictures of this. LOL

Just call me Brandi "Remission" England

Yeah! I made it and now i am clean and clear. Just thought i would get on real quick and give the good news. I don't have to see the oncologist until March!!!!!! Merry Early Christmas to me. The best gift i got this year came a little early and it came from my Dr. A Clean Bill of Health. I am beyond excited and today is the first day of the rest of my healthy life.

Tomorrow is the big Day!

I go to the Dr. tomorrow for the results to last weeks PET Scan. I am really excited and a tad nervous. I have managed to stay really confident and super busy, because busy gives me less time to think, and when you are playing a waiting game thinking can be dangerous. I will be getting home super late tomorrow from the Dr. because i have a late afternoon appointment which will put me out of the Dr.'s office just in time for the rush hour traffic leaving Sacramento, but i will try and post at least the results tomorrow.

As for Thanksgiving it was really great! Dinner was awesome and spending time with my mom was so much fun. She was here for 3 days and we shopped all 3 days. On Wednesday we shopped for Thanksgiving. Then on Thursday K-Mart is the only store in the world open on Thanksgiving so we were there before the doors opened. Then on Friday we started at 4 am at Mervyn's first, getting there before the doors opened also. We got alot of really great deals and had a good time. We had to come home after 3 stores and take a little break before going out for more. My energy level is just not there yet. Also i know i promised pictures, but the chemo brain is here for good i think. I forgot to charge the battery in my camera, so this Thanksgiving we are going to have to go off memory to remember. Memory- something chemo has stripped me of and seems to be the one thing that may never return.

Speaking of returning though my hair is coming back. I am so excited, except it is going to be an all new me. It is coming in super dark. I have always had dirty blonde hair naturally, so dark hair is going to take some getting used to. It is also coming in curly, but only on the sides and in the back. The top seems to be coming in straight. Of course it is about 1/4 of an inch long so who knows what will happen as it gets longer. For now i am just happy it is coming in thick and even with no more bald spots.

Also i am starting to return to work. I never went completely out during chemo. I continued to work as many hours as i could, on most weeks that was between 8-15 hours. Last week i managed to work 20 and that is the plan for this week too. After this week i am hoping to step it up to 30 hours for a few weeks and hopefully by the end of the month be back full time. The commute makes it hard, i drive 3 to 4 hours a day on top of how many hours i work. So when i get back full time i have 60 hour work weeks between working and commuting. Last week my 20 hours was really 34 with the commute. I was so tired this last week i went straight to bed after work every night. Oh how i can't wait to get all my energy back.