Short Hair, Don't Care

Hair update

I'm doing my best to style my short hair into a faux hawk but it's growing in really thick and curly. I'm struggling a bit with styling. I have a cut appointment June 12th with a new stylist who did a trim for me a few weeks ago. She currently has a shaved head (her second time - first was for a close friend/mother figure who lost her battle with cancer) - she was super cool and I look forward to working with her while I find my way through my upcoming awkward hair phases.

Big Picture

Brad put it really well when we met with Duke today: when we are" in it" every day, it's difficult to recognize how far we've come and the wins along the way. Like my hair - we weren't totally sure that the radiation spots were going to grow back at all. So the fact that they are a little different than before is still a win.

Plant-Based and Vacation Eats

I remain so impressed with my parents' continued commitment to a mostly plant-based diet. Like Brad and me - they are not eating meat and little to no dairy. My Mom and Dad's overall health continues to improve and dad has been taken off of most of his blood pressure meds.

Both of my parents continue with this commitment to their overall health, even in spite of family/peer pressure and shaming - which I’ve also heard said about giving up alcohol, though haven't experienced it. When others make disparaging comments about your choice to give up alcohol, it typically says more about the shamer's defensiveness about their own drinking than your choices not to. I think the same can be said for food choices.

That said, Brad has been saying that he ate more French fries last week than any other week in his life. We took vacation seriously and it was amazing. Back to more fruit and vegetables this week. A few days in and I already feel better.

Health Update:

Had a new MRI done on Monday

We met virtually with Duke this afternoon. We had a good visit with the oncology PA at Duke- They saw some slight improvements in my swelling on Avastin. So, we will continue those infusions every 3 weeks through the remainder of my chemo treatments (Nov) and will begin to taper my steroid tomorrow (Yay!)

Chemo - round 6 - starting this Monday, May 24th

Chemo - round 5 - finished at the end of April was the roughest yet. We think we figured out some food timing and choices by midweek. Without total TMI - I'm not usually a puker but was up at 2/3am Monday - Wednesday of that round, throwing up whatever I had eaten for dinner.

We have a virtual visit with my oncology team in Charlotte tomorrow.

Other updates

Brad successfully defended his dissertation. As proof, Mar and Lar got him this awesome gift and cake and we all celebrated him in Penn State gear at the beach last week.

Speaking of the beach, it was a pretty good test of my energy (on a non-chemo week) and having a bit more social interaction. And though I still need extra rest, I felt pretty good about how the week went

Homemade Booch

My stepdaughter, Mia, gave me the most thoughtful gift of a kombucha making kit. I started my first batch today

Golden Girls

Our beautiful ladies are laying 4-5 eggs per day. My Mom (not a bird fan, in general) even loved them and captured this lovely photo over the weekend.

Book Recommendation

Brad and I have been reading this awesome novel together (passing it back and forth) and I finished it this morning. Brad is finishing it as I write this - We highly recommend!