Childrens Museum

Last week we went to the Children's Museum with our friends Andrea & Jacob.  It was so cool - we will be back very soon.   Elise was SO tired. 

In the car!

The only shot of the two of them.  They were both very busy. 

Bees!  Elise can say "bee" now. 

Butterflies

Last week we went to go see the butterflies at FMG.   Elise was much more interested this year than she was last year.  She basically pointed at butterflies the whole time.  She would see them before us!  One even landed on my mom's finger. 

 

We will definitely be going back soon!

let's get radiated.

Radiation is weird.  I don't see anything or feel anything but I kind of expected to grow a third arm or something.  Or at least I hoped my gum might mutate into a junior mint.  No such luck. 

It's not really that kind of radiation.  

When I get there I have to swipe my ID card and go back to a changing room, where I have to strip down my top half and put on a lovely hospital top.  Then I go to this fancy waiting room with a giant fireplace with all the other people in only a hospital top - most of whom are all significantly older than me and sorta look at me funny.  Then the radiation therapists come get me and take me back to this big room where I have to lay on this skinny table in the mold they made so I am in the exact same position every time.  

I am completely topless except for this paper (the kind they use at the dentist) over my chest.  Except on this one they tear a huge hole in the middle so they can align me according to the little tattoo dot they put on my chest.  The dot is the size of the tip of a pen and the hole is as big as a cantaloupe.  Seriously.  I told them they didn't have to make the hole so big but I think that's the standard size.  A light breeze would send that thing flying and I'd be alone on a table topless in a huge room.  And they'd have it on camera.  My only consolation is the thought that I'm pretty sure they have seen women older, fatter, and with weirder boobs than little old me.

This room is insane.  It's pretty huge, with this big machine right in the middle.  When I'm on this thing it feels like I'm in this science fiction movie where they're going to replace my brain with something from the Matrix.  It rotates completely around you and takes xrays (to make sure you're in the right position) and then the radiation.  It's crazy.  After about 15 minutes I'm done and I go home.  So - three more weeks of treatment. 

It's not a post without a picture:  We got out some markers and a coloring book for Miss Elise this week.  She loved it.  I'm so thankful for ColorWonder -- she colored more on the table than the coloring book. 

6 weeks post-chemo {an update}

It's been six weeks since my last chemo.  And it feels so good.  A few things:

My hair is growing back.  It's still super short but I haven't worn my wig in weeks. 

My eyebrows are growing back too!  They looks really weird right now though - like I accidentally shaved them off and now there's stubble.  Eyebrow stubble. 

I have to shave my legs now.  I was kind of enjoying that perk from chemo.  

I almost never think about cancer.  It seems so weird that it even happened to me.   I'm currently more worried about the dandelion epidemic taking over my backyard. 

I start radiation tomorrow.   I'm getting a super low dose for a short amount of time - so hopefully it won't affect me at all.  I'm expecting to be a little more tired and some skin irritation but that should be the extent of it.  It's annoying because it's every afternoon (Monday - Friday) for almost 4 weeks.  Looks like Lemmen-Holten and I will be getting friendly for awhile.  At least they make good lattes.  

My mom got all of us one of these necklaces from Lil Blue Boo.  She even got one for Elise when she gets older.  I love it.  Thanks Mom. 

And to wrap up our vacation posts, here's a picture of Nick and the fish he caught and ate for dinner and a sweet video of Elise on the beach. 

Singer Island - Part 2

A few more pictures of our wonderful vacation.  I took about a million.   It was really hard just picking a few so get ready - you are about to be overwhelmed with pictures of Elise.  You're welcome. 

Elise loved the pool.   My mom had lots of goodies packed in her suitcase.  I'm pretty sure all the other kids were jealous.  We shared. 

My mom and dad were kind enough to watch Elise on Wednesday and Thursday so we could drive down to Key West.  It was a long but super beautiful drive through the keys.  We went to this awesome restaurant we saw on 'Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives' called Hogfish Bar & Grill.  So so good.   We spent the day on Key West and had drinks and pie on the Pier at Sunset.  Heaven.

She's cute and she knows it.

She warmed up to the beach - a little. 

She let her feet get wet and didn't freak out.  Progress. 

The resort had an awesome pool with a great little kid area.  Elise could just walk in and out all day and it was super shallow.  

Girlfriend loves her some chocolate milk.  She would get SO excited and suck it down.  It was usually a well rounded meal of chocolate milk, french fries, and ketchup.  Dairy and vegetables. 

The boys and Lauren & Aubrey went fishing one day.  We met them down at the docks and watched the guy filet our supper.  SO GOOD. 

Put on your shades - pasty white Goote's at the beach!

We had such a great time.  Thank you Mom & Dad for a fabulous week!