It’s Day 10 of my first round of chemo and I’m feeling pretty good. The worst side effect I’ve seen so far from the chemical cocktail is some major cramping in my lower abdomen and down my legs during the 3rd and 4th day after chemo. Annoying, but definitely manageable.

On Tuesday I’ll go in for my mid-cycle blood tests when they will check red/white cell and platelet levels, kidney and liver function and magnesium levels (apparently the Carboplatin leaves magnesium in your blood stream). If all goes well there, I’ll come back for another round of blood tests on Feb. 13 and do Round Two of chemo on Feb. 15.

It’s been nice getting back to “normal” this week — my incision has healed nicely, I’m able to drive now (short distances only) and I’m hoping to do some sewing this weekend.

I had an all-day outing with my two quilting buddies Lesli and Michele yesterday. We went to Archdale, NC (near Hickory) for a fabric warehouse sale. Trust me, NOTHING raises my spirits more than the sight of hundreds of bolts of pretty fabric at really, really low prices!

Probably the biggest event of the past week was my appointment with my wonderful stylist, Erica (pictured above in my “after” shot). After speaking with the staff at the Cancer Center and learning that I’d begin losing my hair before the second round of chemo, I decided to go ahead and cut my hair short. I figured this would give me time to get used to a bare neck and exposed ears (something I haven’t experienced since grade school).

I won’t lie…I went to the appointment with a heavy heart. But leave it to Erica to set the right tone and give me an absolutely BANGIN’ haircut that shows off the purple, blue and teal streaks we put in two weeks ago. After a quick consultation (looking at pixie cut variations on Pintrest) I took off my glasses and put myself entirely in her hands.

I have to say, I LOVE the results. And everyone I’ve seen, from the hostess at our favorite Chinese restaurant to the cashier at the CVS, to the ladies at yesterday’s fabric sale have absolutely raved about it.

Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU, Erica! You are a total rock star!

That’s it for now. Will rest up today after my all-day outing and in preparation for the Super Bowl tomorrow — my FAVORITE day of the year, even though I can’t stand either of the team playing this year, LOL. Then it’s time to begin the countdown to August when my ‘Skins report to training camp and begin another season of heartbreak.