Thank you to everyone who has called, sent texts/cards/emails, and posted comments to the blog with your congratulations for finishing chemo. I am so lucky to have had you with me on this journey and can’t tell you how much I appreciate your support. Trust me, this isn’t a journey that a person should ever undertake alone; I’m touched and honored that so many have been here for me — in body and spirit — over the past six months.

This has been an interesting week. The oncology staff warned me that the side effects of chemo were cumulative, and that the last few rounds might be more difficult than the earlier ones. Boy, were they right.

Normally the day after chemo is one of unconstrained energy and vigor as the steriods are still coursing through my system. Not after Round 6.

For the first time, I struggled with nausea and extreme fatigue on Friday and Saturday. Lucky for me, I had lots of lovely meds to keep the nausea under control, and plenty of time to nap over the weekend. Thanks to Subtropical Storm Alberto, I was pretty much stuck in the house anyway.

But I’m feeling a lot better now, my energy level is rising again and I’m happy to report that the worst of the chemo side-effects (with the exception of that darn tingling in my fingers and toes) are in the rear-view mirror.

As I mentioned in last week’s post, the next steps involve a CT scan and a consult with the radiation oncologist to go over her plan for my final phase of treatment.

My CT is scheduled for next Wednesday (June 6), I see my regular oncologist on the 12th and the radiation oncologist on the 13th for a discussion which I hope will center on a “start date” for radiation.

But for now, I’m treating the first three weeks of June as an intermission and an opportunity to re-enter the world.

We have a lot planned for June: Mom and I will be attending a Greenville Drive baseball game on Friday evening (weather permitting), we have tickets to see Harry Connick, Jr. at the Peace Center on the 10th and I have planned a full day “quilt shop hop” with my two quilting buddies on the 20th. Oh, and mom and I are waitlisted for a Macaron baking class at a shop in downtown Greenville on the evening of the 18th. This is on top of a wide array of doctor’s appointments and lab tests during the month of June.

Best of all, I got a call from a former client today who has a fun project for me — and needs it delivered by the end of June. I should have the contract signed by the end of this week.

I’m feeling a bit like that butterfly emerging from the chrysalis — I’m ready to unfurl my wings and fly again.

One final note: We’ve officially booked the house in Italy for October 21 – November 18. It’s in the Chianti region of Tuscany, about 30 minutes southwest of Florence and it is absolutely GORGEOUS! Look out, Italy, here we come!