Where do I go from here?

What a liberating day! I am finally feeling like I can really celebrate the end of chemo. I went to the oncologist today and my counts were great. I do not see him for four weeks. I have no restrictions for the most part. I have not been able to do things at will like see the dentist, have a facial, anything invasive that could cause an infection. Today I asked could I do things like have a mole removed, botox (just thought I'd asked), travel outside the country. He told me just to wait a couple of weeks on the invasive stuff but basically I could do whatever I want to do. They took out the PICC line! I have a bandage on it that needs to keep dry for a couple of days since there were 2 stictches holding it in, but they said I could shower and just rebandage.

Bob and I went out to lunch in a real sit down place (not fast food) which is only the second time he and I have eaten out in 8 months. Then I did what all real women do when they feel good (or bad)....I went shopping. I forgot to mention the one sort of bad thing; the wound vac will be back Friday. It is not all bad because I hate the draining this other thing is causing and Bob has to rebandage my wound sometimes twice a day. The tape is killing my skin so it is not fun. Also the wound vac will heal me much faster. Back to the shopping............ I realized I have no slacks, jeans or anything like that to wear since my sizes have changed so dramatically. The wound vac does not really allow me to wear or try on pants because of how it is located so I have only been able to buy skirts or dresses. So I figured it was now or never -- or after all the good stuff was picked over! So I drove myself (!) over to my friendly neighborhood boutique Rita Ellen's (she is going to owe me for all this free advertising) and got a couple of pairs of jeans and slacks. Now somehow I need to get to an alterations person tomorrow to get the hemmed. Otherwise I can't do that till after the wound vac is gone and I will be ready to wear them.

I was only gone about an hour or so but since we'd be at the doctors all morning it was about 2pm, and I had been up all day. I rested a couple of hours and did work email etc and at 5pm I went to Publix and came home and did a load of laundry. While I am really tired, it feels really good.

And for the main event, I am going to go into the office for about 3 hours tomorrow if I can last that long. I just can't wait. I am not sure how I am going to handle the wound vac, but if all goes well I am going to try to get out next week and see some agents and do my job like I normally do. I will not be able to be gone more than 4 hours or so at a time as the wound vac is electric and the battery pac lasts only so long. I should be able do some local travel. Guess I can take the charger with me in case of an emergency, but I just would not want to walk in a customer's office and plug in!

So now the real question is "When does this blog end?" You all have gotten me through the roughest 8 months of my life, and I am so appreciative. At some point, really soon I hope, I am just going to be having a normal life and I can't imagine anyone would want to read about my day to day activities! I cannot wait to get to that point. Bob thinks I should continue till the wound vac goes, but entries my not be quite as often. "Life with Geri and Bob" is just not that exciting (while we can't wait to get back to it) and I am sure you all have better things to do with your time! I am so happy you let me share this tough part of my life with you. Hopefully all will be well soon and Geri's Journal will end but a great new journey will begin. In the meantime, I 'll just keep posting if you keep reading.