Exchanging the Turtle Shells for Soft Cushies

Really felt like sitting down and updating my blog sipping a cup of coffee but unfortunately I am fasting for surgery. In about 3.5 hours I will be going into surgery to get my expanders replaced by silicone implants. I had gotten used to these expanders, no need to wear a bra ( they are basically like bike tires cemented to my chest) they looked ok, I was even able to sleep on my stomach. The only problem was that I had to be careful bumping into and hugging people, those acts caused a tramboline effect and initiated shocked stares !

I have been extremely busy since my energy level came back in about 3+ weeks after the last chemo. Work is picking up and I am able to do more with each day. The only problem remaining is my sleep, and since I was not able to take Melatonin (2 weeks before surgery) I have been waking up about 7 times with hot flashes, they are really annoying. Luckily I can usually go back to sleep but would have loved to have an uninterrupted 6 hour sleep.

Chemo damage status:
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My hair is growing like a white fuzz (fur) up and outward so I look like I got electrocuted, it is about 1/3 inch and very fine so not looking quite like real hair. Actually I look like I have mange .. urghh.. thank god for the wigs and bandannas. I am diligently using the most expensive hair products that I have ever purchased for a non-existent hair. ( the complete line of Nioxin) once I am done with surgery will check with the radiation oncologist to see whether I have any herbal supplement/vitamin limitations like I did in chemo. Want to take Biotin to help my little follicles shake the chemo shock off.

My finger nails seem to have survived taxol but can not say the same thing for the toenails (probably because I tried running through taxol which I have no regrest about btw) I think I am losing 3 of them, well I am used to losing those anyways in my long runs, no biggie. There is still some neuropathy in the balls of my foot but it is fading quickly.
The eyelashes are coming back along with the eyebrows(they are microscopic but I see them with a magnifiying mirror)
The weight gain has been major though, to give the scope:
november 2006 : 128 pounds ( ok this was a bit too low)
April 2007 : 140 pounds - -I think this was a good weight for me.
July 2007 : 146 pounds
February 2008 : 162 pounds !!! ( and I can not blame steroids I really ate junk - yesterday I even ate a Whopper and fries from Burger King, it has been years since I had that tho and proceeded with attacking the Girl Scout cookies .. chocolate mint!!)

There were a lot of firsts after my diagnosis during this time:

Did my first 5k after my surgery, Lady Track Shack- which was an all women event benefiting FL Hospitals attempts to get underinsured women mammograms. We ran it as a big group. Jan from work came and Debbie also joined us in the middle of the run with Heather ( which was a great surprise !!).
It was the perfect event to end leg2 of my 4 part journey(today is the 3rd leg and radiation is the last leg)

For the first time since surgery went to college park yoga for the 1.5 hour power yoga session, except the bridge pose and the poses that I was supposed to lay facedown(face down on the floor does not go to well with the turtle shells) I was able to do almost everything I used to do 6 months ago it was so nice to see Theresa and Calvin again.

Again for the first time in 6 months I went out for a short row at Lake Fairview ! I was able to balance and come back dry yey !!

And the finale celebration will be Danskin tri on May 11 !

I am not sure whether I will be able to make it to Jacksonville for the half marathon this weekend I need to be careful that I recover quickly/nicely before I start radiation.

No caffeine -- no writing fairies stopping here as I am just feeling blah ! with hunger ( I actually want my coffee !!! ) Ferit should be updating if I can not after the surgery.