Some people prefer a poolside palapa, the warm sun, a refreshing cocktail with an umbrella, and a waiter in a speedo. Call me eccentric, but as I write this, I'm kicking back at Chalet de MDA in a hospital bed, being hydrated with IV chemo, covered with warm blankets, and being waited on by my adoring husband. That's right, the clinical trial has begun and I'm currently sitting for my second dose.[...]

Back in Lubbock from Houston. A little tired and a little cranky, but hoping to recover quickly so I can get back to work tomorrow. Some people have already heard some of the details of my check up but for those who haven't, here is the update.[...]

I'm finally getting back to updating my public on what has been happening livin' la vida glioma. Our family trip to Switzerland was amazing. The best part was seeing friends who are essentially extended family. The country is beautiful, the weather was perfect, and the culture is pretty laid back. We had many days and nights with family, food, and fun outside in the yard. It was so reminiscent of my early teen years, when these friends lived next door to us. It was a party outside every night! It reinforces my desire to remodel my backyard to accommodate outside fun with family and friends. We stayed a few days in the Alps and drove to see the Rhine River and the Rhine Falls, the largest plain waterfall in Europe. My sweet boy met a girl, who he hung out with for a lot of the trip. He's been mum on whether they are still talking on Instagram. Let's keep this just between us, I'm not sure if he wants anyone to know.[...]

Last night I took my 102nd dose of chemo. That was the last chemo dose for standard of care, which means that I'm now on surveillance (scans every 8 weeks) but no active treatment other than exercise and the keto diet. If, and only if, something shows up in a scan will I need to consider additional treatment. My next scan is set for May 31. [...]

Our trip home from Houston was uneventful and always seems fast when I'm with Lois because we just talk the entire drive about everything and nothing at the same time. The morning we were leaving I was eating bacon and broke a tooth. First off, this is proof that eating bacon is evil- the Torah was right! Secondly, I have broken teeth twice before, once when eating a sandwich and once while eating an enchilada, neither of which were particularly hard foods. My overall feeling is that I've inherited soft teeth. I'd share how I know this but I don't want to publicly share information about people I may need later. You know, self preservation. Third, according to the MD Anderson website, cancer treatment such as chemotherapy and radiation to the head or neck can create problems with the teeth, salivary glands, and gums. Lucky me![...]

I’m once again at the Wonderful World of MD Anderson. Not that anyone is happy to be here, but if you have to have cancer it’s a pretty good place to be. Yesterday my scan wasn’t until 1 PM, so Lois and I walked 5 ½ miles. I always feel a lot better after getting some exercise. It was also my first opportunity to use the Apple watch for an outside jaunt. The scan was fine but I had a little stomach upset from the contrast dye. Lois laughed when I told her sauerkraut’s probiotics help settle any stomach upset, she says she just cannot imagine that sauerkraut would settle anything. You wait and watch! Sooner or later she’s going to have a stomach ache, try it, and find that it’s nature’s perfect fermented food.[...]

I realize it's been a while since I've posted an update. The more energy I have, the more I have to do. What is it that they say? "Life is what happens while you are blogging about life?" Ok, so maybe that's not exactly it but you know what I mean. There's been a whole lot going on. On the medical front, no news is good news. I have a scan scheduled for tomorrow (results Wednesday) and I have two more rounds of chemo (one starts this week). Kudos to Lois for dropping everything to accompany me to Houston this week when Jason's work schedule got busy. I do not yet know what happens after my 12 rounds of chemo, but I've been told I will be on a scan schedule and it will be "wait and watch." I'm feeling pretty good 13 months out from surgery. Very focused on each day as it comes and it's getting easier to use the necessary daily tools I have to move forward in the new normal. [...]

I can't believe it has been almost a year since my journey with GBM began. Even though brain surgery and treatment didn't change me a whole lot, living La Vida Glioma certainly has. My world is just so different than it was before diagnosis, but also better than it was immediately after and during treatment. Last week was chemo round #9, which means 3 to go! Each month gets easier and easier, if someone had been slipping me the pills I wouldn't have even suspected that I was on chemo. I even attended a conference all day every day and didn't get tired. It's a little amazing, actually. I also had a scan last week and the voicemail basically just said "no evidence of progression, all looks good, no change." Once I see the report I can further evaluate this good news, but for now I guess we'll just take the nurse's word for it. She seems pretty trustworthy.[...]

Today really sucked. I'm not afraid or ashamed to admit that. Some days just do but in a far different way than before all of these health issues started. This week I've been feeling great. I saw my family doc earlier in the week for a quick check up and I reflected to him and myself about how well I've been feeling lately. And then today was a shit storm. I felt great in the morning, had breakfast and coffee (maybe a little too much coffee it turns out) and then got ready for work. When I was almost ready to go, my peripheral vision started acting up to the point that I was seeing flashing in my periphery (not so unusual but has been happening less and less lately), I had a brief stint of neuropathy (again, happens from time to time), and had just a general state of mild dizziness and confusion. And then, of course, I get a little scared and frustrated. Telling those around me, while necessary, freaks them out a little also. And then I just had to wait it out. [...]

My energy has continued to be up and I've been at work at least a few hours each day. I love being able to get things done, even if I have had to accept that I won't get as much done in as short a time as I used to. I recently heard a quote that resonated with me by Joseph Campbell, American writer of comparative mythology and philosophy: “You must give up the life you planned in order to have the life that is waiting for you.” Upon awaking each day, I try to have the attitude that I am greeting the day on today's terms. I'm no longer interested in engaging with the struggle inherent to the human condition. When I get tired, I go home. When I need to sit down, I sit down. When I need love and support, I ask for it. Of course, this is all much easier these days without an egg sized tumor squishing my brain. I feel like finally the brain I have left is recovering on its own terms. My mental capacity is wider, clearer, sharper, etc. I've not felt this cognitively capable in a very long time. It's amazing what brain surgery can do for a person![...]