We’re back from vacation. And I have a PET scan tomorrow.  (A PET scan is a whole-body scan that detects cancer.) And that’s what you call a jarring jump back to reality.  I’m switching gears.  And yet, not really.  I love my life on vacation, but I also love my everyday regular life.  Cancer appointments have become part of my regular life, and I...

I turned 33 today. I remember random things about random birthdays over the years. All of my birthday memories are happy ones. I am so blessed. My earliest birthday memories are of opening gifts early in the morning. I loved that my parents let us open gifts first.thing.in.the.morning. Later in life I was horrified to learn that not all families operate this way. I...

We are on vacation. I love vacation. (Really, what’s not to love?) Our original vacation plans to visit family for the year were cancelled due to my cancer treatment. (We will reschedule that trip when my mom and I are both cancer-free.) I’m taking the stance that the increased anticipation will make it even sweeter. The timing of this trip was dictated...

I am very much in the rhythm of my new cancer normal, and a big part of my routine is chemo. Maren and Greta go to Phenom’s house.  I think they think it is summer camp.  They love it. I’ve had to take a running hiatus for the last two week: I have an infection in my toe that is exacerbated when I run.  Darn toe.  After two courses of antibiotics, I...

At breakfast this morning Maren was chattering on and, honestly, I wasn’t all that tuned in.  My thoughts were like: we need more babyfood for Greta, and does Maren’s Poptart have any nutritional value whatsoever, and what is that sticky stuff I keep stepping in?  A pretty normal morning at my house.  Maren concludes her monologue with a reference to...