Last Call

Team registration for the Susan G. Komen race ends July 31st! This means that if you want to be part of my "Cancer Sucks" team you have to sign up on the Susan G. Komen page before the 31st...(if you haven't already) Just click on the link below and look for the tab on the right that says, "Join Heather Macintosh's Cancer Sucks team" 

Click here to go to the Susan G. Komen Page

I just wanted to thank everyone again for all of their support with not only this race, but with this entire year. I'm so excited to have a big party after the race to celebrate with all of you who live around the area. For those of you who don't live around here, or can't make it, I'll raise my apple juice to toast you along the way!!!

ON ANOTHER NOTE...

Tomorrow I'm off to Branson for a vacation! Can you believe I have never been to Branson?! I can't wait to see some shows, check out some sights, and chill with Amy (Brain tumor Amy). Yep, we are both just healthy enough to make the trip down and live it up.  Funny thing about it, neither of us will probably remember anything! My Chemo brain mixed with her memory issues from the tumor just means we can do the exact same trip next year! It would be just as new and exciting as it will be this time! Not to mention, we really don't run out of things to say to each other either, since we don't notice if the other is repeating the same stories over and over again! Just think, only five months ago we were both dealing with really scary tumors. Now, the tumors are gone and we can celebrate in Branson, MO with all the really old people!

If I can figure it out, I'll try and post some pictures while we are down there.

As of now, here are a few pictures of Amy and me on other trips...

Hiking in the Semien Mountains, Ethiopia

Tent camping in Baja California, Mexico

Biking 750 miles across Cuba! (We were and still are invincible)

Boating at the Lake of the Ozarks

So, Amy and I have this traveling thing under our belts.  Branson should be a piece of cake... even if we don't remember it!

Why Not?

It all started with this....

Then it went to this...

So, I thought to myself... why not?!

So, we'll see! I don't know if he will ever see it, but it was fun to make!

About the race, don't forget to sign up on the actual Susan G. Komen site by clicking on the pink link above. As for shirts, I have a running list if you want one. I have to put the order in by August 4th, so time is going quickly. I know they have youth smalls, for littler kids, but I'm in the process of figuring out if we can get T sizes... Adult shirts are 10.00 and youth small shirts are 6.00...

Make sure the kids have bathing suits as we will have small pools set up, and I might even get a fire truck here to unleash the hydrant. I'm also in the process of trying to get the street closed off for a few hours! I hope to see you all there to help me celebrate the fact I'm almost done with Chemo!!!!!!

I Forget...

Because I have been going through this whole cancer ordeal since December, I forget that I seem to stick out to the public. I have encountered some strange situations, am confused for a brief moment, then remember, and all is clear. I'll give a few examples....

1) I was pumping gas at Quick Trip a while back, staring at the pump wondering when the heck gas got soooo expensive, when I heard a scream from the other pump... "CANCER?" I looked over and saw a woman looking at me. I glanced around to make sure she was talking to me and nodded my head. "WHAT KIND?", she yelled. We were quite a distance apart, so I found that I had to yell also... "Breast." She nodded, took off her hat to reveal a short hair cut, and said, "OVARIAN, HAIR IS JUST GROWING BACK." With that was a small fist pump, and she was gone. I looked around, somewhat dazed but definitely smiling.

2) I went into a local cup cake place, Baby Cakes down in the River Market, to get some high class cup cakes one afternoon. As I walked in the owner gave me a big smile and we began talking flavors. I picked out three flavors, and as he got the case to put them in, he asked if this was my first trip to his shop. I said that it was. He then told me the cup cakes were on the house, added a forth one, and packed them up. As I was walking out he said, "With a smile like that you can beat anything." I thanked him again, and walked out, definitely smiling.

3) In Colorado I was looking at CU baseball hats. The sales woman came up and froze as I took off my hat to try on some CU hats. She instantly said I could have any hat for 50% off. I asked her if there was a sale going on, since there were no signs anywhere. She shrugged and said there used to be, but that I could still have the price. I ended up buying two hats and my friend and I walked out, definitely smiling.

4) The other day I had an appointment for a massage, a 90 minute massage, and I couldn't wait! My surgeon said I was really tight in my neck and that I should get one as soon as I could. So, I made the appointment and was looking forward to it all day. I got to the place, filled out the usual forms and waited. The masseuse came out, pulled me into a room and asked if I was currently going through chemotherapy. I said that I was. She looked down and told me she could not work on me without a doctors note. I then said, "Okay, I'm not going through chemo." She smiled, and said she still couldn't do it. The massage could release too many toxins into my body and that could be dangerous. She said she was sorry and to come back with a note. I left, definitely NOT smiling.

5) I went over to play with my nieces yesterday, as they have been out of town the last few weeks. When I asked C.C. about the trip she said she got some new toy horses and she went to McDonalds three times. That was about all I could get out of her until both kids took me upstairs to "fix" my hair. Once my hair was done, I got some more information about their trip! See below for pictures.... 

Another Epic Thursday Night....

And we're back, to Thursday steroid night.

I don't think people really understand 48 hours of no sleep with unending energy. And, since I love to use visuals with my students to illustrate my points, I wanted to show a video. I saw this on another blog I read, and laughed out loud, then suddenly realized THIS IS ME.... in cat form.... on Thursday nights! Or at least, this is my brain on Steroids!

However, the 48 hours do come to an end. The video below illustrates how I feel when that happens...

I did just return from Colorado, in time for my treatments. I had an amazing time there, hanging with friends, eating good food (Sink pizza and The Dark Horse for those of you that know Boulder), driving around in the mountains, going to a few parties and gatherings, and buying CU stuff. It was the perfect getaway for me, and it showed in my pre chemo labs today . ALL of my numbers were better than last week- higher blood counts and platelets as well! My nurse said if I could improve so much with just a few days in altitude, then I should recover quickly when I'm done with treatments. So, very happy about that!

That brings me back to tonight. It's not even midnight yet, so I have a long way to go. I had dinner with some friends earlier (the Westside Local- amazing local and organic food. I highly recommend it!) and then they came over to entertain me for a few hours. Soon I'll be back to baking- monster cookies tonight- and some reading. I'm really into my book, so that will help.

As far as chemotherapy goes, only 6 more treatments left! I'm actually feeling like I am getting a bit stronger. I keep visualizing the biking and running I'll be doing come September. I can't wait to walk down the street without getting winded, much less ride the trails of Smithville Lake!  Soon!!!

I tried...

I really did try to stay off an airplane. I had great intentions of spending the entire summer in this area. I even accepted the idea. And I have stayed off all planes... until Saturday. But, it's a short flight- non-stop. Doesn't that count for something? I'm off to Boulder! I need that good old rocky mountain high, cooler air to breathe, mountains to gaze upon, memories of my college days to emerge, and of course conversations with some of my favorite people.

I just can't help but smile when I hear this song! The idea of going on this mini-vacation has been great for the soul, so I imagine once I get there it will revitalize me. Luckily I have some amazing people in my life who let me invite myself over for a few days and then welcome me with open arms. I'll post pictures while I'm there!

As for today, I completed round 5 of my 12 rounds of Taxol. So, it's another steroid night! Luckily I was I was able to meet two amazing grade school friends for dinner. Yep, grade school. We have know each other for over 25ish years! The best part about it, we can all sit around the table and talk about real life and what we are all going through. On the other hand, we can make each other laugh so hard we'll cry. I might not see these friends all of the time, but they are some of the most important and special people in my life! I guess if you can survive 5th-8th grade with someone, you can survive anything! :)

Well, that's it for now. I am feeling a bit tired, but that goes against a typical steroid night since it is only midnight. So, maybe I'll try and sleep? Or at least pretend for a while before getting up again to find something else to do....

p.s. Can you believe Casey Anthony is not guilty? Just had to say it....

Late Night Activities

Time 3:48 a.m.

Steroid night! But I was prepared.

First I made two homemade strawberry pies...

Then I made homemade banana muffins...

Then I watched a movie...

Now I'm writing this blog... But, gonna try and get some sleep as it is 4:00 a.m. and I am meeting someone for breakfast at 8:00. You might think that I would be too tired to do that, NOPE! I'll be wide awake. 

Saturday, however, I seem to really crash! Go figure...

p.s. don't forget to click on the pink link above to sign up to run/walk the Susan G. Komen walk with me. I'm getting a long list of t-shirt orders as well, so also let me know if you want one, if you haven't already. I'll order everything in about 3 weeks! Too bad this walk isn't at 2:00 a.m. on a Friday morning. I'd be able to run it at this rate!