#6 is in the bag!!

Dear Family and Friends:

Well, it's true... one more time!! I am done with this series of chemotherapy cocktails. Now, unlike the cocktails I enjoy in the evenings, I am grateful to have finished this round of treatment. This last treatment has beat me up a little more than I am used to. I usually recover in about a week after a treatment, but this time it has been 2 weeks and I am just starting to feel better without too much fatigue. My mouth did breakout again in sores which is incredibily irritating, aggravating, and just downright painful. My doctor has given me a prescription for "Miracle Wash" which is really the correct name for this formula!! This product has saved many lives because at times I have felt seriously homicidal from suffering with the sores in my mouth. Honestly, this product has been a life-safer for me. The first time my mouth broke out, Bill and I were in Spain and I literally could not eat or drink for days. Currently, I do not have as many sores in my mouth and they are starting to resolve. I totally appreciate why people quit having chemo, as some of the side effects can be so difficult. But I know the process is worth it for me!!

Next week I am scheduled for a CT scan, and on November 17th, I will begin a year of Avastin. Dr. Chambers gave me two months off from the last chemo to give me a break, which I appreciate so very much. Even deciding to do the Avastin has been a diffucult decision. I am really tired of this process and want nothing more than to get through and be done!!

I celebrated another birthday last week and I am so happy to say "I got another birthday." My spirits are good and I love living in the present.

As most of you probably already know, Nicole, Billy, Chloe and Luke moved to Baltimore and we miss them all so much. Chloe is back in school, Luke continues to eat non-stop, Nicole loves where she is living, and Billy is so happy to have his family with him.

Danielle and I went wedding dress shopping last month and wow, we really found the pefect and most fabulous dress for Danie! She will look amazing. We are so happy for the two of them and open our arms and hearts to welcome Dan into the family.

Michelle and Pete had baby Blake King Batschelet on September 22, at 8:28 PM. To repeat Nicole, and accurately so, Michelle gave birth to Pete! Baby Blake looks just like him. He is so cute and has the longest arms and legs. What a real bundle of joy we have all received.

Billie is doing well with her Master's and is busy studying all the time, at least that is what she tells me, especially when something needs to be picked up. So happy to have her home.

Our trip to South Africa, Botswana and Zambia was the most wonderful vacation. Bill actually took a few weeks from work (he did read depos in our down-time) which is something new for him. We spent a week in Cape Town and it is a beautiful place. I promise to share pictures from our whale watching experience, the wine areas (South African wines are great) Cape Point and the Aquarium Museum. I took well over 2000 pictures and I will find the time to cull through them and print only maybe half!

Bill and I then met up with our good friends, Pat and Lou, and took off for a ten-day safari. We stayed at the most glorious lodges run by "& Beyond". A few days at Phinda, a few days at Leakwood in the Sabi Sands, Victoria Falls, and the Okavango Delta. We saw the big 5: buffalo, elephants, rhinos, lions and leopards. We tracked rhinos one morning and found two white rhinos in the bush, this was so exciting and exhilarating. We watched wild dogs make a kill, a pride of lions eating buffalo, hippos, etc. I promise to post pictures in the next week.

This weekend I am heading to the Joshua Tree Roots Festival with two of my brothers. The line-up of bands looks fun and I have not been on a trip with my brothers for many, many years. This should be interesting and crazy and I am so looking forward to this adventure.

I thank you all once again for your thoughts and prayers. I appreciate the energy and love you send my way.

Much Love,

Colleen