Hey everyone!
I haven't updated for a while, and I had a Dr. visit today, so thought this was the time to do it! Everything looks good, except I'm tired all the time. He says that a lot of that is normal - my body is still healing and will be for a while, but he wants to do a sleep study test. Our family Dr. had talked about doing one before all of this started, so one is scheduled for Jan. 31st. Yippee. That will be interesting. He also did a thyroid test and said that I was a bit dehydrated, so we'll deal with all that when I go back to him on the 5th. Other than that, everything is good!

I'd like to work more, but they're holding me to my 3 1/2 hours a day. Our census is pretty low - 60 - when it had been 100+, so when that increases, so will my hours. I'm ready to work more!

Sam is on his way home now. The last couple of days, they've been getting fed steaks, baked potatoes, veggies and dessert at work. The ATA (American Trucking Assoc.) voted the Wal-Mart Fleet of trucks the safest in the nation for the 9th year in a row, so Wal-Mart is treating their drivers and showing their appreciation. He's even bringing steaks home, so I get a taste too!

I just stirred up a batch of chili - with cold & snow in the forecast for the week-end, that sounded so good. It's cold enough, I can just sit it on the back porch!

We're looking forward to our days in AZ. We haven't been there since mom & dad were there, so that will be really strange and probably a bit difficult, but we have so many good memories of all the good times there with them. Kurt called the other night and left a message "to bring lots & lots of clothes, because once we got there, they weren't going to let us go!"

All for now! Take care and stay warm!

Love,
Karen

Treatments are Finished!

Yeah!! Treatments are all done - 18 weeks of chemo and 35 radiation treatments! How awesome is that! I couldn't have done it without the support of my family and friends. You always hear of someone being diagnosed with cancer, but until the Dr. faces you and says it directly to you, it takes on a totally different meaning. It makes you look at everything in a whole new perspective.

We are so lucky to have such a wide circle of supporters - thank you so much for your prayers, your love, your emails, phone calls, scarves, anything that you did to make these past 7 months easier for Sam & I.

While I don't have a clean bill of health yet, all the Dr's are happy with what they are seeing, and they will keep a close watch on me for the next year or so. Their only advice now is to rest, rest, rest and let my body heal. I can do that. I continue to work each day, and that's a good feeling too, as my hours will increase as my body heals.

Thank you again everyone - we couldn't have done it without our family, our friends and our faith in God.

Love,
Sam & Karen