Getting Some Hair

The first picture was taken a couple of days before the official start of school at a faculty meeting. Brett and I have known each other since the seventh grade. Who knew we would end up teaching down the hall from each other and LOOK ALIKE!
The second picture was taken a couple of days ago - about nine weeks after the first picture. I know what you are thinking..what happened to all that blond hair? The truth is that Connor stole it and I have been faking it for years. Faron thinks I'll stay brunette until I have enough hair to justify the cost of the highlights.
I just returned from Houston with good news. I have been off of chemo and on hormonal therapy for ten weeks and it seems to be working. There is no evidence the cancer is growing again. The only problem - and I mean PROBLEM - has been joint pain in my feet. I have been cranky and hobbling around like an old woman. When I finished chemo I was so excited because I thought I would be able to start working out and feeling great again. Not so. However, I just dropped off prescriptions for another medication and an anti-inflammatory, so I am optimistic again. (hope springs eternal)
I have a fun God sighting to tell you about along with a prayer request. A fellow teacher at the high school had to take some time off and move to Houston to be treated at MD Anderson for advanced lung cancer. Her name is Trish and she and her family could sure use your prayers. I called her Friday morning as soon as I got to MD for my tests last Friday. I was hoping we could spend a few minutes together for some hugs. It turned out that she had radiation scheduled for the same time I had my CT scan scheduled... in totally different buildings. I was pretty discouraged, but did what I am getting better at - I gave it up to God.
My scheduled time to start drinking barium was 11:00, with the scan to follow about 2 hours later. Then it was 11:30....then it was 12:00...then it was 12:30 and I was starting to get excited. All the people around me were getting upset about the delay, but I am thinking THIS IS GREAT! At 12:40 my name was called and I went for my little interview with the nurse and my first cup of barium. I asked when the nurse thought I might be called back for my test (she said 1:30), and then I got REALLY EXCITED. I explained the situation (Trish's appointment was at 1:15) and asked if I could have all the barium now so I could leave and come back. The nurse said that I was not allowed to wander around with barium, so she gave me a "to go" container and made me swear to be back by 1:30. The race was on! Thank God I know my way around that place!
I ran out of there, jumped on one of the carts that shuttles people between all the buildings, took all the shortcuts through hallways the doctors use, and walked down the stairs to the Radiation Treatment Center check in JUST AS TRISH had finished checking in..... PERFECT timing! We got our hugs and I was thrilled to see her and then we both had to go and I repeated my trek and got there just as they were calling my name. I couldn't have planned it better myself! It is just so fun to trust God for the little things. As one of my friend's says, "Isn't God just so nice!"
Love you all...pray for Trish...thank God for my continued healing! :->)Kelli

P.S. Quote of the day/week/month is from my doc today..."There is no extra credit on earth for living in pain."