Post Christmas Posting...

Can't sleep...up extra early for church, waiting for coffee to finish...no newspaper yet...thought I'd update. Christmas was wonderful for the Ruiz family...lots of time with family and friends...many, many extra long hugs and much love...God is good all the time!!
Chemo will start on December 29th...four cycles all together with the last one scheduled for March 2nd. According to Dr. Janis, my oncologist, the risk of "residual, microscopic, metastatic cancer cells" was significant enough for me that chemo isn't really an 'option', it just is...so we begin on Tuesday. I think I have done all of my reading homework, dropped off my prescriptions, have my chemo buddy(my sister Phyllis)and am ready to begin this leg of my journey.
I spent some time looking at wigs/hair-pieces...I like the bangs that velcro into a hat, or long, straight "Cher hair" that velcros into a hat...I may opt for black so don't be surprised if I start singing, "they say we're young, and we don't know, we won't find out until we grow..." I hope to have fun with the whole 'fake hair' thing. I just don't want to frighten my special-ed students.
Once chemo is finished, after they give my body a few weeks to compose itself, we'll begin 6 to 7 weeks of radiation therapy. That ought to be a snap, so I've heard. I'm hoping to work as much as I can, taking time off as I need to rest and 'chillax' as Austin says.
Coolest thing I've seen this vacation...fellow high-school bball coaches and Matt's players wearing pink wrist bands...pink in gymnasiums is a good thing...also heard that I get special mentioning in the Lancer's pregame prayers (Thanks Lucas). I feel all of your prayers and am so blessed by your caring and compassion. Here is a great verse from Colossians that a fellow breast cancer survivor sent to me in a card: "We pray that you will have the strength to stick it out over the long haul-not the grim strength of gritting your teeth but the glory-strength God gives. It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy, thanking the Father who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that He has for us.
With thanks and love,

Jeanne