While Natalie is busy fighting the BIG Fight....

Let's help her fight the other one......THE BILLS!

Backstage Design Studio created these epic "F*ck CANCER" t.shirts and Ragschwag has graciously stocked their warehouse and put them on the web for you to easily purchase!

Every last cent is going to those damned 'ole medical bills, so shop for your ENTIRE family + friends + fb friends + twitter followers +.....................  you understand!  :)

If you have any questions, please e me: annehudson@clearchannel.com!

Thanks in advance for your support!

Ready.  Set. GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO:

 http://www.ragschwag.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage_ic.tpl&product_id=372&category_id=69&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=53

Round Five in the books!

So yesterday I went to the chemo salon for my second to last chemo treatment - really getting close to the end - The light at the end of this chemo tunnel is coming into view and I like it!
Yesterday my dear friend Robin Schoepf was sweet enough to come visit me with delicious treats from Sweet Dreams Bakery in New Braunfels.  WOW this stuff was amazing - she brought cupcakes, kolaches and monkey bread.  If you don't know about them go check them out if you are in the NB area you will thank me. OH MY it was just what we needed to keep us charged through the entire 8 hours we were there.  They were running behind so it took longer than normal we got there at 9:15 and did not leave until almost 5.  It was so sweet of her to take her whole day to sit with me, definitely made the time pass by faster.  I also had a visit from Pam McElroy she stopped by with wine...now do my friends know me or what!
Two other visitors came by while I was propped upon my chemo throne.  One girl from The American Cancer Society who was giving out $50 gas cards to help cancer patients get back and forth to treatment during the high gas price times.  How cool is that?  And as if that wasn't enough behind her came a massage therapist who was donating her time to give hand and feet massages. - "well yes please" was my response.  So the name chemo salon really is fitting.  
Next week May 5th I am meeting with the surgeon so I will have more to update regarding the surgery, which should still be around the second week of June.
On the home front, I will be moving the second weekend of May.  What fabulous timing, huh?!  I found a really cute little duplex just five minutes down the road and I am really looking forward to downsizing.  I am selling everything out of that four bedroom house and starting all over.  I have been in that house for 8 years - I cannot believe it, so I am ready for a change.  This wasn't really the timing I would have chosen, but God has a better plan apparantly, so here I go! 
I am going to move the stuff I want to keep out first, and then have a major estate (haha my "estate") sale for eveything that is left the weekend of May 20-21.  I will be fresh off my last round of chemo, which is scheduled for May 19th but I have a great group of salesgirls who think they can handle it if I can't.   
So thats about all I got right now, should be blogging a little bit more in the coming weeks to keep you in the loop. Thanks again for each and everyone of you and your support, I couldn't do this without you - for real!

Just on Auto Pilot

Wow, I knew it had been a while since I posted but I did not know it had been over a month.  Guess time may be moving faster than I thought.  Actually there is not a lot to report so I guess that is good.  I also enjoy life being as "normal" as possible, so I think that may be another reason it has taken me so long to post.  In my old, "normal", pre-cancer life I didn't have a blog to update.  

I made it through round three and round four.  I am home today recovering from round four.  I think I have gotten used to the effects of chemo and have gotten pretty good at managing them.  So that's what I mean by auto-pilot, it has just become my "new" normal life.  But this is not forever only two more rounds, yippee!

The cancer is responding really well to the chemo and the tumor shrinks more and more every day.  Pretty awesome.  During my last doctors appointment Dr H said it is time to get the surgeon involved.  This is great news because that means we are going to start planning the surgery - what a huge milestone!  The surgeon appointment is scheduled for May 5th - Happy Cinco de Mayo.  I think she will schedule some scans and see what she will be dealing with post chemo.  Hopefully we will stay on track to to schedule surgery somewhere around the second week of June. 

I will try to be better about updating even if I don't have much to say.  Thanks again to all of you for your words of encouragement and prayers, these are what get me through the tough days.

Oh and something I do want to mention...I have quite a few people who will be participating in runs or walks and have listed me as one of the people they are honoring.  This is so humbling and I am overwhelmed with emotion when I think about it.  I hope to mention all of them in the order of their events so hopefully some of you will be able to help support them.  Every little bit counts so even if you can spare $5 it will be appreciated. 

My friend Rena McElroy will be walking the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life this Friday. 
 
This is me and Rena and here is a link to her fundraising page, Thank you Rena, I love you!
https://secure3.convio.net/tacs/site/Donation2?idb=1066474405&df_id=1008611&1008611.donation=form1&FR_ID=32662&PROXY_ID=9174765&PROXY_TYPE=20&JServSessionIdr004=1mjz832x33.app310a