You Can Ring My Bell

     Whoop whoop!  Done is done!  Finito!  Finis!  Last one done!  All finished!  It's a wrap!  *Mic drop!* (Stole that title, btw--thank you!  You know who you are!)
     In other words, round 6 is in the bag.  I got a snazzy little certificate and I got to ring that dang bell!  I hope you heard it out in Tasmania!  I probably didn't ring it as crazily as I had intended, because it was SO LOUD it shocked the bejeezus out of me!  Holy moley, that raised a ruckus!  But no one threw tomatoes or eggs at me for disturbing their naps. (We took video of my bell ringing, but for some reason can't get it on here.  If we succeed at a later date, we will post it.  Captures the shock and awe! Ha!)
    Although everyone there in the Drug Den has been just lovely, I will not miss being hooked up every 21 days, I must say.  There was a little moment of panic when the nurse brought me my schedule and it had one more chemo treatment scheduled!! Aaaaack! Thankfully a friend was there to keep me from jumping off the ledge and we got it straightened out. Not that I wouldn't do another round if I had to, but by my count I was all done, baby!  I also was told that I should have brought treats to celebrate my last day, but I was remiss. So I'll have to go back and deliver some treats to avoid having a mark against my name!

Here's me, working the pole one last time:

Don't need to see my face, but look between the bags of chemo drugs on the pole, and you'll see Bill Murray peeking out!  Bill Murray juju for my last day!

And to celebrate my finishing chemo, my hubs buzzed my head again.  Here's my fuzz--quite a bit of elephant hair there:

Um, there's a little bit too much white-looking hair there for my taste, gotta say.

And then my daughter gave me glitter head tattoos--why says I don't know how to celebrate in style?

Kinda fun!

You know you want one!

Glitter Tattoos for Everyone!

What it doesn't show is that I have glitter all over my chest now, like an exotic dancer. 
Kinda goes with the pole, dontcha think?

     I have several tentative dates in about 4 weeks to have some celebratory drinks--my esophagus should be handling a pina colada or a glass of wine by then, I hope!  I understand many of you had drinks for me yesterday and of that I'm very appreciative!  

     All the good thoughts and prayers coming to me from all over the globe have made this journey of mine so much easier than it could have been.  All the cards, the calls, the texts, the food, the surprises, the gifts, the posts, the coffee, the hugs, the visits from near and far, the cartoons, the pep talks, the large golden cement bulldog, the laughter, the compliments about my bald head, EVERYTHING has surrounded me with the most positive world imaginable right now, and I truly believe that has made all the difference.  Thank you thank you thank you!  My family all deserve snazzy certificates themselves for stepping up and going above and beyond in every way.
     As for what I've got on the schedule after the requisite hibernation period, here goes:

1. I see the rock star ENT to check on my vocal cord paralysis.
2. I see a pulmonologist to get a baseline lung function test prior to possible radiation but also to gather more information related to my voice or lack thereof.
3. I see the radiation 2nd opinion peeps.
4. I make my final decision re: radiation.
5. I have a PET scan in 4 weeks to see what size fruit tumor I'm toting around in my chest these days.

     As usual, I'll be out of touch for a bit, but I will update on this little list of appointments as they come and go.  I'm hoping for good news on the vocal front but, really, if the most negative thing that I come out of this with is a Minnie Mouse voice, well, I suppose it beats not having a voice at all or the other alternative, right?
     I have it on good authority that the hair will start growing back but not all evenly.  So the advice straight from a hairdresser via my mom (who has had clients and family growing back hair post chemo) is to keep buzzing it off until it is all growing back evenly, then shave it twice, and THEN let it start growing out.  It's getting warm out there, so I don't think I'll have a problem with following that protocol if it's keeping me cooler for now.
     So I'm signing out for now!