Hello All,

My plan was to wait until I started radiation before my next blog entry but since I still haven't started I will bring you up to date. I have had my preliminary appointment with the radiation team to take measurements. I still have to get the tatoos ( not as glamorous as it sounds) which will be the targets for the radiation beams. I was hoping to have already started the radiation treatments by now but nothing runs as planned with this disease. Unfortunately, my mom's health has taken a turn for the worse and I am going to put off radiation to go home and visit my family. As soon as I return I will start the treatments.

I have been very busy trying to reclaim my former self. I exercise at least 2 hours a day - there is nothing more pathetic looking than a white, middle-aged, bald woman doing African and Latin dancing ( Zumba class). I am also taking Pilates, Yoga, Step and Weight Lifting classes. I have cut my calories to about 1200 a day with less than 30 grams of sugar. So you would think that I would have lost at least ONE pound... but NOOOOOO. Can you tell that I am a bit frustrated by it? A doctor friend told me that often the chemo treatments affect the thyroid in such a manner as to almost shut down your metabolic rate so that it is very hard to lose weight. He said eventually it will even out again. More evidence that god has a wicked sense of humor. No real progress on the growing hair front either. I think I am supposed to be learning patience but it certainly isn't my forte.

Frank's dad continues to deteriorate so please continue to pray for him and my mom. Please, take care of yourselves. Thank you all for caring about me and my family.

Love, Dianne

Okay, I think we can all agree that I am a terrible blogger. I guess I am not as selfish as I feared because I find it very boring to just write about myself. It seems like such a self-absorbed endeavor. But I appreciate that you care about me so let me update you on the latest.

I have recently finished my LAST Chemo treatment. HOORAY! Soon I will start what I believe will be 7 weeks of radiation 5 days a week. But I have a firm belief that radiation will be a piece of cake compared to chemo. And speaking of cake - I am excited to be able to get back to working out 6 days a week and hopefully losing a few pounds and getting back into shape. I have missed my daily workouts. My chemo doctor said that my hair should start growing in about 3 weeks after my last chemo so I am really anticipating hair and eyelashes and eyebrows and all those things I always took for granted.

Frank and the kids are doing great. Alanna and I are wrapping up our swim season. With Alanna's help I managed to survive the summer and service my clients. Alex is still working at Outback and is starting to work on some new art projects as well. He is a very gifted artist- check out his website http://digitalcutti.deviantart.com/. Frank and I are beginning to book more performance gigs for the fall/winter season. That is a very good thing. The economy has hit our business very badly in the last few years and we are hoping for a busy season.

Frank's mom is doing very well and has decided not to have surgery for her breast cancer. She has been taking medication which has shrunk the tumor to the point where it is barely discernible. Considering her age and poor heart and diabetes I think she has made the right decision. Frank's dad, on the other hand, is doing very poorly and wasting away from us on a daily bases. Hospice comes in to help 3 times a week and they are a god-send. Please remember Dad in your prayers.

I would love to hear from those of you who still check in to my blog. I want to know how you are doing and what is new in your life. Thanks again for all of your good wishes and prayers. I truly believe the worst is behind me and I am anxious to reclaim my "normal" life. Love and happiness to you all. Dianne