No Next Round!!

Resting along the way at Sky Meadow

Tomorrow will be three weeks since my last cycle of treatment, which normally means I'd be bracing myself to start it all over again in the AM.  It's awesome not to have to dread yet another round.  Meanwhile, my strength and energy level are slowly but surely coming back.  Today, we had a family "forest bath" - hiking a loop around the western side of Sky Meadows State Park, including a sliver of the Appalachian Trail.  Even if the kids were a "little" less than enthusiastic, it was a beautiful hike, full of birds, mountain flowers and butterflies, with the Blue Ridge Mountains on one side and rolling meadows and farmland on the other.  
After about three hours hiking, the kids and I were pretty wiped out (Christine could have gone a lot longer) but it was rejuvenating to be in the great outdoors.  That's generally how I've been feeling in recent days.  Physically still a bit limited but psychologically, emotionally and spiritually sensing a new beginning, a new lease on life.  The Easter season may have something to do with that, along with the start of the Little League season and teaching a new batch of kids the game of baseball, which always gives me a lift.  Continuing to enjoy what each day brings and especially what tomorrow will NOT bring.  
Thanks to all who continue to reach out, lift us up and cheer us on - we feel incredibly blessed.  For our praying friends, please continue to pray for my recovery, for the upcoming PET scan on May 8th and confirmation that the cancer has been obliterated, and for Christine, who's been a rock star to me and the kids throughout.    

Energizer Bunny?

Well, I (CJ) have been telling folks how tired and worn AJ is after finishing the last round of chemo.  But yet he's up late tonight watching and waiting (in vain?) to see if Kansas can come back against Kentucky in the NCAA basketball championship. Hmmm.  We'll write more in the next few days but basically we are thrilled to know that however crummy AJ feels, his only job now is to recover and start feeling better.  Pet Scan in May to confirm this! :)