Happy New Year friends! I hope that you had a chance to kick back last night and bring in the new year with your loved ones. I was very fortunate to spend it with some incredibly wonderful friends. Sarah was kind enough to host which was convenient because she lives upstairs from me. I might have also worn a teeny-tiny top hat that clipped into my hair because, why not? If you have the chance to wear a comically small top hat with feathers and glitter you grab that opportunity by its tiny little brim! Sarah and Maddy also pimped out my cane and decorated it with glow sticks. After a few weeks of pajamas and bad hair days it was nice to have an excuse to get dolled up even if it meant sipping on sparkling cider instead of champagne.

As soon as the ball dropped I was wiped and certainly ready for bed. Before I crawled under my mountain of blankets Stacey and Zack had an early birthday surprise for me. CUPCAKES! Stacey specially ordered them from Georgetown Cupcakes. I haven’t heard of them before but apparently this cupcake shop is a huge deal. I quickly understood when I shoved a salted caramel cupcake in my face. I was thrilled enough to spend NYE with Stack and Zack but the cupcakes were a giant added bonus. Thanks guys!

Since returning from the hospital I have gotten a little better each day. Due to the six inch long Frankenstein scar on my abdomen I’m a little hunched over. To take some of the strain off my back I walk with a cane much of the time but I can walk fine otherwise (a huge win in comparison to last year’s surgical disaster). I still have some abdominal pain but I am weening myself off of narcotics. Don’t get me wrong, Percocet makes my insides feel like warm mac and cheese (stay with me) but it also clogs your pipes. I am NOT about to have another intestinal obstruction.

What other meds am I dabbling in? I am still giving myself the Lovenox shots because I am at a higher risk for blood clots. I’m full of tiny bruises because there is a huge learning curve for giving yourself injections. It beats the hell out of “deep vein thrombosis”, “pulmonary embolism”, and all of the terrible sounding complications spelled out in the Lovenox pamphlet. Today I did a really good job of injecting myself and hopefully the remaining 21 injections go just as well. (Other fun side effects include LONG TERM PARALYSIS if combined with spinal anesthesia or epidural. Well Mom, that explains why Yale didn’t make me do this. I need to stop reading this pamphlet.)

Emotionally, it is been difficult to kick the post-surgical blues but I’m getting there with a lot of help. Last time I attributed those strong feelings to isolation in CT, removal from my normal routine, and the inability to walk. This time I realize that it’s just the nature of surgery. Your body has gone through a trauma whether you are aware or not. Now it’s time to cope. Luckily I have had family and friends swoop in and do everything in their power to lift me up when I wasn’t able to myself (especially my parents). In the past few days alone I have witnessed remarkable selflessness from my family and friends. It’s like they just know when things aren’t right without me having to say a word. I consider myself very fortunate that the people for whom I care about tremendously are in my corner . It looks like my new years resolution is going to be writing more thank you notes.

So what now? Well, I have a doctor’s appointment with Dr. Robison in Providence on January 10th. Hopefully the staples will be removed and I will look less Franketsteiny (Frankensteinesque?). At that point we will find out about any further treatment planning (swapping medication, non-chemo infusions, etc.). I will remain out of work until the beginning of February. I guess I’ll need a hobby…ugh.

Even though I’m recovering I am still thinking ahead to the great things I have planned:

• February 5th I am STILL hosting a fundraiser to benefit the Rhode Island chapter of the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition at Alex and Ani in Wayland Square. Alex and Ani is graciously providing refreshments and 15% of every purchase will go to my cause! More details to come next week. (Hey significant others! It’s conveniently right before Valentines day! grab a beautiful bracelet for your loved one and promote Ovarian Cancer awareness!)
• Tony Lanza, fellow cancer crusher and author of http://www.effleukemia.com, and I are heading to Vegas baby! At the end of April we will be ending the OMG 2014 Cancer Summit hosted by Stupid Cancer. Stupid Cancer is my favorite organization for people in their 20’s and 30’s. There will be sessions about everything from fertility to survivors guilt to practical nutrition. Plus there will be social activities like a pool party at the Palms Resort to network with other young  cancer crushers. I will not let a second brush will cancer ruin this trip. Press that suit Tony! You have 3 months until game time! Tony and I were given a bum deal but this trip will mark another opportunity to “get busy living”.

While I wait for all of these wonderful events to happen you can find me in my jammies watching ungodly amounts of Parks and Rec.