Magical...

The house was dark and quiet as I headed out at 6:45am to get an early morning daily dose of XRT at 7am. I had a big day ahead, and they were nice enough to give me the first slot of the day so I could get radiated and get out of there.

When I got home, the bags were packed and the taxi pulled up to our house right on time at 8am. Our two kids thought it was the third day of school, but suddenly became suspicious as they glanced at the two large suitcases and noticed the Red Top Cab minivan outside. "Let's go!" we said, and my son said, "I'm NOT getting in that stranger's car unless you come with me." I just smiled and said, "Trust us. Of course we're coming with you." It was a VonTrapp moment for sure.

As we headed to DCA, my son was growing anxious and trembled a bit, looking as though he was about to burst in to tears. I said to my husband, "O is freaking out, we have to tell them now." So as we smiled at our two kids, we said, "We are not going to school today, we're going to Florida!" There was an unforgettable look on his face as he buried his hands in his face and tried to hide his tears. He was relieved that we were not sending him off with strangers, and flashed a gleaming smile that his dream of going to Disney World was coming true.

The four of us had an amazing five day adventure in Florida, and were blessed to be able to experience Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom, Epcot and Animal Kingdom. Our kids were at the perfect age to beleive in the magic that the Disney theme parks offer. While the rides and shows and attractions were fantastic, the best part of the trip by far was catching the eye of my husband, sharing a smile, and watching the faces of our two kids savor every minute of this magical world for the first time. It's a kid's dream to visit Disney World, but as a parent, it's a dream come true to watch them experience it when they believe and appreciate all the magic. As we celebrated our 10 year anniversary with our two children, my heart was filled with joy.

One of my dear friends from Virginia Tech hosted us for an unforgettable day at Discovery Cove. It was a nice break from the hustle and bustle of Disney, and is such a beautiful, serene place. We swam with the dolphins, floated down the lazy river, fed birds in the aviary, and waded in the water with stingrays. It was a bit rainy, so we headed over to SeaWorld to see Shamu and get a couple of their crazy roller coasters in. It was a great day for sure.

Our Carpe Diem vacation was perfect in so many ways. I did not think about work, chores, or the "Big C" at all. It just reminded me that sometimes you just have to toss worries and responsibilities aside and seize the day.

My daughter and I left early Monday morning so I could make it home in time to get another daily dose of XRT. I was disappointed to learn that the machine was down, and my appointment was cancelled after rushing home.

The rest of the week has been busy getting back in to school and work and life. Radiation is going fine and my skin is holding up well. I look like I've been laying out in a one-cup bikini top! My right breast looks a little tan/pink, and there are a few brown spots that look like new freckles. My doctor has assured me that those are just the hair follicles, and the brown spots and discoloration will subside after treatment. I've lost count of how many treatments I've had. I know that I'm over 20, and only have a couple of weeks left. It's kind of odd that I don't know the exact number, but as I take things day by day, it seems to make life a lot less stressful. (I'm sure my mother will smile to hear that).

As I left RW the other day, there was a beautiful little girl on a stretcher. Her bald head was covered by a fuzzy pink hat, and she was wearing a sparkly tiara. Her hospital gown had a pink boa-like vest over it, and balloons adorned her stretcher. "Is it your birthday today?" I asked. "Yes, I'm 10 today." I said, "You are a beautiful birthday princess...happy birthday!" She just smiled. As I walked away, tears streamed down my face and my heart broke. That night, I gave my kids extra kisses, and counted my blessings even more.