16 weeks, 6 treatments, night after night of meals, crap side effects, up days, down days, tears, laughter, heartbreak, more prayers than we can ever count, small wins, setbacks...you pick it, we've gone through it, and yet here we are. CHEMO DONE! Time for a break - and a well deserved one at that.

It feels like we're turning the corner, and yet, we know that next week will still suck. The week after that will be better. And then there's Disney! Head south, hang with the Mouse, yell our heads off for CEA Midwest at Summit, but most importantly for Amie, relax and recharge in the sun. Hard to believe that a mere 17 weeks ago we were in Mexico and this felt so far away...

Since last we spoke (typed?) you know that there was one less med (bye Perjeta), and the side effects were better as hoped. Not 100% better, but a little better is a big difference. However there was an echocardiogram done to make sure that Herceptin wasn't causing any issues...and results returned with a 10% decrease in function, which was concerning to us (nothing like kicking cancers ass and damaging your heart along the way...but we knew that was a risk). Gaining 10 pounds overnight can be surprising though - so lasix has been added, compression socks donned, and there was some improvement. However - with having had a bout of pericarditis 16 years ago when she was pregnant with Cameron, we now have a new MD added to the roster with a referral to a cardiologist, which makes us both happy.

All the while life goes on. Cameron's starting baseball this week. Paige turned 18 last weekend, and was honored with two awards at the Senior Honors ceremony this week for her work in the career program. Deposits have been made for a graduation party and we're in Indy (again) for a cheer competition - the last one before Summit. Amie's here with us taking it all in before the side effects take over on Monday, and it will be good to see the team prep one more time before the Big One.

Personally, I really don't know where to begin with saying thanks to all of you. If I could, I'd make the rounds with a hug and a handshake. If we were in a bar, I'd buy you a drink (pretty sure I'd buy the bar a round today!). Flowers, chocolates - you name it, I'd offer it up. Since that's not possible, I'll just say, from the bottom of my heart, thank you. Thanks for dropping notes onto Facebook posts to let us know you were thinking of us. Thanks for calling just to check in on us and listening when we needed to talk. Thanks for the texts, the random gifts (hug coins, journals, still don't know where our optimistic potato came from - and we love him!), flowers, food (fantastic meals from Kate, Karen, Lindsay, Eva & Nadeen), lunches/brunches just to get out of the house, gift cards (that continue to feed the kids when they're tired of leftovers), and so much more.

I had no clue - truly didn't - how much these gestures would help. I was always amazed when they'd happen right when we needed them...or when I needed them. This first phase has been so hard - to just be there and not be able to do anything other than just keep going. And now, we get to pause. So foreign that concept. Just down the way is Milestone 2 - surgery on June 3. I'm not sure how much we'll be here between now and then, so watch Facebook for updates in the future. We're going to hit the pause button on the meal support machine knowing that your help will be immense again in June.

Chemo done. Wow. Thanks for reading. Thanks for everything you've done for the family over the past 16 weeks. Much love to you all! ♥️ ♥️ ♥️ 

Matt, Amie, Paige & Cameron