So far, so good. I don’t know why, but I am feeling really comfortable and at peace with this phase of the journey. I really like my room and the staff of the bone marrow unit is great. I am enjoying the fact that I see my doctor everyday and not a rotating staff of residents and various other cancer doctors. There is a weird sort of coziness in being here. The unit is much smaller and the staff much smaller. Although I can see that I will get claustrophobic at times, I was able to get in almost 2 hours of workout time today as well as a great meditation session. There is an exercise bike right across the hall from my room – do you think it’s meant to be?!?! To add to my great view, I can see directly into the pool at the top of the nursing school right across the street. It has been fun and inspiring to watch everyone swimming at night. When I make it to my triathlon training in a few months, that might be me

Today was more chemo and an ultrasound of my abdominal area to check on the status of my liver infection. I don’t have the results yet. So far I have had no side effects from the chemo (knock-on-wood!!!), but these things start to show as your counts drop. I am keeping my fingers-crossed that things go smoothly. I feel so much stronger coming into this treatment and it has certainly helped me mentally that I am able to exercise, eat well and not panic about fevers.

I must admit I am also taking more advantage of the time alone. I have enjoyed being able to read my books and magazines. I just finished “Anticancer,” a fantastic book written by a doctor who beat brain cancer twice. He discusses the importance of a healthy lifestyle including diet, exercise, good relationships, stress reduction and a positive outlook on preventing and fighting cancer. I highly recommend this to book to everyone. Next up, I plan to finish “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil,” a book I started when I was pregnant with Kieran! Following that, I will finish Mitch Albom’s “Have a Little Faith,” Christy Turlington’s “Living Yoga,” and then, hopefully starting and finishing “The Happiness Project” and a couple of other books given to me as gifts during my last stay. I am also listening to Dr. Andrew Weil’s “Mind Body Toolkit” on my iPod. It teaches breathing techniques, meditation, guided imagery and sound therapy for healing. If nothing else, it is a wonderful reminder to focus on the positive when I wake up in the morning and before going to sleep at night.

I had a great visit with my Aunt Helen, Mike and Peggy today. Claire also dropped off a terrific collection of books for the kids and a batch of matzo ball soup I can’t wait to dig into. Brian is on his way to hang out for the evening.

Looking at the calendar, I have settled on a goal of going home on day 150 – wouldn’t that be nice?!?! That would be exactly 3 weeks from yesterday and put me home in time for Halloween. I know I will probably be here longer than that but I like round numbers so I’m focusing on that for now. In all seriousness though, after the last time, I’m not putting the pressure on myself to meet these arbitrary deadlines because it will only lead to disappointment. As my babysitter suggested, if I’m still in the hospital on Halloween, I’ll dress in a Supergirl costume (though Ty would prefer Princess Leia) and I’ll make the best of it, knowing I will get home soon thereafter.

Oh, one more thing I must do before I go is to wish my wonderful nurse Roseann the very best of luck in the World Championship Ironman competition in Hawaii tomorrow. I know she will do great. This is the completion of an enormous personal journey for her as well, but most likely the beginning of so many more things to come. I will be thinking of you all day Roseann! Close your eyes, savor the moment and let the wind carry you.