Final days of freedom

Sunday and Monday this week saw me in the hospital waiting room to get more shots and some last minute tests to make sure nothing was amiss. As of today, I'm clear to begin the process tomorrow. Tomorrow at 6:30 am, I'm to show my smiling face to the receptionist up at the admissions desk at MCV. There I'll be admitted to begin my therapy. On the agenda for tomorrow - radiation! More on that tomorrow.

Sunday, after our hospital visit, we visited my grandmother in Chesterfield, and drove by my childhood home. We then took the kids to the mall playground to run off a little energy. We closed out the evening at a great Thai Restaurant in Shockoe Bottom - Alex's Thai. Definitely a value if you're in the area.

Monday ran a little long at the hospital due to some issue in the pharmacy. After we were done, we visited a candy shop in Carytown. This place was fantastic, and had a better selection of candies than any shop I've ever been to. Being partial to sour gum, I picked up some crybabies and sour Razzles - "First it's candy, then it's gum!" We also picked up some ginormous lollies for the girls. After that, we hit my favorite brewery of all time - Legend Brewpub. I've gone there only a few times, but every visit has improved my opinion of the beer and its brewer. They had a great selection, and all of the beers were delicious. Since they offered their beer flights in mini-glasses, I was able to sample several beers without needing to be carried out on a stretcher. Being partial to hops, my favorite was the Hopfest, it has excellent body and citrus hop flavor. Also of note was the ESB (Extra Special Bitter), which is a supercharged, high gravity English bitter.

When that was done, we decided to skip the next two nights in Richmond and head back to Earlysville to allow everyone to get settled before the big event. I think we were all glad to be back home, if only for a little while. Margaret was definitely excited to go back to school today, and Madeline got to play with grandma all day.

As for me, today dad and I ran back to Richmond for the final Palifermin shot. He and I will repeat the trip tomorrow morning, and that time I'll be staying for the long haul. It was terribly sad to have to say goodnight to the girls this evening, as I know that it will be some time before I'll be able to see them again. But we must press onward. 

Thanks again to all of you for your support, kind words, and prayers. I do appreciate all that so many of you do and have done to show your support and friendship.

Tomorrow, we'll get this thing started.