Said whilst touching wood, throwing salt over my shoulder and hopping on one leg for good measure. Maybe I will also rub my belly, that will most definitely stand me in good stead for the future. It's how I exert control over life's little anomalies. Completely rational being that I am.

Last Monday I had my last scheduled chemotherapy treatment. In a week's time I will have a follow up PET scan to check on progress. The results of which will dictate the duration of my radiotherapy follow up treatment. Nail biting stuff.

Fortunately, the last week has been a whirlwind of which I have happily succumb to so my nails are still intact. 

I will leave you with my 8th chemo photo and our Christmas card outtakes (arruuhhhmm failures)

My Christmas card muse:

Cute idea, don't you think? Not my baby here or my picture but really, how hard could it be? I have two cute babies and a chalk board door. Winner or .....

This is our cat Zola, her face was very similar to mine much of last week.

Only I'm significantly less hairy and marginally less judgmental looking. I had a little cold, but that little cold with the combination of the chemo used every ounce of my energy reserves. I even found it a challenge to eat, for maybe a day or two, but I still did it. My poor little Baby-Bel also caught the cold so we snuffled and sniffed our way through the days and nights. 

However this is our other cat Cleo and her demeanor is very similar to mine right now.

Only I'm laid out next to a fire eating chocolate. O yes, it's good. Today was a fine day; Baby Bel slept until 7am (as oppose to her usual impromptu daily start between the hours of 4-6am). Evie slept even longer so I watched some bbc news and got dressed in a somewhat leisurely fashion. Luxury indeed. After giggles and cuddles Baby Bel had a 2 hour morning nap, so Evie and I capitalized on this by baking chocolate banana muffins and smothered our faces in the sumptuous remains of the bowl. We then caught up with some of my favourite people and topped it off with a prawn and mango chili curry for dinner. 

The Zola days just make me enjoy my Cleo days that little bit more.

You know it's time for a wig when the late night commercials for mens spray-able 'hair in a can' sound tempting. My hair is looking a little sparse on top. That together with my receding hairline lead to the wigs first outing today. I felt very self conscious - is it straight? Is it a little news anchorish? Is it going to fly off into the wind any minute leaving me with what looks like a pair of tights on my head? My natural hair also got chopped back to fit under the wig so it's quite short and wild. You did well hair, you really did .Thank you for hanging in there, literally.

My chemo went well, my cat toy got an outing and my British flag socks got a compliment from my chemo neighbour. One of my nurses 'Sargeant Snacks' was a U.S veteran having been deployed to Iraq twice. His colleagues had decorated the day hospital with US flags. Thinking of him, my Granddad and all the other veterans today for Veterans Day/Armistice Day.

Every night I snuggle Isobel to sleep, I love it. It’s one of the few moments of the day to reflect and let my mind wander. The blue night light gives just enough light to see Isobel’s eyes flutter closed; she lets out a big sigh just before she falls asleep. It’s beautiful and I just soak in her warm cuddly baby goodness.  I can generally hear the distant gabbles, giggles and teeth cleaning protests of Evie having a bath.  At that moment all is perfect in our world.

It’s these scrumptious little things I never want to forget, so cue Julie Andrews, these are a few of my favourite things.

Evie
1. Feeling your soft little toddler fingers curl around my index finger when you to hold my hand.
2. When we are enjoying our food next to each other and you turn to me and say ‘Yummy Mummy, hummm?’ Yes very yummy Evie.
3. The way you say ‘Ove you Mummy’ before you go to sleep at night. Ove you because you cannot pronounce your L’s yet.
4. Your face of pure joy and delight when we bring out the ice-cream. Probably similar to mine when I see baked brie.
5. The way you greet your little sister ‘B-Bel’ with a delicate kiss on the forehead.

Isobel
1. The delectable little dimples on your pudgy knuckles and elbows. Why do they make me feel like I could literally eat you?
2. The way you smile at me first thing after you wake – you make me feel like your world. I treasure this.
3. When you smile that big open smile, your eyes twinkle and every limb moves in excitement. I've never seen you smile without another part of your body joining in on the party.
4.  The way you follow your sisters every move and laugh with a big belly chuckle when she jumps up and down.
5.  Your leg rolls, ankle rolls and also wrist rolls. All your rolls are adorable.

Nick
1.  Your big bear paw hands
2.  The way you place your hand on the small of my back when you know I need some support.
3.  That you are pretty darn unshakable and take every hurdle in your stride, regardless of my flapping and tears.
4.  That you still make me feel beautiful. Even whilst shedding like a beast, sporting a scar on my neck and a PICC line on my arm.
5.  That when your daughter asks you to sit on the ‘princess potty’, you do it. No hesitation.
Ohh, also that you clean up after dinner every night. I really like that.