Can't ask for anything more...

Well, today is my birthday - my 40th birthday. For those of you that know me, I have always believed that the big ones should be celebrated (16, 21, 30, 40, 50, etc.) and that the ones in between are just that - tweeners. Also, if you know me and my family, it is our tradition to plan your own party (if you want one). That way you get exactly what you want. Well, as you can imagine, I did not have the energy to plan my own party, so I was just going to skip it this year. I guess in a way I was ignoring it. One side of me was happy to get to 40 and the other side of me was hoping if I could sneak by 40 death wouldn't notice. Being cancer free and past my surgeries was enough for me. Apparently, it was not enough for some people. Yep, for the first time in my life, I did not plan my party. On Sunday afternoon, my husband and two of my girlfriends, surprised me with a 40th birthday party. It was a great party with friends, family, food, a bouncy house (for the kids - I have been told you can't do that with a chest tube), complete with Tinkerbell Cake. I didn't cry, but was VERY touched and heck of surprised that I didn't find out. I blame the drugs for that! Thank you so much to Grant, Michelle C., and Bethany for an amazing party that I will never forget!!!! Today, the celebration continued as I showed up to the cancer center, took X-rays, was told that Besty (my chest tube) could come out, that I was done with the surgeon's office, that while my lungs still needed time to heal were looking great and that I was being passed back to my oncologist office. So, with hugs from the surgeon and nurse, we went down the elevator, across the sky bridge and to the oncologist for more hugs, a tongue lashing for not coming by sooner (I looked at him like, "Right, I have just been SO available for that?!?!!"), and of course my next appointment. He is giving me a week off (I asked for 20 or 30 years and was denied). When he hugged me, I said, "It is all gone." and he replied, "Looks like it. Congrats sweetie." We left the building after a couple more hugs and news spreading and Mom asked me, "Wanna grab some lunch?" I was like, "Not here." So, in the car and back home we went. Mom is making a special dinner tonight, we are watching the UW Softball Championships, and I am going to have a virgin somethingorother!!! And then the weather!!!! I think this has been the perfect day. My bandages are leaking a bit, but that is to be expected when they pull a tube out of your chest and I am being weaned off my drugs so that I don't get addicted, but those are minor inconveniences. I think the very best part of my day was when we left the surgeon's office and Grant and I hugged. It was a long hug with a long exhale. Once again, we are here and once again we have hope that we will be the ones that hug each other for a long long time. Oh, and I got jewelry....always good when you get jewelry!!! WOW!! Happy Birthday to me!!!!!! Love, Ang