2005 ROCK-TOBER CHEMO GIRLS

Graycie

Well, that didn't work too good.....can't really see me very well.....When you go to photo bucket which size do you make it? I went 75% of original picture. I really didn't know what I was doing....as you can tell.
Graycie

Anonymous

Graycie
You look great! I wish I could help you - but I don't use photobucket. I hope someone else here will chime in.
Laura

Anonymous

Quote:

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This is me grassboarding ( look close - there i am flat on my back on the grass on the nursery slopes!) Debbie

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OMG - Debbie again? I cannot stop laughing!

Laura

debbie444

Graycie - try www.resize2mail.com , you can crop the pic there to just your head, then make that smaller.

I am on the ferry to Ireland on friday - have never sunk a ferry - yet!
Debbie

Graycie

Thanks Debbie it worked.....It's a little closer

Anonymous

Quote:

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I am on the ferry to Ireland on friday - have never sunk a ferry - yet! Debbie

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OMG! Debbie - please don't go! I can only imagine ...

Laura

ake

great pic graycie!!!

Paula15089

Graycie, lovely pic! Is this a wig? or before chemo?

i think my avatar is the most outdated one now... I sold my camera since i want to upgrade, but guess what? I havent got a new one yet!! so i am cameraless at the moment.

RoseMarie

LOL Debbie!! Please be careful on that ferry!!
Graycie - love the new pic!
(So much to catch up on in just a few days!! My inlaws are here until Friday so I've been a little busy -)
Nipplicious - (hee hee) so glad for the negative report!!!! what a relief!!!!
Paula - my avatar is outdated too - I actually have hair now...gotta love the really cute kid in the picture, though!
Kelly - I definitely feel at least 10 years older! I so know what you mean about waking up and feeling like your joints need time to warm up! I think I've said this before but I walk around hunched over until my joints feel like cooperating!!
Well, have a great night everyone!! Lots of love...

RoseMarie

ok...avatar changed...that took longer than I had remembered!!!

Anonymous

Graycie, I just love your new avatar!!!

Rosemarie, yours is beautiful, too!

Funny how some names have evolved .... Nipplicious, tadah!, Evel Knieval and Hedonist.
I don't even have to tell you who those belong to!!

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Brenda, I am thinking about you. Hope you are well. Love and hugs to you!
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Maryanne and Tracy, are you two so busy, I hope so!
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Paula, your pic is beautiful and you have such a beautiful face even if you hair stayed short forever, which it won't, it would look great .... You looked fantastic in your scarves!!
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Ravdeb, I hope you are having fun and getting to hook up with Amy!
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MaryMelody, regarding celebrating your life in a safe way: hint hint, don't ask Debbie
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sherry and chumfry, hope you two are doing well and wish you posted here more often ... love to you both

Anonymous

I really like the way everyone's being positive and cheerful.

Mary, take care of your foot. Feet injuries take so long to heal. I'd keep that foot off the ground, if I were you.

Debbie, watch your driving...

My rad onc said the lump felt like scar tissue. "I'm not worried about it," he said. "But I do want you to have an MRI of your right shoulder," he continued. So MRI is next.

Can you tell that I'm not as worried as I used to be? I don't know if I've told you. I'm back on the antidepressants. Thank God.

Thanks.

ravdeb

Yea Brenda...whatever it takes to not be so worried about things!!! Feel good and good luck with the MRI.

I also have lots of scar tissue by the scar (which is where scar tissue SHOULD be LOL)and a few doctors had to feel me up before my onc said it was nothing. And it IS nothing and will continue to be NOTHING!!!

I have that problem with my feet when I wake up in the morning. Can hardly walk. YUCK!

Graycie and Rosemarie..great new avatars but I happen to know that Rosemarie is at least 150% prettier in REAL life than in her avatar!!!!!

Laura cropped a pic for me to use as an avatar and if I can figure out how to get it in the avatar, I'll have a new one. May need to wait til I get back home.

Debbie... that looks like fun, actually. I was picturing something different.

Laura..didn't go biking in the end...way too hot here!

We saw Wicked tonight. It was amazing!!!!

debbie444

Great new pic Rosemarie! Hope everything is ok Brenda.
Dont mean to cause alarm ladies but when i get back from Ireland and have been to Legoland (sooooooooo excited) I am going for a trip in a hot air balloon. Should be ok - has no wheels!!
Debbie

ake

ravdeb....isn't wicked the best? i saw it when it opened on broadway...twice in one month i loved it, have the soundtrack on my ipod, and would see it again and again my husband even cried in it!

debbie....i love your life

marymelodi

Debbie - I agree. You are amazing and so courageous to try all these adventurous activities. Your kids will always remember you doing these activities with them. What great memories you are making!

I am so enjoying getting to know everyone in a more "complete" way - knowing your activities, your families a little, your plans and dreams, etc. Not that there was anything wrong with how we first came to know each other - through treatment and side effects and worries. But isn't it nice to be "seeing" each other as the complex, unique, and interesting people that we are?

Tomorrow is my first mammo since the end of treatment. I'm going to see the doctor (radiologist) that gave me the diagnosis on that day last August. Unexpectedly, I find myself very nervous and fearful of going to the breast center. I believe it's a slight case of post-traumatic stress (calling Dr. Amy!) I'm trying to be rational and I talked it out with my friend last night. After all the aggresive treatment that occurred through the winter, truely, I think I have nothing to fear. But, I know you all will understand the little wisp of fear that is always lurking in the back of my mind. I'll be relieved when it is all finished.

So long for now. Your friendship is a treasure to me.

Mary

marymelodi

Oh, I also wanted to say that I love "Wicked" also - at least I love the soundtrack. Haven't seen the show itself but someone shared the CD with me and it is the best. Have any of you seen "Mama Mia"? That is another wonderful show and soundtrack.

Happy day!

Mary

Anonymous

marymelodi -
Hold all of us in your heart and you'll be just fine tomorrow! Walk in there like you own the place - you have survived one hell of a year and you should be proud of yourself! Cheers to a "spot-less" mammo.
Laura

ake

marmelodi,

of course we all have post-traumatic stress! we're soldiers who have just made it through the battle and it's scary to think to go back. it's okay to be scared. but, there is something so spectacularly wonderful after you get through it and know you are still fine and strong and okay

thinking of you!

-amy

Graycie

Paula.......That's a new picture, My daughter took it a couple night's ago. That is my new hair, see I was fooling everyone it grew in really fast.....lol.... just kidding of course......it's my WIG.

Debbie......Good luck on your ferry ride tomorrow. We don't want to hear any bad reports.....Kind of worried about the hot air balloon though.......

Brenda....Glad to hear the antidepressants are working for you. I think I need some of those. What does the doctor think is wrong with your shoulder?

Rosemarie.......How come I can't see your new avatar that everyone is talking about? I still see your old one.......

Ravdeb.......Take Debbie's advice, it worked for me. If I can post a new avatar anyone can. I never saw "wicked" yet but I will put that on my list to things to do.

MaryMelodi......Don't be worried about your mammo, I understand the fear but I am sure it will be OK. I had mine right after I finished radiation in April. The only thing that showed up was a lot of scar tissue. I see the breast surgeon on Saturday. I wonder if he will want to take my port out (nervous about that).

Laura and Amy........Hi, I hope everything is going good for you.

Do you girls realize we have 2929 post's (now 2930)
WOW!, We are the best...
Graycie

Anonymous

Graycie -

You look f a b u l o u s ! Try not to worry about the port removal - I am a big chicken sh*t and I can honestly say it was not painful. Although it helped that I was totally knocked out for it and given lots of pain meds immediately afterward. LOL
Laura

Graycie

Kelly, Yes, I do have about an inch of hair under there. I'm thinking pretty soon I will reveal. It's not that it is too short, it's just too thin. I am hoping when it get's a little longer it will look thicker. Besides the fact it is growing in every direction and I can't seem to control it. I also don't have a pretty hairline like most of you girls do.
Graycie

ravdeb

Graycie..my hair is not all that thick either. Can see my scalp. Ya just get used to it. So much more comfy than the wig or scarf thing!

Amy..I cried when the witch was singing at one point. That show was awsome!!! Loved it!!

Marymelodi..how did the mammo go?

Rode a quadcycle today. Since one can't fall off of that, I liked it. May now finally work my way back to bike riding. Keep thinking about that. I know my dh would love for me to ride since that is his passion now.

Debbie... you are amazingly adventurous. Good for you! Sounds like fun!

Graycie..let us know about the port removal!

Have a great weekend ladies! I'll be going to Florida on Sunday and will be there for the rest of my trip (except that in another week I fly to DC for the weekend and may see Amy!) so I will most likely not be on here all too often til I return to Israel.

Enjoy August! Will be on again before I fly to Florida, I'm sure, though.
Be well everybody!

Anonymous

Anybody made any decisions that you would have put off before?

For me, I bought that motorhome that Teryn and I love. We have had some great times and can't wait to go more!!

Now, the latest, I am thinking of putting a pool in our backyard. We have had some tremendously hot days. Teryn and I had a bbq tonight and ate outside but oh! it would have been nice to go swimming tonight. We go to the neighbors from time to time but we don't wan't to imose. Now, I just think ... what if I only have 10 years or even if I have 20 or 30, these years with Teryn would be so much fun for her to have the pool!!

TracySeattle

Hi Everyone!!!!

Wow! You all sound so wonderful! It is great to have us all feeling good again.... I feel so blessed that we have all found each other, even if it had to be because of a horrible disease.

Ravdeb, Rosemarie and Laura! How cool that you all got together and the pics are wonderful! You are all beautiful! I cried when I read about it! I wish there was a way that we could all get together.

Debbie - you worry me, girl. Be careful in that balloon!

Nippleicious - so glad you are happy with your new additions! :-)

TaDah! Wonder where she is - is she supposed to be back yet?

Mary - sorry about your foot! I love reading your posts, you always have good things to say to us.

Graycie & RoseMarie - I can't see your new Avitars, wonder why?

Kelly - you go girl! Make those changes!

I had so much catching up to do since I was here last that I know I left some of you out. Forgive me!

I, too, got my hair trimmed and I think it is growing faster since then!

Our community festival was so much fun. We had record heat that weekend and I think it hurt our attendance, but it was fun anyway! You can see all of the pics (thousands of them) at www.aquafest.com. There is only one of me that I have found so far. It is #538 in the Grand Parade category. The only bad thing during the weekend was that I had to deal with my husband (soon to be EX) being around town with his girlfriend. I had suspected that he had one, but wasn't sure until this weekend. It was really a strange feeling....

I am doing a bunch of Breast Cancer volunteering! I attended an American Cancer Society breakfast yesterday for the Making Strides against Breast Cancer walk which is in October. A friend of mine and I are putting together a team at work to fundraise and walk. She & I are both volunteering. I will be volunteering at the Survivor tent!

I am volunteering at the Komen 3 Day walk in August. I am a volunteer team lead for the gear store.

I am attending a FREE! Cancer Retreat Sept 22-24 on Whidbey Island.

I am starting a Cancer Support Group at my church in September.

WOW - lots of stuff! I am doing pretty good at staying busy and moving on with my "new" life!

I love you all and I am so glad that we are all "moving on" from Cancer and staying good friends!

ravdeb

Tracy..as I've told you before...you are an amazing woman and I, for one, am honored to have met you through the boards (and wish I could meet you face to face!). We are lucky that you are helping to make a difference in the bc world so that other women will get the support and treatment that they need.

Kelly...My list of priorities has changed since this diagnosis and I think that if you can build the pool, and you want to enjoy it with Teryn, then DO IT!!!! I have decided that I, too, will do things that I may have put off before. Like...my dh just called me and said that we will redo the kids' bathroom. Finally! He was going to surprise me and get it started but realized I needed to be there to pick out the tiles and tub, etc... So...a new project in the making when I return home from my trip.

Oh...last night I had my favorite ice cream...peppermint candy icecream. It's at my favorite ice cream shop here where I grew up and that was the ice cream I usually ordered! I had 3 favorites..peppermint candy, New York cherry and mint chocolate chip. YUM

TracySeattle

Ravdeb!!! You eat that ice cream, girl! I love ice cream, it is one of my true downfalls! So are cookies!

My life has changed in that I feel led to give back, so that is what I am trying to do....

I think all of us are feeling the need to do things we had put off before and make other positive changes. I guess if there is a blessing related to experiencing cancer it would be this. And for all of us, the fact that we have met and become such good friends!

RoseMarie

(Not sure why some of you can't see my avatar...)
Tracy - you are certainly an amazing woman!! I can't believe all you've had to endure and yet you soldier on!! Ravdeb - thanks for the compliment - you are very sweet!! I think we all look better than our avatars!! Congrats on the new bathroom - that's always fun!!
Mary- thinking about you today!! hope all went well, I'm sure it did!
Debbie - are you sure you want to try the hot air balloon??? The hill boarding DOES look like fun - Not sure I would be up to trying it, though! You go, girl!! I'll just live vicariously through you!!
Kelly - I haven't made any great decisions since my diagnosis but I do find myself saying "yes" a whole lot more to my kids- trying to make sure we have a whole lot more quality time!!
TaDah! must be having fun!!
Everyone - have a wonderful weekend!!!!!!!
Lots of love!

RoseMarie

Ravdeb gave me an idea...I cut and pasted this pic. from when the three of us met. Maybe this is a better picture...

marymelodi

Okay, if any of you heard a big "Who-o-osh" this afternoon about 2:30 pm it was me after I talked to the doctor at the breast care center. The results were that everything looks good in the right breast - no sign of any problems from the surgery and treatments. In the left, the fibroadenoma that was biopsied and diagnosed last August is unchanged. I am relieved. I was so nervous. After it was over I had a little crying spell in the dressing room and then treated myself to a stop at one of my favorite yarn shops for 2 new balls of birght purple sock yarn. I'm really into knitting socks this summer.

In response to the "any new decisions" question - here is one for me. Remember I wanted to take a hike to celebrate being a survivor of this last year? Well, a big hike isn't possible because of my foot needing to heal, but my friend and I have decided to go to Watkins Glen State Park in the Finger Lakes Region of New York for a short hike in the gorge where there is a waterfalll. Then, we are going to go on a sailing adventure on Seneca Lake, the largest of the Finger Lakes. I have always wanted to go out sailing so I am excited! So, I am trying to do things that have been on my "someday" list, like many of the rest of you.

I want to thank everyone for your kind words and encouragement. You really helped me and I was thinking about you all as I sat in the waiting room today, knowing you were thinking of me.

Have a wonderful weekend!!!