Starting Chemo May 2008

familyroks

(((ranD))) - I hope today is a much better day for you.

Sable

ROFLMAO! ok rock that was your best one yet!

RanD~ hope you are doing MUCH better today! <double squishes>

I am back to work for the time being, hopefully this will keep up for awhile.

Have a great day ladies!

Gracie713

Randie-Hope that you are feeling better today!  Big hugs coming your way!

Not much going on here.  Got the drains taken out yesterday and now moving around better.  Actually slept in my bed last night.  Staples come out next week.  Good news is that the pathology is all negative!!!!  Feel so much better.  Now maybe I can get this port taken out.  (It doesn't bother me, just annoying.  

Love to all!  Have a great Wednesday!

otter

I still can't believe surgeons actually staple people back together when they're through messing around in there.  I had an idea one time that I wanted to patent:  zip-loc fasteners.  That way, if they need to go back in to check things later, they just unzip the opening.  It would have to be the really secure kind, though...

ranD, you want to see a new avatar HERE?  But, I'm otter.  Oh, I have an idea.  No guessing.

I'll get back to it later--gotta take a shower and pack for the BOAT.  I'll try to post/read later this evening, when things calm down.

rock, we all want to hear about the crush.  And I get it with the "tenders".  Similar to "tendering your resignation"?  RFP = request for proposals.  I still have nightmares about that stuff.

Hugs to everyone, especially to ranD and Gracie (but gentle ones for Gracie 'cause of the staples).

otter 

Sable

YAY gracie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You just made my day! I had staples for my c-section.. felt like I had a zipper down there. I've had to many surgeries now that I keep saying they need to put in zippers to access everything and while they are at it put in a few extras for my electronics.

FYI~ trying to use your tin of shea butter as a mouse does not work.... just in case you wanted to know.

rock

My mood is currently celebratory

Because Gracie's path report is "negatory".

 HURRRRAAAAAYYYYYY!

The creative process:  I couldn't think of anything other than "maple" that rhymed with "staple." Then I thought maybe I could do a "Mable, Mable if you're able, get on with removing Gracie's staple..." but it didn't really speak to me.

Jen: The idea of a human skin tool belt ( a modified TRAM??) to hold your electronics is pretty funny.  We read it here first!

Loads of love to all of youse.  (And Adrienne -- thanks for food 4 thought re: menopause! + Tamox!)

ellenoire

yr all crazy!!! ( said with my best attempt at my mother's Scottish accent)

Shea butter is fine as a conditioner, or "sheen" in the black world, but it will leave you hair soft and shiny with no hold. I use it in my hair all the time at least once a week to keep my hair soft and my naaaaasty bleeding psoriasis under control. Got a new med for the scalp nighmare yesterday. Also, I found a pea-sized bump on my labia a few weeks ago and got it checked out. nothing major... just that my episiotomy scar is more visible now that my vaginal walls are thinning from age, hormones, chemo etc.... I was pleased it was nothing.... not happy about the thinning walls thingy. I had to choose how to phrase it to the BF.... he already calls me "the old lady with funny boobs" amongst many other old lady jokes( he is 6 years younger) so the thinning walls thing was just fuel for that fire. Gonna get my hormones and other shite tested to make sure all is cool as I head into a hard core fat loss diet and training season. It was a Docs appt with nothing really cancer related.... it was odd.

The store is soooo dead it is a little nuts. trying not to freak out. Tired of it though.

Jen, book a phone consult with me and we will get your hair thing taken care of. Anyone is welcome to do that with me. I am working on a US shipping angle. Hopefully in time for summer.

Gotta go check on the new Easter Bunny Bath Bombs assistant dude made yesterday. Today, I am making chocolate bunny lotion bars.

Love to all. RanD you are on my mind all the time for prayers and more. I heard          eating     Halibut helps kill cancer... add that to the mix... I secretly wish you would go for the chemo

xxN

Roxi65229

ooo, ooo, I know this one, PIG STY!!!!! 

Great day here too, 50 degrees. Yesterday was youngest first softball game. They won. Herceptin today and blood work. Results from MUGA all good.

Love you all, Mary 

robink

Another anniversary day for me - 1 year from my first posting!

The weather has been sunny, warm, slightly breezy.  I sunbathed - in my tank top and undies (we have a 5 acre lot in a heavily treed area so no worries about exciting my neighbors.  I felt so FREE! and got some color on my skin, pretended I was in Mexico on vacation.

An important phone call was made by me - to schedule an appt. with my plastic surgeon to discuss reconstruction.

Gracie - wonderful pathology news!

Randie - how are you breathing today?

TTFN

Sable

mouse as in thing you use to work your computer.... not mousse like in hair goo LOL. But if I thought for a 1/2 a second that it would tame this mess... I'd be all over that!

Robin~ Lovin the av!

Nico1012

rock ~

Where DO you find these !?!?!

Is it called a "stye"? (Sp)

Nico

Nico1012

Nevah mind, just read Roxi's post.

Nico

ranD

back from the hospital..drained 1L from the left and then he gave me a little pnuemothorax.  So, I had to wait 2 hours in ER, take another xray and all is well and I feell mah velous.

Funny thing is, the entire radiology dept knows me and the night crew stopped by the room to hang out and wait for the results.  Even the doc stayed the extra 2 hours waiting for the xray.

They asked what i wanted, told them I was starving and could they get me veggies and fruit.  BOOM>...a GIANt plate of the stuff and 2 side salads...lol...they are now talking about making one of the ER rooms mine and putting my name on...lol..

Seriously, sometimes I thnk that God wants me there and its my own mission field.  So many new nurses come out of the woodwork and kind of sneak in and talk to me about life and how I keep myself up thru all of this.  I talk alot about you guys and they are amazed at how we share this crap via internet.

anyway more later...have a great hospital story but gonna hug the grandbaby who is oh so cute...

rock CRUSH details....you are killing me with suspense

gaters, later, randie

sueper13

Hello everyone!  I'm still retired.  I woke up this morning and just luxuriated in my bed for 45 minutes thinkinng, "I don't have to get up, I don't have to be anywhere at a certain time"...it felt so good.

RanD, sounds like you are finding the good where you can, glad to hear the medical staff is getting to know and love you.  Prayers for you, always.

Rock!  CRUSH details, please, we are all living vicariously through you.

Cris, kids and hair.  My boys did the gum-in-their-hair thingie, but never a cut.  I guess we dodged that bullet somehow.

Have a stress test tomorrow, then pre-op with the PS, then the hospital.

Hope everyone has a great Thursday!

Love,

Sue

rock

Well.  Since you insist . . . But first! SInce it is Easter/passover . . .  http://9a4440c5.fb.joyent.us/haggadah/ultraModern2.php

rock

The crush.  I have not met this person yet so in all likelihood, we will meet and there will be no chemistry.  We do know a disturbing number of the same people.  Sample connection:  A grad student of mine knows a Jesuit priest who is bringing a group of students to South Africa this summer.  The Jesuit priest knew Crush when the Jesuit was a peace corps volunteer in the country where Crush was born (but only lived for a few years of his life). Another connection:  My colleague here met Crush two years ago because he was friends with some of the people she knew from her days of living in Cameroon. (She says he is the nicest guy in the world.)  FInally, Crush is friends with the person who recommended that I try to get the GHJR Unit to host me for the Fulbright.

So there's that. What else can I tell you.  He is tall, a few years younger than me, and a grad student (at another campus). He was arrested and detained a number of years ago for organizing a protest.   He is an alum of an Ivy League school which then mobilized (along with Amnesty International) to secure his release. He is a big Obama fan. He is, by his own admission, "skinny, non-macho, and effeminate." (!!)

He ran across my blog entry where I confessed I had a crush and told me that he was crazy-flattered and introduced me to the expression "the stride of pride."  (He also said he was in awe of me, which was kind of nice.  Until it turned from awe into being intimidated.)

Sooooo. That is it. We are supposed to have dinner next week.  I am now taking bets as to whether that actually happens.  And willing my hair to calm down.

Sue: I hope retirement continues to suit you very, very well.  And Randie:  I am looking at a 1 L bottle and just wondering how in the hell . . . how in the name of all that is holy .. . .it is possible to have all that crap in your lung and still "manage."

KristyAnn

Hi Everyone,

Just dropping in to say Hello- this week and in fact, the entire month of April is CRAZY at my house- its the middle of District varsity softball season, band competition for High School Band and Junior High Band, Adam had toe surgery and will have ear tubes removed this month, Easter, Palm Sunday etc -- SO GLAD I am holding up and getting to do everything with the kids even if I am DAT at the end (or before) of the day!

Kristy

sueper13

Kristy, I remember those years, when if we didn't have a softball game, we had play practice....or a band concert, or something. I miss my boys.  They grow up so fast. Hope Adam's doing okay.

Had my pre-op stuff today, visit with the PS and then the lab.  Surgery is Wednesday and I am getting excited and scared-ish.  The PS told me today that with this surgery I will be in bed for the first two days after surgery, with a catheter....yuck.

My Aunt Charlotte is coming on Monday--I can't wait!!

Love you guys!!

Sue

drcrisc

Just a drive-by...Glad to hear of decent pathology reports and breathing just a bit easier.  Did I miss the crush story?!  I hope not.

My girlfriend who is adopting the baby called me today to ask if I would take a quickie road trip with her down to the L.A. area.  A very dear and old friend of hers who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer several months before my diagnosis last year, just found out she has leukemia!!  WTF!!!  And by the way, the ovarian shite isn't fully gone, either!  She's starting a new chemo protocol on Monday and my gf wants her to see the baby and to see her.  There is serious concern she won't make it through the treatment.  So, off we go with the 22 day old infant for a 3-4 hour drive (one way!).  Yeee frickin' ha.  Think we can all fit in her Saturn?  I need the posse of good thoughts and hand-holders for this one.

rock

Oh good heavens....  Yes, we will fit in the Saturn. I can cling to the roof and get wedged in the trunk if need be.  (Would it be more insensitive of me than usual to say, "But this is kind of like a road trip with a girlfriend, right? Have a great time!")

Softball games and band practice... It blows me away that you guys are PARENTS.  That you do this stuff as naturally and organized-ly as . . . well, I don't know what I do that naturally and organized-ly.  (Moms are the best.)

The crush. I posted it and then lost my nerve. I am going to try again lest your expectations build only to be crushed.

rock

I have not met Crush. (We know a ton of people in common, though. He is friends with the woman who suggested I ask the Unit to host me for my Fulbright.)  So there is still the distinct possibility that when we meet there will be zero in the chemistry department.  I have seen snapshots of him and he seems cute. (He was wearing sunglasses in one photo and in the other he was looking down. So it is possible that he only has one eye.)

He grew up in 4 different countries (boarding school in two of them) and now lives here. He was arrested and detained in one of them (where he was born) for organizing a protest against the then-president who was trying to change the constitution so he could remain in office.  However, Amnesty International and the Ivy League school he attended were able to secure his release.  He used to live in NYC. He is a graduate student and a few years younger than me.

Much to my mortification at the time, he found my blog AND the post where I said I had a crush.  He said he was really flattered and introduced me to the expression "the stride of pride."  (He also said he was in awe, which was nice until it turned from being in awe to being intimidated.  Me? Intimidating? That is rich.)

He seems like the nicest nicest of guys. (My friend who knows him slightly confirms this.) He says that he smiles too much, is effeminate, and is un-macho.  I say "And this is a problem? What's the next thing you're going to tell me, that you don't believe in violence against women and you're not a homophobe?"  I never go out with guys who are a 10 on the manly-man scale anyway.

He has a beautiful voice. (That accent! So dreamy!) and he writes beautifully too. We are supposed to have dinner next week. I hope there is chemistry.

Feel free to humor me and tell me about the crushes and loves of your respective lives!  What was the most romantic moment in your early dating history? (and I'm not talking grand gestures. I'm talking about "The time we sat on my porch eating oranges until 2 am..." or "The time he gave me an indian head nickel")  I'm a sucker for woo-ing stories!

*squish* and *smooches* all around.

Roxi65229

Rock,

Wow, it sounds absolutely wonderful, one eye and all, lol... I think the stars should align for you both that night. You are the most wonderful, caring and compassionate person and this belongs to you.

I can't say I really ever had a crush although I know I liked many a boy that never accounted to much. I'm sure, being the person I am I blew it off as we just didn't have anything in common and moved on. I hate the feeling of being let down and had a hard time letting people into my life. In fact, my husband and I dated for five years before we got married. 

Please keep us posted.  Did I tell you all I see my ps on Monday to discuss my recon? I also made an appointment with Froedtert in Milwaukee. They are the only hospital in Wisconsin doing the diep surgery so I'm quite excited about it. That'll be on Friday. Hubby and the youngest are coming with and were picking up the oldest for a night at the comedy club. 

Sue, good luck next week, keep us posted as well. Yuk on the cath...

Ho to all you other ladies and have a very special Friday. Waiting for my new grill to be delivered. Our last one is finally on its last legs after 15 years.

Love, Mary 

Sable

IF YOU READ NOTHING ELSE TODAY READ THIS ONE!!!!!!!!

Just got a call from jackie's hubby a few minutes ago. They had to careflight her to a hospital this morning because she has a blockage in the main vein to her brain (if I got my info correct). Her hubby is right now in transit to the hospital (it was 80 miles away) and I guess they have an emergency surgery scheduled as soon as she gets there. I asked, if he could, that her hubby keep us posted on what is going on. I told him that we were all with her and praying for her.

familyroks

Shit.  I can't get the chill off my spin.  All my postive thoughts and energy are going to Jackie and her husband.  I will continue to watch for updates.  Thank you Jen.  I'm glad her husband called you.

ranD

Praying up a storm right now.....randie

otter

Ohhhh, no!  Jen, thanks for letting us know (and thank goodness Jackie's husband called you).  News like this takes the sun out of the sky.

Hugs to all, especially Jackie and her family...

otter 

JulieC

I got goose bumps reading this - I saw your message first on FB, Jen.  Thanks for keeping us posted.  I'll be praying, too.

Roxi65229

OMG. Jackie and family, my payers are with you all. Thanks Jen. Keep us posted.

angelsaboveus

thanks Jen for the info,

I will be praying for Jackie and family and sending warm thoughts her way.

keep us updated

robink

Have Mercy oh God, Have Mercy.  Please bring Jackie back home to her family and her beautiful lilac bush.

RK

Jen - send my love and prayers to her husband when you talk with him next.