MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN 40-60ish

marlegal

Santa got me an iPad...total surprise! Supposed to be for me and hub...tee hee both kids have them and wanted us to be able to do face time..however I got one, I'm happy!



I hope all reading this had a good day, whatever that may mean in your world

Joanne_53

I bought myself an iPad after I was finished treatment ... I love it. Merry Christmas all ... Hope your day was wonderful.

heartnsoul76

Lol, we are a pretty tech-savvy bunch for "old" women. Remember when our parents couldn't figure out VCRs?



Last night I made some homemade hot chocolate in the crockpot and OMG it was delicious! Time for some leftovers. Anybody want the recipe just let me know!

Joanne_53

Heartnsoul, how large a batch did you make?

juneaubugg

I would love that recipe!! Yum!!!

heartnsoul76

So happy to share this special treat! It makes about 8 cups: 

1 1/2 cups whipping cream

1 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk

6 cups milk (I used whole milk, something I never do!)

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 Cups of milk chocolate chips

Mix everything in the crockpot and cover and cook on low for 1 1/2 - 2 hours, whisking occasionally, until the choc chips are melted and the hot chocolate is nice and hot.  You can use semi-sweet chips if you like those better.  Rich AND delicious!  We sat in front of the fire and sipped the hot chocolate and snacked on ginger snap cookies. I bet it would be good with cinnamon added... mmmm.  There's only two of us so we have enough leftover for tomorrow night, too.

elimar86861

Good Morning After Everyone!

I am surprised at all the technology abounding under the Christmas trees this year.  My son got a laptop, which was kind of a necessity for his next semester study away in Greece.  I still don't own a laptop, don't have any of the handheld gadgets...I'm so far from cutting edge, I'm on the butter knife.  My husband is the gadget collector in the family and I don't know that we need two.  Very impressed that so many of you are right up to date with the current technology!

Decided to take my RO up on the offer to have last Mon. off from treatment, but it does not seem that my purpose for taking the break achieved its aim.  Where as before I had all that trouble with mouth sores and barely being able to get in any liquids, the trouble has switched to the other end (as is par for the course with pelvis rads) and liquids have no trouble getting out, often with very lilttle warning.  Let's just say Lomotril and Immodium were the appetizers to my lovely Christmas meal and I still had distress.  I won't say more, other than it's going to be a very long three more weeks of treatment.  I'm ready to be done NOW.

Did have a nice, lazy day yesterday.  Did some reading...a biography written a few years back by someone I knew.  (No, I wasn't close enough to have been mentioned in the book.)   My husband roasted some chickens and son made a pecan pie.  I did not have to lift a finger and that was the best gift I could have had this Christmas.  I'm not weak or failing, but I'd rather not squander my limited energy on housework, cleaning or even mega-cooking.  It was a good day for me.

Now, off to rads; on with the show.

Anonymous

My new avatar is my gift from my son.  The butterflies are three dimentional and the frame is surrounded with the chorus of a song he wrote after my diagnosis.  Its called "Out of Body" and the chorus is: 

Stay, say its okay

I want to fix you

I want to take it away

Out of your mind

Out of your body

We will leave this behind

And leave out the hardest goodbye.

I'm so blessed.  My DH gave me cologne, a sexy negligee, and a photo promising to "git R sexy back!"   LOL! 

marlegal

Eli, I hope these next few weeks fly by...if I could blink and make it Jan 26 for you, I would. Personally, I want the next several days to drag 'cause I'm home till Jan 2 and want to relish every single second. So we need a split reality - slow for me, fast for you. I'll talk to my people and see what I can arrange! As for wasting energy on cooking and cleaning ... hell woman, I don't waste energy on that when I'm feeling great, let alone when I'm not at my best. They are definitely on the bottom of my list! Gentle hugs for no worsening of symptoms, only improvement.

Chacha, that is beyond awesome. Both that your son has that talent, and that he was willing to share like that. Very, very touching.

Heartnsoul, the hot chocolate sounds divine, but would put me on "the throne" for hours with all that real cream/milk! I can only take small doses of pure dairy, and I drink Lactaid as my milk of choice, so I'll have to stick with the packets of hot chocolate when I feel a craving for that I love picturing you sitting by the fire drinking that though. Enjoy every sip!

Technology - when my daughter was preg earlier this year, she sent me a message one day "Would you ever have thought 33 yrs ago when I was born that someday you would be looking at a texted picture of an ultrasound of your grandchild on your smartphone?" It was a pretty telling moment, since obviously not! I mean really...I remember when "mobile phones" were shown in movies or tv shows and we all laughed - how silly to think that anyone would ever walk around with something so clunky against your ear just to talk at times when you weren't near a regular phone. Ridiculous!!! (And yes, I confess I'm among those who still find the whole idea ridiculous!!) Sure they were about 15 times bigger when they first came out, but I seriously remember thinking the whole idea was hysterical that anyone thought it would catch on. Yeah, I felt the same way about personal computers too!

elimar86861

Chachamom,  Love it!  What a beautiful and creative gift.  The gift from the hub ain't bad either.  (Guess we know what his/your new year's resolution is.  )

Ya know what is disturbing me about my second cancer?  A lot more medicine came with it.  My pharmacy has a prescription bonus card, so if you get 12 punches, you get $20 off a grocery order.  I have gotten 9 punches in the last month.  (Tenth Rx was from another pharmacy that does compounding.)   I just never had a medicine dependent lifestyle before and I hope this is only my temporary normal and NOT my new normal. 

Anonymous

Eli....it WILL be temporary!!! ....you are too strong and awesome for it not to be!



I DO hope the New Years resolution is fulfilled! :-)

It's be toooooooooo long!!!

marlegal

Eli, I soooo get that. I was a non-med person before BC and hated hated hated doing chemo because it was poison. But so many women in here got me through it, making me believe I was doing the best thing for getting rid of the "beast" as we all call it. And now, we're all joining with you to get that beast out of you once and for all, any way we(you) can. This sucks for you, and as our leader, that sucks for all of us. Yeah ... I know you hate that title, but it is what it is and you are Hugs bud

barbe1958

chacha that is the most PRECIOUS gift from your son!!! In our family we truly treasure gifts from the heart, so that would have gone over well with any of us!! 

My DH bought me a surprise gift for the first time in about 10 years. A box of Ferreira Rocher (sp?) chocolates. We normally get what we want through the year, so don't "do" Christmas. It was sweet. I LOVE the silver wrapped ones and wish they sold just those in a box!!

Don't see the rest of any family until the 28th at my bro's. Can't wait!!!

elimar86861

Barbe's & Chacha's posts made me think of that book The 5 Love Languages: The Secret To Love That Lasts.  One of the "languages" is that of giving gifts and how it has the great importance, for some, of making them feel loved.  Well, that is not my primary "language" with my spouse, so Barbe, I can identify.  My DH and I sometimes just wrack out brains trying to shop for one another because, like you said, if it is something we really want chances are we've just picked it up as a non-holiday item.

I just brought up that book because I think it is interesting not only how couples relate, but how all family members do. 

Confession:  People have written of their chocolate treats (and I have a couple favorites I try to pick up every Xmas,) but the sad fact is it has lost its appeal for me during treatment.  I am supposed to be off high fat foods anyway, plus my colon is not fond of caffeine containing items at the moment.  Normally, the more chocolatey, the better, but not this year.  I did get one of those chocolate "oranges" that have the pieces in segments but have only had about two of them.  Trust me, that is just not normal.  I didn't even get my chocolate seashells this year, but am "guardedly optimistic" that I might be able to enjoy those on Valentine's Day.

Marlegal, The only thing I want to lead is my life!  This thread was/is my therapy and coping strategy and I thank everyone heartily for joining in because it would be a lot like talking to oneself otherwise. 

barbe1958

We kind of ARE just talking to ourselves. We put it "out there" and hope for a response. Always surprised when I get one that relates to what I posted!! Bonus!!

Sherryc

Sounds like everyone had a great Christmas and I love the crop pot hot cocoa.  I can't wait to try it.

Eli sorry your other end is bothering you now.  Wish I could fast forward you through rads.

Saturday I started hurting in my sternum and left clavical.  DH got freaked out and made me call the MO yesterday.  So I spent 4 hours in the ER ruling out cardiac problems but found out my Lipase is extremely elevated.  So MO thinks I have pancreatitis and now on meds and strict diet treating that to get the Lipase down.  He is sending me for a contrasting CT scan of my chest and abdomen on Monday.  I really hope it is clear and the meds and diet do the trick for the discomfort. Although this lovely diet is low to no fat, no cheese or eggs, no cafiene (which I gave up 2 years ago) and no alcohol.  I really eat pretty well as it is but I will miss the cheese and eggs.  How is one to bring in the New Year without some wine and cheese.  Oh, well I'll join my DIL in the no drinking BECAUSE I'M GOING TO BE A GRANDMA AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!  This is my son and DIL from Seattle and they have been married 12 years.  We were all thinking it was never going to happen.  I am so, so excited for them.  I guess their vacas to Paris are over with for awhile.

elimar86861

Sherryc,  I'm ringing in the new year with Immodium, and blandness.  No fun at all.  I hope your good behavior will settle your pancreas down, then the sacrifice will be worth it.  At least you get to shriek with happiness because the new year is bringing you a new grandbaby.  Congrats! 

marlegal

Barbe, I can relate to your comment about being surprised when someone answers a post! I too feel like I'm just talking out loud most of the time so if I see my name in a reply I get a kick out of it!

Sherry, good luck with the tests hon, and with sacrificing so much to that diet. No alcohol? May those words never be said in my company by a medical professional!! When I was doing chemo, it was a clinical trial so I had a specially assigned caseworker in addition to my MO. The first time I met with her we hit it off immediately. One of my first questions was whether I could drink during chemo - she totally cracked up. Said that of course most ask about nausea, fatigue, side effects - not me - I just wanted to know if I could drink She said it wouldn't be a good idea to over-indulge but the occasional drink should be fine. The funny thing was that I had no desire for it but just knowing I could if I wanted to made it okay in my head. Weird the memories that come back to us, isn't it? She and I kept in touch for a long time after my tx was over just 'cause we liked each other.

Finally, I've found that I like not going to work! (Hub and I off from last Friday to next Wednesday) If any of you find yourselves wondering what to do with some extra money, I have a great suggestion for you

Hugs and love buds.

barbe1958

If anyone has extra money and they don't know what to do with it, I'll take it! I have NO shame! 

NativeMainer

Barbe--those chocolates are sooooo good!  And I bet they're pretty, too!

Elimar--I almost wrote that I wish chocolate would lose it's appeal, but then I realized that would mean dealing with something probably horrible, like you are.  So I'll just wish for better self control around the chocolate instead.  I may not post so much on this thread, but I do read it every day.  I know what you mean about talking to yourself without this one!

Sherry--so sorry about the pain, glad it's not heart related, but not so happy to hear about pancreatitis.  I could probably deal with temporarily giving up eggs and cheese, but caffeine?  No way!  Congrats on becoming a GRANDMA again!!!!!!!!

Marlegal--funny how knowing you can do something makes it easier to not do it, isn't it??

elimar86861

I shoulda known dept.: 

So, although it wasn't likely that I would go chemo-bald with this 5-FU chemo, I had selective amnesia of all those accounts where women posted losing their armpit hair to rads.  (I had 0/2 nodes, so no rads to my pit.)  Weeelllllll, I've had rads blasting away for 3 1/2 weeks now, pointed straight at my nether regions and I AM LOSING PUBIC HAIR.  It would be one thing if it came out in the shape of your basic bikini wax, or even a Brazillian, but I have a REVERSE BRAZILLIAN with central hair loss, but not the sides.  It is the stupidest looking thing I have seen in quite a while.  IS IT GOING TO BE PERMANENT?  Talk to me armpit ladies!!!

Anonymous

Lol!.....Eli you always give such a visual when you post! I didn't have rads...but I think I would go pubic bald.....although you could start a new trend!



I saw my BS and PS yesterday....all good! I don't have come back for the BS for 6 months (although I really like him!). ....and my PS is suggesting May for possible revisions or nipples. So we get to go back to our home in San Felipe for a while (((YEAH!))).

.....my holiday festivities packed on about 8 pounds!!! But my PS cleared me for exercise so my New Years resolution is to get as healthy as possible!...starting with exercise and cutting down on the pogie bait! What's Christmas without the chocolate peanut butter balls, fudge, and pies!



Congrats Sherry on the new Grandbaby! How exciting!



.....oh and you can add me to the list of volunteers to get rid of all that extra cash!

Sherryc

Eli you make me laugh.  I am out of rads two years and my armpit hair has not grown back.  I agree with chachamom go pubic bald.  DH might just get a kick out of it.

elimar86861

Uh-oh, that is what I was afraid of.  ALL of the above.

heartnsoul76

Sherry - I hope you're already feeling better and that the diet takes care of your problem. Hope everything is normal on your CT scan Monday, too.  In the meantime, no wine and cheese?  Sheesh, I guess it's not worth the pain but ouch!  That hurts, too!  That's exciting news about the grandchild from your son who has been married a long time - my husband and I did that.  We waited 9 years to get him through college so we could afford for me to stay home.  Our families were thrilled when I finally got pregnant!  Now my little bundle of joy is getting ready to move to Seattle too, to start working at Microsoft.

marlegal & NativeMainer - knowing you could do something if you wanted to makes it easier to not do it and knowing you can't do something if you wanted to makes you want it that much more!  Psychology is an interesting thing.

Speaking of which, I downloaded my first Amazon book on my Nexus 7.  I chose "The Wisdom of Psychopaths" because they are truly everywhere, they just express themselves differently.  Some, of course, are serial killers.  Some are leaders in business and über-successful.  I already know how to recognize them, but it's interesting reading in the book the exact same words that come out of the mouths of the ones I know.

Eli - I'm 2 years out of rads and I don't have any hair under my arm, either.  My mother is 10 years out and neither does she.  Did anyone see that movie with Diane Keaton where she undresses in front of her daughter and the daughter lets out an insane scream when she sees her mother's full "bush"?  So funny how styles change, even pubic hair. Apparently, bald-ish is good so with a little creativity you'll be très en vogue, Elimar!

marlegal

Heartnsoul, I'm impressed you found the font to do the correct uber and tres words (obviously I'm not searching right now!!)

Eli, 7 yrs out since rads, no hair growth under arm. When I was doing chemo, I lost pubic hair and absolutely loved it - had hoped maybe it would forget to grow back, but no I'm a naturalist (interpret that to mean lazy) so I just go with it, but keep saying that one of these days I'll shave or prune or mow or something! My my, how this thread does go off in tangents sometimes - I love it!

Getting ready for New Year's Eve. To me, that means a basically quiet night at home with favorite foods and drinks and very few people other than me and hub. Next door neighbors generally stop in, but that's about it. I had a spicy corn dip at someone's house yrs ago and I allow myself to make it once a year - high fat/calories, but man it's good I eat it with whole grain tortilla chips so that makes it health food, right? And lobster tails ... hub makes them better than most restaurants I swear. Okay, now I'm drooling on my keyboard

LindaKR

Two years post rads and no regrowth under my arm, but there are places where I had chemo hair loss that haven't returned to before either - other arm pit, legs, eye brows, and nether region.  At least the hair on my head all grew back nicely!

heartnsoul76

lol, marlegal, I can't find it in BCO so I cheated and copied & pasted from the address bar in Safari.  And yes, I would say the whole-grain tortilla chips definitely turns that yummy, decadent dish into a health food!  Works for me!

Linda - thank goodness for the head hair!  The hair on my arms and legs never really came back after chemo.  Of course, I don't mind the legs being less hairy but I feel like my arms look weird.  However, young women go to a lot of expense and trouble to rid themselves of all body hair, so I guess it looks okay...

journey4life

 Hi ladies - I've been lurking and I'd like to join your group. I love your sense of humor in the midst of fighting and surviving BC. You're quite a lively group!

staynsane

Journey4life,

This thread is the BEST for lurking, having a laugh, or posting real issues!  So many of the others are topical and cover one phase of the breast cancer experience, but Eli, in her wisdom, created a thread where all issues are on the table.  

Eli, I cannot get your reverse mohawk on your nether region out of my mind!  Not that I'm going to bat for the other team, but you create visuals that are not soon forgotten!