MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN 40-60ish

elimar86861

I liked reading about your Thanksgiving Days. The world doesn't stop turning when we get BC. The holidays come and go and, even in active treatment, we cycle through them. No, they are not same ol', same ol' holidays. The cancer does make a difference, but if we are lucky it can springboard us into a new way to enjoy those holidays, realizing that someone else can take the reins and we can just sit back and enjoy. Give it a try.

glennie19

Hope you feel better with the steroid and Benadryl!!

PoppyK

Elimar, Holy Cow.... what an experience. Hope you get relief soon.

My DH and boys brought over some of our Christmas boxes so we could start decorating. Wouldn't you know, I opened a box that contains yearly framed Christmas photos of our little family. Looking at last year's photo just brought tears to my eyes. I had no idea what was in store for my family this last year. I'm sure I already had cancer growing in me....I was oblivious.... and my hair was great, too.

Well, I put on my cancer kicking ninja suit and carried on.... But I seem to get blind sided every once in a while.

KKay5525

Hello All. I just turned 53 and was about to start my last semester of nursing school; working hard for the past 3 years to finish school and get back to a "normal" life. Got a job at the hospital as NAII so that I could move into RN position easily…….

Well, you all know what happens next….

I've had surgery and will start rads on Monday for 23 tx 5 boost, then Tamoxifen (which I am stressed about). Trying to stay positive and keep busy but it is wearing me down a bit. My family is helpful and they don't have much stress because I carry it all for them (I've decided). Anyway, they say it's all good because I only have "a little bit of cancer". :-) Makes me furious! But compared to others, I guess they are right. Could be a lot worse.

Excited to get started with rads so that I can move on and not have to think about cancer every day!

Thanks for listening to my rant..I feel better when I can say what I feel, vs what they want to hear. Hope your holidays are happy!

Kay

glennie19

Poppy, we are getting kicked sometimes. Have a good cry and then put on your cancer kicking ninja suit again. (I love that!)

Do you have a real tree or artificial?  Do you decorate outside too?  I like to live vicariously thru other peoples' Christmas decorations!

PoppyK

Kay, Some people sure are insensitive! Someone said something similar to me. I told them that I saw it more along the lines of only having to lose a foot instead of an entire leg! Yes, we're happy we have choices, and it could be worse. But NO ONE would want to go through this. BTW, rant away! Everyone here understands!

Glennie, We go overboard with Christmas decorations. We set up 4 trees inside: a kid tree (candy themed), a family tree (mainly Hallmark ornaments ), my burgundy ribbon, magnolia and gold ornament entry way tree, and a smaller tree that I hang my Lladro bells on. We hang up the kids Christmas art projects all over the house. Garlands on the stair banisters and on the living room and family room fireplaces. Light up houses, nativities, decorations I inherited from my Grandma .... tons of stuff. We must have 30-40 boxes of decorations.

My DH and boys do the outside. Traditional lights everywhere. White light reindeer family, white light sleigh and all of Santa's reindeer, a landing strip for Santa's sleigh, snowman, yard signs. Even my car wears a red nose and reindeer antlers.

I really want to get the decorations up this weekend... especially since it's supposed to rain tomorrow and my DH and two of my sons are out of town next weekend! But first I need to recover from this last round of chemo!

glennie19

Wow!!  Poppy,, I wanna come to your house !!

knmtwins

Elimar - sounds like you had an anaphylactic reaction. Did they give you a perscription for an epinephrine auto-pen? If not, you may want to call your doctor and ask for one, especially since you don't know what caused this.

heartnsoul76

Yikes, Elimar! I hate that they don't know what caused the problem. Hope you are doing better now.

luv, those posts on the Thanksgiving Mishaps thread are cracking me up! Life keeps things interesting, that's for sure!

Kay, come here and rant all you want. We certainly understand. And keep on keeping on! Finish nursing school and don't worry about Tamoxifen. Most people are perfectly fine on it and it's a lifesaver.

Oh, no. Now I'm thinking of these:

Hmm... that's not a bad visual. Think of these when you pop a Tamoxifen!

mel147

elimar - oh, no!! That stinks!! So sorry to hear about your allergic reaction. It's so frustrating when you don't know what caused it. I hope your meds will kick in and you'll be feeling better and less itchy really soon! Take care! Strange about the icon photos...you're right, they were all smaller before. I don't mind a bit, though...those heart cookies look delicious!!

poppy - Wow! Your house sounds great at Christmas!! Very neat to have all the different trees. We got ours put up today. My oldest DD goes back to college tomorrow so we got it all done today. We'll have to do the other decorations tomorrow and I have no idea when we'll get the outdoor lights up, but at least we got a start. And watched a sappy, romantic Christmas movie on Hallmark!

kay - welcome! It's really nice to have this safe place to come to share with people who understand!

KKay5525

Thanks for the kind words!

PoppyK - you rock Christmas!!! I used to when the kids were little, but we have downsized a bit and I don't have any grandkids ….yet! Once I have some little kids I will do it big again!! Can't wait.

NativeMainer

PoppyK--It's ok to grieve the loss of our past lives and innocence, for lack of a better word.We all get blind-sided every so often.You cry and move on.

KKay5525--breast cancer, like every other cancer, is considered a disability under the ACA, reasonable accommodations need to be made by both your employer and your school.Talk to the HR folks at work, and to your Academic Advisor at school.This can be worked around.But the "little bit of cancer" line is annoying, isn't it?

staynsane

Hi Ladies! It's been a long time since I've posted anything, but my girlfriend sent me a Youtube link that is right up our alley. If you're an "older lady" with a young spirit, watch and enjoy!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4QzHeUE-CM

JJ62

Love it staynsane! That led me to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUPpwlg8two Donnalou is awesome! Thanks for sharing!

elimar86861

PoppyK, You have given me a Christmas decoration inferiority complex!!!!! But the real question is: Can they see your house from space?

knmtwins and others intrigued by my Mystery Thanksgiving Allergy (MTA)...guess what? I am pretty sure it was the QUINOA! Yeah, that "healthy grain" (only it is a seed) and the mystery was solved by Dr. Google, not any of the Docs I talked to and even mentioned quinoa to! Why didn't I just save that Urgent Care/ER money and 4 1/2 hours of my life? Because my hubster was Googling "rashes" and such before I went in, but when I Googled "quinoa allergy" today---there it all was. BTW, no epi-pen needed as I never got breathlessness or throat closure; and there won't be a next time now that I know it turns me red and tachycardic!

I'm normal colored again, but the itch is lingering.

Well, doesn't that just go to show ya...elimar can wolf down the Cheetos from here til Tuesday, but try giving her something healthy and just look at the trouble it causes.

--------------------------------------------

A big hello to all just joining this thread. I am so sorry we have to get acquainted this awful way.

KKay5525

NativeMaine.. Thanks a bunch for the advice. Work is good and will do anything I need! School is another matter, as they only offer the classes at the same time each year. I will have to wait until next fall to re-enter… Just seems a lifetime away now, hope I don't forget all that I have learned. Haha Good advice tho!

glennie19

Elimar:  I'm glad you figured it out.  Should be easy to avoid it in the future.  Go for the Stove Top stuffing next time! No healthy stuff in that.

macatacmv

oh eli, what a pain. Glad you figured it out and can avoid it next time.

mel, lol Turns out my DS did not like the stuffing. I guess in the past I had processed the veggies small enough that he didn't know they were there. He took one look at it this year and got grumpy. SO yep, I made stove top the next day for the turkey sandwiches. Then packed it up and sent it home with him. Now I have the muffin stuffing to eat to my heart's content.

good looking out, who ever found and posted the recipes for mel. (I can't remember and if I go back I will lose my post.)

heartnsoul, are you feeling better yet? (you are the one that stopped tamox, right?)

I am exhausted. I've been clearing out my parent's house. We had an estate sale for the last two days. I am going to renovate so we need to clean it out. It was so emotional and wearing. But it is over.

It was hard for my DS. He takes change hard. He doesn't like that I am not the same and now his grandparent's house is in a transition. It doesn't matter how old these kids are, it effects them.

I have to take a breather before gearing up for the next holiday.

mel147

eli - Glad you figured out the cause of your allergic reaction! I eat quinoa, but the funny thing is, I keep making it and eating a serving or two over a few days, then it sits in the fridge and I "forget" about it and then end up throwing it away. I'm thinking perhaps I don't like it that much! Lol!

mac - Oh, bummer the stuffing was not a hit with DS! That's a good tip to process the veggies to be small. I will definitely do that when I try it. Glad you were able to do the Stove Top for the next day! I'm really thinking my DD will like the muffin one...she enjoyed the one I made but did mention the last time she ate it that it was a little too spicy with the sausage in it, so I think the sweeter tasting one will be good.

kkay - sorry you have to wait until next year for your classes. Hang in there!

luvmygoats

Eli - good your figured out your strange allergy. Funny thing I looked at a box of hot whole grain cereal the other day (b4 your incident) and it had quinoa in it. I've never had it except in that box of cereal. No allergy to it but does go to show you it is in other things as well

Mac - I think I'd like to make the stuffing for sure. Think DH would like it. He's a rice man not a potato man so much.

KK - it is a bummer about classes not coming around again until next fall. I assume position as NAII is nurse assistant-aide. Learn as much as you can doing that. Put yourself out in stressful situations - of course once you are fully recovered. Keep your eyes/ears open and get a good preceptor nurse to at least observe. It will put you far ahead of those in school who have absolutely no prior experience. I'm probably telling you something you already know so forgive me if I am.

I was a hospice RN and worked all the way thru rads. My office didn't really even know that I was doing it - well they did but they didn't since it didn't affect them. Think I missed 1-2 phone calls. Did mine at 0745 and then off to my day. Keep in touch. How did you first 2 days of rads go?

KKay5525

luvmygoats - I got the job as NA once I realized that they were the ones hired for RN jobs first. I have done clinicals for 2 years and have learned a lot, but the NA position has really helped me to deal with people and not be afraid. I BEG the RN's to let me help as I am certified as NAII which allows me to do certain small procedures. I listen, ask questions and give advice ! Ha - The docs love it when the NA gives them advice :-) Ha - just my controlling nature…... I just had a thought - maybe that's why I have such a hard time with cancer…. I can't control it..hummm. Just wish I had started earlier in life…..school that is.

Rads were fine…just scary the first day…. Took my mom today so she could see what they do. As I lay on the table, high in the air, my mom ask "how much weight can that table hold?" THANKS MAMA! She is so funny - I weight like 150 - table can hold 400 - She made everyone laugh :-) Fun times, fun times…..

Have a great day - and I love goats too!

macatacmv

Here's the redipe for Pumpkin Muffin Stuffing

1 TBS Olive Oil

2 TBS Butter

1 med Onion, chopped

2 Celery Ribs, chopped

1 Golden Delicious Apple, unpeeled, finely chopped

1 sm yellow squash, chopped

Salt and blk pepper

1 tsp poultry seasoning

1 cup shelled natural pistachios, chopped

4 pumpkin muffins, either purchased or homemade.

1 cup chicken stock

In a large skillet over medium heat melt the butter into the olive oil. When the butter melts into the oil, add the onions, celery, apples and squash. Season with salt and pepper and poultry seasoning. Sauté the veggies and fruit for 5 minutes. Add the chopped nuts and then crumble in all of the muffins. Moisten the stuffing with cup of chicken stock. Turn off the heat and then fluff with fork before serving

glennie19

Sounds really yummy.

mel147

Thanks, Mac! I copied and pasted the recipe into my files!

macatacmv

your welcome. It is so yummy! I made a turkey caserole and used it as the topping. With a dash of cranberry sauce it was like having Thanksgiving all over again.

Deborah2012

Hi ladies,

Well, the last of my family left yesterday. I'll miss them! We had a great time for our multiple holidays. I laughed when I read some of your posts. Thanks for the chuckles. Elimar, what a saga! I had to carry an epi-pen in my purse for my son's food allergies when he was little. He outgrew them. Whew! Also, so many of you ladies have all these talents (decorating, cooking etc.) that are a pleasure to read.

So, my big deal is I love setting a very festive table. I did my snowman theme (doesn't every California woman have snowman dishes?????). It looked like disneyland on the table. I had rope lights coiled perpendicular to the table, individual craft items per place setting, snowflake napkin rings, silver glittered place cards, mirror lake, on and on. I've teased my kids- I've said that on my tombstone, it should read "She set a nice table". Ha ha ha. It took me half a day to just pack it away.

I also had a small wooden decorated box with a hasp per guest. When they opened up the box, I had a handwritten private note to each- just a few sentences about something about them that made me so happy & they had traveled to be with us. There were some loose choc chips sprinkled inside. Everything was warm and wonderful! My son flew in from NY. He's devoting his life to cancer research (brain mets from melanoma is what he thinks he'll be doing)- so someone in our family will be getting revenge on cancer! (He's in the MD PhD program at NYU. He's 23.).

My company saving recipe is a premade breakfast casserole. People can get up and eat when they want. I have everything laid out. We stayed up and played games until late, but the kids stayed up even later. So, a self-serve breakfast works for me.

Eph3_12

great post Deborah2012. Thanks for sharing. I hope your son knocks cancer to the curb!!! Sounds like you raised him right!

macatacmv

deborah, sounds like a great celebration. Making memories.

good to see you eph, your celebration is coming up, right?

We had a celebration for my aunt's 100 th birthday tonight. A small family dinner with cupcakes. she was happy surrounded by people who love her. someone gave her a bunch of rainbow roses. Has anyone seen these before?

my DD made the cupcakes, yummy!!

macatacmv

macatacmv