My (perhaps controversial) thoughts as a "newbie" to CA.

Trill1943

WenchLori---So glad to read your latest! I was just gonna ask when your chemo starts...five hours? Wow. But I know you and how creative you are so imagine you will come up with plenty and those five hours will fly by. Maybe you could come up with some jokes to get your chemo-mates laughing! I'm sure there's a good stand-up (or recliner) routine in there somewhere....you must let us know here how every hour went...we will be expecting it!

I just got the order of 16 6" blocks.....my apartment is being overrun by blocks of all sizes! If you never hear from me again it'll prolly be because the blocks have buried me...

Molly--hope you are faring well...

Lori--I will be with you in spirit Friday! Miss Pantaloon is very concerned about all your critters and where they can be. In fact she packed her suitcase and has it by the door, ready to go to Indiana and help your husband search for them. I told her to unpack her suitcase as all her clothes are about to get wrinkled to death in there and that Mother Nature will find the critters and take care of them....maybe the heat has them "chilling"....

t

WenchLori

Thank you Trill, I can feel you all around me!

My critters came to visit last night but I think it was a new bunch of babies. There's no way that baby raccoons wouldn't have grown in the past month?? I didn't get pictures so maybe tonight :-)

After having to almost stand on my head for my Ecocardiogram, I think I may cancel my fill tomorrow. There was no mention of TEs on the order the cardiologist received for my test. They couldn't find my heart as the wonddohicky can't read thru saline or silicon, so on my head I went! They did eventually find my heart and they'll have results later today. It was pretty comical for awhile there. I couldn't stop laughing and the whole time they kept saying "It isn't funny!" I told them that I walked in here, I'm breathing, my heart is beating, therefore I have a heart in there somewhere! I felt bad for them having to put up with my sense of humor. They felt bad for me as they had to push so hard on the scanner to find anything. Sooo, I'm very sore now.

Trill1943

Hi Lori--- If anyone doesn't need to stand on their head to show they have a heart it's you! Really, that's so funny... I wish we had a snapshot of you doing that to put on here and give us all a smile.... am sorry you're sore but know that will fade...get out the old icepack! I'm crossing my fingers that Friday is uneventful and all goes smoothly....

I told Miss Panty your critters are fine....she was worried there! She's gotten so fat this summer herself..I brush and comb her and she's like a little cotton ball...

OK, get some good rest...will be thinking of you and wishing you happy dreams....t

ChiSandy

Goodness--48 unread posts! (That’ll teach me to concentrate on other threads). A lot has happened since last I posted here--2 gigs (one in Bartlett, another in Evanston). An unsuccessful trigger-thumb cortisone shot (at my 8/24 followup I will insist on tendon-release surgery). Official confirmation of my cataracts--so bad the optometrist couldn’t see my retinas; I can’t see people’s facial features if they’re backlit by sunshine (and I couldn’t see the fret markers on my guitar neck either on a tented and unlit outdoor stage facing into a sunlit audience); my reading ‘scrip can’t be corrected any further (so I need a magnifier & flashlight to do crosswords or read a menu; and every time I clean my glasses and put them back on, I realize I needed to clean my eyeballs instead. Surgery’s not till Sep. 7 (and they’ll do my R eye first and see how I heal before doing my L). And Sunday Bob & I returned from a marvelous trip to Italy. 5 days in Rome, 3 in Tuscany, a day & a half back in Rome. Hotter than Dante’s Inferno (hit 100F the day we were in the Forum, which is devoid of trees and of any shade except the WCs)--more walking in a week & a half than I’d done in six months, much of it on uneven cobblestones and ancient (BCE) paving boulders, oceans of great wine, tons of wonderful food (much of it salumi & cheeses, loaded with hidden sodium) and magnificent scenery (city as well as the Tuscan countryside). Unfortunately, I came home 9 lbs heavier--with swollen legs and feet that looked like sausages and felt like they had metatarsal stress fractures. Went to my primary yesterday, where they were able to rule out heart, kidney & liver failure but ruled in both sodium-and-physical stress (the walking on uneven ground and 10+ hr. flight home)-induced generalized lower-body edema....and a big honkin’ heel spur. She prescribed Lasix. As a result, I’ve lost (nearly overnight) 7 of the 9 lbs. I’d gained. (Here I thought it was from the pasta, gelato, wine & limoncello, when it was nearly all retained water). I see my MO tomorrow for more labs (CBC, lipids, maybe estrogen--my primary did the other stuff) and possibly a Prolia shot. If she insists on Zometa instead, I will postpone it until I have 3 days free to lie around feeling flu-ey--meanwhile I have to drive up to Milwaukee Sat. morning to play 3 hrs at a farmers’ market, and no way I can do that while suffering Zometa’s SEs.

Lori, in your pocket for your chemo!

Molly50

Lori, you and Trill are such great story tellers. I love your sense of humor. Got my pathology back, it's benign! Feeling lousy but I will take that over cancer.

WenchLori

Molly, that's fantastic news! I'm doing a Happy Dance for you! Yay!!

My babies came by for a visit last night. I still think these are a different bunch or their not growing?! The plate the critter food is on is a regular sized dinner plate.

Trill1943

Molly--O happy day! So glad for you! Yay!

Lori--These pix are fantastic! They all look so darned healthy! What ARE you doing?? They must be thriving on your love AND Menard's....send me a bucket! lol! And lol yourself!!!

ChiSandy--O boy! Have YOU been up to a lot! I feel for your various woes etc but know you'll bounce back. And that weight loss was prolly wonderful--I'm envious! I have early cataracts too....I keep checking and they seem a tad bigger....boo hoo we hate getting older! Your trip sounds great....hope the feet are feeling better....did you leave ANY food or wine when you left Italy?? Keep up the music!

Have to run to the store to grab some grub and prescription because when the Olympics start I'm holing up and NOT cooking..I make this great thing--here's it in a nutshell:

Salmon--I get canned.

Green beans--cooked or canned

Chopped red onion.

Chopped parsley

Red potatoes cooked and cut up

Mix them all then add this sauce, made of

tobasco sauce

lemon juice

olive oil

salt and pepper

Blend well, stick in fridge, and dip into. It's great! Not hard to do, nutritious, and yummy. Crusty roll on the side.

OK, off to store!!!

DisneyGirl16

Hi, Ladies! I've been busy and not able to keep up with the boards this past week, but I decided I would set aside time today just to check in to see how everyone is doing.

JBeans, I find your information about bees so interesting. They really are fascinating creatures. Love the picture of the boys with the hive. They are so cute!

Lori, in your pocket for your treatment tomorrow. You can do this!

Molly, so happy to hear your results are benign!

Sandy, who knew Italy could be so bad for your health! LOL! Glad to hear that most of the weight was water being retained and not something worse. Italy is my dream trip. The heel spur sounds painful.

Trill, I am so ready for the Olympics, too. I watched some of the women's soccer games yesterday. They start before the official beginning of the Olympics. I need to go find a schedule of all of the sports and where to find them on tv or online so I don't miss any of the events I really want to watch. Hopefully, most of the good stuff like swimming and diving will be in the evening since I have to work during the day. Otherwise, maybe I will take some time off to watch. You'll have to post some pictures of the painted bigger blocks.

Sorry if I missed anyone but I gotta get back to work. :-)

Trill1943

HI DisneyGirl--and everybody---

You DO sound like you've been busy! Good to hear from you! I'll try to get some shots of the new blocks...

Am set up for the games. My yogurt is "making" and I had good luck on that score.

I use this heating pad that you can set to stay-on so that I can put the pan of yogurt on it and leave it for 24 hours. Yesterday I was heating the milk and getting things ready but I kept getting that dreaded F-1 thing on the control for the heating pad! It kept turning off my setting. Aye aye. There goes a good gallon of milk I thought. I wondered if I could use my oven with the light on...then I gave the heating pad one more try and it worked. So I got the yogurt started on the pad at 3 o'clock..I hope it does well!

Molly,how are you feeling? Is the soreness abating?

Lori, I'm with you! Let us know how you do. Panty and I send our love....

t

Trill1943

HI all--

Couldn't resist snapping this of Miss P napping... THIS is relaxation! And another one is

a close-up...

Trill1943

The closeup didn't come through...will try again...

DisneyGirl16

Trill, Love, love, love the pictures of Miss P. That is truly relaxed.

Lori, Thinking of you today. Sending positive vibes your way. Keep this image of Miss P in your head while you listen to music or watch a show/movie to get through your treatment.

Molly50

Thinking of you, Lori. I so want to snuggle Miss P!! Thanks for sharing those pictures. I am doing a bit better today. I actually slept last night after finally getting past anesthesia induced constipation. I got up early, stripped my drains, washed my face and brushed my teeth. Forced down toast so I can take the antibiotic that makes me lose my appetite. I am now dizzy and exhausted. So long answer to your inquiry is Yes, I feel better but it's going to take time to get over the blood loss and back to back surgery.

Trill1943

Molly--O sweetie! I so wish I could be there with Miss P for you to cuddle! And to comfort you. I know you must feel rotten. Just remember that old old saying about this too shall pass..it does and it will.....you have been through a LOT lately! Miss Panty and I send you big hugs that don't hurt and all our love....don't feel you have to write, OK? Just do like Miss P and chill...TOTALLY....

Lori--If you feel up to it let us know how you did...your critters are waiting! They need those pans of food!! NOW I see why they are little raccoon butterballs....

t

WenchLori

Thank you everyone for the well wishes! I appreciate them all so so much!

Trill, my hubby is taking care of all my "wild critter family" lol

Chemo infusion #1 done! Everything has gone very smooth. The pickle juice is the bomb!! I sipped as they flushed and no metallic taste. I'm homeward bound!

The "Red Devil" (AC) is already going out the other end! Very pretty pink pee lol

I left with the nulasta pod on the back of my arm. It makes me jump when it sticks me. No one mentioned this little jewel to me before today. One step closer to being done with chemo. It sounds better that way instead of 15 more treatments to go! 😊

Miss P, you are the Bell of the Ball for sure! I love your way of chilling out. I need to give that position a try! I wonder if anyone would rub my belly as they past? Probably not lol

DisneyGirl16

Lori, glad to hear that everything went well today. I have never heard that about nuelasta either.

Molly, just read about everything you have been through lately. My goodness, how awful! I hope you are having a good day today.

Trill, how'd the yogurt turn out? I've never tried to make anything like that before.

Trill1943

HI all--

Dear Lori-- So so glad you go through today OK! I thought of you all day. Chemo is so complicated--all those things I've never heard of. The pickle juice? The pod? The pricking that makes you jump? This sounds like a sci-fi movie made by junior high students! But if they work and make things go a little smoother--great!

Miss P often falls into this position...I used to think she was doing it to invite me to come and tickle her or begin some play. But she truly likes doing this...and I can't help but jump on her--well, not really jump--and play with her....

Molly--Thinking of you!

Hi DisneyGirl--The yogurt turned out fine. I don't see why more people don't do it. Chobani is a buck for a little container... I go to Safeway and grab a little container of Chobani plain yogurt as my starter, and a gallon of milk, and then warm the milk to a certain temp, then cool it and add the Chobani. I sit it on a heating pad, cover it, and leave it alone for 24 hours. Then it goes in the fridge to set-up more. Sometimes it turns out thick as peanut butter! So for about $5 I have a gallon of yogurt that I can eat plain or with fruit or flavoring--whatever I want. I add it to my evening Green Drink---water, yogurt, Stevia, banana or apple, kale, broccoli, herb blend or spinach, carrots--then blend the hell out of it. It's a good way to get the kale.

Tonight as a treat I'm making 2-ingredient, no-churn ice cream...saw this recipe online and thought, OK, let's give it a try. It's sweetened condensed milk plus whipped cream....who knows...I get shaky when it comes to making stuff like this...I have this little cheap-o hand mixer that only has one speed: Indy race-car at top speed. So there's no gradual-ness..so I don't know how this will do. Also, don't have a stainless steel bowl which is the best for whipping cream. Anyway, you beat the cream, then add it to the condensed milk and put this in a pan and freeze it. LOOKS great in the pictures... Will keep you posted. Sounds too good to be true...

I wish one of these "too good to be true" things would turn out to BE true!

ChiSandy

Weigh-in at the MO yesterday had me down 2 lbs. from my weight the night before our trip! But as I have to be up early for a morning gig tomorrow....up in Milwaukee!....I d.c.’ed the Lasix after this morning’s dose--didn’t want to be up all night alternately peeing and nursing horrible shin cramps. Took the other half of an 0.5 mg. Xanax, hope I can fall asleep. (Miss Heidi tried to purr and nuzzle me to sleep earlier, as she hunkered down on my chest, but that required me to be on my back which is not the easiest sleep position for me). Gotta be up 6-ish to be outta here on the road by 7:30, 8 am the latest.

Trill1943

Hi ChiSandy-- Am glad to hear you're keeping to your schedule! Hope you got some good sleep. Miss Panty just tried to get up on my chest as I lie here in bed with the computer. She had a tough time....sorry, Miss P...we'll snuggle later...!

WenchLori

Sandy, safe travels and have a wonderful day! Is live to take a road trip with my hubby to meet you and watch your jig (ha, I meant gig)!. We will both love to meet you!

Sandy and Trill, I so wish I could have a kitty to snuggle with. My hubby just hates cat hair and for some unknown reason cats are drawn to him like magnets! I talk to Bob The Cat (BTC) from a distance, he still won't play the blinking game I was told about but he dosen't run as far before laying back down to catnap. He has my hubby trained to give him kitty kibble when he sits and stairs into the patio doors. Oh, when BTC stairs into the patio doors, not my hubby.

I still have not been cleared to go swimming yet, I'm thinking I'll be able to get in the pool in time to shut it down for the winter. Bummer

"The morning after" chemo is going great so far. I slept like a rock once I fell asleep, even slept through my nasusa medalarms during the early morning doses. I had a slight panic attack this morning as I couldn't stay awake. It was hilarious once I told myself to knock it off and just go back to sleep! So, as you can tell by now that I'm fully awake and functioning!

I smell my wonderful hubby is getting breakfast ready and I know his first words will be "It's wonderful to see that you're alive! Are you hungry?" Then "What movie will we be watching today?" I have The Princess Bride laying on my dresser. I love him to pieces!

BBL

WenchLori

{{{Molly}}} gentle hugs for you Always! I hope your recovery gets smoother and oh as much easier on your poor surgery ravaged body. You are always in my prayers! Love you bunches!

Molly50

Disneygirl, thank you. Lori, you are in my prayers as well. Enjoy your yogurt and the Olympics, Trill.

WenchLori

Whatchadoin?

Trill1943

Hi dear Lori-- You sound your usual chipper humorous self! That's so great! That must have been a refreshing sleep for you! How wonderful to wake to breakfast all ready! You have a dear mate, that's for sure!

Sorry you have to watch kitties from inside....right now Miss Panty is watching men's volleyball on Tv --the Olympics of course! She does like Tv and youtube kitty videos....I swear she knows just what's going on!! Just wait til I show her this closeup you just sent--that's one frightening image when you're not expecting it!!

Molly--thinking of you all day....

ChiSandy-how'd your gig go?

The ice cream looks so decadent...I took a half a teaspoonful and it was so rich I just stopped there! I think it's gonna be one teaspoon per day!

DisneyGirl16

Lori, that kitty is so cute! Love it! We have a stray cat with 3 legs that has adopted us. Unfortunately, he can't come in the house because my husband is allergic to cats. We do let it in the detached garage when the weather is bad. We are pretty sure that he didn't like his previous home situation and relocated to our house. My husband thinks he used to live a few doors down from us and was probably an indoor cat at one time. The cat started visiting us a couple of years ago, just stopping by once in a while. Then last year after another stray cat that adopted us got hit by a car on our busy road, this cat started coming around more often. Before the holidays last year, the people we think he belonged to moved away. He pretty much lives at our house now.

Trill, that ice cream recipe sounds interesting. I may have to give that a try. I watched the Olympics most of the weekend and last night. Looking forward to watching women's soccer tonight followed by more swimming. Go USA!!!

Molly, hope you are continuing to heal.

Sandy, hope everything went well with your music gig.

WenchLori

Ok, day 5 post chemo and I'm still doing pretty good. Slept most of the past 2 days but it still felt pretty good. My taste buds are screaming MACNCHEESE! MACNCHEESE!! MACNCHEESE!!!

Bob is sleeping out under my rocker on the deck. I gave him some pasta then like us humans he went to sleep! LOL

I can hear my bed calling me, I've been up longer today than I have in the past week, so it looks like I'm gonna live! Yay!

BBL

DisneyGirl16

Lori, Mac and cheese sounds delicious. Now my taste buds want it, but they want it with bacon. Lol. Bob has the right idea. Nap time.

ChiSandy

Great, just great....finally accepted having to bid arrivederci to pasta after being 1 wk post-Italy and going back to low-carb. Now you have to go and mention mac & cheese! (Repeating my mantra for tonight: tomatoes....steak....brussels sprouts...). But I do have some awesome sliced jackfruit for dessert (yeah, I know it’s sweet but it’s still fruit). Maybe it’ll keep my mind off the gelato & limoncello in the freezer.

Trill, the gig went well. Got up to Milwaukee in time, we had all the sound equipment we needed, and it wasn’t too hot underneath the stage canopy (and despite the cataracts I could see the fret markers on the guitar neck so I didn’t screw up). The 2-1/2 hrs. flew by. But as we were packing up & talking to fans afterward, the market volunteers removed the canopy, I was out in full sun, and I suddenly got very queasy, sweaty and stomach-crampy (despite having had a 20-oz. bottle of water). I’d been on Lasix since Tues. night, but discontinued it after Fri. morning’s dose. I had, on doctors’ orders, limited my salt intake, though. Over the next 15 min. I established a meaningful relationship with a Porta-Potti, and confirmed I wasn’t having a heart attack. Bless my singing partner--while I was in there, he found my car key fob in my purse and loaded my car for me. I ran the A/C full-blast for a couple minutes before heading safely back home.

JBeans

Oh wow, I've fallen so behind with you all and I can only blame some of it on my Olympic fever. I blame the rest on my garden, my bees, my boys, and library books. :-) I LOVE SUMMER

Trill - you mentioned how much you like Michael Phelps. Kazowiee! I LOVE watching him swim. Amazing. Got my boys hooked on synchronized diving today.

We don't have cable TV but we do have an old not hooked up to a plan dish and on it we get a couple of free preview channels. Usually they are awful and only show weird things I have no interest in like people hunting for ghosts but now lucky for me (and my Internet bill as if be streaming otherwise) we get a French broadcasting channel showing the olympics this month. I get my Olympic full and get to brush up on my French (I hardly catch a thing they say but with sports, who cares)

Molly, Lori, Sandy, and everyone - I hope you are feeling well. Thinking of you all.

Trill - Miss P is so cute and fluffy. Does she like to keep your neck or your feet warm when it's a bit chilly? I'm sure she would do a great job of it

Trill1943

Hi dear ChiSandy-- Hey, girl,you could give the USA Olympics Women's Gymnastics team a run for the money! So glad you got through that OK....you are being wise and tough... I know, that mac and cheese sounds so great, doesn't it? Glad too that your cataracts allowed you to see things you needed to see...thank God for small favors...!

I made my salmon/red potatoes,green beans etc dish TWICE it's so good....very little cooking and so good to dip into...

Lori---Hey--you sound great, too! Everybody's getting through these things like champs! Love the photo of Bob taking it easy....bet that pasta was good!

DisneyGirl--Love your story of your three-legged cat...he has a great mommy in you!

The ice cream was the easiest thing I've ever made...so rich and good...all it needs is a sugar cone!

Am deep into the Olympics...can't believe Michael Phelps has hit 20 golds...is that even possible??? Was cheering his win over LeClos....did you see that guy eye-balling MP the other day? And he didn't even podium, as they say! Yay!

Molly--Thinking of you....