Good morning, my Jewel sisters!

We're back from Duke with good news-Ed's tumors continue to shrink! The MRI comparisons were beautiful to see. There's been a change in both of the tumors this time (only one was shrinking in July). Praise God! He'll continue with this clinical trial, of course, and we'll return to Duke in October. The fatigue is still a very troublesome se for Ed. He naps through the morning and afternoon and only has a few evening hours of feeling "halfway decent" before bedtime. His docs were actually considering LOWERING the dose of his trial meds d/t his fatigue, but I nixed that plan. Dang it, those tumors are shrinking-he can lie in the bed for a few months, right?! LOL I'm really not that unfeeling, but I think you know what I mean.... So, we're experimenting with the times that he takes the trial meds. The protocol calls for morning doses and we've adhered to that for 2 months. Now we're moving them to the evening. Hopefully that will make a difference in his daytime fatigue.

Not a lot going on here otherwise. Took ds and his friends up to the state fair yesterday. I dropped them off and traveled a couple of miles down the road to a local park. Sat by the river with a book for the whole afternoon. Lovely! Today is my "payback"-the boys are meeting me in my classroom in a couple of hours to help me move rooms. Have also been working on curriculum-I took my laptop to the park yesterday, but couldn't tear myself away from my book... I am officially back to work on Thursday.

Tomorrow ds and I head out for a couple of college visits. We've put together a nice portfolio to take with us over the past week. It still needs work, but it is a good beginning. Ds even got a haircut-a pretty dramatic one, too! I actually thought our hair was the same length until I took a pic of the two of us... not even close! Geez this hair is growing slooooooooooooowly.

Here's a pic of me and my colleagues at conference last week.

I will be back later to catch up with you all-looks like it has been a little quiet. Carol, congrats on being all finished with rads!! I've been thinking of you all weekend.

TTYL, Paula

Paula:  What awesome news!  I am just thrilled for you and Ed.  I hope the change in med times will help him be more coherent during the daytime.  Your hair looks good.  I know what you mean about slow growth.  I thought I'd be done with my wig by now (I only wear it to work), but it's still on.  Maybe after 'cation...

Sherry:  Good luck with your test tomorrow. Maybe they will be able to drain it while you're there and give you some relief.

Tomorrow's my mammo.  It's only my second one ever... so strange.  I'm sure it will be fine, but I'm still nervous.  At least they only have one side to do this time , and I'll get my results right there. 

GTG, I'm at work.

Hi Jewels,

Welcome Lucy47, better late than never. Are you still in rads or or you done with rads? Tell us about yourself.

I spent today reading the post and catching up, I'm glad everyone is so busy and I'm jealous of all the Jewels cationing.

Patty  Don't give up on Denise I know she is in shock, I guess she is dealing with this the best she can. I'll pray for you all, I hope Denise can find a new oncologist that she will trust. That's what we are here for, for you to vent and tell us your feelings. We all need each other to support us, I also think this is better than going to a cancer group meeting.

Carol  I'm so glad you made your walk, you are such a winner I hope your burns heal quickly, I seemed to burn worse after the rads stopped. It's an intense burn and just keeps on going. Heal quickly and feel better soon. I remember my skin seemed to melt off. Congrats on being done with rads.

SIS Kimberly  I hope your injury heals soon, it sounds painful, sounds like you had a great time cationing, sorry about Zingarros, at least you scored on the wine. Enjoy the wine tasting trip. I have had the neropathy since my first surgery, I have had it on the bottom of my feet and toes and fingers and around my eyes. I don't know if it can come on you after treatment. But who knows. My taxotere was hard on my stomach it burned my hernia. I'm just starting to get back to normal. Still have heartburn if I don't take my prevacid.

Julie   Watch out for those pesky ticks, I hate those things.

Maz  That's great you are spending time with your mom, I hope you also have a safe trip to FL and back. I agree that boost machine is wild looking. My hair is coming back mostly gray, I guess it's salt and pepper. I went to church yesterday for the first time without a wig and got lots of comments everyone said they like it. I'm just so tired of the wigs. Like LJ said take some time for yourself while in FL. I'm also glad you are almost done with rads too.

I'm praying for everyone and thanks to everyone for praying for Cody. I know he will be ok.

Last Thursday I went in to see about the new job, it's not that great of a job, it's a cashier position and the pay is not great and it's part time. I took my drug test and I am waiting to hear back from them. I'm willing to take the job, because there are no jobs in MI. I can always keep looking for something better. It would help out some, and get me working again. The woman that interviewed me was so nice and said she wanted to do something for me, I explained I was recovering from BC. The woman I seen Thursday was mean and rude and treated me very badly. It sounds like this job is going to be horrible.

LJ13  glad you a almost done with rads, your boost are your last 5 treatments, they concentrate on the tumor bed.

KathyL  Scored on kids school shopping Yeah!!!!

Paula   dd sounds like a angel to take care of dh for you. My Brandy is getting married Aug 23rd, it's right around the corner. I'm getting so nervous about lighting a candle. We are wrapping it all up, dd just finished the seating arrangement for the reception and they will finish the cook books tomorrow for the guests. That's great your family in Texas stopped by, it sounds like they are having a great road trip. You are so funny girl, I hope you won't have to moonlight as Santa.

I'm also fuzzy on the face in the same place as everyone else. It has been driving me nuts. I thought I was the only one. It has to be a SE from the chemo.

D1  That is great that dh asst honored you in their walk. Hope you enjoyed your cation.

I hope everything works out for new college girl, I hope she gets accepted and 5 hours away is not that bad. It sounds like eveyone is getting ready to go back to school.

Dana  I just loved what you wrote, I think it's wonderful that you can forgive your enimies, I'm trying I do have a hard time with that one. In order for Jesus to forgive us, we need to forgive our emimies. I struggle with this one.

PAlady  I'm so glad to hear form you too, I'm glad the pain is subsiding and I hope you enjoy your cation.

Take care, Sherry

Hey Ladies

Well I had good intentions of going to work this morning ... set one alarm (obviously not enough), my dh woke me at 5:50am saying goodbye.  Hmmm I leave for work at 5:55am (not going to happen this morning).  I tried not taking any pain meds all day yesterday, did pretty good until I layed down last night.  By about 1:30am, finally decided to take some ibuprofen and a lorazepam, must have worked pretty good as I slept straight though to 5:55am.  Called my boss, knowing darn well and good I would be worthless at work anyway, asked if he could just put me on "cation" time" for the next two weeks.  Done Deal!!!

Ended up spending the better part of today gearing up for being gone for 10 days.  The poor room that the house sitter stays in had been overcome by teenage boys these last few months of summer.  Time to strip the sheets, and tidy up, D1 would be appalled!!! 

Stopped at Starbucks and bought gift cards for the staff at the Rad Office ... dh had that good idea.  I started to notice that each day there would be so many goodies left by patients that they feast on a sweet tooth buffet almost daily, I liked the idea of the G.C. with a personalized note in each.  Oouch ... started adding up how many staff members I actually dealt with on a daily basis for the past 7 weeks.  I must say they ALL we're fantastic!

So tonight I will get my lesson on how to use my dh's navigation system in "his" car.  Although I would prefer to drive my own set of wheels, his set of wheels gets about 10 miles more per gallon than mine.  Some may not call each set of wheels his or hers in the household, but I have a hard time laying claim on his as I'm a picky one when it comes to the cleanliness in/outside of a vehicle.  We're from two different planets when it comes to that.  I told him today, just empty all of your "stuff" out of it, and I will clean it tomorrow to my liking!

I'll be venturing south after my followup rad appt tomorrow afternoon.  Some family and a few friends think I'm slightly a whack job wanting to drive by myself to CA.  I think the opposite, I enjoy driving (heck I'm a truck driver, albeit home every night !!!), I'm in no big hurry and plan on enjoying every minute, listening to tunes and just knowing that I'm on cation and my treatment regimen is complete.  How does life get any better than that???  My dh will be flying a bit further south for business (Weds morning), then driving to Sacramento to join myself, Kimberly and dh on Saturday. 

Paula, aaahhh, just the news I was hoping to read that Ed's txt is working!!!   Now lets hope that changing the hours in which he takes the meds helps out with the daily fatigue. 

So did we work the boys good today ... I can't believe that the school year is already coming around again ... where did the summer go?  I be giving you a call in the next few ... would have certainly loved seeing you, but in due time I know that we'll get the chance to meet.

Sherry, so the big day is just around the corner ... I'm sure with such great planning the day will be pulled of flawlessly. 

Kathy, here's to a flawless mamo ... sounds like you'll be getting a digi pic, good for you!!!  I've gotten my reminder in the mail for mine ... need to see how the heck that works with a port on my good side.  Looks to me like it would be in the squish zone. 

Enjoy your well deserved cation ... life does go on doesn't it??!!

Off for now ... happy that the dh got our old run down laptop back up and running ... wanted to have my security blanket on cation. 

Yak at you all soon, Carol

Thank you for the greetings...

Yes I am finished, last radiation June 3, 2008 and am taking tomoxifen. I have a short but full head of hair now. My eyelashes have come back and my eyebrows have filled in. I just went to my family doctor yesterday, for a pap smear. I was getting traces of old blood, they say its's due to the tomoxifen but better be safe than sorry.....I also have a ultrasound on friday to check uterus lining. I think I'm doing well, but I have my days...which I don't let anyone see or know. Cancer is a very lonely place. I 'am the youngest of 6 and have 4 sisters. No one in my family has ever had cancer ( lucky me). I take good care of myself ...never smoked, have a drink every so often, eat right, exercise  and am at a normal weight. I wish I knew what else I could have done to prevent this....I'm also scared for my daughters, I feel that I've let them down. The doctors say there is no answers....one of my sisters seems to think it's because of the cleaning products I have in my house ( she's an idiot) I told her if that was the case then every house hold in the country would have cancer.

Hi Jewels!! Don't have much time today to write or read, but just wanted you all to know I'm thinking about you!! We started school today -- so hard to believe!!

It feels good to be back, but I know I'll be one worn out puppy tonight!

Take care! Hope to be back on soon!!

Julie

Hi Everyone,

Guess what?  I got a date!!  I have been wanting to ask this old friend of mine for quite awhile to go with me to my daughters wedding. He said yes, I was so nervous and I can't believe he wants to go with me. I hope he knows what he is in for. I can't believe he wants to go out with me just recovery form cancer, not much hair to speak of.  Plus we are going on a date Saturday too. I hope I don't have to work, I have already made plans I'm going to meet about 24 of his friends out in Brighton. mostly couples it sounds like fun and we might go to the Dream Cruise on Woodwood Ave too. So sorry work I can't work that day. LOL. Good thing I'm only part time. He is older than me by at least 10 years I'm guessing. But he is such a sweet heart, I seen him in June and before that I had not seen him in years. Then I seen him a couple weeks ago when we were all at a picnic. I would of never asked him, but at the picnic he said he wanted to talk to me, but we never got a chance. The guys were hanging at one end and us girls were at another end. But we all had a lot of fun, I did feel a connection with him and when we were saying good bye I could tell he wanted to say something to me. He is just as chicken as I am. So I have to be brave and be the bold one. So my very bad bad day just got a little brighter. I don't know if I should wear a wig or a bandanna or nothing. Maybe he can help me to decide.

Hi Jewels,

I hope everyone is having a great day.

SIS Kimberly  How nice of you to give that sweet lady something that she wanted. It's a win win situation.  I'm so happy for you to be getting new office furniture Yeah!!!!!! I think we can't sleep because it's a cancer thing. I have not slept since I got cancer. I will have to take something to sleep good tonight I have to get up at 5 am to get ready for my test. Then it's off to get ready for orintation. I like your signiture and I think it's really true. Get some sleep and have a great time working on your room tomorrow.

Sherry

Good Morning Jewels,

It looks as if everyone is living life this past few days. Isn't that a wonderful testimony to the power of connection and healing.  Even though we may not need eachother's words everyday, we are still so much in one another's thoughts and in one another's hearts.

To each of you...walk in peace knowing that everything is as it should be at each moment in time. Take time to appreciate each moment even if it isn't what you'd hoped it would be...remember that in judging our moments as good or bad we often miss what those moments have to offer.  Take a deep breath and accept each moment as it is for what it is.

Thinking of all the Jewels today. 

Walking on Sunshine,

SIS Kimberly

Good evening Jewels,

I'll bet everyone is suprised to hear from me. But I just wanted to take a "cation" from bc for awhile anyway. I've been busy with family, my new puppy Lucy, and just returned from a wonderful 2 week 'cation in SUNNY CALIFORNIA. I took a tour of the coast and saw Yosemite. It was all so breathtaking!  Then onto southern Cal to meet up with my family. Had a fabulous time. Now I'm back to reality and the daily grind. (Although school doesn't start until September 2). It looks like a lot of you had great 'cations also or are on them now!  My next dr appt isn't until August 27 (rads follow-up). SO far, I'm doing fine on Arimidex. I also survived the zometa infusion in July. Well, I need to catch up on the posts. I'm glad everyone is getting back to their lives!

Joan

SIS Kimberly,

I had a once a year infusion of Zometa to prevent osteoporosis. Apprarently, the Arimidex (and femara) take a toll on the bone density. My bone density test showed osteopenia in my right hip and lower back so I would be a risk for fractures and such. I was very hesitant about it but did it anyway. Not a big deal but I did not like going back to that infusion room when I thought I was done. It was only 15-20 minutes so it was a breeze. A little achy a few days but nothing like chemo se's. And its only once a year so I guess I'll have to have the infusions every year while I'm on the Arimidex. Its really better than taking the meds like Fosamax which you have to take every week. Say hi to Carol! I hope you have a fabulous time together.

Joan

P.S. Thanks for the postcard from Chicago. As it turns out, there were 2 women on the tour from the Chicago area. Now I would love to go visit there soon!

Good Afternoon Jewels,

Welcome back D1. Your 'cation sounded like it was truly fabulous. I so love that you went to places that most tourists wouldn't go...your small towns.  Hope the jetlag is under control soon. Does your dh have to go back to work tomorrow?  Speaking of your dh...hope you two had a chance to have some 'couple' time to talk. I know that you want to make a reconnection and often time 'cations are a great time as everyone is so relaxed and out of their normal routine.

Joan, Carol got your information this morning. Thanks.  You are so welcome for the card from Chicago. You totally should go to visit your new friends. It is a fabulous city. 

Paula, I am so jealous that your room is done already. I get to put my room together on Wednesday. I tried last week, but only got to do some curriculum work...running stuff off...and a little cleaning. My furniture was all stacked up on one side of the room. The carpets and linoleum had yet to be cleaned. I was assured it would be done this coming week by Wednesday, which is a good thing since school starts on Thursday for teachers. 

Glad your college visits went well.

It's our first try at making wine,so we won't know for 18 months if it's any good or not. Oh, and I made an error in the variety of grapes. We haven't picked the zinfandel yet, we picked the Merlot(pronounces Mer lo...the t is silent) and the Petite Syrah, so we will have a Petite Merlot or a Merlotah.

The HOA has not backed down. We have to take the fence down. We took a pic in front of it so you can all at least see it before it's taken down.  We think we may have to invite the neighbors to our demolition party. 

Kathy- How fun that your 'cation is just beginning.  Even though the kids and the dog are there, you've got lots of help with the grandparents and your friends being there, too.  Enjoy your days at the beach and by the pool. 

We picked Carol's dh up close to 2pm at the airport after he returned his rental car (he'd been in Richmond on business). From there we took them on a tour of Sacramento. Drove by the capital and then had lunch in Old Town Sacramento, which Carol and her dh paid for. So sweet. From there we took a tour of the Fabulous 40's...a very nice residential area with some homes from the 30's and 40's, and then went to Whole Foods to get supplies for dinner. We had a braised pork tenderloin with baby potatoes, stuffing, green beans, and a really good Merlot. My son and his gf joined us for dinner.

This morning, we woke around 8am or so and had coffee. I'd been keeping poor Carol up past her bedtime all week. We chatted, my new office furniture arrived, and then it was time for Carol and her dh to head out to Davis to visit their oldest college girl and her fiance. From there, they plan to spend two days in Napa playing golf and visiting a few wineries.

It was sooo fabulous meeting Carol and her dh. Carol arrived bearing gifts of a Crab Cookbook, Smoked Salmon, organic capers, and cream cheese, organic salsa and two chip choices, crackers for cheese, and two bottles of wine (a Pinot Gris and a Pinot Noir). And then she wouldn't let me pay for lunch Thursday or Friday, and her dh wouldn't let us pay for lunch yesty. Am I spoiled or what? I'm thinking they enjoyed their B and D (Bed and Dinner) here in Lincoln, however. We had a great time. We've already planned a visit up to their place next summer at the beginning of July. We have several relatives and a friend from college in the Seattle/Tacoma area, so it will be a multipurpose trip. We hope to play golf together as Carol and I will both be in 'full swing' so to speak for sure by then. I'd better get lots of practicing in as I have a feeling she and her dh are pretty good.

I've got only three more days before I'm back to work full time. I've got lots going on during those three days, too. Tomorrow, I have PT at 8am, lunch at 11:30 with my teacher friend who was diagnosed the same time I was, then a massage at 3pm. I have to SMOG my car sometime this week. Tuesday I have to take the car in to get the brakes, struts, springs, and other stuff looked at and fixed if needed. I'll drop the car off and spend the day with my twinsis. I have to be back by 6:30 for the appraiser. We want to refinance, but don't think the appraisal will be in our favor. If not, no big deal. Wednesday, I will be in my room all day getting it ready. Thursday, I'm back at school with meetings all day. I'm not sure how I feel about that. Part of me is really excited about getting back to school and part of me really likes being able to do what I want to do when I want to do it.

Tata for now ladies.

SIS Kimberly 

Kimberly and Carol at Lake Tahoe.

Carol and Kimberly still in jammies harvesting the Petite Syrah. When the grapes are ready to be harvested, it doesn't matter what you're wearing.

Carol's dh, Carol, Kimberly, and my dh still in his jammies...after this he stained my new shelves, hung the brackets for them, hung my pictures, and fertilized the vineyard. Oh, and he finished his rubric's cube last night. He was soooo happy to finally get that thing done.

Hey, Jules. Wow, that's a big decision to list the house, but I admire that you're doing so for your child's education. Bravo. So, you'll fix up the house you're in now and put in on the market how soon? Man, that is a big job. Good luck.  

Off to PT and the rest of my day.

SIS Kimberly 

HI Jewels,

I'm so glad everyone is doing so well, I have been under a lot of stress. I was so stressed out Sun and depressed just stayed in bed all day. So this is my story, first I found a job at Kmart LOL, cashier and pay not so great it's part time. I just can't find a job here in MI. So I have to be there today for my 3.5 hrs of training. I prabably start tomorrow, one of the nice things they did for me was to give me the weekend off for my daughters wedding. They were so nice about it. I have to give them 2 thumbs up for that.

Now for the date, I know the man is 13 years old than me but I have known him for over 20 yrs and I thought he was a nice man. The last 2 times I seen him he was very nice and did not get drunk. He is drinking but still sober. He took me to his friends home very nice loved the deck, really nice. The host and hostess were just wonderful, most of his friends were just great. Most of the woman did not want to talk to me at first Because I was with my date. This other woman was there and she wanted my date apparrently, so I just did not know what to do. I did not want to call my dd and have her drive an hour to pick me up. We got there at 2 pm and stayed till 1 am. It was a long uncomfortable day for me. I tryed to make the best of it and talk to who wanted to talk to me. They all acted like my date was 20 yrs older than me. At the end of the night they finally asked how old I was after talking about me all night like I was 30 something. I told him I was 49 years old. They said I was the baby of the bunch, found out most of the woman was 50 or 51 years old. So I said you are right I'm the baby of the bunch. They really thought i was younger. They were pretty shocked at my age. I dyed my hair auburn just trying to look younger, I felt so old. I guess it worked, The food was great and I thought the hostess make such a pretty fruit and veg plates. My date decided to get really drunk and he was so drunk he was staggering. He could not drive us home, he has a big nice truck and it was long. I don't drive trucks. So I had to drive myself home. I had to go thru turning circles never done that before. I was so stressed by this time. He was barely awake enough to tell me how to get through the turn circles, I'm from a small village I'm not used to these big cities. I managed to drive myself home. My date fell alseep most of the way. He woke up and we went in side and I should of ended it there, but no, I think I was in shock and did not know what to say. I was in bed and depressed all day on Sunday. He called me last night and I refused to talk to him. I have to call him tonight and let him know that I don't want him for a boyfriend. I can't be with a drunk, I been so upset because I invited him to my dear daughters wedding. I'm going to tell him he can still come to the wedding as friends only. We will keep it like it was before the date on Sat. I'm hoping he will be so mad at me he won't show for the wedding. I'm hot attracted to him sexually either, so what's the point. Finally at the end of the night the other woman and I talked and I told her she could have him, we did shake hands and hug. She did give me a very uncomfortable day and night. I do hope those two get together, I really believe she only wanted my date because he has money. I just don't need the aggravation of living with a drunk or dating one.

So in a nut shell went on a date, hated it and met a lot of nice folks. I also was forced to come out of my comfort zone and drive a big truck and go thru turning circles for the first time. I just thanked God I'm alive to tell the tale. dd wedding is this Sat Jewels, it's the 23rd. It's finally here!  My font changed on me I just don't know what I'm doing.

Sis Kimberly and Carol   I'm so glad you guys are having the time of your lives. That is so cool, you two got to meet. Kimberly congrats on the winery I hope you get rich and famous from making your own wine. When I was a kid we had our own grape vine. My uncle brought it to us from Korea. My mom made homemade grape juice when I was a kid. She should of just bottled it and we would of have a better life. I wish I owned the land, but the grape vine is long gone now. I grew up eating fresh grapes, we had the blue purple grapes. I forgot what they were, they were so good. I wish you lots of luck. I'm so jealous of all the yummy food you guys are eating. Have lots of fun. Loved the pictures of you too. everyone's hair is coming in good. Carol enjoy your cation, and Kimberly I hope you get into your class room soon. Good luck on your new school year. Kimberly I hope that everything went well with your surgeon.

Joan so good to hear you are great and cationing too. Your puppy is so pretty.

D1  Your trips sounds fantastic, so romantic and congrats on your anniversary too. I'm so jeaulous of you. you will have to share a picture or two after you get rested up from your trip. That's a trip to remember.

Julie  I'm so glad you are settled in at school, good luck on your new school year.

KathyL   Sitting on a nice white beach is my cup of tea too. Your cation sounds fun too.

I hope all the jewels in treatment still are feeling ok and hope all the rad burns are healing.

I had several dignostic mammos and a ultrasound last week and I won't know the results until after the 19th. They must of done 15 or 20 pictures, the pain is in a place where they could not reach or see very well. My arm still hurts. I hope it's nothing to worry about. Have a great day Jewels, Sherry