Starting Chemo in JAN 2007

Hi Ladies,

Caya, you did that walk for the cure with edema in your ankle? Oy! You really are wonder woman! How fantastic that your girls raised so much money, too. I bet your DD will do great in her practicum. She sounds like a very competent and self-confident young lady, and kids always respond positively to that. And yes, I thought of you when I bought those boots, as I always do when shoe shopping.



And Rebecca, your Matt came in 91 out of 1,000? He must be in great shape. I give you kudos too for walking the walk. I have yet to do one of those. Owen's comment on the race was priceless. It shows how much our kids, even the little ones, do think about what we've been through. Of course all of Owen's comments are priceless. I've seen lots of kindergarteners in my art teaching days and I can tell you that the ones who are so well-adjusted as Owen and so smart and funny seem to stay on that track through school. I can't even believe the "man cologne" remark, he is just SO precocious! Did you eat a lot of that special hummus when you were pregnant with him? Hope you don't over extend yourself with all those classes. I bet you're the teacher everyone wants. If you have college kids laughing and discussing, you're doing something right.



Tina congrats to young Paul, I think A and B honors is pretty darn good, and even better that he's trying to improve those grades on top of it. Glad big Paul is enjoying London. I was there overnight once and saw the basic sights but it was raining the whole time.



Melia, you do have so much to think about with the plastic surgery. I'd always prefer not to have general anesthetic if I can help it too. Sometimes you just have to, however. I'd research the coffee before you give it up. I have seen recent studies showing it does have health benefits and a cup or two is usually tolerated. I have that reflux too and alcohol is a MUCH bigger irritant for me. I've been able to keep the coffee with no problem, 1-2 cups in the morning, but can tolerate very little alcohol. Even that yummy strawberry margherita I had Friday night caused me a bit of upset. And yet, sometimes it's just worth it!



I have been googling spinal hemangioma pages to try to find out why that thing would be hurting me more, and have found some people with much smaller ones who have way more severe pain. It seems MRI's are fairly standard, so I expect my onc will want to do one.



I guess DS and DIL are back from Jamaica now but I haven't heard from them. He emailed twice while they were down there so I know they had a wonderful time. Now it's back to the workaday world for them, post-honeymoon.



People in church are still asking me if that's my real hair now. Will turtle faces never end?



Joni, gentle hugs! - Skye

Ta ta's...the world is catching on to us. I saw an ad on TV tonight for the Daily Buzz; they are running a bc special called "Save the Ta ta's!" Their web site is www.dailybuzz.tv/

Debbie, hope your biopsy goes well.  Keep us posted on that.

Caya, here's a funny from Jaclyn...  two nights ago she tells me her music teacher is kind of weird.  She said she was kneeling down at the kids desks, going around asking them individually where they lived, what kind of a house (single vs. townhouse or apt.), saying stuff like "oh!  that's a big house!", questioning which neighborhood they lived in, what did their parents do for a living.  Clearly, she's extremely nosy and wants to know who the have and have nots are in the class.  She was really pumping the kids for information.  Oh, she even asked if their grandparents or other family members lived with them, which is common here...tons of people sharing a house to make ends meet.  Anyway, the next day she starts going around again, with the questioning.  She gets to Jaclyn....must have forgot she quizzed her the day before.  Jaclyn says to her "what's this got to do with music?"  LOL!  I nearly fell over.  The teacher just moved along to her next victim.  Funnnnnny!

Debbie, so sorry you have to deal with a biopsy. Good luck, and be sure to keep us posted.

Lynn, how are you feeling?

Mer, have you had the endometrial biopsy yet?  I sure hope it doesn't hurt!

Skye, how is your back?  Back pain is so exhausting, just eats away at you.

TPPJ, Jac is so smart; that teacher was totally out of line!

Caya, glad you are enjoying the holiday. Let us know the results of your tests.

I haven't had another twinge after the drama of the ER. Coffee isn't bothering me; I really would view giving up my morning coffee as a huge sacrifice. So I am glad it isn't bothering me.

I met with the plastic surgeon on Monday; what a sweetie. My onc and surgeon both wanted me to talk to her about doing a scar revision on the bc side. She loved that mastectomy, kept telling me it was beautiful, perfect for implants. I could just see her fingers twitching. I knew the surgeon left that tissue for recon, even though I told him at the time not to. She can't do the revision on the 16th, which is when I am having the mast. She could do it in two months. Nope, I won't wait. I have to work this in around my schedule at work, for one thing.  Oct is the last calm month in the flower business until summer, and the baby is due in April. She assured me that the surgeon could do it, so she emailed him, and he called me. He said he would, but he is not comfortable with it, so I told him to just do the mast and forget the left side, to leave the right as flat as possible. The plastic surgeon said that when I have all the weight off, she "might" be able to do it under local in her office. Having implants would mean a two wk recovery, fills, another week or so when she did the exchange, etc. I am just not a bit interested, and am tired of all this. I just want the good breast off, and then want to move on. It's been two years of doctors, and believe me, prior to this, I saw a doctor once a year. I want my life back, I want to be comfortable, I don't want to subject my body and my emotions to more surgeries. I applaud those of you who have had recon, I really do. But it isn't for me.  Maybe I am a bit nuts on the subject, I don't know, but I do know that hospitals terrify me and I am not big on pain either. Plus I just don't have the vacation or sick time at work. We only get three wks vacation, three DAYS sick leave, and although my sweet boss bonused me the time when I was sick, I can't expect him to do that again. Esp in this economy. I want to have my vacation available to be there for my daughter, to take a few three day weekends, a week at the beach, etc. As it is, unless I get bonused the time for the surgery next week, I am taking it without pay. Which is fine, unless I look at our stocks, at which point I pretty much panic!

Ok, off to work. Joni, Sweetie, thinking of you all the time.

Hugs,

Melia

Melia it really does sound like you have figured out what is right for you.

So DD1 came home today recounting her lunchroom discussion on the election. Can you imagine a table full of 7 year olds arguing about who should be president? Apparenlty one boy announced that "We will all die" if Obama gets elected. When she questioned him apparently he said that Obama just wanted to be president to get famous. Then another kid said that Obama was in his 70's so who would want to vote for him? This apparently resulted in a heated debate over WHICH candidate is the old dude. The girls all agreed that it's McCain and the boys were sure it was Obama. So Em took this as definitive proof that girls really are smarter than boys

Hey, kids.....happy Wedenesday.

It's just been delightful here, weatherwise. I so enjoy the Autumn weather. I like to have sweatshirts or a few light layers. And with my post-chemo, menopausal body the cooler weather is very much appreciated.

Melia, I don't look at my little retirement fund at all. All I can envision is panic. I already know I have to work until I'm 70 or so. If I study what's happening, I'll need to up my Effexor dose. It's good that you can work with your physicians to get your surgery scheduled.

Tina, I think that is wierd that the teacher was questioning the kids. I agree, what does that have to do with music?

Debbie, I so know what you mean about the body responding to worry.

I just turned in my urine on Monday morning. No one has called with results. That's a crazy test, saving your pee for 24 hours. And it's hard to act nonchalant about a jug of urine in your refrigerator when you've company over for dinner. Even if you try to hide it in a plastic bag. And if you're a little stupid and drink glass after glass of really good iced tea in the evening, then you're wandering around in the middle of the night, trying to pee in the container and then pour it into the jug while you're mostly asleep. Gads, what a frustrating test. And I know that I made it hard on myself.

I don't work this Friday as I work on Saturday. I'm going to try to get in and talk to my doctor about the hypertension. Also my heart rate. I felt funny again the other night and used the BP machine my coworker loaned me. My BP was fine but my heart was going 124. A little too high considering I'd been doing nothing that required exertion. I don't know what's wrong. I think I'm becoming my  grandmother.

I'm babysitting my great-niece and it's time to go play in the 'bubble tub' for awhile. Really, it's the Jacuzzi tub. I love little people - they make me smile.

Joni, you continue in my thoughts and prayers. Walk on, Scooter Girl!

love to all from Iowa,

Cindy

Bumping us up to Page 1

Caya -that sucks - pardon the expression but that's all I could think of.  Yes you have to do something to get better.  Are they still thinking of bladder uplift again - could that be causing it? 

Got the first wedding shower gift delivered to the house - on the porch - how exciting!  Makes all this work and planning seem worthwhile. 

DS put in an application for an apartment in Pearland, TX, not too far from you right Mel?  One more thing taken care of for the wedding.  It's slowly coming together. 

Big football game tomorrow - Northwestern v Michigan State at Chicago.  Going to a friend's to watch the game ... their son went to Northwestern on a partial scholarship, some big CEO now.  The snobs vs the farmers.  LOL.  Should be fun.  I'm making a gluten free pie right now, the instructions sounded easier than this is turning out to be. 

I'm going for my first physical therapy tomorrow.  Today is Day 1 of no exercise for the lower body.  I swam and felt great and did upper body.  It started to hurt after lunch after sitting all day at work but it was better than when I was exercising so much so hopefully it will get better. 

Hugs to you Joni.  Lynn, how are you?  Jan are you still climbing?  Rebecca, love that Owen.  Mel, are you still enjoying your time off?  Debbie, I'll add you to my prayer list...hopefully this turns out to be nothing but better to check it out.  Tina hope you have a nice weekend - It's beautiful here this weekend, a perfect fall day.  Skye, how's your back?  Can they give you physical therapy or something to help out? 

Hugs.

Thanks for posting this update GrammyNancy.  We are all praying and hoping that Joni will continue to respond to treatment.

Grammynancy, thanks so much for letting us know Joni is on the rebound. Joni, we all know you're a fighter. Say hey when you're up to it.

Tina that music teacher was being way weird. Usually it's the other way around and kids are just volunteering things about their family you really don't want to know. I remember complimenting a third-grader on her pretty new sweater once and she said, "Thank you, my mommy's boyfriend gave it to me when he slept over."

Jan, so funny on Em's political discussion. It's interesting to see what filters down to them.

Caya, double OY on another UTI. You ARE the UTI Queen, not a title anyone would want. I hope that citro has already banished this one.

Debbie, nice your husband could be there with you. We all do worry when something seems awry but who can blame us? Let us know how it comes out.

As for me, I caught a horrible cold DS2 brought home from his subbing job and was out of ginger tea! So I couldn't head it off at the pass like I usually do, and spent all of yesterday miserably in bed. It's more like flu. And I do have to get a spinal MRI, they are scheduling it now. Really, my back is not bad enough for P.T. yet, it's more of an annoyance than debilitating. Hope it never gets to that point. But I'll be o ut of action with the cold today yet too.

Mel, nice to see you pop in. Hugs to all - Skye

Caya, that's crazy about another UTI.  I hope they can figure this out.  It's gotta be totally annoying.

As my day started out..  went to make coffee and realize I'm standing in a pool of water in my kitchen.  The &^%$@ faucet was leaking under the sink, for the third time since I moved in here.  The cabinet bottom is all warped from the last time.  The house has a one year warranty.  I feel like making them replace the cabinet bottom as it's an eyesore and big red flag that there's been water issues, should I need to sell.  Plus, I don't want mold forming below it.  Am I being a diva?

Kids, once again, whined all am that they couldn't find their soccer shirts.  I am tired of them not being responsible for their stuff.  I refused to search for them.  My car looked like a huge laundry basket, w/all the crap they've dropped in there.  Their rooms are littered with toys, books, clothes on the floor.  I am really over it.  There has got to be more to life than picking up ^%$#!

Glad I posted? 

LOL Tina - yes too much Reality TV that's for sure.  I definitely remember when my van looked like yours and mine could never find their soccer shirts either.  Eventually they grow up and take care of themselves and you don't have to see their mess unless you visit.  There's not much you can do about it.  I tried everything and my oldest was the biggest slob.  Now he cleans when his fiancee is about to visit.  My youngest is pretty neat and lives with other neat freaks so his apartment is about the cleanest I've ever seen.  It's not anything you are doing wrong.  That's how I used to feel.  I guess maybe if they can't find their own shirt and miss a game they might learn something but I don't know.  Good luck.  Hugs.  Thanks GrammyNancy on the word on Joni...we are all praying real hard. 

Tina - ROTFL about Jaclyn - re: the nosy teacher and Hillary getting "voted off" - too funny.  And definitely make the builder repair the plumbing and replace the cabinet. Yes, the workmanship on homes these days is definitely not what it used to be.

Jan - I love Em's logic re: girls are smarter than boys, however she justifies it:).

Skye - I hope you are feeling better.

Rebecca - Definitely make that phone call to the hematologist re: Frances' bloodwork. And maybe get a second opinion if this dr. is giving you the runaround.  YUCK on her poor thumb. Hopefully she will heal soon.

Mary - I'm glad you are felling better.

Today a friend and I went to a Fall Festival in Vineland - about a 45 minute drive from Toronto towards Niagara Falls - a gorgeous sunny day, not too hot - we walked around, bought a few things - maple syrup, beautiful stained glass heart pendants for each of the DDs, then went to a country bistro for lunch - a nice day out. 

 I am feeling better from the UTI, the CIPRO kicked in within hours yesterday. My pee test was fine, I am lucky to have an extra fridge in my basement so I stored my "lemonade" container there.  I haven't heard back from any drs. yet with results, so I figure no news is good news. 

The financial crisis here in Canada is really more of a spillover effect from the States.  Our banks are all government run  - very heavily regulated. But whenever the States sneezes, Canada catches a cold, so everyone here is very nervous.  Our dollar has fallen in value, our stock market is also in the toilet.  Hopefully everything will settle down in the next little while. It is so disgusting that these Wall Street a**holes take millions of dollars in salaries, bonuses, payouts etc. and the whole economy just crumbles, ruining lives. I hope some of those crooks go to jail. 

Joni - we are waiting to hear from you -  much love and hugs...

I just finished The Kite Runner the other day!  How funny.  I liked it, thought it was very engaging...sad but beautifully written with a very pleasing symmetry.  I just got the new Christopher Paolini book at BJs today...the third in the Eragon series.  Very nicely done books...although basically a mixture of all the well known fantasy books and mythological themes.