Starting Chemo in JAN 2007

Skye, LOL'ing on the visual of the loafers w/the sparkly cocktail dress.  HELLO?  What were ya thinkin???  People are hysterical in how clueless they can be.  Caya, sounds like this chick would have been doing well to have gone to Payless...at least she could have gotten something dressy and stylish, although cheap and cheesy.  Black loafers?  Whoa....

Caya, have the best time in Aruba!  You are so right...you need to go that far south at this time of year for real warmth.  Even south Florida isn't warm enough for swimming (in my book) in Dec. and Jan.  I haven't been to Aruba.  Have you?  I'll be curious to hear how you like it.  I know a lot of people who do like it very much.  A few others have wanted more lush landscaping and that's more desert like, I guess.  Desert doesn't bother me, so I'd be fine there.  I hope Alan's tooth gets straightened out.  That, like Lynn's headaches, are impossible to ignore.  Luckily for both of them, their problems cropped up before vacation and not during...so they can hopefully fix it.

Mary, what's with Rick and all this Christmas spirit and forgiveness stuff?   I'm with Skye...it's your special day.  Why spend it w/people you don't want to spend a regular day with?  Mel, massage sounds fabuloso.  I'm jealous.  Skye, sore leg sounds uncomfortable.  I had my eczema crop up again on my legs...scratching until they bleed.  I dragged out the steroid cream last night and one application later, I feel like a new person.  I never had this problem until a few years ago.  I find it odd that it cropped up when I had cancer growing in me.  It's almost like my immune system was down and all these crazy things started happening.  Went to an ornament exchange at my new neighbors last night.  It was nice.  I didn't know anyone there but they were  a nice group of women.  It was nice just to get out w/out kids.  Jaclyn did not want me to go.  God, she doesn't want me to go anywhere without her.  She wanted to WALK me to the party.  LOL!  It was one house away.  I was like no thanks, Jac, I'm good...  I brought her home some cookies as a consolation prize.

Hi Ladies,

Caya I'm just aghast at your dh's tooth problems. I'm so glad he's being seen for it tomorrow, and hope they can figure it out quickly. As for dh's teaching evaluations, I've never heard of being criticized for your personal style. There is no one right personal style; that is much too subjective to judge. Instead she should be scored on more objective things like classroom management, clarity of lesson plans, interactivity with students, use of visual aids, etc. etc. So she had a right to be freaked.



LOL on the shoe comments. I can't usually tell whether shoes are expensive or inexpensive, myself, but I can see it looks weird when ratty sport/casuals are worn with nice, black, sequined, open backed cocktail dresses. And it was the whole bunch of them, not just one, and they were not poor. It just seemed so odd. Caya, I think there is a footgear makeover reality show just waiting for you. And how WILL you manage in Aruba with only 4 pairs? :-)



Tina, cherish these days when Jac wants to walk everywhere with you. The day shall come, it always does, when that will just be too uncool. Ornament exchange sounds fun.



Mary, it seems your Christmas Eve has been decided. I still wouldn't have felt bad about declining as Tina says but maybe DIL2B's parents feel bad and want to make things better with you. We will hope for the best. Having met your dh, I must say that he seemed like an extremely nice and level-headed guy and I'd trust his judgment. I'll tell you, he and I could have a conversation about family grudge-holders.



As for me, I was spared the agony of the party as my mom decided at the last minute she didn't feel good and wanted to go to bed instead so she did. I was half disappointed and half relieved that there would be no possible confrontations. I will have to make a trip to see her later this week instead.



The sore skin is getting gradually better, ibuprofen helps a lot. I took a big nap this afternoon, trying to get together the annual goodie/gift box to send to dh's sister in VA, the one you met, Tina. We always exchange rum balls, among other things. We still don't have the tree up or anything else.



Caya let us know how it goes with dh tomorrow! And anyone else who has tests, results, etc.- Skye

Caya, SO glad it was clear on the aneurysm front. Thank goodness!

Yes, was just as well the dinner was canceled. Christmas will be weird; bad bro #1 is having it at his house just for the other bad bro and sis, and the rest of us are going to our mom's. The others are invited but won't come. Sad, huh? I refuse to let it drag me down, that stuff is bad for your health! And my mom was just fine today. - skye

bumping up to page 1

DH is feeling better, but not good enough to travel - can't risk him being on an airplane for 5 hours and having an attack - he would be rolling in the aisle in pain. I bought great cancellation insurance and we can get all our money back.  I just spoke to my travel agent and she will inform the tour company tomorrow.  I will notify my travel insurance tomorrow, we will go back to the GP in the a.m. to get the insurance form filled out.

We are obviously all very disappointed, but again, it could be worse (and it could be better - right Melia?).  We will see how he is and maybe get something last minute next week depending on how he feels. The drug literature and the doc. told us it takes a good week for the drug to really kick in, and we have seen improvement in just 2 days. 

So that's where we are at.

Hope everyone else is okay.

xo

Caya

Oh Caya, I hate to hear that  you can't go. Do you ever think back on those times when our health, and that of our husbands', wasn't even a consideration?  I am so sorry. I could say all kinds of platitudes, but I think right now you should just wallow in your disappointment. Tomrorrow you can work on the whole good attitude thing, but tonight, just have some wine and whine.

I took a mental health day today and called in sick. I am just so fed up with the crap at work, and I figured I could either call in, stay home, enjoy the rain from my cozy house, do some cooking and meet a friend for coffee, or I could go to work and throttle someone. Somehow staying home seemed like the saner choice.

Hugs,

Melia

Caya sorry to hear you had to cancel your trip, but GLAD GLAD GLAD that DH is responding to the meds.  I hope that you find something last minute to do...worst case you have everyone together and I know you have lots of yummy food in that cavern you call a freezer!  Hey...NYC is very nice this time of year....hint hint lol :-)

Mary glad to hear that the MRI was clear!  good news.

Melia, it really sounds like a mental health day was called for.  Hope you enjoyed the rain from your cozy couch.  Add a fuzzy blanket, a book, and a cup of tea and you have my favorite place to be when it is miserable outside.

Well, I have concluded that I really do NEED to take an afternoon nap...I did not have time yesterday or the day before and last night I was so tired that my whole body hurt.  Sigh.  what really stinks is that I do not stay up late, and I sleep fairly well so I am not sure why I need this extra hour during the day.

On a more amusing note, my kids recieved a Wii Fit from my dad for Channukah and we opened it last night.  There is not much funnier than watching the kids (and DH!) do virtual hula-hooping or ski jumping.  That thing is quite fun, but BOY do you look silly doing it.  I did not try it last night, but I think I will do it this afternoon (after my nap, of course!).  I actually think that you could get a decent low impact workout with it go figure.

OK, off to wake the preeteen monster that is hiding in my attic.

Caya, thank God you bought that travel insurance.  I never do that.  In fact, I really don't know of anyone who does.  You're the first.  But you've had good reason over the last few years to even give it consideration.  I didn't want you to miss the trip and now you won't...it's just postponed.  Glad the Lyrica is working.  Rebecca, good bloodwork results are always nice.  Go for the Haagen Daaz!  And Mary, ditto on MRI congrats.  I, too, like when they tell you how long each segment of the MRI will be.  Makes it more tolerable.  I just hate the whole high tech sound of the thing...I just lie there and feel like why the hell do I need to be in this damn tube.  I'm only 43.  (Speaking of which, I just turned that on Tuesday.  DH, the kids and I went out for an awesome steak dinner on Sunday night to celebrate.)

Took Paul out last night to buy a xmas gift for his 'girlfriend".  He was really cute.  We picked up a really adorable bracelet at Kohls.  He must have thanked me ten times.  He is so at that puppy love, can't stop smiling phase.  It's all very innocent right now, so it's funny to watch.

Jaclyn reported that the girl in her class was rather nasty to her yesterday...so unfortunately, she is the scapegoat now.  She provided more details that I'll mention in another forum.  OK, over and out.  I am sooooooo enjoying the last of two days total peace and quiet and house to myself before this place becomes kid central for two weeks solid.

R, I've been sleeping like a rock lately too, and w/only the 1/2 ambien.  It's amazing.  I feel so rested and am so in the holiday mood...more so than I'd been in a long time.

Happy belated birthday Tina!  Do you have having it in December?  Did you feel jipped? 

Caya  if you got the snow we did - a foot - you'd be glad to not try to take a plane right now.  Hope next week works out.

Hi ladies,

Caya, good for you with all that organizing.  That makes me feel good, when I get the urge to do that...which is rare.  Cindy, ride home from the airport sounded horrendous.  You certainly get the gamut of weather out there.  Knock on wood, I am so pleasantly surprised, so far, as to winter in DC.  Not even a dusting cover of snow yet.  I'm loving it!  Jaclyn is not...she is dying to partake in sledding, snow angels, etc.

Tonight we went to a neighbors for a cookies and eggnog party.  Talk about major sugar rush.  It was nice to get to know some neighbors a little better.  Yvette's house was just beautiful.  She does a great job with the decorating, so I really enjoyed that.

Paul appeared twice, that we saw, on Fox News today.  The first clip I lol'd at...his accent was so strong.  He talked about "awganized crime" and "gift cahd fraud".  Fortunately, on the second, longer clip his accent wasn't as pronounced.  Anyway, he was pretty happy, telling all of us we should be asking for autographs.

Tomorrow night is cookies and eggnog again, at the neighborhood clubhouse.  Other than that, not a heckuva lot to report.  More manana!

Caya, we never stop worrying about them.  I'm all worn out and Christmas isn't even here yet.  Trans Siberian Orchestra was great but I had to get up today and go to work.  I can't do that going out at night and then going to work the next day.  Kids coming and going...never sure if they are eating here...leaving a total mess in the kitchen.  I just called and yelled at them.  Tomorrow I'm having my bf for dinner and I have to work first.  Work is hectic with everyone trying to get everything done before the holiday.  Just one more day of work (at least outside of the house).

On a good note, my niece had her baby yesterday, before her due date of Christmas.  Another baby girl...that makes 4 girls...but they are beauties.  This one came out with a full head of red hair and I mean a lot of hair.  So cute. 

Caya, hope DH feels better on more meds.   He is really suffering and so are you. 

I'm crawling into bed so everyone leaves me alone. 

Hi All,

I made it to my parents place, and I thought I'd check in. I made it past my 2 year cancer-versary this past weekend, too. I didn't notice it right away until I looked at the calendar last night. I wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy Chanukah (sorry I don't think I spelled it right). I'll check in again next week when I get home.

Love to all of you.

I made it through Christmas Eve and Christmas.  We had a nice dinner with my younger son and his girlfriend at Andiamos and then ventured over to the other son's future MIL.  It was full house and I got to meet all of the other relatives.  Everyone was nice and there was no talk of the wedding. MIL was an hour behind in dinner and we thought we were coming for dessert.  Dessert did not happen until 10 pm.  I didn't drink at all and remained calm.  They gave us a present, a $50 gift certificate for a restaurant even though I told them I didn't want anything.  I really hate buying presents for everyone...it really gets out of hand.  Christmas was a nice day with just my family and my brother.  We played Cranium and Hearts after dinner.  Today DH and I went to a movie to see Gran Torino with Clint Eastwood.  I really enjoyed it.  I am trying to take it easy today.  Hope everyone is well.  Hugs