Starting Chemo May 2008
Comments
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Top Ten Things to be Thankful for this Christmas:
10. Chocolate
9. Snow- for those of you who get to enjoy a white Christmas. Im enjoying by proxy this year since today is shorts weather in East Texas
8. We are all finished with chemo!
7. That I have truly learned to fall asleep counting my blessings instead of sheep
6. Friends and Family
5. Early detection and treatment
4. Poinsettias - I absolutely love these things!
3. Christmas music, Christmas trees, homemade ornaments (that smell like cinnamon)
2. My bestest daughter Valerie- who is standing next to me.....Dont tell her sister Kathryn I said this! Definitely dont tell the three brothers that I mentioned the girls in this list.
1. That a wonderful group of ladies from all over the WORLD have found each other and taken the time to share their hearts, thoughts, experiences, highs, lows and just about everything else for the past 7 months - you ladies are WONDERFUL and I hope someday we all get to meet in "real" life (as if this past 7 months has been anything but really REAL).
Jen- this is as close as I get to sappy and sentimental- otherwise I would cry all day and I have way too much to do to do that!
Kristy
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Happy and blessed holidays to everyone....I agree with Kristy, I could not have gotten through this past few months without all of you. I am really looking forward to a real reunion.
Heartfelt thanks and love to all of you.
Love,
sue
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Love to all!
I made it through the season... and made it through the year because of you guys!
Cheers!
Off to bed!
xoN
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Yea Noelle!
What an appropriate name for the night.
Just got back from Christmas Eve with friends. They do a different theme every year and this year, it was Cuban Christmas. We ate yucca, sweet potato pudding, pork (good thing for a Jew to eat on Dec. 24th), Cuban salad, plantains and more. We smuggled a Cuban cigar across the border on our way back from Victoria. None of our guys or gals smokes, but a few went out in the back yard and gave it a few puffs. It was hilarious as none of them could really deal with it. Anyway, it was fun as always.
Have a wonderful day tomorrow.
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Pork on Christmas Eve? Was that something like a mixed metaphor? LOL, Eddie.
If you can get ahold of it, I'd like to compare that "sweet potato pudding" recipe with what we call "sweet potato casserole" here in the SE USA. Ours has a lot of butter and sugar and eggs, and it's covered with a strudel-type topping (brown sugar, chopped nuts, and still more butter). It's sinfully rich, and probably belongs on the dessert table rather than with side dishes at a pot-luck/covered-dish dinner. (If you're in the midwest, it's "pot luck"; if you're in the south, it's "covered dish".)
I'm making myself hungry. We aren't having our "big" dinner until tomorrow, when everybody's schedules coincide. My MIL is fixing one of those turduckens. I thought it was a meat roll, but it's the real thing--I just found out she bought it at a Cajun meat store in Tulsa: http://www.hebertsmeats.com/turducken.asp
It sounds kind of creepy, like a genetics experiment gone awry, or maybe a movie on SciFi. I hadn't even heard of turduckens until someone was joking about it (or so I thought) on the BCO boards a few weeks ago, I think in conjunction with Thanksgiving. And, now I'm going to eat one (I think)! Good thing I'm not a vegetarian.
I sure hope y'all are having a peaceful holiday. I'll say a "Merry Christmas" for most of you, and a "Happy Hanukkah" to Eddie and anyone else who's Jewish but I haven't been paying attention, and a hearty "Happy Holidays" to those of you who don't lean any particular direction but enjoy this season of love, generosity, and good wishes nonetheless.
It is possible to take time out from cancer to enjoy life, right?
Hugs and love...
otter
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Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah to all. Just trying to catch up. I've got 17 for dinner arriving in about an hour and wanted to jump in and see how everyone's doing. I thought of all of you at mass this morning and how thankful and blessed I am that I found you all. You are all the best friends in the world and I thank you for being here for me. I'll try to read all the loinks hopefully tomorrow 'cuz tonoght it'll be a late one. We did it!
Love to all, Mary
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Here is the deal.
We are on maintainance. We are no longer in the thick of things. None of us are doing complex chemo and those of us on simple chemo (herceptin) are getting through just fine, right?
A couple of us are dealing with the end of rads...not many, but rads suck so let's finish them up. Some of us are popping out ovaries or having "routine" colonoscopies earlier than we want. I, for one, know I am wishing for my hair to grow faster but, oh well. Still, like Roxi says, we are so blessed to have our friends, our families, our loved ones who were so good to support us. Enjoy your 17, Roxi. Hope they help you with the dishes. Will get you the recipe for the sweet potato pudding, Otter, which, by the way, was purple. Love you all.
Headed for the movies.
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Merry Christmas/Happy Hanukkah!
It has been 2 very long days and I am DAT, but have survived. I hope that all of you are having a wonderful day! Spent last night with DD and her family, oldest DD and her 2 kids were there too. It was fun to sit up and watch my girls wrap presents for the grandchildren. We cooked until we were about to drop and this morning, it was like stepping back in time and watching our kids on Christmas morning.
DS and his family will be here tomorrow, I can't wait to see them and get a family picture. This will be the first time that all 7 grandkids will be together at the same time, plus our 3 kids! We may only have a few hours with them, (going to his grandmother's to spend the night, possibly), but hey, if I only get a few hours a year, I'll take it. Tomorrow will be another tiring day and I will probably crash completely on Sat.
Noelle-I hope that you will be able to get some rest now-you have been one busy lady!
Thinking of all of you!
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My husband got me a rebounder for Christmas...supposed to help prevent lymphedema and it's easy and fun!! He's so great.
Eddie, you're right. We're on maintenance. And while some aspects of that can suck, we need to remember what we all went through to get here, and how good it is to have all that behind us!!!
Hope everyone had a great day, Gracie, yours sounded wonderful!
Sue
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Candle Lighting?
Hope everyone had a Blessed Christmas Day.
Eddie I hope you've been having a Blessed Hanukah week. Isn't Hanukah also called the Festival of Lights? What day is it that you light the center candle? If it hasn't passed yet I declare that all the women of this May group light a candle that day in honor of us all. After all we have all been a light to each other during the dark times. What do you say? Eddie are we too late for the center candle? If so then just give us a day.
Sorry you don't hear from me too much anymore but thanks to all of you my life is pretty much back to normal. Time for the computer is pretty much a thing of the past now.
Thanks for all the cards, star and fudge (yum on the fudge). You all have a special part in my Christmas decorations. I bought thin holly garland and have only your cards hanging on it.
On Monday I had my dreaded colonoscopy. It was a piece of cake. The worst part was it took 10 stabs to get the IV started. I felt like a human pin cushion. Chemo left me with dried rolling veins in the left arm. I didn't drink enough water the day before (only drank the prep) so I was a bit dehydrated. Good news is I'm fine down there and don't have to see that Dr. until the next colonoscopy.
XOXOXO
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Merry Christmas Everyone (a day late but yesterday was BUSY)!
Im off to my best friend Treadmill - I walk a lot anyway but now it is serious prep for the hsterectomy in less than 2 weeks- preparing physically and mentally so I can hopefully get home and recuperating as quickly as possible. I even made an extra sweet potato casserole while cooking for Christmas and put it in the freezer for the post op days (when Im pretty sure my family will still want to eat whether I do or not lol).
Glad everyone liked the fudge - that is one of our main Christmas traditions- teacher gifts, friends, etc- I started it when the kids were little and they had to make their "fudge list" - who they wanted to give to before they could give me their wish lists. It worked really well and the fudge lists have greatly expanded over the years - there are teachers who know it is coming and wait for it each year and others who are disappointed when they have one of my kids in class anymore!
Lots of leftovers here if anyone wants to come eat!
Kristy
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I am coming for fudge. Yum. Karin, we light a lead candle (I think that is the middle one you are thinking about) each night and add a candle every night so that the last night has nine candles. Some Chanukiyot have that lead candle in the middle. We have a few and only one of our has it in the middle. I will take a photo tonight or one night and post it for you to see. Our kids are older so no big deal here....they get little things each night like a gift certificate to Barnes and Noble or Japanese gum or chocolates. Yesterday, one of our kids got a rice cooker. That was fun. Okay, we have company so back to them. Ciao. Happy relaxing days after the big one to all of you.
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I survived the Christmas dinner. My sisters and I do a gift exchange called the Mom gift in honor of my mother who passed away eight years ago. It's a small gift, something you could see my Mom giving or lately its been something to do with the bird "cardinals". It was her favorite bird and the state bird of Illinois, where we were born and raised. My gift was an assortment of pink ribbon items, gym socks and travel mug. One of my sisters got me a beautiful pink depression glass, Miss America pattern plate, pink of course for kicking cancers ass, as she so politely wrote on the card. I've been collecting pink glass for years and will cherish the piece.
Got the house cleaned up and ready for our party tomorrow night with friends. After that, I'm gonna crash. It sounds like everyone had some wonderful holiday gatherings. No ham here, just a turkey which I must add I cooked in one of those cooking bags. It was awesome, tons of gravy and so moist. Easy clean-up too.
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Well, I just typed in quite a long post and it went "poof". Somewhere out there in cyberspace someone is going, oh, this is nice, I wonder where it belongs? Thunderstorms here this morning, which doesn't surprise me because it was 79 degrees yesterday, kind of cloudy and unsetlled-looking. Texas weather is violent and interesting, as long as your house doesn't get blown away!!
Roxi/Mary, my mother's favorite bird was also the cardinal. She thought seeing one brought incredibly good luck, and whenever I see one I feel her close to me. How odd, and wonderful that both our mothers had the same favorite. I really think we are all here on this thread for a reason, and I am very grateful for all of you.
My husband comes home today, he left about 4:30 Christmas morning for a three-day-trip. He made me promise him before he left that Christmas wasn't over. So, today we will have a Christmas dinner, just he and I. This is the first time ever without our kids....but we have had our Christmas with them, and this is kind of a bonus. Prime rib, potatoes, zucchini with homemade salsa, spinach salad, rolls, apple pie and ice cream. Sweet iced tea like my momma used to make. Y'all come on over!
Love you guys.
Sue
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Sue, this may sound weird, but I believe my mom is watching over me as a cardinal. I said it was weird but there are so many freaking things that happen and low and behold, there's always a cardinal nearby. In fact, the day of her wake, I had one sitting on my porch rail looking in at me while I was crafting her memorial for the funeral. After I was diagnosed, sitting on the couch feeling sorry for myself, she was right out my window. Strange yes, but stranger things have happened. Have wonderful dinner tonight. Sounds yummy and wonderful. Pouring down rain here. Snow is almost gone.
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Noelle,
I am afraid your rants about your "idiot" assistant might be right. Could you call me when you get a chance? Or check your PM. XOX Eddie
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No...not your PM...you Facebook. Hey everyone else. Hope all is well in cancer-free town.
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Sue, that post got sucked right up in a thunderstorm I'll bet. I'm in Oklahoma, staying with in-laws for the holidays. The weather guys had been warning about thunderstorms--possibly severe--for days; and sure enough, I awoke to thunder this morning.
So I turned on the TV and was treated to tornado weather reporting, Oklahoma-style. Sheesh. Nothing serious happened, but the fearsome discussions and little circly things on the radar screen were almost enough to make me crawl back under the covers (which I would have done, if my dh hadn't folded up the sleep sofa and put away my pillow when I wasn't looking).
Update on the turducken: IMHO, invest in a regular turkey instead. The turducken had more stuffing than meat. Oh, well. Everyone had a good time, and the pecan pie was excellent. (My MIL is a very good cook, even in her little "independent living" apartment.)
Hugs...
otter
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Roxi & Sue - Nearly fell out of my chair when I read your stories about the cardinal - it was also my Mom's favorite. Each time I see one, I also think of Mom and miss her dearly. My sister gave me a stained glass cardinal to hang in the window. It catches the morning sun and casts a beautiful glow in the house.
Last Christmas, Mom was given a cardinal sweater (that she dearly wanted) as a gift. In the past, my sister and I would take my Mom to the Lori Line Christmas concert and dinner for her birthday (December 14th). This December, we still went in her honor and brought my Dad along. We talked about Mom throughout the show and as we were walking out. As we were leaving the theater, Dad opened and held the door for an elderly woman to exit. She was wearing the EXACT same cardinal sweater as Mom's. I too believe that my Mom is watching over me and is everywhere around me.
It made me smile to read your posts - hope everyone has a fantastic night.
Jean
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Isn't that amazing that the three of us have that in common? I also feel my momma all around me....one of the hardest things about this whole breast cancer thing was the duality of feeling like I wished I could talk to her and at the same time being glad she was no longer here because me having cancer would have been so hard for her...(hope you stayed with me through that sentence, maybe I've had too much coffee this morning!)
Off to the dog park, and grocery shopping, and then laundry probably for the rest of the day.
Sue
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Well I can't say that I have that in common with you gals but I can say that I am making it so my daughters will have that in common with you.
I have a few red cardinals that influenced me to buy a bird feeder 2 years ago to help them stick around. Every morning even during the winter, I sit out on my front porch, meditate and then watch my cardinals and others feast at the feeder.
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Hello Everyone!!!
I have thought of you all every day, but this was first chance to catch up! (I was secretly glad that you hadn't written 5 pages since Christmas Eve!)
We had a glorious Christmas - happy, healthy and joyful, every one of us (there's only 6!). The girls were completely stunned with getting a Wii (thanks, Grandma) and a trampoline (thanks, us) this year! The older dd doesn't scream/jump up and down but just looked absolutely stunned while her little sister was screaming for the both of them.
My big present was a new leather coat from my dh and mom. However, it was a bit tight, so we had to make a trip to "the mall" yesterday. It was an event and since the coat was now on sale even more, my mom got $100! So I got to buy a purse, too (never had a $100 purse - I feel very extravagant!). We wandered around the mall and mom tried on a hat (looked like a fedora and I thought of Sue!!)
I echo Kristy's "Top Ten Things To Be Grateful For" and Eddie's push for us to move on together. (Gracie, we will wait for you to finish rads!) Better go - the girls are having friends over for the afternoon and I still have to take a shower!!
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Christine,
Gotta love after Christmas sales. My big gift was a gift certificate to a spa. Not sure which treatment to indulge in. My girls got everything they wished for too. I got myself a furry hat this year. I was never a hat person but it sure is nice to have one for my head. I get so cold with the little bit of hair I have. I am exhausted though and secretly excited to go back to work tomorrow.
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Hi Everyone!
Yesterday & today I completely crashed! Just got up from a 2 hour nap and starting to feel human. Did way too much, but would do it all over again.
Sue, Jean & Roxi, I know how you feel. I can feel my Mom with me all the time. It has been a great comfort during these past months. Seems like only yesterday she was here, but bc took her 26 years ago.
Sounds like everyone had a wonderful Christmas! I have posted pics on Facebook for everyone to see. Had a great vcisit with DS, just wish it could have been longer.
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Hello ladies! Just got back from spending a few days at my mom's house. Went to go have our family christmas. Would you believe that it got up to 70 on saturday.... in OHIO! We all grabbed our dinners and sat out on the front porch and ate. And then rode 4 wheelers and a motorcycle up and down their road. (they live out in the middle of nowhere) I felt so good and alive that day! Best I have felt in a very long time. The Lord knew we all needed that good day and blessed us with it. We were having so much fun outside that everyone forgot about opening presents lol.
I thought of you guys and was wishing you were having great days as well. Have a wonderful evening ladies and I will see you after herceptin tomorrow morning.... (yuck)
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Happy Holidays everyone,
Had a great Christmas day and some real nice down time the days following. Have been eating lots and probablly pouring one to many drinks , oh well it is the holidays. Been enjoying the boys being home, 1 went home yesterday and made it home safely, the other will head home after the New Year. Getting geared up for New Years party as it is at our house this year...we take turns. Nothing fancy, everyone brings an appy and a tacky gift for the exchange. The gift has to come from your home you can't buy it so it makes it interesting. We've been getting lots of snow, have about 2-3 feet in the yard now and it is still snowing today ! I've had enough already.
Thanks for all the cards and the fudge Kristy was awesome ! Hope everyone has a great New Years ! ......Cheers !
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First rads tretment complete. They marked a BIG area on my chest & right side. Then they "beamed" me on the right & left side of my right breast. This kinda surprised me. Was going to go to my MIL's afterwards, but decided to wait until tomorrow. She wasn't able to make it for Christmas because of a stomach virus and she has the fudge! (It is worth the drive for the fudge-haven't had any yet-not to mention the homemade Chex mix!)
Jen-our weather has been about the same as yours! It was in the 70's here over the weekend and I got a new winter coat for Christmas-now wondering how much I will get to wear it!
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Oh man... homemade chex mix! My aunt makes THE BEST chex mix.... drool*
Herceptin went smoothly today. Had to wait for about an hour 1/2 because they were jam packed. not an empty seat to be found. 1 more down... 12 to go.
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I saw my rads onc yesterday and was released from him- I know, small milestone but this is the first doctor to actually release me since this started- the surgeon is once a year for life, oncologist is ongoing, etc etc......
Back to work today- month end and year end to get finished today and tomorrow and then another day off!
Kristy
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Morning all! Sounds like everyone is enjoying or Indulging (which we so deserve) in the holidays!
Jen, I could not agree more that the Lord knew we needed good days and I am thankful that I was also given a number of them over the holidays. Since my ER room visit the first part of December, I have not felt so good. That has also messed with emotionally . . . being post treatment, I was expecting to be feeling better. Looking back, I am wondering if Tamox is not behind the majority of the issues. Darn hormones!
Roxi - I now have a winter hat collection going strong. My head is cold all of the time! The "fun" problem that I now have is that after wearing a hat for a brief time, I have "hat hair." Yep, it is long enough to look messy - LOVE that!
Gracie - Yeah, 1st rads down and over before you know it! Glad you had a nice visit with your DS, looking forward to the checking out the photos.
Karin - Your porch sounds magical.
Kristy - We will celebrate every milestone we can!! Congrats to you!
Snowing here again in MN. It is 15 degrees and I am headed out for a winter run.
Enjoy the day!
Jean
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