Starting Chemo May 2008

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  • ranD
    ranD Member Posts: 373
    edited March 2009

    Just a side bar....you know what's so cool about you all?  I grew up without any sisters and now I have 17!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  And each of you is competely different from the next one, plus, I love the cards everyone sends, they each relect your personalities and they are all around my bathroom mirror....lets see if i can web cam that! ran

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  • JulieC
    JulieC Member Posts: 324
    edited March 2009

    Good Afternoon!

    Hope you all are fine today.  It sounds like it.  Otter - I about died laughing when you were talking about not picking "Chickenfat" as your favorite song to remind you of chemo.  Good thing I wasn't drinking a beverage at the time.  Thanks for the you tube link.  I did watch the song.  It has a good beat and is easy to dance to.  Might make it on our exercise CD.

    Cris - it didn't cost too much to send the card to Rock.  I can't really remember the exact amount but she was worth every cent of postage.  I'm thinking less than $2.

    RanD - it sounds like you are chipper today with the rhymes and all.  Anything sounds good  compared to an attacking chimp.  Glad your parents are still there and internet is coming soon.

    Angels - I'm so excited for your trip.  Sounds like you have some fun plans.  Can't wait to hear the details when you are back.

    My funny for the day.  The kids have been preparing for standardized tests since January and they started yesterday.  We've been pushing the early bedtimes, healthy breakfast ...  Riley (10yo) came out and said she couldn't sleep.  She asked if the ISAT's counted against her grades and I told her no.  That settled her down and she went back to bed.  Yesterday she told me, "you know - I'm not the brightest crayon in the box.  I think I'm about an orange."  WTH - wonder what category that falls under.  Karin - any suggestions?

    Talk to you later,

    Julie 

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  • Roxi65229
    Roxi65229 Member Posts: 462
    edited March 2009

    I can't imagine what color I'ld be....maybe purple. Let's not look up the meanings of the colors or I could be in trouble.

    Went for my pap yesterday and told the doc about my major back ache. I was and still am in so much pain. I love this internist. She did a urine culture and sure enough I have an infection. I have three days of some heavy duty antibiotic which even says it can be used for anthrax exposure. Whoa! Anyways, also have 10 days of muscle relaxers to help me sleep. We even flipped the mattess.

    Okay, Angels you asked about my cruise. We leave out of Long Beach for 7 glorious days. 1 in Puerto Vallarta, 1 in Mazaltan and 1 in Cabo. The rest are at sea. 10 sleeps to go.

    Love you all. Ellenoire, let me know if you need any help with the logo. That was my major. 

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  • otter
    otter Member Posts: 6,099
    edited March 2009

    Roxi majored in "Logos"?  Who'd have guessed that???  (Sounds like somewhere near where rock is.)  Make us a good logo, gang. 

    otter 

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  • rock
    rock Member Posts: 1,486
    edited March 2009

    17 sisters -- and sharing ONE bathroom!  Yep, that sounds about right! And "Cancerversary!!" to you. May there be many, many more.  (Somehow that doesn't come across the way I meant it to!)

    Julie -- I'm sure that your card is in Omar's office. I will bet money on it.  I need to take a couple pictures for my blog so folks can imagine my workplace.  It's a nice enough office, though it is just down the hall from the forensic pathology unit which investigates all the homicides for the Cape Town area.  And there is this one painting that you would NOT believe... yeah, I gotta get a photo of it.

    4:51 am and I'm not asleep. Have been awake since 3.  Trying to just roll with it.

    xoxoxo

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  • ewesterman
    ewesterman Member Posts: 417
    edited March 2009

    My diagnosis? April 4.

    LOVE the Chickenfat song...that was fun. Written the year I was born but definitely done in junior high in the 70's. I am going to try to take a new photo. Adrienne, would you be okay with Dottie joining us on Sunday? Talk to you all soon. Am going to try to load a new photo with poodle hair.

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  • ewesterman
    ewesterman Member Posts: 417
    edited March 2009

    And you know that 18 means life...right, RanD? In Hebrew numerology, 18 means chai...life...18 sisters. Song? Nederland by Dan Fogelberg

    High on this mountain/ The clouds down below. I'm feeling so strong and alive. From this rocky perch I'll continue to search for the wind and the snow and the sky.

    I want a lover and I want some friends and I want to live in the sun. And I want to do all the things that I never have done.

    Sunny bright mornings and pale moonlit nights keep me from feeling alone. Now I'm learning to fly and this freedom is like nothing that I've ever known. Oh, I've seen the bottom and I've been on top but mostly I've lived in between and where do you go when you get to the edge of your dream?  Want more? Find it on I-Tunes. I used this song to get through so many rough experiences but mostly MRIs, sleepless nights and all that until I found my 17 sisters. Love you all.

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  • otter
    otter Member Posts: 6,099
    edited March 2009

    Seventeen sisters.  I like the sound of that.

    I forgot.  One of my favorite BC songs is (no surprise here) Melissa Etheridge's "I Run for Life".

    Now I'm getting all soft and smooshy.  G'night, sisters!

    Hugs...

    otter 

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  • Jeano77
    Jeano77 Member Posts: 237
    edited March 2009

    Although it is late, I stopped in to visit with the sisters to smile and laugh. 

    I went to broomball last evening (where the idea of the CD started) and told my team that one of you (very special women) picked a song called "Chickenfat."  Everyone in the locker room started singing the song and dancing around - not kidding!

    Before the U Tube link on page 167, I had never heard of it.  Just thought you would get a laugh out of that.

    Thinking of all of you - love you all! 

    Jean

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  • familyroks
    familyroks Member Posts: 575
    edited March 2009

    Otter - I totally understand about Where've You Been.  I cry like a very very big baby...sob even...whenever I hear it.  But for me...I think of the most powerful of loves.  We should all be so lucky.  It just hits a chord with me.  If I need to get a cry out...that will do it.

    Then I think of another song .... The Dance by Garth Brooks.  Most especially poignant for me when done in tribute to Dale Earnhardt.  SEE...so many great songs.  So hard to pick a favorite.  Someone here will mention one, and we'll say..."OH!  That is a great song!".  I will say I don't know many songs from the 90's on...unless they were hard rock.  There is some good Metallica stuff...lol.  But I'm thinking that isn't what we're looking for.

    Darn..the crayon topic is on the next page and mozilla won't let me cut and paste...

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  • familyroks
    familyroks Member Posts: 575
    edited March 2009

    Julie - I love your daughter!  And hello (knock knock knock) has she seen a orange race car (HomeDepot, Cingular)...they are so bright they will blind a person!  Ask Gracie..she knows.  And orange is Rachael Ray's favorite color.  Orange is far from boring or not bright.  The color of autumn...oh boy.  Me...I'm brown.  Not my favorite color...but definitely not the brightest crayon in the box.  So there you go :P

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  • Gracie713
    Gracie713 Member Posts: 302
    edited March 2009

    Yep-Gracie knows orange!

    Let me tell you all a story about the song, "The Dance".  Garth Brooks was my little brother's idol and this was his favorite song.  At his funeral, we tried to play that song, but the CD just refused to cooperate.  (All the others played without fail).  Later that evening, we were having the after funeral thing, celebrating Tim's life, put on the same garth Brooks CD that refused to play earlier, and it never skipped a beat.  That song brings back lots of good memories, but also always brings tears.  

    Night all.

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  • angelsaboveus
    angelsaboveus Member Posts: 298
    edited March 2009

    Boy some of you gals are up late, its only 9:22 at my house.

    I agree with you on The Dance being a great song Gracie...Even though it might bring tears its only because it brings all the good memories that come with it.It was also played at my husbands brothers funeral ...something about that song it has alot of meaning.  Garth Brooks is great... his Tomorrow Never comes always stays in my mind too. 

    Sweet dreams !

    I edited because I had sweat dreams.....which might pertain to those with hot flashes.

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  • familyroks
    familyroks Member Posts: 575
    edited March 2009

    When I was first diagnosed, my worry was for my family.  I totally stressed about my husband and the support he would get.  We immediately came up with a domain name with the idea of creating a space for support people to go to get the answers that they need (like the Tips for getting through chemo....).  My mom and dad bought the software to help me learn website development.  I had a dream.  I forget that I'm not a book learner.  DAMN.  I have to learn by someone showing me and by me messing it up.  I tried over several months to get into it by reading or online tutorial (no success), my direction would change based on what we May women were going through and I'd lose sight of what I originally wanted to create.  I"m so creatively challenged its laughable.  I hate that I haven't done anything with it.  Bugs me to no end.  But I can't find a way to get kick started or a way to learn what it is I need to do to create what I need to create without someone sitting right here.

    Anywho, I have a domain name..if we find a need for one.  Its called ProjectBreastCancer.org  We thought it was a pretty damn spiffy title. I also have another one familiesagainstbreascancer (yeah, read that one and make sense of it).  We were sitting at dinner one night and hubby came up with this rough logo.  Mind you, this was for the website and not for 18 sisters.  This was pre-sisterhood.  But if we can use any part of it, we are happy to contribute.  Something good has to come out of drawing on a napkin at an Azteca restaurant!Photobucket

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  • drcrisc
    drcrisc Member Posts: 836
    edited March 2009
    Special post just for Linda - Hey!!  (Waving frenetically at you)  Laughing
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  • angelsaboveus
    angelsaboveus Member Posts: 298
    edited March 2009

    Here's a weird question for everyone..... Ok I got all my hair back every where even in the nether regions but I still don't have hair under the arms.   I'm not complaining just inquiring minds want to know if any one else has this going on...or not going on would be a better phrase ?

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  • drcrisc
    drcrisc Member Posts: 836
    edited March 2009

    Adrienne - That is very cool.  I wish we were all closer because I think we could start a kick-ass non-profit organization that would really help women and their families while they are going through this.  I think we have enough research stuff going on - let's just get down to brass tacks and help people.

    Angels - I never lost all my hair anywhere (it got thin and brittle in many places though), but I did nearly stop shaving and that was in the summer.  I have noticed I still don't need to shave that often under my arms.

    Julie - Your daughter is great!  Tell her that ALL the crayons are important, even the more subtle ones. 

    Speaking of which, back to Adrienne and brown - How can we have fall without brown?  Brown is the color of chocolate (!), Mother Earth and really good coffee!  And, since brown is not a primary color, it is a mixture of several (yellow, orange, and purple, I think - anyone feel free to correct me).  You may be brown, but never dull!

    Gracie - Love Garth.  His songs tell stories.  Made me think of very fond memories...and the CDs in my car - damn!

    Rock - I can't wait to see the picture.  Now you've got me thinking...

    Eddie - I love that you remind us (and Randie) that 18 means "Life".  Yes, it does.  And we are nothing if not lively! 

    Hey, how about this for our slogan - "Sisters for Life"...???

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  • lewing
    lewing Member Posts: 1,288
    edited March 2009

    Another quick check-in . . . angels, I have to respond to your underarm question.  You had rads, right?  In that case, I think you can expect the hair not to come back on the rads side.  (Although, as described by the very funny radiation oncologist I met with before my treatment plan changed, and as friends have confirmed, "there's always that ONE hair that grows back.")   But I swear, I think chemo does something, too, because I didn't have rads, and my underarm hair (both sides) is much sparser and slower growing than the hair anywhere else. 

    And thank goodness for that: I very recently shaved for the first time since surgery.  (Chemo took care of things through the summer, and I always go furry in the winter, anyhow.)   What a scary experience!  I know they recommend using an electric shaver, but I hate those things, so I just shaved VERY slowly and carefully in front of the mirror (no more quick shaves in the shower).  I'm mostly numb there, so it was very, very weird.  Creepy, even.  Will there ever come a time when I can feel matter-of-fact again about my damn armpit?

    Speaking of firsts . . . had my first haircut yesterday, just to clean up the messy bits.  It was so cool to be able to tell people, "sorry, I may be a bit late, I have to stop after work to GET MY HAIR CUT."  Oh, and Noelle, the salon carries the DevaCurl line, so if my hair starts to curl again (except for some choppy waves in the back, my hair came back straighter than it used to be), I'll be all set.

    I missed the call for favorite songs.  Was it favorite getting-through-cancer songs, or favorite songs generally?  I'm not very musical (correction: I'm not musical at all), so I tend to pay a lot of attention to lyrics.  I'm currently a huge fan of the Decemberists.  "Cocoon" helps me relax - great for MRIs - and "Grace Cathedral Hill" is both melancholy and life-affirming.  And like several others, Melissa Etheridge's "I Run for Life" chokes me up.

    Adrienne, love the napkin logo!  Cris, I think Sisters for Life is a great slogan.

    Wow . . . this wasn't so quick after all.  Time to get ready for work.

    Love you all, sisters!

    Linda

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  • rock
    rock Member Posts: 1,486
    edited March 2009

    WHY AM I CRYING???? Why does the sight of a napkin that Adrienne's husband wrote on (was he wearing the special trousers?) and that Adrienne held in her hands make me get all teary in the workplace ???!!!!   

    Julie -- the card arrived! The person who had it kept forgetting to give it to me... THANK YOU!!

     (Can our official drink be chai tea?)

    Jackie -- I'm so sorry that you have a little brother who died.  That is TOUGH. (Do you mind me asking what he was like? Or when he died? No pressure. I just like hearing stories about people, including and especially people who have died but who we still think about.)

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  • familyroks
    familyroks Member Posts: 575
    edited March 2009

    Angels - My armpit hair hasn't grown back either and I did not have rads.  There may be 1 or 2 lone hairs but that is it.  And that is fine with me.  I wish that had happened to the legs!

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  • ellenoire
    ellenoire Member Posts: 674
    edited March 2009

    lots to say, not much time.

    Yesterday, I was at my first funeral since I got "sick. Good thing you guys were there or I would have been a blubbering mess. An old church family that I have known forever lost their eldest son to ALS... 

     yuck. 

    Then my Dad played the recessional, which was hard. I grew up in that church. The reason we live here is 'cause he got that job when I was 3 months old. For racial conflict reasons Dad lost his job there when I was 9 and the church burned down about a year later. Mom's funeral was there among many many others. Lots and Lots of killer emotions in that building, and even more come out when Daddy plays the organ. 

    Fave song in this realm? 

    Rainbow Connection, the original by Kermit in the Pond from the Muppet Movie. This CD is gonna be some sob fest!!! Jeano do you need help finding Mp3 links? 

     Leg and Underarm hair very sparse and slow growing... 

     Gotta clean the house more, the second couch finally left.

      xoN

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  • Gracie713
    Gracie713 Member Posts: 302
    edited March 2009

    Adrienne-the napkin has brought tears to my eyes.  I love it!

    Hair-One armpit has a few, the other none.  I did discover that I really need to shave my legs.  Downunder is coming back, especially in the 'bikini' area.  (Like I am going to wear a bikini!)

    Rock--Tim was 6 years younger than me and a real PITA growing up, just the normal little brother.  He had a wonderful, comical sense of humor and entertained us well.  (Anyone remember way back, when Robin Williams first started the comedy thing on HBO?)  Tim could perform all of the acts-cornered my Mom & I in her bedroom and did "Death of the Sperm Ballet" and had us in stitches.(She was in the later stages of her BC at the time)  He was 14 when our mother passed and had a very hard time dealing with it.  He was a Marine, then later a police officer in Cleveland, OH.  (And I will add, a very good one!)   He died on Sept. 24, 1999, so this year will be the 10th anniversary of his death.  His death was his choice.  (I don't like to use that word.)  He was 32 when he died and left behind 5 beautiful, smart and very talented children and now has 2 grandchildren that will never know him, except through our memories.  I honestly believe that if he were still here today, my BC diagnosis would have been very hard for him to handle.  I don't mind talking about him, and could share a lot of stories.  I miss him terribly, still get mad at him at times, but I can understand (some) of his pain.  Thank you for asking about him and letting me share.   I still cry when I hear "Please Remember Me" and "In the Arms of the Angels".

    Hey Adrienne--NASCAR may be coming to Kentucky!!!!!!!

    Love you all so much!  I consider all of you my "sisters" and always will.

    Happy Hump Day!

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  • rock
    rock Member Posts: 1,486
    edited March 2009

    32...oh 32 is so/too young. And you are too young to have lost a mom and a brother.  In fact, I don't believe anyone is ever old enough to experience that kind of loss.

    I have never heard "Death of a Sperm Ballet" but I believe I will be burning some precious bandwith tonight to track it down on YouTube!

    (Thank you, Jacki.)

    My ride is leaving...gotta scram. xoxxoxo

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  • angelsaboveus
    angelsaboveus Member Posts: 298
    edited March 2009

    morning ladies...

    One year ago today i got that call that told me "you are now the proud owner of never before used cancer cells especially chosen just for you " !  

    It seems like a lifetime ago and what a ride we have been on...couldn't of done it without you all ! I am proud of myself and all of us on how we all made it through the crap we had to deal with and are still dealing with.   I believe we are all stronger and better women because of it !  (not that we weren't before !)

    Hope everyone has a great day !

    PS.....1 more sleep

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  • ranD
    ranD Member Posts: 373
    edited March 2009

    stuffing my face with some wonderful cake....yum!!!!

    Okay, just looking at having to drink my green food...secretly wanting more cake...

    Then I have to take my supplements and drink some eissac tea...which dh brewed last night.

    Roxi: Been there, done that, hugs to you!

    Eddie" Love the number concept, do not believe in coincidences anymore

    Adrienne: Love the idea...without you guys and this site I would not have gotten thru as "easily" if I can use that word....whenever anyone asks me about bc, I tell them I have allthe time in the world to share and then let them ask away.

    Cool thing about the doc I saw on Monday.  He made a comment that he thinks I will beat this and then I will be in a position to helpother sisters thru the beastly process.

    Angels All hair came back but underarm is really fine and sparse.  Had no idea it was even there until I looked sideways and was horrified to see this patch of long blonde hair.  I have cheated and used razors, no feeling underthere, but I am really careful.  Plus the side that had nodes removed doesn't need deodarant...

    Linda: Who Hoo hair cut time

    Rock: miss you, I vote Oprah sends us all to SA and then we have the show there with you and then we hit the shark filled beaches....

    Kerry:  My chooks are now laying....

    Noelle: used my CD last night to unwind...love it!

    I vote we all watch Monty Python's Meaning of Life.....need to netflick it and watch withour kids, since it is so inappropriate in places...

    time to eat//// ran

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  • KristyAnn
    KristyAnn Member Posts: 793
    edited March 2009

    Let them eat cake!

    Angels- I have hair or hair returning everywhere except my underarms- nothing even on the non radiated side!

    Kristy

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  • rock
    rock Member Posts: 1,486
    edited March 2009

    Angels -- "Anniversary." Happy that I met you but I would have happily lived my entire life not meeting any of you all if it meant none of us had ever got cancer!  But since we did... well, I'm glad we're here, loving and living. Angels: I hope this day was good to you.

    Noelle - Yesterday sounds like it was Tuff, to say the least. Plus, I think music moves us to (and through) emotions in a way that few other things do.  (When I see you, I will try to remember how to play the first few bars of Rainbow Connection.  Wait, Kristy -- Kristy are you our pianist?! You could handle it mos def.) 

     xoxoxo

    I have never seen Monty Python's Meaning of LIfe.  (Don't shoot me.) I do believe I was waiting for exactly the right person to recommend it to come along and now they have.  (I got SOOOO tired of boyfriends and their "What do you MEAN you've never seen it?!!")

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  • MsKarin
    MsKarin Member Posts: 647
    edited March 2009

    Just a quick fly by, got a ton of things to do plus internet connection keeps acting up.

    What have I gotten myself into? I applied for a morning 1 on 1 latchkey aide for a behavioral disabilities student. I got it! Well it still has to go before the board either on the 9th I will start on the 10th, or the 23rd I will start on the 24th.

    Bad news is now instead of moseying into work at 9:00a.m. I have to be at a different school at 7:00a.m., work there until 9:00a.m. and then go back to my school. I will be leaving for work before DH even wakes up. What a switch. Well at least no more problems with bathroom schedule in the morning. Good news is I will now make up some of the income lost by DH.

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  • kerry_lamb
    kerry_lamb Member Posts: 778
    edited March 2009

    It doesn't pay to miss a minute here..it's like reading a big rollicking novel! Ran, I loved you until I read that your chooks are laying. That pisses me off. ONE of my chooks is of egg-laying age and she's not interested. I have a couple of very thick hydrangeas in the chook-run and 3 big tree ferns..the chickens' favorite spot is as far under the bushes as possible.They love it! So in order to enjoy them, I have to gently scare them out with a rake and then watch them scurry for cover....sigh...This weekend is a long-weekend here so I will be doing my pre-winter mods to the chook-house. I will also be rigging up some more appropriate housing for the Fibber and the Ranga, both of whom will freeze if I don't. The kitten is insane and hilarious. Christina (big puss) actually really likes him, which makes me suspect an evil plan....I like the logo thang; I do a lot of those sort of jobs but try to avoid them, really, and we have plenty of ability on this little forum! Would '17 Sisters' do it? Or would it blow? rofl! ....I can't remember the exact date of my mastectomy; it was late March, I think. I am 'celebrating' by (two days ago) booking in for a second mastectomy (well, gosh! The first one was so cool!!!) and a double recon. Now here's the important part: the PS, who is a gorgeous and, more importantly REAL, gun surgeon uses a French technique whereby she goes in through the mast scare, goes down toward the bottom of the rib-cage, and then cuts across that outer band of muscle, which gets folded up-ways and covers the lower half of the implant. The upper half of the implant goes under the pec muscle. Then the skin is hoiked up (that's not a special PS term, btw!) and forms the cover for the lower part of the 'breast'. You basically get a bit of a tummy tuck thrown in. No expanders etc. Did y'all play the film in your mind as I was describing it? I am very excited about this, mainly because my cancer-surgeon will be there too and is a huge fan of this short (3hr), safe surgery with quick recovery-time. AND I have the number of a gal who I can talk to and check her job out. Will keep you posted.   ....Childhood sadness? I can hardly bear it. I simply cannot bear pain in children.I will pray that every one of you can set your sad childhood experiences aside in a quiet and still place and leave them there. From this exact moment on: life is full of inconveniences but is actually made of joy, even if tears have to flush that joy out, much like panning for goldLaughingwhat a long post!  My song? Rock and Roll..Led Zeppelin..................(wtf........................?)

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  • Sable
    Sable Member Posts: 738
    edited March 2009

    WOW! Ya'll are blowing me away with all the talk! To me it means everyone is feeling better :O)

    Had an exciting evening. Went out to pick up my nopoo deva curl and a run by the grocery store. 1/2 way thru the store we came around an isle and saw several people standing around and area that is boxed food stacked up. Then I noticed an older lady was in the middle of the boxes laying across them. She had just got out of the hospital yesterday from having dizzy spells and she was with her husband picking up groceries when she had a bad one. All these people were standing around and kinda gawking. One guy grabbed his phone and called 911. I pushed my way thru and got down next to the lady to see if I could help. She sent me off to get her a 7up to drink and I sent my hubby and son to the veggie section so it wouldn't upset the little one. I came running back with her drink and got in close to her and talked with her. She looks so limp and was sweating pretty good. I stayed with them till the paramedics came along. The guy who made the call also stayed as well. I asked her hubby if he wanted me to stay and he said no and thanks for helping out. He told me the docs couldn't figure out why she was having these spells so bad and he hated to have to leave her at the hospital again. I felt bad for them but I know they were in good hands from there.

    underarms..... not as thick as before.. I'm ok with that LOL. No feeling on the mast side still except for an occasional twang.

    Noelle~ thanks for the help tonight!!!! :O)

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