please help

Hi sisters, wouldn't it be great if the federal government gave each one of us $25,000 dollars!

They could've, instead of that big $764 BILLION they gave to people and businesses we hardly know, oh what fun we would have had!  AND the banks would have had most of it back in a week.

Dream on, Hugs, Shirlann

HELLOOOOOOO!!!!!

I know it has been ages since I have been here.  I did try to read back and it looks like most of you could use a 

so much going on in our lives - some good, some not so good - but somehow we manage to get through it all.

Special shout out to Shirlann & Mel - it is great to see you!!  Was thinking about Ulla today - wonder how she is.

UB & I are hanging in there.  He had hopefully his last treatment this week.  Won't know for sure until he has another scan a few weeks from now.  I am soooo tired of bootface.  I just want it GONE!!

Love you all.

AE

Oh, Nancy! I can't believe those brothers of yours. They need to get a life. Somehow I think you will be able to handle them, though.

I've been too deeply in the pits to respond to anything, but I've been reading and thinking of everyone. The crises some of you are facing have kept me sane, believe it or not. I have to come out of my black hole long enough to send some love and prayerful energy, at least! lol.

Today just wanted to quickly share two happy events: My 2-year cancerversay was yesterday, and tomorrow is Agnes' 10th birthday! They are similarly ambivalent, but worth celebrating. The bootface encounter wasn't pleasant, but two years free is exciting. Agnes was much wanted, but wasn't the sweet little kitty I had planned on. She's a little devil who doesn't like to be petted and will sit on your lap if SHE happens to be in the mood. She does not nurture anything but her own strong will. But I've put up with her for ten whole years, so I guess she gets a birthday party!

Would you trust a cat who gives you a look like this with her right paw on the Bible? The Devil Incarnate, I say!

That picture is too funny, Judie!

I have a question for those of you who are or have been on Tamoxifen.  I've been on it for about 18 months and haven't had a period since starting.  For about a week now, I've had a brownish discharge.  Now today, I appear to be having a period.  It's not red, but brown.  Could this be normal?  Should I call my onc??  I'm freaking out.  I'd hate to think the Tamox has stopped working!

Hugs,

Karen

((((JUDIE))))...hugs dear friend....I am sorry you are feeling down.  I am glad you surfaced to let us see the sparkle that appears on this page everytime you are around!!!  I guess dear Agnes does deserve a 'bday party..she has made it 10 years! Funny...I used to have a dog named Agatha! 2 years..celebration for you !! woohoo!!! Don't you love saying that!!

Karen, yes, yes...I had started with the brown spots, then some red..then more red...off and on..then it got heavy. Mine was last summer...and I had a vag. ultrasound...the ovaries had large cysts and the uterine walls had thickened. They had to give me some progesterone to slow down the bleeding.  Then I got my hysterectomy.  I would call the doc...I did...get in and see what's going on.

Had 2 nice dates this weeken. One was with Mike the 44 yr old, that I went out with in the spring several times. We had dinner and a few drinks...then...I was driving home..got pulled over for "erratic" driving...i was bad...was texting and listening to v/m's. Anyhow..cop did the sobriety tests on me..walked the line, eye test..stand on one foot and did a breathalizer! omg!! But...I was fine..so I passed all of them. What  a night! haha..Poor Mike..he drove by and was so upset!

Date last night, very nice man, 54...beautiful blue eyes...and I am talking to a few others. I am just going to keep options open...see what happens.

Val..so good to see you here too!! I have thought about Ulla too. I sent her a PM, she didn't respond, but I can see that she comes here...just not to our thread anymore..

Mel..so good to have you here!!! Hope your ex gets better quickly...you need to get to TN and visit your family!! You sooooooo deserve it!! I hope work picks up for you and Sheila.  I am fortunate, our airline actually made a profit the first quarter of 09. Hope it keeps up...you just never know!

Nancy..those darn brothers of yours.  So glad you are the strong woman we know and love! You won't take any crap from them!!

Still need to plan a day or so in NYC...Nancy...Val...anyone else who could join us...come!!

xoxo

back to work.

Lisa

I have a call in to my onc, Lisa.  I'm sure she'll want to see me.  I'm almost hoping that the Tamoxifen will have to be discontinued and that the only other option is to have my ovaries removed.  Heck, they can take my uterus too.  Take it all!!

I wonder about Ulla.  She used to be my friend on Facebook, but removed herself.  I can't even find her on Facebook anymore.  Maybe I'll see if an e-mail goes through to her.  It's like she's dropped off the face of the earth.

So sorry about the sobriety test, Lisa.  I'm glad you passed, but it must have been stressful!

Hugs,

Karen

Oh dear, Cathi. That would be a crime of pission in the turd degree! Be careful.

Towhee~~~~~~ too funny lmao!!!!!

Cathi, this too shall pass.

Karen, I just had my ovaries removed, BRCA2+, not a bad surgery, but surgery just the same.

((((((HUGS))))))))) to all in need!!!!

Hi Ladies, time for a new avatar...my hair has grown out now to the point that it looks pretty good. I trimmed the back bottom last night to get rid of the "mullet" look, and thankfully the curl hides my ueven cutting. I still have to figure out if I'm going to wear bangs (fringe, Sue) or not. Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't. And when I part it down the center the curl on the top sides can get pretty intense and looks like wings. Just a few more weeks and I'll have enough to go get a real cut...then no matter how much has to be taken off, I'll still have a good head of hair.

I'm starting to get nervous about recon. I'm seeing Dr. Mark Smith about a DIEP on 9/15. He's one of the top PS that do DIEPs in NYC (and cute, to boot). Up until now, all my medical bills were pretty straight forward and I knew how much would be covered even before I asked. Now I'm heading into the out-of-network (but covered to a certain percentage) area, and things could get confusing. I've found, in previous dealings with medical offices, that they seem to want to confuse you about what is covered, how much has been paid by insur, how muich you owe on top of co-pay...just so they get your money. Even if they have to return a few dollars down the road, they've still gotten the interest on it.

For instance, I've received two bills this year for services that were already paid for either at the time of service or in a subsequent bill. And one for a test that my dr didn't order. I can't wait untill all this kind of stuff is behind me.

I'll post pictures from the vacation later this week. They're mostly of Emily, lol. 

I went back to work today to a FULL day of problems. Took care of a couple, but more will be waiting for me tomorrow. Time to get to bed and get a good night's sleep. 'Night all. 

Cathi, I'm really sorry we didn't meet up...you could have had a nice break somewhere. Friday night we went up to the Clearwater Pier for the sunset. Well, almost sunset. We decided that since we wanted to have a few margaritas, we'd better go home for the actual sunset. Saw a few pods of dolphins...more than we saw on our dolphin cruise, lol. Pix to come.

Nancy D,  How old are these brothers?  Is it necessary that they live with you?  Whose house is it?  Sounds like this would be a nighmare living with these two. 

silverlady, they are both well over 40. Both are divorced, one is a policeman, the other is underemployed (working but not making what he should). We are living in our father's house.

I just moved our father down to our sister's in FL because he had a turn for the worse late last winter and now needs considerable help (he's 90). That sister was with us, taking care of him for months, but wanted to return to her home and family, so we made arrangements and moved him in late August. She was the best choice since she is retired and her husband is a retired doctor.

My father's house is the house we all grew up in (seven siblings). He's been very generous, letting us move in and out as we've needed. There's always been plenty of room. My arrangement with him was that I would take care of things that he could no longer do, like the gardening, food shopping, cooking, some cleaning, and general maintenance and decoration (most rooms hadn't been painted since before my mother died in 1992).

Over the years, my brothers have moved in and out a few times, but I've been there for the last 13. A few years ago, these two brothers shared a townhouse, but one brother lost his job and they couldn't afford it on one salary, so Dad let them move back in about a year and half ago...just when I was diagnosed  with bc. Dad was able to keep them under control until he got sick last winter. Things won't get really bad until Dad dies and we have to get the house ready for sale. Then, we'll have to undo all the things done wrong. 

Cathi have you heard anything more about your dd and her unborn baby?

Hugs to all and prayers for all.

(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((Cathi)))))))))))))))))))))

Cathi, I often wondered what I'd do if it was discovered that my unborn baby had a birth defect.  Especially with Chase, since I was 38 when he was born.  What a heart-wrenching decision to have to make.  Big hugs and prayers are going out to you and Amanda.

Ladies, I have a prayer request for you.  My college friend, Jennifer, sent me a message on FB today.  There's a possibility that she may have inflammatory breast cancer.  She's meeting with a surgeon tomorrow.  This poor woman has already had cancer (uterine, I believe) at 31 and had to have a hysterectomy.  Her husband is in the navy and is currently at sea.  Please say a prayer for her tonight.  We just reconnected about seven months ago (after 25 years).  I can't stand the thought of losing her again!

Love and hugs to all,

Karen