Starting Chemo May 2008

If you gals don't have the time to do cards then don't worry about it. It's just nice to know you think of us during the holidays. I have so many relatives that aren't sending out cards at all this year. It's just getting to be too expensive. My mom is drawing up a email card to send out instead this year. (She uses paint shop pro and can do fancy things). I had to cut back myself on cards and gifts as well. It wouldn't be cmas without the stress eh?

4 more days till new boob and tummy tuck! At the moment I am in excited mode. Terrified will hit me on monday morning. I am hoping that I can keep myself under some sort of control and not break out in tears. My nerves get fried when it comes to hospitals. Doc said I will get out on cmas eve..... I am shooting for the 23rd. I want at least one day at home before my mom brings my little guy back. It gives me time to figure things out.

Today I am heading out to pick up some frozen meals for the next few weeks. Trying to make things a tad bit easier on my hubby best I can. Then tomorrow is clean the house up real nice so that part is done as well. Ya who am I kidding? I've been trying to clean this house up since taxol ended.

I got my ipod loaded to take with me and got my charger for my phone ready to go too. And of course a book or two to take. I feel like I'm going on a extended vacation..... to vicodin land LOL.

Love you guys!

Julie - Valentine's cards are a perfectly acceptable alternative - I should know since I did that last year!  And, oh, what's this box sitting on my dining room table?  Oh, it's the cards that I haven't been able to do yet...dh already sent his cards out. (Don't ask.)

Otter and Linda - I will accept all genius compliments today!!  Particularly after the work week I've had (which will require a private note on FB to be safe).  Really...I'm glad it helped. 

This week we have lived through the gymastics Christmas potluck complete with "Cirque Du Soleil"-like show; a Winter Concert rehearsal and the Winter Concert that the 6-year-old almost fell asleep at.  Not because it was that boring but because she was that tired!  I have been having trouble posting new pics, etc. on FB but I will try to post the drums number Katie was in - really cool!  Her guitar class also played "Soul Cake" (it's on Sting's most recent CD) and did a decent job of it! 

Tomorrow we're off to Southern Cal for 3 days!  Wheeee....at least I'm off (sort of) all next week.  Does it count to be off work if I still for check emails and voicemails??

a quickie ...

back from 8000k road trip through southern africa. (nearly 5000 miles).

stunning. i highly recommend namibia. botswana? not so much. (no fences meant cows and wart hogs and the occasional elephant on the roads.  novelty wore off pretty quickly.)

hope the surgeries and the families are all sorting themselves out.  julie, otter, everyone: i so feel for you in the "WHAT THE FECK ARE YOU DOING, LOVED ONE?" department.  

Otter, I don't have anything to offer that you haven't already considered. (tying a rope to your father's waist and sending him down the driveway... no, bad idea. really bad idea.) it really isn't about the winter boots or the trash, is it. life must be very, very frightening for her right now. though if she would simply SAY that then you could talk about it.  arrrggghh.

so sorry.

back to packing.  routine goes like this, pack - stare off into space for an hour - pack - cry.  i don't want to leave. i don't want to pack.

My hub is playing a really sweet song.."You've been on my Mind"..an Australian tune, and it's made me a bit sentimental. When I walked in the bush this morning the clouds of butterflies were flying up again. It was so cool. I think a lot about you girls when I walk in that particular bit of bush. Jen, I'm really THRILLED about your surgery. You will be great. IT will be great. THEY will be great! What an absolute blast of a Christmas prez!! Love you all. So very much. XX

Hope all went well for you, Jen.

Just checking in...we've been up wrapping every night.  Little one's sick, but I'm hoping she'll be better by Christmas morning - it wouldn't be Christmas without a sick child!

I wanted to do cards this year...I planned to do cards this year - I even bought a special box just for you all...so I suppose "Joy" will have to carry over into next week, too!!

Love you all...

Just wishing every one a holiday filled with friends , family and lots of food !

One of our sons did make it home so at least we have 4 out of 5 to enjoy with !

Cristine.....your story is also my story.  I searched for just the right cards and they are still sitting with the wrapper on.   It might be fun next year getting cards when we least expect it !  Thank-you all for the cards i have recieved.

Jen so glad you are home and things went well .

Hard to believe another year has nearly passed us by....thank-you all for being a part of mine !

Probaly won't be on for a few so - Merry Christmas, Everyone!!

Merry Christmas all . . . . Jen, glad to hear you are back home.

Off to shovel, again!  

Jean

I'm glad to be home as well! Feeling a tad better this evening. Drains arefilling up like crazy on me. Looks like I will have them for quite awhile.... dang it.

Merry Christmas to all, and Happy Bar Mitzvahs to the 30 (or 300)young persons Eddie.

Jen - so good that you are feeling up to posting, better for the drains to be filling up then inside you.  How many did you end up with? And are you about to stand any straighter today?

Had to laugh when I read about the specially picked cards that remain in the box, I did get 2/3 of my cards sent, even picked up oanother box or two to send to the remaining 1/3 BUT those cards never got sent.  SO - do I send those people 2 cards next year?  Send them a News Years card instead, wait till Easter? So many decisions.

Christmas was quiet with DD, DH and myself.  Went to a friend's for dinner. Great conversation, food, played some games then went home to watch Peter Sellers Pink Panther.

I am working today, phones aren't too busy - which can make the day go by slower ( and give me a chance to post here). There are times when I wonder how long I'll be able to be happy at a desk job, as I am used to being on the go constantly BUT this is a perfect place to return to after my TRAM.

Rock - how's the packing going?  Are you going to have to ship things you've acquired over the past year?  What do you think you will miss the most when you leave SA?

Guess I'd better sign off. Love to you all.

Wow this week has been rough going. Still trying to get my bowels to get a move on, they are very reclutent at this point. Been munching on jordan almonds, those usually clear me out pretty good... hopefully it will work. I ended up with 3 drains, One for tummy and one for each boob. The new boob is warmer to the touch now. It might have been from being so cold for a few days. I was literally under a quilt a snuggie and a afghan trying to get warm. I'm still trying to force more fluids than I normally drink. I have alot of swelling in my arms and legs. Started to wear my nighttime lymphodema sleeve at night cause that arm was starting to ache. And you know the best part about all this right now..... I can't reach my own butt. Not to wash or to wipe. Hubby is so thrilled about this one. I'm hoping that things will start to loosen up a bit soon. fun fun fun. I'll still be walking at an angle for awhile. Not because of pain but it gives the skin time to stretch to its new spot. He told me up to 3 weeks if need be. Also started in taking 1 percoset and 3 motrins every 6 hours. Doc said I could mix mortin or advil with the other as long as I didnt go over 1200mg a day. Seems to be helping out alot right now.

Robin~ After your surgery and they get you set up in your room, ask for a pillow for each arm as well. That makes it a bit more comfy sleeping and such. The nurses were real good about "tucking me in" with mine.

The one thing that is bugging me the most about this ordeal..... All the other surgeries I have gone thru I snapped back my faster than the docs expected.....It doesn't seem to be happening this time around. Hubby says its because it is a much more major deal I am going thru, probably so but dang it I like to be at the top of my class LOL. :O)

Hahahahahahah! Well Jen, poos or no poos, snap-backs or no snap-backs I'm so glad YOU'VE GOT TWO!!!! Don't forget we have all been thoroughly trashed over the last year plus. It takes 3 months for the poor old liver to 'process' a general anaesthetic and, for feck's sake!! you have barely recovered and then BAM! another recovery to deal with. I tell you what, I've had enough of femara. I haven't worn pants for 1.5 years. I shite you not. I simply refuse to buy bigger jeans and I am alarmed at how 'middle-aged' my body is looking despite a daily one hour walk, proper food and happiness. I am right on the verge of giving it up. I mean, what is the point of having the (*unknown) better chance, but being fatter and fatter until I have a heart problem or stroke?? Not only that, but I HATE MY HAIR AND CAN'T DO A THING WIF IT!!!! Ok..none of that is very Christmassy..sorry!. Otter, should I ditch the femara? I need the science and stats here. Jen..eat all-bran for breakfast. My doc told me once: what goes in must come out. And drink 2 litres of water a day. I love you all so much. And I hate cancer's guts. XXXX