**NEW** Starting Chemo March 2009

Beth...you are sooo funny!  I've switched to Aromasin and have noticed that the hair on my legs has kind of stopped growing.  I dyed my hair so I could watch the roots for new growth...AND I also have the reverse mowhawk down under!  I think it is falling out and where the seam to my pants hits...it's falling out faster!  I won't complian as long as the hair on my head continues to grow!!

Had a haircut yesterday.  Not sure if I like it.  I got it shorter on the sides and back until the top gets some more length.  I think the back is too short, but hopefully it will fill in soon.

Counting down days until NYC trip!  I keep watching what the rates are going for on Priceline.  I've stayed at the Hyatt at Grand Central and the Millenium at Ground Zero.  One is close to the action and the other is close to Battery Park, Ells Island Ferry, and Little Italy (great food).

Take care all...

Chris

Francine...OH MY...free tickets to the boat show may have been enough to get my husband to take me too!

Good Morning all!

Beth - Have a great trip to Punta Cana!  It will be no nice to get away from the Great White North for a while!

Francine - Have a great trip to Florida!  Sounds like the both of  you will have a lot of fun!

I had my Zometa on Friday and it knocked the good right out of me on Saturday.  I felt like I was ran over by a truck.   But I was back on my feet yesterday, so one day out of the weekend is not so bad.  Just as long as it does what it is suppose to do!!

I'm so jealous about the NYC Trip.  I wish I could make it.  All of you will have to take lots of pics so we can see what we missed out on.

Take care all!

Michelle,

thanks for your words, it helps to know that I'm not the only scatterbrain when taking meds. I've gone through phases where I put my DH in charge of giving me meds and making me take them. Deep down I hate having to take pills just to feel okay so I think that makes it easy for me to put off taking them.

 I just made myself get up and take the tamox and Pristiq (newer form of Effexor). I think I am low thyroid too, both my parents are, I test normal but have all the symptoms. I ordered Armour Thyroid (natural form of synthroid) and have taken that sporadically the last few weeks (which I know will not help that much unless I stick with it). I'm really just muddling through right now, counting the days until I leave for my trip to FL and then the hike. I still have so much I need to get done before we leave and I am having a hard time getting it done.

 Last year I ordered this 28 day cleanse program - started it after diagnosis- then was told to stop herbals 2 weeks before surgery. Trying to start it now, but part of it is drinking a shake mixture that is pretty gross and I just can't bring myself to do it today.

I'm getting a haircut on thursday tho! it's gotten really shaggy.

I will share my maildrop schedule before I leave. I just  found out last night I have to redo one part of it- a trail festival I want to go to is a week eariler than I thought it was! I would welcome mail along the way- and you know if anyone wants to bake cookies that would be okay too!

Hi Ladies,

Florida is really great .We are staying at the home of my friend from kindegarten. Nice weather too.

I take my pills each morning with breakfast.. Stuff like calcium which I am supposed to take twice a day I usually forget the second time. I think being on a schedule is the way to do it.

Michelle ..we will try to arrange hotels for all together. WE will get a good price using Priceline. I don't think we have to hurry with this . That is amazing you will run in a 10 Ki race. Good for you.We are staying in lake Worth very near Boynton Beach.

Dayla please do tell us your schedule. I would love to send you a treat along the way.

Hugs,

Francine

Yes we are all excited about really meeting each other.

Yesterday was my anniversary of hearing my dreaded diagnosis.  Day to day it seemed to last forever.  But looking back, the year went fast.  That is a good thing...the bad memories don't last as long!

Take care all...

Chris

Today is my anniversary day of my diagnosis. Just like Chris said, the year went by fast when I look back.

Dayla....Please post a pic of your hair after I cut it!! She has got the thickest hair ever!

Hi all - It's been awhile since I have posted.  I have been very busy with work and have been asked to Captain a Relay for Life team for our Elementary school.  So I have been busy with school fundraising, trying to come up with clever ideas.  Writing out the Moon/Star & Sun cards, etc. Not much time to go on the computer at home recently. 

 I have seen your posts about the New York get together and Diane mentioned it to me on Facebook.  I have been trying to save money, so that is why I hadn't considered New York.  My husband thinks I should go.  I would like to know approximately what the expense would be.  Also, being a country girl, big cities scare me so I would only go if I could join with someone heading there and if the price is doable.  I am near Philadelphia. Is anyone going to New York that would be coming through this area.

I also saw the post about hair length.  I do think my hair is longer than it looks like in my new picture.  This was taken today at school in our library.

Nasharayne,Too bad your boyfriend did not recognize your feelings. We all know how you feel. Yes it has changed all of our lives forever.

Patti- We do hope you can come to our reunion. WE will know more about price when the time comes nearer. Hopefully you will be able to connect with one of the other women traveling to NY.

Chris..Yes this has made all of us stronger tougher women. Wow you did well by never being absent that much.

Christy- We all made it through the year . It was slow going through it but now it seems like it went fast.

We are all strong women who have had much support ...

Soon March chemo anniversaries will come. Dread.

Hugs to all..

Francine

Patti, you can come to my house and ride up with me!  I really don't know about staying at the hotel, though.  My sister's wedding and my son's bar mitzvah are looming, and it's all costing a fortune while I don't have a job.  I'll probably have to stay in Hoboken with my sister.  At least it's a quick trip from there to Manhattan.

Michelle

Tanasha I wanted my BF to make a fuss of me on my diagnosis day (22 Jan) and he didn't. Hmm. Maybe I should have been more explicit about what I wanted!

I had an MRI today in preparation for review by surgeon next week. Man, those things are LOUD.  I had forgotten. I hated being back at the hospital.

I brushed my hair for the first time yesterday (Until now all I had to do was run fingers through it) and it went so bushy! A centimetre longer and I will have a serious Afro. New picture coming.

 Love to you all.

Ladies I have not posted in awhile.  I have been going thru those anniversaries too and have 3 more herceptin left.  I won;t be in New York with you all, wish I could but my knees are giving me lots of problems and don't think I could handle the trip right now, but would love to meet all of you.I have been to NY a couple times and loved it.  Stayed at the Mariott in the theatre district on Broadway and the TXTS booth for cheap show tickets was right outside the hotel  and did all the usual things like Ellis island and Statue, but also did St Johns the Divine cathedral, central park, Guggenheim and MOMA and Metropolitan Museum of Art.  We were actually there in September when they do the Broadway on Broadway.  They close off the street and performers from broadway show come and do numbers from the shows.  People pack the street in Times square just like they do on News Years eve.  It was fun and just outside the hotel.  We were there that week for a meeting my husband was at but it turned out great.

Life here is getting back to a more normal routine.  Two of the granddaughters are playing volleyball Jr high and Elementary school teams, so we are going 2 and 3 times a week to see games.  They live about 20 minutes away.  I have not had alot of time for the computer since I am still working.  My hair is finally long enough to get around a curling iron.  Hurrah!

Everyone enjoy the trip and we want to hear all about it.   Hugs  Annette

Chris, so sorry to hear about your sons' friends. I am glad to hear the younger sons organs were donated, I hope knowing their son's life can give life to others is some small comfort. I hope the other son pulls through.

I had my yearly mammo last monday- they said I'd hear something in 5 days if I was going to get a call back- I got a call this morning and am going in tomorrow for more films. Yay. It really pulled on my port scar- painful- and I know the magnifications  they'll take will be even more compression. I really really hope its nothing and they are just being careful. If I have to have an ultrasound- I really haven't budgeted for that- deductible went up this year too. ACK!! 

my DH and I have decided to do our Appalachian Trail hike as a fundraiser for the Lance Armstrong Foundation- we are joining a group of a few other hikers called HikeStrong (like LAF's Livestrong). I will post a link when we get everything set up. I'll report back in tomorrow after my additional mammo.

Dayla

Chris - So sorry to hear about your sons friends.  I can't even imagine how your sons are feeling with the loss of one friend and the other still in the hospital.    This just goes to prove that we never know what each day is going to bring us and never take anything for granted ever again!  I think we have all learned that by going through what we went through this past year.  I will say a pray for your boys and your boys friend and their families.

Dayla - I'm sure that is what it is - that they are being careful.  I know a lot of women who had a call back after having BC once and turned out to be nothing.  I'll keep my fingers crossed for you that it will all be ok  Keep us posted.

I went for my second hair cut today.  Feels good!  I do have a question though - is anyone else still without brows and very thin lashes? 

Thinking of you all,

Kim