Illinois ladies facing bc

Laura..just wanted to be the first to wish you a very Happy Birthday,just think another milestone of good health is coming your way. If I had the recipe for those monster cookies I would make them for you, Maybe a Lunch bunch is better then cookies lol you know bread pudding is good too. yum yum.

Have a great day...Sending you a bday hug

bj

Happy Beautiful Birthday Laura -- Many, many more:

Happy Birthday Laura

BlackJack  I love Bread Pudding.

Cancer markers are just a blood test that shows cancer in us???

Happy birthday, Laura. You sure have a great day, and I know you will enjoy it. Does your DH cook something special for you? After all you do the Monster Cookies!

Hey Buddy, tumor markers are blood tests that some docs use, but many don't. Including mine. They are predictive for some people, but not for others, so are not recommended. My surgeon ordered them for pre-op for me, and they were low for the size and agressive tumor I had. My medical onc does not use them, and generally they are better used to track mets than for those of us without recurrence. Hope this helps some.

Susan, I wish you had been my children's teacher! I so agree with you that "sucks" is vulgar. I also told my kids it just showed that they needed to work on new vocabulary words if that was the only way they could express themselves. That said......I totally agree with you. CANCER SUCKS! There are things that suck more, and I'm thinking of what those parents in CA are going through with the loss of their daughter.

I'm so sorry about your friend. You are right...it's not just bc, but all cancer that sucks. Thinking of you, and your friends.

Everyone outside for some vitamin D!

Thanks for the tumor marker info.  Sounds like it might not be so reliable.   Yes My heart is hurting for those parents.  I cant imagine.

Just stopping in to wish Julie (belated-sorry) and Laura a very Happy Birthday!

 Off to FL (not too much warmer than here! lol)

Feel better Laura - a summer get together sounds great!

Happy birthday Laura - and you too Juliet.  Sorry you are sick Laura.  That stinks!

Have fun in FL Michele!

Yes cancer sucks!  Susan - those walk commericals didn't really bother me but this morning when I got in the car with my son to take him to school one was on.  He said "They are never going to find a cure."  Very sad to hear that from a 12 year old.  A friend of his from school had his dad die about 3 weeks ago from cancer - I don't know what kind of cancer but my son came home and told me that he was glad I didn't die.  Talk about a tear jerker.

Sorry you have to have more scans Carolyn.  It is hard to wait when you know the tumor is growing.

Smerf  - you hit the nail on the head.  I HATE saying "my onc" - even though I really like him.

My onc never orders tumor markers and I have never asked him too.

Beautiful day out - went for a nice long walk.  My ears did get cold though.

Have a great weekend! 

Happy Birthday Laura!!!  So sorry to hear about the flu.  Hopefully you'll recover soon. 

It's a beautiful day but I'm feeling a little bit down.  I want to be on vacation with a big drink in my hand w/a little umbrella while lounging by the pool on a distant island.  Can you tell I have something very specific in mind?  Instead I'm home alone with my little cat.  Oh well!  Hopefully the nice weather will perk me up.

Happy Saturday to all. It it a nice sunny day up north.The walk around the lake this morning was so beautiful. Some open water but still lots of frozen ice so looks like spring is slowly coming. Boating season starts the end of April. They are starting to put the piers in so that is a very good sign for us boaters.!! So we need to really think spring....

Wendy....how are you feeling. Is that stomach bug gone yet. I bet dh can't wait for spring break. I know I am sooo waiting for it to come. Lazy days for a week ummmm. I can do that. lol

Laura...I hope you had a nice birthday. My sister is in Barcelona Spain for her birthday ( you both share the same day ). She is getting home sick and wished I was there to celebrate with her. She will be home next week and then I will make the big birthday dinner for her. Did you get bread pudding for dessert?

Jackie...you are the baker. lol that birthday cake was gorgeous. When my b day comes around I would like a chocolate cake. lol I hope you are feeling better soon. That nasty flu seems to be hanging around way to long. Be well soon.

Rita....missing Florida and the beach. Me too. I signed up for golf lesson in early April. So hope I can master this game. But my new outfits...well they look cute even if I can't play well.lol

Smerf....welcome back. We missed you. Sorry to here that you are sick too. Hope you are feeling better soon. Did dh have fun skiing and did he stay healthy? I think lunch is calling for us soon.

Connie....kids say the darndest things. How true that they hit us in the heart. I hope you gave him a big hug. Are you going up to Mich for spring break? Just thing boating season is coming hey!!!

Ginny ...sorry to hear that you are not feeling well. Hang in there girl. We are here for you.

Susan...going to the flower show this weekend. I am going on Sunday to check out the new pond's. I would like to get some new water plants for the pond. Maybe I will see you there. I loved your Bates motel story..very scary !

Juliet...happy belated birthday to you. How is rads going? I hope your chest is doing well. Would you like to meet for lunch some Sat. let us know.

Juliechicago...glad you just have arthritis. we like old bones that are c free !!! Now its time to relax and wine away. It's the weekend.

To all the others I missed hope you all are doing well in your txs. Remember there is a end to all of this. I have a little favor to ask all of you.. can you say a little pray for me Monday as I am having a MRI on my neck. Just want good results.

Well have a great Saturday and enjoy that sunshine. Remember to be healthy...be happy.

Hugs to all

BJ

Yesterday was so nice and sunny that I went out into the garage, which faces south, and sat in the sun out of the wind.  That felt sooooooo good.  Got a little vitamin D, too.  Maybe.  I think I'll do it again today if the sun stays out long enough.

Happy sunny day to all of you!

Ruth

Just a quickie:

Thanks again for all the b-day wishes. Mom sent me an edible arrangement for my b-day. I made a fruit smoothie for b-fast. I am still very sick. Last night temp was 102.8. The body aches were so bad this morning, I finally took a Vicadin. It has helped. I'm just lying on the couch...this sucks. I'm hoping this isn't pneumonia. Since everything I'm coughing up and blowing out is green (yuck!) I'm thinking I should probably be taking an anti-biotic. Will call the Dr.

Have a nice day.

Hi, I finished the damn book!  I feel like I have given birth four times in the last 24 hours.  I still have about four hours (maybe more) of my own editing and then I pass it to an editor I pay. I have to walk away from it for now.  I am realistic and know that publishing it is next to impossible.  Like my daughter said, it is like running the marathon.  All you have when you are finished is a feeling of exhaustion mixed with elation and maybe  a crappy ribbon....but YOU FINISHED IT and no one can take that away from you. I am just relieved that I finished it and that I never have to do this again!  My mind and body hurt so much from the last 8 hours of finishing this sucker.  A dream last night helped me out with the ending I was having trouble with. The mind works in strange ways.  Well mine does at least!

 What flower show?  Am I missing something?  Could that be the one I saw Smerf at last year?

 We are going to the city tonight for a play....some sappy Irish thing about a dysfunctional family.

Laura, so sorry you are sick. Do you take those vitamin C packets? I was convinced the hotel at that creepy place got me sick because I felt wretched on the way home.  I took two of those jobbies and the symptoms vanished. 

 Wendy, I hear you on the march on DC thing for a cure. I am so frustrated, as we all are, and I just want some answers. I have heard that the pharmaceuticals want to slow time on a cure so they keep making money on treating it.  I have no idea what the real truth is behind all this.  I do remember about two years ago there was talk on these boards about going to DC to get answers about BC.  Nothing came of it.  Whatever, if you think about it, could? Anyone remember that?

And all this does not help our dear ladies who are treatment or wondering where things will go.  I think of everyone, but now Carolyn and Ginny are on my mind.  The frustration is that there is so little we can do except remain hopeful.

 I have a longer stint teaching in the next two weeks.  A colleague is going to Japan to see his son who is studying abroad so I am taking his classroom. Then Paul and I are going to DC (not to protest) but to visit my nephew and niece.  My brother adopted two kids from Vietnam a few years back.  They are not related, but the same age! Adorable and very westernized.  She is into American Girl dolls and he is into Star War lego sets.

Take care!

Susan

Hi Everyone --- wow, I'd say don't get me started on the cancer thing, pharmaceuticals, and yep I also do think there are some ( only some mind you ) Docs who realize that if people get TOO well, they won't have a major income anymore.  Having said that....I reiterate only some.  I think there are as well many, many caring wonderful Dr.'s who would rejoice as much as anyone when the "cure" is finally allowed to happen.  They too have wives, children, moms and whomever that they want to stay well, or to be fairly easily able to get well should this disease suddenly rear its head. 

There is a huge interest in keeping us just well enough to stay sick but that is big business for you.  Yes, I am jaded to a large degree and wish this were not the way it is, but I spent so many years with blinders on -- too nice for words -- too naive' and thinking there was a pattern of GOOD and that the men in white hats always win and save you.  Too late I realized that I was getting run over daily for the way I behaved and the things I believed.  Maybe it was coming from this small town -- maybe because I was just smart enough not to be very bright, or maybe because I thought people like me should fight for the underdogs and that life would come right.  There are cruel things out there --- but for the most part I look for the sun and laughter, and cute babies and wonderful quotes, and fantastic friends and the orange glow of a beautiful sunset and the ripple of waves hitting a shore because no matter what else happens.....I really am here to bring positive energy to my life and to others lives as well.  These other things I will "suffer" because I learn and when we all learn enough these things will change.  Wish it was going to be tomorrow but its not, but I hope it will be soon.  There are so many people who want this that I do feel within a few short years things will change.  It is in my prayer to the universe every night. 

My congrats Susan.  When I worked in Santa Barbara I worked for a couple of authors.  Ted wrote school text books and his wife Jeanie wrote children story books.  Just in case you'd recognize it, the last name was Clymer.  Not sure after all these years I'm spelling it right but you'd know. 

I hope you all had a wonderful day in the sun.  I had to be in most of the day working, but did enjoy when I was out and about with my recycles and feeding the feral cats.  It was a gorgeous day and I loved it.  See you all tomorrow. 

Rita -- I will be most honored to help you. 

Hugs, Jackie

p.s.  Laura -- Hope you are feeling better soon.  If it gets warm enough --- get out on your deck and get some good rays.  Ok

Jackie

Oh my gosh.  I'm gone for a day and look at all I missed.  I was able to go with my sone to Bloomington to compete in sectionals this year.  Last year I had to miss it.  He did great.  He got 2nd place, so he gets to go on to State  at NIU next week.

Laura  What did the Doc say.  I had somthing similar  It lasted almost a week,  Watch out for pneumonia (spelling).  Any word on teh DH's job.

Carolyn,tell us about your cat  can you send a pic.  We love animals.

Wendy  Yes I am still switching over my hangers.  I think of you everytime I do.  Its an amazing difference.  I cant thank you enough.  Thanks fgor the comment on my avitar.  I really need to switch it.  I do have hair now.  But I had so much fun that day I had my head painted.  It makes me smile when I see it.

Zap......Wow  how cool is that.  Way 2 go!

Illinoislady I must admitt I also wonder why is it taking so long to find a cure.  Is someone holding things up.

Rita.  You have inspired me.  TODAY.....I will pick up sticks.

Connie I have a 13 year old boy.  He didnt handle my cancer well either.

BJ  The Lake sounds so beautiful.  I just look at dead corn.

Oh Michelle   Florida is just what I need.  Have fun and get lots of pics.

My coffee cup is empty time for a refill.  Love you gals.

Buddy