For those starting chemo in June

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  • mary1220
    mary1220 Member Posts: 1,246
    edited December 2005

    Mornin Girls, I sure hope your hands are getting better P.J. Its too bad you and Rene couldn't meet up. Glad to hear you are having a great time Rene. Soak up that sun because it will hide all winter from us. We have snow on the ground and more to come the next couple days but nothing deep. I hate driving in it or on ice. I think I will go to Springfield today and get my x-mas shopping done because I will be laid up after surg. a few days. OH, Janie and Nancy, my onkie told me yesterday that theres new news gonna come out the next couple days about Herceptin and he said I will like it so be sure to keep an eyeball out (or ear). Man girls, I messed up big time, I bought some turtles, you know the rich chocolate, the soft buttery carmel and crispy pecans? These are handmade and I can't eat just one at a time. I have to eat 2!!!!yea, I gained 2 lbs. back. I will be back later if I can drag my big butt to the chair. Hugs, Mary

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  • PJB
    PJB Member Posts: 2,615
    edited December 2005
    mmm... mary, i love those turtles. I bought some chocolate covered pecans and really have to watch myself.

    hands and feet still messed up. i'm going on a xeloda break. not starting back til dec. 15. i hate to do that, since i hate any chance that this stuff won't get rid of the cancer. but i'm pretty useless. can only work about 3 hours at a time and walk like a cripple. son and hubby have been great and helpful...

    well, not going to wisconsin at xmas after all. everyone's coming down here. i just don't know what shape i'll be in and there's always the fact that it's really, really,really cold up there...

    mary, wonder what that herceptin news will be. wish i could take it....

    paula
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  • janie44
    janie44 Member Posts: 1,460
    edited December 2005
    Hi Travelin' Ladies,

    Speaking of Turtles, have you ever had any Katydids? They can only be bought through fundraisers. Our chorus used to sell them in high school. I haven't had any in ___ years (since high school). Now the schools all sell candy bars etc. I would probably buy about 50 cans if anyone was ever selling them. The caramel is soft and creamy. Otherwise, they are like turtles....soooo goood.

    Pjjjjjjj, I hate you have to take a break, but they say these chemicals stay in your system a long time, so it may even turn up better. I wish Herceptin targeted other things besides the HER2 gene too, so everyone could take it.

    Mary, that is good news. I think I will pull up the ASCO site and the HER2 support site and see what they say. Patience is not my middle name.

    Renee, Yippee Yi Ki Yi -- rope a steer or something while you're there.

    Nancy, hope the news is really big again.

    Have a great weekend ladies.

    (It is cold here in this part of Georgia. Gonna have to get used to this again).
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  • janie44
    janie44 Member Posts: 1,460
    edited December 2005
    http://www.asco.org/ac/1,1003,_12-002123-00_18-0043343-00_19-0043344-00_20-001,00.asp

    Maybe this is it? A new vaccine that is as promising as Herceptin infusions, and maybe even better as a combination.

    http://www.her2support.org

    The above is the latest on Lapatinib (now Tykerb). Go to Reuter News. I tried to send the post as a link, but it wouldn't fly.

    I guess we shall have to wait and see what the onc is talking about. They are also talking about cost reduction for Hercept.
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  • mary1220
    mary1220 Member Posts: 1,246
    edited December 2005

    Hi Girls, Well Mr. Fix-it is back. He has been doing some stripping (wood stripping) and refinishing for his brother.Well now he is stripping the wooden doors on our towel pantry and painting them. He is actually doing a good job though. Wow, you could a knocked me over with a feather on that one. We have a little snow but not much. We had a little freezing rain yesterday. I can hardly move anymore. Hubby just clambers around mumbling so I don't know if we will live through this cold weather. We haven't gotten the worse yet. That comes in Jan and Feb. Hope everyone had a good wk. end and shoot Rene; you are gonna freeze when you get home girlfriend. P.J. feeling any better? Janie; feel like your getting back to normal now? I bet it's hard not to hop in the car and head for the treatment huh? Hope Nancy is surviving the snow. Better go I am going to make a lemon pie and maybe some cookies. Later, Mary

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  • PJB
    PJB Member Posts: 2,615
    edited December 2005
    Mary, you bake more than anyone I know. Can I come live with you?

    Glad to hear hubby's back on his projects. I guess that helps him mentally, as well as provides you with many humorous stories...

    Hands/feet better but different. Don't hurt so much anymore, but skin is peeling like really really grosss.... and the skin on my palms is like plastic, even the 2nd layer. I'm not sure how long this is going to go on, but i think i'm gonna have to go find some cotton gloves to wear so i don't gross the world out...

    i did get some xmas decorations up yesterday, which i thought was pretty industrious. since my trip to wisc has been canceled, i've got to get ready for company.

    mary, when's that scan?

    janie, renee, nancy, hope all's great.

    paula
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  • janie44
    janie44 Member Posts: 1,460
    edited December 2005
    Mary,

    Is it lemon meringue piled high? Have you ever heard that meringue covers a multitude of sins? I'm sure your's is perfect though. Glad Tim the Toolman is at it again. Your surgery is getting near, isn't it?

    PJ, Are the hands peeling from the Taxotere or Xeloda? Have you tried Bag Balm? I guess nothing can really reach down that deep. That has to be annoying to say the least. Did you know my two thumb nails still have not returned to normal? It has now been 13 months since Taxol!!!

    Renee, are you still in Texas? Nancy Lee, how are you doing off the Herceptin?

    I am slowly beginning to feel normal (if I don't look at the sleeve on my trembling right arm). My aches and pains are back to usual status and no vomiting for a couple of weeks now.

    Have a good evening ladies,
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  • mary1220
    mary1220 Member Posts: 1,246
    edited December 2005

    Well girls hope everyone is warm. P.J. sorry you are having such trouble. I hope it gets better but I think it is safe to say it wont get better until your done. Hang in there kid. Janie, I always have a little lemon with my mountain meringue. Tim is fixing the bedroom door upstairs. I had no idea it wasn't shutting right but it will soon. Tim has decided to become a truck driver. Now I can't hardly keep a straight face on that one but yea, we are going to be truckers. He thinks I can go on the raod with him. Girls, even in my chemo brain I don't see that happening. Do you hammer when fixing a door? Maybe he is viberating the WD40 into the hinge. Oh yea, truckers, well I guess we can be like Smokey and the Bandit and use words like breaker breaker. I will have to get a trucker language book. Ahhhh, this should be interesting for a man that looses his pickup at Wally. He will lose his 18 wheeler at the truck stop. He will however not have time to fix-up the house so much. He gets so impatient in traffic I just don't know how this will be a good thing for him. Do you have to do a lot of hammering to fix a door? Sh%t I better go this just doesn't sound right. Stay warm. Hugs, Mary

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  • janie44
    janie44 Member Posts: 1,460
    edited December 2005
    If I had a hammer, I'd hammer in the morning. I'd hammer in the evening all over this land while On the Road Again ...

    10-4 Good Buddy!
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  • mary1220
    mary1220 Member Posts: 1,246
    edited December 2005
    Good one, man I almost choked on my cookie. Never read, eat and crack up totally. Muscle spasms in calf again so getting on the heat pad real quick like. Freeking snowed all day but we have about 2 inchs because a lot melted and it was a light constant snow. Over and out good buddy. just call me; mother trucker Mary
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  • PJB
    PJB Member Posts: 2,615
    edited December 2005
    Hey, Mary, just think of all those good pies and stuff they have at those truck stops.

    Hey, is it JC Penney that will have the charms? Now that I'm up and mobile (even tho my hands are so grooooossssss), I wanted to get out to the mall and get looking for a charm so I can send the bracelet back mary's way....

    brrrrrr.... supposed to be 12 here in the morning. hello, this is TEXAS. we suffer the heat 9 months a year, and now we get this?
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  • janie44
    janie44 Member Posts: 1,460
    edited December 2005
    It is freezing here. I'm definitely not in South GA anymore!

    PJ. Mary got the bracelet ad some charms at Penny's; however, she mentioned that there were other places in the mall that had them. My Penny's did not stock that bracelet or the Italian charms. I ordered some online at
    http://charms.jjkent.com/index.aspx?categoryID=126&net=181&page=1

    I am feeling more like my old self (real old) all the time. Hope your hands get better soon. The weather will not help matters.
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  • mary1220
    mary1220 Member Posts: 1,246
    edited December 2005

    Burrrrr,we have 6 inches of snow. Yes, there are some places in the center of the mall here that have charms. Gold stands. The ones I got in Scottsdale was a charm place in the center of the mall. Well we have been like 1 and 2 below 0 but with wind chill its 8 below. We had white out conditions today with the heavy snow and wind. Its really white out tonight with wind gust of 35 miles per hour. I have to drive 30 miles to Springfield tomorrow on open roads to plastics guy for pre op. crap. The flat fields don't block any wind at all. My hubby is going to drive me. I doubt there will be school. This cold is too cold for me. I bet with the gas prices we will have a $400.00 heat bill at least. I have a fireplace but don't use it because it gets the house dingy but maybe we should of uncapped it this year.I burn candles in it. Better get to bed. Later burrrr. Mary

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  • janie44
    janie44 Member Posts: 1,460
    edited December 2005
    Oh Wow! And I think I have it bad because it's below freezing! All of you have it worse. Mary, they said on the news last night that natural gas prices have doubled since this time last year. It seems to be taking forever to heat up this morning. Should not have turned the heat down as far as I did. But I was fine snuggled under the covers.

    Mary, isn't your surgery this week? I decided to put mine off until summer in spite of insurance woes. I just have too much to do. I am bringing a ton of work home with me during break and I have lots to do outside of work too. My Mom (in TN) is having a cancerous growth removed from her eyelid Tuesday. They are worried about it being near an opening.

    Everyone have a wonderfully cold weekend.
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  • PJB
    PJB Member Posts: 2,615
    edited December 2005
    Well, it's supposed to get near 60 here, so i'm happy. we're running over to corsicana with some friends. going to the famous fruitcake bakery and some other outlet kiind of stuff. if we have time, we're going to the russell stover chocolate factory.... tomorrow, i'll see if i can figure out how to put that fake tree up again this year.

    janie, doesn't sound like much of a winter break for you! nathan's off for nearly 3 weeks. oy.

    peelingly yours,
    paula
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  • mary1220
    mary1220 Member Posts: 1,246
    edited December 2005

    Hi Girls, everyone staying warm? The snow isn't melting but the roads are clear. I went to plastics guy and I go in tomorrow at 9 a.m. and I may have to stay the night. He is getting fat and tissue from abdomen where I have a former surg. scar. so I will get a mini tummy tuck. Thats good. My bosses wife died and I took care of her for 6 years so I am a little misty. Thay called this a.m. They are doing the visitation Wed. I think, so I am going to have to drag my gimp, stitched together butt to that, then the funeral. One of those things I have to do. Glad to hear everyone is trodding along. Chocolate P.J.? mmmmm that sounds good. I have a lot to do today since I won't be moving my arms much for a few days. I better get busy. Janie, take it easy over the Hollidays girl. Better get for now. Hope Renee isn't froze if shes home yet. Hugs, Mary

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  • PJB
    PJB Member Posts: 2,615
    edited December 2005
    So tomorrow's the surgery? I like that idea of a tummy tuck... You have lots of people to wait on you hand and foot when you get home? Bring you lots of tasty treats?

    Hitting the mall today to try to wrap up the Christmas shopping. I've got all Nathan's stuff but nothing for anyone else. Of course, he's the most fun to shop for. I'll have to figure out something to tell Matt to get me. I don't really feel like I need/want anything except to be here.

    Stay warm (suppose to be in the 60s here today),

    Paula
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  • janie44
    janie44 Member Posts: 1,460
    edited December 2005
    Mary, I will be thinking of you tomorrow. Hope all goes well. The ps I went to initially was going to take tissue from my back and reconstruct a breast and I asked her to take it from the abdomen (where I also have scar tissue) and she said she couldn't do that. Of course, she is the one who also said she didn't worry about risk factors for someone my age (I was all of 57 at the time). This and the clinical trial is what drove me to go all the way to Mayo. I ended up with a totally different surgery...only the 3rd one they had done that particular way at Mayo.

    I am sorry to hear about the passing of your former patient. I am sure you were attached to her after that length of time.

    Russell Stover's Factory! There really is such a place?!? I guess I just thought all that good stuff just materialized somehow. I love Russell Stover's.

    The weather has been a little warmer here as well. Tomorrow and Tuesday are when I have to go to the school that is so far away from where I live -- so it will probably be iced over and freezing in the morning.

    Renee, Nancy Lee? How are you ladies doing? Nancy, are the side effects subsiding? I can tell a big difference and I don't think it is my imagination.
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  • mary1220
    mary1220 Member Posts: 1,246
    edited December 2005

    Hi Girls, had phone line problems but we are back and going. Thay had to put up a new line to the pole. I didn't know they worked on Sunday. Janie I know you feel better off this stuff because I don't feel myself most the time. We are getting more snow and drizzle so it will be a slick ride to Springfield tomorrow. Janie the first gal I went to wanted to do the pull muscle from my back and I said no way. She was kinda new and this guy is my age or more so I figure he has a lot of experience and he is said to be good. Janie I got your P.M. but my puter went down so I couldn't get back to u. Sorry, I need to get to bed but I will be back when I can move. Hugs girls, Mary

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  • rlswkndr
    rlswkndr Member Posts: 148
    edited December 2005
    I see from all the posts none of you were behaving while I was gone. We had a great time in the warm sunny spots. Came home to all this snow and cold. I can see why Paula had her family go the Texas instead! Yuck and more headed our way. It was great while it lasted, now time to catch up with you ladies and all my emails and mail. And it is time to put up the Christmas tree. This is when I miss the guys, they always did the most decorating.
    Renee
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  • janie44
    janie44 Member Posts: 1,460
    edited December 2005
    Welcome home Renee! It has to be freezzzing up there. Hope Nancy did't get frozen in somewhere. Isn't she the one that couldn't get into her iced over car?

    Paula, I bet you are "worn to the frazzles" after shopping.

    Mary, when you feel like crawling up to your computer and reading a bit, I dooo hope you came through everything ok and feel great really soon.

    My coordinator called and said Mayo called her saying I had to see the local onc next week and then set up the 3 mo deal. It was my understanding that my February apt with them was the next thing on my agenda. Oh well.
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  • NancyLee13
    NancyLee13 Member Posts: 496
    edited December 2005
    Hi--I'm not frozen yet, but it's not for the lack of the weather trying. It's a howling blizzard out right now and has been since about 4 this afternoon. I've only poked my head out the door to get the dog in and out since then. Yesterday it was 40 above and beautiful. Even the huge snowbank out by the front gate melted a little. Now I can see that it's growing by the moment. I can walk right over the top of the fence now. I haven't shoveled it out because it's senseless and it's too big for me to tackle anyway. I just walk over it out to the shop where I park my jeep. So far the snowbank in front of the shop isn't so big that I can't blast thru it with the jeepster. Last week it was SO COLD that I just holed up in the house and read Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. I got it last July when it came out, but I hadn't had a chance to read it until now. OK--the side effects issue--My toes are still really messed up. Somedays I think that I'll just whack the big one off of each foot and be done with it. But I've learned to deal with that. My back still hurts off and on--more on than off, but that too I'm learning to live with and be really careful about what I lift and how I bend over or even roll over in bed. It's a learning process. The food thing has gotten better, but I still haven't gained any weight. I went up to Glendive yesterday and had my port flushed and got the "you've got to gain a little weight" speech for the 100th time from the nurse. SIGH! It was SO cold last week and the one time I did venture out because I had to drive to Miles City for an eye checkup--my windshield on the Jeep cracked from one side to the other. At least it decided to go up on the driver side and down on the rider side. It was so foggy when I was driving that the windshield got this mass of stuff on it and I used the fluid thingy and I think that the water hitting the cold glass made it crack along where a truck had thrown a rock and made a little chip a few weeks ago when I was on my way back home from Herceptin. Well, I'll just leave it and wait til Spring or Summer to get a new one. I don't have much luck with windshields it seems. Oh, my gosh, I just read back thru this on the preview thing and it's hard to believe that I used to be an English teacher. My sentences are so run-on and my punctuation leaves much to be desired. That lady who wrote, Eats, Shoots and Leaves would just have a fit. Sigh!! It's late. Gotta go take my AmbienCR. They work. Yay!! I've been getting "Good Sleeps" (as my nephew calls it) lately. Hope everyone had a lovely 13th of the month..Bye for now from the frozen north. Life is Good--Smiles--NancyLee
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  • PJB
    PJB Member Posts: 2,615
    edited December 2005
    Nancy, glad you're doing a little better. Sounds like it's miserably cold there. I used to be a Northern girl, but now you couldn't pay me to deal with that in the winter....

    Well, blood tests were fine, so off for Taxotere No. 4 tomorrow and I'll also start back on the Xeloda. Yippee..... A friend from Austin's coming up to hang with me during chemo, then we're stopping at a Scholastic Books warehouse sale up here. Maybe I'll find some last-minute christmas gifts (I've got lots left to get) or maybe I'll just blow money I shouldn't....

    Mary, we're thinking of you. Hope everything went swell.... Janie, have fun at that doc's appt..... Renee, you stay warm, too. I hear things have been yukky up your way.


    Paula
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  • mary1220
    mary1220 Member Posts: 1,246
    edited December 2005

    Hi Girls, I'm back. Sore but back. I must admit everyone told me it would be sooo painful I was scared to death. I have not taken a pain pill. Not even a tylenol. It has been uncomfortable but not really painful.I have a high tollerence for pain. As long as I was laying propped up like I am suppose to be I wasn't in pain just all the tightness from being wrapped like a mummy from my neck to my public area. I didn't realize this would be a 4 hour job! I was to go under at 10:30 but my plastic guy put me off untill the last surg. so he could do a good tummy tuck free. It is nice too. I unwrapped my rib belt to fix it and it looks good. I will have to take him something for that. My indent that was in my boob from the surgery scar looks great. I look good from what I can see. I can't take this crap off untill I go in Fri. and that means no shower!!! YUK! I can't wait to get this all off and feel the freeness. I heard on the news how they are finding genes to use a virus to stop cancer. Its a long story but sounds promising. This must be some more of the good news my Onkie was talking about. Well, I am moving around more today so I had to check in. Its good to hear Nancy is surviving the weather. We have had snow again and rain but the temp. is at 32 right now and will get to 40 today so thats good. We have about 5 inches now. Glad your doing good P.J. and you better get that shopping finished up. Janie hows it going? I will be back. Hugs, Mary

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  • janie44
    janie44 Member Posts: 1,460
    edited December 2005
    Well listen to Ms. Mary all done up by the plastic surgeon and fluffing off the pain like it's nothing. Great to hear you are doing so well.

    Girls, It is so cold here. I don't know the temp, but it is well below freezing. The school I was at today announced to be sure to take our phone tree home in case of school closings tomorrow. Only two days before break -- I don't want to be off now. I have too much I want to get done before break, and also, I don't want to swap scheduled off days for this week. I cannot even imagine how cold it is where most of you are. They are bringing food in everywhere I go in the school system. When I step on the scales next Monday, the onc is going to ask me who stepped on them with me. He is going to ask me how many of those things on my list I have followed up on.....exactly none. I may try to get some appointments during break. When I finished the big H, I was ready for a breather.

    Have y'all read about the Virtual Christmas Party they're getting up over on the Treatment forum. It's like people from this board are going to be dropping by the party (that thread) this weekend.

    Don't freeze.
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  • PJB
    PJB Member Posts: 2,615
    edited December 2005
    Janie, I'm with you, it's getting cold and NOW they're predicting snow AGAIN for early next week. Crazy damn weather.... We don't usually have a hope of snow before about February.



    Mary, so glad to hear from you. Now, you don't have to be tough. Take a pain pill or bite on a stick if you need to. Or take a gulp of whiskey....



    Mom says it's snowing like crazy in Madison, so I know Renee getting it and probably Nancy Lee, too. Tsunamis, hurricanes, giant early snows. What gives?



    Paula



    P.S. - I really will get a charm and mail on that bracelet within the next week.....
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  • rlswkndr
    rlswkndr Member Posts: 148
    edited December 2005
    Mary, glad you could make it to the computer and let us know how you're doing. I like Paula's suggestion of the gulp of whiskey- that'd do for me!
    Janie, bundle up- lots of layers work best. Maybe the gulp of whiskey too!
    Paula, yes, lots of snow and cold here, but I have to do a bit of shopping soon or there will nothing under the tree- which we finally put up.
    Nancy- we used to get snow like that, but not any more... well maybe this year with all the odd stuff going on.
    I have my mammo today- ugh- not looking forward to that.
    Keep warm little teddy bears.
    Renee
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  • janie44
    janie44 Member Posts: 1,460
    edited December 2005
    That gulp of whisky would go over really big in the school system. I can hear the gossiping now. We did work today after all, although we had an ice storm. The trees look like they are covered with snow, but it is ice. It is beautiful. There are patches of evergreens and patches of trees that still have their Fall colors, all shimmering and absolutely gorgeous.

    I had my second follow-up mammo about a month ago. It hurt like crazy. Before, I just went in and plopped them up on the machine. They mashed them flat. It hurt a little, and I left. Now, it is very painful. I asked if it were because they were smaller and it pinches. They said it was because of the scar tissue. They have a terrbile time trying to hold my trembling arm down so as not to ruin the film. I end up having to have several pictures.
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  • PJB
    PJB Member Posts: 2,615
    edited December 2005
    Man, the crap we go through.

    4 down, 2 to go on the Taxotere. Interesting talk with the onc. My swelling left from my mast, he says, is called a dog ear. Nice. Says they should probably call it something nicer like angel wing, but I told him i preferred dog ear. It's much more amusing.

    Cutting my Xeloda dosage and crossing my fingers. He said that altho I had hand-foot syndrome the worst you can have it, i should plan on skiing in march. says the risk of it will be over by then. so that's cool. not that i can really AFFORD the lift ticket, but maybe just for one day.

    he says all the news out of san antonio is still being digested, and that it won't change my treatment plan any.

    janie, i saw that about your ice/snow. glad you're muddling through it.

    mary, hope you're healing up nicely.

    renee, now we're planning a summer trip to mad city, so hopefully we can connect then.

    off to drink a bunch of water,
    paula
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  • janie44
    janie44 Member Posts: 1,460
    edited December 2005
    PJ, Does the dog ear leave when the swelling goes down?

    Mary, Has the pain set in yet?

    Renee and Nancy, Are you still warm enough up North?
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