In shock

Mom, and Maria......I hope you are both doing alright (Maria, I hope your rads skin gets what it needs, and Mom....I hope the chemo is not too difficult)

I spent 16 hours in the car on Saturday, driving from LA to Portland, and did all the driving, as DD#1 is not my favorite driver, and as I have invested blood! sweat! and tears into my recon.......I thought it in my best interest to stay behind the wheel..........as Thanksgiving is almost upon us here in the US....I hope I recover soon!!!

Morwenna, your pic is hilarious! Made me laugh out loud......

Websister....love your new avatar.....hope you are doing well.....

Nihahi....I certainly wish I could join you and Ade on your forays into the wilderness......maybe next summer.......

Dakota....hope you have a great Thanksgiving!

Edi....hope you are feeling a bit less tired...we will get our Skype on sometime soon.....

Tired.....going to bed.......

XOXO

Hi Ladies,

Okay enough about me. Welcome Marian, great to meet another Canadian.

Maria...I am so very concerned to hear of your awful rad experience. I was blessed to have a lady in our neighborhood who formulated skin care products for her mother when the doctors told her there was nothing they could offer. Well, she went on a mission and is also a 11 year survivor. I used her products religiously through rads last year and had minimal SE. But I did cheat the system and had the Canadian version of 16 high dose treatments. My PS was amazed at how my skin held up. So I can PM you the information if you are at all interested. She has traveled around the world refining her products and they are used at the Walter Redd Medical Center,

Movie...glad you made it home safely . I know that thing of the DD driving. I need a break on my side when driving with her, and an extra dose of ativan, LOL. Again GO DUCKS!!! Rest up. Got more picture of the Keiko Cottage. The weather must be holding up on the Coast because the outside shingles are going up. Neighbors are dropping by daily to inquire...Oh Jenifer and Erik are moving back. So nice to have a West Coast group of friends that remember you after 8 years.

Nihahi...I have agates all over this house, along with sea shells. Most of them were found in the Yachats area ; Agate Beach actually has been depleted of the good ones. But I love to hunt for little treasures. I do not polish them, because it just takes too long. I wear a size 8 US women's shoe, in case you have an extra pair of snow shoes for next winter. DD unfortunately wears a size 16D...you know cockroach stopping size.

Ridley...you are also in my thoughts. I do hope the treatments and DH work situation will resolve in a positive manner.

Edi...keep us posted on your delicious meals and adventures with the newly retired DH. I hope to meet you soon. I love Movie's idea of getting together this summer. As we say in the in the South...we would be a "hoot" of a group of ladies.

Benny..you are MIA again. That gets the mother hen in me concerned. Give us a short update, PLEASE.

Dakota...the super mom. You are an inspiration for all, you need to write a boo. It would be so inspiring for other sisters.

Morwenna....ah the glory of a geiko BM...what a relief. I am still rubbing my agate for you. I really believe in my heart you are okay. Stress is so twisted and your present twitches, I do hope they can be alleviated with the doctor recommendation or even acupuncture (never tried it, but I would if given the opportunity). I am going out to get some Claritin and get started on it for this upcoming Neulasta shot. Thanks for the advise.

If I left anyone out, just know that when I read your posts, I truly enjoy the stories and send you positive wishes for relief of any distress. Now lets go have a good day.

Love to all,

Jenifer

Ahhh, the healing power of a good sleep. I do hope the twitching subsides....I am currently rubbing your agate

Mac is on fire...should I through some of my Smart water on it...

Jenifer

Edi,

We have a leopard gecko. She's a sort of lizard, quite sweet, around 6" long. DS got her from a friend a few months ago. She's apparently 5-6 years old and has had several homes in that time! He's away at a vet technology course, so I get to look after her during the week. It's quite a responsibility! Here's an example, not actually Ika herself though ....

Benny...thank you for the update. Pneumonia is no fun,but hopefully the antibiotic will kick in soon. You be careful around Charlotte, chicken pooh that is.

We are all going to make it through these holidays on a better note than last year. All of you that are in the eye of the winter storm, please "hunker down".Stay safe and warm. Hope there are some uplifting movies to watch on TV.

Gosh Edi..I have no idea of how to cook as fabulous as you do. DH was a vegetarian when I married him. I now (after 32 yrs) have him eating turkey, seafood, and chicken. But we are slowly giving up some of those things and going back to vegetables and fish.

Morwenna..I too am not into animals with scales, but gosh he/she is a cutie! You are doing a wonderful job as a grand mom to your DS geiko. He owes you a big (((HUG))

I am feeling really good today. My DH is scratching his head, wondering what drugs I got yesterday. However, Things may change after this Neulasta shot. But I have water in hand and going to get the Claritin, as advised by my fellow BCO experts

So off to the Mo and PS...not as much fun as Oregon, but I will get there soon.

Love,

Jenifer

Good Morning Ladies,

My email is flooded with pre Thanksgiving sales. Who needs to fight the crowds when I can sit here with my coffee and credit card. The steroids are wearing off, but i still feel fine. The NA had no understanding of Claritin, and I have had no reaction to the site of injection. Only symptom is a very slight ache in my sternum. But my favorite drug Percocet took that pain away. So I am off to walk some of the steroid weight off.

Have a great day ladies.

Love,

Jenifer

Looks like a lot to keep up with here but thanks for the welcome. Benny, I think Websister mentioned you have chickens but soon it sounds as though they are going to a lovely new home. I have 3 chickens but not yet laying as still young. Fluffy, Pepper and Eva. Luckily here on the west coast no need for heaters~~at least so far! I hope the drugs work quickly on your pneumonia.

Nihahi, no snowshoeing here yet and with my exchange on Dec. 6th not likely for awhile so I was glad to get a chance while in Calgary!

On to at least a little productivity in my day!

Marian

momof2....tough has got NOTHING to do with it! Steroids have worn off, and you've been recently run over by the chemo truck. Let your body rest....it's telling you that's what it needs at the moment. The down time is different for each person, and sometimes with each tx. Chemo brain is a wonderful "gift" at times . Keep drinking! (water..!)

Ahhh, I was born and raised in Savannah...that's my town Always up to show you around.

nihahi - very well said! Yum - turkey!!

By popular demand, I am posting about some soup I made. It is basically a slight variation on this:

http://m.blogher.com/meatless-monday-vegan-nutty-sweet-potato-soup

I used what I had in my store cupboard, and I'd never heard of harissa, so substituted a large tsp of red Thai chilli paste, and instead of peanut butter I used a generous tbsp of almond butter. Had no leeks, so I used half a regular onion and a handful of green onions (spring onions in English) and some chopped garlic.

I also threw in a cut up apple and a dollop of cider vinegar to balance the sweetness. I'm wary of salt content in stock, so I used plain water and plenty of pepper. I decided people could add their own salt, to taste, but actually was very fine without it! I was generous with the black pepper.

I forgot the tomato paste (blush) but the soup was very thick without it, so I think the curry paste helped. I only had a few leaves of baby spinach which I threw in after pureeing, but it added a little colour texture and extra goodness.

I am going to make it again soon as I gave this one away! No doubt it'll turn out quite different as I never measure anything and I am always substituting ingredients!

Websister, so glad you and Morwenna were able to spend some time with Benny. Have been thinking of her since I read about Diamond on FB - such a shock!! The soup sounds delicious, Morwenna - so thoughtful of you to take some vegetarian food to Benny.

We made it to North Carolina - just a little bit late - but nothing a microwave couldn't fix. At least we had a good drive and we're able to spend some quality time with DH's family.

Hope you're doing well, Mumof2, and that everybody else is happy too.

Thank you for your post, Websister. Benny is much loved by us all. Edi....I'm getting concerned about you...please check in.

Going off the grid ladies....I'll be hanging out in the mountains until Sunday night. Stay well, I'll be thinking of you.

Good Morning Ladies,

I have been to the other side...I now know what SEs are. I was pretty much miserable Wednesday and Thursday. Last night I thought things were getting better, and then I read about Benny's loss. I am so deeply saddened. I wish I could do or say something to ease the pain. Thank you Websister and Morwenna for extending support to our beloved Benny.

Adagio...congratulations on shopping for wedding dresses. I am so glad that I was able to get that part done before this current set back. It was a really fun time, to see my daughter so happy. Let me know if you need lavender overlays...LOL

Well, here's hoping I get some of my "mojo" back. Sad thing, I do not enjoy my coffee at the present

I think I am going to be a little more reserved in my enthusiasm to get through this chemo. I might not be such a "happy camper on round 2".

DD is coming tonight with the grand doggies.

(((HUGS))) to all

Jenifer