Starting chemo September 2014

LARock, you must have turned 48 by now.  Happy belated Birthday to you!!!!!

Toby, I saw on another thread your cute hair and the fact that you are tall and skinny.  I'm jealous!!!!  While I am 6"0", I am not any where close to being a small size like you.  I am however 54 and will turn 55 in July.   Are you done with rads yet? 

You look GREAT!!!!  I am going to show my hairdresser your cut and see if she can do the same thing with this "kinky" mess on my head.  Cannot wait for you to be done!!!!!  It has been a long road for you.  May I ask -- where in TN???

I was just curious.  We are thinking about going to Bristol in late August and I thought maybe you were going to go to Bristol as well.  Or we might go to Nashville, or Gatlinburg, but definitely somewhere to hide out for a week.  Retirement -- that is such a nice word.  Hopefully, 5-8 years from now. 

Hi ladies! Me and my squishy (and extremely sore!) boobs are checking in.Had exchange surgery last Friday, and I am amazed by how beat up I feel. I managed the mastectomy and hysterectomy so well, that I completely underestimated the exchange surgery.I am hurting! Have a follow up with the PS tomorrow, and I am hoping he might give me some stronger pain meds. Vicodin isn't getting it done for me.

This morning, we buried my 90 year old grandmother. She was my best friend in the whole world and absolutely the greatest person I have ever known. She has been suffering from Alzheimer's for the past 8 years, so I am happy to think that she is with my grandpa now, dancing in heaven, but still a tremendous loss. Little E had a very hard time saying goodbye, so that made it so much more stressful.

In positive news, my daughter is coming home from England for a visit in July, and I am so freaking excited! It has been nearly a year since she left, so we are planning some great family stuff for while she is home.

Poppy, any ultrasound news? I've been praying for you!

LARock, Happy 48th birthday! 48 is the new 28! LOL! At least that's what I tell myself every morning!

Toby, glad to hear that rads are nearly over. What a long haul you have had! Congrats to you!

You ladies discussing retirement homes, I am green with envy. My dream has always been to build a beautiful log cabin in the Great Smokies of TN. Some of the most beautiful country there!

Hope all of you are feeling great! Hugs and prayers t those of you who need them, and love to all of you!

Rose, I didn't realize we were having surgery so close together. My advice, don't hug 200 people two days after-it will hurt. I should have worn a sign that said NO HUGS! Some of my uncles can really squeeze! LOL!

I don't miss those TEs at all. I asked the PS to save them for me so I could use them for target practice with the 9mm, but he declined! Spoil sport! This is just a different kind of sore, like I got punched in the armpits and the breast bone. Feels a bit better today, and I am happy with the look, so thinking positive!

Thanks so much for your condolences. This has been a year of loss for me: my health, my breasts, my marriage, my home, two of my daughters leaving the nest. Losing my grandma was the icing on the shit cupcake! Just reminding myself that she is pain-free and with my grandpa and telling great stories about her with family is helping a lot.

PoppyK, great news! I think we should make a group pact that no recurrences are allowed!

Badhairday, sorry to hear about your grandma. Eight years with Alzheimer's is a long time; I'm sure there is some comfort in knowing that she is at peace. Gentle hugs.

Tobycc, my parents live in Blue Ridge. They retired down there in 2007. It's one of our favorite places in the world to go and chill out. We were there last summer but won't be able to get there this year. Too much going on and it's much easier for my parents to come spend extended visits with us here in CA. Congrats on finishing radiation!!

Thanks for all the birthday wishes - I'm currently relishing my last day as a 47 yrear old!

Here's a picture of DH and I at the Golden Gate Bridge yesterday. We took DD up to look at colleges.

BHD, I am so sorry for your loss.  I never knew my grandparents.  I would say give Little E hugs, but that might hurt.  How about high fives?  You will have so much fun with your daughter.  Since the PS won't give you the TE's to target practice with, I got an idea who's ass you could use that 9MM on.  Poppy, are you thinking the same person I am?? 

Rose, I hope you are doing better with your new boobs.  Take care of yourself. 

Poppy, wonderful news!!!!!  I will be curious to know what your MO says about your Letrozole/Femara.  I am having no problems, so far. 

LARock,  what a great picture!!!  Have a Happy Birthday tomorrow. 

Toby, congrats on finishing rads.  It has certainly been a rough road for you.  Welcome to the finish line!!!!! 

Jean, where are you?? 

Poppy, so relieved and thrilled for you!

LARock, you look beautiful!

Toby, love the idea of my "fiscal year" ending. Ready to move on to happier and healthier times!

Nomatter, it is very tempting to use a certain somebody's hind end for target practice, but I am too prissy to go to prison!

Jean, sorry you had such a scare and pleased to hear you are ok.

Rose, I hope you are resting comfortably tonight.

I saw my PS today, and he said I definitely overdid it.I didn't really have much of a choice. He said things look very good, and I have to return Friday to have stitches removed. Yikes!

I took two of my close friends out for dinner tonight at our favorite Mexican restaurant. Margaritas were had, and tears of gratitude were shed. I would not have made it through the past 11 months without their support. It meant so much to me to treat them to a little something nice after all the wonderful things they have done for me.

I do believe a no recurrence pact is a fabulous and necessary idea! I'm in!

CONGRATS to you Toby!!!!  Finally the end!!!!! 

Rose and BHD, hope you two are doing well with your new parts. 

I have to tell you ladies, I talked to my MIL tonight and I am proud to say that I am at the top of the DIL list.  YES, I am the good one!!!!  One, she won't talk to and has never liked, another one stole things from her, which quickly dropped her off the list entirely and the other one told her that her husband (the youngest son) would no longer be doing things for her.  (Bitch!!!!)  Anyway that leaves my husband to do things for her, who just happens to be on vacation (again) next week.  I know, we were on vacation 6 weeks ago, but that is government workers for you!!!!!  Anyway, after he cleans my house, then he is off to her house to cut bushes, mow, clean gutters and drive, Ms. Mom around.  I am so glad I have to work next week!!!!   

Anybody need any rain????  PLEEEEASE!!!!!!

Badhairday, Saying prayers for your aunt and uncle. Your FiL is a blessing to you and Little E!

Nomatterwhat, California could use the rain!

I'm all in for the no recurrence pact!!

Badhairday, prayers and positive thoughts sent! I'm feeling ok. Implant side is sore. I just want to take a shower. PS said no showers til he sees me at first post op visit on Monday. It's the little things that mean so much these days.

A busy week next week. PS Monday, herceptin Tuesday and my husband is getting his kidney stone worked on for the second time. They tried blasting it but it only broke down to about half the size. It started off at 3/4 inch wide. Hoping it's going to be taken care of this time around.

For those of you on herceptin, do you have intermittent chills?

Rose, that first real shower feels like heaven! I cheated, and wrapped my chest in press&seal, and took a shower the day after surgery. (A little trick the nurse told me when I was showering with a picc line!) In fact, I don't know that I have ever used that stuff for wrapping food! LOL! But that first real shower? I drained the hot water tank!

Had the stitches out yesterday, which hurt more than I thought it would, but at least it was quick. The swelling has gone down quite a bit, and I have a better idea of how I will look, and I am pretty happy with the results. Still need to figure out what, if anything, I am going to do about nipples.

My uncle is hanging in there. He is still on a ventilator, but they have lowered it to 60%. He needs a ct scan, but whenever they lay him flat, he goes in to respiratory distress. Hoping they can get him off the vent before it results in a tracheotomy. It's so difficult to see the toughest person I know looking so vulnerable and sick. My aunt is doing as well as she can be, considering. I'm letting the nurses take care of my uncle, and I am focusing on my aunt, making sure she eats well, rests, gets out for a walk now and then, etc. Thank God for Little E--he is such an entertaining distraction. I owe him big time for spending the first few days of summer break in an icu waiting room, keeping my aunt laughing. Please keep sending the prayers!

Rose, good luck with the PS today! Hope you get to take a nice, long shower! Sending some healing prayers for your hubby too. Kidney stones are soooo painful! Hope they can get him all fixed up!

I have the Tamoxifen hot flashes, and the chills. I am constantly flinging covers off, only to bundle myself up a half hour later, even when it is 90 degrees out! So the chills may not be from Herceptin, but from the Tamoxifen. Either way, it is crazy some of the side effects we have to deal with!

thanks, badhairday! Everything went well. Still swollen. But not bad. Feels good to get that compression bra off.

Nomatter, your hair looks gorgeous! It is getting so long! I think you should leave it just the way it is. Or do something really crazy, like a few purple highlights! LOL!

I am amazed at how quickly my hair is growing, and how curly it is! My friend L'oreal and I have a hot date later tonight to touch up my gray roots! Not surrendering to the salt and pepper just yet!

Rose, glad to hear you are doing well! How is your husband?