My Husband, My Life, My Love, My Family, My Cancer

One thing I wanted to mention is how awesome DH's company has been. It's an insurance company (also with financial groups) a few thousand people, and he managed (until recently) a web applications development team. He didn't like managing though, because seemed all meetings and reviews and paperwork and stress. He stepped down a month or so ago, a lateral move to software architect. He had been there 23 years.

His boss and the new manager of his team were at the hospital every day, and every team member visited. Cards, fruit baskets (no flowers in ICU). Even his CFO was there a couple of times. The whole IT department was unstaffed during his memorial service. The day after he passed, before there was even a death certificate, his boss, manager, and an HR rep came to the house with the check for his life insurance.

Today his boss and manager came by, handed me a few envelopes, sat at the kitchen table & chatted, offered real actual physical help for anything we needed, and picked up a few pieces of equipment that DH used when working from home. After they left, I lay down to take a nap, and opened the envelopes. 2 of them had cash donations from his colleagues, the third was a card signed by dozens of them, with expressions of sympathy, love, prayers, and assurance that I am still considered a member of their family. I was so blown away I just lay here weeping for their huge hearts. They will make sure my cousin and I never want for anything. (Don't know if I mentioned, my cousin is a very vigorous 80 and my caregiver.)

Unbelievable.

Amazing Mae, I like the sound of that!

Hope everyone rests well and can sleep. I am always up so late and sleep all morning. I hate it. My DH came up earlier this week, because one of our dogs isn't doing well and he was acting odd again today and he was limping on his one leg. I love having DH here. But so worried about our sweet dog. Haven't heard from a few of you ladies in all while. I hope that just means, you're out living life. I can't believe that we are already past the half way point through November. Soon the year will be over. I think it seems quickly, but my cancer mind remembers every single day that I have fought. Everyday we fight. Hopefully all of you will sleep well. It's already 10:49 pm and I am not even tired yet. DH is exhausted,driving all around to get up here tonight. He is such good man! Rest well. ~M~

My nine year old grand daughter held the alligator first. She gave me the courage.

good morning, I'm here and doing well. Taking DH to the airport soon, he's going back to work and I'll meet up with him in San Jose next month (had to change flight/airport) on our 17th wedding anniversary (x-mas eve). Having some personnel issues at work, hopefully to be resolved in the next week or two (I could lose someone I put a lot of effort into), ugh. Looking around the house at all the clean up needed for next week and trying to spin that into how many Fitbit steps it'll get me but I really don't like cleaning at all Anyway, off to the airport, then work, have a great day everyone!

Tanya, She has such a beautiful smile! Kids are so fearless aren't they! I Don't know how you did that. I adore my grandsons but would not touch one even if they begged. I don't touch reptiles of any kind. No snakes, no lizards, no gators, no frogs, and yes I live in Florida, go figure.

Mae, if I get angry about something, I clean. I find it helps to work off the mad, and clears my mind. If I'm too tired, I will sit and clean horse tack. What can I say, I'm strange! That said, I do have cleaning people come in every 2 weeks now. I am forbidden to do floors due to bad discs in back. Also, it is incredibly painful to scrub the tubs now. Turn your music on loud and go!

Micmel, I am sorry to hear about your dog. Its painful to watch them deteriorate. Our Westie is13yrs and 7months old, and I swear it is almost a daily thing. His sight is gone, his hearing is declining rapidly, some days he will just fall down for no reason, but he is happy! He eats and plays(sort of), but he is still happy. Just love him hard till the end.

Does anyone else love the sound of those adjustable sprinklers, the ones that go cha, cha, cha....swoosh? I find that extremely relaxing to listen to. Sitting on the front porch, listening to the sprinkler watering the plants. 74 and sunny today!

I hope everyone has a painter's, wonderful weekend.

Hugs and prayers,

Claudia

Bigbhome, I have a playlist on my phone called "music to clean to" (mostly techno, punk and British indie), I'm ready and able but rarely willing, lol

Micmel, yes he's back on tour, although he is scaling it back to mainly just Todd Rundgren, the tours are like summer camp, catching up with friends, etc.

work personnel issue solved and I'm still stuffed from our thanksgiving lunch, just lounging tonight.

Mags, I'm sorry about your husband, I can't imagine the shock and sadness. We've got a lot of positive vibes here, welcome.

Hi to everyone else!

Todd rules!

I agree Jen! He has many good songs. I like everything really, even some rap! That's pretty cool what he does Mae! How long has he been doing this for a living?

I went out today to fill some prescriptions, even CVS was bombarding me with Christmas ads, displays, all kind of decorations. It isn't even thanksgiving yet. What you decorate for Halloween, put it away, then you put up the autumn pumpkins and fall colored leaves, for what, two days? It's ridiculous! I can't even believe it's already almost December 1! This year went slow/fast, each dayyou live it, seems long, but you blink, and it seems the end of the the year again! It's raining ☔️ here today, and pretty chilly! Hope everyone is warm and safe!

~M~

Keetmom?? Thinking of you and your dad ☹️

I had my scans on Mon, picked up my copies on Tues, went to the oncologist yesterday. Scans were mixed once again. My liver lesions shrunk, the tumor in one lung disappeared, but there were new nodules in the other lung, and one lymph node increased in size (bone scan showed nothing new, same as last time). After speaking with the a radiologist (not the one that read the CT scans, he wasn't there), my oncologist decided that I would be staying on Taxotere for another 3 months (then I'll have scans again). I was supposed to have chemo on Tues, and I said to my oncologist, "I guess there goes my Thanksgiving" (due to the Thrush and mouth sores I get every time), she said they could change it. I said the check-out person said I had to have it on Tuesday, since I had it on Tues the last time.She said that wasn't true, and I ended up getting it changed to the day after Thanksgiving! Yay! I get to eat on Turkey Day!!! Hope all of your scans went well!!

Today, my hubby wanted to go for a motorcycle ride (after we put away our summer furniture and cleaned the leaves, well the first batch of them, still many oaks still have leaves) off the deck. It was 42 degrees out and cloudy. I said, only if we go to the cemetery (which is only a mile away, and where my Dad is buried, and where we'll be buried) and look at headstones (so we can figure out what we want). We went up and down the streets in there and took some pictures. We were gone about an hour. I wore winter gloves and my helmet and still froze. We went in the hot tub, when we got back, and I wore my winter hat, so my bald head didn't freeze (it's outside). I finally warmed up.

Hope everyone enjoys the rest of their weekend!

Lynne

Good morning, ok I actually went to bed at like 930. And I don't feel all that terrible, what I should do is get out of bed. My DD and her significant other asked me to watch some of the walking dead with them. I think we watched two Game of thrones. Two walking dead. It's alright. I like Game Of Thrones better than the walking dead. But at least in the show walking dead I finally look better than the other ladies. lol I could blend right in, with the one boob and the way I walk sometimes when my neuropathy ridden feet start to hurt like hell! But oh well, we live on another day! It's windy and cold day again today, so no walking! I hope you're all sitting down, I have two Christmas presents ordered already! Applause not needed lol bah hum bug is gaining steam again. Gotta start shopping! Ugh! Not nearly as much as last year, and I was in full out chemo mode. But somehow this ibrance sometimes makes me feel worse. With exhaustion. It Sucks ! Have a good Sunday beautiful ladies ! So good to see you Lynn! I hope yousee you all soon. Some it's been days. Hope all is well. !

Chelle!?

(50s)!?

Keetmom?

Nan? Of course!

Much love to all ~ M~

Dad is doing well, in pain but coming along, we are home now..

Mae~ I meant to ask you what your cup of tea is for music, since I already know your television taste. But meant to ask if you liked the bachelorette and Or bachelor ? I have to admit I am hooked on both always! Just wondered what your music was, since you didn't like Todd Rudgren? I suck at spelling, sorry guys!

~M~

Chemo went fine...we were just gone Friday and Saturday, he is still there for a few days. Hopefully home Tuesday or Wednesday, the kids had a good weekend because my oldest was home to be with them and that makes them really happy,,

Keetmom~Glad chemo went well for you. I hope he isn't in the hospital for very much longer. How old is your oldest child? You have three? Im still learning things about you! Glad you're finally home. There is no place like home!!

Chelle? Hope all is good.

Nan~ still waiting !

~M~