2005 ROCK-TOBER CHEMO GIRLS

Hi Girls!
Geez...............I have been working since yesterday afternoon trying to catch up with my client's projects! I was up until 3 this morning - doing watercolor designs for Halloween products! I'm not kidding...I think I'm going blind...everything is orange and black! I slept for a few hours and am back at it...

Paula and I had a great time Sunday night! We feasted on a big 'ol American barbeque...with rib-eyes fit for a Queen...well two that is! We drank wine and talked. I took a hot bath and then collapsed on the couch - which is where I stayed until early yesterday morning...I felt SO BAD...I had clean sheets ready for the guest room bed, and fell asleep before I could help Paula put them on! She had to be at the airport by 8:30 yesterday morning...so we headed out at about 7:15. Got there right on time...I'm assuming she got on a flight, as I told her to call me if she didn't, and I would pick her up again. Ahhhhh.....she's the lucky one - probably sunning herself in Honolulu right now! I should have gone with her...LOL Why didn't I think of that yesterday!

I will check out the photos later...have to get back to work here.

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I still feel like our get-together was a dream! I can't believe how FABULOUS it was. And I just love each and every one of you. I knew it would be fun, but I had no idea how much! You are so thoughtful and considerate and generous and FUN! Didn't we laugh ALOT? There wasn't a dull moment. Waiting and watching as each girl arrived was awesome!Shopping for the snax and libations was so much fun! The pj party...OMG - what a wild group of girls! Saturday was incredible! And thank you again for my special gift! I am still speechless! You were waaaaaaaaaaaay too generous, but I will certainly put it to good use! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh...Spahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

I will never forget our get-together - and through it all, diagnosis, etc...I still feel so much MORE fortunate than NOT!

You are welcome here anytime - just let me know...I'll leave the lights on!

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Cathy -
Glad you made it home safely...that was a long drive - you are such a trooper.

TimTam -
Thanks! Paula brought us TimTams from Australia!...of course I thought of you!

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More later...I'm still on cloud nine!

Tracy -
I wish you the very best tomorrow! You know we'll all be there - holding your hand. Hang in there...

Poor Justin...did he bravely sit and think of it like a rite of passage or did he try to bargain his way out of the office.

Tracy, hope you have stress free day tomorrow. I am thinking your mammo will be clear and the docs will marvel at your good health.

Laura, I know you can catch up with your work. You can do anything.

I am busily getting DD ready for University. She is moving into residence and will be living 2 hours away.I think I moved out with a suitcase and a tooth brush...she needs a moving van for the microwave and minifridge and chairs and and and! She is on her last nerve with me as I am trying to give her many words of advice this week.

I am still refreshed from our weekend and having a hard time not telling our story to complete strangers.LOL.

Tracy, you know how the phone was blinking that there was a message and I did not answer as It was from my EX. Guess what he did? He sent my child support checks and the money for DD tuition to the Hotel!!!!! And since I did not get the message the envelope is still there.WHY would he do THAT???? Any way they are going to Fed-ex it to me.

Timtam, aren't you lucky to be meeting a BC) sister, who is it?

I have blood work this week and rads onc next week. I feel fine so I am thinking it is just a formality.

Cindy it is hard to hold Kleenex with your pink gloves on, heck it is hard not to smile with them on! Give your Mom a hug from me.

Fists up!

Well, Ladies..it is so fun to read your posts now that we have all met and had such a wonderful, superb, better than better weekend!
TimTam..we ate you at the party! Who is paying a visit to you in Japan? That is so GREAT!
Jill...we missed you in our International Room tho I guess Brenda would have had to sleep in the bathtub..JUST KIDDING!
Cindy..how are you doing today?
Tracy..did you get your suitcase? I wish you the best at your mammo but I know all will be well. I'm confident.
Tracy NY..we missed you!
V..we missed you, too!!!
Linda..where are you?
Amy..how was your weekend? And how's the pup?
Who am I missing?
Wondering how the Ward Family is doing.
I've not had cow for two weeks. I suspect my mom will fix me up a serving of cow when I get to her house!
MaryAnne..thank goodness you got your support money from the hotel. That was wierd!
RoseMarie..poor Justin! I'm sure I told you how I pretended to call my parents once in an airport when the three kids were fighting and kicking and biting, and I pretended to tell my parents that I was leaving the kids in the airport for them to pick up! The kids were then on their best behavior! (this is NOT what I learned when studying Child Development! )
Michele... I know you snored but it wasn't loud. We did get along well..we are cool.
Okay, Ladies..I'm off to pack my stuff as I fly to Omaha tomorrow morning. My trip in Chicago was superb..one of the best ever.
I won't be on-line for a few days as I fly on Thurs to Florida and arrive there late and then I have a very busy weekend.
Have a great Labor Day Weekend to all those who are in the States.
Be well...

Michele, I take back what I said about your snoring. dEBBIE is right, yours wasn't bad... I might have been projecting onto you MY super loud snoring. After all it was I who just had the sleep test. No results yet.

Rosemarie, thank you for thinking of me during this time (school opening). I know you can relate to all the prep work.

Tracy, my trunk is holding your trunk for good luck. Our tooshes (sp?) are keeping you from falling. Praying for normal or no change.

Laura, it's back to work for you, too! Hope you finish all the projects on time.

I saw the new shirt Laura made, It's an elephant, it's got cheetah print, it's drinking a lemon drop.

It's a CHEETAH-PHANT!

We're getting ready to go to Montreal tomorrow to spend time with my husband's family...his entire family lives there and his cousin is getting married...huge Egyptian wedding SO excited!

I just dropped Kelby off at the breeder's farm....she's staying there from today until I pick her up on Tuesday. I bawled like a baby when I dropped her off. Then I came home and saw all her toys and her food and got all worked up again. Am I insane or what?

I'm off to the doctor's....I have to do a bone density scan as part of the SOFT trial and then I have to get bloodwork done because my oncologist is being OCD and noticed that I'm anemic....she said it has nothing to do with cancer, but overall she's a doctor...just like a primary provider.. and can never ignore even small stuff. So, they're testing my iron levels (maybe deficient), B-12, folate, and thyroid functioning. I know it's not cancer related...I've researched it all until I'm exhausted and nothing is coming up about anemia being related to cancer, but I'm SOOOOOO not in the mood to do anything related to doctors, hospitals, bloodwork, etc. Ugh. That's my day.

Hope everyone has a good weekend!!!

WHERE'S GRAYCIE! IS SHE LOST IN AMERICA?

JanClare! That was so sweet! It was nice meeting you and I hope that you will start hanging out with us here in "Rocktober Land"!!! There are lots of cheeta-phants in Rocktober land!

OK - My mammo is done and the tech said the Dr. indicated that all is good - YES!!! Now I am waiting in the Cancer Center for my Onc appt.....

Amy - I always cry when I leave my pups! They are like our kids.... She will have fun playing with some new friends until you come home and it will make you feel so good when she is excited to see you and to come home!

Off to my appointment.....

You may have already seen this article...pretty interesting..

"Bursting Bubbles that could Blast Away Breast Cancer"

www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/health/womenfamily.html?in_article_id=478214&in_page_id=1799

Hi Girls.
I need your help. Can you please pray for my sister, Leeann? She has been in the hospital since Thursday - they are trying to medicate her effectively. She has suffered from bi-polar/manic depression most of her life. The meds she was taking are no longer helping. There's not many more meds that are available, but they're doing a trial and error type of treatment while she's there. Shelby and Sydney will be coming here until next week when they start school. My Mom has been filling in, but she's overwhelmed and exhausted. I will take them for school supplies and clothes. This is really difficult for everyone. This type of illness, IMO, is worse than any physical illness. It's breaking my heart that she has to deal with this. I know she misses her girls. Thank you so much...

Laura - I am so sorry..... You will all be in my prayers. Shelby is such a sweet girl and I am sure Sydney is too - you are very special to be there for them and I know that Leanne, your mom and the girls all appreciate everything that you are doing.

Please tell your Mom, Syndey & Shelby that we love them. If you can think of anything that we can do - you know that we are all here for you.

Your Cheetah-phant sisters are holding you up (and making you a virtual lemon drop).

(((hugs)))

Could you imagine how much fun we could have (and how much trouble we could get into) if we all lived near each other?

Brenda - nice story about your little friend. It is nice to see kids grow up and change into positive young people.

Our schools are all under construction. The 2 Elementary schools have moved the kids into Modular buildings for the entire year so that they can totally remodel the schools. Our High School was supposed to be remodeled during the summer, but they aren't finished!!! The Teachers are having a difficult time getting their rooms ready and the cafeteria is not finished - so no place for the kids to eat! We also have a BRAND new Mid-High that is almost finished, but not where it should have been by this time - so the teachers are trying to set up their rooms and many of the rooms are still storage for construction tools!

Laura, mental illness is such a struggle...so hard on the whole family. Do your best to understand her needs and help where you can. You seem to be up to the plate with the children. That is good they need that stability. I hope she turns the corner soon.

Of course me Ex 's check has not arrived. It is going to be one whopping visa bill this month for me! I have to pay the first half of tuition and board for DD who starts college this week. She is all packed and READY to go. I may need a LD martini, or two.

First paddle in a month tonight. It was great to get back in the water . I told everyone about my adventure. I still can't believe it happened and how great it was.

One more day of being three doctors-it has been 2-3 hours extra work a day. I have always tried to balance work and home but definitely lost the battle this week.

I have to have bloods this week, I am in the hospital every day but have so far avoided it. I really would love to skip it but... the onc would not be impressed. I am so afraid something will show up and I'll be back on the down slide of life...Stupid way to think, I know, I know!

Hope yo have a super class this year Brenda. Nice to see a school make a difference with a troubled kid. My kids go back in a week.

I am off to the cottage for Labour Day weekend. I will drop my DD at her college on Sunday.

Tarcy, a good check up, that is awesome.

Fists up!

Hi Girls...

Thanks so much for your words of wisdom and strength. I really appreciate your help with this one! Keep your fingers crossed that the meds will come through and balance her world. I just found out that one of the meds that worked for her were not covered on her insurance so she was unable to take it. I was outraged by this...I have made it clear that I will make it my personal mission, to see that she gets whatever meds it takes (even if it means me getting a second job to pay for them)! Thank you so much!

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The search light came through... once again...

...Graycie called me. Her computer keyboard is not working, so she can't type anything, but she has read all of our posts. She told me to tell you that she had a great time, and was really happy to meet you all. She and KiKi ran into some construction traffic Sunday night and decided to get a hotel somewhere in Ohio. they hit the road again on Monday morning and got home later that day.

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Brenda -
You're so sweet. That little body of yours should be sore! Teachers work their butts off! I read that most teachers spend over a thousand dollars a year out of their own money to buy supplies, etc. for their students! You are no doubt...one of them. I love the elephant you gave us! It's such an icon of our bond. Thank you for that.

Mary-Anne -
I'm so sorry you had such a hard time with the ex's check. It's amazing that you're able to coordinate your dd's college and all. You are such a wonderful mom! Good luck with the blood tests...I know the anxiety of it...all too well. It was so great to meet you! Those curls...awesome!

Mary -
You are so thoughtful...I know you would help in a heart beat! You are an amazing inspiration to everyone who's blessed with your presence. Shelby told my what you said about growing up to be strong like me. She was truly impressed with your words. Thank you for teaching her a very valuable life lesson. You are so talented in this way. She really thinks you're great! the brown paper book was great! That is something they will never forget.

Tracy -
If we lived closer, you're right...we would be great friends! And yes...we'd get in a heap of trouble though! LOL You are incredible! We have been feasting on the salmon since the weekend! It is awesome. I have ran to the store 3 times since then to get more capers and crackers and cream cheese! I wish we lived closer to one another! I miss you so much!

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I hope the Wards have a safe trip home...I hope ravdeb had a safe trip too. Paul should be heading back to Australia - I think today? Safe travels to ALL!

RoseMarie -
You're a trooper...traveling with 3 little ones. Leaving your dh in Chi-town and heading home...you must have been exhausted. Thanks for setting up the photo album page!

Cathy -
Where are you? You must have a gazillion things to catch up on! I N/V your energy....I want to visit the Toy Farmer Museum. Would that be okay?

Where's MEESHELL!?!

I've gotta go...I'm taking the Goat for a spin b/4 the sun goes down...

LOVE YOU ALL so very much....