Starting Chemo in JAN 2007

Skye, Sweetie, I am joining in the prayers for benign results, and for strength and courage for you. Thank God you listened to your body, and to Jan, and called the doctor. I hope you have reached your husband. We are all holding your hands and hugging you.

Melia

It's very weird...getting that news just made the day sort of float by in a haze. I crawled into bed for awhile this afternoon, and DH just went out for my favorite Chinese food for our supper. DS2 was out having his observation day for substitute teaching and was hired on the spot after also interviewing with the principal. So he got paid for 4 hours already and went out to celebrate with some friends. That was my happy news to counteract everything else. I didn't have the heart to tell him my news yet. Plenty of time for that.



So I'm just sucking in all the sympathy, it's very nourishing. Like pea pod shrimp for the soul. Thanks again everyone.

Skye

PS Here is a link to my future DIL's gown http://www.essensedesigns.com/files/couture/C145.html

Skye -

Yup chinese food and chocolate will do wonders for the spirit.

The future DIL's dress is gorgeous - kind of sexy bride look, very sophisticated...

That's great news that DS got a teaching job - Maybe you won't have to tell him anything because you'll have those tests next week and it will all come up B9

I had a nap this afternoon as usual after my a.m. Herceptin, tomorrow I'm going to putter around the office and do some paperwork.  As most of you with home offices know, you get more work done on the weekend when the phones are silent.  Tomorrow night we are taking out my BFF and her family to celebrate her eldest daughter's engagement - We're going to a trendy Italian restaurant, haven't been to one of those in ages - it will be nice because both our DDs will be there too.

Did you read the news about Dorothy Hamill's BC diagnosis? Why does the news of a celebrity diagnosis always seem to be so close to home?

One year ago tomorrow the 5th was my first chemo treatment. I remember the terror going in and that determined smile and raised chin to disguise to my daughters my feelings of complete helplessness.

I reminded my youngest tonight of the anniversary. She said "Look where you are now, Mom". I said "Yeah, following you around Omaha, dragging my exhausted backside through Dillards."  We laughed. Then she hugged me.

I'll be glad when I look at a calendar and don't automatically mark a date as cancer-related. 

It's time to go soak in a hot tub with some music and a book.

Hugs to us all!

Cindy 

Skye,

That dress is gorgeous!!!  I just love everything about it. 

Congrats to your son on the new job.

Special hugs to you tonite, and special prayers will be said too.

xxoo Joni

Hi all,



Skye,

Congratulations on your son’s new job. He is going to love it. I absolutely love that gown. It is gorgeous.

Jan is so right about chocolate- it is definitely medicinal. I am praying your results are B9. Lots of positive energy and hugs going your way.



Melia,

Lots of hugs to you too. It is so hard this time of year- with all the cancerversaries. Once these events have passed, hopefully it will get easier for us. We have been through so much, and soon we hopefully will able to go forward making these events a distant memory. The cancerversaries will become anniversaries that we will celebrate. July is not soon enough for our celebration. I hope you feel better soon.



Lynn and I and our dh’s met for lunch in Boston yesterday after our ps’s appointments. Her appointment was at 11 and mine was 11:30- it worked out perfectly. We had a fun time.

Lynn, you look great after only four weeks post surgery. Each day WILL get easier.

My ps told me he would do some lipo on my hip area near my tummy tuck - I told him he could take as much fat as he wanted. LOL. He laughed also.



We have to take out tree to the dump now. Another end of a season, and hopefully a happier and brighter year for us all.



Love,

Viddie (Paula)

The wedding was absolutely spectacular.  My sister looked glorious, the ceremony was a beautifully done, tastefully spiritual yet still largely secular in that my sister did not marry a jewish man.   She wore two family heirloom rings during her ceremony…one on her finger and another (believe it or not) on her underwear….and at the last minute the request came in to add a line to the ceremony announcing this fact.  The poor minister was floored, but TADA!!!! We have an English teacher in the house!  YAY!  So I actually got to write (on the fly) a small portion of my sister’s wedding ceremony.  Probably one of the few times that an English professor can meet an emergency need LOL

The kids were wonderful, although they were even MORE wonderful when we put them in a cab with their babysitter and sent them back to the hotel.  Kidding aside, the girls (as you will see from these few preview pictures) were a stunning sight, and they were also very well behaved, gracious and charming.  Owen walked around the party as if he owned the place introducing himself to people and generally making anyone he spoke to smile and laugh at his cuteness.  He flirted outrageously with all the women and I think that he met just about everyone at the party.  The next morning at the hotel, we saw a woman from the party in the elevator, and he recognized her, announcing “Hey!  You were at the party!  ME TOO!  I was the guy in a tie”  What a character.  Ana came out onto the dancefloor and danced her little tootsies off…there is lots of video footage of Ana dancing with me, dancing with Matt, dancing with the bride, with the bridesmaids, with the nice lady from table 2….you get the picture.  She bounced like a jumping bean with a huge smile on her face and laughter on her tongue.  Frances was a bit more laid back.  She does not care for loud music or crowds, so she spend the time before the ceremony in the bridal suite with me and the rest of the bridesmaids (and of course the bride) and then requested that we send her back to the hotel as soon as dinner was over.  We had a lovely college age babysitter who took them back, got them ready for bed and then watched a movie with them.  They were asleep by the time we got back at about 1:30AM.

As for myself, I danced the night away with my Husband…be barely got to eat our food for the dancing….and I spent very little time talking to people, which in some ways was a shame because there were many people there that I had not seen in many years…but on the other hand it was a blessing because the people who I DID talk to kept on raving about how “good I look” and asking me thinks like “all of your scans are ok, right?” or “how are (you know) THINGS”  My generic response it to smile, say thank you and assure everyone “So far so good”.  Works pretty well, but it does get kind of dull to talk about over and over (as you guys WELL know!).  I did have one rather drunk gentleman (who I have known since I was a child) go all mushy on me…he was apparently very upset when I got sick and I have not seen him since well before my Dx.  He hugged me so hard I thought my ribs were going to crack!  Kind of sweet really.

The best news at the party was that I did not have to make a toast (yay!) but the bad news is that the trampy girlfriend of one of my sister’s childhood friends (who himself has turned a bit gross to everyone’s surprise) got a little over excited on the dancefloor and just about put her stiletto heel through the side of my foot.  My foot is black, swollen and sore now….but it could have been worse…if she got my toe I think I would now be nursing a broken bone instead of a bruise.  She was apologetic when it happened (as I hopped around on one foot trying not to cry) so there are no hard feelings….just a bad boo-boo that will certainly heal.

Well anyway, here are a few “preview” pictures.  The lighting was terrible so I did not take very many, and since these are the photos from MY camera, they do not actually include any photos of ME….purely a question of logistics….More photos will follow….my mom took lots of pictures I think, and of course there were the millions of professional portraits that were taken!

http://picasaweb.google.com/rebecca.sheehy/SarahSWeddingDay142008?authkey=gfUDZRdE0fA

Oh, Skye, I'm so sorry they found something on your MRI, but I'm glad that they got you in for it sooner rather than later. I, too, will add my thoughts and prayers for benign results on the further scans and tests. The dress your future dil picked is beautiful. Did she pick the white on white as in the picture or one of the other colors?

Rebecca, the kids were cute for the wedding and your sis made a pretty bride. I'm glad you could handle the last minute writing assignment. I like Owen's statement "I was the guy in a tie." Like he was the only one there wearing a tie.

Viddie and Lynn, meeting in person sounds like such fun. Where did you eat lunch? What did you have? Details! We want details.

Melia, I just "chatted" with my dad in Lompoc, and he said there were Flash Flood Warnings in that part of SB County. Stay safe and dry and don't drive on any flooded roads.

Cindy, I didn't see the news about Dorothy Hamill, but I'll look for it now.

Take care everyone.

Rebecca, I'm so glad the wedding was such a smash for all involved. Your 3 little ones all look so dressy and cute. That dashing and debonair Owen, LOL! Sister was beautiful, what a time for memories! And it is completely appropriate that you got to dance the night away with your husband.



I'm glad everyone liked Holly's dress. The picture doesn't even really do it justice...the straps front and back are covered with Swarovski crystals, and yes, she chose the white on white which is just breathtaking on her. My son will swoon. I'll pass on your compliments as she was having some second thoughts the next day and could use reassurance.



Melia I'm with you on feeling those blues, but I am eating as much chocolate as possible to counteract them. I had breakfast and belated Christmas this morning with two BFFs, who voiced the same eloquent words as Amera when I gave them the news. There is a lot to be said for people cursing on one's behalf. Thanks again to the rest of you for all you've written. It's starting to hurt a little more than tingle, which seems not good. But I took a long nap this afternoon and then decadently stayed there and read a bunch of C.S. Lewis' "Weight of Glory" which is a deeply comforting book to me. Then I put away a bunch more Christmas stuff, and sent DS to get our favorite takeout pizza. I STILL have not tried out my ipod Nano so that is on the list for tonight.



A rocking Saturday night to you all! - Skye

Just peeked at that dress Skye...it is totally divine!  She will look lovely!

just got finished catching up

Skye ..... big huge hugs to you darling ... give that little puppy of yours a hug , I wish you could have my molly to hug she is a 165lb big furry newfy and gives lotsa hugs and sloppy kisses . It's funny how your furry pals are always there to listen to ya .

Rebecca you kiddies sound like they are a bundle of joy for you , keeping you in good spirits .... its great when you sit back and enjoy their fun and happy dances !

Caya hope you had a good nite out you are a social queen these days ! Your daughters too ....... hoping your mri results are clean , at least you may have a little less snow to contend with as the temp here is going to be balmy .

You gals is Cal keep dry , the news here showed snow there ! wats up wit that !

I am just doing the regular things right now and it feels good , funny how getting back to your old routine feels good , like when it was routine we were wishing for excitement ! Well we found it ladies and have had all of us to share in that .

I am praying and hoping with all of our collective hugs that we all have a "regular" 2008 and for those of us who MAY have a off day at least we have all here for support . Something that none of us had a year and a half ago  . Amazing thing this Internet ...... who could have even dreamed it would have kept us all standing . All of us with so may unique traits and lives .... all bundled up into a great group .

I thank god we all can hold hands together , sisters in a loving circle . Still gotta get ourselves a name ...... we need a brainstorming session

Luv ya'll

Hello Bodacious Ta Ta Sisterhood!!

Dan & I went to a Christmas party last nite....yes my girlfriend always has hers the first Saturday after New Year's.  It was so much fun.  It was a potluck, so I made devilled eggs, and cabbage rolls in tomato sauce.  Lots to eat, great desserts, great company, and lots of laughs. 

Lynn & Viddie, that lunch sounded like lots of fun.

Mary, sure hope you can make it on the trip.

I got  a card from Tae, she is doing well, which is good to hear.

Beautiful here, I took Thor out for a fairly long walk yesterday, so YES my hip is doing a bit better.  Going to get Darling Dan to take down the outside Christmas lights today.  My sister is having a big dinner tonite, so I don't even have to cook today...yippeee kiyay!!

Wish me luck, get my bone scans and MRI results tomorrow.....it's an Atiman nite tonite.   

Rebecca, I just looked at the wedding pics, they are beautiful.   Your sister is very beautiful, and your kids looked priceless.  Need some of you in your "chocolate ensemble".   I'm glad you had a great time, you deserve it.

Hugs to all

Joni

Joni - good luck with the scan results tomorrow. Let us know what you find out. I hope you get good news. Sending lots and lots of good thoughts your way.

Rebecca - yeah for Francis, that's so awesome. She must be thrilled.

I went climbing today and DH brought the kids and dogs over to the park to play around for awhile. As we were leaving I spotted a woman (early 40's) in a bandana. So I sent DH ahead with the kids and stopped to show her how much hair she'll have in just a few months. Turns out she just finished chemo and that we have the same oncologist. She (and her husband) were SO excited to see my hair. We talked (of course) about lots of serious stuff too. It was so fun to put a big smile on her face. 

Skye - thinking about you and hope you are holding up OK. When will you find out when your next scans are?

I seriously wish I could just hop on a plane and hold your hand tomorrow Joni - but like Rebecca said we're doing that from here as best we can. 

Joni, sending prayers your way. 

Debbie, great pics

Rebecca, congrats on a great meet.

Jan, great for you for reaching out to someone.  We need to spread hope.

Okay today I went to my nephew's bday and my SIL, whose husband died in May, didn't come because she is mad at me.  Apparently I said something to offend her when I had her and everyone else over.  She started dating a month after her husband died which we took hard but didn't say anything and then she went on to a new boyfriend but still sees the other as a friend.  She mentioned that the old was was good at fixing things and her son wanted him to fix the computer.  I said, well, you better hurry up and get that fixed before you dump him.  I said it totally as a joke and I got no negative reaction.  But now apparently two weeks later she is still mad and didn't come to the birthday party.  Now I know she is very insecure and every time we get together she gets mad at someone but somehow I feel to blame.  Yet my other SIL told her I was probably just joking and she took it wrong.  So now I feel bad but I don't really want to have anything to do with this SIL who is always fighting with someone.  I know she has gone through a tough time in her life and is still going through it, but we are all going through a tough time too.  We lost someone close to us.  I think she shouldn't even talk at a family get together about people she is dating, especially if she can't take a joke.  She has always been unstable but her husband kept her from getting out of control.  I know I won't sleep tonight thinking about it but I really didn't mean anything.  Do I try to send her a note, or just let this blow over?  I think it is really painful when she sees us and I feel bad for her 16 year old son.  I really don't think I can have much of a relationship with her as volatile as she is. 

Mary, we were posting at the same time. Your  sil sounds very toxic. I hope you can distance yourself as much as possible from her. It is complicated when there is a 16 year old involved, if you are fond of him.  We had a beloved cousin die the summer before my diagnosis. Her husband remarried within two months, and none of us see him anymore, but we have maintained good relationships with his grown kids. It's easier when the kids are grown; you can then sort of ban the parents, still see the kids. Please try not to let it upset you too much; I have never met you in person, but I "know" you well enough to know you are not a malicious gal, and would not be cruel to anyone.

Melia