Starting Chemo in JAN 2007

Hi girls its frances and i wanted to wish you guys a happy easter! i hope everyone is well and happy. you dont haved to responed to this cuz my mom problem wont let me respond back... lol.... but anyway, i (again) wish you all well and i want to meet you guys in person! you sound sooo nice from what my mom has told me. maybe yu girls can plan a meeting in new jersey and i can FINALLy meet you! ok i have to go cuz i have to get ready to go to my grandmas house for easter. so ya.......

frances (franie, my friends call me that.... =]  ) bye! 

Hello Ta Tas,

I'm surfacing from basically 4 days straight of college kids, birthday cake(s), eating out non-stop, and slowly feeling better from the UTI.  Lots of fun to see the DD's friends, (they all LOVE my new short hairdo) but I am whacked and looking forward to a quiet week of just the DH and I. 

Joni - I am so envious of your weather and those budding bulbs- it is unseasonably cold here, -2 C (about 30F) during the day, snow is still piled up on my yard, and they are calling for more snow here on Tuesday.  I am sorry to hear that you are not feeling so great and I hope you will feel better soon.

Robbin - You have alot of hair girl.  Mine is not nearly as long, but it is alot straighter, and darker.

Cindy - I give you credit - I don't think I would ever get a tatoo, but then again, who knows?  Nowadays I never say never.

Mel - You've never had a Cadbury Easter creme egg?  They only come out at Easter time. They are a chocolate egg shell and the inside is a "yolk" and "egg white."  Very yummy.

Sharon - We will have to go for lunch again soon.  I'll call you in the next few weeks to arrange it.

Franie - thanks for posting.  I know we would all love to meet you and Ana and Owen and your Dad - maybe next year we'll plan a trip to NYC with a day trip to New Jersey.  I hope you had an nice Easter at your Grandma's house.

Tina - I hope the house hunting is going well.  I know it's hard on the kids shlepping them around, but what else can you do?  Have a safe drive back to Ohio. 

Amera, Jan, Melia(please check in), Viddie, Nancy, Skye,Rebecca, Mary - hope you all are enjoying the Easter weekend.

xo

RobbinJaye - I'm impressed that you have the patience not to do anything to your hair while it grows out. I've had mine trimmed/shaped at least 5 times so far even though I want it to grow out too.  No, I haven't had any other health problems (unless you count my diminished brain function).

I wanted to give you guys an update on my rock climbing. Thursday night I was barely able to climb anything, but I did manage to get to the top of a few of the very, very easiest climbs. It was a humbling experience and I was so sore afterwards.

Yesterday I went back and was able to climb slightly harder climbs - but ones that are still considered for beginners. It's very frustrating to feel like I am starting all over again. I used my legs a lot more yesterday to compensate for the weakness of my arms and as a result my leg muscles HURT today. At least I got some exercise. 

Oh Joni I do not remember you telling that story before...that is just dreadful.  Honestly, for all that the US is so litigious, it is pretty hard to get a malpractice case going here too.  I would say, though, that you would have a good one.

Happy birthday Lynn!  Lost track...did not know it was coming up.  Lots of gooey fudgecake and candles, I hope.

Well I officially have a raging case of Scanxiety going here...compounding with a pretty large helping of google-itis.  I am trying very, very hard to stay away from my computer, or at least keep my computer away from the "bad sites".  My bone scan is on Wed morning...DH has taken off work to be with me, although I suspect that it will be the days that follow that will be the hardest.  My back has been tingling like crazy...so intense that it almost hurts...and my spine was actually sore on the spot that my onc pressed for a day or two after.  I keep telling myself it is psychosomatic, but I am still finding myself awake at 3AM listening to the silence.  UGH

Anyway...off I go

have a good night everyone 

Hi TaTa's,

Cindy, I love that choice of tattoo design, and the phrase. I'm tempted to copy you!

Joni, I wish you were feeling better and hope you will be very soon. Remember there are also lots of strange viruses going around right now, too. I had that one myself and it lingered.

Rebecca, fretting for your scanxiety for you. Your symptoms do sound EXACTLY like mine -- right down to it hurting for a day after onc poked at it -- which turned out to be the hemangioma. So there is every chance it's benign like mine.

Hi to Frances, we have heard so much about your delightful self and siblings, we are hoping we get to meet you all sometime soon. And I'm so glad your friend is feeling better.

Robbin, I bet your hair growth speed will increase the farther you get away from chemo. You'll have those long locks again before you know it.

Tina the house sounds extremely lovely. A village green, even? Idyllic! Hope all the transactions go smoothly for you.

I had my Herceptin yesterday and asked them to push it slow again this time and they did so I did not get sick again, just queasy around bedtime but fine this morning. My onc felt the rib area where it's so painful right now and said he could feel a swelling from cartilage inflammation and is sure it is "just" a spread of the costochondritis. He said he will leave my Mediport in for three months or so after I'm done.

DS is doing ok, he is pretty much over the flu and will see the doctor tomorrow. I'm not fretting til there is something definite to fret about, or it would be too overwhelming.

As for me, I'm in marathon week. I have the book manuscript almost ready to send, I have a magazine cover design due in to my art rep today, and have not yet written my speech or made my Powerpoint for this weekend. Tomorrow night is my radio show and someone is coming to tape me doing it for some state public TV documentary. Friday a.m. I leave for Baltimore, which will be like a wonderful vacation once my speech is done. Believe it or not, another film group wants to interview me there for a Hist. Ch. show, and even wanted me to change my flight back and stay there longer. I said no way. At least my hair doesn't suck. I'm lightening it with "Sun-In."

Back to crazy-making day - Skye

Hi All,

Thanks for all the kind words. I really needed some tlc. This is such a warm, safe place for all of us.

Joni and Rebecca, you are surrounded by all of us as you go through more tests. I wish I could tell you not to worry, but relax into our collective love.

Cindy, love the tatto. What a brave girl!  And Tina, congrats on all the progress. You have such an upbeat attitude whatever you are tackling. Jan, your strength will come back, and in the meantime, be careful!  But most of all, have fun.  Viddie, the drive sounds daunting, but the condo sounds great.  And it's so nice that Meri has choices. I know what you mean about student debt; we didn't pay for grad school either.  Skye, what a busy schedule you have ahead of you, but it's great to hear your enthusiasm. Just try to pace yourself. Caya, have your recovered from your invasion of college kids?  And Frances, we would all love to meet you. We adore your mom.

It's fun having our son home for a week. He is worried about his dad, so is hovering a bit more than usual, but he is lots of fun to have around. I love to talk politics with him; he is well read and logical, so even if we don't agree, I learn something.

I had better get back to work; lunch break is over. And again, thanks for all the encouragement and support.

Melia

Hi Ladies,

Lynn did I miss your birthday? If so hope it was an excellent one.

Amera, I guess if your doc is staying in good contact with you and you are triple neg that is about all she can do, other than the scans coming up. I don't think any of us look forward to the scans.

Rebecca and Joni, I'm thinking about both of you, speaking of scans.

Viddie enjoy the trip, it sounds wonderful.

Tina I hope the offer went through, the place sounds like a dream of a family home.

I'm coming along with my workload and should get everything done all right if I keep pacing myself and stick to it. I'll probably be packing furiously tomorrow night, when by the way we are scheduled to get another six inches of snow so I have to worry about flight delays on top of everything else. Grendel is going to go visit his cousins (my brother's two Lhasa apsos) for the weekend.

DS has his doctor appt. today at 1 p.m. and we are so praying that it is one of those other little things it could be.

I can't believe it's almost April! - Skye

Rebecca - I think today was your scan - how did it go?  How soon before they tell you anything?  The Ta Ta fretters are on the job - for you too Skye for your DS... and Joni - any word yet from your scan?

Hoping for good news from everyone.

Lynn- Happy Belated Birthday - I wish the site would put up the little birthday cakes like they used to.  How's Ally?  Hang in there.

Viddie - glad you are feeling calmer on the Effexor - I knew you would, it's a great med. Have a nice safe ride down to Florida.  I'm sure Meri will pick the right school for her - I can't get over the different costs of the schools for basically the same courses.  Here in Canada all the universities are public - so the tuition rates can vary some, but nothing like in the States.  There are some private business colleges, secretarial school etc., but the universities are government controlled, so the tuition rates are pretty standard.  Of course the tuition rates do vary according to the course you are are in - medical school/law/accounting/dentistry are all higher than a general arts program.  I'm paying about $5,000 each for Amanda and Cassie's tuitions -Media/Communications (Amanda) and Journalism (Cassie)housing/meals/entertainment/transportation etc. is extra, naturally.

I am feeling better with the UTI.  I am going to speak to my onc. about this when I go for my Herceptin tomorrow.

Tina - the new house is amazing.  I hope you get it.

xo

Hello all,

Rebecca, your bone scan sounds normal.  Mine really glows from my left hip and also in my rib where they say there is BC.

I had my MRI, they got my IV in on the 1st stick, because I was at the Children's Hospital...if I have to have MRIs that is where I like to have them because they seem to have better IV nurses.  My bone scan is scheduled for next Monday, then I don't see my onc until April 22, so it's a long wait in between.  He said if there was anything major they would call me in early, so I'm not going to worry.   I could see another onc, but I'd see my onc.

I also had my Zoladex shot yesterday and started my 2nd month of Arimidex.  It has less side effects than the Tamoxifen...not so stiff.  But I do get alot of hot flashes with the Zoladex and Arimidex.

Caya, good to hear you are feeling better, that didn't sound like much fun.

Melia, I've incuded your friend in my nightly prayers.

Lynn, sorry to hear your surgery date got moved.  You doctor sounds like a gem though, so I'm sure there is a good reason.

Tina, I LOVE that house...WOW.   I have a front porch and I just love it in the summer.

Busy doing spring cleaning now that I'm feeling a bit better.  I have so much junk, I'm throwing away lots of stuff that I never use.  If it's good enough I'm taking it to goodwill, but most of the stuff is just ready for the junkheap.

Hope all are well...hugs to all...Joni

Hi TaTa's,

Yes Tina, one of the major s/e's of Tamoxifen is stiffness in your joints.  I think you made the right choice with your house in a less congested area, the land value will appreciate your asset more....now does that sound like my accountant self or what?

I'm getting my furnaces cleaned today....I have two, one that heats the walkout and one for the two other floors.  I'm getting my house all ready to sell for the summer.  We are looking at these new condos going up on the Bow River.  They are called Riverside Quays.  Calgary is so expensive now, it's 1/2 a million dollars just for a condo nowadays.  We are also looking at Canmore, as it's only about 40 minutes into the city.  I don't want anymore stairs, because when I couldn't walk in Jan and Feb I was scared upstairs in my house, what would happen if I had a fire or something.

Should be a loud afternoon with the furnace cleaners here....Thor & I may go out for a stroll.

Hugs to all...Joni

Happy belated bday Lynn.  Sounds like a fun weekend.  I've ALWAYS want to go to NYC and esp. see a play.

Joni, glad you are feeling better.  Every time my hip hurts (arthritis I think), I think of you and what you are going through.

Rebecca, I'll be praying for you and your results Fri.

Skye, have a good weekend.

Tina, hope you get that house.

Amera, good to hear from you.  I guess you just have to trust your doctors.

Viddie, is a 17 foot big enough for Fla?  Be careful!

Caya, glad you had fun with your DD and friends.  I really miss my sons. 

Getting more snow here today. UGH!  Will Spring ever come?  Will July ever come?  Hugs.

Good morning Ta Tas,

Well I had my 3rd last Herceptin yesterday, very uneventful - they did routine bloodwork which is done every 3 months or so for me while on Herceptin.  Unfortunately my onc. was not there and I had alot of questions for him, nothing urgent so I will wait until next time.  Afterwards I met Cassie for lunch at her university campus, always nice to spend time with one of the DDs.

Then I walked over to the Eaton Center (one of the largest indoor malls in Canada - 3 stories high) - for some retail therapy.  I bought myself a few nice T shirts in springy colours - I bought a pink one to definitely bring on our trip.

Came home and did my usual post-Herceptin late afternoon nap.  Today I am having my usual post-Herceptin nausea, not too bad, but hey - only 2 times left - hooray Skye and Viddie - we are all going to finish in May - I think we should have a cyberspace party to celebrate. Tina of course you can join in as our honorary Herceptin finisher (is that a word?) too - you did what you could.

Rebecca - the fretters are on high alert today for you - please post when you know.

Joni - the condo sounds like a great idea.  I know the Calgary prices have gone beserk the last couple of years - but your house must have gone up in value as well.  Toronto is still pretty nuts, depending on location.

Lynn - enjoy that weekend in the Big Apple with Ally.

Mary - Do your boys come home at all this summer?  I think one of you DSs is in college - won't he be at home this summer?

Nancy - I hope you and Jeff have a great time in Phoenix with your DD - you two sure deserve that break.

Skye - have a nice trip to Baltimore, just don't overdo it. I had a dream last night that you were here in Toronto and I took my copy of Strange Wisconsin to your book signing and you recognized me and the 2 of us were screaming and blubbering like babies - it will probably be like that when we do meet.

Have a great day ladies.

xo

Caya, no it doesn't look like DS is coming home this summer.  He has an apt so he has a year round lease.  He is going to take 4 classes in two segments and get a part-time job of some sort.  He is pretty good with money so he isn't broke yet but he does need to get some work.  The other son is in Houston.  He is coming close by in a couple of weeks so we will get a dinner and church in with him.  Then in April he comes home with his fiancee for their marriage prep class at church so I get him for a whole weekend.  He is much more open and talkative.  The younger one is easy-going but doesn't reveal much.  I just feel like I've lost them...it's hard to explain.  Boys are so different.  They don't like to shop and go out to eat like girls do.  But I am gaining a daughter-in-law who I love but she'll also be far away.  I do like her parents a lot.  In fact we are getting together in a few weeks for a nice dinner out to celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary - and ours which is in August.  I just need to find something to keep me satisfied. 

Viddie, good luck on meeting my boyfriend's parents!  Hope you can have a drink together and be relaxed. 

Nancy, I'm so glad that you are getting a break and getting away and getting to see your baby girl - you must know how lonely I'm feeling.  Hugs

Hi there.

Joni, a one story house is sure easier on the joints. I think I gave up stairs in the mid 70s. The hubby and I lived in a Married student housing town house apartment for nine months, and by May of 1974 my knees were a wreck, especially the left one I'd injured 5 years before. Since then it's been ranch houses or single level apartments for this girl. I did have basements when I lived in Wisconsin, but I didn't have to go up and down the stairs several times everyday.

Viddie and Nancy enjoy your trips and seeing your kids.

Caya, we all need retail therapy from time to time. It's always nice to find something you like. Naps are good, too. My hubby has to watch me, or I'll drop off in the middle of some of my favorite programs.

I decided to watch the NCAA tournament tonight. Hooray!! Texas won their game. Sorry, Skye, that Wisconsin lost to that little bitty school from North Carolina. That made a good story, though, of the school paying for busses so anyone who wanted to could go to Detroit for the game. I guess most of the Student Body shows up for the home games. That Davidson is having a great season.

Oh, Skye, I thought also of you this afternoon when we ate at the Culver's near our house. I don't know what they do to the hamburgers, but they do taste good. Since I had just finished my water aerobics class, I had a one scoop dish of the flavor of the day, Chocolate Paradise. All I can say is Yum, Yum!!

Tina, when the Culver's opened near my house a few years ago we went in to try it. They started out in 1984 in Sauk City, Wisconsin. They didn't open in Madison until after we left in 1986. I always enjoy hearing the manager/owner of ours talk in her Wisconsin accent. They have such a wide menu that it isn't just a burger/custard place. You can get dinners there, too. According to the table card they were voted #1 Burger Chain by some restaurant group.

Sometime before you leave Ohio, you should try out Culver's.