Starting Chemo in JAN 2007

Hi Ta Ta's,

I talked to Joni on the phone yesterday. It was wonderful to chat with her, we talked for about a half hour.  She's had a rough week (as you might expect) but sounded wonderful!  She gets her port in Monday and starts chemo shortly after.  I sent her our love and told her we are with her.

Mary, glad you are having a quiet weekend, relax and enjoy.  I'm sure you will be a wonderful support to your friend.

Tina, that is hilarious!  Glad it all worked out, your neighbors are wonderful!  I'm sure you'll keep in touch with them.

Mel, hope you find a nice dress for the wedding. I hear you about not finding something when you really need to.  Waiting for over 2 months for a diagnosis must be just awful.  Why is it taking so long?

Melia, praying for you and Steve.

Viddie, glad you got down there and all is well, have a great time!

I'm excited about today, it's the New England States bc.org get together.  I'm lucky in that the restaurant is only 20 minutes away from my house.  I think there will be about 12 of us there.  This is the first time I'm meeting anyone else besides Viddie and Amera.  We're doing a Yankee Swap, so that will be fun as well! 

Then tomorrow I go to Boston for our Users Forum for my work.  It's Sunday evening through Tuesday.  We have about 400 of our clients come in from all over the country.  I love seeing my clients, but it sure is exhausting being 'on' the entire time.  It's such a huge event, I'll be glad when it's over and we can concentrate on our regular jobs.

I'm leaving early for the lunch, stopping at the mall to see if I can find a new outfit for the User Forum.  If I don't find anything, oh well, but I'm in the mood to shop.

Happy Saturday! Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

love and hugs,

Lynn

Hi All,

I just did a quick read and it sounds like all is well. I am praying for Joni, as are all of us.  In fact, I pray for all of us daily.

My son and I just got Steve home a couple of hours ago. He is sleeping very soundly. The surgery was a great success. In spite of all the gloomy surgical predictions, the cancer was still encapsulated in the prostate. The immediate frozen sections that they sent to path while he was on the table were all clear, lymph nodes and margins!  We are immensely relieved and grateful. The surgery lasted six hours, so it was grueling, but he looks good and is in a good frame of mind. He is in a  lot of pain today as he transitions from morphine to vicadin, but I know that he will recover well now that he is home. We were very impressed with all the doctors and nurses, and although I stayed with him round the clock, I didn't have to .... but you don't know that in advance. I will also sleep well tonight. The kids are heading home tonight, and I will stay home with him all week, at which point we will decide how much and what kind of care he still needs.

Thank you again so much for all the support. I could be my true scared self with all of you.

Oh, also, when the nurse called after about four hours to tell me the cancer had not spread, I nearly collapsed. My son kept saying "don't fall down, Mom" and I just wept so hard. I think I was crying for all he had gone through, and all I had gone through. The poor chaplain came charging out of his office nearby as he heard me, ready, I am sure, to comfort a new widow. I am so stoic when news is bad, and this just released every fear and sadness that have accumulated for the past year and a half.

Melia

Oh Melia, so happy and relieved. Give our best to Steve. Are you hanging in there?  Big cyber hugs coming your way.

Amera

Oh, Melia!!  I'm so happy for you both - what wonderful news!  I know you hoped for this, while not really believing it could happen.  This is the best possible outcome - and I'm sure that Steve will recover more quickly knowing that he doesn't have to fight the big battles.   Thanks for taking the time to update us.  I know you'll be busy taking care of him, but take time to care for yourself, too - you've been through a lot.  Hugs to you both. 

Almost forgot - I did find some clothes to wear to the wedding, and then some.  I slept 12 hours, then set out to shop and didn't come home until I had a couple of choices.  I could not find a dress to save my life.  They are all frumpy or made for nymph-like 17 year olds, or just plain ugly.  So I went with dressy jackets to go with some dress pants.  I couldn't seem to make decisions, so I just went from store to store, and kept buying, thinking I'd take back what didn't work. 

My bc friend I had lunch with Friday emailed me that I needed to quit schlumping around in jeans and a black t-shirt, and start wearing some make-up, and get some color in my wardrobe!  This was right before I went to shop - so I just kept her words in mind and kept buying.  Spent a fortune, but I did find a few things.  I'm least happy with my wedding solution, but it will do.  I'm not really as bad as she thinks - I do wear color, and I do wear makeup - but evidently I need to wear more! LOL   Anyway, at least I have some clothes, although Larry will have a stroke when he gets the Amex bill.  And then he'll get over it.

Sharon, good to hear from you, as always.  I am sure you enjoyed your sunny day.  I sure miss seeing the crocuses come up in the spring, followed by daffodils and masses of pink tulips that I planted on one side of my house.  There's just no such thing down here. 

Lynn, my friend has been so slow to have his cancer diagnosed because they didn't know where his primary was, to begin with.  Not sure that they are totally sure yet, but they have narrowed the type of tumor down somewhat, to either melanoma or some kind of nerve sheath tumor.  He has lung mets and spinal tumors. 

Have a good week everyone.

Oh Wow....what a way to start my morning.  I am so glad that you posted Melia, and even gladder that the news was so positive.

Hugs to all...I have to go wake up the grumpy pre-teen.  I will try to check back later. 

Sharon,

Wishing you well at your GP today when you get your GOOD results.

Joni - thinking of you.

Have a great day gals.

Oh Jan - admit  it, you can tell your Ta Ta sisters the truth- you car thief you - lol!!  What a cute story.  Good thing you went into school to clear up any misconceptions.  Years ago my daughter and my cousin's son went to a daycamp that went under in the middle of the season.  The busdriver drove all the campers home and told each of them to tell their parents that the camp had gone bankrupt.  My cousin's son, Mason, told his mother - the camp had bank robbers. Oh we still laugh about that one.

OMG Jan that it too much.  At least you did not have to do a police lineup with the munchkins.  I bet they would have confessed to all kinds of stuff under that kind of pressure......

Today was the first day of Owen going to preschool 5 days a week....between that and the semester rapidly drawing to a close I am going to have to find myself a project or I will go out of my mind!  This Saturday is "big garbage" day here, which means that you can put all kinds of stuff to the curb and they will pick it up (we are normally limited by the size of our town-issued garbage can).  I have already built a little mountain in my basement, but I bet I could ditch more stuff if I put my mind to it.  In the past I have often held onto things because "they are still good" but now I just want it out...and if I can not give it away then it is no longer good!  The only thing I really have a hard time letting go of is books (imagine that).  At least this way I will have more room for them.....

Counting down to our big family vacation in Washington.....yipeee! can not beleive it.

Mel congrats on the wardrobe makover...I did something similar....I just indulged myself in three new pairs of jeans that fit me properly...no mean task in today's fashion world.  I fished out all my ratty old tshirts, and bought some bright new ones as well as some hoodies to layer over them.

Joni so good to hear from you!  I hope that your port goes in smoothly today.  Hang in there.

Sharon I hear you on the increase in sunshine!  I hate getting up when it is dark.

Skye I am glad that you had fun at the shower and a BIG UGH to the co-author from hell.  There is nothing worse than a group project with people that never learned their lessons in kindergarten.

Lynn how did the BC get-together go?  We had one here a few weeks ago and had a total hoot.

We had a really fun weekend.  On Saturday night both girls wound up sleeping at friends houses, and my MIL suddenly decided that she would come and babysit so Matt and I high-tailed it out of there and had a very nice dinner.  We spent the whole time laughing and joking and remembering how much we love each other and enjoy each other's company (not that we ever forgot, but we do not get out much without the kids).  The restaurant that we went to used to be one of our favorite places locally, but it recently changed hands and the new owner made a lot of changes that we were not aware of...it turned out to be much fancier than we were expecting, and much pricier.  Not sure we will go back....but we had fun regardless.  Well, the kids had a half day today, so I better get to it.  Hugs to everyone.... 

Hi all,

Melia,

I am so happy for you and Steve. Thanks for sharing the great news. I am sure you are giving him the royal treatment. 

Joni,

How are you?

Mel,

I am glad you found some new clothes. A successful day shopping is so gratifying. I am sure the outfit you got for the wedding looks great on you. It is so hard to find the right outfit ofr a wedding.

Jan,

That sounds like quite an experience.

I have been very busy with all our company--  and with five of us fighting for one computer, I seem to loose all the time. As soon as I find a bit of space, someone urgently needs it asap. I will try to catch up on all the posts tomorrow but right now my ds seems to "need" the computer. What's a mother to do?

I am having a fun time.

Love,

Viddie 

Melia thanks for the update. I'm with you on taking enough painkillers to move around, that is really necessary. My dh was glad to take them. I also hear you on the exhaustion of having to do it all as the caregiver. I can only imagine how thrilled your dh was to wake up and learn the good news, however. Having it encapsulated makes all the difference in pc. Continued prayers for healing... Skye

Joni - if nerves can cause it, that would certainly explain it because I'm sure your nerves have been on high-alert non stop lately. I hope it clears up quickly. You certainly don't need anything else to worry about.

Melia - I know you have to do it all right now, but please remember to take care of yourself. Let a few things go if need be. Take care of DH, but don't try to be superwoman juggling everything. You need some rest too. 

Joni and Robbin...

Sorry to hear about all this bad news.  Joni, I will keep you in my prayers and hope they find whatever it is that can reverse things for you...so sorry you had to do chemo again.  I had a scare a couple of weeks ago (urologist thought I had bladder cancer) and I had decided beforehand I wouldn't do chemo!!!  You are brave!!!

Robbin...did you ever have an oncotype test?   Do you know if you were strongly or weakly positive for estrogen?  I would suggest doing something to knock out your ovaries, whatever seems the most palatable.  Life without estrogen is possible and enjoyable, my dear.  I take Femara with very few side effects except for vaginal dryness, and my oncologist has put me on Estrace which combats that problem quite nicely...They had to because it was affecting my bladder.

I am now at very high risk for bladder cancer because of what the Taxotere did to my UTI system...and am scheduled for a Sigmoid with the gastroenterologist.  Chemo is not without its risks...

Take care girls....pray, be strong.  You can deal with anything as long as you have friends.

Mizsissy 

Wow Mel that is amazing!  I'd be saying some prayers of thanksgiving. 

Joni, I'm so sorry you have to wait for your port.  I hope you are feeling better real soon. 

Melia, I know the feeling of wanting to get away!  It is hard being a caretaker.

Sharon, good to hear from you.  I am sorry you are in pain.  Hopefully physical therapy will help.  MizSissy, good to hear from you.

My friend Jane got her port in today and chemo all in the same day - ever hear of that?  What a rough start.  I can't stop thinking of her today.  At least American Idol cheered me up - can't believe I'm addicted.  Hugs.

Hello Ta Tas,

I tried our chat room earlier, nobody was in so I will try again in a bit.

I have been very busy here for the past few days trying to get Amanda sorted out for Teacher's College.  She got waitlisted at one very prestigious school, unfortunately no acceptances at any of the other schools she applied to.  Her marks the past 2 years at university were good - a solid B average, but you need B+/A at most schools.  Her work experience and letters of recommendation were excellent, but as you all know, between the Dh's aneurysm and my BC, my poor DD was under extraordinary pressure and anxiety,she did perform scholastically as well as she could have.  To prove my point, this year her average is A-. 

But there is an alternative, thanks to my good American neighbours.  There are private Teacher's Colleges in Buffalo, N.Y. about a 2 hour drive from Toronto, that have opened up Ontario Teacher's Certification Programs.  They arrange it so the students do 2 full days of classes in Buffalo - either Monday/Tuesday or Wed./Thursday, stay one night in a hotel near the campus, and then drive back to Toronto the second day after classes are over.  The kids then do their practicum (student teaching) here in Toronto. It is much easier to get in there, because they are happy to take my money.  The tuition is about triple what it would be at an Ontario Teacher's College, but that's the way it goes. This is Amanda's final week of classes, so she has been busy with her final term papers, quizzes etc., so I have been gathering information for her. She will be coming home for a couple of days this weekend and then she will compile all the documents she needs, write her personal statements, philosophy of education etc. and then we will courier them to the 2 Buffalo schools she is applying to.  She can still get in for Fall 2008.  So please keep your fingers crossed.

Otherwise I am okay.  My back was hurting for about 10 days, I was getting nervous (the story of our lives now), but it has been getting better.  Also have had headaches this week, but I know this is from the weather changes here.  It's always something, right gals?

Sharon - thrilled for your clean MRi and bloodwork.  I hope your leg pain improves.

Mel- enjoy the Cadbury eggs. Great news about your Mom. 

Viddie - I hope you are enjoying Florida.

Tina - I know you are down to your last few days in Ohio - good luck with the last minute packing, the movers and the drive to DC.

Joni- Sorry you are suffering, I hope the diverticulitis gets better soon.  I guess it's like shingles in the sense it is caused by stress. And unfortunately you have had more than your share of stress.

Skye - loved the sketch.  You are so talented, I can barely draw a straight line.  How's your back these days?

Melia - I echo the other girls and say you must try to rest as well.  Order in a few meals, and try to relax yourself.

Tomorrow is Cassie's 19th birthday - 19 is the legal drinking age in Ontario.  Whoo Hoo!

To anyone I missed - love you all.