Dis Breast Cancer Survivors Part II -GAGWTA!

[MerryPoppins]

All our graduation festivities are finally over. DD and her cousin had their party tonight. Whew! I'm glad things can get back to normal around here...what am I saying? It's never very normal around here. Still need to get DD enrolled and buy the rest of her college stuff. And DS's birthday is the end of June, so have some shopping to do for that. But I could use a few days of sleeping in and propping my feet up.

I'm following everyone's adventures. Just been too hectic to post about much lately. But you all remain in my prayers. GAGWTA!

 

[NHAnn]

GAGWTA!
sorry I have been MIA....thinking of you all daily though!
Computer is being rather uncooperative and life is hectic as usual. Youngest stepson's wedding is in less than 2 weeks...I am having trouble finding a dress. After giving up shopping here and down in Mass near my father's, I ordered 2 from Coldwater Creek online outlet with a great discount code, with intent to return one. One that is comfortable everyone says looks too granny-ish (well I am almost 52 and a grandmother)- but when someone said it looks like something Blanche in the Golden Girls would wear I decided that was out. The other is lovely - a long sheath -type dress with a jacket over it -- but I don't like the length (almost to floor and sheesh my legs are the only thing NOT flabby on this bod) and it's seems a bit loose around the hip area. Pondering trying to find a seamstress to help with that...not sure if I have time and how much that will cost with the thing being fully lined it won't be a quick easy thing...esp around prom/wedding season. On the other hand, no one is going to be focused on the groom's stepmother or her dress so I ought to just find shoes and forget about it!

Last weekend DH and I put up a 10' x 10' canopy with screened sides on our 12 X 20 deck...so we can actually use it without being eaten alive by mospquitoes out here in the woods. It was supposed to be an easy thing, a camping type pop-up frame...but the kid at Dick's Sporting Goods sold us the wrong screen attachment the first time, so it took a couple of trips and a couple of hours to get it right

snappy-- thought of you yesterday...coming out of the grocery store parking lot and there was a white Ford Edge in front of me with Louisiana plates. I was so wishing it was you, and you could come on over and sit on the deck with me and have a nice vist I love reading your trip reports....it sounds like you had a wonderful family trip

How's the Pacific doing Linda? I do have to tell you, I am not too happy with the fact that one of the three drivers' seat adjustment controls on mine died a couple of months ago...the seat back reclining mechanism Fortunately it died while it was at preferred driving position. The lumbar support and the seat itself (tilt and height and fwd/back) controls still work, just can not adjust recline angle on the seat back. When I had the dealer look while it was in for oil they said they'd "pretend" I have a the extended service plan and for a $100 deductible I'd get it replaced (they have to replace all three as it is one "unit" so not sure why just 1 died) but I decided not to live with it at this point. I am now wishing I'd done it, as this dealer is now one of the bankruptcy/restructuring victims....they are not an authorized Chrysler dealer as of mid-June. This was a small, locally owned family dealership now being run by the 30-something yr old daughter of the original owner. They say they are staying in business for used cars and service, and possibly another car brand when the economy turns around....but it's really sad.

Well, too much rambling.... I just wanted to say hello and that I am thinking of you all even when I'm not posting!!

 

[snappy]

Congrats on your DD's graduation, Merry.

What a special moment!

Were you emotional?

Thanks everyone, I loved the trip but I also love being home. DS20 seems to be sick, glad that waited until we got home. He is supposed to start his summer job working for the commercial electrical company our next door neighbor owns on Monday. Guess i will have to nurse DS back to health.

DD18 (about to be 19) is leaving today to go work at the restaurant where she waitressed last semester. She is bound and determined to keep that job in the fall so she is working some before her European adventure to keep her name on the schedule as best she can. She'll be staying with my best friend Cindy at her house on the west bank of New Orleans where you can get uptown quick via the ferry. DD is a bit nervous about that so she is meeting Cindy at Tulane later today so she can learn the ferry ropes. It is the same ferry route (hopefully not the exact same boat, LOL!!) that my mother took back in the late 40's/early 50's to get from the west bank to uptown for college. Mom graduated from a small Catholic university a couple blocks down from Tulane.

So I have more shopping today to help DD get set up to stay at Cindy's house as independently as she can.

I have some WDW pictures I want to post if I can get DH to upload to the computer. He had major issues doing it the last time (don't know why) so don't hold your collective breath).

Maureen, chemo washes do not sound fun. How is your dad feeling?

Ann, you guys have mosquitos in your neck of the woods? Maybe that car with the Louisiana plates imported them from swampland USA? I would love to visit you on your deck. I'll bring the bug spray.

Hope you settle on the dress thing. I go casual 100% of the time now. I don't know what I would do if I had to dress up. The very thought of it frightens me.

Back to summer soccer, summer softball, summer swim team, yardwork, and of course, processing payroll on Tuesday, big sigh. . .

We are gong to start charitable bingo soon too. I dread the very idea, but we need the $$$$$ at my non-profit as the state funds have been cut way, way back.

I am going to be best friends forever with the state and parish gaming regulations folks real soon. Hey, if I get good at this, maybe I can go work in a casino?

 

[MerryPoppins]

Laurie, I cried the day of graduation because I wrote a letter to DD. Writing it made me very nostalgic. I told her about how proud I was and I tried to show her all the qualities she has that will make her successful. She's very nervous about college. She has terrible SPD issues and college is a whole new ballgame. Anyway, at the actual event I only got sort of misty-eyed. No real tears. I keep telling myself it's not an end, it's just a new beginning.

Today I feel sort of icky. I kind of ache and have a headache. Hopefully not getting sick.

I'd love to have one of those screen canopies for our porch, but I'm not sure how we'd anchor it. Mosquitoes eat me alive and they're huge this year. DD got 16 bites on her legs in about 10 minutes last night. And she gets huge welts like I do. It's horrible.

 

[snappy]

Love the idea of the letter to your daughter, Merry. We did that with our Come Lord Jesus groups when I was leader in 2004, the students wrote us letters as a new twist. The program leader warned us not to read the letters until we were alone. Very emotional, especially for me, as I was awaiting the call from my surgeon on my first biopsy.

One bright spot for me during the L O N G drive home (700 plus miles on Friday) was listening to classic music on the CD player. We put on early Beatles music towards the end and it felt like a wave of energy surged through the car and carried us on the last leg home.

Funny how music can be so uplifting.

Re mosquitos, I have always have great success with making a paste of fresh aspirins and applying liberally to the area soon after the bite occurs.

Having said that, I picked up one of those Benedryl pens Saturday. Very easy to take with you, unlike the aspirin paste which works well at home.

DS20 is better, DH is having, um, gastro problems. Man, are we lucky no one go sick last week.

June 1st and everywhere is the talk of being prepared for hurricanes. Our gov is doing a "get your game on" promotion with some of the New Orleans saints players.

I bought a lot of stuff for the swine flu prep deal, I guess it is time for another prep store trip.

first I needed to get through yesterday, and getting DD18 down to New Orleans. Tulane does not allow freshman to have cars on campus so this is the first time she is down there with her car. We even gave her our GPS to help her.
I am sure she and her BF Jonny wil have a fun summer. The good thing is that I don't think she will be spending much $$ as she is saving for her trip later in June.

We are making her travel and spending money, or at least most of it.

 

[MerryPoppins]

I'll have to give the Benadryl ointment or pen a try. I've never tried either of those since I have Caladryl which I think has the same med in it, right? Maybe not as strong though. I also keep AfterBite around. It works well if you catch them before they start to swell. DD and I are both very allergic and they swell up in huge welts. And we both seem to draw mosquitoes like flies to honey.

Music can be so uplifting. And I love to put on something upbeat to sing along to on a car trip. Makes the trip seem to go so much faster.

I seemed to have a touch of a bug yesterday, but I'm better today. Muscles are still sort of sore, but I don't feel ill. Good thing because I need to wash clothes and put some stuff away. Things got out of hand the last couple of weeks.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Good afternoon sistas

Laura - Hope your family issues get resolved

Melissa- Glad you survived the graduation. Feel better !!

Maureen - saying a prayer for your dad

Ann - Hope you have a great time at the wedding

Laurie - Glad you had a great trip, except for the rain. Did you do a trip report? I must admit I love reading the dining reports, especially if they have pictures!! My ds always say,- why does everyone take pictures of the food? I like music in the car too.

Well yest. I had the paotor of our church read a little update and thank you from our family. I could see one lady was crying. She is so sweet. And Alyssa was in church. Wow! 2 weeks after a heart transplant. God is good!

Today I went with ds for the ct scan. I couldnt believe we got an appt. so fast. but now I dont know what the drs. surgery schedule is and he always has 1 more visit before the surgery to discuss everything anyway. So at this point I am still thinking august. The imaging center where we went is joined onto the breat cancer center. Thank Alex Baldwin, the actor, mom for helping with this place and also in the same place is the cancer center. I have never been there myself. My rad. onc. says she only goes there on thurs. afternoon for breast cancer pts. Well I see a little one coming out of the imaging door with a pirate bandana, reminded me of POTC for sure. They were in the wheelchair going back to the cancer center. Of course I had all I could do from crying. I just cant imagine what the kids go through. Bless their hearts. Well I am sure I will have a fun story from my pre op on wed.

Thinking of you all GTAGWTA, Have a great day,

 

[honugirl]

GAGWTA! Not much going on my end. My life is boring, boring, boring. I have a trip scheduled for September to the world, but now it's looking more and more likely that it's going to get canceled. The more tests that come back, the more it looks like we'll be hopefully trying a second surgery then. So I guess that's good and bad.

Waiting for the doctors office to schedule the GH stim test.

Debating whether or not to ask for a handicap placard. I'm having a lot of trouble walking long distances and I'm really slow. But I'm not sure I'll be declared "sick" enough to get one. So I keep going back and forth on whether to even bother asking.

Everyone left me at home today. They're out doing stuff. Guess I'll go watch some TV that I have DVR'd.

Hope everyone is doing well!

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

GAGWTA, Ladies!

Laurie, welcome home! Sorry your trip was soggy.

Melissa, congrats to DD!!

Linda, glad the car seems to have dried out and things are working again!

Ann, good luck deciding on a dress!

Maryann, hope things are going well these days! Good luck with your pre-op!

Laura, thinking of you!!

Maureen, good thoughts for your dad, and for you!

Many hugs and good wishes to all!!

 

[Candy30]

LMP-I hope all goes well with the surgeon and pre op.

MP-I am glad all went well with graduation and I know that was emotional.

Snappy- I love music to lift my spirts. Sounds like your DD will have fun this summer.

Honugirl- I hope everything thing turns out with your surgery. We are planning a trip to WDW in September too. If you manage to make it, perhaps we can meet somewhere.

I am recouping from chemo. Speaking of car issues. But yesterday I got some bad news. My car is down and I don't know what I am going to do. I really have no savings because of drawing from it because of the days I have off work. So I don't know what I am going to do. I am ok for getting to work fortunately, I have a family member that works where I do. But I just don't know what we are going to do. I honestly just walk in my house from work and went str8 to bed.

OMG I just got back from the ER. My boss intercomed me while I was typing this to come in and I found him on the floor!! He was sweating and shaking and dizzy. I was able to find a wheel chair and get him to ER. He was vomiting and in severe pian. It turns out that he may have Kidney stones. I stayed until his wife came. Oh boy was that scary.

Well at least it got my mind off of my problems. Got to get caught up here at work. GAGWTA!

 

[honugirl]

Honugirl- I hope everything thing turns out with your surgery. We are planning a trip to WDW in September too. If you manage to make it, perhaps we can meet somewhere.

That would totally rock! Meeting up would be fun.

I am recouping from chemo. Speaking of car issues. But yesterday I got some bad news. My car is down and I don't know what I am going to do. I really have no savings because of drawing from it because of the days I have off work. So I don't know what I am going to do. I am ok for getting to work fortunately, I have a family member that works where I do. But I just don't know what we are going to do. I honestly just walk in my house from work and went str8 to bed.

OMG I just got back from the ER. My boss intercomed me while I was typing this to come in and I found him on the floor!! He was sweating and shaking and dizzy. I was able to find a wheel chair and get him to ER. He was vomiting and in severe pian. It turns out that he may have Kidney stones. I stayed until his wife came. Oh boy was that scary.

Well at least it got my mind off of my problems. Got to get caught up here at work. GAGWTA!

Sounds like you had quite the day. I hope your boss is OK. I hope your car issues get resolved. I know how hard it is when just walking up the driveway tires you out.

 

[Candy30]

Sounds like you had quite the day. I hope your boss is OK. I hope your car issues get resolved. I know how hard it is when just walking up the driveway tires you out.

Honugirl- That is sooooo very true. I am so worn out now I can sleep in my chair here at work.

Well my boss is fine. He does have kidneystones. So he has to wait for it to pass. They gave him pain medicine and sent him home

It was a different experience seeing him that way. Different seeing him with his clothes off!!! He did thank me for staying there and being his advocate for getting them moving and holding his hand.

 

[MerryPoppins]

Wow! Glad you were there for your boss. Those stones can be so painful. And I hope your car issues are solved soon. It's hard to imagine life when people didn't have cars to get around, isn't it?

It's looking more and more like we're going to WDW in early January. I think DH is looking at a week somewhere in the first part of the month. Anyone else going then? I think we're going to try for a two-bedroom villa, maybe in OKW. I think we're taking along DS's girlfriend this time, so cutting costs since we'll have one more mouth to feed and extra tickets to buy.

I need to pull something out of the freezer for dinner. It's almost 5:00 and I haven't given it much thought. Maybe I'll just do fajitas. I can thaw that in the microwave.

 

[snappy]

I love those 2 bedrooms at OKW, Merry. So roomy.

Oh you are going down the road of taking a girlfriend/boyfriend too? It is a little tricky but I tell you DD18 was in such a good mood last year when her then boyfriend went with us after graduation.

No sulking or drama.

I would love meeting up with you, Merry. Let me know what week you pick. I am constrained with my rising 8th grade's schedule (they go back to school so early in January) and my work demand timetable.

Candy, I am sorry about your car. It is so hard to find a reasonable and reliable mechanic.

I am glad your boss is ok. I had no idea kidney stones would present in that scary manner.

GAGWTA!!

 

[MerryPoppins]

I really wish we weren't doing the girlfriend thing this trip. It's forcing us to get a larger room and pay a lot more for the trip in general. I sort of wanted one last trip with just the four of us since it's to celebrate our 25th anniversary. But he's hoping to give her a ring by next spring, so she's going to soon be family. This'll be a chance for her to bond a little more with us and DD, I guess. And I know he'll be super happy to have her along. Just hope they can both remember to include DD and not make her feel like a fifth wheel....can't bring along a friend for her this trip 'cause we don't have room in the car.

I'll be sure to let you know when we settle on a schedule. It'd be fun to have a GAGWTA meet.

I'm feeling better today. Still a little tired.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I'm glad you have a trip in the works, Merry! That should be interesting! (I'm imagining us doing it someday. ) Congrats on your DD's graduation (where does the time go??) and hope you feel better.

Ann, sorry to read about your seat switch. Nothing happens if you jiggle it around a bit?

Honugirl, it sounds like a handicap placard would be a good thing for you. Good luck with your tests and upcoming surgery.

Candy, thinking of you while you're going through chemo. So tough. And hope you can find a solution to your car problems. What a scary thing to go through with your boss, I'm sure he won't forget your being there for him.

I'm not sure when our next trip is going to be. I'd booked a Bounceback for late summer, but I doubt we'll be going. We have our vacation at my cousin's place right before then (which I get all the food and pack other essentials for), followed by an out of state baseball tournament (whose planning is keeping me busy right now). I can't imagine packing for a Disney trip after all that! DH and I talked about it last night, and as it is, just after this baseball season, we're going to need a break, as in, at home, do nothing, veg out type break, LOL.

(ETA and oh, with any luck, we'll be in the midst of our renovation. Builder has finally been here with (semi-retired, elderly) architect planning screenporch (the permit process here is nuts). Funny story: Last week I was resting before an off shift and I heard voices in my living room. It was them. Fine. So I got up to go down, but just missed them (builder is a long time friend, the kids must have let them in, they know they've been coming around lately for measurements, etc). But the best part was, I noticed something white on the living room floor where they'd been so went over to take a closer look. It was a tampon injector that the dog had apparently pulled out of the trash and brought down there. Leave it to kids, even though they'd been running in and out, nobody bothered to pick the sucker up! Gotta love it. Can you just picture them taking a closer look, too, to see what it was, then realizing what it was and wondering why it was there? I wonder if they acknowledged it to eachother? )

My kids are having fun in school these weeks as they finish up their elementary days. They are getting excited about middle school next year and Friday take a tour there (I think they also have a cookout sponsored by the 8th graders the week we were scheduled for Disney which is another reason I think we'll pass.) Today I am chaperoning a field trip to a historical place which should be a lot of fun. They are studying the American Revolution in school so it's exciting to be able to visit a location where some of the battles actually took place (we'll be seeing a re-enactment)!

GAGWTA

 

[Sha]

good morning ladies...
hope you are all doing well. Have a little bit of a headache here, but that should pass. Am going to miss you all while I am away. I may be online, but not much.

Honogirl I hope your boss is doing better and that your car is functional again too. Prayers for your upcoming surgery, chemo and tests etc.

Ann I hope that the wedding will be wonderful and that your dress delima works out.

Linda hope that the renovations will go well.

I know there is a lot more that I am missing. I do apologize. My head hurts and need to eat something. might be some flight anxiety too

Quick update though... mom's friend Miss Lee has started Chemo. She goes every 3 weeks. We will see her when we get back from England.

thinking of you all and praying for you all too.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Good morning ladies. I am nervous. I know I shouldnt be but I am. The pre op is at 3 pm. It might storm then, oh what fun. Dh is taking me. I just keep thinking something will go wrong. Last time they made me have an EKG and it said I had a previous heart attack. Then they said the machine is just sensitive? I also dont want them to tell me to see the pcp for a clearance. I dont enjoy that guy.

Sha - Have a great trip. Will pray for Miss Lee

Linda - Hope your renovations go well. That living room story with your dog is too funny!!

Candy - Wow, your boss should give you a medal!! You went above and beyond the call of duty. I hope his wife appreciated all you did too. Hope the car problems get straightened out. My dad was a mechanic and he used to fix our cars etc. I miss him for sure!

Honugirl - I hope the tests get straightened out and where will you be having the surgery if you have to? Funny you mentioned the handicapped parking permit thing. Ds told me, mom you need one of those when I was taking to long to walk into the imaging center on Mon. Our state is funny. I read the rules and I dont qualify by what they have in writing. A former church member works at the DMV so I might give her a call and ask about it.

Melissa - Wow, you are brave to be taking the gf. on your trip. I actually bribed my kids that they could bring a friend so they wouldnt be bored in the past. They still wanted to stay home, can you believe that? Give up a free trip to Disney!!

Thinking of you all. GTAGWTA. I will give an update later or tomm.

 

[Tuffcookie]

Maryann, Prayers that everything goes smoothly.

TC

 

[annrae]

Hi: You must be so proud of your DD, and I'm happy that everything went well at graduation. It is so nice that you are planning a trip to WDW in January. We are also going, (the entire family + a 9 month old baby this time) and will be at the Boardwalk on Dec 30, 31st, Jan 1, 2, 3 and then go on a 4 day cruise to the Bahamas and then back to (we don't know yet) on Jan. 8, 9 and 10th. If these dates correspond to yours of Lauries, it would be great to get together. We will keep in touch as to what your plans are.

GAGWTA and hugs to all of you. Barbara