Dis Breast Cancer Survivors Part III - GAGWTA!

[snappy]

Yes, there was a report in the paper today when a sudden storm blew in Friday night, some folks were rocked by a lightening bolt striking a nearby tree. Luckily my daughter and her friends had walked over to the swim club nearby and were under cover until her friend's mom picked them up from the club.

The guy in charge took a look at the weather prdiction for Saturday afternoon and cancelled everything.

The balloons were supposed to take off at daybreak today for the actual championship run.

too early for this old fogie, and I have not seen any above my head in my neighborhood, been watching for an hour.

I really hate not seeing it, it is wonderful seeing them fly. Also, the group flares are wonderful but obviously that did not happen this year.

Shucks.

Glad you heard from R's cousin. She is so lovely and brave. I am glad she is speaking up for her own sake and others. Everybody should be aware of this particular variant of the disease, both health professionals and women in general, since it is not detected in the usual way but is pretty easy to "see" if you know it exists.

 

[PatsMom]

Good morning everyone!

Its a rainy Sunday morning here in NH. I am actually a few hours ahead of where I usually am because my brother showed up at 8:00 in the morning with his camper. He was leaving it here for my mother to use on Thursday when I am going to be invaded by various relatives for a family outing to Storyland. This should be interesting since one of the young children is my four year old niece with Angelman's Syndrome. She is non-mobile and non-verbal. Last year she was in a stroller and I could carry her onto rides (her Mom is a non-rider). This year she is in a pediatric wheelchair and too heavy for me to carry. My step-daughter is coming with us, along with my 4 year old grandson. She is a pretty strong woman so she will help me carry my niece on the rides. Storyland is not very disability friendly from what we remember. Not looking forward to diaper change time either!

Glad to hear everyone is doing well. Sha, I hope things work out great for you! Maryanne - glad you got your vacation booked! And Laurie, Happy Anniversary to you! And congratulations to your husband on losing the weight. It is so hard to do and it makes a big difference in blood sugars.

 

[snappy]

Pat, is storyland an amusement park? I have not heard of it. I also have not heard of Angelman's syndrome, although my coworkers I am sure have (I work for a non-profit involved with people with disabilities-children through seniors, mobility as well as sight and hearing disabilities).

Your niece and her mom are both very lucky to have you and your step-daughter to make sure she enjoys the outing. Kudos to both of you.

Thanks for the kind words about my DH. His belly has been reduced by an amazing amount and he has only been on the diet for 16 days. As usual since I am a worrier, I am afraid of how he will do when he gets to the maintenance stage which he will be on for about a year.

He seems to have plateaued with the weight loss but I think that may because he is exercising so diligently. I think he is replacing fat with muscle. His legs and chest are amazingly strong as he has built up the weights pretty high under the direction of the guy from the gym. Sounds like the gym guy has taken on DH as a project, and he likes having a workout partner as well. DH has learned a lot from him, and he makes DH push through beyond what he thinks he can do. He seldom hurts, and he says he has very few aches and pains. I really need to start going to the gym.

I noticed yesterday how much stamina he now has. We worked our selves into a frenzy in the yard yesterday. The grass was high from not being mowed after so many wet days. Also, he had to figure out how to fix the riding lawnmover since something broke when I took one more swipe by the ditch and go it mired in the mud Friday morning before I left for work.

He put that bad boy up on our car lifts (with me as the anchor), and got under there and figured out the drive shaft belt was too slack because it was off one of the spindles. I thought I had wrecked the darn thing. He had me repeatedly press the brake. Luckily, he set it up in the garage so we were out of the sun.

He was raised fixing cars of all types. He comes from a famiy with 6 kids, his dad was a lineman with the telephone company and his mother did not work until DH was in college part time at TG and Y in the sewing good sarea (she always was a great seamstress) to make extra money for expenses. They drove a number of old cars, and DH's dad had all three of the boys out there working on the cars if something mechanical went wrong.

Cars today are too complicated for much of that (although DH has repaired brakes and shocks, although not much recently). But a riding lawnmower must be a fairly simple device, if you are determined enough.

DH could not find the manual on the lawn mower but it is a Sears craftsman model so was able to look online to research diagrams. It was hot yesterday, I probably would have given up, but he fixed it with no cost, and no delay for waiting for the repair people to work on it.

I was impressed he figured it out and finally stopped beating myself up about going too deep in the ditch. Our son tried to make me stop Friday so he could take over, I should have let him. He was pretty insistent but I guess I am just a bit more stubborn than he is.

DH left for work about 8 am today. Where is that man getting his energy?

I feel like I should go out and build or fix something. Instead here I am on the dis. I think I am addicted to the dis.

High School starts tomorrow! ARRGGHHH!!!!

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Good afternoon ladies

PatsMom - we are like you weatherwise here today. Stormy and rainy on and off. That is so nice that your family all helps each other out. Our extended family is the total opposite sadly. But I hope you have a wonderful time. I have not heard of that syndrome, is it something like Rhetts, our friends dd has that.

Laurie - cant believe your dd goes to school tomm. Wow, your dh must be really dedicated. Couldnt get my dh to go to work on a sun. Only an emergency and it would have to be after church.

Lisa - how are the chemo side effects? Hope they are manageable.

Cheryl - how are you sista?

Sha - there is a website, allnurses. com, maybe there might be some information about traveling nursing there. I know I looked it up for ds and the one univ. program he was trying to get into. Has alot of info and you can ask questions too.

Well I am . My aunt and uncle will be home, so we can see them Tues. Although she is almost blind and he has alzheimers. We will take them out for dinner for her birthday. She is not a blood relative, just my moms best friend since Kindergarten. I sent an e mail to my friend in Penn. Havent heard anything yet. Got a postcard that dh qualifys for a special offer to get 1 1/2 points (converts to airline miles) for each dollar on the credit card until nov. 3oth. I signed him up immediately, but they said it takes 4 days to process, so we will see. Wow, yes Laurie, I might be able to do conceirge. I would rather do that at christmas though at the GF. Sounds dreamy. I will settle for the BC and stormalong bay for May.

Please pray for Miss A. She is a lady from my church. She is going to see my ent surgeon tomm. She already had a different surgeon at another hosp. and extensive external beam radiation, now the biopsy is not good and he will work on her face. It sounds like a very complex surgery. She is all by herself.

GTAGWTA.

 

[smiley_face2]

quick hello ladies! taking a break from Disneyland in our room, hubby is napping. After my last chemo last wed. I ended up being super sick on the thursday, it was like my first batch of chemo, could not control the vomiting etc. friday ended up to not be as bad as I thought thank goodness. I start my radiation on the 15th after we get back. We've had a fairly peaceful trip so far, it's taken us 7 full days to drive what we usually do in 2 so that's how much sightseeing we've been doing Had a great visit in San francisco, ate lot's of great food, went on a 6 hour tour and saw the whole city. Wine country (Sonoma) was awesome, and I want to move to Carmel. what a stunning awesome little town! We've had a couple of pretty amazing things happen to us, Godwinks, direct from our son messages that have us both stunned, so it's been very hard, but very wonderful too. I promise to tell you all about them both when I get home and don't have to type on my laptop.

 

[wdw4us2]

smiley - Happy to hear you arrived at DL safely. Sorry you had to endure the chemo sickness. Puts such a kink in your plans. Enjoy the rest of your trip - I can't wait to hear all about it!

MaryAnn - Enjoy your visit with your Aunt and Uncle.

Laurie - I love your description of your DH working on the mower. My DH does the same thing - hates having to give up and take it to someone to work on. I also loved hearing about TG&Y - boy does that take me back. DS goes back to school next Monday, so you are a week ahead of us.

PatsMom - Rainy weather here in Florida today, too. Much needed, though.

Sha - Glad things are going well for you and that you're feeling "sassy" again.

I made it through the chemo on Friday, but started feeling nauseous almost immediately afterward. Luckily the anti nausea meds kicked in and I did not have a repeat of last time.

I dragged myself out of bed this morning. I had to go to a memorial service for one of my high school friend's Mother who passed away yesterday. She was battling breast cancer for the second time. I met up with her when I started my chemo again last December. It was nice to reconnect with her during my treatment. She was an amazing woman who will be missed by many people around here.

Hoping everyone has an uneventful week!

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Good afternoon ladies

Lisa - sorry you had the side efffects but glad the meds helped

Laurie - Its great when we an save $ and have the dh fix things.Hope your dds first day of school goes well.

Smiley - your trip sounds wonderful!! My dh and the ds love carmel and the coast too. Their favorite was the Monterrey Bay Aquarium.

Well I havent heard from my one friend in Penn. Might see if her number is listed on line and call when I get there. Will do one more load of laundry today and pack later. Dh is at work getting an oil change and tune up but I am sure he is doing work too. He is bringing the laptop so I might be able to get online sometime.

GTAGWTA.

 

[snappy]

Glad you checked in, smilie. Also, glad y'all are taking your time with this trip.

I would love to hear about the Godwinks when you get back.

I think this will be an important trip for you.

MaryAnn, hope the trip goes well. I hope you are able to go the internet. Praying for Miss A.

Lisa, glad the anti-nausea drugs worked. It sounds like they are worth their weight in gold.

Maybe yu will be up to swimming soon? Sorry about the mom of your HS friend. Cancer has a way of bringing people together.

 

[Sha]

Yay! R. and K. are coming to WDW for LD weekend

 

[snappy]

Yippee!!

Sorry but remind me again what LD weekend stands for. I am assuming it is soon?

Happy for you my dear.

MaryAnn, hope the getaway is going well and that you are able to meet up with your aunt and uncle and your friend.

Lisa, who you feeling?

Candy, what is going on with you sweetie?

Cheryl, thinking of yu.

Smilie, hope your trip with your hubby is wonderful and that your energy level is high.

I am struggling with the reality of school, already lost lunchbox, scrounging for the socks with the school logo.

Just about put the budget to rest yesterday, but no, more changes today. I can't amke the numbers look any better. Trying to make the budget look balanced with a 10% cut when we really need to pare down more. This won't work next year.

Wonder if Disney needs a accountant willing to work for vacations?

 

[Sha]

LMAO

Labor Day


anyone there then???

 

[snappy]

Guess I was over thinking it,lol. Thanks.

 

[wdw4us2]

LMAO

Labor Day


anyone there then???

Sorry - will be there the following weekend for the Pin Celebration. We miss each other yet again!

Feeling so-so this week. Dealing with too much other stuff that is making me crazy. Hope to get into the pool again tomorrow. DS is taking me out to lunch tomorrow, so I already know it will be a better day!

 

[Candy30]

Lisa!!! That car is awesome!!!! I can ask you a question my son has been asking me everyday now....Can I DRIVE?!?!?!?!? Sorry to hear about the loss of your friend's Mom. I hope you are feeling well enough soon to get into the pool.

Smiley- You made it!!!! I am glad you are there and enjoying yourself. That's the point! Enjoy every minute. Can't wait to hear your experiences in detail when you return!!

Snappy-My DD doesn't go to school until the 29th! I wish it was after Labor day and then I could have planned a trip. Her High School now is in school all year round. She doesn't get the summer off. She gets a month in winter a month in spring and month in summer. Makes it difficult to plan a cheap vacation because we have to go in the middle of summer where rates are high!!! Glad you are finished with the budget. I know that was rough. If you get hired at Disney, can we as your sistas get a family rate discount??????

Sha-Welcome back Momma! You are doing the best thing and researching and taking your time. Don't rush into it and let it flow. I think the idea of traveling nurse is a great idea. You are young and I know you can get your 'groove on' in NO or anywhere. I am tagging off of Lisa to keep that "sassiness'. Girl....You know we got your back!!!

LMP- You are going to be in my neck of the woods. We are about 1 1/ hour drive from Amish country. Check out the PM I sent you. I hope you have a good time and visits from your friends.

Cheryl- I hope you are feeling well.

Patsmom- Hope you are doing well too.

Lot has been happening. Too much to type but I know I need a nudge on one issue. My DD is going to Virginia with a friend next week. She is one traveling kid. Well the beginning of this week my sister asks if she can take her on vacation with her and hubby and friends to Virgin Gorda. My first thought was NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! and I still feel that way inside. I figured out that it is not that I don't trust them or feel that they are not capable of keeping her. It's just me. I am panicking because she will be so far away. It's more me. I am trying not to reflect it to her. She is a homebody and for Canada I had to "convince" her to go. Once she was there she had a blast!!! She is with me whereever I go. I have been talking to her about it during the week. I want her to have this opportunity because lets face it...i can't take her to virgin gorda. I am soooooo sooooo nervous. Canada is a drive up but I can just drive to virgin gorda. Seriously I can't even fly there direct!!!! I trust my sis and her hubby and I know they would do anything to protect her. I don't know.....HELP!

We may go to DC over labor day weekend and visit some museums. Can't do a big vacation so small one will have to do. Well got to get some work done. Type at my sistas later!!

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Guess who is back

Candy - I am so upset that I didnt read your e mail. Actually dh and I got into a little spat about the laptop. He was working for 3 days on it during the vacation. Finally I told him no more on Friday. So I never looked at his while we were there. I saw it today. I told him and he said, see you should have looked at it, gheesh. I would have LOVED to meet you guys!! Then you could explain to me what a ham ball is. I didnt try one, dh did though. I will def. keep you in mind when we go again sometime for sure.

I never went to my friends either. She actually sent me an e mail before we left and said she lived 3 hours from Lancaster. I said, sorry I cannot make that long trip in the car etc. Its just too much on my joints and spine.

Laurie - I think logo socks wold have driven my ds crazy in the uniform department. I think our school accountant always does the budget with some creative financing of the numbers.

Lisa - sorry abouet your friends mom and I hope you are able to swim and that you can take care of all the other "stuff" too.

Linda and PatsMom - hope you arent sharing our same rainy weather.

Anne and PatsMom - I read in the paper on vaction that Dartmouth Hosp. wants to offer early retirement ton 750 staff after laying off another 300 recently, wow!!

Cheryl - Thinking of you sista,

Sha - looks like you will be having another wonderful week end coming up!!

Smiley - cant wait to hear about your trip too

The trip was good. I got to see my aunt and uncle twice. It was kind of bittersweet as he has alzheimers and I could see how it was affecting him and she is almost blind, so I kept reading the menu to her etc. I didnt get a chance to go to the cemetary. I was raining too hard and we wantd to head home. We did get to drive past dh dads house and did a quick look from the road, seems ok. In Penn. we liked the play Joseph, ate at at 2 smorgashboards for dinner, one we went back to twice (millers for you Candy), Hershey Farm one was not so good. We did the Willow Valley breakfast one twice. Not good the 2nd time. We went to Strasburg Creamery and had ice cream. Dh bought peaches from an amish boy. Went to 2 farmers markets and some outlet. I am glad 2 places had shopping carts. It was nice seeing how different and peaceful the Amish people are. Also I think I have smelled enough manure to last me quite a while and saw enough corn too. I also found out alot of them go to Sarasota, FL in the winter.

Now tomm. I need to do work on the internet for my tues. meeting and tomm. night and I am going to a volunteer dinner with dh. Will see my friend who has the uterine cancer.

I listened to the endo secretary message. She said she wanted to schedule the infusion and asked me did I have the medicine. I am so confused. They said they would gt it for me before. Oh well another day and another hon call and we start the reclast runaround again. (cheryl, I know you never had these problems!! Maybe its NY??!!)

GTAGWTA

 

[PatsMom]

Good afternoon ladies! Well it is a rainy, depressing day here in NH. But we do need the rain and at least it is a work day. Although my daughter's work is closed for the day because of the rain so she loses 10 hours pay. That stinks since she is running out of summer.

LMP - glad you got a little vacation in. Yes, Dartmouth is doing early retirements and layoffs. Other major hospitals are doing layoffs as well. The state really cut Medicaid funding this year and that is going to have a lot of impact, not only on hospitals but on people who need medical care. I am so glad that I have private insurance and I also have the VA to fall back on. Bladder cancer seems to get little attention and funding and Dartmouth is the only major cancer center in the state that has a urological oncologist. If there are cuts in that area, I'll be going to Mass General for consultations. Won't make me happy if I have to travel further.

Sha - wish I was going Labor Day. I am still planning my trip for the last week of October though. Looking forward to food and wine festival.

Laurie - hope the budget finally gets done. Lean times for everyone right now it seems.

Cheryl - thinking of you and hoping you are feeling better.

Candy - enjoy your trip to DC. We spent a few days there two years ago and really enjoyed it.

Getting my daughter ready to go back to college on the 25th of this month. She'll be back home Labor Day and Columbus Day weekends to pick up a couple of days work. Can't believe the summer is almost over!

 

[Candy30]

Hope everyone had a good weekend.

LMP- I thought I might havef missed you when I didn't hear from you. We will try it again. How'd your meeting go?

PatsMom- I know I am excited about going. I have never been even when I was a child.

So My DD is going to Virginia to spend time with a BFF for 4 days and may go to Florida with a friend she just met for another 4 days. I swear she travels more than I ever did. I have done a few pump up talks "You will have fun"! and "You can call me everyday".

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Good afternoon ladies

PatsMom - I know what your dd is going through. Poor ds cant lifeguard either with the rain, so no money for him. He has not had many shifts lately.

Candy - I hope you get to go to DC. Only went once with dh when we were dating and it was just for the day. I hope your dd has a good time with her travels. I dont know if I would call someone she just met a "friend" and go to FL with them. Is she still going with your sis on the other trip?

Sha - are you making any adr plans for Labor Day week end. Is that when you class reunion is? I am getting a little confused with the dates.

Melissa - if you are reading along, you need to post about the wedding sometime. Hope its lovely.

Lisa and Cheryl - bet you are ready to send your girls back to college too

Laurie - I think after your stressful budget stuff you might need to get a massage!! How was the missions trip?

I am playing catch up. Dirty dishes in the sink, thanks ds, did my laundry, got through alot of e mail stuff and regular mail, phone messages etc. Tonight is the dinner and tomm. is the meeting. They changed the time so I printed out everything I need, now I have to review it for tomm.

I called Miss A, and left her a voice mail. I will see how she is from someone else I guess.

Dh trip on friday has not been approved yet, this is strange.

GTAGWTA.

 

[Sha]

Hello ladies! pardon me as I am just floating around again... still!!

Candy- I hope you get to DC too! I have only seen it from the car. Never been to the historical sites. Flown into Reagan IA and Dulles.. visited my friend there, and driven through it. I give my mom a hard time about that since my sisters both got to see DC as kids. We moved away and I got Disney instead (oh darn).

Cheryl- hope you are doing well.

Patsmom- sorry the rain has you down. I know it kind of helps me sleep. And right now... even the rain makes me smile. Hmm wonder why???? I am looking forward to some F&W too!

Lisa- is Meg still working at Disney while going to school?? Think that the sassy is trying to make an appearance a couple times. Those jeans my friend gave me are great. They are too long though and I will have to get them hemmed up. And if sassy becomes sessay!!! even better!!! I have lost 30 pounds per the scale. I feel it more than see it, but am noticing it in a few things.

Maryann- The HS reunion is in October. I have no idea if R. will be there for that or not. Would be great, but would love to have him at the first walk too. But not sure if he will because he has K. both walk weekends. And I have a wedding after the first walk.

I havent made any ADRs. I have thought about it, but I just don't know. I need to look at park hours and go from there. I have no idea where they may want to be at for the day. I am hoping that they can see some more of what they didn't see too. Like some of the parades. Go to MK at night. We will be having breakfast in the room though. I have so things that I need to get. We are covered on a stroller and booster seat for the car.

(just heard that the first day of Big boy school seemed to go well, and there is homework).

Oh my! And if you have me on FB... look at the photos!! I posted pics of R and I from 1994. I had sent him them in a text and he was "OMG LOL When did we do that???" so I looked back at the proofs. He said I "look very pretty" and I added "and very white" (I know that is one time I was very anemic).

We lost my uncle this weekend. He was 91 and our family patriarche. Now his brother is. He is actually a cousin, but we always referred to him as an Uncle. When mom and I came back from England I think I shared about their impromptu vow renewal. Was beautiful. Unfortunately, mom has testing at UF at the end of the week, so I can't get her to the funeral in VA tomorroww. Kind of hard on me because I promised her I would get her there when it happened.

Love you all!!! I need to go and have dinner, then a lot of paperwork.

 

[snappy]

Sha, those 1994 pictures of you and R are amazing.

You are one good looking couple.

Congrats on the weight loss. My DH is down about 17 pounds in 3 weeks on this monitored rapid weight loss thing. He already needs new clothes. I can only imagine how you are coping with needing new clothes.

Gald start of school went well for the little guy.

Sorry about your uncle, and about the conflict with your mom's appointment. I am sure you will be able to take a trip to VA later.

You inspired me to make a few dining reservations. I did not think I would be able to but I got Cali Grill at 5:30. That was the one I really wanted as I did not go there in May, but did last September with my friend Cindy.

I also got Sanaa, as that is one of my top places now, along with a lunch at Brown Derby.

Got to get my crab cake fix, remember that appetizer, MaryAnn?

Best news- I got my 1 bedroom presidential for October! I love Ken and Denise Price. I called them about it back in June and they keep a list of who wants what, confirmed the days with me via email over the weekend, and booked it a 6 am this morning to get the inside 60 days price. It is a miracle since there are very few of these units.

I am over the moon. It is only for 3 nights, as I am at OKW for two nights first. Maybe it is easier to get 3 nights, don't know.

MaryAnn, glad your trip was nice. How was the dinner last night. Is the meeting about the school today? Hope you get the Reclast issue sorted out.

Candy, your daughter has had some amazing opportunities this summer. It is going to hard to keep her down at the farm if you get my drift if this keeps us. I am seeing this problem with my DD15. She of course wants to return to NYC. The latest though is wanting to go to the voodoo music festival in New Orleans. Her sister, DD21, has agreed to take her and one friend, but the friend's mother is balking. I am not sure I am up to going but I might have dinner with my friend Cindy, meet my daughters and the friend right after the headliner set and then take them to the west bank to my friend's house to sleep. The mom might go with that. The friend asked her dad, from whon the mom is separated from to take, the mom is not gung ho on that either. It is getting complicated.

Lisa, I hope things are settling down and you get to swim more. i sure hope I get to meet you some day and take a ride in your car. I would like to feel the wind in my hair.

I am taking today off and catching up on stuff. The board meeting is Friday/Saturday and I dread what might surface from it. I have done all I could, I am trying to upload all the budget numbers by program and funding source. If they try and change things at this late date I will freak. Our fiscal year starts September 1st. Nothing like going down to the wire.

Smilie, are you home yet? Hoping for some pictures.

Patsmom, summer is over here. We had parent night last week so we could meet the teachers. Too bad it is still 97 plus degrees. And OMG the LSU students are coming back in force and clogging up the roads. I guess the first home game will be soon. Ah the drinking and all of that. It has scared the living daylights out of me from the first fall we lived here in 1999 and seems to only get worse. You would think coming from New Orleans I would get this, but it seems so concentrated here, and the damage it does to those young minds, makes me crazy.

Somehow, it does not feel like fall.

Hope they don't cut out the bladder cancer specialty at Dartmouth. How far is it into Boston? I can only imagine the traffic.