Dis Breast Cancer Survivors Part III - GAGWTA!

[luvmarypoppins]

Good late evening ladies

Guess who is back??

Miinie Tink - I am glad your moms surgery is over and that she is recovering. I hope you are feeling a little better too.

minniejeanie - I hope you are tolerating the chemo and not having too many bad side effects

Fl Lisa - hope your labs and infusion went well

We had a wonderful vacation, Hmm, the best parts were celebrating my b day and our anniv, and ....meeting Laurie!! We finally met on saturday. She is so wonderful in person!! A real sweetie!! We got to visit in the Polynesian lobby. And thurs. I was really upset because I knew I had to call the rad. onc. on friday., so there were alot of prayers and tears thurs. night, knowing what I might have to go through again..but Praise God, the tests were negative!! So the cancer is still in remission, God is so good!!

I will be doing a little resort and dining report on the other boards.

Tomm. my ds18 leaves for his class trip. He is staying at the Carribean Beach till sat. So we had to immediately unload dh suitcase for him. He is going to the Orlando Rescue Mission tomm.

I am tired now. GTAGWTA.

 

[KJ Luvs Pluto]

LMP - I'm so happy to hear that your cancer is still in remission - I'm glad to hear that you had a nice time on your vacation. Hope you had a chance to de-stress a little bit.

 

[wdw4us2]

LMP - Great news! I'm so happy for you. Glad you got to meet Laurie, too.

MinnieTink - It sounds as though your Mom is doing well.

Labs and infusion went well on Friday. I was a bit more fatigued than last time, but I figure that's because I'm working out more now. I am up to 100 laps in an hour in our pool. DD says that's the equivalent of 20 laps in an Olympic size pool. I swim six days a week and work out with the weights on the same days.

More fun this week. Gynecologist tomorrow, MUGA test on Wednesday, plastic surgeon on Thursday. It's going to be a long week.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Hi Ladies

Fl Lisa - Wow, you sure have alot on your plate this week. Hoping all goes well and you dont get too tired from it all. Wow, you sound like you are in good shape!

I told Laurie to look for the lady with the wheelchair. I used it like a walker most of the time. Its hard for me to walk with not feeling the left shoulder and my neck, its like I feel I am always leaning to the L so it helps with the balance and when I was tired dh pushed me. I still need to get the b12 checked again. But that is with dr. wacko whom I dont like so I am holding off. I am so itchy. The bugs were really biting down there.

Ds18 has arrived safely. So I hope he texts once in a while to let me know how things are going. He said his first day (tomm. in the parks, today is their service at the rescue mission) he is the only boy with a group of girls. He said he is giving them like 10 minutes of shopping time. hmmm. I guess he doesnt know girls that well!!

I did see on aother thread that Lisa (honugirl) had her surgery, so I am asssuming she is doing well. Miss her around here. She has a great sense of humor with everything she has gone through too.

GTAGWTA. Time for more

 

[MinnieTink]

lmp, great news! And glad you had a good trip.

 

[Sha]

Having computer issues but had to get on to say LMP that is wonderful news!!! Glad you got to meet up with Laurie. I did not get Ricardo... there were some rough times on that weekend trip. Got to meet WDW4us2 and her daughter (there is a picture somewhere).

Went back to the world this past weekend to meet with friends at last minute... had a blast. Went to TL yesterday and was my first time in a water park there. Loved it. Will get back soon and read more of what Ive been missing.

hugs and prayers for all of you!

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Good afternoon ladies

I think Laurie is coming home today or tomm.

Well what is new around here...hmm...ds18 texted me and said he is having a great time. He saw illuminations last night and there were only 2 groups who were not sent back to the hotel and his was one of them, good for him!!

Oh and ds20 got his grades, lets see, he only took 4 classes and 2 were repeats since he failed them lst time, well he passed 2 and failed 2, one failure being the one he already failed. I think dh will have to have a talk with him. I am glad this school is not alot of money. I did say to him, I am sorry college is so hard for you (this univ. has a rep for being very hard in math and science). He said, no, I am just lazy

I am still recovering from all the walking I did, needless to say I was not in good shape to begin with.

GTAGWTA. Hope everyone is well and have a great day.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Good afternoon ladies

So where is everyone??

Fl Lisa - hope all your testing is going well

Laurie - are you home sweet home yet??

Linda - saw your thread about the sun room

Ann - do you like your macbook? ds18 wants one but I told him to consider a dell etc.

Well dh and I have a meeting to go to tonight. Should be interesting. I know in this economy our house of worship is not doing well. Financially speaking.

Ds18 texted me that he tried out for american idol. They said he had a great personality, guts and determination??, The best girl in his class got to sing on stage but didnt make it to the next round. He got to eat breakfast at CP. Sounds like he is having fun. And Hallelujah ds22 is going out on a lunch date today. Same girl he took to the senior gala. Sounds like he is making some progress. Have a graduation party to go to sat. Ds22 friend. I think he will go to law school. The parents are nice and the mom has ms and I havent seen her in years since hs days, so it will be nice to visit etc.

GTAGWTA. Have a great day ladies.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Well I am soooo . The dreaded letter has come for ds18. I held it up to the light. I see the word...Regretfully. So kiss the wait list good bye forever. I guess he is sentenced to 2 years at the horrid comm. college. Ours has a rep for being bad etc.

He is taking a summer class in english as he said he will be bored at work. Its online mostly. So if he takes 15 credits in the fall (I dont know if thats possible there) he could re apply to the state univ. They wont look at you unless you have 24 credits and a minimum 3.0 gpa. Wow, somtimes God says no and this is for sure one of those times. I am not going to tell ds. Let him have a good time in Disney World. I know when they left a messge for me from the rad. onc. he said he didnt tell me because he wanted me to be happy and have a good time, so I will do the same for him.

 

[KJ Luvs Pluto]

Sorry to hear about that LMP. But maybe there is a silver lining. When one door closes, another one opens. Maybe there is a reason he didn't get in at this time. Sometimes we learn valuable lessons in life - not always the way we want to learn them or want our children to learn them - but ...

I am sorry though that he didn't get in to the school of his choice. It's so hard to see disappointment on the faces of the young ones.

 

[snappy]

Yes, I did make it home, after 9 pm.

boy am I a tired puppy.

I do not think we will drive again, It was more than 700 miles and I guess I finally came to the realization that we are too old to drive it. It was a revelation.

DD14's little friend she brought was so cheerful and flexible. The two of them just talked incessantly. Having a friend along sure makes things easier as they really entertained each other.

The weather was a bit warm until the last 2 days when a sort of cool front blew in after a short spell of rain. The humidity went way down and the comfort level way up. It was wonderful.

The lazy rivers at bonnet creek came it really handy. The 3 bedroom unit was an en d unit with great views of MK fireworks, Epcot (closer) fireworks. We could also see tower of terror and soem of Fantasmic. It was pretty amazing.

The boardwalk unit again I got what I requested on the top floor in the middle so we could see EPCOT fireworks as well as MK off in the distance. There were three performers each night and DD14 and her friend just had a ball walking around each night. We are not at the point at turning them loose in the parks but we did on the boardwalk at night with a lot of checking in.

The boardwalk unit looked wonderful after the rehab. Even the hall ways were new and improved. I enjoyed having everything so spruced up.

Another revelation I got this trip is that DH needs a break from Disney, he says at least 3 years. He is ok with me going with DD14 or with other family or friends but he is taking a break. I do have plans to try and do a short trip for the race for the cure in October with my friend Cindy from New Orleans at the Waldorf. I am going to plan either a family beach trip next summer or a trip to NYC or DC for just DH, DD14 and I. Those are the locations that he mentioned he was interested in. I hate that he feels this way about Disney. We had a bit of a discussion about it. I tried to explain that it was one place I felt I could manage things, and that since the cancer thing, it seemed to be the place that most made me happy. He is trying to understand but it is hard. As far as he is concerned I am over cancer. I really don't think he is marginalizing what I went through but doesn't understand the lingering worries.

I do now realize thought the time has come to give up the big family vacation trying to include everyone and make everyone happy. DD19 went with us but is really planning to spend future vacations with the boy friend. Life goes on. . .

DD19 is home until June 1st, DD14 is leaving Sunday for a youth group trip, so the summer is her and back to reality.

Maryann, it was wonderful to meet you and your husband. I was afraid it was not going to happen after I missed your message the first night. I wish we had been able to spend more time together but traveling with my family I never feel in control of my time as I put myself in the place of making sure everyone is having a good time. Typical mother stuff I guess.

Sorry your youngest is coming home to bad news. I hope he tries to make the best of it.

 

[wdw4us2]

LMP - Sorry to hear your son's news about college, but I agree with KJ. DD was devestated last year when she didn't get into her first choice school, but it was better that she ended up at her second choice. She loves UCF, made a lot of good friends and was able to come home to check up on me once a month (2 hour drive vs. 4 hour drive). Everything happens for a reason.

Laurie - I'm so happy you were able to meet MaryAnn and that you had a good time on your trip. I'm hoping you get to come down for RFTC because I am really hoping I can go. If not, DD has already said she will participate so maybe you can meet her!

I'm glad this week is over. Tired of all the medical appointments. Next week isn't much better - optometrist, PETscan and Gynecologist surgical consult. I probably won't learn the results of my scans until I see the oncologist on June 11th. I feel great though, so I am focusing on that.

Have a great Memorial Day weekend everyone and remember to honor our fallen military heroes.

 

[MinnieTink]

Hey everyone

Just returned from my moms visit with her surgeon. Her tumor was 2.2 cm. The surgeon said because it had surpassed 2 cm it will be sent out for Oncotype. If the results are good, 6 wks of rads and 5 years of meds. If the results are not good, chemo then rads then meds. We are hoping and praying for good results!!!

Enjoy the long weekend all!!!

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Good evening ladies

Laurie - Glad you made it home safely. Sounds like you all had a good time at the boardwalk too. I am so glad I got to meet you. Oct. trip sounds good too. Sorry your dh feels that way about Disney. I know my dh says, isint there anywhere else you want to go? Remember the entertainment we saw. Dh told me the symbol on the back of their shirts means "women" and the dance is related to life and fertility. He said he saw a big thing about it in New Zealand. Interesting.

Sha - glad you had a good mini trip too. You are so lucky to live so close to the happiest place on earth.

KJ - yeah, I agree with you. I guess my mamma bird instincts always kick in though.

Fl Lisa - wow, thats a long time to wait for results. If you call will they tell you anything over the phone? Wishing you all the best with everything next week too. You are sure one busy lady!! Just wish it was with other things.

Well I texted ds18 during his waiting for wishes last night. Phone message today reminding him to come to the comm. college for class registration and the private college called twice.

The meeting was what I expected last night. Our church has a grand total of $86 in the bank. We sure are living on faith and prayers.

Ds22 says I can meet his girl "friend" at the graduation. Should be fun. Tomm. ds comes home. I am dreading to see his disappointment again. I dont know what I can say this time. I said it all before but I guess I will say it again. Positive is good.

Oh and we booked a bounceback at the Yacht Club for I think around Dec. 7-12. Cant beat a room for 40% off at christmas time. Just hope we dont get the wind tunnel room again,

GTAGWTA.

 

[snappy]

I know you love the Yacht Club, MaryAnn, so I am glad you got it.

I wanted to do a bounce back but I was worried DH might write me off.

I am laying low.

Sha, glad you enjoyed the waterpark so much. What happened on the previous trip that was rough? I am sorry that happened. I bet it involved the human factor where someone dropped the ball like I did with MaryAnn. We planned to meet at the MK on the first Wed I was there. My family members kept calling me and leaving messages, I thought they had called, but in fact it was MaryAnn. For some reason my phone does not register a missed called if the person leaves a message. I was mortified.

Luckily, we got to meet up at the Poly. I got some good pictures of the resort, saw great entertainment, as MaryAnn referred to, and even got a lei as I was departing.

Those ladies in the lobby sure know how to do the hula dance. It was so graceful, and you did not have to be 19 and shapely to qualify.

I think I am a boardwalk girl, however, through and through. Loved the vibe down there this time, it was wonderful at night. DD19 and I went to Kimonos in the Swan lobby for sushi one night and had a lot of fun. I remember Laura mentioning once she liked it there so I decided we needed to try it. It is a blast to go out with DD19 as she gets a lot of attention (she is tall and slender and knows how to dress). I felt like I should be carrying a shotgun, LOL.

Best meal was the Cali Grill when we celebrated the 2 8th graders graduating from middle school (big thing in these parts). We spent a fortune but it was memorable. DH ordered bison which was served with diced sweet potatoes that everyone tasted and loved. We also order some new sushi offerings and could not believe how good it was. And the deserts. . . simply the best. I guess we were the Louisiana hillbillies the way we shared all the food. I swear I think I tasted a dozen different offerings that night.

We like to do it that way in the south I guess, family style.

We had another outstanding meal at Mama Rosas I think it is called at Hollywood studios. The salads were great, as were the flatbreads and pasta.

Flametree was good at AK, the Sunshine Seasons did not disappoint at Epcot, and we tried Wolfgang Puck Express in its new incarnation at Downtown Disney. I was shocked how good and reasonable it was. We also did well at Earl of Sanwich there as we usually do. Since we had a car and the Wyndham and the Boardwalk villas are both so close to Downtown Disney, I think we went to DD three times. I have no luck getting there on a bus as the trip takes forever but if you can drive it is golden. It was shockingly busy, as were the parks during the weekend. I thought this time frame was early since schools aren't out yet in most places. I think someone forget to tell the tourists we are in an economic slowdown.

Lisa, that does seem to be a long time to wait, almost two weeks to receive test results. I wanted to post how great it is that you are swimming so much. I am impressed and jealous. I would think the exercise would give you more energy.

I got some compliments on my tan at work today. No secret I just used tons of sun block and stayed outside all day. At least I did not get burned, we were religious about the sunscreen, all of us.

DH is coughing a lot tonight so I am refraining from asking him to upload my pictures, as I am cutting him a break. Some are good, especially of my daughters and our guest. I have not looked at the photopass ones yet. I am hoping I have a few good ones.

I hope DH recovers quickly, he was so sick in 1994 about a week after the first time we took our older two kids to WDW that he landed in the hospital for 6 days with pneumonia and the doc told me he almost died. I had to leave frantically from work and drive him to the doc myself when he disclosed he was coughing up blood. After he saw DH, he told us to drive directly to the hospital, do not pass go and do not worry about packing a bag. That was a long night or two.

The oil spill news this past week is not good. I was kinda in a vacuum during the trip as I absolutely refuse to watch tv or read a newspaper when I am on vacation. The news is never good when I am away, maybe I am a jinx. I don't care how wonderful the new flatscreen tvs are in the boardwalk villas or the fact we had 4 of them in the Wyndham unit (which I thought was ridiculous by the way), I am not wasting my time on vacation.

I am wondering about the future of the gulf coast. My sister thinks the ramifications are far worse that Katrina, the personal impact to our family and my husband's family (even worse) members during that episode notwithstanding. She sees it as an end to our way of life down here.

Personally, I think there may be little reason to live down here if there is no seafood to eat. I know the music is good and all, but the food is not the same without the shrimp, crabs and crawfish.

I think we should abandon ship. I can imagine what my DH would say if I suggest we move to Orlando. Divorce court here we come!!

maybe we won't go there.

Love ya, mean it.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Good afternoon ladies

Laurie - hope your dh is feeling better. My heart goes out to all of you in the oil spill area. Seems like its never seeming to get resolved.

Well ds got home late last night. I know he saw the letter and refused to comment about it. That means he is depressed and upset. My heart breaks for him. He is lifeguarding 11 hour shifts today and tomm. at a diferent pool by us.

Yest. the picnic was fun. I actually spent more time talkig to another mom from grade school days of our kids. I didnt tell her but the girl ds18 took to the prom this year and 2 years ago her son took last year. I am glad my ds got her back!! I just love that girl, a real sweetie. It was a good time but took its toll on me sitting there for so long. etc.

I got my material for the vbs program for the summer, so hello 2nd grade and I need to start studying, planning and preparing etc. Good excse not to go to the grocery store right now.

GTAGWTA. Have a great day.

 

[Sha]

Sha, glad you enjoyed the waterpark so much. What happened on the previous trip that was rough? I am sorry that happened. I bet it involved the human factor where someone dropped the ball like I did with MaryAnn. We planned to meet at the MK on the first Wed I was there. My family members kept calling me and leaving messages, I thought they had called, but in fact it was MaryAnn. For some reason my phone does not register a missed called if the person leaves a message. I was mortified.

it started with a human factor. My coworker didnt let me leave work at the time I needed to leave. It offset everything. We then had a slow server when we asked for the check. Which caused us to miss La Nouba.

The thing that got me... my coworker wanted to leave early this past friday.... and of course was able to. Yet she held me back because she was panicing about stupid stuff that was out of our control. She worries and frets about everything. I was on call, 1st primary person called, EVERY major holiday last year. I have been so far this year too. I have already made a comment that I had better not be on call on Labor day since I have Memorial day and 4th of July.

The funny thing about the weekend at Disney... we were late for EVERYthing except the yacht. I had a good time though.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

GAGWTA, Ladies!

A blanket of good wishes and hugs to all!

Crunch time as we try to get ready to leave for WDW early Friday AM!

Sha, you need a do-over. I am fond of do-overs, myself. And I think your co-worker needs a kick in the pants.

 

[NHAnn]

Hi there sistas!

Sorry I've been a stranger...getting used to the Mac (I do like it!!) and coming off the busiest month of the year at work.

So glad some of you got to meet up at with each other at WDW. I cherish the memories of meeting Laurie and Sha at Race for the Cure 2008.
Someone asked about the Melissa Etheridge song a few pages back....Laurie and I shared an emotional "moment" when they played that song after the Race.

I'm planning a a long weekend down, solo (both DH and DD will be working and unable to join me) the weekend after the July 4th weekend. Meeting up with some old DISer friends for who are doing family trips. Every time I go in the summer I say I never will again...

LMP, I hope your son doesn't take the news too hard. Things have a way of working out for the best. DD didn't get in to her top 2 choices of grad schools ...she was admitted to the third, UHawaii but ultimately decided she did not want to go there. So she's decided to work another year, take a GRE prep course and reapply next year and also research other possible schools in the continental US. She was fortunate after making that decision to snag a summer job again at the camp for autism spectrum where she worked the last 2 summers. They have normally hired their staff by now and she didn't reapply as she thought she'd be leaving for grad school by mid-summer. They added a girls' cabin due to demand so jumped at that opportunity. (Her regular job is as a speech-language assistant in an elementary school).

DH and I have been having fun doing some flyfishing, and enjoying our yard...it is our third summer in this house and the work we've done with perennials (supplemented by annuals) around the yard, deck, and rock retaining walls and planter beds and so forth is really coming to fruition

Thinking of you all, every day!!
GAGWTA!

 

[snappy]

Great to see you post, Ann!!

Glad things worked out in the end for your DD. I am SURE you like having her closer to home!

I get emotional now everytime I hear that song. Good memories, sad subject!

Your yard sounds lovely. How about a picture or two?

We lost some of the periennels we planted in the spring whil e we were gone. Too hot and not enough rain I guess. I am watering now like crazy.

MinnieTink, hoping the test results are good so that your mom's treatment will be easier. I did not know about this type of diagnostic test helping to avoid chemo, or if I had heard of it, I guess I forgto. Please keep us posted.

DH is feeling better, and was able to sleep in the bed the first time since we returned from our trip. He kindly uploaded my pictures for me, and I am working on my disney photopass pictures too, adding borders and such.

Elizabeth, how fun to have such a long trip. I read some of your dining plans, they sound wonderful. I know how excited you must be counting down the days. I can't wait to read your trip report. You are such a good scribe. I can't for the life of me do a daily trip report, especially while I am at WDW. I guess I use every scrap of energy with nothing left for computer stuff.


The VBS program sounds like a good one for you, Maryann. Were you a teacher in another life?

DD14 is off for her church youth group trip to San Antonio. My next trick is to get DD19 (20 on June 6th) everything she needs to get set up for her apartment. A little wrinkle has surfaced, the landlord wants to sand and paint, not just a general cleaning, and DD19 agreed months ago to start work June 1st (is that tomorrow??) She is obsessing so I am here being the rock of Gibraltra. It is hard to get stuff delivered when she isn't in yet.

I guess this will be an ongoing project, I thought we would be done tomorrow. I am leaving Friday for a trip to the Dallas area (Mesquite, actually) for a family wedding with my mom, my sister and her husband and DD14. It looks like DH will be on deck for whatever DD19 will need on the apartment saga.

I am going to try and post some pictures. Don't expect fancy pictures like the ones Linda nd Sha take. We are ready for another camera or lessons I think.

GAGWTA!!!!