Dis Breast Cancer Survivors Part III - GAGWTA!

[KJ Luvs Pluto]

LMP - A 'posum is a great sighting. We don't see them too often around here. Maybe one a year on average. Yesterday I saved the first snake of the fall from getting run over in the road. They cross the gravel road we live on in the spring and fall going to and from their dens so I go out during those times in the evening to help them across the road so the few cars that travel the road don't run them over. Last night was the first one - he was a bit early though - usually it's september.

I just love the wildlife. The coyotes sure are yipping outside the window at night though. What a chorus to go to sleep by.

Thanks for the update on your sightings - I like to hear what others are seeing "in their neck of the woods".

Laurie - Hope your shoulder improves and that it feels better each day.

GAGWTA.

 

[snappy]

Thanks KJ.



On a regular basis we have raccoons and armadillas.

The raccoons like to gnaw through my bird seed bins.

Deer are around too, but not as much lately.

And the snakes love the area.

But boy do I love my cardinals. We live in a subdivision but there are lots of canals around. The deer are attracted to the waterways.

 

[KJ Luvs Pluto]

Those raccoons sure can be destructive. We've had problems for years with them and the garbage. We have to take ours to the dump so we need to store it for awhile and they tend to find it so we have to build a place they couldn't get into. Then they were destroying my garden to get to the sweet corn every year. It took me three years to realize that if I didn't plant sweet corn (which we never got an ear because the 'coons got it all anyway) then the 'coons left the garden alone. I'm a slow learner . Now I just buy my sweet corn.

Cardinals are so beautiful. I love watching the birds too. Big ones and little ones.

 

[snappy]

I have had a series of bird feeders over the years, but the squirrels always seemed to get most of the sunflower seeds.

Last Christmas DH ordered a truly squirrel proof one. They are so freustrated. When the weight of a squirrel is on the perch, the opening to the seed clamps down. They occasionally rip the perch off but we just reinstall it.

Squirrels are a pain too, not as much of a pain as the raccoons.

Glad it is Friday. Not sure I could take another work day.

Lots of cooking going on over here. I started my gumbo at 7 am.

DD14 has been sick this week. It is hard to miss school in 9th grade.

She even had her first honors English paper due yesterday. Are we having fun yet?

I will have to say the teachers are so on it at this school. DD14 was in touch with the teachers by email. She could have even emailed the paper yesterday but was feeling well enough to make it until English class.

Seems like college days!

Man were things different for me in high school but that was in the olden days.

I am still not 100% sold on the tablet laptops they have to haul around to every class. Hers has had to be reimaged twice already.

She is learning though. already knows way more than me about Word but I bet she could not do accounting!!!@!!

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Good morning ladies

Well I am . Dh informed me he is leaving tomm. for about 8 days in New Zealand. He is taking 2 guys with him and the one just had surgery the other week!! He is suppose to be back the day before labor day.

We were talking and it seems we both are losing faith in my surgeon.

Also dh tells me he he thinks he is having a complication from his april surgery and I need to call and make an appt.for hm with his surgeon.

GTAGWTA. Have a great week end everyone.

 

[wdw4us2]

I loved everyone's wild animal stories - especially KJ and the sweet corn! We like to tell people we live in a wildlife sanctuary. We have peacocks, gopher tortoises, rabbits, armadillos, snakes and all types of birds in our yard on a regular basis. The baby turtles sometimes end up in the pool and I have to fish them out before I swim.

We had a great time at WDW. The room at Yacht Club was very great and the resort was as nice as I remembered. The room was a bit far away, but I needed the exercise since I wasn't swimming while I was away. I did use the fitness center to lift weights, though. It was a nice facility. I had fun visiting with friends at the pin event, but only made a few trades. MaryAnn - I have somewhere in the neighborhood of 1500 pins according to my PinPics account. I haven't been very active with it in the past few years (obviously) but I still enjoy the hobby. The parks were empty this weekend. We sailed through the Magic Kingdom yesterday. We were there for less than five hours and managed to do 8 attractions and a table service lunch. I love it when the parks are like that. I don't understand what is going on with the Disney Dining Reservation system. We tried to make several ADRs before we left only to be told everything was booked. We were able to walk up and be seated at Captain's Galley, Coral Reef and The Plaza after being told over the phone they were 100% booked. The host at the Captain's Galley told me they have 30% no-shows every night. Disney needs to do something about these people that hold multiple reservations at the same time. . .

I have my bone density scan on Wednesday and my PETscan/CT on Thursday. Hope everyone has a great week!

 

[snappy]

Glad you had a nice trip, Lisa.

I never have multiple concurrent reservations but sometimes we are not able to make the ones I make.

I should really call and cancel them. I am not consistent with that part.

How hot was the weather?

LMP, has your DH left?

Is it Monday already????/

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Good morning ladies

Lisa - it sounds like you had a wonderful trip!! Wow, that alot of pins! I am glad you enjoyed the Yacht Club. I agree about the dining reservations. I too only book what I need or want. Alot of discussion was going on about this on one of the threads. Alot of people seem to think a credit card number to reserve would help the multiple situation etc.

Laurie - how is the shoulder? Someone else on the cb was asking about the procedure over the week end. Not too many responses. Hope your dd is getting adjusted to school.

MinnieTink - hope your vacation was good and that your mom is doing o.k. and your dad too.

Linda - Have you ever been to Tisbury?(vineyard Crossing)

Well my week end was o.k. Finally got to be in the sun, yippee!! The wound is looking good, but you never know how long that will last. Dh called from NZ and of course I was with 2 of the ds at walmart but ds22 talked to him.. Ds 20 did manage to change the flat tire on dh van. Luckily that was when he was only down our street taking ds18 his lunch at work. Our church remodel is good. Much brighter. Ds18 took his clep test in english, he switched from chemistry and got 6 credits. Yeah, now he doesnt have to take the horrid english class. Today is the lst official day of college for ds18 and ds20. I got dh an appt. at the surgeon sept. 18th. It was the only thing they had and not at the main office. What is up with these surgeons around here?The lady asks me on the phone to speak up etc. I said, I am sorry I have cancer etc. She said, oh sorry. I said, its o.k. this is a dr. s. problem (my ent surgeon). Always interesting to say the least.

GTAGWTA. Have a great day everyone.

 

[wdw4us2]

Laurie - The weather wasn't too bad, but I'm used to it. It was overcast when we had to wait outside the World Showplace for half an hour, so it wasn't as hot as it could have been. We had some rain on Friday and Saturday night. Sunday was absolutely perfect. Sunny and a nice breeze. How's the shoulder?

MaryAnn - Hope your hubby gets back from his trip soon. You always seem to have your hands full while he's away!.

 

[snappy]

We had a nice breeze here too actually Friday, Saturday and Sunday, when it wasn't raining.

Unseasonably mild.

My shoulder is better. I think my problem asisde from pulling my back and stomach muscles when I fainted, was that I tried to go back to work too early.

It's my own damned fault as Jimmie Buffet would say/sing.

I still can't raise my arm half mast but really don't need to except to hang clothes up in my laundry room. I don' t know why DH put the poles up so high? I guess I am doing my own style of physical therapy which will continue at WDW.

I do wake up at night with it but I just turn over and dream on.

Is it Margarita time yet?

My goodness I have never cooked so much meat in one week in my life. One upside is that although I have suggested he wash some of his clothes after a week, Jake tells me he has lots of clothes, Ms. Laurie.

One thing I am not gonna do is wash the boy's clothes, even if his mom is my best friend. She refuses to do it too!

 

[MinnieTink]

Hey everyone.

Warning: this is a Debbie Downer post

I'm so sorry. You all have so much to deal with, and all keep your hopes up. I am having a hard time keeping the faith. My family and I had such a nice vacation. Came home to my mom sick from chemo again. Yesterday my dad came to watch the little guy so I could take the DDs for some school clothes. When I got back dad told me he needs another cystoscopy. If the cancer has recurred he may need his bladder removed. Last night I just cried myself to sleep. I felt like the little girl I used to be, an only child who worried who would take care of me if something happened to my parents. They both have cancer at the same time. Is this a joke? I HATE that they are suffering at all. I'm losing it. Tears just come. My son (3) keeps saying he misses nana. They were together so much, but not recently. I'm so sorry. Sorry to whine. I just can't whine anywhere else.

 

[MinnieTink]

I actually feel better after writing that down and having a good cry. Thanks Dissistas.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Good morning ladies

PatsMom - wishing you all the best with your surgery today. I hope the biopsy results are good. Prayers and good thoughts for you.

MinnieTink - I am glad that you had a good vacation and got to relax and re charge a little. Its a good place to come here. We are here to listen. I am sure it breaks your heart to the very core to see your parents going through all this. Being an only child is hard too since its all on your shoulders. My dh is an only child and when my sister died I became the only child. I wish my mom would have been here when I am going through all of this, but she gave me a great foundation of faith so that is helping me. I pray you will take it one day at a time. Anything more than that is overwhelming. Please vent anytime you need too. I find it therapuetic at times.

Laurie - hope you are healed up enough before your trip.

Lisa - what did you eat at captains grill?

Well dh called from New Zealand yest. He didnt talk long as he was having phone issues. He climbed an active volcano and now is going to straighten out the problems with this company and play the bad guy. And so its another day in my life with the barely draining, but draining woundAnd my countdown starts...a week from today I will know what is happening in my so callled surgical life

GTAGWTA. Have a great day everyone.

 

[wdw4us2]

MinnieTink - Sorry you are dealing with so much right now. I'm sure it's even harder as you are an only child. I have had crisis of Faith moments a few times during my illness. I found someone from my church to talk to and that helped me immensely. Hang in there, we are all thinking of you.

MaryAnn - I had the Market Fish at the Captain's Grille which was Mahi-mahi. It was delicious!

Going for my first bone density test today. Should be interesting.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Minnie Tink, it's so hard when our parents begin to age and have health problems (or when we ourselves have health problems we didn't expect to have to deal with at such a young age - or both!). I suspect, though, that a year from now (I know it seems an awfully long time away) you will all be in a better place. Unfortunately, once that "bubble is burst" as far as facing our own and our family members' mortality, it does change the way we think about life (not all bad, thankfully), and it can also cause some emotional diffculties in ourselves facing all this tough stuff. Be sure to take care of yourself in all this and find a way to work through your feelings, whether it's talking to us or to someone IRL, or both. I found the emotional part of my illness was in many ways harder (and longer) than the physical part was, as tough as it was physically. Just so many thoughts to deal with if you're that type of person. (I always wished I was the type of person who could just turn it off, but I'm not.)

Pats Mom, how are you doing? I meant to mention before, you are in my prayers as is everyone here, always.

 

[MinnieTink]

Thanks everyone for your kind words and encouragement. I'm feeling better today. I know my mom will come thru this. She is not as sick with the chemo this time, just extremely tired. The hair loss is also kicking in now so that has been a blow to her spirits but it is just temporary. It threw me for a loop a little to hear about my dad. He is a very active guy. Walks, swims and goes to the gym every day. I hope that if the cystectomy comes to pass there is something that can be done to preserve his active lifestyle. If his dr says he needs it removed he will probably go to Sloan Kettering for a second opinion.

I'm grateful to all of you to have this place to pour my heart out to. Thank you.

Patsmom...you are in my prayers.

You are all in my prayers.

 

[PatsMom]

Thank you all for the prayers and good wishes. My surgery went well - not nearly as much post op pain this time since they didn't do the chemo and the surgery was shorter. The doctor feels like he got good specimens for the pathologist. Now its just a matter of getting through the next two weeks until I get the results of the re-staging of my tumor. Hopefully I will be a good candidate for more chemo and will be able to keep my bladder.

MinnieTink - I don't have much to add to what others have said, especially about your mother. But I do know that as far as your Dad is concerned, a repeat cystoscopy may not be a major thing. Have you talked to him about what grade/stage his cancer is? I am assuming that he is having either pain or bleeding and this is not just a routine follow up. I do know that having your bladder removed is not the end of an active lifestyle. I have been doing a lot of research on the topic lately since I am potentially facing the same surgery. It is a major surgery and not to be taken lightly but living with the various reconstructions is doable. Maybe you could go to his cystoscopy with him - not the actual procedure but the face to face time with the doctor before and after. I know it has helped my husband to hear things direct from the doctor instead of second hand through an emotional me!

Best wishes to all.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Good afternoon ladies

PatsMom - glad to hear you made it through the surgery. I know waiting for the path results wil be nerve wracking, but hang out here (you can have fun and listen to me whine too, just bring some cheese

Just back from a horrible shopping trip with ds20. Hmm, I guess him asking why we have to go shoppping, didnt we just do this (yes, last week), constantly dropping the f bomb in the store, constantly texting in the store instead of helping with the cart, guess he forgot I can barely use my one arm etc. making me cry, complaining I was taking too long (while not helping all that much), driving like a maniac etc. has drained me. I swear if I didnt need to hold onto the cart to balance myself I honestly felt like slapping that kid in the side of the face.

Dh hasnt called again, oh well, such is life.

Ds18 is doing well in college, He wants to change or drop 1 class and he got to have lunch with alot of his hs friends yest. I didnt realize so many were staying home, maybe with the economy?

I need to schedule a blood test. Nothing like being reminded about cancer every 3 months. I stayed up to listen to Michael Douglas on Letterman talking about his throat cancer. He said its stage 4. I hate hearing that, well since I am a 4 too, he is joining the club!! My rad. onc. always says, dont worrry its just a number, yeah, right. except its my 4, not hers

GTAGWTA, Blessings to you all always.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Good afternoon ladies

Lisa - how did your bone density test go s.? The tech told me the results right away, but my endo has not called to discuss.

PatsMom - hope you are healing and getting stronger. Hang in there.

Laurie - did you make any adrs for your upcoming trip?

Dh called me from NZ. I told him about my episode with ds20. They wanted to get home earlier but it was too expensive. Dh told me he will make it up to me, yeah right. I told him I scheduled the blood test for right before the surgeon so as to not waste time etc). His comment - "You know, thats my busy day at work!!. I think I almost hung up the phone then. So being the nice person I am, I scheduled a blood test for HIM also on tues. 15 min. before mine. We will seee if he puts up a stink about it. His last blood test at work showed that he was borderline diabetic.

Getting ready for the hurricaine stuff. It will probably be alot of wind and rain for us. Ds18 has to work at the pool. So he will be inside doing homework.He is trying to change a class or drop it.

Oh and I won a book signed by an author. Lucky day for me Gee, if I could only win a disney trip!!

GTAGWTA. Have a great day ladies.

 

[Tuffcookie]

Maryann, I just heard about the earthquake in NZ!

Please post and let us know your DH, John, is okay!

TC