Dis Breast Cancer Survivors Part IV - GAGWTA

[CherylDan]

Laurie, glad to hear your BIL is doing ok after surgery. Hope your mammo went well today - love your "slap down on the plate" comment!

LMP....have fun with the planning! Hopefully you will be able to get at least some of the ADRs you want.

PrincessK - best of luck to you on Monday! Hopefully you will be able to move on and put this all behind you.

Hi Linda!

Peg, how are you doing this week?

PatsMom, hope you are having a great time on your China trip!

GAGWTA!!

 

[CherylDan]

I've gathered up some pictures from our trip......

Disneyland's New Orleans Square, early in the morning while it was still empty.

Cars Land.....Soooo much fun back here!

Walking along Radiator Springs Racers at night. They did such a nice job with the lighting back here

The center plaza at California Adventure. I really like this park a lot, probably because it is just so different than anything at WDW. It's hard to tell in this picture, but the trees were completely covered in the prettiest pink flowers.

 

[CherylDan]

After leaving Anaheim, we took a very scenic drive along the coast towards San Diego, stopping in La Jolla along the way. We had lunch at a wonderful place with an awesome view! From our table:

Another view from our table:

Came across this mermaid statue quite unexpectedly....turned the corner and there it was, perfectly framed by an arched doorway.

We took a walk along the shore and spotted this bench....we sat there quite awhile just enjoying the view and the sounds of the ocean. This was seriously one of my favorite parts of the trip!

The bench also overlooked a small beach....

 

[CherylDan]

The patio at the hotel.....very nice place to sit and relax

We spent quite a bit of time at Balboa Park. I just love the Spanish mission style there. And such a pretty time to visit, with all the spring flowers in full bloom.

And here's me, rocking the new hat I bought at DL!

 

[CherylDan]

DH is a fan of model trains, so we found ourselves at a model train museum....just one of the many museums at Balboa Park. If you look closely in the background of this picture, you can see DH towering over the village.

I got a kick out of all the detail.

DH also wanted to go see the USS Midway aircraft carrier.....very, very large! There were a ton of aircraft on the ship, on both the deck and below. I was really surprised at how low the ceilings were in the lower decks....I bet sailors get tired of ducking their heads all the time!

Took a harbor cruise and saw lots of navy ships. This is the midway again.

And a view of part of the San Diego sky line

 

[CherylDan]

The Coronado Bridge, connecting San Diego to Coronado. Sure is long! We went over it several times since our hotel was on the island. Only it's not really an island at all! At any rate it was such a cool little town......yep, in my fantasy, I'm going to be a resident of Coronado!

We went to a very cool breakfast/lunch place called Snooze.....seriously good food! (pineapple upside down pancakes anyone???). Also loved the decor. And see all the windows in front? Those are actually overhead garage type doors that they opened while we were there. We were at another restaurant that had the same type set up.....ah, to live in the perfect climate!

Spent a day at the San Diego Zoo......more like a park with animals.

The baby panda was very popular!

We had such a good time on this trip that we have decided to back again! Going to make a family vacation out of it.

 

[CherylDan]

Oops, double post

 

[snappy]

Ah, Cheryl, wonderful, wonderful pictures. Is it possible or are the colors just brighter in California?

What camera were you using? Please post more, seeing your pictures is better than well, chocolate, or for me right now, carbs of any type.

Love the hat by the way. You look marvaloussssss! Purple and pink together I just love. I splurged a month or two ago on a nice purple leather cross body purse with a wide strap. Well it was majorly reduced at T.J. Maxx, so it was not really a splurge but it felt like one since it is so nice. I love the thing. It is not too big so I travel light. Something about the wide leather strap, it just feels more comfortable on my body than the way I always wore purses before slung on my shoulder on my "good side." It is so easy to slip mu keys in it when it is still slung across my body. Seems like it is helping out my shoulder on my good side not to have a purse dangling.

I don't think I will ever buy any other purse than a cross body in the future.

And did I mention I like purple?

My mammo went great yesterday, thanks for asking. The place you have to go to for diagnostic ones here is brand spanking new since Women's hospital relocated last August, so I got to try out the new machine. They were super organized, I was out of there in record time. Maybe everyone is out on spring break, I think I only saw one or two other patients. So organized and beautiful are the new spaces. I think they spent way too much money on common areas in the hospital but that is the conservative eye of an accountant type who well knows how expensive hospital construction costs are and the effect in $$ on patient fees.

Maybe the radiologist was faster because there was less to look at. The one on duty at the time was one of the two head honchos (I asked, ever the nosy one). The verbal report I got was that there was no change since the last time. Uh, excuse me, can you say half the siZE?

I got a kick out of the fact that the technician who took the views is also on Ideal Protein. At least I was able to tell her things were different due to the weight loss.

Oh, and I kiddingly told the sweet girl in Admissions who checked me in that I should get a discount for having a one side only deal. She quickly said, yes, there is a lower price for unilateral. I got a discount!!!!

So ladies, ask for the single girl discount. It was only 10% less but I sort of felt like I won the lottery! I guess it was more like winning one round of bingo. . . Uh the technical terminology is unilateral not bilateral. After 9 years I finally figured it out!

GAGWTA!

 

[snappy]

BIL got off the vent Thursday. Yesterday they took out more tubes, and actually got him to stand, another milestone. Maybe into a regular room soon. The blood sugar is down and being regulated, and his kidneys are functioning. DH offered to take some overnight shifts but his wife is hanging in there. I suspect it will be harder once he is moved out of CCU. Right now she can't stay in the room more than an hours a few times a day, and not all night. it will be a whole new ball game when he is busts out of CCU. I also suspect he will be in much more pain. He still got some morphine Thursday night. Once that clears his system, that leg is going to hurt. But his color is good, and the doc who said he would not make it through surgery should eat his words.

 

[snappy]

MaryAnn, have you booked your trip?

 

[Dancind]

We are going to the San Diego area in September, actually a week in Carlsbad after four nights at DL. But there's a train down the coast that stops at Balboa park, so we will try that. I was watching a news show about highways etc the other night and they were talking about all the old bridges we have around the country. Coronado bridge was mentioned as one likely to fall down at any time! So, no thank you to living on Coronado.

Probably a good thing you didn't know that.

Had my mammo on Thursday. Snappy, did not occur to me to ask for a preliminary report so I am sweating it out. No call on Friday is a good thing, right? I am having some pain in the single girl but no lumps. I am blaming it on eating too many carbs lately (gluten free stuff), along with more hip pain. Must stop.

 

[Feralpeg]

CherylDan, Great pictures! You look like you had a great time...that's what it's all about!

Snappy, Glad to hear your BIL is doing better!

PrincessKMom, I'll be thinking of you on Monday and praying for really good news!

Had my third chemo on Tuesday. Only one more of this type, then I move on to Tamoxin. I will have four rounds of that...one each week. There is a light at the end of this tunnel!

Hope everyone is having an amazing weekend! Thinking of you all!

 

[snappy]

We are going to the San Diego area in September, actually a week in Carlsbad after four nights at DL. But there's a train down the coast that stops at Balboa park, so we will try that. I was watching a news show about highways etc the other night and they were talking about all the old bridges we have around the country. Coronado bridge was mentioned as one likely to fall down at any time! So, no thank you to living on Coronado.

Probably a good thing you didn't know that.

Had my mammo on Thursday. Snappy, did not occur to me to ask for a preliminary report so I am sweating it out. No call on Friday is a good thing, right? I am having some pain in the single girl but no lumps. I am blaming it on eating too many carbs lately (gluten free stuff), along with more hip pain. Must stop.

Hmm, here when you do a diagnostic mammo, the radiologist looks at it before you are "dismissed." You are told by the technician or another staff person (non the doc) everything looks good after the doc reads it, or we will need to do more views.

I thought that was the same everywhere. Maybe not?

 

[smiley_face2]

Cheryl LOVE your pictures!! makes me want to be there again right now!! I think New Orleans Square when it's quiet like that is my favorite place on the planet!! I can easily sit there for hours looking around watching the people go by and listening to the jazz I am sooooo happy you got more good news! I am seriously keeping you in my thoughts and prayers!
It sounds like we are all in getting our annual check ups, and yes it is a stressful time isn't it? I also get mine done at the cancer agency in the city because they tell me right then and there good or more tests needed so no waiting for a call, plus it's a free shopping trip to the city!
LMP I Know that things will work out for the best, you just keep thinking good positive thoughts!!

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Laurie - so happy to hear that your bil is doing well post op. Sounds like its been an ordeal though. I am glad your mammo went well. I laughed at your "plate" comment too. Oh where is the tag fairy???????????

Diana - sorry you have to wait for the results. Here too, as Laurie said, they do a quick look/review to see if they want any more pictures. If they do then I start to worry, but if they say you are ok to go, then I usually assume its good news etc. I guess they do things differently at different places.

Cheryl - I loved looking at your picures. ds3 said what areyou looking at mom and he saw your beach pctures and probably started drooling and wishing he was back in Calif. too. Looks like you had an amazing time.

Peg - Yes there is light at the end of the tunnel. Sometimes it takes a while to get there. After operation 6 the one year I was happy to hear 7 was going to be the last one. Hang in there! Hope you can find things to eat that dont bother your stomach to much.

Princess K mom - wishing you all the best Mon.

Pats mom - hope you are enjoying your trip

Anyone hear about this yet. It was on the news here. They said the local chemo place is refusing to take medicare patients now because they say they are losing too much money due to the lower medicare reimbursement rates, so now all the patients have to go to the local univ. hosp. or another hosp closer to their homes etc. Wowsa. I cant believe it. that chemo/infusion place is always packed. (Its not the place I went to). Just a place near all my drs.

Worse, now if al the patients go to the cancer center at the univ. hosp. there will be parking nightmares. This bldg. contains the cancer center, the imaging center (where I go for my ultrasounds) and the breast cancer center.
This is not even the normal hosp. Just an annex bldg. and usually dh drives around looking for a parking spot.

Its also a longer trip for people if they have taxis take them etc so more $ for people already fighting tough.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

MaryAnn, have you booked your trip?

Hmm, yesterday it was taking the 2 ds and having them stay at the dolphin and dh and I at the beach club.

Today its no kids (they aggravated me, so I said forget it), and dh saying I have to wait to Mon. to hear from China and me having to call the oncologist on Mon and see if I can reschedule my appt.

So my very preliminary dates are May 28-June 3rd and that will only be if we can get an annual passholder rate and our pass will be up then anyway so if I renew it it will b less money but I might just wait and get a new one so next year we can go for our normal May dates etc.

The disney website says they have rooms at BC or YC, of course I think its water view a little more $. Its a special anniv. and b day for me, but I think thats enough money spent. We usally dont use the club service enough to justify that etc.

I also cant make it later in June because dh says he has a big review to get ready for and then I will have to be spending time getting ready to teach in July so its going to be soon or nothing I told dh.

I might just plug in some adrs so at least we have something. Just do the ones without credit card maybe, but then again, we usually do all the signatures that require a cc.

We shall see. Dh has already requested yachtsman and citricos.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Our Little Critter just died.

I dont want to look in the cage. Ds2 just wanted to play with him and saw him.

Last night they were letting him go loose in the living room and it was so cute watching him.

 

[CherylDan]

MaryAnn, sorry to hear about your pet. Sounds like it was really sudden.

Smiley, New Orleans Square is so pretty, especially first thing in the morning! We had lunch at the cafe one afternoon, sitting outside on the terrace and watching the people go by. DH had some kind of seafood crepe, and I ordered the Monte Cristo - or meat doughnut as we called it! Delish!

Peg, so glad the end is in sight! I hope your stomach issues are not as bad this time around.

Dancind, have a great time on your trip! If you do decide to go to Balboa Park, they have all sorts of different park passes to the museums/zoo.....or it's also great to just walk around and admire everything. Wow, that's really strange to hear about Coronado bridge. It seemed perfectly fine, no signs or limits on weight. I dont think it's even all that old, 40ish years, maybe?

Laurie, yes, the colors ARE brighter in CA! LOL. Or at least brighter than around here, where everything is still brown and grey and dormat. I was just using my iPhone, so I don't know how accurate it is.

I sooo agree with you on the purse thing. I've taken to just carrying a very small wristlet type bag. Found out that if "it" didn't fit, I don't really need "it". Feels great not to have a purse strap hanging on my good arm, especially since the port is on that side too.

Thanks for all the kind comments on the pictures!

DH and I are very excited! We just found out that DD & SIL are moving back here from Boston. Well not here, but Chicago - close enough. SIL is starting a new job in Chicago, and DD travels for her company, so it doesn't really matter where she lives. Will be nice to have them close by again.

GAGWTA!!

 

[PrincessKsMom]

Biopsy was yesterday and it was so easy. No pain at all. Barely even a pinch. My flu shot hurts worse than that. Maybe I was fortunate and had a great doctor, maybe I built it all up to be something it wasn't. She said she was not too concerned by what she saw, but we need to be safe and wait for the results. And once that's behind me I still might have an MRI so while I'm happy the first step is behind me, I'm anxious to have it all behind me, or get on with whatever needs to be done.

Wishing you all peace, strength and health.

 

[snappy]

Glad you had an easy time of it. Thanks for the update.

Do you have a time frame for receiving your results. Keeping my fingers crossed for you,

The percentages are definitely in your favor.