Geriatric MM Warriors June 13, 2010

[Wisteria1956]

Thanks for the thoughts and prayers everyone! Did I tell you the surgery is scheduled for Oct. 4 at 9 am PT? I can't remember. I did some research online and it's going to be a rough procedure and recovery. His leg may swell forever after they remove the lymph nodes and it's a hard place to heal. That said, Tom is very strong and healthy so I'm sure if anyone can bounce back it will be him. We're having a bit of a better day today. In action mode now.

 

[gettinhealthy]

Thank you so much, Kathy! Please do put him on the prayer chain. We appreciate it so very much. His surgery is tentatively scheduled for Oct. 4. The only reason we don't know for sure yet is the doctor is asking another doctor to assist him so when he firms it up we'll know for sure.

I spoke with mom last night and she is going to put both of you on the prayer chain. I only told her your first names, as I know our Good Lord knows who you both are

 

[gettinhealthy]

Thanks for the thoughts and prayers everyone! Did I tell you the surgery is scheduled for Oct. 4 at 9 am PT? I can't remember. I did some research online and it's going to be a rough procedure and recovery. His leg may swell forever after they remove the lymph nodes and it's a hard place to heal. That said, Tom is very strong and healthy so I'm sure if anyone can bounce back it will be him. We're having a bit of a better day today. In action mode now.

I know you've been through this before, but please remember that you will need to vent also, Lisa. I think I can speak for all of us here when I tell you to vent here all you'd like. We are here for you and love you both. This is where we take over, hold out our arms to you and lift you up.

 

[Wisteria1956]

Kathy, you are so sweet. Thank you so much for the loving words. We're trying to be brave, but waves of panic keep coming from time to time. Mom is making soup and I am cooking and cleaning while Tom watches football. Trying to enjoy this week before his operation as much as we can. He doesn't really know how bad it's going to be and I think that might be best at this point. The doctors will tell him what he needs to know. John-Paul is coming home next Friday for a week. That will be the best medicine. His girlfriend's daughter had her first gymnastics meet yesterday. I was fun for us to hear about all about it. She did really well! What a cutie she is. Thanks again for all the well wishes and prayers. It means the world to me.

 

[Wisteria1956]

I want you all to talk to each other about everyday things. Let's try to be as normal as possible. I'll enjoy seeing what you are up to.

 

[Simpleone]

Good day to everyone... well what's left of it anyway!

Lisa, so good to hear that JP is managing to get to come to you. His need to be near you and Tom right now speaks volumes about his character, good work mom!

What a lazy day it has been for me, it's embarrassing! I had a bit of a headache, took a couple Tyenol and laid down on the sofa, waiting for it to kick-in, and fell asleep for five solid hours!! Yikes! Day's gone! I know why I did it though. I had the grandkids last night and Afton (2 yr. old) ran a pretty high fever all night long, she whimpered a lot and I don't think I ever fully went to sleep. I'm caught up now!!

I did managed to get out this morning to start the process of hand painting "authentic Mexican tiles" for the house in Mexico. We have a ceramic shop up the road from us. I ordered the tiles to be poured and selected my colors. I thought doing it myself would be a fun way for us to add some color to the trim around the bottom of the main living and kitchen space. DH will cut 4x4 trim tiles from the floor tile that we just laid and I will place the hand painted ones sporadically among them. It's become a bit of a joke calling them authentic, makes DH laugh. They're pouring me four dozen to start with, I think it will be a fun reason for me to leave the house in the afternoons. I checked them out online and managed to find four stencil patterns at Hobby Lobby that will work perfecty for the designs.

Contracts are starting to come in again for DH. Every single proposal I sent out before we left for Mexico has been accepted. It's good and bad news, good that he's getting the work, bad in that it will most likely keep us here into the first of next year. I asked if he could please set up a couple months break so we can go down again, he shrugged and said "I might". ::sigh:: I wasn't minding the thought of winter because I just knew we'd be in Mexico during a big chunk of it! Poo!!

My eating has started to lean more towards Step II than one!! Dog gone it anyway. I weighed again yesterday, with no gain or loss. Ugh! I'm going to have to work hard at this once again.

Okay off to figure out what's for dinner. You all have a great evening.

 

[Diane W.]

Pam - I wish I could sleep for 5 hours during the day. I can't sleep lately and I'm always feeling tired. When I try to lay down, I can never get to sleep. I think it's mild depression.
The tiles sound like a great project. What a nice personal touch to your home - I would've never thought of it.

It is raining again today. I will do a DVD later, because I can't go for a walk. Yesterday Owen went running even though it was raining - I'm not that committed, yet.

 

[Wisteria1956]

Pam: Is Hobby Lobby online? I want to get into polishing stones in a tumbler sometime. I love the painted tiles idea! You'll have to send us some pics of the patterns.

I, too, am doing more of a Step II plan. There is so much to read and decide about how to take best care of Tom's body right now. We're going back to juicing for him and we won't be bothering to count carbs. He's staying very trim with his workouts so he's going into this phase in great shape at least.

Mom made the best soup and it was so comforting last night. I can say if you know anyone that's facing a trauma soup is a great way to say you care.

Have a great day everyone!

 

[Simpleone]

Hi everyone!

Yes Lisa, you can shop Hobby Lobby online! Love this store. http://www.hobbylobby.com/ I also found a site where you can order real gold clasps and filler beads and such at resonable prices. I see I didn't save the site to my favorites, I'll look and see if I can link you to it. Get ordering so while you have Tom around you two can brainstorm on ideas for your jewlery. It could become good downtime therapy for you both. When I make jewlery for gifts, hubby is always over my shoulder with input and offering to help, gooooo figure!

I will be sure to get pics of the tiles as I complete them, that's a promise. I can't believe how excited I am to be making them myself, seems kind of silly really, but I am.

Found a new resolve this morning. I occured to me that my issue with my eating is just that, eating. I'm historically a non-eater. I realize that the part of this plan that I hate is making myself a plate of food, that I don't want, and is what's causing me to want to graze even more. I got in the shape I was in by not eating regularly, if at all, for days on end. I lived on stress, Pepsi, and the pressure of raising four kids and all that entails. So here's my thought, I've gone back to the very low end of Step I, making my meals tiny, tiny, and eating more frequently. This morning I first had an Adkins shake, followed an hour later by a slice of Healthy Choice bread with peanut butter. A couple hours later I had a quarter of a chicken breast dipped in lowfat ranch dressing. A couple hours later I had a medium mixed salad with V/O dressing. I haven't figured out the rest of the day, but I do feel better with no headache or energy loss yet. What do you guys think? I think this coveres all the bases on Step I. It feels like I'm grazing, which I don't mind at all, and am not thinking in terms of meals and planning them, which I hate! lol What do you guys think?

See ya all soon!

 

[Wisteria1956]

Pam: I think you are on to something! The best part is that it suits your needs and desires as well as fitting into the plan. I eat a bit like that as well. Shake in the am that I make myself cause I have to have my flax seed, green salad with chicken, other things and a bunch of sunflower seeds for lunch, snack in the afternoon and small piece of something with veg for dinner, chocolate almonds if I want desert. Keep your stats and let us know how it's working. I've become addicted to an apple with peanut butter in the pm. It's Step 2, although I only do the carbs if I want them, not 5 times a day. Couldn't hack that...

 

[gettinhealthy]

Good morning guys. It's been raining here all week and it's chilly too. I guess fall is here now. I do love this season though. It smells sooo good out with all the leaves falling and such.
I have a bit of good news although I have been told sternly not to tell anyone. Tris told me on Saturday after the birthday parties that she is expecting!! I am going to be a grandma!! She didn't want me to say anything to anyone as she has only told me, her dad and her father and mother in law. She wants to tell everyone at Thanksgiving. Please don't mention it on FB as we have a lot of family on there. Her due date is May 20. I am so excited!!
Pam, those tiles sound so nice! I don't think I would have the talent or patience to paint tiles LOL. I know they will look great when you're done!!
There is a company I believe called Blue Mountain Gems that is to be pretty reasonable with jewelry making supplies (beads, etc)
Lisa, I agree, Tom is in good physical shape and that will only help him. I will continue to pray
Ok, got to get ready for work. I am completely off plan and really need to wrap my head around this!! I am so disgusted with myself I could just scream!!
Later everyone

 

[Simpleone]

Congratulations Kathy!! It's good to see you! When my middle daughter found out that she was expecting she called to tell me and was crying and laughing like crazy, I thought something was seriously wrong with her! lol She told me before she told her fiance and I was furious with her! (But was laughing at her at the same time.) I insisted that she hang up and tell him immediately! I told her it will remain our secret that she told me before him, silly girl!! I understand perfectly! This reminds me, when my eldest found out she was expecting her second baby, it was right before Thanksgiving. She brought Connor, her eldest, in that day with a tee shirt on that said, "I'm going to be a big brother". I thought that was such a cute idea, and it got Connor a lot of extra attention that day. Congratualtions once again!

Lisa, thanks for the confirmation on my grazing idea! lol Because I know the amount of food I'll be eating will be reduced, I think I'll back off a tiny bit on the workouts. I don't want to throw myself into any kind of starvation mode. I've done it again today and still feel so much better. This seems far more doable to me, like taking the pressure off or something, not so sure I can even explain it. I'll keep you posted on how it goes.

Is anyone watching The Biggest Loser this season? I noticed there doesn't seem to be any standout aggressive players so far, I like it! When it gets to the stages where everyone get's into the game play of it all, I get upset. I know it has to happen, but I want to see everyone win!! I also noticed that what little they've shown in the way of eating, a carb reduction is taking place!! Anyone catch where they showed Bob making turkey rollups? I would have high fived the guy if I could have!

 

[Wisteria1956]

Congratulations, Grandma Kathy!

 

[Diane W.]

Congratulations Kathy! How wonderful and exciting! I would love to have grandchildren, but since Owen is only 23 - I can wait.

Pam - the food plan sounds like a really easy way to eat and not obsess about it. I did notice the turkey rollup 'commercial' for Jenny-O. I love rollups like that with roasted red peppers in them. I love seeing how much weight they lose in the first week. It must be so motivating to them and help them get through it.

 

[gettinhealthy]

Thanks everyone! I have been sooo excited I can hardly contain myself!
Not much going on here other than TONS of rain from the tropical depression going Up the coast. We aren't getting as much as say Harrisburg or Philadelphia but it's been raining noN stop since at least 3:30am!
Got to get back to work. I'll try to get basck here this evening after work.

 

[Wisteria1956]

Kathy: I'm crying over J-P's girlfriend's daughter's gymnastic videos because you can hear my son cheering for her as he films and because she's so adorable - and she's not even our granddaughter - yet, lol! You must be beside yourself with joy.

We're going to try to take off for the coast about 2.5 hrs. from here tomorrow morning and spend the night. Our goal is to walk the beach until we finally get tired enough to sleep. I can't sleep more than 30 minutes at a time and we're both exhausted. The waiting is the hardest I think.

I'll be back to say Hi on Sunday.

Have a great weekend!

 

[Wisteria1956]

Change of plans - We didn't go away because yesterday the surgery was postponed and we were referred to the University of San Francisco (UCSF) hospital under the care of the Chair of the department there who was Tom's doctor for the reconstructive surgery before. He's the one who writes the text books and is reputed to be the best in the world so we will have the best care possible. The bad news is that we are going there because the prognosis is poor. I'll let you know when we are going and what they say as things develop. Please keep Tom in your prayers. This is going to be a long haul.

 

[Diane W.]

Lisa - I'm glad you will have the best care possible. Is the hospital near your house?

 

[Wisteria1956]

Diane: The hospital is in San Francisco and we live in Sacramento. There are plenty of people who commute to what we call the Bay Area daily, but it's a good 2+ hours away and traffic is a major component. You can only get into the city via one of two bridges so if you try at the wrong time of day, you will sit there for a long time. Sometimes we stop to eat and wait for the traffic to die down. It will all be worth it because we know it is the best care. They will advise me on places to stay close by the hospital and the public transportation is plentiful. We are looking into taking a network of trains and buses from our area at least some of the time. Parking is a major issue and I don't want to drive an SUV down there. If you've seen any movies showing the hills in San Francisco, they really are that steep! Doesn't faze my husband at all, but I have a literal panic attack if I get stuck at a red light at the top of one of those hills.

Maybe I can have lunch with Kate one day. That would be a bright spot.

 

[gettinhealthy]

Sorry I am just getting here. My laptop is down and I had to get my desk computer going. Still in the works with that, but wanted to check in today.

Lisa, I continue to keep you both in my prayers. I am sorry to hear the surgery is postponed, but grateful he will be in very capable hands.
My sister has shown us pictures on San Francisco and it looks so beautiful with all the hills. We have a town where we go shopping at sometimes called Greensburg. It is mostly all big hills and every time we go there, it makes me think of San Francisco LOL.
It is so nice that there will be somewhere you can stay while he is in the hospital. The larger hospitals around here (Pittsburgh, Westmoreland Co. hospital are just a couple) that do the same. Pittsburgh's Children's hospital has a Ronald McDonald house and many parents are very grateful for it.
Is there any chance your mom would be able to go with you? It would be some much needed support for you. Just being nosy I guess once again.
It would be so nice if you and Kate could get together! Just wish the rest of us were there physically too

Hate to be a pain, but Tris is needing some prayers from you all also. When she went to the doctor, she had a little cramping but he wasn't too worried about it.
She called me around 8:30 last night and told me she was on her way home from the emergency room. She had developed some bad cramps and began spotting. She said it wasn't tons of blood, but enough to alarm her. Her doctor wasn't on call this weekend, and the back up doctor (who is actually a pretty good one) told her to not worry about it. But when the cramps and spotting got a bit worse, Levi took her in. They drew 4 tubes of blood and her hormone level is ok they said. They said they couldn't do an ultrasound. That makes me a bit mad.
She will have an appointment with her doctor (all paperwork is faxed to him) Monday and I will be taking off work to go with her.
Her doctor is the same one I have been going to since I have been 16 and he delivered the girls, so I am very comfortable with him and confident also in his abilities. He was going to do an ultrasound on her next appointment, so he will do it tomorrow instead.
I know Lisa, you have a bit more on your plate right at this point, so thank you. I really appreciate it
I truly appreciate you all. I think you all know how I feel about our group as we all feel the same way.
I will be going up to Tris' house today and I think I'll hang out for a while and help with some of the housework or laundry if it needs to be done. I'm not sure if she said anything to her MIL, but I am going to try to convince her to if she didn't. She lives across the road and can be there quicker than I can.

Pam, how are those tiles coming along? Still waiting for some pictures of them!!
Ok, got to get a bit of my housework done and then shower and off to Tris and Levi's.
Have a good day everyone!!