Geriatric MM Warriors June 13, 2010

[Virginiaponygirl]

Good Morning Ladies - LOL, the usual Pony stuff...working 13 hours today, wishing I was out on the bike instead! It is finally Fall here, after the most awful, hot humid summer we have had since I moved here...I was like a limp dishrag all summer long between the humidity and the ever-present hot flashes! Too bad I didnt sweat off 50 pounds though...hmmmm, what the heck is with that anyway?

Kathy - Missed you too Girl, and so glad to be back...forgot how uplifting and positive you guys make me feel! Glad Tris is able to deal with this and hopefully look forward to another attempt...I'm sure God has a wonderful baby in mind for her. Sounds like Bailey has settled in so well with your household and Tyson doesnt mind being big brother. I dont mean to be nosy, but how is everything else with you guys? Mike is working? What about Michael...any news on that?

Lisa - sounds like you will have everything set and ready for the 29th...you KNOW I wish we could all be there with you for a group hug...you KNOW we love you!

I feel so bad to have been out of touch for so long...like so much has happened with everybody and I have been such a lousy friend! Hope y'all can forgive me and give me the run-down of whats been going on lately...I tried to read back, but OMG, it will take me forever to get caught up!


Just found out I can have potato soup on WW...1 1/2 cup serving is only 1 point...mmmmmmmm I LOVE potato soup, especially now that fall is here...maybe I can just make soup all winter.....yum! Except of course our latest steer just came home from the butcher, so I have a freezer FULL of fresh beef! Just have to make beef barley soup I guess!

 

[Wisteria1956]

Hi, guys! Just popping in to say Hi. Tom had to go to work again. He's on call this weekend. We're trying to stay normal and work when we can until the surgery. I got a great rate at a Holiday Inn 3 miles from the hospital. They offer 20% off to families being seen at UCSF. Very nice of them. It has a restaurant too so if I'm alone some of the time at night I won't have to wander about.

Robin talking about soup - that's what we are living on! Dr. Oz had 5 foods that help the most to cut off the blood supply to tumors so Mom is trying to feed them all to Tom. She's been making soup with tomatoes, bok choy, artichoke hearts and tons of other vegetables. She then brings him artichoke hearts to put on his salads and big containers of fresh strawberries. The other food is fish oil, so he takes that in a capsule. The soup is so comforting. I'm having some soon, as he went off to work again, but he ate soup on the way out the door, lol!

Today I tried to go out and do a few small errands. I felt like I was someone else outside my body. Almost scary. I finally came home and took a nap and now I feel normal again. I think it was the after affects from being so brave on Thursday. The doctor gave us pills to relieve stress and to help us sleep. I cut mine in half last night. Maybe I won't need any more until we have the big ugly oncology appt. That one I am dreading. We're going to take the train to the city for that one. Traffic was horrible on Thursday. I bet I've said all of this before...

Last night Bonnie and I walked for an hour around the neighborhood which has a lot of hills. I'm sure it helped me sleep so I'm going to do that as much as possible.

Getting my winter clothes together to live a week in SF. It can be so cold there! You never know about October. It's usually the best month at the coast so it could be nice. Dress in layers is what we do. I'm really hoping I could see Kate for a small visit while I'm there.

Seen any good funny movies lately? I could use a good belly laugh. Already saw Date Night and Death at a Funeral. They are both very funny.

Have a nice night and Happy Homecoming, Kathy!

 

[kater]

Hey, Ladies.

Checking in. Robin is right - this is an uplifting group. It is amazing to have the kind of support that we have here.

Jocelyn - my mom and her significant other play tournament bridge. She and her sister have been playing since high school. Do you ever play on-line? They play something called Ok Bridge?

Kathy - so sorry about Tris.

Robin! So happy to see you here.

Lisa - I know that feeling. The one where you feel like you are watching yourself from outside your body. Sending love to you, Tom and Bonnie. And J-P. And your parents.

Diane - how was your hike?

Pam - your tile painting sounds like fun. Are you making progress? What are the colors?

I always feel good when I check in...

 

[Wisteria1956]

Dear Family and Friends,

To keep you up to date on Tom DeVries, I created a CaringBridge website. You can follow Tom’s progress and show your support.

Visit Tom’s website in two easy ways:

1. Visit the CaringBridge website by clicking the link below.
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/tomdevries

2. Enter the website name, tomdevries, at www.CaringBridge.org.


When you visit you’ll be asked to log in, because I’ve chosen to keep the site private.




Show your support for Tom
• Visit and keep up to date.
• Leave a message in the guestbook.
• Receive e-mail notifications when the journal is updated.


Thank you.
Lisa

 

[Virginiaponygirl]

Good Monday Morning Everyone, gorgeous day here in central Virginia again and I'm off to work... LOL

Lisa - I cant wait to check out the website...what a great idea, I didnt even know something like that existed! I too know that out of body feeling...I think when we are undergoing great stress, our bodies kind of take over and get us to a place where we can disassociate from the stress for awhile. When I lost my first son at 7 months old, I think I retreated to that place for about a month...I still dont remember much of that time, and then one day I just sort of woke up from the fog and life went on. Be kind to yourselves and let your bodies and God get you through this. There are plenty of miracles left!

Hi Kate!! - Glad to see you are still here and checking in...I missed you! I swear one of these days I am getting on a plane and coming to visit you guys! Of course there is still plenty of room here for one and all...I did end up with two new kittens, saved from being dropped off at the shelter, so Ruthie and Billy have now joined Barney in the barn...took about two weeks for them to figure out how to get up to the house, so now when I come home at night the three of them are hanging out on the front porch. Geez, now I guess I have to figure out some "cathouses" to put out there as the nights get colder...LOL Pony's getting a cathouse! All are spayed and neutered so no funny stuff going on, and no risk of a million more cats!

The fluctuating weather is happening here too..70-80's during the day, then 40-50's at night....cant ever decide what to wear to work...will the AC be on, will the heat be on? So I am living like a homeless person out of my car...just in case clothes everywhere! Sweater, sweatshirt, t-shirt, shorts, hat...might have to throw in a pair of gloves soon if its any colder when I leave the office at night!

WW meeting Tuesday afternoon at the office...been scoping out some WW recipes and making soup like crazy...here we go again, off on another " way of eating"....cant wait til they come out with the bread and cheese diet...MY way of eating!

 

[Wisteria1956]

Good morning!

Robin: We've got those extreme temp fluctuations going on too. This week it will be in the high 80's during the day, which is warmer than usual for this time of year. I am ready for the heat to go away and I'm hoping I won't hate Fall forever after this year. September seems to be a bad month for us. I've always been a bit melancholoy in the Fall, even though I like the feel of the air. I think it's the marker of an end to summer and another year that gets to me. I feel it more than I ever would at New Years. Tom first got sick in Sept. and here we are again. Let's hope this is the Fall where we get a miracle and I can turn my thinking around!

I can't even imagine how you coped with losing your baby boy. Did you have your daughter at the time? It's dreadful to think of losing a spouse, but losing a child is just too cruel. Tom tells me we are going through this so we can help other people some day. I know that has been true for you, Robin. You are so kind and giving of yourself. The depth of your grief has been translated into the depth of your love for others.

Awwww, about the new kittens! I do love them, but I'm afraid Miss Bonnie would maul them with too much attention. She tries to herd everything. She and I are taking very long walks at night. I'm preparing for the time Tom is recovering and I will be solely responsible for wearing her out. Perhaps he can still sit and throw the ball out back. She'd be happy with that. Walking is good for me and her though.

Kate: I will love you forever for inspiring the 'no time traveling' mantra.

Still have some of Mom's soup left and tonight I'm making ratatouille with barley and tofu. Tom is still eating poultry and fish. He might go all veg after he gets home from the hospital. At least he will be juicing more then. I feel thinner but I don't want to weigh, lol! Soup is like a big warm hug. We can't get enough of it.

People are leaving really kind messages on our Caring Bridge site. It will really help me not to have to email or call individuals too much. At first, I cried at every phone call and it was exhausting.

A friend gave me a 2-hr. massage GC. I should use it this week. I could never go that long without having to go to the bathroom, lol! I can barely make it through a movie.

I hope you all have a beautiful day. I have a lot of goals. We'll see how far I get...

 

[Simpleone]

Good evening everyone!!

Kate, good to see you!! I plan on starting my tiles tomorrow, she just phoned me late Thursday to let me know she had a dozen done for me in green ware. It took her almost two weeks to pour them, can't figure out what's up with that..but anyway. I'm going to try and keep them as close to authenic colors as I can, cobalt blue, yellow golds, greens, deep rusty red, with a little extra browns and tans to tie them in with the kaki I've painted the walls. If nothing else, this should be interesting. I'll be sure to post them for all the world to see, the good, the bad and the ugly!

Robin, so good to see you posting, I know I said it already, but it's so good to have you back! It's funny how we can pick right up on here where we left off, just like we never left...guess that's what friends do. You should have married my husband every time I see the man he has a slab of cheese shoved between two (or four) pieces of bread and is knawing away at it!! I've modified my MM way of eating, I'm grazing most of the time. Every once in a while I'll sit down to a full meal, but mostly I just snack, it suits me much better.

Lisa, you and Tom remain in my thoughts and prayers. I visited the Caring Bridge site. What a wonderful idea that is. I can certainly see how helpful it would be.
All the soups you guys are having is making me hungry! My son asked for beef and noodles and mashed potatoes today. I told him, it's 85 degrees outside, what are you thinking? He said he's ready for "winter foods". Then Millie called and said, "I told Chris how good of a cook you are and how I can't wait to see how fat you're going to make us this winter." It must be in the air. The only soup I crave is my mothers potato soup, one of the biggest "no no's" for me right now. ::sigh::

The old master bath and bedroom update has turned into a major home improvement project. Noooo couldn't be simple, as I type this DH has removed all the drywall from it and is using the reciprocating saw to cut through the existing plumbing. He's decided no tub and is putting in an all tile shower and floor. I did have fun going and picking everything out for it though, that's where the fun ends! I keep that door shut when he's not here and pretend nothing is going on!

You all have a great evening and an even better tomorrow!

 

[gettinhealthy]

Good evening everyone! Trying to catch up on work with being off 3 days last week. Been feeling pretty good actually.
Kate, HI and good to see you!

Lisa, I will check out that site this week when things slow down a bit or maybe after work this evening if time permits.

Pam, glad some of the tiles are ready. Slow progress I guess is better than none.

I am finding myself getting to the point where I am wanting to start MM again. I keep thinking back to this time last year when I went off it. I was just getting into a 12. Now my 16's are getting small! Have to go for now. I'll try to get back this evening after work and supper.

 

[Diane W.]

Hi Everyone!
I'm glad to see you Kate! I didn't make the hike. My insomnia was kicking in and I was still awake at 4:30 am, so I turned off my alarm which was set to go off at 7:15.

My health insurance runs out this month. I have to go to the dr. for a PAP and mammo before the end of the month. I also want a prescription for Ambien. I had it once before when I had a brain injury and 1/2 tablet really helped me to sleep. Now with anxiety, etc. of being out of work I think it would help me to get a good night's sleep. At least, I hope it will.

Lisa - I think that website will be really helpful for you to keep friends and family updated on Tom's condition. Our friends used it last summer. The husband, Kenny, had an accident with his motorcycle. He had a really bad infection in his leg and was in and out of a coma. They didn't want any visitors and the blog was a wonderful way to keep everyone informed during his very long hospital stay.

Robin - How as your meeting today? Let me know if you find a 'Pizza and Chocolate" diet! That would be my dream diet! How old are your new little kittens? You're so lucky to be able to have all those animals!

Can't wait for Biggest Loser tonight. I love that show.

Have a great night everyone!

 

[Wisteria1956]

Diane: I think it was on Dr. Oz that they talked about how to get free PAP, etc. You should check out those resources. I am terrified about the bills to come, but we will manage somehow. We do have insurance, but we have to pay a percentage and if they order really expensive drugs, etc. Lord knows what it will cost. Good luck to you with finding some free care.

My parents are taking such good care of us. Mom has made food that lasts for days at a time and is really healthy. We literally haven't bought anything but lettuce, cheese, that type of thing.

Kathy: It was good to see you! MM is a state of mind. Once you get back there the other stuff will make you sick to your stomach. Sugar is supposed to be bad for cancer, so we're sticking to our guns around here. I told Tom I'll make him a carrot cake when he gets well.

 

[Diane W.]

Lisa - I still have coverage this month. That's why I want to get all those things done now while I still have medical coverage. As of Nov. 1, I'm on my own.

 

[gettinhealthy]

Hi guys. Thought I'd stop in quickly before I get ready for work. Didn't mean to stop mid thought in my last post. I was waiting for someone that I was picking up at the Sr. High school and he came out sooner than I thought.

Lisa, I also have heard about the sugar/cancer. If memory serves me correctly, they say to have your body as alkaline as possible when fighting cancer. They say that cancer thrives in an acidic body. Or it's the other way around. I'll have to see if I can find out and pass it on to you. You probably already know all about that stuff. Send some of your soup out my way!! We are having such nice weather! It is warm during the day and cool in the evenings/nights. Such perfect fall weather. But I do dread winter

Diane, sorry about the insurance. Mike is in the same boat. He tries very hard to not get sick and have to go to a doctor or hospital. It is so sad that in a country as ours, people have to be careful to not go to a doctor because there is no insurance. I will be keeping you in my prayers.

Ok, off to the shower. I have been feeling pretty upbeat, and not sure why LOL. Almost waiting for all heck to break loose or something!! I have been taking my supplements again for the AF, so they may have been kicking in the last few weeks. I also resumed my Vit D pills, so it could also be that. Mike laughs at all the vitamins/supplements I take. But as long as I feel good, I'll take them.

Robin, Michael is holding his own. We ended up kicking him out in June. He was tripping on Robbitussin and didn't go to his youngest sister's graduation. He made that whole evening a fiasco. He swears up and down he's no longer doing it, but he still hangs out with a crowd of kids that party, and we have heard some things. The one person who lets us know is a policeman who is a relative. The guidance center he goes to has some how come up with a way to test him to see if he's doing the robbitussin. His newest kick seems to be caffeine pills.
This week he is moving into a halfway house here in town. He had been living in a hotel room since we threw him out. He is still not working, but managed to get permission to go back to IUP (college) in the spring.
Mike's youngest DD is moved back in here, sort of. She spends a lot of time with her boyfriend and stays there most nights. She is working as a hair stylist, so I am happy with that.
His oldest DD is still here, and not working. Every time that subject is brought up, she becomes "ill". She has decided she has a gluten intolerance, which she may, but I feel she is 20 years old, and she needs to be working.
Their mom moved to AZ in Aug, and I honestly look for her to move out there with her. Hard to say.

Ok, off I go to get my shower now LOL. Have a good day everyone!!

 

[Virginiaponygirl]

Morning All, getting ready to go to work and face the corporate "Big Wigs" who are descending on us like locusts today! LOL, all our local big wigs were in a state of total frenzy yesterday "getting ready" for today...makes me laugh, since there doesnt seem to be much point in acting differently than we do any normal work day...

Pam - sounds like you are living in a renovation war zone! I remember what it was like when I completely restored a 1700's colonial home up North...OMG, it was totally crazy...but of course the end result is what keeps you going, and it sounds like you are doing some amazing things there!

Kathy - thanks for the update on the family...I think you just have to let Michael go and do whatever he will do...sometimes kicking one addiction does lead to another and you and Mike have certainly gone above and beyond trying to help...the 20 year old definitely needs to be working...does she seriously see a gluten intolerance as a disability? Wow, then I guess us MM's are totally disabled! Its so hard to know the line between helping and enabling...I think you and Mike are complete saints for dealing with all of them! I know the feeling about restarting MM...I think we all learned so much not only from Diane but definitely from each other...I just felt like it stalled out for me and quit working...much like most other plans I tried. Im hoping that WW will have me looking like Jennifer Hudson by next spring! Seriously though, Girl looks GREAT! Dont ya think?

Lisa - so great that your mom is helping you guys at this stressful time...somehow having a healthy, comforting meal ready for you can make each day so much easier. Sometimes I think the hardest part of this dieting thing is all the thought I have to put into it every day...its like a driving force and just takes so much time! I wish I could make it easier!

Diane - so sorry you arent working yet...things have not gotten any better here with job options either...still so many folks out of work that the employers have the upper hand...pay is horrible and they just have so many people to choose from...Im praying for you still and hoping to find something else myself...the stress of so many corporate changes around my office has so many quitting and the hiring freeze has the rest of us working twice as hard for less money...Praying for an end to this darn recession! We dont need things to go back to the way they were, just back to honest working people working every day for decent, caring employers who appreciate us a little bit!

WW meeting was interesting...Im not sure if the points thing is good or bad, since you can use them to eat whatever you want? I am trying to view it in terms of their points system, plus my own knowledge of eating healthier things...Diane always said I wasnt eating enough on Step 1 and one of the main things they stress is that you have to eat ALL your points every day for maximum losses...so once again I am struggling with books and points and recipes and trying to figure out some sort of routine (rut, lol) that will work with my dumb schedule...Im determined though, and they have had much success, and many folks who have lost and kept the weight off, so I will be optimistic and see if I can get about 25 pounds off by Christmas!

 

[Diane W.]

Hi Everyone!

Robin - You should think of meals that you really, really enjoy and figure out how to make them point friendly. Then rinse and repeat. Really though, I think WW is a good plan because it seems like a real-world way of eating using portion control and thoughtful food choices. My niece has stayed at/around 126 lbs. for 20 yrs., so why haven't I followed her lead? Mmmm, don't know. Maybe this weekend I'll have her give me WW pep talk.

I received 2 'no's' by email yesterday to jobs I applied to. I don't know which is worse, hearing nothing or hearing 'no'. I want to hear - we would like to meet you!

Kathy - so happy you're feeling well! I agree, the 20 yr. old should be working. She doesn't have to keep a roof over head, but she does need to be somewhat self-sufficient. What does Mike say?

Lisa - I like a website called doctoryourself.com I think it has some very interesting alternative medicine options. Take a look.

Enjoy the rest of the day! I'll check in later.

 

[Diane W.]

I have an interview tomorrow at 1:45! Please send positive thoughts my way! I'll check in afterward and let you know how it went.

Quiet here today - I hope everyone is enjoying the day.

 

[kater]

I have an interview tomorrow at 1:45! Please send positive thoughts my way! I'll check in afterward and let you know how it went.

Quiet here today - I hope everyone is enjoying the day.

Lot's of good thoughts from Cali heading your way!

 

[kater]

Did I tell you that I will be sitting on a beach in Maui in two weeks? My dad is getting married Oct 30th. His fiance just had liposuction on her stomach. She treated herself for the wedding. I go back and forth between feeling good about myself - I have managed to keep my weight at a place where I don't dread figuring out what to wear to work every day. I have more than three or four things that I can choose from. Then I think about people that are obsessed enough about their body image that they get liposuction and I start looking at myself through their eyes. Makes me cringe. I keep telling myself that the trip is about celebrating my dad's marriage and RELAXING. Brad is so excited about snorkeling - we bought our own fins, masks and snorkels last weekend. I have been working long, long, long days. I told Brad that what is keeping me going is the thought of getting on the plane, buckling the seat belt and plugging in my ipod. Five hours of nothing!

It has been really hot the past few days. I have the window open and the fan pointed at me.

Brad is leaving Ross - he starts at Toys R Us next Monday. He is glad to be leaving Ross. I am glad for him - he was so stressed at Ross. What I will miss is that he didn't have to work nights and weekends. I think that is about to change.

Brad and Halle ran into a fox or a coyote on their walk today. To hear Brad tell the story, whatever it was, it was the size of a large lion. Just a slight exaggeration I am sure....

Lisa - I love the website/blog for Tom. I wish that there was something like that when Demi had her liver transplant. I just dreaded it when my phone rang. I ended up giving the information to my mom and asked her to relay it. They also had a computer at the hospital and I was able to send group emails every so often. The hard part was when I didn't have anything good to say....

xoxoxxo

 

[kater]

Kate: I will love you forever for inspiring the 'no time traveling' mantra.

I think we need bumper stickers!

 

[kater]

Hi Kate!! - Glad to see you are still here and checking in...I missed you! I swear one of these days I am getting on a plane and coming to visit you guys! Of course there is still plenty of room here for one and all...

Robin - I am so happy that you can get on the website again! My heart hurt reading about your son. I love the words "grace" and "hope." You embody what those words mean to me - that and strength.

 

[kater]

Kate, good to see you!! I plan on starting my tiles tomorrow, she just phoned me late Thursday to let me know she had a dozen done for me in green ware. It took her almost two weeks to pour them, can't figure out what's up with that..but anyway. I'm going to try and keep them as close to authenic colors as I can, cobalt blue, yellow golds, greens, deep rusty red, with a little extra browns and tans to tie them in with the kaki I've painted the walls. If nothing else, this should be interesting. I'll be sure to post them for all the world to see, the good, the bad and the ugly!

One of our (me and my girls) favorite things to do on rainy days was to go to one of those places where you paint plates, bowls, etc. with glaze and they fire it for you. I still have lots of the things the girls made for me over the years. I can wait to see pictures of your tiles!