Geriatric MM Warriors June 13, 2010

[Wisteria1956]

www.caringbridge.org/visit/tomdevries

Today:
The appointments went well yesterday. The inflammation is probably actually a hematoma that should resolve in time. If it gets worse or Tom gets fevers, they'll do blood cultures, but it doesn't look like it's an infection based on the labs.

We liked the medical oncologist who will administer the chemo. He has a different protocol in mind than the tumor board so they'll confer this week. That's what we get for having 5 doctors and a tumor board. Radiation and chemo will start the very same day and last about 5 - 6 weeks. It will be out patient unless there are complications. Different drugs have dfifferent methods of delivery so we're not sure yet what the schedule will be until the doctors all agree.

We also found out it could be years before we know if this all worked or not. For how ever long it takes, no news will be good news.

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas!

 

[Virginiaponygirl]

Happy December Ladies! Sorry to be absent yet again, but I have been trying to get up and around a little more each day and boy, when I get home I am seriously EXHAUSTED! All this hanging around has sapped my energy and strength so much, Im like a little woosie baby! Oh NO!

As you probably heard on Facebook, I went out the other day during a small storm we had, walked around the front of my big old diesel pickup to bang ice off the windshield wipers, and OF COURSE, I slipped and when I grabbed for the bumper to keep from falling, I jammed my left pinkie finger into the grill and broke it! I am such a klutz! Stayed home due to the storm, but went to the doc the next day as it was all crooked and swollen and the end was sticking straight up and lo and behold the x-ray showed two breaks and a dislocation at the knuckle....way to go Pony!!! Spent the afternoon at the orthopedic surgeon while they relocated and reset everything....NOT FUN by the way! All splinted up now and praying I wont have to have surgery on it in 4 weeks to repair damage to the tendon.

OK, so heres the deal y'all....we are ALL GOING TO HAVE THE MOST AWESOME NEXT YEAR EVER!!! 2011 is MM WARRIOR YEAR!!!! You all hear me? I will NOT accept any more of this nonsense we are all going through!

Prayers to all, Lisa and Tom first and of course Diane's job, Kate's daughter, Kathy's friends and family and whoever else is having issues I just havent read about yet...I promise to catch up soon....REALLY....as soon as I can stay away from doc and hospital for more than a week at a time!!

I love you all so much, and please understand when your Christmas cards all arrive sometime after the first of the year!

 

[Wisteria1956]

Robin: Way to lay it out there, sister! 2011 Whooo Hoooo! Jocelyn better be prepared; we may all show up riding ponies on the beach. Sounds like heaven.

Sooooo sorry to hear about your pinkie! Guess it's good you didn't break anything bigger???? BUT that must have really, really hurt. I sure hope there is no surgery needed. Closest thing they have to a pinkie.

I'm going to let the cookie making commence finally. It's pouring rain and they are actually telling us not to drive because the roads are semi-flooded and people are slidding. We are getting a huge storm all over the whole state blowing in from - where do you think?? Hawaii!!

Jocelyn: Is it raining over there?? I made black soy bean chili again and now Tom insists we freeze some and have the ingredients on hand at all times. It's his new 'go-to' meal.

Kathy: Did you finish shopping? We're keeping it very simple this year. My favorite part is always the stocking time with just my little core family in the morning before all the others come over. Tom and I are keeping it to stocking stuffers for each other this year. I swear, I love that more than opening big gifts. It's fun to see how delightful we can make small packages, although it is allowed to tie a ribbon leading to a larger box on the hearth below if it won't fit in the stocking, per se! haha that will be his new slippers. I got him a bunch of king sized dress socks since his poor leg and ankle have been swollen a lot lately. I'm making him get to the massage therapist this week if it doesn't resolve.

Diane, Kate, Pam and Bev: Lots of love to you all today and I hope you enjoy the last few days before Christmas. I'll be thinking of you all as I bake all kinds of contraband.

 

[Diane W.]

Robin - Ouch!! That must have been painful. I hope you recover quickly. You're right - this will be the year of MM Warriors. Only good things will come our way and we will be so astounded at our good fortunes.

Lisa - Sounds good that it will take years to find out if it all worked. Hopefully it will take 50 yrs. and you will look at each other and say, 'I guess it's working.' I hope your cookie baking went well. I will start on Wednesday, I think.

I'm meeting my friends for a Christmas lunch on Tuesday. I'm looking forward to it.

Driving home from Vinnie's today I was thinking of all these random errands that I need to run this week. As soon as I got home I got a piece of paper and the only one that came to mind was to go to the Cake Shoppe for boxes and rounds. I can't remember any of the others. Duh. I remember that they didn't connect to each other in any way and that's why I was nervous that I would forget. Well, hopefully they'll come back to me. :

I'm going to make an eggplant sauce in the crockpot tomorrow. It's one of our new favorites. Yum! It's not MM, but it's so good. I found the recipe at bhg.com.

Talk to you all tomorrow! Have a safe and peaceful night!

 

[gettinhealthy]

www.caringbridge.org/visit/tomdevries

Today:
The appointments went well yesterday. The inflammation is probably actually a hematoma that should resolve in time. If it gets worse or Tom gets fevers, they'll do blood cultures, but it doesn't look like it's an infection based on the labs.

We liked the medical oncologist who will administer the chemo. He has a different protocol in mind than the tumor board so they'll confer this week. That's what we get for having 5 doctors and a tumor board. Radiation and chemo will start the very same day and last about 5 - 6 weeks. It will be out patient unless there are complications. Different drugs have dfifferent methods of delivery so we're not sure yet what the schedule will be until the doctors all agree.

We also found out it could be years before we know if this all worked or not. For how ever long it takes, no news will be good news.

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas!

Lisa, such good news!! I couldn't find the link for the caring bridge, so thank you for reposting it. I bookmarked it this time.
It is so hard to have to wait when you want results today I will continue to keep praying for you both. Thankfully it will be outpatient, and he will be able to be home in familiar surroundings. That makes a huge difference I think in recovery.

 

[gettinhealthy]

Happy December Ladies! Sorry to be absent yet again, but I have been trying to get up and around a little more each day and boy, when I get home I am seriously EXHAUSTED! All this hanging around has sapped my energy and strength so much, Im like a little woosie baby! Oh NO!

As you probably heard on Facebook, I went out the other day during a small storm we had, walked around the front of my big old diesel pickup to bang ice off the windshield wipers, and OF COURSE, I slipped and when I grabbed for the bumper to keep from falling, I jammed my left pinkie finger into the grill and broke it! I am such a klutz! Stayed home due to the storm, but went to the doc the next day as it was all crooked and swollen and the end was sticking straight up and lo and behold the x-ray showed two breaks and a dislocation at the knuckle....way to go Pony!!! Spent the afternoon at the orthopedic surgeon while they relocated and reset everything....NOT FUN by the way! All splinted up now and praying I wont have to have surgery on it in 4 weeks to repair damage to the tendon.

OK, so heres the deal y'all....we are ALL GOING TO HAVE THE MOST AWESOME NEXT YEAR EVER!!! 2011 is MM WARRIOR YEAR!!!! You all hear me? I will NOT accept any more of this nonsense we are all going through!

Prayers to all, Lisa and Tom first and of course Diane's job, Kate's daughter, Kathy's friends and family and whoever else is having issues I just havent read about yet...I promise to catch up soon....REALLY....as soon as I can stay away from doc and hospital for more than a week at a time!!

I love you all so much, and please understand when your Christmas cards all arrive sometime after the first of the year!

Robin, if memory serves me right (and most of the time it does LOL) you are supposed to be taking it easy on that leg. So what the heck are you doing out in a snow storm? Or did you guys get the ice? Either way, we are all coming down there to kick some pony butt!! Tyson and Bailey said to hook your ponies up to a wagon, sled, whatever, and use that instead of the truck!! They also said if the puppies were bigger, you'd have a dog sled team!!
Hope you're feeling better each day, and saying a prayer for no surgery on the finger.

 

[Virginiaponygirl]

Thanks folks, y'all are TOO FUNNY I AM supposed to be taking it easy,but I am going totally stir crazy too! The finger is fine, once we went through the not so fun part of resetting it...a little sore, but nothing to worry about...the worst part is trying to take a shower and wrap gifts with the darn splint. I think its kind of like your baby toe...if you break it you think its no big deal til you try to walk! Well, try to do some normal stuff without your pinkie finger...CANT be done! LOL especially since I have to wear these ridiculous compression stockings...its like trying to put a condom on a watermelon! And without the pinkie to assist, its even more hilarious, probably ought to post it on you-tube and see what happens!

Dont remember if I told y'all or not, but as soon as the doc says I can return to work, I get to go in to the office and hand in my resignation!!! YAY!!! My old boss at the GM dealership has several used car/service dealerships and has offered me a new job working for him again! YAY AGAIN!! I will be much closer to home, about a 20 min drive, and managing the location, with insurance and a great contract too...I always liked and respected him, just got caught in the crossfire when he sold the huge GM dealership. He showed me on paper how well the used car dealerships are doing and says the recession has made them even better. We will be adding check cashing, insurance, and prepaid cell phones to the three dealerships, so I will be in charge of the new franchise additions, and primary manager at the location closest to my home. PHEW!!! Hasta la Vista Nationwide Cubicle!

Kathy - How amazingly CUTE would a sled team of boxers and ponies be?!!!!

Happy cooking and shopping everyone, I will be on the way to Connecticut on thursday after I get the final approval from my oncologist tomorrow!

 

[Seabreezes]

Robin - so glad to "see" you. You have certainly had your share of problems this year. Yes, 2011 has to be THE Year!!!

Yay on the doctor saying it will be years before you know anything. We will assume they are not in a panic about anything, Lisa

As to the rain......we have just about washed away. We could not safely go anywhere yesterday. There was a firetruck on our street most of the day trying to get the street un-flooded. There were a lot of sand bags out as the homes were getting inundated with water. Bob was keeping an eye on the sump pump in our garage as most of the cars are parked underneath our building. Of course, the elevator went out in all the rain so 200 steps were climbed a couple of times by him.

I had to go down all the steps to go out to a doctor appointment this morning. By the time I returned the elevator was working so did not have to climb back up - thank goodness. I just had all my blood work done and my doctor was ecstatic over my numbers. I have not been taking any cholesterol meds and have it well under control. Low carb does work!!

Lisa - I cook up the dried black soy beans in my crockpot and then freeze them. i don't know if you can get the dried ones there or not. They are definitely less expensive.

I'm not a fan of riding horses as I was tossed off of one the last time I rode, but seeing all of you riding on the beach here would be fun!! Something to look forward to!!

I will have to venture out to COstco tomorrow and the grocery store. I have a couple more things to get for Christmas Eve. I think the dinner is all organized and I won't have to do too much. I have a dear friend who is also a caterer and he is cooking most of the food and then bringing it over. My rum cake and spinach souffle are in the freezer waiting to be taken out on Thursday.

I made Diane K's pumpkin pie recipe yesterday. I wanted to bake something as I watched football, but it had to be legal. I had forgotten how good it is. I put it in a souffle dish as I don't do any kind of crust. I think I will make another one for the weekend for a more legal desert. I used to love to make cookies on rainy days, but........I would also eat them!!

Hugs to ALL. Stay dry and warm and enjoy getting ready for Christmas the rest of the week.

 

[Simpleone]

Good Tuesday Everyone!!

I hope everyone is safe and warm and dry this morning! Lisa, I saw this morning that Cali is getting rain and the clips they showed were scary! Jocelyn, you be safe as well! We got three more inches of snow last night on top of the five that were already on the ground. Ugh! We have blizzard conditions forcasted for Christmas Eve/Day here. Since we're out in the country and get snowed in so easily, that just might mean that our traditions here will be carried out by just a few of us. It won't be the first time and I'm sure it won't be the last. They're calling for six inches with sustained winds of 35 mph, on the prairie that's a big deal for drifting. Blah!!

Lisa, I've been wanting to share this with you for a while, I think this would be a good time... My best friend was diagnosed with stage four, lymphoma early last spring; through out her entire body, they basically handed her a death sentence, less than three months to live. She had a battle on her hands that horrified us all. What a trooper! She's past the aggressive part of chemo and radiation and is currently going once every six weeks for chemo that they expect to continue for at least two more years. There have been a few times she had to go straight to the hospital afterwards because of the residual effects, but she's getting her life back. She said the other day that it only makes her sick for a few days then she know's she has five weeks to feel "normal" and this excites her to no end. I'm going to assume that this is what Tom's doctors are talking about "the results taking years", they told my girlfriend the same thing. She and the docs are so very optimistic at this point that it amazes us all. He told her at one point, "Lady you must have the power of some big prayers being sent up, because as optimistic as I have to be for my patients, miracles are happening for you right before my eyes." My prayer remains that the power of positive thinking and prayer will have the same affect for you and Tom. Footnote: I spoke with Diane (friend) the other day and she actually invited herself and husband to vacation in Mexico with DH and myself next summer!! lol. Maybe you should ask Tom if he want's to be the photographer of our Godiva ride over in Hawaii this summer?...no wait, that might give the poor fella a heart attack!! Strike that!!

Robin, you crack me up!! Huge congratulations on your new job! I'm so happy for you! ... A little bit of irony in your post about this being a wonderful MM year for us Warriors. I too have been thinking, geesh, something has got to give!! Maybe your good news will start it all off for us! Maybe some Christmas magic will help do the trick too!
I was wondering what your plans were for the Holiday, you have fun and please be safe! ...oh yeah, and let them pamper you some! Enjoy!

The very same day you posted that, I had sat and wrote out menus for after Christmas and ideas that I was going to share with you all about how to gradually get us all back on Step I. I've decided that (for myself) the cold turkey approach to MM is what's getting me, I get right to the end of detox and the headaches seem to contiune and it's that headache that drives me right back off it. So my plan is to do it with a much slower carb restriction/reduction that will guide me back into Step I, less painfully. Maybe doing Step II first, then reducing the 11-20 carbs one meal at a time until we're back to the max of 5X5? This sounds like it might work for me, what do you all think?

Lisa, how did your cookies turn out? If I did any baking before Thursday, there'd not be a single thing left for Friday!! lol, ..and that's the truth! All my baking will be done one day prior, if not the morning of!

Today is get the guest bedrooms and baths ready for guests, and tomorrow I will do all the final setup for Christmas. We're changing things up this year, Christmas Eve will be everyone picking up their favorite pizza and bring a dessert, board games and movie watching. Christmas day will be turkey and ham sandwiches with sides and desserts. Sounds funny huh? Each year everyone complains that Christmas is too much like Thanksgiving, so I switched it up on everyone and they're all very excited about it. Me, I'm not so sure about it all....we shall see.

You all keep the Holiday Spirit and enjoy the prep time.

 

[Wisteria1956]

I really enjoyed the posts this morning! We have a break from the rain today so I'm getting ready to take Bonnie for a walk. Our windows look awful since my second floor balcony makes the family room and kitchen windows dirty when it rains. It's supposed to start up again all the way through Christmas so I guess I'll have spotty windows for Christmas. Yuck. We're luckier than the S. Ca folks as we don't have the mudslides, etc. that threaten them. We do have creeks and streets that flood, though, and a couple was killed sliding her truck in the rain day before yesterday. It really struck me; they were about our age and gone in such a tragic way.

Hang on over there, Jocelyn! I hope the weather breaks soon or you'll have to grow out your hair to escape down the building. Your party sounds lovely. I do like that pumpkin pie a lot. I sent some cookies off to Tom's work, mailed some to J-P's girlfriend and daughter yesterday and fixed up a container to take to my parents today. If I keep them in stacked containers and try not to peak, I don't eat too many. I did eat about 3 yesterday and I felt sick in the night. I just need to make a sign to remind myself that sugar makes me sick! It also makes me achy and I know it. At least I haven't binged and I do think I'll have the courage to turn down my carrot cake at Dad's birthday dinner. I can imagine what it tastes like perfectly fine. I'll be making that cake tomorrow.

Regarding Tom: Because he doesn't have a blood cancer or tumors that can be measured at this time (after the surgery) it will be 5 years before they can say he's in the clear. They will do scans every few months to keep a vigilent watch on him since this cancer is resistant to treatment, is agressive and has a tendency to return. That said, he has broken all records so far and we have to keep the faith that he will be healed. We're really trying to take it one day at a time. This break for Christmas has been wonderful.

Robin: I'll be praying for a safe and cozy trip for you up East. Take it slow and enjoy your freedom and Christmas with everyone up there. That's so awesome about the new job! Sounds like things really are looking up for 2011.

Pam: I like your casual menu ideas. We are also changing it up this year. My sister is stepping up again with most of the cooking. Her husband grew up with his Italian family running a restaurant so he makes his grandmother's pasta sauce. He's making it in advance at home and she's bringing it down so our Christmas is going to be an Italian dinner. Not low carb, I'm afraid, but I will use a bit of whole grain pasta and not eat bread. Not too bad. Along your idea of Step 2 to start with. We also hope to play a lot of games. I finally got the Peter, Paul and Mary CD from Netflix of the movie that aired on public television about their career. I love to play a movie like that while we cook so those that want to can sing, etc. It's a fun thing to watch and it helped us to show the kids what we mean when we say we like music you can understand, lol!

Thanks for sharing the inspirational story of your friend. What ever time can be given to a person with this struggle gives them that much more time for the doctors to come up with something that will cure them. It also gives them time to make precious memories. We are hoping Tom will be able to fulfill some of his dreams, which are simple but important to him. He wants to go fly fishing, go backpacking with J-P this spring and to float down the Colorado river. We also want to go to Greece and Italy. Of course, we have to wait until he is stronger after the treatments but look for us to have wings on our feet this spring and summer.

Of to walk off a cookie or two and to make that sign for myself. Sugar Makes Me Sick!

 

[Seabreezes]

I have been reading some other sites for some inspiration and came across a plan called Ideal Protein. It is very low carb, low fat and high protein. They have products that are sold in doctor's offices and use "coaches" - most are medically supervised.

The best discussions are on the 3 Fat Chicks forum. Why I am mentioning this is that they recommend a lot of sea salt to overcome the headaches that people get as well as potassium supplements. You might find this interesting, Pam. The founder of the site talks about re-training the pancreas - sound familiar. I can give you some links if anyone is interested. You get to eat, in fact have to eat a lot of veggies. People have had some awesome results with the plan.

After a huge storm again this morning, the sun is now shining. I feel sorry for all of the vacationers that are here for the holidays - including Obama's family. The President is due to arrive tomorrow or the next day - depends on Congress.

This morning I got the rest of the food I need for Friday. Tomorrow I will go to my flower shop to get red antheriums and fill the car with gas at Costco. It is not on my normal path so always have to have some other errand in that direction!!

Stay dry and warm and hugs for ALL

 

[kater]

Good Morning ALL

I am waiting for my cell phone to charge before I take off to run errands and go to the gym.

I will take my list of e-mails for you and send you a picture I put together of our friends and travels for this year. We were in Greece and Germany (the boat and castle) and Australia (the koala). The large picture of people are our friends from here that we play bridge with and went on a cruise with in November. The girl with the dog and my hubby is our "cousin" - by marriage, but our only relative here and a wonderful person.

Have a safe and warm day.

Robin -- where are you? We are worried about you.

Hugs to ALL

Jocelyn - loved the pictures. Yes - provide us with the links for the protein plan.... Hugs back to you.

 

[kater]

Had some good news from Halliburton. Mike was talking with one of the guys that work there and he told him about these 2 websites for employees. It is for discounted vacation packages. The guy he was talking to is going to Porta Viarta, Mexico (sp?) and 3 of them for 6 nights is 650.00. That doesn't include air fare, but there is another site for discounted air fares.
So, Jocelyn, I might make it to Hawaii yet!! I told Mike his dream of going to the Florida keys is a possibility now!! Everything about his job just seems to fall into place.
He has also been informed he has 2 vacation days to use up before the end of the year!! He has only been working there for a month!!
(

Kathy - how are my pups? I am so glad that things are working out with Mike's job. I can just see the two of you a beach in the near future! You definitely deserve it!

 

[kater]

OK, so heres the deal y'all....we are ALL GOING TO HAVE THE MOST AWESOME NEXT YEAR EVER!!! 2011 is MM WARRIOR YEAR!!!! You all hear me? I will NOT accept any more of this nonsense we are all going through!

Prayers to all, Lisa and Tom first and of course Diane's job, Kate's daughter, Kathy's friends and family and whoever else is having issues I just havent read about yet...I promise to catch up soon....REALLY....as soon as I can stay away from doc and hospital for more than a week at a time!!

I love you all so much, and please understand when your Christmas cards all arrive sometime after the first of the year!

w

Robin - we love you too! I am so grateful for my friends here. I know that I have said it before, but the friendships that we have formed here continue to amaze me. I posted on Facebook today for my "status" that I am in gratitude.... We had some great news this week about Demi. Her body is responding well to the Interferon. In fact, at this time, the virus is undetectable in her system. What a gift. She will continue on the treatment. When I look at her, I see a happy, healthy, beautiful young woman. Both of my girls just celebrated six months of sobriety. Another gift. Chloe is still living in a Sober Living House about two miles from my house. But she spends lots of time here. She and Demi have done about twenty (I am not exaggerating) jigsaw puzzles in the last few weeks. I love hearing them bickering on the couch about sharing the blanket or whose turn it is go get something from the kitchen. I posted a picture of the three of us on Facebook yesterday - Demi was three and Chloe was about 8 HOURS old.

And, I agree with you. We are going to ROCK 2011!

Lots of love to you, your family and your ponies!

 

[kater]

Kathy: Did you finish shopping? We're keeping it very simple this year. My favorite part is always the stocking time with just my little core family in the morning before all the others come over. Tom and I are keeping it to stocking stuffers for each other this year. I swear, I love that more than opening big gifts. It's fun to see how delightful we can make small packages, although it is allowed to tie a ribbon leading to a larger box on the hearth below if it won't fit in the stocking, per se! haha that will be his new slippers. I got him a bunch of king sized dress socks since his poor leg and ankle have been swollen a lot lately. I'm making him get to the massage therapist this week if it doesn't resolve.

Lisa - I love the stockings too! The girls and I have been whispering about some of our great stocking ideas for each other. The girls were cute - they went to Target the other day and got Brad some slippers (so he has something to wear outside when he smokes his cigars - his one bad habit). They gave him a new nick-name "B-Rad" which warms my heart because I know that they love him too. Demi's boyfriend, Freddy (we adore Freddy) will be here Christmas Eve and morning so he gets a stocking too!

We are going to my mom's Chirstmas day - a tradition. We just hang out. Christmas music, fireplace, jigsaw puzzles. We are all really needing it this year. I haven't wanted to add yet another "bad" thing but we could use a few more prayers. I have talked about Toby. Toby is my adopted brother - he is 20 years old (right in between my girls). My mom and her former partner Stan had Toby via a surrogate mother (Stan's sperm and the other woman's egg and my mom then adopted him at birth). I have known Stan since I was about 22 and definitely consider him "family." He and my mom separated when Toby was about five but Stan just moved down the street and has been included in every family holiday and family vacation. Stan has Hep C too - he got it from his wild days in the '60's - living in the Haight Ashbury in San Francisco. He had a liver transplant about 10 years ago. Well, he needed a second liver transplant. His doctors here agreed that he could go to Indiana and get on a list there because there are fewer people in that area that need livers than in the SF Bay Area. So, he moved to Indiana last April and has been there since then. He had his liver transplant about two weeks ago and it is touch and go at this point. The doctors don't know why but his body is not loving the new liver. He has had other complications but the liver is the main problem at this point. He is in a hospital in Louisville. Toby is such a trooper - he spent the first week there while he was supposed to be in finals at U of Washington. Stan was heavily sedated and not even aware that Toby was there. My mom and Toby were there again this week. He is no longer sedated but is not responding to voices. He is only 65 - it breaks my heart that Toby might lose his dad. My mom said that all Toby could talk about while they were in Louisville this week was being home with family for the holidays. Please send your prayers and extra angels that you might have to Stan. He needs us.

If you have time for coffee on one of your trips to UCSF, I would love to meet you (and Tom).

When does J-P get home? Will you get to see Aidia and her mom (I forget her name?). I hope so!

I have grown so much in the last few months (in large part because of the problems my girls have had). And, even though I know that I really need to live each day "in the moment," I really have a much better understanding of what that means. I am trying to relax more and give myself permission not to be perfect. This year, that means that our holiday cards will go out after Christmas. I haven't over-shopped to give my girls what I used to think was necessary for them to have the "perfect" Christmas. Our Christmas tree isn't quite decorated (this one really makes me laugh because it isn't bothering me at all!). I saw a great deal on tickets to Kauai last week and booked a trip for the four of us for April. And, right now, I am sitting with my lap top, drinking coffee and chatting with my friends.

Brad has two days to go (today and tomorrow) and then some of the stress he has been under will let up (I hope anyway). As you can imagine, working for ToysRUs at this time of the year is exhausting. He hasn't had a day off in a few weeks and is working 12 hour days (that includes his two hour commute time). I have been trying to do what I can - having something hot for him to eat before he falls into bed each night.

 

[kater]

Good Tuesday Everyone!!

I hope everyone is safe and warm and dry this morning! Lisa, I saw this morning that Cali is getting rain and the clips they showed were scary! Jocelyn, you be safe as well! We got three more inches of snow last night on top of the five that were already on the ground. Ugh! We have blizzard conditions forcasted for Christmas Eve/Day here. Since we're out in the country and get snowed in so easily, that just might mean that our traditions here will be carried out by just a few of us. It won't be the first time and I'm sure it won't be the last. They're calling for six inches with sustained winds of 35 mph, on the prairie that's a big deal for drifting. Blah!!

Lisa, I've been wanting to share this with you for a while, I think this would be a good time... My best friend was diagnosed with stage four, lymphoma early last spring; through out her entire body, they basically handed her a death sentence, less than three months to live. She had a battle on her hands that horrified us all. What a trooper! She's past the aggressive part of chemo and radiation and is currently going once every six weeks for chemo that they expect to continue for at least two more years. There have been a few times she had to go straight to the hospital afterwards because of the residual effects, but she's getting her life back. She said the other day that it only makes her sick for a few days then she know's she has five weeks to feel "normal" and this excites her to no end. I'm going to assume that this is what Tom's doctors are talking about "the results taking years", they told my girlfriend the same thing. She and the docs are so very optimistic at this point that it amazes us all. He told her at one point, "Lady you must have the power of some big prayers being sent up, because as optimistic as I have to be for my patients, miracles are happening for you right before my eyes." My prayer remains that the power of positive thinking and prayer will have the same affect for you and Tom. Footnote: I spoke with Diane (friend) the other day and she actually invited herself and husband to vacation in Mexico with DH and myself next summer!! lol. Maybe you should ask Tom if he want's to be the photographer of our Godiva ride over in Hawaii this summer?...no wait, that might give the poor fella a heart attack!! Strike that!!

Robin, you crack me up!! Huge congratulations on your new job! I'm so happy for you! ... A little bit of irony in your post about this being a wonderful MM year for us Warriors. I too have been thinking, geesh, something has got to give!! Maybe your good news will start it all off for us! Maybe some Christmas magic will help do the trick too!
I was wondering what your plans were for the Holiday, you have fun and please be safe! ...oh yeah, and let them pamper you some! Enjoy!

The very same day you posted that, I had sat and wrote out menus for after Christmas and ideas that I was going to share with you all about how to gradually get us all back on Step I. I've decided that (for myself) the cold turkey approach to MM is what's getting me, I get right to the end of detox and the headaches seem to contiune and it's that headache that drives me right back off it. So my plan is to do it with a much slower carb restriction/reduction that will guide me back into Step I, less painfully. Maybe doing Step II first, then reducing the 11-20 carbs one meal at a time until we're back to the max of 5X5? This sounds like it might work for me, what do you all think?

Lisa, how did your cookies turn out? If I did any baking before Thursday, there'd not be a single thing left for Friday!! lol, ..and that's the truth! All my baking will be done one day prior, if not the morning of!

Today is get the guest bedrooms and baths ready for guests, and tomorrow I will do all the final setup for Christmas. We're changing things up this year, Christmas Eve will be everyone picking up their favorite pizza and bring a dessert, board games and movie watching. Christmas day will be turkey and ham sandwiches with sides and desserts. Sounds funny huh? Each year everyone complains that Christmas is too much like Thanksgiving, so I switched it up on everyone and they're all very excited about it. Me, I'm not so sure about it all....we shall see.

You all keep the Holiday Spirit and enjoy the prep time.

Pam - your Christmas Eve and Christmas plans are right up my alley! I literally laughed out loud at your comment about Tom photographing our Godiva ride! I am still laughing! I liked what you said about phasing back to Step 1. I just wrote in a post to Lisa that I have been really working on giving myself permission to NOT be perfect. There is a lot less of that negative chatter going on in my little head. Anyway, what I have been doing is really watching the carbs during the day and then eating a normal dinner - I might have some bread, or one or two cookies after dinner. I haven't weighed in awhile so not sure what the scale says. But my outlook about myself has been so much more positive.

So, what is your favorite kind of pizza? I like pretty much everything except pepperoni and anchovies!

 

[kater]

Driving home from Vinnie's today I was thinking of all these random errands that I need to run this week. As soon as I got home I got a piece of paper and the only one that came to mind was to go to the Cake Shoppe for boxes and rounds. I can't remember any of the others. Duh. I remember that they didn't connect to each other in any way and that's why I was nervous that I would forget. Well, hopefully they'll come back to me. :

I'm going to make an eggplant sauce in the crockpot tomorrow. It's one of our new favorites. Yum! It's not MM, but it's so good. I found the recipe at bhg.com.

Talk to you all tomorrow! Have a safe and peaceful night!

Diane - that is so something that I would do. I keep post-it notes in the console of my car and am constantly writing little notes. Of course, they get float around my car and my purse and pretty much don't help at all! Your eggplant sauce sounds yummy - I would love the recipe.

 

[kater]

Okay. Sorry for hogging the board this morning. I hadn't checked in for awhile (although I pop in to check on everyone). Bev - where are you? I hope I didn't miss anyone?

Much love to all.

 

[Diane W.]

Kate- I was thinking about you yesterday and hoping you were all right. I was so happy to see your posts this morning! Thank God Demi is responding so well to the treatments!! I will continue to pray for her and add Stan too.
I am with you on the pizza too - I hate pepperoni and anchovies. My favorite toppings are eggplant, sundried tomatoes and roasted red peppers. Mmmm. Do I really want to cook tonight?
The recipe for the eggplant sauce is at this link: http://www.bhg.com/recipe/meat/pasta-with-eggplant-sauce/
It is a very thick and hearty sauce.

Robin - What a way to kick off the year of the Warriors!! Congratulations on the new job!! I pray you continue to heal quickly!

I haven't started wrapping anything yet. My siblings and I don't exchange gifts and we don't buy for each other's kids. We just buy for the grandkids. We all don't need anything and it was becoming a hassle to buy for 25 people, so we pared it down. This year I got Barnes & Noble giftcards for my sister's 5 oldest grandkids. So I'm just putting them in a giftbag with a cute cup, cookies and candy. The other 3 kids are getting toys which are easy to wrap. What I'm not looking forward to is going through the bags for Owen and Vinnie, putting things in boxes, tissue, wrap and bows. I know once I get started it will be fine......maybe later.

I baked cookies yesterday. Owen was so happy. I made a new chocolate kind with maraschino cherries in them and on top. Can you say yuck? They are so sweet and somehow taste like there's alcohol in them. Oh well, the standards still came out great. Tomorrow I'm going to make a checkerboard cake with a pan that I've had for years and have never used. I'm also making a lemon pound cake. Both cakes will be brought to my nephew's house for Christmas day.

I love Christmas time.. the music, decorations, lights and the shopping too. I like the time leading up to it just as much as the day itself. I used to get sad on Christmas eve knowing that it was all coming to an end. Now I look forward to New Year's Day - it feels like we get a clean slate. I hope and pray that we all have a happy, healthy 2011!

 

[Wisteria1956]

I have tears in my eyes with love for you all and the news from Kate that Demi’s condition is undetectable! What fabulous news for Christmas! We will be praying for Stan and relating to everything Toby and the family are going through.

I’m waiting for J-P to come down to go to brunch with me. Our traditional crab cakes eggs benedict with just a hint of hot sauce. Yummo. I’m hoping to give him permission to open up with his feelings if needed with a chat over brunch. He’s so darn quiet. His girlfriend, Carly, couldn’t get enough time off work so she and Adia are coming back with J-P after the holiday and after Tom’s chemo and radiation, which ends Feb. 9. How’s that for a run-on sentence? My birthday is the 10th and we had hoped to go to the ocean so that will be delayed but I am choosing to be grateful for his treatments to be over on the eve of my birthday. It all starts on Jan. 3. Kate, the treatments are in Sacramento under the guidance of UCSF so we don't have to go back and forth every day. Can you believe it's every weekday for 5 weeks?? Chemo on Mondays and radiation every single day. Bless his heart. I cried yesterday when I read the instructions. Tom and I were weepy over everything on the Today show today - Haitii, the oil spill, military wives and kids. We proclaimed we will do some kind of volunteering after his treatmens are over. What I'd really like to do is adopt some of those poor orphans, but I don't think he's up for that, lol!

The best cookies I have ever made are Chewy Chocolate Gingerbread and are on the cover of Martha Stewart's cookie book. My Dad loves my cranberry macaroons (shaped like trees - pyramids) and Tom loves the chocolate mint chip bars with Oreo crusts. So does J-P. I shipped cookies to ‘the girls’ using baby marshmallows as the packing peanuts and also to keep them moist. They arrived in perfect condition yesterday!

My favorite pizza is either Hawaiian or garlic chicken artichoke and sun dried tomato. Shoot! Now I want one.

Kate, I am loving Louise Hay’s book on Gratitude. I bought it for myself when shopping for Tom for his stocking. Can’t remember if I told you this already. It’s filled with short essays by dozens of ‘teachers’ of living in gratitude. I remind myself whenever a scary thought comes that I am in the future in that moment and not in gratitude and I quickly give thanks for something to bring me back to gratitude. It’s making a big difference. I still have the bad thoughts, but they aren’t taking over any more. “Every day in every way I am getting better and better.” Mother taught me this 25 years ago, but I haven't had it in the forefront lately. Revision!

Are you getting married in April on the trip to Hawaii??


There's more I want to say - I'll come back later. We're going to look for a hand-carved walking stick for Tom so the guys can keep their dream alive to go backpacking in the spring.