Topic: Illinois ladies facing bc

OMG Wendy, you really love to leave us hanging don't you ?  Your notes here are always wonderful....like a little mini travelogue of your life events.  And you always know just what to say.  I envy that.  Despite the fact that i get wordy now and then....I'm not too sure I'm saying much. 

As to drying out....yes we are and not a moment too soon for me.  Gray rainy days depression was setting in on me and I was starting to wonder just what I needed to do to get through the pits.  Started to think I would have to buy one of those ( they do have them don't they )?? special light bulbs that mimic sunshine.  It was that or go shopping for sturdy rope. 

Went to Marion yesterday and it sure made for a long day.  Had my 3 month check-up....by a P.A.  I don't mind that but I was just getting used to the male Dr.  and it sort of threw me to deal with someone I had never seen.  I did find that tho' I had made repeated requests to have my Vit. D. levels checked it had not been done so the P.A. was calling the lab to see ig they had any of my blood left.....then she would order it.......if not, she will leave a standing order ( I presume ) for the next 3 month visit....some time in January.  Good news was that my tumor markers are down from 18 to 14.  She said they are not considered abnormal unless they are 30 and above so I wasn't concerned...but a nice feeling that physiologic changes are positive

I have a cold sore -- where it came from I do not know, but as it was just "starting" late yesterday/last night I went to the drugstore and got Abreva.  Wow !!!! That was an eye opener.  I would imagine it's very good for OTC but I got some change back from a $20.00 bill.  I'm thinking....it sure better be good. I just don't want the ugly look and it says it seriously reduces the length of time ( normally about 10 days ) that you put up with these things.  

Sido...glad dh's mood is better.  I'm sure he never envisioned this birthday as being one where he would have to deal with mid-life and a wife with a cancer diagnosis as well.  Men are not supposed to feel or show any trauma, but I know it's there.  His world is a little collapsed too and he probably has few if any ways of letting it out.  

Ok....I'm off to feed the dogs....lunch in St. Louis later, and gosh who knows what.  I'll be  checking back in later.  See ya'll then.  

Hugs, Jackie 

Hi all:

Okay, now I better understand why I retired.  I have had two teaching jobs this week and I am tired.  I really like the two-three days I work.  I like the money and the interaction with the children.  It is interesting for me to see all the ages as I spent my whole life teaching  older kids.  I also really love to have them for a day or two and not five.  I have discovered that I can blow thirty minutes with little guys just talking about pets!  Every kid has had a pet or wants a pet and so there is a lot to talk, draw and hear about when it comes to pets.

 ELF:  How are you doing?  How are the kids?  OMG, you have a new look!

Sido, glad things are happier.  You are young (I am 61) and I am certain your DH and you are MOST sad that this thing  has dropped into your life.  It all requires such patience, love and compassion AND THE PASSING OF A DAY OR TWO TO REGROUP.

Wendy, "Have a funny story to tell you guys but I need to scoot...it involves Death coming on horseback to Chili's while we were having lunch......"  Not fair!  When do we hear the story?  I would think Death wouldn't choose  Chili's for  lunch......well maybe given the chill of death, it would.  I am still into Halloween stories here.

Connie, so happy about the wrist.  Funny how we get happy about something (your wrist) that so recently made us sad.

Jackie, keep smiling and get one of those lamps!

 Laura, what are you up to....same for BJ.

 Okay, listing  is dangerous.  I know I have missed nearly the whole group!

Hi Mich....I figured the V.A. might not use the tumor marker test for me....they sometimes do things on a different level than other medical practises.  To the best of my understanding, often these tests could or might be used at any time after the discovery of your disease process.  It could help identify ( to a degree ) if your chemo, meds, or anything being used to shrink or eliminate a tumor etc. are working.  I think in this case the first one would be a baselline one.  I think when they are given after txs are done it is mainly another tool to check how you are doing.  By themselves...you could get false readings, but used with other things they will just help indicate where you are.  Since the numbers could fluctuate to a degree for a variety of reasons I think not all Dr.'s care to use them.....but to be glaringly honest.....I can't say that it does not make me feel a lot more secure to hear that the number is good ( 30 and above is cause for lots of concern ) and I breathe a little easier. 

Somehow....it doesn't seem to me as though it would be a really expensive test.....they take two or three tubes of blood from me and do a lot of things with it.....they are able to tell my blood counts, liver function, and that marker number along with a couple of other things too....and usually all this in an hour or less.  Maybe if you ask your Dr. he will do this test or give you a plausible reason why he thinks you will do fine without it. 

I hope the week-end goes well.  The cleaning out is difficult to do....lots of memories....good and sometimes not so good. 

As to selling and how fast...it is always something of a crap-shoot.  One of the biggest things is to price it correctly.  Too high and you scare a number of people away....too low and people wonder ( often silently as they are walking away ) just what is wrong with it that you are hiding and hoping to dump on them.  A good realtor will get comps for the area where the home is located and that should go far in helping to set the price.  Comps, as you probablly already know, are just listed sales prices for homes near your Aunts and what they sold for in the recent past.  As far as the economy there may be a number of things that could help a buyer, but houses ---  even thru this major blow-up, kept selling.  There are people who have the money -- anytime, and should a time just like this one come along ( and since all pricing in large part is down somewhat as it is a buyers market ) they just step up and get something they want.  I hope it all goes well for you and I hope you get a really good realtor who will make this burden a little easier overall. 

See you all later.

Hugs, Jackie 

Hi all!  Checking in to see what's happening. I've been working the two jobs, dog sitting, helping a friend who had hip replacement surgery, plus a few other projects (including a party for 55 two weeks ago!), so I have not been around much.  I'm sorry I've been so silent lately- I didn't even realize how long it's been since I posted.  On the other hand, that just proves that life after cancer can be just as rewarding, busy, and NUTTY as it ever was before.   YEA! 

I passed my 3 year anniversary since my diagnosis (while not posting! )   I was stage 3, grade 3, triple negative- almost (almost) as bad as you can get without being stage 4, and look at me now!  3 years- feeling more and more like I'm putting that nasty beast behind me.  I hope that that gives hope and support to those of you who are out there in treatment!  

I'm so looking to forward to hosting our Illinois Gals Holiday party on Saturday, Dec 5!   I literally can't wait.  I know I can't spend much time on the thread these days, so it means so much to me to get together and just TALK to everyone.  If any of the southern Illinois gals want to come up and spend the night- I have room for  two, plus I have a couple of neighbors with extra bedrooms.  Please, I hope everyone will put that date on your calender and come!  I have a big house with plenty of room- plus Blackjack and Wendy are planning some special holiday magic.  

I'm off to bed now- have to get up at 4 am, but I feel better, because I FINALLY posted something again.  

Hugs to everyone, and special thoughts & love to those in treatment! 

This is my wish for you: Comfort on difficult days, smiles when sadness intrudes, rainbows to follow the clouds, laughter to kiss your lips, sunsets to warm your heart, hugs when spirits sag, beauty for your eyes to see, friendships to brighten your being, faith so that you can believe, confidence for when you doubt, courage to know yourself, patience to accept the truth, Love to complete your life. - Author Unknown

Hello~  Iadies~!  Thanks for the support and my surgery went great.. I did get the big boobs.. OMG, my dh asked me 'are you sure it's not too big?'  what did he saying???   Of course it's not too big..  Well, honestly, I like the size but I don't like the shape of new boob on left side (which I had te)  my ps put 650cc silicon gel implant but still look like te, doesn't look perky like it should be, for me it looks just round and flat and wide.. he put 250cc on my good side to tried to match with the new side but now my good side looks bigger than new side with 650cc..  I have no problem moving my right arm but left are still sore like te is still in there and I don't like the shape of my left..   I have a follow up with ps next Monday and I will ask him what he can do to make me SATISFIED because I am disappointed..  Bummer~!   Oh well, still little bit swollen from the surgery I hope it looks better when swollen goes away..

Kids did good at the daycare and it was more heart breaking for us to leave them than it was for them...    and they got cold again, Arrrrrrrrrggggggg~~ this can't be happening..

Jan Clare- Congrats on 3 years~!

Jackie- good news on tumor marker~! 

WendyK- come back and tell us the story soon~!

My left arm is still sore and tingling all the way from shoulder to the fingers.. ouch... 

I hope everyones feeling well and have a good night~!~!

Love you all,   EJ

Evening Ladies!  Just checking in on Elf...sorry you're not too happy with the new girls but it is early yet...give them a bit to settle in.  And if you are still not too happy...I know that adjustments can be made!

Lisamed...sorry you have been a bit down but it sure helps when we hear about those that continue to do so well!  Of course we hear about the mets but we don't hear about all the other thousands that do just fine....because they are just too busy out there having fun....

OK...my story....On Halloween since I knew how many hoardes of chldren we get, DH and I went out for lunch at our neighborhood Chili's.  We were sitting in the bar area, in a booth and the restaurant was pretty empty, we were the only ones in the bar in fact.  DH was facing the back, watching the TV, I was facing the parking lot area, which runs alongside a very busy road up here.  I am just starting on my 2nd glass of wine when I glanced up and there he was....Death on horseback...in the parking lot.  OMG!  I almost dropped the glass and I am going..."OMG, OMG - Death...Death on Horseback...he's in the parking lot..look, look!!!!"  And of course DH is looking at me like I am crazy and of course suggests that I have had enuf to drink (yeah...no)  and I am babbling about Death on Horseback and of course he finally turns around...and sees nothing.  Just turned back and gave me this REALLY dirty look.  I am still staring out the window when....HERE COMES THE GRIM REAPER....ON HORSEBACK!!!!  Complete with sycthe (sp???)...I start babbling about the Grim Reaper and of course I get the dirty look again and the "too much to drink" lecture.  And then I continue sipping my wine and of course....here comes the HEADLESS HORSEMAN....on horseback...dragging a bloody head on a chain.  This time I just casually say..oh look, a bloody head.  DH refuses to turn around...and there is still no one else in the bar area.  And then....a skeleton on horseback comes into the parking lot.  I don't say a word.  And then they all proceed to dismount and tether their horses, just out of eyesight for our booth.  And then they all came in and sat down at the bar, not very far away.  The bartender meanwhile came out and got their drink order and called to us if we wanted anything and DH said just the bill...and said "oh yeah, have the Grim Reaper bring it"  and laughed.  Well....I knew where this was going to go as the 4 guys heard this.  Next thing you know....the Grim Repear appeared right behind DH and handed him the bill....scared the ever-lovin' C**P outta my husband!  And then of course he turns around and sees what I have been looking at...and then gets up and looks out the window and sees the horses in the parking lot.  And you know what I said.....here it comes....

"I told you so"

(turns out it is a group of men who own horses and go riding every weekend and come to Chili's...as long as they clean up after their horses the Bar loves it...they just happened to dress up for Halloween)

Good story!  If can you believe it...we both have iPhones and we both forgot to take pictures!

Have a good evening everyone!  JanClare....thanks again for hosting the party on the 5th!

Hi Girls,

I hope everyone had a great fun filled Halloween. Wendy, I love your death on horse back story..too funny. Men, will they ever believe us when we tell them something. As for me I spent Halloween weekend in my fav place Las Vegas and what a party that was!! There were costumes that didn't leave much to the imagination and there were some that were drop dead gorgeous. Well for me I was a call girl and dh was Frank Sinatra. We had sooo much fun. Did some playing and did win!!! The weather was warm and sunny. So I was a happy camper, sun, pool, cosmo and cabana boys. lol Wendy you would be so jealous of those cabana boys.lol  But I am home now and back to work..arrrg.

We are setting up to have H1N1 clinic at my school. All the kids will get shots and I can only imagine what kind of day I will have, tears and more tears. Bring on the Kleenex.

Elfsong..glad to see that your surgery is over...but honey give yourself sometime to heal. Let the swelling go down.. get some rest.

Lisamed..yes it is sad to hear about the ones that have gone before us..but we are still here. So enjoy yourself, hug the ones you love. Life is too short not to have some fun. So go have some fun!!!

Jackie...glad to see that all is well with blood test. We all get down when the sun is not around, so put up a beach pic and enjoy the water view. Water is your calm. I would invite you to join me and Wendy in our beach chairs anytime. It's Cosmo's time!!

Rita...how are you feeling better. This flu has been hanging around way to long.

Laura...I hope you are feeling better. I will be at lunch bunch dinner next week.

Janclare..congrats on 3 yrs. Way to go!!!! Holiday Party Dec 5 thanks for hosting it.

Buddy..hope you are doing well too.

To all the others I hope you are all doing well even if you are not posting.

Well its jammie time for me. Busy day tomorrow. Boy I sure miss my play dates.

Remember to be healthy...be happy

Good Night

BJ

When we long for life without difficulties, remind us that oaks grow strong in contrary winds and diamonds are made under pressure.                                                Peter Marshall.

Lots of chatter.

BJ:  Do families have  a choice about the vaccine?  I have been busy subbing as there is so much going on but they are not giving those vaccines at school.

Navy:  Oh yes, you are  still in the trenches.  Of course you are sick of chemo.  Are you staying at home or do you work?  I wish you well.

What a great story Wendy!  I love it!

Lisa, yes it is scary to hear sad news about what BC does to people.   Wendy is right, bad news tends to get printed while all the success stories get on with life.  JanClare would be an example of that success story and there are many many  more like her...they are just busy getting on. 

 JanClare:  I am almost 100% sure I will be there.  My Dh has a cousin who usually has her XMAS party that first Saturday.  She put on a wedding for daughter a month ago so maybe that was enough for her!

Elf Song:  I can hear your disappointment.  I know not a thing about it, but Wendy says that things can be modified so that you not only feel comfortable, you love your new look.  Sorry the kids are sick again.  What a year!

Take care to all i missed!

Adopt the pace of nature:  her secret is patience.  ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Happy Saturday everyone. OMG, where did this nice warm weather come from. OH I wish I had the boat to go for a boat ride. But I will settle for a long run instead. Now this is what fall weather should be like. lol  Rita.. yes, LV was crazy for Halloween but sooo much fun. I would go again but the weather is very iffy at that time of year. Luck had it that it was warm. The slots were very loose..so that was a surprise. Guess that was our treat..lol Hope you are doing well and feeling better.

Zap...yes we are giving out H1N1 shots to all the kids in my district if the parents sign for them to get it. The CDC is giving us the guidelines and the County is providing the nurses to administer the shots. Lots of paper work involved. ugg They also will give the shot to any teacher who is in the high risk group. For me I am not getting it. I am not really sold on it yet. But that's me.

Sido..hope you are feeling better soon. Just need to rest.

Laura...how are you doing. let us know. hugs to you.

Wendy...ck your email. Good day for a tops down fits up day!! Let the wind blow in your hair. lol

Jackie...did you ck out the qoute garden site. I though of you and OMG what quotes they had. Enjoy them. I hope you are enjoying this nice warm weather. 

Well I hope everyone gets outside today for some Vit D. I am off to put my outside xmas lights today. I hate to do it when it is zero outside. No frozen fingers today. lol

Have a great weekend....Remember to be healthy ..be happy...have fun

Hugs to all

BJ

LittleC....how wonderful to see you back.  I did sort of think you had dropped off the side somewhere.....and then too I think some people get tired of coming here after a while.  It does perhaps remind you of things you might like to try and forget.  I think it will be a long time if I ever leave here  ---  and many are just very busy so only come on occasion.  Hope all your computer woes are settled. 

Bj, I did go into the Quote Garden and it is on my Favorites List now so I can always get to it easily.  I meant to pm you, but just got swamped with something and didn't do it.  Got to get back outside...my coffee break is past.  I'll be checking back a little later. 

Jackie

Susan,

Dh and I are thinking of doing a touristy trip to Springfield ourselves soon.  We always go to Chicago for our urban fix, but iI've heard that the art museum has the largest collection of WPA art in the country and that the new Lincoln museum was amazing.  I'd love to hear how your visitwent.

Feeling tired today (more than yesterday) because the steroid never perks me up all that much, but eating little meals has helped.  I've also stocked up on gatorade and stuff today and walked around Lowe's and the supermarket for my exercise today.  Not looking forward to tomorrow, but I'm determined to keep moving, especially when I found yoga and walking helped with body aches last time.

Be well Lovelies and enjoy the weekend,

Sido