drcrisc

Kristy - That is the best proclomation ever!  And twice as fitting since you started this thread.  I remember when I was "floating" around looking for a May thang, and you pointed me here from some other thread.  Thanks. 

Noelle - Well, Happy Birthday, girl. 

Jen - OMG.  Those sound sooooo gooooood!!! 

Rock - I don't know if you know anything about Spongebob (I am blessed with a 5 year old that does), but your original request made me think of a song called "The Best Day Ever", so tomorrow is going to be "The beeeest daaaaaay everrrrrrrrr!"

Gracie/Jackie - Chemooooooooo!!!!!!!

Apparently, my gift from Thanksgiving day was a pulled muscle in my shoulder which has been getting steadily worse.  The good news is I did get the PA in the rad onc's office to give me a muscle relaxant for it (because I just didn't want to have another doctor's appointment today); the bad news is I didn't get to take one until after 7 PM.  So while I'm really in the mood to write a whole bunch more, my neck, shoulder and arm are killing me in this position.  HAPPY MsDCOW DAY!!!!!!

We have been quiet, so I'm going to assume that's because everyone is having a nice holiday weekend.  My niece, her dh and 2 little boys came up and we had a good time, in spite of the neighbors...so here's the story.  Get your shovels, ready...

Dh has been off all week and we were expecting a rain storm earlier this week (which we did get, finally!).  So he spend Monday afternoon cleaning the yard, trimming, raking, etc.  The neighbors (yes, the same ones from previous postings) had a bush that they let grow pretty wild.  It had come over the fence and grown practically all the way down to our retaining wall, about 7 feet.  It stuck out almost 2 feet from the wall and spanned about 10-12 feet across.  My dh was concerned about the weight of it on the flimsy wooden trellis and trimmed our side so that only about 3-4 inches was left hanging over.  The next night the storm came and apparently, due to the weight of the bush on the other side, blew it over,.  The following morning (we're at Wednesday now) the man came over and started telling my dh that he had no right to cut the bush, that it was ruined and anyway, he the right to a "2 foot easement" onto our property (excuse me?!).  He also likened what my dh did to "what if I came and cut off the tops of your trees because they are blocking my view?"  (Again, excuse me?!)  Dh told him it was nonsense and to stake the bush up and it would come back in the spring.

So...my dh took the girls for a walk to the store later that morning.  When they came back, the rest of the bush was laying all over our retaining wall and part of the driveway, partially blocking the entrance to the garage.  They were outside on their porch and dh asked the guy, "Are you going to clean up this mess?"  He says "Mess?  What mess?  I don't see anything."  The wife chimes in with "Let him shred it (dh has a machine that mulches) since he like to shred so much."  Apparently, this struck my 5 year old funny and she began to giggle.  **If you haven't got the shovels out by now, get ready.**  Then this woman says to my child, "Shut up, you little brat!"  In front of my dh and her older sister.  I was shocked when I heard that (good thing I was not home!).  At that point my dh just asked the girls to be quiet, but he was mad.  What kind of a person speaks like that to a child and in front of their parents?!!  If either of them ever speak to either of my children again, I will immediately call the police and say we feel threatened. 

This has really been disturbing.  However, my dh is "get even" kind of guy and has decided our compost bin needs to be moved...right next to their patio and behind our garage.  Oh well, just wait until the summer when it's 105...I'm having very un-Christian like thoughts about them... 

Okay, I have to tell you about the boy today, because it's part of my gratefulness this Thanksgiving.  The neighbors can wait...

 Last Sunday we went to church and instead of our pastor's sermon, we heard from a 19 year old young man.  His name is Clayton and he has had leukemia 4 times.  He was telling his story in place of the pastor's usual Thanksgiving sermon.  This boy was first diagnosed at age 7 and has undergone 2 bone marrow transplants (part of that miracle was that both of his siblings were a match).  I first heard about him almost 3 years ago, when they were giving an update about his condition (it was the third go 'round, then).  I thought of him in the first few days after I was diagnosed.  He has many things to be angry about and not much to be thankful for, but there is a light that shines out of him that is unmistakable.  He was diagnosed again (for the fourth time) about 6 weeks ago and has decided not to go through chemo again.  The doctors gave him about 3 months, but also say everyone is different. 

I was overwhelmed by him and his story...again, but for some different reasons this time.  I know on the surface his story sounds so sad, yet he is anything but sad!  He just reminded me of all the things I am thankful for and, most especially, all the people around me that I love!  I hope this is the best Thanksgiving and holiday season for all of us!  Cancer has changed us, there is no doubt of that, but it does make up the whole of who we are. 

Ladies,

I'm still reading and catching up (that's what I get for not logging in for 4 days!).  We have company coming for Thanksgiving and we haven't had company since June.  I hate to do a hit and run, but I'm gonna anyway.

First - only 3 more rads...I'll be done Dec. 2 - wheeee!!!!!  Second - anyone with lyphedema, please post (or pm me) your symptoms.  I noticed this weekend the sensation of a "band" around my bicep on the surgery side.  It would come and go.  Then I began paying more attention to that side and noticed that it falls asleep very easily, including a carpal-tunnel like reaction in my hand/wrist when I use the mouse too much.  Any insight would be much appreciated.  I'm having a hard time finding any thing other than "heaviness" and swelling as symptoms.  The arm was measured yesterday after the rad appointment.

Hey - I'm here, reading and catching up.  Needed a "cancer break" for a few days...dealing with the pain/burning/itching from radiation.  I agree with Adrienne - it's all crappola!

Otter - Glad to hear dad is okay.  Are you warmer yet?

Noelle - Glad you finally got some info that was useful; the rest of it sucks!

Linda - No food aversions here, but I also shudder at the thought of plum juice.

Been off for a couple of days, so I'm just catching up.

Yaaayyy to Kristy and Mary!  Wooo hoooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Gracie - Also glad dh got through surgery okay, but alas for the neediness!  (Mine too, when he had bronchitis).  We await your pole dance...

Unfortunately, I did get dd's cold.  It seems to have settled in my throat/chest and if it is not better by Monday, I will be visiting my PCP.  I thought I was going to cough up an organ this morning.  However, I did learn a little trick for keeping the cough down at night (somebody emailed this to me a couple of weeks ago):  Get a jar of Vicks VapoRub and slather on the bottoms of your feet, cover with socks.  It will keep the cough away for a good 10 hours.  I did it for dd and on me last night.  It does work.  Feels weird but works. 

Jane - That story belongs on the bitch 'n moan thread!  Wow.  Incompetent is nice for what he is and did to you.  Sue his a$$.

Yay, Rock!  Woooo hoooooo!!!!!!

Noelle - Sorry about the toe nail.  Rats.  If I had any motivation at all, I would make that receipe - sounds great!

Randie - Glad you liked your docs.  That really helps.  I found this website just by Googling "ovarian cancer" -  http://www.inspire.com/groups/alliance-ovarian-cancer/        It looks like a similar site to ours.  See what you think...

DD was well enough to go to school today but skipped P.E.  Although just before bed, she tells me her ear hurts.  So I get out the ear scope (Otter - what's is called?  I know it has a name...) but can't check them because the batteries are dead and we don't have any more.  Aaaaarrrrggghhh.  Now I'm hoping I don't get the 3 AM wake up call that usually goes with ear infections. 

Has anybody seen Karin lately???

Just checkin' in to say surgery sucks and recouperation sucks more! 

I have chosen to ignore any work issues right now.  They are lucky I show up at all.

LuAnn - My mom used to tell telemarketers who asked for my dad that he had died and she did that even before he was dead...lol!!

Hoping for only SOI's over the weekend!

Randie's baaack!  Hi, Randie!!!

Noelle - I hear you about work, work, work.  I had one slow hour this morning and that was it. 

Roxi - Speaking of avatars, yours is great!

I know we've been through this, but for those of you with lumpectomies and rads, did your scar(s) hurt first?  My scars bother me mostly at night and I have rads usually in the late afternoon.  I'm using the lotion at night and Aquaphor on the scars in the morning.

Oh, off to watch the SNL Thursday Update!