Illinois ladies facing bc
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Wendy.....I think the Dr's won't do Adriamycin if your MUGA scan numbers are too low in the beginning.....so at the V.A. anyway....that was the item---nothing administered until you had the results of that test in hand...I thought I recalled that they would do another MUGA mid-way but they didn't. Guess my numbers were high enough that they didn't think it was necessary.
Hope you all have a good day....work for me. See ya'll later.
Jackie
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OK....was in the shower thinking about my post....
I did not mean that any of you who had A now have to worry about leukemia. The chance of this happening is sooooooo tiny. It just freaked out my onc's practice that they has 2 in one year! Freaked out all the nurses too and they told me that they were VERY happy that the decision to use AC in my case was switched to Carbo at the last minute. It was also some study done in the UK that showed that in Her2+ gals the platinums worked slightly better that AC. Very slightly. Teeny-weeny. But like I said....I read all the time about gals with mets who's 2nd chemo is taxol or taxotere alone and how it makes tumors just disappear so personally I think the more important drug was the tax. But I bet if I had had positive nodes and had not been Her2+ I would have been given the AC. Oh well....I am happy with what I got and I have no desire to take A, just to make sure!!!! No more chemo for this girl....I hope!
DH has gone off to the car dealer as his radio dial broke off. He'll probably be gone for a few hours. Guess I should have broken something bigger so he would be gone longer......
(only kidding, only kidding...now, I ask you! Would I sabotage my DH's car just to get him out of the house for a little bit????????)
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Hi Girls...it looks like there has been a lot of chatting going on here. I am having a wonderful time just chill-in on the beach. The weather has been hot and sunny. Wendy the cabana boys are really cute down here. lol lol I still have your beach chair for you. Saw lots of tops down fist up here and thinking of you.
Connie...I hope your sister's eye problem is improving. My dh had a cornea transplant years ago and it was very scary to think it might not take. But they have come a long way since then with eye surgery.
Smerf...how are you doing. did dd get back safe and sound. did you have a good check up
Rita..sorry to hear that dh is sick...just give them some chicken soup and they will feel better. lol
Carol...glad to see you are done with chemo yeah for you.
Jackie...how are you doing.
Laura...loved chatting with you. Did you send a pic of the new baby yet.
Susan..having fun in Arizona. Good for you.
To everyone else I missed hope you are all doing well. I hope the weather gets better at home. I may just stay here on my beach chair until summer. lol
Well thinking of all of you..gotta run we are going boating today. Hope everyone has a great day.
Hugs to all.....remember to be healthy..be happy
Blackjack
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If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost. That is where they should be.
Now put the foundation under them.
- Henry David Thoreau0 -
Hi Girls - Hope you're all doing well.
I had AC...crap...one more thing to worry about! lol Oh well. lol
Guess what! We found a puppy! We'll be taking custody of the little guy at Ohare airport on Tuesday. He's being flown in from our breeder in TX. Introducing Paulie... at full size, he'll be just 5.5 pounds.
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OH Laura....He is gorgous!!! Want one!!!!!OMy he is just what we want to downsize to when my goldens are not so needy etc. Love him!!!!!!Give Paulie a good kiss for me. Good luck in raising this one. Paulie may be adorable, but the puppy antics will begin!!!!0
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So cute. Boy or girl? Name?
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Well, we just got home and it is freezing. Laura the dog is cute....my Dh is named Paul too. If you read all of it, chemo can cause a host of problems down the line. I have to go to urologist yearly as I took cytoxan and it was very bad on my bladder. I went into it knowing it could cause bladder cancer later. Cancer is awful and needs awful meds to fight it and those meds are strong and may perhaps cause troubles. Left untreated, however, we are game for something far worse than a maybe problem in the future.
I am so cold. The house is like 50. The cat gave me the cold shoulder. I am glad to be back. We went to some Indian mounds, but mostly read books by the pool and ate good foods. Enough is enough, however. My skin has had enough!
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Oh Laura, Paulie is such a cutie! I bet you can't wait to get him.
I am sitting home manning the phone as my son called a couple of hours ago and they were on their way to the hospital. Hopefully we will have a new baby, too, today or this evening.
Hugs to all of you.
Rita
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Wow !!!! Where to begin. Won't write much as I am at work--but Laurie...Paulie is adorable and I am thrilled. I could not see anyone with your kind of love and devotion not using a whole lot of it up on a cuddly piece of heaven-sent love. Good for you.....they can be heart-breakers when the leave us but oh how much better they are as heart-makers while they are here. You will feel whole again....
Rita...how fantastic....Spring is here bringing, hopefully in mere hours another bundle of love to you. I can hardly wait to hear. Thoughts, prayers, love and warmth for everything being perfect.
Susan....glad you are back. Vacations are glorious, but in so many ways---there is no place like home---just hurry and get warm. Welcome back.
And as far as the A/C or whatever we used----we all needed something...and as Susan said...it's all poison basically----and doing w/o is not really an option. You just have to pick something with the input of your medical team and then do the best you can. Something years later may turn up but while time passes don't forget their are new discoveries that will be made....and many of those may address long range side effects. Their will be plenty of time to find new txs and things to cancel or minimize any negative result to what we have used/chosen at this point in time.
Hugs to all
Jackie
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Hi Laura,
I love your Puppy. Is it a Maltese or Bichon Frise?
I got my 2nd Bichon last October. They don't lose hair so are great as an indoor dog. My 1st was Crystalady and the one we have now is Millie. Crystal died of cancer 18mths ago. She was so much support for me the 1st time around and maybe it was Karma that we got Millie only 6 weeks before I found out I had Stage 4 BC.
Sandra
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6 inches of snow????????? And more coming next weekend?????? NO!!!!!!Laura....the puppy is adorable! And please do not even think about your AC! REmember....with you the BIGGEST guns were what was needed! You had + nodes and an unclean margin at the chest wall. You needed to whack it with everything they had in their arsenal. You will be fine. Now.....young lady, you take that off your worry list....RIGHT THIS MINUTE!!!!
Sandra....ahhhhhh! Australia! Glad you piped up re: Laura's puppy!
Rita...waiting anxioulsy to hear.....
Blackjack.....I think you should stay right there for at least another week or so!
Susan....reading by the pool with lots of good food is my kind of vacay! Just finished Jodi Picoult's "my Sister's Keeper" - wow, that was a good one! Pick it up from the library the next time you go, if you haven't read it.
Connie...how's your sister doing?
Time to get moving...have a great day and enjoy the "greening of the grass" while you can still see it...tomorrow if the weatherman's correct, everything will be covered with snow. Blech.
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Hi gals! I have a new grandson who was born last night about 7:12. He was 8 pounds 5 ounces and has been named Evan. It was a scary day as the cord was kinked and his blood pressure was elevated, but all is well now. We were so lucky! So...I'll have him settled on my lap over Easter weekend, all cuddled in that gorgeous afghan made by Wendy....unless I can't wait that long and decide to take off sooner. I'm so happy that I'm not even upset about the snow and rain that's coming our way.
Blackjack, listen to Wendy and stay a couple more weeks. The weather is not looking too good around here.
Susan, you may wish you were back in Arizona! I'm so glad that you had a good time and got to relax some. It won't be long now and you'll be a FREE WOMAN!!! And speaking of free women, you'll have your house back to yourself this next week, won't you, Wendy?
Mary Jane, I hope you've enjoyed Italy. Let me know when you get back!
JulieChicago...How are you doing?
Connie, I've been thinking about your sister, too and hoping that she's continuing to improve. Please give us an update.
Laura...just a few more days and you'll be meeting that plane and picking up that puppy! I'm so glad you decided to get him. He will bring so much love into your home!
Well, I am going to write some more questions and earn a little more cash. It will come in handy for our vacation in late May. Then I'm taking a friend with me to help me pick out new glasses this afternoon. It seems that all the frames are the narrow, thin ones and I look horrible in those. I seldom wear my glasses outside the house anyway but I hate to pay the prices that they are asking for them and not like the silly things. This shopping excursion should be a treat!
Catch you all later.
Rita
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Nan-a......big congrats and I am so happy that everything went well and Evan is doing fine. I like that name. He was a big little guy, but that is good. Ah....Mary Jane---Italy would make a fantastic vacation---so many sights to see and canals...sigh!!!!! I think I'll have to visit by book...darn.
So....which is he Laura---Bishon or Maltese. He is just scrumptious whatever he is.
Crystalady....sorry to hear about your loss and it is amazing that you got another nurse/caretaker just in time. I am so sorry to hear you are facing this yet again though.
Oh my.....it's raining here as we speak....and later Dh will once again have my car. He did drive the MG Sprite to work yesterday but snow is coming today from the way it sounds so I will once again lose my car. Not sounding too good for tomorrow either. Hmmm....grrrr. I just hope the stuff doesn't hang around too long. I had big hopes going that we were thru all this but I know the weather can be very fickle and tricky this time of year. Well, we will get through it all just fine....I think I hate being w/o my car more than anything.
I'll be checking back in later.....after all I'm going to be spending lots of time inside today. See ya'll later.
Hugs,
Jackie
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If you can't, you must. If you must, you can.
Anthony Robbins0 -
RITA - Congrats! I bet Evan is a cutie! Does he make 3 grandbabies?
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Paulie is a Maltese. It's the only breed that we know of that my dh is not allergic to. We went to the Lake County dog shelter to test out a few strays, but dh left with swollen eyes, rashes on both hands and his neck turned bright red. I thought I was going to be a very wealthy widow! lol Buddy was a Maltese and dh never had any probs w/him.
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Sandra - Bichons are cute too. My friend has 3 Bichons - all of which were rescued dogs, but dh had allergy probs when he would bring them over.
SNOW - SNOW stay away... hard to imagine sitting on a beach without a winter jacket on. Must be nice girls! lol Enjoy!!!
Wendy - lol - Okay...I will not worry about Leukemia... but I will worry about the fact that recent studies indicate that ILC does not respond well to the chemo regiman I had. Geesh... lol!
Donna - I think Neupogen is used when small amounts of chemo are given. Most of us have the more potent, standard chemo regimen. A lot of girls do not have probs from Neulasta, but I did. I certainly DO NOT want to scare you. Before treatment starts they'll do a wbc check. I think mine were at an acceptable count/level, so I probably could have gone without the Neulasta. If my counts decreased, then I could have taken it, instead of just taking it right from the beginning. I read that some Oncs are doing it this way now... but it all depends on the wbc count. And it also depends on each individual Onc.
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Hmmm, Laura, I think the Doc's just have a preference for which drugs they like to use. I know the V.A. tends to stick with 'older' proven drugs ( and I'm not saying Neulasta isn't every bit as good or proven ) but that is just how it's done there. I have actually had more success with some of the drugs the V.A. switched me too.....and they are all older. The only thing I haven't been happy is the one I have to cut in half because they don't provide it in the smaller dose size. Anyway, both drugs will induce your bone marrow to mature the white blood cells quicker which is the purpose and a good thing we have something that will do that if needed. Wonder is there something else if you happen to need red blood cells -- that is the one that is probably called a transfusion.
That darn rain ( from report I thought not till later ) has started so my feral cats won't get fed today as they won't come out. And then snow later....so een when the rains stops I won't be able to feed. Well, I won't have a car anyway...hate this. See ya'll later.
Jackie
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Rita.....congrtaulations on Evan. Get a picture of Evan wrapped in his Wendy blanket so we can all enjoy. It is so exciting that you have another baby boy. We keep getting girls, but they are great.
Wendy I have to get that book as everyone says that My Sister's Keeper is so good. I read Change of Heart which was well-written but very strange.
Well instead of a glorious tan, I have rashes all over! That is me. It is either from the sun or the sun block. It is so cold here. One of my goals was to change the closets to spring and summer, but I am not so sure I should do that.
A very strange thing happened while in Arizona. I kept forgetting to take the arimidex. I guess I was just off my schedule of taking it in the morning. It almost felt like it wasn't needed anymore.....of course it is. It was just a funny feeling that somehow I was distanced from the whole thing.
That Lance Armstrong thing I belong to (and never take advantage of) is having a 6-week support group type thing that deals with all aspects of dealing with BC (nutrition, etc) and not just a group where you sit around and share. I may do it. I feel odd in that it is intended for people in treatment and exiting from it and I am not sure it is for me (2plus years and counting) out of it. I would hate to offend any newbie. They did send it to me, however, so they must consider me eligible,
Talk later,
Susan
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Congrad's Rita on Evan!!!!!Awesome and wonderful news.Enjoy this time. IT is such a time to feel grateful!!
Talking on dogs.. so glad to have hhad my white faced, senior, wise (they at least look it) Goldens to be here when I got home from the hospital. They were there 24/7 and knew enough to go to my DH for anything they needed. goin out, being fed, etc.They knew Mom was not able to! Well no it is back to being abused and i am healed and hoepfully they will be good to me when i go thru chemo!!!
Have to have the things to be grateful for during these challenging times!!!
Susan.. that 6 week support group for BC patients sounds great. IF it is in your heart, you have to do it and not worry about the rest. You cannot offend if it is coming from the right place.
Happy Spring and snow is coming.. it is surely a war out there!
Hugs,
Donna
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Hi from your beach girl......I can't believe that you are getting snow and that I am coming home to it. Where is the snow be gone fairy...we need her now .lol
Rita...congrats on your new baby Evan. Babies are so special as are grandma's too..Give that baby a big hug and kiss from all us girls.
Laura..your new baby is coming soon. Paulie is sooooo cute. enjoy him.
Wendy.. I have not left my beach chair all week..lol but did manage to get great tan.
Jackie...did you get your new stove yet. I hope your weather is not to bad by you.
Susan...glad to see that you had a great time in sunny Arizona. The rash may have been sun poisoning which you can get after being in the sun for a long time. Benadryl works wonders on a rash.
Well just wanted to check in and see how your girls are. I am off to see the sunset on the beach.
Rememeber to be healthy...be happy Hugs to you all.
BJ
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Congratulations Rita on the new grandbaby! And to Laura on your new "baby!"
I'm still having issues (mostly in my head, I admit) with the spot that hurts- moreso because there is another area further down (about 3 inches down from my navel and one inch over to the left) that is even more painful to press on and I'm thinking now that the spot further up is perhaps referred pain. I have NO idea what this could be-- of course, Dr Google and I have diagnosed me with ovarian cancer, colon cancer, and probably referred brain cancer from crippling anxiety. I've waited (almost) 14 days, so am going to get the ball rolling and start with a doc appt. Nothing seems to hurt from the "inside out"-- only when I press on it- so I'm completely flummoxed by this one.
That and I want to eat everything in sight. Especially chocolate. Definite symptoms of chocolitus.
-julieb
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Hi Everyone,
I'm still alive, unfortunately following what you ladies are saying Re: Nuelasta. I am going through Nuelasta HELL right now. Onc would only give me yet MORE steroids for the pain. I just cannot take steroids, I just CAN"T!!! Steroids drive me crazy!!!! Yeah, I sound like a Diva, and I am, but I am so ready to be done with this frickin' chemo for once and for all!!!! A few more days....
Rita - A grandson....how wonderful! I can't wait to see the pictures!
Laura - Your new Baby is PRECIOUS!!!!! I am am so envious! Too cute!
Susan - You have a lot to offer people in tx and just coming out of tx, good advice, and look at you, the picture of health (OK, not with the rash). I think that you should participate.
Blackjack - You may want to stay on the beach longer, it's snowing right now!
Well, I just wanted you all know that I am still here and thinking about you all.
Love to all, Carol
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Hi Carol, I'm so glad you stopped in. Sorry you are having such a time with the Nuelasta. I read another thread for a while and almost every one there was calling their Nuelasta shots NastyLasta. I did not want to say anything because I didn't want to be a negative influence but I started thinking just earlier today about how many complaints I had heard about the Nuelasta and decided maybe I should be honest about what I heard.
I don't recall any complaints much about Neupogin although I know from having read the literature back when I started them that there are. Only thing that happened to me was a headache for a couple of days.....when I complained it turned out they forgot to tell me to use Tylenol fast acting gel caps 20 minutes before I gave myself the shot. After that....no headaches. I still think a lof of Dr.s tend to 'give' Nuelasta it as it's a newer drug. I had all my txs through the V.A. and ( it's not a bad thing ) they are notorious for not being in a big hurry to change when they know what they use is just as or possibly more effective. I have no comparison obviously on Chemo type drugs, but all the things I once got ( all newer drugs ) from my old PCP were changed and to my amazement some of the older meds the V.A. prescribed did a better job than the newer ones.
That was a little upsetting to me to find this out. My blood pressure before was never well controlled but is now.....and I will always wonder how much that contributed to my stroke.
I don't know which is better....Nuelasta or Nuepogin....they both do the same thing---encourage your bone marrow to quickly mature white blood cells. I'm making an assumption here but I'm thinking since the Nuepogin is a shot a day for five days....and the Nuelasta ....one shot that the Nuelasta may end up quite potent and perhaps that is what seems to cause more people to have side effects to do something about. I think I may have been unusual in not really having any ( mild bone pain once or twice ) with the Nuepogin.
I am sorry if I upset anyone with this information because our systems are all different and we are all going to have different reactions. That includes I think even what is used to combat side effects. Some get through with almost nothing while others get several issues to fix. The good news is that though you may have a few "rough" months....I sure did....you are saving your own life with the help of a medical team who specialize in your disease process. I think there is a quote somewhere that says something like:
" I didn't say it would be easy. I said it would be worth it ". I'll never say I'm glad that I had cancer, but I will say it has been such an eye opener. It has helped me to appreciate so many things that were a part of my life before....many things I either had some varied negative sensations about and now see quite differently or things I didn't give any credit to at all. Everything that happened up to the time I had a cancer diagnosis probably got me ready to fight this battle and win. Now that I am on the other side....my appreciation for so much has deepened quite considerably. I put importance on things in a different way----mainly because 63 years of my life are over now. It's just a long way of saying --- you can do this. There might be some thorns along the way, some adjustments to be made, but you are worth it. You will get through this and you will see things differently....it may be hard, but it will be worth it.
Jackie
p.s. you wouldn't believe what a work-out that spell checker gets when you use the words Nuelasta and Nuepogin a lot in one sitting.
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Rita-congrats on your new grandbaby Evan! How exciting!
Laura-your puppy is adorable.
berrypatch- as you said, a few more days.... Hang in there - you're almost done!
julieb-good,healthy thoughts going out to you.
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Thanks Jackie...your perspective on after cancer is very informative and to know that life is better on a deeper level as personally, I feel that now and have not even gone thru the chemo part yet. Good has to come out of this and we are victors and not just survivors!!! Thanks!
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I have only received one Nuelasta shot. I really had no problems. It was like getting the flu shot. But not nearly as bad. They gave it to me in the back of my arm. I hope they continue like this.
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This is just a quickie driveby to say CONGRATS Rita on Evan!
Blackjack...stay where you are.
Carol....didn't you take the claritin? Well....at least it's your LAST chemo!
Jackie...what's the first thing you are going to bake in your new stove?
Gotta shovel a bit so DH's jeep can be moved so I can get out the blower which hopefully will start. I am sooooooooooo finished with snow.
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Hi girls! Geesh... we got socked overnight... atleast 5" here in the forest. But it sure is pretty. I cannot tell a lie - this snow is my fault! I put away my snow shovels last week! Honest...I really thought spring had sprung... wishful thinking! SORRY! Gotta get my boots on and go find/feed the birds. Took these this morning:
Susan - Just shave your head... no one will question a thing! lol
JulieB - Could it be a cyst? I have had many Ovarian cysts over the years...some hurt - some didn't. Also...have you had the CA-125 blood test? Are you going to call your PCP, Onc or GYN? I usually don't know who to start with.
Carol - Have you tried Aleve 2x a day? Vicodin helped me with my Neulasta pain... HANG IN THERE! You've come this far... you just have to make it to the finish line...I know it's a little hard to see it with all this snow...but it is there!
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Morning
everyone. Well, no surprise as we knew it was coming. True to how things often happen in" Little Egypt", we are not getting an accumulation. The ground stayed warm enough and everything falling was wet enough to melt. Dh is even going to drive the MG again today so I will not have to take him to work and pick him up at 9p.m. tonight. I will go around 5 O' clock to buy my stove....as friends and family starts at 6 O'clock. As Denny works there....I will get extra off the sale price so discount will come to 40%. This is what allows me to choose a higher priced stove and get more of the features I would like ---- which in this case turns out to be full griddle and griddle burners thru the whole mid-section of the stove-top. Griddle is removable and regular grates put on and all three of the burners there can be turned to same temp or different ones to accommodate any sort of pan and any odd shaped pans. Then the automatic convection oven....which means that un-like the next model down....this one will adjust times and temps on it's own and I will not have to calculate anything. I tell you gals....when Dh quits working I am in a world of hurt....I will have to go back to buying the cheaper models of everything.Buddy 1....glad you mentioned how things went for you and your Nuelasta shot. Maybe one of these days ( though I doubt it's important enough right now ) they will be able to know who is more likely to have "reactions" so a better choice can be made from the start. I think ( could be wrong ) Rita had Nuelasta and it went ok....Wendy???? Actually...almost everything went good for Wendy including her chemo. So do take heart. It can happen that you will do fine and notice very little....that just isn't one of those predictable things right now.
Ah...what am I going to cook when that new stove comes---about a week from now. I have a feeling that it quite likely will be some sort of casserole. Cooking in the toaster oven does not really do it for me, but worse yet.....no yummy leftovers. You never really realize how often you use an oven ( I felt it was very little ) till you don't have one.
Carol/berrypatch.....you really are on the home stretch. I was always so thrilled when I felt the renewal starting. Even though there was a day or two or three left...feeling the built-up of returning health always inspired me to hang tough.....it is a little hard to have patience on that last one though --- you are in a hurry for the 'good' times that will last. No more chemo for Carol.
Hope you all have a marvelous day.....it will get up in the 40's here so maybe we will get on a roll to better weather again....hope so....and fou all you up North as well. Bj is going to have to help us find the no more snow fairy. See ya'll later.
Hugs, Jackie
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This one is for you Carol:
Out of the strain of doing and into the peace of the done.
Julia Woodruff0
