Illinois ladies facing bc
Comments
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Welcome Betty. You're just down the road from me! Where are you at in your treatment plan? What type of surgery did you have? Will you be doing chemo? Radiation? Let us know more about you and PM me if you want or need to talk. Sido and I are just a "hop, skip, and a jump" away.
I had a great weekend. My kids rolled in LATE Friday night. We spent Saturday morning at the house, playing games and just hanging out together. Then we got dressed up, piled in the car and drove a little over 2 hours to a late afternoon wedding. It was outside and VERY cold. The setting was lovely.............a little ski lodge tucked into the country. The bride (my neice's daughter) was gorgeous. We had to laugh because as soon as the ceremony was over, she put her Carhart sweatshirt and her camo gloves on with her wedding dress. The reception was very nice.........lots of good company, HEAT, wonderful food and music. It will certainly be a day to remember.
Yesterday we all piled back in the car and did the Spoon River drive, zeroing in on Farmington and London Mills. Once again, the temperature could have been much warmer but we still enjoyed the day.
They left this morning to head back to Kentucky. I sure hated to see them go but Alex has school tomorrow and my son has to be back to work. I need to live closer. :-)
I hope everyone is enjoying the day today. I know that many of you teachers have the day off so have a great day. I really have enjoyed all the quotes the past few days, too. They do speak to us, don't they?
And Jackie........I'm so glad you have heat again. I've worried about you! :-)
I'll be back later. I have dishes to do and need to regroup this place.
Rita
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Hi Girls!
Betty - Welcome!
Sido - I think I welcomed you too, but if not...Welcome!
karin - Glad you're back!
christi - Sorry you were sick...but thank goodness chemo is behind you!
Gorilla - Where's Gorilla been hiding?
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I've been trying to keep busy. I HATE THE COLD weather, though! I have lots of yard work still to be done, but it's toooooooooooooooooooo darned cold! Ughhhhhhhhhhhhhh...wish I could retire to FL!
Have a nice Monday...keep warm!
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GEMSA - I will most likely be there on Saturday night!
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Hello, ladies~
Donna- Thanks for the info.. I will definitely try is for my joint pain..
Betty- Nice to meet you and feel free to ask any questions or concerns.. Like Jackie said, someone will help you just way they helped me
in anyways..Christi- Nice to hear from you again... sorry to hear that you been sick and I hope you will feel better soon.. and congrats to no more chemo~!!! Rads will make you tired but it is easier than chemo, for me that was.. so, hang in there..
Buddy- How are you?? is your skin getting better??
Sido- Some people had no se during the chemo or not as bad as other people or worse than other people, it depends on how your body reacts, I think.. So, don't worry to much and take one day at a time and if you need to let it out, we are here to listen~!
Hi to Laura, Susan, Rita, Jackie, Karin and rest of our sisters~!~! and big warm hug to everybody too~!
Have a wonderful Tuesday, ladies~!~!
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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 foundations under them.
Henry David Thoreau0 -
Hello Lovelies!
Ticking off the days until chemo starts (2 left) and trying to get my activity reports and tenure binder up to date for my faculty review. They are due tomorrow and I am having such a hard time keeping focused right now. I wish I could just get it overwith and that people would stop asking me to do things "if I'm up to it.." I'm up to it, but I'm not. I feel pressure building around me for things I just do not have the energy for. But, I'll finish my work tomorrow, try to get one of the last 10 flu shots available, and tick off another day.
Be well, Sido
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Take risks: if you win, you will be happy; if you lose, you will be wise. -Anonymous
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Sido....and everyone good morning. What a surprise here. It rained all night and is due to drizzle all day. I do not have the faintest recollection of hearing anything close to this on the news yesterday....hmmm. Not going to do some of the things I thought I might today after all.
Sido -- parts of what you wrote just jumped out at me stirring some faint memories of displacement -- especially in the concentration department. I can't say for sure the why of it, other than feeling now and then "am I doing this for the last time " etc. No matter that I had a lumpectomy, clear margins and other signs that I would be fine ---- anything other than getting through txs was a distraction and seemed to drain a lot of energy. Very difficult to work up anything like real enthusiasm too.
This seems to be the time ( if ever one comes ) that so much of your life goes on hold. Saving your own life ( having to live for the eradication of your own cancer ) is consuming and something that can't be put in some place and left for awhile. I know I have mentioned before that my life sometimes ( during the very worst ) got down to getting through ten minute segments -- that was all the farther I could plan because seeing my whole day repeating the ten minutes I had just done was almost un-bearable. I think you are definitely doing the right thing as you are getting these feelings out -- but they are what they are and I imagine we all had them in some form or other. And you are right -- you are just as capable as you always were, but asking someone if they are "up to something" at this point just sends a lot of "iffy" ill-defined territory to have to wade through. You are doing what you can and acknowledging your feelings.
Again....we will all be with you in the chemo room --- you are not going to be alone and we will help you get through it.
Hope you are all going to have a good day. I'm off to Mt. Vernon for my blood draw this a.m. in prep for my Oncology appt. on the 21st. Talk with all of you later.
Jackie
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I subbed yesterday and today I have a greater appreciation for all the young mothers who care for children, who just by nature are needy, during treatment. I have no clue how you did it. i taught 8th graders and that was a challenge, but how do you care for little children during a time like that? It just does not seem fair.
For women, like myself, with older girls (26 and 30 respectively), are you urging your daughters to get early mammograms? I spoke to both girls. One is nursing, so I doubt they would do that. God forbid. I cannot even think about that!
I am now planning a little get away trip to Springfield as I want to see that new museum on Lincoln. Has anyone seen it? I think today would be a good day to get a biography about Lincoln. It does not look like a good day to be outdoors. O heavens, the reality of winter is truly setting in. Ginny, soak up some rays for us.
Susan
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Morning! Yucky, cold, drippy, 45 on the deck. Did I say yucky???? Very!
Running waaaaay late today...but wanted to wish Lisamed...a VERY...
Happy Birthday!!!! And hundreds more!!!!!!
Sido....it's the waiting for the chemo for most of us that was the hardest part, not the actual treatment. Jackie's right again.....as usual...we will all be with you in the chemo room. Make sure there's enuf coffee for all of us! Don't forget your chemo boots!!!
Have a great day....I'll check back later after I vacuum up all the glass.....long story!
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Happy bday, Lisa!
Hope everyone is doing well. Welcome to the new ladies and good luck to Sido for starting chemo.
Me - get this - I broke my arm on Monday! Took my kids roller skating and I was very ungraceful. Fell down only once but once was enough. Put my arm out to break my fall and broke my wrist. Thankfully, it's not my "bad" arm or I would be freaking out about lymphedema. Have a temp cast and get a permanent one on Friday.
Sorry this is short but it takes me forever to type now!
Hi to everyone!
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Oh Connie, that is so darn inconvenient. I hope you are not in terrible pain, although I am sure you are in pain. My colleague broke his wrist last year and even with the cast it was a bit painful. I hope it mends soon.
Happy birthday Lisamed. I hope you do something very special to celebrate.
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Happy Birthday Lisa....and many, many more!
Susan, as close as I live to the Lincoln museum, I've never been there. That's pretty shameful, eh? We talked about going different times and just never made it.
Sido....You will do just fine with this first chemo. The fear of it and the fear of the unknown is much worse than the real thing. We will cheer you on.
Connie....oh my gosh! I'm so glad it was your good arm instead of the affected side but really wish it wouldn't have happened at all My mother did the same thing when I was about Kelly's age. We had gone roller skating with the church group and she chaperoned and skated with us. She broke one of the bones in the lower arm, though. I hope you're not in pain. Hugs to you!
O.K Wendy....we need to know why you are vacuuming up all that glass. That's not nice to say something like that and not finish the story! LOL
Hope everyone is doing well. I'm off to drink my lemon and honey and try to get rid of this laryngitis.
Rita
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY LISA!
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Yesterday afternoon, I started having pain just below my Clavicle on the "bad" side, left/Mast. side. The pain is above the Mast scar, but below the Clavicle closer to the side of body - not in the center. When I take a deep breath, it's really bad. I'm not short of breath. My heart isn't beating rapidly... By 1:30 in the morning, it was so bad dh took me to the ER. Honest, the pain was horrific. They gave me a chest x-ray, blood tests and an EKG. All came back fine. They also gave me an IV of Morphine - which believe it or not, hardly worked. They wanted to admit me, but I said no. We got back home at about 6 this morning - after finding a 24 hour pharm and getting an rx for Darvocet filled. It's possible that I pulled or aggravated a muscle, because the area of pain is right where the pectoral muscle is - that area is also where I was left with the unclean margin. I haven't worked out in about about 5 days (shame on me), so it's not from that. I don't think it's related to the sternum pain I had recently. btw - that has almost completely resolved itself. I slept on and off all day...the pain is still severe and the Darvocet is worthless. I'll call my pcp in the morning - she can most likely get me in that day. I don't know what tests she'll do...BUT the ER suggested a PET scan! Which, when he said that, I really became concerned. But I'll see what my pcp thinks.I hope it's not mets. Because I had that DAMN FUCK*** unclean margin at that location...I can't help but be concerned. I'm not freaked...not yet at least...
CONNIE - Oh no! You poor dear!
Rita - Hope your voice comes back!
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I'm really tired...sorry I cannot address each of you. I need to go back to bed. I'll check in tomorrow.
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Wow !!!! where to begin. Connie, I hate that you broke your wrist...doing one of my all time favorite things. I was a pretty good skater a hundred years ago, but guess I'd be reluctant to try it now at my age and with such a weak left side too. I shudder to think about me on skates now. I hope you can work with it and that it gets better quickly.
Laura....although I feel so for you as well, and this strange oddly located pain, the other part is thrilled. You are not in intense panic mode as you would have been and were when you had the bouts of sternum pain a while back. Hopefully, tomorrow you will be able to figure it out with your Dr.
And finally Rita. I hope you can get your voice back soon. Pamper yourself so that it just goes away and your back to normal in a flash.
Happy, Happy Birthday Lisa and many, many more....each happier than before.
Guess I know why it was so quiet on the thread lately....everyone was busy getting something they didn't want.
I will be working tomorrow but hope to get a nice quote for everyone. Sido...you are still on my mind as well.
Hugs to all....and hi to everyone too.
Jackie
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Just wanted to wish Lisa a very very happy birthday. I hope you enjoy the day as you so deserve to be the queen for the day. HAPPY BIRTHDAY LISA.
Off to bed now as I am down with the dreaded flu, I hope everyone stays well.
BJ
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Hi all,
Thank you all for all of the birthday wishes!! I appreciate it so much.
OMG - I cannot believe how infirmed everyone is.
I cannot believe that next week is one year since I met up with you ladies for the first time - this year has gone by so fast! Thank you all for the support and fun since then.
Thank you all again and hope everyone is feeling better soon.
Lisa
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Hi ladies - thanks for the well wishes. I'm not in too much pain - just a little when I try to do certain things. Susan said it right - darn inconvenient. I'm hoping the permanent cast I get on Friday is waterproof because I am tired of washing my hair in the laundry tub.
Laura - thinking of you and sorry you are in so much pain. I hope they are able to figure out what it is. Glad to hear the sternum pain is cleared up.
BJ - sorry about the flu. Those darn kids, huh?
Hope everyone is feeling well! Hope all went well, Sido.
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Morning all...ok...41 and blowing and rainy. Yuck! But I see 60's and sun for M-Wed next week! Yay!
Oh Connie....you are so right! Inconvenient to say the least! I've managed not to break anything but my L ankle so far so I consider myself lucky as I am a bit of a klutz (OK...a BIG klutz). Glad the pain is tolerable and hopefully you will get your "swim cast" tomorrow. What color are you going to get? Pink?????Laura...so sorry for all the pain you've been having! Did you perhaps try some new exercises? Funny, I was hooked up to morphine as well 2 yrs ago while in the hospital for back pain...didn't do anything for me either. Nothing. Darvocet...nothing either. 3 advil, which I took with the doc's blessing worked the best. Feel better soonest, okay?
Blackjack...ah, the girl who never gets the flu! See...I TOLD you not to go back to full-time at the germ factory. But did you listen??? Noooooooooooo! Feel better soon! Maybe this would work at your school....
Sido...good luck today! Hope you are wearing them!!!!
Jackie...how's the rain down by you? Your lake levels should be quite hight by now!
Rita....sip some hot tea with lemon and honey, and make sure to add some good Irish whiskey. You will still have your laryngitis, but you just won't care anymore! You take care as well!
Jeepers......hopefully everyone else is doing OK, even with the lousy weather. I saw this image as I was looking and I thought it was VERY funny...hope it gives you all a laugh, as it did me!
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In view of all that is going on right now....Connie, Sido, Bj, Rita,Laura....this is for all of you.
The best six doctors anywhere
And no one can deny it
Are sunshine, water, rest, and air
Exercise and diet.
These six will gladly you attend
If only you are willing
Your mind they'll ease
Your will they'll mend
And charge you not a shilling.
~Nursery rhyme quoted by Wayne Fields, What the River Knows, 19900 -
Hi everyone....this is a quickie from work as I don't know how long availability of this computer will last. Gosh, such rotten weather. Quite wet here. We were due to go to a friends' house on Saturday -- she cooks chili on the outside ( in the ground ) stone fire pit and it is so very good and most of the time the weather co-operates with just the right pleasant fall temps. Not Saturday...if it is not raining we may be having snow flurries so it was moved to Sunday. Hoping its better then. I don't get done the things I would like when its like this either ---- just zaps my motivation. I'd rather curl up in bed and vegetate when it's raining. Hoping for a turn around real soon.
I'm also hoping that you all get better soon and that things go really well for you today Sido. Hope everyone else is ok. Donna....are you still in New York? Hope the weather is ok for you there and hope your Dad is doing all right. Hope you are working on " the pain " Laura and will come up with something today.
Well, back to work,
Jackie
p.s. Wendy I absolutely adore the cartoon
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Hi, what a rainy week we are having... and don't want it anymore, darn it~!
OMG, I don't know where to begin.. so many of you are in pain..
Sido- I hope you are doing well with your 1st chemo..
Lisa- Happy belated Birthday~! I hope you had wonderful birthday~!
Laura- oh my.. I hope your pcp will find out why you are in so much pain and where that pain coming from..
Wendy- what happened??? Rita is right you can't finish the story like that..tell us~! Thanks for the cute image from pooh and his friends..it is funny!!
Rita- Drink lots of hot teas and gargle with the warm salt water or hydrogen peroxide it will help the pain and kill germs too..
Conni- OMG, I'm glad you are not in to much pain but it must be very inconvenient I hope you feel better soon and more pain~! I love your new avatar..^^
BJ- I hope you feel better and stay on your bed as long as you need..
Jackie- I hope the weather cooperates with you on Saturday for chili~~ that sounds good now.. yum~!!
Oh, well.. I was running downtown Chicago with 4inches heel yesterday, what an exercise that was.. I went to re-new my Korean passport and they asked me to take another picture because the picture I broght with me was too white and flash from camera was too bright.. bummer... she told me there is Walgreen's at the Michigan ave. and they do the passport photo.. I had half hour to take a picture and come back before they close.. so, here I am running out from NBC Tower and trying to find that Walgreen's.. OMG, luckily it's only one block away from the NBC tower but I came out back door and I had to ran down the stairs to even get to the street lights.. I am thinking why do I ware this high heel today?? Important thing was I made it on time and don't have to do that again any time soon... FYI, do not take the passport photo at kinko's they always turned out too bright and white and $13.99 for one set of two instead $7.99 at Walgreen's.. so, they charge more for worse..
Get better soon ladies~! I'll talk to you later..
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OH my gosh gals! Aren't we quite the group? Wow! I think chemo was the last time we were all so down and out. I can't talk above a whisper. Laura's in pain. Connie's wracked up her arm. BJ is feverish and I'm sure that elfsong has sore feet after running downtown Chicago with four inch heels! LOL Hopefully Sido had a good first day at chemo!
Gosh Lisamed....has it really been a year since we all joined up with you? You are right. That year has gone pretty fast, hasn't it?
Wendy....loved the image of Pooh and friends. Now....how about that broken glass story??????
Susan, Jackie, Donna, and all you others who are healthy...........just stay that way!!!!
I'm heading out in about an hour to meet the gals from the little breast cancer group that we have in town. Paul Mitchell is doing mini manicures for us and then we're going to Ruby Tuesdays for dinner. I don't think I'm contagious so I'm planning on joining in on the fun. Wendy does a great job getting these together for us. I've rested up all day for this!
Well I hope everyone gets better! I'll be back tomorrow again!
Rita
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Sorry so many are feeling under the weather. Laura, how are you? What happened today? That is so scary.
ElfSong, I had to get my passport picture over too as I wore a white shirt and they said it did not provide enough contrast! Then with the white hair I have!
Have fun tonight, Rita. Blackjack, do you ever take those vitamin C drinks? I think they help. although I guess research negates that.
Just rest up Sido. You will be glad to get this gig going.
Wendy, cute pictures. How do you do stuff like that? One day you are going to have to show me. All I can do are
's and more 
's!I had my second to last physical therapy today. I am excited to be over with it. I actually feel 100% better but she keeps telling me I need more sessions!
Jackie, that chili cooking in the ground is fascinating. You have to tell me about that!
To everyone else.....have a good one!
Susan
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Sorry so many are feeling under the weather. Laura, how are you? What happened today? That is so scary.
ElfSong, I had to get my passport picture over too as I wore a white shirt and they said it did not provide enough contrast! Then with the white hair I have!
Have fun tonight, Rita. Blackjack, do you ever take those vitamin C drinks? I think they help. although I guess research negates that.
Just rest up Sido. You will be glad to get this gig going.
Wendy, cute pictures. How do you do stuff like that? One day you are going to have to show me. All I can do are
's and more 's!I had my second to last physical therapy today. I am excited to be over with it. I actually feel 100% better but she keeps telling me I need more sessions!
Jackie, that chili cooking in the ground is fascinating. You have to tell me about that!
To everyone else.....have a good one!
Susan
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Stopping by to check on all the infirmary patients. I hope you all are resting, drinking.. tea that is lol, and getting lots of TLC. Wendy thanks for the cute pics, yes we have masks, and no I have not used them yet. I have been sick with this flu for over a week. Tested neg for H1N1..sooo bed rest, the beach and a few good books is all I need for now. I have the cleanest office around...the teachers can smell my Lysol spray all the way down the hall....so go figure that I Mrs. Clean would be sick. lol
Connie ...so sorry to hear about your fx arm. What is it with arms this week. I have 4 students with fx arms from falls and all have different color casts on pink, navy blue, glow in the dark green and my fav pumpkin orange. I hope you are not in too much pain. Remember to keep it elevated to reduce that swelling. Maybe we need a lunch bunch gathering to sign your cast. lol
Rita...no voice, oh no. Salt water gargling is best and zinc cough drops are very good too. Push those fluids..drinks that is lol Hope you are feeling better soon. Is golf season done now sniff sniff.
Laura...girl you have had a lot going on and now this issue. You need the beach chair....calling Wendy. Rest and I hope you are feeling better soon. Maybe dh can make some of his fav soups for you. Chicken soup cures all that allies us. Today is a soup day.
Jackie....what is with all that bad rain by you. I hope you don't float away. WE need the rain be gone fairy. I love chili but in the ground..do tell us....sound yummy
Elfsong...running in 4 inch heels is what I would do... except I am running after kids at school. lol I am glad you got your cute new pic done. You know we have to look good even if it is on a passport. lol
Zap...glad to see you had fun up north. I hope to go this weekend if I can get out of bed. I love to see the leaves changing and walk around the lake. Did you ever email those yummy recipes yet.
Lisa...glad to see that you had a wonderful bday and yes time flies by when you are having fun. Enjoy life and we are soo glad you have joined us.
Wendy...broken glass...what's up with that. How is the back doing. My hip is ok today. No running this past week and not a happy camper. Oh you were right...liking work not so much. But doable as you say. lol
To all the other girls I hope you all are staying healthy and enjoying life. Hugs to all
Time for new jammies, just bought sexy red flannel jammies, hot tea and a steamy book. Hope you all stay dry and cozy. Winter is coming oh no...too soon for the s word. lol
Remember to be healthy...be happy.
BJ
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Oh Connie, I'm so sorry about your arm! I know how inconvienient it is to have a bum wing (as my dad called it).
My bag is packed for the big day tomorrow with snacks and fashion magazines and stuff from the lists I've found here. I'm also wearing my boots (weather permitting...) which aren't nearly as fierce as Wendy's!
Nothing like a good solid 4" heel to life a girl's spirits. I could walk through Hell in the right heels.
Oceans of love to all my Illinois ladies, I will feel all of you with me in the infusion room tomorrow morning.
Sido
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"There are generations yet unborn, whose very lives will be
shifted and shaped by the moves you make and the actions
you take."
-- Andy Andrews0 -
Thinking about you today SIDO and those pretty purple shoes. Somehow I got the idea I think that infusion day was Thursday.....but we are all here.
Elf....you are so upbeat and cheery --- you make the sun shine on a cloudy day.
Work today, but then....a nice week-end off. About the fire pit -- friends Gary and Penny just dug out the ground a bit so as to hold wood, them put bricks for a base....then flat stones. They had already had an iron bar in a square shape in the ground to hold a pot with a heavy pot hanger. They used different kinds of woods so the chili sometimes picks up a tiny bit of a smoky flavor....and the pot is left on the hanger for as long as the chili lasts --- on a cool day that can end up a short time. I never got Penny's chili recipe because it would never taste the same cooked indoors.
Anyway-hi to all and I am thinking about all of you Got to run to work. See you later.
Hugs, Jackie
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