Anyone starting Chemo in Feb?
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WOO-HOO!!!!! Big football celebration here. My Cowboys came through.
Today I am rooting for Caryn's Cardinals. That is until they have to play the Cowboys. LOL
Sounds like everyone is trucking along. Glad Alyson's DH is healing well. Hope they have all the "kinks" out.
I hope by now Terry's nephew is healing well. So scary when little one's are sick. The do heal well and quickly.
It has been bitterly cold here LOL. I am sure you guys from the North Country are laughing. But for us this is COLD. I have just hibernated. I did work last Tues and Fri. Truly if you dress warm enough it isn't too bad, but I prefer one layer of clothing.
Pat it was so good to hear about your wonderful family Christmas. I am so glad you were able to have all your family there with you.
I am with you Catherine about the holidays. We have so many facets of our family with "blending", it gets very complicated to get everyone together. We have 6 children between us, all with spouses and then 15 grandchildren. They are wonderful but a bit overwhelming during the holidays. I love your sweater. I am reading a novel and the main character knits and her grandmother owns a yarn shop. Those handmade sweaters are quite expensive to make. Congratulations. Yours was gorgeous.
Well so far the Cardinals are kicking some "serious butt", so guess I will close and give my undivided attention to the game.
Love all of you, Sammie Kay
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Can't have us slipping this far down the list.
Have spent the afternoon trying to get rid of stuff I haven't looked at since I finished teaching. Have been trying to decide what I need for my writing and what I can pass on to friends who are teaching or put it in the bin. The bin has done very well so far.
DH has been doing some work from home - he goes to the clinic at the hospital tomorrow for his check up. He hope to go back to work next week on reduced hours.However I am wanting a short break away, he says he has had a holiday but forgets that I haven't. Hopefully will get away for a long weekend soon.
Trip planning is next. Know what we want to do so now need to see if our ideas are possible.
Hope you are all doing well. I begin a round of check ups next week so will be very pleased when they are out of the way. It will be 3 years next Monday since I had the mast. So much has happened since then.
Big big hugs (((((((((FCCers)))))))))))
Alyson
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Well, had some disturbing news today. I am hoping it is a false positive on my CA15 marker. The nurse called from the onc's office and said my markers were "slightly" elevated and they scheduled me for a CT of the chest, abdomen and pelvis. I called my onc at MD Anderson and he said 32 or so is normal and if I am even up to 60 he would not do a CT, he would repeat the test in 2 weeks. I canceled my CT scan and will call the onc on Mon and see what the numbers are. Then I am to contact Dr.Booser at MDAnderson and he will advise me on how to proceed. He did say he has had a patient with markers over 100 and then when he rechecked them in 2 weeks they were back to normal and never went up again. So, I am hoping for that scenario for myself.Needless to say, between our daughter's financial problems because her husband has been laid off twice this year and she can't find a job and this bit of news I have a migraine headache. Think I will just go to bed. I didn't sleep well last night, worrying about DD and DSIL.
If anyone has any thoughts about the elevated markers please post. I am truly not freaked out. I know what a roller coaster Leah has been on and others too. I am waiting to freak out until I know something concrete.LOL I live in denial with this cancer thing anyway.
By the way that silly smiley belongs at the end of this post.
Love and hugs to all, Sammie Kay
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Sending big big hugs ((((((Sammie Kay))))))).
I see the BS on Friday and the onc the following week, so for all of us it is that time again
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(((((((((((SammieKay)))))))... looks like we are dealing with the same marker scares, you and me... Had my 6-month followup on the 12th (3 years since double mastectomy!). They drew 4 tubes of blood as usual. Tonight, got a call from the onc office (they call only for "problems", otherwise you get your results in the mail). First, the onc could have called himself (paid enough to spare some time to his patients, no?). The lady who called was so confusing, with a "poor you" voice... my blood left my veins for a minute... I understood the bc markers were way up, but no, that was not it (CA 27-29 is what they test for bc, and that went slightly down from 10.9 to 10.1). The problem was with CEA (they do not always do it, insurance is not in favor), it's colorectal tumor marker (among other things). Went from 2.3 in 2007, to 2.6, then 3.3 in 2008... and this time 6.37!! Normal for a non-smoker is <2.5 (above 10 there might be a problem, above 20, you may have a cancer that has spread!!), but normal can happen in spite of cancer, and abnormal in the absence of cancer... how useful is this?? Anyway, the lab changed machine, and everybody got funny results so they want us to redo the test in a month... since I see the GP/osteopath on Monday, I'll schedule the colonoscopy that I've been planning to do for the last... 5 years(!!) so we'll know more... I had decided to go soon, anyway, so, this is a wakeup call to go get it done. I am not worried, just upset at the way those medical offices handle those calls. Everything else tested normal, so... I did not like this last visit with the onc... he seemed in a bad mood, even told me that I could go back to Tamox if the bone loss was worrying me with Aromasin... since I did not risk uterus cancer anylonger!! all that because I was surprised he never commented the bone density scan done in July, showing osteopenia (-1.8, I think) in left hip (the rest is normal still, but lost 5%). I have started walking my doggy carrying a backpack filled with a big phone book and a 5lb weight!! to stimulate bone activty... I am not ready yet for Fosamax... Other than that, life is good... nice weather, could use some more work, but use the free time to do... not much (crepes party tomorrow evening with friends... the buckwheat and plain wheat batters are in the fridge, and tomorrow I'll make the crepes in advance -- big job -- to then serve them with ham and swiss, and mushroom filling... and sweet ones, too... sounds low calories... doesn't it?)
Leah, Melanie, Terry, Caryn, Hilary, Marsha, Pat, Phyl, Karen, Janet/wildhorse, sending hugs...
Thinking of you all, I already chatted with Alyson on Skype who is up for tests, too, next week... Wishing everybody uneventful followups...
Love to all and a nice week-end,
Catherine
(we sure are lucky not to be facing what people in Haiti are dealing with... What a nightmare!)
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SammieKay: Just have them redone. Lots of things make them go up (besides the obvious). When I redid them last year, they jsut went back to what they were 3 days later. So don't worry yet.
Allison, Make those plans! Cant' wait to see you.
Catherine: some of these places can't get anything right. So now they have someone calling quickly. But that person is a boob and clueless to boot. Someday the system will figure this out or they should just deliver the results to our phone and be done with it!
Yes, it is that time again. Since I had a PET/CT at end of November, i just get a 15 minute visit with onc on 2/8. Then scans in April, I think. See, I don't even keep track anymore!
But seriously, my heart is with all of us as we get results. We are the Feb cruisers for a reason!
Love.
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Hugs Sammie Kay and Catherine...don't flip out yet...I echo Leah. Last year I had a scare with my bone scan and it wasn't anything.
One the other hand I AM flipping out. My DD came to me Thurs eve and said she had a lump in her breast. So I spent all day yesterday fighting with the GP to get her seen. They sent her for an ultrasound. It is not a cyst. I spoke with the radiologist and he feels it is a fibroadenoma, which is "nothing to worry about". But they are doing a biopsy Monday morning to be sure. She was to return to college Sun nite. But will wait until Monday eve now.
My nephew had a close call. He is doing well, but had a blood clot near his jugular. So he will be on IV antibiotics and blood thinners for 3-6 months. Good thing my brother is an RN and can manage his IVs and ports.
Ugh
Wishing well to all of you...I have my labs next week too...appt with onc is 2/4
Love you all
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Boy, Terry, you have had your share of anxiety all these past months... Wishing only good results for everybody dealing with medical issues in your family.... ((((((((((((Terry))))))))))))
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I want to thank everyone for the encouragement.
Wow, it seems as if we are all the the same 'boat', hmmm Feb.ChemoCruisers. We do cruise on.
Thank goodness you are all her for me and we for each other.
Catherine, sounds as if the office is very disorganized. As a matter of fact, some girl called me and just said they were elevated "a little". I was so shocked I didn't even ask for the numbers. Good for you, get that colonoscopy. That is very important for anyone over 50.
Man, Terry what a stressful time for you. You and your daughter will be in my thoughts and prayers on Mon. My DIL has a fibrous thing. She was really freaked out, but it all came out O.K.
(((((((((((((((((Alyson, Catherine, Terry, Leah, and all the FCCers that are facing testing))))))))))))))
Hugs and love to all of you, Sammie Kay
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I just checked in and saw the concerns over tumor markers....been there. Mine have always fluctuated, but never over the "normal" range. I was really worried during the last year or so as they were increasing each blood test (I do blood work every 3 months), but they finally started decreasing the last couple of tests, so I feel much better. Mine actually increased every tx and then decreased for a long time.
Terry; You are very much in my thoughts as I can feel you worry over dd...what a stress. Hopefully, by now you have received some good news about her biop.
Catherine; Thank you....
Thinking of you all...
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Terry I have had you on my mind. Have you heard anything about your daughter's biopsy?
Be sure and let us know soon.
Good to hear from you Melanie. I didn't realize you had experienced the marker increase.
Mine are above normal. Normal is anything <38mg/dl and mine is 52mg/dl. My oncologist from MD Anderson in Houston, says it is O.K. He doesn't even think I need it redrawn. I read online that the CA27.29 is very unreliable. Has many false positives and false negatives. Makes me wonder why do it in the first place. The articles I read about it said it was useful for tracking a patient's response to treatment when they have a recurrence.
I guess this is why the onc. at MD Anderson doesn't do them.
Catherine, when will you have your tests redone? Have you had your colonoscopy yet? Be sufre and keep us posted.
{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{Catherine,Leah,Terry,Caryn,Alyson,Marsha,Diann,Melanie,Pat}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}
Love all of you, Sammie Kay
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Thanks, friends, for your love and concern. Rachel's biopsy confirmed she just has a fibroadenoma, which it totally B9. I am soooo relieved! I just couldn't imagine a BC at age 20, but the lump was so large.
Hoping everyone's tests give them as good news. I go this coming Monday for my labs, chest xray and a dexa scan. See the onc on 2/4.
Onward we cruise.
Again, thanks, I don't know what I would do if I didn't have all of you for support!
Love
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(((((((((((((Terry)))))))))))))) thanks for the good news...
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Terry great news, had niece with similar thing, seems fine now.
Mammo went well - all clear and BS really pleased. She did say some interesting things about risks etc. Had bloods done this morning cause I see the onc on Tuesday - now that was a mission as I am very reluctant to reveal any veins. New person today and she was very patient and didn't try until she was sure she had found it thank goodness.
We had Bea today which was lovely, she is growing so fast, a real little girl now and a very determined one as well.
Must get the sauce made for the pasta.
Big hugs to all
Alyson
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Happy weekend! I have officially joined the TGIF crowd... gosh, was it a long week last week!
Terry, i am so happy. You lived my nightmare.. I don't know what I will do if my daughter ends up with this, too. I am so happy it was nothing. thank god.
Alyson, join the crowd of scans, tests, etc. GOOD LUCK TO US ALL.
Stay warm, dry and happy, you all! Love you much.
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We are off to Seabrook,TX near Galveston(Catherine) to attend a celebration party for our DD and new hubby. They married in Sept in Hawaii. This is a party for all the family and friends.
Onc at MDA decided he needed to see me and wants blood drawn. So we will journey to Houston on Feb.1 for all that. Will keep you posted.
Terry, so happy for the good news. My DIL had that as well. It is still so stressful waiting for results.
Enjoy your weekend Leah. Working all week makes the weekend that much sweeter. Of course those weekends are way too short for me.
Alyson, I know you are enjoying Miss Bea. We have been keeping our 2 y/o grandson while his mom is working. He is such a joy, but very busy. LOL.
Hugs and prayers to all as we do our checkups.
Love to all, Sammie Kay
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Thank you all for your support.
Catherine...guess what I did this weekend? I got out my old knitting needles and made a dish cloth...not as glamorous as your sweater or baby booties, but it is a start. I have to re-learn everything. But it was relaxing. DH was watching Barrett Jackson auto auctions all weekend. The weather was cold and yucky and I just didn't feel like doing anything else.
Leah, hope you are really enjoying your being an "employee".
Love you all...Sammie, will be thinking of you in Houston.
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Good for you, Terry... here is some inspiration for when your kids will make you a grandma...
I have been working this week, stress and frustration, I am always so happy to go back to my innocuous little knitting projets...
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Hi everyone! It's been forever since I talked to you! I am happy to say that nothing terrible kept me away, just been very busy with the mundane, and that's a GOOD thing.
Hubby has been under the weather and is now on the mend. It was kind of my fault.
I've always liked to cook and try new recipes. One of my FaceBook friends turned me on to a new cooking blog and the author has a new cookbook. I loved what I saw on the blog, so I bought the book. For my birthday I got a Kitchen Aid mixer, so when the book came, I went to town just cookin' up a storm. One of the first things I made was the most wonderful jalepeno poppers. Well, cuz DH and I like spicy foods, I left the seeds in, not even thinking about poor DH's diverticulitis. Well, it sent him into an attack, but good. He's just about done with the meds now and starting to feel human. He did say they were so good, it was almost worth it. What a guy!Work has been crazy busy, we just havent slowed down a bit. It's a good thing, but I must admit that I'm ready for another vacation. Nothing planned until April, but I do always take a nice 3 day weekend Super Bowl weekend.
Catherine & SammieKay - Sending you both extra hugs for good news. Thinking of you.
Leah - How's the job going?
Terry - I'm so glad for the good news.
Alyson - How are you and your DH doing?
Melanie - Almost race time!
Well, not too much new here. I do have to find a new Onc, and I'm really bummed about that. I really liked her a lot. Minor problems with the Sjogren's as well and as a result will be having some minor oral surgery next week. Not particularly fun, but really not awful either.
Have a great nite everyone. Please know that I think of you and yours daily. Sending hugs.
xoxo
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Sounds like so far 2010 has been good to everyone! (Except perhaps Caryn's DH - that is why I don't cook for mine. LOL) What a blessing it is to hear how well everyone is doing, and what a change for all of us since three years ago at this time as we were starting into chemoland, scared and lost.
We just got some exciting news - we are headed out for Miami next weekend to go to the Super Bowl. I grew up there, so not only will I get to attend the game (go Saints!) but I will also be visiting childhood friends and dragging DH around to all my old stomping grounds. One thing cancer teaches you is to grab those opportunities when you can and ENJOY LIFE!
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Hi everyone,
Diann what a great treat to go to the Super Bowl. Enjoy!!! Cheer for me. I will be watching on TV.
Catherine, what beautiful work you do with those knitting needles.
Thanks to everyone for their thoughts and prayers. I think it was a false alarm brought on by bad lab chemicals. The lab called the onc's office last Tues. to tell them they had a bad batch of chemicals used for that test and that all of them came out high and they need to repeat all of the tests that had done for 2 weeks. Mine was in that batch. I will go in on Mon. to have it redrawn.
I am going to put off going to Houston until April. We were out of town last weekend and I just couldn't face another trip. I really need to rest on the weekends. But I will make a point to go and see the onc. at MD Anderson. He is a breast cancer oncologist, whereas the local onc treats all cancers.
Again I want to thank all of you for your love and support.
Catherine, how was your colonoscopy? Have you had your labs repeated?
Love to all, Sammie Kay
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Hi, everybody. Sammie Kay, so glad to know this was lab error (not that it excuses the lab to use bad chemicals!!! We are more and more surrounded by incompetent and greedy people... what a sorry state of affairs). My pre-colonoscopy visit is on March 10 (could not get an earlier date), a week later the procedure per se, I would assume. I got the printed report of my lab work. Everything is completely normal, except the CEA, and even that: it shows 6.37, but the max normal for smokers is <11.xx with the new machine they used. I smoked moderately for 10-12 years in my life (when I was young and ignorant)... maybe it's enough... I don't event think about it. Retesting is on the 12th of Feb. In the meantime, life is good... DH got the official letter from DU confirming he passed his qualifying exams in physics and maths... a big hurdle behind him... months ahead should be more relax...
Thinking of you all and wishing you a nice cosy Sunday... Melanie, Leah, under a lot of snow? Stay warm, girls, and leave the car in the garage...
Hugs all around, Catherine
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HI swimmingmom,
I start my chemo the same day as you 02/15.
V
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Catherine,
OMG...priceless works of art!!! The little heart buttons, the extraordinary attention to detail, magnificent!!! I was thinking...if you knitted something spectacular for your Oncologist, it is likely your gift (and you have a gift), would never be forgotten. Perhaps it would impress upon them how important your spirit is to this world...
Love you, Catherine!
Indi
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Missed your post Diann, have wondered how you were doing. We were away last weekend ourselves. Yes we have to grab every opportunity that comes our way. Have a great weekend.
It is warm again tonight. Dh has gone off to bed - he still gets tired but he is really so much better.
Big hugs to all
Alyson
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Received the new lab and it was below normal, 23.8mg/dl. So all the fuss for nothing.
Glad your husband is better Alyson.
Hope Leah and Terry aren't buried under snow.
We are getting ready to go cold again. Ugh! I am ready for summer. Won't complain about the heat this year.
We continue to have a lively life with Mike's daughter and her three children living with us. I heard a sermon today that I needed to hear...about how unimportant our little agendas are when compared to the big picture of what God want us to do and be for others. My house does not have to be neat all the time. I say that over and over. LOL. What creatures of habit we can be. I am slightly OCD and then have ADD, bad combination! Pray, pray, pray. LOL
Well off to bed. Love to all, Sammie Kay
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I am going to leave for work...over the river and thru the SNOW! We had about 24 inches here...not as bad as further south. DH spent the entire weekend plowing and snowblowing. More forecast for Tues nite and Wed. I am supposed to make a trip to Harrisburg on Wed (about 2 hours east)
My labs were fine. I am scheduled for a bone and CT scan as follow up, because I have been having a pain in my rib. Onc does not expect it to be anything. Keeping fingers crossed.
Well....off to the races (snow races, that is!)
Love you all,
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Snow is right! Wow...we have had quite a bit and I am tired of it. We spent a fabulous warm 5 days in Playa del Carmen and the day after we get home...whammy! Luckily our trucks have made it through the bad weather with minor upsets...but the roads are still frozen in many of the places we travel...meaning poultry farms!
Catherine; Your knitting amazes me and I hope they are treasured for generations.
I am at work and can't stay away from the phone for long, but I wanted to drop in and say hello!
Terry; Fingers and toes are crossed!
Carynn; I don't have diverticulitis...I will eat those hot poppers anytime! Yes...almost race time and I really look forward to it more and more since we don't invite big groups anymore. And...I love my shopping time there!
Sammie; That's funny about the little ones. I know what you mean. I will go home tonight to a house full of scattered toys and fingerprints everywhere since we have had Natalie the last 2 nights. But it is so much fun.
Diann; How fun to get to go to such a great game! Bet you had a blast...being a Saints fan
Leah; Hope you are not having a difficult commute with all the crazy weather. Time to go somewhere warm!
One of my best friends that was diagnosed a few months before me is really going through a tough time. She found out yesterday that there is a cancerous mass that is in the area of her bladder-kidneys? I am so confused by it all. They are saying it is on tissue...not organs and she is having it removed tomorrow morning. Maybe we will know more then. She is doing the paperwork for MD Anderson (thank you Leah for getting me off my butt in case I ever need to react quickly). She might not get in there until March! She has 2 girls that are 5 and 14 and she is just devastated. I am hurting for her....
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Hi all! Has anyone else had any trouble getting on this board? I've been by a few times and it didn't like my password. I'm wondering if I'm just hitting it during high traffic time? Well, I did get in now, so that's a good thing!
Diann - LOL! DH is fine now, and still loves those darn poppers. I've made them 3 times since then. I leave the seeds out now.
How was the Super Bowl? I've never been. We've had two in AZ. BFF & I have been to the Players Party and some other events and always have a really good time. SammieKay - Congrats on your great news! Sounds like the family is keeping you out of trouble.
Catherine - How are you? Your knitting is just so beautiful. I have been tempted to take it up myself, but I've already got so many hobbies, I'd need to quit my job to take on another. Hey, now THAT'S an idea! By now you've had your tests. Have you heard anything yet?
Indi - Hello and welcome to our little February corner of the world! Nice to see you.
Alyson - I'm so happy to hear that your DH is doing better.
Terry - Did you guys get even more snow with this latest round of storms? I wont tell you it's 65 here today. That just wouldn't be right.
Melanie - I didn't know you guys cut back on the guests at Texas. I bet it's still a good time. Heck, I have a great time on the rare times I sit at home alone and watch the race! Cant wait til Sunday. Have a homemade pizza all made and froze for us; so looking forward to my favorite do nothing day! I am really sorry to hear what your friend is going thru. Will keep you and her in my thoughts and prayers.
Hello and hugs to one and all. Stay warm all you snow bunnies. Talk to you soon.
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Hello, snow girls... hopefully those mammoth storms did not mess up your lives too much... Denver is sunny and very, very little snow... Melanie, I can imagine the worries with the trucks on the road (and all the rest of the story)... I am saddened by your post about your friend... wishing her the best of care and a long remission. Saw a Fox journalist on NBC this morning being the feature story (Jennifer, TNBC currently in tx)... so young, hard to believe!
Terry, avoid the roads, please!!!
This is definitely "our month" for a little get together on this forum... waving at all the MIA's out there and sending big hugs to all.
Scheduled repeat CEA marker test for next Tuesday, 1 year followup with surgeon next Monday... and colonoscopy so far still scheduled for March 10... so not much to report here, apart from completey normal/good labs, and D levels at 67.3 (compared to just around 38 last year, before taking D3 supplements -- 3600 mg/day)... If 66 is the targeted level to fight off recurrences and other ominous diseases... I am right there... My immune system must be OK since I have been surrounded by sneezing people with horrible colds (including DH in my immediate entourage)... and did not get it! In spite of Aromasin, high cholesterol being at 95, no worries for the bad one, and triglycerides, etc, are just fine (so I can continue indulging in dark chocolate and other goodies, within reason
... I got used to walking Toby with a heavy (8 pounds?) back pack on my back to stimulate my bones, especially femoral neck on the left side... trying to do everything by the book... hard not to worry, though, as you all know so well.On the work front, very calm... too calm? Oh well, I knit and work on a personal translation project which I hope will see the light at some point (may take months...). The less "paid" work I have, the busier I am and I can't figure out where the time goes...
Doggies are sweet and fun, life is good, and I think everyday of every single one of you...
Terry, SammieKaye, Alison, Leah, Melanie, Hillary, Marsha, Pat, Phyl, Caryn... and all of you out there reading this thread (hi, Indi!) take care and stay well,
Love to all my FCC sisters,
Catherine
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