March 2011 chemo-lounge
Comments
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Great idea Lily, hope you have a brilliant month, so much fun planning what to do. Your boss can hardly complain given how hard you have worked through all of this.
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lilylady, now that the trees are starting to bud out and the forsythia and daffodils are also in bloom, I've just been saying to myself, "No place I'd rather be in spring than the Ohio Valley". It is downright gorgeous this time of year, and you are just a few hours from me, so I know you are enjoying it too. It's a great idea to take the month of May off. I know you will absorb and soak in all the gloriousness of the month.
Here's my favorite springtime poem. I read it in a magazine years ago and don't know who wrote it:
Forsythia
For goodness sake!
What's your rush?
Apply the brakes!
You toss your springtime gold away
Like children on allowance day.
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Lily-Enjoy your time off! I'm hoping your month is wonderful.
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So glad you are feeling a bit better Lily and I also vote that you take a month off! I am in the garden these days too.....so much work. Making an organic veggie garden this year! I am building the raised garden bed too all by myself! I have learned how to use power tools recently so I am putting my new skills to use. I have my oophrectomy on Friday. Just want it over with.......blech! I hope not to be down long....it will be hard to sit around for a week especially if the weather is nice. Oh well.....hope you are all well! Hugs!
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Hi all, I am in North Carolina for the six month booster of the vaccine study I am in. It was a beautiful drive from Indianapolis to Jeffersonville, OH, then huge storm. We were forced to take refuge at the outlet mall there. Goofed off for five hours while it poured non stop. Got back in the car, drove to Beckley, WV in the pitch black with rain and lightning and say we were done. Finished up the drive this morning through the mountains and it was absolutely gorgeous. Flowers are blooming, as are the trees.
lilly, my husband and I were pulling weeds last Saturday, when a kid we have known for years was driving by with his lawn service equipment. He started his company in high school and now it is his successful full-time job. Next thing I know, my husband has flagged him down, hired him to mow the yard the next day, gets a quote on mulch and hires him to do that too. That is the first time he has EVER done that. He said he had other things he would rather do in the yard. Im still in shock.0 -
Good luck with your surgery tomorrow Maria - I hope you recover quickly
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Maria-I hope you are at home recovering nicely from your surgery! I'm having mine on Monday morning.
I had a scare yesterday. Went to see my oncologist and he was concerned about my clavicle bone area so he quickly sent me for a bone scan. I am so stressed out. Of course since it was a Friday, I won't know anything until Monday at the earliest, after I get out of recovery.
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Wow that's a lot of stress-a sugery and scan results. I hope it turns out to be nothing. Curious what he felt or saw that made him want to check it out? One step at a time though-think positive thoughts for your surgery. aai hope itgoes well.lease keep us informed about both.
Maria-hope you are being patient with yourself healing from your surgery. I can just pictue you being all fidgety anting to get back in the swing of things.
All is well with me. Tx on Tuesday-back on lovely Taxotere but skipping it for 1 tx has allowed my nails to start healing-and me to gain 10lbs from eating everything in sight!!!
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Colodisneylover - poor thing, the waiting for results is just the worst bit. Hope the surgery does not knock you about too much and by this afternoon you are smiling again.
Lily - can't believe its already been a month off Tx but glad you have put some weight back on, havent heard anyone use the phrase fidgety antsy for ages, great phrase and yes I can imagine applying to Maria perfectly
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Hi ladies- The surgery went smoothly. Everything was fine. The pathology report from the surgery isn't completed yet but the doctor was optimistic. The bone scan was negative, YAY!!! What a scare. It's the area where I was radiated, so I'm not sure. I am just relieved it is all over. The surgery itself was fast, but painful for the first day after it was done. Since being home things are better and I just have to take it easy for a few weeks. Thanks for the positive thoughts!
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Colodisneylover: Sending more healing thoughts. Good scan results are always music to the ears. Take care of yourself and I hope you are back up and about very quickly!
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OMG ladies...you got me! I have been figity! Surgery went well on Friday and guess what??? I didn't even puke from the anesthesia this time! Woo hoo! That's a first for me! LOL! I was good on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I laid around and watched tv and was completely bored. Once my DH and son were out of the house on Monday I started doing stuff.....I am redecorating a bathroom right now so I made a wall shelf for the bathroom. I spray painted some furniture that I am repurposing. I went shopping yesterday for my decorating projects. I went to my son's school and volunteered in art class today. I have not exercised yet. I go back to my doc for follow up on Monday. I have probably not been a good patient......I hate sitting around. I wanted to get out and garden but I refrained.....that's the best I can do! LOL! Thanks for all the well wishes! I really appreciate it!
Colodisney - glad the bone scan was negative! Great news!
I am SO ready for spring....still cold here. I also spent a whole day bailing out our basement from flood waters last week....so I am praying for NO MORE rain!! My garden is blooming though and the grass is SO green from all the rain......
Hope everyone is doing well!
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So pleased Colodisneylover!
Maria - don't push yourself too hard, - but I know what you mean - can't handle doing nothing!
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Today I am trying to clean my house and I can feel it. You forget how many muscles you use when you are scrubbing things. I did a little this morning and am taking a break for a while. I have to get it done though...I don't know if I mentioned it here or not, but we applied to get a foreign exchange student for the next school year. Tonight we have our home visit which completes the application process. I have to show them our home and the room the student will have.....so I have to get things picked up. My DH has been gone every evening this week for work things so I have NO help. Tonight we have baseball at 5pm, school open house at 7pm and then the home visit at 7:30pm so he won't be helping me before the home visit starts tonight. I am going to keep cleaning the things I have to but do it a little at a time..... The hardest part is not having any help or support here. A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do! So our exchange student is a girl from Italy. She will come in August and stay til May. I know nothing about parenting a teenager! Let the fun begin!
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mdg, how cooll to have a foreign exchange student. i hope she speaks english! that will help a lot!
Colo...so glad things went ok.
We have friends who have been trying to get us to go with them on an alaskan cruise for several months. I've been saying no, since we spent a boatload on the Thailand trip. But suddenly, I changed my mind, so we are going in august. Ive decided to spend my money now , and if I make it to little old lady status, then I will spend my broke days in my trailer park in florida.
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Fluff -that sounds like a great time! I have never been to Alaska...one day. We are headed to Breckenridge, CO this summer for a week of mountains and hiking. We are bringing the dog with us too. Should be fun.
I emailed our exchange student and got her picture too. She is super cute! I told me husband we are going to have to watch the boys!!!! She does speak English - she has been studying it for a few years now. She emailed me back and we will hopefully skype soon too! Should be fun to have a daughter for a while. Jayden is so excited to have a big sister!
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Hello lounge ladies! Just thinking warm thoughts of all of you so realized I should actually say hello online. I'm so glad it's mid-May and the warm weather is hear. I guess it helps that I just took a road trip to FL with my Mom for her 85th birthday. Nothing like a few days on the beach to feel good about life is general!! I finally got around to getting my nipple tattoos this morning. Glad I did it - feels like a nice bit of closure. Wishing each one of you an awesome weekend. Continue to send your life updates - I'm always interested. Hugs!
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Hi Ladies
Maria - I love Breckenridge, we went in April a few years back and I was captivated by the snow - so beautiful, made a snowman and my friends gave me a wooden plaque with Best Snowman Maker on it and all their signatures. I loved the hot steam pools - you must take a trip to them.
Fluff -Alaska is on my list but not sure when we will get there, long way from Oz. Everyone who has been raves about it, you'll have an amazing time.
Silia its cool that your mum is up to road trips at 85, you can all gloat now as you get warm and we get colder; not that its ever really cold here.
Thinking of all of you, and hoping your lives are great
Lily - how are you going?
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Hi all, just a quick checkin...haven't been on in a long time but enjoyed catching up with all your posts. I did something crazy a few weeks ago-I quit my school counseling job that I've had for 10years. I love my job, but the stress has been terrible mostly because of one principal. I have been complaining for 2years and just decided I can't do this anymore. At least not right now. So DH agreed that we could probably make it on one wage for a year. I was always worried about insurance bc I always had that as a benefit, but will bite the bullet for COBRA or some high-deductible plan until I find another job down the road. My son will be a senior and I told his choir director that I was going to be the choir mom and go to all their performances and nag them to smile and spit out their gum-ha! My son is not as enthused about this plan. But I figure I worked all through chemo and radiation and it is time to slow down and take some me-time. For awhile!
So today was my last day and I feel good. Went to the football coaches house and hung out with with a bunch of the younger teachers and had my first Jell-O shot at age 52! I think I like semi-retirement already!0 -
So impressed, Husker. Congrats on making the decision, I only see good things for you down the road!
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Yay husker! That sounds great! I am enjoying having no job since my diagnosis. I am so busy doing other things...it is certainly no break, but it is fun! I volunteer at the school. I also volunteer helping BC patients going through treatment. I am still teaching aerobics once a week too. I have been doing lots of decorating and DIY projects - I even use power tools these days! We are getting an exchange student in August so I will be a mom of a teenage girl. I walk the dog and I have been spending so much time in the garden. I get to do all the things I never had time to do. Good for you in removing the stress from your life!
I love reading everyone's updates.......it's hard to believe we were all finishing chemo two years ago! Time flies!
Hugs to all!
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Great decision Husker - we carry on too long putting up with these sort of people that stress us out. It will be lovely to have time to do the things you want.
I was listening to some old music the other day, getting nostalgic and wondering which part of my life was the best bit, that I would go back to if I had a chance, and then it struck me the best bit really is now, having a ball with my grandkids , loving work, able to go off and do all the stuff, travelling etc that we want. Life is damn good.
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Amen, Penny! I had a scan on Friday with stable results, even a bit of regression and my onc said I got an "A". It's gonna be a good summer.
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Divine - a big "yahoo!" for you! That's great news! Life is good! For me it seems better than it was before BC.
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Divine-That is GREAT news!!!! What a way to start the summer!
Huskerkkc-Wahoo for you! Congratulations on quitting your job! That is wonderful. Enjoy your time and have some more jello shots! You deserve them!
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Thinking of you all...my daughter and I walked in the Komen race on Mother's Day at the Mall of America..WOW !.. so inspiring with all the survivors. Have been enjoying being off work the last 2 weeks...stayed home and worked in the garden every day ( I have NEVER planted more flowers than this year !!!) in addition to other projects and appointments. Decided to get a teeth whitening plan through our dentist...she gave me a chuckle when she told me the bleach should easily get me to an "age appropriate shade" (whatever that is for someone who's turning 60 in a few months)!!!...Ha ha...I decided to bleach em until they glow in the dark !!!
Glad to hear everyone is doing well...Divine-great to hear your positive news and Husker-good for you !!! Fluff-we did an Alaska cruise last summer and really enjoyed it....my husband and I want to get to Australia/New Zealand sometime in the next few years...Penny-I'll be asking your advice on the places we shouldn't miss !!!0 -
Great news Divine - so pleased!
Yes you're right Maria - life is better.
Stilts - yeah! come down under and flash your new white smile - it would be good to see some of the real OZ, the cities are great, but the best is sitting round a fire in the outback with a thousand stars overhead and nothing but the ancient rocks within miles.
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Enjoying spring here and planting TONS of flowers in my gardens. We are going shopping for our new rose garden today! Can't wait to get that in there! It will be beautiful and it will make it much easier to "stop and smell the roses!". My mom is visiting for almost a week right now. We did some serious Italian cooking yesterday! So fun.
Stilts - Australia is still on my "must see" travel list. I did manage to knock out some of the other things on that list but it will be a long time before I get to Australia. We may return to Italy next year though for our 10 year anniversary.....still talking DH into it! We got married there and went back for our 5 year....I think we should go every 5 years....don't you gals?? LOL!
Hoping all of you in the states enjoy the long weekend! Sending hugs and good health to all!
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Mdg....I wanted to go back to Italy and France, or go to Greece, but I was talked into Alaska by some friends. There are four couples going now. I know it will be fun and cool,it just wasnt in my top five list.
Husker....my daughter was in show choir (and dance, and theatre, and modeling, and oh yeah, a little school), while in high school. They had a national reputation for creativity and vocals. I was a hair mom, with no hair skills, lol, costume mom and more. Her senior year we did nine competitions with Nationals in NYC. I have glued millions of rhinestones and sewn many feather boas on skirts. Unfortunately, I did this while working full time in the events business. It was exhausting, especially with dance and theatre thrown in, but soooo much fun. I wouldn't change a thing. You will love it.
Mdg...just finished all the flowers and roses at my house, and helped my son and his girlfriend at his house with their landscaping. I am going to sit back and smell those roses now. Or in my case, the peonies at the moment.
Glad everyone is doing well.0 -
I haven't checked in for a while, but I have been reading your updates as they come along; it's good to catch up a little on all of the news.
Husker- Good for you making some tough decisions; it looks like they are already proving to be good ones. I wish you a happy semi-retirement!
mdg and colodisneylover- It sounds like you are both well on the mend. Glad to hear it. mdg- I think a trip to Italy for your ten years is MANDATORY!
Divine- What can I say! Great news=great summer!! I am so happy to hear these results.
fluffqueen: Alaska is definitely on my to-do list, but Australia certainly tops the list overall.
silia and lily- I hope life is treating you well!
Penny: It sounds like MANY of us (Stilts, fluff, mdg, ME,...) want to come to Australia! Out under the stars far from civilization sounds like absolute paradise to me. Hopefully someday...and I'll look you up as a tour guide.
I am doing pretty well. My kids will be out of school next week and I am trying to find enough things to keep them occupied! I have been struggling with anxiety lately, which is likely the result of tamoxifen plus my zoladex injections. My MO gave me a scrip for effexor for hot flashes, but I had a most unpleasant SE of numbness, ahem, 'down under.' Not acceptable to me, so I stopped taking it after only a few days. After a few crying jags today and serious anxiety over the last 24 hours, I guess I should get myself to someone who can try something else on me. I am so conflicted because I have never liked the idea of chasing SEs from medicine with another medicine. I know this can be a private subject, but if anyone has any thoughts or advice, I would really appreciate it.
Ladies, I hope you are all planning on a wonderful summer (or winter, Penny!)! It is great to hear of all the adventures you are experiencing.
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