new and future flat sister, with questions
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Hey there js, you are motivating me here! What a blast of energy you are. I love that you are in fight mode and you're going out and doing what you enjoy, all power to you! I am in the bag for tomorrow, with a bottle of whatever takes your fancy, we do nice wines over here, your choice!
I am off into town to order the tile for the front of the house feature, the floor is in the Boat Shed, shame they had to cover the deep hole for the boat keel in the floor, but it was an accident waiting to happen, probably me!
Catch you later M x
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M, your house is going to be a show palace when you are through! Laughing that Dex has not noticed the workers. Bobo is the same way. Doesn't he 'smell' them? He is a wash-out for a watchdog, as is the real Bobo. Once my mother was coming in the house with her key -- I was not home, Bobo was sleeping on the couch, his head on a collection of throw pillows -- and he did not move as she came into the porch, used her key, brought in her bags... and then when she was fully in, he acted like he 'woke up' and began barking indignantly! She said to him, Please. Don't even try to act like a watch dog now.
Crap on a chapstick, nd! Agree about being mad. I think you should probably go on the upward purchasing spiral of treats with your friend. Like this: what present will you buy yourself after the biopsy? etc. I am a firm believer in that at this point. A special cream you like, a bracelet, a favorite sweetie... something to look forward to for after.
Thinking of you, jsj! Sailman is so sweet. Jsj, it sounds like you are doing a fantastic job. I think you should cry anytime you want to do so. Or perhaps you could use my patented 'scream into a pillow' technique...
XXX
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Hiya Bobo, great to see you here, I was just going to bed and saw your post. Not a show palace, just finished, at last!
You'd have a laugh a Dex, he is the absolute watchdog, we don't need a doorbell, as he can signal the arrival of Colin's carers before they even get to the gate. He has been sitting on the top of the couch all day, watching the builders through the kitchen windows, they're right down at the other end of the garden. They are the same ones who were here for months doing the original reno. He hasn't barked at them once, but when a delivery man, not Barry, arrived, he went nuts. He's the selective watchdog!
Our other dog before Dex, was a cracker, we had a burglar trying to break in to our house a few years ago. I arrived home as he was trying to get in the back of the house with a crowbar and guess who's in the yard standing beside him? Yep, Gizmo! He had gone out his doggie door and was greeting the burglar! Then I got caught in the front garden, with the burglar trying to get out and Gizmo had let himself back into the house, through the doggie door......great watchdog!
How is the childminding going? How long are they home from school? What else are you up to?
I wonder how Zills and the kids are doing? M x
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I think I'm officially crazy here. I just agreed to take 5 (five) bottle baby kittens for a couple of weeks. Four of them look just alike so colored ribbons will be necessary. The fifth has long hair. They're around 3 weeks old, so will be eating by themselves pretty soon. Once they're eating ok and using the litter box, I'll transfer them. The woman I'm getting them from is bottle feeding 9 kittens right now. The other 4 are about a week old and frail. She has lots of experience, so their best chance is with her. These will be my first bottle babies. I have no idea what Goldie will think.
We're hoping for robin hatching pretty soon. Lots can go wrong, so we're apprehensive.
jsj, Sending healing and strengthening thoughts. You sound pretty strong already. That's a good thing.
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Hello everyone!! I have been thinking about you all but life just kept getting in the way!
O2, welcome here! Sorry you have to join. Good luck with the oncotype news! At least you already know your lymph nodes were fine, that's great!
jsj, OMG... I am so sorry. What a blow that must have been to learn this, I can't imagine. You are strong and have an amazing DH at your side. Big hugs.
M! I bought new foobs! I got the Leisure Forms from Amoena. I like them, I wear them all the time! It was time to put the poofs aside from last December, with their seam going across! The Leisure forms are lighter than silicone. I don't know who wears silicone foobs, they're heavier than real breasts and give us back aches, I don't know why they're sold as THE foobs to buy? And everything is cheaper than the silicone ones. I also tried the TruForms from Amoena which are for women getting reconstruction with expanders: they have a gel front, then a back with fluff you can remove as the expanders get filled. I'll get those next year if all goes according to plan.
ndgirl, I'm definitely sending positive thoughts to your friend Marilyn. I hope you're getting nice summer weather and all your veggies are doing well!
zills, have you landed in Ireland yet? I hope the long flight went well. You just never know with kids! Relax and enjoy being away, in a beautiful country!
wren, oh, what dedication and love you have to take care of these bottle kittens! They will be soooo cute, we want a picture! It will be interesting to see how Goldie reacts, let us know!
dawny, crap on chapstick, you're good! You never thought a typo could become a new expression!
gB, sorry to hear about DD's situation not improving. I hope she gets the best attorney around and gets everything she deserves.
spookiesmom, hi! I hope all is well and little spookie is as cute and fun as ever!
Hi sgc, I thought of you when Arthur blew over. Sorry for your arthritis flare ups. Do you think a new drug could help? Hugs!
bobo, seems like DD/princess had a good time at the feminist rock camp! I hope MD is leaving you alone these days and I hope your father is ok?
Sorry if I missed anyone. All is good here, having a really nice summer. Went to Montreal last week, left DS with my mother, he spent the week there having fun with his cousin who lives nearby. DH and I had a week by ourselves, it was so relaxing even if we were working! DS and my mother came back here by train, DS still loves train rides (he will be 6 in a month), it was his first really long one. So my mother and him are just hanging out here this week, my mother goes back this weekend and DS will start day camp.
It's been good to be more social too, hosting get togethers, etc., good to feel normal. My energy is fully back, I'm still not in as good a shape as before bmx & chemo, but not bad. I started tamoxifen a week ago, no SEs yet, we shall see. I'm always hot so I don't think I'll notice the hot flashes! I still have PT type of issues, lots of tightness on the left and the LE is flaring up on the right. I'm starting back the stretching exercises and LE massages (took a long break during chemo), hoping they will help. I just know that it would be useless to see a PT now if i don't try these things first.
My hair is coming back! I'm so happy! It's extremely sparse, of course, it's still early on, but it's encouraging. Eyebrows and eyelashes are coming in very very slowly, so I wear make-up all the time except when I'm in bed, I don't want to look sick anymore! I'm stupid, I know. Anyway, can't wait to ditch the wig, it's F* hot and I'm fed up of looking tacky with this poofy thing!
Take care everyone!
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Hey hi! You have the cutest wig I ever saw. I never would have guessed! Yes, I guess it's stinking dripping hot everywhere. Ugh. I'm over this! Have a great summer!
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Crap on a chapstick! Good update from OT. Our Z is in Ireland, kids napping, she is obviously a pro. I really tip my hat to her. That must have been crazy-making.
Child-minding is touch-and-go. WB driving me crazy. I twist my apron and pray for bedtime each night. Eleven days until school starts. I'm at work right now, another hour until I leave, and I've got to push to get a bunch of work done. I run a pretty tight ship. Up at six-thirty, grooming, breakfast, outdoor playtime, babysitter sometimes so I can go to work for four hours. Chores, they have contests, winner gets to help me cook dinner! Winner gets ten additional blueberries during snack! It's cutthroat. They are both incredibly messy and destructive. WB is a killjoy, he tries to kill the baby's joy, he always has something nasty to say, so, outside he goes, very often. I told him I will not listen to it. So I separate them. It has always been thus. He just has one of those personalities. Yoga, bach's flower essences, organic food, a 'giving' book, help projects, his own garden... blah blah blah... special time with mommy... nothing has ever worked to make him a different personality, so that's that!
Birdie -- ribbons to tell the kittens apart? I am beside myself. I am in no position to beg for a detailed update, but I *hope* we all get one. Are you going to name the kitties? I imagine Goldie will be extremely interested. That's my prediction. I hope you give her some of the milk in a little dish so she can pretend she is one of the kittens.
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Picked up the kittens last night and have survived the first night's feedings. DH re-won my heart by getting up at 3:30am to help. It goes much faster with 2 of us. I'll try to get a group photo. Wonder if a litter of black kittens is easier to photograph than one black cat? Shelter protocol is to keep new cats separated for 10 days to avoid introducing illnesses. It will be interesting to see what Goldie thinks. I'm hoping she thinks she's their Mom. We're going to try to trim their little needle claws today. I'm covered with red splotches where they hung on. The ribbons didn't stay on, so we solved the 'who was fed' problem by putting them into a storage container with high sides (fleece on bottom) until they're all fed. I'll be transferring at least part of them (hoping to transfer all) and will let the new foster parents name them. Right now I don't know which are boys and which are girls. I know there are 3 females and 2 males.
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Hey Bobo! Nice to see you, sorry it so busy for you and WB seems to enjoy pushing buttons and limits! I hope he will grow out of it for you.
I think of you often in the tiny house, hugs from me!
Wrenn, you are truly amazing to take this on and DH has a heart just like yours! Enjoy those babies!
I am off again too source more stuff for the builders today, catch everyone later...M x
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Well gals, my bff Marilyn got the shitty news, yes it is bc, but if there is any good news they think it is early, cant tell for sure yet if it is out of duct. So I have been cursing for the last half hour..GRRRR, we are just playing phone tag so far with each other, but she left a nice long message and now I cant reach her but I will, her kids know and she is going to tell her brothers which she is dreading... they are both worse than any old mother hen as she says!
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ndgirl so sorry Marilyn will have to take this journey, she is fortunate to have you as a bf who will help her through this. Sending hugs to you and her. xo
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ndgirl, I am so sorry to hear Marilyn has had to join us, but I am hoping it still may be DCIS. Doesn't it sound ridiculous to be hoping someone has DCIS?
Same thing I was told, probably early, but no way of knowing if it is out of the duct yet. I can imagine just how she is feeling right now and I know it is so hard for you too.
Well, it is the weekend again here, I can't believe how fast the time flies. It is cold and dreary, been raining all night, so no joy outside today. I am going to brave the cold and wet to pick Grapefruit and Lemons for the Opp Shop this morning I have so much fruit on the trees, it is dropping to the ground.
I will check back later...M x
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ndgirl, so sorry Marilyn has to join this club!! She is lucky to have you for support and of course she can have all of us too!! Praying for her.
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Hello from Ireland! Only one x to get here. Kids didn't sleep until last few hours on plane. Still trying to get settled. Get up at 9! But not falling asleep until 10 or even midnight.
Have met aunts and one set of cousins. Other cousins arrive back from vac tomorrow. Grandad has a trampoline. Rained every day. Not been to beach yet.
I have really missed you guys. Been kinda lonely on my own.
Have an air fryer here to conquer!
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Nice to hear from you Zills, the time change is a difficult one isnt it? Remember us in England... wanted to sleep when we should have been up, but it will happen. Hope the rain quits soon, kids will have fun on trampoline. Ok, another review on air fryers..have fun.
We all have been thinking of you and how kids are doing, thanks for the update. Are there other children to play with yours?
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Zills, So good to hear from you. Sympathize about the rain. Parents here have given up. They just get raincoats and boots and take them out anyway. In my experience, it takes about a week to be solidly in another time zone.
Kitten update: Still eating in the middle of the night. I'm becoming groggy. DH discovered if one doesn't want to eat, adding another one sets up competition and they both try to get the bottle. It's one bottle for the whole litter, so it's ok to switch back and forth. One little girl has decided she likes canned food and the litter box. The others are way more hit and miss. Lots of laundry.
Goldie is studiously not noticing them. Maybe she's hoping not to be asked to help. Today is warm and she decided my lap was the only place to sleep.
Robins have hatched 2 babies. We're hoping they do ok. DH worries about them despite reading the website which pointed out that robins know best about babies and it's not a good idea to interfere.
ND, sorry about Marilyn. I hate to hear of anyone getting the bad news.
There's a big digger parked in the alley, so I think demolition of the duplex and construction of the evil condo will begin this week. I can see it from my deck.
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Hey Zills, good to hear from you! Sorry the weather hasn't been the best, but it is bound to get better. Also interested in air fryer reports!
That trampoline sounds like a great way to tire those babies out at the end of the day!Wren, the kittens sound so cute! But boy I can imagine how tired you must be with the feeding schedule. Goldie is probably thinking if she ignores them, they'll go away! Sorry about all the construction mess you are going to have to deal with. Not to mention the finished product!
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Hello Zills, I am so glad to hear from you! I've been wondering how it has been going. Sorry about the rain! A trampoline is a great thing for tiring them out as gB said!
So pleased to hear the kids have met cousins, that can be a long term contact with relatives for them now. Cousins often make lifelong friends from a distance. I am still in touch with one of mine, in Scotland.
You should all be used to the time change, but I wonder how much is the release of all the stress you had, in the build up for the trip? Sorry you're feeling a little lonely, I know what you mean, but try to absorb the place and the differences, it will be flying by and you'll be going home soon enough. It will be a great memory to call on, when you're back on familiar ground. I love to sit and think about experiences I have had, in far flung places!
Have fun with the Air Fryer Zills, I still use mine most days, very rarely use the oven or a frying pan any more. I find most things take 10 minutes in it!
Take lots of pictures Zills and have lots of fun...hugs to all of you! M x
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ndGirl, have you heard any more from Marilyn? I hope she has more news and a plan? How are you doing?
Oh Wren, I admire you both, it must be like having newborns in the house, just more of them!
I hope all goes well with the birds! We have so much building and renovation going on here as well. I don't really know why we have all decided to do it in the Winter, but there are 2 massive ones going on just down the street and we aren't the only ones doing sheds up either.
My shed design had to be changed somewhat. It turned out that doing the lining boards right up into the peak of the roof was going to be difficult, so I now don't have all the high exposed beams that I wanted. They have been covered and I only have the low cross beams now. It has really changed the look, but it will do.
The big Farmers Market is on today, so I am taking Dex for a walk down there....catch you all later...M x
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hey there everyone! Glad to hear Zills is doing well in Ireland / England . How exciting! Ndgirl I truly hate that news about Marilyn. My throat tightened up when I read it. Please tell her we are praying for her and her tamily! This really sucks.
My best friend arrived here from Chicago and we are having a blast. The oncology doctor office called and the oncotype DX results are in from California so going Monday with BFF to get foob at the boob boutique and then to docs office for the results. Am praying for low reoccurrence cancer then no chemo.
Ariom. I so appreciated your sharing with me about your life. Was so very sorry about your husband and his challenges as a quuaddroplegic. My goodness. I shall continue to count my blessings.
I am still alive!!!!
More later
O2
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Hi everyone, just got off phone with bff Marilyn , she is searching out which hospital and dr. she thinks would be best. We no longer live in the same town and am glad to hear she has friends there that also have had bc and bilateral mx. I told her I would give her some silky pjs cause I have read that it is so much easier to get out of bed with the slide they provide, she is a very strong willed gal, a former high school Enlgish teacher so she will be fine. I told her not to let any dr. talk her into something she did not want, some male drs seem to think we will fall to pieces if we lose our boobs.. she wont! I am trying not to stress about her but I am having headaches, being very testy with dh, I just want her surgery over and her to start to heal. She had a trip to Europe planned in the fall but she says she is cancelling it, I told her to wait until she knows everything for sure, but she is 63 and thinks it would be too much too soon, it is a tour and she says they really keep you going... she knows best.
Thinking of Zills, hope the rain has quit.... cold and windy here, does not feel like July, but supposed to be 90 by next week.. land of extremes. We leave for a trip in Montana next Monday for a week.. hope we have fun. Maybe just what I need but hate to be gone if Marilyn is having surgery etc...
Hope everyone is doing ok.
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Morning all!
I have been out chasing Pelicans again today! Hundreds of Ducks and over 100 Pelicans, it is just magic!
I am off into town to do a few things, my shed is almost complete, the electrician is fixing the lights and power points and the builder is doing the built in shelving and the seat today. The fencing is going in tomorrow, I think, so all is going very well.
ndgirl, I feel for you, worrying about your friend Marilyn. Is she close enough to visit?
The trip will do you good and no matter where you are, you can stay in phone contact. She will appreciate that.
O2, glad to hear you're having fun with your friend! Have fun when you go for your fitting, try on lots to make sure you know what is most comfortable for you. NdGirl and I are obsessive foob and clothes hunters, so we love to hear about anything new or different!
I wish you all the best for a good result from your Doctor!
Glad you were interested in my story. Colin is one to face every challenge head on, he still manages to surprise me with things he wants to do. He hasn't let his accident stand in his way, ever. I have said, many times, if he weren't in a wheelchair, I don't know how I'd keep up with him.LOL
Take it easy everyone, I hope you're having a pleasant weekend...chat later M x
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Good morning everyone. ND~ I am so sorry for your sweet friend and will be praying for her. Zills~ I am so glad you made it safely and are enjoying your trip. Today is the day I go in for the big exploration. I survived the gallon of go-shitley (my name for it anyways) and surgery is at 11am. I am hoping that it hasn't spread too far and have put each of you in the bag for me. I will be in ICU for a day or two so Sailman said he will try to get on and let you know how I am doing. I love you all and am so thankful I found you. See you on the other side.
Stacey
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JS, oh I am with you today and the days to follow , hoping and praying for the best results. Oh yes, go-shitley is a good name, that is nasty stuff. Sending you much love and support.. also to Sailman, hard to be on his end too. Thank you for thinking of my friend, she is a great gal and she has a good attitude. Thanks to Sailman if he can update your sisters here!! Good luck. (((HUGS)))
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Hello everyone,
I am a fellow survivor and contributor to this forum, though not specifically to this topic thread. I dropped off the boards in the fall of 2012 as I prepared to begin graduate school, so you may not be familiar with me. I am posting today to let you all know that I have begun a research project, which, inspired in part by MT1's breastcancer.org discussion thread 'looking for flat-chesters', examines the relationship between mastectomy, body image and wellness. As part of my study, I am interviewing survivors: those who have reconstructed and those who have not. If you're interested in learning more about my study and possibly sharing your own survival story with me, please private message me or contact me through my website. Of particular note, I will be in Michigan in late July and early August and in Minnesota early to mid August. If you are interested in participating and reside in these areas, I'd be keen to meet you while I'm in town. There is no need to meet me in person to participate, though. Interviews may be conducted remotely through chat software.
In the spirit of respecting the purpose and central topic of this thread, please contact me privately if you would like to learn more about the study, the nature of the interview, and how your privacy will be protected. Feel free to share this information and my website address with others as you see fit. The more, the merrier.
All my best!A.M.
(p.s.: This invitation is extended with site moderator permission received in August of 2013. Unfortunately, I had to wait for Institutional Review Board approval before I could reach out to anyone publicly. Hence, the delay.)
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Js, I am in the bag for you as long as you need me!
You haven't been far from my mind since all this has happened. I wish you an easy time, with a rapid recovery and hope so much that there is nothing to be found my sweet friend.
II send hugs to both of you, my heart goes out to Sailman while he waits for it to be done. M x
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Popping in for just a moment to let jsj know I in in the bag for as long as you need me! (((hugs)))
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jsj,
I am also in the bag for you and Sailman ...................
Hi everyone . I will write more when I get a break from de hoarding
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jsj, Definitely in the bag. Hugs to you and Sailman.
Zills, Sure hope you're taking photos to share.
ND, Sending healing thoughts to Marilyn. Just hate to hear of one more person getting the news.
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jsj-in the bag for you and sailman. Sending hugs and healing thoughts.
ND- so sorry to hear about Marilyn. My heart is with you both.
I am reading everyone's posts and will write when my hands work again! Love to all, S
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