Can we have a forum for "older" people with bc?
Comments
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I remember the morning that I first asked the meaning of the
word "love. . . ."
Miss Sullivan put her arm gently round me and spelled into
my hand, "I love Helen."
"What is love?" I asked. . . .
"Love is something like the clouds that were in the sky before
the sun came out," she replied. . . . "You cannot touch the clouds,
you know; but you feel the rain and know how glad the flowers
and the thirsty earth are to have it after a hot day. You cannot
touch love either; but you feel the sweetness that it pours into
everything. Without love you would not be happy or want to play."
The beautiful truth burst upon my mind--I felt that these were
invisible lines stretched between my spirit and the spirits of others.
Helen Keller0 -
Puff, I am not surprised that you were/are working hard on those thank you cards. It is one of the things that help us through the chapters of dealing with loss. Helps us manage our direction once our world has changed in a drastic fashion.
Hope your CT scan shows if anything, something easy to determine and fix for you. I think you ran into one of those "firsts" that tend to come when we lose someone. Learning how to be one when you were two is just downright difficult. We are sturdy, but each new thing ( loss ) of health, or a death, or whatever the situation occurs, puts us through paces until we get more mentally and emotionally adjusted.
Rita, I am thinking about you and so glad you will be returning home to your woods and wonderful home there. I hope you have a GOOD and safe trip home. Cloudy today --- ??? maybe some rain tomorrow, not sure since the weather patterns right now all seem much worse to the south of us.
A few odds and ends to do today but otherwise I'm glad to be off today. I always love going to work and am so looking forward to the 100th. birthday part on the 9th. of April. Concerned though how my patient as of late sleeps so much and struggles so much. Sometimes I wonder if she has PUT so much energy into getting to a hundred that she has worn herself. All the while I've been with her, her favorite thing to say is that she is almost a hundred. Of course, bless her little heart --- it has also been an excuse for when she didn't want to do something she should -- like her exercises. Anyway -- I'm just hoping that I'm being overly critical about what I feel I may be seeing. Time will tell.
Hoping you all have a good day.
Jackie
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Forgot to add something in my earlier post, so made this new one as it will be easier to "see" I think. Chevy is a bit under the weather so in case she doesn't come today --- don't worry that she won't be back. Here's hoping she gets right as rain as soon as possible.
Jackie
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Good morning all
Puffin- I think you are doing great getting thank you cards out so soon. Honestly, I don't remember doing that at all. I'll have to check with my kids and see. Re the two people you aren't sure you know - maybe ask someone who worked with Lew, or at your church or any plaCe you two used to go to on a regular basis, like a favorite restaurant?
{{{{Sandra}}}} you are in my thoughts. Please make time to do something (anything) that doesn't involve Mike and his illness. You really have to make an effort to remind yourself that your world is bigger than the hospital and Mike's illness. I know how hard and strange that is, but it will take you away from Mike and his issues. You will go bAck to Mike, feeling just a little more relaxed than when you left.
Baby Alex is doing well. Her siblings were so much fun to watch the first day she was home. Kayden (7) just had a glow on his face he whole time he held her, and while he was holding her, one of Victoria!s friends said something that included the word "darn". His head flew up and he said not to use bad words near his baby. They replied of course that darn isn't a bad word. He said it was bad enough and not to say that near his little sister. Victoria (10) is more aware of and fascinated by Alex's expressions and movements. So all is well with the kids. I am very concerned about Jamie though. They let her out of the hospital at 5pm Sat Afternoon. She was out grocery shopping ( with Alex) at 9 that night. Sun, she came here for a few hrs- which is fine - her kids would rather be here anyway, and we can help with her and the baby, but then they went to dinner at her husband's father house. They only go there on holidays. But Mon morning, it was back to normal, driving the kids to school, shopping, running errands, going to a dermatologist, etc. She called and asked me to pick the kids up from school and she got here about an hour later, admitting she had done too much and was bleeding and cramping. Even then, I couldn't get her to sit with her feet up and let us take care of both her and the baby. Yesterday, I didn't see her at all. It's kind of like she is trying to prove that she isn't going to let this baby to change her life. And she gets no rest at home either. Her husband might play with the older kids for a few minutes here and there and maybe eat dinner with them, but he is quite clear that he doesn't "do" babies. In fact , he doesn't like them until they are old enough to play with him. Jamie had had to get up and get the kids to school every on time every morning. The good news is my oldest DD is flying in mid-day tomorrow for the weekend. She has a very close bond with Jamie aNd has already told Jamie that the 2 older kids will be staying here with her the whole time, that she will take them to school and pick them up Fri and Mon. She is hoping to convince Jamie to stay here with the baby as well, so she can help her during the night.
Anne
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Anne, I love the story of the little brother protecting his infant sister from bad language. How sweet that is.
Puffin, Lew must have been very well liked and respected as well as loved, judging from the response to his death. I know that's no real consolation but to a small extent, it must make you feel good on his behalf.
My mother is progressing in the skilled nursing/rehab facility. The therapists are working her a little harder than I like but their efforts, and my mother's, are paying off. Jackie, I wish she had you to look after her at home.
Thinking of Chevy. Hope you feel better very soon.
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Thanks Carole.... It's just Asthma, but I have everything possible from the other times I have had it.... Just so tired... I take a nap about every 2 hours... I have to put my face on, because DBIL is stopping by, and I just CAN'T look like THIS!
I have a pot of home-cooked beans with Ham and noodles...
Thanks little Jackie...! We watch out for each other... I was supposed to go to lunch with my friend tomorrow, but I emailed and told her I was "fading fast".... Ha! So"Louise" will just wait for me, "Thelma", to go next week, with my Daughter and her....... Then I'll feel like eating something.....
Toodle!
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Puffin, you are doing fantastic on those Thank You cards!
Carole, so glad to hear that Mom is progressing well. It sounds like she has lots of determination and desire.
Jackie, we will be going by your "turn-off" on the interstate on Friday! Hope that weather holds out for us as it makes travel so much easier. I will wave at you as we go by.
Chevy...glad you have the thngs you need to counteract the asthma. Hang in there. That can really wear you down!
Well, we will be pulling out tomorrow morning bright and early. I probably won't post again until we get home. Everyone take care and I'll catch up with you soon.
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Something I just saw and thought it sounded not only good but really, really easy.
NO WORK CHICKEN
4 chicken breasts, 1/2 cup honey, 1/2 cup Dijon mustard, 1 TBSP. curry powder, 2 TBSP soy sauce
Grease dish well. Place chicken in pan. Mix together honey, mustard, curry powder and soy sauce well; then bake @ 350 for 1 hour.
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Ritajean, I wish you safe travels as you head back home. It sounds like you will have great memories! Your Easter salads sound so interesting....care to share?
Puffin, you are doing well to surround yourself with nature and good friendship. It is sad that being at the medical facility triggered your tearful meldown....but every tear shed is part of your grief process. One day at a time...grief doesn't come with instructions.
Termite, wishing you peace and happiness in your new adventure.
Carole, I'm glad to hear your mother is progressing. I hope her recovery exceeds expectations.
Chevy, feel better soon.
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If you want to turn your life around, try thankfulness. It will change your life mightily.
--Gerald Good0 -
I talked to a woman acquaintance at the gym this morning whose face was a pattern of purple bruises with swollen features. She'd tripped on a root when carrying a basin of frozen food out into her yard with the intention of leaving the food for raccoons. Her face struck the basin on the ground and the frozen food. She expressed how thankful she was that she hadn't broken her teeth nor had her glasses damaged her eyes. Your quote made me think of her, Jackie.
So far the forecast heavy rain has gone elsewhere. There was bad weather north of us this morning. Now the heavy rain is supposed to come tomorrow.
I just did my nephew's tax returns for federal and state using Turbo Tax. His mother was hoping he'd get a good refund to pay toward a vehicle that he badly needs for transportation to work. Instead he owes the feds and gets a little more from the state so it's almost a wash.
My sinus congestion is improving, thank goodness. I have been rinsing my sinus passages and taking a lot of Vitamin C. Maybe that helped.
Wishing everyone a good Thursday.
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Oh my, talk about weather. Interestingly we have had a lot of sun today, but it rained all night. Then in the last hour or so we have had two downpours with the second one being rather major. Afterward, we had a lot of hail. Not sure but it all may and I emphasize the MAY back off now. This being Spring I think we are still in a fairly un-predictable period.
Thankfully I had just gotten home from getting a perm. Had to wear my rain hat out of the shop for the first pour down, which pretty much crushed the" do " but at least I am back with curls instead of pretty close to straight hair. I ran out to the deck and retrieved about four of the hail stones --- they were not huge, but bigger than I expected to see. We usually see just little ones so wanted Dh to see them. Don't know if Mt. Vernon got any at all -- so he may be very surprised when he gets home and sees them.
Off till Saturday late afternoon/night. That is nice.
Carole, I wish I could come and take care of your Mom for you too. Sometimes it is a struggle but mainly a delight for me. The times I don't care for much are the times anyone would not like. When the people are sick or un-comfortable with pain or no appetite, or experiencing heavy bouts of loss of energy. Otherwise, I just think they have been around ( in some cases a whole lot ) longer than me and will be able to teach me something I don't know or just give me another way of looking at something that hadn't occurred to me.
Sun is back out again -- my, my what an afternoon it has been.
Blessings,
Jackie
P.S. Forgot that I wanted to wave hi to Joan. Hope you are enjoying a nice Spring too.
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The best way I have found to follow my true desires is to pay attention to my intuitive sense. We all have great wisdom within us, a part of us that knows exactly what we need at every moment. We are born with this intuitive sense, but most of us are quickly taught to distrust and ignore it. We have to relearn something that should come naturally. Fortunately, it's not too difficult; it just takes some practice. -Shakti Gawain
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I hope Chevy is feeling better. My sinus congestion has eased, I'm thankful to say.
Rita must be home by now and adjusting to IL spring weather.
Hope everyone has a good Friday.
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Good morning,
The sun is out and I think we are on our way to a pretty nice day. Temps should be fine and (hoping) I think rain is not in the forecast here for a bit now. I'm ready for nice for sure.
Dh was a little surprised by the hail I put in the freezer for him. I'm not at all good at "size" descriptions but most of the time our hail is not much bigger than sleet so these were a lot bigger. Maybe about the size of a pencil eraser doubled. How is that for descriptive ? I'm just not too good that way. Anyway, there wasn't any where he worked --- but he works 20 miles south of here, so not surprising.
Just a lot of work around the house planned today. I've not been good at accomplishing my chores as of late so need to get on the ball and catch up. It is after all spring cleaning time --- though I don't pay super attention to that since we need to do that type most of the time here. What I do need to do is figure out more that should leave here --- that part of the spring cleaning.
Be well everyone. I'll be checking in a bit later.
Blessings,
Jackie
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MOrning ladies! Supposed to be in the 70's here today, though with some rain. The weekend is supposed to offer some snow! The Forsythias may have snow on them. Had my mammo , fine, nothing new. So I happily go to the parking lot to go home, back out and as I turn the guy in back of me backs in to my car! So much for a good day, $2400 damages. Our Senior Players group is performing for a senior living complex , this afternoon. Have a good April Fools Day!
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Hi gals! Oh NO Bonnets! That happened to me TWICE! Once at Starbucks, on my way out.... Oh wait! TWICE! On different days, both at the same STARBUCKS! The parking lot is so narrow! Now, I don't park close to any cars.... And I usually have DH looking out on one side, and me looking out the other....
Those parking lots are for playing Bumper-Cars! Especially with lanes with cars coming & going both ways! We should be allowed to use paint-ball guns.... Let them idiots HAVE it.
I picked up 2 more Inhaler samples from the Doctor's office... I'll use the Nebulizer for about another week... (that helps the wheezing, but makes you shaky and tired).....
Then went to buy some orange juice, etc. Everything tastes the same.... At least I feel better... just cranky, and sleepy.
I'm not thinking straight... just re-arrange this post so it makes sense....
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Allison and Ryan made it home last evening. Up until the last minute I was afraid something would happen that would keep him in the Chicago psych hospital or he would have another meltdown at the airport. My relief in learning that they had landed was quickly dashed when Ryan started shouting and threatening Allison. He cannot see that his own behavior landed him in the hospital and instead, blames Allison. I was actually afraid of him on the ride home. He was shouting at the top of his lungs. More abusive phone calls came last night and it was obvious he was drinking again. He saw his primary care doctor this afternoon and has made it clear he will not consider being admitted to a local rehab facility. I have no idea how all this is going to work out.
After 22 days, Mike's daily lab tests are trending upwards which shows that the bone marrow transplant is definitely working. The numbers made a slight jump earlier this week but then dropped back down the next day so hopes were dashed. Today's lab results were unmistakable. The doctor assured us that the wait is over. The average time for this to happen is 14 days after transplant so you can imagine how frightened I was. He's certainly not out of the woods - the next 100 days are critical. He has less of an immune system than a newborn baby and a minor infection can kill him. I'm again reminded of my grandmother who told me I shouldn't go "borrowin' trouble" so rather than thinking of what can go wrong, I'm concentrating on good lab tests. All his hair is gone now. I had not seen him clean shaven since he retired in '92. Bless him, he looks so fragile, tired, sick, and so much older. What a difference from 2 years ago.
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If seeds in the black earth can turn into such beautiful roses, what
might not the heart of a human become in its long journey toward the stars?G.K. Chesterton
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Good Moring,
Sandra, so glad for the update. So glad to hear that the new stem cells are ready to go to bat for Mike. Yes, he does look worn around the edges, but actually just more like many of us when we lost our hair, eyebrows etc. during chemo treatments. Un-like Mike, we had scarves, wigs, make up and dangling earrings to take care of the deficits that we were handed during our chemo txs. He is on his way to becoming a new man --- so I guess like you it is in the potential that will be reached as all try to stay focused on the end result, rather than the faltering areas that tend to look weak and not well formed yet. So, prayers and healing energies still being sent for the best of outcomes.
Glad that your kids are there but sorry that Ryan cannot see the 'light'. Surely at some point he will GET that he is letting himself down, but I know it is a hit and miss in that department. He seems rather firmly entrenched right now, but prayers for him as well that something will jar him to his senses. It is difficult on everyone and he has little opportunity, if any right now to see that he is creating such discord in what should be a calm, positive as possible time and place.
The sun is out again today, though it is fairly cool. At least no rain seems near and that is good for here. I went to my cousin's yesterday afternoon. Oh my !!!! I had something to eat and then in a bit my cousin came in from a trip to the garage for some plastic ware so I could take some food home to Dh, saying that the people moving out directly across must have torched the house as they were leaving. Had seen some 'smoke' out the kitchen window but thought it just a 'small' trash or old leaves fire.
The house across the road -- right next door to this one --- was the one I was raised in and was torn down two or three yrs. after I returned home here. It has been a rental for over 30 yrs. I think by then so I did not have the attachment I might have had --- and was in fact, due to the condition of it basically glad when it was demolished. Thought it not fair to the people living next to it. But Annie's house yesterday really bothered me. Grew up with them and had visited through my yrs. home with Annie and family. She passed away a couple yrs. ago and the house was sold to dare I say it --- a really trashy bunch. They talked filthy and so did the smallest of their children and the police were always it seemed 'over' there. I really do think it quite possible that as they left out yesterday with the last load from the house that they could have 'done' something that caused a blaze.
Happy that my cousins ( Mary who I spend a lot of time with ) and her Dh who is a Viet Nam veteran -- and who keep up their home and property in almost perfect order can have some peace now. The neighbors were often un-kind because the hubby would complain about the bad language and the filth and mess in the yard that his company had to be subjected to. Got to where M and Dh didn't want to invite people over for fear of how things might be. Well, that will be over now -- the house is a total loss -- the whole back side is a goner, burned completely out.
Hope you will have a good Sat. As always thinking of each and every one of you as I sit here.
Blessings,
Jackie
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Hello gals!
We are home! It is cool and windy here today but the bright yellow daffodils in my yard greeted me, as did the blooming tulip trees. I spent the entire morning unpacking and then went to the grocery store to stock the refrigerator again. I'm taking a quick break and then need to gather up all my income tax material so I can get it organized and ready to take this next week. I probably could save some money if I went the Turbo Tax route but I'm afraid I'd miss something and I don't want to get audited. That's never happened to me but I have heard horror stories of others who have had to go through that process. I always worried about it when I had my business and I have just kept the same tax preparation man since then.
The cats seemed excited to be home but I bet they will miss their daily trips outside on the screened-in lanai! They traveled very well!
Sandra, I'm glad to hear that Mike is improving. We'll just keep our fingers crossed that no infections pop up now! I am so sorry to hear about your son's problems. They affect your entire family and you can't really do much to help if he doesn't want to help himself or doesn't think that he needs any help.
Joan, I will share the salad recipes as soon as I have my taxes done. They are very easy to make and my family loves them.
Chevy...just read your post about the ham and beans and noodles. I love ham and beans but have never had them with noodles. Do you eat the noodles on the side or are they mixed into the ham and beans? It sounds interesting!
Oh Bonnets....you sure didn't need that fender-bender accident. It always such a pain when you have to fool with getting a car fixed. It took them forever to fix my car when I hit that black ice last year and spun into the ditch. However, they did a great job and it drives just like nothing ever happened to it.
Well, I need to get moving! Everyone have a great weekend!
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Love the one liners Chevy - my life in a nut shell
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Sandra, what good news to read that Mike's labs are finally improving! So sorry about the issues with Ryan
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Sandra, glad to hear Mike's numbers are going up Sending prayers your way.
Ritajean, glad to hear you are home safe and had a good time in Florida.
Bonnets, sorry to hear about your fender bender.
Chevy, hope you are feeling better. Those asthma attacks really take a lot out of a person. We have 2 sons and a gd with asthma.
Easter was to be our last get together with all our sons and their families but since we are not leaving until Sunday one of DS asked if we wanted to do dinner tonight. Two other DS heard and stated their families wwould come also. It was fun but I just kept thinking we will see them again soon just like any other time just so their would be no tears.
We have had rain, hail, snow, high winds and sunshine today. It sure was a strange day
Hope everyone is having a good weekend.
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You can't live a perfect day without doing something
for someone who will never be able to repay you.
- John Wooden0 -
Good morning,
It is coolish but gorgeous outside. I think going up to the 70's today. I can't wait. Don't know what I'll get done, but could work outside later. Some wind might come up, but over-all we should be fine and have a great day.
Thinking about having Dh help me sort through the back of the garage so I might start parking my car there. It is a four car garage --- so it sure would be nice to have enough space to put at least MY car in there. When we first moved here the cars were in the garage all the time. Sigh !!!! Some changes that happen aren't obviously for the best. But with a nearly new car now, I need to go back to standardly parking in the garage. We originally set things up so that you would enter the garage from the back and be able to exit from the front or vice-versa. One of these days we might actually be able to re-create the original plan.
Hope you are all going to have a fantastic, wonderful day. Termite, I've been trying to wish some one our mid/southern Illinois sun up to Chicago. Hope it can arrive soon.
Blessings,
Jackie
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Beautiful flowers Teka.
Jackie
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Jackie- we have a regular 2 car garage and parking in it is the only privilege I have demanded for myself for the past 37 years. I figured if I had to be in and out of it several times a day- taking kids to and from school, grocery shopping, going to doctors and sports, my car was not going to be sitting in the hot Floriday sun all day. Sometimes I could barely get to or in it there was so much junk in the garage, but that was always a short term problem. We have no basement or attic so the garage was and still is our storage area.
More later, Anne
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Good afternoon ladies,
Sandra, I'm so happy that you have gotten good news on Mikes tests!
Today its 31 outside after 78 on Friday. Hope the blooms on the Forsythia, Magnolias and Daffodils survive the weather. Supposed to get more snow tomorrow. We got 2 inches, the most we have had all season. Crazy!
Our only garage is out back and is a barn for my DH equipment, mower, tractor etc. The cars are outside near the house. I do m iss having a garage . We had a single under our other house. I notice , when I visit the family in TX, since they have no basement , all the cars are in the drive and stuff is in the garage. Think down there you need an extra room for storage, that we do in the basement. All our storage is in the basement, as we have no usable attic, since DH thought we wud rush the house building by having roof trusses. Well being a log house, the measurement is different, and they measured for a standard house. Trusses didnt fit and had to be remade, delaying the build, and I miss my storage in the attic. have a good day, Jean
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Hi gals.... A little less congested.... went to pick up a generic for Claritin D. That should help BOTH of us, especially at night, when we feel and hear things "rattle" etc.... We DO take Mucinex, and are both feeling better, but still a ways to go.... I can TASTE things now!
Still doing treatments, but Asthma is better also.
Jackie, you should maybe get DH to help you take out "stuff" you don't want or need in the garage. I had to make sure that my little "new" car would fit in our older garage, AND be able to pull the garage door down! I "measured" every car I was interested in.... I could do that online.... So many people now, buy newer cars, in this older neighborhood, and their cars will not fit IN...! YOU HAVE A 4 CAR GARAGE AND CAN'T USE IT??? Ha! You know you can make it work.
You could tell your DH that you are piling stuff up in 1/2 of the garage, that you don't want. Then he can either call someone to come get it all, or you will have to donate, or in other words, get rid of it. It reminds me of Pickers.... in Iowa! Those 2 guys pick through peoples old barns, houses, etc. to find "treasure" to sell.... I can't beLIEVE what some people SAVE! They have no use for it, but just have a hard time getting RID of it, until their families TELL them it's time to get rid of some of this cr+p you have collected all of your lives.... Ha!
We can just set out "stuff" we don't want, in the back alley, and someone will come and TAKE it! Sometimes they come with a Pick-up, and then take it to sell at the flea-markets.
Also, in this city, there are several listings like "2 men and a truck" where they will gladly come to take donated stuff! Maybe your friends/neighbors would know?
Okay.... gotta go finish the Living-room.... changed the sofa and recliner around.... now cleaning everything else....
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