thread for middle age to older Christian women.
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Wheatfields, thank you. After watching a video last night of this procedure this woman had on a tank top so I have changed up my clothing plans. I will dress in layers for the drive and then we'll see what happens.
Chris, praying for your PET scan today.
Keep warm everyone.
Love,
Nancy
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Nancy, praying for your procedure this afternoon that you have no issues and that the shots bring you relief. Let us know you are home safely from all the snow 😊🐧
Wheatfields and Teka, praying you have a good day with extra blessings thrown in.
Just returned from my PET scan and a good breakfast with my DH. I am exhausted and need a nap! My hair is starting to fall out so I guess I have an appointment with the scissors later today. Hopefully my DD can help me. I put it off as long as I could…
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Hi dear sisters.
I am home safe and sound. The roads were completely clear and dry much to my surprise. I made good time and had a chance to relax a little in the waiting room. I was sitting next to a man who was obviously a smoker and the smell was a lot. I didn't feel comfortable moving. I was taken early and normally I would have been much more prepared with a list of questions. I did give the neurologist a head's up on my history of getting sick during procedures. He was very about it. He initially said we'll do most of the work on the right side. I was a little confused as all my pain has been on the left side. Anyway he used EMG I think it is called to guide him. It was not pleasant and the last injection was definitely the worst. He said I save the best for last. He may have done that intionally or not but I made it through without getting sick or light headed. The whole thing was very fast and I was glad that it was over. I remember at my first apt he said regarding the botox injections that some people don't like the needles. I can see why that is. I have set up my next apt for 12 wks for a second round. He said many find at week six that it starts to wear off. When I scheduled the apt it had to be 12 wks plus one day so that sounds like insurance restrictions to me. I asked him about restrictions from what I had read and about staying up right for 4-6 hrs. and he said you don't need to do that as it has not be proven to be a problem. I forgot to ask about no hot baths. Oh well. I will probably skip that for at least tomorrow. When it was all over I said I survived!!! He smiled.
Chris, I have never lost my hair but I can imagine that it is not an easy thing to experience. My hair has been falling out at the top of my head and is definitely noticeable and I am concerned with that. So I feel for you.
How is everyone doing with this weather? I saw on YouTube about the coming storm of Biblical proportions and that defintiely got my attention. I think in states that don't usually get snow it is going to be treacherous with ice and or snow or both.
Take care everyone. Thank you for your prayers. Now I pray that this treatment will be very successful.
Love,
Nancy
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We're getting ready for the Big Chill. I wrapped outdoor water faucets and will leave cabinets open under the sinks. Very little snow is predicted. Husband charged his heated gloves and vest in case the driveway or sidewalks need a quick shovel or sweeping.
Teka, Pastor John did preach the Sunday service. He joked that the 8:00 folks think that a 9:30 sevice is too late and the 10:30 group believes that 9:30 is too early to worship!
Nancy, I hope you experience much relief from the Botox injections. Waiting 12 weeks plus 1 day does sound like an insurance coverage requirement (similar to dental cleaning and screening mammogram restrictions).
Chris, my sweet husband cut my hair after the second IV infusion. The prospect of seeing large clumps of hair on my pillow, in the shower, or throughout my brush was discouraging and unhelpful. I was unprepared for losing the hair in my nostrils, though. My nose constantly dripped, and when I mentioned it to my oncologist she replied, "oh yes, people forget about the hair in their noses."
Wheatfields, I hope that you and your nurse friend are safe and warm. I am praying that everyone is blessed with reliable heat and electricity over the next few days.
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Hershey, my DD shaved my hair yesterday. One-half hour and it was done. We were both wearing masks hoping to avoid her "gift" of the flu although she has had it for more than a week so hopefully she is no longer contageous. Mu DH calls it my Demi Moore look! Thanks for the nose hair tip!
It is 6° and snowing lightly. My Mo wants to talk today and I opted for a videoconference instead of braving the elements going across town.
Nancy, how is your neck feeling today? Praying you have a pain-free and restful day.
Anyone heard from Nikki lately?
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Hershey, I am sure you all were so glad to hear Pastor John preach again. How is he doing?
Chris, I know that must have been very hard to have your head shaved. My friend who has gone through that thought she would make the most of it and bought several hats to wear. She is going to have radiation which was not on the table before. The surgeon admitted that there would be microscopic cancer cells that he could not see. He edometrial cancer sounds like it was unusual. She is doing well after surgery.
My neurologist is a man of few words I am seeing now after my firsrt Botox treatment. I am thinking I can resume my neck exercises after 48 hrs. but I am getting this from searching online. I really haven't felt too many side effects other than a headache which I have already been dealing with.
Teka, are you expected to get tons of snow and cold. We are only supposed to get an inch but it is very cold as it is so much of the country.
Wheatfields, how are you doing with your leg? I hope PT is helping. I only have four more sessions but they are stretched out into Feb. Actually I think I have done better with them stretched out like it has turned out.
My 97 yr old friend died. She was such a wonderful women and this is a huge loss for their family but the state she was in when I saw her on Monday was not one anyone would want to have linger. I considered her my dearest and best friend. I am sad but I know her dementia is gone and she is in heaven with Jesus now.
Stay safe everyone.
Love,
Nancy
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Nancy, I am so sorry to read about the death of your 97 yr old friend. Even though she led a long life, it always hurts. I pray God will provide solace for you during this time knowing she is ultimately healed.
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Nancy, I am so sorry to read of the passing of your 97-year-old friend. No matter the age, it is always hard to lose a dear friend. I pray that sweet memories of your friendship will comfort you in the coming days.
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Thank you dear sisters. I got another sad text today saying one of my cousins died as well. She had many health problems and died of lung cancer. So it has been a sad day. I have not felt the greatest this evening. I can't tell if it is the Botox or my antibiotics or the sinus infection. I have been in my night clothes for two days. Before I resume anything I want to be sure the Botox has settled where it is supposed to because it will be a long time before I have another one. Tomorrow I will resume my usual routine. My poor birds never got their heated bird bath filled up today so I need to do that for tomorrow. It is dangerously cold with real temps at -8 and wind chill at -25.
Take care everyone.
Love,
Nancy
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Nancy, I'm so sorry to hear of your dear friend, and it is true no matter how expected or the age it is so very difficult to lose a close friend. Also I'm very sorry to hear about your cousin too. We will be praying for you during this time that the Lord will comfort and encourage your heart daily.
My leg is doing better with the PT. My appointments only run into early February so I need to decide if I should continue a while longer. It has been so cold that I'd rather stay home than get out and go to PT even though it's only twice a week. And you are right Nancy, once in a while they are two days in a row and it's much better stretched out a bit. We've had some nights well below zero (-12) and some wind chills 30 - 40 below. One day there were 53mph winds making it very cold. The high today was 11 and my nurse friend and I did go out to her brothers on the farm, which is about 20 miles from here. We dressed warm because he has a heat pump that wasn't working well and so it was in the 60's in the house and he usually likes it about 76. We made sure his nearby children knew the situation and that he had extra blankets on the bed and plenty of groceries. He made us a nice cup of coffee before we left.
Praying for each of you!
Love, Wheatfields
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Thank you friends. I stayed home and watched church online. I was a bit fearful of my car not starting at church with the bitter cold. I went out late yesterday to fill bird feeders and wash out and pour more water in my heated bird bath. When I went inside it felt like both of my thumbs were frostbitten. I wasn't even out that long so I played it safe today and stayed home.
I appreciate your prayers. Wheatfields I am glad to hear your leg is doing better. I only have 4 more PT sessons and I think that will be the end. I have will have had 16 PT sessions stretched over several months. I will probably have to do neck exercises for the rest of my life along with the Botox. It is still too early to tell yet if the Botox is working as it can take a while.
My neighbor shoveled for me and I am so grateful. I wasn't sure if I was going to ask my handyman or not as it didn't look like a lot of snow but after seeing my neighbor shoveling it was more than I thought. This is turning into an expensive yr for paying for shoveling. We have been spoiled the last several years with very little snow.
Hershey, I bet you husband is enjoying using his snowblower!!!
Teka, your post reminded me that I don't have any snacks period!!! I am not sure who Nikki is either.
Chris, praying for you.
Love,
Nancy
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Nancy, I did a bit of sleuthing and there was a Nikki.G whose last post was July 2025. Then she disappears. I messaged her and will let you know if she responds. My brain remembers random things. You responded to her in July too.
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Chris, was she fairly young and from the deep south?
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I'm not sure but I think so. I should have been more observant.
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Chris, I did go back and also found her. She was the person I was thinking of but I just didn't remember her name. I do remember being concerned that she was not going the chemo route but I certainly didn't want to say that at the time. She was only 47 at the time. I hope she is doing well! Good memory for you!!!
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Teka, Pastor John has preached the last two Sundays in person. He shared that his tumor markers have decreased, and the oncologist has scheduled a PET scan for early February.
Nancy, I'm so glad that a neighbor shoveled your driveway for you. We had very cold temperatures and only a dusting of snow. My husband swept the driveway and sidewalks in about 10 minutes; the snowblower stayed parked in the garage. The long range forecast calls for sunny, dry days with temperatures in the low to mid fifties. We need some measurable precipitation sooner than later. Local communities are beginning to discuss water restrictions if the situation doesn't improve.
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Hershey, that is good news about Pastor John and his tumor markers. I pray it continues down that path!!
Yes, I am very glad my neighbor shoveled as well. I need to drive down the block to get my mail but I suspect that my mailbox is frozen where I can't get into it. That happens when it gets very cold. I used to have something to spray into the lock if I could find it.
I have not felt the greatest. I am on the tail end of my antibiotics but I think what I am feeling are side effects from the Botox. It does say that flu like symptoms can occur and things can be more painful before it starts working. I have seen some forums from people who have had the treatments for many years and some say the first couple of treatments may not be very effective. The doctor adjusts the doseage depending on what I tell him so I need to make a log of this. I have pain where I didn't have pain before so that is something I hadn't counted on. Some have described the treatment as someone trying to throw darts blind folded. My neurologist was guided by an EMG so I am sure he wasn't blindly injecting muscles unless the machine said the muscles were very active. Time will tell. Our weather is eventually supposed to get better but we will still be cold. I envy your temps in the 50's in the near future. We probably wont' experience that until spring.
Have a good night.
Love,
Nancy
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Teka, enjoy. Sounds like a great way to spend a Wed. morning.
My birds and squirrels are very happy. I have put a bunch of bird seed on the ground and that makes all the little critters happy. The birds are happy that the squirrels are not trying to eat out of their feeders now. I went for quite a few years without the squirrels being about to manuever the bird feeder but they have figured it out so now I will have to continue to put seed on the ground for them during this winter cold and snowy winter.
My 97 yr old friend's service is tomorrow and I will get to see my friend who has gone through cancer surgery for the first time and another of her friends as I am the driver going out of town for this place I have never been too. The weather will be brutal for the private burial for family only. Bonnie is in heaven now and I celebrate that even though my emotions have been on the surface and pouring out at unexpected times.
Have a good day everyone.
Love
Nancy
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Nancy, praying for you today as you travel to your friend's service and visit with another dear friend. May you be safe and comforted.
Teka, take care of your arms!
Here is the prayer from Susie Larson. I need this today.
Today’s Prayer
Precious Lord, quiet my heart today. Help me to cease striving and intimately know that You are God. I release my cares, worries, dreams, and hopes to You and fully embrace the wonder of knowing and being known by You. Any gift from Your hand pales in comparison to knowing Your heart. For You are the greatest treasure, the Pearl hidden in the field. I celebrate Your presence in my life today. I'm rich beyond measure because I'm Yours!
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Teka, I hope those crows appreciated you feeding then and then hurting your shoulders. I pray that it is better today.
Chris, how are you feeling?
Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. The weather was frigid but the sun was shining and the roads were clear so I am thankful for that as this funeral home was out of town and none of my passengers knew exactly where it was. Since my GPS in my car is not always reliable I had one friend check my google maps print out and another friend was using the gps in her phone and we made it with no problem. My 97 yr old friend, Bonnie would have been very pleased at all the people that were their honoring her life. All of her three children spoke. I was so pleased that our former Sunday school teacher, pastor and psychologist who was a bigger than life member of our church and on staff for many, many years and is now retired officiated which was a surprise to me. Her daughter had mentioned that the current pastors didn't know Bonnie. They asked if anyone wanted to speak. I wanted to so badly but my emotions have been right on the surface and I knew I would not be able to speak. At my Zoom Bible study I spoke on our subject and totally had a meltdown in front of everyone. Very unusual for me but the last few months have been difficult. So I just sat there at the funeral home in silence. I learned things about my friend I never knew and got to meet some of her beloved grand children I heard so much about over the years. The takeaway for me is that I was very privileged that God placed her in my life over so many years and it was obvious that she touched many, many people with her kind heart and gentle spirit. She was always smiling. Now she is smiling in heaven as she walks those streets of gold in her perfect new heavenly body and no doubt has walked with Jesus.
Chris, I love that prayer you posted. So good.
It has been a strange night. I didn't have to make my bed because I never slept in it. I woke up in my recliner at 3:10 am and the TV was still going. I remember hearing part of the news at 10 pm and that is all I remember. My tea steeped for 5 hrs. LOL I warmed it up and drank it and decided to stay in the recliner and eventually got my pillow and slept on the sofa. I did this last week and when I went back to bed I couldn't sleep so I figured if I just stayed put it would be better.
We are getting more snow today. If the sun is shining it makes everything so much better!!
Have a great weekend dear sisters.
Love,
Nancy
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Nancy, I'm so glad your trip to your friend's funeral went smoothly. She sounds like she was a wonderful lady.
I'm struggling a bit today. I do well after the chemo until day three, today, but it isn't too bad. My stomach issues are actually better than when on the oral medicines but of course there are other issues. So far accepting chemo was the right decision. When I listen in on the phone conversations my DH has with his friends, I am blessed that he mentions that he enjoys just spending time together, and I enjoy the small blessings God sends me everyday. It is not the retirement route I would ever have chosen, but my understanding of God's love has deepened beyond measure.
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Chris, I'm praying for you to get through this rough period after chemo. I am glad the Lord is confirming to you that you made the right decision. That is a huge blessing. Praying for more good quality time with your family.
Love,
Nancy
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Have a wonderful day dear sisters.
Love,
Nancy
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Nancy, I am doing fine today. I usually do okay the day after chemo so I will try to make the most of it before SEs hit. how are you feeling? How are your house repairs working?
Teka, My DH and I grabbed quick lunch take-out yesterday between the hour of port labs and infusion so we weren't hungry until late last night. That usually means cereal and fruit for late dinner. I was told the hospital cafeteria was hit-or-miss so we didn't try it. There are a couple of fast-food places near the hospital. Our favorite Mexican food restaurant is there also but we didn't have enough time. We did that last time as my appointments were more spread-out. I usually eat mild entres.
It snowed last night (yay for Colorado) but will hit high 40s today and almost 60 tomorrow. We really need the snow and people are getting concerned about fire danger and water rationing. A couple of ski resorts are closing runs also.
Thank you all for caring. It means so much since I don't get out much anymore.
Blessings, Chris
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Teka, when has the ground hog NOT seen his shadow!!!! Enjoy your diner and take out. There used to be a breakfast restaurant near my house and they had the best quiche lorraine. I would go there every weekend to get that. It closed so no more quiche for me.
Chris, I am glad you feel pretty good initially after your infusion. I hope you can make the most of those days. We have had quite a bit of snow but some days it didn't amount to much. My NY friend sounds like they have had a ton of snow and are now in the deep freeze we just got out of. I had another crazy night of falling asleep and waking up in my recliner and then not getting back to sleep. My next big indoor project will involve some tearing out of walls to put some insulation in on two corners of my house. Then I will have a good part of my indoors painted and then the new carpet laid. I have already paid for the carpet which is the same as my room I have already had redone. Spring is the target for that. No more repairs for the present. My furnance is fixed without any cost to me so I am so glad I discovered this leak before it had done more rust damage on the outside of the furnace.
I only have two more PT sessions next week. I am today at my 2 wk mark after botox. It should be kicking in now. My therapist said even last week that my neck muscles seemed better than they had ever been with her. Yesterday she could feel some tightness and said it could be that the botox has reached the neck muscles but lower down may take some time. I feel pretty good today. I told my therapist I was holding off making any concrete plans for going to Bryce Canyon and she said why. I said because I am still not out of the woods with the neck pain and when I get stressed it is much worse. I think she was trying to encourage me to go for it.
I told her I had recently seen too many very scary videos of mountain lions scarying some people. One video had titled this mountatin lion chased me for 6 min. This hiker was video taping the whole incident and it was very scary when it periodically would charge him and he kept yelling it and it finally left him. I think he thought maybe there were babies invovled.
So if I do make it to Bryce Canyon I will try not to watch any videos at all that involve wild animals. I have toyed with the idea of driving there but I just can't imagine since a three hour trip is a lot for me. It would take me till next Christmas to get there at that rate. LOL This particular trip just happens to be a complicated one. Even with flying I would still have a four hour drive with a loaner to get to Bryce no matter which major airport I flew into. Time is going way too fast and if I don't plan the trip very soon lodging within the Canyon will be all booked. If I am meant to go it will work out. I had toyed with the idea of taking a week vacation to Florida first when planning this last summer. That would be a much easier trip and would give me an idea of how to pack for camera equipment etc. I had no idea I would be in PT and even when I started I thought I would be finished by now. So we'll see.
Hershey and Wheatfields, how are you both doing?
Take care dear sisters.
Love,
Nancy
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Chris, I'm happy that you are feeling pretty good right after the chemo treatment and just pray that you continue to even through the side effect stage.
Nancy, no more scary videos :) The problem for us who live this far north is that we are going to probably have 6 more weeks of winter either way. Although the long range forecast looks pretty good, even a couple days of 50's. It has been so cloudy I'm wishing for a little sunshine!
Teka, you are right about it being downhill to spring now. Hershey hope you are doing well!
I'm going to PT a little longer, I had a little setback last week when I went to the chiropractor and he did what I call a towel trick for my neck and it caused a flash of pain across my lower back. So I spent a few days recovering from that. So thankful it's a little better now.
Praying for each of you.
Love, Wheatfields
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Teka, the only thing I remember about 2020 is the year of Covid and my Mom died. Everything else is s blur. We basically always have six weeks of winter after Feb. 2 no matter what the ground hogs say. I get a bit excited as the longer days start to become noticeable and that always gives me hope of spring coming.
Wheatfields, I''m sorry the chiropractor's towel trick didn't work as expected. That is too bad that it set off something else. That is what happens in my PT. I went to a chiro for many years but he never did anything with a towel. After my neck surgery he had to be very careful when adjusting my neck as I had fusion with a metal plate.
I just got inside from taking my garbage out. My neighbor who is in college came walking down the street and he said I can get those for you. At first I didn't recognize him. It was quite cold out and we talked in my driveway for a long time. I was freezing. I finally said I have to go inside it is too cold out here.
Have a good night everyone.
Love,
Nancy
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Dear sisters,
I am SOOOO excited. I finally pulled the trigger and booked my first solo vacation to Bryce Canyon. I will be lodging at their famous Lodge and it is only 2-5 min from the rim where I will definitely be photographying the hoodoos. I talked to a person as I was having some difficulty with their website. So they called me back after I had already got things to work. I asked how safe it was for me to photograph the Milky Way at night. She said we have park rangers there as this is a 24 hr park. I do have peace about this and am not so stressed as when I was planning the trip last year. It will be six nights in August during the new moon which I need for the Milky Way. Strangely it is called the monsoon season and August being one of the wettest. The lady I was talking to about that said that would make for some great pictures with lightning. I'm thinking not so much with a tripod as a lighting rod!
I had a hair apt today and my hair stylist is an avid golfer who travels everywhere to golf. I told her the logistics and I said should I book the lodging first and she said yes. So one big piece of the puzzle in place. 😀
Have a great weekend everyone.
Love,
Nancy
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Nancy, that is exciting news. It is wonderful to have something like that to look forward to and sounds just like something you would enjoy. Yay!
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