100 lb. Club - Yadda, Yadda, Yadda for July

Thought I'd start this one because I wanted to hear what happened with Lorraine. Sarah???

Had a rather mellow Independence Day as my DH was getting ready for today's colonoscopy. If you've ever had one done, you know that the prep is worse than the procedure. We had to stay close to the bathroom! The colonoscopy went well, only two little polyps that are probably benign (my DH is a polyp former whose mother and three aunts died of colon cancer) and hopefully he can wait five years instead of three before having it done again. Decided to do a little anti-polyp dance in the parking lot before we entered the hospital. Got a lot of stares (what--don't other 50+ people dance in parking lots?), but two little benign polyps are a lot better than the precancerous ones he's had in the past.

Sheila, I hope everything turns out fine for your husband. On my side of the border, we are getting in the hottest days of summer. Temperature maintains in the lower 30’s..This does not stop me from biking to work most of the times. I got a big disillusion today. I recently bought a computer that reads the average speed….I thought I was going fast at an average of 24-28 Km/H…..I just learned that Lance Armstrong did a 57 Km/H average at the tour de France yesterday…..I have a lot of work to do before Sheryl Crow falls into my arms ;o) (Sheryl Crow actually dates LA)



I decided to completely stop the “Boost” diet. It was good when I was in the 300+ pounds, but now that I’m at 245, only 35 pounds away from my goal, they are just not efficient anymore. Furthermore, biking to work requires me more than 235 calories per meal…So I started back a normal diet. I eat a lot of fish….My favorite is salmon steaks cooked in water along with couscous and vegetables.

Glad to hear that went well Sheila. Luckily I've never had that done but mom has so I know what you mean about the preparations.

Frenchie--that salmon sounds really good. I used to not be much of a fish eater but I'm learning to like it more.

I've mostly been super exhausted lately. I told Jeff he's going to have to talk to his boss and try to not close so many nights of the week. Last week I came home, hurried up and fed the kids, bathed them and had them in their room by 8 p.m. so I could crash. William has learned to climb the gate too so I can't do that anymore. I don't mind doing a couple of nights a week with just me but if I keep getting this exhuasted I'm going to have to have some help.

Oh and Dad keeps joking that I need to take care of the "twins." I mentioned that knowing my luck I would have twins. Since high school I always wanted twin girls, then a boy and then another girl. Well I had the girl then the boy so now it's time for the twins. I'm also starting to show. Not sure if it's just the bloat or what but the way I'm shaped all the fat gets pushed up to the top and makes me look pregnant.

I so remember being that exhausted, Dawnyal!

I remember even being pg with Liam and not having any other kids to look after, I would sit down...and fall asleep...or lie down for a second and fall asleep..
I wouldn't intend to do it but just could NOT keep my eyes open!!
Feeling any sickkies yet? Mine both started at six weeks, and with Liam it lasted six weeks, with Talia only about three weeks...I had it down to such a science with Tali...I'd drink some really watered down apple juice before I got in the shower every morning..and then just throw up in the shower. I don't drink much apple juice these days though... :lol:

Or maybe you're one of the lucky ones who doesn't get morning sickness? That would be cool! I always felt lucky to be just a once-a-day-er... not like the poor women who are sick all day every day for the whole time...they're so brave!

xoxo
Linda

Hi all. I have to jump on here quickly, so I'll be brief. It seems that Lorraine might have had a heart attack a couple of weeks ago. She's got a "left bundle branch block" (usually caused by a heart attack) and her heart is beating irregularly and has some water around it. Her mother had heart problems starting in her 50's. And Lorraine has been smoking up to a pack and half a day for 28 years. (And she's only 40!) She'd planned to quit on Sunday (she's been taking Wellbutrin and was going to start the patch that day) but she quit today after all of this. (7 packs of cigarettes torn up and thrown in the trash.)

Anyway, we had an appt. with the cardiologist scheduleld for today, but she was getting persistent chest pains and then had tingling in her temple and pains down her left arm, so we went to the emergency room on Sunday night, when we got home from being out of town. They kept her overnight, and gave her a bunch of tests before releasing her Monday afternoon saying she was fine and her heart was fine.

Today the cardiologist looked at her heart with an ultrasound and also reviewed the results of her stress test, and he said she should never have been released. (The chest pains had continued.) So she's going in tomorrow (after my PET scan :eek: ) for some kind of catheter test where they go in through the groin and look at the heart that way. They'll find out if there's a problem or not. If there isn't, she can go home. If ther IS a problem, they'll perform surgery immediately and put in a stent or whatever is necessary, and then they'll keep her.

If you guys could pray for her and/or send positive vibes her way, I'd really appreciate it. I'm just desperate over it. :(

Thinking of you and Lorraine. I hope everything goes well in the hospital. Tell her if she needs some quit smoking support that a very good site for that is http://www.quitnet.com/ I'll be two years quit the end of this month after smoking for 35 years..it can be done and the world looks better when you aren't looking thru a cloud of smoke. Cindi

Oh Sarah!
Positive vibing.....
I hope that everything goes as well as it possibly can go tomorrow...with Lorraine and with your PET scan.

Sending hugs...healing energy...support...and love your way
xoxox
Linda

If there was ever a family that deserved nothing but good things from here on out its certainly yours, Sarah.

Count my good thoughts, wishes, and prayers among the many coming fast and furious to you and Lorraine!

The best of wishes and most positive of vibes are flowing your way, Sarah - that the PET Scan result puts your mind at ease and that Lorraine's diagnosis is that she's going to be fine and just had a bad scare (one that scared her enough to throw away the cancer sticks NOW). More wishes going out that the second half of 2005 is the complete reverse of the first half ~ calm and smooth sailing ahead! Take care, both of you!

:grouphug: from everyone at my house.

Oh man Sarah you two have really been through the ringer. I will be praying for both of you tomorrow. My dad had to have that same test done and he did not think it to be to bad if I remember right. They then did the angioplasty and it worked good for him for a while but he refused to give up his smokes and beer. I think he would have been fine had he done that and eaten more healthful. I know you both will be fine and will await the good news.

Oh Sarah :grouphug: I'm sending love, support and tons of positive vibes your way. Everything is going to be fine, i'm sure of it. You two are so strong and can beat anything that gets thrown your way! :D Make sure to keep us in the loop..

Oh dear. Best wishes to you both. :goodvibes: I hope all your worries are eased over the next few days.

My thoughts are with you and Lorraine, Sarah.....you are both strong enough to get through anything!!

Oh, Sarah, I'm so sorry to hear this. They really are doing some great things with interventional cardiac medicine these days, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed for the best.

We will all keep you all in our thoughts this week! Hang in there, Sarah!

Sheila - here's hoping your hubby gets to wait five years instead of three for the next colonoscopy! (I'm also doing a little happy dance :dance: for the two little benign polyps instead of anything much nastier)

Sarah & Lorraine,

Lots of good thoughts and prayers for you both!

(((hugs)))
Kimberley

Sarah--OMG. I'm so sorry to hear this. Y'all are definitely in my thoughts and prayers. I hope all turns out well.

Good luck today Sarah, lots of prayers and good vibes going to you and Lorraine.
:grouphug:

Prayers your way for Sarah and Lorraine. ((((HUGS))))

Glad for your hubby's good news Sheila.

Doc put me on different diabetic meds. This one doesn't give me the munchies. :dancer:

Need to :ebike: more.

Biggest overeating time is payday stress and grocery day. :o

Children's book close to being done. :woo:

Need to pop in every so often to get my encouagement shot by reading Kim and Howie's posts. :wave:

:grouphug: :balloons: Got to be scooting along. :scooter: :goodluck:

Carol - whereabouts in central Ohio are you?

Sheila - :crossed: Fingers crossed for 5 years. Glad to hear the test went well.

Dawnyal - Hang in there. I think the exhaustion is the worst part.

Sarah - My goodness. I just can't believe the time you are having. :angel: Prayers for good results on both tests today. Please let us know how things went.

Things with me are :dizzy: CRAZED :dizzy: We have sold our house and will close at the end of the month. The good news is that we also found a house and hopefully will also close at the end of the month.

The bad news is that the last couple of months of constant cleaning, showing the house, looking for houses has taken it's toll on little mister Jacob. his routine has been messed up and he doesn't like it. He has been crying in school, saying he misses his mommy and Daddy. This morning I spent 30 minutes in bed with him crying these huge tears that he misses his Daddy. I had no idea how to help. We called Dad (which only upset dad) and I let him take a picture of all 3 of us to daycare. :( I hated seeing him so sad.

Here are a few pictures of the house. The front, the back and the kitchen (my favorite!)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v433/kahuna23/frontofhouse.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v433/kahuna23/backyard2.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v433/kahuna23/Kitchen.jpg

Carol: Good luck with the book. That sounds like such fun.

Sandi: I'm loving your new house. I too love the kitchen. I don't have any good advice for Jacob. Hopefully things will settle down a bit and he can get into the new groove.

I got some much needed rest last night and today the nausea is back. It's not too bad luckily and I'm feeling better. Jeff is off work today so I'm going to get in some exercise tonight (walking) and see if that will help with my fatigue.

Sheila ~ glad your husband's test came out ok.

Sarah ~ thoughts and prayers for you and Lorraine and that you both get good news too.

Dawnyal ~ hope you can get caught up on some rest.

Carol ~ it's neat about your book.

Sandi ~ your new house is really nice ~ that is a great back yard for Jacob to play in. Hope he gets back to his old self soon.

Sandi ~ I love your house! It's beautiful - that kitchen is AWESOME! The next house we buy (which won't be for a few years) I am NOT compromising on my kitchen at all - I want a nice big one! :D

Sarah ~ I gave you hugs in the other thread too - still thinking about you, I hope today has turned out to be a really positive day on all fronts, sounds like you guys deserve it! :hugs:

------------

All is good here. My son (13 months) is starting to take steps! He took 8 steps the other night - we are all so excited and he's so proud of himself! My husband's schedule is changing for the better so we are all transitioning right now but I'm really excited b/c he'll now be home at 10 pm instead of in the middle of the night (he works in public safety ;) ). DH took DD to the air show today so they are out having fun looking at planes and DH has only called me once frustrated with DD. :lol: That's pretty good - she is 3 after all and she doesn't exactly do what you WANT her to do. ;) Going out WITHOUT kids tonight for chinese food with one of my friends - very excited to have adult conversation and eat a meal without kiddos mooching off of me. :D

Sarah, just checking in...
hoping to hear that your scan was perfect and that Lorraine is doing great. :grouphug:

Me too Sarah,
Thinking about the two of you all day today...hoping for ALL good news!

Sending all my love, hope, strength, and healing positive thoughts.
xoxoxoxxo
Linda

Laura--you sound just like me when Jeff goes out with the kids. He's always complaining about them eating off his plate. We eat between 6 and 7 p.m. and he gets home between 7 and 10 p.m. If they are awake it doesn't how much they ate, they still eat off his plate too. :)

Sarah--still thinking of you and Lorraine.

I'm doing tons better today. My sinus problems are almost gone and I actually woke up just before the alarm went off this morning and woke up refreshed. :D

Oh yeah Big Brother starts tonight. Finally something decent on TV :cheer:

Thank you all so much for supporting me YET AGAIN! Sheesh, doesn't it just seem sometimes that stuff is just heaped upon you? :dizzy: But it always passes, and often good things come out of the difficulty.

They performed the cardiac catheterization on Lorraine, and found that she has a very weak heart, but no heart disease. If you took your hand and clenched and then opened your fingers, you'd see how a normal heart performs. Now take the fingers and just barely curl just the tips of them, slowly, and that's how Lorraine's heart is beating. Also, she's got the blocked left bundle branch, so that means that the electrolytes are not able to travel from the right ventrical into the left, as they should.

Amazingly, in the course of talking about possible causes for this, since she hadn't had a heart attack after all, and only had a bit of plaque in her arteries from smoking for 28 years, we started talking about the "outside chance" that she could have Lyme Disease -- or maybe she'd been exposed to a virus that had done this. So Lorraine and I explained this crazy bug bite she'd gotten a couple of months ago, how it was hard in the center and had this big pink ring around it, like a bulls-eye.....and it's sounding more and more like that's the culprit! We'll find out in a week. It would explain most of her symptoms, and the rest result from what happened to her heart. We weren't even in the woods! She got bitten while pumping gas at a gas station -- it wasn't a deer tick, it must have been a carrier. It seemed to us (a couple of New Yorkers) like a horse fly.

Anyway, she's got three medicines, one of which she'll have to take for the rest of her life, plus a month-long antibiotic regime, and we go back to the cardiologist in 2 weeks. If she'd continued she would have run into big trouble. As it is, we don't know yet if her heart will get better or not. It might even get worse! :(

She's still smoke free, though!! :dance: I am just beside myself with excitement!! She smoked her last cigarette 2 days ago, and she started the patch today. She's been on Wellbutrin (Zyban) for almost 2 weeks -- we're really trying to set her up for success!

The last 4 days have been just heart-wrenching for us -- seeing her in her little gown walking into that room just put me over the edge. :stress: But it really feels like we caught a HUGE break! :yes:

I had my scans yesterday, and to my untrained eye, they look pretty darned good! (Even the tech said, "Big difference from those first ones!" (I lit up like a Christmas tree in those. Very scary.) I won't know for sure until I get the report today.... I'm frantic but trying not to think about it. I'll update you guys when I hear.

Seriously, thank you again for always caring. I'll be back to respond to you guys on what's going on with you, and to catch up on the other threads. Right now, I've got to change Lorraine's dressing! :eek:

Wow Sarah. I'm glad to hear the scans went well and I'll be keeping Lorraine in my thoughts and prayers that her heart gets better.

Sarah: So glad for you and your partner!! I know how hard it must have been for you, but you did GREAT! As we all knew you would!!

Hope you don't have to wait too long for the scan results, Sarah, but I'm going to take your word for it that it looks good and you're well on your way to full recovery! I'm so glad Lorraine's quit smoking for good and hopefully her meds will take care of the heart problem (thank goodness she didn't ignore the signs and took immediate attention by seeking medical help). You both are long overdue for several looong, sweet breaths of relief ~ here's hoping you get to take them SOON!

So glad that your scans look good! I'm sorry to hear about what's happening with Lorraine, and I hope that the docs can fix her up. It's certainly exciting about the no smoking, however. It will be great having her join you on your weightloss journey. Here's to everyone's good health!

Thinking of you both, sarah. So glad that the scans look good, and so sorry to hear about Lorraine's heart problems. But definitely good news on the giving up smoking.......

As for me, well, London, as you might imagine, is in a state of shock today, particularly after the euphoria of winning the 2012 Olympics yesterday. I had a 'lucky escape' (see my post on the friends in UK thread), and am just catching up with family and friends, and trying to make some sense of it all. My heart is feeling very heavy tonight, just feeling the grief and shock around me.

On the brighter side, I have a truly romantic holiday in Guadeloupe (Caribbean) planned for the end of August, and that is something I am really looking forward to. Plus a week in the Orkneys (islands of coast of Scotland) in late July - just to warm me up for the Caribbean!

Sarah, I'm so relieved to see your update today! Thank God Lorraine didn't have a heart attack. Lorraine: You ROCK, woman. Keep it up!

Claire, good to see you're okay. We've been out all day and we were wondering how our UK 3FC folks are doing. I'm off to check that thread.

Thanks again, everybody.

This just in! :hyper: This just in!! :hyper: I picked up the report, and I'M CLEAN!!!! I've got scar tissue, but NO CANCER!! Nothin', nada, bubkuss!!! Good Lord what a relief..... I was sweating bullets.

Lorraine's holding strong. At this writing, it's been 46 hours since her last cigarette! :cheer:

Sarah!!!!!!!!!!
:cheer: :cheer: :cheer: :cheer: :cheer:

I'm shaking with joy right now...on the verge of tears..

I AM SO HAPPY FOR YOU!!!!!

It blows my mind that I could grow to care SO MUCH about someone so quickly!
Onward and upward for you, beautiful woman!

Now lets focus on getting Lorraine well..:)
XOXOXOX
Linda

:dancer: :dancer: :dancer: Sarah that is AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What fantastic news, Sarah! :dance:

Claire: I love The Orkney Islands--that's where I'm going for my 40th birthday next May, and where we're going to move to when we have the cash. :halffull:

Absolutely fabulous news, Sarah! Now you can finally go forward with all your plans for the rest of your life ~ once Lorraine's situation is under control, that is. :)

Congratulate Lorraine on her smoking abstinance; I know its not the easiest thing to go through, but oh so wonderful once the addiction is conquered! You two have great things ahead of you - I just know it!! :smug:

I'm so happy for you and Lorraine. That is such good news for both of you. What a relief that must be.

That's incredible news, Sarah! I can't even imagine how relieved and elated you and Lorraine must feel.

Please tell Lorraine that we're behind her efforts 100%!

Sarah, that is the most wonderful wonderful news. I am so glad and happy for you. Way to go, girl! Thinking of you and Lorraine as she tackles that challenging nicotine withdrawal thing!

TERRIFIC News Sarah! So glad to hear that all is well and it sounds like your Lorraine is on a good path to recovery too - what a good news day - you deserved it. :hugs:

Sarah: THRILLED to hear your scan is CLEAR! Awesome!
Great to hear Lorraine is doing so well kicking cigarette's "butts":lol: Have you considered setting aside the money previously spent on cigarettes and saving it up for a fabulous reward of some kind?

Sarah, I'm so happy for you about the good news from your scan. Glad Lorraine made the choice to quit smoking and that she is hanging in there so far. Hope everything is ok with her heart.

ALL CLEAR!!!! WOW!!!! What fantastic news!!! I can't even imagine the joy you must be feeling! That is so awesome. Sorry to hear that Lorraine is having troubles. I am glad to hear that she is now smoke free. I know that together, the two of you can do ANYTHING!!!!!!

Yeah Sarah that is so awesome and fantastic :cheer:. Yeah for Lorraine for the still no smoking. Hopefully it will help with her other health problems.

Such *great* news on both accounts, Sarah! Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah! :dance:

I want to go on this diet!!

http://channels.netscape.com/ns/homerealestate/package.jsp?name=fte/peanutbutter/peanutbutter

Sheila that diet sounds great to me. I really have been in a peanut butter and avocado kick (not together though!!!)

Thanks, you guys! :goodvibes

We'll find out in a week if Lorraine's got Lyme Disease, but it's realy looking like that's what messed up her heart. She only had a bit of plaque, and, while her overall cholesterol is fine at 175, her LDL (the bad cholesterol) is high, as are her triglycerides. But no heart disease! I don't know yet if her weakened heart will go back to normal or not. She's weak and has trouble breathing while going up the stairs -- NOT at all the Lorraine that I know. We go back to the cardiologist in 2 weeks, so I guess we'll find out then. She's on Day 4 smoke-free, though! She's pretty crusty, and not exactly her most loving ;) -- but she smells a whole heck of a lot better!!! ;)

Thanks from both of us for all the well wishes. I'm still in the "freshly grateful" stage over my clean scans! :dance: :dance:

Sarah! Hey, how'd I miss the ALL CLEAR?! I mean, I assumed as such from what the radiology tech told you, but hey....It's OFFICIAL! I got chills when I read that. How wonderful!

Lorraine, you can do it -- you go, girlfriend!

Sarah!!!!!!!!!! GREAT NEWS about the clean test! And about Lorraine, it sounds promising... let us know when you get the results. I'm so so glad it's not sounding as ominous as it was at first (and how did I totally miss this thread?) If anyone deserves to be happy and healthy and stress-free for ONCE, it's definitely the two of you! :grouphug:

Sarah that's wonderful news about your scan, and they say if you can go 3 days without smoking that the worse is behind you. Good luck to Lorraine in kicking the habit.

Shiela - Wowza that's a lot of peanut butter. I love the stuff, but I'm seeing serious pb&j burnout.

As far as what's going on in peachgirl's world, I'm getting ready for the hurricane. Dennis is expected to come thru my part of Alabama on Monday. Cindy hit on Wednesday, with a lot of wind and a lot of rain but only about 2 tornados for my county. Dennis has me a little more worried, so tonight I go grocery shopping and pick up batteries, books, ect :)

Oh Sarah, I'm so excited and relieved for you! I just knew it would be good news and now you can finally put all this behind you. Give Lorraine a big hug, I know her scare was probably just about too much to bear after everything you two have been through. But it sounds like all will be well with her as well, thank goodness! I'm glad she's giving up the smokes and she will be too once she makes it through the initial stages and can get back to her normal self. So let yourself breath a sigh of relief and look forward to the happiest of futures you two deserve to have together.

Beverly

I worked out in the yard again today, this time in the back yard where my sweaty, grimy self wouldn't be on display in its stained tank top and shorts! LOL Lots of weeding done today, praying no poison ivy rash will appear anywhere.... :fr:

Just checking in!
Peachgilrl..I hope everything is OK where you are..and that Dennis skips your house!
It must be so frightening!

I just wanted to let you all know that we got a short-notice visit home from my DH!
That would explain my absence for the last couple of days...;)
His crew was send to the Island for a Metis annual celebration weekend called Red River West...They wanted to have the Rangers there to show their stuff..
So, we've been getting up at 5:00 each morning to drive 2 hours down to Victoria...spending the entire day there..and then driving 2 hours home so we can...ummm...spend the night together..:lol:
So, vast lack of sleep here...but food went pretty well and I've had tons of exercise so..hopefully things are going to be good weight wise :)
Today he was allowed to stay at home so we slept in (he's still asleep!) and tomorrow we're up at 5 again to drive him back down there so he can help everyone tear down the little village and pack the function up for next year...then he's off...back to base camp in Armstrong B.C....and hopefully he'll get to come home for Talia's birthday on the 25th..:cf:...

As for the coming week, I'm off to Port Alberni with the kids to spend the week with Rudy's aunt...the tall ships are coming to town and we're making a mini holiday of it.
I should be around still during that because I can just use her computer!

That's my update folks...love to everyone!
xoxo
Linda

Just checking in!
Peachgilrl..I hope everything is OK where you are..and that Dennis skips your house!
It must be so frightening!

I just wanted to let you all know that we got a short-notice visit home from my DH!
That would explain my absence for the last couple of days...;)
His crew was send to the Island for a Metis annual celebration weekend called Red River West...They wanted to have the Rangers there to show their stuff..
So, we've been getting up at 5:00 each morning to drive 2 hours down to Victoria...spending the entire day there..and then driving 2 hours home so we can...ummm...spend the night together..:lol:
So, vast lack of sleep here...but food went pretty well and I've had tons of exercise so..hopefully things are going to be good weight wise :)
Today he was allowed to stay at home so we slept in (he's still asleep!) and tomorrow we're up at 5 again to drive him back down there so he can help everyone tear down the little village and pack the function up for next year...then he's off...back to base camp in Armstrong B.C....and hopefully he'll get to come home for Talia's birthday on the 25th.. :crossed: ...

As for the coming week, I'm off to Port Alberni with the kids to spend the week with Rudy's aunt...the tall ships are coming to town and we're making a mini holiday of it.
I should be around still during that because I can just use her computer!

That's my update folks...love to everyone!
xoxo
Linda

Oh, Sarah...Im sooo pleased to hear your news! Cancer-shmancer...you kicked its @$$!!!!!!!!! :D

Very busy Week-end on my side of the border

Friday evening, gave a ride to one of my friends at the train station....lucky guy, he's going to spend 3 weeks in Vancouver region.....

Saturday, went out to help my parents at their gardening convention. Even if temperature was crappy, we had a lot of visitors. In the evening, i went dancing to the sounds of the 80's

Sunday, did a 60km bike ride to my parent's house for the second day of their convention. It was bright sunshine, so backyard was crowded! In the evening, a thunderstorm was buildign up so i had to ride my bike pretty fast. This morning my legs hurt like crazy!!.....

by the way, Sarah, very glad to hear the good news about your results...:)

Thanks for the well wishes, here and on the Dennis thread, Auburn ended up missing both the eye and the out bands of Dennis somehow. (the eye went west of us, the outer bands hit east in atlanta) We had a power outage but nothing major. Ivan hit so hard last year that now it seems everyone is a little more skiddish about hurricanes than what they were before. It was kind of a reality check to what was still possible.

Frenchie - sounds like a great weekend. And the 80's is the best dance music around :D

Ivanna - Welcome back!!!

That's wonderful, Peachgirl. I'm glad that Dennis weakened as reached the U.S.--pretty scary stuff.

Okay, I'm posting this for dog lovers. Supposedly it's made the rounds for years, but I'd never heard this before so I got a huge chuckle out of it.

Dear Dogs,
The dishes with the paw print are yours and contain your food. The other dishes are mine and contain my food. Please note: Placing a paw print in the middle of my plate and food does not automatically stake a claim for it becoming your food and dish, nor do I find that aesthetically pleasing in the slightest.

The hallway was not designed by NASCAR and is not a racetrack. Beating me to the other end is not the object. Tripping me doesn't help either because I fall faster than you can run.

I cannot buy anything bigger than a king-sized bed. I'm very sorry about this. Do not think I will continue sleeping on the couch to ensure your comfort. Dogs can actually curl up in a ball when they sleep. It is not necessary to sleep perpendicular to each other stretched out to the fullest extent possible. I'm also aware that sticking tails straight out and having tongues hanging out the other end to maximise space is nothing but sarcasm.

For the last time, there is no secret exit from the bathroom. If, by some miracle I beat you there and manage to get the door shut, it is not necessary to claw, whine, try to turn the knob or get your paw under the edge and try to pull the door open. I must exit through the same door I entered. Also, I have been using the bathroom for many years - canine attendance is not mandatory.

The proper order is kiss me, then go smell the other dog's butt. I cannot stress this enough!

To pacify you, my dear pets, I have posted the following message on our front door:

Rules for Non-Pet Owners Who Visit and like to Complain About Our Pets

1. They live here. You don't.

2. If you don't want their hair on your clothes, stay off the furniture (that's why they call it "fur"niture.)

3. To you, it's an animal. To me, he/she is an adopted son/daughter who is short, hairy, walks on all fours and doesn't speak clearly. Dogs are better than kids... they eat less, don't ask for money all the time, are easier to train, usually come when called, never drive your car, don't hang out with drug-using friends (unless the cat that also lives here has a cat-nip addiction, but that won't kill him/her). They don't smoke or drink, don't worry about having to buy the latest fashions, don't wear your clothes, and don't need a gazillion dollars for university - and if they get pregnant, you can sell the children.

I *love* the dog bit there -- yes, I've read it before, but it always brings a grin. The last part is especially appropriate for our home. Gee, maybe I should hang it on the front door? ;)

That dog thing is WAY too cute :) I love it love it love it!!!

I just wish now that there was some way to convince my husband that when he married me, the dog came too!

Thanks, most recent well-wishers, for all of your support! It means so much to me that you care and take the time to wish us well. Beverly, you really hit the nail on the head when you referred to Lorraine's heart problems being almost too much to bear. It really was so hard.

She's doing a little better -- the chest pains, while still present, aren't quite as bad. We don't know at all yet when her heart will begin to repair itself, which is scary. I'm thrilled that she's still smoke free, however. It's just so, so great. She's miserable, but I think she'll live. ;)

My health seems to be improving -- my energy and stamina seem to be improving little by little, I'm more alert, and some of the more lasting of my chemo side effects seem to be abating somewhat (like some of the pain and achiness, and a decidedly yellow hue.) So I'm improving! I'm very happy to be able to feel actual MUSCLES again in my thighs -- I can hardly keep my own hands off them, and I'm freely encouraging others to feel them, too!

An EXTREMELY exciting thing is going to happen next Tuesday: I'm going to have the port-a-cath removed from my chest!! (They gave me my chemo through it, so it's been both a blessing and a thorn in my side.) If you've never seen one, I'll just say that it's not pretty -- it's like seeing a bottle cap under your skin on your chest. Although my scar has healed beautifully, having a new one is totally worth getting that foreign object out of my body!

In other non-health related news, Lorraine and I are debating on whether or not to build a new home in PA this year or the next. If we do it this year, we'd be moving in early next year; if we hold off, we'll go to Italy in the spring (my remission celebration gift of returning to my beloved Tuscany!) and then build at the end of 2006 for early 2007 move-in. Part of me is very, very eager to get out of this cancer house -- those are not of course the only memories I have here, but after being locked up here practically on house arrest over the last 7 months, I'm ready to get the heck out! A fresh start would be nice sooner rather than later. We'll have to see if we can swing it financially. It would be pretty awesome, though. This will be our "move-up" house, so it'll be very exciting whenever it happens! :)

Take care, friends!

Hey Sarah!

My partner and I are planning to build also! We want out of our apartment soooo bad! He is an engineer by trade, and has already built a house, so he's got some experience with it. It's all new for me, but so far it has been FUN to plan and dream!

Jen, it IS fun! We can sacrifice in some of the areas that folks with kids can't -- in favor of things like a souped-up chef's kitchen with upgraded countertops, stainless steel appliances and range hood, finer cabinets, and some other yummy "dream kitchen" stuff. We're in a townhome now, so having a single family home with even just a little bit of land will be soooo wonderful! (Whenever it happens!)

I'm really happy for you and your boyfriend! That's awesome! Cool also that he's knowledgeable about building homes -- now isn't that an asset? We're totally dependent on the builders. I hope it happens for you soon!

Sarah: I have discovered that building yourself takes longer than with a builder, but here in Florida, it is taking a long time anyway because of all the hurricanes from last year. So we figured we may as well do it ourselves and save $50-100K in the process. We'd like to be able to build it with little or no mortgage as well.

And yes, we have a dream kitchen in mind as well! He's the cook in the house, so he already knows what he wants! This is so much fun!

I'd never seen the dog "poem" - that's so funny! :)

Sarah & Jen - Congrats to both of you on new houses - whenever they may materialize!

Sarah ~ Glad to hear that Lorraine is still hanging in there without the cigarettes! Sounds like she is doing great! I'm so glad to hear that you are feeling better too - and congrats on the port-a-cath removal! YAH!


Nothing too exciting to report here. I keep thinking that DS will start walking anyday - he was taking TONS of steps today so it could be any time! Unfortunately, he's sick now, so he was really miserable and clingy today. :sad:

Laura, how cool to have a little one almost ready to walk. Pretty soon you'll be getting more exercise chasing him around! Up until February, I lived in West Seattle (grew up there, moved away, moved back to care for my Dad, moved away again). My son, who lives in Lynnwood, says it's been raining up there. Only 3-4 hours south and it's hot and sunny!

So I need to vent, and I'm doin' it here. I started volunteering for an animal shelter in my new town. I've been walking dogs and petting cats. A couple of months ago, I volunteered to help at a fundraising event (silent auction thingy), and when I got there, my only instruction was to "mingle" until the volunteer coordinator needed me in about 20 min. Being new in town, I knew nobody, and it really wasn't a mingling kind of thing. So I talked to other volunteers and walked around for almost an hour before I said to heck with it, and left. Oh, and during that time, I watched the volunteer coordinator replenish the serving bowls in the buffet line, a job which I could easily have done had I been given instructions.

A couple of weeks ago, I said that I would help with something going on this weekend. The volunteer coordinator said that since I could help any of the three days, she'd wait to see which day she would need me after other people signed up. Well, today is the first day of the three-day event, and I haven't heard a word from her. I'm rather ticked off, but I don't know what to do about it--talk to her, quit volunteering, find a board member and tell him/her what a crummy volunteer coordinator the organization has? Perhaps my viewpoint is colored by the fact that I was a volunteer coordinator for a large animal shelter so I know how volunteers should be treated, and it's certainly not like this.

Okay, done ranting!! Yadda, yadda, yadda. . .

Sheila, I would be VERY irritated. Is she new to this position? I'd address your concerns to her directly -- is it possible she would be open to some pointers or an offer of help? At any rate, I think it would be a real loss to the shelter and the animals if you didn't find some way to work with this woman on how you can actually get to help! :dizzy: Sheesh!


Thanks, Laura for the support on my getting my port removed! I'm so excited -- it just happened today!! It was fairly painful since I must have some kind of crazy lidocaine tolerance or something! I stopped counting at 8 shots in one localized area! And STILL I felt him stitching it up after the thing was out. The actual removal of the thing wasn't as much painful as odd, since I could feel him pulling the port out, and I felt the tube moving in whatever major artery it was in....very interesting stuff! Anyway, it's out now, and I have faith that the new scar will look as clean and tidy as the other two this surgeon's put on me! (The biopsy scar on my neck and then the port installations scar.) He really is good, and I like him very much personally.

We talked about weight loss after chemo, and he explained to me why I'm having trouble. Maybe some of you knew this already? Apparently when the body is under extreme physical stress (like after 6 months of high dose chemo) it releases this stress enzyme which ultimately slows the metabolism and also encourages fat storage. :( That's the bad news. The good news is that it's temporary -- and also that the exercise I'm doing will help this situation to eventually pass. If I were just watching my eats/calories without exercising, it would take my metabolism a lot longer to get back up to speed after this kind of trauma. So I'll just keep plugging along!

In other news, Lorraine is still smoke-free! It's Day 14! :cb: :cb: Not only am I just so incredibly thrilled for HER -- I am very happy for all sorts of selfish reasons too! She smells better, the rooms that she smoked in (thinking if she did it when I wasn't right there it would be ok. :rolleyes: ) smell better, I'm breathing better and not having allergic reactions to it.......it's just all ALL better! Of course Lorraine would not agree -- she's miserable, the poor sweetie. She really misses it. She asked me today, "Why does it have to be so bad for you?? I just love it." I'd be sad, if I weren't so damned happy!!! :lol:

Yay Sarah!! It sounds like things are really starting to get back to normal! I'm so excited for you. I'm sure your exercise regiment is really gonna be key to jumpstarting your metabolism again, and then you'll be completely back to your old self in no time.

Have you told Lorraine lately just how proud we all are of her? She's doing great and I'm sure the worst will mostly be over shortly. It's funny, she feels about smoking how I feel about junk food, why does it have to be so damn bad for you? :mad: No fair!! :tantrum: :D

Beverly

It is unfair. We should be able to do all the bad stuff with no bad effects. LOL Big old cheeseburger, I'll have two no make it three it doesn't matter. LOL Ah if only that were true. Oh well.

Do tell Lorraine how proud we are of her. We all know how hard it is to fight those addictions.

"Tripping me doesn't help either because I fall faster than you can run."

This made me laugh so hard! Someone should tell my dogs because they think beating me down the stairs is a wrestling match.

Shelia, sounds like they have a very bad volunteer coordinator. Yikes. How frustrating.

Sheila, sounds like the association needs a crash course in the art of delegation. Volunteers can make an organization really shine, but you have to trust them and give them some direction! And if you do like this one has you, you drive off the very people who are willing to share the load.

Sarah, you keep up the good work. Glad to hear you got the port out without too much (ewwwww!) trouble. And Lorraine? What can I say? Keep it up - it will get better, honest!

i think i've finally come to a point of realization... i should have gotten a dog instead. LOL (i really do love my kids but they are driving me nuts... i can't wait for school to start!)

anyway... i just thought i'd pop in here to post my new id. i lost my password for the other one and don't have the email account that was linked to it so i figured that since this is the last time i'm doing this (and somewhat of a new beginning) that i'd just get a new id to go with it.

i'm still keeping pretty busy (on the days we don't have storms) but i plan to get back in here on a regular basis because i really do much better when i come in here often.

i hope everyone is having a great summer!

Hey Sheila ~ Sorry it took me so long to respond! :) We live in one of the north suburbs of Seattle - I know where West Seattle is though, I got lost there once! :lol: My little man still isn't fully walking - but he's being more adventurous every day and taking more and more steps - so cute to see them toddling along at this age.

How frustrating about the animal shelter - I hate when organizations don't "use" their volunteers properly - what a waste! I hope everything works out and you get it all straightened out!

Sarah ~ Glad that you got that port out - but YEOUCH! I'm such a big baby - I have NO pain tolerance AT ALL! Eeek! I also have some weird tolerance thing to novocaine (spelling that wrong, I think) and whenever I go to the dentist, they have to keep giving me shots - I HATE THE DENTIST - I"m a nervous wreck everytime! ANYWAY (me and my tangents :lol: ) I'm so glad it's all over with! YAH! Good for Lorraine too - 14 days! (more now!) - that's terrific!

Just wanted to post and say, "14 Days (and counting!): Way to Go, Lorraine!!"

I quit smoking for good 3 years ago; I had quit twice before while pregnant but took it up again a few months after my babies were born. One day, I had a light bulb moment and realised I smoked mainly for the "sub-culture of smokers" it allowed me to be a part of, like a weird club of people bent on commiting an extremely slow form of suicide. Smoking made me different and oh-so-slightly 'dangerous' and rebellious. After that it just didn't seem worth the cost of both $$ and my health. For me the addiction was more mental than physical and once the mental addiction was conquered, the physical part wasn't really an issue.

:DShort & Long Term Effects of QUITTING:D

20 Minutes after quitting, your heart rate drops.
12 Hours after quitting, the carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal.
24 Hours after quitting, your chance of a heart attack decreases
2 Weeks to 3 Months after quitting, your circulation improves and your lung function increases up to 30 percent
1 to 9 Months after quitting, coughing, sinus congestion, fatigue, and shortness of breath decrease; cilia (tiny hair-like structures that move mucus out of the lungs) regain normal function, increasing the ability to handle mucus, clean the lungs, and reduce infection.
1 Year after quitting, your added risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker's.
5 Years after quitting, your stroke risk is reduced to that of a nonsmoker's
10 Years after quitting, your lung cancer death rate is about half that of a smoker's. Your risk of cancers of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney, and pancreas decreases.
15 Years after quitting, your risk of coronary heart disease is back to that of a nonsmoker's.

I love that dragons quote, Laura! Do you know where that's from?

Shedilbry, what was your old userID? Could you maybe put it in your sig so we'd remember who you used to post as? Kind of like Prince! LOL "The 3FC member formerly known as..."

I love that dragons quote, Laura! Do you know where that's from?
I saw it on a bumper sticker; never fails to crack me up! I love dragons and it reminds me to stay on plan so I can get my dragon tattoo! See how it all ties in? Have I confused anyone yet?!

Synger added some more info, here's a quote from the "Weekly Journal Buddy Thread (11/7 to 17/7)":
The original quote is from Tolkien -- it's something Gandalf says, I think. "Do not meddle with the affairs of wizards, for they are subtle and quick to anger."

Then came a cartoon of a dragon, belly swollen, picking his teeth with a knight's lance, while the knight's armor was strewn about him, with the byline "Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and good with ketchup." It's gone on from there to bumper stickers, buttons, and other versions (Do not meddle in the affairs of hackers... do not meddle in the affairs of Vorlons... do not meddle in the affairs of cats...).

It's a classic quote/joke from the sci-fi/fantasy fandom world.

Welcome back, shelly! :wave: Nice to see you again!

Alpha Laura, thanks for the support on the port removal! It's all part of the process, you know? :^: Sometimes you just don't have any choice but to just deal with some of the stuff you're stuck with in life. Your novocaine thing sounds very MUCH like my lidocaine thing! :lol: I think I'd rather have my thing than yours, though, because yours would come up more! (Hopefully!)

Omega Laura, thank you for sharing those quit-smoking improvements! I'd sent them to Lorraine just prior to her quitting in the hopes that it would help to motivate her -- but it's been a while since we'd seen them. I just read them to her, and when I asked her how they made her feel, she replied, "Proud! And scared...." Poor sweetie. She's doing great, though. :yes: Day 15 Down!!

*sigh* Went to the gyno today (ick) and she said the chemo-induced menopause might stick for as long as 6 months before we know if it will end up being permanent. :( She also said that the weight loss standstill usually lasts for 2 months! :cry:

I just had to share these new learnings. There's nothing much anyone can say, so don't worry about trying to cheer me up. I'll get over it. I don't have any other choice.

It just sucks, that's all.

Well, that certainly does suck about the weight loss standstill, doesn't it? But you already know that you're doing healthy things for your body so even if you don't lose weight, you'll be ahead of the game.

If the chemo-induced menopause isn't permanent, does that mean you'll have to go through it again in 15 years or so? Hhmm. . . frankly, I wouldn't wish that on anyone!

thanks sarah. the 2 months will be gone before you know it. you have done so well and i know you will get through this too.

gardenwife--- i did it.

The doctor's office called with the results of Howie's Tuesday MRI, and it's not good news. There are some vertebrae with nothing between them, a herniated disk, arthritis, and his curve is bad (that we knew).

It was just the nurse we spoke to, so we won't know more until he can see the doctor. He was so afraid it would be something requiring surgery, and this looks like it is. He's said he's not having surgery again, but where will all this lead if he doesn't?

It's so ironic that he could lose 140 pounds and be hit with this now. Doggone it. Where DID I put that darned magic wand of mine? :?: He's my heart, and I can't stand that he's going through this.

Oh Kimberley,
I'm so sorry. You're right, it's NOT fair! I'm sending all my love and healing thoughts.
You're right that Howie doesn't deserve this kind of pain after all he's done to make himself healthy again...but..where would he be if he still had all the weight on? I'm sure the diagnosis would have been much worse if it weren't for all he's done. You and Howie are so strong as individuals and even stronger as a couple...I think you can make it through anything...(((hugs))) to both of you.

And Sarah...that must be so frustrating knowing you'll have to wait to find out about the menopause...I truly hope it turns out the way you're hoping. As for the weight wait..I know you'll be OK with that after you get your mind around two months without a loss, you've been eating really healthy all this time, and you'll continue to do so, and before you know...it will start coming off again.
However, knowing you...you'll get going much more quickly than that...why? Because you're Sarah The Brave...Sarah The Believer...Sarah The Strong...Sarah The Great...that's why! :)

xoxoxo To all four of you (Howie, Kimberley, Sarah and Lorraine)
Sending everything I've got to give :grouphug:
Linda

You made me cry, sweet woman. Thanks. :)

Any time Kimberley...I really love you guys!
It's all true :)

xoxox
Linda

Sorry to hear that.....even if Howie's probably devastated by this bad news, if it can be of a little encouragment, my mother had the same problem 18 years ago and went through surgery. She is fine right now and can perform moderate activities such as Cycling, Swimming, gardenning...

Don't give up buddy!!;)

Thank you. For those of you who don't know Howie's history, back problems are nothing new...He fell at work in 1994, breaking eight ribs and fracturing two vertebrae. He eventually got back to work after months of PT, but then reinjured his back and herniated a disk. He had a laminectomy (fusion) surgery in 1996, where they took slivers of bone from his hip and fused the L3-L4 vertebrae together. Thank goodness he didn't require any hardware in there.

After a long recovery spending the summer in a custom-made "turtle shell" support, he learned he could go back to school for retraining through the Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation. He did so, and graduated June 1999 with honors with an associate degree in computer programming.

It's been a ride! I just hate seeing him having problems again.

Oh, Kimberley and Howie..... :( :( :( I'm just SO sorry to hear this news. :grouphug: Poor Howie. I know that together you two can get through anything at all. Please keep thinking of how much stronger and better able to tolerate surgery he is now than he was before. I understand he's opposed to having surgery at this time; it seems to me that if having it would improve his quality of life and forestall further damage, it would be a good idea -- no matter how horrifying the prospect. :^: I'm sure together you'll make the decision that's best.

In the meantime, we're all here for you, sending you so much love and caring. You'll be in my prayers tonight, and in Lorraine's tomorrow -- after I tell her about this. I'm sure she'll be just so sorry, too.

Big, squeezy hugs for you both -- especially gentle ones for Howie. :grouphug:

Thanks all. I am just feeling kind of down. I wanted to turn to food but have not done to bad for the day. I did go a couple hundred over but no wheres near what I wanted to do.

Sorry for your news, Howie and Kimberley. Surgery or no, I hope there's some relief out there for you. :halffull:

I am so sorry to hear all that you have been through and what you are going through now.

As others have said, I have to believe that the amazing loss of weight to date has to be making things better than they would have been.

Stay strong...you have eachother and the power of all our collective hopes and prayers. (((HUG)))

Sorry I missed this earlier -- I've been sorta absent lately. I'm soooo sorry to hear this news, Howie and Kimberley. I'm really hoping for the best. I have a very close friend with serious back trouble as well (had major surgery a few years ago, too -- watching him recover was horrible, so I can't imagine the actual RECOVERY). I never know what to say about these things, but know that you're both in my thoughts.

Good for you, Howie, for not turning to food. It's so hard, isn't it? Most of the time it's not so bad, but you realize when something happens just how ingrained those thought patterns are. Hang in there!

Keep us posted and know that we're here for you both. :grouphug:

After all your hard work to become so healthy, it's such a downer. Good for you for not turning to food, though, Howie! You should be really proud of yourself, and we're all so proud of you.

Awww howie. I'm so sorry to hear this. Hopefully there will be other treatments out there besides the surgery. :Bravo: for not turing to food.

Sarah. Keep your chin up. This will pass and if there's anyone I know who can prove them wrong that you CAN lose weight after chemo it is you.

Sarah - I was thinking of this last night for some reason :lol: ... Is there any reason you can't actually lose INCHES, even if the scale isn't moving? I would imagine that with all the weight training you're doing, you might see some significant progress on the tape measure even if you aren't seeing scale progress. Just a thought! Keep up the good work -- I know you know it's good for you, and you can kick the cancer-related plateau's *** just like you did the cancer's itself! :D

Oh Howie...that just sucks! To think you've done everything good for your back (not only losing weight, but exercising as well) and this is your reward! I feel terrible for you :( Obviously what you've been doing for your health has been beneficial (I can't imagine what the diagnosis would have been otherwise) but having to contemplate another surgery is brutal. Have you researched other treatments? Have you discussed with the doctor whether this surgery would be less complicated and more easily recoverable from than that you experienced a few years back? I know your previous surgery must have been miserable, but good came out of that career-wise, and I know you and Kimberley will have the attitude to find something good to come out of this (will the pain cessation itself be worth surgery?) I don't know...sometimes I think the "powers that be" pick out the strongest, most determined and successful people like you and Sarah to try and test their mettle to the max ~ pull a Sarah and show those powers that you, with the help of your devoted spouse, can kick whatever's thrown at you!

P.S. - great show of strength in not succumbing to the food urges over this ~ I'm so proud of you!

I wasn't sure if I should throw this in with the other yadda-yadda-ing or not but...

I got the job! The one I was really excited/enthusiastic about. They called asking for an interview on my B-day which felt like a gift. Interview went well. They told me that I was one of 8 being interviewed out of 150 applicants and they would let me know by Saturday. Well, they called and I got it.

The weirdest part is the position will include talents I developed a century ago while working in Engineering...that of an analyst...compiling data and presenting it in writing or an oral presentation. The necessary computer skills I developed the past few years while volunteering on 2 websites for my passion, saltwater aquaria. Weird how things work out.

The past 20 years I helped DH with his dream of his own auto repair/collision shop and I did all the accounting, banking, payroll, taxes, etc. and was happy to do so as it allowed me to be home with my boys but it never really interested or intrigued me. This position will allow me to be home in time for them getting in from school...even though they're teens..I think that with all that is going on...this is important so it's not too much change...plus I love being able to hug them. ;)

My week-end has been made. Yesterday was a rough day for me. I've been so concerned with how my sons were handling the separation with their Dad that I hadn't been allowing myself more than a minute here and there to just lose it a bit.

But today? Today is a very, very good day and I feel my self-esteem taking a huge step in the right direction. Woo Hoo! :dance:

Thanks for your thoughts, everyone. The films are sitting on our family doctor's desk awaiting her return to the office Monday. The nurse offered to call in Vicodin for Howie, but it makes him feel sick when it starts wearing off and he dislikes taking it. I expect the doctor will give us a call Monday when she takes a look.

BarbaraAnn, congrats on the job! It's great you'll be doing something which interests you, plus has a schedule allowing you to be there for your sons. That's terrific! And happy belated birthday!

That's champion, BarbaraAnn! What a morale boost for you. :)

Congratulations to you on the great job BarbaraAnne!!!! :cheer:

The strangest thing just happened to me...you might laugh!

I briefly checked out the support board here on 3fc, and there was a post by this woman who is hurting..I posted a LOOOONG response because I share her pain.
After I posted it just now...I felt this huge twinge that I should also tell you guys this part of my story. I just feel like it might be important in understanding me and some of my comments on marriage and stuff.
It was almost like I felt guilty for sharing it with someone else first...:lol:

So, here's a link to that thread and my post in it...for those of you who want to know me better!

http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/showthread.php?p=909339#post909339

You gotta know I love you if I'm sharing this kind of crap....dont'ya?
xoxoxoxxoxoox
Linda

Oh gosh, howie and kimberly- you guys really have a full plate. Bleh! Let us know the results as soon as you can. I'll be thinking about you both. Feel better.

Linda, your story really broke my heart. I'm so glad you're doing this for the right reasons this time- I can tell you've got a good head on your shoulders. Good for you for making the changes you want for yourself and thinking about what's best for you. I'm so glad you could share that with us... I know it must be hard.

And sarah my love, you are healthy and you WILL lose again. You are a wonderful woman and I know how badly you want this for yourself. You will get it; I'd bet my life on it. :grouphug:


EDIT// PSHAW, Jennifer, I just noticed your current weight! DANG girl, 23 pounds to goal!!!!! I AM SO PROUD OF YOU WOMAN! I'm going to scream!!

I'm so happy for you BarbaraAnn! Here I thought your husband had been working night and day just to keep you at home eating bon bons ;) ~ meanwhile, all this time you were being a full-time mother, full-time housewife, full-time business partner (honing your skills in work you had no interest in) and part-time web mistress; thus allowing you to confidently put yourself forward and be chosen for employment in a dream job. Well done! :smug:

Linda, I was greatly touched by your story and am sending a huge cyber-hug your way. I must say I'm proud of how you managed to deal with your hurt ~ while the pain may linger, you've grown stronger, more independent and your confidence shines through in your words. Go ahead and lose that weight and be the healthiest and happiest you can be ~ YOU deserve it. :)

Oh, wow, Linda...I've had much less hurtful things said to me than that (not by Howie, thank God) and know how hard it was to get past them. Good for you, letting it serve as a catalyst for good in your life and for the right reasons.

Thanks so much Jill and Kimberley.

I'm pretty proud of myself for coming as far as I have, it has been a VERY long, difficult road. But I truly believe in my heart that this man is my soul mate and I do not give up easily. I would have a long time ago, but the idea of giving it up before I feel completely satisfied that there's nothing left...is just unthinkable because looking back and feeling I should have done more..is not a feeling I want to have.

There is still a great deal of love between us..and I can't let a few bad years make me quit. I meant my vows to be forever..but boy is it hard!

I think if the time comes for us to end it...I'll have a sense of peace inside and I'll jusk "know" that's it.
As for now...I just "know" that it isn't it...if that makes sense..:lol:

Every day brings something new...I'm rolling with my life, not always easy....but touched with unimaginable joy from time to time :)

xoxo
Linda

Congrats on the Job Linda. I'm glad things are going your way.

Thanks again all for the kind words. I'm feeling a little better today. Maybe this will all turn out for the best and I'll feel better than ever.

I believe that God can do "impossible" healing in marriages, but it's not a walk in the park most of the time. God bless you both.

I'm so happy for you BarbaraAnn! Here I thought your husband had been working night and day just to keep you at home eating bon bons ;) ~ meanwhile, all this time you were being a full-time mother, full-time housewife, full-time business partner (honing your skills in work you had no interest in) and part-time web mistress; thus allowing you to confidently put yourself forward and be chosen for employment in a dream job. Well done! :smug:

I wish I could fully express how your words made me burst out laughing while simultaneously sobbing...not exactly a good sound or attractive look by the way. I believe my dogs now need therapy as well.

I've cleared my local library's shelf on all books related to "self-esteem" when it appears that I get immediate results from reading little bits from you and others to help me stand a tiny bit taller. Right now, I'm actually struttin'!!! ;)

Thank you!

Sorry got my names mixed up. Congrats on the job BarbaraAnne.

Howie: I'm so sorry to hear about your back problems. I hope that you don't have to go through another surgery..been there, done that :p I had a triple laminectomy about 4 years ago; my disc (L 4 & 5) ruptured, and I was left with nerve damage. Thanks to God and a great physical therapist, I was able to recover most of what I'd lost :) . Maybe therapy combined with your weight loss will make a difference. You and Kimberley are in my prayers :angel:

Barbara: Congratulations on your job! :D :grouphug: to you and your boys!

Linda: Your post really touched me :) . I sent you a PM.

I don't post much, but I read the threads every day. This board ROCKS! There's so much encouragement and support here :grouphug:

I had a great afternoon and night. From 3-7:30pm I worked in the yard, planting out a newly-cleared flowerbed and doing a little mulching. My MIL went with us to Caribou for coffee, then after we dropped her off, we headed over to Wal-Mart and did a little clothes shopping.

It gets better. I bought a clearanced pair of Levi bootcut stretch denim jeans....In size 16. OMG, size 16! Two 18/20 fitted button-up shirts also found their way into the cart.

And HOWIE? Are you ready for this? He bought XL shirts and size 42 jeans! This man was in a 4x at the beginning of the year! Some XL's fit him fine in the chest, but are too snug around his belly still, but some fit really well.

Gee, it's nice to look forward to clothes shopping.

Gardenwife & Howie: I yelled out a "WooHoo!" hearing about the new clothes you each got in new sizes! How cool is that! It's a feeling that really sums up what it's all about.

I also picked up a couple fitted shirts last night for work next week and had to go get them in a smaller size myself...down to a 1X and was doubly pleased that they were on sale as well. Gotta love a bargain.

I'm out of size 22's for pants and into 20's but I have plenty of pants in my closet in all sizes, down to 10's. :dizzy: I destroyed one pair of 22's by ripping them to shreds with my hands (yes, it felt wonderful) and took the rest to Salvation Army. They are outa here!!!! :lol:

Good for you BarbaraAnn and I can just see you going to town on riping up those pants.

That's great, BarbaraAnn! I should have kept two pair of my largest pants: One to keep as a reminder of what I used to be, and one to BURN ceremoniously. ;)

My day at work started out tremendously! The very first table I had this morning, a table of 2 people mind you, gave me a $20 tip! AND the nice gentleman THANKED ME for taking such good care of them at the same time! I was floored, all I could do was stammer out, "You're very welcome, Sir!". :D
That sure made my day!
:) :D

Wow, I sure never got a tip that good when I was a server. That's wonderful!

I have a lot to catch up on, I hope I don't leave anyone out. :o

Sarah ~ 2 months eh? Well...aren't you already over a month out from chemo? You are more then half-way there and that's the worst case scenario - I bet those pounds will start falling off anyday now! :cheerleader:

Howie ~ I'm so sorry you are having back troubles! What cruel irony! Don't push the panic button yet - maybe your doctor will NOT confirm your worst fears. If you do have to have surgery - just think of all the time you can spend with US while you recuperate! :smug:

Linda ~ You know - my mother had always said to be very careful of what you say b/c words aren't forgotten - it is so true! I try to choose my words very carefully especially with my husband and kids! You are living proof of her warning, unfortunately. I'm so sorry that he had said that to you - something so hurtful, but it sounds like you have really grown and become a much stronger person because of it, sometimes things happen for a reason - even though they SUCK!

BarbaraAnn ~ CONGRATS! That's GREAT!

OmegaLaura ~ My birthday is coming up, let me give you my address and some ideas of how you can spend that extra $$ on ME! :lol: ;)

---------------------

Nothing too exciting here - my little man still isn't walking yet but he is cutting molars. Aww, teething is always so fun <not>. DD starts preschool in September and she is driving me bananas asking every single day, "Is TODAY the DAY I start preschool?" :lol:

Check out this article posted in the "Library" thread...very interesting:

http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/showthread.php?t=62080
Now I don't feel so bad about not having the time to lift weights in addition to my time spent on the elliptical :D

It's true that weight training alone is not the most effective means of losing weight; cardio is the thing that will do that job. However, far too often, when women are losing more than 2 pounds per week, they're losing precious muscle, along with water and fat. Weight training helps to counteract that loss, causes you to lose body fat (and isn't that what you really want gone?!) and also has the added benefit of increasing bone mass -- two things the first two women mentioned in that article should begin to be concerned about. I know that I don't want to be one of those old ladies that has to lean on the arms of chairs to get up out of them because I don't have the muscular strength any longer to get myself up unassisted. I also don't want to have to live in terror that if I fall down, my brittle bones will break because I never bothered to concern myself with maintaining their mass as I -- or before I -- aged.

That's all in the future, though. In the here and now, when my first priority is losing weight, I can tell you that when I'm down to my goal size, I don't want to be one of those "skinny fat" women who, while they're wearing a size 6, are all jiggly and smooshy. For that reason, I'm doing lots of cardio and weight training both.

There is also the fact that if you want to get the maximum results from your time on the elliptical or exercise bike or treadmill, you have to actually have the muscle to push your body along! The more strength you have, the more effective your time spent doing cardio....weaker muscles, weaker cardio workout. Not to mention that I LIKE feeling strong and capable!! It's a really good feeling -- and it spills over into your psychological health as well.

Don't get me wrong -- I'm not telling you to feel guilty, Jill! :lol: We all do the best we can, and I know you're working two jobs and also have a love life to maintain! :D I just would hate for anyone here to read this article and use it to justify not doing weight training, or just take the article at face value and write off the value of resistance training in weight loss. This author mentions the studies that support the premise of her article; she completely leaves out the studies that support the incorporation of weight training in an exercise regimen that includes cardio as well. Those studies revealed that the folks who do both cardio and resistance training and reduced their calories (while getting adequate protein and carbs) lost more weight and body fat than those who did cardio alone. (Case in point, our own teapot dynamo/Jennifer. Sorry to call you out like that, Jennifer! :p Or Meg [see her pic and story in both the Maintenance and Ladies Who Lift forums] who lost 140 pounds in a year by doing both cardio and weight training, and living on 1600 healthy calories/day.)

I'll get off my :soap: now; I'll be interested to hear the response to this article over at The Library. I think it's a one-sided claim, and I'm sure I'm not alone.

The following links give some good information:

http://www.recsports.hhp.ufl.edu/fitness/strength/downloads/trainingPPT/trainingforweightloss.pdf
http://www.deliciouslivingmag.com/magazine/index.cfm?fuseaction=article&issueID=44&articleID=567
http://www.stumptuous.com/cardio.html

Ugh, I have to agree with Sarah and ask a rhetorical question -- why do Americans always have to be so all-or-nothing about so many things, particularly diet and fitness isuses? It drives me batty! Fat's horrible for you -- so let's eat nothing but Snackwell cookies! Oops -- turns out we need fat to, well, live, so let's cut out CARBS and eat nothing but bacon! If we're not instantly getting thin from lifting weights, why lift at all?

As I'm not an exercise physiologist or trainer, I can primarily speak to my own experience with this. I've never put all too much stock in the crazy "boost your metabolism" claims about strength training, because everything I'd read says that those benefits, while they exist, are trifling at best. HOWEVER, I can tell you that I clearly look MUCH thinner at 168 pounds on the way going down (post strength-training) than I did going up (couch potato/sporadic cardio Jen). I wish I had some good photos to illustrate the difference, which is actually quite dramatic. And this is my favorite part -- I'm actually *strong* for the first time in my life!!!!

Have you ever seen those people in the gym who do exclusively cardio and never pick up weights? They have a markedly different appearance than those who strength-train... they look kinda "melty," even though they're often quite thin. It's the same reason anorexics often strangely look flabby -- no muscle tone!

These admittedly rather vain :lol: reasons -- in addition to all the great HEALTH benefits Sarah mentioned -- are enough for me to trudge into the free weights nowomansland every few days.

Sorry - I didn't mean this to turn into a rant, but articles like this just drive me crazy. I'm all for debunking myths, but this one just doesn't tell the whole story and leaves people with the impression that it's pointless to lift weights. I honestly mean no offense, Jilly -- thanks very much for posting this link because I missed the article. I also look forward to the discussion; I have a feeling the Ladies Who Lift will jump in any minute!

Howie just e-mailed me from work. He spoke to our family doctor, and this is what she said the MRI shows. It's beyond her level of expertise, so they're getting him an appointment with the neurologist ASAP. I wish it could be ME instead of him, you guys.

L1 L2 has Drying of the disc.
L2 L3 has Arthritis and Foraminal Stenosis
L3 L4 no disc plus Foraminal Stenosis
L4 L5 no disc plus Foraminal Stenosis
L5 Spinal Stenosis plus a possible tethered spinal cord.
Plus Arachnoiditis which is thickening of the area around the nerves. Not sure where she said this was. May be all over.

The tethered cord is the worst. I think by the sound of it this that it could paralyze me. She did not say that but I would think if something is stretching your cord. She said if that is the case it would require surgery. The Stenosis is where the area where the spinal cord is located gets narrow. The spinal stenosis is the canal where the cord goes and the foraminal is on the sides where it shoots out and forms the sciatic nerve.

I just looked it up and it confirmed that I could be in some serious danger if I do have a tethered cord. Read this link.

http://www.bcm.edu/pednsurg/disorder/tethered.htm

Oh, man, Kimberley.... :( :( :( :( That's awful. Just awful. Keep us posted? I'll start now, praying and sending all kinds of positive vibes your way. Try your best to stay positive and not anticipate the worst. I'm just so sorry you guys have to go through this. :grouphug:

Thanks, Sarah. Sometimes, having all kinds of information at one's fingertips online is wonderful, but sometimes I miss the days of just trusting a doctor and not knowing all the details.

It's really true. Sometimes a little bit of knowledge can be a dangerous thing....and reading the worst online can make it a lot harder to keep a positive outlook.

Just remember that, often when you read something online, it IS the worst case scenario, and quite possibly something that will never come to pass for yourself...

I'm thinking of you guys. :grouphug:

This is true...And, like so many consumer complaint sites, the people who post are the ones who had problems. The happy campers are gone, well, happy camping.

I'll just say how sorry I am that the news isn't what you were hoping for and that I hope wholeheartedly whatever action will be taken can be done with the least amount of discomfort and inconvenience to your lives. I'll also echo what Sarah and Laura said about internet information and how its rare to read about the best case scenarios.

As for the worst case scenario, although a tethered spinal cord sounds pretty bad, please try to focus on the word possible, which is certainly nowhere near definite (even though its human nature to think that). What IS definite is the support you'll find here. We're all behind both of you all the way!

Thinking of both of you. :grouphug:

OmegaLaura ~ My birthday is coming up, let me give you my address and some ideas of how you can spend that extra $$ on ME!

Your birthday is coming up?! When? My birthday is coming up too...August 13, how about you?

Kimberley and Howie: Thinking of you both.

Your birthday is coming up?! When? My birthday is coming up too...August 13, how about you?

September 24 :lol: I encourage people to shop early though. :smug: ;)

(Congrats on the big tip, btw!)

First and most important....Big hug to Kimberley & Howie.

Now...I know it's a good thing that I am so excited about starting my first day at my new job...however, there really was no need for me to wake-up at 4:45 freakin' a.m. when I don't start work until 9!!!!! :dizzy:

I'm watching the sun come up while I type and it's still a glorious sight to behold but so is the inside of my eyelids at this time of day! :lol:

Well, gonna make use of this time and finish my coffee, grab my suit and towel and do my laps. I'll probably exhaust myself...fall asleep holding onto the side of the pool and end up being late for work! :rolleyes:

Oh, Howie (and Kimberley!), you know we are all thinking of you. You are both so strong that I know you will be able to handle ANYTHING this world can throw at you!!

About the weight-lifting thing...I certainly wasn't trying to say it was a bad idea to do weight training. However, I know some people who think that weight training ALONE will be enough. The article DID say that strength training, while not necessarily increasing calories burned or building a lot of muscle, will help to at least keep what muscle you've already got, which is always a good thing. It was just pointing out that you can't cut out the cardio and still expect to be burning more calories just by lifting weights (which I know a lot of people think is true). I have had people tell me, though, that the reason I'm not losing weight as quickly as I'd like is that I'm not strength training to increase my metabolism. Now I feel more justified in my choice to do cardio rather than weights in that little 30-40 minutes of time I have to work out between jobs (not to mention what the cardio is doing/has done for my cardiovascular system, like increased my endurance).

As I lose weight and actually have anything to tone (i.e., anything that's NOT covered by a good 3+inches of fat :p ), I will work on it as time allows, but my current primary goal is to lose weight (especially around my waist--this spare tire doesn't even want to BUDGE, while the 2 things I DON'T want to lose--my butt and boobs--are disappearing at an alarming rate!!). I have done weight training before and had made a huge difference in my fat vs. lean muscle mass percentages. However, I had only lost about 5 pounds in those 2 months. It's a give and take--I just have to set my priorities.

Oh, but also something that I gathered from the article that we seem to have a common misconception about is that weight training could make us GAIN weight. I see people on here all the time claiming that they must have gained weight because they have been working out and gained muscle. According to the article, with decreasing calories and working out as women normally do, this is very highly unlikely. Even if their muscle mass is increasing, it's certainly not by 1-2 pounds in a single week :dizzy: Just another one of those excuses we so often like to use when the scale doesn't agree with our weekly effort...

Oh, but also something that I gathered from the article that we seem to have a common misconception about is that weight training could make us GAIN weight. I see people on here all the time claiming that they must have gained weight because they have been working out and gained muscle. According to the article, with decreasing calories and working out as women normally do, this is very highly unlikely. Even if their muscle mass is increasing, it's certainly not by 1-2 pounds in a single week :dizzy: Just another one of those excuses we so often like to use when the scale doesn't agree with our weekly effort...
I was glad to see that she mentioned that also, Jill, because it makes me nuts when people say, "Oh but you've put on pounds of muscle!" NOT possible for us women! However, I DO wish she'd further explained that when you weight train -- regardless of gender -- your muscles retain a lot of water -- particularly in the larger muscle groups, like your legs and butt (quads, hams and glutes.) In fact, I've read a few times that bodybuilders always say never to weigh after legs day! :lol: We all know water weight has an impact on the scale, so as long as you're not significantly increasing your caloric levels while weight training, you shouldn't gain much more than a few pounds of water. ;)

Also, just a note on "decreasing calories" while weight training: it's ok to go lower cal, as long as you're still getting adequate protein to sustain the muscle growth, and adequate carbs to sustain your energy levels for working out productively. Recommendations on how much protein you should eat vary slightly, but I go with the most common 1.2 grams per kilogram of body weight. (1 kg = 2.2 lbs.) Based on my weight and my activity level of "subathletic, regular training, that's 125 grams of protein. I can do that because one gram of protein only costs you 4 calories! I still get PLENTY of carbs, and I average 1500 calories per day. At 228 pounds, that's still pretty low cal!

At the risk of growing just really tedious on this topic :lol: I thought I'd share a couple of links. (I'm just trying to help, honest! :o )For anyone interested in reading about weight training and nutrition, here's (http://www.emedicinehealth.com/articles/25936-6.asp) an awesome article at eMedicine Consumer Health. It gives clear, straightforward info on protein and supplements while weight training. The following ESPN (http://www.espn.go.com/trainingroom/s/2000/0225/380656.html) article tells more about losing weight while weight training, and also talks about the health benefits:


Diet and strength training
By Sharon Howard R.D., M.S., C.D.E. FADA


Men are doing it. Grandmothers are doing it. The entire girls' basketball team is doing it.

Everyone can benefit from strength training! No longer just the interest of body builders, strength training has brought power, balance and youthful energy to many adults.

After age 35, the body loses about half a pound of muscle a year, and replaces it with about 1.5 pounds of fat. By age 80, the body can lose one-third of its age-40 muscle mass. Muscle loss is a part of aging, but research shows that strengthening exercises can stop and even reverse this trend toward fatigue and weakness as we get older. If you don't use it, you lose it!

Loss of muscle is an important factor in weight gain as we get older. Muscle tissue demands eight times the calories that fat requires. So, if we lose muscle mass, we lower our metabolism. This is one reason why men, who have a third more muscle than women, can eat more calories. Muscles need to be fed.

So, rather than just diet, start strength training and make a significant increase in your metabolism. As you build muscle and moderately control your food intake, you will be losing body fat.

A study conducted by Wayne Wescott, Ph.D, fitness director at the South Shore YMCA in Quincy, Mass., put 70 people on a 20-percent low-fat diet while testing out the effects of exercise. The group that did both endurance and strength training lost twice the amount of weight as the group that did endurance exercise alone. More importantly, the group that did not do strength training lost half a pound of muscle in two months, while the other group gained two pounds of muscle. It appears that a weight-loss program without strength training will cause muscle loss and a subsequent reduction of metabolism. Ultimately, the dieter cannot sustain the lower calorie intake and thus slowly gains the weight back.

What are other benefits of strength training? Strength training stimulates muscle cell growth, improves nerve cell coordination for balance, assists in aerobic exercise and therefore heart health, relieves arthritic symptoms, and increases bone density. People of any age can learn it and benefit. A book by Miriam Nelson, "Strong Women Stay Young", outlines the research and programs developed at Tufts University in Medford, Mass., that brought youthful vigor to older women.

Thanks for the cool info Sarah!
I hate my 8 minute in the Morning exercises (boring!), but I have been losing more weight in the two months I have been doing them (18 lbs since June 4, 2005 vs. the 14 lbs I had lost since March 1, 2005) that I don't want to give them up. Not to mention, I like noticing my nice new muscles and just feeling stronger and more energetic in general. Plus I have to use an 8 or 10 lb weight now as my 5 lb ones are too light!

I'm so upset. I'm losing the toenail on my OTHER big toe now! :( Here's what I wrote about it in my blog:

I am so upset. Just so upset. My other big toenail is coming off! I just can't even believe it. Since May, I've worn a closed-toe shoe a total of maybe 5 times. There's been no trauma to it. There's no sign of infection. It's simply separating from the nailbed, just exactly as the last one did. Last time it got infected after it had separated from the nailbed and I didn't yet know it. (Hello, red nail polish.) Because I was still in chemo, I couldn't combat the infection.

But NOW! To lose another one 6 weeks after my last chemo.....it's just so upsetting. And it's the other big toe! I cry every time I think about it. It's just so many things: it's the pain involved with its removal, it's that it's so freaking ugly, it's that I still won't even have full toenails back next spring, it's that the healing process is a lengthy one and will affect my daily actions. And this is a biggie: it's that I was just beginning to feel like I was regaining some sense of normalcy -- that I was more physically able to distance myself from the cancer, from the chemo, from the emotional and physical misery of the last 8 months. I was so reluctant to call it over and to feel like I could put it behind me; once I finally felt able to do that and open myself up to hope and this new chapter, BAM! Now the big toenail's bailing from the other foot! I was just thinking today that this was a time of reawakening for me. I was feeling like I was emerging from a dark corner, roused from an uncomfortable rest. I was loving the spring in my step, the way I could walk fast and carry heavy things, and take a deep breath at last. It just feels like such a setback. With a sucking whoooosh, I've been rushed back into the uncontrollable, unavoidable, incontrovertible helplessness of chemo side effects.

A part of me feels like I should apologize for being a baby about this and making a big production about a stupid toenail. A larger part of me feels, though, that it IS a big deal. It's a big deal to me, anyway. At any rate, it's my blog, and I'll cry if I want to -- cry if I want to.

Sarah, (((HUGS))) I'm so sorry to hear about your toenail. That is so sucky!

Sorry you have to have such a reminder of the hard times that are now in your past. That really does suck.

Dang, that does suck. Here's my "look at the bright side" response:

Sarah, with great taste for clothes
Was stumped by the plight of her toes
Her toenails took leave
Which was quite a pet peeve
But at least it was them, not her nose

(Ducking and running)

AWWW Sarah.((BIG HUG)) You have every right to be upset. Hopefully now that the chemo has passed it will heal much more quickly.

LOL at Kimberley's poem. :)

You're right, its not "just" a toenail at all. Anything that's painful, annoying, unattractive and hinders your progress, that frustrates you and is a reminder of that which you're doing all you can to leave behind is more than "just". You have every right to feel :( :bomb: :rollpin: :mad: :tantrum: :stress: :cry: So go ahead and get it out of your system and then deal with it and move on with your indomitable heart and courage!

P.S. - I'm sure you'll forgive Kimberley for interfering with your :tantrum: by making you laugh out loud. ;)

Thanks, you guys. You're right, Jill, it really is more than "just." Aside from all the physical misery of 6 f*ing months of chemo, aside from having my whole life turned upside down, aside from having my weight loss progress completely derailed -- this experience has done a real job on my appearance-related self-esteem. First you're bald, then you lose your eyebrows and eyelashes; your skin changes color and gets scaly; then there's the weight gain -- in my case 25 hard-won (or is it lose? ;) ) pounds and the loss of muscle. Oh yeah, and the bloat! Now I can't even have one pretty foot!?!? Not to mention, it really HURTS to get it ripped off -- and the healing doesn't happen overnight. And neither of the big toenails will be fully back for a year!

I totally know it's a :tantrum: and no, of course I won't dwell on it -- that's not who I am. But I'm finally becoming a person who isn't afraid to complain....and complain I did. And am. And will....for at least the rest of the day. ;)

I just really thought I was coming out of my chemo cocoon, and I started to think it was over, for the most part. There are still residual effects, like joint pain, fatigue, and, of course, the premature menopause that I'm in now that may or may not be temporary. But really, it's just been so much better. And now that Lorraine is going through some pretty severe medical problems of her own (there are so many BAD effects of the Lyme Disease, and the treatment doesn't seem to be helping at all -- we are seeing a specialist tomorrow -- I want to be able to just wholly concentrate on helping her.... WITHOUT having to soak my foot and change my bandage 4 times a day and hobble around. Just not have my own sh*t at all to deal with.

Alrighty, on that note, I'm going to just shut my mouth, stop putting off calling the podiatrist, and get over myself. :rolleyes:

I promise I'll be positive again soon....please forgive the outburst. :dizzy:

Sorry if my limerick seemed insensitive...Didn't mean for it it to be. :( Hope all goes well at the specialist's and you two can get some answers.

Sarah girl:

If anyone here has a right to *****...it's you. No apology needed.

Please don't be sorry Sarah, you have earned the right to throw a :tantrum: if you want to. And please don't feel like you have to be eternally positive for our benefit. You are not Superwoman and we don't expect you to be. You inspire us every day, no matter what you say, do or feel. So don't deny yourself these very human emotions and please know that you have our love and support every step of the way.

Beverly

Gardenwife, seeing her bumble
Has prostrated herself to be humble
That groveling sound
Is her chin on the ground
For words that came out in a jumble

Aww, Sarah, sorry about the toenail. You can ***** and moan to your heart's content here--don't ever be afraid to do that. Things aren't always rosy, and that needs to be acknowledged as much as the positive things.

I can never wear sandals because since I was a kid I have that yucky toenail stuff that turns my toenails thick, discolored and misshapen plus they shed every so often. I've never been able to wear toenail polish and have cute feet, so I can empathize. Plus when people step on your toe it really hurts! I sure hope it doesn't take long for all your bits and pieces to grow back. I know how important it is.

Oh, man, now you guys made me cry again! I just can't believe how sweet you are. It feels so GOOD to be able to just let it out without putting a positive spin on it. (Jeez, I should have thought of this years ago! :lol: Just kidding -- I'm all about the positive, as you know.) It's just been a lot, you know? Just a really hard year. Anyway, thank you from the bottom of my heart for letting me just BE.

And you, Kimberley -- don't worry about it! You were only trying to help, and I really do appreciate it. :) And, hey -- have you thought about writing greeting cards? ;)

And Sheila, I'm really sorry to hear about your toe woes -- to have to deal with it just about your whole life -- :grouphug: Thanks for understanding! And it DOES hurt!!!

I just wanted to say how much I enjoy the wonderful sense of humor here at the 100 lb club. So many times I have felt kind of a little blue, and then read here and end up with a smile for the day. Thank you all!!

So sorry to hear about the toe, Sarah.

Day 2 of my new job and I'm loving it. Quite challenging, great co-workers, great environment, 3 miles from home, flexible hours and they said it will take 4-6 months to know the job inside and out. I loved hearing that as it means it won't be boring by this Friday! :lol:

Sounds wonderful, BarbaraAnn ~ I'm really pleased for you! :smug:

That's excellent, Barbara Ann! :cp: Good for you!

Howie and Kimberley ~

When is your appt. with the neurologist? Have you heard anything more conclusive about the MRI results yet?

Hugs :grouphug:

Our family doctor's nurse has been trying to get this specialist's secretary to return her call and get an appointment set. It's frustrating! But we have had such an AMAZING thing happen...

Someone we know from another website e-mailed to tell us how she'd been very ill last year with some neurological issue. She was accepted for treatment at Johns Hopkins and had excellent care there. She gave us the toll-free physican's referral line for the neurology department. That hospital is an in-network provider on our insurance -- woo!

Here's the amazing part...She said that, should he end up there, we would not have to worry about travel or hotel expenses. No questions, for as long as we need. Evidently this person knows a couple who's been blessed financially this year, and these people want to help my hubby and me.

Does that not just blow you away? I told Howie in an e-mail that night, for the first time since all this news came, I felt hope. Howie does, too. It just seems like we're getting little bits of the puzzle at a time. It's a God thing.

Oh my goodness, Kimberley, that is SO WEIRD... I think I mentioned that my friend had serious, serious back surgery a few years ago. Well, guess where he had it? Johns Hopkins! And guess what? Some people put up my his long-term partner Emily for the whole time he was in the hospital. I can't believe how similar the situations are... that is so bizarre. Do you have a doctor there? Wouldn't it be crazy if it were the same physician?

I should put you in touch with them...

That's great news, Kimberley ~ things are looking up and I truly hope they continue that way!

P.S. - fabulous new avatar!!

Kimberley--that is awesome news. Gave me chills just reading it. Hopefully you'll be able to get an appt. soon.

Sounds like you found a good fit in your job BarbaraAnn.

Kimberley, that's just awesome...amazing...fantastic!!!!!

And I second the avatar!!

:grouphug:

xoxo
Linda

That is great news for you Kimberly and Howie ~ sending thoughts, prayers and hugs your way.

Sarah ~ hope your toe is feeling better. How is Lorraine doing?

BarbaraAnn ~ glad you are enjoying your new job.

Howie has an appointment with the neurologist on August 23. He called and asked to be put on the cancellation list in case an opening comes up. We're in wait-and-see mode right now.

I changed my avitar (just call me mercurial).

So, what's this about a name for Sarah/Lorraine? I missed it I think!

Oh my gosh, Kimberly. That is just amazing for you guys. I am so glad to hear such good deeds coming to a couple who really deserves them. Wow.

Kimberley!! That's EXCELLENT NEWS!! Wow! I'll also be local, here, so if there's any way I can help, just let me know. :grouphug:

Kimberley!! That's EXCELLENT NEWS!! Wow! I'll also be local, here, so if there's any way I can help, just let me know. :grouphug:


Ohhhh, ditto to that! I'll be back in the Baltimore area in mid-august. And that goes for you too, Sarah- if you need anything give me a holler. :)

*lurks*

Wow,.. great news Kimberley! It is just so great that things are looking a little brighter for you guys!

What great news! Glad to hear it, and you've gotten such lovely offers of help from everyone here.

Heather, where have you been?? We've missed you, and have been thinking about you. :)

You guys are so sweet. God, we're thankful for y'all. Well, I'll tell ya...If it comes to him being in the hospital there, we'd appreciate visits. Visits and laughter and hugs. We're generally not mopey people even under duress, so I promise you won't wish you'd stayed home. ;)

I'll be back in the Baltimore area in mid-august. And that goes for you too, Sarah- if you need anything give me a holler. :)
Oh cool! Hey, I wouldn't mind a little red wine, if you've got any to spare. :yes: Oh wait, you're not back till August.

Never mind.

We're generally not mopey people even under duress, so I promise you won't wish you'd stayed home. ;)
However you are is the way I'd want you to be...and if I can be there for you, I wouldn't want to be anywhere else. :grouphug:

Oooh me too, me too! I'm less than 2 hours from Baltimore--only about 30 minutes if I'm coming from Jeff's house! :D

Oh cool! Hey, I wouldn't mind a little red wine, if you've got any to spare. :yes: Oh wait, you're not back till August.

Never mind.

:rofl:

Hey, NEVER ask me to bring you anything of that nature- it won't be around long enough to get to you :lol: