WOW!! Jeez, you guys, now you went and made me cry! (Especially you, stupid Linda
-- you ALWAYS make me cry, you frickin' sweetheart!!
)
Gina, you mentioned that not everyone in my situation would resume the weight loss battle and that you commend me for getting back on track. Thank you! I know that I didn't fight like **** and go through all that I did to end up with a life limited and negatively affected by anything under my control. I know that after a cancer fight so many people do some reevaluating of their lives, and end up switching careers, or spouses/partners, or residences, or SOMETHING that they've been unhappily putting up with....sustained weight loss requires a bit more of a long-term commitment than some of the other stuff, but in my case, I really feel that I'm just resuming the path I was on before I was so rudely and painfully interrupted. I got unavoidably sidelined, but now it's like, "OK! So,
that crap is hopefully behind me....now, where was I?"
Sheila, you wily devil, did you go looking for me over at the Hodgkins message board? You know, in addition to the premature, chemo-induced menopause thing (this second menopause will surely stick, but really: poor LORRAINE having to deal with me going through it TWICE!
Not pretty.
) the docs say that I'm at risk for a thyroid shutdown or reduction in function, so they're going to check it out periodically (beginning next month, when I get my first post-transplant scans to see if I'm in remission.) It doesn't seem like it so far, since I was able to lose this past week, but the blood tests will tell the whole story, I guess. As for the pool: YES! We got it installed right after we moved in last June and I was able to enjoy it all summer and right up until I went into the hospital in late October. (It was such a gift during the chemo last summer; I felt almost human when I was in the water -- it gave me energy! -- so I'd hang out in there for like 6 hours a day! Thank you for remembering! Our home turned out beautifully, and not a day goes by that each of us doesn't give thanks for it and say, "God, I love this house."
This spring we'll focus on landscaping, but we did plant 2 varieties of Japanese Maples as my transplant trees -- as a symbol of my fight and so we can grow strong together. I'm just so grateful to be able to recuperate in such a beautiful home -- even if we need me to get back to work so we can pay for it!!
Dana, I'll always be your big-nosed guy! Do you hear it??? I totally hear it.... Damn. Now I can't get it out of my head.
I'm really glad you're back here, too. We're in it together, ok?
I wish I had the memory to respond to each of you individually, but please know that I SO appreciate each of you being so sweet to me and giving me such a warm welcome back.
I am SO feeling the love!
I can't even imagine what you've been through in the past year but on top of that it looks like you kept almost 40 lbs off through all that! Congratulations and I'm looking forward to reading more from you.
You go, girl! 
: Sarah has not let you beat her so far...why don't you just get lost and leave her alone...permanently!
Sarah...thanks!!! That is my goal in life...to make you cry!!! MMmmuwuhhhaaahhaaahhaaa! 
