Hi Lori, Thank you for the cheery thought. Today wasn't great, but not quite as bad as yesterday. Hopefully Friday will be an up day... it would be nice to go into a 3-day weekend in a relaxed mood. Dawn

Hey Dawn, I can't believe the run around you are getting! Hope you get it all straightened. Maybe contacting someone from your TV station that does whistle blowing or something like that could help you out if you keep getting the run around. Hope tomorrow is much better. Lori

Hi all, I've had a LOUSY, LOUSY day and if I can't spill my guts chocolate and anything else I can reach is going to be my solution. Today is the 'last straw that broke this back' type day. I've been having issues with my Direct TV DVR receiver since I got it this time LAST year. Reader's digest version - spent 6 months on the phone with tech support - usually 45 mins on hold each time -; had my box replaced; still didn't work and I finally LOST it. Finally got a guy on the phone the end of June that got me a new, different model, receiver with the understanding that my contract wouldn't be extended and that all costs would be credited back to my account. Money portion was done, extended contract... wait - too early to tell that part. Anyway... life seemed okay until the end of Nov. when I had to keep restarting the receiver because it stop receiving the video/sound feed. Long story - a little shorter - after 3 calls, needed it replaced, but they asked my to try the old model that didn't work as they insisted they had finally fixed it. Did so, it still didn't work so they arranged to send a new one - it arrived last week. Oh... did I mention they've been sending REFURBISHED receivers all this time, except for the one at the end of June? Why is it when you exchange a broken item at a store they give you a BRAND NEW replacement and Direct TV gives you REBURBISHED ones?!?! Anyway... the one that arrived sensor didn't work so they had to ship yet another one! It was supposed to be here by yesterday - it didn't arrive so I called. They sent it to BLANCH STREET, LA!!! I live at Red Bud Lane, California. While I was on the phone I wanted to confirm that my contract was up back at the end of Jan. I want to end my letter to the president a certain way... Well... imagine my surprise and displeasure to learn that it had been extended to July 2008! Couldn't do anything about it last night so had to wait until this evening. Well... after work I had to go find a new space heater as mine is dying. Found one finally and then promptly backed into another driver also backing up! Her car - no damage - mine damaged - not bad, but enough. This of course after a not great day at work. I get home, call Direct TV again to talk with the 'retention department' to be told their computers were updating, and had been for over 5 hours, and they couldn't look at my file. But, per the lady on the phone, it wouldn't matter probably as I was sent paperwork and was told my contract would be extended so there wouldn't be anything they could do. I hung up on her or else I would have just started screaming!!! So, here I sit trying to avoid the dark chocolate hearts, etc. calling my name, trying not to give myself an ulcer, and not fall into a puddle of frustrated tears! If you actually made it through all that - sorry I had to get it out of my system, and thank you for 'listening.' Here's to a better day tomorrow - it can't be worse can it??? Dawn

Oh Torrey, I'm soooo sorry! Did you ever have problems with iron levels before? I'm wondering if this is unique to you or a common post-op issue. Have you ever taken OptiSource? It's what my doctors have all their patients use (it's a 4x a day chewable) and for 3 years now they've seen great results in their patients' bloodwork. I offer this idea just incase you need the chewable - I don't think I've ever seen a chewable iron pill. Do they give you any hope that if you eat liver; spinach; other high iron level foods that it could reduce the number of transfusions you would need? I hope something helps - I don't think I'd like the tranfusions anymore than you do. Dawn

Great to hear from you. Love your daughters room... Dora is awesome for the little ones. Funny I was out shoveling the 3 feet of snow we got yesterday thinking to myself...wow, I would have NEVER offered to help my husband shovel pre-op. Then if I did, it would have been about 10 minutes before I thought my heart was going to pound out of my head. Shoveled for an hour & a half. The surgery has opened so many doors for us.... YAY FOR US.... So what color have you decided on for the living room??? Tammy 291/178/165