Happy Tuesday!

Hey all - I know, I know, I've been MIA for a little while - my computer at home is gasping its last breath, so I had to wait until I came back to work to talk to all of you. Hope everyone's Thanksgiving was great!  Ours was - full of chaos, family, friends and of course, food.  There's just so much emphasis wrongly placed on the food during the holidays - personally, I'd rather have a pizza and more time to enjoy with my family, but there'd be a revolt in our house!!  If we don't have turkey and the 10,000 things that go with it, it's just not a holiday to them.  I have a hard time eating turkey, even at 2+ years post-op, so I started my meal with turkey rice soup, and had some homemade mac & cheese and stuffing, and yes, dessert.  Nothing like what I would have in the past, though!!  It's kind of liberating to not have it rule me!!  I also had a half a glass of wine, and was IMMEDIATELY drunk, which I knew would happen.  I get buzzed pretty quickly, but it ends pretty quickly, too!!  I'm now a cheap, quick drunk!!  You'd think that would attract the men to me, wouldn't ya???  Didn't do any Black Friday shopping with the exception of getting a good deal on a Ravens jersey for my brother at Modell's.  I just didn't have it in me to slap total strangers in malls!! We had KB a lot, and we started our holiday cookie baking.  They're a lot of help now that they're older.  Happy thinks she's a lot of help, too, but all she does is sit and wait for someone to eat the chocolate chips out of the cookie so she can have the rest!!  I bought her a Santa suit, and I swear, it was like trying to wrestle a greased pig!!  Christmas will be interesting this year.  For the first time in 41 years, Mom won't be able to have a Christmas garden/village under the tree for fear of one of the Three Wise Men becoming 1.5 Wise Men!!  There's no doubt in my mind that Happy would be gnawing away on houses, people, Baby Jesus, etc!!!  She's a lot of fun, but so far, she's eaten nail files, nail buffing blocks, a Tide pen (the liquid drained out, she didn't get that!), leaves, Halloween candy she found on the sidewalk, she attempts to chew gum off the sidewalk when we go for walks, she eats receipts, any papers, last week she shredded a perfume insert from a sale paper, and last night, I found her on my bed, ripping the paper cover off a wire hanger!!!  Oh, and last month, she came out from behind the sofa stuck to a glue trap!!!!  I swear, it's like having a toddler on a leash!!!  But she's so darn cute and loveable, and I keep remembering that someone actually threw her out a car window, that it's hard to get mad at her!! My biggest and most horrific news is that during a routine mammogram, a spot was found on Mom.  Now, they sent a letter informing her of that, telling her it was small and appeared benign, but they want to run further tests.  I'm trying really hard not to freak out, and I told her I won't until she tells me to.  Back in 2003, she had a cancer scare where they found a spot on her left lung, which, from all indications, was cancer.  It was so deep that they couldn't biopsy it and had to remove half of her left lung, after which they learned, thank God, that it wasn't cancer.  She still had to lose half of her lung, though.  To look at her now, you wouldn't know anything was wrong, so.....  We're going to NYC next week, so I'll be sure to visit St. Patrick's Cathedral and light some candles.  You all do the same and think good thoughts about Mom, okay?  She's a wonderful Mom, Grandmom and friend, and I don't know what I'd do without her.  She's not had a great life and yet remains optimistic - she's happy every day just to wake up!!  They've rescheduled her for a follow-up mammo on 12/19, so that gives me a little hope - if there was some urgency, they'd tell us, right? So anyway, that's my long, drawn-out story.  What's new with you guys? Tia

Hey There :-)

Sounds like you've had a hectic week or two. 

Thanksgiving was different this year for us.  I usually do all the cooking and we have dinner here at my house.  Since we didn't know what I'd be able to do and my sister wanted to host this year, we had dinner at her house.  It's kinda funny, she hosted, yet Mom and I still had to prepare the Turkey, Ham, Stuffing and a few other things to take over to her house.  I'm glad we didn't host dinner because after preparing everything and getting to her house, I was pooped.  In fact, I was sitting on the couch with McSweetie (prior to dinner) and I fell asleep! 

Things are going okay on the recovery front.  At least I can use my arms without fear of popping the stitches now.  There is A LOT more pain involved with the arms than I ever thought there would be.  My incisions are healing up nicely, but my arms hurt from elbow to wrist and I get shooting pains whenever I try to do anything (especially reaching up and grabbing for something).  On a positive note, NO MORE BATWINGS!!!!  Today is the first time I've done my hair since I had surgery over three weeks ago.  I've got a lunch meeting to go to, so I had to fix it.  I'm not sure when I'm going back to work.  I see the Dr. again this Thursday. I'm sorry to hear about your Mom's Mammo.  I know EXACTLY how you're feeling.  I do agree with you though (based on McMom's history), if they thought it was suspicious, they would've had her back in there much quicker than 12/19.  I had a scare myself a few years ago and it was a case of tissue folding over on itself.  After they re-took some extra shots, they said everything was fine and it's been fine ever since.  Think positive thoughts.  You and your Mom will be in my thoughts and prayers. Other than recovering, not much is going on in my life.  I've been totally out of the loop and I'm just taking it easy.  Things are going great with McSweetie, he's a keeper!  Have a Great Day! T

Oh, I'm so glad you posted, I've been thinking of you.  I've been such a bad friend Tia, not calling you, but I swear, you've been in my thoughts as always!!! I was wondering how Thanksgiving was going to work out for you, given that you want to do everything!!!!   Glad everything is working out with McSweetie.  I agree, he's a keeper.   I'll try to get in touch with you soon, I promise.  Thanks for your good thoughts about Mom, I'll keep you posted! Tia

Hey cutie!!! We survived Thanksgiving.   Not a whole lot of food was cooked since it was just the two of us.  I did a small (4.75 lb) turkey breast Wednesday night and we had that as 'leftovers' on Turkey day when we got back from the Zoo.  I completely understand your turkey thing ... pre op I didn't like turkey and I really can't say as I like it a whole lot more now!!!  And it definitely doesn't think much of me either The zoo trip was fun.  Absolutely perfect weather .. sort of strange for a November day!!!   It's probably the best weather we have ever had for Turkey Day at the Zoo.   There are usually a fair number of people at the zoo, but this year I think because of the weather there were more than we typically have to share the animals with. Lefty went to the vet for a check up on Saturday ...   $301 and change later ... he's doing ok .. just old age stuff.  I have to bump his medication up by 1/2 a pill every day and try to get fluids into him.   He was dehydrated on Saturday and they gave him fluids intraveneously.    Hugs, Mo

Hey Moie - LOVED the zoo pictures - especially the prairie dogs!!  They're my fave!!  The Baltimore Zoo always teases us that they'll be back, but so far, nada!! I love turkey, but it doesn't even like me a little bit now.  It's frustrating to realize that the bad stuff goes down MUCH easier - a fact with which I know you are all too familiar!!!!

Phew!!  Glad to hear Lefty's okay, and sorry to learn that you're poorer!!!  Tell him Happy said to drink!!! Tia

 

Hi Tia, Our Thanksgiving was nice. We spent Sat and Sun in West Va with hubby's sister and her family. It was very nice weather and beautiful in the mountains. Postive thoughts for your Mom. I know from my sister how scary that is.

Good luck with the new puppy and your holiday decorations. They can be quite a handful, but so much fun.

Take care,

Wanda

Hey Wanda - So glad you had a nice holiday - I bet it WAS beautiful in the mountains!!! Thanks for your thoughts for Mom - I've promised her that I will NOT freak out until she tells me to!!! My puppy really isn't a puppy - she's actually a little over a year old, so technically, she's an adult.  However, Heather calls her my little bottle rocket and my brother refers to her as a heat-seeking missile, if that tells you anything!!!  She was so abused that I guess everything is still so new to her!!  I've been buying toys and things for her already!  The problem is, I want to give her the stuff now and not wait until Christmas!!!! Tia

Tia, We had a good Thanksgiving.  Spent the day with the oldest son and daughter-in-law and 2 grandsons (a baby girl is on the way next Feb. or March).  Our youngest son came too, along with some other family members.  It was a great relaxing day.  My first Thanksgiving post-op and I survived!  I over-ate on turkey and ham; and, splurged on a spot of pumpkin pie on the tip of a teaspoon (I do mean a spot). Of course I'm still  overeating the turkey.  Thank God its almost gone. My prayers are with your mother and of course the entire family.  Keep the faith.

Hi April - Sounds like you had a lovely Thanksgiving!!  Family is what it's all about, although there is something about the holidays that makes an otherwise normal family nuts!!!  Your first granddaughter!!!  Wow!!  She's gonna be spoiled!!! Glad to hear you survived your first holiday post-op!!  Trust me, it gets easier!!  I'm jealous that you can eat turkey - I'm not a ham fan, but I miss poultry!!  Although I don't miss the food-induced heart attack sensation when turkey gets stuck!!! Thanks for your good thoughts for my Mom - every little bit helps!!! Tia

I may have spoken too soon.  I have been sick all day!  I think the turkey has finally caught up with me.  Been eating it for a week.  Then I ate a bowl of salad yesterday, where before I may have had one or two bites.  I have been so miserable today that work sent me home early.  I guess they couldn't stand looking at my sad, sick, long face. We will keep your mother in our prayers.  Take care.