22 AND 52...OUCH!!! OR WOW!!

Hello OFFers... Well, it is really me...                             It has been a long time since I have been around, and there are lots of reasons.  In a nutshell...my in-laws are both still very ill.  My FIL had his cancer surgery two weeks ago and is still in critical care on a respirator.  It was his third surgery in 6 weeks (carotid artery and quadruple bypass + removal of esophagus) and at 80, it was tough.  They did say that since he was in great physical shape, it helped.  My MIL is to have surgery again in two weeks for reversal of the colostomy and her myeloma is at bay.  DH has been spending 3-4 days with her at a time since we live about 50 miles away.   And of course my DH needs surgery soon to repair the torn rotator cuff...maybe in August.  Not looking forward to that!!                             Then last Saturday evening, I wound up in the ER for horrible abdominal pains, that put me in surgery on Sunday for exploratory that turned out to be an obstructed bowel.  I came home on Tuesday night, hooked up to a 48 hour Holter Monitor (they were concerned about my low heart rate...34-47 while there).  I feel a bit better, not eating much and a bit cranky due to the incisions pulling and itching.  They also increased my synthroid while there.(OT--lost a few pounds!! Down a total of 131!)                           So there you have it...oh yes, good thing we went on vacation 2 weeks ago, although, our van got smashed to the tune of $3250! Hmmmm...do ya think there is a black cloud hovering???                           So what does "22 and 52" mean in the subject line?? Today (July 4th) is my 22nd Wedding Anniversary and it was on a Friday (I vowed to be married by 30 yrs. old...beat it by one day!)  The joke was that I lost my independence on Independence Day!  Tomorrow (July 5th) is my 52nd birthday.  Ouches and Wows rolled into one!                     &       Finally, just want to send a big thanks out to Mary (Baseball-Mom) for being here for me, and all of her care, concern, gifts and friendship!!  And thank you to all of the OFFers who sent me PMs and messages asking where I've been and how I was doing.                              Have a great day and hugs, Lora  PS--Hello, welcome and hope to get to know all of the new OFFers since I've been away!

                            Lora, Ouchies, WOW, congratualtions, and hugs.  Here are some 'cyber pennies' just for you.  Sorry about all the woes but happy to see you posting. Take care Annette

Hi Annette, Thank you so much for the pennies...gave me warm fuzzies and I felt a hug from Heaven!  (July 19th is 4 years already, and I am so not looking forward to the next few weeks!)   I know you are sincere with your wishes and appreciate them from the bottom of my heart!! Miss ya and big hugs to you! Lora  PS--I thought of you while I was in the hospital....when they admitted me from the ER, the escort took me to a room and right there on the floor was a penny and a nickel!  I know who the penny was from, but did you have something to do with the nickel?????

Lora It's good to see you back on the board.  Sorry about your recent medical stuff.  "What doesn't kill us, makes us stronger."  There are some really strong people here on this board....  I hope you're feeling better soon.  Congratulations on the phenomenal weight loss.  Heck of a way to keep the loss going, though. You've had more than your share of trials lately.  I hope everything smooths out for you soon. I've decided we're definitely coming down th Pittsburgh of the OH event, but we won't be able to stay over Saturday night.  We'll get there some time Friday evening, stay at the hotel, then attend the event Saturday, hopefully meet with some of the sisters for dinner, then leave for home later Saturday evening. For those sisters who've expressed an interest in meeting up, I'll contact you within the next week, as soon as my 'puter gets healthy again, and we can firm up our plans.  I'm thinking dinner after the event on Saturday, then we leave for home.  If anyone is interested in getting together, let me know, and we'd love to include you in our plans. I'm so sorry we'll miss you, Lora, but it's only about 3 hours away, and we'll catch up soon. Candy

Lora, we sure have missed you girl. You have so much going on in your life right now....you are certainly in my thoughts and prayers. Hope the incision heals quickly and you are feeling better soon. I keep trying to get my PCP to up my synthroid, but he says my blood work is perfect and I don't need a higher dose....personally, I think he's wrong, but he's the doc!

Good to hear from you anyway, and know we are all here for you.

Cyber hugs,
Pat R.,

Hi Pat! I have missed you all too!  Even with my life being a whirlwind, I do manage to think sometimes and my thoughts do drift to the OFF boards and sistahs (and brothers).   I am so touched my your thoughts and prayers for me, and truly appreciate the understanding and the caring.  My incision by the way, is actually 4...he did the surgery laparoscopically, and they are pulling and itching like a beast now!!  I too, wish for their quick healling!! As for the synthroid, I thought I was doing good on the old dose (25 mcg), although it was only  2  1/2 months.  The doctor in the hospital (a MD from my PCP's practice) thought it should be doubled.  So for the past few days I take 50 mcg.  I must admit, I feel no different, so we shall see!!  I told my PCP for 15 years that I thought I needed synthroid, and I was always shotdown with the statement...."You don't have a thyroid problem...your blood work is in the normal range."   Well, it was always .05 from below normal...duh!!!  Oh well...can't go backwards, but isn't it ironic that they have now increased it!???! Thanks for the cyber hugs and stay on your PCP's back!!  Or see one of their partners for a different opinion!! Hugs, Lora 

Hello Candy!  So happy to receive your sweet sentiments and I know they are from your heart.  I am getting sappy here, but believe me, at times like these, any extra kindness is greatly needed (even if it is through cyberspace!).   Again, I wish I could have joined you on the 19th, but as my luck would have it, I cannot.  But as you have pointed out, 3 hours away is really no big deal.  Perhaps when things settle down, Mary and I can meet you halfway or 3/4 of the way!  Could be something really special to look forward to!!   Thanks again for your thoughtful reply! Hugs, Lora 

Lora, WOW and not the good kind.  You certainly are going through a lot right now.  Hopefully things will calm down.  Remember to take care of yourself!  You know you are in my thoughts and prayers as well as all the rest of your family. Happy Happy Birthday!  and Anniversary!  I hope you have a break from stress on those two big days at least.   I don't get to the boards much these days.  I am putting in too many long days at work but I think of everyone often and keep resolving to get back on but I get home, have dinner, exercise and sleep.   I need a life.   Take care and lots of hugs coming your way!!! Jan

Hi Jan! So nice to hear from you...did you get my PM??   Thank you for your prayers and thoughts, as I know they are filled with caring!!  I am trying so hard to take care of myself, but with everything else going on, it sometimes falls by the wayside!  After the DS and DH leave on Sunday for camp, I will have a week to be alone and try to take care of me!! Thank you also for the sweet Birthday and Anniversary wishes!  My BD is right now (although it is 4:20 AM and I don't feel older yet) and yesterday was the anniversary and my DH was with his Dad in the hospital.  Oh well...just another day. I see life is getting in the way of your life...hmm...that sounds weird!! Take care of yourself too and sending gigantic hugs your way! Regards to Bill! Hugs, Lora