TUESDAY- HAPPY VALENTINE"S DAY!!

Hello, everyone! 

Well, I may not post daily but I still try to get on a few times a week.  Seems by the time that I get up, wash & dress, then eat something before we leave for my daily radiation treatments at the cancer centre ( it takes an hour each way on a good day), that I am left exhausted by the time we stop for lunch or an early supper and get back home.  My times are all over the map and every Wednesday, they give me a new REVISED schedule for the next seven days. I also see my Radiologist every Tuesday. I am now halfway thru my treatments and I am now feeling the effects…my pale skin is burning, especially under my right arm…of course, my arm rubs on that very tender skin and that makes it worse. The radiation also causes severe fatigue.  This morning, when JB drove me to the entrance of the centre to drop me off before leaving to find parking(which is very sparse around there), I could hardly get up out of the car…the security men there are always right at the car to hold the door as patients get dropped off….they take your arm and help you into the centre….today I needed assistance, much to my chagrine. I am so darned independent and hate “being a patient”…lol.This past weekend, I had made a big pot of beef veg/barley soup and also put all the ingredients for a hearty meaty chili into the crock pot so that it cooked all day while I slept.. Eating has become difficult for me...nothing appeals to me anymore, so now I can just heat up a cup of soup or chili every few hours w/o having to think much about it. This Sunday, we all went out for Dan's birthday dinner..the birthday person gets to choose where we go...Dan chose Montana's. Kathy, Derek's lady, has invited us all back to their place for coffee and dessert...she made Dan a birthday cake. Dan’s wife is on a diet and so demands that he is as well so she did nothing for his birthday..sadly, she is a very self-centred person.  Kathy, Derek’s lady, is such a delight for us! I try to hard to not compare but it is difficult...I bite my tongue alot with Amy but I’m not sure just how long it will be before JB tells Amy “how it is”…he is fast losing patience with her self-righteous arrogance and insensitivity too.

Monday morning, as I left the house to go for treatment, I was carrying my black leather gloves with fur cuffs and apparently dropped one on the porch. When I reached the car, I realized what had happened and I went back onto the porch to retrieve my glove. About ten of the outside kitties were sniffing and investigating it. As I approached, one of the big males snatched it and took off running with my expensive glove in his mouth followed by all the rest of the cats!

I would NOT have been surprised had it been the DOG grabbing the glove to play but I have NEVER seen CATS do this! I called out to them and he kept on running, my glove firmly clenched in his teeth...across the porch, across the driveway and thru the wooden fence and into the woods on the other side then dropped it and stood on guard, baring his teeth, protecting his trophy...I wonder if he thought it to be a tasty morsel of leather and fur...what a surprise he must have had when he finds it just a mere facsimile of a mouse!! I could not reach the glove and Fred hovered over it glaring at all of his competition. However, we had to get going to get to Hamilton on time for my treatment and we left. When we got home, there was no glove in sight, out under the trees, and I thought "that's the end of my expensive leather gloves!" Later though, John went out to feed the outside animals their supper and he found my rather battered black leather glove in the dog's pen. Apparently, my glove was not the gourmet delight that old Fred had expected and he carried it back and dropped it in the yard. The fur is matted and a bit roughed up but a good cleaning will revitalize it...no teeth marks prevail. Fred will have to settle for kibble or go hunting for real meat in the dark.I'm finding the daily drive and treatment is really tiring now, especially as the burn is deeper and redder each time. My right breast and underarm are getting very sore and red and starting to peel. I am going day by day now. We were invited by Kathy's parents to go with them to the Fish Fry at the Polish Hall, where they volunteer all the time, on Facer Street this coming Friday….they do alot of volunteering there. However, I doubt that I will be able to attend...Kathy said, if not, they will make sure that they send some home for me. Other than that, my social life is NIL. I am a hermit *s*.Today, Tuesday, is not only Valentine's Day but also my sorority dinner meeting and we have “secret sisters”…it is our practice to surprise our “secret sister” with small gifts on special occasions or just anytime.  I want to make sure that my secret sister gets her Valentine’s Day gift or else she might figure out that it is me if I am not at the party and no gift is there for her.  John said that, since my appointment today is for 1:20 pm, we will get home in time for me to have a few hours sleep in the afternoon, then he or Derek can drive me to the Falls to attend the party and then come back for me.  I do have to say that hubby has been phenomenal- driving me every day to Hamilton for treatment, waiting patiently during treatments (babysitting my purse w/o embarrassment…lol) and stopping for us to eat somewhere because then I don’t have to cook.  Mind you, JB makes a mean piece of toast but I need more substantial meals than that. Nothing appeals to me anymore so if I have to cook something, I tend to just go to bed w/o eating..my bad, but tis the truth.The Arimidex that I’m taking (to reduce my estrogen hormone levels wehich feed the cancer cells now spread thru my body) really knocks my sox off at times….deep bone pain is a side effect as well as hot flashes…but that is a subject for another post! *s*,

I have to apologize for my long-winded posts...I do tend to yap a lot …trying to keep a "blog" going for later reflection.

Many blesssings to all and special prayers and healing energy to all who need them,

Nancy B   :  }

Nancy
My prayers go with you daily.  

Hello beautiful Nancy,

I'm so sorry you are going throught this season. But the great news; all seasons go away and another one comes. Something new and beautiful unfolds and a new life begins. I will pray for you.

Best,

Sharon

 Good Morning Nancy and OFF,
So sorry you are so sore and tired.  You continue to be in my prayers.

I am seeing the nurse today.  The surgeon liked the progress my leg is making, but did not have the medicine the nurses use to bandage my wounds with.

I had to have x-rays because when I fell that day and hurt my leg and broke my nose, I also injured my back.  It bothered me a few days, but once I was on the good painkillers, it didn't bother me.  Now that I am off those meds, it hurts like the devil.

I hope everyone has a lovely Valentines Day.

Hugs,
Trish

Good morning Nancy and everyone......

Nancy.... I continue to keep you in my prayers. Sorry you are feeling so tired and in so much pain. It sure is nice that John takes you to your appointments and even tends to your purse!
Love the story about your glove. What a disappointment for Fred....very funny story!!

Tri**** sounds like you are healing pretty well right now that is great. Sorry for your back pain.

I am at a total blame as to who else posted...DUH!! Wishing you all well!!

I am so busy...that tells me I am definitely back in MN and in the groove again!! Feels so darn good!!

I don't have much planned for today but am being taken out to dinner tonight for Valentine's Day. He is a sweetheart! That will be really nice.

Wishing everyone a really Happy Valentine's Day!!!

Prayers for so many in need....so worried bout some of you.

Love and hugs to all....connie d

Good mornin' ya'll.
Nancy, you 'talk' as long as you want. We are happy to listen. I remember when my Sis went through radiation and her area was so very sore, and how wiped out she was during that time. You rest as much as you can, and EAT! When I had my radiation we were able to stay at a Hope Lodge sponsored by the American Cancer Society, so no long drives. Thand God for them!
Trish, I hope your back pain is something that can be gotten rid of by some rest and maybe some PT and meds!
My daughter is back in town for the rest of the week. I leave on Thursday. Our SIL gets back next Tuesday. Our daughter is gonna make it a short day today and we are gonna continue our search for a vanity for my granddaughter. I found one we all like at Sears, but the girls are insisting it is too spendy! I'm gonna pay for it, PLEASE let me get something our granddaughter really likes! Then granddaughter has a basketball game this evening. I had forgotten how exhausting it can be dealing with a 15 YO with PMS. Yikers!!
Everyone have a fantabulous day!

Happy Valentines to all my sweet OFF sistas!

Dearest Nancy, you are a valiant and strong lady!  I have no doubt that you are going to conquer your cancer and the radiation treatments and come out smiling.  But I pray for you to have the endurance and strength you need for the interim.  A good husband is a blessing from God, isn't he?  I'm so glad JB is taking such good care of you.

The floor tile guy is here today working on the upstairs bathroom.  He's pulling up the vinyl and laying new ceramic tiles in that bathroom.  I have to make a run to Home Depot in Lufkin this evening and pick up my marble tiles for the master bath.  I sure hope they've come in.  If the tiles are here, he's going to start on that bathroom tomorrow.

And thankfully the carpet cleaning people called finally and they are coming out this afternoon to give me an estimate on cleaning all the carpeting in this house.  I hope to get them scheduled next week before my new furniture arrives at the end of the month.

Things are slowly starting to pull together.

I haven't been handling my food too well since Butch left.  I do okay during the day, and then I blow it at night.  I'm determined to do better tonight.  I wish I wasn't an emotional eater!  It doesn't help anything, and I know it, but I just keep cramming food in my mouth.  Stupid, really.  How can I be an intelligent adult and still do this to myself?  At least I'm not eating sugar, chocolate or Cokes.

I need to call and make my appointment for my 1 year checkup, but I'm waiting to get all these "jobs" scheduled first.  Don't look forward to making that drive to Houston again.  I've got to remember to call and schedule my bloodwork, too.  So much going on this month!

Oh, good, just talked to Home Depot and my marble tile is in.  I'll be glad to get these tile jobs behind us. 

I wanted to remember and address some of you individually, but now I can't think of what all I wanted to say!  I'm thankful that Eileen finally got to get her dental work started.  Hope Mag and Trish and Nan B. and others are recovering and doing better today.  So proud of Cindi and her WL and her exercising!  I need to be doing that, too.  We don't hear much from Monica these days, but I think that's because she's HAPPY!  :)  Connie is happier too, and I'm very thankful for that!  Karen's vacay in Hawaii has been wonderful for her.  So putting Hawaii on my bucket list!  There are others, but I can't remember it all.

Have a wonderful non-chocoholic Valentines Day!  Love you all!

Hi All,
I remember going through what you are going through Nancy. It was a trial... tired and weeping, burning boob skin all the way up into the armpit. It's been almost 5 years since I went through it... time flies. I remember being so happy though that they caught it before I had to have chemo... that was my nightmare. The radiation was scary enough for me. I didn't have to take the hormone drugs either. I went (still go) to the University of California- San Francisco and it is one of the top breast cancer hospitals in the US. So I am very confident that they have me covered (at least as well as you can be "covered"). Before you know it you will be healing and back to normal.
I had Monday off- back to work today. The kids are buzzing- it's Valentine's Day! I'm sure the sugar will be circulating soon! I have a meeting after school and my TOPS tonight.
Sending you all a big Valentine hug!
Julia

Nancy, back when my sister went through her radiation, if I remember right she had a cream to put on the red areas and I think it was called "SILVER" I will have to ask her and see if that is right or not. It worked great for the sore burning areas.

You post as much as you want sweetie...we are her for you!! Never forget that!!!

Prayers and HUGS

Afternoon OFF family!!

Happy Valentine's Day!!!!

Not much happening here today, put a beef roast in the oven for our dinner tonight...starting to get some good smells already from it....yummmmmm.

Had a little snow this morning to clean up. Getting warmer so it is starting to melt some. Like that already! :-)

Well lunch is about over so need to get back to my office and se what else I can do while I wait for a coupke phone calls on apartments. Have two people very intrested so hope they call and say YES!!!

Thoughts and Prayers for all that need them!!

HUGS