Wednesday - Make this a spectacular day....it all starts in your attitude!!

Wednesday,  a monumental day for the US.

Hello, OFF family! 

Congratulations on the re-election of an amazing President! There’s still a lot of work to do but the philosophy is to work together instead of against each other. Now let’s get it done!  The whole world (except Pakistan) celebrates with you!

Tuesday was my family doctor’s appointment.  Pressed by my Oncologist, and today, also my Radiologist, I saw my local doctor and asked for better sleeping pills and pain medication.

The office had called me back because my bloodwork two weeks ago showed issues.  Today I was told that my white blood cells are far too low. However, BP, sugar, liver function, cholesterol (good and bad), heart, urine and other functions are PERFECT. 

My doctor laughed so hard as he was sipping his tea that he snorted tea up his nose....all because I declared “well, for a fat old lady with chronic lymphodema in both legs and  ancer recurrance, I’m pretty darned HEALTHY!”   hee hee hee!

So now I have much stronger sleeping pills (so I might finally be able to sleep more than 2-3 hours and maybe even fall asleep instead of lying there for 4-5 hours before sleeping), and also tylenol 3’s for pain management.  All of my doctors understand my reluctance to take medication but the insomnia and pain is drastically affecting my quality of life these days.  At least, I had toughed it out for nine months before accepting that I need help.  Now I do not feel like I “gave in easily”.

So I have to go back to my family doctor to get the NEW results of a second blood test and then we will look at how to build up my white cells again. Apparently this has been seen in other women with breast cancer.

I just got an email from my son Danny & his wife Amy….they went on Monday for a week in Costa Rica...today they go to Nicaragua to see a volcano…he reports that it is incredibly HOT where they are. When they return, Amy’s father will be starting radiation for his throat cancer.

Derek works daily on his snow plows, adding new cutting edges that JB welds in place, so that the plows can cut right thru hardened snow in the plaza parking lots.  He rebuilt  three dumptruck engines and they are also ready to work. All of Derek’s clients quickly renewed his contracts, they are so pleased with his work and attitude. 

Kathy returns home after two weeks aboard the Canadian Coast Guard security ship today but she has to return for the weekend to complete her yearly update on CPR and other skills required by the military for being aboard a security ship.  Once everyone is home, we can finally do our family birthday dinner for JB’s special day of Oct 29^th.

Although I find myself unable to participate at my usual outings for the most part, I still do my best to run my BPW group and to work on a regular basis to organize our EMPOWERED WOMEN event for next summer. 

Managed to get a substantial discount from the local Hilton Hotel for my out-of-town ladies who are coming to participate in  our “day in the park”….I even have ladies coming from Quebec! (at least 12 hours away)   

I had to postpone the euchre club group for a few weeks to gather enough players to fill four tables. And I managed to get a local catering company that I used to work with to donate lunch for 250 ladies for that day!!  Unfortunately, as  supportive as my small group is, I tend to be the one that does most of the organizing and my situation does slow me down.

Two books are very slowly growing as I add to my daily files, bits and pieces, photos and drawings.   

One of my six sisters-in-law has been diagnosed with INVASIVE Breast Cancer…huge sudden lumps in both breasts. Thursday she goes in to have both breasts removed, then chemo and then radiation. This week, she went to see the lady who tattooed my white eyebrows and my eyeliner so that I look human, and she got her brows tattooed, and they look SO natural in taupe. That will help her feel better when all her hair falls out.  Unfortunately I have five friends at stage four. 

So glad to see Nance, Laureen, and so many more posting.  And I’m sending positive energy and prayers to all of you who are struggling with family, health and personal issues.  Warm hugs to you all, each and every one!

Make this a spectacular day....it all starts in your attitude!!

Nancy B  :  }

Good Morning Nancy, OFFr's,

Indeed it is all about attitude and some days I wake up with a good one and find myself sliding downhill, which is why I love people like you, Nan and some others who no matter what is going on, you find your way towards a positive one!  Love how you made your doc snort his tea. . .I someday hope to meet and give you the biggest hug simply because of how much you inspire me to let go of the little stuff. . .

I am truly happy about the outcome of last night's election and while I know in many ways my country is divided on things, we have to look for more common ground and ways to come together that make a difference.  My personal belief is that our President is a good man who has to make his ideals more realistic so that people can digest it and work with one another, even while disagreeing about some things.  But we know about opinions don't we (tee, hee, hee). . .  I stayed up until after his speech and needless to say I am a tired woman today, but hopeful that the next four years will find us recovering much further than the last four.

So, as I said, I'm tired, but I have work to do and after work, hoping not to have to drive in horrible weather as they are talking about 4 inches of snow, rain and wind. . .  just what we need another storm.  I have to pick up Maggie (Roxie's dog friend) from the person who has been caring for her since Monday, as Maggie's owner, Judy, is in California visiting her son until Friday.  Hoping that Roxie and Maggie get along well, which they normally do, but they have never had a "sleepover", but since Roxie originally grew up with two other dogs, I am hopeful, even if she does believe that she is Queen of the House!

Well that's about it from me, got to work for a living.

Wishing each and every one of you a blessed day of joyful living and sending positive thoughts and love your way for the challenges in your life.

Nancy sending out prayers for your SIL, friends and Amy's dad.

Hugs, Laureen

Good Morning Nancy and OFF,

I'm exhausted from watching the election results late last night.  I'm happy about the president's re-election, but disappointed that Kathy Boockvar did not beat incumbent Mike Fitzpatrick.  

Today, I have an appointment with my ENT doctor about the earache that has been plaguing me for a month.  I hope I can stay awake for it.  I'm exhausted and falling asleep here.  

After my appointment, I have my volunteer work.  I'd rather come home and fall asleep.  But, I am trying to get back into my routine.  I volunteered for a few hours yesterday, but came home early.   

Well, I better go get a cup of coffee, because I can't miss my appointment.

Nancy, I'm glad you are going to be taking something to help your pain, and sleep.  You deserve some reloef.

Hugs,

Trish

Trish.....please listen to your body. If you need rest then rest. You are pushing yourself too hard. Good luck at your appointment today!

Prayers, love and hugs.....connie d

Good morning Nancy & all. Glad the election is finally over. The phone calls were driving me nuts. Does anyone think they help? 

Nancy, I love your attitude. My doctor is very stoic & serous. It is my goal in life to make him laugh. I have been doing good too. I love a challenge.

I am very happy your blood .work came back ok. I used to get a shot the day after each chemo for my white cell count. They cost $8000 each. The ins. paid most of it.

Today DH wants to go shopping. When I was really sick he got used to doing it & now I think he enjoys it!!

Those of you on the east coast stay safe.

nan

Hi Nancy and my OFF family:

Nancy, I love your attitude ... it makes my day! You have sunshine in your veins. It will pump up that white cell count somehow ... or whatever chemicals they use to do it. 

I stayed up to watch President Obama's victory speech but fell asleep during it. I was in some pain last night ... heavy PT and standing in line to vote. I was glad I didn't have to work last night ... a muscle on the side of my leg hurt a lot. My doc has prescribed lidoderm patches so that helps a lot because I can put pieces of them on painful muscular areas. That, and percocet helped to take down the pain and put me to sleep. So I missed half the speech and woke up and the coverage was winding down. 

I read during most of the coverage ... it was like when I watch sports ... I keep one eye on the game and read so if something exciting happens I then can watch what's going on. I'm reading "Wolf Hall" ... it's another take on the Tudor era, from the view of Thomas Cromwell. Interesting ... didn't know that much about him.

I'm glad the election is over so all the ads will be done. I was really sick of them. I didn't get phone calls because I don't answer calls that I don't know the numbers. And Indiana wasn't a battleground state. There was a big fight for senator here, especially after Mourdock made a gigantic stumble in the debate and said a baby after a rape was something God intended to happen. I don't know what some of these people are thinking ... yeah, let the woman deal with the consequences of a man's violent actions on her, she has no choice in the matter. Oh well, he didn't get elected, thankfully. The people have spoken. He had beaten a very good senator in Richard Lugar in the primary; people realized what an idiot he was when he shot off his mouth in the debate. Sorry ... just my opinion. I'll shut up now.

Well, I go back to work today for sure. No more sitting around in my jammies all day for the next five days. I'm doing sports pages tonight ... I guess I'll find out what's going on when I get back to the office tonight. Sounds like a few changes. 

Anyway, have a good day.

Eileen....I didn't mean to leave you out of my post. We must have been posting at the same time.  I wish you the best going back to work today. I pray that the pain will be tolerable. Keep us updated.

Love and hugs....connie d

That's OK, Connie. I will take a stash of vicodin with me and an icepack, a pillow and hope to get through the night. I will have to find an unused office chair so I can elevate my legs occasionally. That's what I did after my first (and second) knee replacement. I'm ready to go back to work ... I'm bored. I'm tired of sitting at home all day. My mind is turning to mush!

Let me tell you though ... the book "Molokai" was really good ... as was the biography on Thomas Becket. The Becket book was excellent ... told me so much more about the man than other books ... I'm really interested in that period, and this book opened my eyes to the feud between him and Henry II. So I have been learning some things while I've been off.

Well ... off to the shower ... then lunch and off to work at 3 p.m.

Good morning Nancy and everyone.....

Nancy....your attitude is so contagious. I love reading your posts. You are such an inspiration to many!!  When I do my coloring I always think of you!!  I am glad you are taking some sleep meds. After all when we sleep we heal. Sounds like things with your family are coming together. I am sure JB will be celebrating his birthday soon! Special prayers for you and also for your SIL.

Laureen....always love to read your posts. Hope the dogs get along!!

Nan....I laughed when I read about your hubby and his shopping. Glad he finally figured out it isn't so bad. Have a good day...prayers as always!!!

Nothing much planned for me today. I need to get the oil in my car changed today or tomorrow. Just going with the flow today! Tomorrow morning I have fasting labs, my complete physical, and a mammogram.  Hoping all of that goes well.

Wishing you all a beautiful day!!  So many prayers for our OFF sisters and families today.

Love  and Hugs   to all.....connie d

Connie,

The dogs got along fine, but I had to bring her back to where I picked her up from because she was not being very friendly towards my one roommate and I could not take a chance being away from home and having to worry about it all day while at work.  Luckily the woman who watched her since Monday could take her back, she is available until tomorrow morning, at which time she will take Maggie and put her in her house and I will pick her up Friday after work and hold her until Judy gets back home.  Funny story, Maggie wanted to go outside last night, it was snowy, rainy, yukky outside and so I let her out, when I saw she was done and had not come in, I called her in, well she did not come in. . . Roxie went out and herded her and then when she was at the back stairs, I was calling her to come in and she was standing there. . . Roxie grabbed her by the collar and was pulling her upstairs. . . pretty amazing just how smart she is.  Anyway, they are both good dogs, but Maggie is part chow and chows can be a little standoffish with people they don't know real well and so it would seem, Maggie is . . .  I felt badly, but I have to look out for the safety of those who live under my roof.

Have a great day, hope your mammo and physical all turn out ok!

Laureen