LilyFestre-Mommy+Daddy+Baby...now on to Life!

Subject: RE: LilyFestre - Great oncology numbers!!! Yowza!!!
From: SINSULL
Date: 05 May 10 - 01:42 PM

10,000 of them will and so will you.
Mom is lucky to have you.
Stay strong.
Mary

Subject: RE: LilyFestre - Great oncology numbers!!! Yowza!!!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 05 May 10 - 01:39 PM

Fighting some anxiety today....saw some statistics that have me on edge and I'm doing the best I can to ignore them. They were as follows: 25,000 women in the US will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer this year. 15,000 of them will not survive. Outright depressing. My Dr. said I am going to be fine. They found mine really early and I'm trying to keep that in mind.

Today I am taking care of my mom. She's doing ok and that makes me happy. They found NO sign of ovarian cancer in her..HOORAY!!!!!!! I am cooking and cleaning for her, ran some errands and will do anything else she needs. I am also going home tonight to make dinner for my honey. I won't be staying there....Mom really shouldn't be alone at night just yet. I'll be happy to see him as I miss him. Feels good to be the one taking care of others for a change.

Really. Really good.

Michelle

Subject: RE: LilyFestre - Great oncology numbers!!! Yowza!!!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 04 May 10 - 05:52 PM

Home!!!!! (Well, at Mom's house).

:) Michelle

Subject: RE: LilyFestre - Great oncology numbers!!! Yowza!!!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 May 10 - 12:17 PM

Sounds like everything went well! And so much better to be in the waiting room, or in recovery, not in the surgery.

Gorgeous day here today. I hope the rest of you are drying out and able to get out and absorb some healthy rays and make a little vitamin D for yourselves!

SRS

Subject: RE: LilyFestre - Great oncology numbers!!! Yowza!!!
From: SINSULL
Date: 04 May 10 - 10:05 AM

Going home today??? Good for both of you.
SINS

Subject: RE: LilyFestre - Great oncology numbers!!! Yowza!!!
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 04 May 10 - 10:00 AM

handsprings are not for me, but I'll join in with happy dancing.

love to you both

sandra

Subject: RE: LilyFestre - Great oncology numbers!!! Yowza!!!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 04 May 10 - 09:54 AM

Mom did GREAT during her surgery and gets to go home TODAY!!! I didn't hear from the Dr. right away because she told him she was here by herself and would have to go home to an empty house! Mind you, we came here last night, went to lunch (Thai..YUM) and dinner, stayed over and I brought her here this morning! Gotta love those pain meds.

HOORAY!!! YAY!!!! ****HANDSPRINGS*** MY MAMA IS OK!!!!!!!

Stealing Susan's thingy...TBTG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Michelle

Subject: RE: LilyFestre - Great oncology numbers!!! Yowza!!!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 04 May 10 - 09:13 AM

9:00am. Mom is in recovery. I have not heard from the Dr. yet and am waiting patiently...ok, maybe not patiently....I wannna see my mama!!!!!!   Continuing lots of good thoughts and feeling grateful for my MudBuds.

Michelle

Subject: RE: LilyFestre - Great oncology numbers!!! Yowza!!!
From: gnu
Date: 04 May 10 - 08:44 AM

Yup.

Subject: RE: LilyFestre - Great oncology numbers!!! Yowza!!!
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 04 May 10 - 08:44 AM

yes

Subject: RE: LilyFestre - Great oncology numbers!!! Yowza!!!
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 04 May 10 - 08:17 AM

We're here with you, love.

Subject: RE: LilyFestre - Great oncology numbers!!! Yowza!!!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 04 May 10 - 08:16 AM

As of 8:00am, Mom is in surgery. Sending up more good thoughts and prayers.

Michelle who is anxiously waiting to make sure her mama is ok.

***Saw my surgeon in the waiting room (looking for the family of a patient who just had surgery) and he waved. It's feels good that he knows me and I'm not just a body or a number. I love Dr. Nash.

Subject: RE: LilyFestre - Great oncology numbers!!! Yowza!!!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 04 May 10 - 06:29 AM

Good Morning,

   All is well with me....didn't sleep much but what else is new? At 6:15am, they took my mom upstairs to get her IV started. She is the first surgery of the morning. She slept all night and did a good job this morning. My mom is the strongest woman I know. She's going to be just fine. We joked about it this morning...a long standing joke in our family.

Mom: I'm going to be just fine.
Me: You are going to be GREAT. If not, I'm gonna kick your ass!
Mom: Laughter.
Me: :)

So....I'm sitting in a giant waiting room with lots of others who are waiting for their loved ones. I have a number that represents Mom. There are TV screens with her number on it. As the number changes color, I know where she is. Right now, she's in pre-op.

Thank you for all the good thoughts and prayers. She means the world to me.

Michelle

Subject: RE: LilyFestre - Great oncology numbers!!! Yowza!!!
From: maeve
Date: 04 May 10 - 02:41 AM

Thinking of you and your mother this morning, Michelle.

m

Subject: RE: LilyFestre - Great oncology numbers!!! Yowza!!!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 May 10 - 06:43 PM

Good timing, I think Oz comes on at 7 here our time.

I don't have ovaries any more, a different, easier-to-treat cancer saw to that. And I learned recently (when my sister was making surgery decisions) that our aunt had ovarian cancer. For her, it went untreated because she had bad emphysema and that is what she died from soon after the other diagnosis.

SRS

Subject: RE: LilyFestre - Great oncology numbers!!! Yowza!!!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 03 May 10 - 11:31 AM

Thank you for all the good thoughts and prayers...I am outta here!!

Love to all,

Michelle

Subject: RE: LilyFestre - Great oncology numbers!!! Yowza!!!
From: jacqui.c
Date: 03 May 10 - 11:29 AM

Good thoughts going out to you and your Mom, Michelle.

Subject: RE: LilyFestre - Great oncology numbers!!! Yowza!!!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 03 May 10 - 11:18 AM

:)   You made me smile! LOL

For those of you who have access to television this afternoon, Dr. Oz is doing a show on Ovarian Cancer. I would highly recommend watching it...ovarian cancer's tag line is: Listen: It Whispers. The symptoms are vague and often mistaken for something else. By the time pain is involved, it has often spread. So....please, take some time to watch it today. I don't want any of you to have to go through what I am going through. EVER.

Love to all,

Michelle

Subject: RE: LilyFestre - Great oncology numbers!!! Yowza!!!
From: Janie
Date: 03 May 10 - 09:45 AM

Good thoughts....

Subject: RE: LilyFestre - Great oncology numbers!!! Yowza!!!
From: SINSULL
Date: 03 May 10 - 08:33 AM

You and your mother are in my thoughts and prayers, Michelle. Wish her our best.
Mary

Subject: RE: LilyFestre - Great oncology numbers!!! Yowza!!!
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 03 May 10 - 03:07 AM

sending good wishes & hugs to Michelle's lovely mother.

sandra

Subject: RE: LilyFestre - Great oncology numbers!!! Yowza!!!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 02 May 10 - 11:04 PM

Hi Friends,

I will be away for a few days. My mom has surgery is having surgery on early Tuesday morning and I wouldn't dream of being anywhere except with her. She should be able to go home on Wednesday. So....I'm taking my computer with me but am unsure about what kind of free time I will have.

    Good thoughts and prayers would be appreciated...very, very much.

Much love,

Michelle

Subject: RE: LilyFestre - Great oncology numbers!!! Yowza!!!
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 02 May 10 - 08:04 AM

Giggling along with you, dearie! Hooray!

Subject: RE: LilyFestre - Great oncology numbers!!! Yowza!!!
From: jacqui.c
Date: 01 May 10 - 11:17 AM

Another good memory to hold onto when you have a 'down day', Michelle.

Here's to lots more Giddy Days!

Subject: RE: LilyFestre - Great oncology numbers!!! Yowza!!!
From: Bobert
Date: 01 May 10 - 09:43 AM

Gigglefest???

I told ya'll that a little cannibus in the oatmeal cookies would work wonders...

BTW, Michelle... Saw on the news the other night a lady who went into the store and came out with a shopping cart full of stuff for less tah two bucks??? Not sure how that works... We clip coupons too but ya' generally gotta actaully buy something to get a second one free...

B~

Subject: RE: LilyFestre - Great oncology numbers!!! Yowza!!!
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 01 May 10 - 08:12 AM

another great day

keep having 'em

hugs

sandra

Subject: RE: LilyFestre - Great oncology numbers!!! Yowza!!!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 30 Apr 10 - 10:31 PM

Giddy. Giddy is the word I was looking for.

YAY FOR GIDDY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Michelle

Subject: RE: LilyFestre - Great oncology numbers!!! Yowza!!!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 30 Apr 10 - 10:20 PM

Today has been incredible. It started last night. I fell asleep after a fit of hysterical laughter in bed with my husband......giggle fest extraordinaire! I haven't laughed so hard or so much in months.

This morning I went with my friend to an appointment she had.....we rocked out to Lady GaGa all the way home. Felt like a teenager....FUN!

Did a whole yoga class today, including 2 full sun salutations. No twists as they pull on my port but I did everything else. Sweat so much I had a puddle on the mat under my head....literally. Disgusting but sweet too......I worked hard and it felt SO, SO GOOD!!! Yoga party followed....chatted up a storm with all kinds of people I haven't seen in a bit.

I am so tired. Happily exhausted.

Today was a day well lived!! My heart, soul and spirit are blissfully happy.

Goodnight sweet friends.

Love to all.

Michelle

Subject: RE: LilyFestre - Great oncology numbers!!! Yowza!!!
From: jacqui.c
Date: 30 Apr 10 - 01:34 PM

Happiness just overflows. Reading your latest posts, Michelle, have made my day happier than it already was.

Have a really good day melove.

Subject: RE: LilyFestre - Great oncology numbers!!! Yowza!!!
From: SINSULL
Date: 30 Apr 10 - 11:43 AM

So great to see you happy, Michelle. Enjoy it.
Much love,
Mary

Subject: RE: LilyFestre - Great oncology numbers!!! Yowza!!!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 30 Apr 10 - 11:15 AM

Show you, huh?

Ok. Gotta get dressed. I'm showered, my hair is all done (ha ha ha....don't laugh.....I combed my eyebrows!!!....GRIN) and still have some morning chores to do.

I FEEL FABULOUS TODAY!!!!!!!!!!

Nyah nyah

~S~

Subject: RE: LilyFestre - Great oncology numbers!!! Yowza!!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Apr 10 - 10:59 AM

I'm glad to see you bounce back after each of these treatments. Keep up the good work, kiddo! And the good works!

SRS

Subject: RE: LilyFestre - Great oncology numbers!!! Yowza!!!
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 30 Apr 10 - 08:58 AM

you have eyebrows? i am so envious. hypothyroidism means mine are vanishing never to return.

really good to hear you on the upside of things again, Petal.

Subject: RE: LilyFestre - Great oncology numbers!!! Yowza!!!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 30 Apr 10 - 08:29 AM

OMGosh!!! 1,000!!!!

One thousand posts of love and support that has kept me going and means so much...YOU ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Michelle

Subject: RE: LilyFestre - Great oncology numbers!!! Yowza!!!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 30 Apr 10 - 08:28 AM

YAY!!! Daily hug!!!!! And Bobert....I did really well with that $100.00....times are tight....it's amazing what you can come up with when you have to! And also...I caught a killer sale...one reason why we went that day! My nana likes to say she can make a penny scream for mercy...I'm trying to follow in her footsteps!!! *G*

SO.....I got a decent night's rest and in an hour, it's MY turn to accompany someone else to the Dr. She is coming for my next chemo treatment, staying overnight with me, the whole works. I think it's only fair to do the same for her...although her appointment won't take more than an hour.

Mom and I were out for a ride yesterday and decided to stop in and visit Tracy, a friend I met in chemo who I have clicked with ever since. She was DELIGHTED!!!!   She had no idea we were coming so she was in her jammies, no makeup,....she was just enjoying herself at home the best she could. She was all apologetic and I told her that I didn't care, I came to see HER. She lit right up and pretty soon she took her hat off and there we were, two bald friends yukking it up at the dining room table. Hugs, laughter and on the verge of tears at times for both of us. I am going to make a point of going to see her more often (get my car back next week)....it was great for her spirits and for mine too. I LOVE YOU TRACY!!!!!!

Just thinking about it makes me smile.

Ok. Gotta get dressed. I'm showered, my hair is all done (ha ha ha....don't laugh.....I combed my eyebrows!!!....GRIN) and still have some morning chores to do.

I FEEL FABULOUS TODAY!!!!!!!!!!   ****HAPPY DANCE********

Love to all,

Michelle

Subject: RE: LilyFestre - Great oncology numbers!!! Yowza!!!
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 30 Apr 10 - 07:22 AM

Here's your daily <<>>...

Subject: RE: LilyFestre - Great oncology numbers!!! Yowza!!!
From: Bobert
Date: 30 Apr 10 - 06:54 AM

Sounds like there more than one tough cookie in this battle so tell yer mom "Hey" fir me, will ya, Michelle... Only a $100 at the grocery store with an empty pantry??? Not bad...

Enjoy yer day...

B~

Subject: RE: LilyFestre - Great oncology numbers!!! Yowza!!!
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 30 Apr 10 - 04:05 AM

I love that gift bow head fashion thing. Still here with you, little chickpea.

Subject: RE: LilyFestre - Great oncology numbers!!! Yowza!!!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 30 Apr 10 - 01:14 AM

I manage my daily living more wisely? Really? You think so? Explain please.

I'm up again in the night and really I can't afford to be. Tomorrow I go along with a friend to the Dr. and then in the PM, my yoga studio is having a party. I said I couldn't go as I don't have a car to get there right now but my yoga teacher wouldn't hear of it and is coming to pick me up AND bring me home!!! They are celebrating the end of the yoga challenge which was 30 days for $30.00. I went twice. She doesn't care....said people are missing me and asking about me and it wouldn't be a MSY party without me. YAY!!! I get to go!!!! Without my cane too!!! YAY!!!!

For May, I signed up for the beginner class in yoga. Any of you that know me from the accountability thread KNOW that I LOVE yoga and was going several times a week prior to my chemo. I no longer have the energy or strength to complete a regular yoga class but I think I will be able to manage the beginners class....slowly rebuilding step by step...or heck, even just doing some of it is good. I've missed it terribly and it's embarrassing to just go and sit through an active class or to roll around on my back while suns are being led....even though I know it's ok to do...I'd rather participate than sit and watch!

Anyway, I think it's an Ambien kind of night. I didn't sleep last night, no nap today and I'll need my energy tomorrow. So....goodnight all. See you tomorrow.

Michelle who feels a BAZILLION times better today!!!! HOORAY!!!

Subject: RE: LilyFestre - Great oncology numbers!!! Yowza!!!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 29 Apr 10 - 11:20 AM

LF, have you noticed-- OK, the pain and weakness get worse with each chemo. But!!! Each time, you manage daily living more wisely to bounce back quicker each time. That's YOU, on autopilot.

A nice benefit to getting older, I say.

I think a LOT of newly-diagnosed survivors would be helped by hearing this-- by directing their attention to the inner drive for health that ALSO kicks in during treatment. It's the upside that balances the downside.

~Susan

Subject: RE: LilyFestre - Great oncology numbers!!! Yowza!!!
From: jacqui.c
Date: 29 Apr 10 - 09:46 AM

Michelle - that's amazing! Thanks for sharing.

Subject: RE: LilyFestre - Great oncology numbers!!! Yowza!!!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 29 Apr 10 - 09:19 AM

Here's the updated montage!

Updated 4-29-2010


Much love,

Michelle

Subject: RE: LilyFestre - Great oncology numbers!!! Yowza!!!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 29 Apr 10 - 08:32 AM

I did go back to bed but not until I fussed with my montage a bit. I'll be posting a link to it here later today..just an update with a handful of new photos. :)

Michelle

Subject: RE: LilyFestre - Great oncology numbers!!! Yowza!!!
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 29 Apr 10 - 07:48 AM

meow!

I think the worse dreams are the ones that make sense, then I realise I'm not really asleep & am directing it - making the universe fit MY script!

sandra

Subject: RE: LilyFestre - Great oncology numbers!!! Yowza!!!
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 29 Apr 10 - 07:38 AM

I hope you got back to sleep and have a day of feeling rested and hopeful.

love to you~~~♡♡♡

Subject: RE: LilyFestre - Great oncology numbers!!! Yowza!!!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 29 Apr 10 - 03:16 AM

It's 3:15am.

Did you ever have dreams that didn't make sense yet your brain continuted to try and make sense of it until frustration woke you up? Sheesh.

So. I'm up sitting by the pellet stove with Jack the kitty sitting on my lap, happily purring away. Had a little snack and will try to go back to bed sometime soon. Purr, purr, purr.

=^..^=

Subject: RE: LilyFestre - Great oncology numbers!!! Yowza!!!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 28 Apr 10 - 11:52 AM

You prolly just missed the verbal announcement that the scooter is lendable as needed by arrangement. We have been discreet about it (risk mgmt issues) until the needed re-making of the armrests/handlebars was done. And we have the parts on hand now. Soon it will live in the Narthex with a sign posting its policies, and can even be picked up there by advance arrangement. It is reserved for me for Convention weekend, keep in mind, for early June. And I use it on Fridays, often, plus some weeknights around W'boro. But M-Th weekdays--- it often sits unused, either in my van or the Narthex.

But do pls let Bonnie know that it IS avail for the next round, OK? (I'm so busy with work stuff now that I need reminders on timely opportunities to assist.)

~Susan
CC: Capt. CS

Subject: RE: LilyFestre - Great oncology numbers!!! Yowza!!!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 28 Apr 10 - 11:33 AM

OMGosh Susan!!! I never thought of that. I was thinking the scooter was for use at church!!!

I am in Ithaca today.....feeling better, still some ache in my knees but manageable. I am hanging out at the bookstore all day while my honey is at work. We'll go out for lunch (thinking of getting sandwiches and having lunch at the arboretum which is in full bloom). I am reading some books for my book club...both about the Civil War, mostly focusing on Antietam at the moment. We have a bus trip scheduled for the end of may to Antietam so I'm trying to learn as much as I can. Interesting stuff.

So....hot cocoa and books all day. Yes, life is better today!

<3 Michelle

Subject: RE: LilyFestre - Great oncology numbers!!! Yowza!!!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 28 Apr 10 - 11:23 AM

(((MICHELLE.))) It took Bette a whole lifetime to achieve that attitude. Give yourself some slack, (((YOUNG WOMAN.))) Besides, docs break "bad" news as gradually as they can, so folks freak out less and fight stronger as a result. You can only know what they tell you, so ix-nay on the ummie-day stuff!

And in case you forgot, my scooter is available ANY TIME. With a pre-chore PM in the evening or, sometimes, an AM phone call--

I can meet you with scooter, offload it, hang out while you shop, and reload it when you are done.


Pls tell Bonnie she is in charge of reminding you on that, OK?

Gotta run, and BE NICE TO PETAL,

~S~

Subject: RE: LilyFestre - Great oncology numbers!!! Yowza!!!
From: jacqui.c
Date: 28 Apr 10 - 08:15 AM

Thanks for the update Michelle - keep on telling us how you feel - like crying, it's good to get out even what you see as negative thoughts. Let the Universe take them and leave you free to heal. the fact that we are all still here every day should tell you something about how we see you.

After Kendall's latest health scare I was sent a card stating

LICENSE TO BITCH AND MOAN - you earned it!

Very apt and I would say the same to you. Have you thought that maybe others see you as a Bette, because you keep most of the tears for times when you are by yourself?