bunny

next to the word trouper in the dictionary, Connie, is your pretty face. prayers for healing and strength, as always.

welcome, Maggi and husband. just to give you some hope, my mom's NSCLC came back after a couple years' worth of clear scans and she is now cancer-free again. it was definitely scarier to have it come back, versus the 1st time (which was scary enough, lord knows!) hang in there, and keep us posted.

I am so sorry.

I am truly saddened to read this. Peace to all of you.

welcome baby girl! and congratulations. xo

Jackie, I'll assume you mean more pictures and not more babies. my husband is only 11 months older than his younger brother so I am under some pressure from the Irish inlaws, but I need a little more, er, recovery time.

meh, high time I learned.

you came to the right place. your positive attitude will serve you well. keep us posted, and god bless.

well, I finally got off my behind and figured out how to do this myself instead of asking others. I posted a few in Ann's GTKY today, but "just for fun" and for picture-posting practice, here's Levi's first successful back-to-front roll (a few weeks ago, now), amazingly caught on film by a proud mom.

wow, I literally woke up with the urge to send him a PM this morning, which I did right before I sw this post. now I know why. prayers, as always, for Rich.

well, I am getting very predictable...but I also finally learned how to post these here, instead of always asking Katie or Val...so these photos, in various places in my office, are my favorite things I can see from where I am sitting now.

I found it here. http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=hr110-335 it's a resolution, so I guess it's cited as "H.Res. 335" versus an HR.

Hopefully, it's not cancer. If it is, though, then your dad's story is starting out just like my mom's. Her cancer was discovered by a routine chest xray, before a totally unrelated surgery. And you know what? It was the best possible thing that could have happened (well, next-best to not having LC). Had her spot not been found until she had symptoms or just later in her life, it may have been a lot harder to treat. She is now a 7+ year survivor and doing absolutely great. If it is cancer, hang on and let the good people here help you - it's a rough ride but one that your dad can absolutely survive. I know it's scary. Wait for those test results, let us know how is goes, and take good care.

...my baby laughing...my husband cleaning the bathroom...my parents relishing their grandparent-ness...a good cup of coffee... just to name a few.

Amazing - now we have to stay on our reps and senators to see it through! The Senate bill was intro'd, in part, by Senator Clinton, it was a very proud moment for me - that one of *my* senators was bringing such a positive lung cancer resolution to the Senate.

Chesney. I am not sure about KY, but here in NY CancerCare had oncological social workers that are free!! I called one a few times, in addition to my own therapist, to talk about cancer-specific stuff. all the other posts here are great and spot on. therapy was a big help to me. the therapist and one or two friends I could absolutely ANYthing to, even my deepest, darkest fears and thoughts, was really the most crucial part, though. as hard as it was, I also had to find *some* way to take a break here and there. even a 30 minute pedicure was very restorative for me, but not long enough for guilt to set in. the folks here also reinforced to me that I needed to take good, basic care of myself - eat enough, sleep enough, etc. I did yoga before mom's diagnosis, but I found a physical outlet extremely helpful for my aggravation/frustration/anger. wish I could say it gets easier. it gets easier, then hard again, then different, etc. etc. it's a roller coaster, that's for sure.

I can't believe he's two. I remember the painted pumpkin belly! Very exciting, another baby on the way for you guys.

Grateful to be 'here' again, hoping I can plug back in to this direct line to god. Especially grateful for my little boy and his new tooth.

I don't think you can mess it up. although I know the sad tears *seem* out of place when there is such joy around, I think it's all healing. all of it. you can't mess it up because you are a loving, kind woman who knows her truth and feels her feelings. I know this from your posts here. just be you. that neice/nephew is lucky to have you, tears and all.

I am so sorry for your loss. Pammie always struck a heartchord for me - for her kind words, and because I lost an aunt named Pammie to kidney cancer some years ago. Continued peace to you are your family.

these days, it's mostly email with some phone thrown in. I also like to use the Bat Signal as often as possible.

I like that idea, that we're gathering here in preparation for the long cold winter. for me, I think it's more that I have been a deer in the headlights - wedding, scary, complicated pregnancy, baby in NICU, post-partum 'stuff' - the past year + and I just couldn't hack it here for a while. I am letting that be OK, not being hard on myself for it. this truly is a warm, loving place. I think I am somewhat of a better person when I am truly a part of it. but you, Pat, you're a magic woman. I know you struggle so much and I can only imagine how hard it's been for you. you have no idea how much light you give off. love you. amie Bruce will be in my prayers.

I would def. ask the doctor about this. it could be a needle biopsy, or it could be more invasive. I know my mom had a 'spot' on the PET that could only be reached by full-on surgery, so they watched and waited. eventually, another spot cropped up that they *could* reach, and it was a recurrance of her NCSLC. the first spot turned out to be cancer, as well.

John was and continues to be a power of example to us all, as are you. Hugs to you and the kids.

grateful to be able to make time for this 'place' again, I've missed it. also grateful for my amazing little boy, who sprouted his first tooth yesterday, further laughing in the face of his preemie-ness.