Janet B

Good Afternoon Everyone!! I slept in late today, the Hope Summit did me in!! What an amazing event!! I am sorry I did not post during it, but there was, incredibly, limited wi fi access at the hotel (ie, only in the bar and lobby) and we were kept busy from sun up til sun down! I took some pictures which I will try to figure out how to post here and on FB later today! I have tried to explain to others what was so special about the weekend, and it is difficult to put into words. Yes, the speakers were amazing, we learned some things, we had great food, lots of "pints" (as Eric would say!) and were awesome bowlers (not!) But REALLY what made it so special was being together with so many people who just "got it". People who have been through the ringer and made it out and still have that great gift of HOPE. I have not done so much, smiled so much, laughed so much in a long long time. Diane, I hope we meet there next year! It is my next goal to strive for! Curly Sue, I am so sorry we did not get to chat at the Summit. On the ride home I was regretting all the people I did not get to talk to and spend time with, I tried to get to at least say hello to everyone, but you know how filled the days were and I am sorry we did not connect. Next year!!!!! In the mean time I am so glad you came to "the Air" I hope you visit often!! Meeting Eric, Bud, Sarah, Alan, Jaime, Cindy, Dawn, Katie, people I have been chatting with here for years was such a gift. Hugs to everyone, and Diane, I think green thumb or not, plants do better when you plant them in the basket yourself, The nursery, in order to make them look pretty, overcrowds them, and then they become root bound before too long. Sending hugs and prayers to Judy in KW. You were in my thoughts all weekend Judy, I tried to send Hope Summit good vibes your way! peace!

good morning everyone! I am so glad you got to D.C. safely Eric! I quickly checked my town's calendar to make sure it wasn't our school being boisterous at breakfast, as our 11th graders go to D.C. for a week each year, but it isn't us! I hope you, actually, I KNOW you will find something fun to do today. We are headed out first thing in the morning. We hope to get to the hotel early enough to grab some dinner before I leave my husband to meet everyone at the reception. We will be driving up in my little yellow beetle so you cant miss me! I am also so incredibly sad that Judy in KW won't be there. Judy, Stephanie and I had been talking about this for a year. It never even crossed my mind that Judy wouldn't be there. It was already arranged that I was picking her up at the RV park and driving her in. I usually take all this cancer stuff with a positive attitude, but his has hit me hard. are with you Prayers arer with you sweet Judy in KW, prayers for strength and peace. Judy in MI, I hope you a feeling even just a bit better today and I am so glad your treatment is almost done! I have to say I am a bit jealous of the cleaning woman! Tuesday I went with my sister to tour Lizzie Borden's House. If any you do not know who Lizzie was, she was accused of killing her father and stepmother with a hatchet back in the 1890's. She was acquitted and the murder was never solved. For some odd reason my mother was totally absorbed by her story, and so, as a consequence are my sisters and I. Lizzie's house is now a Bed and Breakfast and next to the Beetle, the best gift my husband ever gave me was a stay there, in Lizzie's room! Anyway, seeing her home was on my sisters bucket list so we went! Ok, now you all think I am crazy, seriously, not really crazy, just very interested in this particular unsolved murder! Today is rainy and grey. The perfect kind of day to pack for a trip. I got a dog sitter, yesterday! Talk about waiting to the last minute! So, just pack, sweep, and fold Sunday's bulletins at church. What is on your agenda today?? Peace

That is an amazing, story. It made me so angry reading it thinking of all that you went through just to get a diagnosis! Doctors HAVE to start thinking about lung cancer as a possibility first, rather than as a last option. You sound like an amazing, strong woman, I can't wait to meet you at the Hope Summit! Peace - Janet

Happy Monday everyone. I am writing from the lovely infusion chair! I just had my port accessed, but by the time my blood work is checked and the Avastin and Zometa are mixed up, I will be here for several more hours. That is fine, since I have Lung Cancer Support Group four floors down at 5:30. I did not make it on the forums yesterday, after church we went out to see that animated 3-D movie, Pirates - A Band of Misfits with some friends. It was fun, silly and a mindless happy way to spend the afternoon. Afterwards we went back to their house for a barbecue. A nice day. Diane, I thought of you while I ate my lobster roll! In fact, I took a picuture of it for you! I can't post pictures from my iPad, but if I get home early enough I will post it later! Now there are different kinds of lobster rolls, hot, cold, with mayo, or just with melted butter. The way I love them is hot, with just lobster and melted butter on a buttered toasted roll. YUM! There is a place about a mile from our home that consistently wins for CT's Best Lobster roll. It is one of my many weaknesses! Tonight, on my way home from group, I will stop for my other weakness. MacDonalds! I hope you are all having a wonderful day, the sun is shining here, hope it is for you also! Peace

Wow. You really are going through a double whammy right now. Having to deal with this diagnosis is hard enough, but from what I have been told shingles are terribly painful. I am so sorry you have to deal with both at once. Please keep us posted about the surgery, The fact that you are eligible for it is a good thing!

I made it to the air,a little late, but it is still Saturday so it counts. It is not like I was doing anything important, I slept in, went to the dump and then attempted some yard work. it is pretty chilly here today and very windy, so I scrapped the garden and came in to finish changing the clothes over for the season. My garden is very depressing this year, I have a perrenial garden surrounding a flagstone patio. I used to have several gardens, but downsized to just this one 2 years ago because I no longer had the energy to keep them up. ( my husband does have a vegetable garden). Anyway, last September we had a hurricane which flooded my garden with salt water, it looks like more than half my perrenials didn't make it, as well as two trees. Oh, we'll, looks like I will be usi g the credit card at the Garden store! I totally get the dog hair dilemma. I have a very very sheddy Golden Retriever, I have to sweep at least twice a day. If he wasn't so cute and such a good caregiver I would scream!! Diane, I am so glad you a going to use the wheelchair for graduation. it would be a shame to be too tired to enjoy the day. You should inquire with the school about special parking and seating. I know at my sons graduation all you had to do was ask and they had a spot blocked off for you, you didnt need a handicapped sticker, they just trusted you. It is worth a try! I don't even know what to say about Judy in KW not making it to the Summit. She and I have been planning on meeting there for well over a year now. (along with Stephanie). I have lost all my excitement for going now. I hate cancer. Prayers are always with Judy, For strength and peace. I see that lots of people check in on the air each day. Please consider joining in! Just tell us about your day, we would love to get to know you, lasting friendships are made here. I will be blunt, we have cancer, so sometimes these friendships end in sadness. But, they are friendships we will always cherish and that get us through the toughest times. We are headed out now for lobster rolls for dinner. My all time favorite. Then we will sit down to watch the Sox play! Peace

Hi friends! First if all a big WHOO HOO to Diane for rocking your scans!! I am so happy for you, now you can totally enjoy the summer!! Waiting, impatiently I admit, for news about Judy in KW and wondering and worrying about Judy in MI too. So, my day just started! If you read Tuesdays air, I said I was going to rest up for the summit. Then yesterday's air I said I already blew that and over did it. Well, today I slept until 12:45!!! Now, a huge part of that is that I have been having some bad pain in my shoulder, (no idea what is going on with that, kind of don't want to know) so in order to get some sleep I took two pain pills at around 1 a.m. Those pills had me totally knocked out until my husband came home for lunch and ran up to check on why I wasn't answering him calling for me! Now it is 2:00 and I am sitting here in my pajamas feeling like I have a terrible hangover! Plus my shoulder feels worse than ever! I guess today I will be taking it easy! Maybe play a little Draw Something, or Words with Friends, maybe work on that sweater I am crocheting (luckily it is my left shoulder in pain and I am right handed! The birthday is tomorrow, so it won't be done on time!!) I have a meeting at 7 so I guess I have to get dressed at some point!!! Oh, hugs to Katie, hoping there is good news on Zoe soon!! I hope you all have good days!! Peace

That is GREAT news!!! WHOO HOO!!!!! I am so happy for you!!

Good afternoon! I ran around doing some shopping this afternoon and I can already tell that I am going to be a mess tomorrow because of it! Didn't I just say yesterday that I was going to take it easy until the Summit!? Diane , our lives sound similar! I can't seem to cook any more. I get distracted, Or forget ingredients, I burn things. I also can't plan any more. I used to be an amazing multitasker and on top of doing several things at once, I could also plan whole holidays, parties etc in my head, including guests lists, menus, shopping lists etc. Now it was like the day before Easter and I had no idea what we would be eating, what the baskets would have in them and the house still had to been cleaned! I totally blame it on cancer meds it is better than blaming it on getting old! (I also spend way too much time vacuuming up dog hair!) Eric I am glad you are having so much fun with the bowling!! Mike, I am one of the few people I think, that thinks pigeons are beautiful. I feed them in the park and talk to them. We did have a problem last year though. We have a kind of reclusive neighbor who raised homing pigeons. He would let them out every morning and they would sit on the telephone wire and wait to go back in! Very cute! i enjoyed watching them. Only problem was that it turns out that not only was the neighbor's house and yard very messy, but he was over feeding the pigeons AND feeding the squirrels. So, with all the extra food about,before long the whole neighborhood became invested with rats. Sadly, the pigeons were taken away by the health department, the rats are still an issue!! I totally understand what you say about your birds giving you Joy and peace. I believe that animals are the best medicine. It is always my advice in support group when someone is really depressed - get a pet! Peace everyone Prayers to our Judy's!

Hey everyone! Good afternoon! The rain has stopped here in CT, we only got two day's worth, but it soaked the ground well. Today is a blustery, chilly day. All the blossoms have blown off my cherry tree leaving me a pink patio and lawn! I just got back from the farm. It is baby time there! The baby miniature horse was born Saturday night. She immediately got up and started hopping around, so she has been named Hopscotch. She is big for a baby mini, so they think her father must have been a pony(mom was a rescue so we don't know a lot about her past). She is the cutest little thing! I put pictures on Facebook if anyone wants to check them out! I am Janet Brown if you want to "friend" me. We also have baby chicks and baby ducklings! The baby ducklings are especially adorable ( ducks being my favorite animal). It is such a wonderful thing, spring, new life! I am trying to lay low this week, saving my energy for the Hope Summit. So, this week and next week I am going to stay close to home and do as little housework as possible! That is the plan at least!! Judy in KW, I am praying for you, Judy in MI, I hope you a feeling well! I hope everyone is enjoying today!! Peace

Good morning! it is chilly, grey and drizzly today. Seems like the perfect day to clean the house, but the pregnant miniature horse at the farm had her baby last night, so housework will wait while I go cuddle a baby horse!! Sounds like much more fun, as does Ice cream over salad!! Without my husband home I went to bed early, with a snack, my iPad and a"chick flick" on the tv. Stayed up til after two playing Draw Something and reading. it was wonderful!! of course, that meant I slept through church, but I will say my prayers at the farm today. yesterday I wore a t shirt and had all the windows open, today is sweatshirt weather and a fire in the fireplace weather. (but we can't do that because a momma racoon has a nest full of babies in there!) I am gladI didn't put away the winter clothes yet!! I hope everyone has a blessed day. prayers are with you all! Peace

Lily, I missed your post. I totally understand the emotions of going through pictures. I have been attempting to put all of ours in albums with notes attached since I was diagnosed 5 1/2 years ago, but I find it so emotional I can only do it in little spurts at a time!!

Good afternoon! Judy In KW if you are reading this - we are all praying for you and sending our happiest thoughts!! Judy in MI. I am so happy for you that you have this visit to look forward to! It is so nice that your stepdaughter has stayed close to you, that says a lot about you as a person. I hope you eat copious amounts of icecream and have long long gab sessions! As for naps, I couldn't get through life without them. I have told my family, I have about 2 good hours in me at a time. Then I need to at least rest, if not nap. If I try to do it all, I completely fall apart for days, so napping makes everyday more enjoyable. I am waiting for a visit from my sister and niece. They are just stopping by for a little while, my sister lives about 40 minutes away, but my niece lives in Philly, so they are stopping by while she is visiting so I can give her a hug! Then the rest of the day and tomorrow are all mine, as my husband won't be home until dinner time tomorrow night. I think I will clean and garden and crochet and watch some chick flicks! Which reminds me, better go to the store and get some red wine! I hope you're all having wonderful days Peace

Good morning friends!! I am up earlier than usual, I think I am finally getting ahead of these allergies! Still so stuffy but no headache when I woke up!! It is a beautiful day here , again. It is supposed to be in the low to mid 70s.We are expecting rain Sunday through Wednesday. It has been a long time. I am not complaining!!! Dawn, I totally understand about the baby blanket. I am crocheting a sweater for my favorite soon to be 5 year old. His birthday is a week from today and I haven't even finished the body, much less the sleeves and hood - I always start out my projects really excited, and then put it off and off and end up finishing them in the wee hours the night before I am supposed to give them to the recipient! I will have a day somewhat like yours, lots of laundry to do today. I actually enjoy doing the laundry when the sun is shining and the air is a little crisp. Maybe I will hang dry today. I am also taking a good friend out to lunch and for a spin in the bug. My husband leaves this afternoon for the weekend. He is taking his confirmation class on a retreat to the Lutheran camp in northern NH. I am very excited to have the house all to myself. I love my husband, don't get me wrong, but he works about 2 miles from home, so he is always here and a couple of days with the house all to myself is like a mini vacation! Enjoy your day everyone. have fun, be happy Peace!

What wonderful news to start your summer with!!!!! I think there should be a big party at your house on July 1st!! I am so happy for you!! Peace Janet

This is awesome news!!! Thank you God!! And hugs to you and Kasey!! Peace janet

We have heard from Judy in KW!!!! She really needs our positive energy, thoughts and prayers, but she, in true Judy in KW fashion, took the time to let us know how she was. I love that lady!! I am smiling over time today - just so happy to hear from her and to know that she was having a good day - and I wanted to be sure there was an air today, for Judy in KW, in case she gets computer time again. I woke up to a gray drizzly day and thought of all the cleaning that I could get done, but then the sun came out and the sky turned blue as if God was saying, ENJOY! So for my air today, I will just breathe. I will drive my little bug down to the shore and breathe in the salty air and remember all the very good things in life. And I will thank God that we heard from Judy in KW Peace Peace

Good Afternoon everyone!! Prayers and happy thoughts are being sent Judy in KWs way!!! So, my big news. I got my beetle!!! One thing I have noticed about Beetles is that everyone I meet has a Beetle memory that makes them smile, or even laugh out loud! I remember sitting on the roof of my Grandpa's beetle as we floated down a flooded road! I actually woke up this morning and instead of thinking, "I have cancer" I thought "I have a beetle!" Now, I think it shows a lot of optimism for a Stage 4 lung cancer survivor who has already passed the 5 year mark to get a car with a 3 year lease - but, as I have said before, I try to be a glass over flowing kind of girl! It makes me so happy, and happy makes you healthy - and I absolutely LOVE what Susan (fillise) said - "nothing pisses LC off more than a happy survivor!" So guys, lets all be super happy today, lets really pis_ LC off big time! Yesterday I went to the beach - it was that hot out, kids were actually swimming. Today it is only in the 60s but the sun is shining and the sky is blue. We are long over due for some rain (Diane, I think you have been gettting alot, can you send it this way?!) I am putting off doing the housework and changing the clothes over for the season until there is a yucky day and I am stuck inside. That just hasn't happened. I am not complaining!! I hope you all have a wonderful day, have fun, laugh , pis_ Lung Cancer off big time! I will try to attach a picture of my new love! peace

so, I just had a long cry out on my deck, the sobby, blubbery kind that probably has my neighbors wondering. But then I decided that Judy in KW would be sad that no one had opened the air yet today, so, even though my heart is not really in it, here we are. Judy and I had promised to meet at the Hope Summit. I am praying like crazy that she has an amazing turn around and makes it there, but the wind has been knocked out of my sails a bit, and the excitement for the Summit has dropped considerably. Add to that, my husband just announced that he couldn't bring me after all, so now transportation is a huge issue. I am in a major funk. Ok, bright side of life. It is April and it is in the 90s. The sun is shining, the birds are singing and the beach is crowded! How odd is that? It is actually steamy hot outside. My favorite kind of weather. Add to that - at 3:30 today I am going to finally knock another item off my Life List - I pick up my Beetle. Not just any old Beetle, a bright yellow Beetle. Now, If a bright yellow beetle of my very own can't cheer me up a little, nothing can. I have been dreaming of this car since I was a little kid. And, if we look at things in an odd perspective, I would never have gotten one, at least not for many more years, if I did not have Lung Cancer. The first thing going on my new Beetle, the lung cancer awareness ribbon car magnet!!! I will be taking my car right to the grocery store to buy something yummy and wonderful to make my husband for dinner as a thank you. Getting this car was one of the most generous things he has ever done for me. Although, he said that now I have to live 3 years, since that is how long the lease is for, since he has no desire to own a yellow Beetle! I think I will take that deal! Lots of people came on the air yesterday. It was wonderful to hear from so many of you. Let's keep it up. Let's keep this air going. For Judy in KW. peace

Judy in MI, thank you for contacting Judy in KWs son. It is at least a little better knowing we have contact of some sort. And Katie, thank you for including us in the card. This has been so hard. It has been a year of too many losses and Judy in KW and I have been online friends from the very beginning of our journey here. like Jopette, I can't believe in all this time we never exchanged addresses and phone numbers. I just want to be sure she knows we are all here for her. Now, for the air, yes, it has gotten quiet here. So come on out everyone! Old friends, new friends, be brave and join us! It is an easy post, just tell us about the weather or your day or what you watched on tv last night. This is just a place to connect, make friends and to know someone out there cares about you! As for me, today it is supposed to hit 90!! Imagine that, it is only April!! In New England!! I have been very sick for several days, and since it is not improving I decided this morning it must be allergies (they said on the news that they were going to be bad this year). So I took a Claritan, we'll see how that goes. But the most exciting news in my life at the moment is that my husbands car died!!!! We have two cars, his sedan and my "mom van". They are both 12 years old. I have been driving a mom van for 23 years, and, although it was necessary with 3 kids and a scout troop, I HATED it! My husband has decided to take the van from me and let me knock another item off my "life list". As long as I can remember I have wanted to own a VW bug. We are talking like, at least 45 years of dreaming! My parents got my brother one for his college graduation, so I really thought I had a chance then, but they gave me a crockpot and an electic fry pan! Then kids came along, then cancer, so I figured it would never happen. This week we are shopping for my bug!!!! I am SO excited!!!! ( in May my sisters are taking me to drive a backhoe, the list is getting shorter, still have several items though, in particular I NEED to hug a monkey!) Tonight is support group, then the rest of the week I think I will get the gardens started and if we have a rainy day, put away all the winter clothes! What's going on in your lives? Peace janet

Judy in KW, if you are reading these posts and the air and FB you can see how many people care about you and are praying for you. We all miss you so much, your warmth and smile comes right through the computer screen and makes us all feel better. many many prayers are being said, by many many people. be well, be strong. You promised we would meet on person, I am holding you to it. Peace janet

Good morning oh, afternoon! Everyone! My sleep, like many of us, is a little crazy. Went to bed around 1:00, up several times and then slept til 11. It is a beautiful day here today, so I am attempting to get some yard work done. My husband hates to do it and really doesn't care what the house or yard looks like and I just don't have the energy anymore. I was out there for a half and hour now I am in having a snack and some computer time! The yard really needs work because it was completely flooded at the end of last summer, but I guess , like with housework, I will have to relax my standards a little bit. Diane - I am so sorry you can't come to the Hope Summit. I was supposed to go last year, but couldn't because it was the same weekend as my son's graduation. You will be there next year though!!! isn't it wonderful how the young people are living a little before they settle down?! I am a bit jealous of them! Judy in MI thank you so much for writing to Judy's son. I thought about doing it, but felt awkward, I am so glad you were braver than me! Hopefully you will hear back from him soon. I hope everyone has a wonderful day, I am headed back out to the garden. Peace

Good afternoon friends! I was so hoping to wake up this morning and see the air opened by Judy in KW. She is on my mind 24/7 lately. Lily- your excersise regime tires me out just reading about it!! No wonder your pants are starting to fall off! Your FB posts about your walks made me for a slight second think I should get outside and do the same -but the feeling passed - and here I sit on the couch!! Eric - Happy Birthday wishes to your daughter!!! I have the same "grandchild" problem on my end - my children have no intention of even marrying anytime soon - they want to live a little first, get their careers going. Outwardly I whine about it, but inside I am so very proud of the choices they are making. When I was their age if a girl wasn't engaged before she graduated college, that was a very scary thing! Judy in MI - I am so glad you finally have the doctors listening to you - that is half the battle. I kept telling everyone how tired I was - and until it was so bad that I wasnt functioning they kind of ignored it. Then they looked at all my medications and every single one of them said - may cause fatique - DUH! I pray that you are feeling more like yourself SOON! I just got in from my volunteer work at the farm. We have a miniature horse there that is due any second. She looks so miserable!! I feel so bad for her, hopefully she will have it soon. They offered me a pair of ducklings to take home. Owning ducks has always been a dream of mine, but I think my husband would kill me!! We only live on 1/3 an acre, and we have a Golden Retriever, probably not the best combo - but baby ducks???!!! Maybe he won't notice!! I am going to spend the rest of the day on the couch. The farm does me in for the rest of the day. But it is more than worth it! Peace everyone!

Good afternoon everyone! I had two long days in a row (one in the infusion chair and one helping my sister babysit her grandaughter) so today I stayed in bed until 11:30! I gave my self total permission, I played the cancer card!! I am still, like all of us, very worried about Judy in KW. I have PMed her and she has not opened it yet, and several of us have written on her FB wall. I have talked about this with my daughter, that if I am too sick to come on here for an extended time, she is to come on for me and let you know. We should all make a plan like that so we know and don't have to worry so much. Does anyone have Judy's address? I was so happy to see so many people come for some "air" yesterday! I am glad I got up the nerve to start it! Ginny - it has been very dry here also causing several brush fires. A couple of weeks ago we lost 50 acres of state forest and this week there was one that stopped the commuter trains heading from Grand Central to CT. That was a mess. We got a tiny bit of rain last night, but not enough and it is looking a little grey today - so hopefully! Diane - I agree that your cough could very well be allergies. I have had a hoarse throat for over a month and if I hadn't just had scans it would have me very worried too. So try to think positive - I know that is very hard, especially with scans 6 months apart - that is a looong wait. You are in my prayers for "happy" scans!! Eric - The afternoon in the "back garden" sounds wonderful! (until the rain of course!) I thought about starting to clean up my back garden today, but the sun is not shining and it is a "wee bit" chilly! I live close to the water, so I get a chilly sea breeze. Mike - When I had 3 young children I lived in a teeny 4 room house. I agree, the smaller the house, the harder to keep clean. First of all you see everything and secondly, there is no place to hide it! Judy in MI - Hiring helicopters sounds like a very expensive proposition!! I am glad you have swans to watch. Our town is overrun with swans. Some rich person brought them in years ago and now there are so many they are considered a nuisance. Not by me. I love them. I think they are so beautiful and I love that they are monogamous, and they are such good parents. I can see them swimming in the tidal river outside my bedroom when I wake up in the morning, it is a wonderful way to start my day. I hope you are feeling better today!! Hugs going out to Andrea. Hugs and prayers. Today I am going to be a slug. I deserve it. I am going to cuddle up with Words with Friends, Draw Something, a good book and some crochet - some coffee and some chocolate. That will be my day! peace

I am SO happy for you!!! A great big WHOOO HOOO!!!