Annette

Beautiful morning here (outside - as you know bunch of turmoil going on the inside - chocolate is helping!) I started to open an air earlier - then realized it was already time to go up to the hospital - they are so picky about the visitation times. Then just as I was walking out some lung doctor called - just to say how not so good my mom was doing - but there may have been a little hope in his voice... I went and they do have her on a different mask - cause they bruised up the bridge of her nose badly with the other one. She was holding her own at 95 O2 stat. She was able to talk - although not making much sense - very much out of it. I say how are you doing mom - she says - just fine and you - never opening her eyes. She does smile when you say I love you. I hope she stays on this mask until this evening so my nephew can see her after counseling. While I was there the short little foreign dude (doctor) also came in and said - she is doing minimally better - but as is the case in a lot of "elderly" patients we just never know which way they will turn. I told him about my desire to visit in the morning (leave .... drive to DC - meet people I am so looking forward to meeting - perhaps accomplish something....drive and see her Saturday). He said that should be fine - just keep your phone with you. I believe that after this is over I shall place the phone under a tire. My hand is curved like the phone cause I keep picking the darn thing up to see if it is still charged and on. I'm the one that is crazy and needs a nap. Lillian - your Rock-A-Thon was so successful - you put so much into it you should be so very proud of yourself. As for Judy - I would have thought she would have wandered down to the common room by now - i talked to her on Tuesday - she is in the hospital - they wanted to give her a bit of blood before her next chemo. She said they had a common area that had a computer and she would try and get down to that if possible - so as of Tuesday she still had a smile in her voice so I'm thinking there may be something wrong with the computer or they may have let her go and they are on their way home. I'm sure she will check in - in the next day or so. Bud - that sounds like a successful shopping spree. A new dishwasher and 1/2 price on a motor - that was a find. My grandson (he is almost 4)stopped by on Sunday and showed me his new fishing rod - he was casting it and reeling it in very slowly. So cute - of course there is a fish on it already - but he thought it was cool to be fishing with daddy and pawpaw. Eric - still retired - envy - yep definitely envy. I don't envy having to cut grass that is still a bit wet - makes it a million times harder. Oh - wait - I would like to cut Keith's grass he has a riding lawnmower - and I just turn on the music and drive and sing at the top of my lungs (isn't that a funny statement - I cracked my self up thinking - well you are really singing at the bottom because one of the top and the middle are gone). Really I have not lost my mind - it absolutely has to be around here somewhere. This may sound strange but I am gonna get busy working on some numbers so I can take my mind off the stress stuff for a bit - me and numbers are friends. I will check back in later. Annette

I can't speak to the WBR - but there are a few members here that definitely can. I'm a little surprised that they didn't do the WBR following initial chemo I thought that was the norm for SCLC. I might suggest to you that you ask your question at cancergrace.org - there may be some helpful advice there as well as the doctors that respond to questions as best they can with the information you provide. I know there are WBR success stories here - just give the folks time to respond. All the best, Annette

Eric - the first thing you think of for red fruit drink is wine - goodness - in a hospital. It is a transfusion. Where are the hours going. Just came into work for a bit - after taking the kid to see his probation officer and then to school. I think that I will not be fond of her - she was overly worried about the fact that I am not "legally" the rugrats guardian. Lord knows what trouble she will be causing down the line. I didn't get a call from the hospital so I guess all is good there. Mom stayed on a regular oxygen mask from 1p.m. to at least 8 p.m. O2 stats only around 90 but at least she was maintaining that on her own. One day at a time on this one - it will be a while before she gets up - if she does. Guess I stayed up a bit late last night - I can hardly keep my eyes open. I need to get up and do some walking around this office - it is going to be another long day. I will have to leave in a bit to go to the 10:00 visit. Another day another bunch of trips to the hospital... sigh, Annette

Judy - bathing the kids...cleaning up messes. We have one Orange/White cat. But if you picked up all the hair he walks around leaving like pigpen I could probably make several cats. Poor Keith - He bathes and brushes Kashew (the cat). Vacuums and vacuums and vacuums - then he leaves me alone with the cat for one night and I let the cat sleep on the bed. Drives him bonkers. I'm off shortly to pick up the kid and drop him at counseling. Don't know what I'll do til 5 when I go visit my mom again - hmm - didn't I see a bookstore on the way to counseling. Annette

Good morning all - feel like I have been on a drinking binge and I slept almost 8 hours. It was absolutely pouring this morning so I dropped the kid at school and will have to leave work early to take him to counseling tonight (4p.m. - 7p.m.). GOOD(ISH) NEWS - Judy (KW) called me this morning - as always it is good to hear her smiling voice. She wanted me to let everyone know that she will be on-line when she can wander down to the common room. That's right - she has being held hostage in the hospital again - they are gonna give her some of the red juice - which will of course make her smiling voice even better. Once she gets things settled down she will try and get down to the common room and check in on us. I went to work after dropping him then turned around and went to the hospital for the 10a.m. 1/2 hour visit. Not much change her breathing rate was rather low I thought at 11, and her O2 was only 96. The LPN said that it still drops to the low 80s when they take this contraption off her face and use regular oxygen tubes. So they will let her rest and try again later I suppose. Eric I'm not flying - I'm driving..... I just thought of a great plan - I can take the kid to school on Friday (Keith can be there in the afternoon and take him to Amelia) then I can go meet some folks for dinner in DC....etc. then I can head back to Richmond Saturday afternoon - go and see my mom and go to Amelia for the Birthday party and come back into Richmond on Sunday and start the stuff all over again. Assuming my mom is still in the hospital - this is a great great plan. Now I am excited - I got to write up a "to do" list that actually covers most of the bases I need covering. My only worry is that there are 2 cats in my mom's house and 1 cat in my house. I better add some stuff to my list. Anyway - I better hit the work for a bit - one eye open and brain in pause mode. Did anyone see that train that hit me? Annette

It has been a very long day. Went and saw my mom this morning - had a horrible session with the Foster Care Prevention worker - followed by a horrible counseling session with the kid. BUT - I talked to him in the parking lot afterwards and he broke down and admitted everything - finally telling me the truth. Not a celebration - but exciting about the truth - ever hopeful. So I'm taking the week one day at a time. My mom is still on a breathing mask thing - and her O2 stats are only 97 and they drop to the 80s without the mask - but tomorrow is another day. I am seeing everyone so excited about this weekend and I am too - some how some way mom in the hospital or not I am gonna make it. I'm just too darn close to DC not too. 2 hours sleep - in the last 24 hours - I'm gonna try and make it the last 30 minutes of Dancing and then I'm crashing.... Have a good night, Annette

I went up to St. Paul, MN a few months ago and had no trouble at the airport - of course that was before the Navy Seals did what they did. I will be driving on Friday - - and I guess I'll just say it out loud - - unless something terrible happens. I took my mom to the hospital last night and following a CT scan her O2 stats dropped to the 70s - they put some kind of mask on her and for 3 hours her stats stayed about 90. Then about 3 a.m. they moved her closer to the nurses station (in ER) and her stats went up to 94. I came home to sleep a couple of hours (haha) and get my nephew off to school. I am exhausted and I have to go back over to the hospital and then take the kid to his counseling this afternoon - I'm thinking even being frisked at an airport would not keep me awake! Annette

Good morning Paulette and everyone, I am looking forward to next weekend too. It has been an interesting 24 hours around here - all nephew related and grandmother who appears to have lost her mind. I am waiting for my daughter to call so I can go and meet them for lunch - get to see the grandbabies for a little while. Kinda throws dinner plans into the wind but I'll figure it out - who wants to peel potatoes for a roast....volunteers..... Anyway - I better get the laundry going. Check in later, Annette

Good morning - a beautiful morning here but we are expecting thundershowers later I believe. I have a report that I have to get out this morning - so I am procrastinating as much as I can. I have done all the calculations now I just have to write up descriptions for all the different costs. It won't take that long if I can find some old report to use as a basis. I hope Eric is having some fun on his last working day. I don't know how I would act - like him I probably would be doing everything I wasn't supposed to do. The nephew has been back at my house for 2 days now. Yes, that's right - the social worker say a downward trend over the last two weeks with my mom and made me jerk him back in. He had missed 5 out of 10 school days and three of his substance abuse counseling sessions. (My mom claims they were both sick. I told them that sleeping all day and playing computer games all night does not county as being sick.) As the kid says - what difference does it make - if he truly wanted to go back on drugs he has easy access at school he could buy anything he wanted. I will stay in town this weekend with him - especially since my daughter and the grandbabies are stopping in for lunch on Sunday. Then next weekend I don't know what I'll do since I'm going to Washington DC on Friday & Saturday. Then all the way back to Keith's for his granddaughter's first birthday. (She is such a cutie - well so are my two boys.) So I have a couple of pretty full weeks ahead of me. I have got to figure out how to email myself a picture from my phone. A mosquito eater got in the other night and the cat was going crazy trying to jump up to the ceiling and catch him. So Keith gets up and holds the cat up to the bug. Such a funny site - especially since it took me a year to talk him into getting a kitten. I'm out of things to talk about and I really should get this report done right quick - the client needs the figures for their July budget. Sometimes numbers are so very boring. But tonight I'm thinking I will torture my nephew with a bit of Algebra - yep - that should make today fun fun fun. I will check in later - what is everyone planning for the weekend? Annette

(((((Rose sent me this text, "I'm at home. Do u want me to come get ur a$$?" ))))) Let you imagination run away with that one - - I bet there is not a dry eye in the house after laughing about Buds ride home yesterday. (Are we sure Rose knows what rejoice means - I mean when she throws her hands up in the air does she say "come hither" or does she say "go yonder" (Sorry could not for the life of me think of something to say - Becky - will know what to do about this. Dang, all I can think about is how much I wanted another nice relaxing weekend at Keith's. After last night I will be stuck with the kid again - so I guess I wind up staying in town. I got to drive the tractor and mow the yard last weekend - it was so much fun - like a go cart with a purpose. With the playstation network down I may as well kill a few blades of grass. Wait a minute I know what I can do - I can go to that store TAPS (Teachers and Parents Store) and get some workbooks for the kid - what fun. Now I got some planning to do - and something else - what was that - - oh yeah - work - darn it - why isn't it Friday? Annette P.S. I'm thinking Rose should get the reward of the day for making everyone laugh - poor Bud.

Judy - I have a very very boring office job. I started working in the consulting field in 1985 (when I was .... 2 I think) - ok how about when I got out of the Navy. I worked for a firm who did financial and human resources consulting for municipalities - started as a secretary. Then had a 3 year break in 1992 and moved to California, Texas and Florida with my military husband. Then when we came back to Virginia Beach my old firm called and asked me back. In 2000 we were purchased by a company headquartered in St. Paul, MN - and I was promoted to an Analyst, then they shut that office and I moved to Richmond with the company as a Project Manager. So I mainly work for municipal clients doing pay studies, executive recruitments and other various human resources related consulting projects. Like all jobs - some days it is fun and some days well it isn't. Now you know the rest of the story, Annette

Dallas Mavericks - - - if I liked professional basketball - I would have to be a Spurs fan (I grew up near San Antonio) - my best friend from the third grade would disown me if I rooted for anyone else (unless they were playing the Lakers. (I'm more of a football (Dallas) and Nascar (Gordon) fan.) I did not watch the news so I can't tell you what the weather is like (I don't remember turning the windshield wipers on - so it was not raining at 7:30, and I didn't not go back in for a coat so it must be close to 70 degrees. How's that for weather - I did wander outside when I was hunting for the office smoker - seems like whenever I need her she is outside - sigh - I used to read so many books - that's the only thing I miss about smoking - I'd go outside and read. Now I read before bed and can't remember a darn thing I read (love those ambian!) I am trying to see if there is a desk under all this paper so I better get back to it. The numbers on my keyboard are covered so something has to be done to stop this influx of work. Wait - tree pretty - soda empty I must wander to the kitchen - I hope my chair is still here when I get back. Annette

My goodness - for a second there I thought I went to the Cooking With the Stars sight. I don't think my hamburger would win any prizes though. Sounds like I will have to be the volunteer here too - I will eat the food that is not good for you and you can eat all the healthy food. LOL Annette

Oh no - so glad it was that pop instead of the pop you thought it was at first. I know when you hurt your back you can be pretty much useless. My lower back aches thinking about the poping noise. Glad you had a successful shopping trip and good dinner - sounds like a good day. Annette

Judy - I'm sorry about your group member - I could not do the volunteer work you do it is just so hard to think of anyone you care about suffering and waiting for the inevitable. I admire your strength. Like you I miss Judy - I hope her family is taking care of each other up there in Yankee land. I am looking forward to seeing her back on here to brighten us up a little. I am at work and have a ton of stuff to do - but whoever took my motivation neglected to return it - not that I'm complaining mind you. Did you watch Dancing with the Stars last night. This is no reflection of my age or anything but my favorite is the Karate Kid himself. Wow did that make-up last night make him look dark. I thought he did very well for only practicing 8 hours compared to the usual 40. I'm just not made to move that way anymore (translated to never was or will be able to). But I am very good at sitting on the couch and rooting for him. I even voted for him 20 times (cell phone, house phone, Keiths cell, Keiths blackberry) If I wasn't avoiding a certain teenager and mom I would have gone over their and used their phones - hmmm I do pay that bill - maybe I should make them drop them off on voting nights. I am not a reality show junkie - there are only a couple that I watch - Dancing, Bachelorette, Bachelor, Idol, Deadliest Catch, Ice Road Truckers (where is that one), Survivor, Rock of Love (why oh why did Bret Michaels have to get engaged!!) what am I missing see that is hardly any at all. I better get busy - or I'll have two tons of work to do tomorrow - is it hot in here. Annette

Congratulations - we want to be like you - such a great outcome for you and your family! Annette

Katie - your day with the kids sounds like my dream day - sun & fun and then books! Then you did laundry - that's not fun - and as we all know neither is cleaning - they just ought to call cleaning exercise and get it over with. Becky - you are right about the nephew but the school has given up on him already - I think he's missed 40+ days - and 18 or so of those days he was in juvenile detention - where he better learned the art of being a juvenile I believe. So we know he does not stand a chance of passing any classes - he has all F's through every semester, although he was carrying an A in art at the start of the last marking period - oh yeah that was when he was staying with me. I am in a no win situation - I hate drugs almost as much as cancer - my sister died of Hepatitis C in 5005 and the nephew has been "grandmothered" since then. I don't know how to spell it but that old Doris Day song comes to mind "K Sa Ra - Sa Ra - whatever will be will be..." This in no way implies that I am over 29 just because I have celebrated it 21 times - means nothing. LOl Becky - Dysfunctional family - there may be a dictionary out there with our picture next to this - LOL - more than a chuckle!! I hope that everyone is smiling today - and having a nice sunny day. Annette

Poor Becky - I know what you mean about the favorite watering hole being dead - when I go to Virginia Beach to visit my daughter I always try and stay over on a weekend cause I do love to shoot pool. Most the the people I played with are gone but there is always a couple - not the same though as when I was going every week. I couldn't do it anymore - they "skirted" the no smoking rule by making a 4x4 room no smoking - so after 2 years of not smoking it bugs me most days (some not so much). I'm glad your day turned out good though. I called my mom to ensure that she and the nephew were coming over for dinner - she said yes that sounds good. So I know it was only hamburgers and all the trimmings but when I called and woke her up at 5 she said she better not. No mention of mothers day or anything - I said thanks for letting me know. I called her this morning to check on a feeling I had. (The kid went to school 1/2 a day last Monday, Wednesday - - - he has been out "sick" 1/2 day Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and today. They both slept through his counseling session last Thursday - and since she is "sick" they will probably not go today either.) (He went to school every day he was at my house and now he's average less than 50% attendance. But last night was good - we watched a little on the DVR and then a couple of Season 1 NCIS shows - just a relaxing evening. Very nice evening. Now back at work with tons to do and I have misplaced my motivation. So if you see it feel free to use it. Bud - we are supposed to get nice and warm today here too I believe (I hope so I did not bring a jacket - just relied on the car heater). Sounds like you had the perfect weekend - fishing, dinner out and then relaxing on the sofa. Katie - if you see this - I don't think any of us have heard from Libby. Hope everyone checks in later - Judy KW - how are you feeling - missed you this weekend - hope you somehow had a moment that felt like a good day. I'll check back in later, Annette

Such good pictures and thoughts of moms. My daughter called me and we talked about "nothing" it is just a joy to hear her happy. Talking about how much her two boys mean to her. Judy - I can understand what your pastor said - think of all the people you help at church, Gildas Club, here - you are respected and looked up to - that is not only a friend but much more - why not call it a "mom" or sister. Have a wonderful rest of the day. Annette

Becky - you sound like my daughter - she says if it was her I would have booted her ... out. How many last chances would I give her. And you are right it's not looking good. I need to call the Foster Care Prevention lady and make sure that I won't get in trouble if he is not staying with me on school nights. There was a court order but I think that is over now that he is off "outreach" and on "probation" - who knows. I am pooped - for some reason my mouth volunteered me to mow the yard while Keith pressure washed his house. My first adventure on a riding lawnmower. It turned out fun and just a little hard on my arms and back and the bouncing is like crazy but I may do it again. Does that count as exercise? We will have to come up with a menu and go to the grocery store tomorrow and have my mom and the kid over for mother's day. Playstation network is still down this is getting ridiculous - I want to play Black Ops!! I can smell the steaks cooking so I better go check the potatoes. Talk to you later.

Good afternoon - It is a beautiful day here in Amelia County. Keith is on his way to Lowe's (home repair store) to get a new pressure washer because he wants the house to look nice when we have his grandaughter's first birthday party here in a couple of weeks. His daughter and the baby visited last night and she is gorgeous. Already talking a little - everything is baby - if you tickle her and she laughs and says baby. But she also know kitty cat and Kashew (my cat) was perfect with her. He laid down in front of her and let her pet him - he runs from my nephew - - hmmmm - might be a good judge of character. LOL Where is everyone today - I hope you are enjoying yourself as I am - just doing nothing. Relaxing - I truly needed that - I think next week I may have to raise a flag with my mom and nephew as he stayed home 2 1/2 days from school. I woke him up yesterday at about 5p.m and asked him if he had got to school today (Friday) - he said ummm no wait yes wait I don't know.... Red Flag Flying High. My mom was asleep and I woke her and asked her if he had gone to school - she said well he was supposed to I guess he did. Sigh - not how this is supposed to be working. Enough of that - I am relaxing today - will start worrying about that tomorrow.... After all tomorrow is another day. Judy (KW) - if you check in - I hope yesterday went well - including the beginning of your journey up north again. I hope you are feeling okay (healthwise) - and here is a virtual hug for everything else - just wanted you to know I'm thinking about you. I think I will play some facebook - I am missing it since I am so busy at work and unable to play anymore - busy is a good thing though - I'm glad we finally got some work in - I'm hoping the economy is changing. I will check back in later to see how everyone is, Annette

It is finally that day of the week that workers' like - except the hours seem to go so slowly it almost feels like you work a 40 hour week on Friday. I had to work late last night and my desk is no cleaner so I need to bust some chops today. I am also going to the post office at lunch to get off a package of tourist brochures to Eric. One step closer to July and his visit. (Speaking of that has anyone heard from Libby?) My daughter called me the other day - she lives about 3 hours from me so I don't see her as often as I should with her really so close. Anyway she as two children one is almost 4 and one is almost 2. They were at the grocery store and the 3 year old grabbed a box of lucky charms and took off running saying "My Lucky Charms" at the end of the aisle he slid in some water - kinda like sliding into home base - and hit the meat counter. Some poor lady was standing close by and thought for sure he had broken something. He gets up grabs the box of Lucky Charms, smiles his sweet little blue eyed smile at her and says "It's okay the Lucky Charms saved me". Kids you absolutely gotta love em. (Then they morph into teenagers.....sigh) I better hit the work button now. I will hopefully check back in later. Annette

Katy - You said you mentioned it to your "friend" - and that means that she is still your friend. So take a second and re-"listen" to what she said. Your friend said "You'll get through this." Not "oh my it's been sooo long" - she said "You'll get through this". When I read it - it said - you'll get through this day, you'll get through this minute, you'll get through seeing his mom, you'll get through moving his clothes to the back of the closet - they are still there and he is still in your heart. But, you'll get through this. It does not say how you should, it does not say what you should, it lets you decide what that means. You already have decided what it means - it means that he is still close to you out there with his tools and there is where they should stay for now. It means that his clothes are not out front - but close enough that you know they are still there - because you got through moving them. I have absolutely no idea how hard it is to "get through this" - I just know that I felt strength in your words - and it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks - it only matters what you think. I hope in some small way I helped you - "get through this" - and you know very well that everyone here in this forum is lining up to give you a little hug and support to help you "get through this". Annette

Afternoon - where did the morning go - I very nearly stayed at home in bed today. I hope that Judy (KW) is having a good stomach day otherwise I'm feeling bad for nothing. I don't know what is wrong just feeling "yucky". Interestingly the AA here at work went to the doctor because she is feeling "yucky" and her red cell and white cell counts were both high - no fever. So my OCD self is thinking she gave me - well something. Actually I am looking forward to a relaxing relaxing relaxing weekend in the country this weekend. The last two days have been so stressful (nephew!!) that is what really explains my stomach. I went over to my mom's and his room is to the left as you enter and I swear it smelled of smoke. He was sleeping on the couch (even though he could only have been home 15 minutes or so from his counseling). When I came in he stumbled toward my mom's room - and I thought what is going on. His eyes were VERY bloodshot and his pupils where as big as his gorgeous brown eyes. - Something is up - My mom had left her keys on the table and her purse on her bed and she was in the shower. GRR. I went back to my apartment and got Keith and I started questioning the kid (born yesterday I wasn't). 15 minutes later mom is still in shower (it takes her a while - big body - not much oxygen). So I give up and Keith and I go back home. He tells me there were cigarette butts in the kids trash can. Double Growl! I grab up the court paperwork and go over and sit him on a chair - go help my mom get dressed and out so i can attack the kid. "Have you or have you not violated your parole" (He is not to use drugs, alcohol or tobacco!) - well duhhh I'm a dumb teenager - duhhh. I asked him why I should not immediately call his parole officer and all I got was I'll never do it again - I'm sorry baloney. My mom said something snarky and I asked her why I shouldn't go and call the parole officer - she told me that I should go ahead and call if it made me happy. Which of course I didn't - sigh - he's gonna go down - but I swear it won't be at my hand. I am once again so thankful that I never caught my daughter being bad. (Not saying that she wasn't - she was just smarter at it!) Eric made a funny - tiny bill - If you think about it - it really does make sense all the dog parts are harder to see in a tiny dog so the doctor has to use little instruments that cost more. I don't know I had a cat once that broke his leg and wow was that costly. But a house is not a home without a pet! Eric I have a cat - how do you feel about that - he is a pretty strange little thing - takes after Keith I'm afraid. (LOL!) (I don't think you will need the suit of armor here with me Eric, we will protect you! I don't know if I mentioned that Keith stopped by and picked up two copies of every brochure the welcome station had. We haven't really gone through them yet to start planning anything but I thought I should mail you a copy so you can tell us if anything stands out as something you would really like to do. So if you could send my your mailing address through pm I'll get the stuff mailed out as quick as I can.) I was very busy yesterday and didn't get to join in the fun but I want a sense of humor like Becky - please. I'm a novice compared to her. Hmm chocolate cake - for some reason that sounds a lot better than what I am snacking on today. I have cheerios and wheat thins. Not at all what I really want I haven't had chocolate in days. I am wasting away.... or getting back to work - - Annette

Yep - - and there is a new bar drink along Hampton Blvd in Norfolk called the Osama....it's two shots and a splash of salt. Annette made another funny.