Amy P

This is probably a recycled one but still made me laugh and fits with the theme. Just after dinner one night, my son came up to tell me there was "something wrong" with one of the two lizards he holds prisoner in his room. "He's just lying there looking sick," he told me. "I'm serious, Dad. Can you help?" I put my best lizard-healer statement on my face and followed him into his bedroom. One of the little lizards was indeed lying on his back, looking stressed. I immediately knew what to do. "Honey," I called, "come look at the lizard!" "Oh my gosh," my wife diagnosed after a minute. "She's having babies." "What?" my son demanded. "But their names are Bert and Ernie, Mom!" I was equally outraged. "Hey, how can that be? I thought we said we didn't want them to reproduce," I accused my wife. "Well, what do you want me to do, post a sign in their cage?" she inquired. (I actually think she said this sarcastically!) "No, but you were supposed to get two boys!" I reminded her, (in my most loving, calm, sweet voice, while gritting my teeth together). "Yeah, Bert and Ernie!" my son agreed. "Well, it's just a little hard to tell on some guys, you know," she informed me. (again with the sarcasm, you think?) By now the rest of the family had gathered to see what was going on. I shrugged, deciding to make the best of it. "Kids, this is going to be a wondrous experience, I announced. "We're about to witness the miracle of birth." "Oh, gross!" they shrieked. "Well, isn't THAT just great! What are we going to do with a litter of tiny little lizard babies?" my wife wanted to know. (I really do think she was being snotty here, too. Don't you?) We peered at the patient. After much struggling, what looked like a tiny foot would appear briefly, vanishing a scant second later. "We don't appear to be making much progress," I noted. "It's breech," my wife whispered, horrified. "Do something, Dad!" my son urged. "Okay, okay." Squeamishly, I reached in and grabbed the foot when it next appeared, giving it a gingerly tug. It disappeared. I tried several more times with the same results. "Should I call 911," my eldest daughter wanted to know. "Maybe they could talk us through the trauma" (You see a pattern here with the females in my house?) "Let's get Ernie to the vet," I said grimly. We drove to the vet with my son holding the cage in his lap. "Breathe, Ernie, breathe," he urged. "I don't think lizards do Lamaze," his mother noted to him. (Women can be so cruel to their own young. I mean what she does to me is one thing, but this boy is of her womb, for God's sake.) The Vet took Ernie back to the examining room and peered at the little animal through a magnifying glass. "What do you think, Doc, a C-section?" I suggested scientifically. "Oh, very interesting," he murmured. "Mr. and Mrs. Cameron, may I speak to you privately for a moment?" I gulped, nodding for my son to step outside. "Is Ernie going to be okay?" my wife asked. "Oh, perfectly," the Vet assured us. "This lizard is not in labor. In fact, that isn't EVER going to happen.. Ernie is a boy. You see, Ernie is a young male. And occasionally, as they come into maturity, like most male species, they um....um....masturbate. Just the way he did, lying on his back." He blushed, glancing at my wife. "Well, you know what I'm saying, Mr. Cameron." We were silent, absorbing this. "So Ernie's just...just... excited," my wife offered. "Exactly," the vet replied, relieved that we understood. More silence. Then my viscous, cruel wife started to giggle. And giggle. And then even laugh loudly. "What's so funny?" I demanded, knowing, but not believing that the woman I married would commit the upcoming affront to my flawless manliness. Tears were now running down her face. "It's just...that... I'm picturing you pulling on its... its...teeny little..." she gasped for more air to bellow in laughter once more. "That's enough," I warned. We thanked the Vet and hurriedly bundled the lizards and our son back into the car. He was glad everything was going to be okay. "I know Ernie's really thankful for what you've done, Dad," he told me. "Oh, you have NO idea," my wife agreed, collapsing with laughter. 2 - Lizards - $140... 1 - Cage - $50... Trip to the Vet - $30.. Memory of your husband pulling on a lizard's wacker.....Priceless

Great News! Hope your shoulder heals well.

Thoughts and prayers heading your way - hoping the WBR does the job. Much Love, Amy

Karen - Thoughts and prayers coming for you and Dave. You sound a bit more relaxed and I am glad you are better. Here's to hoping there is nothing to fight...thoughts and prayers coming to your during the weekend but especially on Monday. Much Love, Amy

Woo Hoo Jim! Congrats - I am soooo happy for you. Glad you went and celebrated this wonderful news!!!

this month my Mom was dx with this ugly beast. She spent 3 years with NED had a recurrence in March but has been stable since starting Iressa in May of 2004. Her oncologist confirmed today that she is still stable and she is amazed. When the beast came back last year, I was pretty sure she would not make it to Christmas even though the Dr did not give us a prognosis. My Mom is not only fighting but SURVIVING and beating all those ugly statistics. For those of you just beginning the fight, there is HOPE. For those of you still in the trenches fighting with everything you are, there is HOPE. For those of you waiting and watching, there is HOPE. Thank you all for the support you have provided for me for the past 6 months, I could not have got through this without you but above all YOU gave me HOPE when I had none and for that I will be eternally grateful. Thank you to Rick and Katie for working selflessy to provide a forum for everyone. You are amazing and we are so lucky to have been touched by your love for Jessee. Thank you to the board and to the moderators for the hours that you volunteer to keep things running as smooth (as possible ). Sorry for the sappy nature of this post but after Mom's Dr's appointment today, I truly do realized how many blessings I have. Everyone enjoy the weekend!!! Much Love, Amy

Bo - We just got back from seeing Mom's oncologist who was on the FDA committee that fast tracked the Iressa approval (although she voted against it). Her explanation for the new data on Iressa is that in the two trials that they looked at only 10% of the individuals responded so if you look at the overall trial it appears to not improve survivial BUT if you look at the 10% who did respond there are individuals who are going to have extended survival - my Mom is a perfect case in point, she has had tremendous sucess from Iressa with considerable shrinkage and being stable for 8 months with minimal side effects and VERY good quality of life. Mom's onc did not mention anything about them pulling Iressa from the market and gave her another 3 month rx. She said Iressa is not hurting anyone and part of the reason it is getting so much attention is because there was an high expectation that this would be the new wonder drug and it is but only for a small population. I think that each oncologist is handling this information how they see fit as evidenced by the many different responses. I wish you the best of luck and hope you find something that works well for you. Much Love, Amy

Welcome Melissa sorry you have to be here but so glad you are. We are in VERY similar positions - I am 34 as well and have 2 kids and my Mom has cancer although it is NSC. Don Wood gave you very sound advice, when my MIL was battling ovarian cancer she didn't want to know anything except what chemo she was taking and after awhile my FIL had to filter any information given to her by friends and relatives because if it had any negative statistics she automatically put herself in that group but my Mom on the other hand wants to know everything. Let your parents set the tone and take cues from them and meanwhile learn everything you can - you've got the best resources here ! I know it is hard with the kiddos and living far away but maybe you could arrange to attend a Dr. appt with her. Tell her you have questions and ask if it would ibe OK if you could ask the Dr. and maybe she might learn something about her disease in the process. Hang in there and if you need anything, please PM me. Thoughts and prayers coming your way! Much Love, Amy

((((Cheryl)))))) Sorry to hear you are feeling yucky! Peggy is right - stomach stuff is the worst. Keep up the good fight - we are all pulling for you. Thoughts and prayers coming your way. Much Love, Amy

Don - Just this morning I was wondering how Lucie was doing...so glad to see an update. I hope Lucie enjoys her break and that Alimta does the job. Thank you so much for providing a source of inspiration for us all!!!! Much Love to BOTH of you!!!! Amy

Congrats Jen.

TAnn - Thanks for the update - I have been waiting to see how you reacted. I don't have any suggestions for your face but sure someone else will. I hope you get some relief soon. I hope this works wonders for you!!!! Much Love, Amy

Don and Ginny - Thanks for the very good information. My parents both have living wills and I have power of attorney for my Mom this is definately something I needed to know. Thanks again for imparting wisdom! Much Love, Amy

That was FUNNY!!!!!

today and tomorrow - sending prayers and thoughts your way and hope to hear some good news later this week!!!! Much Love, Amy

Karen and Dave - Hoping for Dave to be a member of the empty head club. Thoughts and prayers coming your way. Much Love, Amy

That was fun - 82% 45 miles 314 seconds - Idaho threw me big time! Thanks Debi!!!

Elaine's area got pretty hard this week with an ice storm - several inches of ice and a little snow and there is still wide spread electrical outages. Elaine - hope you are OK and keeping warm! Much Love, Amy

A woman was helping her husband set up his computer, and at the appropriate point in the process, told him that he would now need to enter a password.. The husband was in a rather amorous mood and figured he would try for the shock effect to bring this to his wife's attention. So, when the computer asked him to enter his password, he made it plainly obvious to his wife that he was keying in.... P... E... N... I... S. His wife fell off her chair laughing when the computer replied: ***PASSWORD REJECTED. NOT LONG ENOUGH***

at Don! I think my hubby would think the same thing

TAnn - Great to hear stable and thank you for the breakdown in the Iressa vs Tarceva this will give us good information when we go see Mom's oncologist next week. I am curious to see what, if any, side effects you have with the Tarceva especially since a couple of others have had such severe reactions - hoping you have none! Thinking of You!!! Much Love, Amy

Yeah Cindi! Wonderful News! I am so happy for you!!!!! Much Love, Amy

Cindy - Thoughts and prayers coming your way - hoping for the best of news! Much Love, Amy

My Mom is also an Iressa responder - she has been on it for almost 8 months as well. Most of her infected lymph nodes are showing no evidence of cancer and the others have had considerable shrinkage and her primary tumor has been stable since March. My Dad is proactive so they have enough Iressa to last Mom through at least April if her Doc says it's OK. Her side effects have been minimal except for the diarehha so they cut her dose in half in November but it still seems to be working based on lack of previous symptoms. We see the oncologist at the end of next week and I am very curious as to what she has to say about Iressa vs Tarceva especially since her onc has been working with the FDA to track Iressa results across the nation. I will share what I find out. Best of luck to your Mom and I hope she seeks a second opinion for treatment options. Much Love, Amy

For any of you who are interested the Discovery Channel is starting their 2005 National Body Challenge on Jan. 15th. If you register, they have all sorts of on-line tools available (free) for the 8 wk period. I am going to give it a whirl and see if I can truly change my eating habits . I am including the link in case you want to check it out....it also includes a free 8wk trial membership to Bally's Gym's. http://health.discovery.com/convergence ... e2005.html Here's to getting smaller in 2005!