Amy P

(((((Cheryl))))) Thinking of you during this rough time and hoping you will find peace soon. Much Love, Amy

I have been reading almost every day but haven't had much time to post. This is the time of the year that my husband has more free time so we have been spending some MUCH needed time together and enjoying time with the girls. Mom is faring pretty good - she had a stomach CT last week that we are awaiting the results of. She has always had tummy issues and the Iressa hasn't helped that so her doc wanted to make sure there wasn't anything abnormal and I am fairly confident that there isn't but keeping my fingers crossed none the less. I still have not told her about the Iressa issue not really sure that I want to but she has always depended on me to be straight forward so I will probably tell her so she isn't blind sided when we see the oncologist next week. I think of you all so often and keep you in my thoughts and prayers - please know that even if I don't post, I having been cheering with you and have shed a few tears at the news lately. Here is to a fabulous 2005! Much Love to you all!!!!!! Amy

I think I am a charter member of the getting bigger club and I place all blame on Addie and her delicious peanut brittle....in fact I am snacking on some right now maybe next month - I have too because I can't fit into the pants my hubby got me for Chrtistmas and he lost the receipt I am resolving to get back to the gym and to quit eating peanut brittle and beer cheese dip and crackers!

Andrea - I am so sorry to hear this news. My prayers are going out for you and your friends family. Much Love, Amy

Kim - I am sooo jealous...I wanted a white christmas sooo bad but it looks like all of the snow is to the south and east of us. Although we are heading to southern Indiana on Sunday so we will at least get to see some Merry Christmas to you and a Happy Birthday wishes for your hubby - now go outside and have a snowball fight!!! Much Love, Amy

Andrea - Thanks for the reminder! Much Love, Amy

Peggy - WOO HOO - great great news. I am so excited for you and your hubby. One could not ask for a better present. Thanks for sharing and you be careful on those snowy roads (again I am jealous - I want a white Christmas sooooo bad ) tomorrow. We are heading to Indiana on the 26th to visit hubby's grandmothers - we will be in Evansville - Is that close to you? Much Love, Amy

Prayers for healing coming for the Chapman's. I hope this break will get Karen back on the path to health. I coughed my head off for 5 months earlier this year and it is no fun feeling icky and not being able to shake it. Hoping you all have a wonderful Holiday with that adorable little Faith! Much Love, Amy

(((((Fay))))) Prayers will be said tonight and the coming days. Hoping for only the best. Please keep us up with how he is doing. Much Love, Amy

I hope she left the channel on lifetime or someother chick station because WE ALL know that a man would never get up to manually change the channel

That pic is ADORABLE!!!! Christmas with kids is so fun. Although I have to admit I am soooo jealous my 7yr old is deathly afraid of Santa and won't go anywhere near him and my 6yr old just isn't interested although we are going to try this week to see if she will get her picture taken. I hope that you all have a wonderful Christmas and even better 2005 -wishing for nothing but clean scans and NO MORE bonkitis! Much Love, Amy

Sharon - That was truly beautiful. Your love for your Daddy shined through loud and clear. Thank you for sharing. May you and your family find peace and love through the holidays. Much Love, Amy

Thanks Angie, like everyone else, I needed to read this....I found out on Monday that my job, not me, is being eliminated and then on Wed the rumors of the Sprint/Nextel merger were verified so that brings on more uncertanity. I needed something to reaffirm to me that I can get through this. THANK YOU!!!!!! PS. Bruce - hope you are feeling better soon and that the police are able to track down the thiefs!!!! Much Love, Amy

My Mom's oncologist was one of the Dr's on the FDA comittee that gave the expedited approval for Iressa and she told us that as they continued to monitor those on Iressa that we would start seeing updated results. I have not told my Mom about this - she has been dealing with stomach issues and is working with a GI to make sure her issues are Iressa related and not anything else (she has always had a sensitive stomach so that is not out of the question), plus she has been in a really good spirits lately. That might be wrong but since Iressa is working for her, I am not going to rock the boat until we go back to the doc in January or unless we hear anything else before then. Also, she was on Vioxx and now Celebrex...sheesh can we catch a break on the drugs

Angie - I am so sorry that you are having to deal with this again. It is so unfair. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers - even though I haven't responded about your Dad, I have been thinking about him as well. I don't have any insightful or wise words other than this really sucks. I am so sorry. Much Love, Amy

Addie - I thought the same thing when I saw that - something from the other side although I was still a gleam in my mothers eye although by the timing it could have been my conception - birthday is 9/7/70 - thinking I was a little early....things that make you go hmmmmmmm! Much Love, Amy

Your not losing it - that is what I see also..wonder what is going on?

For any of you looking for a great Peanut Brittle recipe - get Addies! It is AWESOME! I made some and brought it to work to share on Tuesday and got rave review but I didn't realize the extent until I didn't have any yesterday and I had several people come by hoping that they could get some more, so I brought some in again today and have had a steady stream of visitors! Thanks Addie for sharing....I thought everyone should know and share in the pounds I am going to have to report when the "diet police" calls for updates If I'm going down, I want company Much Love, Amy

Frustrating but cool - thanks for sharing

Sharon - So sorry to hear this news...Hugs, thoughts and prayers being sent your way. Much Love, Amy

Does anyone here know what the true definition of remission is? My Mom and I had a discussion yesterday about this because she thinks she is in remission and I think she is just stable. I thought that remission was NED and no longer receiving treatment...any thoughts?????

Becky - Thanks for sharing that - I really needed to hear that today. Your timing is impeccible - You Rock!!! Much Love, Amy

In the beginning, God created the Heavens and the Earth and populated the Earth with broccoli and cauliflower and spinach, green and yellow and red vegetables of all kinds, so Man and Woman would live long and healthy lives. Then using God's great gifts, Satan created Ben and Jerry's and Krispy Kreme Donuts. And Satan said, "You want Chocolate with that?" And Man said "Yeah,". And Woman said, "And another one with sprinkles." And they gained 10 pounds. And Satan smiled. And God created the healthful yogurt that Woman might keep the figure that Man found so fair. Satan brought forth white flour from the wheat, and sugar from the cane and combined them. And Woman went from size 6 to size 24. So God said, "Try my fresh green salad." And Satan presented Thousand-Island Dressing, Buttery croutons and garlic toast on the side. And Man and Woman unfastened their belts following the repast. God then said, "I have sent you heart healthy vegetables and olive oil in which to cook them." And Satan brought forth deep fried fish and chicken-fried Steak so big it needed its own platter. Hilltop Steak House thrived! And man gained more weight and his cholesterol went through the roof. God created a light, fluffy white cake, named it "Angel Food Cake," and said "It is good." Satan then created chocolate cake and named it "Devil's Food." God then brought running shoes so that his children might lose those extra pounds. And Satan gave cable TV with a remote control so Man would not have to toil changing the channels. And Man and Woman laughed and cried before the flickering blue light and gained pounds. Then God brought forth the potato, naturally low in fat and brimming with nutrition. And Satan peeled off the healthful skin and sliced the starchy center into chips and deep-fried them. And Man gained pounds. God then gave lean beef so that Man might consume fewer calories and still satisfy his appetite. And Satan created McDonald's and its 99-cent double Cheeseburger. Then said "You want fries with that?" And Man replied, "Yeah! And super size 'em." And Satan said "It is good." And Man went into cardiac arrest. God sighed and created quadruple bypass surgery. Then Satan created HMOs.

One particular Christmas, a long time ago, Santa was getting ready for his annual trip. Alas, there were problems everywhere. Four of his elves got sick, and the trainee elves just weren't producing the toys as fast as the regular ones. Poor Santa was beginning to feel the pressure of being behind schedule. Then Mrs. Claus announced that her mom was coming to visit. This stressed Santa even more. When he went to harness the reindeer, he found that three of them were about to give birth and two had jumped the fence and were out, heaven knows where. More stress. Furthermore, when he began to load the sleigh, one of the boards cracked, and the toy bag fell to the ground scattering the toys everywhere. Frustrated, Santa went into the house for a cup of apple cider and a shot of rum. When he went to the cupboard, he discovered that the elves had hidden the liquor, and there was nothing to drink. In his frustration, he accidentally dropped the cider pot, and it broke into hundreds of little pieces all over the kitchen floor. He went to get the broom and found that mice had eaten the straw end of the broom. Just then the doorbell rang, and irritable Santa trudged to the door. He opened the door, and there was a little angel with a great big Christmas tree. The angel said, very cheerfully, "Merry Christmas, Santa. Isn't it a lovely day? I have a beautiful tree for you. Where would you like me to stick it?" And thus began the tradition of the little angel on top of the Christmas tree.

There were 2 blondes who went deep into the frozen woods searching for a Christmas tree. After hours of subzero temperatures and a few close calls with hungry wolves, one blonde turned to the other and said "I'm chopping down the next tree I see. I don't care whether it's decorated or not.!"