SBeth

Curtis, Becky's shoes are going to be very difficult for any woman to fill and NOBODY will ever be able to take her place. I think that it is going to take a very special person to be willing to be a part of your family that will ALWAYS include Becky. Don't sell yourself short, but don't beat yourself up over your physical attractions having the ability to sidetrack you from your expectations. You are right, life is so very short and I don't blame you at all for wanting to be alive and feel alive for every second of it! I think that Katie is in wonderful, capable and loving hands with you and when it is right...you both (all three) will know it. Love and prayers,

TAnn, Goes without saying...I'll be praying and hoping for better results on your January MRI. As always, you're on my mind and I'll be sending good wishes your way for a peaceful and restful holiday. Love and prayers,

Dear Sharon, My thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time. Please take care of yourself and know that God will take great care of your precious father. Love and prayers,

Sorry Ladies....I thought it was cute... AS A MINNESOTA TRUCKER STOPS FOR A RED LIGHT, A BLONDE CATCHES UP. SHE JUMPS OUT OF HER CAR, RUNS UP TO HIS TRUCK, KNOCKS ON THE DOOR. THE TRUCKER LOWERS HIS WINDOW, AND SHE SAYS, "HI, MY NAME IS HEATHER,AND YOU ARE LOSING SOME OF YOUR LOAD." THE TRUCKER IGNORES HER AND PROCEEDS DOWN THE STREET. WHEN THE TRUCK STOPS FOR ANOTHER RED LIGHT, THE GIRL CATCHES UP. AGAIN. SHE JUMPS OUT OF HER CAR, RUNS UP AND KNOCKS ON THE DOOR. AGAIN, THE TRUCKER LOWERS HIS WINDOW. AS IF THEY'VE NEVER SPOKEN, THE BLONDE BRIGHTLY SAYS, "HI, MY NAME IS HEATHER, AND YOU ARE LOSING SOME OF YOUR LOAD." SHAKING HIS HEAD, THE TRUCKER IGNORES HER AGAIN AND CONTINUES DOWN THE STREET. AT THE THIRD RED LIGHT, THE SAME THING HAPPENS AGAIN. ALL OUT OF BREATH, THE BLONDE GETS OUT OF HER CAR, RUNS UP, KNOCKS ON THE TRUCK DOOR, THE TRUCKER LOWERS THE WINDOW. AGAIN SHE SAYS, "HI, MY NAME IS HEATHER, AND YOU ARE LOSING SOME OF YOUR LOAD." WHEN THE LIGHT TURNS GREEN THE TRUCKER REVS UP AND RACES TO THE NEXT LIGHT. WHEN HE STOPS THIS TIME, HE HURRIEDLY GETS OUT OF THE TRUCK, AND RUNS BACK TO THE BLONDE. HE KNOCKS ON HER WINDOW, AND AS SHE LOWERS IT, HE SAYS, "HI, MY NAME IS KEVIN, IT'S WINTER IN MINNESOTA, AND I'M DRIVING THE SALT TRUCK!"

Good morning Mercer. I love your outlook on your situation, that positive attitude will be your best ammunition to fight, fight, fight....and WIN! Welcome to this wonderful group of incredible people! Love and prayers,

Curtis...that is just wrong on so many levels, wrong, but funny!

Hey Becky, Going out on a limb here, BUT...could it be that you are a little "home sick" for your parent's home right now? I know that you're thrilled to be in your new home; but it's not "home" yet...is it? I remember way back when I first got married and moved out of my parent's home ... as excited as I was about having my own home, I was still very home-sick for a short time. Whatever it is, I hope you can scare it away with all those power tools and projects! Love and prayers,

My thoughts and prayers are with you. Love,

Jim, Thank you for giving this board a GREAT early Christmas gift. Your post gave me goose-bumps. It feels so good to know that such wonderful things do happen and there is always hope right around the corner. I'm so very happy for you and your family. I'm betting thas was the best steak dinner you have ever eaten! Love and prayers,

Dear Renee, Your tribute to Scott was amazing. Your strength and love inspire me. God bless you!

Guy, My best wishes to you that things go well! Will be keeping you in my prayers. Love,

Hi Curtis, I'm a little late getting in on this, but I hope that the decorating party went well and everyone had a great time. The "Becky-Angel" tree topper was a wonderful idea; I think you are an incredible father. Love and prayers,

Hi Debbie, Welcome to the "family". You'll be learning alot over the next few days, weeks and months. Some of it will be very reassuring and some of what you learn will be very disturbing and hard to accept. Take your time digesting everything and please remember that no two people are the same and everyone responds and reacts differently to treatment. Please come back and let us know the results of your brother's PET and how we can help. The support and love here is overwhelming. Love,

Angie, In addition to what the others have said; Bill (my husband) had his original two mets to the brain treated with the radiosurgery to directly radiate the two spots on the brain and had no complications from this procedure. However, when he returned in late October for his MRI and 5 more spots were discovered; the neurologist and radiologist would not recommend the radiosurgery. They STRONGLY encouraged the WBR to treat the new mets. It has only been a few weeks since he completed his WBR treatments, but it certainly took it's toll on him. He went to bed for about 10 days and was pretty much fasting the whole time. I was positive that this was from the progression of the disease, but just as everyone on the board assured me, it was only the side effects of the radiation and he is already beginning to feel much better. As far as other side effects, we haven't noticed any to date, but it was our understanding that the memory loss, confusion etc. would not present until further out from the treatment. Good luck with your Dad's appointment and I'm still keeping your family in my prayers. Love,

Happy belated Birthday Nina! I hope your 60th was as great as 61, 62, 63 and so on will be!!! Love,

Carolyn, I'm sure you are very proud of all your children, mostly your very young daughter. She sounds like a very smart young lady and I agree with her that your husband would not want you to be sad, but would understand that you are. I hope that the holidays will bring you peace and wonderful memories with your family. God bless,

I'm very very happy for you Tiny! Have the time of your life and live it up while you celebrate. Love and prayers,

Hi Randi, My husband had the gamma knife surgery and had absolutely NO complications or problems. We got to the hospital early in the morning and it did take a good part of the day. They fitted his head with the "crown" type head gear and did an MRI. The long wait was due to the programming of the computer to prepare for the precise radiation. The gamma knife procedure itself was painless. He laid on the table and the machine moved around him. I actually was able to watch the whole procedure on closed circuit television from another room. He did have a very very slight headache in the evening following the procedure and the four places where the head gear was screwed into his scalp were a little tender for the first day or so. I hope this helps with what to expect. Best wishes to you and your mother.

Estrogen, Pregnancy and Women PREGNANCY Q & A plus more! Q: Should I have a baby after 35? A: No, 35 children is enough. Q: I'm two months pregnant now. When will my baby move? A: With any luck, right after he finishes college. Q: What is the most reliable method to determine a baby's sex? A: Childbirth. Q: My wife is five months pregnant and so moody that sometimes she's borderline irrational. A: So what's your question? Q: My childbirth instructor says it's not pain I'll feel during labor, but pressure. Is she right? A: Yes, in the same way that a tornado might be called an air current. Q: When is the best time to get an epidural? A: Right after you find out you're pregnant. Q: Is there any reason I have to be in the delivery room while my wife is in labor? A: Not unless the word "alimony" means anything to you. Q: Is there anything I should avoid while recovering from childbirth? A: Yes, pregnancy. Q: Do I have to have a baby shower? A: Not if you change the baby's diaper very quickly. Q: Our baby was born last week. When will my wife begin to feel and act normal again? A: When the kids are in college. "ESTROGEN ISSUES" 10 WAYS TO KNOW IF YOU HAVE "ESTROGEN ISSUES" 1. Everyone around you has an attitude problem. 2. You're adding chocolate chips to your cheese omelet 3. The dryer has shrunk every last pair of your jeans. 4.. Your husband is suddenly agreeing to everything you say. 5. You're using your cellular phone to dial up every bumper sticker that says: "How's my driving-call 1- 800-" ! 6. Everyone's head looks like an invitation to batting practice. 7. Everyone seems to have just landed here from "outer space." 8. You can't believe they don't make a tampon bigger than Super Plus. 9. You're sure that everyone is scheming to drive you crazy. 10. The ibuprofen bottle is empty and you bought it yesterday. TOP TEN THINGS ONLY WOMEN UNDERSTAND 10. Cat's facial expressions. 9. The need for the same style of shoes in different colors. 8. Why bean sprouts aren't just weeds. 7. Fat clothes. 6. Taking a car trip without trying to beat your best time. 5. The difference between beige, ecru, cream, off-white, and eggshell. 4. Cutting your bangs to make them grow. 3. Eyelash curlers. 2. The inaccuracy of every bathroom scale ever made. AND, the Number One thing only women understand: 1. OTHER WOMEN

Dear Angie, I don't know what to say to add what all the others have posted about the dehydration possibilites and that I too believe that he could quickly turn around and feel great in a week or so. I just wanted to let you know that I am thinking about you and praying for you to continue to find the strength and courage that you found when you talked to your father after decorating the tree. I know that your ability to cope (or atleast the appearance of it) has given your father a great deal of comfort. Love to you and your family,

Uhm...Peg? Was that one for the guys? Who's side are you on? But I did like it and I sure wish it worked! Love and prayers,

Yipee...it's a bone met! That doesn't sound like something to be relieved about does it? It's all about perspective! My prayers will continue to go out to the both of you to get thru the road ahead. I just know that Lucie is lucky to have you stand beside her thru this battle! Love and prayers,

Dear Tariq, I'm so glad that you have joined us; we're glad to finally meet you and look forward to hearing from you. I have two boys that are 10 and 14 years old, so I may just have to check in with you to see if some things that Santa is thinking about leaving under the tree for them are "cool" or "phat" or whatever you guys call it these days! Anyway, I have heard some wonderful things about you from your mother and I think that you have a great family. I hope that your Dad is feeling better and you were able to have a nice Thanksgiving. Love,

Don & Lucie, Many many positive thoughts and prayers are headed your way. I'm so very glad that you had a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family. Love and prayers,

Dear Karen, I agree that it is great that you are seeking out a third party to bounce your feelings off of and help you. I think that EVERYONE and EVERY COUPLE handles situations and stress differently. I know that for me personally, I have not been able to let Bill know when I get frustrated or irritated about ANYTHING. I always have this devil on one shoulder telling me to quit treating him with kid gloves and let him have it like I used to in "the good ole days"; all the while, the angel is on the other shoulder reminding me that these little things are no longer important. It's tough, very tough to find a balance. I hope that you are able to get the help you need and deserve and if you want to or need to talk to a fellow caregiver/wife/mother, please let me know. Love and prayers,