February 2024 Chit Chat and Check In

[Smilyn]

Happy Year Of The Wood Dragon! I hope it is auspicious for all.

Huronna, I have just been catching up; what a tale! Ups and downs with few ups! I am glad Joe is doing better; that bathroom fall and fever sounded really scary. I hope your test is neg and you get to have some fun and full room service too. Of all your adventures, this seems the adventurest! I hope everything calms for you. I hope the last Rookery is possible for you to see. Flagryl; I know you were worried about a drought so I'm glad you had all that snow, but geez! That's a lot! I hope all the snow blowing goes without incident. Prayers to everyone who is ill or struggling in any way; this does seem a difficult time.

We were up in Vermont on a consolation visit with Steve's son (over the murder of Steve's daughter/Jon's sister end of Nov) and shoveling manure for many kinds of animals in their sanctuary in the last days of their winter snow. I was so glad to see snow and so glad I had boots that could handle the job as well as the conditions. I'm glad we went; they both are doing better from the time together. I had a biopsy on my left headlight on Friday and will find out the results next week. I don't have a tight enough bra to keep it comfortable at the moment; the price of losing weight. TG for the pads from an old bathing suit! Tomorrow I pick up a 1 year coin. In a week I will be at the anniversary of mom's passing. I have been very emotional, and realized we are in the phase where I was losing her more to pain meds every day. I am going to go change my clothes to something more Hearty. I hope everyone feels some love this week!

[Huronna]

Not real joyous right now , today was supposed to be the last day of quarantine, and after being Neg on home test two days ago, I tested positive for Covid today. So far I am asymptomatic, let’s hope it stays that way
So there will be no penguins for me, guess I have to be satisfied with holding the koala in Australia

[Smilyn]

Oh, Huronna... I am so very sorry to read this. Just doesn't seem fair. I am putting lots of energy onto you remaining symptom free (as many do,) and at least missing that along with the penguins. Sending loads of healing energy your way. And sanitary HUGS too. Poor you!

[Vikki]

Huronna, I'm so sorry to hear they've essentially ended your ability to enjoy the rest of your cruise. between Joe being ill and rough seas, you've not been able to do very much on this one. I hope you at least remain asymptomatic and can get out on the balcony.
Rainy and thundering here but no one is sick and there are no leaks!

Smilyn, I hope you too feel some love this week. You seem like the type to "choose" joy even in the face of pain. Sounds like your trip was emotional, cathartic, and a blessing for you all. Congrats on the 1 year coin!

[Smilyn]

Thanks, Vikki! The year is a big deal. A lot of my time went into that process (and into reliably dealing with trauma) since Feb 23, but I got through it and learned a lot. I am focusing on positives more now. I'm even hoping this year will allow a bit of time for PSP... It could happen! But if not, I'll at least try to pop in and say hi more often.

Huronna, I hope you are still not ill. Hang in there!

[Flagryl]

Milyn, you've really been through it this past year. I'll be thinking of you w/upcoming biopsy report. Breathe. Very encouraging words Vikki, thank you. Huronna, I hope Joe recovers enough that he needs less from you. I hope you recover well, even w/no symptoms I'm sure there is tiredness and the exhaustion from taking care of Joe and dealing with those wild seas.

Wild ending for the Super Bowl, I fixed traditional chili. All is well.

We weathered the 36 inch snow we got over 3 days. Sunny and warmer now. The repair tech is here to put the heat sensor in my oven, yea! I think there's a pie in the forecast.

[silk]

I can't believe your bad luck on this trip Huronna. I am so so sorry. Gad that Joe is improving ad hope you're OK.

[margie52501]

Good evening all. I go see my regular doctor tomorrow morning. I was told that my sodium and phosphates are low. I'm not sure if that means my kidney's or not. Good question so will know more tomorrow. I haven't seen my doctor for 6 months but this is really important to me. Huronna I hope Joe is feeling better now so you both can enjoy your trip.

[Mary]

We have not had nearly enough snow so far this winter. Not that I want it but I am afraid it will show up when it's supposed to be sporing or when Sydnee is on her school trip to DC

[silk]

How are you all Mary?

[Huronna]

Stopping in, spent afternoon doing a WWO, now I’m waiting for dinner delivery, just pizza and some Pinot Grigio, so far it still tastes good, no metallic taste from the paxlovid. Two more days of drugs, joe is doing better, still a ways to go, but a heck of a lot better than six days ago.
How are you doing Silk?

[panthera66]

HI everyone,

Just popping on to say hello, i have been ill for 2 weeks with a viral bug, earache, cough, chest infection, gastric bug that upset my stomach, lost abit of weight as i couldn't eat anything, now putting abit back on as i am able to eat again.. Still have a cough but its getting better.

Healing vibes to all not well and happy thoughts to everyone who is doing ok..
Enjoy your week.

[Mary]

We are OK Silk, thanks for asking! It is soooo good to see you back! Was concerned about you!

[Vikki]

Happy Friday everyone.  It's a lovely day here, partly cloudy and cool but not cold.  I went for a short walked and looked around at how beautiful it is, surrounded by fields and a pecan orchard.  Have a home with a 400$ a month payment, surrounded by beautiful country, have a 2400sqft shop if I need to do things, good neighbors, and the pain in my hip is going away.  Gratitude... I feel so grateful to be blessed with more than "enough" to live my life.  
Silk, I hope your recovery is progressing nicely and that your strength returns.
Milyn, I see a sparkle in you
Flagryl, snow and more snow.  Do you ski?  did you ever ski?
Margie, I hope you get your labs sorted and proper minerals replaced.  I started taking ONE celtic salt crystal (not ground) under my tongue in the morning to get the 82 minerals from this good salt as it causes water to go into our cells to properly hydrate us, as well as giving us the electrolytes we need.
Pan...hope you are feeling better.  I'm making some "makes everything better" juice today LOL
Mary, glad you are doing ok ♥ Flag could maybe send you some snow! LOL
Huronna, don't forget to breatheeeeee.... those nice long, deep breaths that cause tension to be released when you exhale

[silk]

Thanks everyone for your kind thoughts...not up to doing much. Typing is even tiring.
Huronna I hope your situation is improving.
Ugh! Milyn...one biopsy years ago in that area was enough.
Got some new furniture yesterday that will make life easier for me.
Interesting Vicki re the salt.
My best wishes to all you lovely people.

[Huronna]

Though we are out of quarantine, things are still very difficult. With joe being I. Bed basically for ten days, he has gotten even weaker. We took on small walk to the coffee connection, it’s only two decks below, of course we used the elevator. And we were only out of the room for about an hour. Getting back into the elevator, he started having one of his shakes and. I knew he was going down. There wasn’t anyone else in the elevator so I put his cane in the doorway so it wouldn’t close. Two of the crew saw us, the elevators are glass , well some of them are . They came to our assistance and some else came with a wheelchair. And back to the room. I think by this time I was ready for a nervous breakdown .what next? Being the calm person that I’ve always been, I just tried to relax and then went to the “guest services” and was able to arrange for wheelchair assistance from the suit to the port where you ID your luggage, from there security. Takes over with another wheelchair to help with the luggage which we then hand over to Luggage Forward, the company that is taking our luggage so we don’t have to take it inthe planes.
We had already arranged for wheelchair assistance from Delta on all the flights. And our car is at the airport. I don’t think l will pop I. Again until I get home. Tomorrow is a sea day and the. We dock, I will be rather busy, to say the least

[Mary]

I bet in some ways you will be so glad to be home. I'm sorry this trip wasn't what you had hoped for!

[Flagryl]

Oh dear Huronna, I know you'll be glad to get through this journey. Hopefully, Joe will settle after he's home. I hope he gets enough water through all thet transfers. Let us hear from you.

Silk, good to hear from you...one day at a time. I hope the new furniture helps out. Milyn, how did the biopsy go? Any word yet? Margie, we haven't heard about your doc's opinion on your condition and the treatment, what's the word? Tilly, I hope you are getting better. Sometimes I think the flu or RSV is worse than Covid.

Vikki, yes getting vitamins and minerals are so important. Yes, I used to ski and snowshoe. I've skied all the major mountains in Colorado and in Utah as well as here. Did a lot of ice skating and sledding in my pre-teen days. I'm not a beach person, though I was a life guard and how I did that I do not know. I burn with my fair skin. Didn't have sunscreen in those days.

[silk]

Huronna, I feel for you and Joe . I think being home will be such a relief.
I can only imagine your disappointment.
Flagryl, what a girl you were ( are ).

[1247chance]

sorry havent been around I just spent 5 days in hospital...started with a reaction to sulfa drug.. rash, swollen, and then what they call a flare up of rheumatoid arthritis which I didnt know I had.. wonderful ... trying to get back to normal but my hands are useless.. got 1 finger that works

So sorry about joe ! You take care huronna...this is not turning into a better year..hope everyone else is doing well..

I think I Need to have a serious talk with the man in charge!! HES not being very nice hugs clyde

[Smilyn]

Huronna; I hope your return is smooth and Joe regains some strength. Good job on calmness! Silk; it's so nice to see you posting. Best wishes!

Thank you everyone for keeping me in mind. I met with the Dr last Friday and found I do have breast cancer. I meet with the oncologist on the 23 and the surgeon within the month. I will give more details soon in another thread. I'm tired today; it us rhe anniversary of the last time I spent with mom before she passed.

[Flagryl]

Oh Clyde, I hope your issues resolve themselves...not good. I can't imagine the pain. Dear Milyn, I am so sad to hear this. It's been a hard go for you of late. I hope the surgery and treatment is tolerable and effective. My cousin, a year older than I, has a 2 mm mass that is cancerous. Hers 2 but I don't know if it's neg or pos. She is having surgery the end of this month, outpatient. A lumpectomy, but not sure if radiation/chemo will be necessary...she does not know. Our mothers smoked for over 40 years and both had breast cancer and radical mastectomies, her mother had a double. My other cousin [9 yrs older] had a mastectomy at a younger age. I dread this awful disease. Milyn, wishing you the very best. Breathe, stay centered.

[Grassy]

Love to everyone.

So sorry to read that people are having bummers of a time lately. I wish I could fix it all.

Sending everyone love and happy thoughts and good vibes. And a little prayer if that is your thing.

Milyn, I am a breast cancer survivor. If I can help in any way, I will. I had invasive Ductile Carcinoma Stage 3 with node metastases (that was what made it stage 3). I was Estrogen and Progesterone Receptor Positive. All that vocabulary will become clearer to you when you see your Oncologist. Every treatment center does their care differently. I knew before my surgery what I was going to need to do, but I did not know about the nodes until surgery. Every patient is different too. Like Flagryl says, just breathe. The center will hold.

It's been very quiet here. Some days I don't even get out of my pajamas. Ha ha. I love to get up early in the morning and just piddle around all day. I am a piddler. It has not been a harsh winter by any stretch of the imagination, but for some reason I can't seen to get warm this winter. I am freezing cold all the time. I love staying in my robe and slippers all day. It better get warm this spring when it's time to find another job. Or more to the point, *I* better get warm.

[Bubs]

Thinking of you (((Huronna & Joe))).
And praying for your safe return home.
I'm also sorry this trip didn't go as planned.

[Smilyn]

Thank you Flagryl; prayers for your cousin...Breathing!

Yes; Grassy... I have been following your posts of cancer journey and celebrating anniversaries with you. Is it 8 years cancer free now? I think you said you were gone from AL for three years in BC recovery in a post some time ago. Wow. You have done so well; your attitude is amazing! I know you have problems from chemo like fingernails falling off regularly, you had (and have) many problems from radiation, and a scare last May that was thickening, but you continue to be so positive. I would say it is inspiring, but I don't think I'm in your league. ATM I am angry and unsure what choices I will make. I literally only just crawled back from Long Covid - a 3 year journey - and I'm tired of fighting for ground. I don't even want to post here because I'm mad about it all, and mad is not cheerful. I literally just got well enough and stable enough in many ways to start having a life that allowed me to do physical things that need to be done around here - and SO much needs doing! Grr.

But I will breathe. And breathe again. One for each of you. Thank you both for your support and encouragement.

Huronna; I hope you are safely home - or nearly so. I'm so glad you don't have to deal with luggage. I hope you got all the wheelchair assistance you needed. Crossing fingers!