WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR NOVEMBER 2014

Oh, oh, oh. I forgot to mention us all putting our Christmas tree up tonight. We already had the tree set up in the corner it will be in. We have an electric fireplace. It's one with a good size mantel for a nativity scene and hanging stockings. I didn't know my sister would want to stay and help. She and Mom were the preschool teachers in our family. Norma had a bachelors and a masters and worked quite a few years. Mom just had common sense. But she is seriously jealous of my kids and grand daughters. She also has two children. A son who lives about 10 miles away and is always with us for holidays. Their child is 18 and getting ready to head of to college next fall. But Norma and hubbies relationship with them is that if they want to talk to us, they know our number. Their son says the exact same thing. So therefore no one talks. But then they both complain that they don't talk. She is a juvenile diabetic and about died having their one son. Now their daughter is a different story. She lives in Arkansas, has said she will never ever have children because she never wants to have a vaginal exam. This child is 35. I don't know what will happen if she ever needs a mammogram. So they have no children. But my daughters and grand daughters love her to pieces. So Trinity, oldest DGD , Michelle and I worked on the tree, Norma and Ellie. youngest DGD worked on the mantel and anything else that could be done from the floor. By the evening she was pretty well shot, in need of her pain medicine. She uses a mobility scooter most of the time but was trying to be normal. Plus mobility scooters just don't go up and down our stairs! So she went home with lots of memories. This year Ellie picked the angel for the top and put it on. Next year it is Trinities turn. Ellie picked the one I don't like, it is much more childlike but she is only 8 so that is OK. But I think I will keep this tradition!

Joyce, indiana

grrrrr hit the wrong button and poof everything was gone..
yesterday was nice ,everything went well, at a little bit of everything but just a spoonful,did cave and have a piece of vanilla mousse cheesecake
Tom and I will hit one Black friday sale and it is to Petsmart lol. first 100 customers get a stocking with goodies for the dogs... we are just going up to get treats...
im disgusted with myself I have gained back about 15 lbs because I havent been dillagent on logging and have been eating some un authorized bad stuff...
have a busy next couple of weeks, have a kidney ultrasound on thursday and have to drop Homer at the groomers, then the thursday after that a physical .. not looking forward to that ,but oh well..

Wonderful Thanksgiving at our house yesterday. Just a few of us but it was delicious and pretty stress free. We put up our Christmas tree last night. I'm moving away from my traditional décor and trying white and silver on our real tree. It is kind of bare right now so I will gather up some ornaments over the coming days and try to fill it in. I'm trying to convince the hubs that a white feather boa would be fantastic! (He's not buying it at this point).

A local family adopted my Army son yesterday for which I'm thankful. First holiday away from home for him.

No black Friday shopping for me today. I'm working and besides don't enjoy the crowds. Hubs however is out with the masses and loving it.

We start birthday palooza today. 3 birthdays in 8 days. Hubs today, son 1 on Dec 2, and son 2 on Dec 6. Sugar Free peanut butter pie for the Hubs party tonight.

Love and encouragement to you all.

Diana in Indiana

Hi everyone, long time no see! Hope you had a very nice Thanksgiving.

Thanks to yanniejannie for informing me that someone here was asking about my 10 year old great-niece Mariah recently. For those of you who don't know, Mariah had a brain tumor removed earlier this year and has been going through radiation & chemo ever since. Here's the latest update from Mariah's mom, written at the beginning of November. I do apologize for not keeping you updated on a more regular basis!! I have a cute pic to post, if I can remember how to do it. xo

Dear friends and loved ones:

This past month since getting home has been a trying one to say the least. Mariah had her latest chemo on October 16th. It was given in the port on her head, the port in her chest and she was also given oral chemo to take for the next 5 days at home. When she receives chemo through the port on her head, she immediately becomes very sick--this time in the bathroom and throwing up for several hours afterwards--regardless of preparing with several anti-nausea drugs. We had thought that this cycle would be slightly easier for her since it was outpatient, however we quickly realized how hard she had been hit. With the type of tumor Mariah had--AT/RT--it is necessary to combat the cancerous cells in as many ways as possible. For that reason, the direct chemo to her brain is done every month or two. This is alternated with the direct chemo that is put in her spinal fluid when she has a spinal tap to check for cancerous cells in the spinal fluid. This is done about every month or two as well. So far, (thanks be to God), Mariah has always had a negative spinal tap.
After finishing her chemo cycle Mariah has slowly started to return to her "normal". As of right now, her nausea is better and she has lots of smiles--which seem to disappear every time she has her chemo.

This month has been a trying one also in terms of some planning and decisions. As of last week, we have decided to no longer continue school. We have tried to manage this with the home bound school teacher for a couple months and we have found it next to impossible right now for Mariah to do any school work. She is simply too tired, too weak and has had trouble remembering things. We have her starting Speech, Occupational and Physical therapy this past month. It is hard to believe how much movement she has lost due to her chemotherapy and lack of physical activity. This is a vital part of her overcoming this ordeal and we have to keep working both during therapy and at home to make sure she retains as much movement as possible. We have also adjusted the feeds that she is receiving through her G-tube at night. We now have her on a higher calorie supplement in an attempt to keep her weight loss to a minimum as well as help her gain some weight back.

We look ahead to a chemo free next three weeks--thankfully. Mariah does not have to go back to clinic for chemo until November 18th. We pray that this won't be such a hard hit for her. I am signed up to run/walk the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation 8K on Nov 8th......in an attempt to raise money and awareness for a foundation that helps families such as ours. Lots of fun things to look forward to in the future....praise GOD.

Greetings to all this Black Friday! I am home with the doors barred LOL! I’ll be watching the sad NE football team probably lose this game then working on the book and I’ll get a walk in and some elliptical time too. We had a wonderful day yesterday with our friends; Tanya, Dalton, and baby Nikita came over a bit later and had leftovers. Now today the sun is shining and it’s going to be in the 50s…hooray!

Margaret: I love playing scrabble. DH has dyslexia though so he’s not a good partner! LOL

Yanniejannie: isn’t it odd that some people find fault in everything,,,big or little, you’d think people would understand that mistakes happen!

Sylvia: hilarious joke. I make my mashed sweet potatoes with bourbon. Everyone loves them LOL wonder why?

Barbie: what a nice day you had

Joyce: I can’t imagine being 35 and never having a vaginal exam!

Alison: this time of year is dreadful for putting on weight. You are so dedicated that I am sure it will be gone quickly once you get back on track with all that “unauthorized food” That made me think of my dad; he was a diabetic and about once a month we brought him “illegal donuts”. What the heck….he couldn’t even turn himself over in bed; what’s an illegal donut once in a while.

Vicki: sounds like you had a great day. We will still be warm on Saturday but Sunday is a different story!

Barb: it is quite the challenge to figure out what to do with all those leftovers, isn’t it? I started my turkey soup last night because I couldn’t find a container for the carcass!

Jb: I have been wondering about little Mariah. Sounds like she is a real trouper. I admire her family and her for all they are having to adapt to and sounds like they are making very wise decisions. Those jammies are just hilarious and if you didn’t know how sick she is, you’d never guess. What a dolly! I wish nothing but blessings on her and her family.

Well the game is on in a couple of minutes, so I’m off. Take care all, meg from sunny (for now) Omaha.

megblair1 wrote: »

JB: what is that "pumpkin pie" on your dog's head made of? That is crazy cute!

I don't know, Meg, it must be cardboard?? It's just a pic I found while looking up "dogs in turkey costumes" LOL

Jb ... I was the one who asked about Mariah ... But had her name mixed up! That photo is amazing given the horror she is going through! What an amazing little girl...

Typing on my iPad in the car so will post more later.

Beth

Jb thank you for the up date on Mariah, she is a beautiful and strong little girl, who will continue to be on my prayer list.

juanita

Stats, long version. I wanted to ride to work today but it is just crazy raining!
Ski machine- 35 minutes, level 3-5 incline, 20-40 resistance 1.77 miles
Jump Rope fast- 10 minutes
I backed oatmeal chocolate chip cookies (don't like raisins) 70 cal. A piece, not bad. A neighbor brought me a turkey dinner plate last night, that was sweet of her.