Oh boy, lots going on for some of you folks.

Bennie, such horribly sad news. I'm so sorry.

Wagonwheel, best wishes to your dad for a speedy recovery.

Buffalogirl, I'll keep all extremities crossed for you girl! Just whatever you do, stay off the ice!!!

JJ5, congratulations to your parents!

Prettylake, congratulations to your son.

OSB, sorry to hear about your DS. Keep him close.

Are we about to have a little Fodor baby?!?! Best of luck Bamakelly!

cmcfong, how is Bermuda in December? We love Bermuda - can't wait to return.

Sweet Bonnie, thank you for sharing the tribute to your brother - beautiful.

Tiff, here's a cup of tea for you

CAPH, I hope your DH is doing well. Have those 2nd graders quited down?

LoveItaly, it is so nice to see you posting of FFR&R. I have missed you.

PM, glad to hear that your sister is doing better. So, you have completed your first week on the new job. I can imagine what a weight has been lifted. Your yodeling worked for me, c'mon do it for your DH Yes, I think we are very much alike. I believe we are two zaney chicks

Statia, have a fabulous trip!

Peace and happiness to everyone...

Just got back from the office Christmas parties, and just wanted to say thank you all for your words of encouragement. Keep us in your prayers.

And, yes, Tiff, that's it! Now I'll try to send it to all my friends who sent me the Diana Ross Turkey card!

Thanks to you too, for trying, mms, but I couldn't get that particular link to open up.

Belle

Statia, you're a very good daughter! Hope you all have a great trip!

Keeping my fingers crossed, BuffaloGirl!

wagonwheel2, good thoughts going out for your dad. What a frightening situation!

bennnie, so sorry to hear about your friend's loss. As others have already said, there can't be anything worse than losing a child.

Bonnie, I haven't checked in in awhile. I'm so sorry to hear about your brother. I knew, of course, that he'd been sick. But didn't know that you'd lost him. I'm so glad to hear that you found comfort in his wake.

JJ5, congrats to your parents!

STW, good for you for knowing your worth and standing firm! The right job will come along. Good luck getting through the end of your ordeal.

RANT: STW and Tiff thanks so much for your kind thoughts about my DH. (That's not the rant!!) Unfortunately, last Friday when he went for what he thought was his last chemo, he found out that he'd misunderstood. He'd understood them to say that, as a result of his good p.e.t. scan a couple of months ago, they were going to cut his remaining chemo in half and do more tests. Well, he had the tests part right! He had another p.e.t.scan this past Tuesday and a CTscan today. If the results of those are good, they'll do a bone marrow biopsy next week. But, regardless of the results, he has two more months of chemo.

Obviously, we don't want them to end the chemo too soon. Better to go through two more months now than to have the cancer come back. But it's still very disappointing considering that he thought he was done with the nausea, fatigue, etc.

And, no STW, those second graders haven't calmed down any! In fact, I had a scary experience with them yesterday. One of them, who has emotional problems, had a melt-down in the lunch room. The noise got to him and he started trying to hurt himself, first by digging his nails into his arm and then by grabbing himself around the neck. Last year he had an aide with him at all times. Don't quite understand why he doesn't now. It's a frightening situation to deal with when you have something like 75 other kids to watch!

RAVE: Less than two weeks 'til our daughter comes home!

Hello Caph, I am so sorry that your husband has to go through two more months of chemo. I have thought of you both during the last couple of weeks. How dissapointing and heartbreaking that his treaments have to continue although of course I agree that it is important the chemo not be cut short. I can only imagine how happy you both will be to have your daughter home with you.

I send my very best wishes and cyberhugs dear one along with a prayer that 2006 will find your dear husband healthy and ready to enjoy every moment of his life.

Oh my STW! ~ mille grazie doll And I am glad you got an offer, but if it is not right for you, I am glad you turned it down. I am happy you know your worth, we certainly know how much you are worth!

Congrats PrettyLake ~ good to hear some lovely news, keep it coming and welcome to FFR&R! See you next Friday, same time, same place!

CAPH ~ How torn you must feel. On one hand, yes, it is so sad that he must endure two more months. But yes, I agree, on the other hand, you don't want it end too soon and not complete the right amount. Good attitude, though I cannot imagine how difficult it must be. Mr. Caph is so lucky to have you! Strength for you both! And a hug.



Can anyone say i-n-s-o-m-n-i-a !

p.s. Bonniebroad, in case you check back in here, did you see, someone posted on the Renaissance Wailea thread. It got sold today to St. Regis. I guess they will renovate and then turn it into condos.

It was good while it lasted. I am so glad we got to enjoy it there, while it was there. Sad.

Statia, you are one great daughter! I'm sure your mom, your sister and you will have a wonderful trip. If only everyone appreciated their mom as you obviously do!

Suzanne, have a great trip to Australia. My sister lived there for two years, in Canberra, and loved every minute!

BuffaloGirl, take it easy with those crutches! I've been there ... and it is so hard to be patient. Mend well, and do be careful!

amwosu, congrats on losing the eight pounds. Keeping one's weight down is like a continuous battle with the Devil!!! I'm doing pretty well, but not nearly where I want to be yet!

Tess, good luck with getting that blood pressure down. It's very aggravating when you do all the right things and the problem is still there!

OSB, so sorry to hear of your son's planned divorce. When you learn to love someone a great deal, and then one day, BOOM! they're no longer going to be part of the family, it is so heartwrenching!

cmcfong, have a wonderful trip to Bermuda ... I have to admit I'm just a tad jealous ...

bamakelly, so excited for you, with a new little one on the way. Take good care of yourself during this Christmas season ...

P_M, my very best wishes to your DH during his job search. Some of these changes can be jarring at the time, but they usually work out fine, and I'm sure this will for you and yours.

CAPH52, you and your hubby are in my thoughts. I know he will be so relieved when his chemo is done. May next year be all sunshine and better times for both of you!

Pretty_Lake, what a great story about your son! I know you're excited ...

Seetheworld, you'll have the right job before you know it. I have my fingers crossed for you, lady!

Tiff, isn't it sad about our Renaissance? I LOVED staying at that place ... Boohoohoo!

RAVE: All you wonderful, kind, compassionate people who hold others up when they're (we're) feeling down. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, and big hugs to all of you...

CAPH, I am sorry to hear about the setback. That must have been a huge disappointment. Perhaps the chemo will end in time for Valentines Day. Please keep us posted, we are thinking of you.

Thanks so much for all your kind words LoveItaly, Tiff, Bonnie and P_M. Hope you all have a great weekend!

As promised from a prior post I will tell you about my perscription drug. It arrived a day late but it is exactly the same generic drug made by the same manufacturer. I payed $6.16 plus $0.96 shipping. Wal-Mart charges $73.95 and you have to pick it us yourself.

So I guess it really is good enough to be true! Over the next twelve months I will save $600.

CAPH, that is a really tough break for your husband. Let's hope he has continued good news with his upcoming tests. Always keeping good thoughts for you and your family.

Regarding the incident (scary, yes) in the cafeteria. Whomever keeps anecdotal records on this child, should be made aware of what happened. This is something that should go in his case file and all parties should be debriefed. Someone should find out why there is a change in his program. Sorry, just my 2cents. This can be a very stressful situation for not only support staff, but the other students who witness it. It is obviuosly a stressful environment for the child involved. Breaks my heart.

So sorry about the disappointment CAPH. Prayers for a better tomorrow.

Jorr: Thanks for coming back with the pharmacy good news for you. That is wonderful.

jorr,
Great for you, but Lipitor is not yet available as a generic and I save lots using Canada. RX meds are not the bargain in MX everyone thinks, and, of course, we can legally bring CA RX's here.
M

I have so many shout outs, I'm afraid I will forget someone so here's a blanket one just in case: To those with sad stuff going on, big hugs and to those with happy stuff, big cheers

CAPH--Am sorry the news about the last chemo was misunderstood. No doubt that's a major disappointment but you've all handled it this long, you'll somehow make it through the rest of the mess.

STW--The job might not have been right but it's gratifying to know they want ya, right? And think of it this way: the interview was great practice.

Statia--Wow! Taking your mom to Italy 1st class. Don't tell my mother you're doing that cuz I'll look bad

Buffgirl--Crossing my fingers and hoping you're done with the cast and crutches. Will even rub my right leg for good luck...I broke the other one 2x when I was a kid--no fun!

BamaKelly--Get your sleep now cuz sounds like it's going to be awhile til you get a good night's sleep. Early congrats

Bonnie--You always make me smile. Loved the story about your g'daughter and the lovely tribute you wrote about your brother.

OSB--I'm sorry, sweetie.

PrettyLake--welcome and congrats.

PM--Glad the first week on the job went well.

And now for my FFRR which should be FSRR for for me

Rave: Had a superdooper wonderful 'date night' with my husband last night. We went to see the Andrew Wyeth exhibition at the High Museum and then went out for a fantastic dinner. We had so much fun!

Rave: My husband doesn't have to coach this weekend!

Rave: My DH had a super promising job interview this week. Cross your fingers b/c this could be an amazing opportunity for him/us. It's been a tough year at the OWJs so maybe this is a sign our luck is changing.

Good health, happiness and love this weekend and all week long, everybody!!

OWJ!! I've been thinking about you. I'll keep everything crossed for your DH. Man, we seem to being doing a lot of that lately. But heck, what are friends for, right? Take care!!

CAPH, so sorry to hear about your husband's setback, but hopefully the next couple of months will go by quickly and he'll get a clean bill of health. You will both be in my thoughts.

OWJ, good luck to your hubby on the interview!

Thanks so much for all of your good wishes on our trip.

I know the weekend is over! But I didn't have a chance to check in yesterday.

STW, as soon as Jacob's teacher came to get her class, I told her what'd happened. She took him to the nurse's office and immediately got the special ed teacher who then called his mother. (I feel very bad that I didn't call someone right away. But it was so close to the end of the lunch period and I knew his teacher would be coming.) Both teachers spoke to me before I left and again when I came back for crossing guard duty. So I think the whole thing was well documented. And discussed at length to try to prevent a reoccurence. We've made some changes in where he sits. And his mother is going to come in twice a week to eat with him in the class room.

I've had situations with him before. But never anything this intense. My impression was that both teachers were quite surprised by it. I'd like to think that the reason he no longer has an aide is that they felt he no longer needed one. However, having worked as an aide myself for a year and a half, I know the district has a tendency to cut corners when they think they can get away with it.

I have to say the other kids handled it exceptionally well. They really tried to settle him down and get him to stop trying to hurt himself. Pretty remarkable for second graders! But then, as far as I know, they've been with him since kindergarten. And he's a very nice little boy. Everyone gets along with him.

Thanks for your good thoughts for us! And your prayers, cd. And your kind words, OWJ. And for keeping us in your thoughts, Statia.

Good luck to your husband with the job situation, OWJ! My fingers are firmly crossed!

Wishing everyone a great week!

Caph, (re: "J") sounds like a good plan to me.

How's you daughter getting home for the holidays? Bet you can't wait

Hi, STW! She's flying. And you're right, I can't wait! A week and two days! Bet you're anxious for yours to come home too. Christmas falling on a weekend should make it a little easier for your older son. I assume he'll get that Monday off? When does your younger one come home?

Hi Caph! The youngest will be in school until (I think) the Wednesday before Christmas. It works out nicely for the oldest son, he's taking some vacation time in addition to his day off. We'll be with my family for Christmas Eve and on Christmas, the DH's family will be at our house.

We're all very excited. My SIL and nephews will be spending their first Christmas in the states. They live in Cambridge, England My oldest son's girlfriend will also be with on on that day. So it will be a different holiday, in lots of ways.

I think I recall that you have a son who drives, no? Then you can understand when I say that the youngest son drives me slightly nuts when he's home - especially driving during winter. Ya know, he's got people to see, and place to go, lol. Okay, so that was an early rant

It's just nice to be together, isn't it?!