Messages By: valhatt2

Just got home from the Cancer clinic.  I can barely contain my excitement.  I don't have to go through an operation but the Chemo is still on.  It will be like the last time 6 treatments over a period of time.  It will not be as rigorous becasue they advised me that my hair may thin but not fall out.  Ask me how releived I am that there is no operation? Happy I tell ya happy.  I will probably have some sickness, be tired but the most severe thing may be the nausea.  I can handle that.  I can keep on working as long as when I get over tired I am to go home, regardless if the boss likes it or not.  I don't think I'm going to have a problem there, he has had Chrone's disease for years so he is sympathetic when it comes to illnesses.  Thank you for all your prayers and thoughts, it surely helped.  I can't thank any of you enough.

WE NEED SISTERS

A young wife sat on a sofa on ahot humid day, drinking iced tea and visiting with her mother.  As they talked about life, about marriage, about the responsibilites of life and the obligations of adulthood the mother clinked the ice cubes in her glass thoughtfully and turned a clear,sober glance upon her daughter. 

"Don't forget your sisters," she advised, swirling the tea leaves to the bottom of her glass.  "They'll be more important as you get older.  No matter how much you love your husband, no matter how much you love the children you may have, you are still going to need your "Sisters".  Remember to go place with them now and then; do things with them.  And remember that "Sisters" also means your girlfriends, your daughters, and other women too.  You'll need other women.  Women always do."

"What a funny piece of advice!" the young woman thought.  "Haven't I just gotten married? Haven't I just joined the couple-world?  I'm now a married woman, for goodness sake! A grownup.  Surley my husband and the family we may start will be all I need to make my life worthwhile!"  But she listened to her Mother.  She kept in contact with her Sisters and made more women friends each year.

As the years tumbled by, one after another, she gradually came to understand that her Mom really knew what she was talking about.  As time and nature work their changes and their mysteries upon a woman,

            Sisters are the mainstays of her life.

After over 50 years of living in this world, here is what I've learned:

                   -Time passes

                   -Life happens

                   -Distance separates

                   -Children grow up.

                   -Love waxes and wanes.

                   -Hearts break.

                   -Careers end.

                   -Jobs come and go.

                   -Parents die.

                   -Colleagues forget favors.

                   -Men don't call when they say they will

BUT Sisters are there, no matter how much time and how many miles are between you.  A Sister is never farther away than needing her can reach.

     When you have to walk that lonesome valley, and you have to walk it for yourself, you Sisters will be on the valley's rim, cheering you on, praying for you, pulling for you, intevening on your behalf, and waiting with open arms at the valley's end.  Sometimes, they will even break the rules and walk beside you.  Or come in and carry you out.

      My sisters, sisters-in-laws, and "girlfriends", bless my life!!!!!  The world wouldn't be the same without them, and neither would I.  When we began this adventure called womanhood, we had no idea of the incredible joys or sorrows that lay ahead.  Nor did we know how much we would need each other.  Every day we  need each other still.  Tell the women who help make your life work that you appreciate them.  I just did.

Just wanted to say hi to everyone.  I probably won't be in here for a few days.  I go for my first Chemo on Monday, depending on how that goes I might come in and post.  I'm still working on eating healthy all though I was already warned that the steroids would probably hinder any weight loss.  Bummer.  They said it couldn't hurt to eat healthy so it might help in lots of ways.  They didn't want to give me any false hopes about weight gain.  I had to give up my Curves for the duration of my Chemo, but the Curves people just told me to come back when I was able and they would keep me a member in good standing and I could just start over. 

The next Chemo is on August 30th.  I had some minor problems with the first one but nothing drastic.  It was the meds I think, and it gave me a little scare but everything turned out well.  I had to go and call the OGYN/ONC on call but after talking to her for a few minutes my fears were put to rest.  My only downfall with going through this again, is that I am unable to continue with the Curves program.  I asked both my family and the specialist if I could, and they both suggested because of the nature of the treatment, to lay off the exercise until March.  They said I probably could do it, but as the treatments progress I will not have much feeling or balance.  That was kinda scarey, but they assured me all would return to normal after that.  They suggested that I continue to eat healthy, and drink plenty of water and that should stay and significant weight gain.  I might put on maybe 10 lbs but they both agreed that it wouldn't be more than that.  I have given up bread, pasta and rice, and they thought that would be a good start.  They didn't say that I had to give them up I just wanted to see if it would help with the weight gain.  Once again thank you for all your kind words and prayers I appreciate everyone of them.  I will endeavour to come here more often but don't give up on me, I need my friends.