Thanks guys.. sorry, it's been another long few months. It's nice to read when people survive this. There are people on a cancer board I go to that have been clean for 5 years; so I'm hopeful. Carla, it would be less stressful if some people would get my hint that they need to repay their loans. We lent 2 family members money; and no matter what update I give; neither has offered to start paying their loans back. That's on our to do list this next week; figuring out who still owes us what. If I'm right, it's about $3,000. Deb, how are you doing? From what I remember of your dad; I think he had it worst due to when he was treated. Radiation is not as harsh as it used to be. My teen has been having mouth issues; she had 4 impacted wisdom teeth. 2 were removed in October before we started his treatment, another was done in late February; that one was the pits. It was top right wisdom tooth; her jaw was so painful she could barely open it for a long time. I ended up finding another oral surgeon who managed to get her jaw to open enough so that she could have tooth 4 pulled on 4/1. Poor kid then had issues again due to tooth 3; and finally in the last 2 weeks she's healing. He went back to work 4/13 - light duty, driving a yard van at the port. He drives the truckers around to pick up their new cars (Mazdas) so they can load them on their car carriers. He's been getting up at 2am; going to sleep about 8pm - 5 days a week. He had to take his truck to the shop; once it was done he drove it to the port to get the trailer worked on. They couldn't keep his truck running so he had to bring it to someone else to get fixed. He picked everything up last week; finished out the week in the yard van & today is back to the life of a trucker. I don't know if he'll be able to handle it & I'm going to worry all day. As most of you know; truckers that deliver cars have to drive the cars up on the trailer; then walk back down. Delivering, he has to walk up & drive down. I hope he is able to do this. He fell a few years ago from the top deck (as did another guy) so I worry. He's looking pretty good. He's had pain issues from sitting around so long and now using his body. He still suffers with lack of saliva; and his throat. I think the things that saved him with swallowing was him being stubborn during treatment. Most people put water through the feeding tube because it's painful to swallow; he hated doing that because he'd have to pee too much. You wouldn't believe the amount of people that have swallowing issues; have to have their throat opened.. he is very fortunate. He's also fortunate that he doesn't have pain where his neck dissection was; but it's still early to tell. The Dr said that how ever he is at the 1 year mark is a good indication of how he will be; that's 4 more months. He has a CT scan of the neck within the next few weeks. I don't know why they are doing a CT instead of a PET scan. I also don't know why they are only doing the neck; because IMO, they should do lungs too. From what I've read, the lungs are where it most likely goes next. I'm nervous because I've read a lot of posts from others with his cancer; around this time is when stuff would pop up. A few weeks ago we started getting large bills.. apparently at some point his insurance got maxed out. I've been pretty calm about it; he, not so much. For some reason they are not covering about $500 of the original ENT's bill from August; which should have been paid 1st. Then there are multiple things at Jefferson; from the hospital, oncologist, ENT & radiation. I'm in the process of sifting through insurance papers verses bills coming in. If I need to apply for charity care, I need to do it asap. He also found out that we will need to be a trailer by September; of course I worry who will give us a loan for that kind of money when he hasn't worked in 7 months. All in all, I would not change my decision to treat there. His life & outcome are worth more then what ever debt we will have. So far he's doing well; and hopefully will continue to do so. I hope by this time next year it's just a bad memory. Happy mothers day. Hope everyone is enjoying their roses! My garden is starting to bloom & I'm trying to enjoy it. I'm not sure how long we will be able to keep this house; it all depends on what shape he will be left in. IF he can't drive the truck we'll have to consider selling. Pics of the garden.. taken with my blackberry. I haven't had time to upload from the new (bought last year) Nikon D 5000. I miss having a digital, not sure I like this camera. Garden2010

mnwsgal, This year I will only keep long cuttings of a double orange I got when I visited Native Habitat Ethnobotanicals This year I will only keep long cuttings of a double orange I got when I visited Native Habitat Ethnobotanicals near Miami one year. I expect I was told the name of the Brug it was taken from but once I got home I couldn't remember so ever since I just call it NHE so I remember it LOL. Anytime it is passed along I tell the recipients NHE stands for the name of the source, NOT the name of the plant and it must never be registered with any name because the parent is already registered. Basically it is a N.O.I.D. but at the time years ago, the no-id term was not in use. At one time I had 50 Brugs but annually I have reduced down to my favourites, either for shape, colour or fragrance. I like NHE for its shape (double orange and pendant hanging.) nicals near Miami one year. I expect I was told the name of the Brug it was taken from but once I got home I couldn't remember so ever since I just call it NHE so I remember it LOL. Anytime it is passed along I tell the recipients NHE stands for the name of the source, NOT the name of the plant and it must never be registered with any name because the parent is already registered. Basically it is a N.O.I.D. but at the time years ago, the no-id term was not in use. At one time I had 50 Brugs but annually I have reduced down to my favourites, either for shape, colour or fragrance. I like NHE for its shape (double orange and pendant hanging.)

About 2 years ago, i met a local fellow who is about 25 years younger than me, and he has a hard side camping trailer, the kind with the canvas covered front bunk. He allowed that he was going out west to Arizona, for his vacation trip. He bought a GMC Sport-utility to tow with. and installed an auxiliary tranny cooler, and was worried about maybe having car trouble out there on the big old hiway! He asked me if, in our many years of hauling campers and stand-up trailers, if i worried about having a break-down on the road. Gee! When i think of the used cars i'd get to tow with, and how far we'd usually go on a trip, Maybe we were fat, dumb, and happy! But--we never had a new car or truck. Never could afford one, and didn't think it was very smart to tie up a pile of money in car payments. I'd get home from work, the boys would have every thing hooked up and ready to go. We''d grab a bite, and clean up and go! Sometimes to Hickory Hills Camp in Ohio, or our Bluegrass Park, north of Kittanning, Pa. Usually if ya do break down on the hiway, a cop will come along fairly soon and get ya some help. When he heard of how we'd just "go", and not worry about the tow vehicle' he just shook his head.

Hi Ya Gang! I should not have a head on my shoulders after last night's team night out....I drank (would not even begin to guess the points and ate italian.....). Sometimes ya just have to get it out of your system and judging by my body today - I got it ALL out! Bought a bag of prepared mixed frozen fruit on the way in today and had it during the morning - it was heaven after that heavy food last night. Funny how you can get used to lighter meals. Did have 3 slices of pizza at lunch and that is all the food I have had today. There is a GIANT GREEN SALAD in the fridge at home with my name all over it. I can't wait to get my shorts, exercise top, plug into my tunes and get shaking. Yes my waist gets sore and some other muscles on my butt....but....if I get back at the exercise I FEEL B E T T E R !!!!!! Physically and mentally. I just love tuning out and tuning into 80s pop, rock and anything with a good beat to it. I think once I get used to this I am going to look into weighted wrist bands so I can move my arms more too. Lots of work on the leg muscles and oddly enough - as much as it's a muscular workout - waist down - my cardio is not killing me - I can breath comfortably and have a light level of persperation. I am really doing something like a power walk and nothing more at this stage. I want this to be fun. Something I look forward to - followed by a heavenly shower and nice, fresh, soft PJs and a GOOD BOOK (and lots of water of course!). Okay, it's been a rough week with my food habits but a very good week shaking it - not bad overall. Now I just have to get the food sorted again and things should start toning. I don't care about the scales at this point - I will be watching where the inches move and how my clothes feel. Muscle weighs more than fat - I will be using the mirror as well to judge the difference and also how well I can cope with stairs (great measurement tool). So, lets get moving! C'mon! Don't worry about your ups and downs - you are still here posting and you will be successful so long as you don't quit. We are not in the olympics - we are taking better care of ourselves for a change. There is no clock to reach our goals - I don't use one other than a motivator and mental guide - I will persist for however long it takes and keep trying to reach smaller achievable goals - like more exercise, or adding more fruit to my daily meals. I like the grocery list planning - great tool and helps you think ahead and keeps you focussed. Would love to hear how the yogurt turns out. Mirren - don't despair! Keep posting. DeeMarie - where are you???? Yoooouuuuuu Hooooooooooooo!? Teressa - looking forward to your favourite recipes with your new toy. Kathy - one of these days I'm coming over to do some shopping with ya! Just love hunting through those shops! Yellowhair, Wildchild - HI YA!!!!!! I tell ya what - let's make a deal - or this is the offer - I will tell ya once I receive those cinnamon toothpicks. I will send anyone who has been faithfully participating for a week a pack for great effort! I am serious. Look for the Cinnamon Toothpick challenge week soon....I can't chew 160 packs all by myself ya know!!!! Cheers for now, have a fabby (not flabby) weekend! Will check in this weekend see how you are getting on! McPeg