The best news,just as we all hoped! Dexascan is a piece of cake - I used to do them when I worked in the Rheumatology office. Bone-building drugs may be prescribed, but they work slowly, so 6 weeks one way or the other won't make a huge difference. There are lots of reasons you can have osteopenia or osteoporosis - drug therapies, both chemo and steroids, being too thin (being under 127 pounds is a marker for risk), family history, early menopause, low calcium and Vitamin D, and the list goes on. For now, take care of yourself, be a good girl and do what the docs tell you to do. We'll all be here, thinking of you and cheering you on until those crutches are tucked away in the closet.

I thought I would address some of your inquiries - My husband and I most definitely talked/talk about this. We both feel very similarly about the situation, but I think he is more angry because it he felt it was embarrassing and disrespectful. I have let him take the lead in the situation. The last time he spoke to her was over a month ago. I actually encourage he to talk with his sister, but she has been slowly cutting him and the rest of the family off - she changed her cell and home phone numbers and email address and didn't tell anyone. Their grandparents were in a serious car accident a couple of months ago and no one knew how to get a hold of her. I absolutely do not talk about this publicly, however I do talk with my close friends and immediate family - my husband knows what I say and to whom regarding his sister. He does not mind and understands. I don't expect her to apologize for her BF's behavior. I think it would have been nice if she had said that she was sorry that she had to leave the reception so early and that she missed such a special day in her only brother's life. I am over the lack of apology and have been for months. I think that it is really difficult to say that this is only my DH's issue, b/c I am apart of the family now. But, I most definitely differ to my DH's wishes re: what to do in handling his sister. Except I do insist on the following: we send her a Christmas card from us. I have talked to DH about my suspicions about her being in a borderline abusive relationship. They really have all the telltale signs (isolation, withdrawl, dominate personality with strong machoistic tendancies, etc.). We don't believe he is physically abusing her (yet), but we know about the signs. I think we will continue to follow her lead on the direction of the relationship, but we are most definitely vocal about the fact that we care about her and would like nothing more to at least be civil. BTW, I had a wonderful time at my wedding and reception. I didn't realize half of the things that happened were going on until after the honeymoon. My brother, DH's BM and ushers, and other loved ones worked at handling everything discreetly. I think most guests didn't even know that these things happened too. I know my Grandmothers had/have no clue. I guess we will just continue to send cards to her for her birthday and holidays, for now. I guess I just wanted to check to see if DH and I should be doing more. DH and I are extremely close to my family, and it pains me that we can't establish a good relationship with his sister. But, I think I just need to come to terms with the fact that it isn't my fault - she doesn't understand how to have a relationship with anyone in her own family. She actually makes her own Mom cry when they talk by telling their Mom that she is fat and needs to loose weight and criticises her about her hair, clothes, etc. It is awful. Jenny is really mean and horrid to all of these people who love her so much. I truly do not understand her. My DH thinks that there is something broken in his sister - they are sooo different. It is amazing that they are siblings. I believe that she has a predisposition to be mean, but that she has also attached herself to a person (her BF) who is like poison. BF has the attitude that you should only have to do what you want to do no matter what, that he and Jenny are right, if anyone disgrees "F@#! them" - sorry for the language, but I've actually heard his say this before about several people. Sigh! Well, thank you for letting me vent. I wish that there was a solution to making the situation better, but there doesn't seem to be a magic bullet. I just have to let go of the idea that all siblings and families relationships work in a particular way when certain criteria are met - it just isn't so. I wish there was an explaination for her behavior - it just doesn't make any sense to me. Yes, her Mom and Dad aren't perfect, but I think there is something really wrong and illogical to her behavior.

First of all, I enjoy Joyful's humor and wit. I like that he can maintain a lighthearted look at life after the challenges he's faced. I am proud to consider him a friend even though we haven't met face to face. I have found however, through these years I've lived, that you can say "good morning" and offend someone but I don't think it should stop anyone from brightening another's day. That said, considering this is a 50th anniversary and since they brought up sex now, I'm reminded of something my uncle said to my dad after my mother died. "What you should do is find yourself a nice girl and get married again. Just for companionship. Let's face it, there's no sex after 55 anyway!" I thought it was so funny and my dad was so embarrassed! He was certainly my favorite uncle. Had a great outlook on life despite having had a rough life. Back to the topic... If the parents are well off, at least comfortable, and have everything they want, do they want trinkets? If not, I'd really emphasise the no gifts, with something like we have all we need and would really prefer your presence to your presents I do like the Toys for Tots idea though. You could add something like please don't but if you must, please make a donation to your favorite charity or send a toy to Toys for Tots. You know your invitees best though. Maybe subtle and tactful won't work. And of course someone could be offended. I have a couple relatives with the oh that doesn't apply to me attitude on things. But I would also not stress out over it. Plan on having a good time, go with your gut instinct and enjoy yourselves! Best wishes to the couple too!

Here's a suggestion for your future benefit. My son has sat me down a couple of times and had me tell the recorder about my life when I was young, about the house that we lived in, taking a bath in the galvanized wash tub behind the stove on Saturday night, doing farm work at age 10 when the hired hands went off to war, etc. Such a project would be valuable to you and the other families in future, I imagine, possibly especially for the grandkids (and theirs - if the equipment in those days will still reproduce [if you'll pardon the expression] current recorded material's carrier). ole joyfuelled