The Thursday Thread

[cagoldi]

Hi girls.

Working today. Dude is home and the babies are at DC.

X has really hit his three year-old stride lately. He’s always been so agreeable and cooperative, and now he’s talking back and being defiant. It’s as if, developmentally, he reached that point where he realized he has other options. Kind of fun to watch, but not delightful trying to get him to listen!

The kids are with Pete this weekend, so I’m going to do tons of deep cleaning, meal prep, and organizing. Can’t wait. I feel like I’m adulting so hard right now.

[vino]

Jan 2, 2020 12:52:21 GMT -6 guster said:

Jan 2, 2020 12:51:04 GMT -6 vino said:

6 months with the strong possibility of extension to 9 months.

I didn’t realize he was gone for so long. Does his anxiety quell once he’s in his new location?

No it does not, it'll just shift towards a new subject matter.

[inthekitty]

Yesterday we nerded out on a Choose Your Own Adventure boardgame. Like the books, found the game at Target (they had several, the one I got was House of Danger). A little confusing to get started but then easy once we were moving along. Two hours flew by and we have 2 chapters left. Speed of the game depends on how much you explore. We'll finish it today. Two enthusiastic thumbs up. You can play on teams or all together. We played together which didn't take away from the fun but eliminates the attitude of losing.

[inthekitty]

Ugh, that's a long time away vino. The uncertainty would be hardest for me. I have a hard time with not at least having a clear countdown. You're a champ to be able to roll with it like you do.

[guster]

Jan 2, 2020 13:27:42 GMT -6 vino said:

Jan 2, 2020 12:52:21 GMT -6 guster said:

I didn’t realize he was gone for so long. Does his anxiety quell once he’s in his new location?

No it does not, it'll just shift towards a new subject matter.

Ooof, poor guy!

[guster]

Jan 2, 2020 13:36:12 GMT -6 inthekitty said:

Yesterday we nerded out on a Choose Your Own Adventure boardgame. Like the books, found the game at Target (they had several, the one I got was House of Danger). A little confusing to get started but then easy once we were moving along. Two hours flew by and we have 2 chapters left. Speed of the game depends on how much you explore. We'll finish it today. Two enthusiastic thumbs up. You can play on teams or all together. We played together which didn't take away from the fun but eliminates the attitude of losing.

My sister-in-law sent that to us as part of a Christmas gift. Josie is dying to play it and I am dying to stash it away in the back of a closet. I never liked those books when I was younger, but MH did so it was a fitting present coming from his side of the family. I’m sure we will give it a try at some point. It is good to have such a solid recommendation from you.

[vino]

Jan 2, 2020 13:37:08 GMT -6 inthekitty said:

Ugh, that's a long time away vino . The uncertainty would be hardest for me. I have a hard time with not at least having a clear countdown. You're a champ to be able to roll with it like you do.

Actually, FFTC I am looking forward to him going.  It's been a trying couple of years and he is a lot, intentionally and/or subconsciously I default to managing him.  Add that to the kids, home and work I am spent and have zero time for self care.  I have plans to do fun stuff with the kids, have some self care days, get to the pool a couple times a week and start my morning work out routines again.  The kids are so good when he is gone, B steps up and we get a really good routine going.  

[flamingo]

Jan 2, 2020 13:37:08 GMT -6 inthekitty said:

Ugh, that's a long time away vino. The uncertainty would be hardest for me. I have a hard time with not at least having a clear countdown. You're a champ to be able to roll with it like you do.

Agreed. I swear, it was easier when DH was in Bahrain for a year, than when he goes to do hurricane relief or whatnot and it’s open-ended (even though logically I know it’s only a few weeks).

[tgrimes]

MH drained the water heater and now the pilot light won’t light. 🙄

[klong11]

Quitting sodas and snacking in the same day is a bitch. Just took some excedrin to kill this headache.
Also, sparkling water is not that great. No matter what flavor or brand I choose. I may just be saying that out of hanger though. I want to eat all the things and drink all the sodas.

[flamingo]

The repair on my car is taking longer than expected due to a part being shipped in, so they arranged for a loaner for me free of charge. We just picked it up and got home...brand new 2020 XC90, fully loaded. It is...not bad to drive. If they’re trying to sell me a new one, it’s kind of working 😏😆 DH is out in the driveway playing with it.

In other news, B came home today and was named Student of the Month. Each month they target a different character trait and a ‘habit of mind’; this month was Kindness and Listening with Understanding. He was very nonchalant when he handed me the letter but once I started making a fuss I could tell he was pretty pumped

[tgrimes]

Jan 2, 2020 15:06:01 GMT -6 klong11 said:

Quitting sodas and snacking in the same day is a bitch. Just took some excedrin to kill this headache.
Also, sparkling water is not that great. No matter what flavor or brand I choose. I may just be saying that out of hanger though. I want to eat all the things and drink all the sodas.

I don’t like any sparkling water. They all taste gross.

[trtlcrzy]

Jan 2, 2020 15:14:48 GMT -6 flamingo said:

The repair on my car is taking longer than expected due to a part being shipped in, so they arranged for a loaner for me free of charge. We just picked it up and got home...brand new 2020 XC90, fully loaded. It is...not bad to drive. If they’re trying to sell me a new one, it’s kind of working 😏😆 DH is out in the driveway playing with it.

In other news, B came home today and was named Student of the Month. Each month they target a different character trait and a ‘habit of mind’; this month was Kindness and Listening with Understanding. He was very nonchalant when he handed me the letter but once I started making a fuss I could tell he was pretty pumped

Dang, that’s a nice dealership. The Honda dealership always gave me a base model of the current year when I needed a loaner.

[trtlcrzy]

Jan 2, 2020 15:31:25 GMT -6 tgrimes said:

Jan 2, 2020 15:06:01 GMT -6 klong11 said:

Quitting sodas and snacking in the same day is a bitch. Just took some excedrin to kill this headache.
Also, sparkling water is not that great. No matter what flavor or brand I choose. I may just be saying that out of hanger though. I want to eat all the things and drink all the sodas.

I don’t like any sparkling water. They all taste gross.

+1. The only one that I’ve tried that I would drink again is spindrift. ICE waters (and their knock off at Aldi) are ok and have more flavor than other similar ones.

[klong11]

Jan 2, 2020 15:37:44 GMT -6 trtlcrzy said:

Jan 2, 2020 15:31:25 GMT -6 tgrimes said:

I don’t like any sparkling water. They all taste gross.

+1. The only one that I’ve tried that I would drink again is spindrift. ICE waters (and their knock off at Aldi) are ok and have more flavor than other similar ones.

I'll look into them. Thus far the most palatable ones seem to be Bai.

Here in Austin everyone seems to love the Waterloo ones, but they are just too sharp.

Technically, I probably shouldn't have them at all and just go with regular water, but I'm trying to fool my body from missing the carbonated sodas.

[guster]

I’m water drinker, but saw a cool hack for those who aren’t. An instagrammed froze lemonade in her ice cube trays to flavor her water. So just a hint of sweetness but mostly water.

[joelies]

Jan 2, 2020 15:06:01 GMT -6 klong11 said:

Quitting sodas and snacking in the same day is a bitch. Just took some excedrin to kill this headache.
Also, sparkling water is not that great. No matter what flavor or brand I choose. I may just be saying that out of hanger though. I want to eat all the things and drink all the sodas.

Trying to decide if you are brave or crazy.

[joelies]

So we have news!

My Dad's cancer IS small cell and it's spread to his chest wall and his bones (at least down to his pelvis) - my Mom thought there may have been a 3rd location but couldn't remember - so a combo of chemo and radiation is NOT an option. Apparently at some point in the future, if pain becomes an issue, they can do localized radiation on its own to help manage that. But it's not a problem yet. Apparently the loss of his voice and the pressure in his lungs (not fluid apparently??) is due to how his tumor is wrapped around his coronary artery, forcing his vocal chords to remain open.

There's no chance of a cure at this point, but really we knew that already. The plan is to start chemo ASAP - my Dad will go in for 3 consecutive days of treatment starting on Monday, and then again 2 weeks later. After that they will re-scan to see if there's been any improvement and decide what's next. They will also introduce immunotherapy. They'll install a port next week because my Dad is a child and jumps at the mere sight of a needle, which is probably part of why he's agreed to this. LOL. Anyhow ideally, this will help his vocal chords and may provide him with a couple years at a decent quality of life. No guarantees but there's some hope if he's willing to fight. And what is surprising to me - in the best way possible - is that he IS. He himself said it was a fight with having and my brother said that he's actually been smiling and cracking jokes since leaving the appointment. So I would say this is about the best news we could have reasonably expected to receieve - both from the oncologist and from my Dad.

I'll talk to my brother of the next few days about whether he'll extend his visit or if I should fly down for a few days next week. But I'm really glad he's with them and they certainly appreciate and want the support.

[joelies]

Also apparently I have been grinding my teeth so badly at night that I have to get a few of them fixed. Off to the drug store to get a mouth guard!

[flamingo]

Jan 2, 2020 15:36:22 GMT -6 trtlcrzy said:

Jan 2, 2020 15:14:48 GMT -6 flamingo said:

The repair on my car is taking longer than expected due to a part being shipped in, so they arranged for a loaner for me free of charge. We just picked it up and got home...brand new 2020 XC90, fully loaded. It is...not bad to drive. If they’re trying to sell me a new one, it’s kind of working 😏😆 DH is out in the driveway playing with it.

In other news, B came home today and was named Student of the Month. Each month they target a different character trait and a ‘habit of mind’; this month was Kindness and Listening with Understanding. He was very nonchalant when he handed me the letter but once I started making a fuss I could tell he was pretty pumped

Dang, that’s a nice dealership. The Honda dealership always gave me a base model of the current year when I needed a loaner.

Yeah I was definitely expecting a small sedan or maybe at most a station wagon, ha. My xc90 is a 2013/2014? so this one is obviously much fancier!

[flamingo]

joelies really happy to hear your dad is in good spirits and they can get started on treatment right away. Many prayers headed your family’s way.

[guster]

joelies, that is so much more promising! And I’m happy to hear your dad’s got the fighting spirit! He and your family are in our thoughts.

[inthekitty]

So glad your family got some answers and your dad has a treatment plan in place joelies. Thinking of you guys.

[inthekitty]

vino I get that too. Men frustrate me a lot. MH has been much more helpful lately, but it's always back and forth. Sometimes it is a lot easier where he's gone--we get in our groove doing our own thing. Some military families have a much harder time when the deployments end and dealing with the husband at home the time.

[inthekitty]

klong11 I don't know how that La Croix crap ever became popular because it's gross. I find the cheap carbonated water, like Safeway brand, to be the best. I get it as a treat for the girls.

[jewels]

joelies that seems to be the best possible news at this point. So glad you finally have answers!

[chrisy01]

klong11 I second the Ice waters. I like the strawberry lemonade and the black cherry flavors. I have them part of monthly subscription delivery from Amazon.

[chrisy01]

joelies I’m glad your family got some information and they can start fairly quickly. Big hugs.

[chrisy01]

I got home (sort of) a few minutes ago. I’m parked in the parking area in my complex. The nanny is scheduled through 5 so I’m taking some me time in the Car.

Work was crazy today but I caught up on all my paperwork and organized it better for my current location. I can’t wait until I have an actual desk again.

[tgrimes]

I’m so happy he’ll start treatment next week. joelies