Small Talk: The Prayer Closet

[Arwen Evenstar]

@magpye29 so sorry to hear of your terrible year plus of rainy days. 

Thank you for your kind words and I really hope you get to have some good news and happiness soon.

[magpye29]

1 hour ago, Arwen Evenstar said:

Thank you for your kind words and I really hope you get to have some good news and happiness soon.

Right back at you, Arwen. 

[Arwen Evenstar]

Yesterday, my dear colleague and friend was laid to rest in San Antonio with full military honors. I was unable to attend, but a friend of mine did and said the service was very moving.

Our family friend had her surgery today in Dallas. Surgery went very smoothly and from what they could see, the baby's head sized tumor in her stomach appears to be benign. That will be confirmed tomorrow, but I am already rejoicing. Thanks be to God.

[emma675]

Thanks for the well wishes, everyone! This little thread is such a place of refuge for me, I can't even tell you. I kept the abnormal pap stuff quiet to all of my family and coworkers (they all tend to freak out and it makes it worse for me, so it's easier for me to just keep silent on some things), so it was nice to share here.

Arwen, was your last post the things you were worried about or is there more? I think about you a lot right now, you're my Texas buddy down the road!

[Arwen Evenstar]

9 hours ago, emma675 said:

Arwen, was your last post the things you were worried about or is there more? I think about you a lot right now, you're my Texas buddy down the road!

Oh, its definitely more, Emma. Hearing about sick and deceased friends is always upsetting. I'm hoping within the next 2 weeks to find resolution of what I've been dealing with. I'm not trying to keep anyone in suspense; still trying to figure things out for myself first.

Yeah, when it comes to family and friends it's best to keep smaller things to yourself rather than having to alarm friends and coworkers unnecessarily. Though, anything to do with our health is no small thing, it's your story to tell when and if you choose to do so. Just keep getting your screenings and if something doesn't look right, get it checked out.

i have a correction: my friend's tumor was located on her ovary not inside her stomach. People use stomach, belly, and abdomen interchangeably. My mom will be 77 this year, and she gets a bit muddled at times and . Bodies do strange things, but  what she first told me really didn't make much sense. The tumor weighed 2.5 lbs and they also removed all her reproductive organs. Pathologists even more sure everything was benign. Still no final word. 

[Micks Picks]

Arwen and Emma I hope things resolve soon.  Love2 dance I went to UCLA today, nice head of the vascular dept, have to get stress test on heart and pulmonary exam and cardiologist pronto.  Head of Big honcho said I should have had surgery years ago, it's really bad.  So several more visits very soon and surgery hopefully in a week ana a half.  I can be driven there the night before and spend the nite in their hotel and be taken to hospital in the morning.  Alsone.  My driver today was so happy with my dog.  Walked him and got more attention and raves about how good he is.  Makes me feel good.  

 

Mikey was really in the dumps after his surgery, would not take his pills and hates the colors.  I don't use the cone but rather the blow up kinds.  His butt itches terribly.  Took him to a local vet yesterday to get his rear looked at and since he is impossible with his meds, I got a shot of antibiotics that lasts 2 weeks rather than trying to get him to take by mouth.  I tried, and 3 neighbors tried, and a vet tech tried, and no go.  He is not getting pain pills right now because he won't eat at all if he thinks a pill may be in food.  3 days, no food.  Tried dissolving and that did not work.  He is a fighter   Supposed to have ice packs on his but, no go.  This is not what I call a dog who deals well with illness.  Not by a long shot.  But good grief do people still love that dog.  Most popular, and best looking, around.  My driver is SO proud of him.   

Will be a very busy couple of weeks with driving to UCLA and Culver Cit all the time.  Hate checking myself in alone to UCLA dorm overnight.  They have wee tv so probably can't see it, and I can't read much except on computer that I can't bring.  Bummer.     But Great News is the biopsy on Mikey came back and benign.  About $5500 so far for him.  He is worthy it.  Don't know what my co pays will be.But new really top notch doc for me thinks I can make it.  Should have had it done years ago, so that's why it's so serious now.  Had to have the best.  He promised nevertheless to be mindful of what may go wrong because I have no support system and don't want to end up in worse shape.    I would say I am so happy for Mikey although he is a real problem recovering (typical male) and getting very tired of my constant med trips but happy I have the best chance.  Still scared to death.

Edited March 16, 2017 by Micks Picks
Apologize for not editing. My eyes are so bad, but I know I have lots of errors.

[Arwen Evenstar]

6 hours ago, Micks Picks said:

 I would say I am so happy for Mikey although he is a real problem recovering (typical male) and getting very tired of my constant med trips but happy I have the best chance.  Still scared to death.

Poor Mikey. An antibiotic called Convenia is injectable and works for 10 days in kitties. I don't know about dogs. It's not cheap, but is preferable to trying to pill them if it causes distress. Also if you don't have a veterinary compounding lab near you, there's one in Houston, BCP Veterinary Pharmacy, where most meds can be compounded into flavored chews or liquids and transdermal gels. The Houston Zoo as well as other zoos in the country use them. They ship everywhere.  Feel free to PM me.

Yeah, aneurysms are scary. Will keep you in my prayers.sounds like you are in excellent hands. Mikey is probably worried about his mommy. THEY know when something is wrong. 

[Absolom]

I was also going to mention the liquid pain killers for animals.  My vet carrIies them at the pet hospital.  When the dog had surgery and was supposed to stay still and have cold packs, we used a low dose of a mild tranquilizer and that did wonders, but it was a tiny pill so there is that.

[Rabbittron]

Hi the school said all key strokes and web pages will be logged so now I am looking forward  to the IPad usage in school

Edited March 16, 2017 by Rabbittron

[Readalot]

@Micks Picks I will be praying for you, or sending great thoughts your way, whatever you accept. I hope everything goes as well as can be going forward. 

[Arwen Evenstar]

Spoke with my mom this evening. She told me she actually spoke to our family friend today. Friend felt awful yesterday, but said she felt great today, and she's going home tomorrow.!  And best of all, she told my mom that nothing was malignant.

[Love2dance]

@Micks Picks, OH MY, WISHING YOU THE VERY BEST RESULTS AT UCLA. THEY HAVE THE REPUTATION AS THE BEST AROUND. I DONT UNDERSTAND WHY YOU COULDN'T HAVE YOUR COMPUTER WITH YOU AT THE HOSPITAL. ESPECIALLY IF THEY KNOW YOUR VISUAL NEEDS. MAYBE TALK TO THE PATIENT ADVOCATE/SOCIAL WORKER. I KNOW THEY HAVE ONE. MAYBE YOU CAN RENT AN IPAD OR LAPTOP?

YOUR DRIVER SOUNDS LIKE AN ANGEL. HOPE YOU WILL BE ABLE TO TAKE THE SUGGESTIONS FOR MEDICATING MIKEY.

SENDING YOU HUGS AND WISHES FOR AS EASY A TIME AS POSSIBLE AND ALL GOOD OUTCOMES. PLEASE LET US KNOW HOW YOU ARE.

Edited March 17, 2017 by Love2dance
Wanted to bold so MICKS PICKS can see better.

[emma675]

@MICKS PICKS, PLEASE, PLEASE KEEP US UP TO DATE ON YOUR SURGERY. I WILL BE SENDING PRAYERS/GOOD THOUGHTS/BEST WISHES/WHATEVER FITS YOUR RELIGIOUS OR NON-RELIGIOUS NEEDS (HAHA) YOUR WAY. WHO IS GOING TO TAKE CARE OF MIKEY WHEN YOU'RE IN THE HOSPITAL? IT SOUNDS LIKE YOUR NEW DRIVER WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO!

[GeeGolly]

Fuzzy and healing thoughts for you @Micks Picks

[Micks Picks]

@Emma, you got that right.  I had to go to UCLA for stress heart and pulmonary tests today, 6 1/2 hours.  The neighbor drove me, and since he loves to be with Mikey he took Mikey.  He had the vet check him out again while I was at med center, and Mikey got the idea to act cool again to avoid the animal hospital, so altho he slumped in, he pranced out.  And then they had many hours to fill going to parks and meeting people and other dogs.  Had a good time, thank goodness.  An hour for me to get to UCLA, 6 1/2 hr there, and 2 hours to get back, and the neighbor wasn't mad.  He will care for Mikey here or at his house or both.  And since the neighbor is a vegan and anti additives and monsanto and everything else (I don't know what he eats, like no choices left) I imagine Mikey will be trying a different diet.  

Thanks all for your good wishes.  I realized my post was almost unreadable,  like I was on drugs, which I unfortunately wasn't.  HAPPY ST. PADDY'S DAY!!!

[ChocolateAddict]

It's been a really long time since I've posted in Small Talk!  The stuff with WW really put me off, I had bought into it hook, line and sinker. I'm a fair bit younger than most people on here (I fall between Jinger and Joy age wise) and this was the first anonymous forum that I'd been on, it had been Facebook and Instagram before this.  I knew that obviously there were scammers on the internet but the posts from WW were very medical and, at first, realistic. In my "people are good at heart" naivety I didn't think that someone would put so much time and effort into scamming such genuinely kind and caring people especially considering that (IIRC) she didn't get the money in the end. 

Anyway, that is all to say that I left the Duggars for trashier TV over at Teen Mom 2 where they don't even pretend that their relationships are working out, engage in Twitter wars and generally make me feel good about my life choices.  When my mother asked me why I watch "such crap" I explain that I may skip the gym and occasionally stay up late to finish assignments but I am not unemployed, uneducated, engaged, married, pregnant, on drugs, nor do I have a criminal record.  Improves my self esteem, hahaha. 

I've been skimming what has been going on and I just wanted to send well wishes to everyone here who is going through medical, personal or family issues. It seems that when it rains, it really really pours. 

[Arwen Evenstar]

1 hour ago, Micks Picks said:

And since the neighbor is a vegan and anti additives and monsanto and everything else (I don't know what he eats, like no choices left) I imagine Mikey will be trying a different diet.  

Remember Shirley Valentine with the vegan neighbor who fed her bloodhound muesli?

[Jynnan tonnix]

Feeling so proud of my son! Yesterday he graduated from Officer Candidate School with a 2nd Lieutenant commission in the Marines! He went in a little underprepared, which may have been at least partly his own fault, but mostly theirs because they have been screwing up his paperwork for various reasons (it all started out way behind because he was trying to move from North Dakota, where he had been to college, back to stay with us in Connecticut while going through the recruiting process, and things got lost in the pipeline more than once! So it's been about 18 months worth of trying to get accepted,including a shoulder injury which kept him from working out for a few weeks just before culminating with them telling him, with two days notice, to report at boot camp in Virginia (this was back in early January, the day we ended up getting that snowstorm all up the east coast).

From week to week wondering whether he was still making the cut, or would have to start all over again, he was determined that however it worked out, he would get that commission in he end, he finished the ten weeks of what sounded like pure hell (they push them, body and soul, beyond what we, in our comfortable worlds think we could ever survive), including losing his grandfather about a month into it, being pulled out of line to be told, given five minutes to make a call home and grieve, then pushed right back into the fray...he fought with everything he had in him to catch up and make it through, and it all paid off in the end. His drill sergeant actually told him that if they'd had an award for the hardest worker in the platoon, he'd have won it, hands down.

 

[Jynnan tonnix]

And just one more, proving that drill sergeants do turn out to actually be human after all... :)

[Arwen Evenstar]

@Jynnan tonnix congratulations to your son! You all must be very proud of him!!

[Love2dance]

@Jynnan tonnix, Thank you for sharing the story of your determined and successful son. No wonder you are so proud. Wishing him continued success!

[BitterApple]

Congratulations, Jynnan! Your son cuts a handsome figure in that uniform! All the best as he continues his career and a big thanks for his service!

[Barb23]

Congratulations Jynnan Tonnix!!  The drill sergeant's comment about being the hardest worker was so nice.

[ginger90]

Congratulations !!

[Micks Picks]

What a wonderful accomplishment.  I am so proud of him and happy for you.  Thanks so much for sharing such great news.

[GeeGolly]

Yikes, wow! Congrats @Jynnan tonnix. What a great accomplishment. I tip my hat to your son.

[lookeyloo]

Congratulations @Jynnan tonnix!  Quite an impressive achievement!!!!!  Handsome fellow!!

[Arwen Evenstar]

 I forgot to add the thanks to your son for his service! God bless our fine men and women in uniform!

[Jynnan tonnix]

3 minutes ago, Arwen Evenstar said:

 I forgot to add the thanks to your son for his service! God bless our fine men and women in uniform!

Thanks :) It runs in the family! My older son (on the left, in the blue shirt), did 12 years in the marines (enlisted), but got out a couple of years ago, and my husband did 38 years in the Navy (enlisted, worked his way through the ranks, commissioned through the LDO program, and retired as 06 a little over a year ago). I think my daughter would have joined as well, but my husband rather put his foot down LOL...She'd have done it; she's very determined, but is working on her master's degree in library sciences now, which is probably a better fit for her. That's her and her husband on the right hand side of the family picture.

[Love2dance]

Well, in that case, @Jynnan tonnix, thanks to your whole family for your service!

[Westiepeach]

I also thank all of the Jynnan Tonnix family for your service.

On a totally different note, I absolutely LOVE when we see what our good cyber-friends look like in real life! I know I loved seeing HappyFatChick's photos!

[Arwen Evenstar]

Thanks for sharing  the lovely pictures of you and your family. One of my brothers was in the the USAF, and one of our first cousins has a career in the RAF! 

Our armed forces deserve every bit of respect and every bit of support.

[Andalusian]

Congratulations Jynnan Tonnix!  Your son looks fabulous!  Although for some reason those little green hats the Marines wear always make me giggle. :)

[Jynnan tonnix]

3 hours ago, Westiepeach said:

I also thank all of the Jynnan Tonnix family for your service.

On a totally different note, I absolutely LOVE when we see what our good cyber-friends look like in real life! I know I loved seeing HappyFatChick's photos!

I always love it as well! Which keeps me from feeling a wee bit self-indulgent when I post photos, because I know how much I enjoy other people's, so I figure that at least some of them will feel the same <3 (that's a heart, though I don't think this site translates those things!)

[Jynnan tonnix]

3 minutes ago, Andalusian said:

Congratulations Jynnan Tonnix!  Your son looks fabulous!  Although for some reason those little green hats the Marines wear always make me giggle. :)

Haha....I had a friend, years ago, who referred to that style as "c*nt caps"...which is, if you look at them, ever so much more apt than those pink "pu**y"  caps of this day and age. I did always laugh/cringe a bit ever after when I had to launder one of those! lol...just waaaay too descriptive!

2 hours ago, Arwen Evenstar said:

Thanks for sharing  the lovely pictures of you and your family. One of my brothers was in the the USAF, and one of our first cousins has a career in the RAF! 

Our armed forces deserve every bit of respect and every bit of support.

A son of one of my cousins in England had a career in the RAF as well, and came home severely wounded...He seems to have made at least a good superficial recovery, though I understand that at least some of the deeper wounds will be a lifelong struggle...

[crazycatlady58]

Jynnan, thank your son for his  service . My brother  was in the army ,  I have one young friend who was in the Marines,  and another  who is serving in the air force .  Our military  needs to know we are behind them.

[crazycatlady58]

Jynnan, is that you in the blue? Did you get your shoes at SAS?

[Jynnan tonnix]

47 minutes ago, crazycatlady58 said:

Jynnan, is that you in the blue? Did you get your shoes at SAS?

DSW. I wore them all day long, for the very first time out of the box...some of the straps are elasticized, though the ones across the toes are not, and dug in a bit towards he end of the day...but overall, for an un-broken-in pair of sandals not bad at all.  Of course, it might have helped had I  paid more attention to the weather and realized that the 60 degrees forecast was not going to kick in until a couple of hours after the whole ceremony was over, because wearing those for 3 hours in 40-ish temps got a bit old...but, yeah, overall I'd recommend them.

[crazycatlady58]

That's good. Wearing uncomfortable  shoes is the pits. Again  congratulations  on your sons graduation . I know you are proud.

[ChiCricket]

1 hour ago, Andalusian said:

Congratulations Jynnan Tonnix!  Your son looks fabulous!  Although for some reason those little green hats the Marines wear always make me giggle. :)

My son is a Marine, and his "high and tight" haircut always makes me laugh (inside.)

  I can't remember what he looks like with regular hair. I also have an older son who was in the Marines, and my oldest daughter retired after 20 years in the the Army.

Of course, the 'boys' (one will be 40 in a couple of days!) are always (playfully) ragging on their Soldier sister, and vice versa, about Army vs Marines :) I'm including a photo of when all 3 were still in the service (I blacked out their nametags)

[crazycatlady58]

What a great family . 

[Arwen Evenstar]

@ChiCricket, I know you're so proud of all of them!

[ChiCricket]

3 minutes ago, Arwen Evenstar said:

@ChiCricket, I know you're so proud of all of them!

I really am! I also have two more daughters...and I'm proud of all 5, and the great people they grew up to be ..not to mention the 13 Grandkids they've given me :)

[ChiCricket]

11 hours ago, Jynnan tonnix said:

 His drill sergeant actually told him that if they'd had an award for the hardest worker in the platoon, he'd have won it, hands down.

Congrats..you must be so proud!

[Jynnan tonnix]

1 hour ago, ChiCricket said:

My son is a Marine, and his "high and tight" haircut always makes me laugh (inside.)

  I can't remember what he looks like with regular hair. I also have an older son who was in the Marines, and my oldest daughter retired after 20 years in the the Army.

Of course, the 'boys' (one will be 40 in a couple of days!) are always (playfully) ragging on their Soldier sister, and vice versa, about Army vs Marines :) I'm including a photo of when all 3 were still in the service (I blacked out their nametags)

They look great, Chicricket! What a wonderful family! Seems as though your boys look a lot alike, except that you can't see much aside from their mouths from under the shadows of the caps! And your daughter looks like a beautiful, strong woman as well! Congratulations to you and them!

[Love2dance]

@ChiCricket, wow, thank you for your family's service, too. You are justifiably proud of your good looking kids.

[Marigold]

Jynnan, Congratulations and such a beautiful family. Thank you for their service!

ChiCricket, Beautiful!  Thank you for their service. 

[ChiCricket]

15 hours ago, ChiCricket said:

I really am! I also have two more daughters...and I'm proud of all 5, and the great people they grew up to be ..not to mention the 13 Grandkids they've given me :)

Ok, one more because my Army daughter was horrified at me posting that picture of her "when she was pregnant with her 2nd child, and FAT, mom!" (her words, not mine..LOL)

So here is a picture of said Army daughter on her wedding day, along with her four siblings. (She can't complain how she looked HERE)

Daughter to the left of the bride works for the airlines (so my husband I fly free:)..such a nice perk! And daughter to the right of bride was a tv reporter/ news anchor, and now is a SAHM of 3, and is planning on doing other tv work (behind the scenes, she said being on air is too much pressure) once they're all in school:)

BTW, these are the high and tight haircuts that make me laugh...(on the inside)..ok..NOW I'm done. ;-)

Edited March 20, 2017 by ChiCricket
was was missing :)

[Arwen Evenstar]

@ChiCricket, what a beautiful family you have!

[Jynnan tonnix]

16 minutes ago, ChiCricket said:

Ok, one more because my Army daughter was horrified at me posting that picture of her "when she pregnant with her 2nd child, and FAT" (her words, not mine..LOL)

So here is a picture of said Army daughter on her wedding day, along with her four siblings. (She can't complain how she looked HERE)

Daughter to the left of the bride works for the airlines (so my husband I fly free:)..such a nice perk! And daughter to the right of bride was a tv reporter/ news anchor, and now is a SAHM of 3, and is planning on doing other tv work (behind the scenes, she said being on air is too much pressure) once they're all in school:)

BTW, these are the high and tight haircuts that make me laugh...(on the inside)..ok..NOW I'm done. ;-)

What a beautiful family! She does look gorgeous here (as d her siblings), but she looked great in the other photo as well...just a different sort of look :)

Thanks for sharing the photos! I do love to see the faces behind the posts.