Haven't been around much lately. I've been following the posts but not able to use the keyboard much.

I had a mastectomy the end of August. THAT WAS THE EASY PART.

Started Chemo Therapy on October 3rd. This happened to be Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. Not a great way to start the new year. Had a series of six infusions -- one session every three weeks. Each time there was additional side effects. The last one was four weeks ago. The latest side effect was finger nails and toe nails starting to turn brown and tearing. This is getting worse.

OKAY. Chemo is over. Now I will have infusions of Herceptin every three weeks for the next year. Hard to tell about side effects because the old side effects haven't completely gone away.

I was planning on getting lots of stitching done during my "recovery time." This definitely did not happen.

NEW PROBLEM: My eyes started tearing up. At one point it was almost as bad as a leaky faucet, the tears kept running down my face so much that it was dripping on my stitching.. Medication is helping somewhat but I notice that when it almost time for the next dosage the eyes start tearing again. May have to have a "simple" Lasik procedure. Experience tells me that nothing is never simple!

OLD PROBLEM: Arthritis in my thumb and palm is becoming more painful. Makes stitching more painful and slower.

NEW PROBLEM: I think that I have developed "Cross-Stitch Elbow." That would be the equivalent of tennis elbow for Chrissy Everett.

To make a very long story short. Haven't gotten much cross-stitching done lately. Life will get better sooner or later.