**the 7th Tamoxifen Thread **

[MaryAnnSingleton]

here we are...

Wow, RWU, that ring!! Most definitely you deserve it. Do you have to wait 'til the day to wear it?

I haven't seen the Monsoonettes yet either. Must go hunt..

Just back from manic final bits of Christmas shopping. Am sending DH out to do food shopping tonight, while I wrap things, so am sort of almost ready - phew...

Cakes how's the bug? Has it gone yet?

MAS, why did you have to mention cheese footballs [festive wailing from Smee] On the different brands, I had Wockhardt for first month, now on something else. I was a bit nervous, but like Cakes have felt no different.

Kurri, that poor girl. What a thing to have to live with. Not surprised your DD was upset.

Sparkles, come back when you're ready and let us help if we can x

Yuk I hate cheese footballs!

But that ring is gorgeous RWU - really lovely. And your shopping trip sounds fantastic. Its great that you're planning such a full-on Christmas. I felt I did that last year and I enjoyed it so much. Really something to remember. This year is quieter which is fine as its quite good to very them I reckon. We'll be 6 on 25th (unless DH invites any more stray friends - which he might). Congratulations to your dry DD - most impressive.

MAS - that pipes problem. I wonder if its the same as our's which is almost designed to go wrong when the temp. drops due to a pipe which has to go outside. I've got the hang of it after several years though. Really good lagging and if all else fails a hair-dryer tpo thaw it out in quite a specific area - works a treat. As I said w'ere a bit ramshackle

My DD is back now - arrived late last night.

Must go and cook

Sparkle - we're all thinking of you. If you're lurking there, here's a big hug. And if you're in tears - do not despair, I was in a similar state last year. Its important to cry (I found)

Beautiful ring RWU

Sorry about all the pipe problems - they're about the only thing that hasn't broken here (touch wood).

Tank man came this afternoon (DH took time of to deal with him, - I went shopping )
Anyway they are going to replace it - which is good. But guarantee on new tank only lasts 2 years Apparently a lot of the 2002 tanks (which ours is) have burst, - fault in the plastic they think. Hey ho - the joys of living in the middle of nowhere, where they've never heard of gas .

Smee - well done on finishing your shopping. I'm nearly there. DH hasn't done any yet - but he always gets a bit Grinchy at Christmas

Cakes, how is your arm? healing up now I hope, and not too sore.

Lovely that your DD is home now SR, sounds like you are having a busy time

Sparkles - lots of hugs coming your way xx

OK, we're 7 now for 25th - that's nice.

My Mum's pipes always freeze on the outside bit too - sounds a bit rubbish to me. The makers can't have got it right.

KK - you need to have your money back on that tank

I am back, and it is not bad news. It took ages on Monday as I insisted on waiting for the senior consultant. We spent an hour in the consultation with him, so he was very thorough. As with all these things it is not straight forward. First off the path lab says the growth is benign but it is 8mm and needs to come out soon as there is a chance it will become malignant. So I am looking at surgery in a couple of weeks probably. I have to wait for the date. They will then send the whole thing to the path lab and make sure it is benign. He is going to remove the growth and the duct it is growing in, but leave the others so damage to the milk ducts should be minimal allowing me to be able to breast feed still if we wanted another dc (dh perked up at this idea no end ) He thinks I have another growth in the other breast too, but the scans have not been able to find it, so it will have to be monitored he said. So a bit more waiting, and fingers crossing but I think the besat news I could hope for.

Sorry I wasn't on yesterday, but I had too sick children again! Even though I knew you would all be worrying, I just couldn't get near the computer, and when I finally got them all to sleep I crashed into my bed exhausted, sorry.

oh sparkles, what a relief... the best christmas present you could have asked for!

I recieved a lovely planter from a secret santa yesterday- it's gorgous and is going to sit on the dining table. But the part that has made me so warm a fuzzy are the messages on the thank-you thread. People are nominated for so many different reasons! I suspect my nominator is on this thread- so thank you!

I'm off to do some final bits and bobs today, the weather is getting slightly worse here, so i'd rather get it done (and i've just had the finacial contributions from the rest of the family towards the festivities, i didn't ask, but they have all put some money in, so i'll go and get a few bottles of bubbly to treat them all on christmas morning)

gah to frozen pipes, sil's boiler outlet freezes, and it's on the 3rd floor- cue me and a 60 year old woman hanging out of windows with hair dryers... not a great look

Sparkles - I'm so pleased for you - that is definitely a good outcome - and monitoring is good too - you know you are in safe hands. I know surgery is not much fun - but best to get these things taken out IMO. And well done for insisting on the senior consultant - I'm so glad you had a good long chat with him so you know exactly what's going on

Sorry the DC have been poorly, I hope they are starting to pick up now. My DH has a cold at the moment - so think 6'2" 50 year old toddler

RWU - lovely that you got a secret Santa, the planter will look gorgeous on your Christmas table. Sorry about SIL's frozen pipes - I don't think heating system's/pipes etc. in this country are designed to cope with cold weather!

Cakes - they are replacing the tank and installing it free of charge, so we won't be out of pocket. And he said they will neaten up the brickwork on the supports. So not too bad - could have been worse. We've got to wait until Jan. to get it done, but the oil has stopped leaking for the moment, and he's given us his mobile no. to ring if it starts leaking again - they will send a pump round or something. (Rather vague details from DH ) I am going to angle for some topsoil for my rockery, because I'm going to have to discard a lot of what is there

SR - 7 is a nice number - not so many you are overwhelmed, - have fun (and make sure you delegate some of the work)

Of to do a bit more wrapping - I feel so behind with everything. Also I have discovered a few little bits and bobs I'd completely forgotten I'd bought, - much to my surprise - memory like a sieve!

Sparkles - I'm so pleased for you - that is definitely a good outcome - and monitoring is good too - you know you are in safe hands. I know surgery is not much fun - but best to get these things taken out IMO. And well done for insisting on the senior consultant - I'm so glad you had a good long chat with him so you know exactly what's going on

Sorry the DC have been poorly, I hope they are starting to pick up now. My DH has a cold at the moment - so think 6'2" 50 year old toddler

RWU - lovely that you got a secret Santa, the planter will look gorgeous on your Christmas table. Sorry about SIL's frozen pipes - I don't think heating system's/pipes etc. in this country are designed to cope with cold weather!

Cakes - they are replacing the tank and installing it free of charge, so we won't be out of pocket. And he said they will neaten up the brickwork on the supports. So not too bad - could have been worse. We've got to wait until Jan. to get it done, but the oil has stopped leaking for the moment, and he's given us his mobile no. to ring if it starts leaking again - they will send a pump round or something. (Rather vague details from DH ) I am going to angle for some topsoil for my rockery, because I'm going to have to discard a lot of what is there

SR - 7 is a nice number - not so many you are overwhelmed, - have fun (and make sure you delegate some of the work)

Of to do a bit more wrapping - I feel so behind with everything. Also I have discovered a few little bits and bobs I'd completely forgotten I'd bought, - much to my surprise - memory like a sieve!

Sparkles - I'm so pleased for you - that is definitely a good outcome - and monitoring is good too - you know you are in safe hands. I know surgery is not much fun - but best to get these things taken out IMO. And well done for insisting on the senior consultant - I'm so glad you had a good long chat with him so you know exactly what's going on

Sorry the DC have been poorly, I hope they are starting to pick up now. My DH has a cold at the moment - so think 6'2" 50 year old toddler

RWU - lovely that you got a secret Santa, the planter will look gorgeous on your Christmas table. Sorry about SIL's frozen pipes - I don't think heating system's/pipes etc. in this country are designed to cope with cold weather!

Cakes - they are replacing the tank and installing it free of charge, so we won't be out of pocket. And he said they will neaten up the brickwork on the supports. So not too bad - could have been worse. We've got to wait until Jan. to get it done, but the oil has stopped leaking for the moment, and he's given us his mobile no. to ring if it starts leaking again - they will send a pump round or something. (Rather vague details from DH ) I am going to angle for some topsoil for my rockery, because I'm going to have to discard a lot of what is there

SR - 7 is a nice number - not so many you are overwhelmed, - have fun (and make sure you delegate some of the work)

Of to do a bit more wrapping - I feel so behind with everything. Also I have discovered a few little bits and bobs I'd completely forgotten I'd bought, - much to my surprise - memory like a sieve!

So sorry for multiple posts my computer has suddenly gone a bit bonkers - it keeps putting up a 'this is an attack site' page when I try to post.

Sparkle- that's great -though obv. not much fun having an op, but best to get rid of anything potentially nasty and good that they are going to monitor you- very reassuring
Sorry to hear about poorly dcs - you must be exhausted.
Yet another trek into town for me to get some things for my ginger cake and trifle ,more ginger wine (essential) and for mum some pull-on trousers-sweatpants style I suppose -much easier for her to manage. Fingers crossed that stairlift man comes today.
Dh had a huge parcel from work- champagne, a bottle of cassis and a very lovely looking room scenter with Christmasy oil - you put the oil in,soak the wick,light for 2 mins and blow out the flame and it just infuses away- am slightly scared of lighting the wick as it says flame can be 6 ins high !! am really quite afraid of these things-ands i know that i'll fret that it'll combust on it's own...

MAS - I am of your room scenter - I love things like that. I don't often get to use them though - DH's father was a fireman, and he had 'fire hazards' drummed into him from a very early age, so he disapproves if I light a candle or anything. (I have to use them when he's out )

Oh hooray for Sparkle! That's fantastic news. I know an op's not ideal, but it's brilliant they're getting it before it's anything nasty, and from now on you'll be monitored, so that's definitely a good place to be.

Kurri, my DH is Grinch-like too. DS were giggling over how he looked as grumpy as the Grinch before he set off to do some shopping. I do love that book - we get it out every year to re-read. Glad the fuel tank's being sorted.

RWU, hope you sorted the pipes. Thank gawd for hairdryers though. Can't imagine losing the heating. I breathe a sigh of relief every morning when I realise the boiler's kicked in.

Still not sure how many we'll have on Christmas day, due to the weather. Mum and Dad have to come from Birmingham and are a bit doubtful they'll make it, then there are some friends who were going to leave London and head up North and are now thinking of staying put. I've left a pile of food shopping to do early on Christmas Eve, as I haven't a clue how many I'm feeding. Should be interesting..

Off to panto in a bit. I'm taking DS and his friend, and they're both daftly excited, so it should be fun. Sorry to all those still having to work. I've been so lucky being able to take the past month off. Have quite got a taste for it.

Have fun at the panto Smee

Kurri - mine keep saying 'this is an attack site' too. I thought it was just my computer being rubbish, but maybe it is a problem with mumsnet. Never mind. Good news about the oil tank being sorted, are they having to dig up the rockery for you, and take the soil away as contaminated....they should have to. Dealing with contaminated soil is what my dh does for a living.

You all sound like you are being so busy, and festive, I have achieved nothing today really. Dc are a bit better today except ds is driving me potty with his grumpy attitude, almost teenage like....heaven help us he is only 7!

Smee I am also food shopping on Christmas eve morning, can't get out now anyway as snowed in, but hoping dh will be able to get me out by then. I think I am feeding just 6 until boxing day and then an extra 2, but you never know. Feel quite stessed about it actually, but i think it is because I can't do anything about it yet, when I get to the shop I will feel better I hope.

RWU you are the third person I have heard about in the last few days whoses central heating pipes have frozen up. I hope you are ok, is the heating working at all?

MAS the scented burner thing will be lovely, you can always light it outside. Enjoy that champagne!

Sparkle - I'm really pleased about your news. Have a great CHristmas!

yet another trek into town- got mum some jogging/yoga pants which are easier for her to pull on,no buttons/zips as her hands are bad- she was wearing dad's tracksuit trousers this morning ! And hooray- stairlift is in and have ridden up on it- very quiet and neat -mum has come downstairs for the first time in 2 weeks
Ds has asked for florentines-so found some in Sainsb.

Great that the stair lift is installed MAS - hopefully it will make things much easier for your mum.

And jogging trousers are just the thing - my dad wears them as he can't cope with zips buttons etc either. They're warm as well

How many times have you riden up and down in the lift MAS? Or is that just what I would do? I am so glad your mum has got downstairs, she must feel much better for it.

just a few times - just to make sure it works properly !! Bless my dad- he is dyeing her hair for her over the kitchen sink !

Talking of trousers, - I've just been on the phone to my mum. She said dad shouted for her yesterday 'something's gone wrong with my trousers' - she went to look and he'd put both legs into the same leg hole - bless him.

Snow is so bad down there he hasn't been able to go to the day centre this week.

Brilliant timing on the stair lift, MAS; just in time for Christmas. Does it have different speeds, am intrigued? DS thinks his Grandparents need one, but I think he might have an alternative use in mind. And that's very lovely; the image of your Dad dyeing your mother's hair. What a tender thing to do.

Panto was soo long. Was good though - laughed most at the Dame singing with extraordinary conviction, 'I can't live without you' to Buttercup the Cow, as Jack led her away to market. DS and his friend thought I'd lost the plot.

Sparkle, my DS is capable of grunty moments too and he's only 6. I threatened to cancel Christmas yesterday. That soon stopped him.

More blinkin' presents to wrap here. Am useless at wrapping, so it takes me ages. I think a glass of wine might help..

stairlift has only one speed- sedate ! Dad is totally fab,am sure you'd all love him. Spoke for an hour on the phone to an ex this evening- his mum died and he told me in his Christmas card-was in August and he hadn't wanted to mention it in my birthday card - I feel really sad for him-I know he's a grown up but now he's an orphan(dad died years ago) and his mum was lovely-when we were going out I was always treated like their own daughter (we went out for quite a while-were engaged too)
Glad the panto was good,if a bit long !

just have to brag... here's an album of the first finished cakes- the one with stars and lights is the 'family cake'
here