Susan, re: info.

My mom had lung cancer, the second type. She also has Type II diabetes, and various other problems. Within a month of diagnosis, she's had a lobectomy (1/2 of one lung removed) and then followed up with 8 weeks of radiation. She was a little naseaous and lost all her hair.

That was...two and half years ago. She's now 62, has a cute pixie ("Radiation made me hair grow back thicker! Yeah!") and shows no signs of reoccurring cancer. She quit smoking when she was diagnosed.

It wasn't fun, by any means, but she's come through it ok. And is still doing all right. But it's surreal from the get-go. Lung cancer's a scary one.

You've quit smoking, though, right, Erin?

Thanks for the info, Erin, and thanks to everyone for the ma/support.

Nope. And I don't want to hear about it, cause I KNOW I should, but people telling me to stop, evern with the best of intentions, makes me want to smoke 10 at once.

It's my Addict Toddler self, NOT the most attractive or sane aspect of my personality, I full admit.

Late timelies...

Congratulations on the arrival of Mallory James! What a great name.

Much peace and strength ~ma to Susan, vw, askye, and Deena.

people telling me to stop, evern with the best of intentions, makes me want to smoke 10 at once

Oh boy, am I ever right there with you.

Resolution wished to vw.

All good things, strength and courage to Susan and family.

Also, Deena, strength and courage to you and your family, too. It's amazing that Aidan has come as far as he has already, and that's due to your skill and patience with him. I'm also thinking that Aidan's preschool time will give you some mommy-daughter time with Kara, and some breathing room for the both of you, while providing him with some guided stimulus from new people who are professional at teaching children with his particular set of learning needs. It's wonderful to discover so early. As others have said, early intervention is working wonders.

I'm very sorry it wasn't the news we all wanted you to hear. But what I know is, both of those babies are so very lucky to have you as their mom.

Nope. And I don't want to hear about it, cause I KNOW I should, but people telling me to stop, evern with the best of intentions, makes me want to smoke 10 at once.

It is your prerogative to be pig-headed. However, that's not going to stop me from telling you that you're being pig-headed. Do not start playing roulette with the actuarial table. You're not that lucky.

Dad has already survived a fairly severe heart attack and two bouts with cancer (the previous occurrence of lung cancer and colon cancer). So the rumors of mortality have been there for awhile, but he hasn't had anything serious in 5-6 years.

I know that he's 75 and has all kinds of risk factors for this kind of thing and has lived a long and happy life. But I want to bargain with the universe for five more years. That way, when I tell Annabel what a wonderful man her grandfather was, she'll have at least a few memories of her own to pin my stories to. And I'd dearly love to be able to give him an autographed copy of my first novel. Five years isn't a lot of time to go from having one manuscript in cold storage in a box under your bed and another 1/4 finished to having an actual book in your hands, but I'm prepared to hold up my end of the bargain by working ever so hard on the writing/editing/marketing end.

I know, I know! And I prefer "bull-headed" so...there!

Oh boy, am I ever right there with you.

Make it 3 of us. Even though, technically, I haven't had a cig in almost 24 hours and the one I had was half. But, I'm about to be freaking out.