Hi all, amazingly I'm back, when it rains it pours and I seem to get hurricanes but the sun does come out! After my daughter was so ill, completely recovered, I turned down the cancer prevention medication because of side effects and I wanted to see if less stress would settle things down, well its a good thing I did! I ended up having a complete hysterectomy but it is all +++'s, the estrogen I make was literally building more fibroids, the cancer prevention medication was going to eat the estrogen, now I don't make any, I could not be treated with birth control or hormone treatments, I had the surgery 9 days ago and I feel great, starting to do things again.

The great things, the house is refinanced! I completely repainted the entire exterior, its beautiful, my neighbors stop and comment about how good it looks! My sister helped, we cleaned the roof, I put in a 4 X 12 patio in the back! Put in a new ceiling fan.

The people I work with are great, they sent me a beautiful dish plant and several cards! My sister is special, she has stayed with me since my surgery and we are having fun! Keep putting my faith in God everyday, it does get better.

Hey, Lila,

GOOD FOR YOU!!! Sounds like things have turned a corner....

May I ask a question about the household improvements?

WHere I live, it's very difficult to find "reliable" help (incompetent, as well as untrustworthy, and sometimes even CRIMINAL elements are our only choices). HOW did you get all those things done?

Please don't tell me you did it all yourself??? I am so afraid I'll scr*w it up if I try to do some of the major renovation projects needed around here, but I'm MORE afraid to hire outside help. I *have* heard horror stories about hired help coming back to "help themselves" to whatever....when they know a woman lives there alone. It has frightened me into total inactivity. The renovations needed remain UNDONE.

What to do, what to do?

God Bless,

Lila - your house sounds wonderful and the work you did, is a pleasure to have such wonderful compliments.

I am curious like Lupolady said. Where did you get the help in getting the things done on your house? Not having to worry about getting ripped off, or murdered. I won't trust any man into my home without the kids.

As far as the cancer, You are a SURVIVOR!!!! Yeah for you. God has great plans for all of us that put our trust in the Lord. I am so happy to hear you are feeling well and moving on.

I have always been a do it yourselfer! My sister and I did it all. It is also great therapy! Pick out something simple to try, the fear of screwing up is a lot less than the achievement in doing it! Call your Chamber of Commerce for reliable contractors, get references. Here they have to be licensed. Find out if there are any female contractors! Does your state license them, get recommendations from others who have had work done. I tiled my whole house a couple years ago, once you make it through the first few strokes, tiles, etc it just keeps flowing. Get a handy friend to help you with it, throw a house painting party! I am terrified of heights but I was 20 ft off the ground painting my peaks because they were my peaks! (I also tied the ladder down to the bed of my truck so I would not fall too!) We are reupholstering a chair today! (NO I AM NOT MARTHA STEWART, I HATE COOKING AND SETTING A TABLE!) lol