Donna, I think we are all entitled to our privacy in our own home and having unwanted guests can certainly feel like a home invasion. I am SO glad they got out before the deadline. I am sure in time your brother will be back to talking to you again and all will be well.

The not smoking issue is something else and I guess you will get over it in the end. A friend of ours quit and put the money she would have spent on cigarettes into a little box and didn't count it till the end of the month. She said once she actually saw the savings she never wanted to go back to the habit.

We are here to support you whatever you go through, so if you can't sleep and log on and I am on the site send me a message and I'll come and chat to you.

(((Hugs))) from Sue.

Donna:

I am so happy for your housepests leaving before deadline, atleast that will give you peace of mind going in surgery. I am sure it's hard to quit smoking but as I often told you before you can do this, you are survivor, woman, mother. you have that strength within you to get through this, maybe you can chew gum when you feel like smoking or come online to chat with us. I promised to talk topics other than smoking

Asha

Donna,

Congrats on your house guests leaving. Maybe with his job and their own apartment they will be able to figure out how to be responsible for their lives?

Good luck on quitting smoking. I remember when my Dad finally quit. He was smoking three packs of unfiltered Camels at the time and most days coughed so bad the he threw up breakfast. This was one thing that helped. Also he told my mother and she laughed at him. That also helped. He smoked for 40 years. He lived for 25 more years after he quit smoking. What worked for him was to put his cigarettes in a different pocket (he always wore shirts with two pockets, one for cigarettes, the other for a small notebook). Because they were in a different pocket he had to make a conscious decision about each cigarette. Immediately he cut his consumption in half.

My nephew and his wife quit smoking every year or so, and then begin again. I keep hoping that this time will be THE time. We don't allow smoking in our house and they go outside, even in Chicago winter weather.

Glad you asked your doctor before trying the patch. Good luck.

Glad your "housepests" have moved out, and things are back to normal. Did you get any keys they had back? Otherwise you my want to change locks.There are some good quit smoking sites on line.. with downloadable quit tips and little booklets to send for even 800 phone numbers.using a pencil or piece of licorice to fiddle with, you can also pop in on IM to me whenever ...:)I am "psyching" up to try once again.. and hoep to get the RX for Chantix filled this week. I also tell myself it is healthier for my pets too... Ask you Dr if you can get the Chantix.. after your procedure.

donna, bless your heart, i am so happy for you that your houseguests left before your get out date. how rude of them to even be there. i know how hard it is to quit smoking. try not to think about them. hopefully each day will get easier for you. i know it will be better for you to quit. its good you asked the dr about the patch before you tried it. sometimes the stress from not smoking is worse i think. i know you can do it if thats what you need to do. just think you have your home back now, enjoy and relax and laugh at your girls, you will feel better. i am thinking of you and wishing you the best of luck.