All is well..so far!

We stayed busy today running errands and having lunch while we were out. My sister-in-law, Kathy, called and said was cleaning out her refrigerator and freezer in preparation for Hurricane Gustav. She reminded me of how awful our refrigerators smelled when we returned after Katrina so I got busy defrosting shrimp to cook before the power goes out! Don thinks I am crazy but if I NEVER again smell rotten food that has been closed up in a refrigerator for a week it will be too soon. Neither of us wants to evacuate again and I can only hope by some miracle this hurricane weakens out in Gulf or heads off in another direction. The only problem is the fact that we have family in both Texas and Florida - so...landfall on the Gulf Coast is out of the question!



On a lighter note, our nephew Sam came over tonight for a visit - he is always good for a laugh or two. He played with Drew and visited with Uncle Donnie and G.G. (my mother). He was with my brother Larry and they left before I got a chance to take their picture - I'll get them the next time they visit!

California Girls

Tonight our niece, Roxanne and her daughter, Kaitlyn (the princess in this picture), called from San Francisco to check on Don and the rest of the family. We got to catch up on what they have been doing. Kaitlyn is talking up a storm and sounds so grownup. Roxanne said her husband Ed hit a hole in one (his first) during a golf game on 8-8-08. He called her and said he won a car - a Delta 88! How funny is that!!!

Guess Who Came to Lunch!

Cathy Marter called during the week and said she would be over this weekend. We actually had plans to visit last weekend but both of us were in Orange Beach and unaware that the other was just down the street! So, we tried again. I cooked a nice lunch and we visited for quite a while and heard stories about her grandchildren. We are so lucky to have good friends that will come out in a tropical storm to visit with us!!

Doctor's Visit

The sun and the sea must have worked its magic - Don went to the doctor and is doing

very well. His blood pressure was normal for the first time since he's been on the chemo and other than fatigue, he is having no side effects. The doctor said he has had to take three patients off of this medicine because of various problems so we are very lucky that he is doing so well. He also maintained his weight since our last visit three weeks ago. That was good news because the doctor was worried about his continued weight loss. I am sure that fish fry and the Jordan's boiled peanuts had something to do with keeping his weight up! For once, he's free to eat what he wants!! Don will have a blood test on September 2 to measure his cancer marker and we will get the results during the September 10 visit.

Thank you all for your continued concern and please continue to keep Don in your prayers!

Family Gatherings

Don's niece Angie and her husband Chris cooked up a fish fry and everyone came over to visit Don and have good time.








Angie and Chris cooking up a storm.

Douglas and Don slicing okra together for the fish fry. Dennis grew the okra said he picks almost five gallons of okra every day!

Tommy and Don.

Edward, Debby and Don.

It wasn't hard to find Dekie amongst the vistors! He was ready for the beach.

Stacy with a HUGE watermelon Dennis grew in his garden. He called it a volunteer because he planted corn and the watermelon grew out of that planting. We learned a new farming term.

Kim with Hannah and Christopher enjoying the balcony.

Don visiting with Erin, Stacy and Dennis.

Aunt Vicki, Uncle T.C. and their great grandson, Drake, drove down from Century, Florida and took us to lunch. It was fun catching up on the family news.

Ashley showing Aunt Vicki the "sea squirts" growing at the dock. If you stood too close you were bound to get wet!

Uncle T.C. with Drake, Don, Aunt Vicki, Ashley, Doug and Drew at the boat dock.

The Walker family with Don's cousin, Dennis and his wife, Doodle.

Feeling Good!

Well, we have been busy for the last couple of days. Don and I wrestled the boat away from the kids and took a nice boat ride throughout the pass. This weekend is the Thunder on the Gulf boat race and all of the racing boats are out and about so there was lots to see. We also took a dip in the Gulf which was very cold...we didn't stay long but it was beautiful.

Today we are having Don's relatives over to the watch the races. It will be a busy buy fun day.

In His Element

As we were riding along I asked Don how he was feeling and he said, "Fine baby, I'm in my element!

Don and Drew took the boat out early this morning before it got too hot. They went out to the Gulf but said it was "rocking and rolling" and decided they would stay in the sound. Don called me from the boat and told me to come down and take a ride. Of course, I was there lickity split!

Come take a ride!

Things Are Looking Up!

One of these things is not like the other...our little boat is the odd man out in this marina! Look how high the dock is compared to the boat - you literally have to jump in and climb out. I guess when I make these condo reservations I have to learn to ask the right questions, beginning with, "Do you have a small boat marina? I think this is the first sunshine the boat has seen since we left New Orleans!

The weather cleared up and the kids could finally get the boat iout of the marina. They rode over to this little island and had a good time exploring. Don and I watched from the balcony.

The evening ended with everyone out on the balcony talking and watching the dolphins feed on their way back out to the Gulf. Ashley spotted a beautiful Osprey and we all watched it glide far above the water, zero in on its prey and then swoop down for a tasty fish. It never missed! Don could surely use one of those on his fishing trips!

Stompin' Grounds

While our new condo was being cleaned, Don decided he wanted to go to the Naval Air Station in Pensacola. His Boy Scout troop met at NAS so he spent a lot of time there growing up. We went to the museum and saw the new exhibits. The kids had a good time evidenced by the fact that we did not see them for over an hour!

After going to the air station, we stopped by Don's niece Angie's house for a visit. We looked at beautiful wedding pictures of Angie and Chris and Don checked out their "floundering rig". Angie showed us a picture of the flounder she and Chris had gigged - Uncle Donnie was very impressed. He shared some gigging tips with Angie but according to the pictures they have gigging under control!

I looked out of the window at Angie's house and saw her cat, Mr. T and dog, Taco, relaxing by the water and checking out the view. I think the cat FAR outweighs the dog!! (You have to double click on this picture to see the size of this cat!)

Angie and Hannah saying goodbye. It wasn't for long though, they came swimming at the condo for a little while last night and are supposed to be back this morning!

Oh, What a Night...

We headed to Gulf Shores and checked into our condo and although the view was nice, Don hated the unit. The rooms were small and dark which is not what we are used to. I could tell he was horribly unhappy so, I called the rental agency and asked if they had something else. They had did have something but it would not be availble until this morning so we had to spend the night in the original condo. I included the picture of the big clock so you could see that we were packed and ready to go at 8:00 AM. He could not get out of there quickly enough. To add insult to injury, it stormed! We are in the new place and much happier. Don finally feels like he's on vacation.

Chad Barcia Althletic Awareness Foundation Golf Tournament

Today was the annual golf tournament to raise money for the Chad Barcia Althletic Awareness Foundation. The money raised is used to purchase defibrillators which are donated to area schools and playgrounds. In March of 2005 while playing rugby for De La Salle, Chad Barcia, Drew's friend, collapsed due HCM a hidden heart defect that produces no symptoms. Chad's parents, A.J. and Nancy Barcia, and many volunteers have done a wonderful job raising money for this foundation. Don and I have been volunteers in the past but, we were guests today. We purchased raffle tickets and Don won an air mattress which will be put to good use in our busy home! After a slow start this morning, Don did great the rest of the day! We were able to have a nice visit with Sue Padgett, one of our favorite "football moms" from De La Salle.

We Only Thought We Had a Full House

Not long after the Godwins arrived for dinner, several of Ashley's friends came over for Cabrini night...there were people everywhere. It was just like old times with Brandi, Jenny, Chelsea, Carly and Ashley cutting up in the den. Adam was here also but he was very quiet, probably because he could not get a word in if he wanted to. After dinner Jenny and Chelsea broke out their guitars and played several songs while everyone else sang along (for the most part). I think Don was a little tired from all of the visiting and went to bed during the festivities. Most of the girls are spending the night...nothing like a sleep over to bring back memories of high school. This morning we woke up and had a wonderful breakfast of fruit, pecan waffles, eggs and bacon. It really was like when the girls slept over in high school and we enjoyed every minute. I'll add some pictures soon.

Full House

This evening we had a visit from Paul and Debbie Godwin and two of their daughters, Jenna and Whitney who are both students at LSU. Everyone was in town from Houston to move Whitney into her new apartment tomorrow. We had a nice dinner together, wonderful conversation and many, many laughs while watching old home movies. We are so lucky to have such wonderful family!

What beautiful Crystal!

Today we had lunch with Crystal Burke, the daughter of my best friend from Mt. Carmel, Glenda Trosclair and her husband, Beau Burke. We really enjoyed our visit with Crystal and catching up on the Trosclair/Burke family news. Lee "Rooster" Burke, Crystal's younger brother, is a Marine currently doing a tour in Iraq as a gunner. We will certainly keep Rooster in our prayers and wish him a safe trip in Iraq and return home. Crystal is a nurse in the pediactric unit at Tulane, just across the hall from Don's doctor. Those children are surely lucky to have such a sweet, pretty nurse. We hope to see her on future visits to Dr. Regenstein.

Prior to meeting Crystal for lunch, we ducked into Dillard's so I could shop for a bathing suit. Now, as a public service to my female friends, please take my advice and LEAVE YOUR HUSBAND AT HOME if you are shopping for a new bathing suit. I am just wondering when being sick allows you to say whatever is on your mind, especially within earshot of other shoppers!!!! It is a good thing I have a good sense of humor - Lord I love that man.

Jack is Back

Leah called Sunday and said Doug had a meeting Monday morning and asked if we could keep Jack for a couple of hours which we were happy to do. He loves to rock with Uncle Donnie but didn't
get much time to do so because he was too busy getting attention from everyone else! We also had a nice visit with Jack's Daddy, Doug, when he came to get Jack. I wish I had taken Doug's picture so you all could see where Jack gets his good looks. I'll make sure I get a picture next time we see Doug!
Of course, Jack had to fly high with Drew - his visit would not be complete without some rough stuff.


Playing with cups with G.G.

Playing with his train in the den.

Getting hugs from Ashley.

Showering Together

Today we went to a baby shower for Lauren Felger, Susan and Glenn Triche's daughter who is having her second baby, a girl to be named Olivia Mae. Lauren, her husband Greg and their son, Palmer (almost 3) will welcome Olivia sometime this month. Since the shower was at Susan and Glenn's house Don took a ride with me and he and Glenn visited in the den while Lauren was showered in the living room. It was nice to see the Triche's and their families and friends and to see all of the beautful gifts Lauren received for Olivia. We can't wait to meet that new baby girl!

Don has been feeling well and certainly enjoyed his visit to the Triche's.

Long Distance Greetings

Jeffery watching Bear go down the slide.

We received a wonderful e-mail from Don's nephew Bill who lives in Seattle with his family, his wife, Marlene, daughter Kyra 5 and 10/12, and son Jeffery 2 1/2. Unknown to Bill his name is mentioned very often in our family. At 6'7", Bill is the other tall member in our family. Whenever anyone asks where Douglas got his height we explain that it must be a Walker/Godwin trait because Don's sister's son (Bill) is tall as well. From the looks of the picture he attached of Jeffery sleeping on the stairs with his long legs all curled up, it won't be long before Jeffery is answering the question we hear ALL of the time when we are with Douglas, "How tall are you?"

Kyra is learning to ride her bike without training wheels and from Bill's e-mail it sounds as if Jeffery keeps busy playing with their puppy, Bear.

Thanks for your e-mail Bill and for thinking of our family. We enjoyed hearing from you and enjoyed seeing pictures of the kids - they are growing so quickly!!