Shake it Up Baby

Yesterday afternoon, Marie called and had Valerie on the phone. Valerie lives in Mesa, Arizona and wanted to hear Don's story. I shared his story and we continued to talk about the shakes and the difference it has made in her own life. Then Valerie shared her story - she has had recurrent blood clots throughout her life, and at one time had one that was 5 1/2 inches long being monitored by the doctors. She began taking the nutritional shakes and in time, the blood clot was reabsorbed and she has not had another clot since. Ironically, I had not told Valerie about Don's blood clot which was almost completely blocking his portal vein. When he was diagnosed with the cancer, the doctor told him the blood clot would kill him long before the cancer would. That is why the clot has caused me such concern. I have consistently prayed that his clot be reabsorbed, but until yesterday had no idea such a thing was possible. I know our road still has bumps in it but Valerie's story has given me renewed hope!

What a Lucky Girl!

I went back to work this Wednesday and had a very hard day Friday. I got a new computer which had to be set up. With the help of some of the others in the office, we moved furniture, crawled under desks and behind desks and finally got the job done. Then two of us went in to Josh's office and unpacked his things, set them up, and got his office ready to go. Coupled with the fact that I had been awake since 1:00 AM, when I got home at 5:30 I was cold and exhasuted. When I walked it the house it was cozy and warm with the fireplace going and dinner on the table.

Delicious homemade vegetable soup. Don had never made soup before, he did a wonderful job.

He also made a German Chocolate cake and put it on the new Fleur de Lis platter that I recently bought. The cake was much bigger than this but with six people in the house, it didn't last long! It was also delicious. I wonder how long this treatment will last!

Snug as a Bug!

Well, I was worried when I went back to work that Don would not get out of the house. So far, he has kept very busy including today's project -- covering the bouganvilla. We are expecting a hard freeze tonight and we were worried the bush would be damaged. When I got home Don and Drew had it nicely covered, and even put a light under it to make sure the whole package stayed warm. I am not sure what that ladder is across the top of the bush, but I know there must be a reason and at some point, I'll ask!

When I went out to take the picture of the bouganvilla, Hooch followed me out - he's always ready for a good game of fetch!

After his busy afternoon, Don relaxed in the den and chatted with his sister, Debbie. She, her husband Deke and granddaughter Hannah, are coming to visit this weekend. You can see Don's elbow is continuing to heal from the fall he took last week when he was trying to let the pesky Weimariner go out.

Like A Kid in a Candy Store

Tomorrow I will return to work for the first time in 6 1/2 months. Don said he was going to work on the barbeque pit but needed some things from Home Depot. So, off we went to run our last errand together, he'll be going it alone from now on, and I know he is very happy about that! He could spend hours in Home Depot, and today searched up and down for "stuff" he may need. He did forget something and will have to go back before he can complete the project. Hopefully, we will be grilling again soon!
He looked and looked...
...and looked some more.
He measured once...
...and measured again.
Until he finally found what he needed.

He found a hoe that he said we really needed and then tried to whack me with it, but I was too quick.
Even though this picture looks like he's saying, "Would you please quit taking my picture", he's really just squinting in the sun. If he does ask me to quit taking his picture, I just tell him I'm doing it for his family so they can see how good he looks, then he just smiles or poses or whatever I ask him to do. "It's for the family" really works, especially if I whine a little when I say it... Then we got home and he got right on the project...or not!

Ya Gotta Have Friends!

I was looking through some pictures I recently took when I came across some from the aquarium. I thought I would post them, and say how proud we are of Ashley getting the opportunity to do an internship in the Bahamas. She will be diving on the coral reefs counting a certain species of coral to make sure the population is growing. Okay, now having said that, the whole thing makes me very nervous. I am happy for her, but nervous. She told me she will be worried about her Dad while she is gone...I told her they were even, he will be worried about her as well!

The kids at the aquarium loved when Ashley would blow a stream of bubbles and would give her hand signals to blow more. What she could not hear were the ooohhs and aaahhs each time she did it. Oddly enough, Ashley's fasination with SCUBA diving began when she was around 4 or 5 and I took her to a little aquarium close to home which included a SCUBA show. She was mesmerized and couldn't wait until she was old enough to try it out. I thought she would forget...no such luck! I often wonder if any of the children watching her feel the same way she did so many years ago.

Checking the Progress, Once Again

Douglas continues to work with Ed on Ed's house in Lakeview. They have made a lot of progress, but it is a big job for two people. Don and I drove over today to see how it is coming and to drop off lunch for the guys...yummy shrimp po-boys. Ed was handling a conference call when we arrived, so we visited with Douglas while he ate lunch. Once we left Lakeview, Don and I went to lunch ourselves and then home to start dinner, red beans and rice! I don't think I'll get much help in the kitchen this afternoon, Don had a big lunch and I am sure he will be snoozing very soon!
This morning, Ed and Douglas leveled the porch and replaced the siding on the front of the house.
Douglas is doing a quality check on their work, so far, so good.
Yum!
Ed's office amid the rebuild. Ed is handling his conference call out in the yard.

Around Town

Drew is going to be a groomsman in the upcoming wedding of his high school friend, Keith Pumila. Keith is marrying Marie Louviere on April 3rd and we are all looking forward to the wedding. Drew and Keith enjoy brewing their own beer and recently toured the Abita Brewery and enjoyed some samples at the end of the tour! These photos were taken by Marie's father who is visiting from Japan.