Busiest Shopping Day of the Year - But Not For Us!!

It's the Friday after Thanksgiving and we are home preparing for Christmas. I am getting the house ready to decorate for Christmas and Don has settled down for his long winter's nap. I think all of that driving yesterday caught up with him this afternoon. So, while he's napping I have decided to do something quiet, and what better than to decorate the blog. I think the tree will wait for another day.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

We were on the road this morning before the sun was up, headed to Aunt Vickie's and Uncle T.C.'s house to share Thanksgiving with Don's family. This is a tradition we have kept for most of our 26 years of marriage and we were happy to be in Century again this year. It was such a nice family gathering, filled with immediate and extended family members enjoying many, many different dishes. Aunt Vickie out did herself again. The batteries were not charged in my camera so I was unable to take all of t he pictures that I wanted. Below are a few taken during the day.

Don's shakes even made the trip and were blended right there amongst all of the yummy Thanksgiving treats. Who knows where the blender will travel next. He felt great all day and even drove the entire trip, to and from Florida, about 7 hours total!!
Ashley, Drew, and Douglas ready to go. Ashley and Drew were sharing an Ipod and singing along with the music...due to their off-key signing, this is probably the last time Douglas smiled during our ride to Florida!
A serene path.
Enjoying our day in the country.
Erin and Ashley enjoying the horses. Ashley was actually scared of Uncle T.C.'s horses which I find interesting since she took horse back riding lessons and even rode in competition when she was in high school. What's up with that girl? (In the picture below of all the children lined up on the porch, Ashley and Erin are the two little girls on the left - my how they've grown!)
Ashley and Don sharing a moment.
The horse whisperer.
Ashley and Deanna cleaning the kitchen. It was so nice to have help in the kitchen from the younger girls!

Call from the Doctor's Office

Last night we got a call from Dr. Regenstein's nurse regarding Don's appointment on December 3rd. The day before each appointment he gets a blood test so that the results are ready and waiting for the doctor when we get there. When we left with the lab request after his last appointment, the doctor had not requested the test that measures his cancer marker and we were a bit disappointed. During the conversation with the nurse, I told Don to ask her if we could add that test to the lab sheet and she said go ahead and do it. So, if you recall, this is the test done in early September that showed his marker went from 55,000 to 3,600 after three months on the Nexavar. When this test is done next week, it will be almost three months since the last one and we are praying that the news is as good as last time. Oh, what a gift that would be. Now, we just have to wait. Fortunately, we will have the Thanksgiving Holidays and our visit to Florida to distract us!

Drew made it home and said he had a wonderful time in Pennsylvania once he got used to the cold weather. His flight came through Atlanta and he said the weather was really rough for a while but calmed down after about 45 minutes. It's good to have him home again!

Say a Little Prayer...

Drew has been in Pennsylvania since last Wednesday visiting his friend Paul at Lehigh University. Since he has been gone, all I have heard on the news is how much it has been snowing, lake effect snow (which I don't quite understand but seems to be worse than regular snow), and the freezing conditions where it is reported to be 27 degrees today. Drew called and said he has never experienced such cold in his life. I tried to tell him before he left that his southern blood is not thick enough for such conditions and I think he understands now what I was saying. So, please say a little prayer for his safe return later today to the comparably balmy winters of New Orleans, where our high for the day will be 70 degrees.

Speaking of cousins, what a pair!!

Whitney called today and said she was going to be coming in from LSU to visit with the family and spend some quality time with Douglas. I previously posted a picture with all of the cousins when they were young. These two are to the far right in that picture, sitting next to each other which has been their way since they were babies. More likely than not if there is a family function, these two are together! Douglas and his friend, Geremy, even went to the mall with Whitney to do some shopping - that's unbelievable.
We grilled hamburgers this afternoon and all ate a nice meal together. It is so nice having the Godwin girls close enough for a visit now and then. Left to right, Douglas, Whitney, Geremy, Lynette, and Don.

Being Thankful

This morning Don and I were discussing Thanksgiving's past and our many, many trips to Aunt Vicki and Uncle T.C.'s house in Century, FL. During these visits we were able to visit with Don's extended family where our kids were able to forge relationships with aunts, uncles, great aunts and great uncles, first cousins, second cousins, and cousins once removed. We have had such good times and made so many memories and are very thankful for all of the years we have had with each and everyone of our relatives. This picture was taken around 1990 or 91 with our children, Ashley, Drew and Douglas and their cousins who to this day all have very close relationships. From left to right are Ashley, Erin (first cousin once removed), Drew, Amber (second cousin), Jenna (second cousin), Douglas and Whitney (second cousin).
Is it my imagination or is Douglas looking adoringly at Drew???!!!!
Our kids loved to pose like this and we have several pictures of them piled up in different locations. I think I'll try to get them to recreate this pose one more time while we are in Florida!

Can't Keep a Good Man Down!!!

Well, he's back. After being under the weather for over a week things are looking up. We reduced his chemotherapy Sunday evening and he has progressively gotten better during the week. Tonight I was moving some furniture in the living room and before I knew it, he was right there with me. We finished the move and I saw him on his hands and knees under the piano - when I asked what he was doing he told me puttying the windowsills so he could paint them tomorrow. The living room is where we stored everything while we repaired the house after Katrina so there is quite a bit of touching up to be done - hopefully, we'll get it all done before Christmas.

Don continued to take his shakes throughout his illness. Although he did not have much of an appetite during the last week and a half, the shakes kept him well nourished and contributed to his speedy recovery.