As long as Donnie is up to it, we are “on the road,” visiting family and friends.  This past weekend, we drove to St. Augustine to see Jeff (son), Flora, Kaia (6) and Liam (3).  Donnie played indoor frisbee with our grand babies, read books to them, built tinker toy contraptions, was generally silly with them (they love that!!), and ate DELICIOUS BBQ.  We also got to go to Jeff and Flora’s property (they are building a home in Ormond Beach), and walk on the cleared area where the house will be built.  Exciting times!!

Monday morning, we met the Ziolkowski’s for breakfast.  They are neighbors that are like family to us.  Oh my… we laughed our heads off.  Everyone in the restaurant was looking at us.  They need to have their own reality show.  John Ziolkowski (84) and wife Bobbie (78) had us cracking up!!  Just look at Donnie’s face 🙂  He’s still laughing at John (sitting across from him, taking the picture).  You can see the love on his face!

Then a sweet surprise, Clade and Sue Blackwell came and spent an evening with us.  So GREAT to see them!

Monday night, Donnie started having some difficulties with pain.  Normally he takes 15 mg of extended release (ER) morphine twice a day.  Monday night he had to take 60 mg of ER morphine for his abdominal pain, and he got very little sleep that night.  We were both sad, thinking this might be a new chapter in our journey.  After Monday night, he has required 30 mg ER morphine twice a day.  This is a praise, as he is able to still enjoy life, and his pain is under control.  His appetite continues to improve, along with his taste buds.  He says his head is clearer these days, too.  The chemo continues to clear his system.

We have to take activity in small doses, and factor in some sleep for him.  Wednesday, he was surprised at IHOP by many of his favorite people he worked with in the ICU at Florida Hospital Altamonte.  This is an amazing group of ICU staff!!  Donnie says they are the “ambulance” WITHIN the hospital.  If there is a code or a patient going bad, these are the people that respond, and take care of business.  In this group are managers, educators, nurse practitioners, respiratory therapists, charge nurses, rapid responders, and house supervisors.  I am so proud to know all of them!!  Lots of stories were told, lots of bursts of laughter, and then Donnie had an opportunity to tell them how much they all mean to him.  I was speechless and tearful.  So many amazing people that impact your life, and are special to you forever.

Then, off to pick up our 3 grand babies and Uncle Dave, for lunch at Gino’s.  We were all cracking up at Bradley (2 1/2 years old), because Donnie has taught him how to sneeze like Donald Duck.  You’d just have to see him do it!  Bradley also thinks he is hilarious and laughs at himself when he does it!!!!!

Donnie slept for 6 hours after that 🙂  He said he would do it all again, as it is worth the sacrifice to live a little!

We are off to see family in Brandon again this weekend while the gettin’ is good.  Please pray for pain control, and for his days to be full of love and happiness while he is still with us.  He continues to be trusting in God for His will to be done, and is leaning on “His everlasting arms.”  Such a blessing to be a Christian!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

With love,  Donnie & Tina