If I don’t post for a while, you know we are having some fun with family and friends, or just enjoying ourselves.  Donnie is doing great these days (his words).  No nausea at all lately (and he got chemo on Tuesday).  He still very sensitive in the area where his port was removed, which is challenging.  That has been going on for 2 months now.  We are grateful that seems to be his only big issue currently.  He has no pain, but continues to have neuropathy, so he remains on morphine extended release 15 mg twice a day.  He continues to get his chemo, Gemzar, every other week.

This week, we drove to Naples to see my sister Wendy and her husband Robin.  Donnie sang in the car all the way there (4 1/2 hours) . . . we were jammin with the sound cranked!!  We stopped in Brandon on the way to Naples, to eat deviled crabs, yellow rice, grilled shrimp and garlic bread at Momma’s.  He stuffed himself!  So great to see him eat like that right after chemo on the same day.  Of course, its always great to get some quick lovin’ from his Momma, too!  He is eating great these days, and weighs 171 pounds.

We had a great visit with Robin and Wendy!!!  Robin decided he wanted to learn how to play the flute, so Wendy is teaching him.  All 3 of us spent a couple of hours playing flute duets along with me accompanying them on the piano.  Donnie was sleeping on the couch listening to us, as flutes are mesmerizing.  It was great fun!!!  (Sorry, no picture of Robin playing with us, as Donnie was asleep on the couch by then!! haha)

We also got the opportunity to eat dinner on the beach in Bonita Springs and watch a sunset.  It was crazy windy and cool, but beautiful!

Then off to visit Ron Fritz (Marion’s husband and Wendy’s Dad . . . Marion is my birth mom) for an afternoon.  So GREAT to see him!!  He took us to a great place for brunch called Old 41 . . . delicious food!!  Donnie ate chicken fried steak and all the breakfast accompaniments, too.  Wow, he is eating really great, and ENJOYING IT!!

Then, driving back home, we HAD to drive over the Sunshine Skyway bridge.  It was a destination on our first date 26 years ago.  It was as beautiful as ever!  Of course, pictures cannot possibly do it justice.  It was a clear day, with the sun shining on the water.  Just breathtaking!!

Then we were stuck in horrible traffic in Tampa at rush hour, just a few miles from “malfunction junction,”  and we were praying we might be able to catch Ronnie and Darlene to eat dinner with us downtown, since they work there.  We lucked up, and they met us at Longhorn Steakhouse.  We got a great visit in, the traffic subsided, and then off to Oviedo.

It sure is great to travel with Donnie when he is feeling good . . . or do ANYTHING AT ALL when he is feeling good! He is cutting up, singing “made up” words to songs, and is getting more and more energy each day.  He told Ronnie and Dar that he feels as good as he did BEFORE his diagnosis.  What an amazing praise!!!!!!!!!  He also told me he wants to try to go to Alaska this summer . . . a bucket list goal of his.  Yay!  I’ll be working on it 🙂

Thanks for hanging in there through all of his ups and downs by praying for us, and giving us encouragement in so many ways!!!!!!!!!!!!  If I don’t blog for a while . . . no worries . . . good things are going on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Much love,  Donnie & Tina