8/17/08 Captain Jack's Repossession Repo Cruise to PC thru TPC #15 /Life After the PC

[villagesbarbara]

Fellow Pirates, I haven't yet posted since we returned from this magical TOAL. I know that I don't post often and I know that I was fortunate to only meet a handful of you while onboard, but I wanted to thank all those who helped contribute to my families enjoyment of this cruise. This is the first time we have ever participated in the FE gifts, and my kids loved checking to see what goodies were waiting each time we returned to our room! I have also really enjoyed looking at everyone's photos on the photo-sharing website. Thanks so much for sharing!

Now, I hate to be a downer, but if anyone could spare some good thoughts and prayers for us, it would be greatly appreciated. We are planning to evacuate within the hour from Hurricane Ike. We live in SE Houston, and right now things are looking pretty grim for us. I'm not taking any chances, and I don't want my kids to have to experience this hurricane up close so we're planning to head out to either San Antonio or Dallas. The evacuation scares me almost as much as the hurricane. We evacuated to San Antonio three years ago from Rita, and a normally 5 hour drive took us 16 hours, many of those without the a/c in the car running due to the possibility of running out of gas and being stranded on the side of the road (which did happen to many people). Anyways, I hate to bring my worries to the board, but it helps a little to talk about it. I've been trying to be brave for my kids, but it hasn't been real easy. My DS is 10 and my DD is 8 and they're old enough to understand that when we leave, we don't know if we'll have a house to come home to.

Think good thoughts for us!
Kim

Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Hope you reached a safe haven without too much trouble. Every time we see a hurricane that heads away from us here in Central Florida it's with the knowledge that it will be bringing trouble to someone else. Our initial relief turns into prayers for those who fall into it's path. You'll be in ours.

Barbara

 

[discruiser]

Thanks for checking in Kim. I am in no rush to get the pictures. Hopefully nothing will be as bad as they predicted but you can't take the chance and you were smart to evacuate. Seeing your post about the kids sleeping made me remember another picture that might be missing. I will have to go through them and see if I have the ones from the PC talk we went to. Emily was sound asleep curled up in a seat in the WDT. LOL! It's great that they can stop and recharge any time.

Ah...I had forgotten about that! No wonder she was so tired...the PC talk was the morning after the sleepover in the lab!

My week home has been less then spectaculer.....

I've been sick (like so many of you) -- luckily it waited until the last day of our post cruise wdw trip to affect me! And one of my brothers told me this week (turns out he found out the day before I left but, didn't want to spoil my trip in any way) that his Lymphoma is back --- he was first diagnoised in 1998.
He came over yesterday to ask me to be his *person in charge of medical decisions*. He told me that he doesn't trust my dh or our mother to actually ever let him just die. They would try to keep you alive forever no matter what the situation! LOL!
I guess our other siblings and our father were knocked out of the running for other reasons.
He also knows that I would care about his S/O's wishes.

I'm so sorry, Stephanie. It is tough to come back from such a wonderful vacation and have to face a crisis so soon!



We are still awaiting Ike here in San Antonio. I have pretty much given up hope that this monster is going to miss us...it appears to be headed straight for Houston. It does not appear to be strengthening too much (still a high category 2 storm with 105 mph winds) so that is a small comfort to me. They are still predicting that it could strengthen to a low 3 before landfall in about 12-14 hours.

I don't know how many of you have been following this, but this storm is huge. It takes up a good portion of the Gulf of Mexico. They are even predicting tropical storm-force winds for our friends up in Dallas. If anyone is interested, the Weather Channel is showing almost-continuous coverage from the Houston area. We live about 30 miles up the freeway from Galveston on the SE side of Houston (Friendswood/Clear Lake area not too far from Seabrook and Kemah). Clear Lake also happens to be the home of the Johnson Space Center. There was a huge hurricane that hit Galveston back in 1900 that killed about 8000 people. After that, they built a 16-20 foot seawall along the beach to hold back the water. Now, with the eye of the storm still 12 hours away, water is already as high as the seawall and even spilling over on to the roadway in places. And, on the Weather Channel, they are showing people standing out there and watching the waves!

I just find it so ironic that this monster storm came out of the same beautiful water that we were sailing only 2 weeks ago!

Kim

 

[4fosterkids]

Almost forgot to ask...

Even with all the souvenirs that I managed to accumulate in my long vacation, I realized when I got home that I forgot to get "fresh" maps from Disneyland & California Adventures. The only ones I have are the yucky wrinkled ones that I used obsessively while at the parks those few days (I hated that I didn't know those parks since I could walk blindfolded through WDW).

Since I know some of you practically live in Mickey's back yard (so much better than Hotlanta's back yard), would it possible for someone to pick up a few maps and send them to me whenever you get a chance? I'll PM my address to whoever my Fairy Godmother (or father) happens to be.

Much, much appreciated!!

Kim

Hi Kim (and anybody else who needs maps)
just send me your address and I'll mail them to you. I'll be at DL tomorrow.

Hi Gang,
Love the pics @Smugmug!! Thanks to everyone who shared the pics!!

Jet Blue gave everyone that was on my flight home a $50 voucher as an apology for the super long delay. But, I think I need to contact them as my checked luggage was soaked. While it was raining at JFK - I don't understand why my bag (and everything in it) got drenched!!

I'm still sick - its a real drag at this point!! I'm actually even considering going to the doctor!

I do miss y'all!! I'm ready for a reunion - 2010 - and we already have a thead!! Thanks Todd

BTW Todd - I already told you we'll be there iin March '09 - and let us know as soon as you know re this Nov.

Ciao!

I can't believe so many people got sick....AND are still sick! Having not been on a longer cruise, is this typical or unusual?
While on board (and not aware how many were sick), I kind of assumed our illnesses may be related to our cabin. Upon our arrival to our cabin, it had a terrible smell. Like old wet carpet that somebody attempted to make smell better with too many air sanitizers. It was awful, but they promptly brought us a humidifier, that quickly got upgraded to a bigger humidifier. It was annoying, but as long as we were able to keep the door open and use the humidfier 24/7, the smell went away..........UNTIL it rained. Then we realized our verandah door leaked terribly when the verandah got too full. So we got to know the maintenance dept guys who would come in and vacuum up water on our verandah as well as "try" to suck it up out of the carpet, then turn on those huge blowers while we were out of the cabin.
Sooo, long story short....I kind of figured the sore throat, cough, congestion stuff was related to the smell/leaking.....but now I'm thinking otherwise.

I hope everybody gets better soon, especially those who are still down with it.

I've finally had a chance to log on and I wanted to thank everyone for their prayers and well wishes. We are in San Antonio and we left early enough that we didn't encounter any traffic problems. After we had been on the road for about 30-45 minutes, they ordered a mandatory evacuation for my zip code so I was glad that we had already gone. I'm really surprised that they aren't ordering more evacuations for Houston...seems the only areas under mandatory evacuation are those nearest to the coast. The strangest thing we saw while driving from Houston to San Antonio was a caravan of 30 ambulances with their lights on going to Houston. I guess they were going to help evacuate some of the hospitals.

Kim

its good to hear from you. Glad you are further away from the area. I saw on the news yesterday, a caravan of infants in ambulances, as they had evacuated a hospital.

All this talk of 2010 dates......"sigh"........I have no idea what our plans are. We did rebook for 6/09 and will probably book something with the new 2010 dates. We had to cancel our Med cruise, because it got so expensive to fly our family of 6....so we'll see how it goes. I really want to book a surprise week next April/May for our 25th wedding anniversary.

 

[4fosterkids]

My week home has been less then spectaculer.....

I've been sick (like so many of you) -- luckily it waited until the last day of our post cruise wdw trip to affect me! And one of my brothers told me this week (turns out he found out the day before I left but, didn't want to spoil my trip in any way) that his Lymphoma is back --- he was first diagnoised in 1998.
He came over yesterday to ask me to be his *person in charge of medical decisions*. He told me that he doesn't trust my dh or our mother to actually ever let him just die. They would try to keep you alive forever no matter what the situation! LOL!
I guess our other siblings and our father were knocked out of the running for other reasons.
He also knows that I would care about his S/O's wishes.
.
I have the gift of not getting emotional when someone I love is hurt/sick, etc... I bawl like a baby during comercials but, I'm told someone I love is in medical trouble and I'm a rock. Dh on the other hand crumbles.

We do know that wonderful strides have been made in chemo treatments -- last time db came close to dying because of port infections, not the cancer.

I know you will all think good thoughts and prayers. Thank you.

Stephanie

Hugs & prayers to you and your family Stephanie. Your right...cancer treatments have made leaps & bounds over the last 10 years! I hope they find the perfect combo to kick his quickly!!

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

:Oh, no!!! Get better SOON. You can't miss out on holding a brand new baby!!!

I know!

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

well its only been 11 days since this cruise been over, it seems a lot longer than that.im ready for another cruise. i wish i was rich.

Amen to that!

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

My week home has been less then spectaculer.....

I've been sick (like so many of you) -- luckily it waited until the last day of our post cruise wdw trip to affect me! And one of my brothers told me this week (turns out he found out the day before I left but, didn't want to spoil my trip in any way) that his Lymphoma is back --- he was first diagnoised in 1998.
He came over yesterday to ask me to be his *person in charge of medical decisions*. He told me that he doesn't trust my dh or our mother to actually ever let him just die. They would try to keep you alive forever no matter what the situation! LOL!
I guess our other siblings and our father were knocked out of the running for other reasons.
He also knows that I would care about his S/O's wishes.
.
I have the gift of not getting emotional when someone I love is hurt/sick, etc... I bawl like a baby during comercials but, I'm told someone I love is in medical trouble and I'm a rock. Dh on the other hand crumbles.

We do know that wonderful strides have been made in chemo treatments -- last time db came close to dying because of port infections, not the cancer.

I know you will all think good thoughts and prayers. Thank you.

Stephanie

Definitely thinking good thoughts and prayers!
You're a good sister... it sounds like your brother needs someone strong and that will abide by his wishes. You're a great sister to be there for him the way he needs you to be.

 

[Caropooh]

My week home has been less then spectaculer.....

I've been sick (like so many of you) -- luckily it waited until the last day of our post cruise wdw trip to affect me! And one of my brothers told me this week (turns out he found out the day before I left but, didn't want to spoil my trip in any way) that his Lymphoma is back --- he was first diagnoised in 1998.
He came over yesterday to ask me to be his *person in charge of medical decisions*. He told me that he doesn't trust my dh or our mother to actually ever let him just die. They would try to keep you alive forever no matter what the situation! LOL!
I guess our other siblings and our father were knocked out of the running for other reasons.
He also knows that I would care about his S/O's wishes.
.
I have the gift of not getting emotional when someone I love is hurt/sick, etc... I bawl like a baby during comercials but, I'm told someone I love is in medical trouble and I'm a rock. Dh on the other hand crumbles.

We do know that wonderful strides have been made in chemo treatments -- last time db came close to dying because of port infections, not the cancer.

I know you will all think good thoughts and prayers. Thank you.

Stephanie

Keeping your brother and all of you in my prayers.

Ah...I had forgotten about that! No wonder she was so tired...the PC talk was the morning after the sleepover in the lab!



I'm so sorry, Stephanie. It is tough to come back from such a wonderful vacation and have to face a crisis so soon!



We are still awaiting Ike here in San Antonio. I have pretty much given up hope that this monster is going to miss us...it appears to be headed straight for Houston. It does not appear to be strengthening too much (still a high category 2 storm with 105 mph winds) so that is a small comfort to me. They are still predicting that it could strengthen to a low 3 before landfall in about 12-14 hours.

I don't know how many of you have been following this, but this storm is huge. It takes up a good portion of the Gulf of Mexico. They are even predicting tropical storm-force winds for our friends up in Dallas. If anyone is interested, the Weather Channel is showing almost-continuous coverage from the Houston area. We live about 30 miles up the freeway from Galveston on the SE side of Houston (Friendswood/Clear Lake area not too far from Seabrook and Kemah). Clear Lake also happens to be the home of the Johnson Space Center. There was a huge hurricane that hit Galveston back in 1900 that killed about 8000 people. After that, they built a 16-20 foot seawall along the beach to hold back the water. Now, with the eye of the storm still 12 hours away, water is already as high as the seawall and even spilling over on to the roadway in places. And, on the Weather Channel, they are showing people standing out there and watching the waves!

I just find it so ironic that this monster storm came out of the same beautiful water that we were sailing only 2 weeks ago!

Kim

Keeping you and all the people affected by Ike in my prayers.

Hi Kim (and anybody else who needs maps)
just send me your address and I'll mail them to you. I'll be at DL tomorrow.



I can't believe so many people got sick....AND are still sick! Having not been on a longer cruise, is this typical or unusual?
While on board (and not aware how many were sick), I kind of assumed our illnesses may be related to our cabin. Upon our arrival to our cabin, it had a terrible smell. Like old wet carpet that somebody attempted to make smell better with too many air sanitizers. It was awful, but they promptly brought us a humidifier, that quickly got upgraded to a bigger humidifier. It was annoying, but as long as we were able to keep the door open and use the humidfier 24/7, the smell went away..........UNTIL it rained. Then we realized our verandah door leaked terribly when the verandah got too full. So we got to know the maintenance dept guys who would come in and vacuum up water on our verandah as well as "try" to suck it up out of the carpet, then turn on those huge blowers while we were out of the cabin.
Sooo, long story short....I kind of figured the sore throat, cough, congestion stuff was related to the smell/leaking.....but now I'm thinking otherwise.

I hope everybody gets better soon, especially those who are still down with it.


its good to hear from you. Glad you are further away from the area. I saw on the news yesterday, a caravan of infants in ambulances, as they had evacuated a hospital.

All this talk of 2010 dates......"sigh"........I have no idea what our plans are. We did rebook for 6/09 and will probably book something with the new 2010 dates. We had to cancel our Med cruise, because it got so expensive to fly our family of 6....so we'll see how it goes. I really want to book a surprise week next April/May for our 25th wedding anniversary.

Our 25th is May 12th! DH and I are going on the May 9th Eastern! Come on along and we'll have a double celebration!

 

[4fosterkids]

Keeping your brother and all of you in my prayers.


Keeping you and all the people affected by Ike in my prayers.


Our 25th is May 12th! DH and I are going on the May 9th Eastern! Come on along and we'll have a double celebration!

ohhh, great! There you go having to tempt me huh?
Our 25th is May 5th and my bday is May 9th......heck throw in Mother's day somewhere around there too!
hmmmmm..........I may have to ponder this one......

 

[Caropooh]

ohhh, great! There you go having to tempt me huh?
Our 25th is May 5th and my bday is May 9th......heck throw in Mother's day somewhere around there too!
hmmmmm..........I may have to ponder this one......

Mothers Day is May 10th!

 

[4fosterkids]

ohhh, stop it!!!
LOL

 

[got2travel]

My week home has been less then spectaculer.....

I've been sick (like so many of you) -- luckily it waited until the last day of our post cruise wdw trip to affect me! And one of my brothers told me this week (turns out he found out the day before I left but, didn't want to spoil my trip in any way) that his Lymphoma is back --- he was first diagnoised in 1998.
He came over yesterday to ask me to be his *person in charge of medical decisions*. He told me that he doesn't trust my dh or our mother to actually ever let him just die. They would try to keep you alive forever no matter what the situation! LOL!
I guess our other siblings and our father were knocked out of the running for other reasons.
He also knows that I would care about his S/O's wishes.
.
I have the gift of not getting emotional when someone I love is hurt/sick, etc... I bawl like a baby during comercials but, I'm told someone I love is in medical trouble and I'm a rock. Dh on the other hand crumbles.

We do know that wonderful strides have been made in chemo treatments -- last time db came close to dying because of port infections, not the cancer.

I know you will all think good thoughts and prayers. Thank you.

Stephanie

I'm the same way Steph. I just got done reading Crash's 9/11 memorial thread and still have tears. But any time my mom is in the hospital, I'm the strong one. That is, until I get home, put DS to bed, make sure everyone else is taken care of, then I break down. But by the next morning, I'm back to being the one taking care of everyone.

Prayers for you family.

 

[geffric]

To me the funniest thing is that Diane wanted an imaginary Cat 6 on the imaginary cruise. But the imaginary Cat 6's on the imaginary cruise were imaginarily sold out. So she had to book an imaginary Cat 5.

oh well guess she will have to "imagine" a cat 6.. that is funny!!!!

My week home has been less then spectaculer.....

I've been sick (like so many of you) -- luckily it waited until the last day of our post cruise wdw trip to affect me! And one of my brothers told me this week (turns out he found out the day before I left but, didn't want to spoil my trip in any way) that his Lymphoma is back --- he was first diagnoised in 1998.
He came over yesterday to ask me to be his *person in charge of medical decisions*. He told me that he doesn't trust my dh or our mother to actually ever let him just die. They would try to keep you alive forever no matter what the situation! LOL!
I guess our other siblings and our father were knocked out of the running for other reasons.
He also knows that I would care about his S/O's wishes.
.
I have the gift of not getting emotional when someone I love is hurt/sick, etc... I bawl like a baby during comercials but, I'm told someone I love is in medical trouble and I'm a rock. Dh on the other hand crumbles.

We do know that wonderful strides have been made in chemo treatments -- last time db came close to dying because of port infections, not the cancer.

I know you will all think good thoughts and prayers. Thank you.

Stephanie

oh Steph - i am sorry about your brother abd will keep him in my prayers.. it is good he has you to depend on to make the decisions and ask the questions for him. It must be a very hard situation to be in for you since I would imagine that you would want to wish this could all go away.. but he knows he can depend on you..and that is very important too..

 

[geffric]

Caropooh... any news on the strike??

 

[allshookup]

I've finally had a chance to log on and I wanted to thank everyone for their prayers and well wishes. We are in San Antonio and we left early enough that we didn't encounter any traffic problems. After we had been on the road for about 30-45 minutes, they ordered a mandatory evacuation for my zip code so I was glad that we had already gone. I'm really surprised that they aren't ordering more evacuations for Houston...seems the only areas under mandatory evacuation are those nearest to the coast. The strangest thing we saw while driving from Houston to San Antonio was a caravan of 30 ambulances with their lights on going to Houston. I guess they were going to help evacuate some of the hospitals.

Anyway, I am feeling somewhat better now that we are out of the city. The kids are going a bit stir-crazy here in the hotel, but who can blame them? We do have an indoor pool, which they used twice today. Thank goodness for that!

I have been glued to the internet and TV all day. The funny thing is that Wednesday morning this thing really looked like it was going to hit closer to Corpus Christi, and we weren't even planning on leaving. But, it slowly inched it's way up the coast all day Wednesday until it was too close to Houston for me to feel comfortable with staying. It looks like it is continuing to slowly move east so I am still hopeful that we may not get a direct hit. They are also now predicting that it may come onshore as only a category 2 instead of the 3 or 4 that they have been predicting. So that is good news also. Keep those prayers coming...they seem to be working!

It's been a long day...I'm going to head to bed. Thanks again for all your prayers and well wishes...keep them coming!

Kim

Glad to hear that you are somewhere safe! I hope the damage is not too bad. I've been watching the weather channel & the storm surge looks pretty bad. I'll be keeping you & all the area residents in my thoughts & prayers!

We likely won't get to cruise summer 2010. We are scheduled to be homeless that summer. I really wish DCL would get off the every-three-years cycle, since that's when we move.

Hey RadioCrash! Weren't you gonna start a thread??

Ha I love the banner!!! That would be a great one for the Cartegena, Aruba, CC cruise!

Good Morning! Glad to hear everyone is doing well. Kim, thanks for posting. Keeping good thoughts for you and all the Texas DISers.

I started uploading pic to the site. So far I have most of the pics from the Hollywood Limo Tour on. I didn't realize it would take so long so will add the rest later.

I want to thank everyone for sharing thier pics! I really like looking at them.

Kaitlin had a DCL meltdown last night! See was clutching her D Sea U t-shirt that all the CM's signed and was balling her eyes out. She wants to go back and she misses all the friends she made! She almost had me crying too! So I guess DCL withdrawl is going around!

Hey Tina thanks for posting the limo tour pics! I am so bad about taking pics & you took some great ones! I also didn't get the group pic, but now I have it! Thanks so much!

I know how that goes too! Last Sunday, Deryk just moped around the house all depressed. Nothing would make him happy. He's watched a lot of older Disney movies since returning including Fantasia. When I asked what was wrong, in a very sad voice just said that he really wanted to be back on the cruise. All three boys have commented several times that they want to be back on the ship with their friends.

Hmmmm Cade has been brutal lately, but I've just been attributing to the fact that he just got over pneumonia & he just started middle school, but I'm sure vacation withdrawal has a lot to do with it too.

My week home has been less then spectaculer.....

I've been sick (like so many of you) -- luckily it waited until the last day of our post cruise wdw trip to affect me! And one of my brothers told me this week (turns out he found out the day before I left but, didn't want to spoil my trip in any way) that his Lymphoma is back --- he was first diagnoised in 1998.
He came over yesterday to ask me to be his *person in charge of medical decisions*. He told me that he doesn't trust my dh or our mother to actually ever let him just die. They would try to keep you alive forever no matter what the situation! LOL!
I guess our other siblings and our father were knocked out of the running for other reasons.
He also knows that I would care about his S/O's wishes.
.
I have the gift of not getting emotional when someone I love is hurt/sick, etc... I bawl like a baby during comercials but, I'm told someone I love is in medical trouble and I'm a rock. Dh on the other hand crumbles.

We do know that wonderful strides have been made in chemo treatments -- last time db came close to dying because of port infections, not the cancer.

I know you will all think good thoughts and prayers. Thank you.

Stephanie

I'm so sorry Steph!!! Thoughts & prayers for your DB!

To me the funniest thing is that Diane wanted an imaginary Cat 6 on the imaginary cruise. But the imaginary Cat 6's on the imaginary cruise were imaginarily sold out. So she had to book an imaginary Cat 5.

So true!!! I'm a cat. 5 gty so I have to wait till some imaginary rooms open up or I'll be in the imaginary lifeboats!

Hi Kim (and anybody else who needs maps)
just send me your address and I'll mail them to you. I'll be at DL tomorrow.

I can't believe so many people got sick....AND are still sick! Having not been on a longer cruise, is this typical or unusual?
While on board (and not aware how many were sick), I kind of assumed our illnesses may be related to our cabin. Upon our arrival to our cabin, it had a terrible smell. Like old wet carpet that somebody attempted to make smell better with too many air sanitizers. It was awful, but they promptly brought us a humidifier, that quickly got upgraded to a bigger humidifier. It was annoying, but as long as we were able to keep the door open and use the humidfier 24/7, the smell went away..........UNTIL it rained. Then we realized our verandah door leaked terribly when the verandah got too full. So we got to know the maintenance dept guys who would come in and vacuum up water on our verandah as well as "try" to suck it up out of the carpet, then turn on those huge blowers while we were out of the cabin.
Sooo, long story short....I kind of figured the sore throat, cough, congestion stuff was related to the smell/leaking.....but now I'm thinking otherwise.

I hope everybody gets better soon, especially those who are still down with it.

All this talk of 2010 dates......"sigh"........I have no idea what our plans are. We did rebook for 6/09 and will probably book something with the new 2010 dates. We had to cancel our Med cruise, because it got so expensive to fly our family of 6....so we'll see how it goes. I really want to book a surprise week next April/May for our 25th wedding anniversary.

Well DS seems to be getting over his pneumonia, but I'm still very congested. I know antibiotics do not help a cold, but DS seems to have recovered a lot quicker than the rest of us because of them. DD is just now getting very congested so we seem to be passing it around at this point.

As for 2010, I know for a fact that we will not be dishing out the kind of money we did for the TOAL, between the cruise, flights, DL, bahama mamas....it really added up to a LOT of money for us. Guess I'll wait & see what kind of prices they are offering, but I'm not hopeful!

 

[Caropooh]

Caropooh... any news on the strike??

nope, still no talks scheduled.

 

[wheelerkidz3]

Hi Gang,
Love the pics @Smugmug!! Thanks to everyone who shared the pics!!

Jet Blue gave everyone that was on my flight home a $50 voucher as an apology for the super long delay. But, I think I need to contact them as my checked luggage was soaked. While it was raining at JFK - I don't understand why my bag (and everything in it) got drenched!!

I'm still sick - its a real drag at this point!! I'm actually even considering going to the doctor!

I do miss y'all!! I'm ready for a reunion - 2010 - and we already have a thead!! Thanks Todd

BTW Todd - I already told you we'll be there iin March '09 - and let us know as soon as you know re this Nov.

Ciao!

we ended up getting a voucher for our delayed flight on the way out to california. i just called our travel ins company to see about getting reimbursed for the cancelled flight that started our vaca!

I've finally had a chance to log on and I wanted to thank everyone for their prayers and well wishes. We are in San Antonio and we left early enough that we didn't encounter any traffic problems. After we had been on the road for about 30-45 minutes, they ordered a mandatory evacuation for my zip code so I was glad that we had already gone. I'm really surprised that they aren't ordering more evacuations for Houston...seems the only areas under mandatory evacuation are those nearest to the coast. The strangest thing we saw while driving from Houston to San Antonio was a caravan of 30 ambulances with their lights on going to Houston. I guess they were going to help evacuate some of the hospitals.
.....
It's been a long day...I'm going to head to bed. Thanks again for all your prayers and well wishes...keep them coming!

Kim

still praying for you guys kim! i tried to call you back last nite, but the call wouldn't go thru. lauryn was bummed...she really wanted to make sure emily was ok! tell her we said hi! and give me a call when you can.

well its only been 11 days since this cruise been over, it seems a lot longer than that.im ready for another cruise. i wish i was rich.

it is so hard to believe that it's only been 11 days...i really didn't think it would be THIS hard to get over a vacation. i'm usually ready to come home after spending a week at disney...this TOAL was soooo much different than a regular vacation. i never wanted to see it end!

 

[Stepht5]

Oh Steph, that sucks. But it is so great that you can be there for your brother. I'm sure that means a lot to him.

I'm so sorry, Stephanie. It is tough to come back from such a wonderful vacation and have to face a crisis so soon!

Kim

Hugs & prayers to you and your family Stephanie. Your right...cancer treatments have made leaps & bounds over the last 10 years! I hope they find the perfect combo to kick his quickly!!

Definitely thinking good thoughts and prayers!
You're a good sister... it sounds like your brother needs someone strong and that will abide by his wishes. You're a great sister to be there for him the way he needs you to be.

Keeping your brother and all of you in my prayers.

I'm the same way Steph. I just got done reading Crash's 9/11 memorial thread and still have tears. But any time my mom is in the hospital, I'm the strong one. That is, until I get home, put DS to bed, make sure everyone else is taken care of, then I break down. But by the next morning, I'm back to being the one taking care of everyone.

Prayers for you family.

oh Steph - i am sorry about your brother abd will keep him in my prayers.. it is good he has you to depend on to make the decisions and ask the questions for him. It must be a very hard situation to be in for you since I would imagine that you would want to wish this could all go away.. but he knows he can depend on you..and that is very important too..

Thank you all.
Monica, I usually do my crying in the shower. That way none of the kids see or hear me.
Once dh gets over the crying part (his crying) he's good at keeping all of us entertained. He's great at telling funny stories about people and he is a good kind of smart aleck -- not mean, just funny. So, that always makes me feel better.

 

[sk8ingmom]

So true!!! I'm a cat. 5 gty so I have to wait till some imaginary rooms open up or I'll be in the imaginary lifeboats!

I thought about booking an imaginary suite, so I could have an imaginary concierge, since the only way I could afford that is with imaginary money.

 

[geffric]

I thought about booking an imaginary suite, so I could have an imaginary concierge, since the only way I could afford that is with imaginary money.

note to self...why didn't i think of that..