Calling All 8/19/06 Special Western Cruisers! AKA "The Cruisin' Castaways" Part 2

[florida sun]

Andy thats great news about your mum joining you on the cruise after all, Im sure I speak for everybody when I say we are very much looking forward to meeting her, and looks like we can have another birthday cake after all. lol

Sue

 

[Verandah Man]

Andy thats great news about your mum joining you on the cruise after all, Im sure I speak for everybody when I say we are very much looking forward to meeting her, and looks like we can have another birthday cake after all. lol

Sue

With all the birthday cakes, we'll be lucky if we'll be able to "WALK" off the ship by the end of our cruise!!!

 

[Laurabearz]

(((((Darlene & Stan))))) Good thoughts headed your way.

(((((Barb & Dave))))) I hope the surgury goes well.... keep us posted. Good thoughts also headed your way.

Andy... great news about Mom coming along.... now get to work.


We are putting in a new driveway... well paying people to put it in. My boy (2) is in heaven. Loves the diggers and such. I cant wait for winter... with a nice smooth driveway to plow, life will be good. LOL

Again.... good thoughts for those who need them. (((((Hugs))))

 

[castoff]

Thought I would share this email that I got from my BIL.

Hi! We are doing really well. We got all our services back late yesterday and my Mom got hers back this afternoon so she is back home. It was a really trying time we had my Mom and John "s niece (Nicole who is 13) plus 6 cats all in inside all day Sunday> The hurricane came in really fast and left. The beaches are really tore up but inland at Pensacola we just had Trees and branches. The biggest inconvenience was the power outage and the telephone out. There are still a lot of people without power. 237,000 in Pensacola and 137,000 at Monday morning but there are working fast. I sure am glad that we didn't have to wait for power. John's brother Phil and His parents fared really well. NOW < EMILY> is coming in the same way. God could we use a break from Hurricanes. With Ivan, Arlene, Cindy and Dennis within 10 months I think we deserve one. Good bye take care. Love, FLO and JOHN

 

[castoff]

With all the birthday cakes, we'll be lucky if we'll be able to "WALK" off the ship by the end of our cruise!!!

Andy: I wouldn't mind having some of the B-day cake to go. That's great news, I am sure your Mom will have a blast. What a nice b-day gift. Think I will share that one with my kids for future.

Barb: Thanks for the update. Glad they caught it now. Sending PD Hope all goes well.

Terry: Welcome back ! Glad you had a good time. Leaving in 2 days When are you going to rest?

 

[castoff]

Doreen: The 27th is the weekend before labor day. Let me know we will work something out.

Linda: Where are you??

 

[Reenieny18]

Andy that is grat news of your mom,, We are going to celebrate my MOMs 70th as well while on board.. She will have company with her as well as with Bobby and Cindys mom/in law.

Prayers to DAVE as well.... BARB... does he need a transplant? or is his other kidney still strong and working properly to maintain him just fine? Please keep us posted....

TINA and LINDA.. the 27th is a good day for me (until it gets closer),,lol I am game for anything...

BIRTHDAY cake is always good... it goes great with SMOOTHIES!!
GINNY as long as you will be a local.. you can bring the ICE

Ok time to go take care of the doggies tonight.. Today DANIEL and I gave her a bath... she is a PITBULL. but she is a real baby..nothing like the bad rap that they have gotten.. She looked real cute with the soap and all the bubbles on her head.. I wish I had my camera with her.. And ummm she smells so good now..

DARLENE I sent you a PM earlier... take care of yourself and STAN

Doreen

 

[newholidayx2]

Its Dave's left kidney that has the 4cm (2") tumor. His right kidney looks good so a transplant doesnt look necessary (thank God!)
Doc says these types tumors are 97% malignent. There will be no chemo/radiation.
Doc wants to wait a few wks so Dave has the chance to have 2units blood drawn. They will give these back to him during the operation. I asked him if he wants me to donate (if we match) and he said not necessary. Should I look into this anyways?
Doc also wants a catscan of his chest to make sure the cancer hasnt spread. It does look encapsulated though.
Dave will be in the hospital for only 1night (if all goes well) and then out of work 6wks.

He seems to have gone into medical mode. I think he's in shock. He doesnt seem worried at all. I ask questions but Im trying not to show that Im worried. Trying to keep things bright so Jon doesnt get upset. He knows whats going on but I dont think knows the seriousness of the issue.

Im really hoping Daves operation can be down btwn July 28 and Aug 10th. Jon & I return home from NH July 27 and Id like Dave to be out of the hosp before Jon & I take off for FL Aug 13. Dave says not to worry but its not our trips Im worried about.

 

[mickeymom923]

Darlene - I wish there was something I could do to help. I can only imagine what you must be going through. You are all in my thoughts and prayers.

Barb - hope things work out with Dave's surgery.

Andy - I'm glad your mom decided to go on the cruise. My mom will be 88 years young by the time of the cruise. Are there any other young people around her age going? lol

Terry - how are you feeling? All better, I hope. Glad you had a good and safe trip. Let me know what day is good for you to meet. Who else is coming?

Tina - how are you feeling? Are you all packed and ready for your vacation? Hope you have a wonderful time.

Bev

 

[SeaSpray]

Doreen: A wedding in a few years at Castaway Cay would be a lot of fun, wouldn't it. I'm glad you're enjoying the dog-sitting. It would've been funny to see that pitbull with bubbles on its head. LOL

Barb: I'm so sorry that Dave has to have a kidney removed. We will be sending good thoughts that the surgery goes well, and that he has a smooth recovery. I know how you feel about not wanting to worry Jon. Tell Dave that we're thinking of him, even though he doesn't know us.

Bev: Unless anyone else wants to meet up with us next week, I guess it will just be you and I. LOL Andy, Lyn, anyone else in the NJ area want to meet?

Tina: We actually aren't still feeling 100%, but we're much better than we were, thanks for asking I've put the trip to NJ off for an extra day, so now we'll be leaving on Friday instead of Thursday. I need that extra day to get things done around here before I leave again. Only Robby and I are going to NJ, and I need to make sure things are set for John and Craig while I'm gone. Basically I want to get all the laundry done, and stock the fridge and freezer with food for them. Because you know, a grown man and a teenaged boy can't be expected to handle everything on their own

 

[Ct_TiggerFan]

Darlene, I keep your family in our thoughts and prayers

Barb, More pd for Dave and our best wishes for you and your family.

Andy, Thanks Great news about your Mom joining the cruise, Aug 15th is my bday so the cruise is my Bday gift to me next year, The Stay at Old Key West is my gift to me this year

Laura, Congrats on the driveway, send those boys over my way next, our driveway needs it bad, The ruts are making it hard to shovel.

Well today we purchased a new mailbox and post, finaly getting rid of an ugly brush at the end of the driveway so I have a new place for the mailbox. The old one is about to fall over, and its in a bad location, once the new one is in, a little less area will need to be shovled next winter.

Best Wishes all

 

[Verandah Man]

Terry--we won't be able to make any meet while you are in Jersey as Angelina is having her oral surgery one week from tonight and the surgeon does not want her traveling for at least the first full week. We're hoping she feels up to riding down to my brother Chuck's house (20 miles away) on July 23rd. My mom is flying up this coming Thursday, and we are having a 10th birthday party for my nephew on the 23rd. We completely forgot about the party when we scheduled Angelina's surgery. We're bad parents, bad, bad, bad.

Bev--your mom sure doesn't look or act like she will be 88 by cruise time. I thought she might be in her early 70's.

Barb--more prayers and headed Dave's way, also sending some for you and Jon.

Well, I'm off to bed, it's been another long day walking around in the heat and humidity today. At least the cold front came through this evening and cooled things down a bit here in Jersey!!!

 

[castoff]

Bev: Tina - how are you feeling? Are you all packed and ready for your vacation? Hope you have a wonderful time.
Am I packed? That is funny. I am doing laundry now. The kids have me running around all over the place and I still try and take my nap in the afternoon. It felt like it was 96 today and well I hate to say it ..........It has just been to hot around here. I will get it done though somehow we all manage to do that huh? How I am feeling doesn't compare to what everyone else is going through. If you combine mine and Chucks age we will be the same age as your mother. Does that count?

Terry: After you left I came down with a sore throat took airborne like crazy then it wen't away, then it came back,took airborne and it stopped. I am on a roller coaster with it. I guess I will keep taking airborne. You do need to take some time to rest or you will get a relapse. Take care of yourself & John.

Barb: Good news that Dave doesn't need a kidney. I know how scary it all must be. We are here and feel free to if you need or vent.

Andy: Glad someone got the cold front. We didn't.

For everyone else that needs to beat the heat a little............Have some Mickey bars and the good news is they are on me.

 

[Verandah Man]

I received an e-mail from Darlene after I went to bed last night. She wants to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers. As of right now, once Stan recovers from this latest surgery, their goal is to still be on the repo cruise in August. Just keep thinking good thoughts for this family and especially for Sandy who is missing her daddy while his is in the hospital.

 

[newholidayx2]

Good morning - sleep is a difficult thing lately.
Thanks everyone for all the pixie dust and get well wishes. I feel like Dave needs a guardian angel.
I do honestly feel in my heart that I need to be there for Dave from the day he goes into the hosp until the day he comes home (even if he says otherwise). This may or may not mean physically being at the hosp the entire time. When my Dad had 1 of his heart bypasses Dave & I sat w/my mother at her kitchen table (very long day)
I decided I dont want to cancel either of our vacations until/if absolutely necessary. Trip planning has been put on a "back burner" though. I might have the choice of just cancelling part, moving dates, etc. Will look into those options once we have a date.
I dont even want to be away the day he has his chest ctscan. I want to be home the day he tells me the cancer hasnt spread (or the alternative!) Doc did think it looked like it was contained.

Darlene - hope Stan continues to get well

 

[Verandah Man]

Barb--of course Dave should be your #1 priority right now. Keep us posted.

 

[castoff]

I received an e-mail from Darlene after I went to bed last night. She wants to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers. As of right now, once Stan recovers from this latest surgery, their goal is to still be on the repo cruise in August. Just keep thinking good thoughts for this family and especially for Sandy who is missing her daddy while his is in the hospital.

 

[castoff]

Barb: I understand how you feel. Do what you think is best for you & your family. From what you said it does sound like it was contained. This is a GOOD thing. Hang in there and try to take care of yourself so you can be strong for Jon.

Doreen: I heard from Linda and she thinks she has something going on the 27th. How about the 28th? it's a Sunday. I didn't mention that to her yet figure I would find out from you first. She is all for a get together. Anyone else want to join us? Don't be shy.

 

[newholidayx2]

Aug 9th - day after the guys birthday

I just broke down on the phone w/Dave. He still says dont cancel. Im gonna be a wreck that week (more so than I am now)

Ctscan is down for July 21st. He's going to try to move it up.

 

[Verandah Man]

Look for a product called TRAMEEL

Doreen--I just placed an order for this product, I figured it couldn't hurt to give it a try, especially since the oral medication isn't giving me much relief.

Hazel has placed several calls to my surgeon's office asking about the Synvisc injections I'm waiting to receive(two weeks now), but my Workman's Comp insurance company hasn't given the approval for these shots yet. I've even started taking the Tylenol 3 pain pills again just to make it through the work day.