Last stops before Port A

We pulled into Ray Roberts Lake State Park on Thursday to spend a long weekend with our friends Fred and Vickie Porter.  Mentioned them a couple of times in our blog, but haven't given the full "how we met" story.

We started full timing at the end of December, 2010.  We spent our first winter in Tucson.  In December of 2011, we decided to stay in the Coastal Bend of Texas at Sea Breeze RV Park in Portland, TX.  They advertised in the flyers they had a Happy Hour on the porch of the Clubhouse at 4p.  Connie and I went up there early with a cooler full of beer.  Nobody there.  Decided to go inside.  Nobody.  Waited till 4:15p and made the call to leave.  Here comes this couple with a cooler and a bottle of wine.  This should be interesting.  We went inside and talked, drank and laughed until 8:30p or 9 that night.  We've been hanging out together ever since.  We've met in different places around the country.  We've met their family.  They've met ours.   We've always kept in touch, and hope we do for a long time.  Really treasure their friendship.

They're currently park hosts at this State Park north of Fort Worth along I-35.

We never have to have "something to do".  Just our company and conversation is plenty. 

Our dogs get along great with their dog ("Izzy").





We turned them on to College Football a few years ago when we took them to Ole Miss and the Grove to tailgate.  Put out a spread for Saturday's RV Tailgate that included BBQ Ranch Dip (using some of the BBQ sauce from Kansas City), Salsa dip (using some of our Salsa from Sioux Falls), Crockpot Tailgate Sandwiches, Bugles Mix, and cocktail wienies.  Snacked all day, it was great.

Pulled out around 9:30a from the State Park and drove down to New Braunfels (Hill Country Cottages and RV Park).  Monday, should have about 200 miles to get to our winter home of Pioneer RV Park in Port Aransas.

Back to Texas -- Final Chapter

We left Shreveport dodging rain drops around 10a on Sunday with a short trip in mind.

About 45 minutes closer to New Caney, TX, I was feeling so good I wanted to go further.  Made a couple of phone calls, drove straight through Houston and ended up in Rockport, TX for the night.

Next morning, we ran over to Aransas Pass to check on the buggy.  It was fine!

It was a heartbreaking drive to and from.   Thought I was ready to see the destruction of Hurricane Harvey, but once you see it in living color, it's so different.

We had seen videos that people had posted on YouTube, but to smell it, touch it, see it live....it was just different.

I don't want to dwell on it, but it will keep coming up.  It's been two months since the Hurricane came ashore here in the Coastal Bend. Every day is another benchmark for someone, somewhere on their timeline to recovery.  It's heartbreaking.

Later Monday morning, we gathered up our things and headed on the Ferry to Port A.

Sloopy and Tangy out each window.  Can you tell the difference?

Got parked in the site at Pioneer RV Resort and began the process of making it our home till the Spring.

Happy Girls!

December and The Holidays

We've been at Copano Bay RV Resort since December 20th.  Had a Happy Hour most afternoons with our friends here.

Connie has had two treatments since our last blog.  She seems to be tolerating them very well.  Her oncologist sees most of the cancer being stable and not worthy of being too aggressive, so that's what we've done.

Hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas.  We had a snacks and carols on Christmas Eve, then an afternoon potluck Christmas dinner here at the park.  All very good food, fun to be a part of.

Christmas Day we had a FaceTime conversation with our daughter, Bethany, and her husband, James (and dogs).  With the announcement that she's expecting in June, we'll probably be doing a lot more of this in the coming months and years.

We took our Christmas decorations down yesterday, the day after Christmas which is earlier than either of us can remember..  Its amazing how much space we donate to our Christmas decorations, but its something both of us enjoy.

Weather has been terrific (until today where its rainy and in the 40's) with the highs in the 60's-70's and the lows in the 50's-60's.  Going to be a bit of a roller coaster for the next couple of weeks.

We'll be following the Buckeyes to New Orleans for the Sugar Bowl.  Meeting our daughter at the airport in Houston, then on to Baton Rouge for New Year's Eve, then NOLA for New Year's Day and the game vs. Alabama.  Shortly after we return (with Bethany) to Rockport, we'll head back with her to Dallas where she's working the National Championship game (and hopefully to continue to follow the Buckeyes!)

Vacation is Over

It's been a while since our last post.  We have been busy enjoying my vacation from treatments.

As noted in our previous blog, we had a great time making our way to Texas.  It took us 7 weeks to get here!

Time to get back on the treatments.  The diagnostic scans were done in early November.  For the most part, they show that most areas are stable.  There are a few new areas in the lungs and minor progession.  However, the doctor feels they are not very concerning.

So, with that news, we are going to continue on the hormone pill that we started back in August and combine it with Herceptin infusion.  This is a drug that I had received previously and tolerated it with minimal side effects.

Going to get this started tomorrow.  Treatments will be every 3 weeks.

Hope everyone enjoyed the Thanksgiving holiday.  We had a good time and good food here at the park.  Met some really nice folks!

Had a couple of days of cooler weather.  It inspired us to get out the Christmas decorations.  We will be moving to our normal winter spot in Rockport on the 20th.

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas!

Taking a break.......

No, not from blogging.  We've already done that.  Wow, last post was June 16th?  I'm sure all of you have been concerned.  No need to be, we've just been hanging in Ashtabula.

Connie met with her oncologist today who said that because there's no progression that's concerning him from her most recent scans.  Her treatment today was postponed and he's going to give her a month off from chemo.  We're very happy to say the least.

Which, of course, leads to our exit from Ohio back to Texas.  Dr. Aponte, who we had been seeing since the onset of her diagnosis in 2013, has left Corpus Christi and moved to San Antonio.  She's out.  We had been considering moving to a doctor who had a branch in Rockport, so now he's in.

Right now, we're in the process of sending him all the documents from the Cleveland Clinic so that he can make an informed decision as far as moving forward since he'll be calling the ball.  When to do that is the big question!  Do we travel now to Corpus knowing that we don't have anything here for a month?  Do we wait here until we meet with her Ashtabula Oncologist in a month?

Stay tuned!

Time is Flying By

Hard to believe it has been over a week since our last update.  Good news it that there has not been a lot to report since then.

The weather here in Rockport has been warm, but overcast.  So, not much sitting out in the sun.  However, that is good too since I am now supposed to limit my time in the sun.  :-(  Those that know me well, know that is going to be a challenge.  We saw evidence why it is necessary when we were working outside (on an overcast day) and in no time at all, I was getting sunburned on the back of my neck.  Sounds like the sensitivity will continue even after the radiation affects are over.

One side effect that no one seems to be able to address is my ears.  They said the tops would be sensitive and peeling like a sunburn, but they can't explain why I am having issues with the inner ear.  Very annoying!

Today was a visit to the medical oncologist.  Sounds like the lab numbers were ok and we can proceed with the next dose of Herceptin in a week.

Since all that has fallen in to place, we have more firm plans for our return to Ohio.  Looks like we will be leaving Texas on or around May 4.  It will take us at least a week to get all the way back to Ashtabula as we drive only short distances and will spend some time in Wilmington to visit the folks.

Well, that's all I have to report at this time.  Thanks for all the love and prayers!

Easter weekend...

Good Friday was a non treatment day.  Starting Monday, Connie will do daily brain radiation treatments (save Saturday and Sunday) through till a week from Tuesday.  We won't miss that daily ride into Corpus Christi.

Hope to get some clarity from those at the Cleveland Clinic this coming week about her treatments in Ohio.  That will help us make our return to Ohio plans a little more concrete.

She's been feeling well, being active, pretty voracious appetite and really not showing any of the side effects (other than some spotty hair loss from the Cyberknife).  Her chemo pills are two weeks on, one week off.  This weekend was pretty much "drug free."

Spent Friday night watching some hoops.  Went into Rockport Saturday to look at some of the shops, then came home to watch the Buckeyes drop out of the tournament at the hands of Wichita State.

Today we started our day with a special recipe for breakfast that Connie found in a magazine while doing treatments, watched a few hoops, then off to the Clubhouse for a great carry in Easter Dinner.

Most everyone will be heading out (if they haven't already) tomorrow, and we'll start back for treatments to Corpus.

An Amazing Weekend....

We had an amazing weekend.  Our daughter, Bethany, and son-in-law, James flew to Houston and drove down Thursday afternoon to Copano Bay RV Resort.  Connie had a radiation treatment at 8a on Thursday, then tired herself out helping me clean the rig.  She was up and going again by the time the kids got to town.

After a night of jabber and remembering how the sofa bed worked, we ran into Corpus again Friday morning for a brain radiation treatment and were back by 9a.  We did a spin with the kids around Rockport, then a late lunch at Moon Dogs.  The brisket nachos were outstanding, as were the shrimp nachos.  Came back home for a day of watching college basketball, and the Buckeyes winning their first round game, while we munched on snacks and Connie's beer dip.

Saturday, we headed out to Port Aransas for lunch at Virginia's and I introduced Bethany to munzee hunting.  The view at Virginia's was better than the food, but all in all a decent place.  Drove around the town, then drove the beach.  Made the circle into Corpus Christi, then ended up at Fajitaville for a cocktail.  Bethany had a Beerarita and we all enjoyed the atmosphere.  Had steaks at the rig for dinner and it was a pretty early evening while watching our brackets go up in flames.

A word about the rig.  It performed perfectly in our first weekend entertaining guests.  Hot water tank had plenty, air mattress was OK, and all in all we were all very happy.

Carmen and Sloopy helped Bethany and James with missing their dog.

Sunday, James rolled to Victoria to golf with one of his college roommates, while the rest of us watched the Buckeyes squeak one out against Iowa State.  Afterward, Connie and Bethany shopped the shops of Rockport for a few hours.  Pizza Hut cooked dinner as we watched the tournament deep into the night.

Connie was pretty much a fireball all weekend.  Not many times we had to slow down, she was able to have a couple of Landsharks here and again.  Made her very happy.


Monday was the day we dreaded, as Bethany and James headed back to Houston for their flights back to Ohio.  Hurts a little less knowing we'll see them again in a couple of months.

Monday afternoon, back to the grind of treatments.  Had tons of leftovers for meals.

This morning, Copano Bay RV Resort had an incredible breakfast prepared by one of the guests who cooks (or runs?) at a bed and breakfast.  Delish!  Treatment afterward and a meeting with the radiation oncologist who thinks things are going along very well.

Last day with the Cyber Knife

We had a late appointment today (2:30p) Connie's final Cyber Knife treatment.  Even though they were running late, and the system reset a couple of times, things went very well.  The staff even gave her a little certificate of completion.

Getting a little upset with CuraScript about one of the meds.  One of my pet peeves when I was teaching was a student who would see me in the hall late in the day to tell me they weren't going to be at rehearsal.  I just had them for 45 minutes two hours earlier.  Were they waiting in the hall all day for me to come by to tell me?  Getting the same thing with this deal.  We keep getting automated calls that everything is on target and we don't need to do any more to receive the meds.  The meds didn't come today.  We call and they tell us we need to do X, Y and Z.  Getting a little frustrated.

Since we ran a little late, dinner in wasn't an option so we went to Alice Faye's on the Bay.  It's Oyster Fest weekend here in Rockport-Fulton.  We'll try and check that out tomorrow.

No appointments until Tuesday.  That will be a relief.

Weekend with Fred and Vickie...

Our friends Fred and Vickie came down from Dallas on Thursday. They didn't bring their MotorHome to our park, rather they stayed in the "not a hotel" Days Inn.

We had beef BBQ waiting for them when they got in.  They stayed a little while, but everyone was tired and we called it an early night.

Friday, Connie's 50th birthday, she got fitted for her Cyber Knife mask in Corpus Christi.  This is just basically a mesh hard mask to keep her head still and enable the Doctor to be consistent with the radiation lasers.  We came back to Rockport, met with Fred and Vickie and went to the ChartRoom for dinner.  That turned out to be just a beer.  It was a beautiful view, but too cool for everyone.

Off we went to Hemingway's in Rockport.  There was some babe setting up for karaoke and a few tables in the bar and NO ONE in the main dining room.  Food was decent, a little overpriced for the portions.  Karaoke babe kicked up about half way through the meal and ambience went right to hell.  I couldn't eat fast enough to get out of there.

We asked our waitress where a good place to go with live music would be.  You know, for people your age (she was low 20's).  Her response:  "People my age are an endangered species in Rockport."  Very funny.  But true.

She told us about the Sugar Shack which she thought was going to have a live band on Friday nights.  What a great dive.  Age range was 20 to 75.  RV'ers, locals, fisherman.  Very diverse.  Connie was wearing out, so it was one beer and done.  Didn't get to hear the band, but we'll try it again someday.

Saturday was Belt Sander Races at the Pickled Pelican.  What a hoot.  Played a little (free) shuffleboard after the hotly contested races (J.D. Greene won the modified and we saw a track record), then picked up a couple of Little Caesar's for dinner at the rig.  Connie retired early, while Fred, Vickie and I played a hotly contested game of 3 handed hearts.  My ribs hurt from laughing so much.

Sunday, I paid for the over indulgence and felt bad for my friend Fred (who felt as badly as I did) but had to drive back to Dallas.  I think Connie was more active than I was today.

It was a great diversion from what had been going on and we're both thankful for such great friends.

You need to take your wife to the Emergency Room...

Today, Connie was scheduled to be in Corpus Christi at 8:30a for a brain MRI, a mammogram and a CT chest scan.  We have a follow up visit with Dr. Aponte, the oncologist, on Monday (the 25th).  The whole process was supposed to take about an hour and a half.

Nothing I could do, so I started driving around Corpus Christi playing Munzee, which is basically a 21st century scavenger hunt with a smart phone.  I thought it beat sitting in a waiting area for a couple of hours.  Connie had forwarded her cell phone to me, so all the business calls would come my way while she was being tested.

At about 9:45a, I got a call from Dr. Aponte wanting to tell me to take Connie to the Emergency Room at Christus Spohn Shoreline. I was pretty confused.  I was only about 10 minutes away from the imaging place.  Connie was inside waiting on them to make disks up to give to her and bring with her to the ER.  She said something on the brain MRI was troubling to the technician.

We went to the ER.  (Funny story, while we're waiting they called for "Guadalupe Something" four different times for four different Guadalupe's.)  Connie finally gets taken back, and we agreed that it was time to get the dogs taken care of since the admitting process would take a while.

I came back to Rockport and made arrangements for Carmen and Sloopy to be boarded at the Salty Dog here in Rockport.  They weren't quite used to having loose ends, but we got it worked out.  Whole process took about 2 hours.

By the time I got back, Connie was in a hallway and about to be transferred to a transitional area.  She had met with Dr. Aponte who said there was a mass on her brain that needed immediate treatment.  Connie was put on steroids (to shrink the swelling of the brain) and anti seizure meds right away.

We met that night with Dr. Gleason, who was a neurologist.  He showed us the pictures that had caused alarm and was going to recommend that Connie undergo Cyber Knife treatment for the large mass, and whole brain radiation for the additional small spots that were apparent.

I went home, and Connie was moved to a permanent room.