Florida R&R!

It's been a wonderful and relaxing week for Ginny-Mom in Florida!

Highlights have included celebrating their 37th wedding anniversary with Pete & JoAnne Shirk at home on Tidy Island. They also went to the beach on nearby Anna Maria for sunset with Tom & me and we had a fun adventure aboard Tom's boat visiting some of Sarasota's beautiful destinations! As you can see in these photos, we stopped for lunch at The Old Salty Dog, home of the famous beer-battered deep fried hotdog! If you don't believe us, watch The Travel Channel's "Man vs. Food" Sarasota episode on Saturday night (9/18/09 at 8:30 PM Eastern) where the host of the show visits The Old Salty Dog for this delectable treat. Wanting in on the action, we boated to the 'Dog, and Tom and Dad requested the now-famous version of the deep fried hotdog with cheese, mushrooms, bacon and sauerkraut. Mom stuck to the original version and she loved it!

Then we cruised around Sarasota Bay and enjoyed a breezy, beautiful, sunny day. Dad and Tom had fun rafting in the water before we stopped at another one of our favorite places: Mar Vista. This too is one of those old seaside Sarasota establishments, and when we were there last time with Mom & Dad on New Year's Day, Mom and I each decorated a dollar bill and hung it on the wall. As you can see, they are still hanging! After enjoying some grouper, oysters, and other delicious items we headed home in the dark and got to appreciate the peaceful waters and beautiful bright stars.

Aside from a few small adventures and several games of Scrabble, it's been an extremely restful getaway with much needed relaxation and heavy emphasis on healing. Florida sure is great for much needed R&R!

We're heading home to Pittsburgh on Sunday before Ginny-Mom's next chemo treatment on Tuesday, September 22nd. Please be thinking of her and sending lots of good energy her way! Mom is doing a FANTASTIC job and we really thank you for all of your prayers. Please keep it up!!

Our Love to All!!!!!

-Carrie

A note from Ginny!

Hi Everyone, It's Ginny!

I want to thank you all so much for your prayers. I really do feel like I'm on the road to healing! 

 

On Tuesday I went in for my second chemo treatment, it's been 5 days and I am feeling quite well, just a little tired. But my appetite is good and I'm resting a lot. Dick has been by my side at every appointment and of course for the treatments. He's been a fantastic support! When we were in Shadyside at the hospital on Tuesday we actually met a few wonderful people who were also getting treatment and really enjoyed talking to them. 

My daughters have been here practically around the clock. They love to cook, work around the house and make me laugh. We had baby James here for 3 weeks and he has taken to calling me "Ghee-Ghee"--sounding very French! PJ and Tom have been here a few times too and we really enjoy having their personalities around, Dick especially! Tom made bacon the other day and normally that would smell really delicious but this week smells are really bothering me, I'm so sensitive now but that should go away in a few days.  Carrie's extensive collection of sanitizing products can be a little much, even if you're not undergoing chemotherapy, but it is a sterile environment here and I appreciate not being around any germs. My white blood cell count is getting low, which means no raw produce unfortunately, but they have been cooking everything fully and we're enjoying the delicious summer flavors nonetheless. Keeping weight on is really important of course so that I can keep getting the higher doses of chemo!

Courtney, John, Kristin, PJ & James will be here in a few weeks and I look forward to their visit. I will get to spend extra time with all of them too which is great!

If I'm feeling up to it, Dick and I are thinking about going to Florida next week for our anniversary! Even though the weather has been beautiful here, it would be nice to have a change of scenery and relax in Florida for a few days before my third dose of chemo on September 22nd. I will of course wear a mask on the plane and will get on early with the special needs passengers.  Carrie wants me to wear rubber gloves onboard and is wondering how we will get enough ounces of Purell hand sanitizer through security!

I cannot thank you enough for your prayers. I feel strength from you all of the time and I really appreciate it so much, please keep it up!!! God bless you all and keep you happy, healthy and safe. 

 

Happy Labor Day weekend,

 

Love and Prayers,

 

Ginny