Go Rangers Go! ....or not.

Although the Rangers lost 5-13 to the Tigers, we had a great time at the game on Wednesday night. My sister Brittany was given free tickets from her best friend's dad, who sang the national anthem that night as part of a quartet called "Fireforce." The group is made up of firemen. Thanks Britt for inviting us to go with you! We had a great time!

I forgot to take my camera, so visit Brittany's blog www.getreadyeurope.blogspot.com to read more and see pictures/video of just how much fun we all had!

Wonderful Waco!

We went to Waco this past weekend to visit Granny (Dave's mom), and it was extra special and fun because we took Katelyn to the zoo for the first time! She really enjoyed it, and although she didn't give quite as much attention to the animals at the end of our tour as she did to those at the beginning, they were still excited to see her! Other highlights included a delicious dinner at a nice restaurant on Friday night and Granny buying Katelyn her first wagon as a gift for her upcoming 2nd birthday (shhh! don't tell Katelyn!). Thank you Granny (and Grandmother!) for a wonderful Waco visit! We love you!

Granny bought this little apron for Katelyn, and she LOVED it!

Katelyn doing her morning exercises on Granny's "gazelle machine." She loves this thing!

Katelyn giving Grandmother a hug

Katelyn "applying" some lip stick on Granny

Sitting in the chair that Grandmother bought her--thank you Grandmother!

Our little butterfly!

Looking at and talking to the parrots with Granny

Katelyn looking at the fish in the aquarium exhibit--she really liked this part!

A trip to the Cameron Park Zoo in Waco: the "after" picture--I forgot to take a "before" one!

A Fun Snack!

Here is a fun snack I made a couple months ago! I saw it in a magazine and thought, "I can do that!" See if you can figure out all the ingredients!

Baby Kate and Brodie!

One of Katelyn's best buddies is Brodie. She gets very excited when we go to see him. We have had the chance to see him two times this past month! Once at his 3rd birthday party (a swim party!) and once for dinner at his house. Very fun! Here are a few pictures....

Brodie giving Baby Kate a hug

Hot stuff!

Mommy and Katelyn going down the slide at the water park!

Playing with stickers at Brodie's house

Bathtime with Brodie!

Dad Update!

Here is the most recent update (as of July 3) my dad sent out on his recovery. Sorry for the late posting!

E-mail Subject: Veni. Veni. Wee-Wee

Man what a difference a week makes. Last Friday I was hoping to keep down lunch so I could get out of the hospital and today I'm free, untethered from drains, IVs, leg compression cuffs, catheter and on the road to full recovery. At each disconnect, You think "Man, if I can just lose this _____ (fill in the blank), I'm going to be so much better". I got down to the last disconnect and found it was replaced with a pad. The subject line of this update appeared in the comic strip 'Get Fuzzy' on Thursday, the day I got a clean bill of health on the pathology reports and had the catheter removed. You talk about God's timing. Plus, I recognized I needed to add a little bit of class to my ramblings about potty training and open robes. What better way than Latin ? Mr. Doyle from high school Latin would be proud.

I didn't do it by myself. I had a lot of help. Okay, in high school Latin and in this recovery.

Nikki - still recovering from her last (as in the last one June 19th and the final one #6) chemo treatment hauling me to the hospital and staying with me. She was overcome with the accumulation of her 6 treatments and on top of it all she got an UTI and cough. Two things you really don't want much less together. And she did it in 106 heat.

Our middle daughter Jessica - she's seriously re-thinking being the only daughter in town. She came with Nikki and stayed after she went home and got up early (I'm talking she was by my side at 0630 Friday morning. She comforted me, held my hand, brought me Chickfila shakes, and endured my "open robe" policy. Being in the hospital you lose all dignity or if you don't lose it, you really don't care much about it.

Wally and Mary Huck - from prayers to presence. Mary fixed me my last meal before I began my 2 day all liquid diet before surgery. Homemade pasta - a labor of love.

Charles Parchman and Jim Archer - my prostate cancer mentors, conveniently forgot to tell me a couple of those steps in getting these things removed--like when they tell you "we're going to take this out, just take a deep breath". My lungs just weren't that big. I guess it's like childbirth--once you are through it, there are some things you just don't care to remember. Am I right ladies?

Bill Pewitt, my own personal "Red Box" brought us nine movies to watch--we've enjoyed seven so far.

Terry Sewell, Fran Johnson, and Stephanie Seiler from Bethany UMC - Terry brought by banana pudding and Stephanie a shrimp dinner at just the right times for their dishes. Fran came to the hospital as part of BUMC hospital visitation ministry. Glenn and Renee brought "sunshine salad"--a meal we once shared with them in Corpus Christi many years ago. I told Glenn I thought it was all downhill from here on my recovery. He got really excited. He thought downhill as "Can I have his Rolling Stone t-shirt collection?" but I meant "it only gets easier from here." Sorry buddy, but you are in line for one of my jackets.

My daughters Kristen and Brittany kept vigil by phone and their blogs. If you are interested in visiting their blogs, Kristen and Dave's is www.mcmemos.blogspot.com and Brittany's is www.getreadyeurope.blogspot.com

Marvel at the self sufficiency of the Brittany youngest one and her ingenuity with her Frugal Fridays--makes you believe in oaks and acorns (the nut doesn't fall far from the tree); and marvel at the sweetness of Katelyn, our granddaughter by Kristen and Dave--sure Katelyn is sweet, but she is my fierce potty training competitor.

Brittany and her two friends, Ali and Pita are here this weekend and have brightened up our home. Kristen and Katelyn will visit next week while Dave is in Atlanta.

My folks, who live in Beaumont, wanted to come to be with me but the heat, the distance, and the wear of the drive were just too much. It didn't matter, I still felt their presence and look forward to limping in (you've got to sell it) to her kitchen the next trip we make there to soak up some belated home cooking.

The older we get and the things that come with the older we get, you come to appreciate those things that sustain you--family, friends, church, and good medical insurance. I want to throw in a plug for my doctor, the world-renown Randy S. Fagin, M.D. Men, if you and your prostate are soon to part ways, Dr. Fagin is who I would recommend. Yes, I did come out with a huge bruise looking like they dropped me off the table but he said that is all typical--just blood pooling under the skin. I might should have kept some of those witty comments to myself.

We hope this is the end of both of our medical updates. We want to just relax and recover for a while. We look forward to spending time with these family and friends and the others who sustained us with thoughts and prayers.

Thank you all so very much. God has surely blessed us both.

DAVID

4th of July Fun!

We were invited by our friends, the Hipps, to their lakehouse at Richland Chambers Lake over the 4th! We were only able to stay Friday night, but it was so much fun! They have a little girl, Jordan (AKA "Jordi") a few months older than Katelyn and they looooove playing together! Thank you Hipps for such a wonderful time!

We came back Saturday night just in time to give Katelyn a bath and head back out to see a local fireworks show! From where we sat, we actually got to see two fireworks shows--one for our city and one for a surrounding city! It was awesome!

Jordi and Katelyn in the pool!

Katelyn loooooved this swing!

Me and Jenny in the hammock

Katelyn in the car on our way to the fireworks show

Happy Belated Father's Day Dave!

Katelyn pondering the awesomeness that is her Daddy

OK-I'm a little behind on posting this entry, but better late than never, right? Dave is such an awesome dad! We had a great Father's Day last month! Pei Wei had "Dads Eat Free" that weekend, so we totally took advantage of it! Below is what "Katelyn" wrote in her Father's Day card to Dave. I think it serves as a great representation of just how thankful she is for her daddy!

Dear Daddy,

I love you SO much! Thank you for being such a wonderful daddy! I love it when its your turn to give me a bath and read to me before bed, and I always look forward to our Sunday morning dates too! You are the best daddy a little girl could ever ask for. You make me feel so loved and special! Thank you too for sharing your food with me all the time when I "ask!" I love you Daddy!

Love,

Katelyn

Awesome Dude!

I mentioned in a post a few weeks ago that one of Katelyn's new phrases she likes to say is "Awesome Dude!" I was actually able to get it on video not too long ago! Enjoy it for yourself, and have an "Awesome Dude" Day!

Enjoying time with family and friends in Austin!

Dave was in Atlanta again this past week, so Katelyn and I headed down to Austin to help my parents out, and do whatever we could to make their lives easier as they recover (mom from her last chemo treatment, dad from prostate surgery). We had such a great time! I wish I had more pictures to share, but to be quite honest, I don't think there was one day where one of them wasn't in their bath robe all day! It was really a joy to serve them....they deserve it! While in Austin, Katelyn and I got to visit with two of my friends from high school, Roxy and Erin, and their kids. The kids played in a baby pool that Roxy set up at her house. So fun! It is always a treat when we are able to get together (with or without our kids!).

Katelyn sporting her cute swimsuit!!

Fun times playing in the baby pool!

Sophia, Everett, and Katelyn