And if we didn't have enough to worry about...

Bobby ran into icy roads on the way home from Cumberland. He and his pilot, Dave, got bounced around a bit in the car but faired out pretty well considering. Bobby has been having some back pain and was stiff & sore. The police car was totaled

We are thankful that no one was seriously injured.

After we brought poor Lexi home from the hospital...

Lexi on the spy cam

We are watching Lexi's progress -- from the bedroom! She came out of her box after I removed the vet wrap from her paw. She is having trouble walking around but went to her food and ate a bunch and has been drinking alot. She let me give her the pill and I had the other part of it in her food which she ate eagerly! She is so SCHNOCKERED that she is having trouble walking--I hope it is from the meds!

 Anyway, she seems to be doing well but she isn't out of the woods.Lexi started having seizures last week. By Friday night, they were so frequent and severe that we had to take her to the Mountainside Animal Hospital. They were terrific. Dr. Wilson and his staff worked very quickly with Lexi. They got an IV started and gave her Phenobarbitol. She stayed in the hospital overnight and I reluctantly picked her up around 5 the following evening. I was afraid to bring her home. The seizures were horrible. Even though we don't know what was causing them, the Phenobarbital is working at getting rid of them. She will need the medication twice a day...every day! She is such a sweet cat. We are trying everything we can to keep her comfortable.

Bobby

Bobby is doing very well - or so it seems. He has been through a rough last few weeks. Donna has been in the hospital since Sept. 19th (see Donna's Blog). It hasn't been an easy three weeks in the hospital because she came home 2X and then had to be re-admitted (which is harder than just staying in there)! The Sunday of the Trooper 2 helicopter crash was one of the days that Donna got re-admitted. That following week was rough. Bobby wanted to be at work to support his co-workers yet needed to be (and wanted to be) home with his kids and in the hospital with Donna. He did a great job and managed to take care of everyone. He will be starting back to work in another week (provided Donna can keep herself out of the hospital this time!)

Surgery update

Donna's surgery went well and Bobby brought her home today. For those who aren't aware, she had an "abdominal laparotomy and left salpingo-oophorectomy" which means they took out the left ovary via the abdomen. An oncologist (Dr. Rosenshein from Mercy hospital in Baltimore) did the surgery with Donna's local doctor, Dr. Solberg. The adhesions (from many previous surgeries) were wrapped around nerves, arteries, the ovary, and everything near by. Even the specialist said it was a challenge...but he is the best and did a great job. The surgery was Friday morning and she is home tonight catching up on all of that great hospital sleep! She came home with a drain in place (the same type of drain that Bobby had, "Darla" after his surgery) -- I'm sure we'll have pictures soon! The drain should come out on the 29th and maybe the 100 or so staples too. Bobby still has to count. He counted 35 to the center but the nurses think it is more. The nursing care at the hospital was wonderful and we had nothing to complain about--isn't that amazing!

We hope everyone is doing well and we'll try to keep in touch. I'm going to post a very interesting grading report on Julie's blog (www.julieharsh.blogspot.com) soon. It is amazing how they grade things these days. So much for the black grade book!

We're down to a few hours...

Donna's surgery is in the morning. We have to be at the hospital at 5:30. I'll finish packing in the morning. We've been busy all day and I'm very tired. Bobby is already asleep. I will update the blog after the surgery although it may be after we get home. Washington Co. doesn't have Internet like Frederick does. I'm sure the new hospital will have it though. If all goes as planned, the surgery will be Friday morning and I'll be home Sunday morning. I'm in good hands because Bobby will be right beside me the entire time.

Love to all,
Talk to you soon

A favorite childhood recipe...

When Donna was a child, her mother used to fix this often. The best part was the "Hasty-Tasty Sauce" which came from a recipe in the Good Housekeeping Cookbook. Donna searched for the REAL recipe and finally found a vintage cookbook with the recipe. I bought it at Wonder Books many years ago so I would have my own copy. Now, I have my mother's original cookbook dated 1943 (older than she is). Here is the recipe from the original cookbook...

Cube Steaks with Hasty Tasty Sauce

Buy 4 small cube steaks (about 1lb.). Sprinkle with 1 t. salt, 1/8 t. pepper, 3 T. flour. In 3 T. hot fat in skillet, brown steaks quickly (2-3 minutes) on both sides. Remove. (I drain on paper towels). To fat left in skillet, add 1 t. dry mustard; 1 t. Worcestershire; 3 T. chili sauce or catsup; 2 T. lemon juice. Heat till boiling, stirring. Spoon over steaks. Serve at once. Makes 4 servings.

With less than 2 weeks until Donna's surgery, the countdown begins. Housework, shopping, meal preparation, getting the house in order, and not being home for a few days are among the worries at the top of the list. I don't think anyone else here is worried or aware-which is fine. The laundry just won't get done for a few days. I don't want to have to put any extra stress or worries on Bobby, he is supposed to be taking care of himself--not me. I'll be back in no time. I wonder if they have internet at the hospital...??? I prefer hospitals with private rooms, a place for my spouse to stay WITH ME, and a Starbucks in the lobby. I'd like to have my hair done the day after surgery, and perhaps a pedi--although my wonderful husband always fixes me up with that! I knew we should have had this done in L.A.!!! What was I thinking?!

Old Dominion Horse Show

We just got back from another horse show. Julie rode Raven and was amazing. This is one of our favorite pictures. This was Julie's first time jumping at a show...and she got GRAND CHAMPION. She won all 3 jumping classes. At the top of the page is a link to Julie's blog where I am going to post more of her pictures. This was Julie's last show for her in this division. Next year, she will be in the 14-17 year old class.

You can look here also: www.julieharsh.blogspot.com

I have tons of pictures to post. School has started and we've been very busy. Bobby is doing well. His leg is bruised and lumpy from the injections. All of his tests have been great. Lindsey is starting college tomorrow. She has a busy schedule at HCC and she is still working a ton of hours. Julie started high school this year. It is hard to believe. It seems like it was just yesterday that Lindsey started 9th grade. Dan is in 7th grade and has mostly merit classes. He is a bit nervous about the extra load but he needs the challenge to keep busy. The time just flies...and the years speed by. Donna is working as much as possible. She has surgery scheduled for September 19th. That left-over ovary is causing problems and needs to go. We were hoping to avoid the surgery but after a few months, and a re-check, another cyst ruptured and things haven't gotten any better. (That's the only bum thing we're dealing with right now--which is tolerable)

Well, I want to post the pictures on Julie's page. I'll keep adding more as I can. Please check back. I have a ton of pictures to post. ENJOY!

We'll try the video...

Dan weaves through the crowd to find Lindsey and Caitlin, it was very busy at the airport!

Bobby helps her get her luggage at the airport.

Lindsey with her Dad...gathering the luggage from the turmoil!

Dan, Lindsey, and pictures of Caitlin with her mother (Mrs. Nase)

I thought this had been posted...but...

LINDSEY IS HOME!!! She got home on Sunday. I thought the pictures had gotten posted on the blog Sunday night -- hard to tell where they went! Bobby, Dan, and I went to the airport to get Lindsey on Sunday afternoon. It was hectic because traffic was a mess. There was a small fender-bender on the 340 bridge. The goofy MSP cop would not move traffic off off the bridge so it got WAY backed up in both directions. Damned cops. But, Bobby got us to the airport in plenty of time to pick up Lindsey and Caitlin. Caitlin's mom said traffic on Rt. 15 was bad also -- we couldn't win either way.

Lindsey had landed at Dulles when we were still about 30 minutes away from the airport. By the time we got in there, parked, and waked down to the far terminal, we still had to wait for a while for the girls to make it thru immigration and customs. That was smooth sailing for them coming back into the country.

Dan was very happy to see Lindsey and Caitlin. Here are some pictures...I'm not sure if I can get the video to post (but I will try). Lindsey missed everyone here but I don't think she was glad to be back home! Maybe to recharge her bank account! She had a great time in Germany with Caitlin.

Lindsey has LANDED

Bobby's Vaccine Leg

Bobby's leg is very lumpy and sore. Each vaccine is given in another spot. The dark spot on the left is from 3 weeks ago. It is warm and swollen. The spot under the black ink is from this week's vaccine which he got on Tuesday. We thought that they might switch legs this time but Kathy said that they ALWAYS use the left thigh. After he gets the vaccine, and for the next 4 nights, we apply a cream (Imiquimod) to his leg. Dan likes to help Dad with applying the cream. He puts on gloves and spreads the cream on Bobby's leg. Then he covers it with gauze and tape. It is suppose to help the body know to "respond" to that area. Kathy marks his leg after the vaccine to show where to apply the cream. Bobby says the worst part is taking off the tape in the morning. Bobby does great getting the injections and doesn't complain about the lumps in his legs. He does whine often about taking off the tape in the morning. OUCH!

2 Days at NIH...

Bobby had appointments Tuesday & Wednesday at NIH. On Tuesday, he had to be there early for apheresis. That is the procedure where they start 2 IV lines and pull the blood through a machine that separates out the white blood cells (and keeps them). The machine spins the blood and tries to only collect the WBCs. They had gotten thru pretty much most of the procedure (which takes 4 hours) when the BIG IV stopped working. They tried to re-start it but that one didn't work either. So, they stopped the collection...and had gotten most of what they needed. Bobby then had to start drinking the contrast for his CT scans. This is a picture of him in the waiting room while waiting for the CT. The scanned his chest, abdomen, and pelvis (lots of lymph nodes in all of those places). That process didn't take too long. After he was finished, we went up to the NIH cafeteria for a great lunch. Then we headed home.

The next day, Wednesday, his appt. was at 1PM in the Clinic to see the doctors and get the results from the previous days' testing. I think we finally saw the doctor at 4PM. Then, we had to wait for over an hour for them to order his vaccine. We went down to the coffee shop and we all got a treat. Julie & Dan went along. This has been the first time they could go without missing school! It was exciting for them to go with Dad and to see all of the neat things at NIH. We left home early to eat (with the kids) in the NIH cafeteria. They enjoyed that. While Bobby was waiting for the doctors, the kids went up to the library and read for about 2 hours.

The greatest part of our day was hearing the news that EVERYTHING LOOKS GREAT! They told Bobby that his face is healing VERY WELL, and that even more importantly, ALL OF HIS SCANS looked PERFECT! Bobby had been nervous over this...but once again HE PASSED WITH FLYING COLORS!

They will continue with the vaccines every 3 weeks. They are pleased with the response that Bobby's body is showing to the vaccine. The shots make his leg swollen and red and lumpy. Kathy (the vaccine nurse) says that this is showing that Bobby's immune system is responding to the vaccine.

Thanks to everyone for your thought and prayers. All of the support is very helpful!

Quick update from NIH..until I can post more..

100% CLEAN BILL OF hEALTH given to Bobby today... He's in great spirits...more later. Cell battery almost gone! Had to send a picture to get this information to post...so I picked a picture of "The Duplicats"

Clean Bill of Health

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100% CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH given to Bobby today... He's in great spirits...more later. Cell battery almost gone!

100% CLEAN BILL OF hEALTH given to Bobby today... He's in great spirits...more later. Cell battery almost gone!

Julie moves the towels from the 400ft. WATER SLIDE to the POOL.

The kids get a Clydesdale ride.

These are the Clydesdales that they use to open the show every night at the horse show in Lexington, VA. There is an auction and you can bid on a ride with them.

Julie & Raven at Mid-A

This is a picture of a picture...of Julie on Raven

When the Cat's Away...

Daddy will PLAY!

And, he's having fun!

~Zoom--Zoom--Zoom!~

Brian's Apple-tini (a "Girly Drink)

Retirement Party for Jim Thomas

DAN DAN THE PARTY MAN!

Petting Zoo in Lancaster...

Junk Mail...

Leave it to Larry Allen Photographers to not miss an opportunity! They sent this to us (with an order form). Of course, THEY have the best picture...and the kids rehersed which camera to smile for! So, who do I make the check out to...Oh, yeah, Larry Allen! I'm surprised the schools don't offer an automatic debit from parents' checking accounts for school pics...up to and even AFTER graduation! The picture quality is the best I could do (until the REAL ones come)...I scanned the "preview" copy they sent us...

Lindsey...

Lindsey has started a travel blog...please feel free to visit her blog and see her travels thru Germany and Europe.

www.lindseyharsh.blogspot.com

Hobo Packet Dinner...Delicious!

DEL

Eating breakfast at "The Family Cupboard" Restaurant

Amish Farming

We went to the Winery...and "tasted"

Ummmm, a "Covered Bridge"

Lindsey's First Kiss!

Stormy Nights In Lancaster--VIDEOS

I'll see if I can upload a video or two...

It takes a long time to upload a video...and it is 0300. I am getting tired...look for more tomorrow...but not too early! HAPPY BIRTHDAY LINDSEY!

Stormy Nights In Lancaster

Bobby and I are in the camper. Grandy is staying home with Julie and Dan. Lindsey is (you know) in Germany! Bobby and I decided to go to Lancaster, PA for a few nights together--alone! We arrived today and we're staying at the Country Acres Campground. It is great. The grounds are beautiful. It happens to be located just behind (like RIGHT behind) one of Donna's favorite shops along Rt. 30 in Lancaster (East of). We'd come back here again!

At about 5PM tonight, the storms started rolling through here...it got pretty bad. After we sat in the camper through the first batch, and did fine...we decided to venture out and not sit here under these trees for the rest of the storms. The camper is fine...but we are glad we left...we had a great time driving around...in the storms....

Here are some of the pictures we took as we braved the weather! I'll upload some videos if I can. If not, they are on YOUTUBE. www.youtube.com/donnah123 check it out!