Endless Summer

Mom and Dad are truly soaking up all the good things that their Florida home offers them – the bright sunshine, the sounds of the surf, and good friends.  I am so lucky and happy to be seeing it all first hand as my family and I have spent the last week in Florida with them.

Mom’s first FL chemo appointment last week on March 1st went well.  Dad went with her; Mom said he was perhaps a bit overwhelmed by the large medical complex.  Her blood work looked good so her doctor prescribed a 80% dose of chemo. 

Yesterday Mom had her second chemo appointment.  When the nurse came back with the blood work results, she braced us that she did not think there would be chemo since the white blood cells counts were low.  But doctor decided to proceed with a 50% dose, though he wanted her to return two more times this week to receive neupogen shots to help boost her white blood cells.  Hopefully this will work so she will be able to receive chemo next week.

Over the last few years, Florida has been a welcome retreat for Mom and Dad during the winter months.  When they bought their condo last March, Mom named their new home Endless Summer.  This year Endless Summer is providing the perfect place to find many moments peace and joy.

Mom gets up early every morning while Dad is still sleeping and walks the beach, reveling in the early sunlight streaming through the clouds.  She combs the beach looking for treasures – shells that she has given her own special nomenclature: angel wings, smoothies, hearts, sunrise shells to name a few. For each one she takes home, she must pick up a hundred or more. For Mom, each morning is a gift, each with a unique combination of surf, sun, sand and shells.

Photo of Sunrise

Photo of some of Mom's Heart Shells and Rocks

My kids have just loved spending the week with DeeDee and Vovo.  They have seen sunrises and sunsets with Mom, and enjoyed everything in between.  It has been a great time that none of us want to end – we are all loving our time together during our little "endless summer".

Photo of DeeDee, the kids and me at the seawall by the farmers' market

For pictures, comments and their FL address go to followingdenise.blogspot.com