Friday, 4/1/16 – At the suggestion of my doctor, I started the Mediterranean Diet today.  We received an e-mail from the FSU Alumni Association announcing that FSU and UF were being merged!  The only good thing I could find in the announcement was that they were putting FSU first in the name.  If you can’t read the small print below, it says “The State University System of Florida announced this morning plans to merge Florida State University and the University of Florida, creating a super-preeminent, research intensive institution.”

Obviously, this was an April Fool’s joke which they corrected via e-mail the next day.

Saturday, April 2, 2016 – This evening we attended the Bradenton Yacht Club’s Annual Meeting.  We checked in at 5:15.  The meeting started at 6:00 and ended just before 9:00.  Most everyone attending the meeting (a room full) had made reservations for dinner afterward.  So we had a very late supper.

Sunday, April 3, 2016 – A cold front came through the area last night taking our temperatures down into the 60s.   Rick made conch salad and made up the batter for the conch fritters this morning.  He took it up to the restaurant and they put it in the cooler until the afternoon.  We invited Ken and Jackie to join us for a late lunch.  In addition to the conch salad and conch fritters, we had shrimp and lump crab meat.  What a feast!

Monday, April 4, 2016 – The doctor’s office called to say that I have a urinary trac infection and something wrong with my kidneys.  They ordered new bloodwork and she wants to see me before we leave on the cruise.

Tuesday, April 5, 2016 – We drove to Moffitt for Rick to have blood drawn, meet with the doctor, and have a chemotherapy infusion.  When we left Moffitt, we drove to Ocala.  I went into town to see Dad in the morning and in the afternoon we drove over to Ormond Beach to have supper with Rick’s Mom and brother.  I saw Dad again Thursday morning.  We stopped at JPs on the way back to the boat to pick up our mail and get Rick’s formal wear to take to the cleaners.  JP invited us to supper tonight and we accepted.  Kellie made shrimp and cheese grits with bacon bits.  We left there around 8 p.m.  Rick was complaining about his back hurting and his legs bothering him, so he took a sleeping pill and went to bed early.

Friday, April 8,2016  – Our nephew, Tim Cambre, got married in Atlanta this evening.  We had made reservations to go, but when we realized that Rick wouldn’t be feeling good (3 days after chemo), we had to cancel.  We are sorry that we couldn’t participate in this very happy family occasion. But we loved seeing the pictures on Facebook that several family members posted.

Rick is editing the slide show that I put together for him to use to make a presentation at the Yacht Club on Tuesday night – On the Hook’s Adventures in the Bahamas!  It should be fun.  Rick took an extra nausea medicine after this chemotherapy treatment and it seems to be helping him a lot.  We’ll see how tomorrow goes.

Saturday, April 9, 2016 – I slept in while Rick ran some errands this morning.  We gathered all the printed material that we wanted to take on the cruise and started organizing it.  Since Rick is still feeling pretty good, we met Ken and Jackie for supper at the yacht club.

Sunday, April 10, 2016 – Went to the store to buy a few things needed for our trip and the time in between.  I fixed baked chicken with brown rice and Brussel sprouts for supper.  This Mediterranean diet seems to have really brought my sugar level down – which is what the doctor wanted.  It was a very pretty – but breezy – day.

Monday, April 11, 2016 – I went for more bloodwork in the morning and then got my hair cut.  I came back to the boat and we went to JPs to get him to help Rick sinc his PC and his tablet.  Rick went to the pool in the afternoon.  Iin the late afternoon, my doctor’s office called to say that she was ordering a sonogram of my kidneys tomorrow morning.  They are also going to try to get me in to see a kidney specialist before we leave on vacation. 
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Tuesday, April 12, 2016 – We went to Manatee Diagnostic Center where I had a sonogram on my kidneys and then south to Sarasota to meet with our financial advisor for our annual review.  In the evening Rick presented the slide show at the Bradenton Yacht Club Power Fleet dinner meeting which talked about our extended trip to the Bahamas.  There were 49 in attendance with lots of questions.  The presentation was much appreciated by all.

Wednesday, April 13, 2016 – We left the boat about 5:30 a.m. and drove to the cabin.  I checked Dad’s mail and left Rick there to take care of things while I went in to the rehab center to meet with Dad’s tax man to have Dad sign his tax return.  On the way back to the cabin, I dropped the check in the mail.  I had an appointment with a kidney specialist in Bradenton late in the afternoon.  He said that the sonogram didn’t show anything of concern.  He said that my creotine levels are high.  The blood test on April 1 showed that my kidneys were functioning at about 50% of normal.  The one taken on April 11 showed that they were functioning at 25%.  After hearing about the antibotics I have been taking, he felt that they were most likely the cause of the increase in the levels.  He wants me to have another blood test done in June when we return from the cruise.  But, he said I should not have any problems on the vacation.  When we left the doctor’s office, Rick dropped me off at the hospital to attend a diabetes class which is required by my insurance.  It was a very long day.

Thursday, April 14, 2016 – This was the only day that we had absolutely nothing on our scheduled.  We enjoyed relaxing.

Friday, April 15, 2016 – We drove to the east coast of Florida to Rick’s mother’s and brother’s home in Ormond Beach.  We went for the weekend to celebrate Rick’s brother, Edward’s, 51^st birthday on Sunday, April 17. 

Saturday, April 16, 2016 – We spent a quiet day enjoying each other’s company.  I cooked supper – pork tenderloin, sweet potato and asparagus.  We also had the deviled eggs that Mom made earlier in the day.  We finished up the evening wishing Edward an early birthday (because we have to leave tomorrow morning.)  He opened his presents and we had some (just a little) very “yummy” birthday cake.

Sunday, April 17, 2016 – We wished Edward a happy birthday when he came down to breakfast.  Rick fixed eggs, bacon and toast.  We left mid-morning and stopped by JP’s on the way back in  to town to pick up our mail.  They were in the back yard.  Emma was playing in the sprinkler. 

Monday, April 18, 2016 – Rick went to the dentist first thing this morning.  They removed a couple of pieces that remained of his tooth but said everything looks like it is healing well and he should be able to get the bridge shortly after we return from our trip.  I went to the doctor just before noon.  She went over my test results; ordered more bloodwork to be done when we return; and said have a nice vacation. 

Tuesday, April 19, 2016 – We sent birthday wishes to our niece, Christina, in Chicago, and drove to Ocala to see Dad.  When I returned to the cabin around 3:30, we decided to go back to Palmetto instead of waiting until tomorrow.  We called Moffitt to tell them that we would stop by to pick up a prescription on our way through Tampa.  When we got into Palmetto, we stopped at JP’s to pick up a new international phone that we bought to use while we’re in Europe.  It was delivered to his house this morning.

Wednesday, April 20, 2016 – We wished Christina’s father, my brother Bill, a happy birthday today.  Just before noon, we drove to the Sarasota Town Center to pick up some Euro’s that we had ordered; then we went to the bank, the drug store, the cleaner’s and JP’s again (to check our mail.)  The rest of the day was spent packing.  In the evening, I went to a diabetes class before we met Bill and Ruth for supper at the Blu Mangrove.  While we were eating, Rick’s temporary bridge came loose, so we will be at the dentist’s office at 8:00 a.m.

Thursday, April 21, 2016 – Our adventure begins today.  After seeing the dentist, we pick up a rental car; take our car to leave at JP’s; then drive to Ft. Lauderdale to see our friend Captain Barry; and prepare to get on the Royal Princess in the morning.

Tuesday, 3/1/16 – We met Joe and Casey at the club for supper to discuss plans for our cruise/European vacation.

Wednesday, 3/2/16 – Rick lost a tooth.  He went to the dentist who said that he will need extensive work culminating in a bridge.  Today is our daughter-in-law, Kellie’s, birthday.  We watched their two-and-a-half year old, Emma, while they went out to dinner to celebrate.

Thursday, 3/3/16  – We drove to Ocala.  I got Dad’s mail and had a nice visit with him for several hours before we returned back to Palmetto to the boat.  We received an e-mail from Bonnie.   She told us that she and Marino had arrived safely back home in Barrie, Canada just north of Toronto.  She also said that there was about 2.5 feet of snow on the ground.  She wanted me to let Jackie know that she had updated their Compass Cay remembrance totem before she left.

Friday, 3/4/16 – Despite having the second cold front come through this week, the weather is nice.   Rick sat in the dentist’s chair for 2 hours getting what was left of his tooth removed and a temporary put in.  The doc wants to see him again before we go on our cruise.  We decided to stay in for supper tonight.

Saturday, 3/5/16 – We attended the BYC Great Mates annual fundraiser this evening.  They were raising money for a local charity called Turning Points that helps people keep from becoming homeless as well as for scholarships.  They had a cruise theme this year and have decided to continue with that theme in future years – just changing the destination.  We voted to cruise to Hawaii next year.  In addition to a live auction, they had a silent auction for 60+ baskets – I bought 5 – and a 50/50 raffle as well as a special raffle for a weekend at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Sarasota.  We had a good meal and a great band (T-Bone) and it was all for a good cause.  We were seated with the current commodore, Mark Berté and his wife, Denise, and with past commodore, Joe McClash and his wife, Casey.  Joe and Casey just happen to be our cruise mates when we cross the North Atlantic in April.

Sunday, March 6, 2016 – Somehow, I managed to pull a muscle in my back on Saturday, so I stayed in bed most of the day on Sunday.  But, we did go out for a short while to take a basket to the house.  This basket was called “Keep the Kids Busy” and was filled with all sorts of things that we think Emma will really enjoy.  She will get it for Easter.

Monday, March 7, 2016 – I got a call from my brother, Rick, this morning.  He said that he was going to go up to Ocala to see Dad today and would spend the night at the cabin.  He’ll get to see Dad again in the morning before returning home to Geneva, Florida.  I told him how much better Dad seemed last week when I was there and he was pleased.  I also told him that we would be there on Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning.  I made an appointment for a massage.  Hopefully that will help with my back pain.

Tuesday, March 8, 2016 – Today, would have been my mother’s 87^th birthday.  Sadly, we lost her to pancreatic cancer in 2003.  I sent notes to all of the Cambre family today with a remembrance of her.  Along with the note, I included a picture that was taken in 1996 at a family gathering.

Front Row:  Mary, Shay, Christina, Tim and Charlene

2^nd Row:  JP, Dad, Mom, Rick H.

Back Row:  Bill, Melissa, Mary, Rick C.

Wednesday, March 9, 2016 – While we were driving to Ocala, Dr. Tan, from Moffitt Cancer Center called.  He said that Rick did not have the necessary Mesothelin cells and; therefore, would not qualify for that clinical trial.  The doctor said that there is another clinical trial for which Rick will qualify.  He said that he would have a scheduler call us to make an appointment for us to discuss this trial which will be chemotherapy, but delivered in a new way.  I left Rick at the cabin in the afternoon and drove in to town to see Dad.  He was sitting in the hallway when I arrived, but said he was tired of sitting, so I took him back to his room.  I rang for his aide to help him get back into bed, but she suggested that she take him to the bathroom first and he agreed.  Then another aide came in the room and told me that Dad had decided to sit a while longer so we went out on the front patio until it was time for me to go.  While we were outside, Dad mentioned that he might be inclined to participate in restorative therapy which would get him walking again.  I let the head of the program know on my way out.  When I got out to the cabin, I called to make an appointment with H & R Block to meet with the man that has been doing Dad’s taxes.  I set up an appointment to meet with him tomorrow morning.

Thursday, March 10, 2016 – I met with Steve at H & R Block and gave him all of the tax information that I had received so far.  I had most of it, so Steve was glad to get a head start on the paperwork.  He said I could drop off the rest of the tax forms as they come in.  I visited with Dad for about a half hour after that and then Rick and I started back south to Palmetto.  We received a voice mail message scheduling us to meet with Dr. Tan on Monday at 10:00 in the morning.  We’ll know more about his next round of chemotherapy after that meeting.  After arriving at the boat, we checked Windfinder.com to see that the wind is going to be blowing more that we feel comfortable traveling in.  Since Rick didn’t want to get “weathered in” in Sarasota on Sunday, we e-mailed the Power Fleet Captain and Ken Sosville, who is leading this “BYC Cruise-Away” to tell them that we would not be coming by boat; but we would some by car to join them on Saturday evening for cocktails and supper at the Two Senorita’s restaurant. 

Friday, March 11, 2016 – We met Bill, Ruth, Jen and Faz for lunch at Hungry Howie’s Pizza Place for lunch where Bill invited Jen and Faz to join us tonight eating in Sarasota just off St. Arman’s Circle at an Italian Restaurant called El Colonne.

We sat at the first table pictured on the bottom left and shared good wine, appetizers and meals.  We got home about 11:00 and fell into bed. 

Saturday, March 12, 2016 – Rick slept late today then changed the air conditioners filters in the afternoon.  We left the boat about 5:15 to drive to Sarasota to meet the Bradenton Yacht Club Power Fleet for cocktails at Past Commodore Evan Guido’s Office on the 12^th floor of One Sarasota Drive across from Marina Jack’s where the power fleet cruised for the weekend.  Evan had hoped that we could all enjoy cocktails on the roof deck as we watched the sunset.  Unfortunately, it was much too windy for us to stay outside for very long. 

I did get a better picture of the marina which you see below.

Sunday, March 13, 2016 – I laid down after church to catch up on the hour of sleep I lost overnight when we set our clocks forward for Daylight Savings Time.  We had a late lunch with Bill and Ruth at the Blu Mangrove and went to bed early tonight.

Monday, March 14, 2016 – We left the boat about 8:30 in the morning driving to Tampa to the Moffitt Cancer Center on the USF Campus.  We were expecting to meet with Dr. Tan to learn about another clinical trial that he is recommending to Rick.  We were surprised to learn that, once again, Rick could not get into this trial.  The reason this time was that they are only working with 3 people to start with and all three slots have been filled.  We agreed to go on the waiting list, but in the meantime, Dr. Tan said Rick needed to get some chemotherapy now.  He said that since the first combination of meds worked for Rick last year, he was prescribing the same thing and that there was a slot open for him to receive an infusion this afternoon.  The doctor thought that it would be OK for Rick to have two treatments before we go to Europe, so his next infusion is scheduled for Tuesday, April 5, 2016.

Tuesday, March 15, 2016 – Today is primary election day in Florida.  Since we vote just a couple of blocks down the street from the house, we stopped by there after voting and stayed with Emma while JP ran 4 miles in the neighborhood.  He is scheduled to run again tonight with his running group and will do another 6 miles then.  We met Bill and Ruth for lunch and then went out to AAA for Rick to get an international driver’s license.  The wind has finally died down and it go into the 80’s today; but no wind also allowed a very heavy sea fog to form just off the coast which caused the Sunshine Skyway Bridge (a part of Interstate 275) that goes over Tampa Bay between Manatee County and Pinellas County (St. Petersburg) to be closed all morning long.  That caused a lot of people to have to take a 50-mile detour around the bay. 
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Wednesday, March 16, 2016 – We sat with Emma while JP went to the doctor.  Then we drove to Ocala to see Dad.  I was suffering with allergies, so I didn’t stay long.  As the day went on, I started coughing, so we got some over the counter cough medicine and cough drops.

Thursday, March 17, 2016 – I had coughed all night long, so I called the rehabilitation center and asked the desk nurse to tell Dad that I thought I had the flu and would not be coming in today.  We drove home and I went straight to bed.  We had already made plans to have supper with Bill and Ruth and Ken and Jackie at the Blu Mangrove, so I dragged myself out of bed long enough to join them and eat.  The restaurant was celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with the traditional green beer, Irish Stew and Corned Beef and Cabbage on the menu.  We also enjoyed the music supplied by the bagpipers.

Friday, March 18, 2016 – When I woke up, I called my doctor’s office to see if I could get in to see someone there today.  They said that they were booked solid into next week and recommended that I go to a walk-in clinic, which I did.  The doctor said that I have acute bronchitis.  She gave me a prescription for 5 days of antibiotic along with a cough medicine that contains codeine.  I am not allowed to drink alcohol or drive as long as I am taking the cough medicine.  Today was a bad day for Rick as well.  It usually takes about 3 days for the nausea medicine that they give him with the chemo to wear off.  Needless to say, we made quite a pair.

Saturday, March 19, 2016 – Rick was feeling a little better in the afternoon and I wasn’t coughing my head off, so we kept our dinner date with the family, meeting them for supper at the Bradenton Yacht Club.  Emma was a typical two-year-old when she didn’t get her way (just as supper was brought to the table), but Papi, aka Rick, took her for a walk and when they returned she was an angel again.

Sunday, March 20, 2016 – After months of practicing with our church choir for the Easter Cantata presentation, I wasn’t about to stay home in bed if I could help it.  I am pleased to say that I got through the entire presentation without fainting or coughing, although I did not stand for all of it.  After the presentation, we all went into the Fellowship Hall to partake of “finger foods”- well not Rick, but everyone else.  Rick said that the choir sounded really good and that the congregation could hear and understand all of the words from the narrator as well as the singers. 

Monday, March 21, 2016 – I rested most of the day.  I did call to schedule a follow-up appointment with my doctor’s office next week.

Tuesday, March 22, 2016 – Rick spent most of the day with JP while I rested on the boat.

Wednesday, March 23, 2016 – We drove to Ocala.  I checked in at the Rehab Center.  Dad is doing OK.  They have scheduled a health care review conference next Tuesday.  I didn’t stay long as I don’t want to expose him to my bronchitis.  I took care of his mail and bills in the afternoon.  As we were driving to Ocala, Rick noticed that his lower lip was swelling up.  He thought maybe he ate too many pickles on his Cuban sandwich last night.

Thursday, March 24, 2016 – When we got up this morning, Rick said that his upper lip swelled during the night as well as his face.  While I was in the rehab center with Dad, Rick called the nurse at Moffitt.  The nurse told him to buy some over-the-counter Benadryl and let them know if he doesn’t see any improvement within the next 24 hours.  I went into the rehab center in time to see Dad start on his physical therapy.  They are working mostly on his leg strength but told me that they will start some occupational therapy soon because he told them that he has pain in his hands.  We had the prime rib special at the Blu Mangrove for supper.

Friday, March 25, 2016 – We went to buy a new water hose and I bought a dress and some accessories to wear to church on Sunday.  Then, we met Bill and Ruth at Hungry Howie’s Pizza for lunch.  After lunch we went out to the outlet mall so that I could buy some shoes and shirts for our upcoming vacation.  But, by the time we got home, I wasn’t feeling well and went to bed.  Rick met Bill and Ruth for supper at the Riverside Café.

Saturday, March 26, 2016 – We attended the children’s Easter Egg Hunt and Luncheon at the Bradenton Yacht Club along with our son and daughter-in-law, JP and Kellie and their two girls, Vanessa and Emma.

Later that evening, Rick and I attended a wine tasting at the BYC.  We were very excited to see that we were tasting wine from two of the places that we are going to be in on our trip to Europe – one in Spain and one in France.

Sunday, March 27, 2016 – Our son, JP, is long-distance runner.   He leaves his house most every Sunday morning around 5:30 to meet with a running group.  He told us that this morning he parked on the waterfront of Sarasota Bay and while doing his warm-up run, he was serenaded by a group who had come for sunrise service.  As he was running along, they broke into singing – “Our God is an awesome God”.  What a great way to start the day!

After we attended church, I made some deviled eggs and then baked a turkey breast.  We loaded the food up; went by the store to buy some cupcakes (a big hit at yesterday’s luncheon); and went to have Easter Sunday supper with JP and his family.  Kellie made green bean casserole and mashed potatoes.  Emma decided that she had to eat at the table with the rest of us and we all enjoyed having her sit in her “big girl chair”.  After supper she opened an Easter basket from us and one from her parents.  We had purchased out basket a few weeks earlier at the BYC’s Great Mates fundraiser.  It had lots of educational items in it along with crayons and coloring books and some bubbles.  Her other basket contained some of that as well as Easter candy.

Monday, March 28, 2016 – We drove to Ocala and stopped in to see Dad before going to the cabin in the forest.

Tuesday, March 29, 2016 – We met with the rehabilitation staff to review Dad’s healthcare plan and then drove to Ormond Beach to spend the night at Rick’s mother’s house.

Wednesday, March 30, 2016 – We left Ormond Beach about 2:00 in the afternoon as Mom was having a new garage door opener installed.  The old one quit working yesterday – it was only 20 or 30 years old!  We had planned to have supper with JP and Kellie, but he called and said something came up – so, we rescheduled. 

Thursday, March 31, 2016 – We ran some errands then went over to JPs for lunch.  I left Rick there to watch Emma while I went to the doctor.  JP had to take Vanessa to the dentist this afternoon.  After my appointment with the doctor, I returned to JPs and stayed with Rick and Emma until JP got home just after 5:00.  My doctor is concerned about my sugar level – I have been diabetic for a number of years, but control it with medicine.  She asked me to try the “Mediterranean Diet”.  She ordered bloodwork to be done ASAP. And, she also wants me to get an echocardiogram before we leave on vacation April 21