I had the chance earlier today to re-view the slide shows Carolyn put together back in March of 2002.  I had forgotten what a great job she did pulling a TON more photos together!  Hopefully, I found a few she missed.  There’s a few new since 2002 – and, of course – some from the NC weekend.

Enjoy – and, love to all.

Michael 9/11/10

Davidson Family Video 2010.

Outside the Prawn Broker

Pat and I would like to host the reunion the weekend of July 9th (Friday). Please let us know ASAP if that will work for you. We imagine everyone arriving Friday evening (travel days Friday & Monday). We will have the reunion on Saturday. We will be responsible($$) on that day, for food and drink (lunch and dinner), games for the young and “young at heart” and perhaps fireworks. We wish we could afford to cover more of the weekend financially..but this is a large group and retirement $$ does not go far.

This is a Davidson reunion, so plan for a group picture to be taken!!! I ask for your help in deciding what we should all wear??? Khakis? Denim?? So we will be color coordinated!!!

We could plan a family group activity (or activities) for Sunday, if you want. …Tubing or canoeing on the New River, hiking, biking (on the Virginia Creeper Bicycle trail, 17 miles all down hill), Zip-line, fishing, golf???? Let me know what you might be interested in so we can collect info and pricing for you. We will look into nearby restaurants for a family meal together on that evening. Everyone will be responsible ($$) for him/herself on this day. Other ideas???

I have been busy looking into lodging for all. I am sorry that we can’t sleep everyone here. We will have 15 with our kids, spouses, grand kids , Pat’s Mom, Sue and Daddy. There are many nationally known hotel/motels in Boone. Laquinta Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Fairfield Inn & Suites, Country Inn & Suites by Carlson, Best Western at Blue Ridge Plaza…ranging in price from $70-$150 a night. Most have indoor pools. If you plan to stay in the area longer and take in more activities you may want to be closer to the action and restaurants. Just know that if you stay in Boone you will be about 40 minutes from our home. Boone is in Watauga County, if you wish to inquire about restaurants and activities.

There is a new Hampton Inn in West Jefferson. That town is about 30 minutes from us. If you should decide to stay there, it is in Ashe County and info can be found at AsheChamber.com. West Jefferson is much smaller, but quaint. Lots of art galleries.

I am investigating rental homes around us. Carolina Mountain Properties and Rentals have 2 large houses in a gated community just 5 miles down Hwy 88 from us. Check them out on line… Carolina Mountain Properties.com …..Rentals… Paradise Retreat and Paradise Pointe. They look very nice from the pictures and both sleep 10.

Also, there is a small rental cabin across the Hwy from us . I haven’t been able to get the details yet., but I will have them for you soon. I thought maybe you might want to group together and share the cost of housing. Pat and I can try to see the rentals prior to your signing anything. If you stay in one of these houses you must realize that we are really out in the country here…there is no take-out food or food delivery!!!

Everything is still in the planning stage. If travel is easier on Thursday and Sunday we could shift the activity day to Friday.??? But keep the reunion day on Saturday. If we want to reduce travel time and spend more time together we could cook more meals here, sharing in the work and the cost. Please let us hear your thoughts.

Pat and I will be in Charleston, April 6th until the 12th. Then I leave on the 14th for Fort Meyers to help Dad get settled in and visit all his doctors. I will check my e-mails from there. Let us know what you think.

Love, Lesa & Pat (3/27/10)

His home health care physical therapist, Stephanie, has him doing his leg exercises with weights now. Some of the movements were a real challenge for him. He has mastered the one pound weights and is working his way up to 2 lbs. She has him “dancing with her” side stepping and walking backwards. We continue to do arm exercises with him using weights and he is regaining and building arm strength. He is walking during the day with his cane and can do six rounds of Robyn’s house before tiring. Yesterday he walked part of Costco using the shopping cart for support.

He is a trim 173 lbs. and looking very slim. His color is great and his humor has returned. His blood sugar has been great-low 100′s every morning. Blood pressure and pulse have been in the correct range. His eating is better (he is still not eating a lot) and occassionally he actually is hungry for something. We are watching his diet closely for carbs and sodium. He is eating Activia yogurt to aid in his digestive process. His doctor thought it would be helpful. He has been taken off of the Actigall (med for gall stones). He is dressing himself most every morning and shaving most days.

We had an appointment Tuesday morning with the Outpatient Physical therapist recommended by his neurologist, to evaluate his needs for Vestibular therapy. We learned he would have to be “signed off” from home health care before Medicare would pay for it. Hopefully, he will be signed off on Tuesdady, Feb 2, and can begin therapy for his balance and dizziness.

Love,
Lesa & Robyn 01/29/2010

Getting out of the house

He has been getting into a physical therapy routine as well. Stephanie, a physical therapist who lives in Grapevine, is scheduled to come on Tuesdays and Thursdays…although to date, she has only seen Dad twice. On the days when she does not come, Robyn and Lesa usually have breakfast by 9A, and then put Dad thru about 30 minutes of PT – stretching, some light weights, walking. On Tuesday, PT included 6 holes of Wii Golf and a couple of innings of Wii baseball as well.

One very positive indicator – Dad’s sense of humor is returning. He is able to do a lot more for himself although he does get frustrated that things are not progressing more quickly. While he is still using the walker to get up and around, Robyn says he will sometimes pick it up off the ground to “show-off”. He walked around Robyn’s first floor during PT earlier this week using only his cane.

Dad did report to me that his dizziness has never been more acute than it is right now and it really baffles and discourages him. Today (Wednesday) he has an appointment with Dr. Tan, the neurologist he connected with at Baylor Grapevine when he was in critical care. They are hopeful that this doctor might discover something that has been previously missed.

Regardless, Dad seemed very positive and hopeful about an appointment he has on Friday; one of his physical therapists had a great experience with acupuncture – and, he is very excited about giving it a try to treat his dizziness. I am thinking that he has nothing to loose.

With the weather significantly warmer on Tuesday, he got “dressed” (he has been wearing sweat pants and work-out clothes around the house) in his khakis’ and golf shirt to accompany Robyn to pick-up Max, the dog, from the groomer. He told me he enjoyed getting out of the house and they took the occasion to stop at Subway. He ate most of his 6” – complete with peppers and onions – and, said he enjoyed that as much as anything he has eaten since he got out of the rehab facility.

He is very particular about what he wants to eat. Lesa added that “finicky” does not come close to describing his tastes right now; monitoring sodium, controlling carbs and finding something he has a desire for is currently pretty difficult. It seems like some routine is returning, however, up in the mornings with breakfast around 9, PT, some lunch, CNN, an afternoon nap and bedtime at around 10pm.

Finally, I apologize for not updating this past week. Certainly Dad is up to taking phone calls – either on his cell or at Robyn’s.

Michael, Lesa, Dad with Max, Robyn, Nathan, John and Emily

None of us stayed up very late. We grabbed this picture before Emily and I hit the road for Indianapolis. We made it a two day trip and got back home late afternoon. To everyone who reads this blog, please continue to post and read comments as I am sure Robyn and John are sharing them with Dad periodically. Happy New Year and thanks to everyone for their concern, prayers and support.

wmd 01/02/2010 8:40pm

Keeping warm in his new robe

Vikki called about 1:30 Dallas time and Dad spent a few minutes on the phone. He is still coughing a bit and extending talking seems to aggravate his dry throat. However, he has been able and eager to talk with folks. His cell phone ringer is back on.

I think we will ALL be napping soon! 12/31/09