*sigh* Bob had another surgery today to find out what is happening with his tummy. They did find an infection and drained the fluid but have no idea if it was the result of his lung infection or if the lung infection started with his abdomen. They really couldn't see anything wrong except for the infection - no wound or problem with the incisions from his colon cancer surgery. He came out of surgery fine but complained that his tummy hurt like hell. I just hope he is finally on the road to recovery. Just to give you an idea of who Bob is, here are some pictures that capture his essence... I should have had him brush his hair before doing the Cousin It impression. We had just gotten to the hotel after a long car trip. This is the two of us together last summer... Thank you all for the well wishes! And thank you, Karen, for the inspirational picture of Jason! Great caption!

Thought of this one. VERY chocolatey: FUDGE ECSTASIES (makes about 36) 12 oz semisweet chocolate chips, divided 2 squares (1 oz each) unsweetened chocolate 2 TBL butter 1/4 cup flour 1/4 tsp baking powder Pinch of salt 2 eggs 2/3 cup sugar 1 tsp vanilla 1 cup chopped nuts In a medium saucepan, heat 1 cup of the chocolate chips, the unsweetened chocolate & the butter until melted, stirring constantly. Pour into a large bowl & set aside to cool slightly. In a separate bowl, mix the flour, baking powder & salt. Add the eggs, sugar & vanilla to the cooled chocolate mixture & beat well. Add the flour mixture & beat thoroughly. Stir in the remaining chocolate bits & the nuts. Drop the batter by teaspoonfuls onto lightly greased cookie sheets. Bake in a preheated 350° oven for 8-10 minutes or unti the edges are firm & the surface is dull & cracked. Cool for 1 minute before removing from the sheets. Place on wire racks to cool thoroughly.~~ And this one too would be suitable: CHOCOLATE RASPBERRY TRUFFLES 1 1/3 + 1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips 2 TBL heavy cream 1 TBL butter 2 TBL seedless raspberry jam Confectioners' sugar to taste Combine 1 1/3 cups of the chocolate chips with the cream & butter in the top of a double boiler. Cook over hot water until smooth, stirring constanly. Stir in the jam. Allow the mixture to cool, then freeze, covered with plastic wrap for 20 minutes. Shape into balls. Place on a cookie sheet. Freeze until firm. Melt the remaining cups of chocolate chips in a double boiler over hot water, stirring occasionally. Using a wooden pick, dip the cand balls one at a time into the chocolate. Palce on a cookie sheet (I line the cookie sheet with parchment.) Chill until set. Dust w/confectioners' sugar.~~

Wow, that is AWESOME news. Please let us know if it was the tic. The other day as I was using the "ladies room" my had ran against my thigh and I felt a bump. It was a tick! They make the area numb so if you don't feel the bump with your hand you would never know. It hadn't been in long but coincidentally I had been feeling sick like a cold (for the first time in years) and I thought of your son and it was really unnerving. Then a couple days later I found a tick in my dog. I looked them up on the internet and they're usually not too toxic out here in CA but they can be VERY SERIOUS. Well, obviously... ANYHOW -- hugs and prayers for your family and so glad your Son is on the mend.

Thank all of you for your prayers.The Prayer Warriors came through again. His doctor said that everything went really well. They were able to fix the tear, remove the arthritis and bone spurs. If he does his therapy he should be golfing soon. And I know that he will be doing that therapy. I am sorry to say that my brother did not make it. He died just before Easter. I am the only one left of my family. My Mom,Dad,two brothers and sister have gone home. It has been a really hard year, but we take it a day at a time. It is good to have friends here and at the KT.