Florida--Day 3

Animal Kingdom. This park was among our favorites. It was cool and laid back.

The morning started early with a character safari breakfast. Here Michael and Joshua decided to be goofy with Goofy. Get it? Ha.

This was also one of Andi's bravest days. You may have noticed her cries of terror in the video we posted of Joshua meeting Donald Duck. Here she is touching a crocodile. Go figure.

Next was the Kilimanjaro Safari. We saw tons of animals. Unfortunately, the only pictures we took of them were with Joshua's disposable camera.

Another brave moment for Andi. Here she is talking with Pocohantas.

Another of our favorite thing at all the parks were the playgrounds. Each one had a corresponding theme with lots of great slides and tunnels. We spent at least an hour of each day exploring them.

The best show we saw all week was by far the live Lion King show. It had great singers, dancer, acrobats, and guys walking on stilts (very impressive). To make it even better, Joshua's Make-A-Wish button got us front rows seats without any lines and early seating in the air conditioning. Not too shabby.

Joshua's proudest moment of the entire trip. He won this red dragon by throwing a ball into a cup. I actually teared up when he finally won.

Florida--Day 2

Magic Kingdom. We couldn't wait to get the day started.

It was a little anticlimactic when the kids realized we had to ride a boat to get to Disney World, but it was pretty great watching that castle loom ever closer...

Here we are on "It's A Small World." Yep, still boring. Even Joshua noted toward the end, "Why is this taking so long?"

Andi couldn't get enough carousel action. We rode everyone we saw, including the one that was on site at Give Kids the World. we counted - we rode that merry-go-round 23 times.
Here's the tea cup ride - the very same one Michael and his brothers made their poor mother sick on when they were kids. Joshua really wanted to do the same thing.

And Andi? Well, she was tired. So she took a nap. At Disney World.

Joshua got to meet Buzz Lightyear and promptly showed Buzz his new gun. Buzz was maybe our favorite character all week - he took the gun shot imaginary aliens with Joshua, then gave it back. Great costume, too.

I love this picture. At one point during the day, Michael told me that he knew this was the last vacation that Joshua would be able to ride on his shoulders. He carried him around all day like this. Michael loves his little boy.

Here's Pluto and Chip and Dale to round out the day. Because we were a Make A Wish family, all of us had buttons on. And the staff at the parks were so great to look for those buttons. For the characters, they would hold the line and let Joshua straight up to the front, creating a good experience but a completely unrealistic picture of how long you have to wait at Disney World.

Then that night, back at GKTW, it was pirate and princess night - right up our ally. Look closely and you can see Joshua's pirate goatee. Great day. Great day.

Florida--Day 1

What a fantastic trip we had! We want to share all the details with you. So, here goes....

Make-A-Wish sent a limo to drive us to the airport early Thursday morning. I'm not sure if it was cool or a bit over the top, but Joshua loved drinking orange juice out of a champagne glass in a big shiny car.

When we arrived at the Give Kids the World resort, we were treated to the first of many free meals and ice cream cones. On this day, it was Boston Market. Yummy! The ice cream was wonderful also. Friendly's any way you wanted it.

This is Mayor Clayton. He is the mascot of Give Kids the World and Joshua's new best buddy. This is not the last time you will see him.

This is a picture of the villa we stayed in. It was a duplex with all the comforts of home.

Every night there is a theme at GKTW. Our first night was Christmas. Complete with Santa, decorations, music, and presents for all the kids. A great first day.

Tomorrow, Magic Kingdom!

Back To Vacation!

Great news - we're back at the Give Kids the World village. And Joshua has been sleeping off his hospital stay for the past 2 hours. but we're clear, ready to start the vacation again.

And we're going to stay an extra day just to stick it to leukemia.

Tomorrow, we go to Sea World. And we're pretty thankful for it.

Thanks, friends. More soon...

Joshua's blood counts are dangerously low right now. To give you an idea, at his last appointment two weeks ago, his ANC was around 4,000. Today the ANC came in at 150. Usually the doctors like to see these come close to 500 before we are cleared to enter life outside the hospitals walls, but they're working with our docs at Vanderbilt to see what's the best course of action for us. 

In the meantime, here's a video of Joshua with Donald Duck at the Safari Breakfast at Animal Kingdom. 

Sad Vacation News

First the good news. Disneyworld is amazing, and Joshua doesn't know what to do with himself. He's met all the characters, ate gallons of ice cream, and had an absolutely wonderful time.

Now we're sitting in the Orlando Children's Hospital. Joshua got a fever last night, and we are being admitted.

He doesn't seem to feel bad other than the fever and there's no sign of infection. But his counts have dropped to be really low. If you're familiar with the terminology, he's neutropenic. And also disappointed, just like we all are.

He got to do everything he wanted to do so far except go to Sea World. We were planning to do that today. Right now, our flights have us leaving here Wednesday evening, so we haven't given up hope for Sea World yet. 

Would you please pray with us very specifically, that Joshua's blood counts would rebound quickly? That he might still get to go to Sea World while we're down here? And in the meantime, please pray for Jana and I as we try to explain why we're in the hospital to him, and that he would be able to battle the disappointment as well as a 4 year old can.

More soon...

Party! Party!

We're going to Disneyworld on Thursday for Joshua's Make-A-Wish trip. We couldn't be more excited. And the celebration started a little early. Even though Joshua's wish had already been revealed, Make-A-Wish wanted him to have the chance to celebrate with all his friends. So we had a big party at Pump It Up to start off Joshua's wish. Here's the rundown of the evening, starting with our arrival:

Here they all are. Joshua's sweet friends!

Joshua and his pals went nonstop.

There were some serious moments of competition between some of the big kids, too.

Now, we are off to Disney World this week. I can't wait to share all about the happiest place on Earth with you.

The Big Reveal

Shelbyville High School raised over $16,000 for Make-A-Wish. In order to make this amazing feat even more special for them, Joshua was invited to a pep rally to announce his wish. I'm not sure that Joshua's reaction was as big as they would have liked, but we sure are thankful to Shelbyville High for helping make Joshua's wishes come true.

Knee Update

I spoke again with doctor yesterday. The results of the MRI were not alarming and not surprising. Basically, it showed significant wear, but nothing major. After over 200 miles of training, that came as little surprise to me. There is no need for surgery. He even said that I could SLOWLY (his word stress, not mine) work my way back to running as long as I wear my knee brace and continue with the physical therapy exercises he gave me. He did, however, say that if the pain persists, he would want to try an injection or "go in" and see where this specific pain is coming from. I go back in 3 weeks to see if the clicking has gotten better.

As I sat there, I felt like I could have pushed him to say how slow is slow and would he be willing to do an injection now. But I didn't even try. After lots of talks with Michael, we decided this isn't really the time to push the issue and this isn't my last chance. More than anything, I have no desire to further jeopardize my chances to run around the playground with my kids.

What I hope is that I will be able to come back, when Joshua is completely finished with treatment, raise the money for LLS, run the miles, and tell his story all over again. 

What's So Great About It?

9 times out of 10, Joshua comes home from a clinic day and recounts how great it was. Michael and I rarely share his sentiments because we are acutely aware of everything going on around us and in his little body. But today, as we did the routine all together, I decided to chronicle why Joshua loves clinic day so much.

Because he's, um, getting chemotherapy, we indulge ourselves a little on these days. So here we are at Fido, a great local coffee house getting breakfast together. Michael and Joshua decided on a mad dog face first.

Then we go to the clinic, or more accurately, the stocked toy room of the clinic.

And Joshua is also quick to point out that the TV says, "Do not change the channel." So he gets to watch some superhero shows he doesn't usually get to.

We finish off the day at Jason's Deli where he gets ice cream.

We do what we can to make chemo days special. All in all, not a bad today.

Clinic Together

Usually clinic days are a mother / son experience. We've found that works better  - Jana goes to the clinic with Joshua, Michael plays dolls with Andi. But tomorrow for Joshua's 4 week appointment we're going all together.

It's actually because our hematologist, who's a super cool lady and has become a good friend, said last time that she hadn't seen Andi in a while and how she would like to see our whole family again. So here we go.

We'll modify the custom and take everybody to Starbuck's in the morning, then all go to the clinic, then go out to lunch together. 

Then we start another 5 days of steroids and recovery from the chemotherapy. We'll check in after it's done tomorrow. 

Marathon News

This is a picture of a knee. My knee is hurt. Two weeks ago I ran 18 miles and actually felt good about it. Unfortunately, since then, I haven't been able to run more than half a mile without sharp pain in my right knee. I went today to see an orthopedic surgeon who has now ordered an MRI of my knee. He wiggled my Patella around and didn't like the clicking sound it made. I didn't either for that matter.

Dr. West and I talked about when I might be able to run again. After I tried to convince him that I needed to run 20 miles this weekend in order to prepare for the marathon in April, he kindly reminded me that half a mile is still hurting me even if the MRI gives some answers for the pain. In the end, he gave me a prescription for an anti-inflammatory, a huge knee brace, and a clear answer about the marathon: NO.

It has made me really sad to know that I will not be completing this task and that I will not be running to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. My wonderfully supportive husband assure me that if I want to try again another day, he will support all over again. For now, I will spend a little more time with my kids on Saturday morning and a little less time on the treadmill. That can't be all bad.

Before and After

Our house was built in the 1950's. We love the original hardwood floors, the mature trees, and the changes that all of our neighbors are constantly doing to their houses to highlight the character in each of them. So, we decided to make a big change of our own. Here it is and we love it!

Before

After

Also, since we have not yet lived in this house for a year, this our first spring. I was so excited this morning when we saw our first perennials blooms. Aren't they beautiful? I can't wait to see what else comes up.

He Shoots! He Scores!

Apparently, it's a big deal on the 4-year-old soccer team to just get out there and run the whole time without complaining. We were so proud of Joshua because he did just that. He ran around the whole time and loved it. He tried super-hard and even scored a goal. 

Game 1 = Domination.

A 4 Year Old Boy

If you don't spend much time around them, you may not at all understand this video. Joshua, like all 4 year old boys is trying to make everyone laugh. No matter how silly or crazy it may be. Enjoy! I know Joshua would want you to.

Soccer videos to come. The first game was cancelled due to the pouring rain. 

When an Owwee is a Good Thing...

I spent last week not running any miles. I have been running every other day for the last 3 months. That may explain why my knees and hip decided to make their voices heard on my last long run. I got through about 8 miles and decided I needed to stop the torture and just walk home. After talking to my Team In Training coach he told me I needed to take the week off and try again this weekend. 

As I wait for my go ahead to start the miles again, I have discovered several great things:

1. Being at home on a Saturday morning as a family is PRICELESS. Michael and I both enjoy our training, but having taken turns running for the last 2 years, I think we have come to appreciate a morning full of cartoons and cuddles on the couch.

2. The downtown YMCA in Nashville is newly remodeled and is amazing. I had to do some creative cross training in order to keep up my stamina and the downtown Y was my happy place this week.

3. Not running is kinda nice :-) I really hope that this mental and physical break will revamp my training and make the marathon an enjoyable idea again.

4. People, like my husband, that train for marathons over and over are CRAZY! This is the hardest thing I've ever done and I haven't even run the race yet!

This Saturday I am scheduled to run 18 miles. I'm not sure if my knees and hip will be up for it, but I will try my best. I am praying that I will be able to run this weekend with little pain and in the end, run the marathon (April 25) well. As I train, please still consider giving to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. It is for them and for so many more reasons that I run. 

Let the Games Begin

As you may have read on Michael's blog, Joshua started soccer. His first practice was last week and it was a hit! Coaches Steve and Steven are great. They basically let the kids run around for an hour in controlled chaos. Joshua's favorite part was when Coach Steven pretended to miss Joshua's ball and let it go between his legs into the goal. The next practice is tonight and the first game is Saturday. 

Tomorrow Joshua goes back to the clinic to start his next round of chemo. I know it may be silly, but I can't help but be a little nervous that his first day as a soccer star will be during a crummy week. Who knows, maybe the 'roids will work in his favor this time.

The photos are pretty terrible, but I'll try to have better ones when they finally start playing outside. 

The Economy of God

I'm not one to talk about the economy much. So, I was surprised when I was so struck by a the phrase "the economy of God." It was used in a lesson commentary from my Community Bible Study. At first I thought, "Wow. Even CBS is jumping on the economy talk bandwagon," but when I checked the copyright date is was 1992. I decided to go back and read more carefully.

We are studying 2 Corinthians right now, specifically, the first chapter. The commentary states:

Our confidence is in "the God of all comfort" (2 Corinthians 1:3). As believers in Him, we know that nothing touches our lives unless He allows. Thanksgiving in the midst of troubles is possible because we trust Him. We realize that He knows what is best for us. We acknowledge that even a time of trouble can be used for our good in the economy of God.

Being thankful during our trials has not been easy for me and many days I have resented the notion. But what I do know is that our trials have made our marriage stronger, the love for my children deeper, the understanding of parents fuller, and the appreciation of sisters and their husbands greater. God is good and these present sufferings are an overflow in our lives of Christ's suffering, so also through Christ our comfort can overflow to others(2 Corinthians 1:5).

In the economy of God the weak are made strong, the first will be last, the poor are to be blessed, and the King of all Creation is our Great Comforter. Today, I pray that you will be the recipient of God's comfort in your life.

What Do You Do When It's Cold Outside?

We play with Legos. Here, Joshua is building a spaceship to match his PJ's.

You know you do it, too. Target is our playground.

Give in and get out in the snow!

How'd It Go?

Thank you all so much for your prayers this week. They were and continue to be appreciated more than we can say.

You might remember that his dosages went up this time. There was an obvious difference in how Joshua's body responded to the larger doses, but as usual, he handled it like the pro he has become. Every morning, Joshua woke up happy, but hungry. After about 3 or 4 breakfasts, he was good to go until the next snack. Surprisingly, Joshua napped well each day. But at around 5 pm he would hit a wall. He was hungry, but nothing tasted good. He was tired, but didn't want to sleep. He was cold, but a blanket made him hot. It's very weird, but we've become convinced that during this time he just feels everything, from hunger to happiness to pain to temperature to love, more acutely. He'll turn on a dime from throwing a fit over the smallest thing to grabbing you and telling you over and over again that he loves and is thankful for you.

You get the idea. There were some tears, but in the end we all made it to the next morning, every day. Thankfully, Joshua took his last dose of steroids this morning and the ill effects will begin to fade even tonight. 

Some Tough Moments

This morning started out pretty normal for a clinic day. Joshua and I left around 8 o'clock without breakfast because he had anesthesia scheduled for his spinal tap. Joshua seemed absolutely fine, even watching Andi eat breakfast without complaining. Joshua was doing a great job at the clinic. He didn't shed a single tear while was being accessed, being examined by Dr. Zeiber, or while receiving meds through his line. Then, while he and I were playing dinosaurs on the floor, he stepped on his line and pulled the needle out of his port. OUCH! The nurses fixed him up and restarted his meds. Unfortunately, this sent Joshua into a tailspin of emotions. His crying and lack of food led to a drop in blood sugar. After quite a bit more crying, they gave him some liquids through his line and he perked up enough to proceed to his spinal tap.

Before we went downstairs for Joshua's procedure, Dr. Zeiber came back to talk to us about Joshua's home meds. Currently, Joshua is at 100% of his chemo pills (based on weight/height). Because his counts were up, she informed us that we would need to up his dosage to 120%. The fact that Joshua's counts are up is good news. We rejoice in that. At the same time, we get nervous when Joshua's dosage gets very high because it can very easily cause a crash to his immune system. Along with the increase in chemo, she also needed to increase his steroids. YUCK! As we have shared many times before, the steroids cause so many strange side effects. Thus, an increase in steroids means an increase in side effects.

The spinal tap went well and the nurses had his cherry coke Icee waiting for him when he finished. After a very long morning, at around 2 o'clock we made it to one of Joshua's favorites, Jason's Deli. He broke his fast in fine style to the point that the manager came over and asked if he wanted a refill on his fruit. I guess he noticed how quickly he downed the strawberries. It was a pleasant end to a long day.

Please pray through the news about Joshua's increase in dosage. Pray that he can continue to show his courage and strength in this fight. Pray also for Michael, Andi, and me. Pray that we will be patient and encouraging toward Joshua and each other. Thank you again for your faithfulness.

Wednesdays Are For Chemo

From Michael's blog this morning:

At least they are in our house. Usually I reserve the weekends for a "Weekends Are For Kids" post, but I thought since today is a big appointment day I might give you a glimpse into Joshua's treatment cycle in case you're interested.

Just to refresh your memory, Joshua (then 2 years old) was diagnosed with ALL (Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia).

Eventually, we settled into this basic routine:

- Joshua takes chemo pills every day.

- Every Wednesday, he takes 7.

- Every 4 weeks he has intravenous chemo sent directly into his blood stream through a port in his chest.

- Every 12 weeks, in addition to the above, he has a spinal tap to put the chemo into his spinal column.

Today is week 12, so we've got it all happening this morning. This is the 844 day Joshua has taken a chemo pill. It's his 30th time to have the medicine go into his chest. It's his 10th spinal tap. And he keeps on smiling.

For this, I am thankful and so very proud of my boy. In just a few minutes, he'll jump out of bed excited to go to the hospital. He'll bravely take his medicine with the promise of an ICEE when he comes out of his anisthesia. And he'll try hard for the next 6 days to feel good.

We continue to feel blessed for Joshua's progress, so thankful that God has sustained us and him thusfar, and continue to take one step at a time in fear and trembling. Thanks for going there with us.

A Little Sunshine

Marathon Training

I did it. On Saturday, I ran 14 miles. I decided I wouldn't make my training official until I had run more than a half marathon to get ready. So now I am in. I am training again with Team in Training. They continue to be such a supportive organization and have made Joshua a Honored Teammate this year. We are thankful for what the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society does and we wanted to make sure that if hundreds of people were running in Joshua's honor, one of us was running as well. I'll keep you posted on the progress. In the meantime, check out the websites highlighted above and feel free to give to support the cause.