Day 49 Update - 31DEC08 Happy New Year!

Joshua made it to 11:31 p.m.  :) Jarrod made it to the ball drop:)

Joshua and Jarrod say Have a Rocking New Year!!!

Josh will be spending the last of 2008 at home with us! He had a good day and is doing good with this round of chemo. All of us want to wish all of you a Happy New Year! Here's hoping that 2009 is a great year for all!

Our resolution for the new year is to keep Joshua strong and do everything we can to help him continue to fight.

Thank You so much to all of the people who have given us their support this year, we would not have made it without you! Please continue to keep Joshua in your thoughts and prayers in the coming year.

Day 48 Update - 30DEC08

Joshua had a great day today. He is really doing well so far this time with the chemo, no fever so far! We are counting down the days left in 2008 as we get ready to welcome 2009. 

Day 47 Update - 29DEC08

Joshua getting ready to make his mask.

Molding the mask.

All done!

Joshua went to the Hospital today and got a spinal tap and chemo. He also did the prep work for his radiation treatments which will begin next monday. They made a custom mask for Joshua's head, which he will get to keep after the treatments are done (he is very excited about this). Josh got a CT scan and a custom body sled as well. We were back home early this afternoon and spent the day playing and resting. Josh did very well with all of the treatments and procedures and hopefully will not run another fever from the meds.

Day 46 Update - 28DEC08

Toady was thankfully rather uneventful. Joshua had a nice day at home playing with his lego's and catching up on his rest. We are back to the clinic and day hospital tomorrow so it's an early  start for all of us.

Day 45 Update - 27DEC08

Joahua and Jamie all suited up for battle...

Santa left one present at home for Josh and Jarod to open.

The family that plays together stays together ;)

Well Joshua made it home this afternoon! We are so glad that he is back! Jarrod and Joshua had a few last  presents to open that Santa left here at the house. Jamie and Christian came over and spent the evening playing and having fun.

We go back to the hospital on Monday for another LP and chemo, but it is outpatient and we should be home in the evening.

Jarrod and Joshua had a wonderful Christmas, thanks to the many generous people who made it possible. We could not have done it without their help! 

Cloning experiment a great success!

We decided that Bella is so cute that we needed another one. We decided to make the copy smaller and easier to carry around. After much work out in the Laboratory (garage) we have successfully created a mini-Bella (Bella Miniscule Verbina): 

 (the mini-bella will live with another family:)

Day 44 Update - 26DEC08

Joshua got a visit from La vie this morning.

Jarrod spent all evening working on his roller coaster he got for Christmas. It is really cool!!

Joshua had a good day at the hospital, he is still running a low grade fever but it seems to be getting better. If all goes well he should be able to come home tomorrow some time.

Day 43 Update - 25DEC08 Merry Christmas!

Joshua on Christmas morning.

The LEGO masters at work...

Joshua having fun with Mom.

Jarrod stayed up late last night helping Dad out...

Jarrod is always asking me... now maybe we will find out :)

Jarrod with his new clarinet, he already sounds pretty good.

Christmas was special even though we were back in the hospital. We think the fever is from the new meds that he is taking but we will stay until we are sure. Lots of people came by to see us today. Lee's mom and dad brought yummy snacks this morning. Renee's mom and dad brought some great food from the Robelli's this evening. Jamie and Christian came by and brightened up our day. Jarrod and Joshua stayed busy making sure that no lego's languished in a box all by themselves. Jarrod treated us to several serenades with his new clarinet. Santa did indeed know where to find Joshua even with the last minute change of locations. Santa is really quite amazing, he managed to deliver gifts for Josh and Jarrod to several alternate locations as well just to make sure, and sneak into the hospital room without any of the nurses even seeing him.

Day 42 Part 2

Joshua started running a fever on Christmas Eve and we had to go back to the hospital for a couple of days. Joshua assured us that Santa would know where to find him:)

Day 42 Update - 24DEC08 Merry Christmas!

I try and write a little letter every year when I send out Christmas Cards but since we have been extremely busy, I decided to put my letter on Joshua's blog. First and foremost, the Gandy Family would like to wish all of our family and friends a Very Merry Christmas. We would also like to thank everyone who has graciously sent us gifts and cards. Christmas is the season of giving and we are truly amazed at the incredible generosity that has been given to us as a family. We will always be grateful for the thoughts and prayers during out time of need.
 
As you can see in our photo, the Gandy's are at home for Christmas. Everyone knows how the end of the year has ended for us but not many know what happened in the beginning of the year. We were very blessed this year to have Lee find his birthmother and his half-brother. They are absolutely wonderful and are now part of the family. We also had the pleasure of being able to spend some time with them and Jarrod and Joshua love their Grandma Linda and Uncle Eric.

We were also blessed with another daughter-in-law in October. Christian "finally" married Jamie (they eloped) and now she is officially part of the family.  Brandon and Roxy are still living in Georgia and we wish everyday that they were closer. They did get to visit with us this year and they are both doing great. 

 
The rest of the story is conveniently laid out in Joshua's Story. Everyone who reads our blog is always in our thoughts and prayers. Prayer is a miraculous gift and we have Joshua today to prove it.

The Gandy Family is blessed in so many ways!
 
We wish all of our friends and family a blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year. May you be filled with peace and happiness this Holiday Season!

Love,
Renee and Lee 

Day 41 Update - 23DEC08

Josh with his bravery beads so far...

Joshua and Jarrod doing science experiments in the kitchen...

Joshua got to come home from the hospital today at lunchtime. He is doing well with the new chemotherapy and has had almost no side effects so far. He and Jarrod are both super excited that tomorrow is Christmas Eve! Dad got trained today so he can give Josh his chemo treatments at home so we don't have to go to the hospital on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.

Day 40 Update - 22DEC08

Joshua had a busy day today. We were at the hospital at 9:00 am to get started. Josh did labs then got a spinal tap and got his PICC line removed. He is really glad to get rid of the tube in his arm, he saved it in case anybody wants to see it :)

He will stay in the hospital tonight while he gets his chemo therapy and hopefully will be back home tomorrow sometime. We are beginning the second phase of his treatment, this phase will last 57 days. Joshua continues to be very brave. When the nurses ask if is allergic to anything he immediately chimes up with, "Leukemia! (pause...)  and fire ants...". It is really cute the way he says it.

Jarrod with Deacon Diaz.

Jarrod with Taylor and Avery.

Jarrod and Avery.

Jarrod and his award!

Jarrod was honored today at church and received the Altar Server Award for October presented by the Knights of Columbus. We are very proud of all of his contributions and service. Jarrod has always been an extremely helpful and hard working guy.

Joshua had a good day and is getting ready to go back to the hospital tomorrow to start his next round of chemotherapy. We hope to be home by Tuesday afternoon so we can get ready for Christmas! Joshua continues to be in good spirits and always has a smile for us.

Day 38 Update - 20DEC08

Trolling the bay with Christian... eBay that is...

Joshua and Jamie having a bubble blow off:)

Christian showing Josh his new find...

Josh cooking pizza with his big brother.

Josh had a fairly good day, he is pretty sore from the surgery and took it pretty easy. Jamie and Christian came over for some good quality time with the family. 

Dad, Christian, and Jarrod disappeared into the garage for several hours working on "stuff"... It is always great to have the kids over and to get to see Bella (grandiose verbina). Joshua really loves to see Christian and Jamie. 

Christian and Joshua made a great chicken pizza for dinner that we all enjoyed.

joshua got a special package of stuff from Larry, Robert, and Emily in the mail today. He was really thrilled.

Day 37 Update - 19DEC08

Day 37. 5:15 am. Too sleepy to hold up a sign...

In recovery after surgery.

Josh took this as they were rolling him back to the OR

Renee always looked good in blue, it brings out her eyes...

Our anethesiology nurse Tina.

Josh taking pictures in Pre-Op

SMILE!!!

This morning we got up super early to take Joshua to the hospital for the surgery to set his medi-port. The surgery went very well and Joshua did great! We were home by lunchtime. He still has the PICC line in his arm but it will be removed on Monday when we go back into the hospital for two days for the start of  his next phase of chemotherapy.

 Josh has always loved taking pictures and had fun taking pictures of all the nurses and things he saw at the hospital.