A couple months back when Joshua was asked to be the Honored Hero for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s campaign “Man & Woman of the Year”, he was also asked to do the same for their “Pasta 4 Pennies” campaign. This is a truly wonderful fundraiser for the children in school. They raise money in support of LLS and Joshua is their spokesman for the schools in our area. We were asked to join the kick-off campaign party at Olive Garden today and we had a wonderful time. I was asked to speak about Joshua and our journey. I may have spoken a little longer than I should but I believe that I made an impact on everyone that attended. Joshua’s only wish is that enough money is raised so they can find a cure once and for all. Joshua is thrilled to be leading the pack this year and he is very excited about visiting his own school again. Maybe this year, his school can raise the most money!
Joshua had a great day today. He worked really hard on his schoolwork. He did a little exercising on the new Wii Fit Plus that daddy bought the family, and he had a great time supporting LLS. Tomorrow he has a visit from his teacher and then we are off to the Circus, The Greatest Show on Earth!
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Shopping... Day 418 05JAN10
Today was a busy one for Joshua starting with his teacher being here at 8 a.m. to start school back up. As soon as she left his nurse showed up to access him and transfuse his IVIG treatment. A scant six hours later he was done and feeling okay. We are not sure if it is the IVIG or the pre-med he takes but something makes him tired and kills his desire to eat by evening time. He ate lunch but did not want anything for dinner even though I prepared one of his favorite meals. But then again it is a daily struggle to divine the gastronomical desires of Master Joshua.
After all the people had left we took the boys up to Wal Mart and then to Target. They both had Wal Mart gift cards from Jim and Sally that were absolutely burning holes in their pockets and had to be redeemed today or the world would meet a tragic end. Joshua also had a Target gift card from Sherry Tucker that he was dying to trade for something. Shopping with our kids goes something like this:
First we let them wander up and down each and every aisle in the toy section so that they become utterly confused as to what they want.
Next we dismiss all the items they propose that are guns, swords, tasers, weapons of mass destruction or reasonable facsimiles of the afore mentioned items.
Then we wait a bit.
Then a bit more.
Finally we try and help guide them towards something that they have wanted for months but inexplicably do not want tonight. After several attempts at a minor meltdown they finally agree reluctantly to purchase what we suggested when we first got to the store and then refuse to let go of it until we get home. At which point they play with their items for the rest of the night.
And after carefully taking an inventory of every offering in the toy department at both stores what do they ultimately buy? Wait for it...
LEGO.
Big surprise.
After all the people had left we took the boys up to Wal Mart and then to Target. They both had Wal Mart gift cards from Jim and Sally that were absolutely burning holes in their pockets and had to be redeemed today or the world would meet a tragic end. Joshua also had a Target gift card from Sherry Tucker that he was dying to trade for something. Shopping with our kids goes something like this:
First we let them wander up and down each and every aisle in the toy section so that they become utterly confused as to what they want.
Next we dismiss all the items they propose that are guns, swords, tasers, weapons of mass destruction or reasonable facsimiles of the afore mentioned items.
Then we wait a bit.
Then a bit more.
Finally we try and help guide them towards something that they have wanted for months but inexplicably do not want tonight. After several attempts at a minor meltdown they finally agree reluctantly to purchase what we suggested when we first got to the store and then refuse to let go of it until we get home. At which point they play with their items for the rest of the night.
And after carefully taking an inventory of every offering in the toy department at both stores what do they ultimately buy? Wait for it...
LEGO.
Big surprise.
Still cold... Day 418 04JAN10
Joshua started off the day by going to the clinic to get his counts checked. I am happy to report that his ANC has stayed up at 1410 and his platelets are at 295. Looks like they have got his chemo pretty much dialed in for now.
Funny how numbers are so important to a cancer family, we think about them all the time. When Joshua fell on his bike last week the first thought in our heads was "what are his platelets, his ANC?" Not the stuff most people ever even consider.
The rest of the day the boys and Renee spent at home and I had to go back to work today. The boys did their school work and then played around the house for the afternoon and evening. Just another, thankfully, normal day. Unless you count the very brisk cold temperatures... I know we Floridian's have a fixation on the temperature when it gets cool down here. What can I say.. its rare and we don't like it because after all, that is why everyone comes to Florida in the first place. And to top it all off, my toes get cold in my flip flops ;)
Funny how numbers are so important to a cancer family, we think about them all the time. When Joshua fell on his bike last week the first thought in our heads was "what are his platelets, his ANC?" Not the stuff most people ever even consider.
The rest of the day the boys and Renee spent at home and I had to go back to work today. The boys did their school work and then played around the house for the afternoon and evening. Just another, thankfully, normal day. Unless you count the very brisk cold temperatures... I know we Floridian's have a fixation on the temperature when it gets cool down here. What can I say.. its rare and we don't like it because after all, that is why everyone comes to Florida in the first place. And to top it all off, my toes get cold in my flip flops ;)
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Brrr... Day 417 03JAN10
It is cold here. It is cold just about everywhere from what I can gather. Luckily we have a nice warm house to stay in. Which is pretty much what we did today. I worked out in the garage and the kids went over to Renee's parents for a bit to hang out and have a little fun. They were home in the early afternoon and spent the rest of the day either here or hanging out with DJ. Tomorrow Christmas break is over, Joshua goes back to clinic, Jarrod starts back to school, I go back to work. None of us really wants to do any of that, but it is time I guess to jump into 2010 with both feet and start moving towards 2011.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Officially over... Day 416 02JAN10
Christmas is officially over. Jarrod and I got down the boxes this morning for Renee to start packing up Christmas stuff. Jarrod and DJ took care of the outside lights while Joshua helped indoors. By dinner time it was all gone, put away until next year. Our living room seems to be twice the size it was before. It is a little sad to see it all go away, it is kind of nice having a lit up beautiful tree in your house. It looks really good from the street as you walk by the house and I can't think of a prettier night light for the kids. I guess though that if it were there all the time we would just take it for granted and that would be sad. So we will just have to wait until Christmas comes around to our house again.
Joshua continues to do good, he played outside and rode his bike today. Although it was pretty chilly, by our standards, when we got up the day warmed up nicely and it was quite nice outside. I spent most of the day working out in the garage which is rare until this time of year. I will enjoy it while it lasts.
Joshua continues to do good, he played outside and rode his bike today. Although it was pretty chilly, by our standards, when we got up the day warmed up nicely and it was quite nice outside. I spent most of the day working out in the garage which is rare until this time of year. I will enjoy it while it lasts.
Friday, January 1, 2010
New Year... Day 415 01JAN10
Today Joshua and all of us begin a new year. The day dawned cold and dreary, hopefully not a portent of the coming year. The boy's spent the day playing mostly indoors but Jarrod did manage to get out and take in a bike ride. Our weather like much of the country will be much cooler over the next week or so.
We had a grand time watching Allie last night. She was a great baby and is infectiously cute to boot. This is a New Year that will be full of exploration and wonderment for her and her parent's and we will sit back and enjoy watching them as they journey together down a path we have trod before.
Our family's resolution this year is to be just that. A family. We have strength in each other and together we will face down all that comes against us. We will celebrate each and every day that we have together never forgetting how much life can change in a single instant. We will continue to battle the cancer that Joshua lives with every day. We will draw from his well of strength as we pour ours into him. We do not know what the future holds for us but we will continue to journey forward together as we have done all along.
We are strong.
We are a family.
May all of you who share our journey have a wonderful, blessed, and prosperous 2010. Thank you for traveling with our family.
We had a grand time watching Allie last night. She was a great baby and is infectiously cute to boot. This is a New Year that will be full of exploration and wonderment for her and her parent's and we will sit back and enjoy watching them as they journey together down a path we have trod before.
Our family's resolution this year is to be just that. A family. We have strength in each other and together we will face down all that comes against us. We will celebrate each and every day that we have together never forgetting how much life can change in a single instant. We will continue to battle the cancer that Joshua lives with every day. We will draw from his well of strength as we pour ours into him. We do not know what the future holds for us but we will continue to journey forward together as we have done all along.
We are strong.
We are a family.
May all of you who share our journey have a wonderful, blessed, and prosperous 2010. Thank you for traveling with our family.
New Year's Eve... Day 414 31DEC09
Joshua had a play date this morning at the park with Cameron and Jayden. While he was at the park Jarrod and D.J. went over to Pa's for a boat ride. Both sets of kids had a great time. Allie came over after lunch with Jamie and Christian to spend the night with Grand ma and Grand pa (yes that's us) so her parents could have a nice night out together. She is terribly cute and we had a lot of fun with her this evening. Just a few more months and I can start feeding her M&M's ;)
Jarrod crashed about 10:30 but Joshua hung in until the ball dropped. We want to wish everyone a Happy New Year!
For us we hope that 2010 is a year of better times for Joshua and all of our other cancer kids.
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