Things are getting Complicated

Ok, it is MRI time again. The results are in and it looks good. No new tumor and the spot from last time on his spine really was artifact, it did not appear at all this time. I should be thrilled but we got those results from a Neurologist who was opening new doors. Over the summer Josh has begun to have speech problems. It was suggested that this may have been from a mild stroke so they set up the appointment with Dr. Slopis (yes he is worth waiting 5 months for) Then the oncologist said it was just chemo decline so we kept the appointment to be sure but I thought he would spend 10 minutes with us and then agree with the oncologist so I was not worried. Well this appointment went in a whole new direction.
Joshua has the tip toe walking, now we see speech loss. They feel it is a muscle problem. However the legs are spastic (tight) and the facial muscles are flasid (loose). After this appointment we discovered that there is also a bladder issue that was not noticed that is also a muscle problem. Dr. Slopis thinks this all ties together in some sort of a genetic syndrome but he is not sure what. They are going to get a team together to make a plan on how to diagnose this because the cancer will confuse the problem. Let me stress this is not life threatening but is serious. He feels if we don't know what we are dealing with Josh could have problems later on. An example would be the bladder, if he doesn't empty it right he could have complications later that could be anything from infection to loss of a kidney. Basicly we need to find out what he has and then treat all these problems. So now on top of cancer poor Josh has some genetic problem. Also we thought the tip toe walking was not a big problem but Dr. Slopis says it is. It could cripple him as an adult so we have to know exactly what is causing it so we can fix it. It means that 2011 will have lots of doctors visits and invasive testing and possibly surgery on his legs at least.
I have been making lots of jokes today about this because we can't change it and I do not want to worry Joshua but I can't help thinking that this is not fair. Poor Josh has endured so much and now we are thinking that there is something new. A complication to cancer would have been bad enough but this is a whole new thing he has to deal with and there is nothing I can do to take it from him. He is a good boy and I wish so much he could just have a normal life, play ball like other boys (and like he wants to). Instead we spend so much time with doctors and there is so much he doesn't get to do. There is no point crying over spilt milk but I really was hoping for a quiet year and that is not going to happen. If I could ask you all for a Christmas present I would ask you to pray that they find answers fast and that whatever this is it will not keep Josh from his dreams more than he already is. I would also like to say that even though I am worried and so sad I am not forgetting my blessings. There are many and todays is the good doctor that is on the ball and looking at the big picture not a single detail. If we resolve this is will help Josh's future and that makes it worth it.

Hunting for Game

OK, this is the 100th post! I know I do not post often enough but I could not pass up sharing this. We have been fighting mice in our house. (ok ick ick ick) and we found a dead on on the floor by the computer desk. We have paid to have the house sealed and then Sunday night I saw another one. He got away and I called the bug man (a friend) on Monday. He came and inspected the sealing job (he is the boss and some else actually did it) and found 1 spot they might still be getting in. He put out glue traps with peanut butter on them and told me he would come today with the sealant to fix the outside. Well this morning the house smelled and I couldn't find it so I told the kids to start school and then Ted freaked out and screamed that he saw a mouse. Well he saw a mouse alright! It was dead, stuck to the outlet. Apparently when the house was painted last year the guys forgot to put the outlet cover back on and the mice have been getting in there. The dead one from before and this little guy got electrocuted! Now we can seal things up and they will be gone forever! It was just too funny. - Oh and by the way, on a side note, the glue traps did catch something, my friend's 2 year old tried to eat the peanut butter and got stuck! I think his mom was very gracious not to freak out and we cleaned him up. I am going to sleep much better knowing this is fixed and I do feel a little sad for the poor mouse, I have heard of putting your finger in a light socket but this is riduculous!

The Deer Hunter

I bet you didn't think that the deer was the hunter!! That deer saw the apple and figured it was his. He then moved in, wrestled Ted, and then - to the victor goes the spoils! We went on a field trip to a wildlife preserve where there are lots of wild animals wandering around. But I am shocked at how tame that deer was. We went in a jeep around the preserve and hand fed camels and zebras and wildebeests and all kinds of animals. We also saw crocs and a rhino and emus. The scariest thing we fed was a couple of ostriches. They just tried to grab the food bucket from you and I was so afraid they would peck us if we didn't feed them. All in all it was fun and the kids had a blast. We are slowly getting back to normal after the holidays and everybody is great! Josh's MRI showed no change! yahh Ted fell and hurt is ankle but it was ok by the time he got baptized. That was such a blessing. I think he really felt special that day and I am so glad. Gordon's mom and dad and sister and her husband and their 2 kids all flew in and so it was a fun weekend. Dorothy just got glasses this week so I will try to get pictures of her to post soon. The other news of Joshua, his thyroid is dying and they have started him on synthroid now. It is not a surprise, we knew that this was coming and just got him on his meds and he is doing great. Luckily there are no side effects to this one so it is a non event. We are still planning to start growth hormone in April. They checked for me and in the last year Josh only grew 1 centimeter so I guess it is time. Anyway, we love you and hope you like the pictures!

Off To A Running Start!

I am not kidding when I say running. I am running the other way from the end of last year. I do not have space for the long version so here is the short one.....
We went to Arizona for Christmas. On the way we wrecked the car, we are waiting to hear if it is totalled. A semi dropped his drive train and we ran it over.....Nobody was hurt and the one police man in New Mexico who is related to us just happened to be the one who stopped. ( we didn't know him till we mentioned a common relative) Anyway, once we got to Arizona everybody took their turn being sick and I was sick on Christmas eve and day. We limped home in a rent a van and collapsed. We brought 3 beagle puppies home with us and that was interesting. Since we have gotten home they have been keeping us hopping. Feeding 6 dogs at once and 3 of them pups that don't know not to steal the adults food is to say the least trying. It is actually fun and they are cute as a button. We named them Molly Jo and Mamie Jo and Merry Jo. Anyway, we spent the end of this year trying to survive and now in the first week of the new year I am still sick and the house is a mess and we are doing ok!
Now, on to the important stuff.... Joshua is doing well. We have an MRI this week and I am not even worried. If anything is out of the ordinary I will post but if you don't hear from me consider it good news. He is keeping up with school work and we are blessed that he is very happy. The other children are doing great and while I am very busy I am doing well too. Gordon got a small raise at the end of 2009 and we are greatful for it and him. I am feeling really good about how the house is looking these days and Ted is getting baptized this month. Basicly I am trying to let you know we are doing well now. Busy, happy, and healthy. You can't beat that and we are grateful for every day we have.
We hope that this letter finds you the same and that you will all have a blessed new year. If you didn't get my christmas card and letter please put your address in the comments section and I will send one out. Happy New Year and God Bless!