I am so sorry for the delay in updates, but no news has definitely been good news!  Andrew has been doing wonderful!  He is eating really well, not gaining weight, but not losing, so his body is still stealing a lot of calories to heal.  He is still bald, but we are beginning to see some little hairs starting to grow on that cute head.  His balance is still very wobbly, but we are working on getting him to exercise more and get his strength back up so that he can go back to school hopefully by April.  He was able to go on a field trip to the Boise Philharmonic with his class from Monroe in January and he was so welcomed and had such a good time, he is so excited to be a part of the class soon.  We have not had to go to the doctor’s office since the first week of January, and will be going in on the 25th for a psychological evaluation.  We are beginning to see a great improvement in his reading and comprehension abilities, and he is loving reading the Percy Jackson series.  I will try to get a webcast from him this weekend so he can share some of his own sweet thoughts and humor for everyone following his story.  Thanks!

Andrew had all of his post treatment scans yesterday and I met with the doctor for results, and it is time for celebration, they all came back clear!  He has not had any more hearing loss, MRI looks clear, everything looks good.  He also gets to take out his feeding tube tonight!   We discussed him going back to school and the doctor says it will be 3 months at least before he can go back.  So we will be pushing physical therapy and he will get an MRI in three months, still see the dr very frequent and his counts are still not so fabulous, but things look good!

Andrew is getting his scans today…holy cow lots of scans.  We will meet with his doctor tomorrow to go over the results so I will let everyone know the outcome.  He is doing really well, bald as all get out, and ready to be done with all things chemo.

Andrew is doing great!  He lost his hair again, hopefully for the last time starting on Sunday of last week.  He still a couple patchy spots but it is getting reallllly smooth!  Christmas was fabulous, he felt great and we enjoyed spending time with friends and loved ones.  Christmas night we brought turkey dinner to Andrew’s friend Raegan, who is undergoing chemotherapy treatments in the hospital right now.  We decided cafeteria food was unacceptable, and enjoyed our dinner by light of her beautiful purple Christmas Tree.  We are preparing to have the end of treatment scans including a MRI, audiogram, and many more.  Those should take place the first week of January, and from there we will begin a new course.  I will post pictures soon.  Thank you so much for the love and support!

So I am sorry I have not updated, I went on a get-a-way this weekend and got back late Tuesday night.  So Andrew’s blood counts dropped to nothing on Tuesday and he dropped 2 pounds as well.  He also developed an infected sore on his nostril.  Apparently, I am not allowed to leave again!  He got a transfusion on Tuesday as well as lots of antibiotics.  The very sad thing was that he just pulled out his nose hose on Sunday night because he was eating ok, and had to have another one put back in.   He is incredibly weak and is not able to walk for more than a couple steps before his legs give out.  His spirits are ok, he is very happy to have me back and is looking forward to Christmas!

Andrew completed his last hospitalized chemotherapy on Friday the 4th!  While he was in the hospital he got a surprise visit from some Storm troopers and jawas.  All the kids were so excited, and were discussed for days later!  Thank you so much Pinwheel Project for helping it happen, it truly made our day!  So in regards to his chemo he did so well, and aside from a little nausea he is still doing fantastic!  He has so much hair, and I am so sad it will fall out one more time and I will have to shave it soon.  We had a lovely “You’re Done” party on Sunday and he partied with some close friends and family.  Our wonderful friend Nadine who has been fighting breast cancer finished her chemo and radiation as well last week and we are so happy for her.  Andrew will continue to go to the doctor every week until his blood counts drop and recover, then they will be less frequent.  He will get and MRI soon, then every 6 months, and he is starting a couple more therapies as well.  We are still hoping he will be able to go back to school and a semi-normal life by the end of February…YAY!!!  Thank you for all the love and support!  Enjoy the pics. 

Yay Star Wars!!!

Andrew's Buddy Rocky

Finishing Chemo with Tamra

DONE!

Kickin Cancer's Butt and Taking Names: You go Nadine and Andrew

Andrew is getting his last chemo!!!!!!!  Woo hoo!!!  So far so good, he is trying to eat as much sugar cereal and crap as he can since Momma says no more empty calories and junk food to eat after he is recovering.  I will update again tomorrow.

I apologize for the lack of updates, I had to have my gallbladder removed and other issues but am better now, and ready to give you an update!!!  Andrew is scheduled for his last chemo session in the hospital on Wednesday!  He will get chemo at the dr’s office the following week, then all done.  It will take him a while to recover from it, but we are hoping for a drama free recovery and a return to a normal life relatively soon. 

Andrew had a great Thanksgiving with friends and family.  Although he did not consume a ton of food, he is keeping his weight up and we have not used his feeding tube since November 17th!  He is pretty wobbly but it will probably be like this until his body can get recover from the toxicity of all this darn chemo. 

Thank you everyone for all the love and support, we are getting so close…so close!

We had a fabulous, drama-free weekend!  Andrew is feeling so much better.  He does not have his full appetite back yet, but is still eating and loving it.  He is loving it so much he thinks he is allowed to eat Almond Joys and Reese’s Pieces Butter Cups all day and I would let him.  No worries, I set him straight, moderation in everything.  His hair is growing back so thick and full, we are kind of bummed it will fall out one more time.  But just one more time!!!  Woo Hoo!!!!  He is significantly weaker, but we attribute this to so much down time, and hope that now that he is up and about it will get better.  We are hoping for a great week, and staying strong to the end!

Andrew was released last night!!!  Finally!!!!  He was feeling much better, his neutrophil counts are at 600 but with him feeling great we think they will continue to climb at home.  As soon as we got home he ran inside to get the rest of his birthday presents.  It was the cutest thing ever!  By the time I had brought all the bags inside he had his nice little pile gathered on the couch waiting for me so he could open them.  That boy ripped through the wrapping paper with more energy and excitement than I have seen in months!  I did take a bunch of pictures which I will post soon.  He is still on track now for his last chemo the first week of December, keep those fingers and toes crossed that nothing interrupts!  Thanks for the sweet comments and support from all.

Sooooo Excited!!