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Monday, April 28, 2008 4:11 PM CDT

April 28th, 2006 at 3:50 p.m. two years ago when Caleb left my arms at Childrens to his beautiful angel whom carried him to meet Jesus, the one he talked about so much that would help him feel better. Two years he hasn't had to endure any pain, just all joy and happiness, playing with his brothers and sisters in Christ including my unborn child I miscarried. We miss Caleb and think of him everyday. It will never be the same without Caleb running around here but as for anyone who looses a child, you learn to adjust somehow. On difficult days when you seem to struggle through life, it's so hard to stand, it's amazing how God holds you up to comfort you. When lonely days comes God places friends to lift you.

I can imagine he is still in "AWE" of the beauty, praising our Lord with the others, running with joy on the streets of gold with no pain in his legs, no more Hirschsprungs to deal with and no medicine. I can almost see him walking side by side, hand in hand with Jesus every chance he can. We look forward seeing Caleb again soon, very soon. Caleb looked up to heaven, the beauty of God's love surround him with amazement. Jesus forever with him.

Cody is doing so great! We are very proud of him. He is ten now trapped inside a teenager!! He talks about Caleb alot and misses him, his best friend but he knows he will see Caleb again very soon. Cody is playing football at school during football season. Working very hard to keep his grades on A's and B's. He is on the Student Council board which keeps him buisy. He's excited he will be graduating from Elementary next year moving on to the middle school but will miss Mrs.Dewey.

As I close this two year journal, I pray that each of you will take the time to be thankful for your children, take each day like it was their last because they are God's gift to us. "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."

Much Love To You and God Bless,
Adam,Laurie,Cody :)

Saturday, April 28, 2007 10:47 PM CDT

It was just a year ago on a Friday when I felt God's presence in Caleb's room 3123 at Childrens. Adam and I had the book of Psalms playing on the cd player, Caleb's breathing was deep and shallow all day. I could feel that it was getting close. Kim, a good friend from pharmacy was in the room visiting with me while Adam stepped out, as we were talking I glanced at Caleb and he looked very different. I rubbed his hands, they were chilly, I looked at Kim and sayed "It's not long". God was there, the whole room felt warm and comforting like a sworm of angels filled the room around Caleb. I experienced a different feeling. I leaned up toward Caleb, hugged him, told him I Loved him, holding him he took his last breath at 3:50p.m. that afternoon. He was gone, presence with the Lord. How happy Caleb was to be with Jesus face to face.

We will never forget Caleb, we still have our hardest days but such a blessing to know Caleb is forever with Jesus whom he talked about so much, whom he said would help him feel better. Soon for us believers will forever see him and our other loved ones. I look forward to that day. Cody will forever be with his best friend. Cody talks about Caleb to others, Jesus helped his brother so much through seven years of trauma. We are very thankful to have Cody who is 9 years old. Me and him are closer now than we ever was. He makes me smile every day. Very proud and watching Cody grow more and more in the Lord. God has a special plan for Cody.

We are very blessed God gave Caleb to us even at a short time. Caleb showed us to be strong and Jesus is the answer through the hard times of life. Caleb reminded me of Job, through seven years of hospital stays, medicines, I.V's, being stuck so many times and so many tubes, he never gave up and always mentioned Jesus name through it all. In San Antonio Caleb was having a hard time taking his medicine from a nurse, the nurse asked him "Caleb, what can I do to help you feel better?" and Caleb responded with "Jesus will help me" my chin dropped and I had tears in my eyes. Nurse just smiled. That time he was six saying that. He had so much courage, knowing Jesus was right with him. When we can home from San Antonio and Caleb needed radiation again, getting him in the car Caleb said "momma, I don't wanna go, Jesus will help me". Even though I knew that, I couldn't give up for him. I didn't want to let him go.

A year ago, it hurt me badly to let him go at Childrens. I had the hardest time leaving there and watching Caleb go with North Little Rock Funeral Home. Our dearest friend, Carrie Calhoon helped me through it, she is God's gift to parents there. I miss him everyday but I have to keep thinking Caleb is so happy and pain free. I will always have a empty place in my heart until I see Caleb again.

A wonderful friend sent me a beautiful poem in memory of Caleb. I just thought it was the most sweetest thing.

In memory of Caleb - A true HERO
On earth, he was your little boy.
In heaven, he still is.
Laurie, you gave birth to him
he showed you how to live.

The little sparkle in his eyes,
The smile upon his face.
Just a child, yet very wise
In Oh so many ways.

He made his final journey
When he entered heaven's gates.
There's only joy and happiness
Oh what a special place.

In heaven, he will not grow old
He runs and sings and plays
And he marvels at the streets of gold
And the angels singing praise.

He walks along with Jesus
And many loved ones too.
There's no more pain or sorrow . . .
In the land beyond the blue.

Caleb had to fight a battle
Like a hero, he did fight . . .
And you didn't have to say goodbye . . .
You just had to say good night.

Good night, sweet Caleb! I want to see you when I get there.
Written by: Marsha Robinson

CALEB'S FAVORITES:

Favorite Color: Yellow
Favorite foods: Mom's mac & cheese
Favorite cartoon network show: Ed,Edd & Eddy
Tom & Jerry
Backyardigans
Favorite Movie: Batman & Robin
Favorite Teachers: Mrs.Munnerlyn & Mrs.Bridgeman
Favorite Bestfriend: Cody Sims & Kylie Hobson
Favorite reminder: "Jesus gonna help me feel better"
Favorite creaters: Alligators, crocadiles, snakes,
turtles, worms, frogs, ladybugs
Favorite phrase: Leave Me Alone!
Favorite toy: Batman, Spiderman, playing trucks with Cody
in the mud.
Favorite place to be: Home on the couch
Favorite hobbies: Him and Cody playing with the waterhose,
going fishing, playing in the snow, or
just hanging around at home with Cody.

Thank you all for your entries, your love and support through our hardest times. Keep praying for us and send me an e-mail, I'll write ya back. My e-mail is on the front of the webpage. We will forever love Caleb and will be seeing him very soon.

Much Love and happiness to you,
Laurie :)

Sunday, April 22, 2007 10:12 AM CDT

This past Thursday would have been Caleb's 8th birthday. As buisy as we were I still thought of Caleb how he loved presents and so much attention everyone gave him last year at Childrens. I thought alot of our friends on Three Gold, Dr.Saylors,Caleb's nurse,Catherine surrounding Caleb's bed with surprises. I still can see his face light up when his favorite character "Batman" walked in the room. I sure do miss his glowing face but I know his face is glowing more now with laughter,smiles seeing the face of his Heavenly Father. And now he doesn't get any yonger or older.

I sometimes can still see his face smiling at me, I guess that's God's way comforting me, letting me know how wonderful Caleb is now. I will never forget my son, I will always have two precious boys. I have been asked how many kids we have and my response is "We have two wonderful boys, Caleb went to heaven at 7 last year and Cody is 9. Some think I have lost it but that's the way I respond which is the truth. Adam and I were his earthly parents and now Caleb is with our Heavenly Father.

Adam and I have started several projects as our therapy and they have helped. Adam's therapy is staying buisy on his shed and the Railroad. My project is pretty special to me, Adam built a very nice flower bed at a perfect spot under our big tree and I have decided to name it "Caleb's garden" in that garden I am placing several of Caleb's favorite insects and amphibians such as laddybugs, turtles,frogs,butterflies with lots of yellow flowers which was his favorite color, a crape myrtle and a bird bath. I am anxious to see it when I have finished it.

Cody is doing very well, playing with his friends, staying on the honor roll at school, helping us around the house, witnessing to his friends. Letting them know what Caleb must be experiencing in heaven. God is working in Cody. We are very proud of him!

We will remember Caleb this 28th of April in many special ways. I will give the final update on the 28th, it will be a special update remembering our sweet Caleb.

Friday, April 13, 2007 11:45 AM CDT

It's been a good start of April. Easter was a little bit different celebrating Jesus resurection without Caleb here but he will be forever celebrating in heaven. Adam,Cody and myself stayed together Sunday following the Easter services at church. It was a droopy day, Cody and I had to take a trip to town for a little bit to take the downs away for mom that is. Cody was excited just to get out of the house and pick up a bionicle toy!

We are doing good but missing Caleb is sometimes unbearable. We will always miss Caleb and Cody will always remember his brother and best friend.

Touched our hearts how Caleb will be remembered at Lonoke Primary when there will be a balloon release this coming Tuesday at Primary in honor of him and his strength through his battle of Neuroblastoma Cancer. It will be a beautiful site to know the peace,joy and love Caleb is having now. Lonoke Primary also has a Relay For Life team in honor of Caleb which will be at the Lonoke Football field the coming Friday afternoon. This month we are honoring Caleb in many special ways because the fight he went through showed us all how special he is.

How can we go on with life without Caleb? I've had some tell me "Laurie, I couldn't do it" With Faith, God Carries you through your hardest times in life. You can't handle it by yourself. God also sends friends your way to help you through the most difficult times. Smiles,hugs from friends at Lonoke Primary has helped me when I tend to drag my feet in the mornings.

Much love to you and have a blessed weekend.
Laurie

Thursday, March 22, 2007 10:42 PM CDT

I'm up late tonight, have so much on my mind, not able to whine down.

We are doing well just trying to stay buisy as April is coming up and we are dreading it but such a wonderful celebration for Caleb. Caleb now has a wonderful heavenly home with his heavenly Father, sitting on Jesus knee, I'm sure every chance he can, playing with the other little ones and having a great time with his favorite bible character, David for almost a year now. It's hard to believe a year is almost here.

Missing Caleb everyday but we have to smile imagining what Caleb could be doing in heaven. I have been so blessed to have so many friends God sends to help me through my hardest days. The other day I felt like reading some of last March's journal to see how it was for Caleb, so I did and teared up thinking of what he had to go through, I cherished every day I had with him. I still have a hard time with flash backs, some days it's like it was just yesturday.

We wait and make wonderful memories of Cody. I just need to tell this. The other morning Cody was hungry for bacon and eggs before heading to school so while I was preparing breakfast Cody says "Caleb, it's almost ready" I said "Cody, Caleb never liked bacon and eggs for breakfast, he always wanted cereal or cheese toast" he said "mom, this is my imagionary best friend like Caleb". I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Cody and Caleb were so very close and I'm sure Cody will always be close to his brother talking about him to his friends.

Adam is working more now trying to keep his mind buisy, Cody is buisy staying on the honor roll and I am still loving Primary. Pray for us as we soon enter April, God makes us strong every day.

Love, Laurie

Thursday, February 22, 2007 1:06 PM CST

The weather is changing, our wild flowers are blooming in our yard that Caleb always loved to fall into or pick the daffodils. It's hard to believe it's almost Spring. Cody is getting Spring/Summer fever, he is ready to play ball, go swimming and camping, wild river country, church camp and play outside with his new yellow three month old lab, "Jack Sparrow" that Adam picked up on his way home from work.

April is coming up fast. We are planning on several things to do on Caleb's birthday which is April 19, 1999. He would had been 8 years old this year. We are preparing to be at Childrens that day to see our wonderful friends on Three Gold and the clinic, especially Dr.Saylors! We miss them very much and yes, you Carrie Calhoon! Your like a sister to us! We love them all very much!! Can't wait to see them plus Dr.Jackson, Donna and Karen from the surgery clinic.

April 28 will be the hardest but wonderful for Caleb. Miss him every day and will soon see him with lots of hugs some day. Continue to pray for us as we reach the one year that Caleb has been in heaven. So happy but miss him, and please pray for Cody, I just know it will be hard on him.

Love you all, Laurie

Sunday, February 11, 2007 10:23 PM CST

It's already February 11 of 2007. This year is already flying by. When tragedy like this hits us, life here on earth doesn't stop does it? There are times I wish it would. Sharon Hawkins, Dakota's mother has touched me so many ways in Dakota's journal on his website, she truly knows the scripture. She stated we must move forward not looking back, we are trying to focus on that and if it wasn't for God helping us through it we couldn't had made it this far. I still sometimes hear Caleb's voice in my sleep, something a child does at school reminds me of Caleb, I can sometimes still hear Caleb say "mamma, don't go". We deeply miss him everyday but God pushes us to move ahead, give God the glory that we know someday there is a wonderful, peaceful place for us to be and see our love ones.

Cody turned 9 years old February 2. It was a little different for him that day, Adam worked while me and Cody had the day together. I tried to keep him buisy that day but there was still time Caleb was in Cody's thoughts. On our way home from picking out his favorite birthday cake, Cody gotten quiet, I asked him what was on his mind and he told me "Mom, I just wish I could hold Caleb's hand, just to hug him one more time, I want to see him right now". I stopped right in the middle of the road on Grahm thank goodness there weren't anyone behind me. We talked for the longest and prayed. After wipping away the tears, Cody looked at me and said "mom, I'm okay now". That must had been the hardest day for him besides Christmas. We rented some wonderful movies and bought his favorite movie "Facing the Giants". He was better. Saturday was a buisy day! Adam picked his four wheeler up from getting the tires fixed, we took him to Corkey's where he loves their ribs, he had fun picking out a couple of things at Toys R Us, then went to the Imax theater where he thought was very cool!

We've had lots of fun since his birthday also threw snow balls, made snow angels in the 1 inch of snow we gotten two weeks ago. He is enjoying 3rd grade and his Faith makes us smile everyday. We are very proud of his strength and his stories he shares with us witnessing to his friends at school.

April is coming up way too fast. Remember us as we are looking up knowing God will help us stand to smile at others knowing that Caleb will forever have that sweet smile and so happy with Jesus, Caleb always had said "Jesus is going to help me better".

Love, The Sims

Monday, January 1, 2007 0:27 AM CST

As we enter the New Year of 2007, I sat here thinking back when 2006 entered. I was in the San Antonio's Childrens Hospital transplant room looking out the big window while Caleb was snoozing, watching the sky light up with different color fireworks and praying that God would give Caleb complete healing for the New Year. I had Faith that whatever God had planned, he knew what was best for Caleb.

Although God's plan was different than ours, now I praise him everyday for giving Caleb complete healing with a new home in heaven with him. God always answers prayers but it's not always like we would want them to be answered. We miss Caleb everyday and starting the new year without him is unbearable but knowing we will soon be reunited is something to look forward to.

We see Cody letting his christian Faith out to others. Sharing others the strength his brother had and a wonderful home he has now. May the New Year bless Cody's life with joy, happiness and standing up tall to his Faith with Jesus in his life.

Cody and I are looking forward to getting back to school. I miss seeing the smiles and hugs from Mrs. Denson's class and Cody misses his friends at Elementary. It's been a great Christmas break but too much time to think and miss Caleb.

We love you all and have a blessed start of 2007.

Wednesday, November 29, 2006 1:13 PM CST

Thanksgiving was extremely hard but with our family being all together, it made the day better. It was not the same without Caleb being there running around. Me and Adam's sisters, Sherry, Donna and Vicki went to the cemetary to pray, giving Thanks to our Heavenly Father for helping us through this hardest time of our life and for giving Caleb complete healing with a new beautiful home. God helped me, Adam and Cody through this Thanksgiving because if it wasn't for him I don't believe I could had made it through. It was hard.

Friday after Thanksgiving me, Adam and Cody went to pick the Christmas tree out at Schillings where Cody and Caleb loved to be every year for a picture by the inflatable bear. We were all pretty quiet especially Cody until we got home. We pulled out the decorations and memories started coming seeing the hand made ornaments the boys made. We had several batman ornaments Caleb wanted on our tree in San Antonio last Christmas, the picture of Cody and Caleb their Aunt Donna gave us last year, the beautiful angel that lights up Caleb loved that Cody wanted to put on top. Cody stopped, hugged me and said "mom, I miss Caleb". I reminded him that Caleb is celebrating Jesus birth now in heaven with Mary full of happiness and smiles everyday. We also have an ornament of a beautiful butterfly that represents the changes a child experiences while undergoing cancer treatment. From the cocoon of treatment and isolation, a child emerges-beautiful and ready to take flight. Cancer is the leading cause of death by illness for children in the United States.

It hurts us that he's not here with us but praise God that he is happy, not hurting anymore and knowing God is our light through our darkest times. He is there when you need him, just call to him, he answers and understands. What would we do if we didn't know that?

Cody and Caleb always loved seeing the Christmas lights naming every color. Christmas day we would always have something sweet celebrating Jesus birthday with a candle representing Jesus is our light of the world singing Jesus Loves Me. Lots of wonderful memories I miss alot.

Pray for us as the Christmas season is approaching us.

Friday, November 17, 2006 2:14 PM CST

As Thanksgiving is just next Thursday, I know you have many to be thankful for as I do. I am thankful to have known the doctors, nurses and Social Worker, Carrie Calhoon of Three Gold. They are a blessing to all the little ones who are fighting a horrible disease of cancer. Dr. Jackson, Karen Kelley and Donna Mathews of the surgery clinic who has helped both my boys of Hirschsprungs. These are not only doctor's and nurses but dear friends of ours.

We are also thankful to know our Caleb is not hurting anymore and has a beautiful home now with Jesus. I am thankful that Caleb was with us for seven years. He brought so much joy into so many lives including Mrs.Munnerlyn and Mrs.Bridgeman of Primary. He showed us all to be strong and know Jesus is with us through our darkest times.

Cody - this eight year old is our sweet sunshine here who takes care of us and who shares an amazing story about his brother to his friends. Adam and I have so much to be thankful for.

Friends like you helps us through our hardest days. May you have a wonderful Thanksgiving with so much to be thankful for.

Much Love to you, Laurie

Wednesday, November 1, 2006 7:27 PM CST

I've had several request to give an update on how we are coping during these difficult days. We miss Caleb and have our puddle days but knowing he is happy and we are happy for him. Cody talks about his brother still and talks about him with his friends, he still has a hard time going to places where Caleb and him would go together but he is adjusting better staying close to us.

As the holidays are approaching us I ask you to remember us as it will be very different but I know God and friends will be holding us up. Some days are harder than others but we have to remember that God wants us to live our life while telling others the fight Caleb had. We need to keep in mind that Caleb would want us to find ways to enjoy life without feeling guilty or selfish. They say that grieving is a long process, when I hear a song, something reminds me of Caleb tears start flowing. I figured by now it would have gotten a little easier but I guess in time it will. God and Time will heal our hearts from this grieving process. We will only have a tender scar.

We treasure the memories but determined to move forward even though it hurts but we also choose to lean on God's loving promise, that promise is in Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope".

God sends friends like you to help us through the sorrow of our loss. Seeing Caleb again is everlasting, that is what I am looking forward to.

Remaining Faithful to Christ calls for a Faith that can and will endure difficult times.

Love to you, Laurie

Thursday, September 21, 2006 9:13 PM CDT

It's going great here still lots of memories but we cherish those memories. The first of everything is extremely hard and difficult bringing back when Caleb loved summer, having a great time with his Mrs.Munnerlyn, Mrs.Bridgeman, Mrs. Lilly and Mr. Sawyer, Lonoke Parade which he loved to watch every year either sitting on the sidewalk or in the car and now the State Fair coming up which he loved the animals. The Holidays will be hard but we manage to keep standing, holding up with God's loving hand.

Cody is enjoying playing football for the Jackrabbits. He is always ready to put his football gear on to head to the field. He never forgets his brother, he talks about him everyday. He tells his friends about his brother and smiles when telling it. Cody is still enjoying school, loves homework (pray that doesn't change), and loves football. He is really keeping us buisy. He is a joy!

Caleb's precious monument has arrived and it's beautiful with his picture mounted in the stone sitting at Concord Cemetary.


Love you Three Gold, still think of you everyday and also
Dr. Jackson, Dr. Saylors, Dr. Saccentae, Dr. Stine,
Dr. Becton, Donna, karen, Catherine and Carrie.

Thursday, August 31, 2006 9:39 PM CDT

It's been a great second week of school. Cody is really enjoying the third grade and loves his teachers. He is so excited that he is already making A's on his test. His life is soon to be buisy after starting school then Awana's at church and now getting into football! Cody is growing up, wanting to be buisy with church and on the field with his friends. He is still talking about Caleb to his friends, missing him very much but knows he will soon see him with no sickness. Keeping Cody buisy is good for him and to help keep his mind buisy not always thinking of missing his brother because he always gets quiet and sad when he does talk about missing Caleb.

It's great to get back to the routine but adjusting without Caleb is hard. There's not a day we don't think of him. The weather changing brings back memories when Caleb loved the "it's a great day" he would say before him and Cody running outside to play with their cars and trucks. On nice days (when he wasn't sick) like now was very hard to get Caleb inside for bath. He wanted to stay outside until it was dark. There were some days I had to piggy back him inside but those times he didn't mind, he loved piggy back rides especially with his cousin, Tiffany Evans. Caleb loved the outdoors especially finding frogs to hide in his pockets for mom! If we seen a turtle slowly making his way across the road, oh no, we had to stop to pick that turtle up taking it to Uncle Bunches pond for their "new home". Caleb would say "aw, now he has a home". He always would think those turtles getting across the road didn't have a home and we had to get them a home at Uncle Bunches pond. Now if we are outside Cody would pick up a frog saying "Caleb would love this one because he is fat". Boys will be boys, they had fun outside gathering up critters sticking in their pockets to scare mom! I miss those days but it sure does bring back funny memories.

It will be a great three day weekend being at home dogsitting Samson (nanny and pa-pa Sims) dodson. Cody will enjoy that. Continue praying for my Father-in-law (pops), he is doing well other than being very nausea between treatments. Their address is J.D & Dorthey Sims,1623 South Kerr Lonoke, AR 72086 if you would like to send them a card.

Nurses of Three Gold, we love you! Don't forget Adam's saying "Another day in paradise". It's still his favorite.
He is doing great.
You remember those great days we had!!! Carrie Calhoon was a blessing to me but especially to Adam!
Keep Dr.Saylors,Dr.Stine,Dr.Saccentae and Dr.Becton in line, they need it!! Hugs to you all and miss you guys!
Watch out, we will come unexpectedly!!
Love to ya, Laurie

Saturday, August 26, 2006 1:48 PM CDT

Monday was a struggle for all of us adjusting to the school routine of getting up and around in the morning without having Caleb wanting noodles for breakfast or wanting to eat breakfast with Cody at school, Caleb was missed very much that morning. Cody helped me "mom, it's okay, Caleb is so happy". Cody got started really well, excited about starting 3rd grade at the Elementary School but was a big change for him. He loves it and his teachers. Was so excited to see his friends.

It was great to see everyone at Primary and the little ones with big smiles on their faces. I've had several say "Hi Caleb's mom" with a big smile on their face. It's great for them to still say that to me, I will always be Caleb's mom. I still miss seeing Caleb walking to lunch holding his Mrs.Munnerlyn's hand but God's presence being with me carrying me through letting me know Caleb is okay, wonderful to know he is always with us through our hardest times and sends us friends to lean on.

September is "Childhood Cancer Awareness Month" don't forget to wear your YELLOW ribbons. According to National Childrens Cancer Society, there are approximately 12,400 that is diagnosed with Childhood Cancer and 4,000 die from it. Not only does this affects the child but it affects the whole family. It's like a nightmare, a nightmare that won't go away. Some will say there is no hope, but there is hope and that is FAITH. The first day we found out Caleb was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma we were in shock,scared,and asking God "why". We don't always know the answers but we need to know God is in control and knowing without him you can't make it alone.

Thursday, August 17, 2006 10:00 PM CDT

Summer of 2006 is almost nearing the end with school starting just around the corner. As I was sitting on the front porch swing this afternoon watching Cody play with his trucks in the front yard I was thinking how fast this summer had went. Caleb loved the summer playing with his brother outside, they spent most of their time outside with their cars/trucks or squirting each other with the water hose in their underwear. We cherish those memories the boys had.

Cody adjusted well this summer, stayed buisy helping take care of "Samson", his nanny,pa-pa's dodson, taking mom on all the rides at Wild River, going on fun trips with Bro.Bill at church. He is anxious about starting the third grade at Elementary and seeing his friends again. Cody never needed any close friends because he had Caleb but now he has many close friends at church who he will be seeing at school. He knows he will always be Caleb's best friend.

I made a decision to work at Primary School after a year not being there I am excited to be back. Monday, the first day was different, emotional but was great to see everyone especially Phyllis Munnerlyn, Nancy Bridgeman, Susan Lilly, Callie, Susan, Holly Dewey, Ross Moore, were some of Caleb's favorites. Caleb loved everyone at school he always had friends but he would also let them know how he felt about them. If anyone made him mad he would let them know about it. Mrs.Munnerlyn and Mr.Moore rescued him from knocking anyone down who stepped on his toes. He was not scared for taking up for himself and he cared about his friends.

When he wasn't feeling good his friends always helped him. Kylie Hobson helped him alot carrying his lunch tray for him because Caleb was wearing a sling on his arm from the tumor and receiving radiation. She was his bestest friend (besides his brother), he always respected her because she always helped him no matter what it was even taking him to see Nurse Julie or me. He always was excited to see her even at church. The pic on the last screen of pics is one of Caleb,Kylie and Cody at a football game sitting at the stadium. Most of all, he ALWAYS had the sweetest smile on his face.

It will be different going back to Primary but I am leaning on to God that he will help me adjust and pick me up through the hardest days there. He is the only one who understands and will help me. Seeing the smiles of little ones and the friends of Caleb, and the wonderful staff of Teachers/friends will help alot. He will be missed from everyone especially his Mrs.Munnerlyn, Mrs.Bridgeman, Mrs.Lilly.

Friday, July 28, 2006 2:59 PM CDT

Caleb has been in heaven three months today. We miss him and will never forget him. Moving on is hard, extremely hard. Our lives will never be the same, he will always be in our hearts. God is caring us everyday through this, he understands the days we have a hard time to move. Cody struggles every day missing him but being with friends and family helps him alot. He is also helping take care of his nanny/pa-pa Sims dodson/chiuaua. It's been quiet buisy around here with Adam's dad (J.D) being diagnosed with cancer of the liver and kidney. He is getting chemo from Springhill Baptist but needs many prayers for him and his wife (Dorthey).

Caleb's favorite song came on this morning and brought tears remembering him singing it to me while at Childrens.

Come stop your crying, it will be all right
Just take my hand, hold it tight
I will protect you from all around you
I will be here don't you cry
For one so small, you seem so strong
My arms will hold you keep you safe and warm
This bond between us can't be broken
I will be here don't you cry
And you'll be in my heart
Yes, You'll be in my heart
From this day on
Now and forever more
You'll be in my heart
No matter what they say
You'll be here in my heart
Always

A HERO is someone who has given his life to something bigger than oneself.

Caleb will always be remembered.
Dr.Saylors, Dr.Jackson, Donna, Karen, Catherine, Carrie,
We will see him again soon. Love you!!

Laurie

Saturday, July 15, 2006 0:46 AM CDT

Well, up late tonight. Having a hard time resting, thinking of Caleb. There are many days I just say "God I really miss Caleb". Only he knows and understands and who gives us peace and comfort. I imagine that is how I or any parent who looses a child with Faith in God makes it day to day. Even though we know they are much better now, no more sickness who wouldn't want to come back we still miss them very much. Yes, we will see them again soon but according to me, not soon enough. I would love to see Caleb today, please God come now but God tells me I have a purpose here. Adam, (everyone knows he needs someone to keep him in line!), and Cody (we have become a very close relationship), and help other parents who struggles loosing a child. God gives me grace everyday to help me as I struggle missing Caleb.

This has been a buisy week for me and Cody. Adam has been buisy working. Cody and I have been having a great time at Wild River with Tiffany,Michelle, and Karla who are his cousins. Cody is anxious about school starting, he is ready to see his friends and be at the Elementary School! He is going in the 3rd grade but mentally going in the 12th!! We've also had Vacation Bible School this week and the scripture Cody memorized is Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. When I have my struggle days I have to be reminded to be strong that he is with me always. Cody really loves that scripture, he will be reminded the same when he has hard days missing his brother. God always carries us through the hardest times we face in life.

Love you all and our THREE GOLD
Laurie :)

Wednesday, July 5, 2006 11:09 AM CDT

Lots of memories came to us yesturday remembering last year when Caleb loved the fireworks. Late last night I was watching the fireworks light up the sky, I could still hear Caleb's pidder padder feet coming down the hall for me to lift him up so he could watch the colors and shapes. His face would always be in amazement how big they would be. Times like these are when we miss Caleb the most. Cody was down remembering his brother last year having a great time with him while Adam, Amber and Nelson would light up the fireworks for the boys to watch. God is still helping us through the hardest times because he said he would never leave us nor forsake us.

Prayers are needed for a special friend, Katie Ford who is battling cancer and is in PICU at Childrens. This is a wonderful Christian Family who needs your prayers for their daughter. Her website is www.prayforkaitlyn.com

Thursday, June 22, 2006 3:53 PM CDT

Tuesday was a very big day for me and Adam. Cody was on a church trip while me and Adam went to pick the perfect monument for Caleb's grave site. That was something we had never dreamed of having to go through. With quiet emotions we picked the perfect,beautiful one that was just right for Caleb. The design from my mom who is an artist will be engraved in the stone with Caleb's original picture set in. It should be delivered within 2 1/2 to 3 months. The day seemed cloudy with mixed emotions but Wednesday morning came with a beautiful sunrise of a new day from God. With God's help we made it through another tough day.

Caleb is still running through the beautiful garden of heaven having the best time of his life. I have wondered what I think of heaven. The Bible tells us in 1 Corinthians 2:9 No mere man has ever seen, heard, or even imagined what wonderful things God has ready for those who love the Lord. Yet it also tells us that heaven is a place of light,hope and rewards. Jesus said, "I go to prepare a place for you." How marvelous to know a heavenly home awaits those who trust in him. Through the experience of losing Caleb, I have become more aware of my heavenly home, and I live now in joyful expectation of going there someday.

I have sat on my front porch swing trying to envision what Caleb might be experiencing in heaven. He is now running, playing with other kids and walking with his grandparents. Knowing Caleb is in heaven with Jesus not hurting anymore is one of my heart's greatest treasures. When I think of being with him again, my eyes fill with tears of joy. Jesus said "Let the little Children come to me" and that is where Caleb is, right there by his side. Someday I will be right there beside both of them. John 3:16. Someday in that glorious place called heaven we will hold our children tight, and once again our hearts will beat as one.

Love, Laurie

Saturday, June 17, 2006 10:34 PM CDT

Little Caleb's voice fills the air,
Life and laughter ring,
Across the hills of Heaven
His small, sweet voice sing

Gone to be with Jesus,
His big,beautiful smile,
Now run and play as never before,
In the land of eternal joy.

Never to know another tear,
Or face another pain;
What was senseless loss on earth
Has now become Heaven's gain.

While Heaven is much sweeter,
In our hearts we will never be alone;
God filled it with memories of laughter and love,
Of that sweet boy who has now gone home.

It will be two months April 28th at 4:00p.m. since our precious Batman Caleb left my arms into Jesus arms. There is not a day that goes by we do not think of him bouncing,jumping with lots of giggles. We miss him dearly but someday we will see him again. He is now waiting on our arrival.

Cody is doing well but mentions Caleb everyday. He had a minor procedure done last Monday by Dr.Bowers removing his adnoids and placing a third set of ear tubes. He is doing well, eating like a big boy and enjoying going to Wild River riding the inner tube rides!! yes, Dr.Bowers says he can go swimming!! Cody is really keeping me buisy this summer!! He really misses Caleb but being buisy swimming at Wild River or at Aunt Sherry's, bouncing mom while riding the four wheeler, helping me with house work, his mind is pretty occupied. Cody will be going to church youth group trip Tuesday, me and Adam will be out ordering Caleb's tomb stone. We both dread it but needs to be done. As soon as we know when it will be placed we will add the pics of the site to the website. May you all have a wonderful week.

Much Love to you and our Three Gold whom we miss very much. Laurie

Tuesday, May 23, 2006 9:58 PM CDT

God saw Caleb was getting tired and a cure was not to be. God put his arms around Caleb and whispered, "Come with me." With tear-filled eyes as I was leaning around him I watched him fade away. Although I loved him deeply, I could not make him stay. His heart stopped beating, his precious hands put to rest. God has bigger, better plans for Caleb in heaven, his short life here was done.

There is not a day that we do not think of our super-hero Batman Caleb. I miss him dearly but knowing he is well taken care of feeling as great as he's ever felt before. The house is quiet, we miss those giggles, and screams of laughter with him and Cody. I have Caleb's special things saved in a special keep sake box especially his favorite Batman toys. His favorite pictures of him with Dr.Saylors in a special album. His bed is made up with his batman covers, batman build-a-bears on top that's the way Cody loves it. Cody is adjusting slowly but it's still very hard for him especially the weekends. He doesn't talk about it much but stays quiet about anything that bothers him unless it's just me and him then sometimes he will open up. He has been talking to Mrs.Bourne at school, she's great to talk to him about anything and he does open up to her. Cody became a christian a couple of weeks ago and was baptized on Mother's Day. He has really been reading about heaven where Caleb is and truly understands that Caleb didn't die but is alive in heaven and will see him again very soon. He is telling his friends at school how strong Caleb was and where he is. They were so close and this is extremely difficult for him to be apart even if it's just a short time. Adam, Cody and myself are trying to spend as much time together as much as we can adjusting through this. This is not easy but God is giving us the strength, holding us up each and every day. As my sister-in-law had said God and Time will heal our broken hearts. I believe he will, we will never be the same and will always have an empty place in our hearts but God will hold us up every day.

EACH DAY IS A CLOSER DAY TO SEE CALEB AGAIN

We will always be four: Adam, Laurie, Cody, and Caleb

Much Love to you and our wonderful 3-Gold at Childrens.
Laurie :)

Friday, May 5, 2006 11:10 PM CDT

It's been a week now, Caleb is still in AWE of the beauty of heaven is and just to see the face of Jesus. He must be the most happiest boy he has ever been through his seven years of life. Caleb had so much strength and determination through whatever crises he was forced into but with "Jesus is going to help me feel better", "Jesus is with me" is what he said, that is what kept Caleb going with no complaints through it all. Through the seven years of medical issues he only thought it was just norm to feel pain or discomfort. Caleb was such a strong, stubborn boy who didn't quit but kept going because he knew he was going to be okay through all the rollar coasters he had he knew his bestest friend "Jesus" was right by his side.

We are adjusting slowly. We have hard moments but knowing Caleb is smiling down on us without having Hirschsprungs, hearing aids, or his bones hurting from the Neuroblastoma makes us feel so much better. We miss him so much, Cody says he misses his brother every day. Cody has been wearing Caleb's New Balance shoes to school because he feels close to him. He has been riding his four wheeler with his good friend, John Tyler Lloyd but at night is when he misses his brother the most. Cody still says "Caleb will always be my best friend". He prays at night and talks to Caleb but has been quiet most of the time when he's not around anyone to get his mind buisy. This will take some time, never will be the same and will always have an empty place in our hearts. We especially miss the Gold nurses!! I will never forget our great times having fun!!! We will see you soon!
Lakisia, WE LOVE YOU GIRL!!!
We miss Caleb's buddy, Dr.Saylors,
All four Hemoc docs! We love you very much and will see you soon, very soon!
Carrie, the wonderful photography and social worker!!
Bro. Powers, Bro.Kenneth, Childrens Chaplains
We love you all.

WHEN THE LIGHTS GOES OUT

It is precisely when every earthly hope has been explored and found wanting, when every possibility of help from earthly sources has been sought and is not forthcoming, when every recourse this world offers, moral as well as material, has been drawn on and expended withno effect, when in the shivering cold every log has been thrown on the fire, and in the gathering darkness every flimmer of light has finally flickered out-it is then that Christ's hand reaches out, sure and firm, that Christ's words bring their inexpressible comfort, that his light shines brightest, abolishing the darkness forever.

Think about it..... Thank you Amanda Duncan for sharing that with me. Something to think about.


Love you all, Laurie

Thursday, May 4, 2006 0:39 AM CDT

The outpouring of support has been overwhelming. Thank you all so much. Laurie, Cody, and my self are adjusting to the absence of Caleb?s earthly body, but in our minds he will live on forever. Each and every one of the entries is read by Laurie and me. We find it so uplifting to know that Caleb has touched so many lives. Perhaps that was his purpose here on this earth. One day, when I sit at Jesus feet, maybe he will show me the puzzle and provide the missing peaces.

I know their are several that have been keeping up with Caleb?s journey. I know some wasn?t able to make it to the service due to distance and other issues. I have been led to try and place the video of it on here. If I can?t, I might place a link to click on that might hold the total file. It was something that you all need to see.

Thank you to all,
Adam

Saturday, April 29, 2006 9:34 PM CDT

First, let me start by saying thank you for all your prayers and support throughout this long journey. We, Laurie and I, found your entries in the journal uplifting. They often made Caleb and Cody smile.

Caleb went to see Jesus around 4:00 pm Friday afternoon. I had just left to get a change of clothes when I was called back into the room. Caleb was being held by his mother when he left us. It was a peaceful transition. When he left us, he had a smile on his face. After several hours of us holding and kissing him, we had to give him to the NLR funeral home. The smile never left his face. I asked Brother Jimmy what he thought Caleb was thinking, Brother Jimmy replied "He is in awe of the presents of our Lord".

His transitional service will be on Tuesday at Lonoke First Baptist Church. It will begin at 1:00 pm. Visitation will be on Monday, from 5:00pm to 7:00 pm, and will also be at Lonoke First Baptist Church.

Directions to Lonoke First Baptist: If going east on Interstate 40, take the Lonoke Exit and cross over the over pass. If going west on Interstate 40, take the Lonoke Exit.

You will continue south into the town untill you reach the trafic light. Make a right and go two blocks. You will then make another right. You will see the Church.

If you have any questions, you can call (501) 944-9410


Adam

Friday, April 28, 2006 4:48 PM CDT

Caleb Andrew Sims, born April 19, 1999 to be with our Lord and Savior this afternoon here at Childrens.

Caleb means brave and brave he was. During the many battles he fought along his short life. God used him in powerful ways to draw many to him by his brave spirit. His joyous personality and his magnificient smile he touched hearts, moved souls and changed lives. All of us who's lives he touched will never be the same. We'll never forget the "I Love Yous" and "Leave Me Alones." Caleb helped our hearts to grow.

Caleb is a real trooper. His struggle with life is over now but his life anew has just begun, and those of us whose hearts God has prepared will see him again soon.

Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not forbid them for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven."

"Oh how beautiful heaven must be."

Thursday, April 27, 2006 9:30 AM CDT

This morning has already been a stressful morning seeing Caleb go through this. He has swelled more since last night, his eyes are swelled to the point he can hardly open them to look at us but most of the time he is sleeping. His head has many tumors you can feel. God's grace is with us as we watch precious Caleb swell with fluid and from the Neuroblastoma spreading. His breathing is a little shallow, it's getting closer each hour,each moment. Caleb isn't responding much but does hear you when you talk to him. I believe he heard Mrs.Munnerlyn last night talking to him, her presence being with him, comforting him letting him know she was right there for him. Caleb is still Caleb, his looks is what hurts so bad because he doesn't look like Caleb. Just imagine he will receive a new body the moment he enters heaven when it's our time we will know Caleb and all our other loved ones. What a joyous time Caleb will have. It's us that hurt,suffer because of our loved ones not being here with us but our time will come to see them again.

Tuesday, April 25, 2006 9:54 AM CDT

It's a quiet dark,rainy morning. Caleb is still snoozing, resting well. He was in alot of tummy pain and back pain yesturday afternoon, he was given Raglan for his tummy pain and increase on his pain pump in five minutes! Caleb calm down within 20 minutes talking to us saying he is better. He rested most of the day or between shifting him from side to side and changing him. His appearance in his face is changing. More puffiness around the check area, his eyes are starting to bother him more, more tumors are growing on the head area making it more noticeable to tell the different shape. Caleb just wants us to hold him and smile at him when he is awake. It's hard to see him like this but it's also hard to accept that he will soon not be with us. I still enjoy the moments I have with Caleb but I try not to look at the horrible tumors starring at me. I've wanted so bad for this Neuroblastoma to disintegrate, not coming back. Eleven months Caleb was in remission we just knew we had it beat, it was great to see the boys be boys again then the nightmare came back that the disease monster showed his self again. I believe God has a plan for Caleb to go through seven years of medical issues to show everyone how strong he is. To tell everyone Jesus is going to make me feel better, how much Faith he has through his everyday smiles. He knows Jesus is by his side everyday through this. He has told me and Adam after we have talked to him about going to heaven and if he is ready to see Jesus, his response was "yes". God has plans for Caleb, the ones who accepted Jesus as their personal savior will know one day what those plans are. I'm sure many has questions to ask just like I do.

Monday, April 24, 2006 8:18 AM CDT

It was a great weekend with Cody staying with us. Caleb is taking more naps but was awake most of the morning to pester his brother. Cody had a good time visiting other patients here, giving them a brighter day. Cody really has a great time with Chase Wellingburger playing with him on the Nintendo games unless Chase is not feeling well. Chase is a patient here with Leukemia taking chemo treatments. His web site is www.prayforchase.com.

Caleb is feeling good, his heart rate is still going strong. Caleb was a little sad last night knowing Cody was not here with him but will have some time with his brother this afternoon when Cody is picked up from school by Adam. Caleb had another bedbath yesturday but was so tired, he fell asleep while Loraine, his nurse finished his soapy bath and changing his bed covers. God is still not ready to take Caleb home just yet, more great days to spend time with him, cherish these precious days with sweet Caleb. Thank you Lord for another great day with Caleb.

Saturday, April 22, 2006 8:30 AM CDT

We all had a restful night last night. Cody is spending the weekend with us here at Childrens and Caleb is enjoying to have his brother with him. Caleb is feeling good this morning watching the Disney Channel with Goofy and Mickey. He looks good and his eyes are wide awake. He ate some more goldfish last night with ice water. Later this morning he will need a good warm bedbath with lots of lotion plus to sleek his dark brown hair into an handsome style!! I'm sure he will be ready for a nap after all of that! He just smiles while he is getting pampered! I believe he likes it with two nurses and his mom playing with his toes singing to him like he's in a Batman Cave's palace!! The blessed thing is he's smiling and not in pain!

Lots of love to you! Will be a buisy morning jiving this seven year old up.

Friday, April 21, 2006 9:40 AM CDT

Yesturday afternoon was a little nervous night with his heart rate getting weak and tired. Caleb's appearance is changing, his fingers were a little cold. After a good nights rest, lots of prayers Caleb is up this morning watching the Backyardigans, his heart rate is normal and he looks great! What a scare we had.

Caleb had a few bites of Goldfish late last night with some ice water before he was ready for sweet dreams. His room looks like a Batroom with all the Batman decorations which makes him smile to look at. I have been reading a few of his favorite books to him like David and Goliath,Noah and the Ark, and of course his favorite, Batman. Pray that today will be a good day for Caleb.

God's presence is with us each and every day.

Much Love

Thursday, April 20, 2006 9:43 AM CDT

What an awesome day it was for Caleb and for us to see his face yesturday!!! He deserved a special day on his birthday!! Caleb was hard to waken yesturday morning when the Travelers came to see him with great gifts for him and Cody. He was waken when the incredibles came in his room to see him!!! The look on his face will never be forgotten, his smiles to watch them flex their muscles!! Then after a good nap from opening his gifts he had another visitor, his super hero, BATMAN came in to see him!! Caleb was almost screaming in excitement!! His dream came true to meet his favorite super hero! We took lots of pics of Caleb with the incredibles and BATMAN!! The day was great for Caleb!!

We want to say a big "THANK YOU" for all the entries from so many who have been praying for precious junior Batman!! We also want to say THANK YOU for the gifts and cards! Caleb absolutely enjoyed everyone of them with sweet smiles knowing so many are thinking of him.

Caleb is up watching the Backyardigans and enjoying to have his brother here with him. Cody has an appointment today in the ENT clinic. Caleb has turned seven, God's help he made it to his birthday!!! Thank you our Heavenly Father!!! They have plenty to play and share with today!!! Caleb continues to do so well! He is playing with his Batman sword from his Mrs.Munnerlyn!!!

Much Love to you all!!!! Laurie

Wednesday, April 19, 2006 8:36 AM CDT

April 19, 1999 at 2:45 p.m. Caleb Andrew Sims at 8lbs even born with beautiful jet black hair. A precious healthy boy perfect brother for Cody who was 1 years old.

I noticed a change in Caleb's appearance at two weeks old. I rushed him to Childrens as his lifeless body laid on the stretcher in the trauma room located in the Emergency Room. After being resuscitated he was sent to the PICU unit and stayed in there for approximately three months with ventalator, pnuemonia,clappsed lung,liver problems,blood disorder,tubes everywhere,brain waves to see if he had any brain activity. After a couple of weeks decisions were made to test Caleb for Hirschsprungs Disease, the test was taken and positive result that Caleb has Hirschsprungs Disease. Dr.Richard Jackson, God send surgeon performed colon surgery where Caleb wore a colonostomy for six months. His wonderful surgery specialty nurses, Karen Kelly and Donna Mathews who did a great job training me for Caleb's care. After several months in and out of the hospital, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, hearing aides, speech therapy, battling Neuroblastoma cancer God is still with him giving him the strength for every day. It's amazing he's seven after being through so much through his life.

He was waken this morning with birthday smiles from his nurses, Jennifer, Amy, Laura and his Child Life, Stephanie. 107.7 did a great job this morning singing him the birthday song even Caleb was singing along with them!!

Caleb has a full day today with birthday surprises!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY PRECIOUS BATMAN CALEB!! #7

Tuesday, April 18, 2006 10:58 AM CDT

Caleb is still resting with sweet dreams. His strength amazes us each day as his heart rate is going strong. His sweet touch as he says "I Love You", "Lay down with me", "Your my best friend", "Jesus is going to make me feel better", or just his sweet smile as he tries to focus on you. God's presence is with him reasuring us "It's going to be okay, I am with Caleb". Thank you Heavenly Father for giving us the strength to face whatever the day may bring. We trust in him always. How can anyone face this without having him in their heart? Without the Lord we could not go on with smiles on our faces, being strong every day seeing Caleb's body lay in his air bed with hardly any movement, not able to walk, having a tough time focusing, his sweet weak voice giving all he can just to talk. Through it all, We've learned to trust in Jesus, we've learned to trust in him.
WE ARE STILL BELIEVING AND TRUSTING


BatCaleb's big birthday is tomorrow!! He will turn seven years old.

Much Love to you all!

Monday, April 17, 2006 9:57 AM CDT

Caleb is resting with sweet dreams. He was awaken this morning around 5:00 with a diaper change but gave me plenty of smiles.

We cherish and give God lots of praise for wonderful moments we have with Caleb.



The weekend went okay just a lot of memories from last year when the boys were home doing well. Yesturday was a emotional day thinking back last Easter we all went to church together, hunted easter eggs, spent lots of family time at my mom-in-laws. Lots of great memories of Cody and Caleb being best friends. Saturday was a quiet day, Cody spent the weekend here with us and visited with other kids here lighting their spirits up a little bit. That's what Cody does best is socializing. Sunday morning we had a Easter story for the boys but Cody was the one telling us the true meaning of Easter when Jesus rose from the tomb announcing that he will be back soon. It was great listening to Cody tell us about how it was on that day. Caleb had a great bed bath while he and Cody watched the Wizard of Oz around 10:00. Aunt Donna,Uncle Gary,Hannah came with basket of goodies, after a great visit with them. Caleb stated "I wanna go outside and play" Caleb is not able to walk, me and Adam padded the wheel chair with pillows, carefully sat Caleb in the chair and wheeled him(with Cody's help) to the court yard for some fresh air. After about 5 minutes he was ready to "go back to my bed". It was nice to get him out a little bit, getting some fresh air. He was worn a bit and took a long nap.

That evening it was great to see Aunt Sherry,Uncle Eric, Aunt Vicki, Nanny Sims,Tiffany,Karla,Gabby,Erin come in with more goodies and some dinner. The afternoon made up for the sad morning remembering last Easter.

I miss Caleb getting up running down the hall, him and Cody playing trucks in the dirt pile outside, Caleb eating his favorites mac & cheese,cheese pizza,Mexico Chiquito's cheese dip,beef noodles,doritos and lots of candy. I miss the days when we would have to send him to his room for pestering Cody, or hear him giggle at the AFV on t.v, hearing his sweet voice sing the Tarzan song "You'll be in my heart", seeing him and Cody hug,kiss saying "Your my bestest brother". All of those thoughts bring tears but lots of smiles.

Saturday, April 15, 2006 9:22 AM CDT

Caleb continued doing well yesturday afternoon after the big Batman party. He slept most of the afternoon, he was so tired. I believe the party worn him out! If the good Lord's willing, we will have another one Wednesday on his actual Birthday!!! He will turn 7 years old.

He and Cody are still sleeping. Cody is enjoying another weekend with us! He loves to stay and gives Caleb comfort knowing his brother is with him. Caleb is still going strong. We cherish every day we have Caleb with us. God's strength continues to strengthening us every day.

Love you all.
Keep lifting us up in your prayers every day.

Friday, April 14, 2006 2:15 PM CDT

Caleb is resting after a very buisy morning enjoying his early BATMAN birthday party with his Dr.Saylors who was the first visitor Caleb wanted to be in his room. He was a little overwhelmed from all the people surrounding him but after a little bit he settled down when it was just his Dr.Saylors and him visiting each other. Caleb had a great time with the nurses, Catherine, Mrs.Munnerlyn, Mrs.Bridgeman, Mrs.Lilly, Mrs.Clark, Mrs.Gann. It was a wonderful time and great pictures taken by professional Carrie Calhoon. Caleb received many batman toys,balloons,batcake,and more decorations for his Batroom. What a blessing to see Caleb enjoying his party. Cody had a great time being with his brother during the party time before going over to the Loyd's House to play with John Tyler.


Today is Good Friday but it's also a Thanksgiving Friday because of what Jesus did for us.

On the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. She ran to tell Jesus disciples. Simon Peter and another disciple run to the sepulchre and went in, saw the linen burial cloths, and returned home.

But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, and saw two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and othe other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.

And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.

And when she had said, she turned her self back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.

Jesus said unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and said unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.

Jesus said unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father; but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.

Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.

St.John 20.11-14, 16-18

Thursday, April 13, 2006 9:22 AM CDT

Morning!! A short update this Thursday morning but great news! Caleb was determined yesturday afternoon to get out of his bed to see his Dr.Saylors and Mrs.Catherine. Stephanie, Child Life and I padded Caleb's wheel chair, helped him get comfy in it and wheeled him to the clinic. Caleb was hollering for "Dr.Saylors" unfortunately he was on the fifth floor but that didn't stop Caleb from wanting to go there. We wheeled him in the elevator got to the fifth floor and Dr.Saylors patiently waiting for his buddy at Catherine's office door way. Caleb was so happy to see his Dr.Saylors and stayed for about 30 minutes. Caleb's determination and strength to track his Dr.Saylors was so amazing yesturday.

Mrs.Munnerlyn (his teacher) came by last night with Easter Buckets for Cody and Caleb! Caleb was sleeping but woke up after hearing Mrs.Munnerlyn's voice. He was tickled to see her with lots of hugs and kisses. He gave her a batman football after signing it with her help as a keepsake in remembrance of him. He was all smiles to her as she was leaving the room.

Caleb is doing great this morning, has already watched Tarzan, Dinotopia from the Great Valley and now the Backyardigans. He didn't eat much at all yesturday but tried a bite of Lays Potato Chips, it was not very tasty to him as he spit it out. He's still going strong, we cherish every day we have with Caleb especially his smiles through this.

Wednesday, April 12, 2006 8:21 AM CDT

It's a great morning here at Childrens in Caleb's Batroom!! Caleb is awake watching Buzzlightyear and waiting for his breakfast!! He says "I'm hungry"! how cool is that!! Amazing how God is working in Caleb through this. He received his new air bed yesturday thanks to my dear friend, Jo who mentioned it to me!! He was a little nervous at first about it but loves it now since we do not have to move him anymore. He is still going strong and absolutely loves his Batmail that he is receiving in his batmailbox outside the door!! Batman, thank you so much for making this boy smile! We will miss you while you are away for a little bit.

Yesturday Caleb wanted to see his Dr.Saylors and get in the toy closet so a couple of nurses here on 3-Gold wheeled Caleb and his bed down to the Hemoc. Clinic, they were all welcoming Caleb with the toy closet door open for him to pick something out which was a Batman football that he and Dr.Saylors was throwing back and forth! He had a great afternoon in the Hemoc. Clinic.

Caleb's Birthday is in 7 days, April 19!!! Good Lord's willing Caleb will have an awesome Batman birthday party here at Childrens three Gold!!

Tuesday, April 11, 2006 8:29 AM CDT

Caleb had a great day yesturday after watching Backyardigans. He slept most of the day until me and Cody got here after picking him up at school Caleb was up ready to see his brother. Caleb and Cody spent alot of quality time together yesturday afternoon.

Caleb is still going strong. He's very weak but very alert and watching Durago this morning, drinking ice water. He had a little bit of a nose bleed last night and keeps picking at his lip this morning. He is getting tired now, I see him cat nap while watching Durago. Caleb's birthday is a week from this Wednesday!! He will be 7 years old. Lord's willing Caleb will be here with us all to celebrate his birthday!

Love to you all, Laurie

Monday, April 10, 2006 9:06 AM CDT

It was a great weekend watching Cody and Caleb spend some time together, even though Caleb couldn't move his legs Cody was right next to him playing with Caleb and his batman toys. Caleb watched Cody play his game boy between cat naps. Cody had a great time spending the weekend with me and Caleb but had to go back with Adam for school this week. Alot of family quality time this weekend was great for Caleb and Cody. Nanny Sandy spent some time with Caleb while me and Adam went out Saturday and it was very nice getting out enjoying the nice warm weather, but looked forward seeing Caleb again that afternoon.

Caleb is doing good, still fighting but very comforted looking at a poster of Jesus with lots of children with the verse at the top "Let the little childen come to me" Matthew 19:14 that is hanging up in his room for him to see. He watched a little Durago and Backyardigans this morning and had some grape juice but is sleeping right now. We are having to turn him every two hours on his side in order for him not getting pressure sores. Moving him very slowly hurts but he feels much better once he is comfy. He hasn't had any fevers since Friday night, his blood pressures are fine now and his heart rate is going strong.

God is Caleb's comforter through this difficult time. He is holding Caleb's hand reassuring him everything will be okay. We are so blessed with God's strength through Caleb. He wipes away our tears and replace them with gladness and pure sweet joy.

Keep praying!!! Lots of love to you all!!

Saturday, April 8, 2006 10:12 PM CDT

It's getting closer for Caleb to be bouncing off of Jesus shoulders. His sleeping more and his blood pressers are low. He is not able to move, we are having to move him from side to side every three to four hours. Not able to lay on his back because of pressure on his back causing severe pain. His pain is under control but bothers him when moved or laying on his back. His great nurse, Lakeisha and his tech, Jaynie gave him a great bed bath today with lots of lotion and baby powder to make him smell and feel so good plus a clean bed. He was very happy and smiles to his nurse then he was ready for a nap.

We received a big box from someone very special to us and especially to Caleb. Kristen from Arkadelphia sent us a box full of great surprises with a huge Batman doll that is hanging up in his room here, two great disc of Caleb with music in the background, the other is a wonderful disc of beautiful christian music to play while Caleb is resting. Three sweet angel pins with Caleb's name ingraved. A few wristbands that says "Caleb:Our Super Hero Still Believing" and Batman color. Thank you Kristen, Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. This gift brought tears to our eyes, this is special, very special.

Caleb opened his eyes later tonight before Adam was heading home with smiles to Cody and I Love Yous. Cody was right with him holding his hand, we all were enjoying every minute while Caleb was awake talking to us with his very weak voice but a smile of strong courage from God. His strength is still hanging on strong.

We may not understand why our trials do not led up but God does but if we trust in him through the midst of it all he will bring us through a place of blessing. We cherish all the good days we have with Caleb and we know God has bigger plans with him in heaven soon.

Laurie

Wednesday, April 5, 2006 10:54 PM CDT

Caleb has been having great days watching Backyardigans in the morning when he wakes up and playing with his batman toys with his brother Cody in the afternoon after his morning nap before he is ready to sleep through the night or partial through the night. Caleb continues to fight and be strong.

Caleb's left eye looks better today with very little puffiness or darkening around the eye. He still squints when watching t.v or looking at his Batman books. Not sure about the two tumors on his head, Dr.Saylors stated it could be the tumor from the back of his head growing around to the left side outside of the skull but not pressing against the brain. His heart rate is still going very strong and blood pressures are very good. He had a great conversation with his Aunt Donna today laying back on her on the couch while watching the Jungle Book but disappointed when it was time for her to leave to pick her daughter up from school.

Caleb continues his fight and will continue until God lets him know to let go.

Trust Him when dark doubts assail you,
Trust Him when your strength is small,
Trust Him when to simly trust him
Seems the hardest thing of all
Trust Him, He is ever faithful
TRUST HIM, FOR HIS WILL IS BEST
Trust Him, for the heart of Jesus
is the only place of rest.
Trust Him when through cloud and sunshine;
All you cares upon Him cast,
Til the storms of life are over
and the trusting days are past.

Cast all your anxiety on Him because he care for you
1 Peter 5:7

Much Love to you, Laurie

Monday, April 3, 2006 10:25 PM CDT

Today started out to be a good day, seeing Caleb smile every morning is a blessing. He is still trying his hardest to watch his favorite Nick.jr show, the Backyardigans but having a hard time with his left eye. He manages by sometimes holding his left eye shut so he is able to watch his favorite shows including "Batman and Robin". Dr.Stine came in this morning suggesting if Caleb feels like getting out of the room for a stroll down the hall in his wheel chair he is welcome too but being careful with him. Me and Adam padded the wheel chair with blankets, Caleb was ready to take a ride to the clinic to visit with his Dr.Saylors. Caleb was very excited to see his Dr.Saylors in the clinic after a short visit with him, Caleb was getting tired, ready to get back to his room but after saying "Bye Dr.Saylors, I Love you" Caleb says to his favorite Hemoc.Doctor who has been known as TBM (The beautiful man), and AROS (A ray of sunshine). Caleb and Dr.Saylors has become to be the bestest buddies here at Childrens.

After a great morning, Caleb took several naps throughout the day. He was awaken with lots of hugs from his brother, Cody who came with his daddy after being picked up at school. Caleb was very excited to see his brother here!! He fell back to sleep and that's when I discovered something different about his head while I was rubbing it. Caleb has a new tumor coming up on the left side of his head. I was in disbelief, couldn't believe that not only he has one but two! I will need to point it out to Dr.Stine in the morning for him to address it to Dr.Saylors.

Adam and I keep looking up, only God is in control with Caleb. We trust in him, we lay all our struggles and frusterations on him because he is the only one who understands and cares. He will surround us with his comfort.

Much love to you, prayers for Caleb. Laurie

Sunday, April 2, 2006 6:59 PM CDT

It's been a great weekend! Cody spent the weekend with me and Caleb entertaining him when he wasn't taking his naps. It meant alot to Caleb just to see his brother being here with him playing with his batman toys or sitting on the bed bedside him watching Batman and Robin. Caleb is having some great days especially when his brother is here with him. Cody is such a bright young man with a compassionate heart. He knows and understands what Caleb is going through, he prays for his brother at night and gives Caleb whatever he asks for. It was a blessing to see them two be brothers even the moments Caleb was not feeling well. He rarely showed it through his smile while looking at Cody.

Caleb's strength is remarkable and God's touch is with him during this comfort care time. His left foot is swelling a bit from the tumor on his leg bone but that is not stopping Caleb from moving about and trying to sit on the side of the bed. His bones are very fragile, not able to get up or sit in the bath because of his bones being very brittle. Adam and I are having to calm him down a little sometimes because of him wanting to wrestle!! Keep praying for Caleb's strength, God is still working on him. We love you all and will update tomorrow. Laurie

Friday, March 31, 2006 12:17 AM CST

Caleb is such a strong willed boy. It was amazing seeing him yesturday afternoon after such a nervous morning. He was up playing, talking to everyone then Mrs.Munnerlyn came in and brought lots of smiles to Caleb. He was very excited to see his Mrs. Munnerlyn that he ate an orange popsicle for her. He was very disappointed when it was time for her to leave home. He was still asking for his Mrs.Munnerlyn after she had left. She is such a inspirational to him.

God is still not ready for Caleb. The nurses here are so amazed to see Caleb fighting and being so strong. He is doing so well with pain under control and eating,drinking a little bit. We are all in awe about how prayers for Caleb are being answered for his comfort. He really enjoyed me reading some of the entries to him last night especially the one from his super hero "Batman" that made him smile so big and a big WOW!!! Thank you Batman!!

He is resting right now but has been playing with his daddy this morning. We really appreciate all of your prayers for Caleb being so strong through this. He is a fighter.

Thursday, March 30, 2006 9:06 AM CST

Caleb had a hard night last night. He is laboring every breath with skipping between. They are recommending some respatory treatments this morning to help comfort his breathing. It's getting so close for him to see Jesus face to face. His fingertips are a little chilly this morning and light blue, his toes are cold. He is resting right now but breathing very hard. I could feel God's presence last night while I was in a puddle and distressed. I don't understand but I know God understands and when God is ready to take Caleb home he will.

C - Character Romans 5:3-5
A - Angel Hebrews 1:7
L - Laughter Proverbs 15:13
E - Endurance Hebrews 13:1-2
B - Beauty Matthew 19:14-15


Caleb, the son of Jephunneh is an important figure in the Hebrew Bible, noted for his faith in God when the Hebrew nation refuses to enter the "promise land" of Canaan.

Origin - Hebrew
Meaning - Faithful,bold
Ancient meaning of Caleb is "whole hearted" the devoted one


Love to you all, continue to pray for precious Faithful Caleb

Laurie

Wednesday, March 29, 2006 1:52 PM CST

Caleb was not feeling good yesturday, looked very pale and his breathing was very labored skipping in between each breath. Slept most of the day until Mrs.Bridgeman and Mrs.Munnerlyn came in the room, (his teacher and aide) he heard their voices, raised up and said "Hi Mrs.Bridgeman, Hi Mrs.Munnerlyn!! He was so happy to hear they were here and gave them lots of hugs. He fell back to sleep but woke up at 11:00 wanted to talk about Batman, played with my hair for a little bit, he was singing the song from the Tarzan, you'll be in my heart by Phil Collins. It was the sweetest moment to hear him sing that song he used to sing at home when he and Cody watched the show. He went back to sleep around 3:00 this morning. He has been sleeping more today, very weak but looks much better, has a good color.

Dr.Saylors came in this morning said everything is doing okay. He wants to stop the TPN, his nourishment since it is feeding the tumors, making them grow bigger and stronger. Caleb's fevers are from the tumors, his low blood pressers are from the narcotics he is on. He thought Caleb looked a little better today than yesturday.

He still has a smile on his face and trying to focus on his Batman and Robin show. We love you all. Trusting in him.

Laurie

Monday, March 27, 2006 10:34 PM CST

It's been a quiet day with Caleb resting more today and his pain increasing to increase his PCA pain pump. Caleb is getting weaker, not very focused on the positive words he used to say. He looks a little different than Friday when Dr.Saylors looked at him. It is getting closer for Caleb to meet his heavenly Father. He is spiking temps now, administered with Tylenol for his temps. Dr.Saylors says he is predicting three days now for Caleb to be with us. Me and Adam hearts were breaking today but we also were focusing on Caleb is going to heaven with the Lord, no more pain and suffering he had to deal with for six years of his life, we will soon be joining him someday. Not alot to say, I do want to share the experience Caleb had today.

I was helping Caleb take his bath this afternoon, he did enjoy that for a little bit with his batman toys in there. I wrapped a towel around him getting him out, layed him on his bed while I was getting his pull-up. I turned around, looking at Caleb he had this huge smile on his face from ear to ear and a soft,sweet wave looking up middle height. I was still watching him, he stopped waving but still smiling so big. I looked, didn't see anyone. I asked him "Caleb, who are you smiling and waving at?" he got upset at me for interupting him. That was very comforting for Caleb as his days are getting shorter.

And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.
Mathhew 28:20

Love to you all, Laurie :)

Saturday, March 25, 2006 11:41 PM CST

Caleb had a pretty good day today exception for his eyes being more swollen and having a hard time watching t.v or playing with Cody's game boy but that didn't stop him from smiling at us or talking to us about his batman books he has. He is going through some mood swings that are unbearable but with all the strong pain meds and the tumor that is in his head it is understandable but his moods do not last very long. Dr.Becton came in this morning recommending putting a patch over his left eye because of him having a hard time focusing, we will see about that tomorrow morning. Caleb wouldn't mind since he has already been trying to patch his eye with tissue and asking for tape to go over the tissue. Cody is having a great time staying here with me and Caleb while Adam goes home at night to wash or clean up the house. Cody's spring break ended Friday so he will be back to school Monday, he will be going home with Adam tomorrow afternoon for an early bed time.

Me and Adam had to experience a very difficult trip today, while nanny Sandy and Danielle watched Caleb me and Adam went to the cemetary to pick out a plot for Caleb and all of us. I was not looking forward to do that at all, Adam held my hand the whole time we were there picking out the perfect spot for us all to be with Caleb. After we picked out the perfect spot I was ready to get out of there, I felt very different being there, was out of place. Adam and I grabbed a bite of dinner before we headed back to Childrens. I was ready to see Caleb after all of that! Soon we arrived in Caleb's room there was a room full of visitors, Aunt Sherry,Uncle Eric,Tiffany,Mrs.Lilly, Mrs.Phyllis,Mr.Orval what great timing.

Adam and I are experiencing some very difficult things right now but God is helping us through this. Our heavenly Father is with us through this letting us know it will be okay, there will be hard days but we would not had made it through this without him. When fires and hot parching winds surround us, remind us you are here. When fierce storms assault us, help us dig in our heels and hang onto your word. We thank him every day for being with us and for us trusting in him.
He promised us he would never leave us nor forsake us.

Laurie

Thursday, March 23, 2006 6:17 PM CST

Caleb has been doing good this week with his PCA pump being increased because of his pain increasing. We have had plenty of family and friends visiting, giving me,Adam and Cody lots of love and support through this difficult time. This week is Spring Break for Cody and he has been really enjoying staying with me and Caleb here at Childrens spending lots of quality time with his brother as much as he can. Caleb is getting tired and hurts every time he moves an inch, his eyes are tired and dark. Dr.Saylors came in this morning stating that Caleb's Hemoglobin is 7 and recommended that Caleb not have anymore blood transfusions because the cancer would be more painful for Caleb being more active and getting blood transfusions would just feed the Neuroblastoma. Adam and I agreed that Dr.Saylors is the Captain during Caleb's care through this, he knows Caleb and what is best for him dealing with this nasty Neuroblastoma. Spending as much time with Caleb is what we are doing and enjoying the days he has with him,his smies,hugs,kisses. We appreciate all the visits,phone calls,gifts we have received here at Childrens. We are so blessed to have wonderful Christian family and friends. Caleb will soon within a week will be seeing the face of Jesus to be sent to his real home in heaven.

Lots of love to you all, Laurie :)

Sunday, March 19, 2006 8:07 PM CST

What can I say, God did hear me. Today, as I was getting scriptures for the pending talk with Cody when there was a knock on our door. It was Brother Jimmy. After he visited with us for a while, he asked if we needed anything. I told him of my plans for tomorrow and how I was worried Cody might be mad at God for this. He asked if I wanted help, and if we wanted to do this today. I jumped at the opportunity thinking I would be foolish to refuse counsel from our pastor.

We took Cody into another room and I told him about Caleb being very ill, and that he will die in the near future. At that time, Brother Jimmy asked him several questions about the death. I was shocked at just how much Cody already knew. I had talked to him several months ago about our sprit, but never dreamed he had retained and processed the information. He didn?t cry or show unusual demeanor. He sat there like such a little man, putting in his own words what we were saying.

Brother Jimmy was so good in putting himself at Codys level. I sit here sighing a deep breath, thanking God for this answered prayer. I feel like a heavy load has been taken off my shoulders. I now must start making preparations for the transformation so it wont be overwhelming later on

Sunday, March 19, 2006 1:39 AM CST

Im sure you all know by now the pending outcome of this long journey. As it stands now, Cody (Calebs brother) does not. I have made the decision to have the talk with him about the pending death myself. As a father, this is my job.

I have sat here for a while trying to figure out a way to broach the subject to him without causing alarm, and anger toward God. I am personally at peace, but for once, I cant find the words to tell him. I have the bible open, and prayed that God would give me the words. Maybe I am just too tired to hear him, I don?t know.

How can I put this in a way he will understand? Do I start with Adam and Eve sinning therefore causing death upon us all? Do I show him (Matthew 19:14) to secure our faith that all children go to heaven? Do I tell him of Jesus dieing on the cross to allow us the opportunity to go to heaven if we accept him as our Lord? Do I try and explain to him about this body being just a temple of God for our earthly life and when we die we are only leaving this body behind? How do I explain the sprit? Do I tell him that this is where are feelings are derived from? Do I tell him about how heaven is a much better place? Do I tell him about Lacy Mae?s dreams? Perhaps bring up the day we were heading to the airport to fly to San Antonio to see his mother and Caleb, and we had the snow storm where the flakes were huge just as Lacy Mae said they would be?

I need God to answer this prayer. If I mess it up, it could turn Cody away from God. God please help me. I will be having this talk with Cody on Monday. Please pray I get it right.

Adam

Friday, March 17, 2006 9:41 AM CST

It's been a rough week. Caleb being so sick with the ventilator down his throat with several I.V's on him and a catheter placed was not easy to see but he pulled through and is now doing fine. Dr.Saylors was not surprised Caleb gotten better he knew it all along Caleb is strong enough to get through whatever pulls him down, "that's Caleb". Caleb is now out of PICU and in the three Gold unit for comfort care. He was released yesturday afternoon with great spirits but very tired and needed lots of rest.

Dr.Saylors met with me and Adam yesturday afternoon in the conference room with emotional support from our greatest friend and Social Worker, Carrie Calhoon. Dr.Saylors stated Caleb's condition is not good. Caleb's Neuroblastoma is winning and taking over with more tumors growing. Caleb has a new tumor on the back of his head that is protruding out that was pointed out to us in PICU. Dr.Saylors suggested that the Radiation treatments should be stopped since Caleb cannot get treatments all over his body. The cancer is growing and spreading rapidly there is no way to stop it now. He is under pain control, not having any pain.

We have a couple of weeks with Caleb till God takes him home for a greater plan. God extended his life through many battles in six years to be with us and for others to learn about him. Caleb will be missed but not forgotten. Pray for Cody has he is dealing with the most difficult time but having great times with his brother.

We love you all very much, Laurie :)

Wednesday, March 15, 2006 1:32 AM CST

All I have to say right now is that today was not a good day at all for Caleb or this family. Our hearts have been broken when Caleb was rushed to the hospital this morning after having a temp,having a hard time breathing,and his color was very grey to the point that he was going into severe septic shock. He was directed immediately to the PICU after Dr.Anon got a look at him. Caleb was fighting all he had for another breath with his heart rate of 200. He was placed in PICU with several I.V's and was put on a ventalator. He also has pnuemonia in his left lower lung. He is on several very hard antibiotics but at this time it doesn't look good. Neuroblastoma has progressed and is coming back much harder. Adam and I are having to make several decisions for Dr.Anon for the most comfort care for Caleb. This has to be the hardest day I have ever had. God is in control and in time we will know what he and Caleb wants. God has really been by me today through this nightmare that I wish I could wake up seeing this was not true.

Keep us and our family in your prayers during this most traggic time we have ever had to face. Say special prayers for Caleb.

Laurie

Monday, March 13, 2006 1:24 PM CST

It was a fun weekend being at home!!! Caleb and Cody both had a great time being together brothers and best friends. They had lots of fun outside taking turns driving their jeep around the acre 1/2 while me and Adam were working in the yard and getting our flower beds ready for the planting spring/summer flowers. It was great to be able to be at church Sunday morning as a family and Caleb had the greatest time talking to everyone telling them about his batman toys and showing off his big smile.

This morning went well at CARTI for his radiation treatment. He was a little cranky heading to Childrens to see his Dr.Saylors for a check up. He was very tired after getting up at 4:30 this morning from seeing the lightning and being nausea. He still has the rest of this week and next week of radiation treatments then he will be finished until Dr.Saylors says to continue for more. His pain has decreased to where it doesn't bother him at all but still has a very hard time walking even Cody can't seem to get him going. Being sick in the hospital for so long, cancer in his legs and radiation has taken a toll on him not able to put any pressure in his legs. We will return to CARTI in the morning for his treatment and home to rest a bit which he likes to do while watching the Backyardigans or one of his favorite Batman and Robin movies. We will be planning on something to do while Cody is out for Spring Break next week

Continue praying for Great days for Caleb and a miracle happening. God hears our prayers.

Laurie

Friday, March 10, 2006 3:03 PM CST

Caleb was released from Childrens at 2:00 yesturday. We did get some disappointed news last week and our hearts were broken but with God by our side and helping us through this struggle we know it is going to be okay and we are enjoying all the days we have with Caleb. It's great to be home and Cody is very happy to see his brother home. Caleb is feel pretty good but his legs are so weak and not able to walk but so glad to be home. He needs me or Adam to help transport him to his bedroom bed then to the couch watching t.v. Cody has really helped Caleb bringing him what he needs. Caleb is resting right now after a buisy morning at CARTI getting his radiation treatments then me and Adam have been keeping him buisy playing with him with his batman toys while Cody is at school. Caleb's dream came true. He received his batman mobile this morning from his Aunt Vicki and Uncle Johnny. He was all smiles and really enjoying rideing it with our help. It's a miniture one but that is not slowing Caleb down, he absolutely loves it! I'm sure that will help put some strength in his legs. It will be a great weekend with the boys as we are planning alot of family time!!

As we were heading to CARTI this morning Caleb was looking out of the window on Interstate 630 we were passing Childrens Caleb said "bye Childrens Hospital, bye Dr.Saylors I will see you soon". Those were the words that brought tears to my eyes. Caleb already misses Childrens and his Dr.Saylors.

Keep us in your prayers. Also, Cody is having a hard time at school thinking too much about Caleb as what his teacher has said. Cody doesn't like to see Caleb sick or looking at his swollen eye or his leg that is marked for radiation treatments.

Love you all, Laurie

Wednesday, March 8, 2006 11:26 AM CST

Yesturday afternoon Dr.Saylors came in for a visit and discouraging words. He stated that the Neuroblastoma cells are multiplying, his urine output is extremely high for Neuroblastoma cells. Caleb still has a small chance for the donor cells to take over but needs to fight now and harder against the cancer cells. Caleb is still getting the radiation treatments for his left leg which is improving the pain and his left eye, hoping the swelling will shrink after a couple of treatments. Dr.Saylors is very hurt and discouraged about Caleb prognoses. Dr.Saylors has helped Caleb so much through this disease for three years. Dr.Saylors is not a failure through the treatments Caleb received from him. God knows what is best for his children, we look up to him and praise him for a remarkable job he has done helping Dr.Saylors through this process and God will give him much knowledge helping these kids battle the horrible disease of cancer. Adam and I became so close to Dr.Saylors, and Catherine, they will not be forgotten.

Pray for Caleb during these days being easy ones for him. We are still believing God can turn this around he has before when Caleb was two weeks old in PICU fighting his life through the Hirschsprungs,
blood disorder,asthma,
tracheomalacia,liver problems,collapsed lungs,being resuscitated. Caleb has fought many battles through his six years of life. We believe God has a plan for him whether it be here on earth or in heaven. God is giving Adam, Cody and me the strength to face whatever God chooses for Caleb. He knows Caleb's future, what is ahead of him God only knows. We are leaving this in his hands, it's in his control now. We pray for another miracle, trust in him.

As Bro.Powers here at Childrens has comforted me with encouraging words of "God's grace is not ahead of time but on time". Adam and I thank the Heavenly Father for being our shelter through every storm life brings us. We are looking up to him every step of the way through this struggle. Caleb is his child permanently. Pray for Caleb, miracle happening and pray for Adam, Cody and me during this trying time.
Love you all, Laurie :)

Monday, March 6, 2006 10:45 AM CST

The weekend was great. Caleb and Cody had lots of play time together with Caleb's batman toys and watching Buzz Lightyear,Batdog,and the animal planet. They were both pretty sad when Cody and Adam needed to head home in the evenings. Caleb was anxious to see Cody Saturday and Sunday mornings. They are quiet a pair!

Dr.Sacentee, a great personality who always has a great smile on her face for worry,concern parents like me to lift us up with positive reinforcement about our precious little ones as she made her rounds this morning. She entered Caleb's room this morning happy to see Caleb feeling much better and decreasing his PCA pump,and TPN. She is praying with us for donor cells to start attacking. Any day, any time signs of the GVH to start showing and giving us a relief sigh thanking our heavenly father for answering our prayers. God has a plan for Caleb. We need prayers for GVH anytime now. Caleb has started his radiation treatments at CARTI for his left leg and eye. He did really well this morning getting his "milk" to put him to sleep while getting his treatments just getting up early at 6:45 bothers him "leave me alone". He will continue with radiation for three weeks. Donor cells should be fighting and showing us some sign any time. WE NEED YOUR PRAYERS!!

Don't let your hearts be trouble. Trust in God, and Trust in me. John 14:1

Love you, Laurie :)

Thursday, March 2, 2006 2:48 PM CST

This morning I was thinkin about our dear friends, the Hawkins. I was heart broken for Dakota's family as I read the news on Dakota's webpage. Dakota entered the golden gates of heaven this morning. Dakota had a hard fight through the struggle of his Leukemia cancer and GVH. He has touched so many through his Faith in God. Now he is happy and Leukemia free,GVH free. He is in the open arms of Jesus. Pray for this family as they take one day at a time God healing their broken hearts through this grieving process. www.caringbridge.org/ar/keepthefaith


Caleb is doing good today. He is resting right now after receiving his benedryl for his antibiotics. He has been very moody this morning and disoriented but that's because of the pain med he is on. We are still praying and believing for the donor cells to take over the Neuroblastoma cells anytime or day now. Dr.Saccentae made her rounds this morning to Caleb's room saying Caleb will be getting radiation under sedation in the morning at CARTI plus he will be getting a CAT scan as well at the same time. She said we are still waiting for those donor cells to start acting. He is still spiking temps but still has lots of smiles through all of this.

As Dakota has always said "keep The Faith"
Continue praying for Caleb. We love you all. Laurie :)

Tuesday, February 28, 2006 10:11 PM CST

Much better week. Caleb is feeling a little bit better and still on the PCA pump for his pain. He is alert at times but a little disoriented or confused. He is still having temps every day and had a blood culture done today after a 101 temp. He has been full of smiles today with the visit of his brother being by his side. Seeing his brother made him feel so much better and having Cody laying by his side in his bed watching Batdog and Tom and Jerry. It's been a pleasant day, a much better day for Caleb,Adam and me.

Dr.Saylors came in this morning to discuss some issues regarding Caleb. He stated this week WE NEED TO SEE SOME SIGNS OF GVH. Caleb has been off of the Cyclosporine for three weeks and its time for Caleb to start having some signs of the GVH. He needs rash,diahrrea,kidney levels to be different. That is our prayer for this week!! CALEB NEEDS GVH THIS WEEK. He discussed the scans from past November to last Thursday. The scans from last Thursday looked a little better than November scans but still can see some spots. The cord blood transplant did help but the donor cells needs to fight harder. The race is on between the donor cells and the Neuroblastoma cells. Time will tell who is going to take over. Pray that God will heal Caleb with these donor cells and destroy the Neuroblastoma cells. Friends, Caleb needs your prayers this week/weekend.

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him.

Love you all, Laurie :)

Monday, February 27, 2006 2:18 PM CST

Last week was a crazy week. After a night last week of high temps, a blood culture was tested positive for E-coli infection. He was sent to PICU early Thursday morning at 2:00 from septic shock. He had four days of constant pain in the PICU unit, low blood pressures,temps and been on oxygen. Dr.Anon gave him lots of comfort care with big doses of narcotics for his pain and blood pressures. Caleb's blood pressures slowly decreased and was sent to the 3Gold floor last night. Caleb is still receiving antibiotics for the E-coli. Dr.Anon stated Caleb has a new infection before he was released from the PICU unit, so now he is getting antibiotics for two infections and should start feeling better by next week. Caleb is stable right now. He has been sleeping alot with narcotics for his pain. Right now he is playing with his batman barnocilures that his Mrs.Munnerlyn got him. He gets a little confused but his spirit is a little better today. Caleb will be in all week/weekend.

He needs your prayers.

Laurie

Wednesday, February 22, 2006 5:27 PM CST

It was a nervous and scary day for me and Adam. Caleb ran 105 temps, very low blood pressures, a high heart rate, very close been sent to PICU. Thank you Lord for making it a better afternoon. Dr.Becton came in during his rounds and stated the infection Caleb has is not from the central lines, it is a blood infection that will be treated with much stronger I.V. antibiotics. He scheduled a chest x-ray for possible pnumonia and will get those results tomorrow. He also scheduled a bone scan for tomorrow, will know about those tomorrow shortly after the scans are taken. Caleb's blood pressure is okay right now. His fever has gone down and heart rate is not as high as 180 from this morning. Everything is much stabled right now and undercontrol. Thank you Lord, we give him the praise the drama is over, we pray it is. The PICU unit still knows to keep a close check on Caleb. Adam spoke with Dr.Saylors earlier and Dr.Saylors said the high fever could stimulate the donor cells, this could be a good thing. He did not think this is from Neuroblastoma. This could be a blessing in disguise.

Caleb is doing good right now. He is a bit puffy but happy with full of smiles. Eating noodles for dinner and watching the disney channel. We need your prayers for great results from the scans that will take place tomorrow. God will be giving me the strength to face whatever comes before me. I will be looking up to him.

Give God all the praise for a lighter afternoon after a very dark morning.

I am the light of the world, he who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life. John 8:12

Love you all, Laurie :)

Wednesday, February 22, 2006 1:16 PM CST

Caleb has a positive bacteria through his lines and is receiving I.V. antibiotics to clear it. He is experiencing some pain today pray that is from the infection and not the Neuroblastoma. He is having some very high temps today. His highest has been 104. He is also having some very high blood pressures. Caleb is getting Morphin and Roxi for his pain. Is all this from the infection, flu, Neuroblastoma or the donor cells fighting? I will update this afternoon on a new report. Pray for him today. Laurie

Tuesday, February 21, 2006 10:37 PM CST

It's been a very buisy day at the clinic. Caleb is still not feeling very well and slept through clinic visit with Dr.Saylors. Dr.Saylors admitted Caleb in the hospital because of fevers and body ache. Dr.Saylors stated this could be from an infection going on somewhere through his lines but did some blood cultures to make sure and started him on I.V. antibiotics. We will know for sure tomorrow if that's the cause of him feeling lousy. Caleb is expected to be in for a couple of days until we see some improvement. For his pain, he is getting Morphin through the I.V and is helping alot until I need to move him around. Caleb is resting well tonight after a restless night he had last night. We still had not heard anything about the donor cells grafting process. We still need prayers for the donor cells to graft. Adam and I are still believeing that is God's plan for Caleb.

Adam and Cody came up late tonight after Adam got off from work. Cody was very happy to see his brother but Caleb was still sleeping off and on but was happy to see Cody was here with him the time he did wake a little bit. They will be back late tomorrow afternoon to bring some cheer to Caleb in helping him feel better.

Pray for Caleb during this rough time. With God all things are possible. Laurie :)

Monday, February 20, 2006 2:25 PM CST

It's been nice to be home. Cody and Caleb are happy to be home together playing a little bit on a three day weekend. Cody has been helping Caleb move around the house and helping me with his TPN. Caleb hasn't felt very well since Saturday afternoon. He is experiencing some pain in his legs,arms,neck and back along with a slight temp. Adam and I are giving him Roxi and Tylenol for his pain. Caleb has a clinic visit with Dr.Saylors in the morning. Caleb is resting right now and has been attached to the couch since he is having a hard time walking around. We are asking prayers for Caleb. A short update but will know more tomorrow morning at the clinic. Just letting you know Caleb needs your prayers. Love you all, Laurie :)

Friday, February 17, 2006 11:17 AM CST

Caleb is doing much better this morning. He is eating much better and feeling good. Right now he is watching Batdog and Superdog on the cartoon network. He really looks great with full of smiles this morning. He had a special visitor who came by to see him with batman toys to make his day and help him feel better, I believe it worked! He is really hooked on this batman phrase! He has been asking for a powerwheel batman mobile for him to drive but me and Adam are having a hard time locating it. If someone knows of where to find one please let us know. It's great to see Caleb feel as good as he does today. His 7th birthday is coming up April 19 so we plan on giving him the best BATMAN party he deserves. We will give updates about this party as the date comes closer.

Dr.Becton who is doing rounds has not came in to let us know when Caleb can get out of here and heading home before the ICE storm comes. I heard some going home news from the nurses so we will see later.

Keep praying for Caleb. He is still Rota positive but will be over that soon. We will all pray for the 100onor cells to start attacking the Neuroblastoma cells and wait to see what God wants and his will. We want Caleb to stay with us but what does God want for him.

Love you all, Laurie :)

Wednesday, February 15, 2006 10:16 PM CST

The week started out to be very tiring and a big change of getting back to the normal routine at home after a long two month stay at San Antonio. The news of the Neuroblastoma cells still active in Caleb's bone marrow didn't help things as well. Waiting is the hardest thing and always on our minds. Cody sure is happy to see us home and playing with Caleb getting him on his feet again helping Caleb with his strength. Its been great to have the four of us home and watching the boys be boys again.

Caleb hasn't felt very well for two days. He started vomiting yesturday and still weak in his legs. The rota has put a toll on him and gaining his strength back is extremly hard but with Cody's help, it is easier. Caleb had a scheduled clinic visit to see his Dr.Saylors this morning. Caleb had a good conversation with Dr.Saylors regarding him not feeling very well. Dr.Saylors suggested for Caleb to stay inpatient for two to three days. Caleb was dehydrated,lost three pounds since Monday and his electrolytes were out of wack. He has started the TPN, once it is regulated and Caleb is feeling better maybe Saturday morning we will be heading home.

After Cody and Caleb ate a good supper Cody and Adam were ready to head home. Caleb was ready for bed shortly after they had left around 8:30.
Dr.Saylors said this afternoon to me and Adam "The donor cells needs to mature to fight over the Neuroblastoma cells, all there is to be done now is to wait and watch for the GVH". "The longer the donor cells take to fight the harder it will be for the Neuroblastoma cells to die out". I can't imagine being without Caleb. Caleb has been through so much since he was two weeks old and without God's loving touch plus Dr.Jackson and Dr.Saylors medical technology Caleb wouldn't be here to touch so many lives and just to say "Jesus is going to help me feel better". Pray for Caleb during this time. We are believing and keeping the faith.

The Lord hears good people when they cry out to him, and he saves them from all their troubles. Psalm 34:17

Love you all, Laurie

Monday, February 13, 2006 10:53 PM CST

We are home!!! Adam and I met with Dr.Wall Saturday morning in San Antonio, Childrens Hospital to discuss Caleb and his prognosses. Dr.Wall stated "we have a window of opportunity to come home". This suggest that Caleb would become very ill in the near future due to the internal battle rageing is going on inside of Caleb. He is still positive for the ROTA virus which is highly contagious as well as his legs are very weak with bone ache from the Rota. He still test positive for the Neuroblastoma in the bone marrow and has two spots on his right knee but even through all this there is still hope and a chance. Everything that could be done in San Antonio can be done in Little Rock. Caleb would be happier at his house and playing with his brother, Cody plus seeing everyone at Childrens including Dr.Saylors and Ms.Catherine.

Caleb has clinic Monday, Wednesday and Friday for blood draws. Caleb has been ready to get back to his normal routine at home and getting back to his Childrens Hospital. We will really miss Dr.Wall. We would like to thank Dr.Wall for giving us the opportunity of the second chance. She has went out of her way to make our extended stay as pleasant as possible. We hope Caleb has provided her the foundation to build upon to reach a cure for this masty Neuroblastoma cancer.

Every day you think of Caleb, pray for him. Every day you see Caleb or a picture of him, pray for him. Caleb needs your prayers. We will see what God wants for Caleb. We love you and appreciate your entries,cards,gifts,phone calls while me and Caleb were in San Antonio. They meant alot to us on the two month treatment stay. Please stay in touch and pray for Caleb.

Laurie :)

Thursday, February 9, 2006 5:43 PM CST

WE NEED YOUR PRAYERS. WE NEED YOUR PRAYERS. WE NEED PRAYERS

Not a good day, not a good day at all. I have been so lost of words and emotionally shocked since 3:30 with the conversation Dr.Chan and I had regarding Caleb and his needs.

Dr. chan stated that the bone marrow biopsy showed Neuroblastoma cells are still active in the marrow but Caleb has 95onor cells. These donor cells needs to attack and destroy the enemy Neuroblastoma cells. Dr.Chan is going to stop the Cyclosporine (rejection med) to see if Caleb will have more GVH. His body only has minimum graft versus host and needs more. We should see some kind of change in week to two weeks. If this doesn't work in two weeks, Caleb and me will be heading home with our spirits low.

I am asking you to PLEASE pray for Caleb. I know God hears us.

Today he is feeling much better and eating better which is a blessing. He has had 1/3 of noodles, half of bannana and applesauce. Tonight he is eating watermelon and fruitloops. Tomorrow will be another good day. I know God is giving me the strength to be strong through this. He does know what is best for his children. I have always said and told Ms.Catherine and Dr.Saylors that Adam and I will not stop fighting until God lets us know when to stop but right now he is giving us another chance. Pray this will turn things around to better and put a smile on Dr.Chan and Dr.Saylors face. Once again he will fool the doctors and have an awesome testimony to tell to others.

Love you all, PLEASE KEEP CALEB IN YOUR PRAYERS
lAURIE

Wednesday, February 8, 2006 3:22 PM CST

Yesturday was a very tired and worn day. Caleb was not feeling well, very weak and vomited. I couldn't update yesturday because of it being such a tiring day. Today is a better day. Caleb had his scope procedure done this morning after Caleb was under local anesthesia. Everything looked fine but a little irritated from the Rota virus. He had a bone marrow biopsy done as well and will know those results tomorrow from Dr. Chan. Pray there are not any Neuroblastoma tumor cells in his bone marrow!!! Caleb really needs your prayers for great results tomorrow!!

Today when we arrived back to his room from recovery he was quiet and needed his quiet time to rest a bit. He was ready for a couple of bites of his beef noodles! he tried and eating a little is a start, maybe more this afternoon or tomorrow. He also had about 8 ounces of Sprite. He is still on his nutrition TPN to help him from loosing any weight. He is also experiencing some more GVH blotching rash today that comes and go and he looks like Spiderman a few minutes before he turns back to Caleb. That is a sign of the new cells engrafting! Right now he is playing with his Batman toys wrapping Batman around a batrope from a red barn, Batman is rescuing the animals from the barn!! He is feeling much better today still a little weak in his legs but his spirits are great.

Pray for a great day tomorrow and Caleb needs good news from the bone marrow!!!!

Laurie :)

Monday, February 6, 2006 8:32 PM CST

Caleb is still having a hard time with his appetite, and pain in his legs is still present. Caleb is still positive for the rota virus, his immune system is so weak its taking him longer to get better from it. He is resting well right now, after watching Jungle Book II he gotten very tired, he took his meds and ready for his light to go out when his nurse came in redy to take his vital signs and he spikes a temp. I looked at Meredith in disbelief!! Then I was thinking "Okay God I am ready for you to answer some prayers for Caleb". I am not a patient person especially when it comes to my sick boy. I am so ready for him to get better and be the rumbunctious BATMAN Caleb I know!

Caleb had his CAT scans done this morning. Dr. Chan and I had a conversation as of what is next. He stated the scans looked good and normal. No tumors are present on the CAT scans which is good but why isn't Caleb feeling better? Dr. Chan is going to talk with the GI doctor in the morning to see if he needs to have a scope procedure done to take a closer look in his stomach. Caleb's symptoms could be the rota, or the GVH attacking him.

Please pray for Caleb. He is tired and worn and wants me to rock him alot during the day and we sing Jesus Loves me at night before prayer time.

The Lord is close to everyone who prays to him, to all who pray to him. Psalm 145:18

Laurie

Sunday, February 5, 2006 1:23 AM CST

Hello everyone. Up late tonight, can't sleep for some reason. Caleb is resting well right now after a....pretty decent day. Dr.Gremly came in this morning and suggested to scope his tummy area Monday morning and scan him. He says there is a possibility the tummy issue could be the GVH, the cells attacking his gut instead of his skin or it could be something else and needs to find out what is causing Caleb's nausea and vomiting, decrease appetite. He will know for sure Monday morning what is going on. Caleb was very nausea this morning and vomiting again. He layed down pretty much all day and watched Cody play a little bit. He was given Zofran for his nausea and took a long nap this afternoon at the motel after Dr.Gremly allowed Caleb a six hour pass to the motel. While he was taken his afternoon nap, me and Cody took a trip to Wal-Mart and found him some BATMAN chicken soup to see if Caleb would try a couple of spoon fulls and keep it down. When we got back to Homegate, Adam picked dinner up at Jim's, Caleb was still sleeping. After dinner it was time to take Caleb back to the hospital and see if he would try some Batman chicken noodle soup. He loved the BATMAN shaped pasta and ate seven spoon fulls. Adam counted! He kept it down also. He had enough and was ready to watch the movie, BABE with Cody. He had a better afternoon but still weak to walk, putting presure on his legs just about kills him.

Adam and Cody will be headed back to Lonoke tomorrow afternoon for two weeks. Caleb will miss his brother so much. I pray Caleb's strength does not weaken while Cody is away. Caleb usually does better when Cody is around.

Keep lifting Caleb up in your prayers every day. Caleb needs to get better and this concerns Dr.Gremly that Caleb's nutrition has slowed. We also pray that the appetite med will help gain strength into Caleb eating.

Love you all! KEEP PRAYING Laurie :)

Friday, February 3, 2006 10:27 PM CST

Hello folks! Caleb has had a much better day today. We do have a percentage of donor cells!!! Caleb has 90% donor cells! PRAISE!! Now the problem is his appetite, Caleb needs to have a good appetite, good nutrition will help Caleb's new cells fight and being malnurished his cells are having to fight harder. His appetite is still the same, nothing improved but his energy was better today with the help of his big brother, Cody. Caleb is still weak to walk and cannot get his balance good but Cody helped him walk around the room and played with lincoln logs and cars on the blanket covered floor. Caleb had a rough night last night vomiting and was administered with phenegran but is better today. Dr.Gremly and Dr.Chan suggested to wait on the feeding tube right now, but has started giving him a med to increase his appetite. This will be givin at 8:00 in the morning and 8:00 at night. We pray this works for Caleb. If this doesn't improve this weekend, Monday they will take a closer look in his stomach with a scope to see what is going on. Caleb not having an appetite and vomiting may still be from the Rota virus or it could be from the GVH, instead of it attacking his skin it could be attacking his gut. Dr. Gremly and Dr.Chan will know further about Caleb's sickness Monday. But overall he had a good day and I give God all the praise for that.

Right now he is laying back in his bed watching Batman and Robin, of course!! Tomorrow will be a good day to see Cody and Adam again and will give Caleb great spirits to see his brother until they will need to leave Sunday afternoon for two weeks. Caleb will deeply miss him alot. Cody, who is the only one who can help light up Caleb's spirits. Keep praying for this little guy.

Love you all, Laurie :)

Thursday, February 2, 2006 9:18 PM CST

Hello everyone. Caleb still needs your prayers. He is still in the hospital and his appetite has decreased to the point that the doctors are making decisions about placing a feeding tube to help with his nutrition. He is still receving the TPN but it is not helping with his appetite.

Cody and Adam have arrived today for the weekend and Caleb was very excited about seeing his big brother even though Cody couldn't help with his eating.

Our hearts have been broken today for our dear friends, Chelli and Tim, who is the family of the sweet,darling Lacey Mae. I know she is having a great time in heaven with Jesus.

I will update this weekend. This has not been a good day. Keep praying for Caleb and remember the family of Lacey Mae. www.caringbridge.org/ar/laceymae.

Laurie

Monday, January 30, 2006 7:19 PM CST

Well, It was a pretty good day until Caleb gotten sick over chocolate milk while taking his morning meds. Dr. Chan had discharged Caleb and we were on our way back to the Homegate room until Caleb started having stomach cramps and asking for the pink pail that was in the back. He became very nausea and started vomiting. I gave him some sprite once we got to Homegate but it didn't stay down and more cramps. I told Caleb "We need to go back to the clinic because your sick" his phrase was "I know mom, Jesus will help me feel better". Here we go back to the hospital, I had to carry him in because of him being so weak and tired. We seen Dr. Wall and she was very concerned of dehydration by looking at Caleb's head. She advised being admitted with I.V. fluids tonight and TPN to be started tomorrow. Caleb is Lactose Intollerance for right now and pray this will not last very long, just until his gut rests and is over this Roda bug. He was feeling so good last night watching his favorite Batman and Robin. I was thinking last night well, the Batman fan is back and feeling good even though he was not eating and lost a great amount of weight. He was in good spirits! and was ready to get back to "the room" he calls this place.

I am praying that when Cody and Adam come Wednesday he will feel much better. Cody is Caleb's conselor and usually can get Caleb up and running. Please keep your prayers pumping for Caleb.

I need to get off and check on Caleb. I Love you all and will update every chance I can.

The Lord is close to everyone who prays to him, to all who truly pray to him. Psalm 145:18

Love you, Laurie and Caleb :)

Friday, January 27, 2006 10:05 PM CST

Today has been a fair day. Caleb is feeling okay just tired and weak. He has stopped his vomiting but now the fevers have come. He has had some fevers today. Dr. Chan has started the antibiotic and continued with the Cyclosporine since his kidney levels are back to normal after a huge flush yesturday and last night. He is having tummy and booty issues possible from the Hirschsprungs that could be irritated from the Rota virus but in a few days that will clear up. Because of the fevers Dr.Chan ordered blood cultures to be drawn today and will see tomorrow afternoon if anything grew to detect another infection or virus. Low blood counts can also cause fevers and with him been so sick he counts have dropped some and will be ministered to Neuprogen. His hemoglobin was low and received a blood transfuse today. His platelets are also dropping some today and will receive those soon.

Caleb is in good spirits and still says "Jesus will help me feel better". Caleb is a strong soon to be 7 year old bright boy. He knows who is by his side through this. He is definately a fighter and our hero.

Will update tomorrow afternoon or tomorrow night. Love you all and please keep praying for Caleb's tough,strong strength. Laurie :)

Thursday, January 26, 2006 9:00 PM CST

Hello everyone. What a hectic day! Caleb is doing well and resting right now. He was very sick earlier with vomiting and very restless with no appetite. He slept most of the morning at the hospital. Dr. Wall did admit him in with I.V fluids for his kidneys to flush them out from been on the Cyclosporine (anti-rejection med) which was a little too hard on his kidneys. After a good flush of I.V they should be good as new. Dr.Wall has stopped the Cyclosporine for right now and may start him on another anti-rejection med. Dr.Chan ran some more tests to see why Caleb is vomiting and so restless. The test came back positive for ROTA virus which is HIGHLY contagious and he is in isolation. Dr. Chan will give him an anti-biotic for this, the virus usually lasts for three to four days. I do miss Caleb been his normal active funny self. I pray this will not last very long and he can be his normal self with a huge appetite before Adam and Cody arrive here Wednesday afternoon.

I will update tomorrow for better news on Caleb. He should be up playing and pretending he's his favorite superhero BATMAN. Love you all and pray for a better day. God gives us the strength.
Laurie and Caleb :)

Thursday, January 26, 2006 8:51 AM CST

We need prayers. Caleb was up last night complaining of tummy aches and vomiting with a low grade temp. He is very weak and not able to keep anything down. He is not himself this morning and very pale. I started noticing Caleb was not feeling well yesturday afternoon after the clinic visit and said his tummy hurt. He didn't feel like eating. I just got a call from Caleb's nurse stating that Dr. Wall wants Caleb to come in for in-patient. Please pray that Caleb will soon get better and start acting like rambunctious Caleb. Love you all and will update later when I find out something new. Laurie

Wednesday, January 25, 2006 3:25 PM CST

Last night was a great night. Caleb had a huge appetite for Pizza Hut Pepperonio Pizza. He had three slices of his medium size pizza and a Krispy Cream douhnut. He had a hard time getting to bed on a full tummy. He said his prayers then he was too buisy playing with his gooey goo! It took some time, late but he eventually got tired around 1:00 in the morning!

He was up early at 8:00 this morning playing with his batman and ready to go to the clinic. He wasn't to happy about working with Mrs.Medina, his teacher who comes to the clinic to see him. She is coming by our room here in the morning at Homegate to see if that makes a little difference. He had a buisy morning at the clinic with a dose of magnessium and a scheduled dose of I.V immune anti-infection meds which caused him to have a little high blood pressure but thanks to his great nurse,Tori (who knows how to work with Caleb) gave him some blood pressure meds to calm it down a bit. We were ready to head back to our room at around 1:30 and Caleb was indeed exhausted. He is laying down watching t.v. and taking it easy.

Our next visit to the clinic is Friday morning unless Tori calls for a change. We are so blessed to have her as Caleb's nurse. I will have some pics of him with her as soon as I can.

Adam and Cody will be on their way here Wednesday for Cody's #8 birthday!! It's hard to believe Cody is already 8 years old, he sure is growing up and getting smarter every day. He is proud to tell you he is keeping God at his side. Cody is getting so excited that his birthday is coming up and will be having it here. I am planning great things for him.

No plans for tomorrow just for Caleb to rest until the big day, Friday. Will update tomorrow afternoon. Thank you for keeping in touch and Love you all, Laurie and Caleb :)

Cody's address is: 205 Oates Lane, Lonoke AR 72086

Tuesday, January 24, 2006 4:31 PM CST

It is a beautiful day here with a high of 70. Caleb had a very slow start this morning getting around and wanting to eat but after he watched a little animal planet and woke up a little he wanted noodles!!! He had a bowel of noodles and a chocolate chip heart shape cookie dough and also a Taco Bell taco supreme with lots of cheese and sour cream. Thanks to Prevacid it has really helped with his appetite. His favorite drink is Bill Miller Barbeque bucket of sweet tea. He doesn't mind the pills at all, they desolve on his tongue. The clinic visit has changed from Thursday to tomorrow morning and Friday morning. We may see some percentage of cells Friday morning. I have some great pics and will soon have them up on the web. Caleb misses his brother very much and is so anxious about seeing him next Wednesday night. We love you all and please pray for some donor cells!! Laurie and Caleb :)

Monday, January 23, 2006 3:20 PM CST

Caleb had a great weekend! He was pumped up last night after watching one of his favorite super heros
"Spiderman II"! It was very hard for him to go to sleep without thinking about webbing his web at Dr.Octopus! He stil loves that show even though he has watched it several times.

Okay now the serious stuff! Caleb has been having some nausea spells and it really showed at the clinic this morning infront of Dr. Wall. He has also lost some weight because of decrease in his appetite. She suggested she will perscribe Caleb something to help with his nausea and stop the CellCept which will help with his appetite. Still to early for donor cells but she is going to check Thursday, his next clinic visit. She stated everything is going smoothly just needs to eat more. Mrs.Charlotte, the nutrionist came by with some high calorie supplements that may help Caleb. His homebound teacher came by to see him at the clinic and worked with Caleb a little bit and read his favorite books "No,David" to him. He really likes those books and scolds David as she reads them to him. Caleb likes her pretty well but sure misses his teachers at Lonoke Primary.

Keep praying for Caleb! His appetite needs to come back, I am sure it needs some time after all, his body has went through a lot. He is enjoying me reading the entries to him and amazed about so many people signing in.

We love you all!!! Laurie and Caleb :)

Saturday, January 21, 2006 1:22 PM CST

It was a great day yesturday at the clinic. Even though Caleb needed platelets and magnessium. His counts are not as great as they were Monday but, it takes some time and the cells are still working! Caleb has his devoted attention to the t.v. watching the "Miracles of Jesus". Caleb is really amazed in this movie especially when Jesus healed the blind man to see.

It will be a quiet weekend without Adam or Cody. We went for a drive this morning after talking to them on the phone and drove thru the Jack in the Box to pick up some lunch on our way back. Caleb likes the drive just to get out of the room a little bit. We may do more driving this afternoon.

Keep praying for Caleb the coming week for some percentage of donor cells. We were not able to see Dr. Wall yesturday since it was so late in the afternoon. She will see us Monday morning for the 9:00 visit. Love you all very much and keep in touch with us!

Cody still loves his mail! 205 Oates Lane, Lonoke AR 72086

Laurie :)

Thursday, January 19, 2006 2:19 PM CST

What a beautiful day it is!! Caleb had a very short visit at the clinic this morning. Dr. Wall has stopped his neuprogen! His counts are coming up fast! Still no sign of donor cells but Dr. Wall will check on those next clinic visit which will be tomorrow at 2:00. Dr. Wall is very pleased about how well Caleb looks and feels! His appetite comes and goes but will get better over time. Scans will not be done at this time. Dr. Wall stated the five little hot spots Caleb had before he received the cord blood transplant should be dead and will take up to a year to fade away. Dr. Wall is a great doctor to talk to regarding this Neuroblastoma and does great eases your mind from thinking about any worries you have and believe me I have my share of worrying but I also pray alot to help my worry.

Caleb enjoyed the mail he received today! He was full of smiles when he received a great picture of Spiderman his best friend, Kylie Hobson colored for him. He was in complete silent for a moment thinking about her then he raised his head up thank her for the picture and said "I Love you Kylie". He will never let that picture out of his sight! Thank you Mrs.Elise and Kylie!!

Keep praying for Caleb and 100onor cells. I should know some percentage tomorrow from Dr. Wall. We love you all and THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR KEEPING IN TOUCH WITH US!!

Laurie :)

Wednesday, January 18, 2006 11:08 AM CST

Yesturday and today are much better days!:) Caleb had a quick visit at the clinic yesturday for blood draws and I.V dose of Magnessium. He is eating much better. A little complaining of a tummy ache but mom's thinkin its probably from eating more! Yesturday morning at the clinic he gotten so red Caleb's nurse, Tori was telling him he was looking like Spiderman! but it didn't last very long and little disappointed from Caleb. It was from the GVH. His counts are coming up but still no sign of donor cells. Dr. Chan says still too early, will check in two weeks. We need 100% donor cells and no sign of Neuroblastoma disease! Caleb stayed up late last night watching two of his new favorite movies and slept late this morning since he has no clinic visits today!!! What are we going to do? Caleb will be buisy playing batman and watching t.v. We will play some UNO later on, I'm sure Caleb will find things to do to pass the time. Right now he has his batman outfit on and watching Superdog.

Caleb will return to the clinic tomorrow morning at 9:00 for blood draw. Still pray for Caleb and no signs of the Neuroblastoma disease!! It's very comforting to hear Caleb tell everyone who is going to help him feel better. He is already letting everyone know "I am going to be okay" he says. He talks about Jesus being by his side. How wonderful those words are. He has really helped Adam, me and Cody through this. Hearing a six year old who has been through so much since he was just two weeks old, Adam and I see why we named him "Caleb". Caleb and Cody are a blessing to both of us.

Keep praying! Laurie :)

Monday, January 16, 2006 8:18 PM CST

We had a great weekend with Adam and Cody being here. Saturday, after the morning clinic visit we all went to the drive thru Wildlife Safari. Cody and Caleb had a blast feeding the animals as they came up to their windows. Adam was a little bit nervous from the Ostrich sticking his head in his window to peck on his head!! It was a great family trip. Sunday morning was another short clinic visit for a blood draw and a I.V dose of mag. Adam and Cody headed back to Lonoke this morning and will be back in two weeks.

Caleb had a short visit at the clinic with blood draw. He needed some I.V. fluids. His counts are still pretty low. He received some platelets also today. His appetite isn't that great. He felt pretty lousy this afternoon. He retired for the night at 7:00 after his dose of meds. Please pray for a easier day tomorrow.

Laurie :)

Friday, January 13, 2006 2:05 PM CST

This morning was a great morning at the clinic. Caleb is doing really well. He is still having some red blotches that come and go and some tummy issues. He received another dose of magnessium this morning. His counts are still very low. He is very anxious about seeing his brother who is coming in with his hillbilly dad this afternoon. Cody will keep Caleb going for sure this weekend. Caleb has clinic tomorrow for his dose of neutrogen and blood draw.

We have moved into a much better room. We had some issues about the other room. We are now in room 157!!

Sorry so short but need to do laundry before the Lonoke Hillbillies come in!!! Love you all, keep praying!!
God is near. Laurie :)

Wednesday, January 11, 2006 4:16 PM CST

Today at the clinic was a great one. Everyone was happy to see Caleb walking better and telling them about his Batman/build a bear from a special friend,Kristen. Caleb's bone pain is better and he is walking better without complaining about his legs hurting. Caleb received his blood transfuse this morning while watching his favorite nick show, the Backyardigans. He is experiencing some skin rash blotches from the GVH.
Dr. Chan stated a little is good, not too much. The GVH has effected his Hirschsprungs some also. This will be checked on very closely tomorrow morning. He will also be getting some platelets tomorrow. Caleb's appetite isn't very great but is eating some. He did have half of a tasty taco from Taco Cabana last night!! Right now he is watching the disney channel and chillin out! He gets tired very easily, especially since Cody is not here to keep him going.

I will update tomorrow after the morning clinic visit. We continue to pray for Caleb's complete healing and a great year of 2006 with an awesome testimony Caleb and Dakota to share to others. Be strong and couragious. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9

Keep praying. Laurie :)

Tuesday, January 10, 2006 2:19 PM CST

Hello everyone!! We all had a great weekend being with dad and Cody. Caleb stayed active the whole weekend Cody was here. Adam and Cody left early this morning. It was not very easy for Cody to leave us. Caleb didn't like it very much finding it out when he woke up at 8:00. They both played hard and played alot outside keeping Caleb active and helping with his bone pain. Cody and dad will be back Friday afternoon and stay till Sunday afternoon. After this weekend they will not be able to come back for two weeks. We are all doing well, it just takes some adjustment from being separated.

Caleb is doing good. He had a clinic visit this morning and his counts are very low with a possible blood transfuse in the morning. He was boosted up with magnesium for his electrolytes. He had a good lunch from the Dairy Queen on our way back. He has been experiencing some bone pain in his legs that concerned me and Adam but according to Dr. Wall it is from the neuprogen he is getting every day. I remember this happen before from the shots but with Caleb you just need to be extra careful. He is getting some blond fuzz which is sticking straight up!! Caleb is starting to have school at the clnic from a homebound teacher, Mrs. Medina. She is great with Caleb but noone can beat his Mrs.Munnerlyn and Mrs.Bridgeman, Mrs.Lilly. Mr.Sawyer, he is needing some more help handling his scissors and coloring, he really misses you!! Caleb will have another clinic visit tomorrow morning for a blood draw. We appreciate your encouraging words and lots of prayers for Cody and Caleb. Cody is still at 205 Oates Lane, Lonoke AR 72086. We love you all and keep praying for this little guy!! Laurie :)

Thursday, January 5, 2006 3:02 PM CST

Hello everyone!! This morning was great at the clinic. Dr. Wall was very pleased to see Caleb talking to her about his batman and Caleb said he was going to show Dr. Saylors his batman suit. He really miss him. Dr. Wall is a great doctor who has a love for kids there. She let me know that the new cells are coming in taking over the old cells. Caleb maybe getting some fevers,chills or skin issues. Caleb is still on three meds and will be starting on magnesium for his electrolytes. His electrolytes were a little down today. His platelets went up to 25 will see about getting platelets tomorrow or Saturday. Dr. Wall wants to see him Tomorrow morning and Saturday morning. She will be watching his blood counts more closely and skin issues. The GVH will be starting to take effect, Dr. Wall will be paying attention on that, she is very relieved the new cells are coming in. Pray the GVH will be easy on Caleb.

Adam and Cody will be coming in tomorrow afternoon. Cody has been waiting on Friday. Cody had a hard Tuesday night missing us. Cody needs alot of special attention also at home. He loves mail! Cody can get mail at 205 Oates Lane, Lonoke AR 72086. School has started and that will help to be with his friends. He is just having a little hard time during this seperation time. Adam and Cody will be here Friday and be heading back home Monday.

Will update tomorrow afternoon when we get back from clinic.

Love you all and keep praying for Caleb.

Laurie :)

Wednesday, January 4, 2006 11:34 AM CST

Hello everyone!! Caleb is out of the hospital and we are back at our motel here at Homegate. Caleb slept so well last night, he was ready to snooze at 8:00, he was very tired. He woke up this morning at 8:30 and ready to watch a little t.v. and play with his batman toys while I did some bleaching and cleaning. We are getting ready to drive thru somewhere for lunch. His clinic appointment yesturday went very well. He was very tired but that was because his electrolytes were very low and needed magnesium. His platelets are 20 which are low but Cody is not here for rough housing. We will be heading back to the clinic at 9:00 in the morning for blood draw and platelets. He takes meds which are not very easy, he hates the thought of getting it twice a day. It will be a quiet day today but we have laundry to do and we will drive thru a car wash which Caleb loves to do. We aren't able to do very much with Caleb's immune system being low. So far everything is going good. He is eating very well but tires easily walking a long distance.

Adam and Cody will be back Friday afternoon. Caleb will be excited to see them especially his big brother who keeps him buisy. Cody always helps Caleb with his strength.

I will update tomorrow when we get back from the clinic. Keep your prayers pouring for Caleb with 100% donor cells.

We'd get discouraged, then we'd go to prayer and we always felt the Lord was saying, "Don't look to the left or right, don't look at circumstances, just look at me".

Love you all, Laurie :)

Tuesday, January 3, 2006 7:02 PM CST

Hello everyone!! Thank you so much for checking in on Caleb. We love each one of you very much. God sends us so many great friends for our support and love during this healing time. We appreciate you.

Caleb was discharged yesturday for out patient clinic. He was very thrilled to be out and in the motel free from the I.V. pole. A boy being connected to an I.V. pole is not very easy. Caleb is doing great. He is eating much better today. He had a clinic visit this morning and was out in an hour for lunch. He and I came back to the motel for lunch then I received a call from the clinic saying they need Caleb back for Magnesium, his Electrolytes were very low and out of whack. He was very tired this morning but I figured it was because of him being in the hospital. After the two hour stay and watching Batman vs. Dracula he felt much better and not as tired and was ready to eat again! His platlets were also low of a 20 and will more likely get platlets Thursday. Adam and Cody left early this morning back to Lonoke until Friday and will be back. Cody and Caleb had a great time being together. Cody gave Caleb lots of Physical Therapy playing Soccer and UNO. Now that its quiet me and Caleb are having lots of fun together. Caleb will be happy to see his brother again Friday afternoon. Caleb will be back to the clinic Thursday morning for blood draws to check on counts and platelets. Very early of showing any signs of

Saturday, December 31, 2005 9:17 AM CST

Morning! It was late when Adam and Cody left that I did not have time to update. We all had a great time yesturday!! We got back to the hospital at 7:00. We took a trip to the new Festival of Texas, the staff here said it was a new great place to take the boys. It was huge!! they had everything you could think of. It was like a big outdoor mall. Cody picked out some clothes from the outdoor Gap. There were sales everywhere! Caleb wasn't to thrilled about the clothes, he was to excited about the Veggietale stand. We couldn't stay very long with Caleb needed to wear his mask and was getting very tired. We went back to our motel to rest and for the boys to play. Adam picked dinner up at Apple B's while me and the boys stayed at the motel. It was a good day just getting Caleb out of the hospital for a little bit to take an adventure in San Antonio.

Caleb is up watching the Backyardigans and unhooked from all meds sitting in the lounge chair. He ate a good breakfast this morning and feeling very good. He has started on his oral Cyclosporine and does not like it very much. It helps him to drink chocolate milk but still has an aftertaste. Dr. Chan wants to keep Caleb in for a few more days until he knows it is the right dose. Maybe Monday or Tuesday we will be discharged.

I hope everyone has a great New Years! May the Lord bless you with a great New Year. We start the New Year with complete healing for Caleb.

WE ALL NEED TO REMEMBER LACEYMAE IN OUR PRAYERS. SHE IS IN GREAT NEED OF PRAYERS. www.caringbridge.org/ar/laceymae

Love you all, Laurie :)

Friday, December 30, 2005 10:45 AM CST

It is almost lunch time and Caleb is still snoozing!! He is a tired little guy. We did stay up a little late last night playing soccer in the room, of course he won (he says)! Caleb did eat yesturday afternoon, he just was not hungry for breakfast. Dr. Chan came in for a little bit and stated Caleb cannot be discharged because his oral Cyclosporine is not in yet and needs to be monitored for a couple of days while he is taking it. Dr. Chan is letting Caleb have a pass to get out of the hospital in open places. We will have a fun day for Caleb and Cody be boys again! Caleb will enjoy that not being restrained to an I.V. pole. We will need to return at 8:00 tonight. I will update late tonight on how Caleb's day went.

Love you all and check in later on Caleb's day! Laurie :)

Thursday, December 29, 2005 12:00 AM CST

OLAH!!! It's been a good morning. Caleb is doing good watching Jimmy Neutron. This morning around 10:00 he was so amazed about the crane that was outside his window caring two guys in a basket to the top of the roof! I don't believe they saw Caleb stuck to the window waving as hard as he could to get their attention with nothing on but a pull-up and an I.V. pole next to him!! He was like "Cool, I want to ride in that"! That was the excitement of the day for Caleb.

Dr. Chan came in this morning stated his counts are good. His platelets are a little low but not low enough to get platelets. He will start a oral Cyclosporine for GVHD tonight, Caleb will be watched to see how well he tolerates it and if it will be the right dose for Caleb. If it is not the right dose Caleb cannot be released from the hospital until Dr. Chan adjust the right dose for him to tolerate it. Pray for no side effects from this med in order for Caleb to get out of here!! He will not eat this morning but I pray that will change this afternoon or maybe later. Not even noodles will change his mind this morning.

Keep praying for Caleb and his strength, also remember dad and Cody while they are away. They need strength also and their safe travel tomorrow morning arriving here.

Love you all, Laurie :)

Wednesday, December 28, 2005 10:25 AM CST

Morning everyone. Caleb was up early this morning watching the Backyardigans while the warm sun coming in the room. He looks really good with no mouth sores. Caleb got really excited when Mrs.Marsha, the nutrionist came in with Beef Ramen noodles!! he absolutely loves them!!! he will not eat much of anything but when it comes to beef noodles he will eat a pot full! Dr. Chan came in this morning and very pleased on how well Caleb is doing. He gave me a little lesson on the GVHD (Graft Versus Host Disease). Adam and I pray Caleb does not have too much of that. It will be challenging. Caleb has started on a GVHD med to prevent any major infections and from his body rejecting the transplant. Dr. Chan is also decreasing his fluids in order for Caleb to drink more. Caleb also will be getting a blood transfuse this morning. If Caleb's counts are stable and his meds are at the right level Caleb will be discharged Friday and will be coming outpatient for several weeks to check on blood counts and donor cells! Pray for 100% donor cells and no infections.

Caleb is waiting patiently for his noodles so I had better get them fixed for him!! Love you all and please keep praying for Caleb!!!

Laurie :)

Monday, December 26, 2005 1:16 PM CST

It is a beautiful sunny day here of 75!! Sorry I had to brag about the weather here!! We have the blinds back letting the warmth of the sun come in Caleb's room.

This week marks #3 since Caleb was admitted. We have settled in our room with Batman pictures on the wall and batman toys on Caleb's bedside table. Caleb woke up this morning at 9:00 nausea and was given Zofran. At lunch he ate almost a whole Mcdonalds fresh cheeseburger. He is doing very good and if he continues to do so he will be discharged this weekend for outpatient clinic, but his appetite needs to improve better or he will need to be on TPN. He is watching the Nick station and coloring his Batman coloring page.

Adam and Cody left for home early this morning at 4:00. They will be back Friday to brighten Caleb's day. Caleb really misses his brother when Cody is gone. Cody always makes Caleb laugh and feel so good. Last night Cody helped Caleb take a warm bath making sure Caleb's lines did not get wet. What a blessing to have him.

Keep praying for Caleb this week and many weeks to come.
Will update later this week.

Love you all, Laurie :)

Sunday, December 25, 2005 11:33 AM CST

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!! Jesus is the reason for the season. What a perfect gift Caleb will have and another reason to celebrate Christmas! We hope everyone is having a great Christmas, what a great time to be with family.

Caleb woke up excited to see he had a big sack full of Batman toys, and a Bionicle toy for Cody. That was enough for him to do his vitals, let Dr.Chan exam him and take his meds without telling them "maybe later" he would say. Caleb is doing great, right now he is laying in his bed watching the Playhouse Disney. He is a little nausea this morning and not eating. He is weak in his legs and still sore from the radiation treatment. Dr. Chan suggested to watch him for any unusual side effects or mouth sores, fevers for couple more weeks. If he continues to do better he will be discharged for out patient clinic and staying at the motel. We will probably be home around the last of February or the first of March. It is all up to Caleb when he will be ready and he will let us know.

Dad and Cody will be on their way home early tomorrow morning then they will be back Thursday for the weekend. We will miss them this week. Caleb always looks forward to seeing his brother and Cody lifts Caleb's spirits up.

I will close saying this is the best Christmas Caleb has had.

Laurie :)

Friday, December 23, 2005 2:56 PM CST

Caleb received his Cord Blood Transplant this morning at 11:00 with Dr. Wall and Dr. Chan present. Everything went very well. Caleb ran a high blood pressure and was given some high blood pressure meds. His heart rate went up but that was to be expected and will decrease. He is doing fine right now just a little nausea and a little stinky from the transplant. The smell wasn't as bad as the stem cell transplant, THANK GOODNESS!!! Dr. Wall and Dr. Chan monitored Caleb very closely to make sure no unusual side effects were to happen.

Adam and Cody made it here this morning at 9:30 while Caleb was singing in the tub!! Caleb was very excited to see his brother!! Caleb is sorting out his Spiderman and Batman coloring pages he says he is going to show "Mrs. Munnerlyn his pictures". Cody is sitting on my bed eating cheetos and drinking Mug Rootbeer making Caleb laugh. Caleb is doing so well! PRAISE

Thank you Jesus for helping Caleb get this miracle Cord Blood Transplant. Thank him for moving the mountain. His hand be upon Caleb. Good cells to destroy the bad and donor cells to take over. Thank you all for your entries and prayers.

Will update tomorrow letting you know how Caleb is doing.

FELIS NAVIDA DOEDOES!!!!!!
(MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE)

Laurie :)

Thursday, December 22, 2005 9:43 AM CST

It's a great day!! Caleb is feeling great and watching the backyardigans. He is very excited to see the blue sky outside. He's had his fruit loops cereal this morning, taking his oral meds with no problems and brushed his teeth. He has been coloring batman pages for his brother when he and dad arive tomorrow morning. Caleb and I have missed Cody and he's sweet smile. Cody has such a big heart and helps Caleb so much. He will be Caleb's best therapy through this treatment.

Caleb will finish his ATG treatment tonight. One great thing, he did not turn into a rabbit!! He will have radiation treatment today at 3:30 and yes, another ride on the ambulance (batman ride)!! He will love that. Tomorrow starts the transplant day. Caleb will need your prayers.

Everyone goes through a dark tunnel sometime in their life. Sometimes it seems like it will never lighten up. We all need to live in perfect peace. How can you live in Perfect Peace in darkness? God gives you the perfect peace of all understanding. You have Jesus as your Lord and Savior you have perfect peace. Walk in awareness in the promise of God. Think about it when you are in darkness.

Laurie :)

Wednesday, December 21, 2005 1:51 PM CST

Today has been a relaxed day. Caleb's ATG treatment has continued today from yesterday. He is doing much better today with the treatment than he did yesturday. Yesturday he ran fevers, chills, nausea. The treatment is being run for 10 hours instead of 6, Dr. Chan suggested to give Caleb high dose of steriods to prevent major side effects to the stomach since Caleb has colon problems also. It is making alot of difference besides being a little nausea and moody from time to time. He despises his oral meds he has to take in the morning and evening! He has some great nurses here who take good care of him. He is coloring his batman/spiderman pages right now and watching the nick station and waiting for his pepperoni cheese pizza. I received a great deep back rub today but I believe Cody does a better job doing the Karate chop!! Keep praying for Caleb during this treatment. Laurie :)

Tuesday, December 20, 2005 10:04 AM CST

Good morning everyone. It's been a good week so far. Adam and Cody both was transported by taxi to the airport Monday. I have heard from them and they are doing fine and has settled in at home. Caleb and I went on a "Batride" to the radiation clinic yesturday on a "Batmobile" (ambulance ride). Caleb was so excited! "It's almost like a ride on a batmobile" he said and wanted the driver to go "fast as you can" he yelled!! The technicians was very delighted to meet the Batman fan. Caleb went to sleep with anesthesia just fine for the measurements and markings for the radiation treatment he will have Thursday at 3:30 and yes another ride on his dream batmobile! He has plenty of markings from head to toe. They don't seem to bother him much. Today he will be getting two doses of chemo, Thymoglobulin and Flubdarabine. His appetite has decreased a little bit. This morning he is getting AntithymocyteGlobulin through his central line it is a protein from rabbits. He is closely monitored for side effects and was given Tylenol/Benedryl. He is sleeping pretty good at this moment. They are really prepareing him for the transplant day which will be Friday morning. Keep him in your prayers.
Laurie ;)

Saturday, December 17, 2005 2:09 PM CST

Carrie Calhoon writes:

"Hey Sims. I hope you're behaving! :)
We sure miss you all- yes even you Adam! Keep us updated and know we are thinking about you all and praying for Caleb's cure! Let me know when you need the model airplanes and happy pills sent!"

NOW CARRIE, NOW!!!! Send them "AIR EXPRESS, OVERNIGHT, ONE HOUR DELIVERY." Or get me a self learning Spanish book! I have learned a few words from responses of my driving, but from the looks of the people doing the yelling, I don't think they were very nice. Its like starting all over again. I haven't had security called on me from the parking lot,,, yet,,,, but I have today and tomorrow before I get on a plane so maybe I am ok.

This is a huge town. If you took Little Rock, North Little Rock, and Sherwood together, it might match the size of this place. The first words out of my mouth upon arriving in the hospital unit were THE HILLBILLIES ARE IN TOWN.

All kidding aside, this trip is about second chances. Have any of you ever got a second chance at doing something Think back at all the REDO or DO OVERS we have all got to take advantage of throughout life. Dr. Wall made it clear that there is no backing up and punting with this. It's 4th down and 99 yards to go. Thanks to God for giving me the opportunity of a second chance of getting life after death. Second only to Gods grace, I feel this is the most significant second chance we have ever had. Keep praying for us. Adam

Laurie here!! Sorry it took us a little bit to update but we had just gotten hooked up to the internet today. Everything is going good. Caleb has had a blood transfuse this morning. Platelets yesterday afternoon, he will start his first round of chemo this afternoon. He is feeling great and really into his Batman movie!! Cody is here and having a good time playing with his brother, lifting him up. The transplant room is huge with mom a real bed and a nice view of the city of San Antonio. Adam and Cody will both be heading home tomorrow afternoon, Caleb and I will deeply miss them. They will hopefully be back this weekend for Christmas. We miss home, our family, Gremlyn Girl (our dog), our hospital friends, HEY DANA AND CANDY!! I MISS YOU!! Dr. Saylors, Miss Catherine, hemoc. Nurses. We know this will be well worth it and pray for great results from this treatment. Our address is below on the Link. I will update Monday to start the week.

Since God is our strong provider, we can be assured that he is in control of every aspect of our lives. He will prepare the way before us. He will never leave us. And he will provide our every need.

We love you all and miss you, Laurie :)

Thursday, December 15, 2005 5:47 PM CST

Today has been a relaxed day. We all slept in this morning, lounged around watched t.v. then ate at Jim's down the street, it was a great home cookin meal the boys really enjoyed. Tomorrow will be our big day being admitted in and Caleb getting his central lines placed. In a little bit we are going to take the boys to the river walk and see the lights. We are spending a lot of family quality time before we are separated when Adam and Cody head home Sunday. I am really going to miss them.

Keep your prayers flowing for Caleb and Dr. Wall.

Laurie :)

Wednesday, December 14, 2005 4:36 PM CST

Hello everyone! We are settled in our cottage apartment. It's not the best but it will do. We arrived at 8:30 last night. We already miss our home in Lonoke!! This is quite an adventure. We visited the Childrens Hospital, it is huge! very easy to get lost in. The hemoc clinic is very different. Adam and I met with Dr. Wall, she is very sweet, and intelligent down to the point about the Neuroblastoma and the cord blood transplant. She does not sugar coat which is good. The nursing staff are very nice and helpful. We love our Childrens Hospital at home, no one could beat Arkansas Childrens. Especially Dr. Saylors and Catherine!! We love you all and miss you very much.

Caleb will be inpatient Friday morning with placement of CVL lines for his treatment. He will start chemo Sat., Sun., Mon., Tues., and Wednesday. Start the Cord Blood Transplant Thursday. Caleb and Cody are both doing great! Right now, they are taking turns dropping change in a water bottle. They are not to fond about the mexican food down here as much as mom and dad enjoys it.

Our hospital address is
Methodist Childrens Hospital
7700 Floyd Curl Drive
3rd Floor
San Antonio, TX 78249


Our apartment address is
Homegate Studios
10950 Laureate Drive
San Antonio, TX 78249
Room 152


We love you all and will continue to keep you posted.
Laurie :)

Tuesday, December 13, 2005 0:40 AM CST

It is 12:54 a.m. and I am finally slowing down from 6:45 this morning. What a hectic day it was!! Running erans, washing laundry, visiting with family and friends, taking Caleb to the clinic and school, whoosh! I am tired!! Bags are packed ready to hit the road early in the morning.

Caleb and Cody both had a great day today. Caleb visiting with Mrs.Julie, Mrs.Dewey, Mrs.Lillie, Mrs.Munnerlyn and Mrs.Bridgeman and saying good-bye to his friends. He will miss them all very much. Caleb also had a short visit at the Neurosurgion clinic to remove his stitches. He did not like that to much. After it was done, he looked in the mirror and seen all the black strings were gone and was very happy to know he and Cody could have a playful time in the bathtub without having to watch getting his head wet. They are excited about the trip but for mom and dad we are a tad bit nervous and anxious about the treatment Caleb will be getting.

I will update every day to let you know how Caleb is doing and how our day is. Keep checking in. I will also have the address to our Sims Cottage on the website where we will be staying. We will keep you posted on Caleb's progress every chance we get. Keep praying for Caleb as he takes this big step.

Love to you all, Laurie :)

Thursday, December 8, 2005 9:42 PM CST

Hello everyone!! It's been crazy around here since we have received the great news on going to San Antonio. Caleb is doing awesome!! He had a short visit at the clinic this morning with a blood draw and platelets, getting boosted up for Dr. Wall in Texas. Caleb will be with me in the morning taking Cody to school to say good-bye to all of his friends and good-bye lovens to Mrs.Munnerlyn, Mrs.Bridgeman, Mrs.Lilly, Mr.Sawyer, Mrs.Susan and Mrs.Callie. He will miss them very much. Especially Mr.Moore and Mrs.Dewey.

Cody is very excited just about driving 10 hours to another state and flying home with dad. He knows Caleb will be getting treatments and be staying for three months but flying takes the saddness away. It will be hard for him until he gets adjusted to the routine of not being with mom or brother. He has plenty of cousins to play with and a Aunt Sherry to look up to when he has lonely momments. I know she will give the best love to him that he needs. He will also be seeing his friends at church plus Bro.Bill, Bro.Jimmy and Bro.Danny to talk to when he needs to. Plus, he will be going to school with his friends and Mrs.Davis, Mrs.Bourne, Mrs.Dewey and Mr.Moore will help him as well. I will deeply miss him so much and I will do my best to communicate to him by phone and writing to him on the internet.

As I close tonight, It did seem like it was not going to get better for Caleb but I will say God heard our prayers and he does answer but only in his time, not ours. Whatever our questions, whatever our circumstances, God is still in control.

Please keep our dear friend of Cabot in your prayers for he is having a hard time in San Antonio with RSV. Remember God is still in control in Dakota's life.

Laurie :)

Wednesday, December 7, 2005 2:29 PM CST

Short notice Everyone, WATCH OUT SAN ANTONIO HERE COMES THE SIMS!!! We are leaving Tuesday, 13th. Adam chatted with Caleb's wonderful hemoc nurse, Ms.Catherine about the trip. Dr.Wall is ready for Caleb! God is moving that mountain for Caleb to receive the Cord Blood Transplant to cure the nasty aggressive Neuroblastoma! Laurie :)

Wednesday, December 7, 2005 10:48 AM CST

Caleb has been doing great since he was released from Childrens on Friday afternoon. He is very protective about his head. Cody is being very careful with Caleb and helping him alot. Monday morning Caleb had a nice visit at the clinic with a blood draw and his maintenance chemo. His counts are wonderful! Caleb also was fitted with a customized BATMAN/SPIDERMAN helmet! He calls it "BATMAN/SPIDERMAN HELMET" It took some time to get used to but after listening to his therapist "Cody" he warmed up to wearing it for his therapy brother. He only needs to wear this when playing or around alot of entertainment to protect from bumping. His stitches look great and his incision is healing up nicely. He is begining to have a noticable soft spot, but the cancer is gone!

Caleb had a short visit in the E.R. last night with fevers. His blood count is still great and was most likely from the chemo he received on Monday but with stitches across his head just need to be sure.

This morning, he is better with no fevers and watching Sesame Street. We got a call from our insurance company this morning stated the transplant has been APPROVED!!! Our next step is for Caleb to get his stitches removed Monday and to see when Dr. Saylors is ready for us to head to San Antonio.

We will have some new pics up soon. Keep checking in. Have a great week and as soon as we hear of something we will let you all know.

Laurie :)

Friday, December 2, 2005 7:36 AM CST

Caleb is feeling so much better and ready to be heading home soon!! Late yesturday Dr. Adada pulled the fluid tube out of Caleb's head without pain medication and Caleb didn't even move a bit!! Dr. Adada removed the bandages that were secured on his stitches. Caleb was happy to see his head clear of the fluid tube and bandages but was amazed with all the stitches that were across the side of his head. The stitches will stay in for two weeks when Caleb has an appointment with Dr. Adada to remove them before Dr. Saylors heads us to San Antonio for Caleb's Cord Blood Transplant. He will be getting a cool helmet to wear when he is ready to be released. Caleb will need to wear this all the time for six months to a year to protect his head from all active boy play!! I am sure Caleb will name his cool helmet to make it easier on him. In six months to a year Dr. Adada will perform reconstructive surgery placing a plate in Caleb's head to replace the bone that had to be removed. Adam and I are very pleased with the wonderful work Dr. Adada did on Caleb's head. He really amazed us how well Caleb's head looked after he removed the bandages and the fluid tube. His head looks very nice and reshaped nicely where the soft spot is very unnoticeable. Dr. Saylors still checks on his buddy daily!! Caleb really looks up to Dr. Saylors and is a chatter box once Dr. Saylors enters the room. We thank God for sending these talented doctors to Caleb.

Right now Caleb is watching t.v. and drinking his grape juice waiting patiently for his breakfast! We will be going home today after he receives his helmet! He is ready to see Cody and to be in his room.

Remember Caleb during his recovery time. He is having very little pain and is administered with Tylenol when he complains. Caleb has come a long way to get to this point of going to San Antonio for his cord blood transplant. It's hard to believe just two months ago Dr. Saylors gave us bad news about the aggressive Neuroblastoma attacking his skull bone, lungs, ribs, hips, pelvis and was very discouraged if Caleb was going to make it through in two to three months. Now, the cancer in his skull bone is ALL CLEAR, the hot spots on each knee and left shoulder is stable, all other tumors are gone with no signs of the disease. My friend, that is how power of prayer works and the mighty hand of Jesus. God works in mysterious ways.

We all need to remember our dear friend, Dakota Hawkins. He is having a difficult time with his lungs and appetite. God is still working on him and continues to do so. We all need to encourage him to press on. www.caringbridge.org/ar/keepthefaith.

We love you all and have a wonderful day!! Laurie :)

Wednesday, November 30, 2005 4:53 PM CST

It has been a great day!! Caleb eating and playing with Mrs. Lisa. Dr. Saylors came in for a visit, checking on how Caleb is doing. He stated that we need to get calling and harrassing our insurance company about the transplant approval. They are not responding like they should. Adam will be on the phone to the insurance company tomorrow, it will be approved tomorrow!! He also stated Caleb is doing great and he is well pleased. Caleb's vinchristine chemo will be continued Monday morning. His counts are looking great!! We will be ready approximately two weeks for San Antonio!!! A Christmas in San Antonio!!!

Dr. Saylors also stated "NO TREE HOUSE". I know that was Adam's dream to give his sons the best tree house they had dreamed of but if it's going to harm Caleb doing some damage to his head. The tree house can wait till Caleb is doing better.

Laurie :)

Tuesday, November 29, 2005 10:06 PM CST

Hello to you all! We all had a wonderful weekend getaway trip to Branson. Cody and Caleb had a great time! They had the most fun at the indoor waterpark at our apartment!! Caleb had a really hard time leaving the water!! There were lights every where and the traffic was overwhelming!!! Saturday we took a trip to the miniture zoo before we headed to an all day stay at Silver Dollar City. The boys loved the Christmas lights and had a great time on the train ride. We did rent a double stroller for the boys since Caleb gets very tired of walking a long distance. Every 30 minutes was dinner time for Caleb. He was always ready to eat. We arrived at our cottage in Lonoke around 4:00 Sunday afternoon before the storms had hit. Sunday night was a buisy one getting packed for a buisy week ahead.

Caleb's surgery went great!! He spent a day in PICU but that did not keep him from eating in PICU a couple of hours after his surgery!! He is having very little pain and in great spirits, talking to the PICU nurses and Dr. Adada. He has a drainage tube that he is very protective and makes sure it stays on top of his head. He wears a little knit cap that he calls "Spiderman web cap". It is so amazing what Caleb just went through he is feeling so great with a BIG appetite. He is so tough and has Jesus right by his side to keep fighting. What is a blessing is that the Neuroblastoma on Caleb's skull bone is ALL CLEAR after Dr. Adada removed it all!! The hot spots on his knees and left shoulder are under controlled, it is a blessing indeed. God is giving Caleb the strength for an awesome testimony. Caleb is out of PICU, after eating bowel of ice chips,three double popsicles, five chocolate doughnut holes and a bag of cheetos they decided it was time for Caleb to get out of there. He is in room 4714 4 South by the Neuro unit on the fourth floor and will be here for about five days. It is a very different floor since Caleb has not been on this floor but the nurses are very nice and are experienced in this type of surgery.

Dr. Saylors and Carrie are on the ball getting the insurance ready for the Cord Blood Transplant. Approximately two weeks Caleb will be recovered from this surgery. Our trip to San Antonio should be ready by then.

We continue to pray for Caleb's speedy recovery through this surgery to be on the way to San Antonio. God's powerful strength helping Caleb stay strong through this. WE GIVE HIM THE GLORY AND PRAISE.

Love to you all, Laurie :)

Monday, November 28, 2005 7:25 PM CST

The surgery went well. From what I understand, the surgeon had to take about a five-inch peace of Caleb’s skull due to the cancer being attached and growing out from it. It was the Neuroblastma cancer and not scar tissue. The surgeon feels good about the procedure. He felt like he had taken enough of the area around the tumor to safely address the fears of it coming back in that area. The tumor had grown to the point of attaching its self to the top of three layers of the tissue covering the brain. This too had to be removed and patched. Re-constructive surgery will be performed in six months to replace the part of the skull that was taken out.

Caleb has woke up enough to briefly tell Laurie “As soon as the wind and rain stops, I am going to play in the tree house”. We don’t have a tree house right now, but you can bet we will have by Saturday afternoon. This will be the #1 project on my list for Saturday. I think I will let Cody draft the plans for it this week. If anyone wants to be a part of this, be at the house around 9:00am Saturday morning. I will post pictures of it on the web site when we are done. I’m thinking of steps that wrap around the tree, with a hatched floor that can be opened by using a rope and pulleys. Oh yea, this is going to be good AND SAFE for Caleb and Cody to use.

I have something that has been on my mind for awhile. Why does their have to be doctors? Why cant God heal Caleb with out the chemo, and surgery? Is it because our faith is not strong enough? I don’t know, I guess I’m just rambling on because of sleep depravation. If God can part the waters and his son can walk on the water, why can’t my son have a drink of water before he has surgery. I am in no way putting Caleb on the same plateau as God and Jesus but rather I am asking for some help with complete and total healing.
Thank you all for your kind words and prayers.

Adam

Wednesday, November 23, 2005 9:33 PM CST

Hello everyone! Sorry it's been a little bit since updateing the web but it's been pretty buisy around here. Monday, Caleb had his maintenance chemo and blood draw. His blood counts are much better. Eating, eating and eating some more is what he has been doing. Tuesday Caleb was excited about seeing his Mrs.Munnerlyn and Mrs.Bridgeman at school after not being able to be there for a while. He had a great day with a surprise visitor coming to see him with a M&M christmas tree for him and Cody with lots of m&m candy and little toys that are hanging as decorations until christmas comes closer for them to eat and play! They also enjoy the lights that are wrapped around the tree. It was a great gift for the boys.

Caleb had his appointment with the Neurosurgeon Tuesday afternoon. His surgery will be MONDAY MORNING AT 9:30. Caleb will need to be in the surgery waiting room at 7:30. His counts are climbing pretty fast for Dr. Saylors to feel comfortable he will be ready. Please pray for Caleb as he goes under for another surgery. God's healing hand to be upon Caleb and for fast recovery.

Cody has been doing great!! He is alot of help to me and Caleb. We are very blessed to have him. He cares alot of his little brother, Cody is Caleb's best medicine. I will worry about him this coming week not being able to be with mom or Caleb. At times like this focusing at school will be difficult for him thinking about his brother and missing mom. Also pray for Cody and the seperation he will face Monday for a couple of days.

Will update Monday on Caleb's recovery from his surgery.

Love to you all, Laurie :)

Wednesday, November 16, 2005 7:08 PM CST

It's been a great week. Caleb is eating wonderful. He misses Cody while Cody is at school but excited to see him in the evenings. Caleb will have a bone biopsy to see if the mass on his skull bone is dead tissue, or the Neuroblastoma. We are praying for dead tissue, if that's the case the mass will not be removed. The way it looks right now, we are waiting for Caleb's blood counts to come up in order for Caleb to have this surgery. His counts may be ready the week after Thanksgiving. He has a blood draw tomorrow morning. Monday morning he is scheduled for his maintanence chemo and blood draw. His blood count will give us an idea about when he will be ready. Dr. Saylors and Miss.Catherine is on the ball and working so hard for Caleb to get his transplant. The insurance is already on the ball getting approval for the Cord Blood Transplant. We could not ask a better doctor or nurse for Caleb. They have been working so hard the two years Caleb has been diagnosed with Neuroblastoma. Adam and I have really bonded with these experts!! I had better stop before I give them the big head!!

Take it one day at a time and enjoy the great days. You all have a great week/weekend. I will update Monday morning after the morning visit at the clinic. Keep praying for Caleb and others below.

www.caringbridge.org/ar/keepthefaith
www.caringbridge.org/ar/laceymae
www.prayfortrey.com
www.prayforelijah.com
www.prayforchase.com
www.prayforzach.com

Love you all, Laurie :)

Monday, November 14, 2005 9:28 PM CST

Well, I waited as long as I could to update. Caleb had clinic today and a visit with Dr. Saylors. Dr. Saylors was a little discouraged with the MRI results which Caleb had last Thursday. He pointed out that Caleb appears to have a mass on his skull bone that could be old tissue from the Radiation and chemo treatments, it could be benign or a tumor from the Neuroblastoma. The mass is not FIRE HOT like it was before the radiation treatment was started. He is looking at a possibility of old tissue or Benign but needs to be removed for the much needed to cure the Neuroblastoma, Cord Blood Transplant. He suggests Caleb's counts to come up before having the surgery with the Neuro surgeon. Dr. Saylors feels really good about the surgery and great recovery. Once he recovers from the surgery, we will be going to San Antonio. As a matter of fact once Caleb's surgery is completed Dr. Saylors will be on the ball for the insurance approval.

To all of you, PLEASE PRAY FOR CALEB. HIS STRENGTH, HIS FIGHT THROUGH THIS. This may be another set back but GOD IS IN CONTROL. We still give him praise and the glory for good results. I still see God has a plan for Caleb. Caleb will remind me and Adam "I am going to be big like a man" those words are enough to put a smile on our faces. Those are Caleb's words but maybe God's way of letting us know, IT'S OKAY. Caleb's counts are coming up, they are nearly 400. I am looking at around week after Thanksgiving Dr. Saylors will be ready for him. Caleb will have another blood draw on Thursday.

PRAY FOR CALEB.

Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. Psalm 68:19


REMEMBER THESE ALSO IN YOUR PRAYERS:
www.caringbridge.org/ar/keepthefaith
www.prayfortrey.com
www.prayforzach.com
www.caringbridge.org/ar/laceymae
www.prayforchase.com
www.prayforelijah.com

Friday, November 11, 2005 9:31 PM CST

Caleb was discharged last night shortly after the MRI was taken. Caleb is very excited to be at home eating, and playing with Cody. He is feeling much better!

Dr. Saylors came in Caleb's room yesturday morning to let us know he looked at the scans and showed Caleb only has two hot spots on each knee and one on his left shoulder. He did say the tumor on his skull bone seen to be gone/clear!! He needed to schedule the MRI for a clearer positive look to ease his mind before sending Caleb to San Antonio for the Cord Blood Transplant. He is very sure the tumor is clear. With it being so late when Caleb was finished with the MRI and today is a holiday it will not be read until Monday morning. Caleb has an appointment at the clinic for his maintenance chemo and blood draw. We will see Dr. Saylors Monday morning for an update on the MRI results and schedule plan for Caleb's treatment trip to San Antonio.

Since Caleb was diagnosed two years ago we have met many of great families. We have a few websites who desperately needs you to lift them up in your prayers.

www.prayfortrey.com
www.prayforzach.com
www.prayforchase.com
www.prayforelijah.com
www.caringbridge.org/ar/laceymae
www.caringbridge.org/ar/keepthefaith

Will update Monday morning to give everyone the WONDERFUL news.

Laurie :)

Thursday, November 10, 2005 8:48 AM CST

Good morning everyone!! Yesturday was a great day, the Lord gave us a good report on the scans! CAT scans showed no tumors on his organs. BONE scans showed the hot spots are still present but not growing, they are stable. The tumor on his skull bone is stable, not growing!! Dr. Saylors was very happy for what he saw!! We were hopeing they were gone but maybe God wants us to have a little more patience for his work to be complete. We are very happy God helped the ICE chemo work! Dr. Saylors scheduled Caleb to have a MRI today at 3:00 to have a clearer and closer look at the tumor on his skull bone. If it looks as good as what it showed on the BONE scan we will be on our way to San Antonio for the Cord Blood Transplant!!!

Caleb is doing well this moring. He is up watching the Disney Toons with Mickey and Donald Duck. He is anxious about going home to wrestle with Cody. He really misses him.

Praise God for good results we received yesturday. Pray for good results from the MRI that will take place today at 3:00. GIVE HIM THE GLORY!!! WE WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR CRYING OUT TO OUR LORD, HE HEARD AND HE ANSWERED.

Update later aft the procedure. LOVE TO YOU ALL Laurie :)

Wednesday, November 9, 2005 9:33 AM CST

Hello everyone! Caleb is in room 3139. We came in last night with fever, and mouth sores, he was not his happy self. Caleb got boosted up with a blood transfuse and platelets. His counts are still low but coming up slowly. Caleb is in good spirits right now and watching Blues Clues.

Today is the day we will know what God's plan is for Caleb. His CAT scans are 1:00, BONE scans are 2:00. God is in control either way. We pray so hard for the scans to be great, Caleb will be able to be in San Antonio for the Cord Blood Transplant that is much needed.

Even though I walk through the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4

Love to you all, Will update tonight to let you know the decision God has made. Laurie :)

Tuesday, November 8, 2005 8:59 AM CST

Hello everyone. It's been great to be home from the hard week Caleb had last week. He is feeling a little better but is very tired. His ANC is 35, is very low and is neutropenic. We were in clinic yesturday for his routine Vinchristine chemo and blood draw. A great friend of mine, Dana Fiedler who we met at Childrens made the morning perfect with her great spirit, and makes everyone laugh! Caleb and I look forward to be at the clinic on Mondays to see her and her mom. She's a great person anyone would love to meet.

Caleb is sleeping right now. He will more likely be drained from the chemo he had yesturday. Both boys had a great weekend. Caleb had a great time at the Lonoke game, the football players looked like giants to him! he was a little scared but when he seen Kylie Hobson he was much better and full of smiles playing with her. He says "Kylie is my best friend, I love Kylie". Sunday was a very tireing day. He didn't feel very well and sat on Adam's or my lap during church.

My friends, tomorrow is the day. Caleb will have his CAT/BONE scans. Me and Caleb will be in clinic at 10:30 to get accessed, Caleb will drink his contrast before 11:00. At 12:00 he will have his bone scan injection. At 1:00 he will start his CAT scans. At 2:00 he will start his BONE scans. We should know something from Dr. Saylors by 3:30 or 4:00.

We pray so hard for good results. God is in control both ways. I am scared,nervous. Cody needs to hear great results. I am looking up to remember he is our source of power and strength. I am asking you all to pray for Caleb tomorrow. God will give us great results.

Laurie :)

Friday, November 4, 2005 8:24 AM CST

Caleb is feeling better!! He is still snoozing right now. No temps and his ANC is coming up slowly. Dr. Stine will be in shortly to let us know about going home today. Caleb has been invited to be at the Lonoke Football game tonight for a special event!! You all who can needs to be there for Caleb!! Don't know all the details but just know Caleb needs to be there at 6:30 before the game!!!

Cody and dad came in yesturday around 4:00 with Pizza Hut pizza!! Caleb's favorite, cheese!! Cody's is pepperoni. They both ate pizza and watched Star Wars. Cody's day was better yesturday. He is getting some help from Mrs.Bourne. Cody is so thankful to have her helping him. Cody really loves her.

It has been a crazy and a worry week. I knew with God's help Caleb would be okay even though I didn't like to see Caleb be so weak. Caleb knows Jesus is with him through all this. It's very comforting to hear Caleb say bedtime prayers for him to get better.

Have a great weekend! Caleb is scheduled to come to clinic for his vincristine chemo and blood draw on Monday morning.

PRAY, SCANS ARE WEDNESDAY!!

Laurie :)

Thursday, November 3, 2005 8:25 AM CST

Much better day yesturday. Caleb's appetite was a little better yesturday afternoon. He was still weak to stand, after a few steps and with mom's help he was smiling "Jesus helped my legs feel better". He was ready to ride the tricycle down the hall with mom trailing behind with the I.V. pole saying hi to all his favorite nurses at the desk. They all were very happy to see Caleb up riding the tricycle being his little self again. Caleb did not spike any temps yesturday!!

He had so much fun playing with Cody when he arrived at 4:00 with dad. They both played with playdough and a big truck with lots of sounds for daddy!

Cody is still having a hard time at school this week. His mind is on his little brother and having a little bit of a hard time concontrating doing his work at school. Maybe by this weekend Caleb will be on his way home to make Cody's life a little better. Cody loves his brother and to see him in the hospital doesn't make things better for him.

Caleb is still snoozing with God watching over him. Pray today will be a better day for both Caleb and Cody. Caleb and I will soon be on our way home maybe tomorrow.

A wonderful friend gave me a little book of Psalms and words of Encouragement. As I opened the book this scripture came to me. "Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel" Psalm 73:23,24

SCANS ARE NOVEMBER 9, THE COMING WEDNESDAY!!!

Have a wonderful day! Laurie :)

Tuesday, November 1, 2005 9:37 PM CST

Hello everyone! Caleb was a little better this morning but very irritable. Dr.Stine came by while making his rounds this morning and stated it will take a couple of days for Caleb to start to feel better and his counts to climb.

He played a little bit with Mrs.Lisa but gotten tired and was ready to rest a bit. He was a little nausea and Zofran was given this morning also. After Mrs.Lisa leaving at 1:00 Caleb watched Nick. till Cody and Dad arrived at 4:00. Shortly after they arrived, Caleb spiked a very high temp of 104. Tylenol was taken and the fever broke. Cody and Caleb played a little until Caleb had visitors such as Mrs.Munnerlyn, Mrs.Bridgeman, and Micah Beavers! Caleb was thrilled to see them but became very tired and fell asleep while they were here. Cody and dad headed back home around 8:00.

Cody is having a hard time this week at school in Mrs.Davis class. I'm sure with Caleb and I not being at home is not helping much. Ms.Bourne will more likely to talk to him tomorrow. Pray for Cody this week as he is having a hard time with his brother being sick and not being able to be home playing with him.

Please pray for Caleb and God's healing hand upon him.

We all go through times when life seems to overwhelm us. The bible reassures us that God's presence is with us to help us, even when we don't realize it.

Have a great day tomrrow. Laurie :)

SCANS ARE NOVEMBER 9.

Monday, October 31, 2005 10:21 PM CST

Hello everyone! Better day today. Caleb is feeling better, he was boosted up with blood transfuse today. He is still weak to stand or walk. He also spiked another temp late this afternoon. Dr. Saylors came by this morning making his rounds. He let me know this is from the ICE chemo Caleb had a week 1/2 ago. Caleb was hit pretty hard with the chemo, this was to be expected.

Cody and dad came by around 4:00 and cheered Caleb up with hugs and candy from Mrs.Munnerlyn and Mrs.Lilly. Caleb was very thrilled!!! He perked up really fast but then spiked a temp of 101.

We pray tomorrow will be a much better day with 0 temps and stronger to walk.

BONE/CAT SCANS ON NOVEMBER 9, WE NEED PRAYERS

I have been reading the book of psalms, it has really been helping me through this.

The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped.
Psalm 28:7

Laurie :)

Sunday, October 30, 2005 4:15 PM CST

Everyone, Caleb is in the hospital in room 3129 with fevers, neutropenic with an ANC of 20 and platelets of 16 which are very low. He is very weak, doesn't feel very well and need your prayers. This could be from the ICE chemo he had week 1/2 ago. Dr. Saylors will let us know tomorrow morning.

He and Cody had a great Saturday, took great pictures and had a blast with our Sunday School class on Mr.Eric Newkirk's farm with a bon fire, playing on hay bayles, and loved the long ride on the hay ride. Riding on Mr.Lee's shoulders playing kick ball and playing with Mr.Michael Beavers. Caleb did not look sick last night and had lots of energy playing with the other kiddos.

Pray this stay will be a short one and Caleb will feel better quickly. Cody will have a great week at school with Mrs.Davis and Mrs.Bourne.

NEVER FORGET SCANS ARE NOVEMBER 9, WE NEED PRAYERS FOR ALL CLEAR!!!

God will give us strength every day. Laurie :)

Wednesday, October 26, 2005 9:20 PM CDT

A little update tonight. This week sure is a better week than last week or the weekend was. Caleb is doing better, eating better and being his Caleb self again!! Looking at him right now, (yes, he is still up!!)you could not imagine he was sick for five days. Getting blood and platelets on Monday really made a difference in Caleb. We are really enjoying days like this. I'm sure Cody is too but Caleb is tiring him out. He is ready for bed at 8:30. Watch out Hemoc.team here comes Caleb on Monday!!!! We enjoy every day to see Caleb be so active and awnry who loves to chomp on ice and do some of daddy's awnry habits! God is with him. If Caleb is up to it which I am sure he will be, this weekend will be a buisy one with family portraits on Saturday and hay rides Saturday night.

I need to get him to bed, he is on top of my head!!!

You all have a great rest of the week and weekend. Will update Monday unless otherwise. With God all things are possible.

Laurie :)

Tuesday, October 25, 2005 9:58 AM CDT

It was a great Monday. Cody had a great follow-up visit with Dr. Jackson and Mrs.Karen,Mrs.Donna. Caleb was so buisy telling them about Bat-man and Star Wars. We took great pics of them all with the boys. Caleb had a great follow-up in the hemoc.clinic. He did good taking his maintenance chemo. He also was boosted up with blood and platelets.

Caleb loves the new website. He is in the Bat-man phase. Thanks to our dear friend, Colleen for helping make the website exciteing for him. We really appreciate the pics. taken from our wonderful,thoughtful,lovely,dear friend,CARRIE, the hemoc.'s wonderful Social Worker whom we appreciate so much!!! (That is for you, Carrie). It was great to see Caleb feeling better and talking to the clinic nurses, especially to Caleb's wonderful nurse, KATHERINE! (that's for you) They seem like they do not get enough attention from us parents how much we do appreciate them. Taking great care of our kiddos and having to deal with us worry moms, I thought I would write a happy note to them.

Caleb is feeling better this morning. He is tired and not eating much of anything. He misses Mrs.Munnerlyn, Mrs.Bridgeman, Mrs.Lilly. He is Neutropenic and very acceptable to catch germs. He is not able to be at school this week but will miss Cody during the day. Cody keeps his spirits up and gets him going.

Please pray for Caleb throughout this week for his strength. Also, pray for great results on his scans November 9. We do need prayers for that day. God will give us strength to face whatever comes our way.

Have a blessed week.

Love to you all, Laurie :)

Saturday, October 22, 2005 12:39 AM CDT

Hello everyone! It's been nice to be home. Caleb is very sick and has been laying around watching t.v. or napping. He is on Zofran and Phenagren for his nausea. It will take a couple of days for him to start feeling better. This is to be expected from the ICE chemo he had. Otherwise, he is doing good.

Cody has been a lot of help since Caleb came home. He is being Dr.Cody and taking good care of his brother.

Monday morning will be a buisy one with Cody and Caleb having doctor appointments. Caleb will get his chemo Monday and check up. Cody will have a checkup with Dr.Jackson on his Hirschsprungs.

Will update Monday! Have a great weekend. Laurie :)

Thursday, October 20, 2005 8:39 AM CDT

Caleb is doing good this week. He is getting very tired from the chemo which is to be expected. He is resting right now while God is watching over him. He has been eating great, yesturday his appetite was slowing down a little. Monday and Tuesday he has been having a wonderful time playing with his Dr. Saylors and rideing his cycle down the hall trying not to run over the nurses!! Tuesday night he was so excited to see Mrs. Lilly and Mrs. Rochelle. Last night Mrs.Munnerlyn and Mr.Orval came with lots of love for him and attention. He is such a strong boy with great strength that God has given him.

Cody has been doing great this week at school. Mrs.Davis and Mrs.Bourne has been taking good care of him. He spent the day yesturday with Caleb. He had fun entertaining Caleb and lifting his spirits up. He is a great brother,we are blessed to have two great boys.

Today is the day we are expecting to go home. Dr. Saylors will be in shortly to let us know. Dr.Saylors did let us know he will repeat the scans on November 9.

Caleb is in God's hands. We pray so hard the scans will show some improvement. Lord, As we watch the sunrise, we know you will help us have a great day and help us have the strength for tomorrow. We will not stop fighting for Caleb till the time comes when God says it is enough. God can turn this around, we still have Faith God can show us great scans on November 9. We ask you to keep praying for Caleb and his strength for the days ahead.

We also want you to remember Dakota Hawkins. He is in PICU with GVH problems. We need to lift him up in our prayers. These boys needs your prayers.

PRESSING ON, Laurie :)

Monday, October 17, 2005 6:36 PM CDT

Hello friends. It was a great weekend. We all had a wonderful time at the Quitman Pumpkin Patch Saturday. Sunday was a great relaxing family day at home. We will get buisy updateing the web as soon as we are home bound.

Cody had a great surprise at school with a basket full of goodies from a secret admire who loves him very much. He was so excited he couldn't say anything. It really helped him feel special through this journey.

Caleb is in 3121. He is doing great so far. He is watching Jimmy Neutron and eating a cheese pizza. He has already had his ICE chemo with some nausea meds to help with the side effects. Caleb is scheduled to have two more days of the ICE chemo. We planned to be home Wednesday afternoon. A little misunderstanding on our stay here. I don't see it effecting him until we get home when he is not getting the continuous nausea meds.


Will update tomorrow.

KEEP PRAYING :)

Thursday, October 13, 2005 1:58 PM CDT

Afternoon friends. This week has been a blessed one. Caleb is feeling so great. He has been playing outside,enjoying being by himself in his room while Cody has been at school. Once we pick Cody at school Caleb is ready to wrestle with him. Caleb is eating great and has really enjoyed the goodies from special friends. God sure is with him.

Caleb's wonderful nurse, Katherine called today to let me know Caleb's blood counts are great. Caleb is very excited to know he only has two more days for injections in his leg. Dr. Saylors is ready for Caleb to start the ICE chemo Monday inpatient through Friday. This week will be the week we will know what the outcome for Caleb will be. Dr. Saylors will be ready to repeat the Bone/CAT scans in three weeks. We have hope and prayer God can turn this around. With God's help and his will the chemo will work. God has lifted him up through all of this, Caleb has always had a smile through the rough journey.

Pray for Caleb. God has Caleb in the palm of his hand right now. Caleb is feeling so good, that is God's work. Caleb starts the chemo this coming week pray for his strength, we want Caleb to be sick knowing it is working but also easy on him and we need the working power of God to remove those tumors. Adam and I have never been so nervous. This week is it, we pray it works. Caleb is in God's hands. God says Look to me, I am with you.

PLEASE PRAY, Laurie

Monday, October 10, 2005 8:30 PM CDT

Friends, please keep praying for Caleb. It was a good weekend. Caleb and Cody went with their cousins: Amber,Nelson,Tiffany,Karla,Gabby,Erin and their Aunt Sherry and Uncle Eric to the Air Show on Saturday while Adam and I had a day to shop for Cody school clothes,gro.shop, to rest our minds of worry and stress.

Sunday afternoon Cody and Caleb had a wonderful time helping their daddy on the deck carving pumpkins. Cody had a scary pumpkin while Caleb had a batman pumpkin. We took lots of pics and will have them up soon.

Today was a good clinic visit other than Caleb's ANC blood count being to low for the week of chemo. He did get Vinchristine chemo to help stable the tumors until the coming Monday visit with Dr. Saylors. We are praying Caleb's counts are stronger Monday to get started on the chemo.

God is in charge. He gave Caleb a great doctor and a wonderful nurse, Katherine to help Caleb. Caleb is feeling so good he just does not understand what is going on inside of him. It is a blessing Caleb is acting like a six year old with no pain through all this. He is neutrapenic and very acceptable catching germs but would be very amazed by watching him wrestle and playing with Cody. Caleb will miss seeing Mrs.Munnerlyn and Mrs.Bridgeman at school this week but not getting up early.

Have a blessed week. REMEMBER CALEB EVERY MOMENT TO PRAY FOR HIM. Laurie :)

Thursday, October 6, 2005 10:36 PM CDT

We are home, Caleb is feeling so great. His hand looks so much better thanks to Dr.Becton with lots of TLC on Caleb. Dr. Saylors,you will always be the beautiful man. He has helped Caleb so much through this rough road. Caleb has enjoyed playing with Cody and lots of hugs from him. Cody is very happy we are home.

We have been lost of words. Caleb is not doing well right now. Looking at him you would not know he has the nasty Neuroblastoma disease monster. The scans were not what Adam and I expected for them to be and Dr. Saylors,Dr.Becton were very disappointed with them. It showed the four tumors were the same, the tumor on Caleb's skull bone has grown. Dr. Saylors suggested to give Caleb strong dose of chemo the coming week every day then have scans repeated in two weeks. We still have hope and God can turn this around. We are hopeing with radiation and chemo treatments Caleb had it may need more time for us to see some good results. We are in GREAT need of prayers right now. The chemo Caleb will get NEEDS to work or it will not be good.

Dr. Saylors is very discouraged with the outcome for Caleb. We could see the worry in his eyes today. I ask you right now please pray for Caleb's chemo to work the coming week and Dr. Saylors.

Caleb is in God's hands. We have faith and believe God knows what is best for Caleb. He knows his future and what is ahead of him. We also ask that you pray for Cody. We need your prayers right now. This is the hardest thing we ever had to go through but we know God is with us through it all. Laurie

Monday, October 3, 2005 2:04 PM CDT

After a wonderful week/weekend, Caleb had fever yesturday and complaining of his hand hurting. By Sunday His hand began to be red and swollen. We came into clinic today for his dose of chemo and showed it to Dr.Saylors, he advised inpatient for a few days with antibiotics for a staff infection from a spider bite. Caleb and Cody were too buisy playing outside Saturday afternoon Caleb might had gotten bit. I can see Caleb picking the spider up and playing with it! He is also neutropenic. His ANC is 218 which is very low. Regardless of him being sick, Caleb is in great spirits and right now he is waiting on something to eat, he is "starving" he says!!

Caleb's scans are WEDNESDAY. Please pray for great results. The scans are good, Dr. Saylors will be buisy with paperwork for the insurance on getting us to San Antonio ASAP.

Cody will miss us while Caleb is in but with help from cousins Amber,Nelson,Tiffany,Carla,Gabby,Erin and best of all his Aunt Sherry, this week will an easy one for him. He has a lot of friends at school and a great teacher,Mrs.Davis to look up to for emotional help. Mr.Moore,Mrs.Bourne and Mrs. Dewey will help him as well.

Will update Thursday for great results from the scans!!
Love to you all, Laurie :)

Sunday, October 2, 2005 1:10 PM CDT

Good afternoon everyone! This week has been a great one. Caleb went to school half a day Tuesday and stayed all day Wednesday with Mrs.Lilly, Mrs.Munnerlyn, and Mrs. Bridgeman. He had a great time with them and his friends.

Caleb started not feeling good from the weekend chemo he had. Mrs.Mel, his home nurse, came by Thursday for a blood draw. Miss. Katherine (Caleb's wonderful nurse at the clinic) called me Thursday afternoon saying Caleb is neutropenic and needs platelets Friday morning. Atleast he did get to go to school some this week.

Saturday morning he was feeling great, playing with Cody and watching the fox box. We went to the Childrens Cancer Survivors Picnic at Burns Park and the boys had a blast!! Good entertainment, great lunch with the Hemoc.nurses and doctors there plus the CARTI team was there. It's always a great treat for the kids every year.

Caleb will have chemo again in the morning. Katherine will let me know tomorrow when the scans will be done this week. Yes, Dr. Saylors would like Caleb to have his scans repeated this week. We need prayers. Caleb is in great spirits, hard to tell he has Neuroblastoma. God is with him. Pray for great results. We will update the web as soon as we know a day for the scans. Love to you all, Laurie :)

Monday, September 26, 2005 1:07 PM CDT

We are home!! Caleb and I came home late yesturday afternoon and he is feeling great and eating much better. He was under great care with Dr.Saccente while in the hospital. Now is the watiting, we have three weeks Caleb will have his scans repeated. Adam and I are taking it one day at a time. The scans are good, we will be on our way for the cord blood transplant.

Cody is very happy we are home. He had really missed Caleb!! They had a great time wrestling and building blocks together yesturday.

Continue your prayers for Caleb during these few weeks for the chemo to work on the tumors to shrink. We will update later part of this week. Love to you all, Laurie :)

Wednesday, September 21, 2005 12:31 AM CDT

This week is starting to be a easier week for all of us. Caleb is doing better, feeling better with no pain. He is at school today with his favorite Mrs.Munnerlyn and Mrs.Bridgeman. Caleb has not had any pain meds. the chemo he is getting on Mondays is working to relieve some nerve pain. Cody is very happy to see that Caleb is not hurting. He has really been helping his little brother feel better.

Today is his last treatment of radiation at CARTI!! He is very proud not having to get up at 6:00 in the morning. He will start his three doses a day of in-patient chemo tomorrow thru Sunday. We are praying God will help these tumors shrink in order for him to have a chance for the transplant. God works in mysterious ways and I have seen it happen in Cody and Caleb lives.

To the Lonoke Primary Teachers, KEEP PRAYING!!!
The power of prayer is what it's going to take to help Caleb fight this. Have Faith in God's healing hand upon Caleb. We know this is a set back for the San Antonio transplant trip but in a couple of weeks when Caleb has his scans repeated again but this time to see the wonderful progress and his counts are great we will soon be there. Continue to keep Caleb and Cody in your prayers. Love to you all, Laurie :)

Friday, September 16, 2005 9:16 AM CDT

Morning everyone! This has not been a great week for us. Caleb's arm was hurting so bad that it was to the point for Dr. Saylors to do bone scans. Caleb had bone scans on Wednesday and showed the six tumors he had looked great with no sign of growing. Caleb now has five new tumors. Two on each knee and one on his left shoulder. Dr. Saylors is working very hard to get these into stable condition in order for Caleb to have the cord blood transplant in San Anton. His plan is to finish the radiation which will be Wednesday for the spot on Caleb's skull which is better then be admitted on Thursday for three day hard dose chemo to get the tumors undercontrol come home Sunday, have a week/two week break, repeat scans to see the progress, if they are good, we are getting out of here ASAP. We are so thankful Caleb has a great doctor at Childrens. He definately loves his kids.

Overall, Caleb is doing good, eating better and enjoying playing with Cody.

Wednesday or Thursday was not great for Adam and I but we know with God's help we can get through this. Caleb is tough and we need to believe this chemo will work for Caleb to get the cord blood transplant. Just pray,pray and pray!!!!! Caleb really needs them!!!

God gives us understanding in all situations. Have the Faith and not doubt. Trust in him.

Laurie :)

Friday, September 9, 2005 1:33 PM CDT

Good afternoon!! It's been a hectic week. We've encountered what we thought to be another major set back which turned out to be bruised bones. Caleb and Cody were playing on landscape timber and Caleb lost his balance and fell. By Monday he could not walk on his left leg. We took a trip to the E.R for x-rays not anything showed up that would be a concern. He still could not walk and complaining about his right arm hurting,having a hard time moving it. We took a trip to the hemoc clinic after radiation at CARTI. Caleb had x-rays done still showed up that everything was okay. Dr. Saylors says Caleb has brittle bones and falling like he did just caused him to have brused bones. He did not see any signs of the Neuroblastoma flareing up! He thought by today he would be feeling better.

Today he is better, walking better and back to school after missing three days. Thank you Dr. Saylors,you are a beautiful man!! Caleb is doing better! Other than the fall he and Cody are doing great!!

Caleb has 8 more radiation treatments left. He is doing well with them. His head has been hot and has had low grade temps.from it. Very tired from time to time. Overall is doing good. After treatments they will do a scan to see the great results and will be on our way to San Anton.

Keep your eyes open for the CARTI commercials that are airing now on 4,7,11,and 16 with Caleb in a tree house. We love it when he says "We are all fighting for cancer" he IS fighting, and with God's help he will fight it. That is a reminder to pray for him.

Continue praying for Caleb strong strength while he is getting radiation treatments. God to be upon him for wonderful results. Have a wonderful weekend and will write again next week. We love you all, Laurie :)

Saturday, September 3, 2005 1:27 PM CDT

Afternoon everyone! It's been a pleasant week of radiation. Caleb has twelve more rounds and we will soon be on our way to San Anton. for the cord blood transplant. Caleb has been feeling great, having a great time playing with brother,Cody.

His treatment starts at an early 6:30a.m. Caleb doesn't mind getting up at 5:45 to leave the house at 6:00 since he knows his butterfly will be getting the milk that puts him to sleep. When treatment is done around 8:00 he is still drowsy from the meds but is ready to get home. After he rests,eat a bite he is ready to see his Mrs. Munnerlyn and Mrs.Bridgeman at school. He is doing so much better this year in his class. Cody is still loving his second grade class with Mrs. Davis. He is always ready to be at school even on Saturdays.

Caleb going through this treatment is not easy but praying about it makes it easier. I pray every day that God will speed these treatments with great results. Not having a headache since a month ago is a big blessing. Please pray for Caleb's speedy recovery. God's healing hand be upon him through all of this. We all will be relieved when the day comes that Dr.Saylors tells us when he is ready for Caleb to have the cord blood transplant in San Anton.

Have a blessed week and we will update later part of the week and keep praying!! Laurie :)

Tuesday, August 30, 2005 9:58 AM CDT

Hello everyone! It's been a pleasant week/weekend. Caleb and Cody have been playing and aggrivating each other as brothers do best at. Caleb has not had any more headaches since the two he had a month ago. He is enjoying being at school with Mrs. Munnerlyn and his friends. This year is a lot easier on him than last year. Cody is enjoying being in the second grade. He loves Mrs. Davis,his teacher. Cody is doing awesome in school and loves his homework each day. It's great to see these boys grow up and will soon have a great testimony to share to others.

Caleb has started radiation at CARTI. It was great to see everyone at CARTI/UAMS but it would had been better just to visit and not have to see Caleb go through this again. We know God will help us through this and we will be on our way to San Antonio for Caleb's cord blood transplant. Caleb will have fifteen treatments. His restrictions are wear a hat outside, no rough housing,which will be hard between him and Cody they love to wrestle but I know Cody will be careful to protect Caleb's head. Caleb will not be on any meds which we thought he would be, that is a blessing!! Just fifteen treatments and his counts are good we will be on our way. God speed treatments with great results and recovery!!

We really need all of your prayers at this time. Caleb is a tough boy whose been through a lot since he was two weeks old, God has a big plan for him. I just know Caleb WILL beat this Neuroblastoma cancer once again and for all. Have a great week and will be update the later part of this week or weekend.

We love you all and KEEP PRAYING!! Laurie :)

Friday, August 26, 2005 0:12 AM CDT

If you haven't heard yet, the scans were not good. Caleb now has a tumor that is pressing against the brain. Radiation on the tumor starts Monday. We are hoping the radiation will reduce the size so we can go have the transplant. The transplant date is now in question. Caleb's doctor,Dr.Saylors is adamant about us getting to Texas. It just a question of how long before we go. Due to the tumor pressing on the brain, well, I don't need to explain how careful they have to be with the radiation. Enough about that.

I heard a song on the radio while I was driving home from work. Its called Something To Be Proud Of?. It made me think happy thoughts. I want to share them with you.

I have the best wife I man could want. That's something to be proud of.

I have a son that will fight this cancer. That's something to be proud of.

I have another son that always makes A's for grades. That's something to be proud of.

Laurie and I have been married for 15 years. That's something to be proud of.

I will be graduating from collage after I finish four classes. That's something to be proud of.

We still have a home. That's something to be proud of.

My family (Dad, Mom, Sherry, Vicki, Donna) are a close family. That's something to be proud of.

Our family name. That's something to be proud of.

A church that is giving it their all to help us. That's something to be proud of.

Managing to keep the bills paid. That's something to be proud of.

Friends that care. That's something to be proud of.

The community lifting us up. That's something to be proud of.

I could go on and on. The more I think about it, Laurie and I should hold our head high and be proud of how far we have come.

Adam

Thursday, August 25, 2005 7:26 PM CDT

It has been a great week. Caleb has been feeling good and today was his first day back to school with Mrs. Munnerlyn, Mrs.Bridgeman,Mr.Moore and Mrs.Dewey. He was so excited to be back.

Adam and I were disappointed yesturday when caleb had his scans. It was not what we expected. His cat scans were great, that is a blessing. The bone scan showed the tumor on his right side of the skull bone is one inch wide and one inch long which is pressing against the brain. Dr. Saylors scheduled for Caleb to start radiation treatments ASAP. The sooner Caleb gets radiation the tumor will shrink before it gets to aggresive and in time for us to get to San Antonio for the transplant but the key is Caleb cannot get hard radiation, it needs to be slow and easy with it being so close to his brain. If radiation does not shrink it then he will start high dose of chemo. The tumor needs to shrink for him to have the transplant. Caleb is getting the transplant but it is a matter of when. Dr. Saylors advised Caleb to be on Steriods and anti-seizur meds. when he does start radiation. We will see Dr. Penia Monday for treatment plan. Possibly start radiation on Tuesday.

PLEASE keep Caleb in your prayers!!! I was reading Dakota's webpage and his mother, Sharon had said "Have no doubt,but TRUST" Thank you Sharon!! I can not have doubt about Caleb's radiation treatment, I will have trust that God has plans for Caleb. I believe in the power of prayer, Caleb will be healed. You say a prayer for Caleb strength as he will have these treatments. Laurie:)

Wednesday, August 17, 2005 6:04 PM CDT

Hello to all!!! It has been a great week/weekend. Caleb and Cody have been having a lot of great time together. Saturday morning all four of us to a trip to Rosebud where Adam's friend/forman from the Railroad has a great fishing pond with cows and horses. The boys had a great time catching small brim. Cody caught a big brim until it broke his line but the look on his face, he was so excited. Caleb had the most fun playing with the worms! I was overwhelmed when I caught the first big catfish. Caleb and Cody had a wonderful time rideing the four wheeler with Mr.D.J!!! What a wonderful family they were for treating us!!!

Saturday afternoon we all went to Wild River Country and had a blast! Cody and I went on a wild ride (Cody would say) on the torpedo water slide while Caleb and Adam had fun in the kiddie pool!!! We took a relaxing moment on the lazy river but that was too boreing for the boys!! Afterwards we went to Lonestar grill for supper. Thanks to our friends from our Sunday School class we had a great time!!

Sunday was a great morning at church. Afterwards we all went to mom and pop Sims house for a lunch gathering. They surprised us with a big container full of goodies for our trip. It was a great family day for all of us to be together.

Dr. Saylors suggested Monday morning at the clinic that Caleb will not be getting his chemo this week. His counts are beautiful and he doesn't need to be sick with it getting so close for the transplant. He scheduled Caleb to have a dental check up Tuesday afternoon at the dental clinic to make sure he has no problems with his teeth. He also scheduled Caleb to have a CAT/BONE scan for Wednesday morning!!! We are preparing for the trip. Please pray for Caleb to have great results on his scans!! Complete healing is what he needs.

Also, please pray for Dakota Hawkins for most of you know he is in PICU at Childrens. He really needs your prayers.

We will update next week after the scans are complete.

God bless,
Laurie :)

Sunday, August 14, 2005 2:59 AM CDT

We got a special gift in the mail today, well yesterday due to the late night hour. It was a preview of the CARTI commercials. Caleb has a staring role in one of the three. We sat as a family and watched it and praised Caleb for a job well done. Inside, it felt good to see Calebs eyes light up and yell THATS ME. I held back on my emotions. It wasnt until the night got quite and everyone was asleep, that I watched it again, alone. I beleve the words that the narrator spoke while watching Caleb play in the tree house was and some have a world to discover. It was then I broke down. Caleb again is shown at the end and he says We are all fighting Cancer.

Why? Why does someone so young and has yet to ever so much as think about conducting a sin have to fight this battle I know life isnt fair, but this is way beyond not being fair. Hasnt he battled enough? I have seen him so bad his little legs would buckle under his own weight. Please someone tell me why? He is such a sweet little boy. You see parents that dont take care of there children, just let them go for so they could get another fix of dope. Abuse there children to the point the children are hospitalized. Laurie and I are just trying to keep Caleb alive so he will be able to discover the world. The last transplant about killed Caleb, and Im sure this one isnt going to be much better, but no, this couldnt be that easy, now we have to add in the separation of all the family for three months and opening the door for Cody to ask where is Mama and Caleb when will they be home? When will we get to see them again? Why did they have to leave?. Please dont take this the wrong way; I am glad that another option has been presented to us. All I am saying is cant we catch a break some where. Never in my life have I had to beg for anything. Now I find myself praying that we are able to afford this. I find myself praying that Caleb will make it through this and go into remission again. If this commercial doesnt make you cry, there is something wrong. Tell me where the justice is in all this? Someone tell me something that will bring to light what I am missing. There are hard times ahead again in my family, and yes, I am bitter. How would you feel if the odds were not in your favor? How would you feel if something that is beyond your control is on the verge of compromising your familys happy home.

When I built this house we live in now, I built a white fence that runs across the front of our property. We have all heard the saying, a house with a white picket fence signifying a prefect happy home. Let someone rip up your fence and I bet you would go have a talk with them and have the law there to help. I have no one that I can resolve this issue with. I can only talk to God about it. Frankly, I dont think he is hearing me. Let me guess, you are thinking of the footprints in the sand parable. I have been thinking about it for several years now. I have been a Christian since I was a young boy; I was baptized to show my public profession of faith in God. I have voted in elections that would never compromise my religious convections, to the scrutiny of co-workers and knowing the pocket book would become smaller. I have done things that were wrong, but never been ashamed of God. I have led someone to Christ and planted a seed in several others. I risked getting fired from my current job for giving a bible to a co-worker that openly defies God. I know I am everywhere with this but please understand I am mad. Perhaps when you see Caleb and the others in the commercial, you will ask why??

Adam

Thursday, August 11, 2005 12:44 AM CDT

What a wonderful job a friend of ours, Colleen from Australia did on Caleb's website!! Turn your volume up for great spiderman music!! Caleb absolutely loves it!! He says "awesome". Thank you Colleen!!

It has been a great week at home. Caleb is feeling awesome! This morning was wonderful, Caleb had O.T with Mr. Sawyer at school. Caleb always has a great time with him. Caleb was excited seeing Mrs.Dewey and Mr.Moore showing them his batman coloring sheets Mr.Sawyer printed out for him. Lots of attention is what he loves best. He was very disappointed when he walked into Mrs.Munnerlyn's class hopeing to see her but to see that she wasn't there. He had so much to tell her. He has really missed her but will soon see her again when school starts before he has the cord blood transplant that will soon take place in San Antonio. Cody helped Mrs.Bourne get the staples out of the wall. Cody was a great help to Mrs.Bourne and Mrs.Campbell. He is very anxious about starting the second grade.

Caleb is ready to see Dr.Saylors and start his week round of chemo on Monday. We should know more detail on the transplant next week. It is getting close. We are ready for the transplant to take place. Pray for God's healing.

We will update later part of next week. Have a blessed week! Laurie :)

Friday, August 5, 2005 12:31 AM CDT

It's been a great week. Caleb is feeling great this week. Cody is keeping him going. Wednesday was a great day with Aunt Donna,Hannah, and Haley shopping for Cody's school supplies. We ate at Mcdonald's which is Cody and Caleb's favorite fast food. We went over to Aunt Donna's neighbor's to swim in their pool for a while. Caleb and Cody had a wonderful time swimming with Hannah and Haley and didn't want to get out when it was time for us to get home. Thank you Aunt Donna,Hannah,Haley for a great time we had with you!!!

Caleb's counts are great!! His counts are really coming up on their own which is a answer to prayer. God is under control with Caleb. Possibily will start with chemo the coming week.

Many thanks to the Lonoke Democrat and Ed Galuki for raising the awareness of Caleb's pending trip to San Antonio. There has been an outpouring of support to help us through this. Many thanks goes out to those that have contributed in this effort. It is our understanding from Arkansas Childrens Hospital that Caleb's case has now been turned over to the childrens hospital in San Antonio. We are now waiting on word from San Antonio as to when the transplant will take place.

We also want to thank everyone for their prayers for Caleb. Continue praying for him as he will be making this big step. We believe God can move mountains. Pray this will be a move for him. Faith this transplant will work.

Have a blessed weekend,update later next week.
Love you all, Laurie :)

Sunday, July 31, 2005 7:44 AM CDT

Hello everyone!! Up early this morning except the boys are still snoozing. We updated the pics, they are really good of Caleb and Cody.

Caleb had a great week. We didn't have to make a trip to the clinic after all. Mrs. Mel (his home nurse) did a blood draw Thursday morning and called that afternoon saying his counts are all good, but he may need a blood transfuse sometime in the coming week.

Caleb and Cody had a great time Saturday at their Aunt Sherry's house pestering with Tiff,Karla and Amber while Adam and I had a few hours out doing our two week gro. shopping, what a joy Adam would say.

Still not a deffinate date for the Cord Blood transplant. We will post it as soon as we hear something. Pray and have faith the transplant will work for Caleb. God can move mountains he has before for Cody and Caleb. Pray for continue healing on Caleb.

Need to get the boys aroused to get ready for church. Have a great and blessed week. We will update the later part of this coming week.

Love to you all, Laurie :)

Tuesday, July 26, 2005 10:18 AM CDT

Hello everyone!! It's been a great week. Caleb is feeling great other than being so thirsty. He and Cody have been having a great time being at home pestering each other. Just to hot to be outside.

Caleb's nurse came by yesturday to do a blood draw and shows that his counts are dropping. May need blood by Friday so we are preparing to make a trip to the hospital Friday. He is still getting his shots every day at home which he hates so much.

Everyday we are thinking about the transplant trip. Still not a date yet but August is just around the corner so we know it will be getting close.

Not much going on just enjoying being at home. We may have a wet weekend going to the lake. Caleb loves to swim like a tadpole. Some pics soon!!!

Have a blessed week!! Love you all, Laurie :)

Sunday, July 17, 2005 10:57 PM CDT

Last week I was able to talk with Caleb's Doctor and have a few answers about our trip to San Antonio, and Caleb's cord blood transplant. I was told to plan on being there for three months. We (Dr. Saylor and I) hope it wont be that long, but with Caleb's history, nothing has been easy. He advised me that this is a new, experimental program that Caleb and another child will be doing. It has been used with other types of cancer and showed positive results.

I can not stress enough the importance of this working. The last conversation Dr. Saylors and I had was about the progression of Caleb's cancer, and the treatment he would receive. It was right after Caleb had relapsed. He said the first step would be radiation. When that became insignificant, low dose chemo would be used. When this treatment became insignificant, pain medication would be used. We are beyond the radiation, into the low dose chemo.

By looking at Calebs outward appearance, you would never think anything is wrong. He is slowly growing back his hair and acting as any other normal child would. Inwardly, he has six tumors that will not go away.

I have been talking to several people about how to pull this trip off. I cant quit work, nor afford not working for three months. We still are recovering financially from the last transplant. Never have I asked for help on these pages, but now we have around 4 weeks to prepare for this. I pray that God will help us with this challenge. Keep praying for us and for Caleb. Pray that God healing hand will be upon him.

Caleb has a fund account at Lonoke First State Bank 101 S Center Lonoke, AR 72086 in care of Carol Burnett who is a great friend of ours who is an employee there helping us with Caleb's account for the San Antonio transplant trip.

Adam

Tuesday, July 12, 2005 4:29 PM CDT

It was a great weekend Caleb had playing with Cody. Sunday morning was awesome, Mrs.Elise and Mr.Gibb at Lonoke First Baptist did an outstanding job for the special they did for Caleb. There was not a dry eye at church. Caleb is pressing on with God's strength. It was a blessing to be there.

Caleb has started his chemo this week. Monday was a long day at the clinic. Caleb had fun playing with Ms.Tami and aggrivating her which he does best at. Today he was a little nausea this morning but perked up fast when he seen Ms.Tami. Caleb always makes up for his sick moments.

Pray for his stength and God's healing touch on Caleb. Also pray for Caleb's soon transplant that he will have done.

Have a blessed week! :) Laurie

Friday, July 8, 2005 11:57 AM CDT

Hello everyone! It has been a great week. Caleb has had school with Mrs. Lilly Tuesday, Wednesday of this week. Thursday morning he was very tired, we decided to keep him home from school. Late Thursday he and Cody had a great time playing at the park. Tuesday afternoon we took a lot of pics of them having mud fights after the great rain we had. Will post them up as soon as we get them developed. Possible next week.

We will update Monday after the day at the clinic. Caleb is scheduled for chemo next week. Pray for a easy week for him. We will know more about the transplant maybe Monday.

Love you all and have a blessed week. We continue to pray for continue healing on Caleb.

Laurie :)

Tuesday, June 28, 2005 7:26 PM CDT

Sorry we haven't updated the web since the scans were done yesturday, we have been lost of words. The CAT scans were great with no signs of tumors on his organs. The bone scans were a different story, Adam and I had understood three months ago that the six tumors Caleb had were clear with no signs of Neuroblastoma disease. Today we received the news that the tumors were still there but are stable with no signs of getting any larger which is a blessing and that is what we need to look at. We are asking for everyone to please pray for Caleb. God to continue healing Caleb. With God's help through your prayers those tumors will be gone and Caleb can be in remission again for good.

Dr. Saylors advised us for Caleb to keep getting chemo every two weeks or when his counts are up for now on. He also suggested for Caleb to get a cord blood transplant possibily August. We all as a family will take Caleb to San Antonio for this transplant and stay close to a month. San Antonio and Canada are the only places that will do this kind of transplant. It is a new possible cure recommended for Neuroblastoma. Pray that with Dr. Saylors great knowledge God will lead him to the right direction for helping Caleb.

As of today Caleb has had a great weekend playing with his brother Cody.

We are so sorry for the disturbance. With God all things are possible. FAITH

Have a great week.:)

Tuesday, June 21, 2005 10:26 PM CDT

Hello everyone! Cody and Caleb has had a great weekend being at home slideing on their spiderman slip & slide, wrestling and just having fun with each other. Seeing Caleb have great days like these with his brother lets Adam and I know God is present with Caleb.

Monday we took a trip to the clinic for a blood draw. Caleb needed platelets. Caleb had been bruising more than normal this past weekend. Adam and I figured he was getting pretty low on platelets or blood. Caleb had a great time watching Baddog. Cody had a great time playing UNO with Bill(a patient)who desperately needs your prayers. His web is www.caringbridge.org/ar/wildbill.

Today was a great day. We had another long day at the hospital. Cody had a follow-up check up on his Hirschsprungs. Caleb was relieved to see his brother get stuck with a needle and not him but he was very supportive for Cody has Cody is for Caleb.

After we returned home Cody and Caleb ate a bite and outside they go to their size pool!!!

We will have a restful week until Monday comes for the scans. We are nervous but we know God is in control. Pray for all clear.

Faith doesn't get you around problems, it takes you through them.

Until Monday, Have a great week and keep praying for:
Dakota Hawkins
www.caringbridge.org/ar/keepthefaith

Bill Hickman
www.caringbridge.org/ar/wildbill

laceymae
www.caringbridge.org/ar/laceymae

Tuesday, June 14, 2005 6:46 PM CDT

Hello to you all! It has been a great week!! Caleb is doing great every day!! Last week of chemo went great and smooth. Thursday morning was a slow start Caleb was nausea, wasn't feeling very good but as soon as he got to the hospital with Cody and I nausea was only just a memory.

Today he had a great experience with shooting commericals for CARTI. We will let you know when they will be airing. Caleb was a HAM! He did so great and we look forward to seeing them on 4,7,11 and some of the cable channels. It was quiet a experience seeing him posing infront of the camera! What a sight!!

Caleb will be at school a little bit tomrrow morning. It will help him keep up while he is out this summer. Cody and I will probably stay to help someone if they need it. Cody sure is a trooper to his little brother.

This week will be a great week at home. Caleb is still eating, and gaining weight!! and has a little fuzz on his head! June 27 is SCANS!! Pray for all clear! We haven't seen or talked to Dr. Saylors but we will shortly to see what his plans are for Caleb this summer. Whatever they are Dr. Saylors will do what's best for him.

Faith doesn't get you around problems, it takes you through them.

Have a great week and will update on Monday!

Laurie :)

Monday, June 13, 2005 2:06 AM CDT

Poker Face
I haven't written in a while, and I feel like I need to relieve some stress, so hang on tight here we go. I guess I should start with the talk Laurie and I had with Caleb’s doctor after his cancer had come back. The scans showed it was in his shoulder,hip,leg,skull. The doctor told us the longest he had seen a child live with this type of cancer after a relapse was two years. He told us how it was going attack Caleb and how he would die. He was candor with his words and you could tell he was hurting inside, but on the outside, he had his poker face. He has vested a lot of time in Caleb and has grew to love him.

Long before this, Laurie and I had talked to our Pastor and Associate Pastor about the power of prayer healing Caleb. Laurie and I had for complete and total healing throughout Caleb’s battle. After the talk with Caleb’s doctor, we went to Bro. Jimmy and Bro. Danny and asked for a massive prayer for healing. The very next Sunday, Bro. Jimmy asked everyone in the church to come forward to pray for him. What they couldn't grab of us, they grabbed of each other. He lead a prayer. I cant recall what all he prayed, nor whom was around me. I do know how I felt. I could just feel Gods presents around me. I felt chills go down my spine. I had uncontrollable sobbing. I was tired, hot and dripping sweat. When the prayer had finished, I had no idea how much time had passed. Several other people had prayed openly after Bro. Jimmy had finished. I returned to my seat knowing something had happened.

Around three weeks later, Caleb had his scans again. I didn't want to go to the hospital and see the results due to the fact I could not handle any more stress. When Laurie called me at work and told me CALEB IS ALL CLEAR, I had to ask her several times what she had said. The scan’s were all clear. They had started him on some low dose chemo but that’s just it. It was just given to him to retard the progress of the cancer. This was not given to him for a cure. From what I understand, the chances of curing him has passed away with the relapse. Now, to a someone that don’t believe, they might pass it off as the chemo, but I know better. I feel God healed him. I feel at the least, God has given us more time. With that last statement, this is where I am running into trouble. Deep inside I know God healed Caleb. While knowing this, I wonder how long are we going to keep Caleb. A good example of this was Sunday night. Some good friends from church asked Laurie and I out to eat dinner. While waiting on our food, the topic of Caleb came up. I was redundant with how nice heaven will be and how I am prepared to let Caleb go. I did this with my poker face. If I didn’t do this, I would run out of tears.

Adam

Monday, June 6, 2005 9:40 PM CDT

It's been a great week/weekend. The boys have had a great time slideing on their spiderman slip and slide. It was hard keeping the sun block on them while they stayed wet but it stayed on really good cause they didn't get burned only mom did! I will live, it's okay. They enjoyed being at church Sunday seeing their friends in Sunday School. Caleb was excited when he seen Mr. Moore with a great big hug from him. He has really missed him and Mrs. Dewey.

Caleb has started his chemo today for this week. He will get cytoxin and topitican. Today was a very easy day. Quiet day in the clinic with the exceptions of Caleb!! He was very rowdy playing like Batman!! He made his presence known to all that were there! he is like that, he demands for attention! He loves the nurses and still gives Mr. Tim high fives. Cody was with us and he was probably the quietest one there. After he figured out the time Caleb had on his pump he helped the nurses by telling them how much Caleb had to go home.

Dr. Saylors will be back next week from vacation. We will find out what his plan is for this summer. Caleb's nurse advised us to visit with him when we return to the clinic. When we know more details we will let you know.

Keep Caleb in your prayers!!! SCANS are June 27th!! He is feeling great, eating great!!! Always remember, God is with us through our darkest times, he is our light!!!

Love you all!!! :) Laurie

Tuesday, May 31, 2005 2:09 PM CDT

Hello everyone! Caleb and Cody had a great time last week being it the last week of school. Caleb has already asked about going to school when he wakes up. He will miss his friends and most importantly Mrs. Munnerlyn, and Mrs. Bridgman. He will see them again in about two weeks when he goes to summer school for a little while to help him stay caught up. He will also be with Mrs. Munnerlyn and Mrs. Bridgman when school starts back. Caleb has been sick so much it is understandable. We also think it is a great idea. Caleb has done so well with everything he has gone through. God's blessing has really helped him. Cody is ready for the second grade!!! He made all A's which is not surprising to us. Cody is very smart and loves school.

Caleb has another week without chemo. His platelets are still not high enough for him to get chemo this week. Will try again the coming Monday at the clinic.

Caleb and Cody has been playing hard at home. They both have enjoyed going to their Aunt Sherry's to play in the pool with Tiffany and Amber. We also went on a train ride with the whole Sims family and it was an adventure for them. I don't believe it matters where they go as long as they have plenty of company to love them and give them attention. Caleb on the other hand loves to be alone a lot. He doesn't like to be bothered much.

This will be a great week just being home and not at the hospital even though we miss everyone there to visit that is.

I believe Caleb will be ready for the scans June 27th. I did get a date for those. Pray, Pray, Pray and believe that God is our strength and guidance that everything will be okay. Most importantly FAITH!!

Will update the coming Monday to let you know how it went at the clinic. :)

Monday, May 23, 2005 7:35 PM CDT

I didn't expect to update this early. Caleb's round of chemo has been postponed for the next week. His platelets are still not high enough for the two doses of chemo that he will be taking, but not low enough to get platelets. Caleb will be without GCFS shots this week to get his platelet count up where they are supposed to be for his round of chemo.

He had a great start walking Cody to class at school. Telling Mrs. Munnerlyn bye with lots of hugs not knowing if he would be back before school was out. He also gave Mrs. Dewey lots of hugs and telling her how much he loves her.

He had a great day at the clinic smiling at the nurses with hugs and playing with Ms. Tami and Mrs. Jill playing like a ghost from the scooby doo movie. Finding out he didn't have to stay all day was very disappointing for him. He did not want to go, he was having too much fun.

Returning to school to see his friends and Mrs. Munnerlyn, Mrs. Bridgeman was just as excited. It will be a short week of school. This year has surely went by so fast. Pray that next year will be a great year.

Have a great week and will write again next Tuesday when Caleb starts his chemo.

Friday, May 20, 2005 3:36 PM CDT

Hello everyone! It has been a fun week! Caleb has been a buisy boy with his friends at school.

We were at the hospital on Tuesday morning for some platelets. He is so rough-housing playing so hard being low on platelets could cause him to bruise or bleed easily.
So now we don't have to worry about him being Spiderman!

Today he went on a field trip with his class to the zoo. He had a blast seeing some of the gorilla show's that the gorilla's did for them. I was a little worried about him getting tired but he made the day great!! It may be too that he was with Mrs. Munnerlyn and Mrs. Bridgeman. They always take such great care for him. After looking at the animals they had a picnic at the park and that was a treat! He had a great time!!

Well, nothing planned for the weekend just being home is wonderful to Caleb and Cody. Monday starts another round of chemo two doses a day for a week. I'm sure he will do just fine getting to watch Tom and Jerry or Batdog or Spiderman! and lots of hugs from the nurses, high-fives with Mr. Tim!! Pray for his strength and continue healing. There will be scans in about three weeks. We will let you know when we get a date for those. Adam and I both know those scans are clear. Have faith and trust in God!

Will update later part of next week to let you know how things are going.

Love yall! :) Laurie

Monday, May 16, 2005 8:13 PM CDT

Hello everyone! Sorry it took us a little bit for us to get Caleb's birthday pics up! They are really cute! The home page is Caleb with Mrs. Munnerlyn and Mrs. Bridgeman (two of his favorite teachers)

It was a pleasant week Caleb and Cody had last week. Caleb needed blood and platelets last Monday. Tuesday was a tiring day from being at the hospital all day last Monday.

Caleb returned to school last Wednesday and had a great week with his friends.

God has blessed us for another pleasant weekend being at home. Saturday Caleb and Cody helped daddy with the flower bed. We went on our family walks and enjoying another great weekend with the boys.

This week will be another great week. Caleb needs to get platelets tomorrow morning at Childrens before he heads to school. Cody is ready for summer being out of school and needs a break but Caleb is really enjoying it so much right now it will be a big change for him.

We will update this weekend! Have a blessed week! Laurie :)

Monday, May 16, 2005 8:02 PM CDT

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Monday, May 2, 2005 8:15 PM CDT

Hello everyone! Our week of out-patient chemo at the hospital went smoothly. Caleb had a great week watching Tom and Jerry, Superman, and playing like Spiderman to the other nurses. He has more fun at the hospital playing with the nurses than at home, I think it's because he has so much attention and they all give in to him because he is so cute plus Caleb loves them all so much, he really loves to aggrivate them especially to Ms. Tammy. At home Cody tries to be his instructor and makes him mind while playing with him.

We all had a great weekend being at home. God has blessed us so much. Caleb being active, happy, feeling great with no pain and with God's help, we will have many more wonderful weeks of continue healing. Having a brother like Cody to help him, instruct, and praying for his little brother.

Caleb enjoyed being at school today. His counts are up he can enjoy whatever he feels like doing. He loves all of his friends and enjoys being with them. Most of all he enjoys being with Mrs. Munnerlyn and Mrs. Bridgeman.

Caleb's home nurse will come to the house to do a blood draw tomorrow morning to see if his counts are dropping which they probably are or getting there since they normally do after chemo. He has started his GCFS shots which are injected in his leg, he really doesn't mind by getting so used to getting them when chemo week is finished.

Have a wonderful week. Pray for God's continue healing on Caleb. Cody always praises Jesus for healing Caleb every night during prayer. Love you all :)





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Monday, April 25, 2005 9:35 PM CDT

Hello everyone!!! It was a fun-filled,buisy week. Each day last week was great for Caleb to see his friends,teachers and Mr. Moore at Lonoke Primary. Cody was also delighted to see his brother at school being his happy little Caleb self.

Monday was a great one. He was very tired getting up early to get to school so we were a little late getting there. After we arrived at school, he perked up really fast and had a wonderful day.

Tuesday was awesome. Caleb is 6 years old today!!! He had a great day going to school on his birthday. His class had Spiderman cupcakes! Caleb gotten 14 balloons, basket full of goodies, spiderman hat and jammies. He and Cody each gotten a bag of toys. Caleb had lots of love and attention at school.

Wednesday was great. Fun-filled day with his friends.

Thursday, Caleb had a visitor to come to school to see him while other kids were at recess. Spiderman came in Mrs. Munnerlyn's room and had one on one with Caleb, Mrs. Munnerlyn, Mrs. Holly Dewey. Caleb was so excited!!! That has always been his dream for him to meet Spiderman and his dream came true!! Very rewarding indeed!

Saturday we had his big birthday party at Chuckee Cheese at 10:00 that morning. He had a blast!! Seeing Caleb have so much fun playing with Chuckee the mouse, running around feeling so great. He deserved every bit of that. Everyone there including the employees gave Caleb lots of attention and love. What an exciting day it was for both Cody and Caleb.

We all had a wonderful week. Caleb had his repeat check up with Dr. Saylors this morning. Dr. Saylors is very pleased Caleb is looking great, and getting fat! He is putting on some weight! Caleb is getting to be a big boy. He will be getting two doses of chemo again every day this week. Caleb did really well today. He fell asleep on our way to pick Cody up at school.

We will update the pics as soon as we can. We have some good ones to put up. Continue your prayers for Caleb's strenth and continue healing.

Love you all :) Laurie




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Monday, April 18, 2005 4:28 PM CDT

Hello everyone!! We have been home for about an hour from school. Caleb is doing great! He is home this week for his birthday which is Tuesday! He will be 6 years old!! We can't believe it! With God's help, Caleb has more years to come.

He has been in school since last Wednesday. He is doing great, enjoying being with his friends and loving to see Mrs. Munnerlyn, Mrs. Bridgeman every day. They are the ones that makes him anxious about going to school. He will enjoy being at school on his birthday with his friends eating Spiderman cupcakes!!

Him and Cody is having a wonderful time being home not being sick. Cody has been on his motor bike and Caleb following him right behind on the jeep. They have been close as ever this past weekend.

Next week starts another round of chemo. Caleb will get two doses every day for a week. Pray for his strength and God to continue healing him.

We love you all, have a great week. We will update this weekend! Laurie :)



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Monday, April 11, 2005 1:02 PM CDT

Hello to you all! What a beautiful week/weekend Caleb had. Friday, he went to school and had such a wonderful time being with his friends and loving Mrs. Munnerlyn and Mrs. Bridgeman. What a happy boy he was to be back at school to see his friends.

Saturday, we went to the zoo. There's not a lot there but he had fun just getting out with his Aunt Sherry, Amber, Carla and Tiffany!! Him and Cody had lots of fun being together which they both needed.

Sunday was a beautiful day. We all as a family went to church. Praise God for such a beautiful week we had with such wonderful news. Letting everyone know how much we appreciate every one praying for Caleb and to continue to pray for him to stay in remission.

Despite the rain, today was a great day! Dr. Saylors is very happy Caleb is doing so well. Caleb will continue doing chemo for a while. It needs to kill the cells too. If it's working, why stop. Same for prayers, it has deffinately worked, please don't stop. We think Dr. Saylors is making a great choice. Praise God for such a wonderful doctor Caleb has. Caleb's platelets were down today, no chemo this week. He will continue with chemo next week. Caleb will be back to school Wednesday. His nurse will come by tomorrow to do a blood draw.

You all have a wonderful week! Caleb sure will! Love you all! Laurie :)



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Tuesday, April 5, 2005 10:23 AM CDT

What a wonderful day it was yesturday!! Caleb had both of his scans done.

Dr. Saylors says "NO TUMORS"!!! Caleb is back in remission!! I felt so relieved. Praise God. Thank him for answering our prayers! We feel like a ton of bricks are off of our shoulders. We need you to pray for continue healing on Caleb. Those tumors need to stay away. We pray with God's help Caleb will stay in remission.

Caleb is very tired today. His counts are droping. He will finish his chemo next week. His birthday is coming up and we will plan that big one!!

I had been reading a book that someone very special gave me at the hospital. I read something that was very encouraging. I thought I would share it with you, maybe it would help you through your struggles in life.

"Get the right perspective by looking up and remembering that I'm your power source. I'm watching over you and won't let you slip or fall. Nothing is too difficult for me. Wait upon me, and I'll renew you and help you to soar above the obstacles of life so you won't quit. Encourageing you, Your heavenly father"

Love you all, the pics are great! Laurie :)



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Sunday, April 3, 2005 7:25 PM CDT

Hello everyone!! What a wonderful two weeks we had!! Caleb is feeling great! He has been home for two weeks and has not been sick. We, as a family, had an outing this weekend. Caleb really enjoyed the puppet ministry from Memphis at church Saturday night. He laughed so hard!!Someone told Aunt Sherry that to hear Caleb laugh was worth every bit of time taking away from a Saturday evening. He and Cody enjoyed Childrens Church Sunday morning. We all enjoyed going to the park with some friends from church and eating Sunday lunch there. Cody sure enjoyed having his brother home feeling great, and loved playing hard with him. It was a beautiful weekend for all of us. Just to see Caleb feel good with no pain makes a lot of difference in all of us.

This coming week will be a buisy one. SCANS are TOMORROW!!!! Please pray for remission!! They will start at 12:00 on Monday. We will know the results by 3:00 tomorrow evening. II Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power. I believe in that. I have faith that God will be with us tomorrow. We love you all! I will update tomorrow afternoon. Sorry the pics are big, we are soon to fix that. Laurie :)



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Monday, March 21, 2005 10:36 AM CST

Hello everyone!! Caleb did well getting his chemo last week and is now home doing great!! This week is Spring Break for Cody. It is wonderful to have both of them home together. They really needed this. Caleb is taking leg shots again to keep his counts from droping. Pray that Caleb will have a great week with his brother and will be home for Easter Sunday. Scans and his third round of chemo will be in two weeks if Caleb is feeling well. As for right now, he is eating great, feeling wonderful other than getting tired between his play time with Cody.

Sorry so short but my week will be buisy!!! Laurie :)



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Tuesday, March 15, 2005 8:29 AM CST

Hello everyone!! What a beautiful weekend it was for Caleb to be able to enjoy being outside!! Caleb had a great weekend playing with Cody on the jeep, playing on the swing-set and just enjoying running like Caleb loves to do.

Sunday was wonderful also. He enjoyed seeing Mrs. Robin in Sunday School and going to Childrens Church with Cody was awesome! He didn't want anyone to sat by Cody but him. He loves attention and that he got!

Monday morning started off so wonderful, before heading to Childrens for treatment he seen his friends at Lonoke Primary School with hugs,pics and best of all seen his Mrs. Munnerlyn and Mrs. Bridgeman with lots of hugs! He couldn't leave without telling Mr. Moore hi and saying "Mr. Moore,I love you" that was wonderful! Cody enjoyed it just as much telling his friends his brother was with him telling everyone hello. We know it will probably be a while for Caleb to see his friends again because of his counts droping again. Caleb is strong, we know it will not take long.

Monday at the clinic was great. He has started his second round of chemo!! He is still feeling great and eating everything that is in his sight! He had a great time talking and flirting with the nurses. He is off of the methadone and it has made a lot of difference in his personality!! Caleb is always happy, being his little Caleb self again. Scans will be soon after this second round of chemo. We all know God is watching over Caleb, I bet those tumors have shrunk down to almost to nothing. Caleb is not having any bone pain at all!! Give God praise for that!!

I need to get off of here so Caleb can get up there and get started on his chemo!! Will update later this week!! We love you all and keep praying!! It's been awesome!!

Laurie :)



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Monday, March 7, 2005 12:31 AM CST

Hello everyone!!! What an awesome weekend we had!! Cody and Caleb had a great time being great brothers and lots of playing fun!!

As with everything, the only thing constant is changed. Due to Caleb's platelets being very low chemo will not be given to him any this week. Barring any unforseen circumstances Caleb should start chemo on Monday. Because of his counts being great, he will not be getting his shots this week from his mom which he will not be disappointed at all. Overall Dr. Saylors did say Caleb looked great and was very encouraged that Caleb was not hurting anymore. We will be able to take Caleb to church to see his friends this Sunday since his blood counts are good! He will be excited to see Mrs. Robin!! Love you all and continue Caleb in your prayers. Laurie :)



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Thursday, March 3, 2005 8:26 AM CST

Hello everyone!! What an awesome week it has been for Caleb! He has really felt great this week and eating great! I'm sure he has gained the three pounds that he had lost. He has gotten used of getting shots every day from Adam and I. He will start his second round of chemo Monday, we are planning on him getting sick and his counts will drop again. We are hopeing Caleb will be home and feeling great the week of spring break when Cody is home so they can have a great week of rideing their motor bike and jeep together!! An article of Caleb will be in the Lonoke Democrate paper today so check it out when you can. Cody is also doing great and still enjoying school. Today is pajama day at Primary so he is really enjoying wearing Caleb's spiderman p.j.s. Caleb loves his quiet time during the day but when we pick Cody up at school he is ready to aggrivate and play with him. Have a great weekend and we will give you an update on Caleb on Monday! Love you all just keep praying for Caleb! Laurie :)


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Monday, February 28, 2005 8:30 PM CST

Hello everyone!! Caleb had a clinic visit today and needed blood and platelets. His counts are still a little low and couldn't have his chemo this week. He has lost three pounds which isn't too bad. Still getting shots every day by me and Adam. He has gotten a little better getting them. He has felt so great today!! Eating better today, played with Cody a lot this afternoon. Getting pumped up today at the clinic really helped him. Caleb will possibly get his second round of chemo this coming week. His hair has came out so he rubs his head like his daddy! I need to get a pic of him and Adam rubbing heads together!! He loves his head. Cody likes to pat it like a basketball! We are decreasing his methadon some more this week and it has really made a difference in him! We love you all and have a great week!! Laurie :)


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Saturday, February 26, 2005 11:36 PM CST

How does God work? well let me tell you how.

Example one: Last week when Caleb was in the hospital, I went to see the financial adviser from Children’s Hospital with bill in hand. This bill was something I could not pay due to us not have recovering from financial toll dealt to us from two years ago with Caleb’s first battle with this cancer. After talking to her and the insurance company, I left her office with the state owing me around $500. 00. This might not sound like much to some people, but taking into consideration I only had $3.00 in my pocket for Laurie to eat on, and no monies in the checking account it was refreshing to know I would soon have the money to cover the hot check I was about to write to give Laurie money to eat on through her stay. No sooner did I reach the room, Laurie informed me that the minister from Roberson Baptist Church had given her monies refusing to take no for an answer. Neither she, or the minister knew the anguish I was going through on how to obtain this money.

Example two: I had been asked by several people how they could help. Anyone that knows me, knows I am a modest man. I don't want petty or a hand out. I have always been strong in my believe that I am self sufficient and provide for my family. Caleb going into the hospital this last time caught us by surprise therefore arrangements had not been made. Well, this week a special lady came by the house and asked to speak to me about something that had been on her mind. This is usually not a good thing so I sat down pending the news that was forthcoming. She advised me about opening an account at the Lonoke Bank for Caleb. Let’s regress to example one. If my wife didn't know how bad off we were, rest assured this special lady didn't. She has it all set up, all I have to do is sign some papers at the bank on Monday.

Example three: I had been told that a Sunday school class at my church wanted to come by the house and do some painting and general work. I kind of blew it off and didn't really give it another thought. My brother -in-law asked me Friday night about it, and I couldn't give him a straight answer because I just didn't know. Saturday morning while still laying in bed, we heard a knock at the door. I threw on some jeans and a shirt, (this is starting to sound like Christmas as a child) and rushed to the door. I opened it and if I hadn't recognized the faces, I would have thought I was on the show home makeover. There was trucks and cars lined up on our road as far as I could see. Some had pumps and sprayers. Some had ladders and tool boxes, but all the people lined up on my porch had smiles on their faces. They pressure washed the entire house and deck, painted, sealed the deck to the point it looks better then it did when it was new. Special plug for Davenport Enterprises for doing the pressure washing. This is his business, and he could have charged and made a lot of money but choose to donate his time, equipment and chemicals. To the people from the Sunday school class, I cant say thank you enough for all the hard work you put into our house. Everything that was done was past due on my part and it showed. Thank you so much for everything you did.

Example four: The most important thing is that Caleb had a good day. He didn't show much pain and even got out and played a little. Lets pray for another good one and for total healing.

Adam



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Thursday, February 24, 2005 1:24 PM CST

Hello everyone!! We are back home as Adam would say "A happy place" We came home yesturday around 1:30. Sorry I am just letting you know but it's been buisy around here with house chores! Adam and Cody had it shaped up some which helped me alot! Caleb is doing better and really enjoying playing with Cody again. Mel, Caleb's nurse will start coming to give Caleb's shots and draw his cbc. Caleb will start his second round of out patient chemo Monday thru Friday this coming week. His scans will be in three weeks! Continue to pray for Caleb's strength as he is going thru this battle again. He has stopped complaining of bone pain and Ashley (his pain nurse) is helping us wean him off of his methadon which was causing him to have awful mood swings. Caleb's hair is getting very fine and gradually loosing it. Cody is really happy to see his brother back at home and playing. We will update this weekend and try to put up some new pics. Thank you all so much for praying for these boys and for the phone calls, and the visits. We appreciate it very much. Lots of love, Laurie :)


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Saturday, February 19, 2005 10:55 PM CST

Caleb is back in the hospital due to high temperatures. His blood count is at 2.6 and should be around 500. This means he is real susceptible to catching anything going around. Needless to say, we were not able to see Spiderman tonight. He was very disgruntled and wanted only to be left alone due to him not feeling well.

I was talking to my sister tonight about different things that had transpired at the hospital. There was only one person that could calm Caleb down to the point of being his normal loving self. I told my sister of how I had walked back from leaving the room to find Caleb sitting on this persons lap and eating for the first time that I had seen all day. I asked this person how she got him to eat; she replied “I told him he needed to eat.” He was calm and peaceful, addressing the cartoon on TV from time to time. I was shocked to see this, due to his demeanor being so aggressive and harsh several hours before and after she came and left. I was truly amazed at what she was able to do.

My sister replied that God places special people where they need to be. She, being a nurse, recalled a story of a patient she had that was not doing well, and was not responding to anyone. The family was very loving and spent much time with this patient but it wasn’t helping. One day out of the blue, a person showed up that the nurses had not seen before. For some reason the patient responded to this person.

Very seldom do I present names in my writings due to there being so many people helping us. The churches praying, people visiting us. I even once got a letter from the mail box with no stamp or return address that read “FROM THE COMMUNITY” with $500.00 which was an answered prayer in its self. The teachers and administration from Lonoke Primary, you guys are too much. I will never forget the things you have done for Laurie and me. I can’t say thank you enough. Tonight I have to mention a name.
Mrs. Munnerlyn. I know she will be peeved at me, but I hope she understands. I can’t help feel that God had placed Caleb in her Kindergarten class for a reason. I have never seen Caleb respond to anyone like he did to her tonight. Perhaps God has given her the designation of being a Special Person for Caleb.

Why anyone would open themselves up to trauma and deal with the heart felt pain, on voluntary bases, I will never know. Mrs. Munnerlyn has done this. I know she does not like the lime light, and I hope and pray she won’t be mad at me if she reads this. Mrs. Munnerlyn, I have to say this. Thank You So Much for taking your time to be with Caleb and helping him today and the many other days you have gone out of your way to come by the house to help him.

I guess if I have gone this far, I need to finish. I have been asked several times to post the award winning love story that was written about Caleb. Warning, this will bring a tear to a glass eye.


For the Love of Caleb

This love story is not your typical romantic love story between a man and a woman, but one that proves itself to be as much a love story as any you'll ever read.
It starts off in February of 2003 when three year old Caleb was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma, a devastating cancer that attacks children. Caleb under went extensive chemotherapy and was in remission for eleven months. He started to kindergarten in August of 2004 and by God's will was placed in Mrs. Munnerlyn's class. He was a typical kindergarten student; getting his apple pulled for disobeying or for some minor squabble with another child. But all in all Caleb was happy at school. He loved and was returned love by his teacher Mrs. Munnerlyn and her aid Mrs. Bridgman and the twenty one other boys and girls in his class. Then in December, Caleb relapsed when he was diagnosed with a tumor on his right arm. He started radiation and the results of his bone scan proved that the tumor had shrunk. Everyone rejoiced are the prospect of Caleb's good news. He was back at school and proving to be the same sweet, mischievous little Caleb that everyone enjoyed. Then on Thursday morning, February 3rd, Caleb woke up in a very grumpy mood. He didnt want to go to school and even complained about having to get out of bed, stating that his leg was hurting. Laurie (Caleb's Mom)cheered him up with the prospects of another good day at school. She got Caleb dresses and off they set. Caleb entered the classroom, Spiderman in hand, eger to share another Spiderman toy with his classmates. After the roll was called and everyone was into the morning routine, Caleb limped over to Mrs. Munnerlyn and told her that his leg hurt and that he had broken it. She picked Caleb up, put him on her lap and pulled up his pants leg, hoping that he had a small scrape that was causing his discomfort. When she and Mrs. Bridgman didn't see anything they immediately called the office for Laurie to come down. Laurie came and took Caleb home so he could rest. She called back later that day to let everyone know that Calebs bone scan had been moved up to Friday, February 4th. The results of the scan weren't as good as everyone had prayed for. Caleb had six more tumors. He was to start chemotherapy the following Monday. On Monday morning Laurie brought Caleb to school to say goodby to Mrs. Munnerlyn, Mrs. Bridgman and all of his friends. It would be awhile before he could be back because the chemo would weaken his immunity system and make him very tired. On Tuesday, Mrs. Munnerlyn went to tutor Caleb but decided to just visit instead since the day had been tiring for Caleb. On Wednsday, Caleb's classmates made a wall display entitled "Our Hearts Are For You". Every child wrote on red paper hearts a love note to Caleb. The love notes were put up and in the center of the display is a large heart with Caleb's picture on it. He has had four treatments since Monday and when my wife (Mrs. Munnerlyn)went out to tutor him yesterday he met her at the door walking without a limp and excited about the visit and the work she had brought for him.
Today will be another day of chemo and prayers are being lifted everywhere that Caleb will completely recover. On Valentines Day, Caleb will have a cat scan to see if the cancer has attacked any organs. As you enter that day, excited about letting your special child and spouse know how much you love them, please, For the Love of Caleb, lift him up in your prayers.

Orval Munnerlyn

Caleb is a tough kid with a lot of love and support. We are not giving up the fight. I challenge anyone to find a school that has better teachers and staff then Lonoke Primary. I love you all, and one day will repay you for all you are doing for us. I promise.
Adam








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Monday, February 14, 2005 9:23 PM CST

Glory to God!!!! What a wonderful day it was!!! CAT scans were clear! I didn't have to have a fit today like I told Dr. Becton I would if those scans weren't clear!! Our prayers worked!! thank you all so much!!! Now, don't stop praying for those tumors on his bones to disappear!! Sorry, no pics updated we were having to much fun this weekend being home!! Caleb is feeling pretty good some fussy, not eating a whole lot but most of the time is playing good with Cody and loves visitors!! Caleb had a great Valentines today!! Mrs. Munnerlyn and Mrs. Lilly came by with balloons, and bags of goodies from the classes!! Cody and Caleb had a great time! With all the sweets he should start eating great now!! He has been a little on the nausea but he is on Zofran to help him. His platelets were down today so he had a good dose of platelets today. Adam and I have told Cody Caleb didn't have anymore boo-boo's but needs medicine for the boo-boo's that he has right now. Cody said "So, we don't need to stop praying for him right?" we told him no,we don't. What a great brother Cody is!! Two weeks of rest until we need to go back for more chemo!! Keep praying!! Will update the end of this week! Love you all!! Laurie :)



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Thursday, February 10, 2005 9:25 PM CST

Hello everyone! Today has been a pleasant one. Caleb is walking better today, and those pain meds are working. He will start getting shots in his legs to keep his counts from falling so low. His appetite is a little better today. He wasn't to happy at the hospital, he fussed a lot with the nurses and told them to "leave me alone"!! When he got home to see Cody it was a different story, he perked up really fast. He enjoyed the visit with his Mrs. Munnerlyn this afternoon!! He did really great on his test and worked hard for her until he gotten tired then he was a silly Caleb. Tomorrow will be a great day! it will be Friday!!! Two weeks of rest!! We pray he will have a great two weeks off! Don't forget Monday is SCANS, we are so nervous and scared but we know prayers can be answered!! I will update on Monday afternoon we will know something shortly after the scans are done. Scans will be done sometime that morning. Please don't forget!! We will have more pics up this weekend! Have a wonderful weekend!! Love ya! Laurie :)


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Thursday, February 10, 2005 8:48 AM CST

Good morning!! We didn't have a chance to update yesturday since it was a rough day for Caleb. He wasn't feeling very well and slept most of the afternoon. He was a little sick yesturday morning at the hospital while getting his chemo. This morning is a little better, I read him about Spiderman coming out to see him and he did put a little smile on his face. He is walking a little this morning slow but is walking a little better. He will be getting CAT scans on Monday, they will show if there are any tumors on his organs. Pray, pray, pray that they will all be clear. Sorry so short but I need to get Caleb to the hospital for his chemo!! Love you all!! Laurie :) Caleb wants to say hello. caleb i love you


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Tuesday, February 8, 2005 10:17 PM CST

Hello everyone. I have read to Caleb the notes that you all had written to him and he says "aw they love me". Caleb is having a pretty hard week now that he has started two doses of chemo everyday. He is very tired, less appetite, even his favorites he doesn't want to eat much at all. Today he has had only one piece of cheese pizza. That's not Caleb, he loves to eat but the chemo is starting to take affect. Caleb can't walk well at all, he will get a pediatric wheel chair or a stroller this week to help him get around without having to put so much pressure on his legs walking because they hurt too bad. He will also be getting Mark (his physical therapist who had him when he was four months old) back to help strenghening his legs. Next week will be a good rest week of no chemo for two weeks then will start on chemo again for a week, he will get about three weeks of chemo with two weeks of rest in between then will get scans to see the progress. Pray that those tumors will be gone and no more will show up. He did have a surprise visitor today!! Mrs. Munnerlyn came by and that really put a big smile on Caleb's face for seeing her. He really enjoyed her coming out. He wanted to show her his spiderman bed so he grabbed her hand and was determined to walk down the hall to show her. She made his night. Cody is doing good through this. He knows Caleb has booboos and needs medicine at the hospital for them but that's all. Cody prays for Caleb a lot and has asked his friends in Mrs. Gann's room to pray for him. Cody is being very strong through this and with Mrs. Gann, Mrs. Bourne plus everyone at school helping him and talking to him it will help him through this even better. Thanks for writing to Caleb, he loves them!!! Pray for the chemo to work and for Caleb to have great days. Love you all, Laurie :)


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Sunday, February 6, 2005 7:08 PM CST

Hello everyone. This week hasn't been a great one. Caleb had been complaining about his legs hurting all week. Thursday morning he couldn't get out of bed to get ready for school saying his legs were broke and they hurt. He had a hard time getting to school limping really bad to Mrs. Munnerlyn's room, I had to carry him part of the way from his legs giving out on him. By the time we got to Mrs. Munnerlyn's room he sat in his chair and so exausted. They called me from the Library saying to come check on Caleb he wasn't feeling very well. When I seen him in his class he was sitting on Mrs. Munnerlyn's lap and Mrs. Bridgeman was rubbing his leg. We went straight home, I called Mrs. Katherine she wanted to talk to Dr. Saylors then will call me back. She called me back saying bone scans are tomorrow at 2:00 be here at 11:00. After the scans were done Dr. Saylors discussed the scans with me saying he has six tumors. He has two on his skull, one on his left shoulder, two on his ribs, and one of his right hip. I couldn't believe it!! I was stunned, shocked, thinking our prayers are not being answered. We know he hears them but why? why did this have to happen with so many people praying for Caleb? Sometimes in our lives situations like this doesn't always go the way we want them to go, I do know we need to have faith and believe that God will take care of Caleb. This family is okay but hurt but that will not keep us from praying and everyone from praying for Caleb. Dr. Saylors will start two doses of chemo tomorrow morning, he will have chemo everyday out-patient unless like before his counts drop or gets sicker. He will not be able to go places or to school after tomorrow. I will take Caleb to school to take pics and say good-bye to his friends and his greatest teachers Mrs. Munnerlyn, Mrs. Bridgeman, Mrs. Lilly, Mrs. Roberts. He will also miss Mr. Sawyer (his O.T). He loves Mr. Moore and will deeply miss him and Mrs. Dewey. Caleb loved his school and pray that this chemo will kill the tumors so he can possibly go back. Hope you all like the pics!!! there will be more up soon! We will try to keep up updated on Caleb progress. Keep praying, Keep praying, Keep praying!!! Love you all so much, thank you for your support!! Give me a call this week while we are at the hospital, it gets pretty lonesome up there!! Love ya! Laurie :)


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Saturday, February 5, 2005 6:00 PM CST



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Sunday, January 30, 2005 9:36 PM CST

Hello everyone!! This week has been a great one. Caleb is feeling good and eating great except of having a cold right now, but that does not keep him from eating. Katherine called me Thursday afternoon to confirm Caleb's appointment for scans and they are February 14th! I know that's Valentine's Day but Adam and I both are getting to old and married too long to think about Valentine's Day so these scans are more important of course than that. Everyone pray really hard that they will look great with no signs of tumors growing anywhere. Not only pray for this one but every month when Caleb has scans. I will be in a nervous wreck till we know which will be that same day. We all need to leave it in God's hands. Well, it's hard to believe that Cody will turn 7 this Wednesday. Our babies are growing up to fast. We had a little party here at the house for him then we took him to Chucky Cheeses for him to play some games. He really thinks he is all grown up and now really telling Caleb what to do. Caleb's birthday is coming up in April the 19th we want it to be special for him we have two months to plan his. We love you all and please keep praying for him. Two weeks will be here before we know it. There is some new pics up. Love ya!!Laurie :)



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Wednesday, January 19, 2005 8:31 PM CST

Hello everyone! Today was another great day! Caleb seen Dr. Nicholas at the Orthopedic clinic today and everything is going smoothly. Caleb still needs to wear his splent until the scans are done which will be next month sometime don't know the date yet, Ms. Katherine is scheduling that up with the anesthesia. He can take it off at home while he is watching t.v. or sleeping. He needs to wear it at school or rough-housing (which is about all the time!) No jumping on the trampoline at his Aunt Sherry's which he loves to do with his cousins. Caleb also seen Ms. Ashley, his pain nurse and she thought he is doing so well, looking so great. She also encouraged for the prayers to keep going, "he looks so great" she says. Caleb feels so good right now. He eats, that boy eats great!! Lonoke Primary teachers, keep praying!! they are working and everyone needs to pray hard for those scans to look great and that the cancer will be gone!! The scripture that is helping me through this is II Timothy 1:7 God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of POWER!! I took this relapse hard and couldn't understand why this had to happen to Caleb again and for him to go through this horrible time again. After prayer, after prayer and after prayer it has made me stop and think satan loves to hurt, kill, and destroy, this will not happen to us. God is more powerful and with so many people praying for Caleb we need to have faith that Caleb is going to be okay, he is in God's hands. This has drew me and Adam closer together, it has helped us be strong in the Lord that he is going to help us through this, he will also help Cody be strong. If this does not open up to anyone's faith then I don't know what could. Cody and Caleb are a great testimony to anyone. As soon as we hear about when the scans are I will update, should be maybe tomorrow or Friday. We will also let you know when new pics are updated!! Love ya and keep praying!! God can and will answer prayers. Laurie :)


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Monday, January 17, 2005 10:12 PM CST

Hello everyone!!! Keep praying!! Caleb had a great day! Today's visit was wonderful and we all pray he has more great visits. Dr. Saylors was happy to see Caleb in great spirits and they had a great conversation. Caleb had a tough time calling him Dr. Saylors, he kept calling him Dr. Jackson for some reason. I guess it's because Dr. Jackson has helped Caleb so much for so long, but Caleb loves those conversations with Dr. Saylors about spiderman!!! and he loves Dr. Saylors! he says he's cool!! Caleb weighs 50 pounds and is getting taller!! He has been feeling great but tires easily still. Dr. Saylors says it's probably from the radiation. Caleb will been seen at the orthopedic clinic on Wednesday morning to have x-rays done on his arm, if the bone looks good then Caleb will be able to say good-bye to the spiderman splent!! and weaning him off of the pain meds!! Dr. Saylors wants bone/cat scans done in a month to see how the progress looks from the radiation! We all pray that the x-rays and the scans look great and NO tumors!!! Caleb is feeling so great!! that is the good news and he is eating, gaining and getting taller!! He will start school regular time tomorrow morning!! He has been asking about Mrs. Munnerlyn and his friends and wants to show off his missing front tooth!! he lost it this weekend somewhere, we can't find the tooth!! Cody had a geat time playing with him this weekend!! they both had a great time. Cody loves to see Caleb playing and feeling good too. Pray for these boys!! I believe in miracles, Caleb is one already!!! God sure can show us again!! We believe in the POWER OF PRAYER!!! Love you all and sorry no new pics updated but will as soon as we can get them developed!! Laurie :)


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Tuesday, January 11, 2005 9:01 PM CST

Hello everyone!! Caleb is still having radiation treatments just three more then he will be done!! a total of three weeks all together of dragging him out of bed at 6:30 a.m.!! but it was well worth it to kill those cancer cells! We all pray that it did some good. He will have blood drawn on Monday morning then schedule for bone/cat scans to see how the radiation helped. He has been feeling great other than Monday, he was so tired and just about fell asleep in Mrs. Bridgeman's lap at school while she was rocking him, but that's only from the radiation treatments. Today was a different story he ate like a horse!! I love to see him and Cody eat good but I fed him anything he asked for. He is doing so much better in school, his behavior has improved dramatically. He is doing so well in school. Cody is doing great too. Cody does know about the radiation, he has a coloring book about it. Cody is smart and knows a little about what Caleb is going through but we do not want to get to deep about the situation. We really don't know what the outcome will be but we do know that God is in control. I know Caleb will be okay. We know Caleb is God's child and he knows what is best for Caleb. Pray for Cody during this time. You all have a great week and we will let you know on Monday about when the scans are. We will put some new pics up this weekend. Keep praying!!! Lots of love, Laurie :)



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Sunday, January 2, 2005 2:53 PM CST

We had a great Christmas. Lots of family time for the whole Sims family. How about the white Christmas? We added new pics of Caleb and have more to add. I will leave the ones on the picture page up for another week or so, but we are giving you a teaser of whats to come on this page. Caleb is doing well. He has little pains from time to time but over all is doing well.

Last year was a good year. This year we are faced yet again with another challange. It's not anything we have not faced before. It's like the Game Boy Cody got for Christmas. When you make it to the next level its gets more difficult. We are in the next level. So far we are doing well. With God's will, we can still win the game.

Adam, Laurie, Cody and Caleb



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Saturday, December 25, 2004 2:55 AM CST

Another sleepless night, but after all, it is Christmas. We had guest tonight.
(Christmas Eve) It touched me to see people caring enough to spend an hour or so on Christmas Eve with Laurie and myself. Unexpected as it was, it was nice. The response from the community as a whole has been overwhelming. Never would I have I dreamed so many people would come together in response to adversity that didn’t effect them. Caleb is in a little pain, but the meds he is on is helping manage it.

Any of you ever had to be in control of everything? You have to have everything planed out in advance? I admit, I am a controlling person. I have to have control of all situations. An emotion is something one can move to either end of the spectrum. Cancer is not. I am not in control of this, God is. I am leaving this one to God. It has taken two years for me to figure this out.

When I found out from Laurie that Caleb had relapsed, I hung up my cell phone and threw my hard hat across the shop floor at work. I started denying there was a God. No God would put MY FAMILY through this again. I would have no part of any reasoning from my co-workers that tried to calm me down. I was madder the hell at the thought of Caleb going through more pain and Laurie and I loosing Caleb. That was as close as I have ever come to cussing God. This went on for several days. Thank you God for giving me co-workers that cares about me. My co-workers Ken, Chris, Pat and Stan endured this from me and over time calmed me down. Pat openly prayed for me and my family, at work, in my work area. I think this was the turning point back to God for me.

While writing this, I feel as if this is all about me and how I feel. I guess it is, but please understand, this is my way of venting. You can not begin to fathom the frustration Laurie, Cody, Caleb and I face. We thought we had it beat. What if we don’t get another Christmas with Caleb? How would you feel if it was your child?

I heard a song on the radio several days ago. It’s titled “Why Me Lord” The words are stuck in my head. “Why me Lord, what have I ever done, to deserve even one, of the pleasures I’ve known. Tell me Lord, What did I ever do, that was worth loving you, or the kindness you’ve shown. Lord help me Jesus, I’ve wasted it so, help me Jesus, I know what I am. Know that I know, that I needed you so help me Jesus, my soul’s in your hands. Try me Lord. If you think there’s a way. I can’t try to repay, all I’ve taken from you. Maybe Lord. I can show someone else, what I’ve been through myself, on my way back to you. Lord help me Jesus, I’ve wasted it so, help me Jesus, I know what I am. Know that I know, that I needed you so help me Jesus, my soul’s in your hands.”

It’s Christmas, think about many, many years ago, Mary laying there giving birth to Jesus. The savior of the world. All the pain she must have endured. All the troublesome past given to her from being a virgin mother, giving birth to Jesus in a stall made for animals. Talk about adversity. All I can say is thank you God for giving me Jesus. Remember the reason for the season.

Adam



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Sunday, December 19, 2004 8:18 AM CST

Words can not express our gratitude to all who take parting providing my family a mental vacation. We sure needed it. We have been from one end of the spectrum to the other several times last week, not to mention the last five years.

After finding the hotel we were staying at, I entered the lobby area to check in. I looked to my left at a message board that displays different messages to the guest of the hotel. On the board was “Welcome Caleb Sims”. The hotel clerk greeted us and treated us as if we were really special people. He gave me the room key and I turned to go when I looked that the room number. Top floor, I knew this was going to be an excellent room. My expectations were exceeded. This room was almost as big as our house, complete with all the commodities of home.

After getting settled in, we ate dinner at the hotel. The place was beautiful. It had a water fountain that Cody and Caleb became fixed upon. We had to persuade the boys several times to sit and eat, as to not bother the other guest eating at he establishment. After eating we drove to the Botanical Gardens to see the lights.

When we arrived, I told them who we were and was advised to show the boys the model trains that had been set up. This set up was huge. It had bridges, tunnels, and little houses equipped with indoor lights. Cody and Caleb would run around the setup following the many trains as they meandered about on the tracks. A golf cart was provided complete with a chauffeur. As we made our way through the acres of millions of lights, the lady gave information about the history of the gardens, and showed off the work she had done in different sections. This place was unbelievable. She told us we had a surprise at the gingerbread house that we were now approaching.

The house had one room, and was clearly set up to provide Santa a place to sit. Calebs eyes lit up as Santa perched him on his lap. It was small talk as usual for Caleb, telling Santa about Spiderman and such. Santa reached to his side and pulled out a packet. He named Caleb an honorary elf, and presented him elf ears. As I looked around to the other kids, Caleb was the only one that he had given them to. I guess Santa knew how special he was. Laurie could not pass up the opportunity to sit on Santa’s Lap. As the line of kids grew bigger waiting to see Santa, I had to tell Laurie to get up off Santa. Santa shook my hand and had a tear in his eye. I would like to think it was for caring about Caleb and not Laurie causing damage to his knee. We proceeded on to another stop to roast marshmallows. As Laurie and I had learned before, much help was provided to prevent flying, flaming, projectiles from hitting any persons around. We returned back to the hotel and turned in for the night.

Morning rose with a bright light shining through the window. It was a perfect day. Not too cold, and the sun was shining. We ate at the pancake place across from the hotel. Again, we told who we were and were treated as if we were royalty. The owner introduced herself and told of the Elf’s from Lonoke Primary. You guys are too much. While eating our complimentary breakfast, I was asked about the ages of the boys from a patron sitting at the table next to us. As I told him the ages and carried on the conversation about Caleb’s story, his wife nudged him and whispered in his ear. As the man pulled out his wallet, for what I thought was the normal reaction from husband to wife, he told of a place called Tinny Town, and placed money on my table. He advised me to take the boys there on him. I tried to give the money back to him, but he would have no part of it and explained to me that he wanted to give a gift, and not to deny him the opportunity.

We were hit with another random act of kindness. I guess it was spreading because we have been the recipients of this many times. Thank you to all that put this together. I don’t know each one that did it, and I would hate to give names for fear of missing someone. You guys are too much. Thank you so much for a special weekend.

Adam

The pics are updated.









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Wednesday, December 15, 2004 8:13 PM CST

Hello everyone. Adam and I took Caleb to the Orthopedic clinic and he gotten a red/blue splint on his right arm, it is very sore. We had a little conference with Dr. Saylors about Caleb today and it doesn't look good at all. Caleb does have tumors own his elbow joint and his upper right arm bone. There are tumor cells elsewhere floating around and have not started growing anywhere yet but in a matter of time they will start growing. His port is back in and will be seen every month for blood draw and frequent scans. Caleb will start radiation possibily next week for three weeks on his arm. If more tumors start growing chemo will start. Caleb has about two years to make it. When chemo,radiation,or the transplant doesn't work the first time and Caleb already has other health problems on top of the cancer there's really not a chance to make it through it. Caleb is on pain medicine to control his pain from his arm right now. I am not giving up, God works in mysterious ways but I do know if Caleb gives up and he gets very ill I know he is ready to be with the Lord and is tired of fighting. I am NOT giving up until Caleb does. I pray that Lord please make it a miracle and show people that you can really make a difference in Caleb's life. I ask that you all pray for Caleb and Cody. They are so close and bestest buddies, I worry about Cody. We love you all and don't stop praying. Will let you know any new news as they come up. Laurie :)


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Friday, December 10, 2004 8:42 AM CST

Hello everyone!! Well, the bone biopsy didn't have great news like we were hoping it would. Caleb's Neuroblastoma has relapsed, right now it's only in his right elbow bone. Dr. Jackson replaced the port. He is very sore today. He has a wrap on his right arm and by Wednesday the swelling should be down and he will have a spiderman color I'm sure cast for a couple of weeks. I know this isn't the best news but yall, he will get better, I have faith and prayers does the job. God only knows what's best for his children, Caleb and Cody are only ours temporarly. He will see Dr. Saylors on Monday to see when he starts chemo and radiation and for how long. We love you Lonoke Primary teachers!! keep praying!! We love you Mrs. Munnerlyn, Mrs. Bridgman, Mrs. Holly and Mr. Moore!!! Caleb says I love Mr. Moore but his not playing!! either me or Adam will update the web on Monday when we find out more from Dr. Saylors. Laurie :)



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Tuesday, December 7, 2004 11:41 AM CST

Sorry I havent written but I have been feeling ill for the last four days. We got some good news monday night. We got a call from Calebs nurse about the cancer. The counts were to low to be the neuroblastoma cancer. With Neuroblastoma being very aggressive Caleb could very well not have it, or we cought it at a early stage. With this new information we have could have:
1. Neuroblastoma at a early stage.
2. Another form of bone cancer.
3. An infection in the bone.
4. The unknown
The nurse is setting up a bone biopsy for Caleb this or next week. She advised us that "We can now see a little light now in the darkness."

Talking about light, Brother Jimmy talked about the light and darkness sunday. When people come togather in Christ, there is light. It felt good to stand up from the alter and not be able to move because of the church family comming togather around us to pray. The last 5 years have taken a toll on Laurie and I. Just as Caleb cant fight this alone, Laurie and I cant eather.

I read the Candlelighters journal when I get time. On the back of one of the issues is a guote, it reads:
"When you stand in the middle of sadness and sorrow, with only one candle lit, its hard to see the light, and the candle easily gos out. But with many candles lit, standing togather, one can not help see the light and feel the warmth of love" Taylor.

This is so true. We need your your prayers symbolized by the candles. We could have another blessing from God in the works.

Adam


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Friday, December 3, 2004 4:16 AM CST

I havent written in a while and this has turned into another sleepless night. I sit here crying, once again wondering what the future holds for us. I feel this fight is going to be tougher then the last one. I sure thought we had beat it. Monday morning I was filling out a scholarship for school, explaining why I needed the money. I told of Calebs fight and how we had beat the odds, and won the fight. Six hours later I learned we were fighting again.

This family is tired, brused, cut and bleeding but WE WILL NOT GIVE UP! If it is Gods will, we will beat it again. I just hope its not an unanswered prayer.

Laurie, God bless her. I never knew a woman could be this strong. When she told me the bad news over the phone, she had the never give up tone to her. She was ready to get it started and was going to fight till there was no fight left. I have seen her determined before, but never like this.

Thank you God for giving me Laurie. Myself, I guess I am still in denial. I want so bad to wake up from this bad nightmare. Caleb has grown to be a tough young man. Everything you read in the past journals has battled Caleb, and he is only five years old. But with the adversity he has delt with, he is still standing.

Adam


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Tuesday, November 30, 2004 8:13 PM CST

Hello everyone!! I have some disdurbing news to tell you. Caleb has relapsed, his cancer is back. He had CAT and bone scans done Monday. His cat scans looked fine but his bone scans didn't look that great. He has a big HOT spot on his upper right arm. It is a big possibility that it is the Neuroblastoma but it maybe another type of cancer. We will know for sure when the test comes back which will be in a week or so, but Dr. Saylors thinks for sure it is the Neuroblastoma. Neuroblastoma is a tough cancer and it is harder to treat when it comes back this early. I just hope and pray it is the Neuroblastoma and not another type. I know that sounds awful but I would much rather it be Neuroblastoma than something not treatable. Dr. Saylors treated it the first time he can do it again. I have great confidence in him. Caleb is in God's hands, me and Adam have great faith that Caleb will be okay. God only knows what is best for Caleb, we don't. It was great to see everyone at the clinic!! I just wish it was better news. God did say he will not give us more than we can handle but I am starting to wonder about that!! Caleb will stop school when treatments start which will be chemo and radiation, no transplant Caleb is too fragile and me or Dr. Saylors doesn't think Caleb will be able to handle that again. I will update the website when we know something and when treatments start. Keep us in your prayers. Love you all, Laurie :)



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Wednesday, October 27, 2004 7:56 PM CDT

Hello everyone!! I know it's been a while since we have updated Caleb's web. School has started, Caleb and Cody are doing well now and it's been buisy!!! Caleb does have some moderate/severe sinsory hearing loss from the chemo he had last year. He has problems with mid to high frequency tones so he is wearing hearing aids but they are special to him because they are the same colors as spider-man!! they are red and blue!! so he will tell you he has spider-man ears!!! He does great with them but will take some time to get used to those tones he's had problems with. School is getting better for him. He is getting Occupational Therapy and speech/language therapy plus has Mrs. Bridgeman as an aide to help him, his teacher is Mrs. Munnerlyn and just loves both of them. They do such a wonderful job helping him. Caleb is doing so much better than he did when he started school. He is still learning every day and understanding better. It takes adjustment for him since he has had so much sickness in his life. Cody is doing great in school, straight A's and no problems at all. I am enjoying being at Primary School, I love it!! Adam is still in school and still working. Yes, he will still say "It's another day in paradise"!! Hope to see you all at the clinic soon!!! only to visit that is!!! Caleb's scans are due anytime now, it takes a little time for anesthesia and right now they are so buisy!! We love you Ms. Stephanie, Mrs. Carrie, Mrs. Sandra, Mrs. Kory!!! We also miss Mrs. Stephanie (hospital school teacher). With lots of love!! Adam, Laurie, Cody and Caleb!!



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Sunday, July 11, 2004 1:52 PM CDT

Hello everyone again!!! It's been a great year for us!!! Caleb is doing great!! We are getting him ready for Kindergarten. He is so excited about going to school!! he loves kids but still has a hard time knowing how to play, instead he likes to push, hit and pretend he is spider-man!! We were having a hard time getting pics on the web but I am going to try to get them up in just a minute so please check to see!! Cody is doing good to, so smart and loves to instruct Caleb. He is such a wonderful big brother!! We took a family trip to Hot Springs and to Magic Springs for the fourth of July, it was great!! Caleb would not get out of the water at the Hotel pool!! and at Crystal Falls, he was enjoying being a seal since he couldn't get wet last summer!! He is six months in remission!! Keep praying for these guys!!! Sorry so short but I have Cody on my back and Caleb sitting on my lap!! We love you!! We miss you 3 gold!! (only to visit!) especially Dr. Saylors and Ms. Katherine!! Dr. Saylors, lots of hugs!! and always remember IT'S ANOTHER DAY IN PARADISE!!! Mrs. Sandra, We love you and your in our thoughts and prayers every day!! Laurie and the boys!! :)



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Friday, May 28, 2004 11:55 AM CDT

Hello everyone!!! Sorry it has taken me so long to update the web!! We have been having so much fun around here!! Caleb is doing great!! active, very active!! he is making up for lost times for sure!!! always keeps me buisy!! He turned five April 19th, We can't believe he is five already!! had his first buzz light year birthday party at the house, it was a lot of fun!! Caleb was seen in the clinic Tuesday, seen his wonderful doctor, Dr. Saylors!! and Mrs. Sandra with a geat big hug! and Mrs. Carrie, plus the nurses there in 3 gold they were so happy to see Caleb running down the hall and rideing on a tricyle!! being so active!! It was great to see everyone without having to stay!! His counts are coming up!! will be getting some dental work soon since his counts are up. He will see the neurologist next month for any nerve damage that he might have since he did go through chemo and transplant. He will have bone and cat scans June 14, but I am sure they are great!! He loves snakes, frogs and worms!! only plastic snakes that is!! he is all boy!! He will start Kindergarten this fall!! hard to believe Caleb will start Kindergarten!! he has went through so much junk in his little life!! goes to show you what our Lord can do!! I am interested how Caleb will do when he starts school!! His favorite word is "I promise"!! this is going to be a great summer!! for both Caleb and Cody!! Cody will be in the 1st grade this fall and loves school, he is ready to start now. He turned six February 2nd and so smart!! He loves to help Caleb all the time. They are both enjoying being home playing, aggrivateing each other, and taking care of each other as brothers should. We love you all, don't forget to pray for Elizabeth Jackson!! she is doing great!! her web is www.caringbridge/ar/keephope. We will try to update the web next month with some new pics.!! Love ya lots! Laurie :) check out the new pics!!



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Wednesday, March 24, 2004 10:07 AM CST

Hello everyone!! Mondays appointment went great. All scans were clear and check up went great. Caleb got a chance to play with Mrs. Sandra which was a wonderful treat. It was nice to go to the floor to visit and not having to stay. Caleb has a couple of appointments coming up with the Dental Clinic in May, Neurologist in June. He starts therapy this Friday for Language, Occupational and Physical. He is doing so well, getting so tall, he is taller than Cody. Cody still loving school, he is playing ball now and loving it!! he is a very bright boy. I am so proud of both of our boys, they have a head full of since what my grandma would say. We are going to a cancer retreat this weekend at Greers Ferry, so that will be a great weekend out plus maybe we can see some of the families we gotten close while Caleb was in the hospital. Continue to pray for Elizabeth, her and family went to Disney World and should be back sometime this week. Her web again is www.caringbridge.org/ar/keephope. Hope you have a great week. Caleb will have some more scans done in two months but will update the web to let you know how the boys are doing. We love ya!! Laurie :)


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Tuesday, March 2, 2004 8:28 PM CST

Hello everyone!! God is good again!! Caleb did have his scans done on Monday at 2:00 but was a long wait, we didn't get home till 7:30 that night! They had to put him to sleep before the scans were started. We got great results on the CAT scans, they were great!! all normal from the CAT scans. I told Dr. Saccenta to pray for great results and she did!! thank you Dr. Saccenta!! :) Dr. Saylors has not yet seen the bone scans yet but I'm sure they are good too. I figured it was probably from the Hirschsprungs. I wouldn't think it would come back in just two months. Caleb did see Dr. Jackson last Wednesday about the Hirschsprungs, he said it could be pouchelitis. I know you probably thinking what? it is when he and Cody had to wear colonostomies when they were younger and sometimes that area where it was can get infected and inflammed on the inside. Caleb is on some medicine to help that and hopefully it will go away, if it doesn't Dr. Jackson will need Caleb to see a GI Doctor at Childrens to see what's going on. He is pretty sure the medicine he is on will take care of the problem. He is doing great other than that little mild problem. He sure loves to eat!! it seems like when he if feeling good he wants to eat every two hours!! Cody is doing great too. Still loveing school!! and loves church! you never know God may want him to go into the Missionary and witness or even tell his and Caleb's testimonies! Caleb is doing better about being around other people. He will be getting Language therapy, small and large motor skills, plus some sensory therapy. Continue to pray for these guys!! We love ya and will update in two weeks, that's when Caleb has another appointment with Dr. Saylors unless something else comes up. God will not let that happen!! God is great!! I do need your help on praying for someone. I had met a great friend at Childrens, mom's name is Buffy and daughter is Elizabeth. Elizabeth really needs your prayers and to lift her mom and dad's spirits up. Please pray for this family. Her web is www.caringbridge.org/ar/keephope. Thank you! Have a wonderful week! BYE!! Laurie :)



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Tuesday, February 24, 2004 11:16 AM CST

Hello everyone!! Sorry it's been a while since we have updated Caleb's web. There are new pics on the web so I encourage you to see them!! so cute! Caleb is doing fine. He has been haveing some problems with pain in his leg, and his booty. I took him to Childrens yesturday and talked to Dr. Saccenta she advised for him to have some scans done on Monday just to be on the safe side. We pray that its nothing just something going on with his Hirschsprungs. He does have an appointment with Dr. Jackson at the surgery clinic tomorrow for a check up with his Hirschsprungs. I took Caleb to the Dental clinic at Childrens a few weeks ago for a dental check up and he has some decay in the front of his teeth along with some cavaties which is common when going through chemo and transplant. He will have some dental work done in May, they will put him to sleep cause of the noise will scare him. Caleb is haveing a great time being home and getting out. Going to church is a challenge at first but he warms up a little bit after he is there. Cody turned six February 2 and had a wonderful Ninja turtle Birthday party. He really thinks he's a big boy. Caleb will turn 5 on April 19, these boys sure are growing up. I will update the web on Monday to let you know what the scans showed. Have a great week!! Love, Laurie :)


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Monday, January 26, 2004 8:29 PM CST

Hello to you all. Praise God!! God is so wonderful! Caleb can get out in public places!! that means he can go to church!! Lonoke Baptist will be so happy to see him there this Sunday!! they all have helped us so much through this trauma. We are blessed to have such a wonderful church with wonderful christian friends. Caleb will be a little nervous around people but he will get used to it, it will take time. Caleb will not need to go back to the clinic to see Dr. Saylors until the last of February. In the clinic today, Caleb was showing Dr. Saylors Dinosaur pictures and showing him fly trap bugs!! what an exciteing conversation!! Still no appointment yet with the Orthopedic or the Neurologist yet. We do have some updated pictures of Caleb I just need to develop them so Adam can put them up on the web. I will try to do that this weekend!! Thank you for all your prayers!! prayer is a powerful thing! it really works. Continue praying on Caleb and Codys health and pray for Caleb to stay in remission!! we do not need that cancer to come back!! Thank you all, we love you Laurie :)



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Tuesday, January 20, 2004 9:47 PM CST

Hello!! It has been a wonderful two weeks for Caleb, he is laughing, playing, active, very active!! Caleb is off of the accutain, that had to be stopped due to him having more health problems. He is doing well, eating us out of the house!! our grocery bill is outragious!! he is never full, he has to be in the kitchen looking for something to put in his mouth all the time!! He likes to wrestle with Cody and Cody would be hollering at me or Adam to get Caleb off of him!! Caleb loves Cody, every morning he wakes up wanting to talk to Cody. Cody is feeling better, loves school!! Cody loves to teach Caleb school but Caleb has a hard time listening instead of playing or aggrivateing Cody! Cody is such an inspiration to Caleb. Caleb will go back to see Dr. Saylors Monday and to get his blood counts checked. Will write again to give you all an update on Caleb. Hello to Bro. Tim, I know you and three gold nurses misses Adam saying "It's another day in paradise!" HA!! We love you and miss you!! Laurie :)



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Thursday, January 8, 2004 10:51 PM CST

Hey everyone!! I know it's late but I have been buisy all day and while I am thinking about it I mind as well give you all an update on Caleb. Caleb is doing wonderful!! He is eating better still 40 pounds but is getting a tummy and looks great!!! Monday went great at the clinic. Caleb seen Dr. Becton, but was to buisy rideing a tricycle down the hall to play with him so he decided to play with Mrs. Sandra since he hasn't seen her in a while. She spoiled him with juice and crackers as usual they all know how to spoil the kids!! then he played with baby Randy Standridge!! and flurted with all the nurses especially with Katherine!! Pestered Dr. Saylors as always. Dr. Saylors has Caleb on Accutain now, he takes them really well. He has to take three capsules twice a day for fourteen days then rest for fourteen days, this will go on for six months which is OKAY, that's nothing. Caleb will see the Orthopedic doctor sometime about his left leg growing a little faster than his right and he will see the Neurologist about some possible nerve damage. Cody has been sick a little this week, his Hirschsprungs has been bothering him and I had to take him to the E.R and Dr. Smith (Surgeon) seen him and he is okay right now if he has problems tomorrow then I will call them again. These boys have been through a lot of adversity in their little life but they are God's little angels and I know they are going to be okay soon. With a lot help from our wonderful God, wonderful doctors Dr. Becton, Dr. Saccenta, Dr. Stein, Dr. Saylors and his wonderful nurse Katherine, three Gold nurses, Dr. Jackson, Dr. Wagnor, Dr. Smith, great surgery nurses Donna, Karen they would not had made it through it. The verse that has helped me a lot is Proverbs 3:5,6 Trust in the Lord with all thy heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. When you go through a struggle in Life it is impossible to make it without our good Lord. He is our rock and we lean on him everyday and night. We love everyone of three Gold Doctors especially Dr. Saylors, his nurse Katherine, 3 Gold nurses, Carrie Calhoon, you are an amazing Social Worker we will never forget you!! thank you so much for helping us through everything!! Bro. Tim and Bro. Powers, Bro. Sid, you put up a lot with us!!! We love you and thanks for being so understanding, willing to listen to our frusterations!!! we love you !!! May God work through their hands to help other kiddos like they have helped Cody and Caleb. Love always, Adam and Laurie :)



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Wednesday, December 24, 2003 12:58 AM CST

Hello everyone!!! After a three day stay at Childrens we are home again. Caleb ran a temp of 103 Saturday and was admitted at Childrens at 12:00 a.m. He had three infections growing in both of his lines. He had I.V. antibiotics and fluids while he was in. Dr. Saylors advised to pull those lines. He went in surgery yesturday morning and had those lines pulled and doing great now with no medicine. Dr. Saylors says Caleb is in remission but is neutropenic from the infection he had. Caleb will be at the clinic on Friday for blood draws from a prick of the finger and blood pressure. His heart rate is doing great as of today. If he stays in remission within two years he will be considered as cancer free!!! so pray that he stays in remission for two years. Dr. Saylors, and the nurses of three Gold had been through a lot with us but did a wonderful job on Caleb. We love you Dr. Saylors!!! and the three Gold nurses!! Caleb will miss you on three Gold and will especially miss Mrs. Sandra!!! Caleb loves Mrs. Sandra!! he had a lot of fun playing with her, pestering her!!! We love you all!! and will come to visit. Have a wonderful Merry Christmas!!! Laurie, Adam, Cody, Caleb :)


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Saturday, December 13, 2003 12:44 AM CST

I havenÂ’t written in a while due to school, and there being no new information, as of today. I thought I might write whatÂ’s been on my mind, and make you think about your life.

If you had to write a book about your life, how many chapters would it have? Would you dare to open up and share with the world all the adversity you have dealt with, or just triumph the joy of the good things? Would you perhaps balance everything to triumph the adversity you have overcome?

Laurie and I have opened up our lives and shared, what I feel is a balanced approach in this long chapter of CalebÂ’s life. It appears as though the adversity overshadows the triumphs of victory in the journals, but the chapter is not over. We are still in the adversity stage of the game. Triumph comes when GodÂ’s will is made known. Hang in there, I feel there will be something to ascertain from this that will overwhelm your hearts and make you drop to your knees with your eyes on God.

I was talking to a good friend from work last night. He and I got on the subject of why bad things happen to good people. This friend is a strong Christian and full of knowledge in the word of God. His answers where just as mine, full of questions. Thinking about what we talked about, I query myself about questioning GodÂ’s will. I think about the responsibly I have as a father with just two sons and a wife. God has this whole world to deal with. Talk about high emotional maintenance. Not making light of the subject, but I wonder if God could use some of my happy pills for Christmas.




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Monday, December 8, 2003 8:46 PM CST

Hello to you all. We all had a great weekend me, Adam, Cody and Caleb went to Schillings tree farm and picked out a tree the boys had a ball! they loved the big blown up bear. We went home, the boys were so excited to decorate the tree. It's pretty but some of the decorations are a little low from where Cody and Caleb were decorating it but it's their tree and that's what makes it beautiful. Cody has a busted ear drum and had to stay home Friday plus a doctor's visit at Childrens. He is okay now, back to school today following a dose of antibiotics. Caleb did okay this weekend, his ear started bleeding for some reason. He had his normal check up this morning and they all were hecktic!! getting all the kids boosted up for Christmas so they will be okay during the holidays. There were a lot in for chemo. Caleb didn't have to stay. He wanted to stay, he has a lot of fun up there and plus a lot of attention from the nurses. He misses Mrs. Stephanie, we went to the neutropenic play room but it wasn't anything like going to Mrs. Stephanie's room. Showed out rideing a tricycle down the unit hall for a nurse (Amber). We miss all of them! they took good care of Caleb, me and Adam!! You all have a wonderful week and I shall write again on Monday!! Laurie :)


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Monday, December 1, 2003 6:35 PM CST

Hello to you all!! I hope your Thanksgiving was good. Ours was great! I ate so much I'm surprised I'm still 115 pounds! we had a lot to be thankful for. I am thankful God gave us two precious boys, we would be lost without them, they are my life. We all ate to much except for Caleb, he is so picky. He only wanted cheese sandwich! that boy loves cheese! and it helps his stomach to. Our visit to the clinic was good. They were all very buisy today. Didn't get to see Dr. Saylors today, he was buisy today. Caleb wasn't as fussy today. He played superman with a white sheet on his back till it was time to weigh, take his blood pressure, and a temp. He has a runny nose and hasn't felt very good this past weekend. Deloris who is a nurse in the clinic is such a great friend she did a blood count on Caleb and Katherine would call me if he needed anything which she didn't and that's a great thing!! he gave Deloris a big hug before we left. He does weigh 41 pounds as of today! that's great!! he loved the pediasure drinks, it looks like they helped him. His eating still needs to improve some but that will come in time. Remember the scans are the 16th of December! Have a wonderful week and I will update next Monday!! See ya! Laurie :)


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Tuesday, November 25, 2003 9:52 AM CST

Hello everyone!! Caleb had his check up yesturday and did not have his scans. We had to reschedule because he didn't have his contrast and his counts were down and he needed a blood transfusion. We stayed up there all day yesturday but it was okay. Caleb watched Nick and I visited with the nurses that I haven't seen in a while. Caleb did get to see Dr. Saylors, Dr. Becton he was the "leave me lone" mood!! that's Caleb!! He's still not eating much. Dr. Saylors said he needs some meat and tators I wish he would eat that!! They rescheduled his scans for the 16th of December. That sounds like it's a long time but I wanted us to emjoy Thanksgiving. He and Cody had a great time at the CARTI Christmas party Sunday, they seen Santa Claus but was very shy!! they were okay to see him from distance but not to sit on his lap! we seen the festival of trees and they enjoyed that! Caleb loved the Sponge Bob tree. They had a good time getting out and doing something together. You all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!! we will be going to Nanny and Pa-Pa Sims house. Caleb will love that, he loves all the attention that everyone gives him. He can go in houses but not to church or Wal-Mart yet. Continue to pray for him. Love you all!! Laurie :)


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Wednesday, November 19, 2003 8:31 AM CST

Hello everyone!!! It has been an easy week except for Cody being sick Sunday, Monday and Tuesday with the strepthroat. He was a sick boy, but is doing better today with antibiotics and went back to school today. He was ready to get back. We had to skip Caleb's checkup Monday due to Cody being sick and went yesturday. He is doing good, and felt great in the clinic. We seen Ms. Stephanie Messik and Caleb played with her for a little bit in her room before saying good-bye to her since he will not see her in the hospital anymore. Her last day is Friday, we will miss her so much, she was a great teacher to Caleb. We also seen Ms. Stephanie (child-Life) and Caleb played with her plus showed her his black spiders. He enjoyed all the attention they gave him!! Katherine gave us a perscription for some antibiotics to get Caleb started on since he was exposed to Cody being sick and did drink after him while I wasn't looking! He lost a few pounds, he is down to 38 pounds so we are going to get him on some pediasure to see if that helps. We did get permission on taking Caleb to the CARTI Christmas party this Sunday, he will have a ball and Cody will to. Them boys need some laughter and a great time, they both have been through so much. God has really been with them through a lot. Caleb will have his scans on Monday morning, we have be at the hospital at 9:00 but they will not put him under till 12:00 and we probably will get the results either Monday afternoon or Tuesday. So remember him in your prayers! Thank you all!!! Love ya bunches! Laurie :)


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Tuesday, November 11, 2003 2:23 PM CST

Hello again!! Caleb is doing okay this week so far. He scared me a little bit last night with a low temp of 99.5 but it didn't go up and didn't have anymore so I don't know what that was about but anyhow he isn't eating a whole lot but is eating a little bit, not as much as I want him to but I guess that will come in time. Caleb had his Monday morning check up yesturday but didn't see Dr. Saylors or Dr. Saccenta but did see Ms. Stephanie and had fun playing with her, he was holding her hand before we left he gave her a big bear hug. Caleb only had a CBC (blood count) and came home, they were buisy!! so we didn't wait on seeing a doctor we came on home. Then later I got a call from such a sweet, friendly, nurse Katherine who wanted me to bring Caleb back on Tuesday (today) for some platelets. We went in this morning and back home around 12:00 which wasn't bad. Caleb has an appointment in the morning with Dr. Penia from CARTI to check on his foot and other places where Caleb got radiation. Pray for a good week for Caleb and I will update on Monday if not sooner if something comes up which we will not let that happen!! Love you all!!


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Tuesday, November 11, 2003 2:23 PM CST

Hello again!! Caleb is doing okay this week so far. He scared me a little bit last night with a low temp of 99.5 but it didn't go up and didn't have anymore so I don't know what that was about but anyhow he isn't eating a whole lot but is eating a little bit, not as much as I want him to but I guess that will come in time. Caleb had his Monday morning check up yesturday but didn't see Dr. Saylors or Dr. Saccenta but did see Ms. Stephanie and had fun playing with her, he was holding her hand before we left he gave her a big bear hug. Caleb only had a CBC (blood count) and came home, they were buisy!! so we didn't wait on seeing a doctor we came on home. Then later I got a call from such a sweet, friendly, nurse Katherine who wanted me to bring Caleb back on Tuesday (today) for some platelets. We went in this morning and back home around 12:00 which wasn't bad. Caleb has an appointment in the morning with Dr. Penia from CARTI to check on his foot and other places where Caleb got radiation. Pray for a good week for Caleb and I will update on Monday if not sooner if something comes up which we will not let that happen!! Love you all!!


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Thursday, November 6, 2003 9:31 PM CST

Hello! Sorry I am late! It's been a buisy week. Caleb is having a good week, he is coloring, cutting paper and glueing while Cody is at school Caleb is having school at home in the morning time. He is trying to get started with potty training which is very hard for him with his Hirschsprungs and being a little behind but bless his heart he is trying and that is all I really want him to do. He is a very smart, bright boy and knows a lot, he works hard and tries hard to understand what he doesn't know. He learned a lot with Ms. Stephanie Wilson at Childrens and misses her so much, she was so great with him, we all love her dearly. Caleb had his check up on Monday and everything went well. Dr. Saylors was in the unit so Dr. Saccenta seen him that morning. She was very pleased to see him not sick since she did take care of him while in transplant and did a wonderful job not only taking care of Caleb but she was a great friend for me to talk to through that difficult time. He is off the TPN but not eating well, today he only had a half of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich but drinking good, this is only the first full day he has been off so maybe he will do better tomorrow, they will weigh him on Monday so I'm not too concerned about it yet only if he gets below 40 pounds then I worry. His foot is still hurting but that is probably from the radiation still. Katherine (Dr. Saylors nurse) scheduled Caleb for bone and cat scans on the 24th of November so we will see how that looks. I bet he is in remission, Adam is a little nervous, I am too but I am trying to look at the positive side about it. It makes me feel better if I don't think about what if. We all love you, don't forget about Caleb as well Cody in your prayers. I will update on Monday! Love, Laurie :)


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Wednesday, October 29, 2003 8:51 PM CST

It's been a good week. Caleb had his check up on Monday, he wasn't very happy, he was fussy and very hungry. He had radiation before seeing Dr. Saylors and he was ready to go home. His last treatment for radiation is Thursday, tomorrow!! yea! and Dr. Saylors wants him off the TPN on Monday. Caleb was doing good this week until today, he didn't want to eat, sick of his stomach, his right foot is hurting and very red from the radiation, he slept most of the day today. Maybe tomorrow will be a better day. Before we left the clinic on Monday, a pharmasicist, Kori, was playing with him and that made his morning. We will see how his week does next week, hopefully he will do fine. Caleb will have some more bone scans and cat scans done later to see how everything looks. Pray for good progress!!! Until Monday! :)


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Wednesday, October 22, 2003 8:17 PM CDT

Hello!!! Caleb is having a great week. Monday was his check up with Dr. Saylors and they again had a great time. Dr. Saylors and Caleh had a great time playing with a plastic black spider!! Caleb loves that, he loves animals and bugs. Someday when I can remember I want to take their picture!! Dr. Saylors said a few weeks after radiation is done he wants to have some scans done to see how the Neuroblastoma in the bone marrow is doin. Next Thursday will be Caleb's last treatment for radiation then Dr. Saylors will take the TPN off of Caleb. That means he has got to eat good and not loose weight plus not worry mom!! There will be some more pictures up this weekend, Adam is going to put some good ones on so remember to check back. Pray for Caleb and Cody to, he is a wonderful big brother to Caleb. Love yall, I will write back next Monday for an update. :)


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Monday, October 13, 2003 9:49 PM CDT

Hello!! Caleb had his Monday visit with Dr. Saylors and everything is going smoothly. Caleb will be getting back on his Lipids with his TPN, his sugar level is okay. After radiation Dr. Saylors will talk about taking him off the TPN which makes me nervous cause I don't want him to get far behind on his nutrition but I know Dr. Saylors will watch him and will do what is best. Caleb had fun at the clinic today, he played with Ms. Sandra and played with Dr. Saylors in the clinic hall. That was funny, I wish I had my camera!! he loves his Dr. Saylors. Caleb was chaseing him down the clinic hall. When Caleb feels good, he lets you know it!! He has radiation every day this week, which I dread cause it makes him sick and cries about his tummy hurting, its just temporary, I know. Everyone continue to pray for Caleb during this battle fighting Neuroblastoma. He can do it, he has came a long way since he was two weeks old, he is a fighter.

We Love you all!!!
Laurie :)


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Friday, October 10, 2003 8:23 PM CDT

Hello!!! Caleb and Laurie came home from the hospital on Wednesday night around 6:00. Dr. Becton was with Caleb while in and did a wonderful job. Calebs infections are gone but now his sugar levels are high so he will not get his Lipids at night will just get his vitamins. He has gotten sick three times and Laurie had to give him some zofran for his nausea, but no fevers and she is keeping up with checking him for that. He is still going through Radiation every day and is complaining about his stomach hurting. We think its probably from the radiation that he is getting. Caleb does seem tired easily but Cody keeps him going every day after school. Cody is very happy to see him and mom home at last. Caleb needs to see Dr. Saylors on Monday morning for a check up. Continue praying for his condition and treatments. Thank you all.


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Friday, October 3, 2003 10:55 PM CDT

Well, it's been a rough week. We are back in the hospital. I brought Caleb in for his check up driving in from CARTI. Caleb had a 103 temp and was not feeling well. Blood cultures were drawn and showed he had three infections two in his lines and one in his intestines. Starting him up with I.V. antibiotics. Caleb's head was hurting and he had a MRI done and showed no tumors, praise God!! It was probably the radiation or the medicine CARTI uses. As of today Caleb is feeling better and playing with Dr. Saylors again. Possible going home on Monday.


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Saturday, September 27, 2003 3:07 PM CDT

Caleb had his twelve treatments on his stomach of radiation this week. They will finish his stomach Monday and start on his right foot for twelve days. Caleb does pretty well at CARTI/UAMS. He is tired easily, got sick to his stomach once but does pretty well. They put him to sleep each time he goes in which is every day and it usually last for about an hour. CARTI are very nice and treats Caleb like he is their own. He has some fuzz on his head and it's blond very fine fuzz. Continue with your prayers. We love you all.


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Tuesday, September 16, 2003 2:26 PM CDT

Caleb had his bone scan yesturday at Children's and it showed he still has cancer in his bone marrow on his right heal, right leg is warm, his left hip is warm, and his right hip is hot with the cancer so he will start radiation on those areas on Thursday. Caleb is doing well today, complains some with his feet hurting. He had Physical Therapy today and went well, Mark is a great P.T. Caleb had him when Caleb was a baby. It sure is good for all of us to be home. We have been so blessed with family and friends helping us along with this battle. Our family have been great along with our church family. The staff of the hemoc unit have been so nice to us while Caleb was in even when days were rough. Caleb is so happy to be at home to see Cody, Cody has really helped Caleb through his illness. They are such wonderful boys!! We will let you know how the radiation goes on Thursday. We appreciate all your prayers.



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Sunday, September 14, 2003 3:16 PM CDT

We, as a family, got to go somewhere togather yesterday. It was so nice. We were able to go to the cancer survivior
picnic at Camp Aldersgate. It was great to see and meet everyone. Now for Laurie's debut on the journal entry's, Here's Laurie.

Hi!! We are finally at home after a long five week stay. I am so glad Caleb is doing well and we are at home. That five week stay seemed like it lasted for months. Caleb is doing okay. Me and Caleb went to CARTI last Friday for a cat scan, they put him to sleep before the scan and has some X marks on his abdomen where they will do his radiation. He will have his bone scan tomorrow for them to know where to mark his feet and leg for his radiation on the bone marrow. His radiation starts Thursday and will last for twelve days. But it is good to see him play with Cody and be his self.




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Wednesday, August 27, 2003 11:03 PM CDT

Well, we are HOME. We came home on Monday but Caleb had to be taken back up to the hospital for blood work today. He is getting around good. He and Cody were so glad to see each other that we had to make them stop playing long enough to eat. It’s so good to be home as a family.

I was reading the journal entry’s and was taken back by the amount of people that had responded throughout this enduring ordeal. I want to thank you all for everything. I always tried to update and read the journals when possible because it uplifted me.

I will try and keep the site going and update you on Caleb’s progress. I hope the entry’s I make from here on out are dull and boring, due to there being no trauma.

I do have something funny to tell you though. Cody started school last Thursday. Due to Laurie being at the hospital and this being Cody’s first day, I had to take him.
(Note to Dads: It is not a good idea for Dad to take his child for the first day of school).
After getting there an hour early (which prolonged the emotional and uncontrollable crying) we were sent to wait in the gym. As I looked around, there were only mothers. They appeared to be calm, laughing, having a good old time. I sat there on the floor giving it all I had to not embarrass Cody on his first day. (I figured there would be several more opportunity’s to do that later). I got recruited by a teacher to bring up the end of Cody’s class as they marched from the gym to there class room. Not only did I look out of place, but also was the only one in the line of 5 year olds crying. As I walked past another adult whom was watching all the events as they happened, I leaned to her and said, “This kindergarten class has been the best three years of my life. I brought a batman lunch, what do you have?” She didn’t respond.

As I drove home, I said to myself, “This is silly, I’m an adult,” and questioned what was wrong with me. I was relieved when I asked my mom over the cell phone if she cried when I started school. I had to ask several times because of my crying and mom not understanding baby talk. Yes, she too had cried. Moral of the story is, well, I guess there is nothing wrong with me.

Adam



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Friday, August 22, 2003 12:33 AM CDT

No Mass. The Cat Scans that were taken last week reveled there was no mass that could be seen from the scans and x-rays. We will under-go radiation for the cancer in his bone. We have made a huge step in the right direction. Our odds of beating this have increased to 50%.

From what I understand, the sooner the cancer cells come back, the harder it is to treat due to the aggressiveness of the cancer. If we had a dollar before Caleb was diagnosed, we have given 50 cents back. We now have 50 cents. If the cancer comes back within a few months time, we give 25 cents back. This would leave us with 25 cents. Replace the cents with percentages and we have our odds of beating this.

If the cancer comes back (providing the radiation kills all the remaining cells) we will start the whole treatment over again. I ask that you continue to pray for Caleb and our family. I will update again Monday as to the plans of going home from the 35 day stay. We have learned to take it day to day, and never predict what tomorrow will bring for us. Thank you all for everything.
Adam



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Wednesday, August 20, 2003 10:15 AM CDT

Once again Gods grace was upon us. Monday night/Tuesday morning an incident happened that could have set us back on Caleb’s progress. Lipids are given to Caleb over a several hour period. Some how over 200cc was given within a 20 minute period. This alarmed Laurie and I because his heart is only working to 2/3 its ability anyway. This amount of liquid, in such a short time, could hinder Caleb’s ability to displace it through his system. This Lipid is like a fatty acid. It is not as prone to be withdrawn from his body like other fluids are. He showed mild signs from the effects of this. He would lie there, not sleeping, but just as if he was not feeling well. He became sick but recovered with a good day yesterday.

I just learned today that his counts were down again and no visitors are allowed. This is a setback due to our goal of coming home Friday vastly diminishing. I will update this again when I can. Keep praying.

Adam



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Sunday, August 17, 2003 0:33 AM CDT

Caleb had a real good day today. He is slowly being winged off the pain meds, and the swelling has gone down. The oxygen was taken off to see how well he would respond. So far so good. There was even talk of us going home week after next. The cat scan gave positive responce's from all the doctors. Maybe we are on the road to recovery. Thank you Jesus. Im tired, its late, I think I will sleep now.

;-)
Adam


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Wednesday, August 13, 2003 12:49 AM CDT

The hits just keep on coming. Today, tests were done that shows Caleb is having heart problems. His heart is not expanding and contracting like it should. We will know more in a few days, but as of now he will be getting meds to try and correct the problem.
Adam


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Tuesday, August 12, 2003 12:01 AM CDT

Caleb was taken out of PICU and placed back into a room sunday. The doctors have cut his pain meds in half and he is doing well. He is still on 40% oxygen but there trying to wing him down from it. He is still very sick, but getting much better. Laurie and I are getting mixed reports about Caleb having visitors so I guess its best to play it safe. Thank you all so much for everything. All our friends, the different churches, our co-workers and places of employement have been most understanding and generous with monetary gifts. These gifts have allowed me to give the much needed support to Caleb through-out these difficult times. We are far from over, but we are a little closer then we were yesterday. We have to keep praying that God will continue to lay his hands on Caleb to provide healing. Thank you all.
Adam and Laurie


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Friday, August 8, 2003 1:34 AM CDT

Callus knees. Once again I am asking for everyone to pray. Caleb is not doing well right now. He is in PICU. From what I understand, Caleb was sedated so a CAT SCAN could be preformed. He was laboring every breath he took. He was bleeding from the mouth and nose. His blood counts are still down. He was taken to PICU where he is being watched 24 hours. He had swelled to the point he couldnt open his eyes. This down turn took place in less then 12 hours. PICU took measures to reduce the swelling and Caleb has expelled a substantial amount of liquid. He was able to open his eyes when I left lastnight.
Adam


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Update July 29, 2003

To better understand the progression of the bone marrow transplant treatment, I must start from last Monday and bring you up to date. Chemo is given which kills the cells (good and bad). The blood cells start dieing off. At a certain point, Caleb becomes susceptible to germs. His body can’t fight off infection. This is what took place the first week of the transplant.

Today at 11:00 am, he had the stem cells, and bone marrow injected back in him. The process took around an hour. He is in isolation and very sick. The odor is overwhelming. Throughout the injecting of the cells and marrow, Caleb would become sick. This was the most humbling feeling a person could get. You watch as a doctor injects something into your child, which makes him sick, but you know inside it has to be done. This process repeats it’s self several times. I must give credit all the nurses and Dr. Saylor for the care Caleb has received. Although we crossed a major bridge to recovery today, we are a long ways from the point of passage. Keep praying that God will continue to place his hand on Caleb, the Doctors, and the nurses.

I feel I need to say something special about the nurses on 3 gold. There truly angels. God truly makes them to become special people. They emotionally withstand trauma day after day but maintain a smile, give a hug, even pray openly, for your child. I shake my head in amazement. These nurses will always hold a special place in the hearts of Laurie and me. I have often wondered if they realize the impact they have on people. There truly Gods gift.

I have updated the pictures. Due to the limit of three, I have replaced the old ones with pictures of the transplant taking place.

Thank you, and keep praying.
Adam



Caleb Andrew Sims was born April 19, 1999. Caleb will be having his bone marrow transplant this Monday so he needs all the prayers he can get. Without the good Lord, Dr. Jackson, Dr. Wagnor, PICU, Karen Kelley, Donna Mathews, Dr. Saylors, Katherine, Dr. Anon, Dr. Bhuta, the nurse's of three Gold, and lots of prayers our Caleb wouldn't be here. We are members of Lonoke First Baptist and they have been so great for me, Adam, and Cody and Caleb. I have a lot of faith and I know Caleb and Cody are going to be okay. They are God's children and he is in control of them. We appreciate all of your prayers for Caleb as he starts his transplant on Monday. I will give an update on Caleb on his progress.

This is Calebs story. Its long, but worth your time.

Love,
Laurie and Adam

It was a normal night at work around 7:30pm when my supervisor told me I had a phone call. The thought of me getting a phone call at work was odd, and the worst came to mind. As I listened to my father-in-law talking, chills came down my spine. He told me that my one week old son had been taken to the hospital and it didn’t look good. Caleb wasn’t breathing very well and had been sick to the point that a substance was coming out of his mouth. I remember hanging up the phone and rushing to the hospital to find my son in the trauma unit at the emergency room. This was the start of the longest three months of my life.

The doctors asked several questions that I never heard. All I remember was my one week old son lying there, with a tube in his mouth, and a machine providing him with the breath of life. It was an hour or so later when the doctors called my wife and me in a room. There words I will never forget. They said that Caleb needed blood transfusions and even with the transfusions they didn’t know if he would make it. The substance that had came out of his mouth was the inner linings of his lungs.

I remember staying the night up there. It felt as if my face was on fire, but my body was cold. The hospital chaplain came by around 9:00 p.m. that night and said we needed to call the family because Caleb wasn’t doing well. In his own way, he was telling us Caleb wasn’t going to make it. I had to be strong on the outside, but inside I had a hurt so bad I couldn’t compare it to any other. I remember going to see Caleb that night. He looked lifeless, no movement at all. After seeing Caleb, Laurie (my wife) and I went back to the waiting room that the hospital had set up for the family. It overlooked the entrance of the hospital foyer. The hospital, trying to make it children oriented, had the foyer fixed up with all kinds of devices. They had a bicycle with little elves on it, guided by a wire, running from one side of the foyer to the other and a air balloon floating up and down. I remember looking at these things thinking how I wish I wasn’t there.

The night rolled on and my face was burning so bad that I couldn’t sleep. It’s not that I would have any way, but I was so tired I had to lie down. I laid on the floor with my face in the air vent for the rest of the night crying inside. Over the next few days, there was nothing new other than more blood transfusions. I walked in the PICU (Pediatric Intensive Care Unit) to see Caleb. There were little probes all around his head. The wires of the probes draped over his little body to a brain wave machine. Caleb had been life-less so long that the doctors wanted to see if he was brain dead. What had me worried was that the probes stayed on him for several days. The PICU wasn’t taking any chances with Caleb and his unknown illness. He had his own isolated room. We weren’t able to hold him for several reasons, they didn’t want the main line that was for blood transfusions to come out and the ventilator tube was still in. Only after pleading with the doctors did we get to hold him and even then we had to wear gloves and smocks. Laurie and I would see Caleb on a daily basis. A week went by and Caleb was getting bigger each day but this was because he had swelled, his belly was huge. It was this that gave the clue to the doctors. It was either his liver or his colon.

The swelling went down over time, and they ran several more tests to confirm their suspicions. While finding one problem others came along. Pneumonia had set in.
He was still on the ventilator and still had the brain wave probes on his head. Part of the daily care for Caleb was beating his chest with a hand held rubber cup to loosen up the phlegm in his lungs, unhooking the ventilator, and suctioning out the lungs by sticking a hose down the vent tube. His lifeless body didn’t move the whole time this would take place. Knowing in my own mind that the breaths he needed weren’t being provided and the sound of the suction machine would kill me inside so much to the point that I would have the leave the room when it took place. This pneumonia treatment continued for several weeks. Through the weeks of Caleb getting blood transfusions he had blown his veins. The doctors would remove wherever it was blown and move to another part of his body and start over. He had them moved from his head, arms, and feet back to the other side of his head and so on. The doctors, in order to keep blood transfusions flowing had to put a main line into his chest in a main artery going to his heart. This worked well, but there was the risk of blood infections, which Caleb acquired. Caleb, being on the vent so long and not breathing on his own had his lungs collapse. This was due to the fact that the vent would only supply enough air for him to survive. I remember praying and asking God “why my boy?” The vent, while providing Caleb’s breaths also had a down side. After several weeks of babies being on them, the anatomy in their esophagus starts to grow around the air tube. This creates tracheomalacia. Caleb’s tracheomalacia was getting worse by the day, but they couldn’t pull the vent. The tests started coming back and confirmed his colon was not functioning.

Caleb had thrown up several times a foul substance that another tube in his nose would suction out. This substance was his feces. He diagnosed with Hirschsprungs Disease. The doctors wanted to operate on Caleb to remove part, or all, of his colon, and run a scope down his esophagus to check on his tracheomalacia. After the operation, the doctors allowed Laurie and me to see Caleb. There was a doctor standing over him as we walked to his bed. I could tell the doctor was trying to prepare us for what we were about to see, by her demeanor. Her statements were short and to the point.

Before she unwrapped Caleb from his blanket, she told us that Caleb has part of his colon exposed out side his stomach and that he will have to use a colonostomy bag. She wanted Laurie and me to learn how to change the bag. She unwrapped Caleb, I remember seeing the nub of the colon exposed. I felt sick but somehow maintained my composure. I looked over at Laurie, tears were flowing down her face, it was then we both broke down. We just stood there crying the doctor, realizing the hurt Laurie and I had, asked if we needed time to ourselves and if so, she can show us another time. Laurie said, “no”, and that she wanted to learn how to change the bag. Inside I was thinking yes. I needed time from the shock, but I stayed and learned with Laurie. Over the next weeks Caleb started getting better. He started breathing over the vent, and slowly they decreased the amount of air to him. Caleb’s liver wasn’t working like it should, but he was improving daily. More test came back, he was diagnosed with a factor 7 deficiency. This meant his blood wasn’t clotting like it should, but this was something that could be treated with medication. Caleb improved so much that he was taken out of PICU and put in a room with the other babies in ITU (Infant Toddler Unit). Laurie and I went home that night thinking, “Thank God!” That same night we got a call from the hospital saying Caleb was put back in PICU. Caleb was again throwing up.
More test were run and showed in a twenty four hour time Caleb refluxed seventeen times and the longest was over twenty two minutes long. In other words, he tried to throw up for twenty two minutes straight. This was from the liver not producing a substance that neutralized the acid in his stomach. This also was treatable. He was taken back out of PICU and placed again ITU in which he stayed another month.

He was sent home with us one afternoon after his long stay. We have had to take Caleb back up to the hospital several times for different reasons, but overall he is doing well to this day.

On September 27, 1999, due to the Hirschsprungs Disease, Caleb is scheduled for an operation that will attach his Colon back to his rectum. A liver specialist from Nebraska has looked at Caleb and we still don’t know the outcome on his liver.

Laurie and I have faced a lot of adversity with Caleb, I know God has a plan for him. I don’t understand his reasoning, but I know if it wasn’t for God’s grace, Caleb wouldn’t be here with us. One day I was alone, and thinking about all that Caleb has gone through, when a song came on the radio that made me think how strong he is to beat the odds. The name of the song was “Hero”.


A Hero Comes Along
Part Two

Several years have passed and Caleb had been doing well. He had his pull through surgery and was presenting himself as a normal healthy boy. There were no more colonostomy bags to change, no more treatments, just therapy to catch him up from being in the hospital for so long. He and older brother were becoming a team. What ever one did, the other had to do as well. Things were beginning to be as normal as any other family until one dreaded day when Caleb was taken to Children’s Hospital due to abdominal pains.

Caleb was now three years old, just two months away from his fourth birth-day. Due to my work schedule it was around 11:30 pm before I would get home from work. Cody, my oldest son, and Caleb would be sleeping as I would lie down to end my day. Often times I would hear Caleb yell OUCH and bang on the wall. This would be followed by silence, then OUCH again, then crying. My wife, Laurie, would wake and change Caleb. This pain was caused by him stooling. Thinking this was side effects from the Hershsprungs, we dismissed it just as that. Night after night, this was becoming more common until he just stopped stooling. Caleb was taken to the hospital and was almost dismissed as having the flu until the X-Rays revealed something odd. He was admitted and placed in a room pending more test. A CAT scan confirmed a tumor. This tumor was attached to his spine. It had grown to encompass the areas of the back side of his heart, down to his kidneys. Due to the size, it is in-operative. The Doctor tried to be as kind with his words as he could, but how do you tell someone there child has cancer? How do you tell the parents there child has about a 30o 50f surviving the illness?
I remember having the minister from the hospital, my father-in-law (whom is a deacon) and one of the ministers of my church there when the news was given to us. I looked at them and asked “Where is our kind and just God.”

Caleb had been diagnosed with two types of cancer, Nuroblastoma and bone cancer. Chemo followed shortly after the diagnoses. Laurie had to quit her job, and Cody had to adjust with being bounced around with relatives. I had to work and Laurie had to stay at the hospital due to Caleb having the week long treatments. The protocol was five chemo treatments, bone marrow transplant, and radiation. Caleb had surgery to place a port for access of the chemo, and nutritional needs. We were taught how to access the port to give the nutritional supplement at home to lessen our stays at the hospital. After his first treatment, he stopped eating. Nutrition was given by Laurie through the port but nothing was going in, or out. The home nurse was called to help but this too proved to be unsuccessful. It had become congested and clotted from the blood transfusions and nutritional supplement we had to give him. He was taken back to the hospital to have emergency surgery. The port was taken out and was replaced with two central lines. These new central lines again called for more education on how to care for and gain access for nutrition.

Around three days after the chemo treatment, Caleb would take a turn for the worse. It became common to admit Caleb for several days to nurse him back to some form of health. At one point, he wouldn’t eat or drink anything. He became very weak. His legs would shake under the pressure of standing. Physical therapy was given at the hospital, and a therapist would come to our home everyday to work with him. As fate would have it, it would be the same therapist that had worked on Caleb when he was a baby. There was truly a vested interest in this therapist to make Caleb walk again. He would not take no for an option. He would be stern with Caleb. So much so that Laurie thought he was being too hard on him. It did hurt to see Caleb scream in pain, but Caleb did regain his strength and over time invited the therapist to play in the sand pile with him.

Around the third chemo session of chemo, something was wrong. We were able to take Caleb home but something didn’t seem right. At night, the screams became more intense. We were giving him Oxycodene for pain, but it didn’t seem to help. I began to wonder if perhaps the cancer was growing. The pains he had was what we brought him in the hospital for to start with, now there worse then ever. After much discussion to Laurie and the doctor, a CAT scan was done before the protocol called for it. It was done to pacify my own self interest. The results were positive. The Nuroblastoma cancer had shrunk to about the size of an acorn, and the bone cancer was consolidated to his ankle.

While this was good news, it was quickly dismissed by the doctor informing us that infections are a big cause of deaths in cancer treatments. When chemo is given, it kills the good and bad blood cells therefore allowing infections to set in and the body is not able to fight it. Caleb was admitted several times over these infections. As it was when Caleb was a baby in PICU (Pediatric Intensive Care), a central line had been placed early on to allow access for the chemo treatments and TPN. This line became a major focus point of infection.
It was Memorial Day weekend when we received a call from our doctor asking about Caleb’s demeanor. He had been spiking temperatures upward to 100.7 degrees. Laurie had taken Caleb to the hospital on Friday afternoon and cultures were taken. He came home that same night. The next day his temperature was normal. Plans were made for our family weekend together but were abruptly changed with a phone call from our doctor that Saturday morning. Caleb had an infection in his central line. The line had to be replaced. This was not something that would be easily done. Caleb had to have IVs placed in him to allow a place for him to receive antibiotics. They had to have this in place before the tube could be pulled out. The antibiotics had to be maintained for 24 hours at a minimal. He had to be placed under sedation due to the pain caused by the several unsuccessful attempts at obtaining a vain for an I.V. While Caleb was under the sedation, he had the tube pulled out and IVs placed on both feet to allow an extra access for backup. This plan became more relevant as the 24 hour countdown began.

As expected the IV that was being used for the antibiotics became dislodged. He was just six hours from of having the 24 hour minimal antibiotics. It was quickly switched by the nurses. I think everyone in the room said a quick prayer asking God not to allow this vain to blow or dislodge. The vain held up due to quick thinking by the nurse, and Gods grace. She retarded the amount of antibiotics which alleviated pressure on the vain. The amount of time needed stretched longer, but so did the expectance of keeping the vain. Two days later the line was replaced and Caleb responded well.

Due to Caleb responding so well, Caleb’s “Make A Wish” would not be with held any longer. He fought so hard to get to this point that we all were singing “Were leeeeaving on a jet plane, I don’t know when I’ll be back again.” Caleb’s trip to Disney World had been postponed due to all the set-backs. As we took our seats on the plane, we knew his dream was just a few hours from becoming a reality.

The excitement was building as the plane started to move. Caleb was timid and held close to Laurie. Cody had his face glued to the window. Caleb, not wanting to miss anything followed Cody and overcame his fear to watch through the window. As the plane started gaining altitude, Caleb started yelling, “WERE GOING FAST, WERE GOING HIGHER” He loved it. It was all we could do to keep him in his seat. He showed no fear.

Touch down in Florida. As we walked through the terminal we saw a lady holding a sign that had Caleb’s name on it. She showed us the way to our rental van. As we left the airport I felt excited but also scared. There were several unknowns lurking before us and the unknowns make me nervous.

We had reservations at the Give Kids the World village. This village was set up for people such as us. We had our own two bedroom condo. Everything there was free, Breakfast, Dinner, Ice cream, Rides, everything. One of my most memorable moments of this trip was the carousel that had been strategically placed just outside the dining facility. I had everyday planed out to the hour. Our morning started late and we needed to eat before we went to the Animal Kingdom. As we started into the dining facility, Caleb became focused on this carousel. I tried my best to lure him from this so we could make up time, but Caleb would have no part of it. He would not compromise until he had his ride on this beautiful carousel. It’s funny how a child can teach a grown man how to stop and relax. Caleb got his ride that morning, and every morning after that. It became our pre-breakfast family time. It grew on me. To see him happy, made me happy. Perhaps he was showing dad how to stop and smell the roses.

When we got back to our condo that first afternoon, I opened the door to find someone had been in our living room. I pondered on this for a moment. No, nothing had been taken but there lie two sets of Mickey Mouse hats, and two new cameras. This ritual continued everyday with different gifts being left. It became personal with me. I couldn’t wait to get back to the condo to see what we got. I guess I was as excited as Cody and Caleb was.

We ended our stay at the village just as we began it, in the ice cream palace. I had tears in my eyes when we had to leave. We were allowed to be normal people for a whole week. No pain, no worries, just a care free week of fun. I didn’t want to leave. I even tried talking Laurie into us staying there. That was the best week this family has ever had.

Back to reality, and it hit as hard as the tires from the plane landing in Arkansas. Two weeks after getting back from Florida Caleb had his fifth dose of chemo. Following this chemo came a high temperature several days later which landed him another lengthy stay in the hospital. While there, he acquired an infection in his central line. His surgery to place another line for the stem-cell harvest was postponed until the high temperature became manageable.

The infection subsided and the surgery to place another line for stem-cell harvest was completed. After the surgery, Caleb had extreme pain and became very ill. He couldn’t breathe very well and would try to cough. X-Rays were taken which showed he had a collapsed lung. It appears as though the doctor that placed the line in had cut a blood vessel. The vessel filled the lung cavity with blood.

It was during this time that Caleb was lying in bed almost asleep when he opened his eyes and looked all around the room. He had an expression on his face that was new to Laurie. It was as if he was focusing his eyes. He called out to momma. Laurie answered and held his hand. He said “I’m going to see Jesus.” At that time two nurses that were in the room told Caleb he wasn’t going anywhere. He was still needed here. Caleb laid his head back down and fell to sleep.

Due to the collapsed lung, Caleb was rushed back into surgery to have a chest tube inserted. The chest tube extracted the residual blood from the lung cavity into a collection container. Due to the time frame he had to have the stem cells harvested. This consisted of withdrawing his blood on continuous bases, filtering the blood through a machine. The blood is then separated and the stem cells are withdrawn. He had the line for the stem cells pulled and after a long stay of fourteen days, he was sent home. Upon our arrival home, we started to perform our usual ritual of cleaning and washing. We had not been home ten minutes when Caleb was found holding his CVC line in his hands. He had pulled out the only remaining line left. He was taken back up to the hospital only to be sent back home later that night. The next morning, which happened to be the 4th of July, he was scheduled to have the line replaced. Around seven that afternoon we left the hospital with hopes of not having to return anytime soon.

The day of Bone Marrow Transplant is vastly approaching. Due to Caleb not producing the amount of stem cells needed for the transplant, he will have to return to the hospital and have bone marrow harvested the old way, Needles through the hip bone.

The harvest went well. Caleb showed only minor pain. Today we will start the transplant. May God help us.

Funny thing about faith, you have to have it to expect something. Example: A person takes a seat in a chair. That person has faith that the chair will not folter when they sit. This person had faith, and expected the chair to hold up under them. Having faith in God works the same way. I have faith in God that his will is going to be done. I expect something that will glorify his name. Be it healing my son, or not.
Faith is illustrated in Mat.9:20 And behold, a woman which was disesed with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment:
9:21. For she said within herself, If I may touch his garment, I shall be whole.
9:22. But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.

We must ask for healing, and have faith in God's will be it good or bad. These are tough words comming from the father of a sick child. There tough in the form of my selfish love for Caleb. Heaven would be so nice for him, but I want him with me. For over 2000 years heaven has been in the making. This world took 6 days. This world is a garbage can compared to heaven.
God, may your will be done. Thank you all for the 24hr prayer. We love you all.








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