Tuesday, November 1, 2016

The Day is Almost Here...


We can see light at the end of the tunnel!!!!  Three years, three months down, only weeks of chemotherapy to go!


We can’t thank everyone enough for all of your love and support during our big scare over the summer.  It was a big recovery for Caleb, but he did it, just in time for school to start! 
Caleb adores his new teachers.  They are very loving and kind, and he's really enjoying his new school.  What a huge blessing!
We are so proud of him for having such a positive attitude about our move and for helping make the transition go so smoothly for all of us.  No doubt he misses all of his little buddies he grew up with though and is counting the days to see them again, soon! 

When we moved, it was also a very tough good-bye to our full-time nanny of 12 years.  
It will never truly be "good-bye", as Nicole is the same as family now.  We still get her to babysit every opportunity we can! 
We prayed for months for God to bring a loving part-time caretaker into our lives, who lives nearby.  Cue Julie.  She is a huge blessing to us.  Everything and more we could've asked for!
Here’s one of Caleb’s favorite places to visit!  He still takes his faith so very seriously. 


 Caleb was recently honored during an incredibly special event!  He was named a "STAR" at the Night of Superstars!
 “The Night of Superstars” began with a “fancy-schmancy” limo ride.
Then he was escorted down the red carpet by former Texans football star, Chester Pitts. Chester was so kind to Caleb and made the night all about him.  Super impressive! 
  Caleb actually got to sign his own autograph for dozens of people on the red carpet and the event made him feel so special!   

It was all about recognizing local children who have kept up their grades and continued to be involved in sports and other activities, despite their medical conditions.
  He was thrilled that his loving grandparents were there and that he got to receive a Proclamation from the City of Houston. 
Caleb was so excited when his precious aunt & grandparents from Granbury came to visit us!  
 
He got LOTS of hugs... 

and more hugs!  What a treasure!
 We want to thank everyone who joined “Caleb’s Courage” team for Light the Night, benefiting the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.  We were unable to walk in the Houston area this year because of other plans, but participated in the walk in Montgomery County.   

It was intimate and incredibly special.  We are thankful for our friends and family who joined us and for life-long friends who donated to the special cause so generously.
Caleb's new buddy, Cayden, even joined our team!
 Caleb is doing well and his blood counts have been doing great, but he has been suffering severe joint pain, and he has been undergoing testing to find out what's going on.   
We understand steroids often lead to loosey-goosey joints, and are hoping that sports therapy will help make him feel better and even stronger, along the way!     
This will make him feel strong!  Look at the special gift FOX 26 viewer, Armando Rodriguez, made Caleb... Courage of a Lion, made out of a tree stump, using a wood-burning tool. 

It is so special to us, and it will mean SO MUCH to Caleb!  We are waiting to give it to him on the day he finishes treatment.  We can't wait for that day!
      Only 6 weeks of treatment to go!  The end of massive medications is so near. 

The night is nearly over, the day is almost here.  So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.  Romans 13:12

     We are staying positive that the night and darkness are truly over.  Caleb will have to be followed closely for 5 years, starting out with exams & monthly blood draws.  He will also continue his Pentamidine treatments at the hospital for 6 months after treatment (that’s the breathing treatment that will help protect him until his immune system gets stronger.) 
    He has to be so closely monitored that it’s a little challenging to get real excited about the end of treatment.  We know it will take him about a year to regain muscle tissue and regain his strength, but we’re so very excited that he gets to do that!  

This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you:  God is light, in Him there is no darkness at all. 
1 John 1:15
        We will count on that as Caleb counts on his body to make its own healthy cells and to regenerate 100% PURE cells.  That is our prayer.  That is what we will beg of God.  Please allow our little boy to remain cancer-free forever.  Please let his life truly begin soon.  Please let him “just be a kid” and not have to be left behind because his legs are too tired and weak to keep up.  Please let him feel like riding his bicycle again and please let this illness remain where it belongs:  in our rear-view mirror.  

Huge prayer request!  Caleb will undergo a spinal tap and bone marrow biopsy Monday, November 7th.  We pray that every single cancer cell is out of his body and that he will be officially deemed "in remission" and free to quit chemotherapy next month.  These tests will tell all.  We feel very confident this long, winding road is coming to an end. 

God bless you all for helping give our Caleb the COURAGE OF A LION.