Happy Trails from us...........

Well there is alot to report. Sorry!!! Our Internet service was down for a month and it took awhile for us to figure out why? --- after all the anguish from everyone in the family Dan contacted our provider and all it was, was that our provider rerouted the box and all we had to do was put in a new number and walla!!!!

Andrew is doing great!!! In January we were given the opportunity to try a brand new medication that just came out of research that is call Nexivar. It will not save his life, but it has the ability to slow down the cancer so that you have more time with the person. The doctor's were really excited to try this with Andrew, he is only the 3rd child to start using this medicine. Only adults used it during research with great results. It does not cause sickness, or hair loss or extra tiredness, but slows down the cancer and gives prolonged life and good quality of life without to many side effects. the side effects are your skin gets extremely dry to the point of cracking, but in our situation you do anything. It is extremely expensive though, yuck!! but like all medicine, maybe it will go down in the future.
But even with the cost if it gives us more time with him and good quality time it will be worth it. Since January Andrew has been in school and attending all Young Men activities and seems to have more energy and of course his mouth still rattles out anything he wants so the medicine seems to be doing a great job. Over Presidents weekend We got to take the trailer out for the first time. Andrew was thrilled we went down to Leeds 15 minutes outside of St. George and stayed in an RV park. It was great the weather was beautiful in the low 60's and 68 on Sunday. We
now have spring fever badly. For our first experience with pulling a trailer it was not to bad a little wiggly. We arrived at about 10:30 p.m. to the RV park so it was late and dark when we hooked everything up. Andrew was right by his dad's side making sure Dan did everything just right and hooked everything up in the right place, it was great we hooked up to power, water and sewer. When we arrived after our 51/2 hour drive Spencer had to go #2 really bad but Andrew informed everyone that no one could go #2 in the trailer toilet only #1, but the office was closed along with the clubhouse when we got there and so we did not get the code to punch in to be able to use their restrooms so I told Andrew it would only be fair to let his brother have some relief and let him go #2. So Andrew gave him permission to use the toilet and Spencer was not the only one who broke it in that night, a couple of others had to also. I'm tell-en ya it was great to have a toilet so close, you all know how it is when your camping. It took awhile for us to get everything figured out and water running, but soon after we all slept very well. The next day Dan could not figure out where the water heater was so I could have hot water, it was funny Andrew was outside the trailer looking in every door and under to find it and Dan was on the inside looking under every cushion and behind every door to find it, and all at once at the exact same time Andrew and Dan yell I found it. We had a good laugh and I was grateful for hot water. We had a great time in the sunshine and enjoyed some bowling and laser tagging in St. George. Alyssa joined us late on Saturday after she got off of work, it was only a 35 minute drive from Cedar City, so it was fun to see her and visit. She is doing great loving every minute of it, from school to the boys, to dating, to dancing, to work, to being called to be the librarian at church. We enjoyed our beautiful trailer allot, it was fun to be all together in such close surroundings everyone got along really well, we played games ate a ton, and laughed allot. It was sad to come home to more snow and the cold. Of course when it was time to go home Andrew oversaw everything, made sure his dad was doing everything right because it was his trailer and it was going to stay in good condition till he is 80 years old. the funny and yucky part was cleaning the toilet and sewer pipe, we took turns pouring bowls full of water down the toilet so we could flush everything down, but Andrew would get anxious and unhook the hose to make sure all the poop was gone so it took several tries and his dad telling him to let him do it, we needed to build up the pressure. I'm sure you didn't need all these details but if you know Andrew you know it needed to be part of my story. We made it to Cedar city to see Alyssa's dorm and roommates since I was the only one who had been down their the kids were anxious to see her place. We took her to lunch and on our way apparently Dan tightened up the chains from the equalizer to the suburban and we went down a driveway we all heard a big clunk grind so Dan stopped and he completely bent both screws and bolts, of course Andrew got right on his dad's case telling him it was his trailer and he should have listed and did it how Andrew had suggested him to do it. I told Dan he had broken enough things over the weekend trip and to just listed to his 12 year old son who seemed to be getting everything right. So we found a place down in Cedar City who was so nice to cut the bolts off and put new ones on for us. We drove home fine after that. We got home unloaded and Dan went to work to get it winterized all over again before the pipes froze but by midnight he was so tired and needed a part that was not put in, so we gave up prayed the pipes would not freeze and went to bed. Dan came home early with the part and winterized it just fine and then Andrew gave his dad a good job as he inspected everything his dad did.

Back to current news as of today. Andrew has been really sick the past few days and has missed a couple of school days. I think I have figured out he has the flu because he has thrown everything up and run a fever. Sometimes it is hard to figure out if it is related to his illness because sometimes the symptoms are related to his illness and it is not uncommon for him to run a fever. Since we have gotten back from our mini camping trip Andrew's appetite has gone way down, and I have noticed he is not eating well at all, which may attribute to why I have noticed he has been more tired. He is probably only getting 800 calories a day or less I'm sure down him which in not good he is so thin it is scary to look at him naked, in fact I can't it makes me cry. The list of foods he will eat is getting very thin, I don't understand why things taste to awful to him, chemo has been out of his system for months now. We argue about eating until he cries. Even the amount of food he eats is not much for instance I gave him a pancake to eat which he can usually eat a whole one and feel stuffed he now eats 2 bites and feels so full he feels sick. Ugh!! what's a mom supposed to do. he says he is starving all the time but he eats bites here and their. our nurse said it is because he does not have any reserves in him. The minutes he is hungry he feels like he is starving no warning to feeling hungry so he demands food every hour but eats very little. Then he wants crazy things like at 10:00 at night he wants rocky road ice-cream, he doesn't like that flavor to my knowledge, I try to get him to eat healthy but he cries and his dad runs to the store to get whatever he wants. We have decided that at this point whatever he'll eat is what we get since the nurse said he is starting to starve to death. Oh joy!!! I never would spoil a child like this but we told are other children this is not normal and we have to do whatever we can so we can have him a little longer. The nurse said that when we decides to go it will be quick because their is not much to him.. We pray we will get to have him until the end of summer maybe the year but we know it will not be much longer than that. We are planning a trip to go to Yellowstone this summer, I have never been there, if anyone has any ideas to share please do so.

We love you all thank you for your continued support and prayers and patience on our behalf. (check back in a week or so I promise to be more consistent).

Merry Christmas Everyone

Well finally I am getting a chance to update you all on the latest Arnold news. I hate it when I take so long to update because then their is a lot to read, Oh well. First of all we would like to thank all of you for making our Christmas the best with all the fun goodies and treats that you all brought, and also for all the fun things that were left at our door. Thank you to the families that got together and gave generous donations, I pray you will be very blessed for your kindness, and also to the the Dagley and Hallows street for your kindness to us, your gift is greatly appreciated. Their was one gift left on our porch that has left us in awe!!
thank you to whoever you are. We had a wonderful Christmas just basking in the love and kindness of so many, we pray daily you will feel our love for you and that you will all be so blessed for your kindness. We thank you for truly making our burdens feel lighter. We have felt so blessed that we sat our children down and said that Santa would not be coming this year just mom and dad would bring a few things, and that we were going to do Christmas for someone else, so that is what we did with the aid of the Epperson family we helped do Christmas for a family and we loved it, and it was fun to be hiding and see how happy this family was. Well due to an unexpected Christmas party we attended, and to the delight of our children Santa did come to our house and brought a couple of things for each one. Thank you Santa at the Cancer Foundation.

Well back to the news on the home front we are all doing fine at the moment. a couple of weeks ago we had an unexpected experience with Andrew that surprised me because he had been doing so well. 2 weeks before Christmas on a Tuesday evening Andrew said he was really hurting so we just kept an eye on him Wednesday morning he was really in pain so he stayed home from school and laid around. Well on Thursday morning he was really in a lot of pain, I called but was having a hard time getting hold of our Oncologist so I called Dr. Larson and he called us in some pain medicine, but before I could go pick it up do to the fact I had many things going at one time and needed a shower, about 12:30 Andrew screams out in pain it shocked me and I started crying (I thought his vain may have burst) and just then Dan called from work to see how he was doing and through my blubbering I told him about needing to pick up medicine, but their was bread in the oven my Aunt and Uncle were on their way up to visit I had just gotten out of the shower and Andrew was screaming in pain, and that I had called Dr. Larson back and he said to take him the the E.R. and PCMC called right after that and said to take him to the E.R. which accelerated my concern, so bless my husbands beautiful hyde he came home picked up the medicine and took Andrew to the E.R. so I could finish getting ready and finish the final touches on the house and get the bread out of the oven. Dan came home to report that it was not a vain that burst, if this happened Dr. Haderlie said he would be dead in about 5 minutes. Well the medicine worked wonders and Andrew calmed down and my visit was wonderful and the bread came out fine. I got back to normal (whatever that is) and Dan said lets go to my work Christmas dinner party (I did not feel quite up to it earlier), and when he mentioned food and I had not eaten all day I said lets go, besides all the other children were home to watch Andrew. Dan and I went it was held up at Zermott and was wonderful of course and the food was delicious and it was good to see everyone. Well I was feeling great by now no worries for the moment but when I saw Dave and Mike I broke down and really started to cry, I was so overwhelmed with gratitude for them for the trip we went on I could not help myself. I'm sure everyone thought it was Andrew I was sobbing about, but no it was Dave and Mike's fault. I soon calmed down ate like a starving person and felt much better. Friday Andrew slept the whole day and about Saturday afternoon felt better but still laid around and did the same on Sunday. Monday he had a terrible stomach ache so I took him in to see Dr. Larson whom stated he was plugged up and needed an enema to clean him out among doing other things, (no wonder we moms are sometimes never favored among our children) we also found out that he would go through these peaks as whatever is happening inside makes changes it appears in a lot of pain on the outside, how often he will experience this no one knows. Well Make-a-Wish called to tell us that Andrew's wish was ready and we set up a time for Thursday the 20Th of December 2007 at 6:00 p.m. to go down to the Make-A-Wish place and have a party. What an amazing evening we had, all of our family were their to join in with us which made it even more fun and amazing. We went on a tour of the building and were told how Make-a-Wish was started and about some of the other children who received their wishes and their amazing stories, then Andrew got to unlock the door to the wishing room with a darling old fashioned key which he had received in the mail prior to this evening. When he got the door opened we were all able to go in their with him. It was a small round room with a waterfall in the middle with a glass wall in front of it, and a large wizard hat in front of the wall to the waterfall that has a hole in the top and that is where the children make their wish and write it on a piece of paper and put it in this hole on top of the wizard hat and then the room changes colors from very soft hues of yellow to orange, to pink, to purple to blue etc.. and soft music plays it was so relaxing.... when we arrived to Make-a-wish we were given these little square pieces of paper to write a wish we had for Andrew on it and then at this time some of us were asked to share our wishes with Andrew in which we did through tears and hugs, the feeling in this little room was amazing and then we each put our wishing pieces of paper in this beautiful square wooden box for him to take home to keep all of our wishes for him in it. Usually this is experienced by just the child when they go to make-a-wish to wish for their wish but since they came up to Heber to talk with Andrew they walked us all through the experience which I just shared prior, so now when a child's wish is ready you come and you all go into the room and it lighted up in the same colors but bolder and more exiting music played to let you know your wish has been granted. After we all went down to this big room and had cake and ice cream to celebrate, and everyone signed a big book and Andrew got to engrave his name into a glass star. He engraved his name on one point of the star and BYU onto another point of the star. Then we were called to attention to announce that Andrew's wish had shown up and we followed two guys outside to the parking lot next door to find a beautiful brand new camping trailer for Andrew. We could not believe it so through screams and laughter and tears we all got a tour of this trailer. Thank you Motor Sportsland for donating this for our Andrew. Anyone who knows Andrew knows he has wanted one since he was 3 years old, and has been praying for one as long as I can remember, and he draws amazing detailed pictures of camping trailers and motor homes and has since I can remember. After we all ran back into the building and joined in a star raising ceremony where some nice things were said and then Andrew raised his star by pulling on a rope as we watched it go up to a very high ceiling to join all of the other children's stars and this is where it will remain forever in this very spot. We were encouraged to come back as often as we wanted to see his star and Andrew can go into the wishing room as often as he wants and he got to keep the key to the room. (personally I want that key so I can go in and soak in the peace of that room whenever I want). After Dan and I had to sign some papers to take the trailer but it was really bad weather this day very cold and snowy so we left it at my sister Julie's house until the weather clears to bring it home. We are so grateful we did not pull the trailer home, the canyon was terrible cars off the roads everywhere diesels were jack knifed all over, we were grateful to make it home by 11:50 p.m. only for Dan and I to find out that Sarah and Spencer unbeknownst to us had had their friends buy tickets to the midnight showing of National Treasure II, only now Shayla and Andrew wanted to go and so did Alyssa and so if Andrew was going to go I had to go so we had Spencer's friend, Jordan, get 4 more tickets so as soon as we got home we went to the show except Andrew had fallen asleep and did not want to go so we ate one ticket and to not eat another one I still went. We went to bed at 2:45 in the morning. The next day was sunny so we bargained with Andrew who was begging us to pick up the trailer that if he would let me give him an enema we would go get the trailer. he bent right over and wala an hour later we were on our way to bring it home. Please come by and see it and share in our joy and gratitude for this amazing gift. Thank you Make-a-Wish and Motor Sportsland. I feel like we are always in awe these days. Our blessing our amazing. Thank you Heavenly Father!!!

Overflowing with Gratitude

We're back from a wonderful time in Orlando,Florida. Wish you all could have been their with us. We pounded the pavement for 4 days going from theme park to theme park, seeing, doing, and riding. What fun, new, and exiting adventures for all of us. The first day we went to Animal Kingdom and it was a lot of fun. We noticed after waiting in line for an hour and a half for a couple of rides Andrew was not going to do well, (but really who wants to wait that long), so we needed to come up with a different game plan. So the next day Lisa somehow got us these passes that, from then on at any park, enabled us to get right on the ride. They were used similar to a fast pass ticket except we could use them on every ride at any time we wanted. In the Beginning we felt bad for getting on the ride so fast, but after we got over feeling bad after watching people watch us get right on a ride and then back on if we wanted we felt very grateful to the Lord for this one small blessing; after all Dan and I have done our fair share of standing in long lines with 5 small children. The next day we went to Epcot and rented a wheelchair for Andrew to ride around in so he wouldn't get as tired as he did the day before walking around. Andrew did great. it was interesting to see the changes in his eating patterns. His eating pattern went like this: he would eat about every 2 hours and he would only eat 7 to 8 bites and then say he felt so full he felt sick. Then 2 hours later he would say he was starving and say that I never fed him. Beyond that he would get cold easily so we had a jacket for him. Food, jacket, wheelchair, front line passes what more could you ask for? Dan, Alyssa, Sarah, Spencer, and Shayla were happy just riding rides as fast as they could. We were pretty happy except for when my children would fight over who was going to push him. Shayla sprained her ankle and rode in the wheelchair and Andrew put up a fuss because it was his chair.....oh my! other than that it was wonderful.


Top highlights in Disney World were the Safari ride, the Expedition Everest ride, the water rapids ride in Animal Kingdom, the Rockin Roller coaster ride, the Tower of Terror ride, and the stunt shows at MGM, and the Driving test car ride at Epcot, the splash mountain ride, and the space mountain ride in Disney's Magic Kingdom.

We loved the Disney cruise, it was our very first one and we hope to do more in the future. Top highlights were of course the food (the bad part now is trying to lose what weight we put on), I've never eaten such good food every day for days. they had an all you could eat from morning till evening. Pinocchio's Pizza where you could eat all sorts of pizza, they had a Goofey's snack shack where there was hamburgers, hot dogs, fries etc.. and this ice ream place, my kids ate a ton of ice cream! every time I turned around they were eating ice cream, oh well.... in addition to that they had a breakfast buffet (yummy) a lunch buffet (yummy) and then a sit down dinner in a nice restaurant style with 5 star food menu's and dessert. We ate in 3 different restaurants on the ship, the Parrot Cay, King Triton's Lounge, and Animator's Palate. Another highlight was the shows at night! o my gosh the theater was beautiful and the stage was amazing, the props and costumes were incredible, and the talent of these actors was incredible. each night after dinner we would see a Disney play, if you ever get to see "Disney Dreams" do it, it was incredible we loved them all. There was a Mickey pool for the little kids, a teenager pool with hot pots for the teenagers, and an adult pool and hot pots for the adults. They had a huge screen t.v. at the teenagers pool site where you could watch Disney movies, a teen loft with licensed counselors, a nursery with licensed counselors, and an age group activity center with counselors and you went to your age group up to age 12 and did various activities such as make flubber, cookies, art projects, and play x-box and other games. We had signed Andrew up for the 10-12 age group but he hated being confined so he hardly spent any time there. We went to Disney's private island at Castaway Cay (pronounced key) and snorkeled and rode water bikes and hunted for seashells and ate more of their amazing food and got some sun. We also went to Nassau, but that was the coldest day of our entire trip so we toured for 2 hours and got back on the ship. The weather was perfect. high 70's and about 83 one day. Well enough about our trip which we our so grateful to the Nelson's for I hope they know that.
we came home to another surprise that our wonderful Neighbor's and friends and ward members and some other people I don't know and that surprise was a finished family room in our basement. We are so overwhelmed by the love that we have received, the basement is beautiful and done perfectly with a BYU wall new furniture, t.v., a little table like a coffee table I'm not sure what you call it. This is all so new and unexpected for us, and new pictures that are darling, and curtains to boot, and a air hockey table that turns into a pool table and a ping pong table you would have thought we had won the million dollar lottery they way my kids screamed with excitement, they even went as far as to have our kitchenette put in (cabinets are still coming). I'm not sure how to thank everyone, I was speechless (yes I know its shocking) but I was the night we came home to a beautiful new sofa and a finished basement and Andrew had a makeover in his bedroom with a tent that fits over his bed to make it look like a camping tent to sleep in and the cutest camping lamp that hangs on the wall for a lamp and darling logs that are now a bedside table and a chair, Andrew loves it he rolls the little door up and rolls it down at night just like in a tent when we camp. Not only that there was a hot meal to eat and our fridge was stalked full of what we needed now that we were home. (the soup and cornbread were delicious by the way). Just when I thought it could not get any better their was a knock at the door and someone had left a basket with a set of new homemade pajama pants and a t-shirt for everyone in our family. Thank you mystery sower, we loved them. I cried all day on Tuesday and had to keep going downstairs to see if it really is real and pinch myself. I don't know if you can understand, I've never really experienced it myself before but we are so full of love and gratitude for everyone, it feels like their is no more room for love in our hearts it is so full and so it comes out in tears of joy and gratitude. I'm not sure how to thank everyone I feel overwhelmed trying to figure it out. I'm not going to mention any names because I don't know everyone who helped and I don't want to have anyone feel bad if I left out their names, and besides I'm not even being told all who so I feel safer to leave names out and you know who you are, we are aware of who you are and we love you all so very very very much. I have prayed continuously that you will all feel our love and the love of the Savior for your selfless sacrifice on our behalf, for your prayers and the little secret things you do. I pray you will experience an overflowing heart of gratitude and the love of service and much much more, I pray you are blessed beyond your ability to understand as we feel. Whatever it is you are all in need of may you receive it. We feel so spoiled, and its time to spoil others in need, but may you know how grateful we all will feel for the rest of our lives. The Arnold Family

Feeling Peace

After being so messed up in our minds with which direction to go, we fasted and prayed this past Sunday and found some peace and answers while talking to a wonderful man who is a spiritual giant and a Stake President. While we don't have all the answers we do know that the Lord is definitely in charge of this situation and feel right now to just enjoy being together with our family. We are so thankful for this trip we are about to embark upon and we will come back and see what we should do. It is a good thing we leave in 2 days I'm not sure I can tolerate Andrew's enthusiasm anymore, well yes I can I am very excited also just wish I had a machine to lyposuck my midsection. Oh well what can I say I just enjoy life!!! Andrew tells everyone the minute they walk in the door about our trip and takes them to the computer to show them the plane, and ship and Disney World. I have decided that some things in life are definitely more carefree and exciting through the eyes of a child. Andrew seems to think he will be here for 100 more years which is great with me because I'll need someone with his energy to take care of me when I'm 100 years old. Dan and I realize now that Andrew is being called back home and I'm really okay with that. It will not be easy we know and I'm not looking forward to that process, but hopefully we have a long while before that takes place. I told him he is the lucky one, he does not have to stay and endure all of the adversaries temptations he said he does not care he wants to stay here because heaven will be dumb and boring. Well I just wanted to check in and say I'm so grateful for all of you and I love you. Gotta run because there is cleaning and packing and airplanes and ships are waiting for me. I'll tell ya all about it when we get back. TTFN

Alyssa's version

I would like to write about what my mother has told me so far. She has told me that Andrew has gone to school and is doing just fine. She has also told me that Andrew is about as excited for this trip as she has seen him in a long time-which means he is kind of, well almost, not really his normal self. And if i write something wrong-yes mom, you can correct me.
thank you for all you have done.
i have some wonderful friends down here in Cedar City and so it has made everything a lot easier to deal with.
i will tell you i am excited for this trip if you want to see pictures come to me during Thanksgiving break and i will show you-cause of course i will have the most.
love you all
Alyssa Arnold

feeling hope

Well as you can all imagine we had a rough few days, but are feeling better know.
I feel like my head is messed up trying to figure out which way we should go to try things on our own. My problem is I'm dealing with a 12 year old with a 12 year old mentality and attitude and he is unique in that area anyway (you all know what I mean), you can't trick the kid either. He is not an adult who will say I have to do anything and do it, neither is he a passive child, everything is analyzied, and with his OCD, you see what I mean. I feel better and have more hope the hospital called and are finding new treatments we can use and hopefully Hunstman institute will also. I know Cheryl called with the news of some new machine that was used on a little girl with liver caner and she is almost better, so it will be finding the right thing to do and use, so I am still very hopeful things will work out fine.
Well we are going to finally get the shed sided and that will be one of many things done, we are also going to take a break and go on a trip to Disney World, we are so excited we cannot stand it, we have not been anywhere so exciting or have flown before so it will be fun. We are leaving on the 10th of this month for a week. I'm hoping my head will clear abit while we are gone and I can figure out which direction to take. Thank you for your thoughts and tears and prayers you are all awesome and we love you, you are all our angles here on earth.

Final News

I need to apologize for the lack of info on the blog this last time, you see I spent 2 hours typing up everything last friday to only find out in the end that at some point the internet disconnected and I did not know, so the info you read about I was thankful that much was saved. I kept meaning to get back and update all the info but just didn't. All of that is irrelevent anyway in the news we received yesterday. I was not really prepared to hear what I heard and neither was Dan. I thought they would tell us how they would proceed with surgery and the risks and all that, but they simply told us that they have looked and looked and radiologists have reviewed and reviewed and doctors across the country have looked and that at this point their is nothing they can do. The cancer has spread to his intestins and is in all the major 4 veins and portal veins that they need to hook up organs to and so even if they attempted a multipile transplant that the portal veins wouln't be able to be used. The doctor said that no doctor would even open him up at this point the risk that he would die on the table is to high and if he survived the amount and quality of time he has left would be shortened. This Doctor said he even called his good friend in Miami who is the only doctor that he knows of that has done a multiple transplant at the same time to see if he would come and do it or give advice, he said no he would not that even though surgery itself was successful they all died within a couple of months. usually the cancer is in microscopic places and when you do a transplant it supresses the immune system and that cancer comes on with a vengence, so noone was willing to put him through that. They said to take him home and enjoy what time we have left with him. they said he would probably have a good few months where he seemed relativley happy and healthy but that when the cancer goes to his stomach it will be all down hill from there. We discussed chemo a little but they discouraged it saying in the last few weeks since we have done it it has spread and we know it won't kill this kind of cancer and all it does is make him sick and onrey and that we should just enjoy him while we can. They cannot give us a definite time line only becouse every one is different but probably 6 months to a year or less if it continues to go as fast as it is.

We are so grateful to all of you and for your prayers and fasting on our behalf, please don't stop praying I'm sure we will need it. Thank you to our present giver whoever you are the Faith and Hope blocks are darling and I'm sure we will need every bit of faith and hope. To our breakfast giver of doughnuts on Sunday morning what a fun treat that was, what a fun idea. We enjoyed them of course. As I type this blog up this morning through tears and a heavy heart, I am once again overwhelmed by the love of all of you, you see the doorbell rang and their stood Bishop Lacey at our door. I thought Dan had called and given him the news but he came to bring an early Christmas present a video camera, of course I lost it and cried some more and finally told bishop Lacey about our news and how Dan and I looked at each other last night and said we need to get a video camera, and that every year we always wanted to get one but their was never any money left over at Christmas to get one. We are full of gratitude to our video camera givers whoever you are may you know how grateful we are, and we will surley use it in the next several months and years ahead. I pray the Lord blesses all of you 100 fold for your service and secret acts of kindness, whatever we have needed seems to show up at our door or in the mailbox just at the time we needed it. There are no words to express our feelings for all of you, but I pray daily that we will be blessed with opportunities to serve all of you. Thank you to the Sprouse family and the McNaughtan family for winterizing our yard, its funny I look around and see all of these things that need to be done and we are either running to PCMC or truly they seem somehow less important to get done, its a strange feeling you want to do it and know it needs to be done but getting to it seems less important, so thank you to my wonderful neighbors for just seeing and doing even though we should have gotten to it I do have teenagers to help out.

In the meantime we are going to send Andrew to school and let him have as much normalacy as we can before he gets really sick. He keeps asking questions about dying and what is Heaven like. His uniqe personality keeps showing through even through all of this, you know whatever he is thinking he says. It is interesting the last few nights it is alsmost as if he knew even before we did that his time is coming to an end here on earth, because the last few nights as Dan and I tuck him in bed we have been up till about 11:30 talking about dying and Heaven and crying and trying to answer all his questions. He is a very smart kid but his sense of humor comes through such as he asked will I like Heaven we say yes he says I don't think so it is probably boring, or he asked do you sleep in Heaven we said probably not you don't have your body so you don't need to sleep he says then I don't want to go the heaven because I like my bed to sleep in, or I told him his mission may be on the other side of the veil and he said that is no fun that would be a dumb mission because he wants to stay here and go someplace cool, He goes around saying but you will be right behind me right mom you will be just a second and you'll be in heaven because in heaven every minute in heaven is a 1000 years on earth. So our saying around here is we'll be just behind you in just a second. We'll continue keeping you updated on this and Thank you so much to everyone again! We love you all! Andrew says he doesn't have anything to say.

miracles and hurdles and more hurdles and miracles?

well I know it has been a while. I have been so busy receiving informaiton and making decisions and running to PCMC that I have not had time, so I am putting carrots on hold this morning and catching you all up. Maybe if I tell you all about it, it might sound clearer in my head. (don't count on it). First things first, our thoughts our with the Johansen's. The service was beautiful and I thought the letter Keith read to his son, and his son's reply were very moving. Also thank you Keith for your thoughts of our family and putting that sentement at the bottom of Coleen's obituary were very touching to our family. You are amazing that you would even consider such a thought when you just lost your wife, we were moved to tears, and continue to pray for your family as well. Sorry I can't come up with the words right now to express how we feel.

Second I need to make a few corrections from our last blog, its good that we keep hearing the same things just a little differently so it sinks in and makes sense. I did not really lie, I mis understood certain informaiton such as the 6 kids on the list!!! there are 6 kids just from this center waiting for a liver transplant, there are over 100,000 people and the list nation wide. Andrew does need a pediatric liver transplant, but he could receive a portion from an adult in a live donor transplant. I'm not sure what else I need to correct I forgot to review my last entry before I began this one. I read it and make any corrections later.

Thirdly you have probably noticed the pictures of us with BYU players--- the story goes our wonderful neighbors Steve and Cherri Osguthorpe made arrangements for Andrew to meet the team. Steve used to play for BYU back when TY Detmer was the QB.
So Steve has lots of connections, and surprised us all with a trip to provo to meet the team last thursday after practice. It was wonderful we all enjoyed it but I think Dan was in 7th heaven and Andrew is an even bigger BYU fan now. Last Thursday we were able to watch the team finish their practice, then they called Andrew up front with them and sang to him and gave him a bag full of BYU stuff, a flag and a football of course signed by everyone and posters etc... Andrew then was able to visit with coach Bronco Mendenhall and QB coach Brandon Doman and the other coaches but I can't remember their names, sorry!!! then he threw a few footballs around with QB Max Hall and Kurt McEuen and had pictures taken with them and Max even let him try on his helmet. Then the guys got to go into the locker room with the team while we girls waited outside, only to be informed by Andrew that the reason girls can't go in is that they shower then put on boxers and play ping pong while they dry off!!! Steve was also able to get tickets to sit in a box at Saturday's game, so Andrew, Dan, Spencer, Steve, Colton, and Gunner went and had a great time, came home bragging about how great the box was and all the food they got to eat, then the Athletic Director Tom Holmoe and Associate Director Brian Santiago who are great friends with Steve, came and got Andrew and let him go in to the locker room with the guys after the game to celebrate, for a few minutes. Thank you to the BYU team and and to the coaches and to Tom Holmoe for allowing us to come and to Steve for arranging this all together. I don't even have enough words to express our gratitude and for how much fun Andrew had, and what this means to our family. We love you all. Andrew says he thought it was good and neat to meet the team and coaches. Several days later Andrew and I were home and the phone rings and its none other than TY Detmer wishing Andrew a get well soon. Andrew says that he thought that was cool to hear from Ty. (Ty and Steve were roomates at BYU-- thanks once again Steve).

2nd round

okay are you ready for an update, there is a lot to share.All of you who have been through this before feel free to laugh, go ahead it's fine. Andrew went back to PCMC on Monday we came back home on Wednesday. This time it did not go quite as well as last time, not that it went bad, just different. Andrew was much sicker and so ornery. Monday went fine we finished chemo at about 9:15. Tuesday we hung out and endured being sick and complaints of bad tummy aches and going to the bathroom every two hours. This is due to the fact that chemo causes kidney damage but if they make him go every two hours it lessons the damage. It is easy for him to go every two hours due to the fact that he is on large bags of fluids for this very purpose. Tuesday was also a very busy day meeting so many different teams of doctors. this was due to the fact that about a week before we went I felt restless inside, I have felt that we needed to move things along much faster. I am not sure why exactly I have felt this way I just know I have. When we met with Dr. Meyers early Monday to have Andrew's drain taken out I said to her that I thought you said we were doing chemo to shrink the lymphnodes but that test came back negative, so why can't we get on the transplant list right now. She said that that was a very good question, we want to shrink the tumors in general and the one especially in the portal vain, where they need to attach a new liver, but that my point was taken and she would check with the transplant people. I told her I just want to get a new liver and be done with everything by summer. She laughed and said that was optomistic but not realistic. I asked her why and she said because people do not die on schedule and it takes from one week to one year to get a new liver. Despite what she said I believe in miracles and know that the Lord is in charge. One thing we feel for sure is we do not have a year. The next thing I know I am talking to all kinds of people. I thought once you were in the clear the doctor called up someone and put you on the transplant list. Not that easy. Andrew has to be reviewed by many different teams of specialists and has to pass many tests and be discussed on review boards for a couple of weeks then if every team gives their approval we can be put on the list. according to the seriousness of the conditon, is where he is placed on the list. The list is nationwide and right now for pediatric transplants their are 6 children on the list. I found out that Andrew cannot have an adult liver but has to have a pediatric liver, because everything is done by weight and size. This particular doctor told me that pediatric donations are a little bit harder to come by, it is a lot quicker for an adult donor to be found, but not impossible to get a pediatric one. Wednesday we did meds to control his sick tummy and started on some of the tests we need to have to get on the list. Andrew did not handle all of this well he beccame angry and verbally agressive such as calling people idiots and would not respond to questions or had a total attitude and I felt mortified by his behavior. The nurses said they were used to this, that it is always harder on the moms. The oncologist psycologist said that his OCD was really coming out this time and mixed with not feeling well and the chemo and meds it was not pretty. He said he was really angry with me because I should stick up and not have doctors touch and check him especially in some places, but I was allowing it so in his eyes who's side am I on. I should be on his I am the mom. Sometimes kids can't see we really are on their side. Maybe if were lucky the chemo will kill off the OCD genes also. I'm kidding of course but I do whish so right now. We have loved all our nurses at PCMC but this time around we got a 50 year old male nurse named Irish. It was a blessing for Andrew this time around as he related to him very well, and the guy is a total prankster had us laughing the whole time we were their. Like the time he came in to empty Andrew's urinal (he felt dizzy so he would go by the bed in a urinal instead of walking to the bathroom)anyway he picks up the urinal and walks to the bathroom to empty it and sticks his head right back out the bathroom door and said lets see how your calcium level is and starts to drink his urin. I was shocked and said what are you doing that is chemo pee, Andrew is calling him a wierdo and he keeps drinking it I'm totally alarmed when he laughs holds out another urinal that somehow he had snuk past us with applejuice in it. We laughed and laughed. He said he was glad I handled it great the last time he pranked the patient with this stunt the kid laughed and the dad threw up all over the floor. The next thing I know Irish comes in to attend to Andrew and he keeps letting out stinkers and blaming them on Andrew. I really knew who it was, later I found out he hid a fart machine in the room and every time he came in he would push the button. Let the good times roll!!! Andrew also hallucinated--- I'm reading to him and he says mom turn off the t.v. I said it is not on. 10 minutes later in a more gruff voice he said turn off the t.v. I said it is not on. I keep reading to him and 10 minutes later he says I told you to turn off the t.v. you are being rude by not turning it off. I'm baffled but continue to read a few minutes later the doctor came in to check on him and in the middle of her exam Andrew sits up and yells I told you to turn off the t.v. now I hate Pirates of the Caribbean, the doctor looks at me I looked at her and said he has been saying that for the last half hour, she told me he was hallucinating. She said not to worry it happens once in a while and went out to check his meds. we came home and a home nurse came out to hook him up to saline with meds to get through the night and the next night. Tracy came over today to give him pain meds since they sent the wrong kind that has to be given through the central line. I was told how but still... I hope he gains weight this time around or he may have to have a feeding tube put down his nose, and we all know that won't go over to well. I really thought that he would have gained some weight he ate pretty good I thought these last few weeks but in order to gain weight he needs to eat 3000 calories a day so that afer the cancer eats its portion in calories their is still some to put on his body. also the things he likes to eat have changed. I learned this time around with the nutritionist that chemo kills some of the taste buds because they are fast growing and that the flavor of sugar is not really flavorful to chemo patients. So finding foods to eat has become a challenge and to get him to eat when his stomach is not hurting is also timing it right. I also found out chemo is an appetite suppressant (maybe I need a little)so they gave me some medicine to give him to get his appetite up and running. I have to find ways to add all the calories I can for him and find all the ways to cut them for me. It's not going well for me. As of now he feels really good. Lets hope he continues too... Thanks once again for all your prayers on our behalf, the sweet notes that come in the mail, and the anonymous donations, and the yummy meals that were brought this last week. We love you all and pray always that the Lord will bless you. We are keeping the Johansens in our thoughts and prayers. May everyone realize how fragile life is and that people are what make our lives go round. Without each other we would not have anything worth while to smile about. So be glad and smile at someone, wave at someone in passing and forgive those that have offended you! You never know when it may be the last time you see their beautiful smile upon their beautiful face. Thank goodness for the Lord's plan of eternal families. We love you all. The Arnolds

October 4, 2007

well I guess it has been a few days since our last update. Life has been a little crazy at our house, lots of hussel and bussel and its not even Christmas. Andrew is doing great so we have planned on him going to school wednesday, today and tomorrow but he seems to be so groggy until 10:00. He used to be up by 6;30 and getting everyone else up but when I wake him up early he has a really hard time coming around. thanks to the neutrgen shot he is doing great and his counts are up and great. So back to the school thing---- we will be going tomorrow to see his teacher get a pie thrown into his face. RMMS has been having a fund raiser for Andrew and we are so greatful to everyone and everychild that attends this wonderful school. the fundraiser went as folllows all children who wanted to participate brought money to put into the teachers can that they wanted to see have a pie thrown into their face, I'm not sure who won but I guess we will find out tomorrow. Now school will be another couple of weeks, before he can attend (we hope). We go back to Primary Children's on Monday for a few days for a second round of chemo. I expect it to go well after going through it once I kinda know what to expect I think. The doctor and I spoke today going over his blood test and making sure we had a room on Monday and was answering all of my questions and let me know that the 2nd time around is good but recovery could be a little slower, but since this is Andrew's first time it could go well also. One never knows. Andrew lost his hair today, we cried. Sarah and I came home after attendeing Shelbie's funeral to have Andrew walk up to me and
say mom look and he could pull his hair out, he shook his head and it fell out so I said DON'T lets get it shaved, I don't want it all over the house. So he called his dad to take him because I would cry, (probably true). On the side of good news we
finally found Alyssa a car, she is excited and then some, and it was right in her price range, another blessing from the Lord I say. Well on that note we end for today, because the kids seem to be starving or so they say. Our thoughts our with Shelbie's family and friends, with the Johansen family and the Norlin family. I hope each of you feel our love for you, it is all of your love that keeps everything going. We love the letters and notes that come in the mail, your thoughts and prayers, to our wonderful relatives we love you. You had all better be careful you are becoming as the people in the city of Enoch, to perfect with Christ like love, and you will all be taken right up into heaven. Don't get to perfect I need you all here with me. B

October 1, 2007

Andrew has been very ornery! Our home health nurse let me know that it is his frustration coming out and it comes out at those he is closest to. He seems good and feels pretty good right now. It is hard for him to have to stay in and not go out and play and go to school. We hope that his white count is higher this week, so he can get out more and maybe go to school for a day. The count has to be high enough to get his second treatment. Again we are grateful for all of the love and kindness that everyone continues to show our family. Thanks for all of the calls and visits and wishes from friends and family. We love you all!! Our Children are thankful for all of the toys that have been given to Andrew, they are enjoying them as well. I am working to try to get some things accomplished so we will be ready to go into the hospital again on October 8, 2007. Sarah and Spencer had a great time going to their first dance. They were in the same group together. I am glad they get along, it made it fun. Alyssa was home for the weekend and it was so fun to spend time with her! She is the one to thank for the new pictures on this site.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Johanson and the Macafee families while they are going through their hard times. The Johanson family with Colleen and her continued struggle with a brain tumor and the Macafee family with the loss of their daughter.

If this is your first time to the site...

Make sure that if this is your first time visiting the site scroll all the way down to the bottom to find the first postings. They are all still there and start at the very begining.

September 28, 2007

Yesterday we went to Primary's and it was kind of a wasted trip because they would not take the JP drain out, because they did not want to cause an infection and his white count was at the bottom. They did not stop to calculate when they scheduled the appointment, that he would be at the bottom. They will take the drain out when we go in for the next chemo on the 8th oc October. They are concerned that he is having so much pain and stomach aches.

September 26, 2007

I had a break and went to clean a little bit today. Dad and Andrew hung out and fixed the kitchen sink. Andrew seems to be in great spirits due to the fact that
he gets his jp drain out tomorrow and as he says he hates it, it is anoying. you all
know Andrew he does not hold back on what he feels. thank you once again to an
anonymous member of this amazing community who called and said "go check your mailbox" and hung up the phone. Inside was a nintendo DS. Andrew was thrilled of
course, I had no idea they even existed. Thank you to all our anonymous friends, we love you and are blessed by your kindness. Please tell me who you are so I can thank
you. Well I understand your need for being inconspicuous so I told the Lord to bless you all 10 fold in all areas of your life, I pray he does. The love of this
great community and our wonderful ward is overwhelming to me. After living
in this valley for 10 years it is truly home. I don't know how to thank you all for
your kindness and your prayers in our behalf. I hope someday I get the opportunity to serve each of you. you know you will always have a friend on 450 North in Heber.
Thank you to all who have brought over dinner, you are amazing cooks and my hips love you. I'm glad winter is coming only for the fact that I'm going to need to hide behind those fluffy sweaters. Ray I need you!!! don't worry its not all bad, chris comes over and makes me get out for a walk. Thank you Chris.

To all those who need a good laugh, I did!!

A Blonde's car gets a flat tire on the Interstate one day. So she eases it over onto the shoulder of the road. She carefully steps out of the car and opens the trunk, takes Out two cardboard men, unfolds them and stands them at the rear of the vehicle facing oncoming traffic. The lifelike cardboard men are in trench coats exposing their nude Bodies to approaching drivers. Not surprisingly, the traffic became snarled and backed up. It wasn't very long before a police car arrived. The officer, clearly enraged, approaches the Blonde of the disabled vehicle yelling, 'What is going on here?''My car broke down, Officer' says the woman, calmly. "Well what the hell are these obscene cardboard pictures doing here by the road?' asks the Officer. 'Helloooooo! Those are my emergency flashers!!' She replied.

Hope you enjoy this, Andrew and our family update follow below.

September 25, 2007

Andrew is doing ok today. He seems to be more spunky tonight. Our home nurse came out yesterday so he got to have a shower. She covers all his battle wounds with plastic so he can have a shower. While he was having a shower the nurse informed me that he looks like he has lost more weight. Due to the fact that his back looks very boney and spiney and his ribs were showing through. This has really upset me. He seems to me to be eating better since we have been home. The problem is everything tastes like metal to him. We have been trying to find foods that will taste good for him. We really feel like things are going great and are so thankful for all of the prayers that continue to be said on his behalf. We are so grateful to live among some of the greatest people on earth. Thank you for all of your comments, we really enjoy them. Thank you to those who helped us to get Andrew his medications!
You are truely our angels here on earth.

Family Update-(requested by many)

Life is going good at the Arnolds. Alyssa is coming home this weekend YEAH!!
(To help Sarah get ready for her first dance, homecoming, HA! HA!)
She is really enjoying school and has 5 wonderful roommates, one from Heber, 3 from other places in Utah and 1 from Germany. She doesn't like the fact that she has to pay to do her laundry. other then that she seems able to handle all of college life. Her Dad through email and the cell phone is her best accounting tutor. Spencer just made the swim team and started a new job working for Alan Gehring. He is going on his first date to Homecoming this weekend and he is very excited. Sarah turned 16 on Thursday the 20th and had her first date Friday the 21st after she got off work. Mom and Dad realize they are going to have to sit down and make dating rules since Alyssa and Spencer were to chicken to date and break us in. Sarah has four dates one of which is her first dance to homecoming on Friday. Sarah is thrilled beyond measure to be going to the dance and dating. Her parents are thrilled that she got her learners permit today. Although, Mom is not sure that she is mentally up to being a drivers ed instructor, when Sarah ran a red light in front of a police officer today... the minute she was able to get behind the wheel. She blamed it on the size of the suburban. Shayla is doing homework and giving her mom fits about practicing the piano. Any advice on the subject would be muchly appreciated. She is enjoying ninth grade and has her first crush. Her favorite sujects are art and math. She is very brainy in math, she must follow after her Dad!

September 23,2007

It was a good weekend, nice be together as a family.
Andrew seems to be doing ok, but he has been fairly nausiated.
His spirits are good. He is a little more mellow then normal, but doing good.
Thank you to all of you have visited. Feel free to call for the next few days while he should be away from people. We have loved your visits and calls, we love you all.

September 21, 2007

There is a rumor out there that we wanted to be left alone.
That is not how we feel, we are so grateful for all of you and your love and support. Please let anyone who may have heard otherwise, know that we do not feel that way!!

Andrew will not be allowed any visitors September 23 to September 30.