andydew

Sounds awesome! Still trying to get my dad out there. He acts like he wouldn't like it, but with his racing history in his early days, I know he would love it. Take advantage of the time you have for sure!

Congrats on the self gifting . Thanks for the write up. I'd never heard of them, until DDR...I remember hearing some buzz a little while ago, but apprehensive to pull the trigger myself. I have a 1 ton dually....with semi tires on it...so yah, it rides like crap. The only good thing about the ride is that one of my wifes friends rode in the back seat for a girls night out, and my wife told me her friend really liked the bumpiness...a lot :mischevious: Besides that, I'd really like to do something. I considered fabbing up an air ride...not add a bag, but a full 5 link system; but with 3 kids myself, I'm aiming a little lower as to what I can accomplish. How does this system affect stability when towing? Also, what kind of service life is expected, 50k, 100k?

haha. got you beat: I got one that said: FWD: FWD: FWD: Merry christmas...have a great one. from my wifes boss, so I figured it wasn't worth the time to respond

Quick update: We are still waiting on some biopsy results... My wife sat in another meeting with 20 or so specialists, and they concluded they had never seen this before ; so they had to send the samples to Boston. They decided to dismiss us for the Holidays, until we have an answer. We got home late last night and are unpacking. 43 days in the hospital so far :xmas_cry: , but SOOOO happy to be home. I decided to order my boy one of those wooden playground/ swingsets. It's been delivered, and I'm going to assemble it today for a Christmas surprise . I have a few more tricks too, that I surnamed "operation Christmas playland" for the backyard. I'm gonna go over the top to make this Christmas extra special. "FORT JACOB" should be complete by tonight. Once I get it all landscaped and finished, I'll put some pictures up to share. Jakes knee is enlarged: the left is the size of an orange, and the right is a small grapefruit. Mobility is limited, but with the pain meds, he is walking on it again. We had his hospital room decorated, with a 2' tree, lights, stockings and crap all over the door, and we were expecting to stay, so this was a surpise to us to come home, and consider it a gift from above! Thank you to all, for your prayers and kind words, and may your Christmas be a joyous one that you'll remember forever

Merry Christmas from my family and I as well. Cherish the times together, and make great memories! :xmas8:

Hahaha The regatta must be gettin close; I better get crackin on my trike, so not to upset the fuhrer

diggin this! Jake was headbangin as we watched

Wow, that's awesome!

Thought about if I should, and what to write @ this point...still uncertain. I'm not trying to pop all the ballons at the party, but here goes an update: We were home 6 days, and Jakers started spiking a fever. With his history, that means mandatory ER stay. We have since been transfered back to LACH. been here a week now, and not certain how long. Docs were perplexed at the lack of reslults from the high strength atibiotics, and are now reconsidering their diagnosis. A CT scan was performed. They found a mass on his liver, and are going to be doing a biopsy on that, another MRI, and a more intrusive biopsy of the femur. Oncology docs once again, ID docs, bone docs, and hematology docs are all consulting about his case. Once again, they are concerned about a malignancy, and are admitting this is very atypical. Jake has a good attitude, but some days hold him back more than others. On a positive note, we were onsite for todays blood drive, and both momma and I donated for our first times today. Britticares Int. hosted the blood drive and Christmas toy drive. Participating in both was a rewarding experience. We talked again with the founders of britticares, who lost their daughter to cancer. We also met their son in the donor room. again...What an AMAZING family!!! Thanks again to all for your kind words. This trial has been a rollercoaster emotionally, but we are still trusting and praying, and amazed at the response of kindness and support from those we know, and those we don't.

I actually got one of these to bind up. Broke the handle right off. These pumps need the lubricity of the oil they're designed for.. They'll work for a while I'm sure, but only a while

I bought a Holley red electric pump for my trailer. It is currently putting out about 6 gal/ min.... Plenty fast! I bought a 50 air hose and some fittings, and I can fuel the rail, the toys, and even the genny at the front of my bus , from the tank in the middle of my box trl. It was so worth the time it took! Granted, an air hose isn't going to hold up to the fuel, but for ten bucks, I can get a new hose every couple of years. Holley red pump was something like $75... Maybe chech out summit racing for one.

Yah, I'm guessin its a money thing. People are selling or losing their big money cars in exchange for...I dunno...a place to live It's too hard to let go of this addiction though, so hence the vdubs? ...maybe

Ugghhh, I'm missing the sand so bad...might just be sittin this season out we'll see. Keep these vids coming!

You're gonna need a 70 for each motor option . I have a stock one, and one with a 125....oh wait, the 125 doesn't count if it's still on the bench in 50 pieces, does it? Regatta is right around the corner

I've wanted to buy an old prius and fab up a sand toy, just for the stupid factor ; maybe cause my rail is shaped like a prius ;but this sounds pretty cool to me. I only wonder about any weight differences...Batteries can get pretty heavy. As far as the enviromental benefits, I hear ya....opening new riding areas would be nice; but wouldn't we duners have to run our gennys through quite a bit of gas, to charge em back up? Would there be any less polution, really...? Just a thought Cool none the less. Exciting to see where motorsports could end up.

Awesome Looks like you guys were cookin'....I found my right foot liftin' a little

After our 18 day stay at the hospital, we are home and a family once again We are being visited by an in home nurse a couple times a week, and we are giving him IV antibiotics through the picc line. I'm up at three every day to get the IV started, so I should get plenty of DDR time. We had an amazing thanksgiving dinner, hosted by a fantastic charity. They put on that meal every year, as well as Christmas toy drive for the kiddos in the hospital. They provided a meal, raffle prizes, beanies for the patients, face painting, games, music, etc. My lil' tiger: Their name is BrittiCares International . http://www.britticares.org/Welcome.htm named for their daughter who fought a bone cancer, only to get leukemia 2 years later. We met the parents who were AMAZING people! They are doing a blood drive DEC. 10th, that we are planning on participating in. It'll be my first time giving blood, which I'm excited to do! I'm also hoping to contribute to the toy drive as well. As for us, we are home now. Jake has a "granny" walker, and is in good spirits. He is still on some powerful pain meds, but those should decrease as he heals. I caught him playing with his cars and the rug in the game room and thought that DDR needs to see this: I think he's ready to go duning

Awesome!!!! Looks like fun .. I'm jealous

Didn't I read about a broken control arm tab or somethin? Didn't get any pics of that, did ya? I have a small album of stuff I've broke....my favorite of all my pics! Thinkin of one now where I drove it back to camp on 3 wheels, with the right steer tire in the front seat (first car that is...not the funco)

Well... This is our first thanksgiving in a hospital We didn't get released as planned. They didn't see enough results from the meds, so we are trying a different one. Hoping these meds do what the docs want to see, so we can go home next Monday. It's been good to follow the trip reports, and everyone's kind words. The hospital is hosting a turkey dinner for admitted families, so we are going to head down there in a few. Thanks again to everyone and have a wonderful thanksging!

I like the pic titled DOH! I've been high centered like that was up at the big D with my first car, but I deleted those pics

:woo_hoo: :woo_hoo: We have good news!!! The oncology doc came running into the room, out of breath, to tell us its not cancer...difinitively!!!!! All this after hearing from a cancer specialist Doctor that "it is reasoable to assume this is a malignancy". We had a long, tearful couple of days sitting on that bombshell. After the good news, We were referred back to an infectious disease specialist, and through a series of tests, they are leaning towards the diagnosis of a "chronic osteomilitis" which is a fancy term for an infection in the bone, which in his case, has been causing him extreme leg pain for about 10 months. They have started a 6 month regiment of antibiotics, which we can do from home through a PICC line, inserted in his arm, with weekly follow ups from an in home nurse. We are supposed to be released from LACH sometime this week, hoping in time for thanksgiving.....and what a THANKSGIVING this will be for us. We are supposed to get resluts in identifying what type of bacteria were to blame sometime later this week. The Docs are saying it probably all started with a simple nick in his skin, anywhere...mybe even in his mouth...such as biting his cheek or tongue. They are expecting a full recovery with only a small potential for a lasting limp and/or reduced growth in that leg. this pic shows a "prayer blanket" that some sweet ladies sewn up for him...it sat in the back of the church, where everytime someone read his story and prayed, they would tie a knot in it. These ladies have not yet met him, or us. just another example of the support we've been blessed with for our little man. I just want to thank you guys once again for your prayers, thoughtfulness, and your concern.

I like the environmentalist nutjob angle; but I was wondering: Just how much it would cost for fuel to get there. My rig runs me about $300 in diesel for a round trip to D, so wow, you'd have to get in some bitchin runs to justify that trip...

Thanks bro for sharing that...that incident changed our lives forever! Every emotion came out . How is your boy now? Pm me if you'd like to talk about it...

Hey man, Inconclusive results from the punch biopsy of the femur. They sent it out again for stained pathology to test for more rare forms. The oncology dr.s just came in the room for a 30 min. Consult . They ordered several mor tests that'll start through the night and some more for the morning, including a bone marrow sample/biopsy. These were a new team of doctors, and they seemed very concerned, which scares us, but trying to stay positive:) Jacob has already promised to marry 3 of the nurses:) He's enjoying "buggy videos" Thanks again to everyone! Can't begin to describe this experience, or the kids we've met, and their stories.