More Surgery and Updates

Ok, I have been waiting to post till I got all the answers.  Still don't have them.  But it is time to share what we know and the next challenge.
First off Joshua is having headaches again.  Today they did another CAT scan.  The ventricals are enlarged.  This is not good news because we were hoping to get a few months before he had a lot of fluid back in the brain.  Instead we got less than 3 weeks.  On Monday they are doing surgery to put in a shunt.  It will relieve the pressure and he will not be in pain.  We should only be inpatient for a couple of days and then we will be home again.  So while this sounds bad the outcome should be good.
Now, lets talk tumor.  There is debate among the pathologist and his tumor has now been shipped across the country and back 3 times.  We are waiting for the final answer.  We do know it is between 2 tumors.  It is either a true reoccurant Medulloblastoma or (and this is the direction they are leaning) a Glioblastoma Multiforme 4 (GBM4).  The outcome is the same.  The treatment options are close but different. The big difference is that the  Medullo will spread to the nervous system and the GBM doesn't spread but grows and reproduces locally.  They want to do radiation again and the doctor says it will not be bad this time but Josh doesn't want to do it.  We will not make any decisions till they have a final decision on the tumor type.  Because he has had treatment before there is not a set treatment for either tumor so there will be a lot of choices.
What does all this mean?  There is no cure possible for this now.  Any care we give is palliative.  What that means is that treatment will buy him time or limit suffering but that is all. We asked the doctor about time frames.  She would not be specific but said it she lost a patient like Josh at 90 days.  We are basically looking at 3 months to a year.

Please hear me clearly.  This is in the Lords hands.  Only he knows Joshua's time.  Josh knows he is terminal but we have not given him the time frames.  Josh has asked about dying and we are slowly preparing him.  We have taught him in recent days that death is not the end but the beginning of his journey.  When Heavenly Father takes him it will be because he has done all he needs to on this earth.  I know he is ready and now we are being taught by him.  Each day we are learning and grateful.  I am profoundly sad and have moments that I ache but we are taking this one day at a time and there are so many things to thank God for.  Heavenly Father has given us time.  It is the most precious gift he has.  8 years ago we could have lost Josh and if we begrudge him going now we forget that gift.  I intend to cherish every day going forward and try to make the best choices we can.  Maybe some of them will not make sense to everyone but we are working hard.  We want to honor Joshua and his life with joy not sorrow.  Not that we don't feel it but the joy has to be more.  Please, for however long we have we ask you to pray for us and laugh with us and have joy.  Have joy with your family and if you can come see us and have joy with us.  We have empty rooms with beds so there is no excuse!  We love you all.