We’re not holding our breathe, but so far so Good!  Bennett has been doing good.  His back is still a little sore still so we have been giving him tylenol once a day to try to help with the pain.  He has felt a little nauseated so he has been taking zofran to help with that but nothing too bad.

He had baseball practice yesterday after school and than tonight from 6 to 8.  He felt really good after school today and lifted weights for awhile!  We’re so thankful that so far he is doing much better!!  Please keep those prayers going!

The second from last spinal tap is over!  Amen!  Now, it’s praying and waiting to see if Bennett has any side effects from it.  His back is really sore from the place where they do the spinal tap, that might last a couple of days.

His stomach is a little better today.  He hasn’t had diarahea so hopefully the caffeine pills was the cause of his upset stomach and nausea yesterday.  The Dr. thought it might be as well or could be a 24 hour bug.

He has lost about 10 pounds, weighing 138 today.  We both were wrong  in guessing his weight.  We’re assuming from the sickness he has had in the last month has kept him from eating as much.

We had a long day at the clinic. We opened up the clinic as one of the first patients and we were the last patient to leave today.  The drive there and back wasn’t too much fun, raining and was stuck in StL traffic at the prime time this morning and tonight.

He had all the works today besides the spinal tap with the iv push of chemo vincristine, immune globulin infusion, and breathing treatments.  He starts taking 7 prednisone pills daily for the next five days.  The Dr want to keep his daily and weekly chemo pills the same because his platelets were lower.  He did not have to have a transfusion of platelets before the spinal tap which was good.

We ask for God’s healing hand to protect Bennett from any side effects from his treatment.  Thank you for your prayers!

Bennett did not have a very good day.  His stomach was upset and he felt nauseated.  It was bothering him some yesterday too.  He went to the school nurse and spent a period and a half in there eating crackers, drinking water and resting.  He felt like he was going to throw up but couldn’t, he took some anti-nauseated medicine and after lunch felt a little better.  We thought it might be from the caffeine pill he has been taking.    He pushed himself to go to baseball practice and he said his stomach was really bothering him the whole time.  When he got home, he had diarhea so it’s possible he has the stomach flu?  He still didn’t feel very good tonight.

We leave around 6:00 a.m. with his first Dr. apt at 8:30 a.m. and than the spinal tap is at 11:30.  he will need about 2 hours of fluids before and after to help keep him hydrated.  He really has been drinking a lot more the last two days so I hope this helps even more.

We’re thankful that the rash/breakout on his arms that was really bad last week after the first day of baseball practice has improved and so far hasnt came back which is great! 

We pray that Bennett has no side effects from his spinal tap and that he can make it for a couple of weeks without being sick.

Bennett is doing good. I even thought today that his cough has gone away!  Such great news that the cough and sinus infection went away and didn’t turn into anything worse!  It’s frustrating that it seems he always has some type of bug or side effect from medicine but we’re always so thankful that it clears up. 

He started taking a caffeine pill yesterday and will continue that for a week.  Our and the Dr.’s hope is that the caffeine before, during and after the spinal tap will keep a spinal tap headache from coming on.

He finished his last driving time last week so he has completed all requirements of Driver’s Ed.  He is so excited to have that done.  The early mornings were exhausting for him especially while he was playing basketball.  We were really thankful that he made it through the basketball season without any injuries, that is our prayer too for baseball, no injuries and that he gets a lot of playing time.  I hope he doesn’t get disappointed with his ability, he really is a good player when his body let’s him.

An extra prayer to all the families from SLCH that have lost their precious child to this awful disease. We think about them often and miss our dear friends.     We are always grateful for how well Bennett is doing and pray he continues to beat it!  “Whoever said,   ”Winning isn’t everything!”,  Never had cancer.

Bennett’s ANC is 1,925 with 2.5 WBC and 77 neutrophils!!!  Amen!  His hemoglobin is good at 12.2.  His platelets are pretty low at 87. Normal range is 150 to 450.  I have given him orders that he can’t be riding his dirt bike and jumping/ramping with it.  The platelets helps clot your blood and if he gets hurts, it would be bad.  I remember when he was first diagnosed and they didn’t even want him riding a biclycle but than his platelets were extrmely low most of the time.

 His platelets are probably low because of his continued daily, weekly, and monthly chemo he takes. they’ve done this before and than they go back up.  I’m worried though because I can’t remember what level his platelets need to be for him to have his spinal tap surgery.  It’s been a long time since he platelets have been low around this time.  It shouldn’t be a problem I don’t think because if they are to low, I’m guessing they would give him a platelet transfusion.   His bun is still high so he needs to continue to drink more to keep his kidney’s flushed. His liver levels are high but not too bad.

We went and checked counts in between Hamilton’s games today.  Hamilton’s team played Sesser and won.  We played Okawville for the championship game and they won!!!  We got first place!  The boys played awesome, it was very exciting!  They have really improved in the last couple weeks and it has been a lot of fun!  Their season is now over.  Now, on to baseball!!

We pray that Bennett’s spinal tap goes well on Tuesday and he doesn’t have any side effects from it.  He is really excited about baseball.  Friday at practice he had a ground rule double (which is where he hit it in the outfield, it bounced and went over the fence).   We pray that he can continue playing through out the season and doesn’t get sick.  We ask God to be with him and protect him!

Bennett is doing good. He has had baseball practice the last two nights from 6 to 8. Tomorrow it’s right after school for 2 hours.  He seems to like it pretty good. 

Hamilton had two games tonight for the 4th grade Benton tournament.  We won both games.  They team played excellent.  I love it when all of them are making baskets!  We play Saturday at 11:00 against Sesser and if we win that we play for the championship at 2:00.  Right now we are at least guaranteed 4th place if we lose the next two games.  This is the end of Hamilton’s season.  On to baseball, he has started practicing for baseball already to with a travel league he is on.

Today, I have blood for the Benton highschool blood drive.  I really enjoyed seeing everyone at the school, the kids and teachers.  Lindy was working it because of the students in the nursing program help organize it. 

Tomorrow is Friday!!,   Hope everyone has a blessed weekend!

Bennett is doing good other than his cough is still hanging on.  The tryouts yesterday was I guess practice; they really didn’t have to try out.  There was 13 freshman that went out and that will make the J.V. team.  He had practice tonight for 2 hours in the gym.  I’m glad their in the gym because it’s really cold outside.

Yesterday he noticed his arms broke out again.  They had been doing great especially since basketball was over, the rash cleared up, Well it’s back again.  We’re not sure why because with baseball he isn’t touching another player really. The only thing we can think of is his own sweat is causing it because it just came back with yesterday’s practice.  I think it’s still from the methotrexate chemo and maybe the sweat brings it out?  It itches some and just is aggravating to Bennett so we pray it goes away.  And today he just took his weekly dose of the chemo methorexate, 6 pills. He also is taking 3 6mp chemo pills nightly.

We will check counts this weekend, we pray they are great!  His monthly appt is Tuesday and it’s time again for the spinal tap, yuck.  We pray that he doesn’t have his normal side effects with this.  He has this one and than one more spinal tap left of his treatment!!!! 

Hamilton had a game last night in Herrin and they won.  They also played Sesser tonight at home and we won as well!  The boys have played really good.  Our Benton tournament starts Thursday and I hope they do well where they can at least place and get a trophy.

We hope everyone is doing well and staying healthy.  God Bless.

Bennett is doing better.  His stomach aches went away and he finished his last pill of the z-pack today.  His nose is stopped up but he has been taking mussionex to help with that.  He still has a cough as well.

He had a good weekend. We were able to do some things that we had planned for a couple weeks and had to cancel because of his hospital stay.  Yesterday, we went shopping for baseball stuff and looking for a pair of boots for him for his birthday.  We haven’t found them yet.     Today after Sunday School, our family came over to celebrate his birthday along with my brother’s.  Him and Lindy have been hanging out.  Friday they rode dirt bikes together.  It was quite chilly.

Bennett is looking forward to sleeping in since they don’t have school tomorrow.  He has baseball tryouts at noon.  This is the last week for Hamilton’s basketball games.

Hope everyone is doing well. God Bless!

Bennett is feeling better.  He didn’t take the zpack pill until after school and so ffar , his stomach hasn’t bothered him!  His sinus infection seems to be better.  He still is coughing though.  He went to school today and had early driving.  He only has one more driving session on Tuesday!!  He will be glad to have that done. Than he just will have to patiently wait until August to get his licenses!

The boys don’t have school on Monday because of Casimir Pulaski Day.  Bennett has baseball tryouts at noon.  We pray he continues to improve and he can stay healthy until spring gets here!!!

Bennett is not feeling well. He didn’t go to school today.  He pushed himself to go to driving at 6:00 a.m. this morning until 7:30 because it is really difficult to make up and knew he could come home and go back to bed.  Honestly, he probably shouldn’t  be driving when he doesn’t feel well.  Last night, his stomach craps/pain were really bad and he had diahrea.  He also felt nauseated and took anti-nausea medicine.

 We talk to his Dr. this morning and she agreed that it probably was caused form the zpack.  She indicated that she feels like she is in labor when she takes the zpack.  Since Bennett is allergic to so many meds, she felt like the zpack was the best to get rid of his infection and didn’t know what else to prescribe.  Bennett decided he would try one more day/pill.  He started feeling a little better but still not good but than tonight he got sick to his stomach.    He has a congested cough and is very weak/tired.

He missed a baseball meeting after school today which I hate for him.  I so hope that he can stay healthy and enjoy his freshman baseball season.

We pray that his body gets over the sinus infection and that he doesn’t have any more side effects from the antibiotic.