Nothing really new on Bennett. He feels the same and eating good.

Hamilton’s team played tonight and won. They will play for the championship Monday night for the in-house tourney. Bennett hated to miss the game but he hasn’t been with friends in about a week and would enjoy Extreme Sports in Marion more. Thanks Landon for taking him! I was nervous about him going and I think Bennett was too. Bennett said he would be extremely careful and so far he knows his limits better than I. I’m just glad that he was able to spend some time with his friends. He is spending the night with Trey and they are going to ride their bikes to breakfast. It sure helps Bennett (and me) when he gets to do some fun stuff especially with his friends like he used to do.

Here’s a couple of pics from Hamilton’s game. They are in the back of Sid’s truck waiting for their trophies and cupcakes.

Rain! Rain! Rain! For the last 3 nights, Hamilton’s practices or games have been rained out. I was hoping I would be able to watch a few of Hamilton’s games this week because I don’t know what next week will bring.

Bennett has been eating like a horse. Finally eating like a teenager.   He is not exerting much energy so I am surprised he is eating so much. I am so glad!, we hope he has gained 5 to 10 pounds back, wouldn’t that be awesome! He definitely needed it! Hopefully that is what God’s plan is; to strengthen his body and on Monday that his counts are high enough to begin treatment.

His favorite food right now, is cucumbers with vinegar. Very sour but he loves the taste. He eats them with everything or by themselves. On his sandwiches he puts ton of ketchup and mustard on it too. The chemo kills his taste buds so he needs extra taste. He enjoys eating, it’s the thing he looks forward to each day!

“He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”     Matthew 5:45

Bennett feels good and eating well.  I looked back on the calendar and it has been 3 weeks since his last chemo treatment, it felt like it had been longer.

I normally don’t pay too much attention to the zodiac signs and horoscopes but Sid read Bennett’s to him tonight that was in today’s Southern Illinoisan.   I thought it was interesting:

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)  When you set your mind to do something you can do almost anything as long as your efforts promise a measure of pleasure or reward. Avoid aggressive crowds. Swimming is ideal for you.

Just heard from St Louis at 4:30. Bennett’s ANC is 414. In one week it went from 405 to 414 and he is still neutropenia since his counts are below 500.

This has me very concerned of why it hasn’t gone up very much. The nurse indicated this is common but if it doesn’t go up by next week, they will do a bone marrow test to see what is going on. He is scheduled for a bone marrow test anyway since he ended the last phase of treatment to verify the bone marrow isn’t making any blasts (leukemia cells) plus to check the MRD %.

I asked the nurse about a magical drug that I have been told about from other cancer patients that they got when their ANC (white blood cells) were down. She indicated that they don’t want to use this with leukemia patients unless they have to since leukemia has to do with WBC.

Now, we will wait until next Monday to check his ANC to see where we go from here.

Please pray that Bennett’s bone marrow begins making white blood cells that in turn raises his ANC numbers.

“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours” Mark 11:24

Bennett has got his bedroom all set up now with his new TV with surround sound and his lazy boy! Thanks to Jeremy for getting everything hooked up!

Tyler came over to watch a movie in the Page Theater. LOL I thought Bennett was going to charge Hamilton and Gehrig to watch a movie with him earlier!

We go tomorrow morning for a CBC test to determine if his counts are high enough to begin treatment. I am sure they are well above 750. If they are, his appt is at 9:00 Tuesday. He will begin his day in the clinic with a bone marrow test, spinal tap with chemo injection, another chemo given through his port called vincristine. He also has to have a breathing treatment of pentamidine which is taking the place of the Septra pills that they Dr. took him off of to keep from getting pneumonia. I am assuming when these are done, he will be admitted to the hospital to start the high dose methroxate.

“We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer”                     Acts 6:3,4

Bennett has had some really Great Days! He is eating and feeling well!

Yesterday was an Awesome day for him! He went on his Make-A-Wish shopping spree. The limo, YES, a limousine came and picked him up. He went to several different stores purchasing some cool things. His favorite was a flat screen TV with surround sound! This will come in handy when the days come again that he doesn’t get out of his room. He really likes his lazy boy recliner from Furniture King! The employees welcomed him with a sign and balloons. How sweet!

We had an awesome lunch at Red Lobster. Everyone was so nice to him and Hamilton. It was a dream come true ! God has blessed Bennett with some Great days and that the timing of this Make-A-Wish fell when he felt good enough to enjoy it!

An added part of the Make-A-Wish was Bennett was invited to the Miners baseball game last night. The night just kept on getting better! We first knew he was going to be able to meet all the players but when he got there, he was given an autographed bat from all the players plus him and Hamilton started in the dug out at the beginning of the game and stayed in there the whole time! The coaches and players were so nice to them. They stood on the field during the national anthem with the team. It was all so cool and unbelievable!

#35 - Tim Dorn is one of his favorite players and he gave Bennett the game ball. #10 Mike Scanzano spent most of the night standing with the boys at the edge of the dug out and he gave him his bat.

The Miners won, it looked like any minute it was going to come a flood with lighting and thunder surrounding Marion and we only received a few drops - it was an Amazing night!

“But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15:57

Bennett had a good day. Him and Landon rode their bikes into town and met Trey and Thomas to eat breakfast. Bennett said it was the best breakfast he has had in a long time.

I picked him up and we went “window shopping” today to get an idea of what he would like for his make-a-wish shopping spree.

He came home and rested in bed and also he laid out by the pool. He told me it was beautiful out there and relaxing. He sure enjoys every minute he feels well. We went to Hamilton’s baseball game. Bennett helped Sid coach the team, he was really getting into the game.

His spirits are good, his appetite is better and we are so thankful for these good days.

“For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;”       Psalm 100:5

3:15 p.m. We got back Bennett’s blood test results and his ANC is 405. Not high enough to begin the next phase of treatment. We are happy! I hate to delay the process but I really feel that Bennett needs to be eating good and maybe gain a few pounds. Plus hopefully enjoy a few great days. He has a week to get mentally prepared as well.

The Make A Wish Foundation granted him a shopping spree and that is scheduled for this Saturday so he should be able to do this! We are thankful we don’t have to re-schedule because I don’t expect him to feel very good until this whole next phase of treatment is over. Which will at least be 2 months and could be longer. His treatment could be delayed because each time he receives this high dose of methotrexate (scheduled for every 2 weeks), his ANC has to be 750. He will also receive additional chemo medicines and spinal taps during this next phase.

He is fishing at his Grandpa/ma’s Johnston’s today, catching several bluegill. He hopes to go to his baseball teams game tonight.

Thank you God for answering my prayers!

11:00 p.m. Bennett’s baseball game was canceled but Hamilton had a game so Bennett stayed and watched that with Landon. They went to Thomas house to swim for awhile. He than spent the night with Landon.

He ate better today, still eating slow and small amounts.

Happy Father’s Day to our special Dad’s!

Bennett had about the same day as yesterday.  Stayed in bed some, would get up and do a few things and than would go back to bed to watch TV or play playstation.  He is coming quite the golfer on PS!

He ate a little more today and was able to keep it all down. He played basketball in the pool with Hamilton and Gehrig. He rode around on the golf cart enjoying the air against his face.

We go in the morning to get a blood test to check his ANC so we know if he will start treatment on Tuesday. Bennett is hoping for one more week with no chemo.  I think his body needs to get stronger since just today he is able to eat and keep it down.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with comfort we ourselves have received from God” (2 Corinthians 1: 3 & 4). 

Bennett is feeling some better which we had hoped he would since he hasn’t had any chemo medication since a week ago Tuesday. He still has an upset stomach even though it has been 11 days since his last chemo.

Friday morning, he went to Hamilton’s basketball camp and shot some hoops. He had a bite or two of mashed potatoes/gravy and popcorn chicken for lunch. He went to Hamilton’s baseball game that night and kept score. That night he wanted some ramen noodles for dinner and threw them up.

Saturday early morning, he went to Boom land with his Dad and Hamilton and had so much fun picking out fire works. If you are ever traveling by our house; watch out for flying bottle rockets and smoke bombs! Bennett got sick this morning to his stomach. He has ate a few bites of pizza for dinner.

Bennett and Hamilton played in the swimming pool tonight, boy, was it hot today!

I would of thought by now that he would feeling good with no chemo but I am sure with his ANC being so low that this causes his tiredness/weakness. Not sure what is causing the nausea.

I am just hoping he can eat more and put on a few pounds before we start this next treatment.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)