Bennett had a good day. He ate pretty good. It seems like his stomach is bothering him, he took an anti-nausea med early evening. He has 2 mouth sores now, one he says really bothers him. We go in the morning for blood test.

He went with Gpa/ma J to Murphysboro to see the little grand canyon, it was different to see he said. They went home and Bennett shot Gpa’s shotgun at clay pigeons using a box of gun shells. Bennett said a couple of times he was 2 out 3 on his shot.

He wrestled around with Hamilton this evening played x-box together. Hamilton is such a trooper too and wants to hang out with his big brother most of the time. It aggravates me when they argue with each other but I know brothers will be brothers. The majority of the time, they do get along and really enjoy each others company. Thank God for Hamilton, the little “BIG” brother!
“Whoever loves his brother lives in the light…” 1 John 2:10

Bennett had a pretty good day. His mouth is still bothering him some and he still has the mouth sores. He went to Wal-mart with his Gma/pa Page this morning. I took him to lunch as we had to be careful using our Lysol wipes and hand sanitizer since his ANC is low. He made a dove “blind” in our back yard, it looks good. He painted brown an old juggle gym toy that was plastic and put leaves/limbs all over it. He can hide in it and wait for the dove to go by. He had to rest occasionally he said because he was tired/weak. Sounded like he made his day into a lot of fun!

He ate a little for dinner and end up getting sick to his stomach afterwards.

Everyday I am understanding more that God picked a very special young man to fight this disease, Bennett is my hero!

1:15 p.m. I received Bennett’s CBC back and his ANC is 360. (A severe chance of getting infection). No school even if he felt like it. His nurse wants us to go again Friday morning to get another CBC to verify if his ANC is going up or down from today. All other counts are low but not enough for a transfusion. I thought his hemoglobin might be low since losing his balance on his bike but it was ok.

After we got home from his CBC test, Bennett got sick to his stomach. His mouth is also really bothering him. He has taken anti-nausea and pain med to hopefully help.

7:00 p.m. Bennett ate a pretty good dinner. He took another pain med before he ate to try to help the pain in his mouth while he ate. Bennett has been looking/finding his hunting clothes, and guns. He wants to go dove hunting when it comes in season on Sept. 1st, we might be home? I am glad he has something to occupy his time and look forward too!

“Our Father which are in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:9-10

6 months ago today, Bennett was diagnosed with Acute Lyphoblastic Leukemia. It’s hard to believe. We have learned so much in this short period of time. We have learned so many medical terms and we also have learned of how to be so thankful for a good day when Bennett is eating and feeling well!

Today, he went to his Gma J. They rode in the woods looking for squirrels while walking and riding the 4 wheeler. They did see a couple of deer but no squirrels. He ate a little today. His mouth is sore and is really bothering him. Bennett and Hamilton rode their bikes while Sid walked this evening down the road. Bennett fell and skinned up his knee pretty good. Hamilton rode his bike home to tell me to go pick him up. Bennett is sore but is Ok, he was pretty aggravated about the whole affair.

Today was the first day of school. Right now Bennett is not up to going but we hope soon that his strength will improve. Hopefully he will be able to go a day before the next high dose methotrexate. Next dosage is supposed to be next Tues. the 28th if he doesn’t still have his mouth sores. We go in the morning to check his ANC, this also is a concern of attending school.

“Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.” Psalm 62:8

Bennett is doing pretty good. He ate pancakes, eggs, and bacon at his Gma Page’s this morning. He ate a hot-dog for lunch and had pizza for dinner.  He is not eating a lot but every bit is unbelievable.  He has 4 mouth sores and his mouth looks raw/rigid, they are bothering him. We are so thankful that he is eating some with them anyway.

He watched a movie with his Dad and played some with Hamilton outside. He gets tired very easy, each day he should get stronger.

He is supposed to get a blood test locally Tuesday morning to check his counts.

“This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24

8:30 a.m. Bennett’s methotrexate level is .11. Only 1 away! We are waiting for the Dr. to see if he will let him come home early. He drank three 16 oz Propel yesterday hoping this would help. I was glad he could drink with his mouth but didn’t eat. Bennett is asleep so not sure how he feels this morning.

10:00 a.m. We’re coming home! Amen! We are waiting on discharged papers, getting packed up, etc. Bennett feels fair, he is really happy the Dr. is letting him leave!

7:30 p.m. We got home around 2:00. Bennett was hungry, I couldn’t believe it. We stopped at Red Lobster and he had the Fiesta Lobster rolls, he only ate a few but it’s unbelievable that he is eating. He also wanted to drink 2 or 3 Propel’s on the way home to keep his liquid going. He decided he would take a drink of propel at every sign he saw. It became too much but I was so proud of him for trying. He is feeling fair especially from how he felt before with this treatment. He has been playing mostly on his X-box this afternoon; he’s pretty tired.  We are so thankful for the weekend Dr. on call to let us go home. We know of another kid that had a different Dr. this week that had .11 that had to wait. It’s so good to be back home! A scripture I just read today in the mail from Aunt Sharon, it fits perfect!

“The Lord most high is awesome; He is a great King over all the earth. “Psalm 47:2

7:30 a.m.  Bennett’s methotrexate level is .30 from this morning’s 5:30 blood test. Looks good, hoping it doesn’t go up as times before.  He is sleeping; went to sleep around 12:30 last night and than woke up some thru out the night. The next level check will be at 5:30  p.m.  

11:00 a.m. The Party is over! Bennett is not feeling well. Has major headache, they just gave him some pain med for this. His mouth is starting to look like the beginning stages of mucositis. Bennett said his mouth/throat feels funny and is starting to hurt. He will begin the magic wash four times a day.

4:30 p.m.  Bennett’s headache went away finally early afternoon. He hasn’t eaten or got out of bed. His potassium was low so they have added more potassium again to his iv fluids. He is very tired and has been sleeping most of the day.   

8:00 p.m. Bennett’s methotrexate level is at .16. We are not going to get too excited about the level until it is .10 so we can go home.    Pottassium and creatinine are in normal ranges. Bennett’s headache has returned.  Dr. says probably a side effect of the methotrexate; going to give Tylenol.

His nurse tonight is pretty cool. We found out that she had A.L.L. when she was age 3. She’s young and pretty so Bennett really likes her! LOL 

“An anxious heart weighs a man down..” Proverbs 12:25

1st time                            2nd time                                this time

55.08                                113.0                                          52.06

1.43                                    1.62                                            1.19

.41                                        .41                                              .95

.67                                         .79                                            .30

.37                                         .78                                            .16

.37                                         .51                                            .11

.14                                         .29

.11                                          .15

                                               .12

                                               .06                     

2:00 p.m. God is Amazing! Bennett is doing incredibly well! He slept until about 10. Ryan’s Mom asked me to go the grocery store with her this morning so I asked Bennett if he wanted me to go to get him something or to stay. He gave me shopping list of food he would like!  I can’t believe it! While I was gone, he felt so good that he got bored in his room so he hung out at the nurses station and played with Marquies in the hallway.  We went to Ryan’s room to eat lunch, he had a few bites of turkey sandwich. He wanted to try the new “game fuel” mountain dew so I bought him some from the store and he drank some. He ate a banana and dipped in kool-aid powder.  He is walking around having a good time talking to other patients. Many don’t have family here so Bennett has warmed up to them.   I can’t believe he is up and eating some!  This is such a difference from the last two times.  Amazing!

His methotrexate level was 1.19, last time was 1.62. Looking Good!

7:00 p.m. Bennett’s methotrexate level is 0.95. His creatinine level has been at .8 which is good. He has been getting leucovarin and zofran every 6 hours. Bennett has had a fun day. This afternoon, Him and Ryan pulled each other in a wagon around the floor. They were hilarious, they were getting bored and needed some activity!  He ate about 1/4 of frozen lasagna with bread. He has been watching TV and listening to music on I-tunes.  

11:00 p.m. Bennett was given more potassium in his fluids because it is low. Creatinine level still good at .8. He had a kit kat and special K bar for a snack. He is drinking good which will help flush out the methotrexate. We went to Ryan’s room and watched Shallow Hal this evening. Bennett will be taking his chemo pill in a little bit and hopefully going to bed. Next blood test will be at 5:30 a.m.

“I will sing to the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.” Psalm 103:33

9:45 a.m.  Bennett has been awake for about 45 minutes, sitting up in bed playing his PSP. We are thankful we have our favorite nurse today, Nanette. It really helps ease your mind as we respect and love her. He has been getting his anti-nausea med, zofran around the clock every 6 hours. His face is really full and puffy. Thank you for everyone’s prayers, May God hear us and answer them! 

2:45 p.m. Bennett ate cheese sticks for lunch. I was so glad he was able to eat, this is a good sign. Around 1:00, he received bi-carb because his PH was low in his urine.  We have become friends with a freshmen boy that has leukemia from Paxton IL  and he enjoys sports and hunting. His mother bought him the new movie, Wild Hogs, she let Bennett borrow it and he watched it today, he really liked it. We are waiting for the methotrexate to finish around 6 and than they will do the first blood test to see what the level is. 

11:45 p.m. Bennett’s methotrexate level is 52.6, this is good. Last time it was 113.0. He has felt Great! – It’s unbelievable! He took a nap in late afternoon. Around 6:30, Bennett and his friend from Paxton, IL (Ryan) went to the teen lounge and played play station together. We came back to Ryan’s room and ordered pizza. Bennett ate fair, actually good considering and drank 2 sodas. We visited until around 9:30 and than Bennett, Ryan, and Marquies putted in the hall way. Bennett walked around the floor couple of times. We hung out in the hallway until 10:30 partying! We all laughed and had a great evening.  He is full of energy! We are so happy and blessed, Bennett felt good today!

“I will send down showers in season; there will be showers of blessings. Ezekiel 34:26