Bennett had a good rabbit hunt today. He went with his grandpa J., cousin Gordan, Hamilton and me.  Bennett shot 3 different times and got 2 rabbits!  Not bad for his first time rabbit hunting!   We went with the best rabbit dogs in the world from Johnston’s Beagle Farm in Macedonia, IL!

Bennett is doing the same. He is feeling pretty good. He has spent most of the week doing homework and hanging out in his room. It’s kinda tough on him to get all of the homework done especially with not any in-class instruction. His home-bound teacher and his cousin Niki comes over, a couple of hours each week which really helps. We try to do as much as we can on my lunch hour, in the evening, and on weekends. The last couple of days his grandparents have helped him during the day so that has helped. All and all he is keeping up pretty good with his school work but it definitely hasn’t been easy.

He is still happy with the decision of repeating 7th grade. I ask him periodically to see how he feels about it and make sure he is doing OK socially and mentally. I am sure there is tough/awkward times with his 8th grade friends but in the big picture, his good friends will always be there. Earlier, (when he was able) he had hung around and done some fun stuff with some 7th graders that are in his classes. He remembers some from last year but it’s tougher since he has all new teachers except for two. All of the teachers have been very helpful and supportive! Bennett made the honor roll the first nine weeks!

He is looking forward to the next couple of days. He is going rabbit hunting tomorrow. And deer hunting this weekend while we all camp out.

“For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world — our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the son of God?” 1 John 5: 4-5

I pulled out last year’s pictures of our deer hunting and camping adventure. Bennett got a doe and buck last year. The buck had a small six point rack. He was really excited and happy with it. Hoping Bennett gets a trophy buck this year! This was my favorite picture!

Another day for Bennett having to stay at home. It’s crucial with his ANC so low that he isn’t around a bunch a people. This means though: no school, no basketball games, no movies, or parties. After a while, it gets old of always having to be careful and limiting of what he can do. He may go to Walmart but we have to go at an hour that not very many people would go. We went out to eat yesterday afternoon but we went at 4:00; not your normal dinner hour. We are trying to let him go to some public places just so he doesn’t go stir crazy.  This isn’t your typical 13 year old highlight activities.  We are blessed that we can spend this quality time with him. Some parents are too busy and some kids are too busy to do these small things together. We are thankful.

I really think that was the biggest disappoint of not having treatment this week. Not so much that he isn’t starting the next phase of chemotherapy, it’s more that he has to go another week limited on what he can do and who he can see. It’s been about 3 weeks now of him being isolated because of a low ANC.

It worked out well that he could go hunting and plans on doing the same this weekend. He will be going rabbit and deer hunting.

“In the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion; in the secret place of his tabernacle. He shall hide me; he shall set me high upon a rock.” Psalm 27:5

Bob took these pictures Saturday and Bennett wanted me to post them on the website. They captured of how much fun he had that day!

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What a shock! I couldn’t believe the blood test results that I got from our local hospital, I had to wait until I heard from St Louis at 4:30 today to believe it.

Bennett’s ANC went from 560 to 297. It was going up slowly the last few times but since Thursday his counts have dropped. His white blood count though was up from 1.4 to 2.7 but the neutrophils went from 40 to only 11 so his ANC is only 297. An ANC below 500 (I believe the other day, I said 1,000) is a severe chance of infection. From 500 to 1,000 is a slight chance and an ANC over 1,500 is good.

We were hoping and had our mind set that he would have treatment tomorrow and Wednesday of this week and hopefully his ANC would be over 1,000 to go to school next Monday. That is not the case now. He has missed 2 1/2 weeks of school so far this time around. He won’t be able to go this week and if he has treatment next Tues/Wed., than Thursday is Thanksgiving and no school Friday. So the soonest Bennett will be able to attend school is Monday, November 26th. (that’s if his ANC is high enough for treatment and than to attend school)

He is feeling good. He said his braces have made a small sore on the inside of his mouth so he started tonight taking the vitamin C pills again.

His hemoglobin and platelets were good so his nurse didn’t think we needed to do another CBC blood test until next Monday.

“God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.” 1 John 3:20

Bennett had another successful hunt. He participated in the youth pheasant hunt at the Wayne Fitzgerald State Park this morning for his first time. We asked our neighbor Larry to come along with his bird dogs to find the pheasants nesting. Right off the dogs flushed a hen, it scared Bennett, he shot and missed. Pheasants are sly, crafty and have an unpredictable behavior pattern.

The next pheasant that the dogs locked down, Bennett shot and got a nice hen. We kept on walking and wondering if we were going to see anymore. We moved spots and walked into the field a few feet, the dogs pointed and a hen and rooster flocked up, Bennett shot and got the rooster! His bag limit was two, with three shots, he killed two ring-necked pheasants! He was tired afterwards but had a great hunt! Thanks to our friends at the park and Larry for bringing your dogs!

Bennett got up at 3:30 a.m. this morning to go duck hunting with Bob in a boat. Bob is a co-worker of mine that works at the Mt Vernon bank. This is the story that Bennett and Bob told: there was a flock of ducks that went by (6 to be exact), Bennett had 3 shots in his gun, he shot, 1, 2, 3 times and killed 1, 2, and 3 ducks! The ducks were ring neck drakes. They waited around looking for the next flock and one lonely duck came by, Bennett shot but the duck was pretty far away. Bennett was so tickled with his accuracy with this being his first time and all. He had a blast – Thanks Bob for taking him! Needless to say, Bennett is feeling pretty good today!

Bennett’s ANC today was 560. Some better and it is gradually going up but we are still below 1,000 which is a severe chance of infection. His white blood count was 1.4 from 1.2 and his neutrophils were 40 from 28. His hemoglobin went down to 9.6 from 9.9. Platelets are good at 349.

Now, we will be waiting until Monday to do another CBC to see if he’s at 750 or higher so he can begin treatment on Tuesday. He has already been delayed one week. If his counts are high enough he will also have treatment on Wednesday so we will probably stay in St Louis Tues. night.

When he does begin treatment, he will a spinal tap with chemo injected into his spine plus an iv push of vincristine and methotrexate. The next day, he will have the PEG chemo which is 3 shots in his leg muscles. He has never had an iv push of methotrexate, just the high dose of methotrexate that was an iv drip for 24 hours. The Dr. thought he should do pretty good in this phase. It is called Interim Maintenance II; lasts 56 days and he has treatment 7 different times.

His cough is still better, coughing less and less, Yeah! I was afraid it was going to keep on and turn into something more.

He has a fun weekend planned, going duck hunting Saturday and pheasant hunting Sunday. He will be outside of course so he should be ok even if ANC is low. He is really looking forward to this!

“From the rising of the sun to its going down the Lord’s name is to be praised.” Psalm 113:3

Bennett’s about the same. His cough maybe just a little better. He is really not eating very much, his stomach bothers him at times and he is full after a very small portion of food. I am thankful he is eating but his appetite is not what it used to be.

We go in the morning for a CBC test at our local hospital. Anxiously waiting to see what his numbers will show.

We have had some excitement around the house – actually in the pole barn. Bennett’s dog, Katie had puppies – they are so adorable!  Here’s some pics of Hamilton showing off the proud mommy and puppies!