Bennett is doing good. Just like any other kid, he is hoping it snows some more and there is no school tomorrow.  During supper, he talked a lot about the snow and how beautiful it was today.  We got rain, sleet, and about an inch of snow today. Supposed to get maybe 5 more inches starting around midnight.

Bennett and Hamilton played outside after school today. They even got the football out and played football together. He was pretty tired and has ended up taking a nap this evening.

He said today at lunch that the 7th grade basketball team and him played the 7th grade volleyball team at a volleyball game and the boys won. Maybe if we asked the girls – they really won?

Thank you for checking in on Bennett and we appreciate your  prayers/support!

“In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be your strength.” Isaiah 30:15

Bennett is doing pretty good. His fever hasn’t come back, yeah! He still has a cough that sounds pretty deep in his chest. We are hoping this goes away soon.

He went to school today and had a pretty good day. He is trying to make up what he missed the last two days. He forgot to take his medicine this morning so I picked him up for lunch to give it to him. Of course he talked me into taking him to subway to eat. It gives me a chance to see how he is doing plus make sure he is eating good. He needs all the food and calories he can get.

He went to the Jr High volleyball game tonight. Since the girls were playing, it gave him a chance to sit with all his friends.

“There is always hope – because there is prayer”

“When you pray- you demonstrate that there is always hope.”

“If you have faith, you have hope.”

7:30 a.m. We made it through the night! Bennett did have a fever through out the night but it never reached 101. We are hoping his fever has broke because this morning his temp was 98.0! He will be staying home today with Grandma J and hopefully will be feeling better soon. Thank you for your prayers.

2:00 p.m. Bennett feels good. His temp has been normal. He has a cough but it’s better too. He has been up since this morning playing video games and watching TV. He took a shower and felt good enough to go to school. He wanted to go this afternoon but we will wait until tomorrow. We don’t want him to get worn out and push himself too much.

9:30 p.m. Bennett is doing so much better.  We are sure thankful that his temperature only lasted a day. Hopefully he will have a better night’s sleep because I know he was anticipating that he would have to go to St Louis.  We already had the car packed and was just waiting.  He will need to take it easy for the next few days but he is going to try to go to school tomorrow.

“Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of his knowledge in every place.” 2 Corinthians 2:14

12:15 p.m. Boy how things can change. That’s why we need to count our blessings daily as they may be gone tomorrow. Bennett woke up this morning feeling sick. Yesterday after church he went to bed and only got up to eat a sandwich for supper. He had trouble sleeping, felt very tired/weak, throat starting to get sore, coughing a bunch. This morning his temp was 100.1. We called SLCH, they sent us to our pediatrician to have a rapid flu test done. He tested positive. His pediatrician wanted to do a chest x-ray because his lungs didn’t sound real clear. Chest x-ray came back normal, no pneumonia. Dr. prescribed tamiflu. St Louis has canceled his treatment for tomorrow and have delayed it for a week.

The most amazing news is that his ANC is 6,872!! This is the highest it has ever been. Thank you God because low counts, with a temp/infection is dangerous. The Dr. did indicate if his temp is 102 or higher, he would have to be admitted. The Dr. did say that the antibiotic and fever could lower his counts.

Hemoglobin was 10.2. Platelets went down from 166 to 141. Normal is 150 so a little low. Bennett weighed 122 on the pediatrician office scales. (not as heavy as Bennett had hoped)

We ask God to keep Bennett’s temp low and that the tamiflu starts working and gets rid of his flu. Please pray with us.

7:30 p.m. Bennett’s temp has been going up and down all afternoon ranging from 100.5 to 101.8.  I keep checking it every hour or so. He has been trying to sleep. He did get up a few minutes ago and took his tamiflu and ate some yogurt. We are praying that his temp stays below 102 so he can stay home and rest. We are also praying that it doesn’t shoot up to a dangerously high temp quickly. Normally we would already be at the hospital since it’s been over 101 but since the Dr. knows he has the flu, she indicated that he could stay home until it reached 102. We have heard several of Bennett’s friends are sick today too. Hoping everyone feels better soon!

“If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” Romans 10: 9-10

Bennett, Cody, and Trey

“For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” Galatians 3:26-27

Bennett and two of his friends today were baptized and went in front of the church publicly announcing their acceptance of Jesus into their life/heart. They have been going to confirmation class for the last four months. Bennett wants to be emerged so he will be baptized in my Mom/Dad’s pond in early summer.What a proud/joyful moment for us! Praise be to God! God has blessed Bennett with high counts and he felt good for his confirmation ceremony!

“Therefore go and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 28:19

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THE BIBLE says: 1. All have sinned – Not all saved. 2. All must face God in judgement – Not all go to heaven. 3. Christ died for all & Christ invites all – Not all say “yes”. 4. The Bible says“Whosoever believes and calls on His Name will be saved”, Romans 10: 13.

In church we sang one of my favorite hymn’s as it is a great testament of God’s love.

I heard about his healing, of his cleansing power revealing, how he made the lame to walk again and caused the blind to see; and than I cried, “Dear Jesus, come and heal my broken spirit,” and some-how Jesus came and brought to me the vic-to-ry!  We have VICTORY IN JESUS today!

Bennett is doing good. He has had a pretty busy day. He got up early this morning and went to the gym to practice basketball at 7:30 this morning before Hamilton’s future Rangers practice. Bennett and his Dad played a game. Guess who won? Sid is getting old, Of course, Bennett won!

We went to the mall today to pick up some new church clothes. We have a special church service to attend tomorrow.

The boys went to the high school basketball game tonight. Bennett was looking forward to getting out and seeing his friends.

Bennett’s next blood test is Monday to check his ANC and other counts. We expect his ANC to hopefully be even higher than last week. Than on Tuesday, he begins his 5th phase (Interim Maintenance II). He will get a spinal tap with chemo injected into his spine, iv push of vincristine and doxorubicin. He will start taking dexamethasone (steroid) for 5 days. We are praying that the side effects are not severe from these chemotherapy drugs.

“Teach me to do your will, for you are my God, your spirit is good.” Psalm 143:10

Bennett went to school today. We went to lunch together and he ate really well. He has been eating really good the last two weeks and it really has showed. He looks like he has gained some weight and looks better. He thinks he his going to weigh about 128. This would be the most he has weighed, so we will see on Tuesday. He weighs at home but we like to go by the clinic scales to keep track.

Bennett wanted to go to the High school basketball game tonight in West Frankfort but he ended up falling asleep because he was so tired. He didn’t get up until 7:30 so we decided it was better to stay home out of the cold and get his rest. His cough is better so we are thankful that it didn’t turn into an infection.

Count your blessings instead of your crosses

Count your gains instead of your losses

Count your joy instead of your woes

Count your friends instead of your foes

Count your smiles instead of your tears

Count your courage instead of your fears

Count your full years instead of your lean

Count your kind deeds instead of your mean

Count on God instead of your self!

Another good day! Oh, how we are counting are blessings and are enjoying Bennett feeling well. He went to school today and went to the Jr. High basketball game tonight. Benton won!

Bennett’s hair has really taken off and grown. It seems in the last week that it is covering in his head and almost looks like a very short buzz cut. He has made comments about it and someday may stop wearing a hat. He is handsome any which way! I have told him not to get too used to it because he will lose it again in this next phase.

He has been very talkative tonight telling me about his day at school.  He has talked about this summer when he can play baseball, basketball, and all the things he will do!

Bennett gave me this quote and wanted me to post it.

“You can prepare for it, but you really have to experience it to know what it is about.” Bruce Weber – Illini basketball coach

Ah, the sound of the boys playing basketball together in the house is so sweet! Bennett has felt good. He has been going to school each day, participating in P.E. class, and in the evening playing basketball with Hamilton. He has really been watching what he eats and drinks lately. He tries to drink eight glasses of water and several glasses of milk each day. He doesn’t eat any junk food as he really wants to be healthy. He has also been lifting weights at home.

The Red Cross is having a blood drive at the Franklin Hospital on Friday and also one at the Benton Grade School on Monday, I encourage everyone to donate blood. I know I will. It really saves lives. Bennett has received several blood transfusions and we sure appreciate those that have donated blood.

We heard some terrible news today. A young boy from  Thompsonville was just diagnosed with leukemia today. He is in ICU at SLCH. Please pray for him and his family. I lend my hand/heart out to them.

I appreciate everyone’s prayers, love and support. Thank you so much for all the comments on Bennett’s website. It always puts a smile on our face when we read and see who is still praying for Bennett’s miracle! God bless you.

“For the Lord is a sun and shield; the Lord will give grace and glory; no good thing will he withhold from those who walk uprightly.” Psalm 84:11

O.K.; are you ready? ……………………………………………………………….

Bennett’s ANC today was 2,907!  We were so hoping for this! Our estimation is that he should have good counts again on Monday when we check them again before he begins the next phase on Tuesday. We really would like his ANC to start off high for this next phase.

The next phase he starts is the same phase he did in May/June and Sept/Oct. After he finished the two months of treatment, his ANC went below 500 for about a month plus he ended up in the hospital for dehydration in July and for a fever the end of Oct. The only difference in this phase is that he has to have cranial radiation at the same time as the chemotherapy around the end of Feb.  Not sure how this will affect him.    So we already know what we are in for, some hard times ahead closer to the end of this treatment. More transfusions, very low counts, not feeling well, and possible chance of a hospital stay. It will be OK though, we know he has to finish this to move on to maintenance!

We are so thankful that he will have another week of being able to attend school and going to ball games or wherever he wants to go. Well, maybe not anywhere? LOL

His hemoglobin was 9.3, normal starts at 12.5 so still low but not low enough for a transfusion. Platelets are in normal range at 166.

Thank you for all your prayers as God has answered another one for us!! Blessed be to God!

P.S. Bennett won at miniature golf! He had 3 – hole in ones!