Bennett felt fair on Easter Sunday. He got up to see what the Easter bunny brought but didn’t have the energy to hunt for eggs. He asked Hamilton if he would gather them up for him. We stayed home all day because of his low counts.

Bennett has been eating pretty good but smaller portions. He is still taking anti-nausea medicine every 6 hours. He said in the hospital, he was really nauseated and thought he was going to throw up; that explains why he wasn’t eating.

Him and Hamilton went to Gpa/ma J. today and spent quite a bit of time outside. I was glad Bennett felt like going instead of laying in bed all day. They have been playing basketball together and video games.

Tomorrow, Bennett will have a blood test to check counts and also an iv push of vincristine. Tomorrow will end the last treatment for the Delayed Intensification II phase!

I have a feeling that Bennett’s ANC might drop again before it stays at a good level. I could be wrong but last time Bennett was on this phase without radiation it took him a month for his ANC to stay over 500. Once his ANC reaches 750 than he will start the Maintenance phase! This will be a day to celebrate!

Once Bennett is on the maintenance phase, he will repeat this 12 week course continuously until July 2010. Yes, 2 years and 4 months away! The maintenance phase consists of steroids, chemo daily by pill and monthly appts in St Louis to administer iv push of vincristine and periodic spinal taps with chemo injected into his spine. We are under the assumption that Bennett should be able to return to school and hopefully play sports while on the maintenance phase. I know he will have his days that his tired or just doesn’t feel good but we are praying that he can be involved in more teenage activities.

“Through him, therefore, let us constantly and at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify his name.” Hebrews 13:15