Bennett is feeling fair.  He said he had a pretty bad headache today at school. Oh, this just makes me so nervous.  I am on pins and needles all day wondering how he is feeling or if he has a fever.  With his counts so low, it can turn so serious so quickly.

He had a baseball game tonight at home playing Marion losing 2 to 10.   Bennett had an off night batting.  He didn’t get on base, I think this is the first time all season.  He had one hit to short stop and got out at 1st, He strike out once and than hit a fly ball to short stop.

He had a good fielding game though playing center field.  He caught three fly balls with one of them being a great catch.  There was one hit that went to right field and Bennett ran and just barely missed it.  It was a great try.  He had 3 grounders that he got as well.  He also backed up a play and got the ball and threw the player out at 2nd base.

His running speed has improved greatly since this summer.  I wasn’t sure how much he would get that back because of still taking the vincristine chemo monthly. He’s probably not running as fast as he once could but is definitely getting better than before.

Bennett complained of another bad headache tonight.  It was so bad that he couldn’t concentrate on learning his spelling words.  I took his temp twice tonight and it has been below normal both times!!  Amen!    He took some tylenol for the headache but he can only take it once a day because it might hide a fever and than end up spiking too high really quick.

Bennett and I talked tonight about what the right thing to do about him going to school since his ANC is low and he really wants to go.  He says it’s too hard to make up the work and if I don’t go to school, I don’t play baseball.  His team needs him and Bennett needs his team.

I am trusting God to keep Bennett on the road to recovery.  We pray and ask God that his ANC will come up and not go down anymore.  Plus keeping the leukemia away forever.   Your prayers in uplifting Bennett is greatly appreciated.

Sid made it home safely tonight from storm work. Yeah!

The impossible can always be broken down into possibilities.

Bennett’s ANC today is 420 from 1,024.  Yep, I couldn’t believe it.    His WBC is 1.2 from 1.6 and neutrophils dropped to 35 from 61.  This is very concerning as his ANC is below 500 which is a severe chance of infection.  We are thinking that maybe this cold that he has and that the antibiotic that he is on is lowering his WBC.

His hemoglobin went up to 10.0 from 9.7. Platelets also went up to 108 from 98 which we were glad to see.  The liver functions were a lot better today at 153 from 481 last week.

Bennett is feeling the same.  He feels pretty good. He just has the congestion cough and running nose.  I thought maybe it was some better today.  He has about two more days of augmentin left to take.

St. Louis called and doesn’t want him to take any chemo for a week.  The daily 6mp or the weekly methotrexate because his ANC is below the protocol number of 750.

I’ve debated all day if Bennett should go to school or not since his ANC is so low.  I hate to take him out since he is doing so well. He really doesn’t feel bad enough to stay home.  Plus he isn’t on home bound this year, Plus this is what he looks forward too, school and baseball games. And he is sick with a cold already.  We are praying that Bennett doesn’t get a fever or get any other sickness while his counts are low.  We pray his counts recovery quickly.

Last year I didn’t like him to go to school or be around very many people if his ANC was below 1,000 so this is some real adjusting.  He says he stays away from sick kids and that he uses hand sanitizer a lot at school.  Hopefully since we are stopping his chemo, his numbers will go up considerably by next week. I asked if we should check them before next Monday and the nurse indicated not unless he began feeling worse.

He is supposed to go next Tuesday to St. Louis for chemo treatment but will have to wait to see what his counts are on Monday first.

Hope everyone made it through all the storms.  Sid left yesterday morning to work around Anna, IL.  His crew still hasn’t been to bed but he thought tonight that were going to get a few hours of sleep in a hotel.  We pray for everyone that is without power and pray for the safety of Sid and all the workers cleaning up after hurricane Ike.

To be upset over what you don’t have is to waste what you do have.

Bennett got some sun today at Hamilton’s flag football game. His face and arms are a little pinkish. It was pretty warm out. Hamilton played in Ziegler against the Christopher, Ziegler, and Royalton team. We won 23 to 12. Hamilton was quarterback and made 3 touchdowns. He really likes to play, he says it’s his favorite sport but I am sure that will change when the next “ball” season starts.  Below are a few pics.

Bennett is doing about the same. He still coughs some and usually has something to cough up. His nose runs a little. He started cough syrup last night and we’re hoping that helps.

His next blood test is Monday morning at our local hospital. We will check his liver functions again and praying that they are down so he can continue on the methotrexate chemo that he takes weekly. The 6mp chemo that he takes daily does not effect the liver. We are hoping that maybe his ANC will be higher since he didn’t take the methotrexate chemo last Tuesday.  Maybe if his WBC are higher,  they will help fight off  this cold he has.  He still is on his antibiotic.

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We want to remember and say an extra prayer to the families of the loved ones that lost their life on September 11, 2001.

Bennett’s game tonight was home against Herrin. We lost a nail biter with a 3 to 5 score. It was 1 to 2 until the 7th inning. Bennett had 3 out of 4 hits. Two of them went to left field and the other one was a hard grounder to short stop and he beat out the throw to first. He had two steals and one run. His other time up to bat was a fly ball to short stop that was caught. Bennett played left field for 6 innings and center field for one inning. Below is a pic of Bennett on 3rd base, he was stranded twice on third.

Bennett and all of us are so thankful that Bennett is doing so good in baseball, he loves it! He doesn’t even think about that he is the player with leukemia and has been fighting for his life. This school year and this baseball season has given him a chance to focus on kid stuff instead of Dr. visits and feeling bad most of the time. We praise God and Thank him for his healing power!

He says he feels okay but I know he can’t feel great. He was coughing in the dugout and out on the field. If the cough isn’t better by tomorrow night, I think we should try some cough syrup. I hate to give it to him trying to go to school, playing ball, and staying up late to do homework as the cough syrup might make him even more tired.

We appreciate you checking on Bennett and all of your love and support!

“Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our maker. For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand.” Psalm 95 6-7

Bennett’s cough is getting worse. It seems when he coughs that it is coming from his chest. His nose is running some as well. We are making sure he faithfully takes his antibiotic along with his daily chemo pills.

Bennett’s baseball team won tonight 6 to 5! It was an awesome game! It was close throughout the whole game and his team played with a lot of enthusiasm and spirit!

Bennett had 2 singles; both hit in the outfield, 2 steals, and 2 runs. He also was hit again tonight with a pitch. This time in the back, he has a red ball spot on his back. He said it hurt. Last night he was hit in the leg and he has a bruise on it today. He bruises easy anyway because of his platelets being low and it will probably take awhile for it to heal. Hoping at tomorrow nights game, he isn’t hit by the pitcher again. He played left field and caught one fly ball that looked hard to catch because of the wind.

He has been working on homework the rest of the night and really studying hard especially for his spelling test. It is not coming easy for him and it is easy for him to get confused. We are praying he doesn’t become too frustrated.

I heard that there was an awesome prime time fundraiser cancer special on T.V. Friday night that we missed called Stand up 2 Cancer. We are praying that the money raised will help find a cure for all of the cancers. We ask that God will heal all of the people especially the children fighting this disease.  Let’s all SU2C!

Bennett didn’t feel well this morning and didn’t go to school until about 3rd hour.  His temp was normal but he felt pretty bad.  He started feeling better and was ready to go.  He has started coughing more and his nose is runny.  I called his nurse at SLCH to let her know he felt a lot worse today but she stated that there is not much more they can do for him but to call if he starts running a temperature.  We are thankful that it has been normal.

He had a game tonight at home playing Carbondale!  His team won!  16-4!  I was afraid Bennett wouldn’t do so well since he was sick but he hit a triple right off the first bat!  His next hit was a hard hit to right field that was caught and than he was hit by the pitch advancing to first base.  He had 2 RBI’s, 2 runs, and 2 stolen bases.  He played center field.

We are praying Bennett’s bug doesn’t get any worse. Thanks for checking in. May God bless you and your family.

Bennett’s ANC today is 1,024 from 1,742. WBC were 1.6 from 2.6 and neutrophils were 64 from 67. His hemoglobin was 9.7 and platelets were 98; close to last weeks. His liver functions were up this week too high so the Dr. wants him to not take his 13 methotrexate pills tomorrow and re-check levels next week. He will continue to take his 6mp pills.

Bennett had a sore throat this morning so I took him to his pediatrician in Marion. He did a strep throat test and it came back negative. His temp was low grade at 99.2. The Dr. prescribed him augmentin for twice a day. St. Louis said keep an eye on him (like always). He didn’t have school so he was able to rest some. He said he didn’t feel too bad and still wanted to play tonight’s baseball game.

We played Mt. Vernon and lost 2 to 8. Bennett pitched 4 innings walking 5 batters and striking out three. Our team had trouble hitting the ball with Bennett getting out each time too but had an RBI. He had 2 outs as pitcher and played left field the rest of the game catching a hard fly ball.

We pray that Bennett’s antibiotic works in keeping his sore throat away and he doesn’t have a fever over 101 because than he is automatically admitted to the hospital. We pray that his liver functions get back to normal.

Bennett didn’t do much this weekend. He had baseball practice Sat. morning and hung out at home both Sat. and Sun. He rested quite a bit but he said he didn’t really feel sick except for a sore throat, nose a little stuffy, and coughing a little . Tonight, he says he doesn’t feel real bad but he doesn’t feel his best either. His temp tonight was 99.5.

Bennett’s braces are off!!!! He has had them on for almost 2 years. He went to the orthodonist today too and got them off! We were afraid with all of his treatment that he would have to wear them a lot longer since he missed some appts plus it was hard for him to wear his rubber bands like he was supposed to with all the mouth sores he had BUT he did it!! Congratulations Bennett!!

Below are a few pics from tonight’s game.

Bennett’s baseball team played Christopher tonight and won 15-0.  Bennett  batted three times and had a single, 2 walks, 3 stolen bases, and 2 runs.  It was hard for him to slide into the bases since the field was a little muddy.  He stopped a couple inches before home plate and dove the rest of the way.  He played center field but no balls were hit to him.  It was good to see his team pick up a win!  They play again Monday night at home.

Bennett and I went to lunch together today.  He was telling me of how awesome being a librarian is.  Instead of study hall, he asked if he could help in the library.  I was really surprised because Bennett never has been a book worm.  He loves working in the library.  He checks in and out books which I believe is all done on the computer.  He was telling me, that he couldn’t let a student check out a book because he had a late fee yesterday.  He said today, he brought in the late fee and he had to mark in the computer that he was paid before he checked his book.  Sounds like he is getting job experience to me!  He really looks forward to it each day.

We went to the Varsity football game tonight and they won beating Sparta!  It was a good game, a little rainy but we didn’t get too wet.

Thank you for checking in.  Please continue to pray for Bennett’s health and that he will continue doing Great!

“Don’t limit your challenges,   Challenge your limits!”

Yes, it’s true I’m the BIG 4 0 today! I know some of you thought I was a lot younger! You’re only as old as you feel or ACT!   With everything we have been through I’m thankful for each day especially birthdays!

Bennett is doing good.  He was a little tired tonight and went to bed early. His baseball game tonight was rained out so it gave us a chance to have birthday dinner at Red Lobster. He was disappointed that they didn’t play because we were playing West Frankfort and Bennett was going to start the game as pitcher.

I love the birthday card Bennett gave to me:

I love you as my Mom–

the wonderful woman who has done more for me

than any other person in the world.

I love you as my friend –

someone who understands me, takes time to listen,

and truly cares about how I’m doing.

I love what you’ve made me –

a happy child, a grateful adult,

and someone who will always look up to you.

Happy Birthday Mom,

Love Bennett

Bennett is doing good. He had a baseball game tonight which we lost in 5 innings to Harrisburg by the ten run rule. Bennett only batted twice; hit it to short stop and got out at first, and than hit a fly ball to right field that was caught. He played left field and had a few grounders and caught a fly ball. He played first base in the 5th inning and had an assist out. Bennett hated that they lost but he continues to be happy with how he is playing and is focusing on that.

Bennett’s nurse called today to check on Bennett’s counts from yesterday to make sure I got them from the hospital. She indicated she was surprised his ANC wasn’t higher because of taking steroids for the last week. I forgot that steroids increased his WBC. I thought how did I not notice this before. His ANC yesterday was 1,742, good number. His ANC previously after taking steroids were in early August 1,050 and that was after the 2 week hospital stay in July and all the neupogen shots. In July, it was 585 and in June, 1,539. This month and last was the first two months without interruption in the maintenance phase so he hasn’t really had a pattern to go by.

I asked her about doing a rocky mountain spotted fever test on Bennett since we found a tick on him. She said, they don’t do that and are not worried about it. To just watch him like I would anyway and let them know. Yep, she thinks I’m paranoid too. Could we wrap Bennett in seram wrap and keep him in a giant bubble? LOL God will keep him safe.

Our buddy, Ethan and his family got notice today that they have a consultation appt in Philadelphia tomorrow morning to see a Dr. so they left tonight. His caring bridge site if you want to follow and leave an encouraging comment, is: www.caringbridge.org/visit/ethanweiman

The dog we found and I posted yesterday, already has a new home. Friends of ours saw the post and came tonight to get her. We are so thankful, everyone is happy!

Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.