As we look back in 2008, it has been a very rewarding and hopeful year for our family.

Bennett was going through cranial radiation daily and hard chemo at the beginning of the year. He spent many days in bed and not feeling well at all.

Bennett publicly announced his confession in faith to Jesus Christ and was baptized! Amen!

He had the unanswered two week hospital stay in May with the infectious disease Dr’s not finding out what was wrong with him. He had over 30 tests including a bone marrow aspiration confirming he was still in remission!

He had his bad sunburn that kept on getting worse. It stumped the Dr’s if it was even really a sunburn even after a biopsy of it. It took a long time to go away.

He had so many problems with his ankle that were pretty weird and unexplainable causing us to be terrified that the cancer had returned there. After another MRI, we were blessed to hear the news that it was only scar tissue.

In July he had another hospital stay for a week with low counts and temp that were unexplainable. It took several weeks for them to reach a safe range.

Since than he was able to start the new school year and attends daily and is a honor roll student.

He is taking chemo pills daily and weekly and treatments in St. Louis monthly.

He made the Jr. High baseball team and had the 2nd highest batting average. He was named on the so IL All Star baseball team. He made the Jr. High basketball team and plays every game usually the first player off the bench.

He experienced one of the saddest moments of his life being pall bearer for a true friend that fought his cancer with dignity.

Bennett has come along way and we are so thankful that he succeeded through all these challenges with a positive attitude.

Thank you for continuing to follow Bennett’s journey and praying for him. Please know how incredibly and totally grateful we are to God and all of you for walking alongside us during this fight, carrying us at times and praying with us every day. We have been richly blessed!

May God continue to bless Bennett giving him strength and courage to withstand all things in 2009!

Bennett has his cold back. He is coughing more and a runny nose. He doesn’t feel bad which is good. We’ve started his allergy meds again. Not sure that is it or could it be this so IL weather? One day it’s 7 degrees and a week later it’s 70!

Sid has a pretty bad cold too just started about 2 days ago. He called the Dr. yesterday and got an antibiotic. It seems it has already moved to his chest. I’m washing stuff constantly and wiping down counters and handles, Praying that Bennett doesn’t get this or his cold gets worse.

He took his weekly 10 methotrexate pills. I’ve really pushed the liquid down him today, hoping this will help keep his liver levels in line. I called his nurse to check as I would prefer to go back Monday to check counts (you know we love to go weekly) – LOL) Not really but we would prefer to know what his liver is doing and maybe help correct it before he goes in two weeks for a spinal tap with methotrexate. The methotrexate chemo is what is causing his liver levels to be high, I don’t want to have to cancel the spinal tap. This is important in his treatment plan.

Only 2 more days left of 2008!

Bennett’s ANC was 1,827 today from 1,792! WBC were 2.9 with 63 neutrophils. His hemoglobin was 12.1 from 11.7 and platelets went up to 208 from 175! We really like these higher numbers! His counts are finally staying stable since he started the maintenance phase in April! We are very thankful!

His liver functions were up to 191 from 85. His Dr. was little concerned but she wants him to take as much chemo as he can so she wants him to continue on the same dosage and check counts again in two weeks. If he shows signs of upset stomach before than, we will have them checked sooner. This side effect would possibly mean his liver levels are too high.

He had his haircut today since it was shaved off 22 months ago. He wanted the length the same but to trim off the older hair that had been there for many months. I almost felt like it was his first hair cut! LOL He has always been so picky about his hair so our friend Laura came to the rescue again.

Bennett had a good day. I am blessed to be able to take off work to spend with the boys. We went to see Bedtime Stories this afternoon. A really cute movie!

“For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, He will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” Zephaniah 3:17

Bennett is doing good. He has had a great weekend! He went duck and goose hunting the last two mornings with Bob. Yesterday, Bennett shot and missed this beautiful mallard but Bob had a back up shot.

Today, he got this goose. He had a lot of fun and always has lots to tell when he gets home. He loves the outdoors and the wildlife. He is happy to just see some ducks and geese, he loves to watch them, when he gets one it’s a bonus! He must like it, to get up at 3:45 a.m. We’re thankful the weather warmed up and that he could go.

We go in the morning for a blood test. Praying for a safe ANC and that all other counts are normal. We continue to pray that Bennett stays in remission forever! Thank you for your daily prayers.

“Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in Me.” John 15:4

Bennett is doing good. We had a little bit of worrisome Christmas Eve. Bennett didn’t feel well, he felt pretty tired and his stomach really bothered him. He even turned down going out to eat and a movie. He felt really warm too. I told him I better take his temp, he agreed since he didn’t feel good. While we were taking his temp, we prayed that it was normal and it was! Later that night he felt some better.

We had an awesome Christmas especially since Bennett is doing so good. The last two Christmas’s, he was sick so we definitely appreciate him being healthy, it sure makes the day more happier.

The boys are enjoying the warm weather, they have played outside most of the day. Bennett went hunting/looking for geese this afternoon in our neighbors field and he saw thousands of geese! None of them landed or were too close but he said, “it was beautiful! Just watching them fly is so amazing!”

Hope everyone had a special Christmas!

Thank you God for our special gifts, Bennett and Hamilton!

Wishing you a Merry Christmas! Hope everyone has a blessed day!
Sid, Cindy, Bennett & Hamilton

“So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expectng a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her first born, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” Luke 2:4-7

First United Methodist Church Children's program

May your Christmas Eve be joyful and bright! Jesus is the reason for the season!

Bennett is doing good. We are so thankful! He didn’t have blood work today. The Dr. indicated we could wait and have them checked in two weeks. It really makes sense not to have them checked today anyway. Since he has been on steroids, his ANC would be elevated not giving us a true count. And his hemoglobin and platelets have been good high numbers so we wouldn’t expect them to drop that quickly.

The boys are counting down the days until Christmas Day. It’s hard to believe it’s already here.

Bennett said today that it already seems like he has been out of school a week and it’s only been 3 days. He has had open gym basketball practice today and tomorrow.

We are looking forward to going to the Bragging Rights basketball game tomorrow night against Missouri and Fighting Illini in St. Louis. We pray for safe travels and no bad weather.

We continue to pray for all our friends from SLCH and their families. We pray that everyone stays healthy and out of the hospital during the holidays.

Hope everyone is able to stay warm in these freezing temps.

Bennett is doing good! We were so thankful that his lingering cough and running nose didn’t turn into anything more. His Dr. was quite pleased too, she indicated that his WBC were high enough and able to fight it off since now, it has gone away.

Today, was his last day of school until the new year. Bennett and Hamilton both are looking forward to the Christmas break.

Hamilton had his Christmas program yesterday at school. I was sitting there and couldn’t help to think, last year I wasn’t able to be there because Bennett was in the hospital. I’ll never forget wondering if we were going to celebrate Christmas Day in the hospital, Bennett was discharged three days before, what a blessing!

We missed a lot of Hamilton stuff and a lot of things this year. I can’t believe it though!
Oh, and how we appreciate and are so thankful of the difference one year has made!

Thank you for checking in. Hope you and your family are happy and healthy!

“I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in Me will no longer remain in the dark.” John 12:46

Bennett’s appt went well today. He received an iv push of vincristine through his port, preventive pneuomia breathing treatment and saw the Dr. Bennett didn’t have any complaints or problems so it all went well. She told him to drink as much as he can especially on the days he takes the methotrexate pills to flush the chemo out of his body.

He is staying on the same dosage of chemo that he was previously on so he took 10 pills of methotrexate today. He also starting taking steroids twice a day for five days now. besides his daily 6mp chemo.

We made it to and from the hospital without any problems. St. Louis had some ice and a little snow but the roads weren’t too bad.

Bennett weighed 130 today gaining 6 pounds from last month so we were glad he was back to his normal weight.

Bennett’s basketball game was canceled tonight because of the weather. Hamilton was glad so Bennett and I didn’t have to hurry to the game. He’s always thinking.

It was weird and sad today of not seeing and visiting with Ryan and his Mom/Dad at the hospital. He is happier and healthier now but it’s hard on everyone that misses him.

“I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them, intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them.” 1 Timothy 2:1