Bennett had a blast being a part of the wedding party, he loved it! So much that he didn’t want to come home with us so he stayed the night again with his Uncle Doug and Aunt Tam for last night. He stayed at the reception to dance and meet new friends.

The bride and the wedding was beautiful! I’m sure you will agree with the pictures I have attached below.

We ask God to bless Jenny & Michael with happiness and love as they make their new life as one.

[caption id="attachment_2769" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Bennett & cousin Luke"][/caption][caption id="attachment_2773" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Doug, Tam, Jenny, Michael, Caitlin, & Luke"][/caption]

Bennett is doing good. I was afraid a couple days that he might be coming down with a cold because he started sniffling a little but so far so good!

He went to football practice again yesterday morning and night for couple hours each. He hung out with Gpa/ma J for the day.

The boys had a busy day today. Bennett went to football practice at 6 AM, whew, too early. They worked around the house, mowing the yard and putting some rock down in our drive way and side of house.

Bennett was worn out, the boys have left for our nieces wedding in Newton and Bennett slept in the back of the car on the way there. Bennett is in the wedding tomorrow as an usher.

Hope you give all your troubles and problems to God in prayer, may God hear all of our prayers and answer accordingly to his will.

Bennett is doing good. Today, highschool football practices started twice a day. His Dr. will not let him play football because of it being such a contact sport since he has the port-a-cath in his chest. The port-a-cath was surgically implanted and will have to be surgically removed. When his port is accessed, the nurse sticks a needle into the port and than he can receive medications, chemo or have his blood drawn. They access him almost every time we go to St. Louis but the weekly blood tests at our local hospital does not. They just stick him in the arm to draw his blood.

Anyway, Bennett is going to be the manager of the football team to help with whatever the coach needs. We hope Bennett can lift weights with them and do the exercises just not the physical drills/plays.

Bennett wanted to play golf this year since he knew he wouldn’t be able to actually play football. He has decided against that now. Since he had the stress fracture over the summer, he didn’t get to practice or take golf lessons so he doesn’t feel ready to play on the highschool golf team.

So far, his ankle is doing Great! It’s not hurting and not even swollen! We worried because a week ago, it was swollen but that went away! Amen!

May God heal Bennett’s ankle and heal him of any signs of leukemia forever!

“A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed. “If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean.” he said. Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” He said. “Be healed!” Instantly the leprosy disappeared, and the man was healed.” Mark 1:40-42

I was going through some pictures on the computer and realized I don’t think I posted very many pics of Hamilton playing baseball on the all star team this summer. He had a good season but unfortunately it was ended pretty quickly in the section tourney because we didn’t have enough players to finish out the tournament.

#5 HAMILTON PAGE

#5 HAMILTON PAGE

Bennett is doing good. He didn’t do much yesterday after Sunday school and church. He played with Hamilton and did a few things around the house.

He still has been lifting weights each night. Some nights he does 100 to 500 curls with each arm. He thinks the protein drinks he has been drinking is helping his muscles too.

His nurse in St. Louis indicated that the Dr. wanted to keep him on the 75% of his chemo pills. She thought his ANC might be elevated from the steroids he was taking. Good news! We don’t have to check counts for two weeks!! This will be a nice break. It will be time again in two weeks for his monthly Dr. visit too.

He went to Gpa/ma J’s today with Hamilton. He loves to eat at Thompsonville Cafe and they went there for lunch. Tonight he went to the movies with a couple friends in Benton and saw G-Force. He likes to go to just get out of the house.

Hamilton has been keeping busy with football practice every night for about 2 hours. He really likes it.

All is good, we are blessed and thankful!

“The Lord is my Shepherd; I have all that I need.” Psalm 23:1

Bennett’s ANC today is 3,465!!! WOW! From 1,560 one week ago. His WBC were 4.5 from 2.4 and neutrophils were 77 from 65. His hemoglobin was up to 12.0 from 11.6 And platelets went up to 212 from 98! Yeah! We’re thankful his counts are better and they didn’t go down anymore! He still is on 75% of his chemo dosage.

All other numbers were good too. His calcium was in normal range which he still is taking calcium supplement pills daily. He also has been drinking protein shakes and his protein level was good today too.

Bennett has been keeping busy mowing our yard and his grandparents yards. He also has been to the movies twice. Thursday night he went with me and my sister to see Proposal and tonight he went to see Gi Joe. Last night he went to the Miner’s game with some friends.

Hope all is well and everyone have a great weekend.

“I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope He has given to those He called.” Ephesians 1:18

Bennett is counting down the days before school starts. He hung out at home yesterday with Hamilton playing xbox and doing some chores around the house.

Today, the boys and I went to Venture Rivers Water Park in Eddyville, KY with the Smith’s. We had a great time and beautiful weather. The boys got some sun today, praying Bennett’s doesn’t get any red’er. He took his methotrexate pills yesterday and they can cause his skin to be more sensitive. Below are a few pics.

Bennett is doing good. He rested yesterday after Sunday School and church. But not for long, he shucked about 4 dozen ears of corn so Sid could freeze it. He rode around on his dirt bike and he likes to jump over a little hill we have in the back yard. He wants me to watch him but I can’t, it makes me too nervous.

He went fishing today at Gpa/ma J’s and he caught some blue gill and bass. Hamilton is the cat fisher, he got a pretty big one today.

Tonight, Bennett registered for High School! Oh my, school starts in a couple weeks on the 17th. I think I could of let myself get emotional tonight, it was almost like the first day of kindergarten! We pray Bennett stays healthy and can attend school each day!

He went with a friend to the Miner’s baseball game in Marion tonight. It’s been an adjustment for us that some of his friends drive. We pray for their safety and mature decisions. We’re thankful that Bennett is running around like a teenager and enjoying life! Thank you God for all your blessings!

Bennett’s ANC today is 1,560 from 2,210 a week ago. His WBC are 2.4 from 3.4 and neutrophils stayed the same at 65. His hemoglobin dropped to 11.6 from 12.4. His platelets dropped even more at only 98 from 148. It’s a good thing they decided not to increase his chemo dosage or his numbers would of dropped even more.

It seems he has been having trouble holding unto his platelets. A couple months ago they got really low and almost needed a transfusion. We pray that they rebound back pretty soon and his bone marrow makes several new platelet cells.

Today is his last dose of steroids which he has been taking twice a day for the last five days. He will be glad to have these behind him as they cause several side effects. The normal side effects are mood changes, increased appetite, and acne. And the biggest side effect which is less common but has affected Bennett too is weak bones and fractures. These steroids though are an important part of his treatment plan by killing cancer cells and increasing the effectiveness of his other anti-cancer medicines.

We plan to go to Marion tonight and dropping Bennett and a friend at the movies.

May God bless you & your family keeping you safe and healthy.