Bennett is feeling better and went to school today.  He started feeling a little better last Thursday and Friday.  He had another fever Friday night of 101.5 and by Saturday it was gone and so far hasn’t come back.  We’re glad he’s feeling better and hope it stays away.  There is a lot of sickness going around.  We pray his counts go up quickly to help fight off any other infections.  We won’t check them again until the weekend of  his next St. Louis appt which is on Tues. Feb. 8th.

He was able to go goose hunting Sunday afternoon after church but no luck of having a good shot.     The season ends in a week so he hopes to be able to go again, hope he gets something to finish off the season with a BANG!

Thank you for all the prayers and support.  We’re thankful his illness didn’t get any worse.

Bennett is still not feeling well.  He woke up this morning with 100.8 fever. He still has a bad headache and stomach is upset.  I called his Dr. today and she decided to change his antibiotic to the z pack.  She also wanted an influenza swab to be done to see if he had A or B flu and it came back negative.  We also checked his blood work.

His ANC has dropped to 945 from 2,898 from a week ago Sunday.  His WBC are 3.5 from 6.3 and neutrophils are 27 from 45.  Hemoglobin was great at 14.8 which stayed the same and his platelets are 121 form 177.   His nurse in St. Louis received a copy of the CBC report and called to discuss.  She indicated that his ANC has probably dropped because of his infection. Also, that it will take almost a year for his counts to return normal after the extensive chemo he had.

Bennett is feeling a little better tonight and is out of the bed for the first time in 3 days.  We pray he gets better soon and that his counts will rise to a higher range.  God Bless!

Bennett is sick. Monday night he had a fever and his throat was getting worse. He woke up Tuesday morning with a fever of 101.5. I took him to the Dr. and he has a sinus infection and possibly strep throat too.  They did a culture and we won’t find out until Friday. Dr. prescribed amoxicillin for him.    He has ran a fever for the last two days, this morning it was 102.0 and went down after two hours to 100.8 with Tylenol.  He really doesn’t feel good at all.  He has a bad headache,  sore throat, coughing, body aches with fever.  He has been upset at his stomach too which might be drainage from his sinuses.  We pray he gets well soon!

Bennett is doing good.  He woke up this morning with a headache and a little sore throat but hopefully it won’t turn into anyhing.  It didn’t get him too down as him and Hamilton went goose hunting this afternoon.  After shooting their bows for an hour at the techno game hunt at Rend Lake Sporting Goods.  Their arms got tired but they enjoy shooting at different critters and practicing shooting their bows.

Bennett went hunting Saturday and Sunday mornings and afternoons too.  He saw a few each time and on the  Sunday morning hunt he got a goose.  Hamilton went a few times with him when he didn’t have basketball and baseball practice.   On Sunday they left at 5:30 a.m. and got home in time to change their clothes and go to church and as soon as they had lunch, they were back in the field hunting for geese.

Bennett’s Dr. appt went well on Tuesday.  She said he was doing Great.  The weather was looking pretty bad but we managed by driving slower and taking our time.  I think we got about 4 inches of snow but thankfully no ice though.  His Dr. said he will continue his follow up appts. on a monthly basis until July of this year and than we will go to every other month  for another year.  The next year we would go every three months and than every six months for another year so a total of 5 years of follow up visits.  She asked about his symptoms and how he was doing in school.  She reiterated that were going to know sooner than her if his not doing well by his symptoms.  Also the blood work is always a good sign on how he’s doing and we’re blessed to say they’ve been Great!  We’re thankful and praise God!!!!!

Happy 2011!  Can’t believe the first week of the New Year is already over.

Bennett’s ANC today is 2,898!  From 2,279 last month.  His WBC are 6.3 from 5.3 and neutrophils are 46 from 43.  His hemoglobin is 14.8 from 14.5 and platelets are 177 from 185 so All counts are GREAT!  We’re thankful and blessed with another successful report!   His next monthly St. Louis appt is this Tuesday. 

  Bennett has been keeping busy helping with Hamilton after school with homework and taking him to basketball practices.  He went goose hunting this weekend both Saturday and Sunday mornings early.  He didn’t see anything, we really haven’t seen very many geese flying lately, it’s been really cold.

  We pray to God to continue to keep Bennett in remission to continue to bless him/us with good blood counts and NO leukemia!  We ask God to be with all the children fighting this horrible disease.  The hospital’s unfortunately are always busy with new patients diagnosised.  We pray for these families that they will find positive things and become closer to God during this life changing experience.

We pray 2011 brings good health to Bennett and to all of family & friends!  May God’s grace shine through all of his people and bring good things to this world!

Bennett has been goose hunting all day and got one!  They saw several and had a few speckle bellies locked up in their decoys but they didn’t land close enough. It’s a lot of work and time setting out all the decoys and setting up their blinds; He loves it though!!

Hamilton's 1st goose.

Grandpa Johnston & Hamilton rabbit hunting

We all had a blessed Christmas and hope you did too. The boys Christmas break from school is really going by fast. Bennett has been goose hunting almost every day and some nights. He gets up at 4:30 a.m. and goes, how dedicated! Hamilton has gone with him a few times. This morning, Hamilton went rabbit hunting with my Dad. Hamilton got two rabbits and Grandpa got one. He hurried home to go goose hunting with Bennett and his friend Tyler. They weren’t in the field 30 minutes and a flock of geese came into range with their calling and decoy spread. They all shot and Hamilton got one! They are all so happy and proud!

We are so blessed and thankful Bennett is doing so good! He is enjoying every minute of his break hunting and being outside.

“While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her first-born son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” Luke 2: 6-7

“But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Luke 2:10-12


Merry Christmas to All! May you remember the reason for the season close to your hearts. We pray that God be with the children that are in the hospital during this holiday season and heal them. We pray for the ones that are going through this Christmas time without their precious loved ones.

We’re so grateful for God’s special gift in blessing Bennett with good health!

Bennett’s doing good!  He had a Great Dr. appt on Tuesday in St. Louis.  He finished his last preventive breathing treatment!  We’re so thankful.  He has been taking these breathing treatments every month for almost four years.  They say, the medicine tastes really bad.  Bennett has to have peppermint candy to help disguise the taste. Some children throw up and cry because the taste is horrible.  We’re glad that part is over!   Now when we go each month, he will just have to see the Dr.  We will already have his counts checked here locally each month for the Dr. to review.

He saw Santa at the Dr. on Tuesday.  He sat on Santa’s lap with Santa asking him what he wanted for Christmas.  He said nothing at all, just good health.     He always has taken to Santa and is never to old to have his picture taken with him.  

Bennett has been goose and duck hunting a lot.  Yesterday he got up at 4:00 a.m. and went out with a friend on their pond scouting out geese.  They saw several geese flying around.  He went again in the afternoon and saw several ducks, he really enjoys watching them fly and calling them with his goose and ducks calls.    Him and Lindy have been hanging out as usual.  Today, we had a beautiful service at church with our children’s Christmas program, the boys read scriptures and did a good job. 

Hamilton had his first 5th grade basketball game at West Frankfort yesterday.  We won 44-16.  I can’t believe Hamilton is 5 ’1′.   He is about to catch me.  Bennett has decided not to play sports, he really enjoys being outside and hunting more and he wants to live each day to the fullest.

“Just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.” 2 Corinthians 1:5