We are home and your prayers were answered left and right!

THANK YOU ~ THANK YOU! Ben's surgery didn't go as expected - but prayers were being answered throughout the whole event!
Thursday morning Randy & I had a good morning with Ben. We choose to wait until Thursday to have him take a bath so to waste some time. Ben woke up in a good mood and never asked to eat or drink until we were at the hospital - that in itself was a huge blessing. We didn't need to be to the hospital until 11am - surgery at 1pm - so we were worried that he wouldn't understand not being able to eat or drink - This was answer prayer number 1.
When we got to the hospital we needed to give Ben an anxiety pill. He took it without a fight and walked into the hospital. He even put his hand out to get the medical bracelet on with out a fuss. When we got to his room he climbed right into the bed and signed that it was time to sleep - WOW (the last time we did this a few months ago - I had to pick him up and drag him onto the bed). He changed his close with minimal assistance and was in an excellent mood. Randy's folks showed up and were a great support to us and Ben. When the nurse came in for blood presure, etc. we had a little resistance but the staff were great and didn't push him. The IV was put in on the first go (last time he got poked 7 times before we got a good placement).
Just before 1pm we traveled to the Meyer Heart Clinic and met the nurses and doctors. When they took Ben I went with until he fell asleep. When we got the the surgery room I watched them give the medication to put him to sleep. But they had problems right off the bat and they had to help him breath two separate times. That almost put me out - not easy to see your kid not breathing and 7 people working on him to help him come back!
After about 40 minutes into the surgery a nurse came out to the waiting room to let us know that the surgery had actually just started and that they had to intibate Ben with a breathing tube because he was having a hard time on his own - That wasn't what we expected to hear. Surgery went almost 5 hours (compared to the 2 - 3 we were expecting). I was pacing by the time he was done. They then let Randy and I in to see him in the Peds ICU. It was much harder to see Ben with a breathing tube than I expected. I almost went down!
After Ben woke up we were informed that Ben wouldn't be going home, instead spending the night, so Dad Smith brought Randy home to be with Nate and Rachael and Mom Smith stayed with Ben and I. At first I thought I could do it alone - but I'm so glad that Mom Smith insisted. The night was long and full of beeping machines. Ben ended up having an oxygen mask to help with breathing. We finally made it home about 1:30pm on Friday.
Good news: Ben came out of surgery safely and numerous prayers were answered through out the time we at the hospital!
Bad news: Dr Finta talked to us following surgery and there were some complications. Ben's arithmic problem was located in a critical place so there weren't able to complete the task they went in for. Finta said that there was a chance if they tried to complete the surgery Ben would have ended up with a pacemaker - AHHHH. Also that it is now necessary to go back in and get the job finished.
Results: We will be going back to see Dr Finta in about a month for a new EKG and an appointment to set another surgery date. This next time we will be going a little different route and do something with freezing the area. For now we have started Ben on the heart medication we were trying to prevent from using. It needs to be given to Ben in the morning and night. Fortunatly we can crush it and put it into his drink or food.
What we understand? - not much! I would say we are little overwhelmed right now. Please pray for Ben's safty during the next few months. Pray that Randy and I make the right decisions. Pray for the meds to go well and there to be none of the side effects that could occur. And remember to Praise God for the answers he as already given and that Ben is still with us today!
Love all the way around! Cheryl & Randy

Jesus Is the King!

I included that text in some information we are sending out from church. What a great reminder as we rush around with our tales cut off - "Jesus Is The King!"
I'm so sorry that our blog has not been updated as much recently. Randy said now that I am feeling better I write less ofter. Well life seems to take over very quickly. Yesterday Randy and I had an opportunity to see a sneak preview of the new moving coming out in December "The Nativity Story." GREAT MOVIE. It covers the birth of Christ and it is well done, other than for a few facts - the wisemen showed up a few years early, etc.
Just a quick fill in on the health condidtions of the Smith Family. I saw the neurologist last week and am on another new med. It is a preventative medicine for the headaches and migranes. It makes me very, very tired. I have also been having blurred vision - I think that might be from the Dystonia meds. But the good out weights the bad. Overall I am feeling great and am able to get around - walk, skip, have balance back . . . The new medication has been a God send for us! A few draw backs being on so many meds - but that is the way it is.
Tomorrow is Ben's surgery. Randy is taking the day off. We need to be at the hopital at 11am, surgery is at 1pm. My biggest worry is that Ben can't eat or drink after mid-night. I'm going to call the doctors office this morning and be sure of that. The problem isn't him skipping a meal - but his understanding.
Specific prayer requests would be for Nate and Rachael as they are at school tomorrow - that they don't worry and have a good day, for Ben and his limited understanding of what is going to happen to him, and for Randy and I as we try to parent and show him love in a difficult sittuation. Please also pray for Dr Finta and his team as they try to correct this area of Ben's heart and for any of the hospital staff - that they can show love and concern and have a special measure of paitence tomorrow.
We love you all. Have a fantastic week.

Sorry,

Its been awhile and I did'nt think I would be the one typing this. Our 3 month marathon of games, practices, fastfood and gas money is nearly over. One more game. Thanks to all who came to games to cheer on the Smith kids. There is still band, pep band, marching band is finished but here is concerts and solo ensemble. Well since Cheryl won't type this entry I say it,s ghost story time.

The name of the place was "the Junction", it was Allegan countys insane asylum at one time and its location, kept secret for a long time. I had parked my car at the opening of a severly over grown road, put on my hunting vest and loaded my shotgun. I had never been in this part of the Allegan forest before and the location intruiged me. Three large turkeys scampered down the unusually straight road so I knew this was a good spot. I had walked a ways with my head down looking at the tracks left by the birds when I had the feeling of something bigger than me just ahead. I looked up slowly to see a large broken iron gate, unhinged and rusty tangled with vines. Up ahead was a huge red brick building with six spires and several windows. The opressive building seem to suck the very light out the late autumn sky. I then noticed a large flock of turkey buzzards sitting on the roof spreading their wings to dry them. I had found the junction. This long kept secret was a secret no longer. I turned to go to my car to call some interested persons who would want to investigate the site with me when I was face to face with a pale greasy haired girl. Her eyes were cloudy and her teeth were bad.She grabbed me by the throught and let out a scream, I don't know how to describe it, I'm shaking as I type this,all I know is I struggled to hold my blatter. Every bird, whether in tree on the gound or on the roof of the building took to flight, encircling the two of us in a whirl wind of feathers and talons. The force of the wind was incredible and her grip got stronger, still screaming one long tone just higher than a shreak. I was now loosing it, I was blacking out I thought I was going to die, her scream now a muffled noise. Blackness. I opened my eyes to find myself at the boat launch at Dumont lake.I drove home and this is the first time I have ever said any thing about this. I have decided to keep the location of the Junction a secret. You would do well to stay out of the woods west of Monterey Center off of 130 th avenue. Wait,what have I done nooooooooooooooooooo.