Home For Good?! We Pray So!

Unbelievably - This morning we went to the emergancy room once again. Last night before and after blogging I struggled with God to know what the right thing to do for Ben was. Praying for an answer on what was causing his pain and swelling. In the morning I felt like the right thing to do was to contact his new doctor, Dr. Mitchell's office. She is the hemotologist who is helping to manage his case. After a lengthy conversation with one of the nurses we were asked to bring Ben in to emergancy and to be prepared to stay. After calling Randy and then totally breaking down on the phone with my mother-in-law, we headed out the door.
GOD IS SO GOOD - the nurse I had talked to had already alerted the ER staff that we were on our way and the problems we were having. After speaking to the student doctor, the doctor in charge came in and almost immediately identified Ben's swollen, hot, and painful leg with an infection that can form from a cut, or surgery. Come to find out Ben got the infection following the surgery last Thursday where they were trying to address and get rid of the clot that was blocking his leg.
After starting Ben on a heavy doses of an antiboatic we had additional blood work done and an another ultrasound of his leg - then they gave us a prescription and let us go home. A record in and out for us!
Ben is in the livingroom sleeping tonight. He seems to be more comfortable then the last few days, but not active. I can tell he is still in pain because he won't let me touch his leg and he keeps it very still on top of the pillow I have in place to elevate it.
This has been two of the longest weeks of my life - Randy and I are so ready to finish out 2006 and start again with a new year.
In the next few weeks Ben will be taking a few different meds that have their own time frame for each. We have appointments to see several doctors and scheduled lab work for drawing blood. Please pray for his comfort, peace and COMPLETE healing! Also for my mental and physical health. We appricate your love and support. Thanks for checking the blog for updates and limiting the phone calls! Especailly know - trying to catch cat naps when I can! MUCH LOVE to All!
Feeling better and back in control ~ Cheryl

My Sweetheart ~ Benji

Sometimes life can just plain suck! I try to keep my head up and go on. Knowing that the Lord is in control and "he won't give you more than you can handle" - is that actually in the Bible? I am very thankful that Ben and I were able to come home on Christmas Eve and have our family together in the livingroom on Christmas morning. Yes there is a 'but' coming - But it doesn't feel like quite enough.
Last night (Tuesday) around 9pm Randy and I brought Ben back to the emergancy room and were released a little after 3am this morning. Ben seems to be in a lot of pain with his left leg. He is using it less and less. I am trying to support his weight to help him get around, but I can see he is hurting. While at the hospital they did a x-ray and found no broken bones, as well as an ultrasound the length of his leg and found no additional clots. That is great but we still don't know why Ben won't use his leg. Today we went to a second hand store and bought a used wheelchair so that when we are out and about he can come with us. We then went to see the movie "Night at the Museum". When we got home his leg was more swollen than before we'd left. I'm at a loss of what to do. He whimpers when we try to get him to use it and then a minute later he is giggling and teasing us (without moving his leg).

The morning and evening shots are going very well. Ben is such a trooper. He understands that we are giving him the shot so he can stay home with us.

I'd like to ask EACH of you to pray that we can connect some understanding to Ben's needs right now. I just can't figure out how to take his pain away! I'm thankful he is in God's hands - but right now it is hard to leave him there.
Tired and Emotional ~ Cheryl

The Best Present

It is almost 9:00 pm on Christmas Eve and I have already received my present! Ben is home and my family is hanging out TOGETHER in the living room watching The Christmas Story. To everyone - thank you for your prayers. Cheryl

Christmas Eve, my favorite night of the year. It has always been a mysteriously peaceful night. Everyone tends to leave their Christmas lights on all night long. I remember seeing Santa ounce at my Uncle Jerrys' home in Grand Rapids. I have never solved that mystery and I have come to the conclusion that despite everything I have been told, Santa is real, I don't no what else to say than that. I remember thinking every jets lights was Rudolph. I remember how my parents house smelled like pine trees after we put up the Chritmas Tree after it had been cut down at the tree farm in Wayland and had sat in the garage for about 4 hours. Usually we would make a run to Leonardos Pizza or Bells for coney dog baskets while the tree dried out. Dad would got to the attic and pull down the Christmas box and us kids would go to work. The paper manger scene would go on the paino along with the candle carolers. The bells and tinsle would go down the stair rail and the felt door handle decorations would go on the door handle. Each kid had their favorite but since I shared a room with my kid brother since I was seven we had to compromise. I will never forget one Christmas Eve though. I had woke up in the middle of the night and could see the glow of the tree from my cracked doorway. I snuck out of my room thinking I would catch my parents wrapping my gifts but I did'nt. I peered around the corner and found my parents both on their knees by the couch praying. I don't know how long I sat there but it was long enough to stay with me this long. It was that simple faith I had to rely on this week as we watched and waited for Ben to get better and he did. So Christmas morning we wake up together again and I smile at another long Chritmas tradition for me as my family sits down for breakfast and dine on among other things, grape fruit. Peace and Love to you all where ever you are , Ran.

Christmas Eve

WE ARE HOME!
PRAISE GOD!
We will update after a nap or two. . .

What day is it?

This morning Ben procedure went as well as it could have. The game plan has changed though.
Unfortunatly they discovered that the medicine drip that was on the clot during the night didn't help break it up any further than they did yesterday. That means it is there - for good. We have stopped the drip and taken out the wire rod that was in his leg and they are in the process of developing a new game plan.
GOOD NEWS - Ben was able to eat mac & cheese for lunch
BAD NEWS - We are looking at a long term concern. We will begin with establishing a blood thinner that we will be able to give at home. He will continue to get that from Ran and I for the next 3 to 6 months. Right now they are leaning toward a shot that needs to be given every 12 hours. The shot will go in his abdomin or his leg. In addition he will need to be on blood thinners for the rest of his life.
Their are pieces of clot in his lungs and the stationary piece in his leg. They will work to prevent him from every building up new clots on the old The lung clots should disappear and be recycled back into his body. The leg clot will be something to keep an eye on forevery.
HOW ARE WE? - We still have Ben and he still has his dimple when he smiles. Tired and not really looking forward to learning something new.
We look to be here for another 24 - 72 hours before being released. Christmas at home is not looking to good right now.
THANKS for your intrest and all the prayers. Things sound bad - but that's only because I haven't taken the time to share all the good stuff. Christian nurses, Ben has been very complient, Love and prayers of family and friends have been VERY evident!
Cheryl

It's Morning

Update #3
It is morning and Ben and I are doing okay. A little sleep deprived but overall good.
They have scheduled his next surgery for 10am. He is - once again- in a no drink, no eat zone. It is so hard for him to understand that - but of course he is not a complainer! The nurses and doctors were concerned during the night because his oxygen sats keep dropping to low - he has some sleep apnea and doesn't breath regularly during his sleep. What is suppose to be in the 90s to 100 is in the 80 range going down to high 60s and 70s.
We are good. God is great. And thanks to each of you for your prayers. Please let us know if you have any questions I can try to answer. Your Resonse to this blog will get to me when I come to update.
Much love! Us

Midnight Update

Just an update to our earlier blog.
Ben got through surgery well. It went longer than expected and was more involved. The clot was quite a bit bigger than assusmed and it was mostly old blood. That means that the older the harder it is and harder to get broken up. The doctor was able to remove about 50%. It was about 8inches long. We are still on the med to thin his blood because the broken pieces of clot are moving along into his lungs where they will be absorbed by his body. There is one area in the lower left lung that they will be watching. It has blocked a small - not sure of the term - but anyway the prayer is that it will break up on its own.
Tomorrow morning between 7:30 and 10am Ben will be going down for the second phase to break up more of the clot. This will go on every 12 hours until they get the whole clot or until they can't get any additonal to break up.
Keep praying! Ben is a trooper - doing awesome. Sore throat right now due to the tube for breathing. He threw up all his liquids after surgery because of the sleeping meds (?) and I got nailed!!! Got to find humor in that ??right??
Thanks for the suport - you can email us - getting my mail at the hospital or contact our cell and we will call you back if possible. Please not a lot of visitors now - he needs to rest between surgeries and we are in the Peds ICU.
Much Love and thanks for the prayers! Cheryl and family

From Butterworth Hospital

We are still here!
Dear family and friends,
Some of you may have heard - others this will be a suprise. Tuesday Ben fell at school and the teachers said he either fainted or had a seizure. A friend of mine (thanks Mary) brought me to the school and then transported us to Butterworth Hospital, arriving just before 1:00 in the afternoon. After a short time here and several tests, we discovered that Ben has a blood clot in his leg that was causing a discoloration and swelling - it was very significant. His left leg was a greyish purple, large and hard. We were admitted to the peds floor and the testing continued. 15 vials of blood, ultra sound of his legs and abdomon, e-rays, heart eco-gram, a couple of ekgs and then a 24 hour heart monitor. He has been poked and prodded every 2-4 hours with blood tests, IVs, blood presure cuffs and temp readings.
Right now as I type we are in the Family Surgical Waiting room while he is in surgery. They are putting a cath in behind his leg that will attempt to break up the large clot and also putting in a wire that they will "rudder rouder" every 12 hours until they feel they have as much of the clot as they can get.
Yesterday I fell apart a few times. It has been extremely difficult to get blood drawn from BJ. He just doesn't have good veins. Also yesterday they told us they hoped to have us home by Christmas - that was very overwhelming for me. I have been here since Tuesday. Randy has been here as much as possible and is with me now.
Please keep us in your prayers! We covet that right now. Often in the midst of a trial it is hard to pray for yourself and children.
Much love - I'll try to find another open computer and update you as soon as I can!
The Smiths (Cheryl)

The girl with the big forehead

How high can you kick it, Scott asked as I gripped the multi-purpose ball in my hands. I gave it a boot and it went sailing and made that " Tiinngggg" sound as it hit the front parking lot at Moline Christian School. Hi Cheryl he said as I turned to see a girl with a dress on and brown-blonde hair pulled back, I thought to myself..whose the new kid it's april new kids don't show up now and what a big forehead she has. That was 1977, that was the first time I met my future wife. We had always been friends from that point on. she caught my attention when she was a 6th grader and I had a crush on her since. We group dated , hung out at her folks, took catechism together, were in youth group together, she went to my prom and I went to her senior prom and a year and a half after that I asked her to marry me. I had always said, when she asked, that we would be in my favorite place at my favorite time of year when I would pop the question.On a snowy night in Grand Haven on December 14 1986 I asked Cheryl to marry me. This began a tradition of me either giving her a flower or a small note to mark this day. This is that note. It is no secret that Cheryl and I have had our share of challenges in our life together but we have always had each other. The other day I dug out an old cassette I had when we were dating.It was my Yes tape. As we drove to dinner( with our 3 teenagers in the back seat) the last song came on.. it was the song I would write on the notes I would give her. That song took us so far back I swear the kids dissappeared and we were back in the front of my 78 Volare sport... hearing the last line of the song sqeezing each others hand....Hearts sailing down lifes river, two hearts are better than one. I love You Smile Eyes and I always will....big forehead and all. Love Ran