Long Day Off!

Today Ben and I put a lot of miles on the car! We had a great day together, but are both very tired. I am really glad there are no plans for our clan tonight.

This morning Nate and Rachael headed off for their first day at band camp (8am-5pm Yuck!). Ben and I started a little slower. We had our coffee/milk time while watching the Today Show. Then at 10 we headed out to pick up Ben's breakfast from the local McDonald's. We then proceeded to Byron Center Manor for a morning visit with Grandma Great. Grandma was thrilled to see us and happy that Ben even signed his name in her visitor's book before leaving. We then headed up to see and have lunch with Randy. After a nice half hour lunch with dad we then headed out to Jamestown to see Uncle Stan, Aunt Barb, Cousin Joe & Cynthia and Grandma Great (again). We were invited to a last minute lunch with them (no we didn't eat again). Upon leaving Ben discovered their deck swing and we ended up staying a little longer.
We had one more stop to go before going home. We drove to St. Mary's to see my dad and mom. Check out their blog for more information (berendsblog.blogspot.com). That was a very hard visit for me and left feeling overwhelmed. Please keep my folks in your prayers!

Health wise - I'm doing okay. Today is the first time in a very long time I drove very far. My tremors are constant and I continue to have small episodes through out the days and weeks. Things seem to be stable right now - which is more than I can ask for with my dad in the hospital and all. I continue to have headaches - but am able to keep them manageable.

Today was a good day! Thanks for checking in! See the link to my folks blog to the right of your screen.

The Doctor

Rachael and I brought Ben to the doctor early afternoon today. He has a sever sinus infection. We now have him on an antibiotic and musinex. We pray that within a couple of days he will feel back to his normal self. He is still having bad headaches. I pray the pressure will begin to diminish very soon.
Thanks for your prayers!
To check out how my dad is doing go to: berendsblog.blogspot.com

Still Here!

Hey there friends and family,
It has been WAY to long since we last updated everyone. We are doing well. Not great, but not awful. I will try to cover our last two months with a limited amount of words (although you all know that will be difficult).
Ben continues to do well since we took him off the medications he was on. Our last check at the hematology doctor was great. We don't have to go back to them unless the doctors decide to go ahead and do the heart cath again. That won't happen unless he starts fainting again.
Nate and Rachael have done a wonderful job of watching Ben this summer on the days I work. The last few days Ben has been sick. Started with flu type symptoms but now we are dealing with headaches. I'm not sure how bad it is. Prayers would be great to help us understand him. These are the times that are hard because he is not verbal. Reading body language only goes so far.
Besides watching Ben, Nate and Rachael have been attending hanging out with friends. When they feel like it the run / jog a little in an attempt to keep in shape for fall sports and marching band. Nate is now fully mobile so they have taken Ben to see a few movies and grab a burger when they want.
We had a WONDERFUL family vacation. Some friends lent us their cottage for a week. It was relaxing with a cool breeze and friends and family who stopped by. Thanks Ken & Joan~!!
Randy's work is going good. Not over busy but enough to continue 40 hrs a week. He doesn't always sleep well, but that is because he worries over me and the finances. Always thinking ahead and planning for the 'what if...'. His car is down right now so he's been driving mine. Since I'm not driving right now the timing is great.
My health has been better - but is has also been a lot worse. Tomorrow begins week 12 of a headache and my dystonia episodes continue to haunt us each week. They don't seem to be getting worse in degree for now - and in that we are thankful. Yesterday we went canoeing with a group from church. We stayed dry until I went to get out of the canoe at the end - down I went. We had a good laugh about it but at the same time it is very frustrating to expect your legs to hold you and they don't! I haven't twisted or hurt anything in a few weeks - so you can adjust and survive! Right now the most frustrating thing seems to be my memory. I am not good at retaining information. I need to write it down in my notebook. Everyone in my circle is good at reminding me, especially at work. My family, on the other hand, teases me beyond what I deserve~~ Actually my family is wonderful. It is easier to make a joke about it and go on than to dwell on something we have no control over.
Thank you for your continued love, prayers and support. I know that in the down times - there are prayers being lifted on our behalf! That means the world to us.
Before I let you go - I have another prayer request. My dad (Bill Berends) was hospitalized last week. We really don't know what is going on with him and he has the doctors baffled. He is loosing feeling in his legs and it is moving into his arms. He is getting down and could use prayers of encouragement.

The All American Red Neck

It has been sooooo long since we have posted a blog. ( sorry to all our fans) Life is good. Ben has been doing great now that he is off his meds. Nate is out and about with his car and his friends. Rachael is in her last week of drivers ed and looking forward to her and Bens birthday (#15). Cheryl is doing alright, the ghost of distonia has reared its ugly head again but she keeps on going. We just got done doing the 30 hour famine and it went great. We have the best youth group in the world.Cheryl is looking forward to the Womens Retreat up at spring hill camp in about 2 weeks. She goes every year . Question to my west Michigan readers, this year is Cheryl and mine 20 wedding anniversary and I was trying to find somewhere nice to go. Now those of you who know me will realize I am not a foo-foo kind of frilly dude, I would like to avoid a B&B that has high tea and a theme every night. A eucher tourney and a bucket of cold miller lite? Well just give me a few ideas that Cheryl will like since I plan on watching NASCAR that week end. Now for the important stuff.... turkey season!!!!!! It openened today and my best son Rachael has her liscense for this week. Her drivers ed has put a crimp in things but we should be able to hunt all week end. But next week, beware my little gobbbling friends for Randall aka the
sleeping hunter enters the woods this year pumped full of caffeine and the tenasity to hunt hunt hunt. Now the smarter of you will realize I did'nt say kill kill kill... thats because when I stare into those dark souless eyes of a large tom I usually mess my shorts and run screaming from the woods. But not this year! I will not mess my shotrts just run. I will keep you all updated on my journey and will try to post some pics on my adventure. Here's praying for a sunny warm spring, Randy.

Hip Hip Horay!

Yesterday went EXCELLENT with Ben at the hospital. Thank You Thank You Thank You for the thoughts and prayer! The ativan was just enough to take the edge of Ben so we were able to get all the testing done with a limited amount of fight. Then for the best news!!!! We received the call from the doctor late yesterday afternoon and we are officially done with the injections! I need to continue to make regular measurements of Ben's calf to be sure that the one does not swell and we see the hematology doctor again two to three months - but that is SOO easy to handle! When we told Ben we let him rip the calendar that he uses. Should have seen that smile! Priceless!
Last night we went out for dinner with the adults in Randy's family to celebrate Ran's birthday. It was a good time. There was a table behind us that was obnoxious (to say the least). But it was good to not cook, do dishes or have to clean the house for company. Randy is 41 years young.
I'm still being plagued but headaches. Haven't called the doctor because I hate to switch meds. I have also been shakey and my memory is not at it's best right now. I'm going to try to ride this out for a week and see if things straighten out on their own.
For today we are going to celebrate Ben's news and deal with other stuff as it comes!
Blessings on your day!

Day of Testing

Hey - Just wanted anyone out there that is checking to know that tomorrow (3/6) is going to be a very long day for Mr. Ben. We have several tests scheduled at Butterworth tomorrow. Tests include an ultrasound of his heart to his toes, a full set of blood works and seeing the Hematologists doctor. They are checking on Ben's blood clotting rate. He continues to receive 2 shots a day and they attempt to keep a close eye on those results. Our appointments begin at 10:30am. They have called in an anxiety med for Ben. Hoping that will make it easier on him. Our last appointment is at 3pm.
Overall Ben is doing okay - he is very sick of the shots. Hopefully we will be able to quite them soon. Ben has gained weight since Christmas. In part due to the medication he is on. Recently the testing for his blood pressure came back good - that was a relief.
My health is steady right now. Struggling with headaches, but that tends to be a side effect of the medication I'm on. I have noticed that my eyes are getting worse - going to need to have the glasses updated! I have also gained weight. As winter begins to fade - that is a project I need to work on!
Tomorrow night we will be going out to dinner with Randy's family for his birthday. I'm looking forward to that!
Have a good day - and remember Ben in your prayers.

Who Can Be Against Us?

It has been quite a while since I blogged! Life has been busy and it has been hard to stay up all the time. We've had a lot of inquires as to how Ben is doing. He is doing okay. The shots continue each morning and evening - and he takes his heart meds without to much of a fuss. I'd love to say everything is great - but he has been agitated and anxious. Not sure if it a phase or if he is a little depressed again. The last couple of weeks he has been into the doctor a number of times having his blood pressure checked. The doctors were concerned with it being to high. Thank God that by giving BJ the time he needs to adjust and relax the blood pressure has shown to be in a good range. Nothing that we need to deal with at this time. We have another appointment for Ben in 2 weeks with the hematologist, 3 weeks with the surgeon, and 6 weeks with the family doctor. We just keep going one day at a time.
Nate is doing an awesome job at driving. Showing a lot of responsibility when it comes to making decisions, driving he, Rachael and the neighbors in the morning and keeping up with the gas, etc. I know he and Rachael really enjoy not walking to school. I am hoping that his school work is going well. He never seems to have homework - we'll be checking in with his teachers again soon.
Rachael is doing great. She has a lot of friends and an active social life. She has had a couple of large school projects that have turned out very well. Good going sweetie!
Ran and I are good. Tired! Some days it seems harder than others to keep my chin up. Decisions continue to loom in the air with Ben. Will we take him off the heart med and pray that he has no complications. The meds are something that might or might not help - if he were to have an arrhythmic problem. While he is on them they make him agitated and groggy. The decision also needs to be made on whether or not we will attempt surgery again. Weighing the risk factors.
Romans 8:31 - What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?

Oh The Weather Outside Is Frightful

I think that that is the song that best fits for today!

Well, sorry about the LONG delay in updating our blog - but I'm back!

The family is doing great. Randy and Nate are off to the Auto Car Show down in Grand Rapids today. It took them almost 3 hours to get there because of the weather! Rachael is in the kitchen making cookies (she said if I blogged she'd make cookies) and BJ is upstairs listening to an old Sandy Patty tape.

Things are going well. Ben's injection that I give in the morning and night are starting to get old and Ben is getting sick of it but is a good trooper. He fought Ran the other night and that was hard for both of them. Ran had to stick him three times before he got the medicine in. Ben is walking MUCH better and getting around. His leg is still sore in the morning after sleeping and at night. Last night we went to the mall to get some pants for BJ and we brought the wheelchair. I'm glad we have the chair for times like that. For the most part though we don't use it. Ben is receiving Physical Therapy each Wednesday morning at school. Not sure if that is helping - but knowing we are trying to do something makes it easier on the mind.

Nate got his licence a few weeks ago and this past week Randy picked him up a 91 or 92 Taurus. That has worked out well. This past week was soooo cool that Rachael and the neighbors enjoyed getting a ride to school.

Tomorrow we have our Youth Group Gang coming over the the Super Bowl Game. Looking forward to food, games and a little football (Randy would not put it in the same order).

Cookies are almost done and need to continue with the laundry. Have a Wonderful weekend. Hopefully you are staying in. And again, thanks for the thoughts and prayers. So many have been answered - even some prayers that we had no idea how to ask for. I'll go did up a good picture to place with this note - and again God Bless each of you and please continue to keep our family in your prayers!!!!!

Cheryl

Rate My Morning

Okay - take a minute to read and then give us a score: 1=unbelievably poor, 10=awesome.

This morning I, Cheryl, woke up to the final snooze on the alarm. This is the first day of sending Ben back to school since he went out a week before Christmas. Couldn't get anyone moving. Randy called while I was in the bathroom to be sure we were moving - we were NOT. Finally the kids started coming down the stairs as I pulled Ben off our bed (Oh, in reference to last night's blog - Randy once again slept on the couch and BJ with me!). It takes a TON more time to get Ben ready when we are dealing with mobility problems and a wheelchair that always seems to be where I need to stand. Finally got BJ out the door to the bus (after it had to wait) and threw the other two and neighbor kids out. Got dressed, washed up (reverse that), had my 5ish cup of coffee and headed out the door to be at work early and get a few additional things done. Pulled up to the office, stepped out of the car and behold - I still had my slippers on! Oh - and where were the glasses that should be on my nose?! - Yeah! Went back home, changed in my shoes and do you think I could find my glasses?! Of course NOT. Called Randy at work with my tail between my legs - He had seen them on the counter by the dirty dishes. I said thanks and looked, and looked, and looked - I couldn't call him back - AHHHHHHH - what was I going to do? I grab the counter with both hands, bend my head and close my eyes - was it a prayer? Not really - more like a really big sigh. Open my eyes and there they were - HANGING FROM MY SHIRT - Yes, there were there the whole time! At this point I felt that I deserved a specialty coffee from the local coffee house. Get there, talk to Bruce (the owner), give him a taste of my morning and walk out the door: a large (grande) house blend and bottle of water. Get to the car - flip the coffee and it splashes on my shirt!
What do you think? 1=unbelievable or 10=awesome? Let me know?!
Cheryl

What is Normal?

This week has gone pretty well for us! Nate and Rachael are back in school with friends. Ben hasn't gone yet - tomorrow I'm sending him just for the morning. The bus will be picking him up - sending him in the wheelchair. Then early afternoon Ben has an appointment with our family doctor. She is going to check out his infected leg and make sure she can see progress and healing.
Randy and I are once again sleeping together (Ben's back upstairs and Ran is off the couch). Went to work two days in a row! I think we are finally begin to return to normal.
Ben's leg is still hard, swellen and sore. Please continue to keep him in your prayers. The morning and evening shots are going as good as can be expected. Ben is a real trooper.
Thanks for your love and support!
The Smith's