Go Pirates!!!

Hello All!
Yesterday was a pretty good clinic day. Luckily we were the first ones there so it only took 3 1/2 hours!!! When we left the waiting room was standing room only - it was going to be a long day for some of those kids! We saw Anna, one of our special clinic friends. She had a present for Ben, a pirate color book. He absolutely loved it, he colored the whole time didn't even play his leapster or gameboy!! He has done a second round of maintenance chemo now and his counts are still fabulous, so we are very lucky. Low counts would mean no contact with the outside world, and no contact sports if our platelets drop - it would also mean transfusions and a lot more hospital / clinic time. We have way to much planned to have to deal with low counts. Ben's next MRI will be mid May, he is having a little trouble with energy level and eating. We give him protein shakes to help with that and it seems to be keeping him going. His coordination isn't where his peers are but he doesn't seem to notice and he give 100% all the time.

Today was Ben's first T-ball practice. Coaches Ms Jessica & Ms Michelle have quite a team. She had so many kids request her team they had to split up into two team!! So one of the dads, Mr Justin is coaching the other half with some other parents. But the kids had a GREAT practice tonight all together. It was fun for the parents to as most us knew each other. So Ben's team color is maroon and team name......You guessed it the Pirates!! Ben wasn't even the one to suggest it! The other team is grey, but I don't think they have a name yet! But we will be cheering for both! Lord help us when maroon plays grey, we may need extra security that game. The kids had a great time. BIG THANK YOU to the fabulous Coach Ms Jessica!! And all the other parents out there that kept the crazy kids under control. If there are any MLB scouts out there you need to come out to the next game or practice we have some awesome players out there!

We have big plans this weekend. Saturday is our buddy Patrick's birthday, so that should be lots of fun. And then we meet up Saturday evening for the big camping / fishing trip!! Ben asked us to take his whole class fishing, so thats what we are doing. We have made arrangements with our good friend Big Fred to take the kids (and their parent or parents - we aren't that crazy) down to his camp for the night. We have plans for fishing off the dock, marshmallow gun fights (we have assembled 25 of them), and lots more fun. Sunday morning if the seas are agreeable we have arranged with a few charter captains, our boat, and friends boats to take all the kids out fishing. It looks like the seas may be a bit to rough so we may have to fish from the dock, but that will be fun too, we will just have to wait and see. So if any of you parents are still interested in coming just let us know there is plenty of room and we are going to have a blast - just tell Ms Jessica or leave a message at the school and we will give you a call - if you have our number call us or post a message here. We don't want to leave anyone out.

If you don't know what a marshmallow gun is we will post a picture! They are a great time, and also a great rainy day activity. I've kept Shaun busy for hours shooting marshmallows, he hunts them down and eats them!!!!

So we need extra prayers that the seas are calm Sunday and the kids are calm Saturday and Sunday!!! We will post lots of pictures!

Thats it for now...if I make it back to land Sunday I'll post, if you don't hear from me call the Coast Guard!

Erin