Three Down... Three to Go!

Yesterday was my third chemo treatment and it went wonderfully.  Much quicker and so much less anxiety than with the other two.  I guess I am just becoming a pro at it. (not sure I want to be a pro but oh well)

The medicines they give to me to counteract the effects of the chemo really make me feel good... and hungry. Gonna have lunch today with all the staff guys at Grace Baptist to celebrate my birthday which was back on the 7th during "snowmageddon" here in the 'Quah.  It will be good to fellowship and catch up.

Now that I have had the third treatment, we have begun to see what the pattern will probably be throughout. Chemo day will make me feel pretty good for about three days, then when it wears off the nausea will begin for at least a couple of days but if I stay on top of the oral meds they give for it the nausea can be controlled pretty well (I haven't had to call "EARL" yet during this whole treatment for which I am very, very thankful.... Anna says I have only puked about 5 or 6 times during our entire 29 years of marriage and I don't want to start now). Then I begin to feel mostly normal, although I can tell things are going on in my abdomen, which I am believing to be the tumors shrinking, Praise God!.  When I look in the mirror my tummy is much smaller than it was two months ago. I receive injections of a drug called Neupogen (helping my bone marrow continue to produce white blood cells killed by the chemo) for 4 days after my chemo session.  It does it's job but about 8 or 9 days after chemo by blood levels usually tank out and I have to be quarantined to my house and wear a mask and gloves if anyone comes by so as not to pick up anything that my body couldn't fight off. But then, the drug and my body do their job and about 4 to 5 days later my blood count is back up and stays up until the next chemo. So I have over a week of feeling normal before I do it all again.  Really, not too bad so far. 

Since August, I have lost about 85 pounds. Whoa! That is about the same weight as carrying a child around on my back. Nice to not be so heavy, but man I want a little bit of insulation on these bones to help keep me warm this winter. Trying to eat about every time I feel hungry to build myself up a little.  My doctor says I should drink a shake from Braums every day but it is just so sweet! Still haven't lost all my hair. The buzz cut even seems to be a bit longer than it was and my facial hair keeps growing although my goat tee seems to be going completely white in time for Christmas.

Anna and I got to go out to the Martin's for a Christmas party Sunday night with the young married's class and had a great time in fellowship. Had to wear my mask most of the time except while eating the wonderful snacks ( I can't resist those little smokies wrapped n biscuits... heaven on earth).

We are blessed to have everyone of you praying for us.  THANK YOU!  We count it a blessing and know that this journey would not be what it is without our hope in Christ.  May God bless you during this Christmas season.

Wow!

I truly wish I could express the feelings I have but the words just seem inadequate. As someone who is usually the one to go and help it is humbling to be the recipient of so much love from the hands of those around me. Such as, coming home to find the dead trees in my yard trimmed neatly to the ground and the freshly cut and split wood stacked on my porch,or the huge dead tree dangerously hanging over my house suddenly taken safely to the ground. Men showing up with more saws and log splitters and creating stacks of wood by my shed for the cold days ahead. The siding on the front of my house being completed in hours while I was being tested at the hospital, Meals showing up on our doorstep either ready for the freezer or for my family to consume. A shower of food for the guys at home while Anna attended my bedside in the hospital for over a week,  individuals taking on more than their load or stepping up out of the comfort zone to cover the classes that I was unable to complete, my sons being errand boys on short notice to my needs, faithful friends to see that the worship at Grace continues in my absence from the platform, even through adversity, Knowing the prayers being offered to th Father on my behalf throughout the day and night. Encouragements from friends out of the blue, cards, letters, songs, phone calls from old friends... WOW!  I am a truly blessesd man.THANK YOU LORD!