January 24, 2009 10:50 PM

Certainly another quiet day today. They are all going to be that way until the 11th. Received a full set of supplies today that need to be used to keep my Hickman cather flushed. The critical care team here in Bedford is very good at keeping on top of these things. Making sure that you have enough supplies and making sure that your other medical needs are addressed as well. My hats off to them. Not literally, though. With my relatively bald head, I don't take my hat off for anyone at this time - it's too darn cold!

It's kind of funny how different things crop up that you have somehow forgotten. One of my daughters and her family were over for dinner tonight and, of course, we talk about how things are going, who said what, what's next, etc. During the conversation, we mentioned that the woman that we spoke to on the 16th commented that 75 to 80% of the people who are sent home after having chemo return with the advent of a fever. They are very strict about this. Any temperature over 100.5 and they want you right back in the hospital. Since I have been home from the 22nd of December, my temperature has not exceeded 98.5. We have certainly played it very close to the vest when it comes to mixing with large crowds of people and it looks like it has paid off big time. But it is hard, because you feel like such a hermit at times. However, the downside here is much too risky to contemplate and it is much better to err on the side of caution.

Because of my good health through all of this, the doctors are both amazed and dumfounded. I have dodged every bullet and I stand before you as the poster child for the ideal manner in which a person is to undergo chemotherapy. I, again, thank you all so much. God has been so good to me through this entire ordeal up to now that I often wonder what I did to deserve such treatment. I do get the feeling that I am being set up for something but I have no idea what it is. We all know that God continually opens doors( and, likewise, closes others) in our lives and I have to admit that I am somewhat excited to see what doors will open for me in the future. Where is this journey really leading me?

Today, my priest called, and tomorrow he will stop by after church to bring communion. This is something that I have not had in quite a while and I miss it.

Once again, the words just seemed to flow tonight. When I sat down in front of the computer, I had no idea what I was going to say to all of you. But, writers block never seems to set in for me. Maybe that's another blessing(hopefully, not a curse) that I have. I know that what I just committed to the electronic page did some good for me - I can only hope that it did some good for some of you as well.

Bob