Today I start my last round of chemo, that is scheduled. I will then get a scan sometime early 2011 to asses the success of the treatment. We do know there has been progress because my "twist" disappeared and I'm now able to eat. It's been wonderful to get to the point that I can begin to taste foods again. I know that the chemo will modify that again but just knowing it will come back, again, in about a month is encouraging. I was feeling so good that I began to say, "Come the first of the year I'm going to begin my new life!", which would assume that I would be cancer free and I would have all this behind me. But, I realized that I was predetermining what the Lord had in store for me and I realized that my job was to just wait for the scan and see what He had in store for me.
I have gained a little weight and am up to 140. Of course, I had all my pants taken up, so they wouldn't fall off, and now they are a bit tight. I do know that Jan. 1, feeling as good as I do now, I'll start back working out. Another thing that's going to be fun is to begin cutting back on the cans of food that go thru my feeding tube and maintain my weight and strength. I realize it's all in my hands (and God's) as to how that goes. Right now I'm looking forward to Christmas. Will be in New Mexico with all my family. What a blessing. I'm still amazed at people who say they are amazed with me, in how I've fought this disease and I think to myself, "How can you not fight?" but then I know that sometimes you can give up, and I want to cry for those who do. Life is wonderful. Lynda is wonderful. My family is wonderful. My caring friends are wonderful. And God is wonderful. And I've said many times, without the prayers that have held me up and Lynda, I would not be here, but here I am. Love you all.

Eleven days out of chemo and I'm feeling great. My doc was kind enough to grant me an extra week before I start the last round. That week will take me thru Thanksgiving. I will eat some of everything. And, about eating. Going well. Oh yeah, this AM I weighed in at 139! Most in over a year. I am blessed that I get my taste back each time. And my mouth and throat quit being sore. Feel like a regular person, if it was not for this tube in my gut. Again, I'm not complaining just stating the facts.
Here's my plan. 10 days out of the chemo hole, next time, I'm going to be able to eat more and it will taste better and I will start cutting back on what I send thru the tube until, ta de da, I don't need it anymore and I'm planning on making that happen timely. Also, about that same time, I will be getting a scan (pet or cat) that will show the docs what all good they have been doing. And then they are going to pat me on my head and say, "Come on back and see us in six months." At that point I run yelling out of the office.
Hey, that's what all you are praying for and my responsibility to make it happen. Keep all my cancer pals and Lynda in your prayers. Judy W, Gary C, Melissa C and Jimmy D. Until next time --- I love you all.

Some monumental days have passed. First, 11-4-10. One year aniversery of having my surgery! What a journey. Second, last night I went without activating my feeding tube. Which means I've been eating more! Great milestones for me.
Don't ask me how the tube in my gut got "untwisted." Even the doctors are unsure, (Lord's work, don't you know.), but I've been able to eat and keep stuff down.
OK, let's take if from about three weeks ago. I had been feeling pretty good and able to eat a little bit. Went to the doc to set up my next chemo and it turned out that my white blood cells were down so I got a week reprieve. That week turned out great. Got more energy and was able to eat "almost" meals that tasted great.
An aside here. I'm not hungery so I eat because it's "time to eat" and thank God I've got my tastes back so food tastes good, again.
With the strength that I gained I handled my fifth chemo fine. Unhooked yesterday from the 5FU and really had no major problems last week. Today, I'm getting a bit of sore throat but that's to be expected. The fantastic news is that I only have one more round of it and then they do a scan to see the results. With the way I'm feeling I believe it's going to be great.
Please continue to hold up my cancer journey warriors, Jimmy D, Judy W, Gary C and Melissa C. Cancer ain't for sissies!
Caregiver Lynda is my rock. God is Good.

Dang! I've been remiss in keeping up my end of the bargain! Letting you know how I'm doing. Well --- well, is how it's going right now. Last round of chemo didn't take me into the chemo hole as far as usual but it took longer to come out! Last Monday, went to my (round four of six) chemo doc and he told me my white blood count was not high enough for me have it. Mixed emotions. Sooner I get all this chemo over the sooner I find out "where I am" in the grand scheme of things, but I was tired on Monday and we have a full week of work (Thank You Lord) so it really worked out well. Am eating three times a day, not much, but some. Lynda could not be better! Need to add another cancer pal, for prayer. Melissa C, along with Jimmy D and Gary C. Love you all! God is Good!

Coming off 5FU chemo is always a challenge but I'm here to report that for me it seems to get a little easier after every one. I've done 4 and still have 2 to go. However I will tell you that every inch of your skin, from the neck up, is either "sore" or sensitive. That includes my tounge, my lips and my throat. So, you just don't say much, eat much, cough or spit. But, hey, I walked a half mile the last two days so that tells me my engery level is up and I'll take all the good signs.
Pray for care givers. I swear that's tougher than any thing I've gone or going thru. God is Good

Who would have ever thought I would have posted 100 entries on my Blog? Not me, for sure!
Just finished, today, my fourth chemo on this last batch. Only two more sessions to go, Lord be willing!
Lost a great and long time friend this week. Donald Moreland from Levelland. I don't remember we not be knocking heads, all my life. In church together, R. A.'s, shuck, we were probably baptistized at the same time. Lung cancer got him. He had never smoked and neither did his wife or his parents. Some things you can't figure. Don lived a blessed life. Surrender his life to Christ early on, taught school a coupla years and then got into what the Lord had planned for him all along, church work. If only we all could say when we pass, "We did what the Lord wanted." Well, Don did.
You all have been praying, also, for Jimmy D and Gary C. Want to report that they are both doing well. Not cancer free but able to do the things that six months ago they couldn't. I'm feeling well, right now, but the next five days are supposed to "rag" on me. Time will tell. Still eating, some, 3 times a day. Not enough to pull my feeding tube but food is tasting better.
Love you all and Lynda is doing great!

Not only did I survive the 5 days of being down (coming out of chemo) I've felt better the last 5 days than I've felt in I don't know when. How can you feel "down" when you wake up and smell the flowers, in fall? How can you not celebrate when you get to see or talk to your some of your kids and grandkids everyday? When you can get and receive a hug from your wife? When your friends or people you work for call and ask you to solve problems for you?
Let me tell you about my last four days. Friday afternoon Lynda and I jumped on an airplane and went to Albuquerque. Saturday morning, at 6 AM found us waiting for the pilot to blow our balloon up and by 8 away we went in a hot air balloon. Angie, my #2 daughter had purchased Lynda and I a ride. (It was for Lynda's birthday and I got to go along!) Angie went, also. What a thrill skimming across the skies and being able to watch about 500 other balloons launch. You can't describe it, other that fantastic. We did clip a barb wire fence when we landed because our pilot ran out of gas, but who cares, we made it safely. Satuday night we went to a "pre party" that my sister and her husband put on to celebrate the coming marriage of their son. And then Sunday we attended the wedding. What a celebration. Then Sunday evening, back home. The only "hiccup" in the weekend was that the suitcase caring my "formula" for my feeding tube decided it didn't want to come with us on the same flight. But, thank God, it jumped on the next one and we avoided a crisis. The Lord knows what He's doing, don't you know!
Today, Tuesday, I start my fourth round (in this second phase) of chemo. Already looking forward to those days after my "5 in" and my "5 out" days. I know I'm going to feel even better after this round and will only have 2 more rounds to go. Oh, I forgot to mention that yesterday I had oatmeal for breakfast and then for lunch I went to a Mexican food restruant and ordered an enchilada. Opened it up, ate all the chili and the taco meat and none of it came up last night. Milestone! Wish me blessings (I've got all the luck I can stand)! Keep my pals Jimmie D and Gary C in your prayers. Lynda is still my Rock and will be forever. The Lord is Great. Love you all.