"Feelin' Stronger Every Day"

Casting for spooky Yosemite trout in the Lyell Fork of the Tuolomne River

On Saturday I was walking through one of those spectacular fall days we are blessed with in North Carolina, and listening to Rich Mullins sing "The Color Green", the chorus of which goes:

"Be praised for all your tenderness by these works of Your hand
Suns that rise and rains that fall to bless and bring to life Your land
Look down upon this winter wheat and be glad that You have made
Blue for the sky and the color green - that fills these fields with praise!"

It was just perfect - here is a link to the Youtube video -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yp-_C-nw-Ws

I am pretty much through all the side effects of the chemo (except my hair is nearly gone :-)  ) and feeling very good these days.  I have been walking 4 miles a day for the last 3 days - continuing to regain strength and weight.  I have a few cold symptoms; runny nose, sinus congestion, a minor cough - so Dr. Kritz put me on (yet) another antibiotic to help make sure it does not turn into an infection.  On Wednesday my counts were good: whites stable, platelets rising into the 60,000+ range, hemoglobin stabilizing around 8.1, so Dr. Kritz said we did not have to do a transfusion this week - next week is still a possibility if the hemo does not start climbing.  Dr. Kritz surprised both Renee and I by telling us to come back and see him in a week - - I have been in the clinic every other day since returning from Houston - so that was a great signal that I am in good shape.  My parents are arriving for a week's visit on the 1st of November, I turn 50 on the second, Dad and I are going fishing on the 3rd, and we'll have a small gathering for my birthday on the 5th.  So there is a lot coming up, including a Hurricanes game (with mask on!) tonight with Kenyon.  All this is subject to my continued good health, for which I look to the Lord for His sustaining grace and mercy.

I continue to be amazed, comforted, and encouraged by the prayer support that so many are providing - I have gotten cards from people I have never met - friends of friends who are praying for Renee and I - it means more than we can say.  Please know that it is deeply appreciated.

Round 2 of HyperCVAD looks like it will be the week of November 7th, of course depending on my counts getting to where they need to be.  More on that soon.  God's Grace and Peace - Dan and Renee