Round two of chemo is complete.  Had a good day and the routine is becoming more familiar to me.  0730, in the chair for blood work, then vitals as the blood is hand walked to the lab for a STAT analysis and back into the chair to set up the computer and make my playlist for the day which always starts with Jimmy's music and and others to include some of the Staler gospel songs and the Oakridge boys and Alan Jackson.  The music relaxs me and fills me with optimism and at times courage.  All values that cowboys strive to uphold as in the book Cowboy Values by James B Owen.  Once the blood tests results are posted and my platelets are confirmed high enough for chemo (a seperate medical issue) the doctor lets writes the order and it is sent to the pharmacy to be made up.  As they are working on the two different chemo trewatments I get Teresa (my nurse) sets about the preperations.  The PICC lines are flushed and a bag of saline is started.  To this is added benedryl and liquid tylenol as well as other drugs to prepare my system for the poison that is coming.  While this is going on I get a bag from the pharmacy with pills I have to take to also help control the nausea and vommitting.  I thank the Lord that I have not had to endure that even once.  I am a Blessed that the Good Lord watches over me and holds me in the palm of his hand during and after these procedures.  After the preparations are complete, I am usually reading and waiting for the chemos.  When the first arrives another infusion of a thingytail to help control the side affects.  Once the chemo starts, I lay back and listen to good music and read.  I have found a nice album by Alan Jackson recorded live at the Grand Old Opry called Prciuos Moments.  I guess I am country through and through.  During this first bottle of chemo I get a warm lunch delivered and I have to say the food is pretty good at this VA hospital.  I actually prayed for food I could eat when I was an inp[atient a few weeks ago.  God's blessings come in small packages sometimes.  By now it is about 1-2 pm.  The second bottle of chemo arrives and Seeing some come and go I know I am blessed and no matter how low one every feels, I have learned that there are those less fortunate than myself and that in itself is a Blessing to know and to be able to appreciate.  The final bottle usualy finishes about 3-3:30 and I get to pack up and get ready to leave.  I always take the time to thank those that are there to help me and I know they are making every effort to give my quality and quantity of life.  The nurse has said Her penance is served and she knows she will get to Heaven now.  She is a really nice person and a believer.  It really makes me feel good to know that.  She also reminds me she is the one with the needles and that she will stick if necessary.  She makes me smile.  I have concluded with my medical odessy this year that the Lord is in charge and that the doctors, many being interns and Fellows fron some of the best colleges are his instruments.  God has Blessed me by allowing me to share my life with these people and to witness to them that medicine cannot measure the power of God and that seeing they cannot explain why I have not died twice when medicine had no resolution I tell them God still has a plan for me and it is my duty to figure it out and carry it out.  They ponder that and they leave with a smile and tell me they like my attitude.  They also don't consider the many that pray for me daily.  I consider it before my feet hit the floor.  Usually when I am putting on my compression stockings to help control the blood clotts.  I am a very Blessed man and I cannopt tell you how much I appreciate your thoughts and prayers.  May the Good Lord Bless you and Keep you. 
Hobo

Of course she will be in my prayers as all of you are.

I know Jimmy is liked there.  He signed a CD for a friend in the Yankton VFW after they featured "More Than a Name on the Wall" when the traveling Vietnam Wall was there sponsored by the VFW.  Hence the shirt they sent me back with for him.  My best wishes for a great turn out and a safe trip.

This is the Hobo!  I cannot tell you how humbled and Blessed to be thought of in prayer and well wishes.  I had trouble getting logged in or I would have responded sooner.  The brain surgery went well I believe.  I am losing my mind one piece at a time I guess.  Recovery was going well and in July while undergoing Radiation Therapy I experienced a Pulmonary Embolism (blood clot) in my right lung.  In the middle of the night it took me 30 minutes to walk the 100 yards to the ER and barely made it.  A full third of PE victims die.  Once again I was Blessed and given another chance.  They found in treatment I was allergic to heparin (a blood thinner) and all my platelets died off.  After 4 transfusions and new thinners I was released the last Friday of July.  A good way to end the month.  Then I started August with a Monday evening trip to the ER in intense pain and they found I had lost blood flow to my liver, spleen and intestines and was once again in ICU for 9 days.  The end of the first week I was given thirty days to live.  That is a lot of living in a short time.  Again, I was Blessed by God to go on living.  I believe Hell is afraid I will take over and so I am here still thanking God each and every day for my life and for the friends and even unknown people around the world who say a prayer for me every day.  I cannot imagine anything more humbling.  They have not been able to determine the primary source of the cancers.  Yes plural:  Lung, liver, lymphnodes and brain.  So Tuesday I started a unique dual chemo treatment.  I am doing Docetaxal for the lung related and Cisplatin for the others.  They still believe I am stage four however, they have not worked out a plan with God.  I still have faith and a desire to go on.  They cannot measure two things in medicine: ones desire to live and God.  I believe God still has a plan for me and this is the lesson and the test will be coming later.  Then again, this may be the test and the lessons later.  I am doing a reduced dosage weekly with the chemo to try to preserve my platelets and white blood cells.  My poor nurse said she sinned terribly in her life and has to pay a penance before God will forgive her and I was that penance.  She is a great woman and we get along fine and joke and keep spirits up.  Once again, I thank all of you for your prayers and support for not just myself, but my family and friends as well others you pray for.  It is very humbling.  It shows if God is for you, who can be against you.  He brought me to it and he will bring me through it I believe.  Thank you Jimmy for the opportunity to know and love you and Nina also!