I did a blood draw yesterday morning and got the results back in the afternoon.  The numbers continue to go up and look good.  My platelets are back to normal, so if I cut myself I don't have to worry about bleeding out anymore.[...]

I have been settling into a home routine the past couple days and I think we are getting it figured out.  Meals are getting a little easier.  There are more foods now that are starting to taste normal again, although it still seems random.  I love my shower here much more than the one at the hospital.  I could never get warm enough in the hospital shower, not enough volume.  Got plenty of volume here.[...]

I checked out of the hospital yesterday and went home!  I had no idea that I would be as nervous as I was about leaving the hospital.  When I left the hospital I barely had a very weak, functioning immune system.  The idea of that started to sink in and scare me about going home.  This is normal protocol for my condition so I will trust the doctors.  As the doctor said, less germs at home than at a hospital.[...]

The past couple days have been busy and tiring.  Late on February 8th I got a CT scan of my gut and found that there a small infection going on.  This meant that I was going to have to start the antibiotics I have been trying to avoid.  In hind sight, I am ok with the way it worked out because I will be able to go home with no infection.[...]

Today will be a quick post of good news.  My white blood cell count doubled from 30 yesterday to 60 today.  If it continues to double each day I should be able to go home this Sunday or Monday.  The other positive is my platelet numbers are now climbing each day too, which is another good sign.[...]

Yesterday was a strange day for me.  I was wiped out all day long and took a lot of naps.  My guess for being wiped out is that my bone marrow is starting to kick into high gear!  My white blood cell count went from 5 yesterday to 30 this morning.  They tell me that once it starts to go, it can double or triple each day.  If things stay on track, I should be able to go home early next week.[...]

That was a great Super Bowl!  Exciting to watch and great for Philly.  The keeping it boring streak continues.  No unforeseen issues and I have managed to keep a lid on my temperature.  I don't recall if I explained earlier, but if my temp goes over 100.4 boring status goes away.  At 100.4, they assume you have an infection and you spend the next several hours getting run around the hospital for different tests.  They generally don't find a cause (they tell me this is normal) and you get to spend the rest of your stay here on antibiotic drips.  I have been working hard to avoid all this.[...]

I would like to start this post by saying again that I read every single post, email or text I get wishing me well.  I feel bad that I cannot reply to them like I feel I should, but there are too many.  Please forgive me.  Between doctors, nurses, naps, showers, exercise, pills and forcing down food the day seems to go pretty fast. [...]

I would like to start this post with some great news!  On Tuesday this week the doctors took a bone marrow sample out of my back side for testing.  The test was to determine if all the cancer had been killed or if I would need more chemo.  Tough to sit around for three day with that over my head.  The doctor came in today around 1:00pm and gave me a high five.  All the cancer is dead!!  All your positive thoughts and prayers are working.  Thank you so much[...]

Today is the 14th day after the start of chemo which means it is time for the next bone marrow extraction.  At 1:30 this afternoon they gave me some feel good drugs, had me lay on my stomach and proceeded to drill into my hip bone to get some bone marrow.  It really is not that bad.  There is a lot of pressure but not a lot of pain.[...]