Cycle #4 - FINISHED!!

I will quickly tell you that all my counts were up today!!  Thank God for healing my bones!!!  The nurse said my counts were "superb"!  The Dr. said it seems we are "in a pattern".  So we're still going!

Last week the Dr. said he was going to "nudge" my doses up as long as my counts could tolerate it.  Today I told him that last week's treatment "zapped" me for a while.  He told me that last week he increased my dose from 66% to 75% so that would explain how I felt.  He said he is going to continue to do that as we go in for the last two cycles.  So, I may not be "kicking so high" for these last 41.74 days (that count is according to the count down app on my phone! :-))  The Dr. also almost promised me that he will give me one unit of blood before we're finished. Last week he had said one or two, so one sounds better to me!  Those of you who have had transfusions know first- hand what I've been told, and that is that after a transfusion the patient feels really good!  So, maybe having a transfusion won't be all bad! (Steve said he heard they're going to use monkey blood.  Maybe I would at least have some hair after that!!)

If my counts continue to be good, next week will begin Cycle #5 with my next-to-last big two-drug treatment.  So, I will appreciate your prayers as I start Cycle 5.  I always dread those treatments more than the ones in between.

The last thing I want to share with you is the song that was the first thing in my mind when I awakened this morning. The title is "His Strength is Perfect".  The rendition I have is by CeCe Winans if you want to listen to it on iTunes. Some of the words are as follows:
v.2
   We can only know, the power that He holds,
   When we truly see how deep our weakness goes.
   His strength in us begin, when ours comes to an end.
   He hears our humble cry and proves again.....
Chorus
   His strength is perfect, when our strength is gone.
   He'll carry us when we can't carry on.
   Raised in His power, the weak become strong.
   His strength is perfect!  His strength is perfect! 

I played this for Steve as we were on our way to chemo.  What wonderful words to think on as I went through the treatment process this morning!

Last night I told Steve it will be so nice when I can go to bed on a Monday night and not dread Tuesday morning.  I've been dreading Tuesdays now for a long time.  But as soon as I say something like that, I have to start listing the things for which I am thankful.  And that list goes on and on.  Even my worst days are so much better than I thought they might be.  And my worst days are so much better than many peoples' best days.  God is so merciful and gracious to me.  I realize that the way my treatments have gone is specifically in answer to all the prayers that have been and are being prayed for me.  And I want my blessings to be "to the praise of his glory" (Ephesians 1:12) I don't deserve them and I am so thankful for all of those blessings - which include my friends who are praying and supporting me!  Thanks!