More Meds and Natter in the Night

BOX SCORE
Element	Current	Std. Range	Trend
Hemoglobin	8.8	13-17	v
Platelets	27	140-375	^
ANC	3090	1800-8300	v

Day four is off to a good start. My hemoglobin and platelets are both above the baselines, so I will not need a transfusion today. I will, however receive three chemotherapy drugs. The first should be infused about 11am, The second infusion will be around 3pm. That one takes around 2 hours to be pumped into my body. When that one is complete, I will receive an IV push of the third medication. All in all, my "2 hour infusion" usually goes around three to three and a half hours. The good news is that by then it's dinnertime. And more good news is that my meals are agreeing with me. 

“Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. ² But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap. ³ He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the Lord. (Malachi 3:1-3)
 

I had some long chats with the Lord in the night. I slept well until about 2am, when the call of nature got me up, and then I started praying. The message I received is that this season of my life is like the refiner's fire that was prophesied by Malachi, the final prophet of the Old Testamant. Now I am not a Levite (the tribe of Levi was chosen by God to tend the Tabernacle of the Lord and later the temple, keeping it pure and keeping all the laws of the Temple), but I believe God is refining all of us in one way or another. Is it refiner's fire? Is it Fuller's Soap (made from any one of several plant fats and lye, it acts like a bleach)? No matter what, I am impressed with the notion that I am not being punished but purified for God's glory, and to bring offerings in righteousness to the Lord. I am grateful that God operates on a need-to-know basis. Not sure I could handle the whole game plan right up front.

After that I chatted with Him and slept intermittently until 4:30, when the CNA came in to do my vital signs. At that point I got up to start the day. I ordered breakfast a little after 6am for "delivery now." Apparently, the kitchen thinks "now" happens sometime after 7:28am, which time it is now. Oh, well, I won't be starving anytime soon. (FYI "now" is at 7:30am) The french toast was hot and delicious. The coffee was hot and brown.

Jill is on the road, but she reports it is slick, the result of freezing fog, and she has already seen one accident. She is in the slow lane making about 40-45mph. Quite the intrepid girl, that one. I keep telling her, "I can't wait to see you, but I want you to be in one piece when I do." There are some pretty pink clouds on the horizon, so it is apparently cold but clear again today. I hope we will be able to walk again. That does both my body and my spirit good. 

I am counting down the days until the chemo is done. Not because receiving it has been terrible. My stints with Olive Oyl (See Unpronounceable Medicines and Olive Oyl) are routine, and I haven't had any side effects so far, except all of the saline that is involved causes some slight swelling in my feet. By dinnertime on Tuesday, I should be finished. The reason I am counting down is that finishing the meds means I will move into the recovery phase during which my blood counts will drop and then, like the Phoenix, they will rise again. When they get back to safe levels, I will get to go home...at least if the routine mimics my summer 2021 stay. 

So, I look forward to a day with my lovely bride, worship service online at our home church, a brisk winter walk, perhaps, some reading of one of our favorite mystery writers. All in all it looks like a lovely day awaits.