Yesterday Peter entered week three at Maine Med. The neutrophils have finally dropped to 0, the waiting game begins until his blood values rise again. Because Peter is in remission, probably because he received less chemo, he is in much better shape than last time when I had a hard time persuading him to get out of bed. We would walk ever so slowly along those corridors, Peter's arm resting on my shoulder for support. Not this time. Peter is out and about to keep himself from going stir crazy. He goes to the courtyard at frequent intervals, does his morning exercises and even has taken advantage of the "kitchen" to toast some bread for breakfast a couple of times. I organized a fridge for Peter's room which is stocked with jams, butter, yoghurt and left over tarts from Marie, his "tart angel".

Heidi suggested I put a lamb fur on Peter's chair. When Ciara and Ysanne where born we bought one for each on a farm in Deer Isle. The girls were very attached to them and later, when they went to school, would lie on their furs on sick days spent at our house. They are almost 16 now but I kept that remnant of their childhood. Washed and re-lanolized they have found a new purpose.

On to more fiber: Since Mark's Maria knitted Peter a pair of colorful socks he does not want to wear his Pumas anymore. I had a hard time wresting the elegant footwear from him to be washed. So Maria let those needles fly and made two more pairs which arrived from Sweden in a beautiful package.

I took this picture today when Peter was lying on the Hudson Bay blanket he won on a fishing trip in Minnesota about 30 years ago and which he wanted to take along to the hospital. Funny how objects from home, from our real life, become monumentally important in this sterile environment.

A month ago Christina came over with an almost finished Jacques Cousteau hat which she had knitted for Peter. If you look closely you can see the knitting needles sticking out on top of Peter's head. This was the third hat she created for him and everyone's favorite. I meant to post the picture at that time.

Christina has also brought wonderful CD's to the hospital. I have walked into Peter's room with Maria Callas singing arias or to the strains of flamenco guitar.

So you see, we are making the best of a bad situation. Peter is immersed in a book about Kennedy right now that his friend Peter lent him, we eat well, we try to be patient and to live in the moment.

Thank you for being there for us!