Normal.dot - Word 2003

[\a:\\\]

I'm running XP Pro with MS Word 2003.

Since using Word 2003, I've noticed that items that I've added to my
autocorrect and autotext work for a few days and then after a few days, it's
almost as if they drop from my normal.dot file and no longer work.

I can't figure out why they stop working. Today, I noticed that a macro I
created and have been using for about a week is no longer available to me in
Word 2003.

Anyone know why these items are being dropped from my normal.dot file?

Thank you