Jumper,
Why not solve your problem by always using the STR modifier? For a single word, just use something like:

Code:
a var word[8]
I2CWRITE datapin,clockpin,control,(address),[STR a\1]
.....
I2CREAD datapin,clockpin,control,(address),[STR a\1]
For X Words, use:
Code:
a var word[8]
I2CWRITE datapin,clockpin,control,(address),[STR a\X]
.....
I2CREAD datapin,clockpin,control,(address),[STR a\X]
This should keep you from having to think about which order the bytes are stored in.

Steve