November

1. I released one story this month—a paranormal novella entitled The Demon Lord’s Cloak. I hope you enjoyed it! The cover is lovely, don’t you think?
2. I wrote one measly chapter of Ignition!
3. I completed 3 editing projects for other authors in November.
4. Very little productivity. However, I’m not going to feel bad about it.

Health-related:

1. I underwent only one round of chemo before the problems with my chemo port flared up. Due to swelling around the port, I underwent numerous scans and an ultrasound. No blood clots, thankfully, but at the start of the last week of November, the skin around the port turned an ugly red—a sure sign of infection. After calling the oncology clinic, they had me admitted to the hospital in Hot Springs, where I underwent surgery to remove the port. They kept me there for over three days, putting different antibiotics through IVs into my veins to clear up any infection while they waited for cultures to see if it had entered my bloodstream. I’m still awaiting those results.
2. I’m continuing to lose muscle tone. I know I need to add some sort of exercise to my schedule on days when I can get around, but I’ve just been so tired I tend to sleep a lot. Plus there’s the nausea and dizziness. It will pass. Maybe I can get more active in January when the chemo stops.

Happiness-related: 

1. The family continues to rally around me. Now that I’m home, my daughter and the 15-year-old are caring for the open hole in my chest, unpacking and repacking the wound to keep it clean and dry while it heals.
2. I enjoyed watching my daughter decorate for Christmas. So many trees and a clutter-mess wonder of decorations for every bare surface. I love it!
3. I came home the afternoon before Thanksgiving, so was able to enjoy the holiday and the meal with my family.
4. I painted only one thing this month. I’ve had no creative drive at all. Painting is like writing—anything that requires imagination takes too much energy. Here’s my one new piece:

December

For work-related, I plan:

1. To post a daily Advent giveaway on Facebook. It begins today. So as soon as I post this blog, I’ll head over there to announce the first day’s giveaway! I’ll continue with daily gifts until the 24th!
2. To plot stories for the new year for my current series, Montana Bounty Hunters: Yellowstone, MT and We are Dead Horse.
3. To complete 2 editing projects in December.
4. To look at books I already have out that I might bundle together or publish in print.
5. To take it easy in December and concentrate on healing and getting through more chemo rather than writing.

For health-related, I plan:

1. To go through two more rounds of chemo, which when I look at my calendar seems overwhelming, but I’ll get through it.
2. To continue to watch what I eat and hope I can manage to drop a few more pounds.
3. To add some tiny physical activities to my daily routine so that I don’t lose any more muscle. Maybe I’ll give myself stairstep goals or puttering-around-cleaning goals on days when I’m not sick as a dog.

For happiness-related, I plan: 

1. To better organize my office so I can start off with a clean slate so to speak in the New Year!
2. To clean up my art room, which has become a disaster! I’ve been tossing supplies on table tops and need to actually store them properly, so I have more workspace.
3. To spend time with the family—movies, meals, and flea market adventures! I’m not overly ambitious.
4. Enjoy all the leadup to and the day of Christmas with my family!

Contest

Comment on anything you’ve read in this post. Tell me what you’re doing to make yourself happier and healthier, or tell me what you plan to read in December…

Like I said, comment on anything for a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card!